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High frequency electrical signal control device and sensing system

A high frequency electrical signal control device comprises a transmitter for generating a high frequency electrical signal, a receiver, a transmission line for propagating the electrical signal, and a structure for radiating the electrical signal propagated through the transmission line to the space or receiving a signal from the space. The degree of coupling of the electrical signal between the space and the transmission line provided by the structure can be variably controlled.

1. A high frequency electrical signal control device, comprising a transmitter for generating a high frequency electrical signal, a receiver, a transmission line for propagating the electrical signal, and a structure for radiating the electrical signal propagated through the transmission line to the space or receiving a signal from the space, wherein a degree of coupling of the electrical signal between the space and the transmission line provided by the structure can be variably controlled. 2. A high frequency electrical signal control device, comprising a transmitter for generating a high frequency electrical signal, a receiver, a transmission line for propagating the electrical signal, and a structure for radiating the electrical signal propagated through the transmission line to the space or receiving a signal from the space, wherein: the structure has a movable portion; and directivity of an electromagnetic wave radiated to the space can be controlled in deflection. 3. A high frequency electrical signal control device according to claim 1, wherein an antenna is provided as the structure so that intensity or directivity of an electromagnetic wave radiated or received through the antenna can be made variable. 4. A high frequency electrical signal control device according to claim 1, wherein: the transmission line is a microstrip line, a co-planar line, or a co-planar strip line constituted by a plane circuit; and the structure is formed on the plane circuit. 5. A high frequency electrical signal control device according to claim 4, wherein: a movable portion for turning ON/OFF an electrical contact is provided, the movable portion being formed on the plane circuit; and a degree of coupling of the signal between the structure and the space can be variably controlled by the movable portion. 6. A high frequency electrical signal control device according to claim 3, wherein: the transmission line is a waveguide having a rectangular or circular cavity; the antenna is a horn antenna having a similar cavity; and it is possible to carry out at least one of an operation for changing a positional relationship between an input portion of the horn antenna and the waveguide to change the magnitude of the degree of coupling, and an operation for changing a direction of an output unit of the horn antenna to carry out scanning for the directivity of an electromagnetic wave radiated to the space. 7. A high frequency electrical signal control device according to claim 3, wherein a photonic crystal or a lens is integrated on a surface of the antenna to emit an electromagnetic wave having high directivity through a narrow-emission angle. 8. A high frequency electrical signal control device according to claim 1, wherein a circulator is integrated in the transmission line such that an electrical signal is caused to flow in one direction among the transmitter, the receiver, and the structure connected to the transmission line. 9. A high frequency electrical signal control device according to claim 1, wherein a frequency ranging from a millimeter wave band to a terahertz wave band (30 GHz to 30 THz) is used as a frequency of the high frequency electrical signal. 10. A high frequency electrical signal control device according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter and the receiver are integrated on the same substrate. 11. A high frequency electrical signal control device according to claim 1, wherein: the transmitter for generating the high frequency electrical signal applies a pulse laser beam to a gap defined between two conductors which are provided on a surface of a photoconductive film and across which a voltage is applied; the receiver obtains an electrical signal from a current caused to flow between the two conductors in the same construction; the reception can be carried out only at a timing when a part of the same pulse laser beam is applied to the gap between the two conductors of the receiver; and means for allowing control of an amount of beam delay is provided in the middle of an optical path through which the pulse laser beam is guided to the receiver. 12. A high frequency sensing system, wherein propagation of an electromagnetic wave through the space is controlled using the high frequency electrical signal control device as claimed in claim 1 to wirelessly inspect constituent elements, a permittivity distribution state, positional information, and the like of a surface or an inside of an object. 13. A high frequency electrical signal control device, comprising a generator for generating a high frequency electrical signal which serves as an element for converting a laser beam into an electromagnetic wave having a frequency lower than that of the laser beam, wherein a laser device for generating a laser beam, an optical waveguide for propagating the laser beam to guide the laser beam to a generator, the generator, and a transmission line for propagating the signal are integrated on the same substrate. 14. A high frequency electrical signal,control device according to claim 13, wherein the generator has a waveguide type structure so as to be coupled to the optical waveguide for propagating the laser beam. 15. A high frequency electrical signal control device according to claim 13, wherein a detector and a transmission line for propagating the signal to the detector are further integrated on the same substrate. 16. A high frequency electrical signal control device according to claim 14, wherein a dielectric member constituting the optical waveguide and a dielectric insulating layer constituting the transmission line are formed of the same member. 17. A high frequency electrical signal control device according to claim 13, wherein: the laser device includes two devices having different oscillation wavelengths; beams emitted from the two devices are mixed with each other in a Y-branch optical waveguide formed on the same substrate; and an electrical signal having a frequency corresponding to a difference in frequency between the two devices is generated from the generator. 18. A high frequency electrical signal control device according to claim 13, wherein: the laser device is comprised of a semiconductor mode lock laser adapted to generate a short pulse having a pulse width of equal to or shorter than 10 psec; and an electrical signal of a short pulse is generated by the generator. 19. A high frequency electrical signal control device according to claim 18, wherein: an optical output of the semiconductor mode lock laser can be guided to the detector as well through the optical waveguide formed on the same substrate; the optical waveguide for guiding the optical output of the semiconductor mode lock laser to the detector is provided with an optical delay unit for changing an amount of delay; and a time waveform of the electrical signal of the short pulse is measured while the amount of delay is changed. 20. A high frequency electrical signal control device according to claim 13, further comprising an antenna capable of radiating/receiving an electromagnetic wave to/from the space, the antenna being provided in the transmission line. 21. A high frequency electrical signal control device according to claim 20, further comprising means for deflecting a direction of the electromagnetic wave radiated from the antenna. 22. A high frequency electrical signal control device according to claim 13, wherein a frequency ranging from a millimeter wave band to a terahertz wave band (30 GHz to 30 THz) is used as a frequency of the high frequency electrical signal. 23. A high frequency sensing system, wherein constituent elements, a permittivity distribution state, positional information, and the like of a surface or an inside of an object placed on the transmission line for propagating the electrical signal are measured using the high frequency electrical signal control device as claimed in claim 13. 24. A high frequency sensing system, wherein propagation of an electromagnetic wave through the space is controlled using the high frequency electrical signal control device as claimed in claim 20 to wirelessly measure constituent elements, a permittivity distribution state, positional information, and the like of a surface or an inside of an object.

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a high frequency electrical signal control device for generating a high frequency electrical signal mainly ranging from a millimeter wave to a terahertz wave, and a sensing system using the same. BACKGROUND ART In recent years, there has been developed a nondestructive sensing technique using an electromagnetic wave (its frequency is in a range of 30 GHz to 30 THz) ranging from a millimeter wave to a terahertz wave. As for a technique using the electromagnetic wave having this frequency band, there are developed a technique for carrying out imaging using a safe penetrative inspection system instead of an X-ray system, and a technique for obtaining an absorption spectrum or a complex permittivity of the inside of a substance to evaluate a bonding state of atoms, or concentration or mobility of carriers. In addition, as for a technique using a millimeter wave, there is developed a position sensing technique for a collision safety radar having a frequency in 70 GHz band. For example, as for a two-dimensional imaging system, there is a proposal example in which a system is configured with a millimeter wave generator, an antenna for radiating the millimeter wave, a reception element, a propagation path for the millimeter wave, and the like being used as discrete components (refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-050908). This system is shown in FIG. 8. This system is designed such that a millimeter wave 116 is radiated from a sinusoidal millimeter wave generator 102 to the space through an antenna 112, and the millimeter wave 116 having an intensity distribution is received by an electro-optic crystal 110 to be read with a laser beam from a laser 104. At this time, a phase difference in the millimeter wave caused on the basis of a difference in permittivity of a specimen object 113 is detected by utilizing a synchronism wave detection technique to obtain penetrative imaging excellent in an S/N ratio. On the other hand, as for the position sensing technique, an on-vehicle millimeter wave radar is in a progress of being developed for the purpose of measuring a distance between a forward vehicle and a backward vehicle. As for a proposal example thereof, there is a transmitter-receiver which is constructed in the form of a module as shown in FIG. 9 using a non-radiative dielectric line (NRD) (refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-022424). In this example, a millimeter wave outputted from a millimeter wave oscillator is propagated through an NRD 221 to reach a primary radiator 213 provided in a movable portion 231 through a circulator 219 and couplers 212 and 211 to be received by a horn antenna (not shown) provided above the primary radiator 213. In this connection, the movable portion 231 is moved to be adapted to carry out the scanning for a radiation directional angle of the millimeter wave. After received by the same horn antenna, the millimeter wave is mixed with a millimeter wave which is obtained by a coupler 221 through the branch of a part of the millimeter wave from the oscillator, in a coupler 223 through the circulator 219. In such a manner, the millimeter wave concerned is received. From the foregoing, the millimeter module capable of making a detection direction variable is constructed. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Now, in recent years, such a ubiquitous module as to be miniature and portable has become necessary in such penetrative imaging and position sensing because an application as a device for simply inspecting various materials and living body information, and an application as a pointing device in an information apparatus (for example, this module is used as a device for sensing a spatial position of a pen type input unit) are expected. In this case, the system constructed using the discrete components as in the conventional example of FIG. 8 is large in scale. In addition, in a method in which when two-dimensional imaging is carried out, a beam is expanded to collectively carry out the measurement, a high speed operation is obtained. However, since it is necessary to increase a millimeter wave output, this method has a problem in power consumption. Also, in case of the transmitter-receiver of FIG. 9 which is constructed in the form of the module so as to allow the beam scanning to be carried out using the NRD, this problem is solved. However, it is required that accuracy in manufacture of the NRD, and accuracy in installation position with the couplers, the circulator and the like are high. As a result, there is a problem in that the transmitter-receiver becomes high in cost, and hence is not suitable for mass production. In addition, since a motor must be used in order to carry out the beam scanning, this becomes an obstacle to power saving and miniaturization. In the light of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a high frequency electrical signal control device which serves to carry out sensing or the like using an electromagnetic wave mainly ranging from a millimeter wave to a terahertz wave, and which can be readily constructed in the form of a miniature and portable integrated module low in power consumption, and a sensing system using the same. A high frequency electrical signal control device according to the present invention includes a generator for generating a high frequency electrical signal which serves as an element for converting a laser beam into an electromagnetic wave having a frequency lower than that of the laser beam, wherein a laser device such as a semiconductor laser or a solid-state laser for generating a laser beam, an optical waveguide for propagating the laser beam to guide the laser beam to a generator, the generator, and a transmission line for propagating the signal are provided (integrated) on the same substrate. According to the high frequency electrical signal control device having this construction, it is possible to readily obtain a construction such as a module in which the laser device such as a miniature semiconductor laser, and the optical waveguide for guiding the laser beam to the generator are integrated together with the generator and the transmission line for propagating the signal from the generator on the same substrate. Moreover, it is also possible to obtain a form in which a detector and a transmission line for propagating the signal to the detector are further integrated on the same substrate. In addition, it is possible to obtain a form in which a dielectric member constituting the optical waveguide and a dielectric insulating layer constituting the transmission line are formed of the same member. In this example, since the optical waveguide and the transmission line for propagating a signal are formed of the same member, it is possible to readily provide a miniature module which is easy in manufacture and is relatively low in cost. Moreover, if a detector and an antenna are provided, transmission/reflection measurement can be simply carried out anywhere for all specimens such as semiconductors, organic substances, and living bodies, whereby permittivity, carrier concentration distribution, and the like can be examined in a contact or non-contact manner, and inspection, authentication, security check, and the like of DNA, protein, and the like can be carried out. A high frequency electrical signal control device according to the present invention includes a transmitter for generating a high frequency electrical signal, a receiver, a transmission line for propagating the electrical signal, and a structure for radiating the electrical signal propagated through the transmission line to the space or receiving a signal from the space, wherein a degree of coupling of the electrical signal between the space and the transmission line provided by the structure can be variably controlled. In addition, a high frequency electrical signal control device according to the present invention includes a transmitter for generating a high frequency electrical signal, a receiver, a transmission line for propagating the electrical signal, and a structure for radiating the electrical signal propagated through the transmission line to the space or receiving a signal from the space, wherein the structure has a movable portion, and directivity of an electromagnetic wave radiated to the space can be controlled in deflection. According to the construction of the controller of the present invention, a microwave integrated circuit (MIC) technique applicable to formation of the transmission line or the like, and a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technique applicable to formation of means for variably controlling the degree of coupling of the electrical signal, the movable portion of the structure, and the like are extended up to a region of a millimeter wave to a terahertz wave to be merged for application to thereby allow the controller to be miniaturized. The high frequency electrical signal control device as will be described below is possible on the basis of the above-mentioned basic construction. There may be adopted a construction in which an antenna is provided as the above-mentioned structure so that intensity or directivity of an electromagnetic wave radiated or received through the antenna can be made variable. In addition, there may be adopted a construction in which the above-mentioned transmission line is a microstrip line or a co-planar (co-planar strip) line constituted by a plane circuit, and the above-mentioned structure is formed on the plane circuit. To describe a typical example, a microstrip line, a co-planar line, and the like are formed on a substrate as a plane circuit in which a transmission line for propagating a high frequency signal from the transmitter to the receiver can be formed with high accuracy by utilizing the photolithography technique or the like, and a thin film antenna for radiating/receiving an electromagnetic wave to/from the space, and the like are integrated on the same plane circuit. In addition, there may be adopted a construction in which a movable portion for turning ON/OFF electrical contact is provided, the movable portion being formed on the plane circuit, so that a degree of coupling of the signal between the structure and the space can be variably controlled by the movable portion. That is, a contact switch and the like which are formed in micro size to be integrated on the same plane circuit are used as means for controlling a ratio of coupling to the antenna. Supply of an electric power to the antenna is carried out in accordance with ON/OFF control by this switch. In addition, the above-mentioned transmission line is a waveguide as a three-dimensional structure having a rectangular or circular cavity, and the above-mentioned antenna is a horn antenna having a similar cavity. Then, the controller can be constructed such that it is possible to carry out at least one of an operation for changing a positional relationship between an input portion of the horn antenna and the waveguide to change the magnitude of the degree of coupling, and an operation for changing a direction of an output unit of the horn antenna to carry out scanning for the directivity of an electromagnetic wave radiated to the space. That is, the structure itself having the antenna formed therein is moved by utilizing the MEMS technique, whereby intensity control and directivity control for radiation or reception of the electromagnetic wave can also be carried out. This is realized by moving a structure adapted to be vibrated and rotated or by sliding a horn antenna in accordance with an electrostatic method, an electromagnetic method, or the like for example. In addition, the controller may be constructed such that a photonic crystal or a lens is integrated on a surface of the above-mentioned antenna to emit an electromagnetic wave having high directivity through a narrow-emission angle. Also, there may be adopted a construction in which a circulator is integrated in the transmission line in order that an electrical signal may be caused to flow in one direction among the transmitter, the receiver, and the structure connected to the transmission line. Also, there may be adopted a construction in which the transmitter and the receiver are integrated on the same substrate. Moreover, there may be adopted a construction in which the transmitter for generating the high frequency electrical signal serves to apply a pulse laser beam to a gap defined between two conductors which are provided on a surface of a photoconductive film and across which a voltage is applied and the receiver serves to obtain an electrical signal from a current caused to flow between the two conductors in the same construction, while the reception can be carried out only at a timing when a part of the same pulse laser beam is applied to the gap between the two conductors of the receiver and means for allowing control of an amount of beam delay is provided in the middle of an optical path through which the pulse laser beam is guided to the receiver. In such a manner, as for means for transmitting/receiving the high frequency signal, in addition to a method including using a semiconductor electronic device such as a hetero-bipolar transistor (HBT), or a Schottky barrier diode (SBD), there is a method in which a short pulse laser beam is applied to a photoconductive switching device to generate and detect a short pulse electrical signal. In the foregoing, a frequency ranging from a millimeter wave band to a terahertz wave band (30 GHz to 30 THz) is typically used as a frequency of the high frequency electrical signal. Moreover, a feature of a high frequency sensing system according to the present invention is that propagation of an electromagnetic wave through the space is controlled using the above-mentioned high frequency electrical signal control device to wirelessly inspect constituent elements, a permittivity distribution state, positional information, and the like of a surface or the inside of an object. As a result, it is possible to realize the sensing system making the most of the feature of the above-mentioned high frequency electrical signal control device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C are views for explaining a construction of an integrated module of a first embodiment of a high frequency electrical signal control device according to the present invention; FIGS. 2A and 2B are views showing an electromagnetic wave analysis example when a switch is in a turn-OFF state in the first embodiment; FIGS. 3A and 3B are views showing an electromagnetic wave analysis example when a switch is in a turn-ON state in the first embodiment; FIGS. 4A and 4B are views for explaining a construction of an integrated module of a second embodiment of the high frequency electrical signal control device according to the present invention; FIGS. 5A and 5B are views for explaining a construction of an integrated module of a third embodiment of the high frequency electrical signal control device according to the present invention; FIG. 6 is a perspective view for explaining a construction of an integrated module of a fourth embodiment of the high frequency electrical signal control device according to the present invention; FIGS. 7A and 7B are perspective views showing examples of controlling directivity of an electromagnetic wave beam in the integrated module of the fourth embodiment according to the present invention; FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a conventional example of a millimeter wave two-dimensional imaging system; FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a conventional example of a transmission/reception unit of a millimeter wave radar system; FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a construction of an integrated module of a fifth embodiment according to the present invention; FIGS. 11A, 11B, 11C and 11D are diagrams for explaining processes in a method including manufacturing the integrated module of FIG. 10; FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view of an example of a terahertz generator; FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view of an example of a terahertz detector; FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a construction of an integrated module of a sixth embodiment according to the present invention; FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a construction of an integrated module of a seventh embodiment according to the present invention; and FIGS. 16A and 16B are perspective views for explaining a sensing system of an eighth embodiment according to the present invention. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Specific modes of the present invention will hereinafter be concretely described by giving embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that materials, structures, devices and the like are not intended to be limited to those which will be given herein. First Embodiment A first embodiment according to the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C. In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1A, bow tie type thin film antennas 4a and 4b are formed in the middle of a microstrip line 5 on the same module 3, and connection between the microstrip line 5 and the antennas is controlled with a miniature contact switch 6. While a transmitter 1 and a receiver 2, as shown in FIG. 1A, are integrated within the same module in a hybrid manner, there may be adopted a form in which the transmitter 1 and the receiver 2 are connected to an external transmitter or receiver. As for the transmitter, for example, an oscillation circuit for a microwave and a millimeter wave may be used in which a hetero-bipolar transistor (HBT) is used as an amplifier. A Schottky barrier diode (SBD) may be used as the high speed receiver. As shown in FIG. 1B shown as a cross sectional view taken along line 1B-1B of FIG. 1A, the microstrip line 5 is structured such that a ground plane 9 made of Ti/Au or the like is formed on a substrate 10, and the microstrip line (a transmission line pattern) 5 made of Ti/Au is formed on an insulator 8. As for a material of the substrate 10, Si, glass ceramics, AIN or the like is suitably used. As for a material for the insulator 8, a material is suitable which is obtained by applying a BCB resin, polysilane, polyimide or the like on the substrate through a spin-coating process to cure the applied material. The pattern of the microstrip line 5 and the film antennas 4a and 4b can be simply formed on the insulator 8 by utilizing the lift-off method using the photolithography technique. Note that prior to formation of the film antennas 4a and 4b, a through hole electrode 11 is formed in order to obtain a contact with the ground plane 9. As for a contact switch 6, as shown in FIG. 1C shown as a cross sectional view taken along line 1C-1C of FIG. 1A, an electrostatic driving type switch having a cantilever structure is integrated. A voltage of 30 V is applied across driving wirings 7 so that an electrode 12 and the contact switch 6 attract each other by an electrostatic attracting force. As a result, the film antenna 4b is connected to the microstrip line 5. While the contact switch 6 is kept in a turn-OFF state, most of an output of the transmitter 1 reaches the receiver 2, and hence initial setting and the like can be carried out without sending the signal to the outside. Upon turn-ON of the contact switch 6, a part of the signal is emitted to the outside to be propagated through the air in accordance with reflection/transmission characteristics of the film antennas 4a and 4b. Then, a part thereof reaches the receiver 2, and another part thereof is returned back to the transmitter 1. In addition, an electromagnetic wave propagated from the outside or a return electromagnetic wave which is the reflection of the electromagnetic wave emitted from this module can be received by the film antennas 4a and 4b to be coupled to the microstrip line 5 to be received by the receiver 2. A rate of coupling between the film antennas 4a and 4b, and the microstrip line 5 can also be changed on the basis of a shape of the ground plane 9 disposed directly under the antennas. For the microstrip line pattern, the following design examples are possible. The Ti/Au (50 nm/450 nm) electrode 9 is formed on the Si substrate 10 which is 500 μm in thickness and 10 mm×25 mm in external size, and the microstrip line 5 with 25 μm width is further formed above the Ti/Au (50 nm/450 nm) electrode through the insulator (polysilane) 8 (its relative permittivity εr=2.8) with 10 μm thickness. In this case, a 50Ω matching line is obtained. Electromagnetic wave analysis examples of 100 GHz propagation when an isosceles right triangle having a base of 800 μm is adopted for a shape of each of the film antennas 4a and 4b are shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, and FIGS. 3A and 3B. In these figures, the left-hand side corresponds to an input port, and the right-hand side corresponds to an output port. Each of them has 50Ω termination. FIGS. 2A and 2B show a state in which the contact switch 6 is held turned OFF. From a current distribution view of FIG. 2A, it is understood that nearly the whole signal reaches the output port on the right-hand side since no electric power is supplied to the film antennas 4a and 4b. FIG. 2B shows an antenna radiation pattern. From FIG. 2B, it is understood that there is some amount of asymmetrical leakage electric field. On the other hand, FIGS. 3A and 3B show a state in which the contact switch 6 is held turned ON. From FIG. 3A, it is understood that an electric power is supplied to the film antenna 4a and 4b, and hence the magnitude of a signal reaching the output port on the right-hand side is small. In addition, from FIG. 3B showing an antenna radiation pattern, it is understood that an electromagnetic wave having symmetrical directivity is radiated. With the very miniature module (about 10 mm×about 25 mm in size in the above-mentioned numerical example) as described above, a state of coupling of the high frequency signal with the space can be changed by turning ON/OFF the contact switch 6 using the voltage signal. The module can be suitably used in a wireless module of a portable apparatus or the like to increase a degree of freedom of its design. In this embodiment, the bow tie type antennas are used as an example. However, there may be used all the film antennas as will be described in the following embodiments as well, i.e., a dipole type antenna, a patch type antenna, a slot type antenna, a spiral type antenna, a log-periodic type antenna, or an antenna which is obtained by arranging a plurality of these antennas to obtain a broadband, a Yagi antenna, a horn antenna and the like. In particular, since it is necessary to obtain a broadband when a high frequency pulse is generated, an antenna of a type suitable for such a case may be used. In addition, there may be adopted a form in which GaAs or InP is used as a substrate material, and high speed electronic devices such as an HBT and an SBD are monolithically integrated. Second Embodiment In the construction of the first embodiment, the signal control may not be carried out because the electromagnetic wave is reflected by the transmission line or the antenna depending on the frequency bands in some cases. Then, this embodiment aims at controlling flows of signals using circulators. FIGS. 4A and 4B show this embodiment in which a flow of a signal from a transmitter 1 to an antenna 23, and a flow of a signal from the antenna 23 to a receiver 2 are limited to one direction by circulators 22 and 26. The signal from the antenna 23 to the receiver 2 is a composite signal which is obtained by composing an electromagnetic wave generated through reflection of the signal from the transmitter 1 with an electromagnetic wave received from the outside. Note that a signal from the receiver 2 to the transmitter 1 is not illustrated since its magnitude is weak. This circulator, as shown in a cross sectional view of FIG. 4B, is structured by embedding a ferrite plate 26 in a circulator 22. In this embodiment, double patch antennas 23 and 27 are adopted as the antennas for transmission/reception of the high frequency pulse to obtain a broadband. In this case, as shown in the cross sectional view of FIG. 4B, the patch antennas 23 and 27 which are different in size are vertically laminated and connected to each other. A structure of the antennas, as described in the first embodiment as well, is not limited to this structure. Transmission lines 20 and 21, similarly to the first embodiment, are formed as 50Ω matching lines, and a mechanical switch 24 for signal control is provided on the transmission line 20. The transmission line 20 is disconnected in this portion in which the mechanical switch 24 is provided, and its disconnected portion is closed/opened in accordance with turn-ON/turn-OFF of the switch 24. Similarly to the first embodiment, a suitable voltage is applied across electrodes 25 to turn ON/OFF the switch 24 to allow the radiation of the electromagnetic wave from the patch antennas 23 and 27 to be controlled. Other points are the same as those in the first embodiment. Third Embodiment A construction of this embodiment is shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. In the above-mentioned embodiments, only ON/OFF control is carried out for the radiation of the electromagnetic wave from the antennas, and the magnitude of the signal supplied to the antennas when the signal is radiated in the form of an electromagnetic wave is fixed. However, in this embodiment, a horn antenna 34 manufactured so as to be miniature is moved to control a degree of signal supply in order to change the intensity of a radiated electromagnetic wave or a received electromagnetic wave. Transmission lines 30 and 31, a transmitter 1, and a receiver 2 are the same as those in the second embodiment. In addition, while in the second embodiment, the flows of the signals are controlled using the circulators, in this embodiment, only direct propagation of a signal from the transmitter 1 to the receiver 2 is limited using a directional coupler 35 and a resistor 32. Its isolation ratio can be controlled on the basis of a resistance value of the resistor 32, a shape of the directional coupler 35 and the like. In this case, a reflected component from the antenna is returned back to the transmitter. Therefore, in the case where this reflected component needs to be limited, these elements may be replaced with a circulator, or an isolator may be provided before the transmitter 1. A primary radiator 36 having a patch antenna shape is provided in one termination of the directional coupler 35. A horn antenna 34 for radiating an electromagnetic wave from the primary radiator 36 to the space while the strong directivity is held is coupled to the primary radiator 36 through a hole 33. In this case, a waveguide structure may be formed within a substrate instead of the microstrip line, and a hole may be formed in a coupling portion with the horn antenna 34. The horn antenna 34, as shown in FIG. 5B, has such a structure as to have a hollow portion having a horn shape inside a block-like body. In actual, two structures are prepared each of which is formed by depositing Au or the like onto an inner wall of a resin or Si structure manufactured through a surface process by utilizing a vacuum evaporation method. Then, the two structures are stuck to each other to form the horn antenna 34. If this horn antenna 34, as shown in FIG. 5A, is designed so as to be movable on an integrated module 3 (in a direction indicated by a double-headed arrow), then an efficiency of coupling with the primary radiator 36 through the hole is changed. As a result, it is possible to modulate the intensity of the electromagnetic wave radiated from the antenna 34, or the sensitivity at which the electromagnetic wave can be received by the antenna 34. As a method including driving the block-like antenna 34, an electrostatic method, an electromagnetic method using a magnet, an ultrasonic wave method or the like is suitably used. In addition, if the rotation of the horn antenna 34 around the hole 33 is controlled, then the beam direction of the electromagnetic wave can be deflected while a degree of coupling is held nearly fixed. Fourth Embodiment A fourth embodiment according to the present invention is such that, as shown in FIG. 6, a spiral antenna 50 is formed on a dielectric structure 57 supported by a pair of torsion springs or the like so as to be able to be driven rotationally around an axis of the torsion springs or the like, and the beam scanning is carried out using this spiral antenna 50. A transmission line, a transmission circuit and a reception circuit may be the same as those in the above-mentioned embodiments. In this embodiment, however, there is used a co-planar strip line in which two conductors 51 and 52 are formed on a surface of an insulating layer 56 formed on a substrate 55 to allow push-pull driving to be carried out. An electric power which is to be supplied to the spiral antenna 50, as shown in FIG. 6, is obtained from the conductors 51 and 52 through a rotation driving support portion of the dielectric structure 57. The dielectric structure 57 can be vibrated at a specific frequency by utilizing an electromagnetic driving method and the like, and carries out the scanning with a beam of an electromagnetic wave from the spiral antenna 50. At this time, when the directivity is wanted to be enhanced, as shown in FIG. 7A, a semi-spherical lens 40 made of Teflon, Si, and the like has to be further integrated on the dielectric structure 57. Or, if a photonic crystal 41 is integrated as shown in FIG. 7B, then it is possible to obtain a beam having very high directivity due to a spar collimate effect. The photonic crystal 41 can be realized in the form of a structure in which a plurality of layers each having Si rod rows are laminated so that the Si rod rows of the layers formed in lines each having a width on the order of a wavelength (e.g., about 1 mm) are perpendicular to one another. In addition, for transmission and reception of a high frequency pulse signal, there may be adopted a method in which a photoconductive switch 59 is turned ON/OFF using a short pulse laser 58. That is, there is utilized a phenomenon that while an undoped GaAs layer 53 formed through a low temperature growth has normally a high resistance, only at a moment when a laser beam is applied to a gap of the photoconductive switch 59, photo carriers are generated in the undoped GaAs layer 53, and if a voltage 46 is applied across both ends of the gap, a current is caused to flow in an instant to generate a high frequency pulse. If a width of the pulse from the pulse laser 58 is set to about 100 fsec, this pulse can be converted into an electromagnetic wave pulse having a pulse width of about 0.4 psec, and this results in that an electromagnetic wave having a frequency ranging over a THz region is radiated. As for the pulse laser 58, a mode lock laser made of titanium sapphire is easy to handle since it has high controllability. However, in a case where portability is regarded as important, a semiconductor mode lock laser may be used from a viewpoint of miniaturization. On a reception side, the high frequency pulse propagated through the conductors 51 and 52 is received by a photoconductive switch 60 having the same structure as that of the photoconductive switch 59. At this time, the laser beam reflected by a reflecting mirror 63 after beam separation in a beam splitter 62 is applied to a gap as well of the photoconductive switch 60 on the reception side so that only for a period of time when the laser beam is applied, a signal of the high frequency pulse can be observed in the form of a current 45. In order to separate a D.C. voltage on a side of generation of the high frequency pulse, the photoconductive switch 60 is separated from one conductor 52 of the co-planar strip line. Here, an amount of delay of the short pulse laser beam is controlled by an optical delay unit 61, whereby a signal waveform of the high frequency pulse can be observed while this signal waveform is sampled. If a voltage developed across the photoconductive switch 59 on the side of generation of the high frequency pulse is modulated with a sine-wave signal to be synchronously detected on the reception side, then the high sensitivity measurement becomes possible. In this embodiment as well, the mechanical switch described in the first embodiment may be integrated in a portion of one of the lines 51 and 52 between the photoconductive switch 59 and the spiral antenna 50 to carry out ON/OFF control for a signal. Such transmission/reception using an electrical pulse is in a progress of being developed in a wireless sensing system, high speed communication and the like as a broadband wireless technique, i.e., a so-called ultra-wide band (UWB) technique. The controller of the present invention is effectively applied to such a UWB system. In each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the structure of the miniature integrated module for carrying out the sensing or the like using the electromagnetic wave ranging from a millimeter wave to a terahertz wave has been described. This integrated module can be applied as a device more excellent in portability to a field of two-dimensional transmission or reflection imaging of a substance, a short distance position sensing radar or the like as explained in the related art example. In a case where this device is utilized as the imaging device, a system capable of easily carrying out inspection anywhere without requiring an installation space can be provided as a system for security check of person's belongings, a system for inspecting an IC card, a fingerprint sensor, or a medical care diagnosis system for diagnosing a blood stream, a skin, eyes and the like. In addition, in a case where this device is used as the position sensing device as well, this device can be provided in the form of being incorporated in a portable apparatus, and hence can be applied to a wireless input unit for a display device, a computer or the like, a remote control device, or a pointing device for a game or the like. Fifth Embodiment A fifth embodiment according to the present invention is such that two semiconductor lasers for carrying out two-wavelength mixing, an optical waveguide, a terahertz generator, a transmission line through which a terahertz wave is propagated, and a terahertz detector are integrated on one substrate, i.e., mounted on a common substrate. A perspective view of this integrated module is shown in FIG. 10. An insulating resin 302 having photosensitivity is formed on a semi-insulating GaAs substrate 301. A refractive index of only an area of the insulating resin 302 corresponding to a Y-branch optical waveguide 304 is larger than that of the peripheral area through the photolithography process. As a material of this insulating resin 302, for example, photosensitive polysilane (trade name: Glasia (manufactured by NIPPON PAINT CO. LTD.)) is suitably used. In addition to this material, an optical resin having photosensitivity such as BCB or polyimide is suitable for a layer serving both as an optical waveguide and an electrical insulating layer. AlGaAs/GaAs series distribution feedback (DFB) type semiconductor lasers 303a and 303b are mounted in hybrid manner. Each of the semiconductor lasers 303a and 303b can carry out single mode oscillation, and has a multi-electrode structure. Thus, with each of these semiconductor lasers 303a and 303b, a wavelength can be continuously changed by about 2 nm without largely changing an optical output. There should be used an element which has different diffraction grating pitches so that oscillation center wavelengths of the two semiconductor lasers 303a and 303b previously differ from each other by about 1 THz. Moreover, a difference between oscillation wavelengths of the two semiconductor lasers 303a and 303b is stabilized by detecting a part of a beam to carry out feedback control using an injected current. In a wavelength band (830 nm band) of these semiconductor lasers 303a and 303b, a conversion factor between a wavelength and a frequency is about 4.35×1011 (Hz/nm). For generation of a beat frequency of 1 THz, a wavelength difference of about 2.3 nm has to be given. As the feedback control for the wavelength concerned, for example, in phase locked loop (PLL) control, offset lock using a frequency divider and a synthesizer has to be made. Since an amount of offset corresponds to the beat frequency, a generated frequency of an electromagnetic wave is determined by the synthesizer. While in principle, all beat frequencies can be generated, giving consideration to a lock range and a spectral line width (about 10 MHz) of the semiconductor laser, it is judged that the beat frequency falls within a range of several tens of MHz to about 10 THz. In this embodiment, continuous tune from 100 GHz to 3 THz is carried out. Laser beams emitted from the respective semiconductor lasers 303a and 303b are propagated in the form of propagated beams 313a and 313b to be applied to a terahertz generator 306 through a photoconductive switch. At this time, since the propagated beams 313a and 313b are propagated through the Y-branch optical waveguides 304 overlying the substrate 301, polarization in the laser beams emitted from the semiconductor lasers 303a and 303b is held. As a result, no polarization adjusting means is required. The photoconductive switch is constituted by a film 307 which is formed through low temperature growth (at about 20° C.) of undoped GaAs, and normally has excellent insulating property. Hence, even if about 30 V is applied from a D.C. voltage source 310 to two conductors 305 and 317, no current is caused to flow through the photoconductive switch. Upon application of the laser beam, photo carriers are generated to cause a current to flow through the photoconductive switch. In this case, the photo carriers are modulated with the above-mentioned beat frequency to generate an electromagnetic wave 314 corresponding to the beat frequency. The electromagnetic wave 314 is propagated through the conductors 305 and 317 formed on the insulating resin 302. At this time, it is supposed that for example, a width of each of the conductors 305 and 317 is 30 μm, and an interval of the conductors 305 and 317 is 200 μm. Note that a width of a gap portion 316 of the terahertz generator 306 is supposed to be 5 μm. A cross sectional view taken along line 12-12 of another form of the photoconductive switch is shown in FIG. 12. In order to adopt a waveguide type for the photoconductive switch to enhance light absorption efficiency, an AlGaAs (composition of Al is 0.3) layer 330 and an undoped GaAs layer 331 are grown in this order on the substrate 301. Then, the GaAs layer 331 is selectively etched away in a width of about 10 μm, and an insulating layer 332 is then buried on both sides of the resultant GaAs layer 331. In addition, electrodes 334a and 334b are provided so as to face each other through a gap 333. Conversion efficiency in this form is enhanced as compared with the case of provision of the GaAs bulk layer 307 as shown in FIG. 10. Also, as still another form, the efficiency of generation of the electromagnetic wave 314 based on the beat frequency may be enhanced by using a nonlinear crystal. The propagated terahertz wave 314 is obtained in the form of an electrical signal 311 by a detector 308 (illustrated as being formed on the semiconductor layer 309 in FIG. 10). A Schottky barrier diode as shown in FIG. 13 as a cross sectional view taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 10 is used as a detector 308. This Schottky barrier diode includes an AuGe/Ni/Au electrode 341 formed on an n-type GaAs layer 340 grown on a semi-insulating GaAs substrate 301, a point contact portion 343 formed as a through hole electrode with a diameter equal to or smaller than 2 μm, a Schottky electrode 342, and an insulating layer 344. Each of the Schottky electrode 342 and the point contact portion 343 is made of Ti/Pt/Au. A frequency ranging over about 1 THz can be detected with the detector 308. Note that as shown in FIG. 10, the conductors 305 and 317 are separated from the electrode 308. A specimen 312 as a sensing object is placed on the integrated module having the above-mentioned construction (its length and width are on the order of about millimeter). While the terahertz wave 314 is propagated through the conductors 305 and 317, the electromagnetic wave (evanescent wave) leaks to the surface as well. As a result, the intensity of the millimeter wave or the terahertz wave detected by the detector 308 is changed in correspondence to the absorption characteristics of the specimen 312. Consequently, the specimen is measured while the beat frequency is changed to allow the spectrochemical analysis of the terahertz region of the specimen 312 to be carried out. The frequency resolving power in the spectral diffraction is determined by a spectral line width of a used laser, and is about 10 MHz in this embodiment. As for the specimen 312, any substances such as semiconductors, metal, dielectric, organic materials, living body substances (cells, DNA, and protein), foods and plants become sensing objects. Thus, it is possible to simply examine the characteristics of the terahertz region, with respect to any substances, which could not be conventionally obtained. When the measurement is actually carried out, in order to enhance an S/N ratio, there may be adopted a process in which a sine-wave signal with a frequency equal to or lower than 1 MHz is superimposed on the signal from one of the semiconductor lasers, and on the detector 308 side as well, the signal is mixed with the signal from the same signal source to carry out the synchronous detection. An example of a method including manufacturing this module is shown in FIGS. 11A to 11D. In FIG. 11A, a GaAs layer 320 made of a GaAs crystal is grown on the semi-insulating GaAs substrate 301. At this time, if necessary, the GaAs layer 320 may be grown heterogeneously with AlGaAs, or may be selectively grown plural times while the growth temperature and composition are changed depending on areas. In this case, the undoped GaAs layer which is to be formed through the low temperature growth and which is to constitute the photoconductive switch is finally grown. Thereafter, resist patterning (not shown) is carried out with a photo mask having a pattern 321 through the photolithography process by applying a g-line 323 or the like. In FIG. 11B, induced coupled plasma (ICP) etching using chlorine is carried out with the photo resist as a mask to form the areas of the semiconductor layers 307 and 309. On the other hand, the two semiconductor lasers 303a and 303b are mounted to the predetermined positions, respectively. In FIG. 11C, the insulating resin (polysilane) 302 is applied to form the light-transmissive insulating layer, and i-line exposure is then carried out for an area in which the optical waveguide 304 is intended to be formed using a mask pattern 324. As a result, the optical waveguide 304 is formed since a refractive index difference of about 0.01 is generated in the area of the optical waveguide 304. In FIG. 11D, the electrodes made of Ti/Au are formed by utilizing the lift-off method to complete the module. In such a manner, the optical waveguide 304 and the insulating resin 302 for the electromagnetic wave transmission are made of the same material, whereby it is possible to provide the integrated module which is relatively inexpensive and which is excellent in mass production. While in this embodiment, the co-planar strip line is used as the transmission line for the electromagnetic wave, all integration type transmission lines such as a microstrip line and a co-planar line can be applied. Sixth Embodiment A sixth embodiment according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 14, includes a spiral antenna 351 for radiating an electromagnetic wave ranging from a millimeter wave to a terahertz wave to the space so that a specimen 352 located spatially at a distance from the integrated module can be inspected. A construction of the whole integrated module is nearly the same as that of the fifth embodiment. Thus, the mixing is carried out using two semiconductor lasers, and a terahertz generator 306 for converting an inputted electromagnetic wave into an electromagnetic wave corresponding to a beat frequency, the conductors 305 and 317, a detector 308, and the like are integrated. A spiral antenna 351 is formed in a dielectric structure 350 adapted to be vibrated and a direction of a beam 353 radiated to the space is adapted to be deflected if necessary. In addition, a mechanical switch (not shown) may be provided so as to be able to select whether or not an electric power is supplied from the conductors 305 and 317 to the spiral antenna 351. A reflected wave of the electromagnetic wave applied to the specimen 352 is received by the spiral antenna 351 again to obtain a signal by the detector 308. If the structure 350 having the spiral antenna 351 placed thereon is set so as to be able to be one-dimensionally vibrated, the beam scanning can be carried out and hence a two dimensional reflection image of the specimen 352 can be obtained while the specimen 352 is moved in a direction intersecting perpendicularly the scanning direction. At this time, in order to enhance the directivity of the electromagnetic wave to enhance the spatial resolution of the image, a dielectric lens or a photonic crystal (not shown) may be further placed on the spiral antenna 351. As a result, since the spatial resolution on the order of a wavelength can be obtained, the spatial resolution becomes about 300 μm in case of an electromagnetic wave with a frequency of 1 THz. In order to further enhance the resolution, if a miniature opening having a size equal to or smaller than 1/10 of a wavelength, i.e., an opening having a size equal to or smaller than 30 μm is formed in the above-mentioned lens or photonic crystal using metal or the like, this opening functions as a near-field probe. As a result, an image is obtained through the resolution of about a size of the opening. However, when this near-field probe is used, it is necessary to inspect the specimen 352 in a state in which the specimen 352 is close to the lens or photonic crystal. In such a manner, in this embodiment, the specimen 352 can be inspected in a non-contact manner. In actual, since a terahertz wave is greatly attenuated (about 100 dB/km) while being propagated through the air, the inspection for a specimen having a size equal to or smaller than several meters is practical. In this case, while there is given the example in which all the generation and detection of the electromagnetic wave ranging from a millimeter wave to a terahertz wave are processed using one module, the generator and the detector may be provided in the form of separate modules. In this case, a transmission two-dimensional image of the specimen can be obtained with the generator and the detector disposed so as to face each other. Seventh Embodiment In a seventh embodiment according to the present invention, a terahertz CW beam is not generated with a mixing beam, but an impulse having frequencies ranging over a terahertz region is generated to carry out time domain spectroscopy (TDS). A construction of an integrated module is shown in FIG. 15. A semiconductor mode lock laser 360 is mounted on a substrate 301, and a pulse with a width of about 0.3 psec is emitted from the semiconductor mode lock laser 360 to be coupled to an optical waveguide 361. One of the propagated laser beams is applied to a terahertz generator 306 to be converted into an electromagnetic wave 366 with a pulse width of about 0.5 psec which is in turn propagated through a transmission line. The other of the laser beams obtained through branch in the optical waveguide 361, as indicated by a reference numeral 364, is applied to a detector 363 through an optical delay unit 362. The optical detector 363 is a photoconductive switching element having the same structure of the terahertz generator 306. Thus, in the optical detector 363, only at timing when a laser pulse is applied thereto, photo carriers are generated, and hence a current is caused to flow in correspondence to the magnitude of an electric field of the electromagnetic wave pulse propagated through the transmission line to be detected in the form of a signal. Consequently, an amount of delay in the delay unit 362 is changed to thereby be able to measure a time change of the electric field strength of the terahertz pulse. The delay unit 362 can be constituted by a delay waveguide and an optical switch (not shown), an element for changing a refractive index and the like. As for a detection method, in addition to the method in this embodiment, there may also be adopted a method in which an EO crystal is provided before the optical detector 363 to change a time fluctuation of the terahertz pulse strength into a fluctuation based on a Pockels effect of the EO crystal, and transmitted beam intensity of the beam obtained through the branch of the laser beam from the pulse laser is measured by the optical detector 363. In this embodiment as well, as in the sixth embodiment, the electromagnetic wave pulse is radiated from the spiral antenna 351 to the space to measure the reflected electromagnetic wave from the specimen 352 to check up the impulse response, whereby carrier concentration, permittivity, mobility and the like in the inside of the specimen 352 can be inspected in a non-contact manner. The transmission measurement may also be carried out with two modules of the generator and the detector disposed so as to face each other. These methods are suitable for evaluation of semiconductors, especially, organic semiconductors, and electrically conductive polymeric films. If the specimen is scanned with the beam as in the sixth embodiment, then the two-dimensional distribution in the specimen is also examined. Also, if the delay time is measured, then highly accurate remote position sensing for the specimen also becomes possible. When a width of the terahertz pulse is 0.5 psec, if it is supposed that an amount of delay of about half the pulse width can be detected, then a position in the specimen can be detected with accuracy of 0.5×10−12/2×(3×108)=750 μm. When these TDSs are carried out, if an amount of beam delay is changed on the order of psec to successively carry out trace while the synchronous detection as described in the fifth embodiment is carried out, a high speed electronic circuit may not be necessarily used. Eighth Embodiment In the above-mentioned embodiments, the description has been given with respect to the construction of the miniature integrated module for carrying out the sensing using the electromagnetic wave ranging from the millimeter wave to the terahertz wave. This integrated module can be applied as a device which is more excellent in portability such as two-dimensional transmission or reflection imaging device for inspecting a substance, or a short-distance position sensing radar as described in the related art example. In a case where this integrated module is utilized as the imaging device, a system capable of simply carrying out inspection anywhere without requiring an installation space can be provided as an inspection system for security check of person's belongings or for inspection of an IC card, a fingerprint sensor, or a medical care diagnosis system for diagnosing a blood stream, a skin, eyes or the like. In addition, in a case as well where the integrated module is used for the position sensing, the integrated module can be provided in the form of being incorporated in a portable apparatus. Hence, the integrated module can be applied to a wireless input unit for a display device or a computer, a remote control device, or a pointing device for a game, or the like. FIGS. 16A and 16B are perspective views simply explaining a method including using the sensing system. In FIG. 16A, a card 372 having the above-mentioned integrated module mounted thereto is inserted into an analyzer 370 through an insertion port 371 to allow a specimen placed on the module or located above the module to be analyzed. Or, there may also be adopted a method in which when a memory is installed in a module device and the module device is inserted into the analyzer 370, previously inspected information is analyzed. In addition, there may be adopted a method in which as shown in FIG. 16B, the card having the above-mentioned integrated module mounted thereto is provided with a wireless installation, and information is suitably transmitted to an analyzer through wireless communication 373, a method in which a card having the module mounted thereto is connected to a mobile phone or the like to transmit information to an analyzer, or the like. By adopting such a miniature module using the electromagnetic wave ranging from the millimeter wave to the terahertz wave, it is possible to realize the system which can be readily carried by each individual and with which check of a state of health, check of authentication and security, input of data and positional information to an information apparatus, and the like can be carried out everywhere. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY As set forth hereinabove, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize the high frequency electrical signal control device which serves to carry out the sensing using the electromagnetic wave mainly ranging from the millimeter wave to the terahertz wave and which can be readily constructed as the miniature low-power consumption integrated module or the like which is easy in variable control for a state of propagation of the electromagnetic wave through the space, i.e., in control for radiant intensity and beam deflection of the antenna, turn-ON/turn-OFF and the like. As a result, the high frequency electrical signal control device is applied to a living body information inspection system, a baggage security check system, a transmission/reflection imaging system for carrying out material analysis, a radar system for sensing position information in a wireless manner, a pointing device for inputting data to various information apparatuses, and the like to allow the portability of these apparatuses or systems to be enhanced.

<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>In recent years, there has been developed a nondestructive sensing technique using an electromagnetic wave (its frequency is in a range of 30 GHz to 30 THz) ranging from a millimeter wave to a terahertz wave. As for a technique using the electromagnetic wave having this frequency band, there are developed a technique for carrying out imaging using a safe penetrative inspection system instead of an X-ray system, and a technique for obtaining an absorption spectrum or a complex permittivity of the inside of a substance to evaluate a bonding state of atoms, or concentration or mobility of carriers. In addition, as for a technique using a millimeter wave, there is developed a position sensing technique for a collision safety radar having a frequency in 70 GHz band. For example, as for a two-dimensional imaging system, there is a proposal example in which a system is configured with a millimeter wave generator, an antenna for radiating the millimeter wave, a reception element, a propagation path for the millimeter wave, and the like being used as discrete components (refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-050908). This system is shown in FIG. 8 . This system is designed such that a millimeter wave 116 is radiated from a sinusoidal millimeter wave generator 102 to the space through an antenna 112 , and the millimeter wave 116 having an intensity distribution is received by an electro-optic crystal 110 to be read with a laser beam from a laser 104 . At this time, a phase difference in the millimeter wave caused on the basis of a difference in permittivity of a specimen object 113 is detected by utilizing a synchronism wave detection technique to obtain penetrative imaging excellent in an S/N ratio. On the other hand, as for the position sensing technique, an on-vehicle millimeter wave radar is in a progress of being developed for the purpose of measuring a distance between a forward vehicle and a backward vehicle. As for a proposal example thereof, there is a transmitter-receiver which is constructed in the form of a module as shown in FIG. 9 using a non-radiative dielectric line (NRD) (refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-022424). In this example, a millimeter wave outputted from a millimeter wave oscillator is propagated through an NRD 221 to reach a primary radiator 213 provided in a movable portion 231 through a circulator 219 and couplers 212 and 211 to be received by a horn antenna (not shown) provided above the primary radiator 213 . In this connection, the movable portion 231 is moved to be adapted to carry out the scanning for a radiation directional angle of the millimeter wave. After received by the same horn antenna, the millimeter wave is mixed with a millimeter wave which is obtained by a coupler 221 through the branch of a part of the millimeter wave from the oscillator, in a coupler 223 through the circulator 219 . In such a manner, the millimeter wave concerned is received. From the foregoing, the millimeter module capable of making a detection direction variable is constructed.

<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1 C are views for explaining a construction of an integrated module of a first embodiment of a high frequency electrical signal control device according to the present invention; FIGS. 2A and 2B are views showing an electromagnetic wave analysis example when a switch is in a turn-OFF state in the first embodiment; FIGS. 3A and 3B are views showing an electromagnetic wave analysis example when a switch is in a turn-ON state in the first embodiment; FIGS. 4A and 4B are views for explaining a construction of an integrated module of a second embodiment of the high frequency electrical signal control device according to the present invention; FIGS. 5A and 5B are views for explaining a construction of an integrated module of a third embodiment of the high frequency electrical signal control device according to the present invention; FIG. 6 is a perspective view for explaining a construction of an integrated module of a fourth embodiment of the high frequency electrical signal control device according to the present invention; FIGS. 7A and 7B are perspective views showing examples of controlling directivity of an electromagnetic wave beam in the integrated module of the fourth embodiment according to the present invention; FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a conventional example of a millimeter wave two-dimensional imaging system; FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a conventional example of a transmission/reception unit of a millimeter wave radar system; FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a construction of an integrated module of a fifth embodiment according to the present invention; FIGS. 11A, 11B , 11 C and 11 D are diagrams for explaining processes in a method including manufacturing the integrated module of FIG. 10 ; FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view of an example of a terahertz generator; FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view of an example of a terahertz detector; FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a construction of an integrated module of a sixth embodiment according to the present invention; FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a construction of an integrated module of a seventh embodiment according to the present invention; and FIGS. 16A and 16B are perspective views for explaining a sensing system of an eighth embodiment according to the present invention. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"?

20050701

20091208

20060420

99500.0

G01C1700

LEPISTO, RYAN A

HIGH FREQUENCY ELECTRICAL SIGNAL CONTROL DEVICE AND SENSING SYSTEM

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

G01C

ACCEPTED

Method and system for preventing call drop by restricting overhead message updated in 1x system during 1xev-do traffic state

The present invention relates to a method and system for preventing a call drop by limiting a search time of a 1X system while in traffic with a 1xEV-DO system. The system comprises: a hybrid access terminal, supporting both a 1xEV-DO system and a 1X system, for periodically switching over to the 1X system and receiving an overhead message while in traffic with the 1xEV-DO system, and switching back to the 1xEV-DO system upon receiving a prescribed overhead message a base station transceiver subsystem for exchanging a voice data or a packet data with the hybrid access terminal a mobile switching center for providing a communication path for the hybrid access terminal; and a packet data serving node connected to the 1xEV-DO controller for exchanging the packet data with the 1xEV-DO system.

1. A system for preventing a call drop between a hybrid access terminal and a CDMA 2000 1xEV-DO (Evolution-Data Optimized) system by restricting overhead messages when the hybrid access terminal is periodically switched into a CDMA 2000 1X mode in traffic with the 1xEV-DO system, the system comprising: the hybrid access terminal operated in the 1X mode in relation to a 1X system for receiving a voice signal transmission service or a low-rate data transmission service from the 1X system and in the 1xEV-DO mode in relation to the 1xEV-DO system for receiving a high-rate data transmission service from the 1xEV-DO system, the hybrid access terminal being periodically switched into the 1X mode in traffic with the 1xEV-DO system so as to receive the overhead messages and returning to the 1xEV-DO mode if predetermined essential overhead messages are received; a base station transceiver subsystem including a 1xEV-DO access network transceiver for transmitting/receiving packet data to/from the hybrid access terminal and a 1X transceiver for transmitting/receiving voice or data to/from the hybrid access terminal; a base station controller including a 1xEV-DO access network controller for controlling a packet data transmission service of the 1xEV-DO access network transceiver and a 1X controller for controlling a transmission service of the 1X transceiver; and a packet data serving node (PDSN) connected to the 1xEV-DO access network controller so as to transmit/receive the packet data to/from the 1xEV-DO system. 2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the overhead messages include a system parameter message, an access parameter message, an extended system parameter message, a neighbor list parameter message, and a channel list parameter message. 3. The system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the predetermined essential overhead messages include the system parameter message and the access parameter message. 4. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein, when all overhead essential messages are received in the hybrid access terminal, the hybrid access terminal stops message receiving work and returns to the 1xEV-DO mode. 5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hybrid access terminal is set as the 1X mode in an idle state thereof in order to make communication with the 1X system and is periodically switched into the 1xEV-DO mode in a predetermined period of time so as to check whether or not data are received through the 1xEV-DO system and returns to the 1X mode. 6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hybrid access terminal receiving high-rate data from the 1xEV-DO system in the 1xEV-DO mode is periodically switched into the 1X mode in a predetermined period of time so as to check whether or not signals are received through the 1X system and returns to the 1xEV-DO mode. 7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a TDMA (time division multiple access) method is utilized in a case of a forward link transmitting data from the 1xEV-DO system to the hybrid access terminal, and a CDMA (code division multiple access) method is utilized in a case of a reverse link transmitting data from the hybrid access terminal to the 1xEV-DO system. 8. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein a hard handoff is carried out in case of the forward link by transmitting data with maximum power without performing power control, and a soft handoff is carried out in case of the reverse link while performing the power control with respect to each hybrid access terminal. 9. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hybrid access terminal is switched from the 1xEV-DO mode into the 1X mode by tracking frequency of the 1X system using a searcher module under the control of a mobile station modem (MSM) chip. 10. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the forward link includes a pilot channel used for transmitting a pilot signal allowing the 1xEV-DO system to track the hybrid access terminal, a MAC (medium access control) channel used for controlling the reverse link, a control channel used for transmitting a broadcast message or a direct message for directly controlling a specific hybrid access terminal from the 1xEV-DO system to the hybrid access terminal, and a traffic channel used for transmitting only packet data from the 1xEV-DO system to the hybrid access terminal. 11. A method for preventing a call drop between a hybrid access terminal and a 1xEV-DO (Evolution-Data Optimized) system by restricting overhead messages when the hybrid access terminal in traffic with the 1xEV-DO system is periodically switched into a 1X mode, the method comprising the steps of: (a) sequentially initializing the 1X mode and a 1xEV-DO mode of the hybrid access terminal such that the hybrid access terminal stays in an idle state; (b) performing dual monitoring with respect to the 1X mode and the 1xEV-DO mode by using the hybrid access terminal in a state that the hybrid access terminal stays in the idle state; (c) allowing the hybrid access terminal to enter into a traffic state of the 1xEV-DO mode such that a connection and a session are established between the hybrid access terminal and the EV-DO system, thereby enabling the hybrid access terminal to transmit/receive packet data to/from the EV-DO system; (d) switching the hybrid access terminal into the 1x mode if a predetermined monitoring time lapses; (e) switching the hybrid access terminal into the 1x mode and allowing the hybrid access terminal to receive the overhead messages; and (f) allowing the hybrid access terminal to return to the 1xEV-DO mode if the hybrid access terminal receives all predetermined essential overhead messages. 12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein, in step (a), the hybrid access terminal initializes the 1xEV-DO mode by using system parameters obtained when initializing the 1X mode. 13. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein, in step (d), the predetermined monitoring time is 5.12 seconds, which is counted after the hybrid access terminal returns to the 1xEV-DO mode. 14. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein, in step (d), switching the hybrid access terminal into the—1x mode is performed through a searcher module, which tracks frequencies used in the 1X system under a control of an MSM chip accommodated in the hybrid access terminal. 15. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein, in step (e), the hybrid access terminal demodulates the received overhead messages to store the demodulated overhead messages in a predetermined memory. 16. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein, in step (f), the essential overhead messages include a system parameter message and an access parameter message. 17. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein, in step (f), an operation of allowing the hybrid access terminal to return to the 1xEV-DO mode is performed through a searcher module, which tracks frequencies used in the 1xEV-DO system under a control of an MSM chip accommodated in the hybrid access terminal. 18. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the hybrid access terminal uses the essential overhead messages received and stored during a previous search of the 1X system for a next search of the 1X system. 19. A hybrid access terminal which returns to a 1xEV-DO mode if predetermined conditions are satisfied by checking overhead messages received therein after being switched into a 1X mode, the hybrid access terminal comprising: a timer repeatedly measuring a monitoring time in order to perform dual monitoring between a 1xEV-DO system and a 1X system; a searcher module for tracking and converting frequency so as to perform the switching of the hybrid access terminal between the 1X mode and the 1xEV-DO mode in hardware, and receiving an overhead message; a finger module for demodulating the overhead message received through the searcher module; and an MSM (mobile station modem) chip for controlling the switching through software, controlling transmission/receiving of data between the hybrid access terminal and the 1X system and the 1xEV-DO system, and controlling the hybrid access terminal in such a manner that the hybrid access terminal returns to the 1xEV-DO mode if a predetermined essential overhead messages are received when the hybrid access terminal has been switched into the 1X mode. 20. The hybrid access terminal as claimed in claim 19, wherein the hybrid access terminal searches frequencies used in the 1X system or the 1xEV-DO system according to a predetermined monitoring period so as to be operated in the 1X mode or 1xEV-DO mode. 21. The hybrid access terminal as claimed in claim 19, wherein the hybrid access terminal demodulates the received essential overhead messages to store the demodulated essential overhead messages in a predetermined memory. 22. The hybrid access terminal as claimed in claim 19, wherein the hybrid access terminal uses the essential overhead messages received and stored during a previous search of the 1X system for a next search of the 1X system. 23. The hybrid access terminal as claimed in claim 19, wherein the hybrid access terminal, which stores the essential overhead messages, returns to a state allowing the hybrid access terminal to respond to a voice call from the 1X system or perform a location register in the 1X system if the hybrid access terminal receives remaining overhead messages.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method and a system for preventing a call drop by restricting a number of overhead messages updated by a hybrid access terminal (HAT) switched in to a 1X mode during a 1xEX-DO traffic state, and more particularly to a method and a system capable of specifying overhead messages of the 1X system, which are updated by the hybrid access terminal in traffic with a 1xEX-DO system in a predetermined period of time, and capable of preventing the call drop of the hybrid access terminal from the 1xEV-DO system by allowing the hybrid access terminal to automatically return to a 1xEV-DO mode if the hybrid access terminal receives only the overhead messages having specified type and number. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Mobile communication systems have been greatly advanced through 1st generation analog-type advanced mobile phone systems (AMPS) and 2nd generation cellular/personal communication service (PCS) systems. Recently, international mobile telecommunication-2000 (IMT-2000) systems have been developed and widely used as 3rd generation high-rate data communication systems. The 3GPP2 (3rd generation partnership project2), which is a collaborative international standardization group, offers standards of a CDMA IMT-2000 system for the IMT-2000 system in order to provide multimedia mobile communication services. According to the above standards, a high rate packet data system based on HDR (high data rate) proposed by Qualcom Incorporated has been decided as an international standard high rate packet data system called “1xEV (evolution)”. A CDMA 2000 1xEV-DO (data optimized or data only) system is upgraded from a CDMA 2000 1X system and is designed to transmit only data. In the following description, the CDMA 2000 1X system is simply referred to as “1X system” and the CDMA 2000 1xEV-DO system is simply referred to as “1xEV-DO system” for the convenience of explanation. The 1X system utilizes both circuit networks and packet networks and provides high-rate data services with a maximum transmission rate of 307.2 Kbps. On the contrary, the 1xEV-DO system is dedicated for packet data and provides high-rate packet data services with a maximum transmission rate of 2.4 Mbps. Currently, the 1xEV-DO system has been used together with the conventional 1X system. That is, both 1xEV-DO system and conventional 1X system are installed in one wireless base station or a base station controller even though they are separately operated from each other. In other words, a transceiver of the wireless base station includes a channel card for the 1xEV-DO system and a channel card for the 1X system, respectively. In addition, the base station controller includes a data processing board for processing packet data transmitted from the 1xEV-DO system and a data processing board for processing data transmitted from the 1X system, respectively. High-rate data are transmitted to a mobile communication terminal from a mobile communication system, such as the wireless base station or the base station controller, through the 1xEV-DO system. In addition, voice signals or low-rate data are transmitted to the communication terminal through the 1X system. A hybrid access terminal capable of receiving communication services transmitted from the mobile communication system having both 1xEV-DO system and 1X system may periodically monitor each of the 1xEV-DO and 1X systems in a predetermined period of time. That is, the hybrid access terminal periodically and alternately searches the 1xEV-DO and 1X systems in an idle mode thereof and periodically searches the 1X system when the hybrid access terminal is in traffic with the 1xEV-DO system. Particularly, the hybrid access terminal in traffic with the 1xEV-DO system periodically accesses to the 1X system and updates system resources, such as system messages and access messages, in order to respond to low-data call signals, such as voice call-accepted signals and short messages, which may be transmitted to the hybrid access terminal from the 1X system. However, the hybrid access terminal must stay in the 1X system until the system resources have been completely updated whenever the hybrid access terminal periodically accesses to the 1X system even if the hybrid access terminal is in traffic with the 1xEV-DO system. In addition, the 1xEV-DO system may perform a call drop operation if the 1xEV-DO system does not receive a signal from the hybrid access terminal within a predetermined period of time (for example, 5.12 seconds) when the hybrid access terminal is in traffic with the 1xEV-DO system. That is, regardless of reasons thereof, if the 1xEV-DO system detects no signal from the hybrid access terminal within the predetermined period of time, the 1xEV-DO system performs the call drop operation with respect to the hybrid access terminal in order to efficiently utilize the system resources. However, currently used 1xEV-DO systems have structures, which do not provide a user with reasons for the call drop operation. In other words, the 1xEV-DO system does not provide the user with information allowing the user to find a precise reason for the call drop operation, even though the call drop operation may happen in various situations, such as when the hybrid access terminal making a call-connection with the 1xEV-DO system is shifted into a wave shadow zone, when a communication system malfunctions, or when the hybrid access terminal is switched into the 1X system. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and a system capable of specifying overhead messages of the 1X system, which are updated by the hybrid access terminal in traffic with a 1xEX-DO system in a predetermined period of time, and capable of preventing the call drop of the hybrid access terminal from the 1xEV-DO system by allowing the hybrid access terminal to automatically return to a 1xEV-DO mode if the hybrid access terminal receives only the overhead messages having specified type and number. In order to accomplish this object, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for preventing a call drop between a 1xEV-DO (Evolution-Data Optimized) system and a hybrid access terminal in traffic with the 1xEV-DO system by restricting overhead messages, the system comprising: the hybrid access terminal operated in the 1X mode in relation to a 1X system for receiving a voice signal transmission service or a low-rate data transmission service from the 1X system and in the 1xEV-DO mode in relation to the 1xEV-DO system for receiving a high-rate data transmission service from the 1xEV-DO system, the hybrid access terminal being periodically switched into the 1X mode in traffic with the 1xEV-DO system so as to receive the overhead messages and returning to the 1xEV-DO mode if predetermined essential overhead messages are received; a base station transceiver subsystem including a 1xEV-DO access network transceiver for transmitting/receiving packet data to/from the hybrid access terminal and a 1X transceiver for transmitting/receiving voice or data to/from the hybrid access terminal; a base station controller including a 1xEV-DO access network controller for controlling a packet data transmission service of the 1xEV-DO access network transceiver and a 1X controller for controlling a transmission service of the 1X transceiver; and a packet data serving node (PDSN) connected to the 1xEV-DO access network controller so as to transmit/receive the packet data to/from the 1xEV-DO system. In order to accomplish this object, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for preventing a call drop between a 1xEV-DO (Evolution-Data Optimized) system and. a hybrid access terminal in traffic with the 1xEV-DO system by restricting overhead messages, the method comprising the steps of: (a) sequentially initializing the 1X mode and a 1xEV-DO mode of the hybrid access terminal such that the hybrid access terminal stays in an idle state; (b) performing dual monitoring with respect to the 1X mode and the 1xEV-DO mode by using the hybrid access terminal in a state that the hybrid access terminal stays in the idle state; (c) allowing the hybrid access terminal to enter into a traffic state of the 1xEV-DO mode such that a connection and a session are established between the hybrid access terminal and the EV-DO system, thereby enabling the hybrid access terminal to transmit/receive packet data to/from the EV-DO system; (d) switching the hybrid access terminal into the 1x mode if a predetermined monitoring time lapses; (e) switching the hybrid access terminal into the 1x mode and allowing the hybrid access terminal to receive the overhead messages; and (f) allowing the hybrid access terminal to return to the 1xEV-DO mode if the hybrid access terminal receives all predetermined essential overhead messages. In order to accomplish this object, according to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hybrid access terminal which returns to a 1xEV-DO mode if predetermined conditions are satisfied by checking overhead messages received therein after being switched into a 1X mode, the hybrid access terminal comprising: a timer repeatedly measuring a monitoring time in order to perform dual monitoring between a 1xEV-DO system and a 1X system; a searcher module for tracking and converting frequency so as to perform the switching of the hybrid access terminal between the 1X mode and the 1xEV-DO mode in hardware, and receiving an overhead message; and a finger module for demodulating the overhead message received through the searcher module; and an MSM (mobile station modem) chip for controlling the switching through software, controlling transmission/receiving of data between the hybrid access terminal and the 1X system and the 1xEV-DO system, and controlling the hybrid access terminal in such a manner that the hybrid access terminal returns to the 1xEV-DO mode if a predetermined essential overhead messages are received when the hybrid access terminal has been switched into the 1X mode. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic block view showing a system for reducing a call drop by restricting overhead messages updated by a hybrid access terminal in a 1X mode according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; FIGS. 2A and 2B are block views showing a channel structure of a forward link for transmitting data to a hybrid access terminal through a 1xEV-DO access network transceiver subsystem; FIG. 3 is a block view showing a channel structure of a reverse link for transmitting data to a 1xEV-DO system from a hybrid access terminal; and FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a procedure of reducing a call drop by restricting overhead messages updated by a hybrid access terminal switched into a 1X mode during a 1xEV-DO traffic state according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention. In the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear. FIG. 1 is a schematic block view showing a system for reducing a call drop by restricting overhead messages updated by a hybrid access terminal 110 in a 1X mode according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the system 100 of the present invention includes both 1xEV-DO system and 1X system. That is, the system 100 has the 1X system making communication with a hybrid access terminal 110 and consisting of a 1X transceiver 122, a 1X controller 132, and a mobile switching center (MSC) 140 in order to transmit voice and data. In addition, the system 100 has the 1xEV-DO system making communication with the hybrid access terminal 110 and consisting of a 1xEV-DO access network transceiver subsystem (ANTS) 124, a 1xEV-DO access network controller (ANC) 134, a packet data serving node (hereinafter, simply referred to as PDSN) 150, and an IP (internet protocol) network in order to transmit data only. The hybrid access terminal 110 is divided into two parts so that the hybrid access terminal 110 can receive a voice service and a low-rate data service from the 1X system and receive a high-rate data service from the 1xEV-DO system, separately. The hybrid access terminal 110 is switched into a 1X mode when the hybrid access terminal 110 is in an idle state in such a manner that the hybrid access terminal 110 can make communication with the 1X system. In this state, the hybrid access terminal 110 is periodically switched into a 1xEV-DO mode in a predetermined period of time so as to check whether or not data are received through the 1xEV-DO system and returns to the 1X mode. According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the hybrid access terminal 110 in traffic with the 1xEV-DO system is switched into the 1X mode (which is called “switch”) and is again switched into the 1xEV-DO mode (which is called “return”). The switch and return functions between the 1xEV-DO system and the 1X system are controlled by means of software stored in a mobile station modem (MSM) chip, which is a kind of a baseband modem chip accommodated in the hybrid access terminal 110. In addition, the switch and return functions are achieved by tracking frequencies of each network using a searcher connected to the MSM chip. That is, when the hybrid access terminal 110 is switched from the 1xEV-DO mode into the 1X mode, a searcher module tracks the frequency of the 1X system under the control of the MSM chip. In addition, when the hybrid access terminal 110 returns to the 1xEV-DO mode from the 1X mode, the searcher module tracks the frequency of the 1xEV-DO system. When the hybrid access terminal 110 receives data from the 1xEV-DO system in the 1xEV-DO mode, a great amount of data may be received in the hybrid access terminal 110 since the hybrid access terminal 110 receives high-rate data in the 1xEV-DO mode. Accordingly, in a case of a forward link for transmitting data from an access network (AN) to the hybrid access terminal 110, channels divided through a CDMA (code division multiple access) method may transmit data through time slots, which are divided through a TDM (time division multiplexing) method. On the contrary, in a case of a reverse link for transmitting data from the hybrid access terminal 110 to the 1xEV-DO access network transceiver subsystem 124 and the 1xEV-DO access network controller 134, data are transmitted through a conventional CDMA method for a plurality of subscribers. In addition, the hybrid access terminal 110 receiving data in traffic with the 1xEV-DO mode is periodically switched into the 1X mode in a predetermined period of time so as to check whether or not signals, such as voice signals, are received through the 1X system and returns to the 1xEV-DO mode. At this time, the hybrid access terminal 110, which has been switched into the 1X mode, receives and updates overhead messages transferred from the 1X system in order to perform a voice call and a location register of the 1X system. Herein, the overhead messages, which are received and updated by the hybrid access terminal 110 in the 1X mode, includes a system parameter message, an access parameter message, an extended system parameter message, a neighbor list parameter message, a channel list parameter message, and so on. The system parameter message includes an NID (network ID), an SCI (slot cycle index), a packet zone ID, and so on, which are required for receiving a call. The access parameter message includes information required by the hybrid access terminal 110 in order to access to the 1X system from the 1xEV-DO system. The extended system parameter message includes system parameters, which are added when an IS (interim standard)-95B system has been upgraded to the 1X system. Also, the neighbor list parameter message includes information about cell IDs of neighbor cells adjacent to a cell, in which the hybrid access terminal 110 is located. The channel list parameter message includes information about frequency channels allowing the hybrid access terminal 110 to transmit/receive data or voices after the hybrid access terminal 110 sets up a call. That is, the hybrid access terminal 110, which has been switched from the 1xEV-DO mode into the 1X mode, stays in the 1X mode until updating all overhead messages described above. If the hybrid access terminal 110 does not respond to a pilot channel within a predetermined time (for example, 5.12 seconds), the 1xEV-DO system in traffic with the hybrid access terminal 110, drops a call set by the 1xEV-DO system and the hybrid access terminal 110. Therefore, according to the spirit of the present invention, if the hybrid access terminal 110 receives only a predetermined minimum of overhead messages required in order to respond to a call request of the 1X system without receiving all overhead messages, the hybrid access terminal 110 can return to the 1xEV-DO mode. Accordingly, the hybrid access terminal prevents the call drop performed by the 1xEV-DO system. In other words, the hybrid access terminal 110 stores information about essential overhead messages required for returning to the 1xEV-DO mode from the “switch” state in which the hybrid access terminal 110 is switched into the 1X mode in an internal memory thereof. In detail, the hybrid access terminal 110 forcefully returns to the 1xEV-DO mode from the 1X mode through the MSM chip, the searcher module, and the finger module accommodated in the hybrid access terminal 110. The MSM chip has functions of processing and controlling various operations, which occur in the hybrid access terminal 110. Also, the MSM chip controls various data, which are transmitted/received or inputted/outputted between users, which input voices thereof or values of key buttons, and the hybrid access terminal 110, the 1xEV-DO system, or the 1X system. In addition, the MSM chip includes a central processing unit (CPU), and a vocoder for coding voices. Accordingly, when the hybrid access terminal 110 is in traffic with the 1xEV-DO system, the MSM chip performs a monitoring operation with respect to the 1X system with periodic time interval by using software therein. Such a monitoring operation is achieved through the searcher module. That is, the searcher module performs the monitoring operation by tracking frequency of the 1X system with a predetermined time interval under the control of the MSM chip. Meanwhile, overhead messages received when the searcher module monitors the 1x system are delivered to the MSM chip. The MSM chip sends the overhead messages received from the searcher module to the finger module. The finger module receiving the overhead messages from the MSM chip demodulates the overhead messages by using a CDMA demodulation method. Also, a TDMA demodulation method is used for modulation data or modulation signals received when the searcher module monitors the 1xEV-DO system. The MSM chip, which receives the demodulated overhead messages from the finger module, determines whether or not a list of essential overhead messages stored therein is received. The list of the essential overhead messages according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes the system parameter message and the access system parameter message, which are required in order to respond to a call of the 1X system, from among the various overhead messages described above. One or more overhead messages from among overhead messages except for the essential overhead messages can be added to the list of the essential overhead messages. Meanwhile, if the MEM chip determines that all predetermined essential overhead messages are received, the MEM chip directly returns to the 1xEV-DO system from the 1X system regardless of receiving the overhead messages except for the essential overhead messages, thereby preventing the call drop between the hybrid access terminal 110 and the 1xEV-DO system. Herein, after the hybrid access terminal 110 is switched into the 1X mode, the hybrid access terminal 110 stores overhead messages, which are received in and demodulated by the hybrid access terminal 110, in a memory thereof. Accordingly, when the hybrid access terminal 110 returns to the 1xEV-DO mode so as to operate in traffic with the 1xEV-DO system and is switched into the 1X system again after a predetermined time (for example 5.12 seconds) lapses, the hybrid access terminal 110 can re-use the overhead messages obtained through a previous 1X system search operation. In other words, if the hybrid access terminal 110 receives only remaining overhead messages except for the essential overhead messages which are obtained through the previous 1X system search operation, the hybrid access terminal 110 can perform a call process in the 1X system. Overhead messages to be updated by the hybrid access terminal 110 are restricted within a predetermined range of the essential overhead messages in the same manner as described above, thereby allowing the hybrid access terminal 110 to stay in the 1X system in a short period of time as possible. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the number of call drop states and the possibility of the call drop between the hybrid access terminal 110 and the 1xEV-DO system. The 1X transceiver 122 and the 1xEV-DO access network transceiver subsystem 124 form a base station transceiver subsystem (BTS) 120 so as to provide mobile communication services including voice and data to the hybrid access terminal 110 through an air interface. That is, the base station transceiver subsystem 120 transmits voice or data to the hybrid access terminal 110 through the 1X transceiver 122 and transmits only packet data to the hybrid access terminal 110 through the 1xEV-DO access network transceiver subsystem 124. The 1X controller 132 and the 1xEV-DO access network controller 134 form a base station controller (BSC) 130 for controlling an operation of the base station transceiver subsystem 120. That is, the 1X controller 132 for controlling transmission of voice or data sends voice and/or data transmitted from the 1X transceiver 122 to the mobile switching center 140 and the 1xEV-DO access network controller 134 sends data transmitted from the 1xEV-DO access network transceiver subsystem 124 to the PDSN 150. The mobile switching center 140 physically connects a plurality of 1X controllers 132 to another mobile switching center or to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) 146 so as to provide a communication access route of the 1X system with respect to a communication call transmitted from the hybrid access terminal 110. In addition, the mobile switching center 140 processes call signals of subscribers by obtaining profile information of the hybrid access terminal 110 from a home location register (hereinafter, simply referred to as “HLR”) 132, which is a database storing information of hybrid access terminals registered in the mobile switching center 140, and a visitor location register (hereinafter, simply referred to as “VLR”) 134, which is a database storing information of hybrid access terminals 110 located in a region of the VLR 134. Herein, profile information includes a mobile identification numbers (MIN), an electrical serial number (ESN), and supplementary services. The 1xEV-DO system, which is a high-rate packet data system, is connected to the PDSN 150 based on TCP/IP so as to transmit/receive various data in the form of IP packets to/from an IP network 160. In addition, the 1xEV-DO system receives packet data from the IP network 160 and transmits the packet data to the hybrid access terminal 110 through time slots, which are divided through a TDM method. In addition, the 1xEV-DO system receives CDMA data, which are modulated through a CDMA method, from the hybrid access terminal 110, creates packet data by using the CDMA data, and transmits the packet data to the PDSN 150. In a case of a forward link, the 1xEV-DO system transmits data with maximum power thereof without using a power control of a wireless base station while providing only a hard handoff function. However, in a case of a reverse link, the power control is carried out in each terminal while providing a soft handoff function as well as the hard handoff function. FIGS. 2A and 2B are block views showing a channel structure of the forward link for transmitting data to the hybrid access terminal 110 through a 1xEV-DO access network transceiver subsystem. As shown in FIG. 2A, the forward link includes a pilot channel, a medium access control (MAC) channel, a control channel, and a traffic channel. The pilot channel is provided to transmit a pilot signal for allowing the 1xEV-DO system to track the hybrid access terminal 110. The hybrid access terminal 110 receives at least one pilot signal through the pilot channel and accesses to a wireless base station, which has transmitted a pilot signal having greatest intensity. In addition, the pilot channel is used as a reference for coherent detection of the wireless base station having the 1xEV-DO system by means of the hybrid access terminal 110. The MAC channel is mainly used for controlling the reverse link and includes a reverse activity (RA) channel and a reverse power control (RPC) channel. Herein, the RA channel is used for determining a transmission rate of the reverse link. In addition, the RA channel may be used for requesting the hybrid access terminal 110 to decrease the transmission rate when channels of the reverse link are saturated. In addition, the RPC channel is used for controlling transmission power when the hybrid access terminal 110 transmits signals or data through the reverse link. The control channel is used for transmitting a broadcast message from the 1xEV-DO system to the hybrid access terminal 110 or for transmitting a direct message in order to directly control a specific hybrid access terminal. The traffic channel is used when the 1xEV-DO system transmits only packet data to the hybrid access terminal 110. Hereinafter, a time slot structure and a data structure in the forward link will be described with reference to FIG. 2B. Firstly, the forward link includes 16 time slots per one frame having a time interval about 26.67 ms. In addition, each of the time slots includes 1024 chips in a first half slot and 1024 chips in a second half slot, that is, total 2048 chips. In addition, a time interval of 1.67 ms is allotted to each time slot. In detail, each of the first half slot and second half slot includes 400 chips of a data slot, 64 chips of a MAC slot, 96 chips of a pilot slot, 64 chips of a MAC slot and 400 chips of a data slot. FIG. 3 is a block view showing a channel structure of the reverse link for transmitting data to the 1xEV-DO system from the hybrid access terminal 110. The reverse link shown in FIG. 3 may use a CDMA method in the same manner as the 1X system and mainly include an access channel and a traffic channel. The access channel has a pilot channel and a data channel and the traffic channel has a pilot channel, MAC channel, an Ack channel, and a data channel. Herein, the MAC channel is again divided into a reverse rate indicator (RRI) channel and a data rate control (DRC) channel. The access channel is used for transmitting an origination connection_request message, and a registration route_update message. The access channel has a low transmission rate of 9.6 kbps for stability of a wireless channel. Similar to the pilot channel in the forward link shown in FIG. 2A, the pilot channel shown in FIG. 3 is used as a reference for coherent detection of the wireless base station having the 1xEV-DO system by means of the hybrid access terminal 110. The data channel is used for transmitting data required for the hybrid access terminal 110 to access to the 1xEV-DO system. The traffic channel is used when the hybrid access terminal 110 transmits packet data to the 1xEV-DO system. The traffic channel provides various data transmission rates depending on wireless communication environment. The pilot channel performs a function identical to the function of the pilot channel, which has been described with reference to the access channel. The MAC channel is used for controlling a data transmission rate of the traffic channel, so the MAC channel continuously exists while the hybrid access terminal 110 is being connected to the 1xEV-DO system. The RRI channel of the MAC channel is used for representing information of the data transmission rate of the traffic channel when the hybrid access terminal 110 transmits data through the traffic channel. An RRI value is displayed in the hybrid access terminal 110. In addition, the DRC channel determines a data rate, which can be demodulated, depending on channel environment of the forward link and notifies the base station of the data rate. That is, the 1xEV-DO access network transceiver subsystem 124 transmits packet data to the hybrid access terminal 110 by using time slots of the forward link. At this time, a basis for determining the transmission rate of packet data is the DRC cover value transmitted by the hybrid access terminal 110. In order to determine the DRC cover value, the hybrid access terminal 110 measures a C/I (carrier to interference) value transmitted from the 1xEV-DO access network transceiver subsystem 124 and determines the DCR cover value for the maximum transmission rate. The Ack channel is used for transmitting a response signal for data received in the hybrid access terminal 110 through the forward link in a time slot unit. The Ack channel is adaptable for data having a short length and corresponds to a half of a length of a time slot so as to reduce interference. The data channel is used when the hybrid access terminal 110 transfers only the packet data similarly to the data channel of the access channel. Meanwhile, a packet, which is a basic transmission unit of the traffic channel, has a length of 26.66 ms, and a transmission bit rate thereof is varied depending on sizes of the packet. The pilot channel, traffic channel, DRC channel and the Ack channel are discriminated from each other by using a Walsh Code, which is an orthogonal code. FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a procedure of reducing the call drop by restricting overhead messages updated by the hybrid access terminal 110 switched into the 1X mode during the 1xEV-DO traffic state according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. When the hybrid access terminal 110 is powered on by a user, the hybrid access terminal 110 receives the pilot signals from the 1X controller 132 and the 1X transceiver 122 of the 1X system so that the 1X mode is initialized and the hybrid access terminal 110 is maintained in an idle state. In addition, the hybrid access terminal 110 initializes the 1xEV-DO mode by using a system parameter message obtained when initializing the 1X mode, and the pilot signals transmitted from the 1xEV-DO access network controller 134 and the 1xEV-DO access network transceiver subsystem 124, and then, the hybrid access terminal 110 is maintained in the idle state (S400). The hybrid access terminal 110 initializing both 1X mode and 1xEV-DO mode performs a dual monitoring between the 1X mode and the 1xEV-DO mode (S402). Meanwhile, when the hybrid access terminal 110 performs the dual monitoring with respect to both 1X system and 1xEV-DO system in the idle state, if data are transmitted to the hybrid access terminal 110 from the 1xEV-DO access network transceiver subsystem 124 or the user requests data to the 1xEV-DO system by operating key buttons of the hybrid access terminal 110, it is checked whether or not the 1xEV-DO mode is activated and the hybrid access terminal 110 is entered into a traffic state for receiving/transmitting data (S404). The hybrid access terminal 110 must establish a connection and a session with the 1xEV-DO access network transceiver subsystem 124 in such a manner that the hybrid access terminal 110 enters into the traffic state and transmit/receive data to/from the 1xEV-DO access network transceiver subsystem 124. If the hybrid access terminal 110 enters into the traffic state of the 1xEV-DO mode in step S404, the hybrid access terminal 110 transmits/receives packet data to/from the 1xEV-DO system (S406). While transmitting/receiving packet data into/from the 1xEV-DO system in the traffic state of step 406, the hybrid access terminal 110 checks whether or not a predetermined monitoring time (for example, 5.12 seconds) lapses by using a timer accommodated in the hybrid access terminal 110 in order to periodically search the 1X system (S408). If the hybrid access terminal 110 determines that the predetermined monitoring time lapses in step S408, the hybrid access terminal 110 is switched into the 1X mode (S410). In detail, the hybrid access terminal 110 is switched into the 1X mode by operations of the MSM chip and the searcher module accommodated therein. In this state, the hybrid access terminal 110 receives and demodulates overhead messages by searching the 1X system in such a manner that the hybrid access terminal 110 can respond to a call from the 1X system (S410). The MSM chip of the hybrid access terminal 110, which receives the overhead messages in step S410, continuously checks whether or not all predetermined essential overhead messages are received (S412). If the hybrid access terminal 110 determines that all predetermined essential overhead messages have been received in step 412, the hybrid access terminal 110 does not receive other overhead messages and returns to the 1xEV-DO mode (S414). Surely, the hybrid access terminal 110, which transmits/receives packet data by returning to the 1xEV-DO mode, returns to step 410 again after the predetermined monitoring time lapses so as to continuously repeat steps 410 to 414. According to one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to solve a problem of a call drop, which occur between the hybrid access terminal 110 and the 1xEV-DO system while the hybrid access terminal 110 is receiving overhead messages for a call response or a location register of the 1X system in a traffic state for making data communication with the 1xEV-DO system, without using resources of the 1X system or the 1xEV-DO system While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment and the drawings, but, on the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and variations within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION As can be seen from the foregoing, a call drop problem conventionally happens due to various kinds of reasons when a hybrid access terminal searches a 1X system in a traffic state between the hybrid access terminal and a 1xEV-DO system. However, according to the present invention, the hybrid access terminal can rapidly return to the 1xEV-DO mode as possible by restricting the sorts or the number of overhead messages_to be updated by the hybrid access terminal in the 1X mode, so that it is possible to solve the call drop problem. In addition, according to the present invention, the hybrid access terminal itself checks whether or not a predetermined essential overhead messages are received and returns to the 1xEV-DO system without using resources of the 1X system and the 1xEV-DO system, thereby preventing waste of communication resources and the 1xEV-DO system from being subject to overload.

<SOH> FIELD OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The present invention relates to a method and a system for preventing a call drop by restricting a number of overhead messages updated by a hybrid access terminal (HAT) switched in to a 1X mode during a 1xEX-DO traffic state, and more particularly to a method and a system capable of specifying overhead messages of the 1X system, which are updated by the hybrid access terminal in traffic with a 1xEX-DO system in a predetermined period of time, and capable of preventing the call drop of the hybrid access terminal from the 1xEV-DO system by allowing the hybrid access terminal to automatically return to a 1xEV-DO mode if the hybrid access terminal receives only the overhead messages having specified type and number.

<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and a system capable of specifying overhead messages of the 1X system, which are updated by the hybrid access terminal in traffic with a 1xEX-DO system in a predetermined period of time, and capable of preventing the call drop of the hybrid access terminal from the 1xEV-DO system by allowing the hybrid access terminal to automatically return to a 1xEV-DO mode if the hybrid access terminal receives only the overhead messages having specified type and number. In order to accomplish this object, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for preventing a call drop between a 1xEV-DO (Evolution-Data Optimized) system and a hybrid access terminal in traffic with the 1xEV-DO system by restricting overhead messages, the system comprising: the hybrid access terminal operated in the 1X mode in relation to a 1X system for receiving a voice signal transmission service or a low-rate data transmission service from the 1X system and in the 1xEV-DO mode in relation to the 1xEV-DO system for receiving a high-rate data transmission service from the 1xEV-DO system, the hybrid access terminal being periodically switched into the 1X mode in traffic with the 1xEV-DO system so as to receive the overhead messages and returning to the 1xEV-DO mode if predetermined essential overhead messages are received; a base station transceiver subsystem including a 1xEV-DO access network transceiver for transmitting/receiving packet data to/from the hybrid access terminal and a 1X transceiver for transmitting/receiving voice or data to/from the hybrid access terminal; a base station controller including a 1xEV-DO access network controller for controlling a packet data transmission service of the 1xEV-DO access network transceiver and a 1X controller for controlling a transmission service of the 1X transceiver; and a packet data serving node (PDSN) connected to the 1xEV-DO access network controller so as to transmit/receive the packet data to/from the 1xEV-DO system. In order to accomplish this object, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for preventing a call drop between a 1xEV-DO (Evolution-Data Optimized) system and. a hybrid access terminal in traffic with the 1xEV-DO system by restricting overhead messages, the method comprising the steps of: (a) sequentially initializing the 1X mode and a 1xEV-DO mode of the hybrid access terminal such that the hybrid access terminal stays in an idle state; (b) performing dual monitoring with respect to the 1X mode and the 1xEV-DO mode by using the hybrid access terminal in a state that the hybrid access terminal stays in the idle state; (c) allowing the hybrid access terminal to enter into a traffic state of the 1xEV-DO mode such that a connection and a session are established between the hybrid access terminal and the EV-DO system, thereby enabling the hybrid access terminal to transmit/receive packet data to/from the EV-DO system; (d) switching the hybrid access terminal into the 1x mode if a predetermined monitoring time lapses; (e) switching the hybrid access terminal into the 1x mode and allowing the hybrid access terminal to receive the overhead messages; and (f) allowing the hybrid access terminal to return to the 1xEV-DO mode if the hybrid access terminal receives all predetermined essential overhead messages. In order to accomplish this object, according to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hybrid access terminal which returns to a 1xEV-DO mode if predetermined conditions are satisfied by checking overhead messages received therein after being switched into a 1X mode, the hybrid access terminal comprising: a timer repeatedly measuring a monitoring time in order to perform dual monitoring between a 1xEV-DO system and a 1X system; a searcher module for tracking and converting frequency so as to perform the switching of the hybrid access terminal between the 1X mode and the 1xEV-DO mode in hardware, and receiving an overhead message; and a finger module for demodulating the overhead message received through the searcher module; and an MSM (mobile station modem) chip for controlling the switching through software, controlling transmission/receiving of data between the hybrid access terminal and the 1X system and the 1xEV-DO system, and controlling the hybrid access terminal in such a manner that the hybrid access terminal returns to the 1xEV-DO mode if a predetermined essential overhead messages are received when the hybrid access terminal has been switched into the 1X mode.

20060424

20080701

20061102

97582.0

H04Q720

ZEWARI, SAYED T

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PREVENTING CALL DROP BY RESTRICTING OVERHEAD MESSAGE UPDATED IN 1X SYSTEM DURING 1XEV-DO TRAFFIC STATE

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

H04Q

ACCEPTED

Method for loading a pistol and a holster

The invention relates to devices for carrying small arms. The inventive method provides for use of a holster having a slot for a pistol grip. When a pistol is straightwardly pushed in the holster, the safety-stop thereof is switched in armed position. The pistol is removable by the opposite displacement thereof. The body of the inventive holster comprises guides for a breechblock, a spring loaded lock thereof, and a unit for switching said breechbloc which is arranged on the sidewall of said body on the side of the safety-stop of the pistol and embodied in the form of a spring loaded fork. The lock is embodied in the form of a cantilever plate provided with an arrester which is mounted in such a way that it interacts with the breechblock and the indicator of the safety-stop when it is switched on. In the second variant, the switching means is embodied in the form of a shaped window which has a simple trapezium shape and is arranged on the sidewall of the body. The fixing means of the pistol is embodied in the form of a plate-like sprig-loaded lock arranged in such a way that it is divertable by the pistol when it is introduced into the holster, and can interact with the safety-stop indicator. A stop lug for the pistol receiver whose length is higher the maximum size of the shaped window, is embodied on the other wall of the body in the base thereof in such a way that it is symmetrical with respect to said shaped window.

1. The method of getting the pistol ready for action with the help of one hand, including the shift of the barrel of the pistol about the slide in the holster, which contains the gear for the slide stop till the cartridge chamber is completely open and the cartridge is sent into it, distinguishing that switching over the safety lock and shifting the barrel are carried out by rectilinear pushing through the pistol with one hand in the holster with a groove made for the grip of the pistol and the unit for switching over the safety lock. 2. The holster for the pistol, which contains a case differs with the fact that the case in its base is equipped with the guides for the slide, it has in its cross section a form of an arch with formation of the through groove along the case for the grip of the pistol and to provide advancement of the pistol in the case to get it ready for action when it is taken out of the holster, at the end of the case, at the front cut of the barrel there is a hole for the barrel, and the case is equipped with the means to switch the safety lock over made on the lateral wall at the side of the safety lock in the form of a figured window in the shape of a one sided trapezium. 3. The holster for the pistol according to paragraph 2 differs because in the central part of the case on the lateral side in the area of the location of the window on the pistol to throw away the cartridge cases there is a window made to throw away the cartridge. 5. The holster for the pistol according to paragraph 2 is different because it has an element to fix it on the belt. 6. The holster for the pistol, which contains a case differs with the fact that the case in its base is equipped with the guides for the slide, it has in its cross section a form of an arch with formation of the through groove along the case for the grip of the pistol and to provide advancement of the pistol in the case to get it ready for action when it is taken out of the holster, at the front end of the case, on the lateral wall at the side of the safety lock there is a spring-loaded latch made in the form of a plate with the possibility of turning it along the direction of the movement of the pistol and there is also the means to switch over the safety lock in the form of a figured window in the shape of a one-sided trapezium, and on the other wall of the case in its base from the inner side symmetrically about the figured window there is a supporting lug for the frame of the pistol, the length of which exceeds the maximum size of the figured window. 7. The holster for the pistol according to paragraph 6 differs because the corners of the figured window are made round. 8. The holster for the pistol according to paragraph 6 differs because the corners of the lug are made round. 9. The holster for the pistol according to paragraph 6 differs because in the central part of the case on the lateral side in the area of location of the window on the pistol to throw away cartridge cases there is a window made to throw away the cartridge. 10. The holster for the pistol according to paragraph 6 differs because it is equipped with the element to fix it on the belt.

The inventions relate to safe-guarding equipment, namely to the individual small arms, in particular to the means of carrying them, and can be used to place various systems and sizes weapons on the different parts of the body both using the carrying straps and without them. A common method of getting the pistol ready for action requires the following actions to be performed: getting the pistol out of the holster, removing the safety lock, drawing off the slide with the help of the other hand to send the cartridge from the cartridge clip into the cartridge chamber. It involves two hands and takes a long time. The method of getting the pistol ready for action and the holster for portable firearms according to the patent RF N 2150648, M.C1.6: F41C 33/00, published 05.06.95 are known and they are taken as nearest analogue-prototypes. According to the method known (pages 5-13 of the description to patent N 2150648 and paragraph 14 of the formula) getting the pistol ready for action is carried out with the help of one hand by shifting the barrel of the pistol with respect to the sliding element (the slide) in the holster, which contains the case with the blocking device. The blocking device of the holster contains supporting element with actuating lever and fixing lever for the slide stop. According to the method known the muzzle of the arm is placed on the fixing lever, the grip of the arm is put in the direction of the fixing lever to shift the barrel and to fix the hole for throwing away the cartridge shell on the arm at the level of the actuating lever, which is inserted then through the hole for cartridge shells into the cartridge chamber of the arm. Thus, the arm is fixed in the blocking device between the actuating lever at the cartridge chamber and the fixing lever at the muzzle. The safety lock must be removed before setting the pistol in the holster. To get the arms ready for action, at first the grip of the arms is pressed to the fixing lever, making the clearance for the actuating lever to go out of the cartridge chamber, then the arm is inclined to extract the actuating lever out of the cartridge chamber. After that the grip is kept pressing to the fixing lever to shift the barrel to open the cartridge chamber completely to send the cartridge into it. Then the arm is taken out of the holster. The holster for portable firearms taken as a prototype (see pages 5-24 of the description and paragraph 16 of the formula of patent N 2150648), comprises the case, the plate adjoining the case and the unit for the slide stop till the cartridge chamber is open completely and the cartridge is sent into it. The above method of getting the arms ready for action has the following drawbacks: a long preparation for getting the arms ready for action; the holster is not very reliable; complicated curve trajectory of the hand movements, which requires thorough mastering of movement coordination. The drawback of the known holster for portable firearms is that its design reduces the reliability of the pistol because it is impossible to fix the pistol when the cartridge is in the cartridge chamber since the magazine and any cartridges, which are in the cartridge chamber, must be at first removed from the recess for the magazine. Besides, the cartridge chamber is open and it is possible for foreign objects to get into it. Recoil spring of the slide and the spring of the hammer when keeping the arms in the holster is constantly in the pressed state, which after all also reduces the reliability of the pistol. The technical result of the offered inventions consist in rectifying the above drawbacks, namely, in reducing the time of getting the pistol ready for action when taking it out of the holster with the help of only one hand and also in increasing the reliability of the pistol and in simplification of mastering coordination of movements of the shot. The technical result is achieved through the following solutions. In the method of getting the pistol ready for action with the help of one hand by shifting the barrel of the pistol about the slide in the holster, containing the unit for slide stop until the cartridge chamber is completely open and the cartridge is set into it, according to the invention switching over the safety lock and shifting the barrel is carried out by one hand rectilinear pushing the pistol through in the holster with the groove made for the grip of the pistol and the means for switching over the safety lock. Options of the holster are offered to realize the method of getting the pistol ready for action with the help of only one hand. By the first option, in the holster for the pistol which contains the case, according to the invention, the case in its base is provided with the guides for the slide, it has in its cross section a shape of an arch with formation of through groove along the case for the grip of the pistol and to provide advancement of the pistol in the case to get it ready for action while taking it out of the holster. At the end of the case, at the front cut there is a hole made for the barrel. Moreover, the case is provided with the means to switch the safety lock over, which is made on its lateral wall in the form of a figured window as a one-sided trapezium. Besides, in the central part of the case of the holster, made in conformity with the first option, on the lateral side in the area of the pistol where the hole to throw away the cartridge cases is located, there is a hole to throw away the cartridge. The holster according to the first option can be supplied with the element to fix it on the belt. By the second option, in the holster for the pistol which contains the case, according to the invention, the case in its base is provided with the guides for the slide, it has in its cross section a shape of an arch with formation of through groove along the case for the grip of the pistol and to provide advancement of the pistol in the case to get it ready for action while taking it out of the holster. At the front end of the case, on the lateral wall from the side of the safety lock there is a spring-loaded latch made in the form of a plate with the possibility of turning it along the direction of the movement of the pistol and there is also the means to switch over the safety lock in the form of a figured window in the shape of a one-sided trapezium, and on the other wall of the case in its base from the inner side symmetrically about the figured window there is a supporting lug for the frame of the pistol, the length of which exceeds the maximum size of the figured window. In the holster of the second option the corners of the figured window are made round. Besides, in the central part of the case of the holster of the second option, on the lateral side in the area of location of the hole on the pistol to throw away the cartridge cases, a hole is made to throw away the cartridge. In the holster of the second option the corners of the lug are made round. Moreover, the holster in conformity with the second option can be supplied with the element to fix it on the belt. In the method of getting the pistol ready for action with the help of one hand, switching over the safety lock and shifting the barrel of the pistol are carried out by one hand rectilinear pushing the pistol through in the holster, which has a groove for the grip of the pistol and the means to switch over the safety lock, which simplifies and accelerates the process of getting the pistol ready for action, since the trajectory of the hand movement is not curved as it is in the prototype, but straightforward-rectilinear: “forward-backward” with respect to the case of the holster. The safety lock is switched over by shifting the pistol in respect to the case of the holster, the cartridge is sent further by shifting the lock frame, which increases the reliability of the process of getting the pistol ready for action. The fact that the case of the holster is supplied (by the first option) in its base with the guides for the slide and that its cross section is made in the shape of an arch with formation of through groove along the case for the grip of the pistol ensures short time and accuracy of rectilinear advancement of the pistol in the case to get it ready for action while taking it out of the holster. Besides, the possibility of keeping the pistol in the holster without lateral shift is provided. Performing the hole for the barrel (by the first option of the holster) at the end of the case, at the front cut and providing the case with the means to switch the safety lock over made on its lateral wall from the side of the safety lock in the form of a figured window as a one-sided trapezium allows to release the safety lock of the pistol when moving the pistol in the holster in respect to the slide. Making the hole to throw away the cartridge (by the first option of the holster) in the central part of the case, on the lateral side, in the area of location on the pistol the hole for throwing the cartridge shells, provides simultaneity and timely throwing the cartridge from the cartridge chamber and the holster. Fixing element of the holster (by the first and the second options) allows to fix it with the belt in the required place. The fact that the case is supplied (by the second option) in its base with the guides for the slide and that its cross section is made in the shape of an arch with formation of through groove along the case for the grip of the pistol ensures short time and accuracy of rectilinear advancement of the pistol in the case to get it ready for action while taking it out of the holster. Besides, the possibility of keeping the pistol in the holster without lateral shift is provided. Making the spring-loaded latch (by the second option) at the front end on the lateral wall of the case, at the side of the safety lock in the form of a plate with the possibility of turning it along the direction of the movement of the pistol, provides fixation of the pistol in the holster. Making the means to switch over the safety lock (by the second option of the holster) in the form of a figured window in the shape of a one-sided trapezium, allows to release the safety lock of the pistol when moving the pistol in the holster. Making the supporting lug (by the second option of the holster) for the frame of the pistol on the other wall of the case at the inner side in its base, symmetrically about the figured window, with the length exceeding the maximum size of the figured window, provides releasing the slide being in its limiting position, allows to avoid jamming of the slide in case the cartridge is left in the cartridge chamber. Making the corners of the figured window round (by the second option of the holster) ensures smoothness of movement of the pistol in the holster. Making the hole (by the second option of the holster) in the central part of the case, on the lateral side in the area of location of the hole on the pistol to throw away the cartridge shells provides simultaneity and timely throwing the cartridge from the cartridge chamber and the holster. The claimed method of getting the pistol ready for action with the help of only one hand and the options of the holster for its realization ensure reducing the time of getting the pistol ready for action when taking it out of the holster using only one hand, and also increase reliability of the pistol and simplify coordination of hand movements of the shot. The inventions offered have common inventive conception, namely: getting the pistol ready for action when it is being taken out of the holster using one hand. Complete preparation takes place during one cycle, including pushing the pistol through the holster by one translation movement of the hand forward or by translation and reverse movements “forward-backward” with the hand. When the pistol is taken out of the holster, it is completely ready for the action. Quickness of getting the pistol ready for action with the help of one hand allows to apply the arms in good time when a sudden attack takes place (guards, body-guards, collectors) and in difficult situations, when the second hand is blocked by the enemy, when it is used to hold something, if it is injured, when driving the car and so on). The patent research carried out did not reveal similar technical solutions, which allows making conclusion about novelty and inventive level of the technical solutions claimed. The claimed method of getting the pistol ready for action with the help of only one hand and the options of the holster for its realization can be used in safeguarding activity, for protection of the collectors. Home industry has everything (materials, equipment) necessary to manufacture the offered options of the holster. Therefore, the technical solutions claimed comply with the criterion of “industrial applicability”. The essence of the offered technical solution is made clear with the drawings, where: in FIG. 1—the pistol in a holster is shown according to the first option (before loading), in FIG. 2—the pistol in the holster is shown according to the first option (when it is being loaded); in FIG. 3—the general view of the pistol in the holster is presented according to the first option and the unit for switching over the safety lock is shown; in FIG. 4—a view is shown by A-A in FIG. 3; in FIG. 5—the general isometric view of the holster according to the first option; in FIG. 6—the position of the pistol in the holster according to the first option with the figured window and the latch are shown; in FIG. 7—the general isometric view of the holster is shown according to the second option; in FIG. 8—the general view of the holster according to the second option with the elements of switching over and fixation; in FIG. 9—the position of the latch and the safety lock before switching the safety lock over; in FIG. 10 the view is shown by C-C in FIG. 9; in FIG. 11 the position of the latch after switching over the safety lock is shown; in FIG. 12 the position of the flag of the safety lock in the window before switching it over is shown; in. FIG. 13 the position of the flag of the safety lock in the window after switching it over; in FIG. 14 a view is shown by D-D in FIG. 13; in FIG. 15 a view is shown by F-F in FIG. 13; The method of getting the pistol ready for action is realized in the following way: switching over the safety lock and shifting the barrel of the pistol in respect of the case of the holster are carried out by rectilinear pushing the pistol through with one hand in the holster which contains a groove for the grip of the pistol and the means for switching the safety lock over; pushing through the pistol with a hand in the holster is carried out either with translation movement forward and reverse movement back or with translation movement forward; the cartridge is sent further by shifting the slide frame; Realization of the method of getting the pistol ready for action with the help of only one hand occurs using the holster made by two options. By the first option. The holster 1 for the pistol 2 is a case 3 manufactured from plastic material or duralumin with the element to fix the holster on the belt (it is not shown on the drawing of FIG. 1). The case 3 in the base is supplied with the guides 4 for the slide 5, it has in its cross section the form of an arch 6. Along the case 3 there is a through groove 7 for the grip 8 to enable the advancement of the pistol 2 in the case 3 and to get it ready for action when it is being taken out of the holster 1. At the end 9 of the case 3, at the front cut of the barrel 10 there is a hole 11 made for the barrel 10. On the lateral wall of the case 3 at the side of the safety lock 13, there is a gear to switch the safety lock 13, made in the form of the figured window 14 as one-sided trapezium. In the central part of the case 3 on the lateral side, in the area of location on the pistol 2 the hole for throwing the shells, there is a hole 15, made to throw the cartridge away, in case there is a cartridge left in the cartridge chamber (it is shown in FIG. 5 on the holster by the first option). To send the cartridge further out of the charger (or magazine) into the cartridge chamber by the pressure of the hand, the pistol 2 is advanced forward, the barrel 10 of the pistol 2 goes into the hole 11, and the lock 5 of the pistol 2 is supported by the end 9 of the case 3. After that the pistol 2 is taken out of the holster 1 by one movement of the hand backwards. The proposed design of the holster allows by a short movement of the hand “forward-backward” to get the safety lock 13 in the position “ready for action”, to perform sending further the cartridge out of the charger (or magazine) into the cartridge chamber and to take the pistol 2 out of the holster 1. Getting the pistol 2 ready for action and taking it out of the holster 1 by the first option is realized in the following way. When putting the pistol 2 down into the holster 1 with translation movement of the hand forward with pressure on the grip 8, the pistol 2 is advanced forward and shifted about the case 3 of the holster 1. The flag 19 of the safety lock 13 runs onto the tilted lateral side of the figured window 14, which turns the flag 19 down, switching the pistol over into the position “ready for action”. After the safety lock 13 is switched over and the pistol 2 advances forward, the slide 5 remains in its place, because it is held with the figured window 14 and the slide frame 20 (FIG. 3) moves forward. The front part of the slide 5 rests upon the holster 1, as the hole in the holster 1 is made for the barrel. With translation movement of the hand forward in respect with the case 3 of the holster 1, the cartridge is sent further out of the charger (or magazine) into the cartridge chamber (it is not shown in the drawing). The pistol 2 is advanced forward and the slide frame 20 is shifted, the barrel 10 of the pistol 2 goes into the hole 11, and the breechblock 5 of the pistol 2 is held with the end 9 of the case 3. After that the pistol 2 is taken out of the holster 1 by rectilinear reverse movement of the hand backward in respect with the case 3 of the holster 1. The proposed design of the holster 1 by the first option allows with short translation and reverse movement of the hand “forward-backward” about the case 3 of the holster 1 to get the safety lock 13 in the position “ready for action”, to perform sending further the cartridge out of the charger (or magazine) into the cartridge chamber and to take the pistol 2 out of the holster 1. By the second option. The holster 21 for the pistol 2 (FIG. 7) is a case 22 (FIG. 8) manufactured from plastic material or duralumin with the element to fix the holster 21 on the belt (it is not shown on the drawings of FIGS. 7,8). The case 22 in its base is equipped with the guides 23 (FIG. 14) for the slide 5, it has in its cross section a form of an arch 6 with the formation of the through groove 7 (FIG. 14) along the case 22 to push the pistol 2 through the case 22 when taking it out of the holster 21. At the front end of the case 22, on the lateral wall 24 (FIG. 14) at the side of the safety lock 13 (FIG. 9) there is a spring-loaded latch 25 (FIG. 9) made with the possibility of its turning according to the movement of the pistol in the holster 21. The latch 25 is made in the form of a flat plate 26 (FIG. 10). The safety lock 13 and the latch 25 are made on the same line, which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the case 22 (FIG. 10). On the same lateral wall 24 of the case 22 (FIG. 14) there is a means made to switch over the safety lock in the form of a figured window 27 (FIG. 8) in the form of a one-sided trapezium: a figured window 27 with a tilted lateral side 28. On the other side 29 (FIG. 14) of the case 22 in its base from the inner side symmetrically to the figured window 27 there is a supporting lug 30 (FIG. 14) made for the slide frame 20 of the pistol. The length of the supporting lug 30 is more than a maximum size of the figured window 27. The corners of the figured window 27 and the lug 30 are rounded. In the central part of the case 22 on the lateral side in the area of the location of the window on the pistol to throw the cartridge cases away there is a window 31 made to throw the cartridge away in the case there was a cartridge left in the cartridge chamber. Getting the pistol ready for action and taking it out of the holster 21 according to the second option is carried out in the following way. When putting the pistol into the holster 21 the plate 26 of the latch 25 deviates according to the direction of the movement of the pistol, letting it into the holster 21, and at the end of the movement rests against the base of the flag 19 of the safety lock 13 (FIG. 9), preventing the movement of the pistol backward. The pistol turns to be fixed in the holster 21. With translation rectilinear movement of the hand forward in respect with the case 22 of the holster 21 the safety lock 13 is switched over, the plate 26 of the latch 25 is released and occupies the neutral position. Having such a position of the latch 25 the pistol can be easily taken out of the holster 21 (FIG. 11). When the pistol is in the holster 21 it is safely fixed on the first stage from one side with the tilted lateral side 28 of the figured window 27, against which the flag 19 of the safety lock 13 rests. From the other side it is fixed with the lug 30 which rests against the slide frame 20 of the pistol. With translation rectilinear movement of the hand forward and pressing the grip 8, the pistol is advanced forward in the case 22 of the holster 21. The flag 19 of the safety lock 13 runs onto the tilted lateral side 28 of the figured window 27, which turns the flag 19 dawn (FIG. 8) switching the pistol over into the position “ready for action”. After the safety lock 13 is switched over, when the pistol advances further forward, the slide 5 remains in its place, because it is held with the figured window 27 and the slide frame 20 moves forward. At the limiting position, when the cartridge has already been caught with the lug 30, the slide frame 20 will come off the supporting lug 30 and the slide 5 of the pistol will get the possibility to move to the right and go out off the figured window 27 and, moving by the effect of the spring, to send the cartridge further into the cartridge chamber. The suggested design of the holster 21 according to the second option allows by translation rectilinear movement of the hand in respect with the case 22 of the holster 21 to get the safety lock 13 into the position “ready for a action”, to send further the cartridge out of the charger or a magazine into the cartridge chamber and to take the pistol 2 out of the holster 21. The examples of particular execution of the method of getting the pistol ready for action with the help of one hand according to the first and the second options of the holster are given below. Getting the pistol ready for action with the help of only one hand according to the first option of the holster was realized in the following way. When putting the pistol 2 down into the holster 1 with translation rectilinear movement of the hand forward in respect with the case 3 of the holster 1 with pressure on the grip 8, the pistol 2 was shifted about the case 3 of the holster 1. Shifting the pistol 2 about the case 3 of the holster 1 switched over the safety lock 13 because the flag 19 ran onto the tilted lateral side of the figured window 14 (FIG. 3), turning the flag 19 down and switching the pistol 2 over into the position “ready for action”. In further rectilinear, translation movement of the hand forward, and therefore, the advancement of the pistol 2 forward, the slide 5 remained in its place, because it was held with the figured window 14 and the slide frame 20 moved forward. With further translation movement of the hand forward, the cartridge was sent further out of the charger (or magazine) into the cartridge chamber because of the advancement of the pistol 2 forward and shift of the slide frame 20. The barrel 10 of the pistol 2 went into the hole 11, and the breechblock 5 was held with the end 9 of the case 3. The pistol 2 was taken out of the holster 1 by rectilinear reverse movement of the hand backward in respect with the case 3 of the holster 1. The method provided switching over the safety lock 13 in the position “ready for action”, sending further the cartridge out of the charger into the cartridge chamber and taking the pistol 2 out of the holster 1 due to translation and reverse rectilinear short movement of the hand “forward-backward”. Getting the pistol ready for action with the help of only one hand according to the second option of the holster was realized in the following way. When putting the pistol 2 into the holster 21 the plate 26 of the latch 25 deviated according to the direction of the movement of the pistol 2, letting it into the holster 21, and at the end of the movement rested against the base of the flag 19, preventing the movement of the pistol 2 backward. The pistol 2 was fixed firmly in the holster 21. To get the pistol ready for action, translation rectilinear movement of the hand forward was made in respect with the case 22 of the holster 21 and pressing the grip 8, the pistol 2 was shifted about the case 22 of the holster 21 and the safety lock 13 was switched over. In further translation movement of the hand forward, the slide 5 remained in its place and the slide frame 20 moved forward. At the limiting position, when the cartridge was caught with the slide 5, the slide frame 20 went off the supporting lug 30 and the slide 5 of the pistol 2 moved to the right, went out off the figured window 27 and, moving by the effect of the spring, sent the cartridge further into the cartridge chamber. The method provided switching over the safety lock 13 in the position “ready for action”, sending further the cartridge out of the charger into the cartridge chamber and taking the pistol 2 out of the holster 21 due to translation rectilinear short movement of the hand in respect with the case 22 of the holster 21 in one direction—forward. The applicant carried out experimental tests of the specimens of the holster, produced using the offered inventions. The tests showed good results concerning the speed of taking the pistol out of the holster in any position: standing, sitting, lying and its location on different parts of the body both using the carrying straps and without them, which allowed to wear the holster on the waist, on the leg, on the chest, under one's arm. Thus, application of the inventions offered results in reducing the time of getting the pistol ready for action when taking it out of the holster with the help of only one hand, high reliability of the pistol, simplification of coordination of movements of the shot. This provides the possibility of wide application of the technical solutions claimed in safeguarding equipment.

20060710

20090609

20070621

69768.0

F41C3300

HAYES, BRET C

METHOD FOR LOADING A PISTOL AND A HOLSTER

SMALL

ACCEPTED

F41C

ACCEPTED

Cotton event mon 88913 and compositions and methods for detection thereof

The present invention provides a cotton plant event MON 88913 compositions and seed. Also provided are assays for detecting the presence of the cotton plant event MON 88913 based on a DNA sequence and the use of this DNA sequence as a molecular marker in a DNA detection method.

1. Seed of cotton event designated MON 88913 comprising SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:2 and having representative seed deposited with American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) with Accession No. PTA-4854. 2. The cotton plant or parts thereof produced by growing the seed of claim 1. 3. The cotton plant or parts thereof of claim 2, comprising pollen, ovule, flowers, boils, lint, shoots, roots, or leaves. 4. Glyphosate tolerant progeny of the cotton plant of claim 2. 5. A progeny cotton plant of claim 4, wherein the genome of said cotton plant comprises one or more DNA molecules selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, and SEQ ID NO:4. 6. A progeny cotton plant or seed or parts thereof of claim 4, the genome of which produces an amplicon comprising SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO:2 in a DNA amplification method. 7. A DNA primer set comprising two DNA molecules, wherein the first DNA molecule comprises at least 11 or more contiguous polynucleotides of any portion of the transgene region of the DNA molecule of SEQ ID NO:3 or its complement, and the second DNA molecule of similar length comprises any portion of a 5′ flanking cotton genomic DNA region of SEQ ID NO:3 or its complement, where these DNA molecules when used together are useful in a DNA amplification method to produce an amplicon comprising SEQ ID NO: 1 diagnostic for cotton event MON 88913. 8. A DNA primer set comprising two DNA molecules, wherein the first DNA molecule comprises at least 11 or more contiguous polynucleotides of any portion of the transgene region of the DNA molecule of SEQ ID NO:4, or its complement, and the second DNA molecule of similar length comprises any portion of a 3′ flanking cotton genomic DNA region of SEQ ID NO:4, or its complement, where these DNA molecules when used together are useful as a DNA primer set in a DNA amplification method to produce an amplicon comprising SEQ ID NO:2 diagnostic for cotton event MON 88913. 9. A DNA detection kit comprising at least one molecule of 11 or more contiguousnucleotides homologous or complementary to SEQ ID NO:3 or SEQ ID NO:4, that when used in a DNA amplification methods produces an amplicon comprising SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO:2 diagnostic for cotton event MON 88913. 10. A method of producing a cotton plant that tolerates application of glyphosate herbicide comprising: (a) sexually crossing a first glyphosate tolerant cotton event MON 88913 parent plant comprising SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:2 and a second parent cotton plant that lacks the tolerance to glyphosate herbicide, thereby producing a plurality of first progeny plants; and (b) selecting a first progeny plant that is tolerant to glyphosate; and (c) selfing said first progeny plant, thereby producing a plurality of second progeny plants; and (d) selecting from said second progeny plants, a glyphosate tolerant plant. 11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of backcrossing the first progeny plant that is tolerant to glyphosate or the second progeny plant that is glyphosate tolerant to the second parent plant or a third parent plant, thereby producing a plant that tolerates the application of glyphosate. 12. A method of detecting the presence of DNA corresponding to cotton event MON 88913 comprising SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:2 in a sample, the method comprising: (a) contacting the sample comprising DNA with a DNA primer set comprising (i) at least 11 contiguous nucleotides of a 5′ flanking cotton genomic DNA region flanking the insertion site in cotton event MON88913 or its complement, or a 3′ flanking cotton genomic DNA region flanking the insertion site in cotton event MON88913 or its complement, and (ii) at least 11 contiguous nucleotides of the transgene region of SEQ ID NO:3 or SEQ ID NO:4; which when used in a nucleic acid amplification reaction with genomic DNA from the cotton event MON 88913, produces a diagnostic amplicon comprising SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2;and (b) performing a nucleic acid amplification reaction, thereby producing a sample amplicon; and (c) comparing the sample amplicon to the diagnostic amplicon to determine whether the sample amplicon comprises SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2. 13. In the method of claim 12, where in said primer set comprises SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22 and SEQ ID NO:24. 14. In the method of claim 12, wherein said primer set comprises SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:27 and SEQ ID NO:28. 15. A method of detecting the presence of a DNA corresponding to cotton event MON 88913 in a sample, the method comprising: (a) contacting the sample comprising DNA with a probe that hybridizes under stringent hybridization conditions with genomic DNA from the cotton event MON 88913, comprising SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:2, and does not hybridize under the stringent hybridization conditions with a control cotton plant genomic DNA, wherein said probe is homologous or complementary to SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2; and (b) subjecting the sample and probe to stringent hybridization conditions; and (c) detecting hybridization of the probe to the DNA. 16. A cotton plant comprising a glyphosate tolerant trait that is genetically linked to a complement of a marker polynucleic acid, wherein said marker polynucleic acid molecule is homologous or complementary to a DNA molecule selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:2. 17. A method of determining the zygosity of the progeny of cotton event MON 88913 comprising: (a) contacting the sample comprising cotton DNA with a primer set comprising SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22 and SEQ ID NO:23, that when used in a nucleic-acid amplification reaction with genomic DNA from cotton event MON 88913, produces a first amplicon that is diagnostic for cotton event MON 88913; and (b) performing a nucleic acid amplification reaction, thereby producing the first amplicon; and (c) detecting the first amplicon; and (d) contacting the sample comprising cotton DNA with said primer set, that when used in a nucleic-acid amplification reaction with genomic DNA from cotton plants produces a second amplicon comprising the native cotton genomic DNA homologous to the cotton genomic region of a transgene insertion identified as cotton event MON 88913; (e) performing a nucleic acid amplification reaction, thereby producing the second amplicon; and (f) detecting the second amplicon; and (g) comparing the first and second amplicons in a sample, wherein the presence of both amplicons indicates the sample is heterozygous for the transgene insertion. 18. A method of determining the zygosity of the progeny of cotton event MON 88913 comprising: (a) contacting the sample comprising cotton DNA with a primer set comprising SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, and SEQ ID NO:25: and (b) performing a nucleic acid amplification reaction; and (c) detecting the products of the reaction. 19. A method for controlling weeds in a crop of cotton event MON 88913, comprising SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:2, comprising the step of applying an effective dose of a glyphosate containing herbicide to said crop of cotton event MON 88913. 20. The method of claim 12, wherein the DNA primer set comprises at least one molecule of 11 or more contiguous nucleotides homologous or complementary to SEQ ID NO:3 or SEQ ID NO:4.

This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/447,184, filed Feb. 12, 2003, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the field of plant molecular biology. More specifically, the invention relates to a glyphosate tolerant cotton event MON 88913 and to assays and methods for detecting the presence of cotton event MON 88913 DNA in a plant sample and compositions thereof. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Cotton is an important fiber crop in many areas of the world. The methods of biotechnology have been applied to cotton for improvement of the agronomic traits and the quality of the product. The method of introducing transgenes into cotton plants has been demonstrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,863. One such agronomic trait important in cotton production is herbicide tolerance, in particular, tolerance to glyphosate herbicide. This trait has been introduced into cotton plants and is a successful product now used in cotton production. The current commercial Roundup Ready® cotton event (1445) provides excellent tolerance to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup®, through the four-leaf stage (Nida et al., J. Agric. Food Chem. 44:1960-1966, 1996; Nida et al., J. Agric. Food Chem. 44:1967-1974, 1996). However, foliar application beyond the four-leaf stage must be limited due to insufficient tolerance in male reproductive tissues in certain environmental conditions. This lack of male reproductive tolerance appears to be a result of insufficient CP4 EPSPS expression in critical tissues, higher sensitivity of these tissues to glyphosate, and accumulation of high amounts of glyphosate in these strong sink tissues (Pline et al., Weed Sci. 50:438-447, 2002). There is a need for a cotton plant more highly glyphosate tolerant than Roundup Ready® cotton 1445. It would be advantageous to be able to detect the presence of a particular event in order to determine whether the progeny of a sexual cross contain a transgene of interest. In addition, a method for detecting a particular event would be helpful for complying with regulations requiring pre-market approval or labeling of foods derived from recombinant crop plants, for example. It is possible to detect the presence of a transgene by any well known nucleic acid detection method such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or DNA hybridization using nucleic acid probes. These detection methods generally focus on frequently used genetic elements, such as promoters, 3′ transcription terminators, marker genes, etc. As a result, such methods may not be useful for discriminating between different events, particularly those produced using the same DNA construct unless the sequence of genomic chromosomal DNA adjacent to the inserted DNA (“flanking genomic DNA”) is known. Event-specific DNA detection methods for a glyphosate tolerant cotton event 1445 have been described (US 20020120964, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety). The present invention relates to a glyphosate tolerant cotton event MON 88913, compositions contained therein, and to the method for the detection of the transgene/genomic insertion region in cotton event MON 88913 and progeny thereof. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is related to the transgenic cotton event designated MON 88913 having seed deposited with American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) with Accession No. PTA-4854. Another aspect of the invention comprises the progeny plants, or seeds, or regenerable parts of the plants and seeds of the cotton event MON 88913. The invention also includes plant parts of cotton event MON 88913 that include, but are not limited to pollen, ovule, flowers, bolls, lint, shoots, roots, and leaves. The invention relates to a cotton plant having a glyphosate tolerant phenotype and the novel genetic compositions of MON 88913. One aspect of the invention provides DNA compositions and methods for detecting the presence of a transgene/genomic junction region from cotton plant event MON 88913. Isolated DNA molecules are provided that comprise at least one transgene/genomic junction DNA molecule selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:2, and complements thereof, wherein the junction molecule spans the insertion site that comprises a heterologous DNA inserted into the cotton genome and the genomic DNA from the cotton cell flanking the insertion site in cotton event MON 88913. A cottonseed and plant material thereof comprising these molecules is an aspect of this invention. An isolated novel DNA molecule is provided that is a 5′transgene/genomic region SEQ ID NO:3 or the complement thereof, wherein this DNA molecule is novel in cotton event MON 88913. A cotton plant and seed comprising SEQ ID NO:3 in its genome is an aspect of this invention. According to another aspect of the invention, an isolated DNA molecule is provided that is a 3′transgene/genomic region SEQ ID NO:4, or the complement thereof wherein this DNA molecule is novel in cotton event MON 88913. A cotton plant and seed comprising SEQ ID NO:4 in its genome is an aspect of this invention. According to another aspect of the invention, two DNA molecules are provided for use in a DNA amplification method, wherein the first DNA molecule comprises at least 11 or more contiguous polynucleotides of any portion of the transgene region of the DNA molecule of SEQ ID NO:3 and a DNA molecule of similar length of any portion of a 5′ flanking cotton genomic DNA region of SEQ ID NO:3, where these DNA molecules when used together are useful as a DNA primer set in a DNA amplification method that produces an amplicon. The amplicon produced using the DNA primer set in the DNA amplification method is diagnostic for cotton event MON 88913. Any amplicon produced from MON 88913 DNA by DNA primers that are homologous or complementary to any portion of SEQ ID NO:3 is an aspect of the invention. According to another aspect of the invention, two DNA molecules are provided for use in a DNA amplification method, wherein the first DNA molecule comprises at least 11 or more contiguous polynucleotides of any portion of the transgene region of the DNA molecule of SEQ ID NO:4 and a DNA molecule of similar length of any portion of a 3′ flanking cotton genomic DNA of SEQ ID NO:4, where these DNA molecules are useful as a DNA primer set in a DNA amplification method. The amplicon produced using the DNA primer set in the DNA amplification method is diagnostic for cotton event MON 88913. The amplicons produced from MON 88913 DNA by DNA primers that are homologous or complementary to any portion of SEQ ID NO:4 are an aspect of the invention. According to another aspect of the invention, methods of detecting the presence of DNA corresponding specifically to the cotton event MON 88913 DNA in a sample are provided. Such methods comprise: (a) contacting the sample comprising DNA with a DNA primer set that, when used in a nucleic acid amplification reaction with genomic DNA from cotton event MON 88913 produces an amplicon that is diagnostic for cotton event MON 88913 (b) performing a nucleic acid amplification reaction, thereby producing the amplicon; and (c) detecting the amplicon. According to another aspect of the invention, methods of detecting the presence of DNA corresponding specifically to the cotton event MON 88913 DNA in a sample are provided. Such methods comprising: (a) contacting the sample comprising DNA with a DNA probe comprising SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2, that hybridize under stringent hybridization conditions with genomic DNA from cotton event MON 88913 and does not hybridize under the stringent hybridization conditions with a control cotton plant DNA; (b) subjecting the sample and probe to stringent hybridization conditions; and (c) detecting hybridization of the probe to the cotton event MON 88913 DNA. According to another aspect of the invention, methods of producing a cotton plant that tolerates application of glyphosate are provided that comprise the steps of: (a) sexually crossing a first parental cotton event MON 88913 comprising the expression cassettes of the present invention, which confers tolerance to application of glyphosate, and a second parental cotton plant that lacks the glyphosate tolerance, thereby producing a plurality of progeny plants; and (b) selecting a progeny plant that tolerates application of glyphosate. Such methods may optionally comprise the further step of backcrossing the progeny plant to the second parental cotton plant and selecting for glyphosate tolerant progeny to produce a true-breeding cotton variety that tolerates application of glyphosate. According to another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for determining the zygosity of the progeny of cotton event MON 88913 comprising:(a) contacting the sample comprising cotton DNA with a primer set comprising SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, and SEQ ID NO:25 that when used in a nucleic-acid amplification reaction with genomic DNA from cotton event MON 88913, produces a first amplicon that is diagnostic for cotton event MON 88913; and (b) performing a nucleic acid amplification reaction, thereby producing the first amplicon; and (c) and detecting the first amplicon; and (d) contacting the sample comprising cotton DNA with said primer set, that when used in a nucleic-acid amplification reaction with genomic DNA from cotton plants produces a second amplicon comprising the native cotton genomic DNA homologous to the cotton genomic region of a transgene insertion identified as cotton event MON 88913; and (e) performing a nucleic acid amplification reaction, thereby producing the second amplicon; and (f) and detecting the second amplicon; and (g) comparing the first and second amplicons in a sample, wherein the presence of both amplicons indicates the sample is heterozygous for the transgene insertion. A method for determining zygosity comprising contacting a cotton DNA sample with using with primers and probes comprising SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, and SEQ ID NO:25; using an endpoint Taqman® PCR condition; and detecting the amplicon products. A method for controlling weeds in a crop or field of cotton event MON 88913 comprising the step of applying a herbicidally effective amount of glyphosate containing herbicide to the field of MON 88913 cotton. The foregoing and other aspects of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1. Plasmid map of pMON51915. FIG. 2. Genomic organization of insert in cotton event MON 88913. FIG. 3. MON 88913 5′ DNA junction sequence (SEQ ID NO:1) and 3′ DNA junction sequence (SEQ ID NO:2). FIG. 4. MON88913 5′ transgene/genomic DNA region (SEQ ID NO:3). FIG. 5. MON88913 3′ transgene/genomic DNA region (SEQ ID NO:4). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention relates to a glyphosate tolerant cotton event MON 88913, compositions contained therein, and to the method for the detection of the transgene/genomic insertion region in cotton event MON 88913 and progeny thereof. The following definitions and methods are provided to better define the present invention and to guide those of ordinary skill in the art in the practice of the present invention. Unless otherwise noted, terms and abbreviations are to be understood according to conventional usage by those of ordinary skill in the relevant art. Definitions of common terms in molecular biology may also be found in Rieger et al., Glossary of Genetics: Classical and Molecular, 5th edition, Springer-Verlag: New York, 1991; and Lewin, Genes V, Oxford University Press: New York, 1994. The nomenclature for DNA bases as set forth at 37 CFR § 1.822 is used. As used herein, the term “cotton” means Gossypium hirsutum and includes all plant varieties that can be bred with cotton event MON 88913. The plant of the present invention is a cotton plant, more specifically the cotton plant MON 88913. As used herein, the term “comprising” means “including but not limited to”. As used herein, the term “crop” refers to cultivated plants or parts of plants, such as are grown in a field, plot, row, greenhouse, flat, or container. “Glyphosate” refers to N-phosphonomethylglycine and its salts. N-phosphonomethylglycine is a well-known herbicide that has activity on a broad spectrum of plant species. Glyphosate is the active ingredient of Roundup® (Monsanto Co.), a safe herbicide having a desirably short half-life in the environment. Glyphosate is the active ingredient of Roundup® herbicide (Monsanto Co.). Treatments with “glyphosate herbicide” refer to treatments with the Roundup®, Roundup Ultra®, Roundup Pro® herbicide or any other herbicide formulation containing glyphosate. Examples of commercial formulations of glyphosate include, without restriction, those sold by Monsanto Company as ROUNDUP®, ROUNDUP® ULTRA, ROUNDUP® ULTRAMAX, ROUNDUP® WEATHERMAX, ROUNDUP® CT, ROUNDUP® EXTRA, ROUNDUPS BIACTIVE, ROUNDUP® BIOFORCE, RODEO®), POLARIS®, SPARK® and ACCORD® herbicides, all of which contain glyphosate as its isopropylammonium salt; those sold by Monsanto Company as ROUNDUP® DRY and RIVAL® herbicides, which contain glyphosate as its ammonium salt; that sold by Monsanto Company as ROUNDUP® GEOFORCE, which contains glyphosate as its sodium salt; and that sold by Syngenta Crop Protection as TOUCHDOWN® herbicide, which contains glyphosate as its trimethylsulfonium salt. When applied to a plant surface, glyphosate moves systemically through the plant. Glyphosate is phytotoxic due to its inhibition of the shikimic acid pathway, which provides a precursor for the synthesis of aromatic amino acids. Glyphosate inhibits the enzyme 5-enolpyruvyl-3-phosphoshikimate synthase (EPSPS) found in plants. Glyphosate tolerance can be achieved by the expression of bacterial EPSPS variants and plant EPSPS variants that have lower affinity for glyphosate and therefore retain their catalytic activity in the presence of glyphosate (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,633,435, 5,094,945, 4,535,060, and 6,040,497). A transgenic “event” is produced by transformation of a plant cell with heterologous DNA, e.g., a nucleic acid construct (pMON51915, FIG. 1) that includes a transgene of interest; regeneration of a population of plants resulting from the insertion of the transgene into the genome of the plant cell, and selection of a particular plant characterized by insertion into a particular genome location. The term “event” refers to the original transformant plant and progeny of the transformant that include the heterologous DNA. The term “event” also includes progeny produced by a sexual outcross between the event and another plant that wherein the progeny includes the heterologous DNA. Even after repeated back-crossing to a recurrent parent, the inserted DNA and flanking genomic DNA from the transformed parent event is present in the progeny of the cross at the same chromosomal location. The term “event” also refers to DNA from the original transformant comprising the inserted DNA, and flanking genomic sequence immediately adjacent to the inserted DNA, that would be expected to be transferred to a progeny that receives the inserted DNA including the transgene of interest as the result of a sexual cross of one parental line that includes the inserted DNA (e.g., the original transformant and progeny resulting from selfing) and a parental line that does not contain the inserted DNA. The expression of foreign genes in plants is known to be influenced by their chromosomal position, perhaps due to chromatin structure (e.g., heterochromatin) or the proximity of transcriptional regulation elements (e.g., enhancers) close to the integration site (Weising et al., Ann. Rev. Genet 22:421-477, 1988). For this reason, it is often necessary to screen a large number of events in order to identify an event characterized by optimal expression of a introduced gene of interest. For example, it has been observed in plants and in other organisms that there may be a wide variation in levels of expression of an introduced transgene among events. There may also be differences in spatial or temporal patterns of expression, for example, differences in the relative expression of a transgene in various plant tissues, that may not correspond to the patterns expected from transcriptional regulatory elements present in the introduced gene construct. For this reason, it is common to produce hundreds to thousands of different events and screen those events for a single event that has desired transgene expression levels and patterns for commercial purposes. An event that has desired levels or patterns of transgene expression is useful for introgressing the transgene into other genetic backgrounds by sexual crossing using conventional breeding methods. Progeny of such crosses maintain the transgene expression characteristics of the original transformant. This strategy is used to ensure reliable gene expression in a number of varieties that are well adapted to local growing conditions and market demands. A glyphosate tolerant cotton plant can be bred by first sexually crossing a first parental cotton plant, consisting of a cotton plant grown from the transgenic cotton plant cell derived from transformation with the plant expression cassettes contained in pMON51915 and that tolerates application of glyphosate herbicide, with a second parental cotton plant that lacks the tolerance to glyphosate herbicide, thereby producing a plurality of first progeny plants; and then selecting a first progeny plant that is tolerant to glyphosate herbicide; and selfing the first progeny plant, thereby producing a plurality of second progeny plants; and then selecting from the second progeny plants a glyphosate herbicide tolerant plant. These steps can further include the back-crossing of the first glyphosate tolerant progeny plant or the second glyphosate tolerant progeny plant to the second parental cotton plant or a third parental cotton plant, thereby producing a cotton plant that tolerates the application of glyphosate herbicide. In the present invention, the transgenic cotton plant is also defined as cotton event MON 88913 and may be referred to herein as MON 88913. It is also to be understood that two different transgenic plants can also be mated to produce offspring that contain two independently segregating added, exogenous genes. Selfing of appropriate progeny can produce plants that are homozygous for both added, exogenous genes. Back-crossing to a parental plant and out-crossing with a non-transgenic plant are also contemplated, as is vegetative propagation. Descriptions of other breeding methods that are commonly used for different traits and crops can be found in one of several references, e.g., Fehr, in Breeding Methods for Cultivar Development, Wilcox J. ed., American Society of Agronomy, Madison Wis. (1987). A “probe” is an isolated nucleic acid to which is attached a conventional detectable label or reporter molecule, e.g., a radioactive isotope, ligand, chemiluminescent agent, or enzyme. Such a probe is complementary to a strand of a target nucleic acid, in the case of the present invention, to a strand of genomic DNA from MON 88913 whether from a MON 88913 plant or from a sample that includes MON 88913 DNA. Probes according to the present invention include not only deoxyribonucleic or ribonucleic acids but also polyamides and other probe materials that bind specifically to a target DNA sequence and can be used to detect the presence of that target DNA sequence. DNA primers are isolated polynucleic acids that are annealed to a complementary target DNA strand by nucleic acid hybridization to form a hybrid between the primer and the target DNA strand, then extended along the target DNA strand by a polymerase, e.g., a DNA polymerase. A DNA primer pair or a DNA primer set of the present invention refer to at least two DNA primer molecules useful for amplification of a target nucleic acid sequence, e.g., by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or other conventional nucleic acid amplification methods. Probes and primers are generally 11 polynucleotides or more in length, often 18 polynucleotides or more, 24 polynucleotides or more, or 30 polynucleotides or more. Such probes and primers are selected to be of sufficient length to hybridize specifically to a target sequence under high stringency hybridization conditions. Preferably, probes and primers according to the present invention have complete sequence similarity with the target sequence, although probes differing from the target sequence that retain the ability to hybridize to target sequences may be designed by conventional methods. Methods for preparing and using probes and primers are described, for example, in Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd ed., vol. 1-3, ed. Sambrook et al., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., 1989 hereinafter, “Sambrook et al., 1989”); Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, ed. Ausubel et al., Greene Publishing and Wiley-Interscience, New York, 1992 (with periodic updates) (hereinafter, “Ausubel et al., 1992”); and Innis et al., PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods aid Applications, Academic Press: San Diego, 1990. PCR DNA primer pairs can be derived from a known sequence, for example, by using computer programs intended for that purpose such as Primer (Version 0.5, ® 1991, Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Mass.). Primers and probes based on the flanking genomic DNA and transgene insert sequences disclosed herein can be used to confirm (and, if necessary, to correct) the disclosed DNA sequences by conventional methods, e.g., by isolation of genomic DNA from MON 88913, re-cloning the transgene/genomic regions and sequencing such DNA molecules. The nucleic acid probes and primers of the present invention hybridize under stringent conditions to a target DNA molecule. Any conventional nucleic acid hybridization or amplification method can be used to identify the presence of DNA from a transgenic event in a sample. Polynucleic acid molecules or fragments thereof are capable of specifically hybridizing to other nucleic acid molecules under certain circumstances. As used herein, two polynucleic acid molecules are said to be capable of specifically hybridizing to one another if the two molecules are capable of forming an anti-parallel, double-stranded nucleic acid structure. A nucleic acid molecule is said to be the “complement” of another nucleic acid molecule if they exhibit complete complementarity. As used herein, molecules are said to exhibit “complete complementarity” when every nucleotide of one of the molecules is complementary to a nucleotide of the other. Two molecules are said to be “minimally complementary” if they can hybridize to one another with sufficient stability to permit them to remain annealed to one another under at least conventional “low-stringency” conditions. Similarly, the molecules are said to be “complementary” if they can hybridize to one another with sufficient stability to permit them to remain annealed to one another under conventional “high-stringency” conditions. Conventional stringency conditions are described by Sambrook et al., 1989, and by Haymes et al., In: Nucleic Acid Hybridization, A Practical Approach, IRL Press, Washington, D.C. (1985), Departures from complete complementarity are therefore permissible, as long as such departures do not completely preclude the capacity of the molecules to form a double-stranded structure. In order for a nucleic acid molecule to serve as a primer or probe it need only be sufficiently complementary in sequence to be able to form a stable double-stranded structure under the particular solvent and salt concentrations employed. As used herein, a substantially homologous DNA sequence is the sequence of a DNA molecule that will specifically hybridize to the complement of a target DNA molecule to which it is being compared under high stringency conditions. Appropriate stringency conditions that promote DNA hybridization, for example, 6.0× sodium chloride/sodium citrate (SSC) at about 45° C., followed by a wash of 2.0×SSC at 50° C., are known to those skilled in the art or can be found in Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, N.Y. (1989), 6.3.1-6.3.6. For example, the salt concentration in the wash step can be selected from a low stringency of about 2.0×SSC at 50° C. to a high stringency of about 0.2×SSC at 50° C. In addition, the temperature in the wash step can be increased from low stringency conditions at room temperature, about 22° C., to high stringency conditions at about 65° C. Both temperature and salt may be varied, or either the temperature or the salt concentration may be held constant while the other variable is changed. In a preferred embodiment, a polynucleic acid of the present invention will specifically hybridize to one or more of the nucleic acid molecules set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3 or 4, or complements thereof or fragments of either under moderately stringent conditions, for example at about 2.0×SSC and about 65° C. In a particularly preferred embodiment, a nucleic acid of the present invention will specifically hybridize to one or more of the nucleic acid molecules set forth in SEQ ID NO:3 or 4 or complements or fragments of either under high stringency conditions. In one aspect of the present invention, a preferred marker nucleic acid molecule of the present invention has the nucleic acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 or 2 or complements thereof or fragments of either. In another aspect of the present invention, a preferred marker nucleic acid molecule of the present invention shares a substantial portion of its sequence identity with the nucleic acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2 or complement thereof or fragments of either, wherein the sequence identity is between 80% and 100% or 90% and 100%. In a further aspect of the present invention, a preferred marker nucleic acid molecule of the present invention shares between 95% and 100% sequence identity with the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2 or complement thereof or fragments of either. SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2 may be used as markers in plant breeding methods to identify the progeny of genetic crosses similar to the methods described for simple sequence repeat DNA marker analysis, in “DNA markers: Protocols, applications, and overviews: (1997) 173-185, Cregan, et al., eds., Wiley-Liss NY; herein incorporated by reference in its entirely. The hybridization of the probe to the target DNA molecule can be detected by any number of methods known to those skilled in the art, these can include, but are not limited to, fluorescent tags, radioactive tags, antibody based tags, and chemiluminescent tags. Regarding the amplification of a target nucleic acid sequence (e.g., by PCR) using a particular amplification primer pair, “stringent conditions” are conditions that permit the primer pair to hybridize only to the target nucleic acid sequence to which a primer having the corresponding wild-type sequence (or its complement) would bind and preferably to produce a unique amplification product, the amplicon, in a DNA thermal amplification reaction. The term “specific for (a target sequence)” indicates that a probe or primer hybridizes under stringent hybridization conditions only to the target sequence in a sample comprising the target sequence. As used herein, “amplified DNA” or “amplicon” refers to the product of polynucleic acid amplification method directed to a target polynucleic acid molecule that is part of a polynucleic acid template. For example, to determine whether a cotton plant resulting from a sexual cross contains transgenic event genomic DNA from the cotton event MON 88913 plant of the present invention, DNA that is extracted from a cotton plant tissue sample may be subjected to a polynucleic acid amplification method using a primer pair that includes a primer derived from DNA sequence in the genome of the MON 88913 plant adjacent to the insertion site of the inserted heterologous DNA (transgene DNA), and a second primer derived from the inserted heterologous DNA to produce an amplicon that is diagnostic for the presence of the MON 88913 event DNA. The diagnostic amplicon is of a length and has a DNA sequence that is also diagnostic for the event. The amplicon may range in length from the combined length of the primer pairs plus one nucleotide base pair, preferably plus about fifty nucleotide base pairs (bps), more preferably plus about two hundred-fifty nucleotide base pairs, and even more preferably plus about four hundred-fifty nucleotide base pairs or more. Alternatively, a primer pair can be derived from genomic sequence on both sides of the inserted heterologous DNA so as to produce an amplicon that includes the entire insert polynucleotide sequence (e.g., a forward primer isolated from the genomic portion of SEQ ID NO:3 and a reverse primer isolated from the genomic portion of SEQ ID NO:4 that amplifies a DNA molecule comprising the two expression cassettes of pMON51915 DNA fragment that was inserted into the MON 88913 genome, the insert comprising about 8,512 bps of the insert, FIG. 2). A member of a primer pair derived from the plant genomic sequence may be located a distance from the inserted DNA sequence, this distance can range from one nucleotide base pair up to about twenty thousand nucleotide base pairs. The use of the term “amplicon” specifically excludes primer dimers that may be formed in the DNA thermal amplification reaction. Polynucleic acid amplification can be accomplished by any of the various polynucleic acid amplification methods known in the art, including the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Amplification methods are known in the art and are described, inter alia, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,683,195 and 4,683,202 and in PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications, ed. Innis et al., Academic Press, San Diego, 1990. PCR amplification methods have been developed to amplify up to 22 kb (kilobase) of genomic DNA and up to 42 kb of bacteriophage DNA (Cheng et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:5695-5699, 1994). These methods as well as other methods known in the art of DNA amplification may be used in the practice of the present invention. The sequence of the heterologous DNA insert or flanking genomic DNA sequence from MON 88913 can be verified (and corrected if necessary) by amplifying such DNA molecules from the MON 88913 seed or plants grown from the seed deposited with the ATCC having accession no. PTA-4854, using primers derived from the sequences provided herein, followed by standard DNA sequencing of the PCR amplicon or cloned DNA fragments thereof. DNA detection kits that are based on DNA amplification methods contain DNA primers that specifically amplify a diagnostic amplicon. The kit may provide an agarose gel based detection method, endpoint Taqman®, or any number of methods of detecting the diagnostic amplicon that are known in the art. A kit that contains DNA primers that are homologous or complementary to any portion of SEQ ID NO:3 or SEQ ID NO:4 is an object of the invention. The amplicon produced by these methods may be detected by a plurality of techniques. One such method is Genetic Bit Analysis (Nikiforov, et al. Nucleic Acid Res. 22:4167-4175, 1994) where a DNA oligonucleotide is designed that overlaps both the adjacent flanking genomic DNA sequence and the inserted DNA sequence. The oligonucleotide is immobilized in wells of a microtiter plate. Following PCR of the region of interest (using one primer in the inserted sequence and one in the adjacent flanking genomic sequence), a single-stranded PCR product can be hybridized to the immobilized oligonucleotide and serve as a template for a single base extension reaction using a DNA polymerase and labelled dideoxynucleotide triphosphates (ddNTPs) specific for the expected next base. Readout may be fluorescent or ELISA-based. A signal indicates presence of the transgene/genomic sequence due to successful amplification, hybridization, and single base extension. Another method is the Pyrosequencing technique as described by Winge (Innov. Pharma. Tech. 00:18-24, 2000). In this method an oligonucleotide is designed that overlaps the adjacent genomic DNA and insert DNA junction. The oligonucleotide is hybridized to single-stranded PCR product from the region of interest (one primer in the inserted sequence and one in the flanking genomic sequence) and incubated in the presence of a DNA polymerase, ATP, sulftrylase, luciferase, apyrase, adenosine 5′ phosphosulfate and luciferin. Deoxynucleotide triphosphates (dNTPs) are added individually and the incorporation results in a light signal that is measured. A light signal indicates the presence of the transgene/genomic sequence due to successful amplification, hybridization, and single or multi-base extension. Fluorescence Polarization as described by Chen, et al., (Genome Res. 9:492-498, 1999) is a method that can be used to detect the amplicon of the present invention. Using this method an oligonucleotide is designed which overlaps the genomic flanking and inserted DNA junction. The oligonucleotide is hybridized to single-stranded PCR product from the region of interest (one primer in the inserted DNA and one in the flanking genomic DNA sequence) and incubated in the presence of a DNA polymerase and a fluorescent-labeled ddNTP. Single base extension results in incorporation of the ddNTP. Incorporation can be measured as a change in polarization using a fluorometer. A change in polarization indicates the presence of the transgene/genomic sequence due to successful amplification, hybridization, and single base extension. Taqman® (PE Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) is described as a method of detecting and quantifying the presence of a DNA sequence and is fully understood in the instructions provided by the manufacturer. Briefly, a FRET oligonucleotide probe is designed which overlaps the genomic flanking and insert DNA junction. The FRET probe and PCR primers (one primer in the insert DNA sequence and one in the flanking genomic sequence) are cycled in the presence of a thermostable polymerase and dNThs. Hybridization of the FRET probe results in cleavage and release of the fluorescent moiety away from the quenching moiety on the FRET probe. A fluorescent signal indicates the presence of the transgene/genomic sequence due to successful amplification and hybridization. Molecular Beacons have been described for use in sequence detection as described in Tyangi, et al. (Nature Biotech.14:303-308, 1996) Briefly, a FRET oligonucleotide probe is designed that overlaps the flanking genomic and insert DNA junction. The unique structure of the FRET probe results in it containing secondary structure that keeps the fluorescent and quenching moieties in close proximity. The FRET probe and PCR primers (one primer in the insert DNA sequence and one in the flanking genomic sequence) are cycled in the presence of a thermostable polymerase and dNTPs. Following successful PCR amplification, hybridization of the FRET probe to the target sequence results in the removal of the probe secondary structure and spatial separation of the fluorescent and quenching moieties. A fluorescent signal results. A fluorescent signal indicates the presence of the flanking/transgene insert sequence due to successful amplification and hybridization. DNA detection kits can be developed using the compositions disclosed herein and the methods well known in the art of DNA detection. The kits are useful for identification of cotton event MON 88913 DNA in a sample and can be applied to methods for breeding cotton plants containing MON 88913 DNA. The kits contain DNA sequences that are useful as primers or probes and that are homologous or complementary to any portion of SEQ ID NO:3 or SEQ ID NO:4 or to DNA sequences homologous or complementary to DNA contained in any of the transgene genetic elements of pMON51915 that have been inserted into MON 88913 DNA (FIG. 2). These DNA sequences can be used in DNA amplification methods (PCR) or as probes in polynucleic acid hybridization methods, ie., Southern analysis, northern analysis. The transgene genetic elements contained in MON 88913 DNA (FIG. 2) include a first expression cassette comprising the Figwort mosaic promoter constructed as a chimeric promoter element with the Arabidopsis elongation factor 1-alpha (At.Ef1α) promoter (FMV35S/Ef1α, U.S. Pat. No. 6,462,258, SEQ ID NO:28, herein incorporated by reference in its entirely), operably linked to the Arabidopsis elongation factor 1-alpha translational leader and intron (Genbank accession number X16430 as described in Axelos et al., Mol. Gen. Genet. 219:106-112, 1989), operably linked to the Arabidopsis EPSPS chloroplast transit peptide (TS-At.EPSPS:CTP2, Klee et al., Mol. Gen. Genet. 210:47-442, 1987), operably linked to a glyphosate tolerant 5-enol-pyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) from Agrobacterium sp. strain CP4 (aroA:CP4, U.S. Pat. No. 5,633,435), operably linked to the 3′ termination region from pea ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase E9 (T-Ps.RbcS2:E9, Coruzzi, et al., EMBO J. 3:1671-1679, 1984), and a second expression cassette comprising the CaMV35S-Act8 promoter including the first intron of the Act8 gene (SEQ ID NO:29, U.S. Pat. No. 6,462,258) operably connected to an Arabidopsis EPSPS chloroplast transit peptide (TS-At.EPSPS:CTP2), operably connected to a glyphosate tolerant 5-enol-pyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) from Agrobacterium sp. strain CP4 (aroA:CP4, U.S. Pat. No. 5,633,435, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety), operably linked to the 3′ termination region from pea ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase E9. The following examples are included to demonstrate examples of certain preferred embodiments of the invention. It should be appreciated by those of skill in the art that the techniques disclosed in the examples that follow represent approaches the inventors have found function well in the practice of the invention, and thus can be considered to constitute examples of preferred modes for its practice. However, those of skill in the art should, in light of the present disclosure, appreciate that many changes can be made in the specific embodiments that are disclosed and still obtain a like or similar result without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. EXAMPLES Example 1 The transgenic cotton event MON 88913 was generated by an Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of cotton cells with a DNA fragment derived from pMON51915 (FIG. 1). The plant transformation construct, pMON51915 was mated into Agrobacterium using a triparental mating procedure (Ditta et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 77:7347-7351, 1980). Cotton cell transformation with transgenes can be performed using methods described, e.g., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,863, U.S. Pat. No. 5,159,135, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,908, herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. Cotton transformation is performed essentially as described in WO/0036911 or as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,846,797, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. A modification of these methods can include, but is not limited to the following example. Coker 130 seed is surface sterilized and germinated in the dark. Hypocotyl explants are cut from the germinated seedlings to lengths of about 1-1.5 centimeter. Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain ABI transformed to contain pMON51915 is grown in Luria broth without antibiotics for 16 hours at 28° C., then diluted to approximately 2×108 bacteria/milliter (ml). The hypotocyl explant is submersed in the Agrobacterium inoculum for 2-5 minutes, then co-cultivated for about 45 hours on MS+1.9 mg/l KNO3+3% glucose (TRM),30 explants per plate, 24 C, in the dark. The explants are transferred to TRM containing 150 mg/l cefotaxime and 300 EM glyphosate for four culture periods, each period for approximately six weeks. Embryogenic calli is segregated from the primary explant at the end of 3rd or 4th culture periods and placed onto same medium. The embryogenic calli are subcultured once by briefly suspending in liquid TRM +3% glucose, followed by pouring suspension onto ‘TRM’+150 mg/l cefotaxime+300,uM glyphosate plates. The somatic embryos are harvested 3-8 weeks after the liquid subculture, then grown on Stewart and Hsu media with 0.5% glucose. Plantlets derived from the somatic embryos are matured to about 4-7 cm (3-6 leaves) in Magenta boxes with Stewart & Hsu modified with 40 mM NO3/10 mM NH4+2% sucrose. These plants are then transplanted to potting soil, 4″ pots, 100% humidity, 16 hours of light per day, for 4-6 days, followed by 50% humidity 5-10 days. The DNA fragment of pMON51915 contains two transgene expression cassettes inserted into the genome of MON 88913 (FIG. 2) that collectively confer glyphosate tolerance to MON 88913 and progeny thereof. The MON 88913 plant and seed has regenerable parts. The regenerable parts of the seed include, but are not limited to the embryo, the cotyledon, and the shoot or root meristem. The regenerable parts of the plant include, but are not limited to the leaves, the petiole, the hypocotyl, stem sections, and apical and root meristems. The invention also includes plant parts of cotton event MON 88913 that include, but are not limited to pollen, ovule, flowers, bolls, lint, shoots, roots, and leaves. The invention also includes extractable components of MON 88913 seed that include, but are not limited to protein, meal, flour, hulls, oil, and linter. Example 2 The glyphosate tolerant cotton event MON 88913 was selected from many transgenic cotton events for tolerance to glyphosate vegetative and reproductive injury. The successful production of a commercial quality transgenic event currently requires producing a large number of transgenic events. In the present invention, MON 88913 was one event among approximately 1000 R0 events that had been transformed with many different DNA constructs that included pMON51915. The MON 88913 event was selected from the many events by a series of molecular analysis and glyphosate tolerance screens. The events were screened in a greenhouse glyphosate tolerance test, the plants being scored for vegetative and reproductive tolerance. Fifteen to twenty-five R1 seeds from each event were planted in 15 cell trays with Metro-Mix 350 growing medium, which contains a combination of peat, vermiculite, nutrients, wetting agents, and processed bark and ash. Additional fertilizers included in the medium were Osmocote 14-14-14, Osmocote Plus 15-9-12, and MicroMax micronutrients. All plants were grown in a greenhouse. The average daytime temperature during the growing season was 32 degrees Celsius (° C.), while the average night temperature was 24° C. The photoperiod was set at 16 hours of light and eight hours of dark, with maximum light intensity. The average relative humidity during the growth cycle was 45 percent. The plants were then sprayed at the 4 and 8-leaf stages sequentially with 48 oz/A (oz=ounces, A=acre) of Roundup Ultra® (glyphosate containing herbicide). Seven days after the 4-leaf glyphosate application, the plants were scored for vegetative damage and segregation of the glyphosate tolerant phenotype was collected. These data were used to confirm that the event transgene insert was performing as a single dominant gene, adhering to Mendelian genetic models. Events with good vegetative tolerance were subsequently transplanted in 10-inch pots with the same Metro-Mix 350 growing medium described above and grown to maturity. Plants were treated with Pix Plus (BASF, Research Triangle Park, N.C.) as needed to regulate the plant height. At three months post-planting, the plants were mapped for boll retention on the first fruiting positions of the first five fruiting branches. The maximum value for retention for this plant map is 5 (five bolls retained). This provided a quick, indirect measure of plant fertility. With this greenhouse screen, the average retention for the current commercial event (RR cotton 1445) is less than 1.0. Events with an average boll retention value greater than or equal to three were harvested and advanced for further event selection. Events that have boll retention values greater than or equal to two have value as new glyphosate tolerant plant selections. Events that met the Roundup® Ultra vegetative and reproductive tolerance criteria were analyzed for copy number via Southern blot analysis. Single copy events that showed good tolerance in initial greenhouse experiments were further characterized in 1) additional greenhouse tolerance tests at higher glyphosate rates, 2) replicated field trials, and with 3) additional molecular screens. The greenhouse tolerance tests were conducted using homozygous plants. All of the experiments contained the current commercial Roundup Ready® cotton event 1445 event (commercial standard) for comparison. Seed were planted in 15 cell trays and treated with 64 oz/A Roundup Ultra® at the 4-leaf stage and 96 oz/A at the 8-leaf stage. The plants were then transplanted to 10-inch pots and four plants were mapped at mid-season on the first fruiting positions of the first five fruiting branches. End of the season data were also collected on all events and included seed cotton weight, number of bolls, boll size, and boll retention. Field testing was used to select the event that showed best growth rates, fruit retention, and yield. The field trials were arranged in a randomized split plot design with three replications and three treatments. The events were planted in two row, 30-foot plots. The treatments consisted of unsprayed, 64 oz/A (1.5 lb ae/A) Roundup Ultra® at the 4, 6, 10, 14-node stages, and 96 oz/A (2.25 lb ae/A) Roundup Ultra® at the 4, 6, 10, 14-node stages. A mid-season plant map was completed on ten plants per plot. Boll retention data was collected for the first and second fruiting positions of the first five fruiting nodes that provides a boll retention value scale of 0-10. A plant with a boll retention value equal to or greater than 3 on the 0-10 scale has value as a new glyphosate tolerant plant selection. Field testing (10 locations) comparing the yield of cotton lint (pounds/acre, lb/A) from MON 88913 and RR cotton 1445 showed that MON 88913 provided substantial protection against glyphosate (pounds of acid equivalent/acre, lb ae/A) effects on yield (Table 1). Yield is a measure of boll retention, cotton plants engineered for glyphosate tolerance that retain a substantial number of bolls in the first and second fruiting positions will maintain a yield advantage over cotton plants that are not as glyphosate tolerant. An effective dose of a glyphosate containing herbicide to control weeds in a field of MON 88913 comprises about 4 oz/A and may exceed 128 oz/A depending on the species of weed to be controlled and the stage of weed development. Glyphosate can be mixed with other herbicides to enhance the herbicidal activity against certain weed species. TABLE 1 Comparison of lint yield of MON 88913 and 1445 after glyphosate treatment. Yield (lb/A) Glyphosate of 10 Locations treatment 0 lb ae/A 1.5 lb ae/A 2.25 lb ae/A 1445 2421.84 1044.19 831.47 MON 88913 2551.58 2587.61 2412.3 Example 3 Cotton genomic DNA for all PCR reactions and Southern blot analyses was isolated using a CTAB procedure (Rogers et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 5:69-76, 1985) or Dneasy™ 96 Plant Kit (Cat. # 69181, Qiagen Inc., Valencia, Calif.) following the manufacturers instructions. Leaf tissue was collected from plants at the 2-4-leaf stage. The smallest true leaves were collected from each plant and immediately frozen on dry ice. DNA was extracted using, e.g., the following method. The tissue was ground using plastic beads with liquid nitrogen. Five ml of extraction buffer was added to 0.75 gram (g) of tissue and incubated at 55° C. for 45 minutes. The CTAB extraction buffer consisted of 100 mM Tris pH8.0, 1.4M NaCl, 20 mM EDTA, 2% CTAB with the addition of 5 μl (microliter) of beta-mercaptoethanol, 5 μl of RNase and 1% PVPP. The samples were then extracted with an equal volume of chloroform (5 ml) and then centrifuged at 3700 RPM for 15 minutes at room temperature. The aqueous phase was transferred to a new tube and the DNA was precipitated with an equal volume of isopropanol. After centrifugation at 3700 RPM for 15 minutes, the pellets were washed with 70% ethanol, air dried, and resuspended in 250 μl of water. Cotton genomic DNA adjacent to the transgene insertion was obtained for the MON 88913 event utilizing TAIL-PCR (Liu et al., Plant Journal 8: 457-463, 1995). Extension of the genomic DNA was conducted using the GenomeWalker kit (CloneTech Laboratories, Palo Alto, Calif.) following the manufacture's protocol. Briefly, the DNA (˜5 μg) isolated utilizing the CTAB protocol previously described, was digested with various restriction endonucleases (EcoRV, Scal) at 37° C. overnight in a total volume of 100 μl. The restriction endonucleases were removed with QIAquick PCR Purification columns (cat #28104, Qiagen, Inc.). The ligation of adaptor molecules were those that were described in the manufacture's protocol. DNA was amplified using FMV-1 primer (SEQ ID NO:5) with the AP1 primer (CloneTech Laboratories) for the primary reaction and nested FMV-2 primer (SEQ ID NO:6) with the AP2 primer (CloneTech Laboratories) for the secondary reaction. The 3′ transgene/genomic DNA of the MON 88913 was isolated utilizing inverse PCR. Total genomic DNA (˜10 μg) was digested with three restriction enzymes; BclI, NcoI, and HindIII. The QIAquick PCR Purification columns were used to purify the DNA after digesting overnight at 37° C. The DNA was eluted from the columns with 50 μl of water and then diluted to 1 ml. The diluted eluate (85 μl) was combined with 10 μl of buffer (10×) and 5 μl of T4 Ligase to circularize the fragments. After an overnight incubation at 16° C., the ligase was heat inactivated at 70° C. The samples were amplified by PCR with a series of nested primers. The primer combinations for PCR included: primary pair 8099-E9-1/E9-2 (SEQ ID NO:7/SEQ ID NO:8) for BclI and NcoI samples and primer pair 8099-E9-1/Act8 rev (SEQ ID NO:7/SEQ ID NO:9) for the HindIII sample; primer pair 8099-E9-2/E9-1 (SEQ ID NO:10/SEQ ID NO:11) for BclI and NcoI samples; primer pair 8099-E9-2/Act8 (SEQ ID NO:10/SEQ ID NO:12) for the HindIII sample; primer pair 8099-E9-3/E9-1 (SEQ ID NO:13/SEQ ID NO:11) for BclI and NcoI samples and 8099-E9-3/Act8 (SEQ ID NO:13/SEQ ID NO:12) for the HindIII sample. The conditions for the PCR included: primary PCR=7 cycles of 94° C. for 2 seconds, 72° C. for 10 minutes; 37 cycles of 94° C. for 2 seconds, 67° C. for 10 minutes; 1 cycle of 67° C. for secondary and tertiary PCR=5 cycles of 94° C. for 2 seconds, 72° C. for 10 minutes; 24 cycles of 94° C. for 2 seconds, 67° C. for 10 minutes; 1 cycle of 67° C. for 10 minutes. Alternatively, DNA amplification by PCR of the 3′ end of the MON 88913 event can be performed with conditions that include: 7 cycles of 94° C. for 25 seconds, 72° C. for 3 minutes; 37 cycles of 94° C. for 25 seconds, 67° C. for 3 minutes; 1 cycle of 67° C. for 7 minutes. All subsequent amplifications conducted with the following conditions: 7 cycles of 94° C. for 2 seconds, 72° C. for 4 minutes; 37 cycles of 94° C. for 2 seconds, 67° C. for 4 minutes; 1 cycle of 67° C. for 7 minutes. All amplicons are visualized on 0.8% agarose gels stained with ethidium bromide. The DNA is prepared for sequencing either by purifying the PCR samples directly with the QIAquick PCR Purification kit (cat# 28104, Qiagen Inc.) or by extracting the appropriate fragment from the gel and using the QIAquick Gel Extraction kit (cat #28704, Qiagen Inc.). A series of DNA primers were designed to sequence the transgene insert and the adjacent flanking genomic regions of the MON 88913. DNA primers were designed that allowed amplification of the entire transgene and genomic flanking regions by five overlapping fragments. Unique primers were designed to allow amplification of each EPSPS-CTP2/aroA-CP4/RbcS2:E9 region separately. For all fragments used in sequencing, the amplifications were performed in triplicate. The DNA primer pair combinations used as sequencing primers for the 5′ transgene/genomic region (SEQ ID NO:14 and SEQ ID NO:15), 3′ transgene/genomic region (SEQ ID NO:16 and SEQ ID NO:17) and insert genetic elements (SEQ ID NO:18 and SEQ ID NO:11; SEQ ID NO:19 and SEQ ID NO:15; SEQ ID NO:20 and SEQ ID NO:11). Total genomic DNA was used for all PCR reactions. All amplicons were visualized on 0.8% agarose gels stained with ethidium bromide. The DNA was prepared for sequencing either by purifying the PCR samples directly with the QIAquick PCR Purification kit or by extracting the appropriate fragment from the gel and using the QIAquick Gel Extraction kit. The DNA sequence was produced using DNA sequence analysis equipment (ABI Prism™ 377, PE Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) and DNASTAR sequence analysis software (DNASTAR Inc., Madison, Wis.). The DNA fragments from the flanking regions of MON 88913 transgene/genomic insert were subcloned using a TOPO TA Cloning® kit (Invitrogen). The DNA sequence of the 5′ transgene/genomic region is shown in FIG. 4 and the DNA sequence of the 3′ transgene/genomic region is shown in FIG. 5. In the DNA sequence shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the transgene insert sequence is in italics. Example 4 DNA event primer pairs are used to produce an amplicon diagnostic for cotton event MON 88913 genome. Amplicons diagnostic for MON 88913 genome comprise at least one junction sequence, SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2. Event primer pairs that will produce a diagnostic amplicon for MON 88913, in which the primer pairs include, but are not limited to SEQ ID NO:14 and SEQ ID NO:15 for the 5′ amplicon sequence, and SEQ ID NO:16 and SEQ ID NO:17 for the 3′ amplicon when used in the protocol outlined in Table 2. In addition to these primer pairs, any primer pair, homologous or complementary to SEQ ID NO:3 or SEQ ID NO:4, that in a DNA amplification reaction produces an amplicon diagnostic for MON 88913 genome is an aspect of the present invention. Any single isolated DNA polynucleotide primer molecule comprising at least 11 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:3, or its complement that is useful in a DNA amplification method to produce an amplicon diagnostic for MON 88913 is an aspect of the invention. Any single isolated DNA polynucleotide primer molecule comprising at least 11 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:4, or its complement that is useful in a DNA amplification method to produce an amplicon diagnostic for MON 88913 is an aspect of the invention. An example of the amplification conditions for this analysis is illustrated in Table 2 and Table 3, however, any modification of these methods that use DNA primers homologous or complementary to SEQ ID NO:3 or SEQ ID NO:4 or DNA sequences of the genetic elements contained in the transgene insert of MON 88913 that produce an amplicon diagnostic for MON 88913, is within the ordinary skill of the art. A diagnostic amplicon comprises a DNA molecule homologous or complementary to at least one transgene/genomic junction DNA (SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2) or substantial portion thereof. An analysis for event MON 88913 plant tissue sample should include a positive tissue control from event MON 88913, a negative control from a cotton plant that is not event MON 88913, and a negative control that contains no cotton genomic DNA. Additional primer sequences can be selected from SEQ ID NO:3 and SEQ ID NO:4 by those skilled in the art of DNA amplification methods, and conditions selected for the production of an amplicon by the methods shown in Table 2 and Table 3 may differ, but result in an amplicon diagnostic for event MON 88913. The use of these DNA primer sequences with modifications to the methods of Table 2 and 3 are within the scope of the invention. The amplicon produced by at least one DNA primer sequence derived from SEQ ID NO:3 or SEQ ID NO:4 that is diagnostic for MON 88913 is an aspect of the invention. DNA detection kits that contain at least one DNA primer derived from SEQ ID NO:3 or SEQ ID NO:4 that when used in a DNA amplification method produces a diagnostic amplicon for MON 88913 is an aspect of the invention. The amplicon produced by at least one primer sequence derived from any of the genetic elements of pMON51915 that is diagnostic for MON 88913 is an aspect of the invention. A cotton plant or seed, wherein its genome will produce an amplicon comprising SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2 when tested in a DNA amplification method is an aspect of the present invention. The assay for the MON 88913 on can be performed by using a Stratagene Robocycler, MJ Engine, Perkin-Elmer 9700, endorf Mastercycler Gradient thermocycler as shown in Table 3, or by methods and us known to those skilled in the art. TABLE 2 PCR procedure and reaction mixture conditions for the identification of MON 88913 5′ transgene insert/genomic junction region. Step Reagent Amount Comments 1 Nuclease-free water add to final volume of 20 μl — 2 10X reaction buffer 2.0 μl 1X final concentration of (with MgCl2) buffer, 1.5 mM final concentration of MgCl2 3 10 mM solution of dATP, 0.4 μl 200 μM final dCTP, dGTP, and dTTP concentration of each dNTP 4 event primer (SEQ ID 0.4 μl 0.2 μM final NO: 14) (resuspended in 1× concentration TE buffer or nuclease-free water to a concentration of 10 μM) 5 event primer (SEQ ID 0.4 μl 0.2 μM final NO: 15) concentration (resuspended in 1X TE buffer or nuclease-free water to a concentration of 10 μM) 6 RNase, DNase free (500 ng/μl) 0.1 μl 50 ng/reaction 7 REDTaq DNA polymerase 1.0 μl (recommended to 1 unit/reaction (1 unit/μl) switch pipets prior to next step) 8 Extracted DNA (template): — Samples to be analyzed individual leaves 10-200 ng of genomic DNA pooled leaves 200 ng of genomic DNA (maximum of 50 leaves/pool) Negative control 50 ng of cotton genomic DNA (not MON 88913) Negative control no template DNA Positive control 50 ng of MON 88913 genomic DNA 9 Gently mix and add 1-2 drops of mineral oil on top of each reaction. TABLE 3 Suggested PCR parameters for different thermocyclers. Proceed with the DNA amplification in a Stratagene Robocycler, MJ Engine, Perkin-Elmer 9700, or Eppendorf Mastercycler Gradient thermocycler using the following cycling parameters. The MJ Engine or Eppendorf Mastercycler Gradient thermocycler should be run in the calculated mode. Run the Perkin-Elmer 9700 thermocycler with the ramp speed set at maximum. Cycle No. Settings: Stratagene Robocycler 1 94° C. 3 minutes 38 94° C. 1 minute 60° C. 1 minute 72° C. 1 minute and 30 seconds 1 72° C. 10 minutes Settings: MJ Engine or Perkin-Elmer 9700 1 94° C. 3 minutes 38 94° C. 10 seconds 60° C. 30 seconds 72° C. 1 minute 1 72° C. 10 minutes Settings: Eppendorf Mastercycler Gradient 1 94° C. 3 minutes 38 94° C. 15 seconds 60° C. 15 seconds 72° C. 1 minute and 30 seconds 1 72° C. 10 minutes Example 5 MON 88913 genomic DNA and control cotton genomic DNA (˜15 μg of each) is digested with various restriction enzymes (140 U) in a total volume of 150 μl including 15 μl of the corresponding manufacturer's buffer (NEB, Beverely, Mass.). Restriction endonucleases, e.g., BglI, BamHI, NcoI, HindIII, and BcII, are used in the Southern analysis of MON 88913. Endonuclease digests are performed at the appropriate temperature for at least 6 hours. After incubating, the DNA is precipitated with 3M sodium acetate and 2.5 volumes of ethanol. Subsequently, the DNA is washed with 70% ethanol, dried, and resuspended in 40 μl of TBE. Loading buffer (0.2×) is added to the samples and then electrophoresis conducted on agarose gels (0.8%) for 16-18 hours at 30 volts. The gels are stained with ethidium-bromide, then treated with a depurination solution (0.125N HCL) for 10 minutes, with a denaturing solution (0.5M sodium hydroxide, 1.5M sodium chloride) for 30 minutes, and finally with a neutralizing solution (0.5M Trizma base, 1.5M sodium chloride) for 30 minutes. The DNA is transferred to Hybond-N membrane (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, Buckinghamshire, England) using a Turboblotter (Schleicher and Schuell, Dassel, Germany) for 4-6 hours and then fixed to the membrane using a UV light. Membranes are prehybridized with 20 mls of DIG Easy Hyb solution (Roche Molecular Biochemicals, Indianapolis, Ind.; cat. #1603558) for 2-4 hours at 45° C. Radioactive DNA probes (32P dCTP) homologous or complementary to SEQ ID NO:1, or SEQ ID NO:2, or SEQ ID NO:3, or SEQ ID NO:4, or a portion thereof are made using a Radprime DNA Labeling kit (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.; cat. #18428-011). Unincorporated nucleotides are removed using sephadex G-50 columns (Invitrogen). The prehybridization solution is replaced with 10 mls of pre-warmed DIG Easy Hyb solution containing the denatured probe to a final concentration of 1 million counts per ml. The blots are hybridized at 45° C. for 16-18 hours. Blots are washed with a low stringency solution (5×SSC, 0.1×SDS) at 45° C. and then repeatedly washed with a higher stringency solution (0.1×SSC, 0.1% SDS) at 65° C. The blots are exposed to a phosphor screen (Amersham Biosciences, Piscataway, N.J.) for >2 hours and the exposure read using a Data Storm 860 machine (Amersham Biosciences). Example 6 The methods used to identify heterozygous from homozygous cotton progeny containing event MON 88913 are described in a zygosity assay for which examples of conditions are described in Table 4 and Table 5. The DNA primers used in the zygosity assay are primer SQ1099 (SEQ ID NO:21), SQ1100 (SEQ ID NO:22), SQ1353 (SEQ ID NO:23), 6FAM™ labeled primer (SEQ ID NO:24, ), and VIC™ labeled primer (SEQ ID NO:25), 6FAM and VIC are florescent dye products of Applied Biosystems (Foster City, Calif.) attached to the DNA primer. SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22 and SEQ ID NO:23 when used in these reaction methods produce a DNA amplicon for non-transgenic cotton, two DNA amplicons for heterozygous cotton containing event MON 88913, and a DNA amplicon for homozygous MON 88913 cotton that is distinct from any other non-MON 88913 cotton. The controls for this analysis should include a positive control from homozygous and heterozygous cotton containing event MON 88913 DNA, a negative control from non-transgenic cotton, and a negative control that contains no template DNA. This assay is optimized for use with a Stratagene Robocycler, MJ Engine, Perkin-Elmer 9700, or Eppendorf Mastercycler Gradient thermocycler. Other methods and apparatus known to those skilled in the art that produce amplicons that identify the zygosity of the progeny of crosses made with MON 88913 cotton plants is within the skill of the art. TABLE 4 Zygosity assay reaction solutions Step Reagent Amount Comments 1 Nuclease-free water add to 10 μl final volume — 2 2X Universal Master Mix (Applied 5 μl 1 X final Biosystems cat. # 4304437) concentration 3 Primers SQ1099, SQ1100, SQ1353 0.5 μl 0.25 μM final (resuspended in nuclease-free water concentration to a concentration of 20 μM) 4 Primer 6FAM ™ (resuspended in 0.2 μl 0.4 μM final nuclease-free water to a concentration concentration of 10 μM) 5 Primer VIC ™ (resuspended in 0.2 μl 0.15 μM final nuclease-free water to a concentration concentration of 10 μM) 6 REDTaq DNA polymerase 1.0 μl (recommended to 1 unit/reaction (1 unit/μl) switch pipets prior to next step) 7 Extracted DNA (template): 3.0 μl Diluted in water Samples to be analyzed (individual 4-80 ng of genomic leaves) DNA Negative control 4 ng of non-transgenic cotton genomic DNA Negative control no DNA template (solution in which DNA was resuspended) Positive control 4 ng of genomic DNA from known event MON 88913 heterozygous cotton Positive control 4 ng of genomic DNA from known event MON 88913 homozygous cotton 8 Gently mix, add 1-2 drops of mineral oil on top of each reaction. TABLE 5 Zygosity assay thermocycler conditions Proceed with the DNA amplificaition in a Stratagene Robocycler, MJ Engine, Perkin-Elmer 9700, or Eppendorf Mastercycler Gradient thermocycler using the following cycling parameters. When running the PCR in the Eppendorf Mastercycler Gradient or MJ Engine, the thermocycler should be run in the calculated mode. When running the PCR in the Perkin-Elmer 9700, run the thermocycler with the ramp speed set at maximum. Cycle No. Settings: Stratagene Robocycler 1 94° C. 3 minutes 38 94° C. 1 minute 60° C. 1 minute 72° C. 1 minute and 30 seconds 1 72° C. 10 minutes Settings: MJ Engine or Perkin-Elmer 9700 1 94° C. 3 minutes 38 94° C. 30 seconds 60° C. 30 seconds 72° C. 1 minute and 30 seconds 1 72° C. 10 minutes Settings: Eppendorf Mastercycler Gradient 1 94° C. 3 minutes 38 94° C. 15 seconds 60° C. 15 seconds 72° C. 1 minute and 30 seconds 1 72° C. 10 minutes Example 7 Analysis of cotton genomic DNA samples was conducted using an endpoint Taqman® method. The production of amplicons diagnostic for MON 88913 genomic DNA were produced by using a primer set A that included event primers: SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, and 6-FAM probe SEQ ID NO:24; and a primer set B that included event primers: SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:27, and 6-PAM probe SEQ ID NO:28. The method uses a 96-well or 384-well format and an Applied Biosystems GeneAmp PCR System 9700 or MJ Research DNA Engine PT-255. DNA extracted from cotton tissue samples as previously described should be within the range of 5-10 ng per PCR reaction. Each reaction contains a final volume of 10 μl consisting of 0.5 μl of equal concentration of the event primers (20 μM, 5.0 μl of 2× universal master mix, 0.2 μl of the 6-FAM probe (10 μM), 3 μl DNA sample (5-10 ng) and water to 10 μl. The thermal cycler parameters are 1 cycle 50° C. for 2 minutes, 1 cycle 95° C. for 10 minutes, 10 cycles at 95° C. for 15 seconds, 64° C. for 1 minute then −1° C./cycle, 30 cycles 95° C. for 15 seconds, 54° C. for 1 minute, then hold at 10° C. The amplicon production was determined by a microplate reader, e.g., a TECAN Safire (Durham, N.C.) using the conditions described by the manufacturer. A data analysis program (TaqPro™) was used to score the production of the labeled amplicon. Other equipment and analysis methods known in the art of DNA detection can be used to detect the amplicons of the present invention. A deposit of Monsanto Technology LLC, cotton MON 88913 seed disclosed above and recited in the claims, has been made under the Budapest Treaty with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), 10801 University Boulevard, Manassas, Va. 20110. The ATCC accession number is PTA-4854. The deposit will be maintained in the depository for a period of 30 years, or 5 years after the last request, or for the effective life of the patent, whichever is longer, and will be replaced as necessary during that period. Having illustrated and described the principles of the present invention, it should be apparent to persons skilled in the art that the invention can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles. We claim all modifications that are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. All publications and published patent documents cited in this specification are incorporated herein by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Cotton is an important fiber crop in many areas of the world. The methods of biotechnology have been applied to cotton for improvement of the agronomic traits and the quality of the product. The method of introducing transgenes into cotton plants has been demonstrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,863. One such agronomic trait important in cotton production is herbicide tolerance, in particular, tolerance to glyphosate herbicide. This trait has been introduced into cotton plants and is a successful product now used in cotton production. The current commercial Roundup Ready® cotton event (1445) provides excellent tolerance to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup®, through the four-leaf stage (Nida et al., J. Agric. Food Chem. 44:1960-1966, 1996; Nida et al., J. Agric. Food Chem. 44:1967-1974, 1996). However, foliar application beyond the four-leaf stage must be limited due to insufficient tolerance in male reproductive tissues in certain environmental conditions. This lack of male reproductive tolerance appears to be a result of insufficient CP4 EPSPS expression in critical tissues, higher sensitivity of these tissues to glyphosate, and accumulation of high amounts of glyphosate in these strong sink tissues (Pline et al., Weed Sci. 50:438-447, 2002). There is a need for a cotton plant more highly glyphosate tolerant than Roundup Ready® cotton 1445. It would be advantageous to be able to detect the presence of a particular event in order to determine whether the progeny of a sexual cross contain a transgene of interest. In addition, a method for detecting a particular event would be helpful for complying with regulations requiring pre-market approval or labeling of foods derived from recombinant crop plants, for example. It is possible to detect the presence of a transgene by any well known nucleic acid detection method such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or DNA hybridization using nucleic acid probes. These detection methods generally focus on frequently used genetic elements, such as promoters, 3′ transcription terminators, marker genes, etc. As a result, such methods may not be useful for discriminating between different events, particularly those produced using the same DNA construct unless the sequence of genomic chromosomal DNA adjacent to the inserted DNA (“flanking genomic DNA”) is known. Event-specific DNA detection methods for a glyphosate tolerant cotton event 1445 have been described (US 20020120964, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety). The present invention relates to a glyphosate tolerant cotton event MON 88913, compositions contained therein, and to the method for the detection of the transgene/genomic insertion region in cotton event MON 88913 and progeny thereof.

<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The present invention is related to the transgenic cotton event designated MON 88913 having seed deposited with American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) with Accession No. PTA-4854. Another aspect of the invention comprises the progeny plants, or seeds, or regenerable parts of the plants and seeds of the cotton event MON 88913. The invention also includes plant parts of cotton event MON 88913 that include, but are not limited to pollen, ovule, flowers, bolls, lint, shoots, roots, and leaves. The invention relates to a cotton plant having a glyphosate tolerant phenotype and the novel genetic compositions of MON 88913. One aspect of the invention provides DNA compositions and methods for detecting the presence of a transgene/genomic junction region from cotton plant event MON 88913. Isolated DNA molecules are provided that comprise at least one transgene/genomic junction DNA molecule selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:2, and complements thereof, wherein the junction molecule spans the insertion site that comprises a heterologous DNA inserted into the cotton genome and the genomic DNA from the cotton cell flanking the insertion site in cotton event MON 88913. A cottonseed and plant material thereof comprising these molecules is an aspect of this invention. An isolated novel DNA molecule is provided that is a 5′transgene/genomic region SEQ ID NO:3 or the complement thereof, wherein this DNA molecule is novel in cotton event MON 88913. A cotton plant and seed comprising SEQ ID NO:3 in its genome is an aspect of this invention. According to another aspect of the invention, an isolated DNA molecule is provided that is a 3′transgene/genomic region SEQ ID NO:4, or the complement thereof wherein this DNA molecule is novel in cotton event MON 88913. A cotton plant and seed comprising SEQ ID NO:4 in its genome is an aspect of this invention. According to another aspect of the invention, two DNA molecules are provided for use in a DNA amplification method, wherein the first DNA molecule comprises at least 11 or more contiguous polynucleotides of any portion of the transgene region of the DNA molecule of SEQ ID NO:3 and a DNA molecule of similar length of any portion of a 5′ flanking cotton genomic DNA region of SEQ ID NO:3, where these DNA molecules when used together are useful as a DNA primer set in a DNA amplification method that produces an amplicon. The amplicon produced using the DNA primer set in the DNA amplification method is diagnostic for cotton event MON 88913. Any amplicon produced from MON 88913 DNA by DNA primers that are homologous or complementary to any portion of SEQ ID NO:3 is an aspect of the invention. According to another aspect of the invention, two DNA molecules are provided for use in a DNA amplification method, wherein the first DNA molecule comprises at least 11 or more contiguous polynucleotides of any portion of the transgene region of the DNA molecule of SEQ ID NO:4 and a DNA molecule of similar length of any portion of a 3′ flanking cotton genomic DNA of SEQ ID NO:4, where these DNA molecules are useful as a DNA primer set in a DNA amplification method. The amplicon produced using the DNA primer set in the DNA amplification method is diagnostic for cotton event MON 88913. The amplicons produced from MON 88913 DNA by DNA primers that are homologous or complementary to any portion of SEQ ID NO:4 are an aspect of the invention. According to another aspect of the invention, methods of detecting the presence of DNA corresponding specifically to the cotton event MON 88913 DNA in a sample are provided. Such methods comprise: (a) contacting the sample comprising DNA with a DNA primer set that, when used in a nucleic acid amplification reaction with genomic DNA from cotton event MON 88913 produces an amplicon that is diagnostic for cotton event MON 88913 (b) performing a nucleic acid amplification reaction, thereby producing the amplicon; and (c) detecting the amplicon. According to another aspect of the invention, methods of detecting the presence of DNA corresponding specifically to the cotton event MON 88913 DNA in a sample are provided. Such methods comprising: (a) contacting the sample comprising DNA with a DNA probe comprising SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2, that hybridize under stringent hybridization conditions with genomic DNA from cotton event MON 88913 and does not hybridize under the stringent hybridization conditions with a control cotton plant DNA; (b) subjecting the sample and probe to stringent hybridization conditions; and (c) detecting hybridization of the probe to the cotton event MON 88913 DNA. According to another aspect of the invention, methods of producing a cotton plant that tolerates application of glyphosate are provided that comprise the steps of: (a) sexually crossing a first parental cotton event MON 88913 comprising the expression cassettes of the present invention, which confers tolerance to application of glyphosate, and a second parental cotton plant that lacks the glyphosate tolerance, thereby producing a plurality of progeny plants; and (b) selecting a progeny plant that tolerates application of glyphosate. Such methods may optionally comprise the further step of backcrossing the progeny plant to the second parental cotton plant and selecting for glyphosate tolerant progeny to produce a true-breeding cotton variety that tolerates application of glyphosate. According to another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for determining the zygosity of the progeny of cotton event MON 88913 comprising:(a) contacting the sample comprising cotton DNA with a primer set comprising SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, and SEQ ID NO:25 that when used in a nucleic-acid amplification reaction with genomic DNA from cotton event MON 88913, produces a first amplicon that is diagnostic for cotton event MON 88913; and (b) performing a nucleic acid amplification reaction, thereby producing the first amplicon; and (c) and detecting the first amplicon; and (d) contacting the sample comprising cotton DNA with said primer set, that when used in a nucleic-acid amplification reaction with genomic DNA from cotton plants produces a second amplicon comprising the native cotton genomic DNA homologous to the cotton genomic region of a transgene insertion identified as cotton event MON 88913; and (e) performing a nucleic acid amplification reaction, thereby producing the second amplicon; and (f) and detecting the second amplicon; and (g) comparing the first and second amplicons in a sample, wherein the presence of both amplicons indicates the sample is heterozygous for the transgene insertion. A method for determining zygosity comprising contacting a cotton DNA sample with using with primers and probes comprising SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, and SEQ ID NO:25; using an endpoint Taqman® PCR condition; and detecting the amplicon products. A method for controlling weeds in a crop or field of cotton event MON 88913 comprising the step of applying a herbicidally effective amount of glyphosate containing herbicide to the field of MON 88913 cotton. The foregoing and other aspects of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

20050705

20080603

20060316

84313.0

A01H100

KRUSE, DAVID H

COTTON EVENT MON 88913 AND COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR DETECTION THEREOF

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

A01H

ACCEPTED

Radiation detector with shielded electronics for computed tomography

A radiation detector module includes a scintillator (62, 62′, 162, 262) arranged to receive penetrating radiation of a computed tomography apparatus (10). The scintillator produces optical radiation responsive to the penetrating radiation. A detector array (66, 66′, 166, 266) is arranged to convert the optical radiation into electric signals. Electronics (72, 72′, 172, 272) are arranged on a side of the detector array opposite from the scintillator in a path of the penetrating radiation. A radiation shield (86, 86′, 100, 100′, 100″, 186, 210, 210′, 286, 286′) is disposed between the detector array and the electronics to absorb the penetrating radiation that passes through the scintillator. The radiation shield includes openings (90, 90′) that communicate between the detector array and the electronics. Electrical feedthroughs (88, 88′, 102, 102′, 102″, 188, 212, 212′, 288, 288′) pass through the radiation shield openings and electrically connect the detector array and the electronics.

1. A radiation detector module including: a scintillator arranged to receive penetrating radiation, the scintillator producing second radiation responsive to the penetrating radiation; a detector array arranged to detect second radiation produced by the scintillator; electronics arranged on a side of the detector array opposite from the scintillator in a path to receive penetrating radiation that has passed through the scintillator; a radiation shield disposed between the detector array and the electronics, the radiation shield being substantially absorbing with respect to the penetrating radiation, the radiation shield including openings communicating between the detector array and the electronics; and electrical feedthroughs passing through the radiation shield openings and electrically connecting the detector array and the electronics. 2. The radiation detector module as set forth in claim 1, wherein detector array includes: back-contact photodetectors each having a second radiation-sensitive side facing the scintillator and an electrical contacting side facing the radiation shield. 3. The radiation detector module as set forth in claim 1, wherein the radiation shield is electrically insulating. 4. The radiation detector module as set forth in claim 1, wherein the radiation shield is electrically conductive and the electrical feedthroughs include: an electrical conductor; and an insulator electrically isolating the electrical conductor from the radiation shield. 5. The radiation detector module as set forth in claim 1, further including: an insulating support that retains the electrical feedthroughs in an arrangement comporting with an arrangement of the radiation shield openings. 6. The radiation detector module as set forth in claim 1, wherein the electrical feedthroughs are substantially absorbing with respect to the penetrating radiation and cooperate with the radiation shield to shield the electronics from the penetrating radiation that has passed through the scintillator. 7. The radiation detector module as set forth in claim 6, wherein each electrical feedthrough includes: a widened portion that spatially overlaps a narrower portion of the corresponding radiation shield opening. 8. The radiation detector module as set forth in claim 1, wherein the radiation shield includes a high-Z material. 9. The radiation detector module as set forth in claim 8, wherein the high-Z material is selected from a group consisting of tungsten, a tungsten alloy, lead, a lead alloy, a lead oxide, bismuth trioxide, tantalum, gold, and platinum. 10. The radiation detector module as set forth in claim 1, wherein the radiation shield is formed of a composite material including an insulating binder and a matrix of high-Z material. 11. The radiation detector module as set forth in claim 10, wherein the insulating binder is selected from a group consisting of an organic binder, a polymeric material, and an unsaturated polymeric resin. 12. The radiation detector module as set forth in claim 1, wherein each electrical feedthrough includes: a high-Z conductor formed of a high-Z material. 13. The radiation detector module as set forth in claim 12, wherein the high-Z material is selected from a group consisting of tungsten, lead, an alloy of tungsten, an alloy of lead, tantalum, gold, and platinum. 14. The radiation detector module as set forth in claim 12, wherein each electrical feedthrough further includes: an insulating coating surrounding the high-Z conductor. 15. The radiation detector module as set forth in claim 12, wherein each electrical feedthrough further includes: at least one contact layer disposed on an end of the feedthrough that electrically communicates between the feedthrough and at least one of the detector array and the electronics. 16. The radiation detector module as set forth in claim 15, wherein the contact layer includes a gold layer. 17. The radiation detector module as set forth in claim 1, wherein ends of the electrical feedthroughs generally align with a surface of the radiation shield to define a flat surface. 18. The radiation detector module as set forth in claim 1, wherein each radiation shield opening is slanted relative to an incoming direction of the penetrating radiation to prevent the penetrating radiation from passing through the opening. 19. The radiation detector module as set forth in claim 1, further including: a second radiation shield disposed between the detector array and the electronics, the second radiation shield being substantially absorbing with respect to the penetrating radiation; second electrical feedthroughs passing through openings of the second radiation shield, the second electrical feedthroughs being spatially offset respective to the first electrical feedthroughs that pass through openings of the first radiation shield to prevent penetrating radiation from reaching the electronics; and electrical connectors connecting selected electrical feedthroughs and second electrical feedthroughs to electrically connect the detector array and the electronics. 20. A computed tomography scanner including: a stationary gantry; a rotating gantry rotatably connected with the stationary gantry for rotation about an axis of rotation; an x-ray source mounted to the rotating gantry for projecting a cone-beam of radiation through the axis of rotation; a tiled array of detector modules as set forth in claim 1 disposed across the axis of rotation from the x-ray source; and a reconstruction processor for processing an output of the electronics into an image representation. 21. A method for detecting penetrating radiation traveling in a first direction, the method comprising: in a planar region having a front face transverse to the first direction, converting most of the penetrating radiation into a second radiation; passing the second radiation and a remainder of the penetrating radiation from a second face of the planar region; converting the second radiation into electrical signals; electrically communicating the electrical signals via feedthroughs in a radiation shield disposed behind the second face of the planar region to electronics disposed behind the radiation shield while absorbing the remainder of the penetrating radiation with the radiation shield. 22. The method as set forth in claim 21, wherein the absorbing of the remainder of the penetrating radiation further includes: absorbing penetrating radiation with the feedthroughs to prevent the penetrating radiation from reaching the electronics. 23. The method as set forth in claim 21, further including: extruding the radiation shield with the feedthroughs embedded therein. 24. The method as set forth in claim 21, further including: arranging the feedthroughs in the radiation shield such that the penetrating radiation is prevented from passing through the feedthroughs or between the feedthroughs and the shield.

The following relates to the radiation detection arts. It particularly relates to an x-ray detector array for computed tomography which employs back-contact photodiodes, and will be described with particular reference thereto. However, the following relates more generally to radiation detectors for various applications. In computed tomography scanners, an x-ray source is mounted on a rotating gantry. An array of detectors is mounted on the rotating gantry opposite the source or on a stationary gantry surrounding the rotating gantry. Imaging radiation in the form of x-rays produced by the x-ray source pass through an examined object in an examination region and are detected by the detector array. In present computed tomography scanners, the detector array typically includes between four and sixty-four rows of detectors along the axial or Z-direction, and signal processing electronics are arranged at one or both sides of the detector array beyond the width of the x-ray beam. As a total number of detector rows increases, it becomes increasingly difficult to interconnect remotely disposed processing electronics with the detector elements of the detector array. Hence, there is a need in the art for detector arrangements in which the electronics are more closely integrated with the detectors. In a suitable arrangement, the electronics are placed behind the detector array. However, in this arrangement the processing electronics are exposed to the imaging radiation. A scintillator of the radiation detector typically absorbs about 99% of incoming x-rays; however, the remaining about 1% of the radiation is sufficient to degrade the electronics over time. Moreover, the scintillator includes gaps in the crystal elements through which x-rays can pass at higher intensities. To address radiation damage issues, use of radiation-hard processing electronics have been proposed. However, radiation-hard electronics are generally digital and only differentiate between binary signal levels. Analog ASICs typically used for processing computed tomography detector data are more sensitive to radiation damage than digital electronics. The radiation can cause gradual signal drift in the analog circuits due to radiation-induced charge build-up at transistor gates, as well as leakage currents in transistors that cause improper measurements and/or functional failures. Of course, the radiation can also cause a catastrophic failure of the ASIC. Radiation hardened ASICs also have several undesirable features. They are typically substantially larger than similar conventional ASICs, they are more expensive, and they can require more power per channel compared with conventional ASICs, which is significant in CT scanners with large numbers of detectors. Another approach has been to block radiation exposure by coating the ASICs with a radiation-shielding material, such as a lead or tungsten layer. However, this complicates design since ASIC wiring loops around the electrically conductive shield to connect to unshielded edges, creating high densities of electrical conductors, potential capacitance problems between the closely spaced wires, and complex connections. Yet another approach has been to orient the electronics perpendicular to the detector array. Again, such an arrangement complicates detector design, and by itself does not fully shield the ASICs. The present invention contemplates an improved apparatus and method that overcomes the aforementioned limitations and others. According to one aspect, a radiation detector module is disclosed. A scintillator is arranged to receive penetrating radiation. The scintillator produces second radiation responsive to the penetrating radiation. A detector array is arranged to detect second radiation produced by the scintillator. Electronics are arranged on a side of the detector array opposite from the scintillator in a path to receive penetrating radiation that has passed through the scintillator. A radiation shield is disposed between the detector array and the electronics. The radiation shield is substantially absorbing with respect to the penetrating radiation. The radiation shield includes openings communicating between the detector array and the electronics. Electrical feedthroughs pass through the radiation shield openings and electrically connect the detector array and the electronics. According to another aspect, a computed tomography scanner is disclosed, including a stationary gantry and a rotating gantry rotatably connected with the stationary gantry for rotation about an axis of rotation. An x-ray source is mounted to the rotating gantry for projecting a cone-beam of radiation through the axis of rotation. A tiled array of detector modules as set forth in the previous paragraph are disposed across the axis of rotation from the x-ray source. A reconstruction processor is provided for processing an output of the electronics into an image representation. According to yet another aspect, a method is provided for detecting penetrating radiation traveling in a first direction. In a planar region having a front face transverse to the first direction, most of the penetrating radiation is converted into a second radiation. The second radiation and a remainder of the penetrating radiation is passed from a second face of the planar region. The second radiation is converted into electrical signals. The electrical signals are electrically communicated via feedthroughs in a radiation shield disposed behind the second face of the planar region to electronics disposed behind the radiation shield while the remainder of the penetrating radiation is absorbed with the radiation shield. One advantage resides in facilitating arranging detector electronics in the path of the imaging radiation. Another advantage resides in self-contained radiation detector modules that can be tiled to generate a large two-dimensional radiation detector for computed tomography imaging applications. Yet another advantage resides in providing radiation shielding with substantial elimination of high detector array wiring densities through distribution of feedthroughs across an area of the radiation shield. Numerous additional advantages and benefits will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. The invention may take form in various components and arrangements of components, and in various process operations and arrangements of process operations. The drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating preferred embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. FIG. 1 shows an exemplary computed tomography imaging apparatus employing a radiation detector constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a radiation detector module with a radiation shield, and feedthroughs that are mounted on a rigid insulating mount and pass through the radiation shield. FIG. 3 shows an exploded cross-sectional view of the radiation detector module of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 shows a top view of the radiation shield and feedthroughs of the radiation detector module of FIG. 3. FIG. 5 shows cross-section A-A indicated in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of a radiation detector module that is similar to that of FIGS. 2-5. In the detector module of FIG. 6, the feedthroughs are secured to a printed circuit board or ceramic substrate that supports processing electronics. FIG. 7 shows the an exploded cross-sectional view of the radiation detector module of FIG. 6 with the scintillator and the detector array omitted. FIG. 8 shows a portion of a radiation shield in which insulated feedthroughs are press-fitted into openings of the radiation shield. FIG. 9 shows a portion of a radiation shield in which feedthroughs are press-fitted into insulated openings of the radiation shield. FIG. 10 shows a portion of a radiation shield in which feedthroughs are press-fitted into insulating inserts disposed in openings of the radiation shield. FIG. 11 shows a cross-sectional view of a radiation detector module that is similar to that of FIGS. 2-5. In the detector module of FIG. 11, insulated feedthroughs are embedded in a conductive radiation shield. FIG. 12 shows a cross-sectional view of the radiation shield and embedded feedthroughs of the radiation detector module of FIG. 11. FIG. 3 shows an extrusion including an insulating radiation shield material co-extruded about electrical conductors. The extrusion is suitably sliced perpendicular to or at an angle to an extrusion direction to produce a radiation shield with embedded feedthroughs. FIG. 14 shows a cross-sectional view of a radiation shield with embedded high-Z feedthroughs constructed from a perpendicular slice of the extrusion of FIG. 13. FIG. 15 shows a cross-sectional view of a radiation shield with embedded slanted low-Z feedthroughs constructed from slanted slice of the extrusion of FIG. 13. FIG. 16 shows a cross-sectional view of a radiation detector module that is similar to that of FIGS. 2-5. In the detector module of FIG. 16, the radiation shield includes two shield portions with laterally offset low-Z feedthroughs. With reference to FIG. 1, a computed tomography (CT) imaging apparatus or CT scanner 10 includes a stationary gantry 12. An x-ray source 14 and a source collimator shutter 16 cooperate to produce a fan-shaped, cone-shaped, wedge-shaped, or otherwise-shaped x-ray beam directed into an examination region 18 which receives a subject such as a patient arranged on a subject support 20. The subject support 20 is linearly movable in a Z-direction while the x-ray source 14 on a rotating gantry 22 rotates around the Z-axis. The x-ray source 14 provides imaging radiation that passes through and is partially absorbed by the subject. In helical imaging, the rotating gantry 22 rotates simultaneously with linear advancement of the subject support 20 to produce a generally helical trajectory of the x-ray source 14 and collimator 16 about the examination region 18. In single- or multi-slice imaging, the rotating gantry 22 rotates as the subject support 20 remains stationary to produce a generally circular trajectory of the x-ray source 14 over which imaging data for an axial image is acquired. Subsequently, the subject support optionally steps a pre-determined distance in the Z-direction and the axial image acquisition is repeated to acquire volumetric data in discrete steps along the Z-direction. A two-dimensional radiation detector 30 is arranged on the rotating gantry 22 across from the x-ray source 14 to detect the imaging radiation after passing through the subject. In the exemplary CT scanner 12, the radiation detector 30 spans a plurality of rows along the Z-direction, for example between four rows and sixty-four rows, with hundreds of detectors in each row. However, larger detector areas are contemplated. The radiation detector 30 is constructed of tiled radiation detector modules each of which is a self-contained unit including a two-dimensional sub-array of detectors and electronics for driving the detectors and processing the detector signals. The radiation detector 30 is arranged on the rotating gantry 22 opposite to the x-ray source 14 and rotates therewith so that the radiation detector 30 receives x-rays that traverse the examination region 14 as the gantry 22 rotates. Instead of the arrangement shown in FIG. 1, it is also contemplated to arrange the radiation detector on the stationary gantry 12 encircling the rotating gantry such that the x-rays impinge upon a continuously shifting portion of the radiation detector during source rotation. With continuing reference to FIG. 1, the gantry 22 and the subject support 20 cooperate to obtain selected projection views of the subject along a helical trajectory or other trajectory of the x-ray source,14 relative to the subject. Projection data collected by the radiation detector 30 are communicated to a digital data memory 40 for storage. A reconstruction processor 42 reconstructs the acquired projection data, using filtered backprojection, an n-PI reconstruction method, or other reconstruction method, to generate a three-dimensional image representation of the subject or of a selected portion thereof which is stored in an image memory 44. The image representation is rendered or otherwise manipulated by a video processor 46 to produce a human-viewable image such as that which is displayed on a display of a computer 48, or is printed by a printing device, or the like, for examination by a radiologist or other operator. Preferably, the computer 48 is programmed to interface the radiologist or other operator with the CT scanner 12 to allow the radiologist to initialize, modify, execute, and control CT imaging sessions. The computer 48 is optionally interfaced with a communication network such as a hospital or clinic information network via which operations such as image reconstruction transmissions, a patient information recall, or the like are performed. With continuing reference to FIG. 1 and with further reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the radiation detector 30 is formed of a plurality of radiation detector modules, such as a radiation detector module 60 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The radiation detector module 60 includes a scintillator 62 formed of an array of scintillator crystals 64. The scintillator 62 converts x-rays or other imaging radiation into second radiation, which is typically light in the visible, near infrared, or near-ultraviolet spectral range. A photodetector array 66 is arranged to receive and detect the second radiation produced by the scintillator 62. Based upon detector signal intensities produced by the various detectors of the photodetector array 66, a scintillation event can be identified respective to particle energy (that is, photon energy for an x-ray photon) and lateral location on the detector array 66. The detectors of the array 66 are preferably back-contact photodiodes which, when arranged in the detector array 66, have a front side 68 that is sensitive to the second radiation produced by scintillation events, and also have a back side 70 on which electrical contacts are disposed. Back-contact photodiodes advantageously can be closely packed to form spatially dense detector array. Other detectors which convert light energy into electrical signals, such as front surface photodiodes with conductive thru holes to back surface contacts, and charge-coupled devices (CCDs), are also contemplated. Moreover, the scintillator/photodetector arrangement can be replaced by direct conversion detectors such as CZT detectors bump-bonded to a shielded substrate and associated behind the detector electronics. Electronics, such as an exemplary two application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) 72, produce electrical driving outputs for operating the detector array 66, and receive detector signals produced by the detector array 66. The ASICs 72 perform selected detector signal processing which results in the conversion of photodiode currents to digital data. The ASICs 72 produce output signals of the radiation detector module 60 which are transmitted through input/output (I/O) pins 74. Optionally, input signals are also communicated to the ASICs 72 via the I/O pins 74, for example to select a detector array biasing level. The ASICs 72 are arranged on a back side 78 of a printed circuit board or ceramic substrate 80. Preferably, the printed circuit board or ceramic substrate 80 includes electrical paths that connect the ASICs 72 on the back side 78 with electrical contacts on a front side 82 of the printed circuit board or ceramic substrate 80. With continuing reference to FIGS. 1-3 and with further reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, a radiation shield 86 is disposed between the detector array 66 and the electronics 72, and more specifically in the embodiment of FIGS. 2-5 between the detector array 66 and the front side 82 of the printed circuit board or ceramic substrate 80. The radiation shield 86 includes a high-Z material, that is, a material with a substantial concentration of heavy atoms with high atomic number (Z). The atomic number Z corresponds to a total number of protons in the atom. The high-Z material of the radiation shield 86 is dense in that it is highly absorbing for the imaging radiation, and the radiation shield 86 substantially absorbs impinging x-rays or other imaging radiation. Imaging radiation reaches the radiation shield 86 because about 1% of the incident imaging radiation passes through the scintillator crystals 64 of the scintillator 62. Additionally, imaging radiation can stream through gaps between the scintillator crystals 64 at substantially higher intensities. This passing radiation is absorbed by the radiation shield 86 or by high-Z feedthroughs 88 that are arranged in openings 90 (best seen in FIG. 4) of the radiation shield 86. In the embodiment of FIGS. 2-5, the high-Z feedthroughs 88 are electrical conductors which are affixed to an electrically insulating rigid mount 92 that holds the feedthroughs 88 in an arrangement comporting with an arrangement of the openings 90 of the radiation shield 86. The radiation shield 86 forms an insert that is disposed over the feedthroughs 88 and atop the rigid mount 92 as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 5. The radiation shield 86 can be electrically conducting or electrically insulating. However, if the radiation shield 86 is electrically conducting, then the electrical conductors 88 should not contact the radiation shield 86. Preferably, in such a case an insulating material is applied to at least one of the conductors 88 and the openings 90 to insulate the conductors 88 from the radiation shield 86. Moreover, to block imaging radiation from passing through gaps between the feedthroughs 88 and edges of the openings 90 of the radiation shield 86, each feedthrough 88 preferably includes a widened portion 94 (labeled in FIG. 5) that laterally overlaps the corresponding opening 90. The widened portion 94 absorbs radiation that passes through the gaps. The radiation shield 86 and feedthroughs are preferably made of a conducting high-Z material such as tungsten, a conducting tungsten alloy, lead, a conducting lead alloy, tantalum, gold, platinum, or the like. The radiation shield 86 can also be made of an insulating high-Z material such as an insulating lead oxide, bismuth trioxide, or the like. The radiation shield 86 can also be made of a composite material including an insulating binder such as an organic binder, polymeric material, or unsaturated polymeric resin, that supports a matrix of high-Z material such as lead oxide, bismuth trioxide, or oxides or salts of other high-Z elements. A non-insulating binder such as a eutectic alloy of lead and tin with a melting point lower than that of tungsten can also be used. The high-Z matrix is preferably in the form of a finely ground powder that is substantially uniformly distributed in the binder. Powder metallurgy technology employing powders of tungsten or tungsten compounds can be used for fabrication. The shield 86 can be made relatively thick, for example a 1-3 centimeter thick shield is suitable. The thickness for a specific embodiment is selected based upon the x-ray absorption properties of the shield and feedthrough materials, along with any thickness constraints imposed by the physical structure of the radiation detector 30, and cost considerations. FIGS. 6 and 7 show a radiation detector module 60′ which is generally similar to the radiation detector module 60 of FIGS. 2-5. In FIGS. 6 and 7, components of the radiation detector module 60′ that generally correspond to similar components of the radiation detector module 60 are labeled with corresponding primed numbers. The radiation detector module 60′ includes a scintillator 62′ with scintillator crystals 64′, a detector array 66′, a shield 86′ with openings 90′, ASICs 72′, and 1/0 pins 74′ that are generally similar to correspondingly labeled elements of the radiation detector module 60. However, in the radiation detector module 60′ the electrically insulating rigid mount 92 of the radiation detector module 60 is omitted. Feedthroughs 88′ are instead directly anchored into a printed circuit board or ceramic substrate 80′. The feedthroughs 88′ and the printed circuit board or ceramic substrate 80′ are otherwise substantially similar to the corresponding components 88, 80 of the radiation detector module 60. Each feedthrough 88′ includes a widened portion 94′ that spatially overlaps a narrow portion of the corresponding radiation shield opening 90′ to block imaging radiation from passing through gaps between the feedthrough 88′ and the corresponding opening 90′. With reference to FIG. 8, another approach for constructing a radiation shield with cooperating high-Z feedthroughs is described. A radiation shield 100 (a portion of which is shown in cross-section in FIG. 8) has openings into which feedthroughs 102 are press-fitted. To avoid electrical contact with the radiation shield 100, the feedthroughs 102 include a conductive central conductor 104 coated with an insulating coating 106. A suitable insulating coating 106 is a Teflon coating. To facilitate electrical contact with the detector array, a contact layer 110 (shown with exaggerated thickness) of gold or another highly conductive material is preferably electroplated, vacuum-deposited, or otherwise disposed on an end of the feedthrough 102 proximate to the detector array. Similarly, a contact layer 112 is preferably disposed on the other end of the feedthrough 102 for facilitating contact with electrical contact pads of the printed circuit board or ceramic substrate on which the electronics are disposed. With reference to FIG. 9, in another press-fit embodiment, a radiation shield 100′ (a portion of which is shown in cross-section in FIG. 9) has openings into which feedthroughs 102′ are press-fitted. To avoid electrical contact with the radiation shield 100′, the openings, rather than the feedthroughs, are coated with an insulating coating 106′. Preferably, contact layers 110′, 112′ are arranged on ends of the feedthroughs 102′ for facilitating electrical communication with the detector array elements and with contact pads of the printed circuit board or ceramic substrate. With reference to FIG. 10, in yet another press-fit embodiment, a radiation shield 100″ (a portion of which is shown in cross-section in FIG. 10) has openings into which feedthroughs 102″ are press-fitted. To avoid electrical contact with the radiation shield 100″, radiation-blocking insulative inserts 106″ are arranged in the openings. The inserts 106″ are suitably made of an insulating high-Z material such as an insulating lead oxide, bismuth trioxide, or the like. The inserts 106″ can also be made of a composite material including an insulating binder such as an organic binder, polymeric material or unsaturated polymeric resin, and a matrix of high-Z material such as lead oxide, bismuth trioxide, or oxides or salts of other high-Z elements. Preferably, contact layers 110″, 112″ are arranged on ends of the feedthroughs 102″ for facilitating electrical communication. With reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, a radiation detector module 160 is described, in which feedthroughs are embedded in the radiation shield. As with the radiation detector module 60, a scintillator 162 formed of scintillator crystals 164 converts the imaging radiation into second radiation. Typically, the scintillator 162 converts x-rays into visible, near-infrared, or near-ultraviolet light. A detector array 166, which is preferably an array of back-contact photodiodes, detects the second radiation and communicates detector signals to electronics 172, which are suitably embodied as one or more ASIC chips. I/O pins 174 transmit the detector signals after suitable processing by the electronics 172. The I/O pins 174 optionally also transmit control signals to the radiation detector module 160. However, the radiation detector module 160 includes a radiation shield 186 that has feedthroughs 188 embedded in the radiation shield 186. The feedthroughs 188 are suitably metal conductors of a high-Z metal such as tungsten wires. The feedthroughs are suitably embedded by injection molding or casting of the radiation shield material to surround the feedthroughs 188. If the radiation shield 186 is electrically conductive, then the feedthroughs 188 are preferably insulated with a Teflon or other insulating coating. Moreover, in such a case a widened feedthrough portion 194 is included to block imaging radiation from streaming through the feedthrough insulation. With reference to FIG. 13, in the case of an insulating radiation shield, the widened feedthrough portion is suitably omitted, and an insulating radiation shield with embedded feedthroughs is suitably fabricated by co-extrusion of a material 200 that forms the radiation shield onto tungsten wires 202 that form the feedthroughs. Instead of tungsten wires, gold wires can also be used. With continuing reference to FIG. 13 and with further reference to FIG. 14, the extruding occurs through a rectangular extrusion die to produce a rectangular extrusion, and slices 204 taken perpendicular to an extruding direction D each form a rectangular radiation shield 210 (see FIG. 14) with tungsten feedthroughs 212 embedded therein. The radiation shield 210 and the feedthroughs 212 are each made of an image radiation-blocking high-Z material. For example, the feedthroughs 212 are suitably tungsten wires, while the radiation shield 210 is suitably a composite material including a powder of a high-Z material suspended in an extruded organic, polymeric, or unsaturated polymeric binder. Moreover, the embedded feedthroughs 212 are embedded in the radiation shield 210 with no gaps therebetween, and so imaging radiation 214 is fully blocked without widened feedthrough portions. With continuing reference to FIG. 13 and with further reference to FIG. 15, in an alternative extruded embedded feedthrough approach, insulating material 200 is extruded over wires 202 which in this embodiment are optionally not made of a high-Z material. That is, for the embodiment of FIG. 15 the wires 202 can be ordinary low-Z copper wires or other wires selected for high electrical conductivity, good contact resistance respective to the detector array and electronics contacts, and chemical, thermal, and like compatibility respective to the extruded insulating material 200. Moreover, rather than taking the perpendicular slices 204, a slanted slice 218 is taken, resulting in the shield 210′ of FIG. 15. Because of the slant of the slanted slice 218, the radiation shield 210′ includes slanted feedthroughs 212′. The feedthroughs 212′ are made of a low-Z material which is substantially non-absorbing for the imaging radiation 214. However, a computed tomography scanner produces highly collimated imaging radiation 214 on the scale of the radiation detector module. Hence, the imaging radiation 214 does not have a line-of-sight passage through the feedthroughs 212′. Rather than passing through the feedthroughs 212′, imaging radiation is absorbed by the high-Z radiation shield 210′ at the slanted walls. With reference to FIG. 16, another radiation detector module 260 that uses low-Z feedthroughs and a radiation shield geometry that prevents line-of-sight passage of imaging radiation therethrough is described. As with the radiation detector module 60, a scintillator 262 formed of scintillator crystals 264 converts the imaging radiation into second radiation. A detector array 266 detects the second radiation, and electronics 272 receive the detector signals. I/O pins 274 transmit the detector signals after suitable processing by the electronics 272. The I/O pins 274 optionally also transmit control signals to the radiation detector module 260. Moreover, as with the embodiment 60, the electronics 272 and the I/O pins 274 are disposed on a printed circuit board or ceramic substrate 280. However, the radiation detector module 260 includes a radiation shield including two radiation shield portions 286, 286′, each of which include feedthroughs 288, 288′, respectively. The feedthroughs 288,288′ are suitably copper wires or other low-Z metal conductors which do not provide substantial blocking of the imaging radiation. The radiation shield portions 286, 286′ are electrically conductive or non-conductive. If conductive, then the feedthroughs 288, 288′ are preferably insulated. Rather than using imaging radiation-blocking feedthroughs, the radiation detector module 260 arranges the feedthroughs 288, 288′ with a lateral offset in the radiation shield portions 286, 286′ so that there is no line-of-sight via the feedthroughs 286, 286′ between the imaging radiation source (e.g., the x-ray tube 14 of FIG. 1) and the electronics 272. To maintain electrical continuity, solder bumps 294 to provide electrical communication between the feedthroughs 286, 286′. The radiation shields 286, 286′ can be manufactured from perpendicular slices 204 of the extrusion of FIG. 13. Since the feedthroughs 288, 288′ can be low-Z materials, the wires 202 of the extrusion are suitably low-Z wires. The radiation shields 286, 286′ can also be manufactured by casting or injection molding. In FIG. 16, the radiation shield portions 286, 286′ are shown as separate elements from the printed circuit board or ceramic substrate 280. However, it is also contemplated to use the printed circuit board or ceramic substrate 280 as the offset radiation shield portion 286′. That is, the components 280, 286′ can be replaced by a single unitary component which provides electronics interconnections, radiation shielding, and laterally offset feedthrough portions (respective to the feedthrough portions 288). In constructing one of the above-described radiation shields 86, 86′, 100,100′, 100″, 186, 210, 210′, 286, 286′ or their equivalents, several factors should be considered. Thermal expansion coefficients of the materials should be matched to avoid mechanical stresses as the radiation detector 30 heats up. Advantageously, several tungsten alloys have similar thermal expansion coefficients to that of silicon, and so a tungsten alloy radiation shield substantially thermally matches a silicon-based back-contact photodiode array. To efficiently perform electrical contacting, conductive epoxy bump-bonding is a preferred approach for electrically connecting the detector array and the feedthroughs of the radiation shield, and for electrically connecting the feedthroughs and contact pads of the printed circuit board or ceramic substrate. Alternatively, solder bump-bonding can be used. To simplify the bump-bonding and increase reliability of the manufactured radiation detector module, the feedthrough ends on each side of the radiation shield should be planar to within about 0.01 centimeters or less. The feedthrough ends can be planarized by mechanical grinding or polishing, or by using suitable fixtures and processes during construction of the radiation shield and feedthroughs. The described radiation detector modules are preferably tiled to define a complete detector array of the radiation detector 30. Presently, 2.5×2.5 cm2 to 2.5×12 cm2 radiation detector modules are preferred, corresponding to detector arrays of 16×32 detectors to 16×512 detectors. However, larger radiation detector modules can be constructed, and the optimal module area will depend upon the selected radiation shield, material constraints, and other factors. Each radiation detector module can be fully self-contained, since the signal processing electronics are shielded from the imaging radiation. For radiation shields constructed of composite materials that include a high-Z matrix suspended in a binding material, suitable tradeoffs can be made between the radiation shield thickness and the concentration of high-Z matrix powder in suspension to obtain a desired level of radiation blocking. Moreover, if the binder is an insulating material while the matrix is a tungsten or other conductive powder, electrical conductivity of the radiation shield can be controlled based on the suspended high-Z matrix powder concentration. For radiation shields 100, 100′, 100″ that employ press-fitted feedthroughs 102, 102′, 102″ (see FIGS. 8-10) the feedthroughs can have substantially any tapered shape. For example, feedthroughs having a shape corresponding to a frustum of a cone are suitable. The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

20050706

20080527

20060727

68672.0

H05G160

KIKNADZE, IRAKLI

RADIATION DETECTOR WITH SHIELDED ELECTRONICS FOR COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

H05G

ACCEPTED

Training device

A training device is disclosed, or a device for training, sport, gymnastics and for therapy, characterized by an arched planar element (1), having a largely rectangular outline. The arching or curvature encloses an angle of at least 30°, said angle generally being an angle of ca. 30-180°, preferably ca. 60-100°. The arched planar element can have a nearly form stable embodiment, made from wood, a polymeric material, such as a reinforced polymer or light metal. It is also possible to give the element a weakly elastic embodiment, using a correspondingly weakly elastic material such as wood, or a correspondingly weakly elastic polymer.

1. Apparatus for training the human body, or training device, characterized by an arched sheet-form element (1) having a largely rectangular outline, the arch or curve enclosing an angle of at least approximately 30°. 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the arch or curve is at least nearly uniform, and the element has approximately the same thickness or wall thickness all over. 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the arch or curve encloses an angle of approximately 30-180°, preferably approximately 60-100°. 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the length of the element (1) along the bent edge (2) is approximately 60-120 cm, preferably approximately 70-90 cm, and that the width is approximately 40-80 cm, preferably approximately 45-60 cm and the thickness of the element is approximately 1.5-4 cm, or preferably 1.5-2.5 cm. 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the element is at least nearly dimensionally stable, and is fabricated of wood, a polymeric material, such as a reinforced polymer, or of a light metal, such as for example aluminum, and the edges are preferably rounded on all sides. 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the element is slightly elastic and is fabricated of a correspondingly slightly elastic wood or a correspondingly slightly elastic polymer, and all edges on all sides are preferably rounded. 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the angle enclosed by the arch or curve is approximately 90°, the length of the bent edge (2) is approximately 80 cm, the width approximately 50 cm and the thickness of the element is approximately 2 cm. 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the arch or curve is circular, oval or elliptical. 9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the surface of the convex side (4) is provided with a damping layer, comprised, for example, of an elastomeric material, such as rubber, latex, elastomer polymer, foamed material or another suitable natural damping substance or a polymer, and that the concave side (3) is implemented such that it is slip-resistant as well as optionally the terminal support edges (9) which are preferably provided with a non-slip edge protection (8). 10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that on the element grip handles (6), holes (7) and the like are provided. 11. Method for the production of an apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a substantially rectangular plate of wood, a polymeric material or of a light metal, such as aluminum, is bent into the appropriate form.

The present invention relates to a training device or an apparatus for exercising, sports and gymnastics and therapy, as well as a method for the production of a training device. For physical training, in particular for home use, but also in fitness centers, many complicated, complex and heavy devices exist, which, moreover, as a rule, are also rather expensive. Conventional strength and endurance devices, also those for private use, are often cumbersome to handle and also require much space, i.e. they cannot be readily removed and be stored for example in a chamber or side room. In addition, the known devices can only be utilized primarily in a single area and for a single purpose and are therefore one-sided. For this reason, many different devices are required to cover all areas which are to be exercised. A number of less complicated devices are known from prior art. For example the German Utility Patent DE 200 17 464 proposes a multifunction training apparatus, the Utility Patent G 90 06 479.8 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,786 disclose semi-cylindrical training devices, as well as U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,967,820, 4,902,003 and 5,795,276 bench-like training devices, which, while they are simpler of construction compared to conventional training devices, however, all of these can only be applied relatively specifically for a certain exercise purpose. The same applies also to the device described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,496,248. The aim of the present invention comprises proposing a training apparatus, with which the body can to a large extent be exercised overall. According to the invention an apparatus is accordingly proposed following the wording of claim 1. Proposed is an apparatus for training, or a training device, which comprises an arched sheet element with a substantially rectangular outline, the curvature or arch enclosing an angle of at least approximately 30°. The training device proposed according to the invention is comprised of a rectangular plate, which is preferably at least nearly uniformly curved, and which plate, or which sheet element, has approximately the same thickness or wall thickness over the entire area. According to a preferred embodiment variant, the arch or curve encloses an angle of approximately 30-180°, preferably approximately 60-100°. Again according to a further embodiment variant, the length of the element along a bent edge is approximately 60-120 cm, preferably approximately 70-90 cm and the width is in a range of approximately 40-80 cm, preferably approximately 45-60 cm and the thickness of the element or of the plate is in the range of approximately 1.5-4 cm, preferably approximately 1.5-2.5 cm. Due to its physical form, the training device is bilaterally usable and preferably dimensionally stable, comprised of wood, a polymeric material, such as a reinforced polymer, or it is comprised of a light metal, such as for example aluminum. However, it is also possible to implement the device such that it is slightly elastic by utilizing a correspondingly elastic wood or a slightly elastic polymer. According to a preferred embodiment variant of the training device according to the invention, the angle enclosed by the arch is approximately 90°, the length along the bent edge is approximately 80 cm, the width approximately 50 cm and preferably a thickness of approximately 2 cm is chosen. It is understood that the arching can also be greater or less, it can be circular, oval or elliptical. The specified dimensions can also be greater or less, depending on the requirements and the target users, whether these be children, adolescents or adults. The surface of the convex side can be provided with a damping coating, such as of an elastomeric material, such as rubber, latex, elastomer polymer, foamed material, etc. The concave side is preferably provided with a non-slip coating. It is furthermore possible to provide on the training device according to the invention grip handles, holes and the like, for example for fastening additional materials. The production of the training device according to the invention is simple by starting, for example, with a rectangular plate, which is bent to form a quarter circle. It is understood that it is also possible, especially when using polymeric materials, to inject the material into a mold having already a curvature. The training device proposed according to the invention is astonishingly simple, light-weight, multiply applicable, multifunctional, easy to carry, easy to store, not expensive, simply stackable in extremely small space, in particular when using several devices, such as for example when the devices are employed in exercise centers, fitness centers or in school gymnasiums. All conditioning factors of physical fitness in the area of strength, endurance, mobility and coordination (balance) can be covered, and, in terms of exercise, this can take place at a low or a high level, prophylactically or also within the framework of rehabilitation. The device can be utilized everywhere, in the home, at the work place, in fitness studios, in health and wellness centers, in physiotherapy or in medical offices, in gymnasiums or other leisure and sports facilities. The device can be employed as an individual station or also for group exercises or as a station in circuit training. Due to its curved form, both sides can be used—the convex side can serve as a stepper for endurance training or as a support for the harmonic strengthening of the body; through its rocking movement the concave side promotes inter alia especially balance or coordination of the entire body. It can also be utilized as a support in mental training. In conclusion the training device according to the invention will be explained by example in further detail and with reference to the attached drawing, in which depict: FIGS. 1 and 2 in schematic simplification one training device each according to the invention in the two positions of use, and FIG. 3 an embodiment variant of a training device according to the invention. FIG. 1 and 2 show schematically that the training device according to the invention is largely a shell in the form of a quarter circle, which either, as shown in FIG. 1, can be disposed such that it is fixedly positioned, or such that it is suitable for balancing exercises in a nonstable position, as depicted in FIG. 2. It is understood that the shell does not need to have the form of a quarter circle, but rather can also be of different segments of a circle, can be implemented elliptically or can have any other desired curvature. FIG. 3 lastly shows an embodiment variant of a training device 1 according to the invention in perspective view in the fixed position, e.g. with the convex side 4 directed upwardly. The training device 1 again involves a shell of approximately quarter-circle form, which is provided with a damping coating 5 in the central region on its upper convex side 4. This coating can comprise an elastic material, such as rubber, latex, a foamed substance or another elastic polymer. On the underside, or the concave side, 3 the shell is preferably implemented such that it is slip resistant, i.e. it is provided with a non-slip coating. However, this resistance to slipping can be attained thereby that the surface of the shell is slightly roughened. The two end edges 9 of the quarter-circle-shaped shell are also preferably implemented such that they are slip resistant or are provided with a non-slip edge protection 8, which, in the manner of clips, can be placed over the end edge 9 or can be, for example, firmly connected with the end edge 9 by adhesion. Along each of the longitudinal edges or bent edges 2 one grip handle 6 each is provided, for example in order to facilitate the transport of the training device 1. Lastly, at one end of the training device openings 7 are provided, for example for attaching additional materials, such as for example rubber pulls suitable for additional exercise capabilities. As is clearly evident in FIG. 1 to 3, the training device proposed according to the invention is of extremely simple structure and accordingly is readily producible. The remaining advantages do not need to be discussed further, since these have already been sufficiently recognized above. It is understood that the training devices depicted in FIG. 1 to 3 are only examples, which can be changed or modified in any desired manner or can be supplemented by further elements. In particular the proportions can be varied, the bending angle, the curvature itself, whether circular, oval, etc., as well as also the materials employed for the production of the training device can be varied or changed. It is understood that it is also possible to provide additional elements, such as perforations, grip handles and the like.

20050919

20080129

20060518

97478.0

A63B2600

BAKER, LORI LYNN

TRAINING DEVICE

SMALL

ACCEPTED

A63B

ACCEPTED

Broad-band-cholesteric liquid-crystal film, process for producing the same, circularly polarizing plate, linearly polarizing element,illiminator, and liquid-crystal display

A broad band cholesteric liquid crystal film of the present invention is a cholesteric liquid crystal film obtained by coating a liquid crystal mixture containing a polymerizable mesogen compound (a), a polymerizable chiral agent (b) and a photoisomerizable material (c) on a substrate to ultraviolet polymerize a coat of the liquid crystal mixture, and has a reflection bandwidth of 200 nm or more. A broad band cholesteric liquid crystal film of the present invention has a broad reflection band, is of a thin type and can be manufactured in less of manufacturing steps.

1. A broad band cholesteric liquid crystal film comprising: a cholesteric liquid crystal film obtained by coating a liquid crystal mixture containing a polymerizable mesogen compound (a), a polymerizable chiral agent (b) and a photoisomerizable material (c) on a substrate to ultraviolet polymerize thereof, having a reflection bandwidth of 200 nm or more. 2 The broad band cholesteric liquid crystal film according to claim 1, wherein a pitch length in the cholesteric liquid crystal film changes continuously. 3. The broad band cholesteric liquid crystal film according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal mixture comprising a photopolymerization initiator (d). 4. The broad band cholesteric liquid crystal film according to claim 1, wherein the polymerizable mesogen compound (a) has one, or two or more of polymerizable functional groups, the polymerizable chiral agent (b) has one, or two or more polymerizable functional groups. 5. The broad band cholesteric liquid crystal film according to claim 1, wherein the photoisomerizable material (c) is at least one kind selected from the group consisting of stilbene, azobenzene and a derivative thereof. 6. A manufacturing method for the broad band cholesteric liquid crystal film according to claim 1 comprising steps of: coating a liquid crystal mixture containing a polymerizable mesogen compound (a), a polymerizable chiral agent (b) and a photoisomerizable material (c) on a substrate and ultraviolet polymerizing thereof. 7. A circularly polarizing plate comprising the broad band cholesteric liquid crystal film according to claim 1. 8. A linearly polarizer comprising the circularly polarizing plate according to claim 7 and a λ/4 plate laminating on the circularly polarizing plate. 9. The linearly polarizer according to claim 8, the circularly polarizing plate, which is the cholesteric liquid crystal film, is laminating on the λ/4 plate so that a pitch length in the film is narrowed toward the λ/4 plate continuously. 10. A linearly polarizer comprising an absorption polarizer adhering to the linearly polarizer according to claim 8 so that a transmission axis direction of the absorption polarizer and a transmission axis of the linearly polarizer are arranged in parallel with each other. 11. A luminaire comprising the circularly polarizing plate according to claim 7 on a front surface side of a surface light source having a reflective layer on the back surface side thereof. 12. A liquid crystal display comprising a liquid crystal cell in a light emitting side of the luminaire according to claim 11. 13. A polarizing element system comprising: a retardation layer (b) having a front face retardation (in the normal direction) of almost zero and a retardation of λ/8 or more relative to incident light incoming at an angle of 30° or more inclined from the normal direction is arranged between at least two layers of a reflection polarizer (a) having respective selective reflection wavelength bands of polarized light superimposed on each other, wherein the reflection polarizer (a) is the circularly polarizing plate according to claim 7. 14. The polarizing element system according to claim 13, wherein a selective reflection wavelength of the at least two layers of the reflection polarizer (a) is superimposed on each other in the wavelength range 550 nm±10 nm. 15. The polarizing element system according to claim 13, wherein the retardation layer (b) is a layer comprising a cholesteric liquid crystal phase having a selective reflection wavelength band other than the visible light region fixed in planar alignment. 16. The polarizing element system according to claim 13, wherein the retardation layer (b) is a layer comprising a rod-like liquid crystal fixed in homeotropic alignment state. 17. The polarizing element system according to claim 13, wherein the retardation layer (b) is a layer comprising a discotic liquid crystal fixed in nematic phase or columnar phase alignment state. 18. The polarizing element system according to claim 13, wherein the retardation layer (b) is a layer comprising a biaxially orienting polymer film. 19. The polarizing element system according to claim 13, wherein the retardation layer (b) is a layer comprising an inorganic layered compound with negative uniaxiality fixed in alignment state where an optical axis thereof is a normal direction of a surface thereof. 20. A wide viewing angle liquid crystal display comprising at least: a backlight system containing a polarizing element system according to claim 13 to collimate a light from a diffuse light source; a liquid cell transmitting collimated light; a polarizing plate arranged on both sides of the liquid cell; and a viewing angle magnification film, which diffusing transmitted light, arranged on a viewer side of the liquid cell. 21. The wide viewing angle liquid crystal display according to claim 20, wherein a λ/4 plate is arranged on the viewer side (the liquid cell side) of the polarizing element system so that an axial direction of linearly polarized light transmitted and a transmission axis direction of a polarizing plate on the lower side (the light source side) of the liquid crystal display are arranged in parallel with each other. 22. The wide viewing angle liquid crystal display according to claim 20, wherein the viewing angle magnification film is a diffuse plate substantially having neither backscattering nor polarization cancellation. 23. The wide viewing angle liquid crystal display according to claim 20, wherein an each layer is laminated with a translucent adhesive or a pressure sensitive adhesive. 24. A luminaire comprising the linearly polarizer according to claim 8 on a front surface side of a surface light source having a reflective layer on the back surface side thereof. 25. The wide viewing angle liquid crystal display according to claim 21, wherein the viewing angle magnification film is a diffuse plate substantially having neither backscattering nor polarization cancellation.

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a broad band cholesteric liquid crystal film and a manufacturing method therefor. A broad band cholesteric liquid crystal film of the present invention is useful as a circularly polarizing plate (a reflection polarizer). The present invention relates to a linearly polarizer, a luminaire and a liquid crystal display using the circularly polarizing plate. Moreover, the present invention relates to a polarizing element system using the circularly polarizing plate and a wide viewing angle magnification liquid crystal display using the polarizing element system. BACKGROUND ART Generally, a liquid crystal display has a structure in which a space between glass plates forming transparent electrodes is filled with a liquid crystal and polarizers are arranged before and after the glass plates. A polarizer used in such a liquid crystal display is manufactured in a procedure in which iodine or a dichloic dye is subjected to be adsorbed to a polyvinyl alcohol film and the film is stretched in a given direction. The polarizer thus manufactured itself absorbs light vibrating in one direction and transmits only light vibrating in the other direction therethrough to thereby produce linearly polarizing light. Therefore, an efficiency of the polarizer could not exceed 50% theoretically, which works as the greatest factor to reduce an efficiency of a liquid crystal display. As the matters worse about the absorbed light, if a liquid crystal display is operated with an increased output of a light source beyond a level, it results in inconveniences that a polarizer is broken down by heat generation due to thermal conversion of absorbed light or that a display quality is degraded under thermal influence onto liquid crystal layer in a cell. A cholesteric liquid crystal having a circularly polarized light separating function has a selective reflection characteristic reflecting only circularly polarized light having a direction thereof coinciding with a helical rotation direction of the liquid crystal and a wavelength equal to a helical pitch length of the liquid crystal. With this selective reflection characteristic used, only a specific circularly polarizing light of natural light in a given wavelength band is transmission-separated and the other light components are reflected and recycled, thereby enabling a polarizing film with a high efficiency to be manufactured. In the context, transmitted circularly polarized light passes through a λ/4 plate and thereby converted to linearly polarizing light, and coincidence of a direction of the linearly polarized light with a transmission direction of an absorption polarizer used in a liquid crystal display enables a liquid crystal display with a high transmittance to be realized. That is, in a case where a cholesteric liquid crystal film is combined with a λ/4 plate and the combination is used as a linearly polarizer, the linearly polarizer could achieve a brightness twice as that of a conventional absorption polarizer singly used, which absorbs 50% of incident light, due to no light loss theoretically. There has been, however, difficulty in covering all the range of visible light, since a selective reflection characteristic of a cholesteric liquid crystal is restricted to only a specific wavelength band. A selective reflection wavelength bandwidth Δλ is expressed by following formula: Δλ=2λ·(ne−no)/(ne+no) where no: ordinary light refractive index of a cholesteric liquid crystal molecule, ne: extraordinary light refractive index of the cholesteric liquid crystal molecule, and λ: central wavelength in selective reflection. The selective reflection wavelength bandwidth Δλ depends on a molecular structure of the cholesteric liquid crystal itself. According to the above formula, if (ne−no) is larger, a selective reflection wavelength bandwidth Δλ can be broader, while (ne−no) is usually 0.3 or less. With this value being larger, other functions as a liquid crystal (such as alignment characteristic, a liquid crystal temperature or the like) becomes insufficient, causing its practical use to be difficult. Therefore, a selective reflection wavelength bandwidth Δλ has been actually on the order of 150 nm at highest. A cholesteric liquid crystal available in practical aspect has had a selective reflection wavelength bandwidth Δλ only of the order in the range of 30 to 100 nm in many cases. A selective reflection central wavelength λ is given by the following formula: λ=(ne−no)P/2 where P: helical pitch length required for one helical turn of cholesteric liquid crystal. With a given pitch length, a selective reflection central wavelength λ depends on an average refractive index and a pitch length of a liquid crystal molecule. Therefore, in order to cover all the range of visible light, there have been adopted methods, in one of which plural layers having respective different selective reflection central wavelengths are laminated, and in another of which a pitch length is continuously changed in the thickness direction to thereby form a positional distribution of selective reflection central wavelengths. For example, there can be exemplified a method in which a pitch length is continuously changed in the thickness direction (for example, see a publication of JP-A No. 6-281814, a specification of JP No. 3272668 and a publication of JP-A No. 11-248943). This method is such that when a cholesteric liquid crystal composition is ultraviolet exposure-cured, exposure intensities on sides of exposure and light emission are differentiated therebetween to alter a polymerization speed therebetween, which provides a change in compositional ratio of a liquid crystal composition having a different reaction speed in the thickness direction. The bottom line of this method lies in that exposure intensities on sides of exposure and light emission are greatly different therebetween. Therefore, in many of the examples of the prior art described above, there has been adopted a method in which an ultraviolet absorbent is mixed into a liquid crystal composition so as to cause absorption thereof in the thickness direction to thereby amplify a difference in exposure dosage according to an optical path length. In a method disclosed in a publication of JP-A No. 6-281814, in which a pitch length is continuously altered, necessities arise for a liquid crystal thickness required for revealing the function to be on the order in the range of from 15 to 20 μm, and for more of an expensive liquid crystal in amount in addition to a problem of precise coating of a liquid crystal layer, which disables cost-up to be avoided. Moreover, an exposure time is necessary to be on the order in the range of from 1 to 60 min, which leads to a need for a long manufacturing line with an exposure line length in the range of from 10 to 600 m in order to obtain a line speed of 10 m/min. With a reduced line speed adopted, a line length can be reduced, while a lower manufacturing speed cannot be avoided. This is because, as described in the publication of JP-A No. 6-281814, a quick change in pitch is difficult to be realized due to a theoretical issue in controlling a cholesteric pitch caused by a difference in ultraviolet exposure intensity in the thickness direction for a change in pitch length in the thickness direction and by a change in compositional ratio due to material transfer caused by a difference in polymerization speed accompanying the difference in ultraviolet intensity. Since, in the publication of JP-A No. 6-281814, pitch lengths in the short pitch side and the long pitch side are different therebetween by as large as on the order of 100 nm, a compositional ratio is necessary to change to a great extent and in order to realize it, a further necessity arises for a considerable thickness of liquid crystal, a very weak ultraviolet illumination and a long exposure time. Since in a method disclosed in a publication of JP-A No. 11-248943, transfer of a material changing a pitch is better than an example material used in the publication of JP-A No. 6-281814, an exposure dosage of the order of 1 min enables a film to be formed. In this case as well, a necessary thickness is 15 μm, however. While, in a specification of JP No. 3272668, a temperature condition in a first exposure is altered from that in a second exposure and a time necessary for a change in compositional ratio in the thickness direction is separately provided in a dark place, a wait time for material transfer due to a change in temperature is necessary to be in the range of from 10 to 30 min. A liquid crystal coat thickness, even in the specification of JP No. 3272668 and the publication of JP-A No. 11-248943, is about 15 μm and in comparison of the specification and the publication described above with the publication of JP-A No. 6-281814 in which the liquid crystal coat thickness is required to be about 20 μm, it is understand that a necessity arises for a larger cholesteric liquid crystal thickness and a longer time for material transfer in order to cover all the range of visible light with a change in pitch caused by a change in compositional ratio in the thickness direction of one liquid crystal layer. In a publication of JP-A No. 9-189811, at least three layers are necessary in order to cover all the range of visible light, and a long wavelength side is covered for betterment of a viewing angle characteristic, and the number of necessary laminated layers increases to as large as 4 to 5 in a case where a measure is taken against oblique incident light, which leads to more complexity in manufacture steps and increase in the number of steps, thereby unavoidably resulting in reduction in production yield. With combination of such a broad band circularly polarizing plate with a retardation plate, a diffuse light source is enabled to emit collimated light. Adoption of such a collimated light source and a diffuse plate enables a construction of a viewing angle magnification system in a liquid crystal display. For example, as shown in a specification of JP No. 2561483 and a publication of JP-No. 10-321025, by inserting a retardation plate controlled in a way such that a retardation value in a vertical direction of incidence and a retardation value in an oblique direction of incidence are specifically different from each other between polarizers, an angular distribution of transmitted light receives a restraint and in this case, if an absorption polarizer is used, light only in the vicinity of the front face is transmitted, while peripheral light are all absorbed. By using a circularly polarizing plate (a reflection polarizer), light only in the vicinity of the front face is transmitted while peripheral light is all reflected. If such an effect is adopted, emission light of a backlight can be condensed and collimated without being accompanied by absorption loss. With combination of such a collimated backlight source and a diffuse plate less of backscattering and occurring no polarization cancellation, a viewing angle magnification system can be constructed. As described above, in a conventional method in which multiple liquid crystal layers are laminated, however, (the publication of JP-A No. 9-189811), there has arisen a problem of increased number of steps due to lamination of multiple layers, while in a method as disclosed in the publication of JP-A No. 6-281814 or the specification of JP No. 3272668 in which a liquid crystal layer is thick, there has occurred a problem of cost-up. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a broad band cholesteric liquid crystal film having a wide reflection band, of a thin type, and capable of manufacturing itself with a less number of manufacturing steps and a manufacturing method therefor. It is another object of the present invention to provide a circularly polarizing plate using the broad band cholesteric liquid crystal film, and furthermore, to provide a linearly polarizer, a luminaire and a liquid crystal display using the circularly polarizing plate. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a polarizing element system using the circularly polarizing plate and to provide a wide viewing angle magnification liquid crystal display using the polarizing element system. The present inventors have conducted serious studies in order to solve the problems with resultant findings that the objects can be achieved with the following broad band cholesteric liquid crystal film and a manufacturing method therefor, leading to completion of the present invention. That is, the present invention is as follows: 1. A broad band cholesteric liquid crystal film comprising: a cholesteric liquid crystal film obtained by coating a liquid crystal mixture containing a polymerizable mesogen compound (a), a polymerizable chiral agent (b) and a photoisomerizable material (c) on a substrate to ultraviolet polymerize thereof, having a reflection bandwidth of 200 nm or more. 2 The broad band cholesteric liquid crystal film according to above-mentioned 1, wherein a pitch length in the cholesteric liquid crystal film changes continuously. 3. The broad band cholesteric liquid crystal film according to above-mentioned 1. or 2., wherein the liquid crystal mixture comprising a photopolymerization initiator (d). 4. The broad band cholesteric liquid crystal film according to any one of above-mentioned 1. to 3., wherein the polymerizable mesogen compound (a) has one, or two or more of polymerizable functional groups, the polymerizable chiral agent (b) has one, or two or more polymerizable functional groups. 5. The broad band cholesteric liquid crystal film according to any one of above-mentioned 1. to 4., wherein the photoisomerizable material (c) is at least one kind selected from the group consisting of stilbene, azobenzene and a derivative thereof. 6. A manufacturing method for the broad band cholesteric liquid crystal film according to any one of above-mentioned 1. to 5. comprising steps of: coating a liquid crystal mixture containing a polymerizable mesogen compound (a), a polymerizable chiral agent (b) and a photoisomerizable material (c) on a substrate and ultraviolet polymerizing thereof. 7. A circularly polarizing plate comprising the broad band cholesteric liquid crystal film according to any one of above-mentioned 1. to 5. 8. A linearly polarizer comprising the circularly polarizing plate according to above-mentioned 7. and a λ/4 plate laminating on the circularly polarizing plate. 9. The linearly polarizer according to above-mentioned 8., the circularly polarizing plate, which is the cholesteric liquid crystal film, is laminating on the λ/4 plate so that a pitch length in the film is narrowed toward the λ/4 plate continuously. 10. A linearly polarizer comprising an absorption polarizer adhering to the linearly polarizer according to above-mentioned 8. or 9. so that a transmission axis direction of the absorption polarizer and a transmission axis of the linearly polarizer are arranged in parallel with each other. 11. A luminaire comprising the circularly polarizing plate according to above-mentioned 7. or the linearly polarizer according to any one of above-mentioned of 8. to 10. on a front surface side of a surface light source having a reflective layer on the back surface side thereof. 12. A liquid crystal display comprising a liquid crystal cell in a light emitting side of the luminaire according to above-mentioned 11. 13. A polarizing element system comprising: a retardation layer (b) having a front face retardation (in the normal direction) of almost zero and a retardation of λ/8 or more relative to incident light incoming at an angle of 30° or more inclined from the normal direction is arranged between at least two layers of a reflection polarizer (a) having respective selective reflection wavelength bands of polarized light superimposed on each other, wherein the reflection polarizer (a) is the circularly polarizing plate according to above-mentioned 7. 14. The polarizing element system according to above-mentioned 13., wherein a selective reflection wavelength of the at least two layers of the reflection polarizer (a) is superimposed on each other in the wavelength range 550 nm±10 nm. 15. The polarizing element system according to above-mentioned 13. or 14., wherein the retardation layer (b) is a layer comprising a cholesteric liquid crystal phase having a selective reflection wavelength band other than the visible light region fixed in planar alignment. 16. The polarizing element system according to above-mentioned 13. or 14., wherein the retardation layer (b) is a layer comprising a rod-like liquid crystal fixed in homeotropic alignment state. 17. The polarizing element system according to above-mentioned 13. or 14., wherein the retardation layer (b) is a layer comprising a discotic liquid crystal fixed in nematic phase or columnar phase alignment state. 18. The polarizing element system according to above-mentioned 13. or 14., wherein the retardation layer (b) is a layer comprising a biaxially orienting polymer film. 19. The polarizing element system according to above-mentioned 13. or 14., wherein the retardation layer (b) is a layer comprising an inorganic layered compound with negative uniaxiality fixed in alignment state where an optical axis thereof is a normal direction of a surface thereof. 20. A wide viewing angle liquid crystal display comprising at least: a backlight system containing a polarizing element system according to any one of above-mentioned 13. to 19. to collimate a light from a diffuse light source; a liquid cell transmitting collimated light; a polarizing plate arranged on both sides of the liquid cell; and a viewing angle magnification film, which diffusing transmitted light, arranged on a viewer side of the liquid cell. 21. The wide viewing angle liquid crystal display according to above-mentioned 20., wherein a λ/4 plate is arranged on the viewer side (the liquid cell side) of the polarizing element system according to any one of above-mentioned 13 to 19 so that an axial direction of linearly polarized light transmitted and a transmission axis direction of a polarizing plate on the lower side (the light source side) of the liquid crystal display are arranged in parallel with each other. 22. The wide viewing angle liquid crystal display according to above-mentioned 20. or 21., wherein the viewing angle magnification film is a diffuse plate substantially having neither backscattering nor polarization cancellation. 23. The wide viewing angle liquid crystal display according to any one of above-mentioned 20. to 22., wherein an each layer is laminated with a translucent adhesive or a pressure sensitive adhesive. (Action) A broad band cholesteric liquid crystal film of the present invention described above is obtained by ultraviolet polymerizing a polymerizable liquid crystal mixture and the liquid crystal mixture contains a photoisomerizable material (c). With such a photoisomerizable material (c) adopted, it is realized to reduce an ultraviolet illumination time and form a film with a thin coat thickness. It was reported that the photoisomerizable materials (c) such as azobenze can reversibly control selective reflection band of a cholesteric liquid crystal in a photoisomerization reaction, which was described in Japanese Liquid Crystal Society symposium papers, pp. 66 to 69 (1999). For example, a photoisomerization reaction occurs in a way such that by illuminating azobenzene with ultraviolet of a wavelength in the vicinity of 365 nm, a trans-isomer is converted to a cis-isomer, while by illuminating it with visible light of a wavelength in the vicinity of 440 nm or heating, a cis-isomer is converted to a trans-isomer. That is, it has been reported that when a substrate on which a liquid crystal mixture containing a photoisomerizable material (c) is coated is illuminated with ultraviolet, a reflection band of a cholesteric liquid crystal shifts. If such a photoisomerizable material (c) is added to a liquid crystal mixture and the mixture is illuminated with ultraviolet so that an ultraviolet illumination dosage is distributed in the thickness direction, isomerization from a trans-isomer to a cis-isomer advances in the ultraviolet illumination side. On the other hand, in the opposite side from the ultraviolet illumination side, isomerization from a trans-isomer to a cis-isomer is harder to advance. Therefore, revealed is a positional distribution of a change in ratio of trans-isomer and cis-isomer in the thickness direction, which enables manufacture of a broad band cholesteric liquid crystal film having a selective reflection wavelength bandwidth covering all the region of visible light. A broad band cholesteric liquid crystal film thus obtained works as a broad band circularly polarizing plate and not only has an optical property equal to that of the liquid crystal films disclosed in the publication of JP-A No. 6-281184, the specification of JP No. 3272668 and the specifications of JP-A Nos. 11-248943 and 9-189811 (hereinafter referred to as known patent literatures), but also can decrease a thickness thereof, thereby in addition, enabling low-cost manufacture thereof due to great reduction in manufacturing steps to be realized. That is, a broad band cholesteric liquid crystal film of the present invention can be formed as a thin layer to thereby enable a use amount of an expensive liquid crystal material to be reduced. Moreover, a total thickness of the liquid crystal layer can be decreased and the number of laminating steps can also be decreased. As a result, the number of steps in manufacture can be decreased, thereby enabling cost reduction owing to increase in line speed to be achieved. A broad band cholesteric liquid film of the present invention described above has a broad bandwidth of selective reflection wavelength, which is as broad as 200 nm or more. The reflection bandwidth is preferably 300 nm or more and more preferably 400 nm or more. A reflection bandwidth of 200 nm or more preferably lies in a visible light region, especially a wavelength region from 400 to 800 nm. Note that a reflection bandwidth is a reflection band having reflectance of a half of the maximum reflectance in a reflectance spectrum of a broad band cholesteric liquid crystal film measured with a spectrophotometer (Instant Multiphotometry System Model No. MCPD-2000, manufactured by Otsuka Electronics Co., Ltd.). BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a reflectance spectrum of a cholesteric liquid crystal film manufactured in Example 1. FIG. 2 is a reflectance spectrum of a cholesteric liquid crystal film manufactured in Example 2. FIG. 3 is a reflectance spectrum of a cholesteric liquid crystal film manufactured in Comparative Example 1. FIG. 4 is a reflectance spectrum of a cholesteric liquid crystal film manufactured in Comparative Example 2. FIG. 5 is a conceptual view of a broad band polarizing plate used in Example 3, wherein a numerical symbol (1) indicates an absorption polarizing plate, (2) a λ/4 plate, (3) a cholesteric liquid crystal film (circularly polarizing plate), (4) a pressure sensitive adhesive layer, (A1) a linearly polarizer and (A2) a linearly polarizer obtained by laminating the absorption polarizing plate (1) on the linearly polarizer (A1). FIG. 6 is a conceptual view of a wide viewing angle liquid crystal display manufactured in Example 5, wherein a numerical symbol (1) indicates an absorption polarizing plate, (2) a λ/4 plate, (3) a cholesteric liquid crystal film (reflection polarizer (a)), (5) a retardation plate (b): C plate, (6) a viewing angle magnification film (diffuse pressure sensitive adhesive), (LC) a liquid crystal cell, (BL) backlight, (D) diffusing reflective plate, (30) a polarizing element, (A1) a linearly polarizer and (A2) a linearly polarizer obtained by laminating the absorption polarizing plate (1) on the linearly polarizer (A1). BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A cholesteric liquid crystal film of the present invention is obtained by ultraviolet polymerizing a liquid crystal mixture containing a polymerizable mesogen compound (a), a polymerizable chiral agent (b) and a photoisomerizable material (c). A polymerizable mesogen compound (a) preferably has at least one polymerizable functional group and in addition, a mesogen group containing a ring unit and others. As polymerizable functional groups, exemplified are an acryloyl group, a methacryloyl group, an epoxy group, a vinyl ether group and others, among which preferable are an acryloyl group and a methacryloyl group. With a polymerizable mesogen compound (a) having two or more polymerizable functional groups employed, a crosslinked structure is introduced into a cholesteric liquid film to thereby enable durability thereof to be enhanced. Examples of the ring unit constituting a mesogen group include: a biphenyl-based ring unit, a phenylbenzoate-based ring unit, a phenylcyclohexane-based ring unit, an azoxybenzene-based ring unit, an azomethine-based ring unit, an azobenzene-based ring unit, a phenylpyrimidine-based ring unit, a diphenylacetylene-based ring unit, a diphenylbenzoate-based ring unit, a bicyclohexane-based ring unit, a cyclohexylbenzene-based ring unit, a terphenyl-based ring unit and others. An end of each of the ring units may has any of substituents such as a cyano group, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a halogen atom. A mesogen group described above may couple with a spacer portion imparting a bendability interposed between the groups itself. As spacer portions, exemplified are a polyethylene chain, a polyoxymethylene chain and others. The number of repeated structural units constituting a spacer portion is properly determined according to a chemical structure of a mesogen moiety, wherein the number of repetition units in a polymethylene chain ranges from 0 to 20 and preferably from 2 to 12 and the number of repetition units in a polyoxymethylene chain ranges from 0 to 10 and preferably 1 to 3. As a polymerizable mesogen compound (a) having one polymerizable functional group, exemplified is a compound expressed by the following formula: , wherein R1 indicates a hydrogen atom or a methyl group and n an integer from 1 to 5. As concrete examples of the polymerizable mesogen compound (a) having one polymerizable functional group, exemplified are the following compounds: As concrete examples of polymerizable mesogen compounds (a) having two polymerizable functional groups, exemplified are LC242 manufactured by BASF Corp. As a polymerizable chiral agent (b), exemplified is LC756 manufactured by BASF Corp. A mixing amount of a polymerizable chiral agent (b) is preferably on the order in the range of from 1 to 20 parts by weight and more preferably in the range of from 3 to 7 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of a total amount of a polymerizable mesogen compound (a) and the polymerizable chiral agent (b). A helical twist power (HTP) is controlled by a ratio of a polymerizable mesogen compound (a) and a polymerizable chiral agent (b). By adjusting the proportion within the range, a reflection band can be selected so that a reflectance spectrum of an obtained cholesteric liquid crystal film can cover all the range of visible light. As a photoisomerizable material (c), any of compounds causing a photoisomerization reaction can be employed without imposing any specific limitation thereon. Examples of photoisomerizable materials (c) include compounds such as stilbene, stilbenes, azobenzene, azobenzenes, spiropyrans, spirooxazines, diaryl ethers, filgides, cyclophanes, calcons and others. As a photoisomerizable material, among them, it is preferable to use at least one kind selected from the group consisting of stilbene, azobenzene and derivatives thereof. An added amount of a photoisomerizable material (c) is not particularly limited, but preferably on the order in the range of 0.1 to 20 parts by weight and more preferably in the range of from 2 to 10 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of a total amount of a polymerizable mesogen compound (a) and a polymerizable chiral agent (b). Any kind of photopolymerization initiators (d) can be employed without imposing any specific limitation thereon. Exemplified are IRGACURE 184, IRGACURE 907, IRGACURE 369, IRGACURE 651 and others manufactured by Chiba Specialty Chemicals Corp. A mixing amount of a photopolymerization initiator is preferably on the order in the range of from 0.01 to 10 parts by weight and more preferably in the range of from 0.05 to 5 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of a total amount of a polymerizable mesogen compound (a) and a polymerizable chiral agent (b). Note that a photopolymerization initiator (d) is not necessarily added depending on ultraviolet illumination conditions or an added amount of a photoisomerizable material (c). For example, in a case where a polymerizable mesogen compound (a) and a polymerizable chiral agent (b) each having two polymerizable functional groups are combined and a sufficient fast reaction speed is obtained as expected in the combination, no photopolymerization initiator (d) is required to be added. In the present invention, a liquid crystal mixture containing a polymerizable mesogen compound (a), a polymerizable chiral agent (b) and a photoisomerizable material (c), and a photopolymerization initiator (d) when required, can be used as a solution obtained by dissolving the mixture into a solvent. Without a specific limitation imposed, preferable as solvents used are methyl ethyl ketone, cyclohexanone, cyclopentanone and others. A concentration of a solution is usually on the order in the range of from 3 to 50 weight %. Manufacture of a cholesteric liquid crystal film of the present invention is implemented by coating the liquid crystal mixture on a substrate, followed by ultraviolet polymerization. As substrates, there can be adopted conventionally known members as ones. Exemplified are: a rubbing film obtained by subjecting a thin film made of polyimide, polyvinyl alcohol or the like formed on a substrate to a rubbing treatment with rayon cloth; an obliquely deposition film; optically oriented film obtained by illuminating a polymer having photocrosslinking group such as cynnamate, azobenzene or the like or a polyimide with polarized ultraviolet; and a stretched film and others. Orientation can be implemented by application of a magnetic field, an electric field and a shearing stress. Examples of the substrate that are used include: films made of plastics such as polyethylene phthalate, triacetyl cellulose, norbornen resin, polyvinyl alcohol, polyimide, polyallylate, polycarbonate, polysulfone, polyethersulfone and others; a glass plate, a quartz sheet and others. A liquid crystal mixture described above is coated on one substrate and thereafter, the other substrate can be laminated on the coat. In case where the liquid crystal mixture is a solution, the solution is coated on one substrate and the coat is dried, followed by laminating the other substrate on the coat. A drying temperature for evaporating a solvent has only to be a temperature of the boiling temperature of the solvent or higher. The temperature is only required to be set usually in the range of 80 to 160° C. according to a kind of a solvent. A thickness of a coat of a liquid crystal mixture described above (in a case of a solution, a thickness of a coat in a dry state after a solvent is evaporated) is preferably on the order in the range of from 1 to 20 μm and more preferably on the order in the range of 2 to 10 μm. If a coat thickness is less than 1 μm, there rises an unprofitable tendency to decrease a polarization degree though a reflection bandwidth is secured. On the other hand, if the thickness is more than 20 μm, more of improvement is unprofitably not realized on a reflection bandwidth or polarization degree only to increase a cost. An ultraviolet illuminance is preferably in the range of from 0.1 to 30 mW/cm2 and more preferably in the range of from 1 to 20 mW/cm2. An illumination time is preferably a shorter time of 5 min or less, more preferably 3 min or less and furthers more preferably 1 min or less. Note that if heating is applied on the opposite side from an ultraviolet illumination side, a broad band cholesteric liquid crystal film can be realized in a shorter time. A heating temperature, on or after ultraviolet illumination, has only to be a liquid crystal temperature or higher and usually preferably 140° C. or lower in a general practice. The temperature is, to be concrete, preferably on the order in the range of from 60 to 140° C. and more preferably in the range of 80° C. to 120° C. With heating applied, an effect is exerted that a diffusion speed of a monomer component is accelerated. If the temperature is lower than 60° C., a diffusion speed of a polymerizable mesogen compound (a) is very slow, requiring a very long time in order to achieve a broad band. A thus obtained cholesteric liquid crystal film may be used either not being separated from a substrate or being separated therefrom. A broad band cholesteric liquid crystal film of the present invention is used as a circularly polarizing plate. A circularly polarizing plate with a λ/4 plate laminated thereon can be used as a linearly polarizer. A cholesteric liquid crystal film, which is a circularly polarizing plate, is preferably laminated on a λ/4 plate so that a pitch length in the film is narrowed toward the λ/4 plate continuously. As λ/4 plates, exemplified are: a birefringent film obtained by stretching a film made of a proper plastic such as polycarbnate, norbornen resin, polyvinyl alcohol, polystyrene, polymethylmethacrylate, polypropylene, other polyolefins, polyallylate, polyimide; a aligned film made of a liquid crystal material such as a liquid crystal polymer; an aligned layer of a liquid crystal material supported by a film; and others. A thickness of a λ/4 plate is usually preferably in the range of from 0.5 to 200 μm and especially preferably in the range of from 1 to 100 μm. A retardation plate functioning as a λ/4 plate in a broad wavelength range such as a visible light region can be obtained, for example, by a scheme to superimpose a retardation layer functioning as a λ/4 plate for a monochromatic light of wavelength of 550 nm and a retardation layer exhibiting another retardation characteristic, for example a retardation layer functioning as a λ/2 plate on each other or the like scheme. Therefore, a retardation plate arranged between a polarizing plate and a brightness enhancement improving film may be made of either one retardation layer, or two or more retardation layers. An absorption polarizer is adhered to the linearly polarizer, so that a transmission axis direction of the linearly polarizer are arranged in parallel with each other. The polarizer is not limited especially but various kinds of polarizer may be used. As a polarizer, for example, a film that is uniaxially stretched after having dichromatic substances, such as iodine and dichromatic dye, absorbed to hydrophilic high molecular weight polymer films, such as polyvinyl alcohol type film, partially formalized polyvinyl alcohol type film, and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer type partially saponified film; poly-ene type orientation films, such as dehydrated polyvinyl alcohol and dehydrochlorinated polyvinyl chloride, etc. may be mentioned. In these, a polyvinyl alcohol type film containing dichromatic materials such as iodine is suitably used. Although thickness of polarizer is not especially limited, the thickness of about 5 to 80 μm is commonly adopted. A polarizer that is uniaxially stretched after a polyvinyl alcohol type film dyed with iodine is obtained by stretching a polyvinyl alcohol film by 3 to 7 times the original length, after dipped and dyed in aqueous solution of iodine. If needed the film may also be dipped in aqueous solutions, such as boric acid and potassium iodide. Furthermore, before dyeing, the polyvinyl alcohol type film may be dipped in water and rinsed if needed. By rinsing polyvinyl alcohol type film with water, effect of preventing un-uniformity, such as unevenness of dyeing, is expected by making polyvinyl alcohol type film swelled in addition that also soils and blocking inhibitors on the polyvinyl alcohol type film surface may be washed off. Stretching may be applied after dyed with iodine or may be applied concurrently, or conversely dyeing with iodine may be applied after stretching. Stretching is applicable in aqueous solutions, such as boric acid and potassium iodide, and in water bath. A polarizing plate on which a transparent protective film prepared on one side or both sides of the polarizer is used. Materials of the transparent protective, excellent in transparency, mechanical strength, heat stability, water shielding property, isotropy etc., is may be preferably used, As transparent protective films, for example, transparent polymer films made of polyester type polymers, such as polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylenenaphthalate; cellulose type polymers, such as diacetyl cellulose and triacetyl cellulose; polycarbonate type polymer; acrylics type polymer, such as poly methylmethacrylate may be mentioned. Besides, as examples of the transparent polymer films made of styrene type polymers, such as polystyrene and acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer; polyolefin type polymers, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyolefin that has cyclo-type or norbornen structure, ethylene-propylene copolymer; vinyl chloride type polymer; amide type polymers, such as nylon and aromatic polyamide may be mentioned. Besides, as examples of the transparent polymer films made of imide type polymers; sulfone type polymers; polyether sulfone type polymers; polyether-ether ketone type polymers; poly phenylene sulfide type polymers; vinyl alcohol type polymer; vinylidene chloride type polymers; vinyl butyral type polymers; allylate type polymers; polyoxymethylene type polymers; epoxy type polymers; or blend polymers of the above-mentioned polymers may be mentioned. Especially, preferable when being used is a film made of a transparent polymer with less of optical birefringence. Preferable from the viewpoint of a protective film for a polarizing plate are triacetyl cellulose, polycarbonate, acrylics type polymer, a cyclo-olefine type resin, polyolefin having a norbornen structure and others. Moreover, as is described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-343529 (WO 01/37007), polymer films, for example, resin compositions including (A) thermoplastic resins having substituted and/or non-substituted imido group is in side chain, and (B) thermoplastic resins having substituted and/or non-substituted phenyl and nitrile group in sidechain may be mentioned. As an illustrative example, a film may be mentioned that is made of a resin composition including alternating copolymer comprising iso-butylene and N-methyl maleimide, and acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer. A film comprising mixture extruded article of resin compositions etc. may be used. As a transparent protective film preferably used, in viewpoint of polarization property and durability, triacetyl cellulose film whose surface is saponificated with alkali is suitable. In general, a thickness of a transparent protective film is about 10 through 500 μm, preferably 20 through 300 μm, and especially preferably 30 through 200 μm. Moreover, it is preferable that the transparent protective film may have as little coloring as possible. Accordingly, a protective film having a retardation value in a film thickness direction represented by Rth=[(nx+ny)/2−nz]×d of −90 nm through +75 nm (where, nx and ny represent principal indices of refraction in a film plane, nz represents refractive index in a film thickness direction, and d represents a film thickness) may be preferably used. Thus, coloring (optical coloring) of polarizing plate resulting from a protective film may mostly be cancelled using a protective film having a retardation value (Rth) of −90 nm through +75 nm in a thickness direction. The retardation value (Rth) in a thickness direction is preferably −80 nm through +60 nm, and especially preferably −70 nm through +45 nm. The transparent protective films on the front and back sides may also be transparent protective films made of either the same polymer material or respective different polymer materials. A hard coat layer may be prepared, or antireflection processing, processing aiming at sticking prevention, diffusion or anti glare may be performed onto the face on which the polarizing film of the above described transparent protective film has not been adhered. A hard coat processing is applied for the purpose of protecting the surface of the polarizing plate from damage, and this hard coat film may be formed by a method in which, for example, a curable coated film with excellent hardness, slide property etc. is added on the surface of the protective film using suitable ultraviolet curable type resins, such as acrylic type and silicone type resins. Antireflection processing is applied for the purpose of antireflection of outdoor daylight on the surface of a polarizing plate and it may be prepared by forming an antireflection film according to the conventional method etc. Besides, a sticking prevention processing is applied for the purpose of adherence prevention with adjoining layer. In addition, an anti glare processing is applied in order to prevent a disadvantage that outdoor daylight reflects on the surface of a polarizing plate to disturb visual recognition of transmitting light through the polarizing plate, and the processing may be applied, for example, by giving a fine concavo-convex structure to a surface of the protective film using, for example, a suitable method, such as rough surfacing treatment method by sandblasting or embossing and a method of combining transparent fine particle. As a fine particle combined in order to form a fine concavo-convex structure on the above-mentioned surface, transparent fine particles whose average particle size is 0.5 to 50 μm, for example, such as inorganic type fine particles that may have conductivity comprising silica, alumina, titania, zirconia, tin oxides, indium oxides, cadmium oxides, antimony oxides, etc., and organic type fine particles comprising cross-linked of non-cross-linked polymers may be used. When forming fine concavo-convex structure on the surface, the amount of fine particle used is usually about 2 to 50 weight part to the transparent resin 100 weight part that forms the fine concavo-convex structure on the surface, and preferably 5 to 25 weight part. An anti glare layer may serve as a diffusion layer (viewing angle magnifying function etc.) for diffusing transmitting light through the polarizing plate and magnifying a viewing angle etc. In addition, the above-mentioned antireflection layer, sticking prevention layer, diffusion layer, anti glare layer, etc. may be built in the protective film itself, and also they may be prepared as an optical layer different from the protective layer. The linearly polarizer described above can be provided with a pressure sensitive adhesive layer for adhering itself to another member such as a liquid crystal cell or the like. As pressure sensitive adhesive that forms adhesive layer is not especially limited, and, for example, acrylic type polymers; silicone type polymers; polyesters, polyurethanes, polyamides, polyethers; fluorine type and rubber type polymers may be suitably selected as a base polymer. Especially, a pressure sensitive adhesive such as acrylics type pressure sensitive adhesives may be preferably used, which is excellent in optical transparency, showing adhesion characteristics with moderate wettability, cohesiveness and adhesive property and has outstanding weather resistance, heat resistance, etc. In addition to the above description, a pressure sensitive adhesive layer low in moisture absorption rate and excellent in heat resistance is preferable from the viewpoints of prevention of a foaming phenomenon and peeling-off phenomenon due to moisture absorption, prevention of degradation in optical characteristic and warp of a liquid crystal cell due to the difference of thermal expansion or the like and further, in consideration of formability of a high quality liquid crystal display excellent in durability and the like. The pressure sensitive adhesive layer may contain additives, for example, such as natural or synthetic resins, tackifier, glass fibers, glass beads, metal powder, fillers comprising other inorganic powder etc., pigments, colorants and antioxidants. Moreover, it may be a pressure sensitive adhesive layer that contains fine particle and shows optical diffusion nature. Proper method may be carried out to attach a pressure sensitive adhesive layer. As an example, about 10 to 40 weight % of the pressure sensitive adhesive solution in which a base polymer or its composition is dissolved or dispersed, for example, toluene or ethyl acetate or a mixed solvent of these two solvents is prepared. A method in which this solution is directly applied on a polarizer using suitable developing methods, such as flow method and coating method, or a method in which an adhesive layer is once formed on a separator, as mentioned above, and is then transferred on a an optical film may be mentioned. A pressure sensitive adhesive layer may be prepared with two or more layers which are made of different compositions or kinds with each layer. Thickness of an adhesive layer may be suitably determined depending on a purpose of usage or adhesive strength, etc., and generally is 1 to 500 μm, preferably 5 to 200 μm, and more preferably 10 to 100 μm. A temporary separator is attached to an exposed side of a pressure sensitive adhesive layer to prevent contamination etc., until it is practically used. Thereby, it can be prevented that foreign matter contacts adhesive layer in usual handling. As a separator, without taking the above-mentioned thickness conditions into consideration, for example, suitable conventional sheet materials that is coated, if necessary, with release agents, such as silicone type, long chain alkyl type, fluorine type release agents, and molybdenum sulfide may be used. As a suitable sheet material, plastics films, rubber sheets, papers, cloths, no woven fabrics, nets, foamed sheets and metallic foils or laminated sheets thereof may be used. In addition, ultraviolet absorbing property may be given to the above-mentioned each layer, such as a pressure sensitive adhesive layer, using a method of adding UV absorbents, such as salicylic acid ester type compounds, benzophenol type compounds, benzotriazol type compounds, cyano acrylate type compounds, and nickel complex salt type compounds. A linearly polarizer of the present invention can be preferably used in manufacture of various kinds of apparatuses such as a liquid crystal display and others. Assembling of a liquid crystal display may be carried out according to conventional methods. That is, a liquid crystal display is generally manufactured by suitably assembling several parts such as a liquid crystal cell, optical elements and, if necessity, lighting system, and by incorporating driving circuit. In the present invention, except that a linearly polarizer by the present invention is used, there is especially no limitation to use any conventional methods. Also any liquid crystal cell of arbitrary type, such as TN type, and STN type, π type may be used. Suitable liquid crystal displays, such as liquid crystal display with which the above-mentioned linearly polarizer has been located at one side or both sides of the liquid crystal cell, and with which a backlight or a reflector is used for a lighting system may be manufactured. In this case, the linearly polarizer by the present invention may be installed in one side or both sides of the liquid crystal cell. When installing the linearly polarizers in both sides, they may be of the same type or of different type. Furthermore, in assembling a liquid crystal display, suitable parts, such as diffusion plate, anti-glare layer, antireflection film, protective plate, prism array, lens array sheet, optical diffusion plate, and backlight, may be installed in suitable position in one layer or two or more layers. A circularly polarizing plate (a reflection polarizer) using a cholesteric liquid crystal film described above is used in a polarizing element system in which a retardation layer (b) having a front face retardation (in the normal direction) of almost zero and a retardation of λ/8 or more relative to an incident light incoming at an angle of 30° C. or more inclined from the normal direction is arranged between at least two layer reflection polarizer (a) with respective selective reflection wavelength bands of polarized light superimposed on each other. Note that a cholesteric liquid crystal film is of a construction in which any of the sides of the maximum pitch of a helically twisted molecular structure and the minimum pitch thereof may be located closer to the retardation layer (b), while if a reflection polarizer (a) is expressed by (maximum pitch/minimum pitch), arrangement thereof is preferably in a structure of maximum pitch/minimum pitch/retardation layer (b)/maximum pitch/minimum pitch from the view point of a viewing angle (in other words, a better viewing angle and less of coloring abnormality). In a case where a λ/4 plate is combined as shown in FIG. 6, the minimum pitch side of a reflection polarizer (a) is preferably arranged closer to the λ/4 plate. The polarizing element system, that is a cholesteric liquid crystal laminate having a broad band selective reflection function, has a circularly polarizing light reflection/transmission function in the front face direction and can be used in a liquid crystal display as a broad band circularly polarizing plate. In this case, the cholesteric liquid crystal laminate is arranged on the light source side of a liquid crystal cell in a circularly polarizing mode, for example a transmission type VA mode liquid crystal cell having a multidomain and thereby can be used as a circularly polarizing plate. The retardation layer (b) has a retardation of almost zero in the front face direction and a retardation of λ/8 or more relative to an incident light incoming at an angle of 30° inclined from the normal direction. The front face retardation works for holding polarized light vertically, which is desirably λ/10 or less. In order to effectively polarization-convert an incident light incoming in an oblique direction, a retardation of the incident light is properly determined by an angle at which the light is totally reflected. For example, in order to totally reflect an incident light at an angle of the order of 60° inclined from the normal, retardation as measured at 60° has only to be determined so as to be a value of the order of λ/2. Since transmitted light through the reflection polarizer (a) is modulated with respect to a polarization state thereof even due to birefringence like a C plate of the reflection polarizer itself, a retardation as measured at the angle of a C plate inserted may be usually a value smaller than λ/2. Since a retardation of the C plate monotonously increases with an inclination of an incident light, a retardation has only to be λ/8 or more relative to an incident light incoming at an angle of 30° as a target at which effective total reflection is caused at an angular inclination of 30° or more. A material of the retardation layer (b) may be any of materials having the above described optical property without any specific limitation thereon. Examples thereof include: a layer having a fixed planar alignment state of a cholesteric liquid crystal having a selective reflection wave length other than the visible light region (from 380 nm to 780 nm); a layer having a fixed homeotropic alignment state of a rod-like liquid crystal; a layer using a columnar alignment or a nematic alignment of a discotic liquid crystal; a layer aligned a negative uniaxial crystal in-plane; a biaxially aligned polymer film; and others. In the present invention, a C plate in which fixed is a planar alignment state of a cholesteric liquid crystal having a selective reflection wavelength other than the visible light region (from 380 nm to 780 nm) desirably has no coloring abnormality in the visible light region as a selective reflection wavelength of a cholesteric liquid crystal. Therefore, a necessity arises for no selective reflection light in the visible light region. Selective reflection is specifically determined by a cholesteric chiral pitch and a refractive index of a liquid crystal. While a value of a central wavelength of selective reflection may be in the near infrared region, the value is desirably in an ultraviolet region of 350 nm or less in wavelength because of an influence of rotatory polarization and generation of slightly complex phenomenon. Formation of a cholesteric liquid crystal layer is conducted in a similar way to that in formation of a cholesteric layer in a reflection polarizer described above. A C plate having a fixed homeotropic alignment state in the present invention is made of a polymer liquid crystal having been obtained by polymerizing a liquid crystalline thermoplastic resin exhibiting a nematic liquid crystallinity at high temperature or a liquid crystal monomer and an alignment agent, when required, with an ionizing radiation such as an electron beam, ultraviolet or the like; or heating; or a mixture of polymer liquid crystals. While a liquid crystallinity may be either lyotropic or thermotropic, a thermotropic liquid crystal is desirable from the view point of ease of control and formability of monodomain. A homeotropic alignment is obtained for example in a procedure in which a birefringent material described above is coated on a film made of a vertical aligned film (such as a film of a long chain alkylsilane) and a liquid crystal state is revealed in the film and fixed. As a C plate using a discotic liquid crystal, there is available a plate obtained by revealing and fixing a nematic phase or a columnar phase of a triphenylene compounds each having an in-plane spread molecule as a liquid crystal material or a discotic liquid crystal material having a negative uniaxiality such as phthalocyanines. Inorganic layered compounds each with a negative uniaxiality are detailed in the publication of JP-A No. 6-82777 and others. A C plate using a biaxial alignment of a polymer film can be obtained by one of the following methods, in which a polymer film having a positive refractive index anisotropy is biaxially stretched in a good balance; in which a thermoplastic resin is pressed; in which a C plate is cut off from a parallel aligned crystal; and in others. While lamination of layers may be only as superimposed, the lamination is desirable to use an adhesive or a pressure sensitive adhesive from the viewpoint of workability and light utilization efficiency. In the case, it is desirable that an adhesive or a pressure sensitive adhesive is transparent and has no absorption in the visible light region, and a refractive index is as equal to each of refractive indexes of the other layers as possible from the viewpoint of suppression of surface reflection. From the viewpoint, for example, an acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive or the like is preferably used. Lamination of layers can be implemented according to the following methods: in which layers are formed in monodomains separately as respective aligned films and sequentially layered onto a translucent substrate by transfer or the like scheme; and in another of which aligned films are properly formed for alignment without providing adhesive layers and the layers are sequentially formed directly on a previous layer. Other procedures can be adopted: in which particles are further added onto layers and adhesive or pressure sensitive adhesive layers for adjustment of a diffuse level, when required, to thereby impart an isotropic scatterability; and in another of which properly added are an ultraviolet absorbent, an antioxidant and a surfactant for the purpose to impart a leveling property on film formation. While a polarizing element (a cholesteric liquid crystal laminate) of the present invention has a circularly polarized light reflection/transmission function, the element is combined with a λ/4 plate to thereby convert a transmitted light to a linearly polarized light and enable it to be used as a linearly polarizer. Examples of λ/4 plates that are properly used are not particularly limited, but include: a general purpose transparent resin film generating a retardation by stretching such as films made of polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, polysulfone, polyvinyl alcohol, polymethylmethacrylate or the like; a norbornen resin film such as an ARTON film manufactured by JSR; and others. Furthermore, biaxial stretching is applied and a retardation plate compensating a change in retardation caused by an incidence angle is used to thereby enable a viewing angle characteristic to be improved, which is preferable. There may also be used a λ/4 plate obtained by fixing a λ/4 layer prepared by aligning a liquid crystal which reveals no retardation by resin stretching. In this case, a thickness of a λ/4 plate can be greatly reduced. A thickness of a λ/4 plate is usually preferably in the range of from 0.5 to 200 μm and especially preferably in the range of from 1 to 100 μm. While a λ/4 plate well works only for a specific wavelength in a case of a single layer made of a single material, a problem for other wavelengths arises that a function as a λ/4 plate is degraded with respect to a wavelength dispersing characteristic for other wavelengths. Therefore, by laminating while defining an axial angle relative to a λ/2 plate, a λ/4 plate can be used as a broad band λ/4 plate functioning in a range in which no practical inconvenience arises in the entire visible light region. A λ/4 plate and a λ/2 plate in this case may be made with the same material, or a λ/4 plate is made with a different material obtained in a similar way to that in the case of the λ/4 plate described above and may be combined with the λ/2 plate. For example, a λ/4 plate (140 nm) is laminated on a broad band circularly polarizing plate and a λ/2 plate (270 nm) is disposed at 117.5° relative to an axial angle of the λ/4 plate. A transmission polarization axis is 10° relative to the axis of the λ/4 plate. Since the adhering angle changes according to a retardation value of each retardation plate, the adhering angle is not specifically limited. An absorption polarizer is adhered to the linearly polarizer so that a transmission axis direction of the absorption polarizer and a transmission axis of the linearly polarizer are arranged in parallel with each other. (Arrangement of Diffusing Reflective Plate) A diffusing reflective plate is desirably arranged at the down side (the other side from an arrangement surface of a liquid cell) of a light guide plate as a light source. A main component of light reflected by a collimate film is an oblique incident light component and the main component of light is specular reflected by the collimate film and reflected back in the backlight direction. On this occasion, in a case where a reflective plate on the back surface side is high in specular reflection, a reflective angle is retained and cannot be emitted in the front face direction only to end up with light loss. Therefore, a reflective angle of reflected-back light is not retained to thereby increase a scattering reflection component in the front face direction; therefore the arrangement of a diffusing reflective plate is desirable. (Arrangement of Diffuse Plate) It is also desirable to place a proper diffuse plate between a collimate film in the present invention and the backlight source. This is because light impinged obliquely and reflected is scattered in the vicinity of a backlight guide plate and part of the reflected light is scattered in the vertical incidence direction to thereby enhance a second utilization of light. A diffuse plate used can be obtained by means of a method in which an unevenness surface utilized, or in which particles with different refractive indexes are embedded in a resin. The diffuse plate either may be inserted between a collimate film and a backlight or may be adhered to a collimate film. In a case where a liquid crystal cell to which a collimate film is adhered is placed adjacent to a backlight, there is a chance to cause a Newton ring in a clearance between a film surface and the backlight, while by placing a diffuse plate having an unevenness surface on the light guide plate side surface of the collimate film in the present invention, it can be suppressed to generation of Newton ring. Moreover, a layer serving as an unevenness surface and a light diffusing structure may be formed as a surface itself of a light parallel film in the present invention. (Arrangement of View Angle Magnifying Film) Magnification of a viewing angle in a liquid crystal display of the present invention can be achieved by obtaining a uniform and good display characteristic all over the viewing angle through diffusing light of good display characteristic in the vicinity of the front face obtained from a liquid crystal display combined with a collimated backlight. A viewing angle magnification film used here is a diffuse plate having substantially no backscattering. A diffuse plate can be provided as a diffusing pressure sensitive adhesive material. An arranging place thereof can be used up or down of a polarizing plate on the viewer side of the liquid crystal display. In order to prevent reduction in contrast due to an influence such as blotting of pixels or a slightly remaining backscattering, the diffuse plate is desirably placed in a layer at a position the closest possible to a cell such as between a polarizing plate and a liquid crystal cell. In this case, it is desirable to use a film that does not substantially cancel polarization. A fine particle distribution type diffuse plate is preferably used, which is disclosed in, for example, the publications of JP-A No. 2000-347006 and JP-A No. 2000-347007. In a case where a viewing angle magnification film is disposed outside of a polarizing plate, a viewing angle compensating retardation plate may not be used especially if a TN liquid cell is used since collimated light is transmitted through a liquid crystal layer and through the polarizing plate. If an STN liquid crystal cell is used in the case, it has only to use a retardation plate that is well compensated with respect to a front face characteristic. Since, in this case, a viewing angle magnification film has a surface exposed to the air; a type having a refractive effect due to a surface profile can also be employed. On the other hand, in a case where a viewing angle magnification film is inserted between a polarizing plate and a liquid crystal layer, light is diffuse light at the stage where light is transmitted through the polarizing plate. If a TN liquid crystal is used, a necessity arises for compensating a viewing angle characteristic of the polarizer itself. In this case, it is necessary to insert a retardation plate to compensate a viewing angle characteristic of a polarizer between the polarizer and the viewing angle magnification film. If an STN liquid crystal is used, it is necessary to insert a retardation plate to compensate a viewing angle characteristic of the polarizer in addition to a front face retardation compensation for the STN liquid crystal. In a case of a viewing angle magnification film having a regular structure in the interior thereof such as a microlens array film or a hologram film, both conventionally having been available, interference has occurred with a fine structure such as a microlens array, a prism array, a louver, a micromirror array or the like that is included in a black matrix of a liquid crystal display or a collimate system of a conventional backlight to thereby cause a moiré pattern with ease. Since in a collimate film in the present invention, a regular structure is not visually recognized in a plane thereof and emitting light has no regularity modulation, no necessity arises for consideration of matching with a viewing angle magnification film or an arrangement sequence. Therefore, a viewing angle magnification film has a lot of options since no specific limitation is imposed thereon as far as neither interference nor a moiré pattern occurs with a pixel black matrix of a liquid crystal display. In the present invention, as viewing angle magnification films, preferably used are a light scattering plate, having no substantial backscattering and not canceling polarization, which is described in any of the publications of JP-A Nos. 2000-347006 and 2000-347007 and which has a haze in the range of 80% to 90%. Any of films each of which has a regular structure in the interior thereof such as a hologram sheet, a microprism array, a microlens array or the like can be used as far as neither interference nor a moiré pattern occurs with a pixel black matrix of a liquid crystal display. Note that for use in a liquid crystal display, various kinds of optical layers are properly prepared according to ordinary methods. EXAMPLES Description will be given of the present invention showing examples and comparative examples below, while the present invention is not limited to the examples. Example 1 Prepared was a methyl ethyl ketone solution (with a solid matter content of 30 wt %) of a mixture composed of 96 parts by weight of LC242 manufactured by BASF Corp. as a polymerizable mesogen compound (a), 4 parts by weight of LC756 manufactured by BASF Corp. as a polymerizable chiral agent (b) and 5 parts by weight of stilbene as a photoisomerizable material (c). The solution was cast on one stretched polyethylene terephthalate substrate and a solvent was removed off at 100° C. for 2 min for drying, followed by laminating the other polyethylene terephthalate substrate thereon. Then, the laminate was applied with ultraviolet illumination at 5 mW/cm2 for 3 min and further with heating at 100° C. for 10 sec, thereby obtaining a cholesteric liquid crystal film as a target. The one polyethylene terephthalate substrate was removed. A reflectance spectrum of a cholesteric liquid crystal film (a circularly polarizing plate) is shown in FIG. 1. The circularly polarizing plate had a good circularly polarized light separating characteristic (a reflection band) in the wavelength range of from 400 to 800 nm. A total thickness of the cholesteric liquid crystal layer (film) was 10 μm. A pitch length in the obtained cholesteric liquid crystal layer was 0.2 μm in the vicinity of an ultraviolet illuminated surface (in the lower layer at 1 μm below the ultraviolet illuminated surface), while being 0.5 μm in the vicinity of the opposite surface (in the lower layer at 1 μm below the opposite surface). A pitch length was measured with a sectional TEM photograph. A broad band cholesteric liquid crystal film covering visible light was able to be manufactured as a single layer in this way. Example 2 Prepared was a methyl ethyl ketone solution (with a solid matter content of 20 wt %) of a mixture composed of 96 parts by weight of the above described compound (1) as a polymerizable mesogen compound (a), 4 parts by weight of LC756 manufactured by BASF Corp. as a polymerizable chiral agent (b), 5 parts by weight of azobenzene as a photoisomerizable material (c) and 5 parts by weight of IRGACURE 369 (manufactured by Chiba Specialty Chemicals Corp.) as a photopolymerization initiator (d). The solution was cast on one stretched polyethylene terephthalate substrate and a solvent was removed off at 100° C. for 2 min for drying. Then, the laminate was applied with ultraviolet illumination at 20 mW/cm2 for 10 sec and further with heating, thereby obtaining a cholesteric liquid crystal film as a target. A reflectance spectrum of a cholesteric liquid crystal film (a circularly polarizing plate) is shown in FIG. 2. The obtained circularly polarizing plate had a good circularly polarized light separating characteristic in the wavelength range of from 450 to 900 nm). A total thickness of the cholesteric liquid crystal layer (film) was 6 μm. A pitch length in the obtained cholesteric liquid crystal layer was 0.25 μm in the vicinity of an ultraviolet illuminated surface (in the lower layer at 1 μm below the ultraviolet illuminated surface), while being 0.6 μm in the vicinity of the opposite surface (in the lower layer at 1 μm below the opposite surface). A broad band cholesteric liquid crystal film covering visible light was able to be manufactured as a single layer in this way. Example 3 The broad band cholesteric liquid crystal film (a circularly polarizing plate) obtained in Example 1 was adhered to a λ/4 plate obtained by biaxially stretching a polycarbonate resin film (a thickness of 80 μm) in the direction along which a pitch length is narrower continuously toward the λ/4 plate with an acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive with a thickness of 25 μm. Furthermore, an absorption type polarizing plate TEG1465DU manufactured by NITTO DENKO CO., LTD. was adhered thereto so that the transmission axis directions coincide with each other, to obtain a broad band polarizing plate. The broad band polarizing plate was used as a lower plate for a TFT-LCD and placed on a side light type backlight, and a brightness enhancement percentage was measured with the result of a brightness enhancement 1.3 or more times as that in a case where a product of the present invention is not used. A brightness was measured with a viewing angle measuring instrument EZ-CONTRAST manufactured by ELDIM Corp. Note that the obtained optical characteristic (a reflectance spectrum) was equal in performance to a case where a film obtained in the above known patent literatures was used. Example 4 Prepared was a cyclopentanone solution (with a solid matter content of 30 wt %) of a mixture composed of 88.6 parts by weight of a photopolymerizable nematic liquid crystal monomer (manufactured by BASF Corp. with a trade name of LC242), 11.4 parts by weight of a chiral agent (manufactured by BASF Corp. with a trade name of LC756) and 5 parts by weight of a photopolymerization initiator (manufactured by Chiba Specialty Chemicals Corp. with a trade name of IRGACURE 907). The solution was mixed for adjustment so that a selective reflection wavelength is 350 nm. The solution was coated on a polyethylene terephthalate substrate to a thickness after drying of 4 μm using a wire bar and a solvent was removed off for drying. Thereafter, the film was temporarily heated to an isotropic transition temperature of the liquid crystal monomer and thereafter, gradually cooled to form a layer in a uniformly oriented state. The obtained layer was illuminated with ultraviolet to fix an aligned state and obtain a C plate (negative). A retardation of the C plate was measured to be 2 nm in the front face direction and 100 nm in a direction oblique by 30° for light having a wavelength of 550 nm. On the other hand, two broad band cholesteric liquid films (circularly polarizing plates that is reflection polarizers) obtained in Example 1 were prepared. The C plate layer was transferred on the reflection polarizer layer using a translucent adhesive. The same reflection polarizer layer was transferred and laminated on the C plate using a translucent adhesive layer to obtain a polarizing element. A λ/4 plate made of a biaxially stretched polyethylene terephthalate was adhered to the polarizing element so that the transmission axis coincides with that of the polarizing plate and further adhered to a TFT liquid crystal display and placed on a dot printing type backlight. In this sample, polarizing plates (manufactured by NITTO DENKO CO., LTD. with a trade name of SEG1425DU) are singly used on the front and back side, respectively, of a liquid crystal cell without using a viewing angle compensating film in the TFT liquid crystal display. Ordinary TN cell was used in the interior of the cell. Any of prism sheets and others were not used. A mat PET diffusing reflective plate was arranged at the down surface of the backlight. The obtained collimate system condenses light to the front face in a similar way to that of a prism light collective sheet and furthermore, transmits circularly polarized light, and a thickness thereof was extremely thin and takes a value of the order of one-twentieth of a thickness of 500 μm of a product of two prism sheets+a reflection polarizer combined. A light condensing characteristic was on the order±500 from the vertical direction of the screen image. Example 5 A sample was prepared in a similar way to that in Example 4 with the exception that used as a C plate was a retardation plate with a retardation value of 120 nm as measured in a state where being obliquely inclined by 30°, and a light diffusing pressure sensitive adhesive layer having a haze of 92% (of a thickness of 25 μm) obtained by dispersing silica true spherical particles (with a particle diameter of 4 μm and a mixing amount of 30% by weight) into an acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive (with a thickness of 30 μm and a refractive index of 1.47) is placed and adhered between a polarizing plate on the front surface side and a liquid crystal cell of a liquid crystal display. In the sample, a light condensing characteristic in the front face direction was narrowed substantially to the order of ±30°. An obtained wide viewing angle liquid crystal display does not cause gray scale inversion within ±60° and maintains a good display characteristic in a viewing angle characteristic recognition using a gray scale representation. Comparative Example 1 Prepared was a methyl ethyl ketone solution (with a solid matter content of 30 wt %) of a mixture composed of 96 parts by weight of LC242 manufactured by BASF Corp. as a polymerizable mesogen compound (a) and 4 parts by weight of LC756 manufactured by BASF Corp. as a polymerizable chiral agent (b). A cholesteric liquid crystal film was obtained in a similar way to that in Example 1 with the exception that the above described solution was employed. A reflectance spectrum of a cholesteric liquid crystal film (a circularly polarizing plate) is shown in FIG. 3. The obtained circularly polarizing plate had a good circularly polarized light separating characteristic in the wavelength range of from 650 to 750 nm. A pitch length in the obtained cholesteric liquid crystal layer was 0.44 μm in the vicinity of an ultraviolet illuminated surface (in the lower layer at 1 μm below the ultraviolet illuminated surface), while being 0.46 μm in the vicinity of the opposite surface (in the lower layer at 1 μm below the opposite surface). It is found from FIG. 3 that a reflection band is narrower as compared with that in Example 1. Comparative Example 2 Prepared was a methyl ethyl ketone solution (with a solid matter content of 20 wt %) of a mixture composed of 96 parts by weight of the above described compound (1) as a polymerizable mesogen compound (a), 4 parts by weight of LC756 manufactured by BASF Corp. as a polymerizable chiral agent (b) and 5 parts by weight of IRGACURE 369 (manufactured by Chiba Specialty Chemicals Corp.) as a photopolymerization initiator (d). A cholesteric liquid crystal film was obtained in a similar way to that in Example 2 with the exception that the above described solution was employed. A reflectance spectrum of the cholesteric liquid crystal film (a circularly polarizing plate) is shown in FIG. 4. The obtained circularly polarizing plate had a good circularly polarized light separating characteristic in the wavelength range of from 600 to 750 nm. A pitch length in the obtained cholesteric liquid crystal layer was 0.4 μm in the vicinity of an ultraviolet illuminated surface (in the lower layer at 1 μm below the ultraviolet illuminated surface), while being 0.45 μm in the vicinity of the opposite surface (in the lower layer at 1 μm below the opposite surface). A broad band cholesteric liquid crystal film covering visible light was able to be manufactured as a single layer in this way. It is found from FIG. 4 that a reflection band is narrower as compared with that in Example 2. Comparative Example 3 An aligned film made of polyvinyl alcohol with a thickness of 0.1 μm was formed on a triacetyl cellulose film and subjected to a rubbing treatment, and thereafter, three layers made of a cholesteric liquid crystal polymer with respective selective reflection central wavelengths of 610 nm, 550 nm and 450 nm and all with a thickness of 2 μm were sequentially formed and aligned. A λ/4 plate obtained by biaxially stretching a polycarbonate resin film (with a thickness of 80 μm) was adhered onto the cholesteric liquid crystal film to obtain a linearly polarizer. A polarizing plate (manufactured by NITTO DENKO CO., LTD. with a trade name of TEG1465DU) was adhered to the linearly polarizer so that the transmission axis direction coincides with that of the polarizing plate to obtain a polarizing plate integrated polarizing element. The polarizing element is used as a lower plate of a TET-LCD and placed on a side light type backlight to measure a brightness enhancement percentage. A brightness was lowered by 30% or more as compared with that of Example 1. INDUSTRIALLY APPLICABILITY A broad band cholesteric liquid crystal film of the present invention is useful as a circularly polarizing plate (a reflection polarizer). The circularly polarizing plate can be used as a linearly polarizer, a luminaire, a liquid crystal display and others, and in addition thereto, in a polarizing element system and a wide viewing angle liquid crystal display.

<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>Generally, a liquid crystal display has a structure in which a space between glass plates forming transparent electrodes is filled with a liquid crystal and polarizers are arranged before and after the glass plates. A polarizer used in such a liquid crystal display is manufactured in a procedure in which iodine or a dichloic dye is subjected to be adsorbed to a polyvinyl alcohol film and the film is stretched in a given direction. The polarizer thus manufactured itself absorbs light vibrating in one direction and transmits only light vibrating in the other direction therethrough to thereby produce linearly polarizing light. Therefore, an efficiency of the polarizer could not exceed 50% theoretically, which works as the greatest factor to reduce an efficiency of a liquid crystal display. As the matters worse about the absorbed light, if a liquid crystal display is operated with an increased output of a light source beyond a level, it results in inconveniences that a polarizer is broken down by heat generation due to thermal conversion of absorbed light or that a display quality is degraded under thermal influence onto liquid crystal layer in a cell. A cholesteric liquid crystal having a circularly polarized light separating function has a selective reflection characteristic reflecting only circularly polarized light having a direction thereof coinciding with a helical rotation direction of the liquid crystal and a wavelength equal to a helical pitch length of the liquid crystal. With this selective reflection characteristic used, only a specific circularly polarizing light of natural light in a given wavelength band is transmission-separated and the other light components are reflected and recycled, thereby enabling a polarizing film with a high efficiency to be manufactured. In the context, transmitted circularly polarized light passes through a λ/4 plate and thereby converted to linearly polarizing light, and coincidence of a direction of the linearly polarized light with a transmission direction of an absorption polarizer used in a liquid crystal display enables a liquid crystal display with a high transmittance to be realized. That is, in a case where a cholesteric liquid crystal film is combined with a λ/4 plate and the combination is used as a linearly polarizer, the linearly polarizer could achieve a brightness twice as that of a conventional absorption polarizer singly used, which absorbs 50% of incident light, due to no light loss theoretically. There has been, however, difficulty in covering all the range of visible light, since a selective reflection characteristic of a cholesteric liquid crystal is restricted to only a specific wavelength band. A selective reflection wavelength bandwidth Δλ is expressed by following formula: in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="lead"? Δλ=2λ·( n e −n o )/( n e +n o ) in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="tail"? where n o : ordinary light refractive index of a cholesteric liquid crystal molecule, n e : extraordinary light refractive index of the cholesteric liquid crystal molecule, and λ: central wavelength in selective reflection. The selective reflection wavelength bandwidth Δλ depends on a molecular structure of the cholesteric liquid crystal itself. According to the above formula, if (n e −n o ) is larger, a selective reflection wavelength bandwidth Δλ can be broader, while (n e −n o ) is usually 0.3 or less. With this value being larger, other functions as a liquid crystal (such as alignment characteristic, a liquid crystal temperature or the like) becomes insufficient, causing its practical use to be difficult. Therefore, a selective reflection wavelength bandwidth Δλ has been actually on the order of 150 nm at highest. A cholesteric liquid crystal available in practical aspect has had a selective reflection wavelength bandwidth Δλ only of the order in the range of 30 to 100 nm in many cases. A selective reflection central wavelength λ is given by the following formula: in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="lead"? λ=( n e −n o ) P/ 2 in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="tail"? where P: helical pitch length required for one helical turn of cholesteric liquid crystal. With a given pitch length, a selective reflection central wavelength λ depends on an average refractive index and a pitch length of a liquid crystal molecule. Therefore, in order to cover all the range of visible light, there have been adopted methods, in one of which plural layers having respective different selective reflection central wavelengths are laminated, and in another of which a pitch length is continuously changed in the thickness direction to thereby form a positional distribution of selective reflection central wavelengths. For example, there can be exemplified a method in which a pitch length is continuously changed in the thickness direction (for example, see a publication of JP-A No. 6-281814, a specification of JP No. 3272668 and a publication of JP-A No. 11-248943). This method is such that when a cholesteric liquid crystal composition is ultraviolet exposure-cured, exposure intensities on sides of exposure and light emission are differentiated therebetween to alter a polymerization speed therebetween, which provides a change in compositional ratio of a liquid crystal composition having a different reaction speed in the thickness direction. The bottom line of this method lies in that exposure intensities on sides of exposure and light emission are greatly different therebetween. Therefore, in many of the examples of the prior art described above, there has been adopted a method in which an ultraviolet absorbent is mixed into a liquid crystal composition so as to cause absorption thereof in the thickness direction to thereby amplify a difference in exposure dosage according to an optical path length. In a method disclosed in a publication of JP-A No. 6-281814, in which a pitch length is continuously altered, necessities arise for a liquid crystal thickness required for revealing the function to be on the order in the range of from 15 to 20 μm, and for more of an expensive liquid crystal in amount in addition to a problem of precise coating of a liquid crystal layer, which disables cost-up to be avoided. Moreover, an exposure time is necessary to be on the order in the range of from 1 to 60 min, which leads to a need for a long manufacturing line with an exposure line length in the range of from 10 to 600 m in order to obtain a line speed of 10 m/min. With a reduced line speed adopted, a line length can be reduced, while a lower manufacturing speed cannot be avoided. This is because, as described in the publication of JP-A No. 6-281814, a quick change in pitch is difficult to be realized due to a theoretical issue in controlling a cholesteric pitch caused by a difference in ultraviolet exposure intensity in the thickness direction for a change in pitch length in the thickness direction and by a change in compositional ratio due to material transfer caused by a difference in polymerization speed accompanying the difference in ultraviolet intensity. Since, in the publication of JP-A No. 6-281814, pitch lengths in the short pitch side and the long pitch side are different therebetween by as large as on the order of 100 nm, a compositional ratio is necessary to change to a great extent and in order to realize it, a further necessity arises for a considerable thickness of liquid crystal, a very weak ultraviolet illumination and a long exposure time. Since in a method disclosed in a publication of JP-A No. 11-248943, transfer of a material changing a pitch is better than an example material used in the publication of JP-A No. 6-281814, an exposure dosage of the order of 1 min enables a film to be formed. In this case as well, a necessary thickness is 15 μm, however. While, in a specification of JP No. 3272668, a temperature condition in a first exposure is altered from that in a second exposure and a time necessary for a change in compositional ratio in the thickness direction is separately provided in a dark place, a wait time for material transfer due to a change in temperature is necessary to be in the range of from 10 to 30 min. A liquid crystal coat thickness, even in the specification of JP No. 3272668 and the publication of JP-A No. 11-248943, is about 15 μm and in comparison of the specification and the publication described above with the publication of JP-A No. 6-281814 in which the liquid crystal coat thickness is required to be about 20 μm, it is understand that a necessity arises for a larger cholesteric liquid crystal thickness and a longer time for material transfer in order to cover all the range of visible light with a change in pitch caused by a change in compositional ratio in the thickness direction of one liquid crystal layer. In a publication of JP-A No. 9-189811, at least three layers are necessary in order to cover all the range of visible light, and a long wavelength side is covered for betterment of a viewing angle characteristic, and the number of necessary laminated layers increases to as large as 4 to 5 in a case where a measure is taken against oblique incident light, which leads to more complexity in manufacture steps and increase in the number of steps, thereby unavoidably resulting in reduction in production yield. With combination of such a broad band circularly polarizing plate with a retardation plate, a diffuse light source is enabled to emit collimated light. Adoption of such a collimated light source and a diffuse plate enables a construction of a viewing angle magnification system in a liquid crystal display. For example, as shown in a specification of JP No. 2561483 and a publication of JP-No. 10-321025, by inserting a retardation plate controlled in a way such that a retardation value in a vertical direction of incidence and a retardation value in an oblique direction of incidence are specifically different from each other between polarizers, an angular distribution of transmitted light receives a restraint and in this case, if an absorption polarizer is used, light only in the vicinity of the front face is transmitted, while peripheral light are all absorbed. By using a circularly polarizing plate (a reflection polarizer), light only in the vicinity of the front face is transmitted while peripheral light is all reflected. If such an effect is adopted, emission light of a backlight can be condensed and collimated without being accompanied by absorption loss. With combination of such a collimated backlight source and a diffuse plate less of backscattering and occurring no polarization cancellation, a viewing angle magnification system can be constructed. As described above, in a conventional method in which multiple liquid crystal layers are laminated, however, (the publication of JP-A No. 9-189811), there has arisen a problem of increased number of steps due to lamination of multiple layers, while in a method as disclosed in the publication of JP-A No. 6-281814 or the specification of JP No. 3272668 in which a liquid crystal layer is thick, there has occurred a problem of cost-up.

<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>FIG. 1 is a reflectance spectrum of a cholesteric liquid crystal film manufactured in Example 1. FIG. 2 is a reflectance spectrum of a cholesteric liquid crystal film manufactured in Example 2. FIG. 3 is a reflectance spectrum of a cholesteric liquid crystal film manufactured in Comparative Example 1. FIG. 4 is a reflectance spectrum of a cholesteric liquid crystal film manufactured in Comparative Example 2. FIG. 5 is a conceptual view of a broad band polarizing plate used in Example 3, wherein a numerical symbol ( 1 ) indicates an absorption polarizing plate, ( 2 ) a λ/4 plate, ( 3 ) a cholesteric liquid crystal film (circularly polarizing plate), ( 4 ) a pressure sensitive adhesive layer, (A 1 ) a linearly polarizer and (A 2 ) a linearly polarizer obtained by laminating the absorption polarizing plate ( 1 ) on the linearly polarizer (A 1 ). FIG. 6 is a conceptual view of a wide viewing angle liquid crystal display manufactured in Example 5, wherein a numerical symbol ( 1 ) indicates an absorption polarizing plate, ( 2 ) a λ/4 plate, ( 3 ) a cholesteric liquid crystal film (reflection polarizer (a)), ( 5 ) a retardation plate (b): C plate, ( 6 ) a viewing angle magnification film (diffuse pressure sensitive adhesive), (LC) a liquid crystal cell, (BL) backlight, (D) diffusing reflective plate, ( 30 ) a polarizing element, (A 1 ) a linearly polarizer and (A 2 ) a linearly polarizer obtained by laminating the absorption polarizing plate ( 1 ) on the linearly polarizer (A 1 ). detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"?

20050711

20080701

20060615

58166.0

C09K1900

HON, SOW FUN

BROAD-BAND-CHOLESTERIC LIQUID-CRYSTAL FILM, PROCESS FOR PRODUCING THE SAME, CIRCULARLY POLARIZING PLATE, LINEARLY POLARIZING ELEMENT,ILLIMINATOR, AND LIQUID-CRYSTAL DISPLAY

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

C09K

ACCEPTED

Support beam for easily polymerizable substance treatment device and easily polymerizable substance treatment device

The present invention provides a support beam for use in an easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus for treating easily polymerizeable substances, the support beam being for supporting or reinforcing an internal provided in the easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus; comprising an internal mounting portion to which the internal is attached, and a folded-back portion at which the internal mounting portion is folded back so that at least part of the folded-back portion is inclined downward when approaching an end thereof.

1. A support beam for use in an easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus for treating easily polymerizeable substances, the support beam being for supporting or reinforcing an internal provided in the easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus; comprising: an internal mounting portion to which the internal is attached, and a folded-back portion at which the internal mounting portion is folded back so that at least part of the folded-back portion is inclined downward when approaching an end thereof. 2. The support beam for an easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the easily polymerizeable substance is at least one kind selected from (meth)acrolein, (meth)acrylic acid and (meth)acrylic acid esters. 3. The support beam for an easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an angle α formed by the folded-back portion and the internal mounting portion is 0°<α<90°. 4. The support beam for an easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an angle α formed by the folded-back portion and the internal mounting portion is 10°≦α≦45°. 5. The support beam for an easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a material of the support beam is stainless steel. 6. An easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus, comprising: an internal provided in the easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus, and a support beam that supports or reinforces the internal; the support beam having an internal mounting portion to which the internal is attached, and a folded-back portion at which the internal mounting portion is folded back so that at least part of the folded-back portion is inclined downward when approaching an end thereof. 7. The easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the easily polymerizeable substance is at least one kind selected from (meth)acrolein, (meth)acrylic acid and (meth)acrylic acid esters. 8. The easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus according to claim 6, wherein an angle α formed by the folded-back portion and the internal mounting portion is 0<α<90°. 9. The easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus according to claim 6, wherein an angle α formed by the folded-back portion and the internal mounting portion is 10°≦α≦45°. 10. The easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a material of the support beam is stainless steel. 11. The easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the apparatus carries out treatment in which an easily polymerizeable substance is distilled or absorbed.

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a support beam for use in an easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus and an easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus. Furthermore, the present application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-007140, the content of which is incorporated herein. BACKGROUND ART Internals including trays, fillings, distributors and the like are installed inside easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatuses (for example, distilling columns and absorption towers), which perform unit operations such as distillation, absorption and the like of easily polymerizeable substances, in order to increase the number of theoretical plates and enhance treatment efficiency. The trays have at least a portion of the upper surface being horizontal and through holes formed therein that penetrate the upper and lower surfaces, and are normally attached to a support beam. Here, a support beam refers to a beam that supports or reinforces an internal, and is a long member having an internal mounting portion to which an internal is attached, and a folded-back portion in which the internal mounting portion is folded back. The support beam is installed within the easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus by the end(s) of the beam being fixed to the inside wall or support ring attached to the inside wall of the easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus. In this support beam, the folded-back portion is provided to support or reinforce the internal mounting portion. Namely, as a result of having a folded-back portion, in addition to being able to adequately withstand the weight of the tray, the fixing surface area when the support beam is fixed to the easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus can be increased. In addition, the liquid flow of an easily polymerizeable substance is not obstructed as a result of the support beam being folded back with the folded-back portion. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing an internal of an easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus and a support beam of the prior art. This support beam 30 has an internal mounting portion 32 where internal 31 is attached, a folded-back portion 33 in which the internal mounting portion 32 is folded back 180 degrees, and a connecting portion 34 that is perpendicular to internal mounting portion 32 and folded-back section 33, and connects one of their end portions along their lengthwise direction each other. Namely, this support beam has a U-shaped cross-portion when cut orthogonal to the lengthwise direction. Furthermore, such a support beam having a U-shaped cross portion is available commercially and can be acquired easily. In addition, this type of support beam having a U-shaped cross-portion facilitates fastening of an internal with bolts and nuts as compared with that in which internal mounting portion 32 and folded-back portion 33 are connected each other at both of their corresponding end portions along their lengthwise direction (support beam having a box-shaped (square-shaped) cross-portion). Furthermore, as shown in Table 6-1 on page 331 of the Mechanical Design Handbook, 3rd edition, Mechanical Design Handbook Editorial Committee ed. (Maruzen Publishing), the shape of industrial support beams is such that the folded-back portion of a support beam having a U-shaped cross-portion is normally connected perpendicular to the connecting portion, namely horizontally. However, in the case of treating an easily polymerizeable substance with a treatment apparatus equipped with a support beam of the prior art, the liquid of an easily polymerizeable substance tends to adhered to the upper surface of the folded-back portion of the support beam. Here, since the upper surface of the folded-back portion is horizontal, if the liquid of an easily polymerizeable substance becomes adhered thereto, it is difficult for the liquid to run off and the liquid remains there for a long period of time. Since the inside of an easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus is heated, in the case the liquid remains at the portion for a long period of time, the liquid of the easily polymerizeable substance accumulates heat and rises in temperature, thereby causing the easily polymerizeable substance to polymerize and form a polymer, after which polymerization progresses using that polymer as a starting point, and causes the polymer to gradually become larger. In the case through holes serving as vapor-liquid flow paths for an easily polymerizeable substance are formed in an internal comprising an easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus, the polymer increases in size and ends up blocking the through holes. In this manner, in the case the through holes of an internal have been blocked, since the function as an internal decreases, this ultimately causes a decrease in the treatment efficiency of the easily polymerizeable substance. Therefore, this is typically dealt with by injecting a polymerization inhibitor for preventing polymerization of the easily polymerizeable substance, or by increasing the amount injected of the inhibitor. However, it is necessary to inject a large amount of polymerization inhibitor in order to prevent polymerization at locations where liquid tends to be retained easily such as on the upper surface of the folded-back portion of the support beam, thereby making this uneconomical. Furthermore, in the example shown in FIG. 7, although the internal and support beam are separate members, as shown in FIG. 8, there are also case in which the internal and support beam are in the form of an integral member 35. In this case as well, since the upper surface of folded-back portion 33 is horizontal, this member has the same problems as in the example shown in FIG. 7. The present invention is achieved in consideration of the aforementioned circumstances, and the object of the present invention is to provide a support beam used for an easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus that economically prevents polymerization of the easily polymerizeable substance, and an easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION A support beam of the present invention is a support beam for use in an easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus for treating easily polymerizeable substances, the support beam being for supporting or reinforcing an internal provided in the easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus; comprising: an internal mounting portion to which the internal is attached, and a folded-back portion at which the internal mounting portion is folded back so that at least part of the folded-back portion is inclined downward when approaching an end thereof. An apparatus of the present invention is an easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus, comprising: an internal provided in the easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus, and a support beam that supports or reinforces the internal; the support beam having an internal mounting portion to which the internal is attached, and a folded-back portion at which the internal mounting portion is folded back so that at least part of the folded-back portion is inclined downward when approaching an end thereof. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a support beam for an easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a tray and an embodiment of a support beam for an easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a tray and another embodiment of a support beam for an easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a tray and another embodiment of a support beam for an easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a tray and another embodiment of a support beam for an easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a tray and another embodiment of a support beam for an easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a tray and an example of a support beam for an easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus of the prior art. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a tray and another example of a support beam for an easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus of the prior art. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a support beam for an easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus that supports or reinforces an internal such as a tray, filling, distributor provided or the like which are included inside an easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus that treats easily polymerizeable substances. Moreover, the present invention relates to an easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus provided with this support beam. The following provides an explanation of an embodiment of a support beam for an easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus (to simply be referred to as a support beam) and an easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus (to be simply referred to as a treatment apparatus) of the present invention with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. Furthermore, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view portrayed when the support beam is cut in the orthogonal direction with respect to the lengthwise direction and the tray supported by the support beam is cut simultaneously. The treatment apparatus of this embodiment is a bottomed, cylindrical distilling column that distills an easily polymerizeable substance, and is provided with an internal in the form of tray 11, and a support beam 12 that supports tray 11 in the apparatus. Support beam 12 has a tray mounting portion 13 to which tray 11 is attached (internal mounting portion), a folded-back portion 14 wherein tray mounting portion 13 is folded back, and a connecting portion 15 that connects tray mounting portion 13 and folded-back portion 14 such that corresponding one side of the portion is connected each other along their lengthwise direction. Tray 11 is attached to the upper surface of tray mounting portion 13. Here, tray 11 is normally attached to tray mounting portion 13 by fastening members such as bolts and nuts or by welding and so forth. Folded-back portion 14 is inclined downward towards the end. Here, in the case of taking the angle between horizontal direction H and folded-back portion 14 to be angle of inclination α, then angle of inclination α is 0°<α<90°, preferably 5°<α<60°, more preferably 10°≦α≦45°, and even more preferably 10°<α<30°. If angle of inclination α is 0°, the liquid of an easily polymerizeable substance adhered to the upper surface easily remains there, and if angle of inclination α is 90° or more, there is the risk of obstructing the flow of vapor-liquid inside the treatment apparatus. Furthermore, in the present invention, the preferable angle is the same as that described above even in the absence of a connecting portion. A metal that is resistant to corrosion by easily polymerizeable substances is normally used for the material of support beam 12. Typical examples thereof include stainless steel such as SUS304 and SUS316, titanium, zirconium and tantalum. In addition, resins such as propylene may also be used as the material. However, the material of the support beam may be selected arbitrarily as necessary provided it has the shape of the present invention. Although depending on the size of the treatment apparatus, weight of the tray and so forth, the dimensions of support beam 12 may be such that length L of the beam is 0.1 to 5 m, preferably 0.3 to 4 m, and more preferably 0.5 to 3 m. Width W1 of tray mounting portion 13 is 0.01 to 0.3 m, preferably 0.03 to 0.2 m, and more preferably 0.05 to 0.15 m. Furthermore, this does not apply to the case of the support beam and tray mounting portion being integrated into a single unit as described later. Width W2 of folded-back portion 14 may be 0.01 to 0.3 m, preferably 0.03 to 0.2 m, and more preferably 0.05 to 0.15 m. Although thickness can be selected arbitrarily, it is preferably 0.5 to 5 mm, and more preferably 1 to 3 mm. The length of the connecting portion may be 0.01 to 0.3 m, preferably 0.03 to 0.2 m, and more preferably 0.05 to 0.15 m. In order to fix support beam 12 to a distilling column, it can be fixed directly to the distilling column or it can be fixed by attaching to a ring-shaped support ring(s) installed so as to run along the inside wall of the distilling column. At this time, there are no particular limitations on the fixation method, and examples thereof include fixing by welding and fixing by using fastening members (bolts and nuts). In addition, folded-back portion 14 may also be composed of two or more continuous portions. In addition, the portion may also comprise two or more inclined portions, the angles of which may be the same or different. In the aforementioned case, the total of each total width is defined as W2. In the case of the latter, the total angle of each portion is defined as angle of inclination α. Tray 11 attached to support beam 12 is a flat metal plate in which a large number of through holes (not shown) are formed that pass through the top and bottom of the plate. The upper surface of this tray 11 is horizontal to prevent the liquid of an easily polymerizeable substance adhered to that upper surface from running off, and is attached to tray mounting portion 13 of the support beam by being arranged so that the through holes are facing in the vertical direction. Although the number of trays 11 in the distilling column is determined by considering the type, concentration and productivity of the easily polymerizeable substance, it is, for example, 1 to 100, and preferably 5 to 70. There are no particular limitations on the easily polymerizeable substance distilled in the distilling column provided it is easily polymerized by heat and so forth. Examples thereof include unsaturated aldehydes such as (meth)acrolein, unsaturated carboxylic acids such as (meth)acrylic acid, (meth)acrylic acid esters such as methyl (meth)acrylate, ethyl (meth)acrylate, butyl (meth)acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl (meth)acrylate, hydroxyethyl (meth)acrylate, hydroxypropyl (meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylic acid dimethylaminoethyl ester and (meth)acrylic acid diethylaminoethyl ester, vinyl group-containing compounds such as acrylonitrile, styrene, vinyl acetate, and diolefin compounds such as butadiene, isoprene and chloroprene. One type of these easily polymerizeable substances may be used, or two or more types may be used as a mixture. The effects of the present invention are demonstrated particularly in the case the easily polymerizeable substance is at least one kind selected from (meth)acrolein, (meth)acrylic acid and (meth) acrylic acid esters. In the aforementioned embodiment, since folded-back portion 14 of support beam 12 is inclined such that one end of the portion leans down ward, a liquid of an easily polymerizeable substance adhered to the upper surface of folded-back portion 14 moves downward according to the force of gravity, and ultimately drops from support beam 12. Thus, since the liquid does not remain for a long period of time on the surface of folded-back portion 14 of support beam 12, polymer formation is prevented. Namely, polymer formation can be prevented by changing the shape of support beam 12 without increasing the amount of polymerization inhibitor added, thereby making this economical. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodiment. For example, although the treatment apparatus of the aforementioned embodiment was a distilling column for distilling an easily polymerizeable substance, it may also be an absorption tower for absorbing an easily polymerizeable substance. In addition, the shape of the treatment apparatus may be that other than a cylindrical shape. In addition, with respect to the support beam, as shown in FIG. 3, a folded-back portion 21 may be partially inclined. Namely, folded-back portion 21 may be composed of two or more portions. A support beam 16 partially inclined in this manner can be produced by processing an existing support beam as shown in FIG. 7. In this case, the combined length of the inclined portion and non-inclined portion (portion parallel to the tray mounting portion) of folded-back portion 21 is defined as the aforementioned W2. Although the length ratio of the inclined portion and non-inclined portion of folded-back portion 21 is arbitrary, the length of the inclined portion is preferably 10 or more, and more preferably 20 or more, when the length of the non-inclined portion is 1. In addition, although two or more inclined portions may be combined continuously, the total angle of each portion is defined as the aforementioned angle of inclination α. A non-inclined portion may be interposed between the portions. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, the entirety of the connecting portion does not have to be perpendicular to tray mounting portion 13. Namely, a connecting portion 22 may be composed of two or more portions, and connecting portion 22 may be bent at an intermediate location. Connecting portion 22 has a portion that is perpendicular to tray mounting portion 13 and a portion that is inclined. In a support beam 17 of this shape, the retention of an easily polymerizeable substance on the connecting portion caused by surface tension can be prevented. Furthermore, although the number of bends of connecting portion 22 is arbitrary, 1 to 5 bends are preferable in the case they are provided. Furthermore, in the present invention, connecting portion 22 is not necessarily required to have a portion perpendicular to tray mounting portion 13, and for example, the angle formed by tray mounting portion 13 and the portion of connecting portion 22 that connects to the section 13 may be 1° to 80°, preferably 5° to 70°, and more preferably 10° to 45°. Moreover, although the support beam and tray are provided as separate members in the aforementioned embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. 6, support beam 12 and tray 11 maybe integrated into a single unit. Furthermore, integrated part of support beam/tray 23 of FIG. 5 is a tray integrated with support beam 12 shown in FIG. 2, while integrated part of support beam/tray 24 of FIG. 6 is tray 11 integrated with support beam 16 shown in FIG. 3. Integrating the support beam and tray into a single unit in this manner simplifies the internal structure of the treatment apparatus. In addition, the portion that connects the corresponding surfaces in the support beam of the present invention may also be formed with a curved surface. EXAMPLES The following provides a more detailed explanation of the present invention through an example and comparative example. Example 25 trays and a support beam that reinforces each tray were provided inside a distilling column (treatment apparatus). Here, the support beam is an integrated unit which is integrated into a single unit with the trays as shown in FIG. 5, and the angle of inclination α of folded portion 14 was 20°. Methyl methacrylate was distilled using this distilling column. During distillation, the concentration of methyl methacrylate around the support beam and trays during the course of distillation was 99% by weight, and the temperature was set to 60 to 70° C. When the inside of the tower was opened one year after the start of distillation and inspected, there was no polymer observed around the support beam and trays. At this time, a polymerization inhibitor was supplied to the distilling column in an amount of 0.0001 based on the mass ratio based on the amount of liquid supplied to the distilling column. Comparative Example With the exception of using a support beam integrated into a single unit with the trays as shown in FIG. 8, and making folded-back portion 33 of the support beam horizontal, methyl methacrylate was distilled in the same manner as the example. When the inside of the tower was opened one year after the start of distillation and inspected, a polymer had formed on the upper surface of folded-back portion 33, and the enlarged polymer was blocking a portion of the through holes in the trays that serve as vapor-liquid flow paths. Furthermore, one part of the enlarged polymer dropped to another tray provided below the tray on which the polymer was enlarge, and through holes thereof were stuffed. Consequently, the distillation efficiency was low and the distilling column demonstrated poor economical efficiency as compared with the example. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY According to the present invention, a support beam has a characteristic shape, and polymer formation can be prevented without increasing the amount of polymerization inhibitor added since the liquid of an easily polymerizeable substance is not allowed to remain for a long period of time on the surface of a folded-back portion of the support beam. Namely, polymer formation can be prevented economically.

<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>Internals including trays, fillings, distributors and the like are installed inside easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatuses (for example, distilling columns and absorption towers), which perform unit operations such as distillation, absorption and the like of easily polymerizeable substances, in order to increase the number of theoretical plates and enhance treatment efficiency. The trays have at least a portion of the upper surface being horizontal and through holes formed therein that penetrate the upper and lower surfaces, and are normally attached to a support beam. Here, a support beam refers to a beam that supports or reinforces an internal, and is a long member having an internal mounting portion to which an internal is attached, and a folded-back portion in which the internal mounting portion is folded back. The support beam is installed within the easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus by the end(s) of the beam being fixed to the inside wall or support ring attached to the inside wall of the easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus. In this support beam, the folded-back portion is provided to support or reinforce the internal mounting portion. Namely, as a result of having a folded-back portion, in addition to being able to adequately withstand the weight of the tray, the fixing surface area when the support beam is fixed to the easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus can be increased. In addition, the liquid flow of an easily polymerizeable substance is not obstructed as a result of the support beam being folded back with the folded-back portion. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing an internal of an easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus and a support beam of the prior art. This support beam 30 has an internal mounting portion 32 where internal 31 is attached, a folded-back portion 33 in which the internal mounting portion 32 is folded back 180 degrees, and a connecting portion 34 that is perpendicular to internal mounting portion 32 and folded-back section 33 , and connects one of their end portions along their lengthwise direction each other. Namely, this support beam has a U-shaped cross-portion when cut orthogonal to the lengthwise direction. Furthermore, such a support beam having a U-shaped cross portion is available commercially and can be acquired easily. In addition, this type of support beam having a U-shaped cross-portion facilitates fastening of an internal with bolts and nuts as compared with that in which internal mounting portion 32 and folded-back portion 33 are connected each other at both of their corresponding end portions along their lengthwise direction (support beam having a box-shaped (square-shaped) cross-portion). Furthermore, as shown in Table 6-1 on page 331 of the Mechanical Design Handbook, 3rd edition, Mechanical Design Handbook Editorial Committee ed. (Maruzen Publishing), the shape of industrial support beams is such that the folded-back portion of a support beam having a U-shaped cross-portion is normally connected perpendicular to the connecting portion, namely horizontally. However, in the case of treating an easily polymerizeable substance with a treatment apparatus equipped with a support beam of the prior art, the liquid of an easily polymerizeable substance tends to adhered to the upper surface of the folded-back portion of the support beam. Here, since the upper surface of the folded-back portion is horizontal, if the liquid of an easily polymerizeable substance becomes adhered thereto, it is difficult for the liquid to run off and the liquid remains there for a long period of time. Since the inside of an easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus is heated, in the case the liquid remains at the portion for a long period of time, the liquid of the easily polymerizeable substance accumulates heat and rises in temperature, thereby causing the easily polymerizeable substance to polymerize and form a polymer, after which polymerization progresses using that polymer as a starting point, and causes the polymer to gradually become larger. In the case through holes serving as vapor-liquid flow paths for an easily polymerizeable substance are formed in an internal comprising an easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus, the polymer increases in size and ends up blocking the through holes. In this manner, in the case the through holes of an internal have been blocked, since the function as an internal decreases, this ultimately causes a decrease in the treatment efficiency of the easily polymerizeable substance. Therefore, this is typically dealt with by injecting a polymerization inhibitor for preventing polymerization of the easily polymerizeable substance, or by increasing the amount injected of the inhibitor. However, it is necessary to inject a large amount of polymerization inhibitor in order to prevent polymerization at locations where liquid tends to be retained easily such as on the upper surface of the folded-back portion of the support beam, thereby making this uneconomical. Furthermore, in the example shown in FIG. 7 , although the internal and support beam are separate members, as shown in FIG. 8 , there are also case in which the internal and support beam are in the form of an integral member 35 . In this case as well, since the upper surface of folded-back portion 33 is horizontal, this member has the same problems as in the example shown in FIG. 7 . The present invention is achieved in consideration of the aforementioned circumstances, and the object of the present invention is to provide a support beam used for an easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus that economically prevents polymerization of the easily polymerizeable substance, and an easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus.

<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a support beam for an easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a tray and an embodiment of a support beam for an easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a tray and another embodiment of a support beam for an easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a tray and another embodiment of a support beam for an easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a tray and another embodiment of a support beam for an easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a tray and another embodiment of a support beam for an easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a tray and an example of a support beam for an easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus of the prior art. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a tray and another example of a support beam for an easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus of the prior art. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"?

20050713

20091201

20061019

73936.0

B01D314

MANOHARAN, VIRGINIA

SUPPORT BEAM FOR EASILY POLYMERIZABLE SUBSTANCE TREATMENT DEVICE AND EASILY POLYMERIZABLE SUBSTANCE TREATMENT DEVICE

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

B01D

ACCEPTED

Modular security cabinet system for storing firearms or the like

A storage cabinet assembly for use in storing firearms or the like includes a cabinet with a recessed bifold door arrangement, to facilitate access to items contained within the cabinet assembly. The door arrangement includes a single-point locking system, which provides a secure arrangement for maintaining the doors in a closed position while providing ease in opening and closing the doors. Various support and storage modules or components are adapted to be contained within the interior of the cabinet, including stock rests for positioning in the bottom of the cabinet interior, as well as barrel rests and pistol supports that are secured to amounting member which may be adjustably positioned within the storage cabinet interior. A bin or shelf arrangement may also be positioned within the storage cabinet interior. The various support and storage modules or components may be used in various combinations, and may be moved to various positions within the storage cabinet interior.

1. A storage cabinet system, comprising: a cabinet defining an interior and including a door arrangement movable between an open position providing access to the cabinet interior and a closed position preventing access to the cabinet interior; and a plurality of differently configured storage modules, wherein the storage modules are adapted to be mounted within the cabinet interior. 2. The storage cabinet system of claim 1, wherein a set of storage modules are selected from the plurality of differently configured storage modules and are mounted to the cabinet within the cabinet interior. 3. The storage cabinet system of claim 2, wherein at least selected ones of the storage modules comprise firearm storage modules that are configured to support and store firearms. 4. The storage cabinet system of claim 3, wherein the firearm storage modules include one or more stock rests, one or more barrel rests, and one or more pistol supports. 5. The storage cabinet system of claim 4, wherein the one or more stock rests include a series of spaced apart recesses, each of which is configured to received an end area defined by a stock of a firearm, and wherein each stock rest is configured for engagement with a lower wall defined by the cabinet and defining a lower extent of the cabinet interior. 6. The storage cabinet system of claim 4, wherein the cabinet includes a mounting member configured to support the one or more barrel rests and the pistol support. 7. The storage cabinet system of claim 6, wherein the storage cabinet includes at least a pair of spaced apart vertical support members, and wherein the mounting member is configured for engagement with the pair of vertical support members and to extend between the pair of vertical support members. 8. The storage cabinet system of claim 7, wherein each vertical support member includes vertically spaced engagement structure, and wherein the mounting member includes a pair of end sections, each of which includes a mating engagement arrangement that is configured to engage the vertically spaced engagement structure of one of the vertical support members to control the elevation of the support member within the cabinet interior. 9. The storage cabinet system of claim 6, wherein each of the barrel rests includes a mounting section adapted to engage the mounting member, and a recessed firearm barrel support section configured to receive and support a firearm barrel. 10. The storage cabinet system of claim 9, wherein the mounting member includes a series of laterally spaced openings, and wherein the mounting section of each barrel rest is configured for engagement with at least a selected one of the openings to mount the barrel rest to the mounting member. 11. The storage cabinet system of claim 6, wherein each of the pistol supports includes a mounting section configured for engagement with the mounting member, and an outwardly extending axial support member configured to be received within the barrel of a pistol. 12. The storage cabinet system of claim 11, wherein the mounting member includes a series of laterally spaced openings, and wherein the mounting section of each pistol support is configured for engagement with at least a selected one of the openings to mount the pistol support to the mounting member. 13. The storage cabinet system of claim 1, wherein the door arrangement comprises a pair of folding door sections, each of which includes an inner door member and at least one outer door member, wherein the folding door sections are movable between a closed position in which the folding door sections cooperate to prevent access to the cabinet interior, and an open position in which the folding door sections are positioned to provide access to the cabinet interior, wherein the inner door members of the folding door sections are located adjacent each other when the folding door sections are in the closed position, and further comprising a locking arrangement including a latch member carried by each of the folding door sections, wherein each latch member is movable between an engaged position and a release position, wherein each latch member in the engaged position maintains its associated door section in the closed position and wherein each latch member in the release position enables movement of its associated door section between the closed position and the open position, and wherein the locking arrangement further includes a movable control member carried by each door section, wherein each control member is interconnected with one of the latch members and wherein each control member is movable between a first position in which the control member places its associated latch member in the engaged position, and a second position in which the control member places its associated latch member in the release position, wherein the control members in the first position overlie the inner door member and are adapted to be secured together to maintain the door sections in the closed position 14. A storage cabinet assembly, comprising: a cabinet defining an interior; a folding door arrangement mounted to the cabinet, wherein the folding door arrangement includes a pair of folding door sections, each of which includes an inner door member and at least one outer door member, wherein the folding door sections are movable between a closed position in which the folding door sections cooperate to prevent access to the cabinet interior, and an open position in which the folding door sections are positioned to provide access to the cabinet interior, wherein the inner door members of the folding door sections are located adjacent each other when the folding door sections are in the closed position; and a locking arrangement associated with the folding door arrangement, wherein the locking arrangement includes a latch member carried by each of the folding door sections, wherein each latch member is movable between an engaged position and a release position, wherein each latch member in the engaged position maintains its associated door section in the closed position and wherein each latch member in the release position enables movement of its associated door section between the closed position and the open position, and wherein the locking arrangement further includes a movable control member carried by each door section, wherein each control member is interconnected with one of the latch members and wherein each control member is movable between a first position in which the control member places its associated latch member in the engaged position, and a second position in which the control member places its associated latch member in the release position, wherein the control members in the first position overlie the inner door members and are adapted to be secured together to maintain the door sections in the closed position. 15. The storage cabinet assembly of claim 14, wherein each latch member includes an upper section and a lower section, each of which is secured to a cam member carried by one of the door sections, wherein each control member is connected to one of the cam members and wherein movement of the control member is operable to actuate the cam member to move the upper section of the latch member upwardly and the lower section of the latch member downwardly to position the latch member in the engaged position. 16. The storage cabinet assembly of claim 15, wherein each cam member is pivotably mounted to one of the door sections such that movement of the control member between the first and second positions causes pivoting movement of the cam member to move each latch member between the engaged and disengaged positions. 17. The storage cabinet assembly of claim 14, wherein the control members are configured to define end areas that are located adjacent each other when the control members are in the first position, and wherein the end areas of the control members are adapted to be secured together to maintain the door sections in the closed position. 18. The storage cabinet assembly of claim 17, wherein the end area of each control member defines an opening, wherein the openings in the end areas of the control members are located adjacent each other when the control members are in the first position, and further comprising a lock configured to extend through the control member openings, wherein the lock is adapted to prevent movement of the control members away from the first position and to thereby prevent movement of the door sections away from the closed position. 19. The storage cabinet assembly of claim 14, wherein the cabinet and the door sections include a cooperating guide arrangement for guiding movement of the door sections between the open and closed positions. 20. The storage cabinet assembly of claim 19, wherein the cooperating guide arrangement includes a track arrangement associated with the cabinet and one or more rollers associated with each door section and engaged with the track arrangement. 21. The storage cabinet assembly of claim 19, wherein the cabinet includes a pair of sidewalls, and wherein the door members of each door section are folded together when the door section is in the open position, and further comprising a slide arrangement interconnected with each door section for enabling movement of each door section to a recessed position adjacent one of the cabinet sidewalls when the door section is in the open position and the door sections are folded together. 22. The storage cabinet assembly of claim 14, further comprising a plurality of differently configured storage modules, wherein the storage modules are adapted to be mounted within the cabinet interior. 23. The storage cabinet assembly of claim 22, wherein a set of storage modules are selected from the plurality of differently configured storage modules and are mounted to the cabinet within the cabinet interior, and wherein at least selected ones of the storage modules comprise firearm storage modules that are configured to support and store firearms. 24. The storage cabinet assembly of claim 23, wherein the firearm storage modules include one or more stock rests, one or more barrel rests, and a pistol support. 25. A method of configuring a storage cabinet, comprising the acts of: providing a storage cabinet defining an interior, wherein the storage cabinet includes a door arrangement movable between a closed position preventing access to the cabinet interior and an open position providing access to the cabinet interior; providing a series of differently configured item storage modules; and mounting selected ones of the item storage modules within the cabinet interior. 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the act of providing a series of differently configured storage modules is carried out by providing at least some firearm storage modules that are configured to support firearms. 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the act of providing firearm storage modules includes the act of providing one or more stock rests, one or more barrel supports, and a pistol support. 28. The method of claim 27, wherein the act of mounting selected ones of the item storage modules within the cabinet interior includes the act of securing a stock rest to a lower area defined by the cabinet such that a rest area defined by the stock rest is faces upwardly so as to support an end area of a firearm stock placed on the stock rest. 29. The method of claim 28, wherein the act of mounting selected ones of the item storage modules within the cabinet interior comprises securing a shelf module within the cabinet interior, wherein the shelf module includes a lower area defining a passage through which the stock rest extends when the shelf module is secured within the cabinet interior. 30. The method of claim 27, wherein the act of mounting selected ones of the item storage modules within the cabinet interior includes the act of securing a mounting member to the cabinet and mounting the selected item storage module to the mounting member. 31. The method of claim 30, wherein the act of mounting the selected item storage module to the mounting member is carried out by mounting one or more barrel supports and/or one or more pistol supports to the mounting member. 32. The method of claim 31, wherein each of the barrel supports and each of the pistol supports includes a mounting section and a support section that extends outwardly from the mounting section, and wherein the act of mounting the one or more barrel supports and/or the one or more pistol supports to the mounting member is carried out by securing the mounting section of the barrel supports and/or pistol supports to the mounting member. 33. The method of claim 32, wherein the act of mounting the one or more barrel supports and/or the one or more pistol supports to the mounting member is carried out by mounting the one or more barrel supports and/or the one or more pistol supports to the mounting member in selected locations from a plurality of available locations. 34. The method of claim 33, wherein the mounting member and the mounting section of each of the barrel supports and pistol supports include cooperative mounting structure to facilitate engagement of the mounting section with the mounting member. 35. The method of claim 34, wherein the cooperative mounting structure includes a series of openings in the mounting member, and an engagement member associated with the mounting section of each of the barrel supports and the pistol supports, wherein the act of mounting the one or more barrel supports and/or the one or more pistol supports to the mounting member is carried out by securing the engagement member of each support within a selected one of the openings in the mounting member. 36. The method of claim 25, further comprising the act of mounting a folding door arrangement to the cabinet, wherein the folding door arrangement includes a pair of folding door sections, each of which includes an inner door member and at least one outer door member, wherein the folding door sections are movable between a closed position in which the folding door sections cooperate to prevent access to the cabinet interior, and an open position in which the folding door sections are positioned to provide access to the cabinet interior, wherein the inner door members of the folding door sections are located adjacent each other when the folding door sections are in the closed position. 37. The method of claim 36, further comprising the act of securing a locking arrangement to the folding door arrangement, wherein the locking arrangement includes a latch member carried by each of the folding door sections, wherein each latch member is movable between an engaged position and a release position, wherein each latch member in the engaged position maintains its associated door section in the closed position and wherein each latch member in the release position enables movement of its associated door section between the closed position and the open position, and wherein the locking arrangement further includes a movable control member carried by each door section, wherein each control member is interconnected with one of the latch members and wherein each control member is movable between a first position in which the control member places its associated latch member in the engaged position, and a second position in which the control member places its associated latch member in the release position, wherein the control members in the first position overlie the inner door members. 38. The method of claim 37, further comprising the act of securing the control members together in the first position to maintain the door sections in the closed position. 39. A cabinet assembly for storing firearms, comprising: a cabinet defining an interior, and including a door arrangement movable between a closed position preventing access to the cabinet interior and an open position providing access to the cabinet interior; and a firearm storage arrangement contained within the cabinet interior, wherein the firearm storage arrangement includes a set of firearm storage components selected from a series of differently configured firearm storage components, wherein the set of firearm storage components are secured to the cabinet within the cabinet interior. 40. The cabinet assembly of claim 39, further comprising a shelf-type storage component secured within the cabinet interior along with the set of firearm storage components. 41. The cabinet assembly of claim 39, wherein the differently configured firearm storage components include one or more stock supports, one or more barrel supports, and one or more pistol supports. 42. The cabinet assembly of claim 41, wherein the firearm storage arrangement includes a stock support secured to the cabinet so as to be located in a lower area defined by the cabinet interior, wherein the stock support includes an upwardly facing stock support surface. 43. The cabinet assembly of claim 42, wherein the firearm storage arrangement further includes a plurality of barrel supports secured within the cabinet interior at a location above the upwardly facing stock support surface. 44. The cabinet assembly of claim 43, wherein the barrel supports are secured within the cabinet interior via engagement with a mounting member contained within the cabinet interior. 45. The cabinet assembly of claim 44, wherein the cabinet includes a pair of spaced structural members, and wherein the mounting member extends between the spaced apart structural members. 46. The cabinet assembly of claim 45, wherein the mounting member and the spaced apart structural members include an adjustable position engagement arrangement which enables adjustment in the elevation of the mounting member relative to the stock support member. 47. The cabinet assembly of claim 44, wherein each barrel support includes a mounting section and a barrel support section that extends outwardly from the mounting section, and wherein the mounting section and the mounting member include cooperative engagement structure by which the barrel support mounting section is engaged with the mounting member. 48. The cabinet assembly of claim 47, wherein the mounting member includes a series of openings, and wherein the mounting section of each barrel support includes an engagement member configured for engagement within a selected one of the openings to secure the barrel support in a desired position on the mounting member. 49. The cabinet assembly of claim 41, wherein each pistol support is secured within the cabinet interior via engagement with a mounting member contained within the cabinet interior. 50. The cabinet assembly of claim 39, wherein the door arrangement comprises a pair of folding door sections, each of which includes an inner door member and at least one outer door member, wherein the folding door sections are movable between a closed position in which the folding door sections cooperate to prevent access to the cabinet interior, and an open position in which the folding door sections are positioned to provide access to the cabinet interior, wherein the inner door members of the folding door sections are located adjacent each other when the folding door sections are in the closed position, and further comprising a locking arrangement including a latch member carried by each, of the folding door sections, wherein each latch member is movable between an engaged position and a release position, wherein each latch member in the engaged position maintains its associated door section in the closed position and wherein each latch member in the release position enables movement of its associated door section between the closed position and the open position, and wherein the locking arrangement further includes a movable control member carried by each door section, wherein each control member is interconnected with one of the latch members and wherein each control member is movable between a first position in which the control member places its associated latch member in the engaged position, and a second position in which the control member places its associated latch member in the release position, wherein the control members in the first position overlie the inner door member and are adapted to be secured together to maintain the door sections in the closed position

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/457,231 filed Mar. 25, 2003. BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a storage cabinet, and more particularly to various aspects of a storage cabinet that facilitate storage of weapons such as rifles, pistols and other firearms, as well as related equipment and accessories. In certain military, police and other environments, there is a need to safely and securely store firearms and related equipment in a manner such that the firearms and related equipment are quickly and easily accessible when necessary. There is a further need to ensure that firearm storage occupies a minimal amount of space, especially when open, since it is frequently the case that personnel must quickly gain access to the firearms and related equipment and move to an exit area of a room or facility in which the firearms and related equipment are stored. This need is especially keen in a naval environment, since available space is at a premium on naval vessels. In addition, there is a need for a firearm and related equipment storage system which can be tailored according to specific user requirements or applications, either at the time of manufacture or in a retrofit manner. The present invention contemplates a storage cabinet assembly that is well suited for use in storing firearms and related equipment. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a storage cabinet system includes a cabinet defining an interior and including a door arrangement movable between an open position providing access to the cabinet interior and a closed position preventing access to the cabinet interior. The storage cabinet system further includes a series of differently configured storage components or modules that are adapted to be mounted within the cabinet interior. Certain of the storage components or modules are in the form of firearm storage components or modules that are configured to support and store firearms within the cabinet interior. The firearm storage components include one or more stock rests, one or barrel rests, and one or more pistol supports. The stock rests are adapted to be mounted to the cabinet so as to be located in a lower area of the cabinet interior. Each stock rest includes an upwardly facing stock support surface that is configured so as to accommodate the stock of a certain type of firearm. The stock support surfaces are configured to engage the butt end of a stock of a firearm, and to position the firearm such that the firearm leans toward the back wall of the storage cabinet. The one or more barrel rests are adapted to be secured within the cabinet interior at a location above the stock rests. Each barrel rest includes a recess configured to receive and engage a firearm barrel at a location above the stock rest, so as to position the firearm in an upright orientation within the cabinet interior. The orientation and position of the barrel rests is such that each barrel rest prevents the upper end of the firearm from contacting the rear wall of the cabinet. Each barrel rest includes a mounting section for use in mounting the barrel rest within the cabinet interior, and a barrel rest section that extends outwardly from the mounting section and is configured to receive and engage the barrel of a certain type of firearm adapted to be supported by the stock rest located below the barrel rest. The stock rests and barrel rests function to support the firearm from below and to cradle the upper end of the firearm, so that the firearm can be quickly and easily grasped and removed from the support components when needed. Each pistol support also includes a mounting section for use in mounting the pistol support within the cabinet interior, and a pistol support section that extends outwardly from the mounting section. The pistol support section is in the form of an elongated finger or rod oriented at an upwardly extending angle, which is adapted to be received within the barrel of a pistol for supporting the pistol within the cabinet interior. The pistol support is configured such that the pistol handle faces outwardly when the pistol barrel is engaged with the finger or rod, so that the pistol can be easily and quickly grasped and removed from the pistol support when necessary. The barrel rests and the pistol supports are secured within the cabinet interior via a mounting member that is configured to engage and support the barrel rests and the pistol supports. In one form, the mounting member is engaged with and extends between a pair of vertical support members forming a part of the cabinet. The mounting member and the vertical support members include engagement structure which enables the mounting member to be secured within the cabinet interior at different elevations, so as to provide flexibility in the height of the barrel rests and pistol supports relative to the stock rest. The mounting member and the mounting sections of the barrel rests and pistol supports include engagement structure which enables the barrel rests and pistol supports to be placed in a variety of different positions on the mounting member, to provide additional flexibility in the configuration of the components within the cabinet interior. In addition to the firearm support components described above, the present invention further contemplates shelf or bin-type storage components or modules that may be positioned within the cabinet interior so as to store firearm related equipment and accessories. The shelf or bin-type storage components may be mounted in the cabinet interior along with the firearm storage components as described, or may be mounted within the cabinet interior in place of the firearm storage components. The present, invention further contemplates a door and lock system for a storage cabinet, which is particularly well suited for use in storing firearms and related equipment within the cabinet. In accordance with this aspect of the invention, a storage cabinet assembly includes a cabinet defining an interior, in combination with a folding door arrangement mounted to the cabinet. The folding door arrangement includes a pair of folding bifold door sections, each of which includes an inner door member and an outer door member. The folding door sections are movable between a closed position in which the folding door sections prevent access to the cabinet interior, and an open position in which the folding door sections provide access to the cabinet interior. The inner door members of the folding door sections are located adjacent each other when the folding door sections are in the closed position. A locking arrangement is associated with the folding door arrangement, for selectively preventing movement of the folding door sections away from the closed position. The locking arrangement includes a locking or latch member carried by each of the folding door sections, with each latch member being movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position. Each latch member in its engaged position maintains its associated door section in the closed position, and in the disengaged position enables movement of the door section between the closed position and the open position. The locking arrangement further includes a movable control member carried by each door section. Each control member is interconnected with one of the latch members, and the control members are movable between a first, locking position in which the control members place the latch members in the engaged position, and a second, release position in which the control members place the latch members in the disengaged position. The control members in the first, locking position overlie the inner door members, and are adapted to be secured together to maintain the door sections in the closed position. In this manner, the control members provide a single point locking mechanism for selectively preventing access to the interior of the cabinet. In a preferred form, the control members define inner ends that are located adjacent each other when the control members are in the first, locking position. The inner ends of the control members include openings, and a lock is engageable through the openings so as to selectively maintain the control members in the first position. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a storage cabinet assembly includes a cabinet defining an interior, in combination with a folding door arrangement including a pair of folding door sections, as described above. The inner and outer door members of each door section are movable together when the door section is in the open position. The cabinet defines a recess in alignment with the folded door members when the door sections are in the open position. An extension and retraction mechanism is interconnected with each door section, to enable each door section to be moved into one of the recesses when the door section is in the open position. In this manner, the doors can be recessed when opened, to prevent the doors from interfering with personnel gaining access to the items contained within the cabinet. The invention also contemplates a method of configuring a storage cabinet, substantially in accordance with the foregoing summary. The various features and aspects of the present invention may be utilized separately or in various subcombinations, and each provides advantages in construction, assembly or operation of a storage cabinet, particularly suitable for use in storing firearms and related equipment. In a preferred form, the various features and aspects of the invention are utilized in combination so as to provide a storage cabinet, as well as a method of constructing and configuring a storage cabinet, that are particularly advantageous in storing of firearms and related equipment and accessories. Various other features, objects and advantages of the invention will be made apparent from the following description taken together with the drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the invention. In the drawings: FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a storage cabinet constructed in accordance with the present invention, which is particularly well suited for use in storing firearms and related equipment, in which the doors of the storage cabinet are shown in a closed position; FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the storage cabinet of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the storage cabinet of FIG. 1, showing movement of the storage cabinet doors toward an open position; FIG. 4 is an isometric view similar to FIGS. 1 and 3, showing the storage cabinet doors in the open position and moved to a retracted position, to provide access to the contents of the storage cabinet; FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of the storage cabinet of FIG. 4; FIG. 6 is a section view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5, showing one of the doors of the storage cabinet prior to movement of the door to the retracted position; FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, with reference to line 7-7 of FIG. 5, showing the door in the retracted position; FIG. 8 is a section view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 5; FIG. 9 is a section view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 5; FIG. 10 is a partial isometric view showing an upper portion of the storage cabinet of FIG. 1 including an underside defined by a top wall of the storage cabinet, and showing the storage cabinet doors in the open and retracted position; FIG. 11 is an end elevation view of one of the door sections incorporated in the storage cabinet assembly of FIG. 1, showing the door members of the door section folded together as in FIGS. 6 and 7; FIG. 12 is a partial section view taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 11; FIG. 13 is a partial elevation view showing components of a latch or lock arrangement incorporated into the door section of FIGS. 11 and 12, showing the components of the latch or lock arrangement in an extended, locking position; FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 13, showing the components of the latch or lock arrangement in a retracted, release position; FIG. 15 is a partial section view along line 15-15 of FIG. 2, showing a lower area of the storage cabinet and an end portion of one of the latch members incorporated in the latch arrangement of FIGS. 13 and 14; FIG. 16 is a section view taken along line 16-16 of FIG. 5; FIG. 17 is a partial isometric view showing a lower area of a shelf or bin component contained within the cabinet interior, as shown in FIG. 16, as well as a portion of a stock rest mounted within the lower area of the cabinet interior; FIG. 18 is a partial section view taken along line 18-18 of FIG. 17; FIG. 19 is a partial section view taken along line 19-19 of FIG. 17; FIG. 20 is a partial section view taken along line 20-20 of FIG. 17; FIG. 21 is a partial elevation view of a mounting member positioned within the interior of the cabinet of FIG. 1, for use in mounting storage components within the interior of the cabinet; FIG. 22 is a partial elevation view showing a portion of the mounting member of FIG. 21 as well as barrel rest and pistol support components engaged with the mounting member; FIG. 23 is an enlarged partial isometric view showing certain of the barrel rest and pistol support components secured to the mounting member as in FIG. 22; FIG. 24 is a partial section view taken along line 24-24 of FIG. 23; FIG. 25 is a partial elevation view showing the manner in which firearms such as rifles and pistols are supported within the interior of the storage cabinet of FIG. 1; FIGS. 26-29 are top plan views of differently configured barrel rests adapted for use in the cabinet assembly of FIG. 1; FIG. 30 is a top plan view of a lower wall defining the lower extent of the interior of the storage cabinet assembly of FIG. 1; FIG. 31 is a top plan view of a first embodiment of a stock rest module or component adapted to be positioned within a lower area of the storage cabinet assembly of FIG. 1; FIG. 32 is an elevation view of the stock rest of FIG. 31; FIGS. 33 and 34 are top plan and elevation views, respectively, of another embodiment of a stock rest component or module adapted to be positioned within a lower area of the interior of the storage cabinet assembly of FIG. 1; FIGS. 35 and 36 are top plan and elevation views, respectively, of another embodiment of a stock rest component or module adapted to be positioned within a lower area of the interior of the storage cabinet assembly of FIG. 1; FIGS. 37 and 38 are top plan and elevation views, respectively, of another embodiment of a stock rest component or module adapted to be positioned within a lower area of the interior of the storage cabinet assembly of FIG. 1; FIGS. 39 and 40 are top plan and elevation views, respectively, of another embodiment of a stock rest component or module adapted to be positioned within a lower area of the interior of the storage cabinet assembly of FIG. 1; and FIGS. 41-55 are isometric views showing different configurations of components, modules and accessories adapted to be mounted within the interior of the storage cabinet assembly of FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a storage cabinet assembly 60 includes a storage cabinet 62 having a base 64, a top 66, a pair of side walls 68 and a back wall 70. Representatively, storage cabinet 62 may have a conventional four post construction, in which corner posts C1, C2, C3 and C4 extend vertically between the corners of base 64 and top 66, and side walls 68 and back wall 70 are secured to and extend between the corner posts. It is understood, however, that the overall construction of storage cabinet 62 may take any other satisfactory form. In a manner to be explained, storage cabinet assembly 60 is especially well suited for use in a military or related application, for storing weapons such as firearms, and related equipment. Storage cabinet 62 is constructed such that base 64, top 66, side walls 68 and back wall 70 cooperate to define an interior 72 that is accessible through an open front. A pair of bifold doors, shown generally at 74a, 74b, are configured to selectively close the open front of storage cabinet 62 and to selectively provide access to interior 72 of storage cabinet 62 through the open front. Bifold doors 74a, 74b are of mirror image construction, and include respective inner door sections 76a, 76b and outer door sections 78a, 78b. The facing edges of inner door section 76a and outer door section 78a are connected together via a piano-type hinge, such as shown in FIG. 11 at 80, in a manner as is known. The facing edges of inner door section 76b and outer door section 78b are also connected together via a similar hinge. Each of door sections 76a, 76b, 78a and 78b may be formed of a sheet metal material in a manner as is known. Side walls 68 include a series of perforations 82, and back wall 70 includes a series of perforations 84. In addition, door sections 76a, 76b, 78a, 78b include perforations 86, which occupy substantially the full height of each door section and the full width of each door section, with the exception of the center area of the door section. Perforations 82, 84 and 86 function to provide ventilation to interior 72 of storage cabinet 62. In addition, perforations 86 in door sections 76a, 76b, 78a and 78b provide visual access to the entire usable area of storage cabinet interior 72 when doors 74a, 74b are closed, to allow a user to inspect the contents of storage cabinet 62 without the need to move bifold doors 74a, 74b to the open position. FIGS. 1 and 2 show bifold doors 74a, 74b in a closed position, in which bifold doors 74a, 74b prevent access to interior 72 of storage cabinet 62. FIG. 3 illustrates bifold doors 74a, 74b in an intermediate position between the closed position of FIGS. 1 and 2 and an open position, which provide access to interior 72 of storage cabinet 62. FIG. 6 shows the position of bifold door 74a when bifold door 74a is fully open, and FIGS. 5 and 7 show bifold door 74a in the fully open position and retracted into interior 72 of storage cabinet 62 so as not to obstruct access to items contained within storage cabinet interior 72. Bifold door 74b is similarly movable to an open and retracted position within storage cabinet interior 72. Referring to FIGS. 6-8, bifold door 74a is mounted to a carriage member 88 via a piano hinge 90, which is interconnected between an outer edge defined by carriage member 88 and an adjacent outer edge defined by outer door section 78a of bifold door 74a. Carriage member 88 extends generally vertically, and is movably mounted at its ends to a pair of guide rails 92. Guide rails 92 extend in a forward-rearward direction within cabinet interior 72, and are located adjacent one of side walls 68. In one embodiment, guide rails 92 may be mounted to corner posts C1 and C3, although it is understood that guide rails 92 may be mounted in any other satisfactory manner within cabinet interior 72. In a manner as is known, carriage member 88 is mounted to upper and lower roller assemblies, each of which is engaged with one of guide rails 92 for movement along the guide rail 92. With this construction, bifold door 74a is movable as a unit when in the open position, between an extended position as shown in FIG. 6, in which carriage member 88 is located in a forward position on guide rails 90, and a retracted position as shown in FIG. 7, in which carriage member 88 is moved to a rearward position on guide rails 92. When in the retracted position, bifold door 74a is fully recessed into storage cabinet interior 72. A similar set of guide rails 92 is located adjacent the opposite side wall 68 of storage cabinet 62, to provide movement of bifold door 74b between an extended position, and a retracted position when bifold door sections 76b and 78b of bifold door 74a are in the open position, via a similar carriage member. In this manner, both bifold doors 74a and 74b can be recessed within storage cabinet interior 72 when bifold doors 74a and 74b are in the open position. FIGS. 8 and 10 illustrate a bifold door guide arrangement for guiding movement of bifold doors 74a and 74b between the closed position of FIGS. 1 and 2 and the open position of FIGS. 4 and 5. In the illustrated embodiment, storage cabinet top 66 defines a top panel 96, the lower surface of which defines the upper extent of storage cabinet interior 72. In addition, storage cabinet top 66 defines a front wall 98 that extends downwardly from the lower surface of top panel 96, and along the width of the front of storage cabinet 62. The bifold door guide arrangement includes a generally U-shaped guide wall 100 secured to the lower surface of top panel 96. Guide wall 100 includes an elongated transverse front section 102 spaced rearwardly of front wall 98 of storage cabinet top 66, and a pair of side sections 104, each of which is spaced inwardly from one of storage cabinet side walls 68. Front wall 98 and front section 102 of guide wall 100 cooperate to define a guide channel 106, and side sections 104 of guide wall 100 are spaced inwardly from storage cabinet side walls 68 a distance slightly greater than the width of the bifold doors 74a, 74b when in the folded position. The inner bifold door sections 76a, 76b each include a guide roller 108, which is adapted to move within the space between one of side walls 68 and the adjacent guide wall side section 104 during movement of the bifold doors 74a, 74b between the extended position and the retracted position, and to move within guide channel 106 during movement of the bifold doors 74a, 74b between the open and closed positions. Front section 102 of guide wall 100 includes a series of depending stop tabs 110, which engage the upper edges of bifold door sections 76a, 76b and 78a, 78b, to position bifold doors 74a, 74b in the closed position, in which the bifold door sections 76a, 76b, 78a and 78b are generally coplanar. Referring to FIGS. 9 and 15, storage cabinet base 64 includes a horizontal base wall 112 that defines the lower extent of storage cabinet interior 72, and a front wall 114 that extends vertically above the upper surface of base wall 112. Base 64 further includes a transversely extending channel 116 secured to horizontal base wall 112 and spaced rearwardly from front wall 114. Channel 116 includes a lower wall 118 that rests on and engages horizontal base wall 112, in combination with an upwardly extending rear wall 120 and a forward wall 122 spaced rearwardly from front wall 114 of base 64 so as to define a space 124 therebetween. The upper portion of front wall 122 defines a stop section 126 located above the upper edge of front wall 114. Stop section 126 is configured to engage the lower edges of bifold door sections 76a, 76b, 78a and 78b when bifold doors 74a and 74b are in the closed position, to maintain the bifold door sections in a coplanar relationship along with stop tabs 110. Inner bifold door sections 76a, 76b each include a guide roller 128 that is positioned within space 124, to provide a lower guide for movement of bifold doors 74a, 74b between the open and closed positions. Bifold doors 74a, 74b include a single-point locking system to selectively maintain bifold door sections 76a, 78a and 76b, 78b in the closed position, to prevent access to storage cabinet interior 72. The locking system includes a locking mechanism interconnected with each of bifold doors 74a, 74b. The locking mechanism of bifold door 74a is shown in FIGS. 12-14 at 130a, and it is understood that a similar locking mechanism is interconnected with bifold door 74b. The following description of locking mechanism 130a applies equally to the locking mechanism interconnected with bifold door 74b, and like reference characters will be used throughout the remainder of this disclosure, with the understanding that components of the locking mechanism interconnected with bifold door 74b will be referred to using the subscript “b” in place of “a” as in the following description. As shown in FIGS. 11-14, locking mechanism 130a includes a locking hub 132a pivotably mounted to the inside of inner door section 76a adjacent the hinge joint between inner door section 76a and outer door section 76b. A lower lock rod 134a extends downwardly from locking hub 132a, and an upper lock rod 136a extends upwardly from locking hub 132a. Lock rods 134a, 136a are mounted to opposite sides of locking hub 132a via respective pivot connections 138a, 140a. Locking hub 132a is pivotably mounted to inner door section 76a via an axle 142a, which has an irregular (e.g. rectangular) cross section and which extends through a mating opening in locking hub 132a. Lock rod pivot connections 138a, 140a are offset from the pivot axis defined by axle 142a. The outer end of axle 142a is engaged with a control member 144a. In a representative embodiment, control member 144a includes an opening configured to receive the irregular cross section of axle 142a. Alternatively, axle 142a may be rigidly secured to control member 144a, such as by welding or in any other satisfactory manner. With this construction, control member 144a is pivotable about a pivot axis defined by axle 142, and movement of control member 144a is operable to impart pivoting movement to axle 142a. A washer or bushing 146a is located between control member 144a and the outer surface of inner door section 76a, to facilitate movement of control member 144a. Control member 144a includes an ear 148a in which an opening 150a is formed. Lock rods 134a, 136a are configured so as to be movable between an extended, engaged position and a retracted, disengaged position in response to rotation of locking hub 132a, which in turn is caused by movement of control member 144a. FIG. 13 shows lock rods 134a, 136a in the extended, engaged position, and FIG. 14 illustrates lock rods 134a, 136a in the retracted, disengaged position. In the extended position, the end of lower lock rod 134a projects downwardly from the lower edge of inner door section 76a, and extends through an opening in the lower edge of inner door section 76a. Similarly, in the extended position, the end of upper lock rod 136a projects upwardly from the upper edge of inner door section 76a, and extends through an opening in the upper edge of inner door section 76a. In the retracted position, the ends of lock rods 134a, 136a are positioned flush with or slightly recessed from the edge of inner door section 76a from which the respective lock rod ends extend when in the extended position. Control member 144a is movable between a first raised, locking position and a second lowered, release position. When in the locking position, control member 144a is oriented generally horizontally, and extends across the width of inner door section 76a. Control member 144a is constructed such that, when in the locking position, ear 150a is located so as to be in alignment with the inner edge of inner door section 76a. In operation, storage cabinet assembly 60 is locked by positioning control members 144a, 144b in the locking position as shown in FIG. 1. In this position, control members 144a, 144b function to place lock mechanisms 130a, 130b, respectively, in the engaged position by positioning the respective locking hubs 132a, 132b in the locking position as shown in FIG. 13, in which the respective lock rods 134a, 136a and 134b, 136b are extended. In the extended position, the ends of lower lock rods 134a, 134b are positioned within space 124 (FIG. 15), between front wall 114 and forward wall 122 of channel 116. Similarly, upper lock rods 136a, 136b are positioned within guide channel 106 between front wall 98 and front section 102 of guide wall 100. The positioning of locking mechanisms 130a, 130b adjacent the joints between the sections of bifold doors 74a, 74b is such that, when bifold doors 74a, 74b are closed and control members 144a, 144b are moved to the locking position, lock rods 134a, 134b and 136a, 136b prevent movement of bifold doors 74a, 74b to the open position. Ears 148a, 148b of respective control members 144a, 144b are located adjacent each other when control members 144a, 144b are in the locking position, and openings 150a, 150b in control member ears 144a, 144b, respectively, are in alignment with each other. A lock 152, which may be a key or combination padlock or any other satisfactory type of locking mechanism, includes a locking member that extends through the aligned openings 150a, 150b when control members 144a, 144b are in the locking position, to prevent movement of control members 144a, 144b away from the locking position. It can thus be appreciated that the construction of bifold doors 74a, 74b and locking mechanisms 130a, 130b provides a single-point locking arrangement for a bifold door construction, to enable quick and easy opening of bifold doors 74a, 74b when desired, in a manner that exposes substantially the entire open front of storage cabinet assembly 60. Control members 144a, 144b are subjected to a gravity bias that tends to move control members 144a, 144b away from the raised, locking position of FIG. 1 toward the lowered, release position of FIG. 3. In this manner, when an authorized user removes lock 152 from within openings 150a, 150b of respective control member ears 144a, 144b, the inner ends of control members 144a, 144b are pivoted away from each other under the force of gravity to the lowered, release position. Such movement of control members 144a, 144b causes respective locking hubs 132a, 132b to pivot to the release position of FIG. 14 so as to place lock rods 134a, 134b and 136a, 136b in the retracted position. This action functions to automatically disengage locking mechanisms 130a, 130b when lock 152 is removed, to facilitate quick and easy opening of storage cabinet assembly 60 when desired. In the retracted position, the ends of upper lock rods 136a, 136b are moved vertically downwardly out of engagement within guide channel 106, and the ends of lower lock rods 134a, 134b are raised vertically upwardly out of engagement within space 124. In this manner, the joints between bifold door sections 76a, 78a and 76b, 78b can move outwardly when the user applies an opening force to bifold doors 74a, 74b, to thereby enable movement of bifold doors 74a, 74b to the open position. Door sections 76a, 78a and 76b, 78b include respective vertically spaced, vertically extending slots 154a, 156a and 154b, 156b, which are located adjacent the respective door section side edges. Slots 154a, 156a and 154b, 156b provide the visual access and ventilation functions as noted previously, along with perforations 86, and also function as handgrip areas to facilitate movement of bifold doors 74a, 74b between the open and closed positions. Various storage or support components or modules are adapted to be secured within storage cabinet interior 72, in order to support and store weapons, firearms and related equipment or accessories within storage cabinet assembly 60. Such components include differently configured stock rests and barrel supports for supporting firearms such as rifles and automatic or semi-automatic machine guns or the like in an upright orientation within storage cabinet interior 72, as well as pistol supports and shelf or bin-type components. The configuration and orientation of the storage or support components contained within storage cabinet interior 72 may vary according to the intended use of storage cabinet assembly 60 and the equipment or accessories adapted to be stored within storage cabinet assembly 60. The storage or support components can be assembled in a predetermined configuration during initial manufacture, or may be subsequently assembled by a customer or user using supplied components. The positions of the components within storage cabinet interior 72 may be adjusted and varied, again according to user requirements. The drawing figures illustrate a number of various storage or support components or modules that may be mounted within storage cabinet interior 72, and it is understood that other storage or support components may be mounted within storage cabinet interior 72. Referring to FIG. 4, one configuration of the storage or support components contained within storage cabinet interior 72 may include a stock rest 160, a support rail or mounting member 162 to which a series of barrel rests 164 and pistol supports 166 are mounted, along with a shelf or bin assembly 168. Stock rest 160 is configured to receive and support the butt ends of a series of rifles or other weapons having a first configuration, in which the end of the weapon stock has a relatively narrow width, such as an M240 or M249 rifle, shown generally at G1 in FIGS. 5 and 25. Stock rest 160 includes a series of side-by-side upwardly facing channels or troughs defined by a series of lower walls 170 in combination with a spaced apart pair of side walls 172. A divider 174 is located between each channel or trough defined by stock rest 160. Stock rest 160 is formed with a pair of end walls 176 (FIG. 20), which define lower edges that rest on horizontal base wall 112. Each end wall 176 defines a generally trapezoidal shape such that, when stock rest 160 is positioned on horizontal base wall 112, the channels or troughs defined by lower walls 170 and side walls 172 are oriented at an angle toward back wall 70 of storage cabinet 62. In this manner, when a gun or other weapon such as G1 is positioned so that its stock is received within one of the channels of stock rest 160, the weapon G1 is oriented so as to lean toward cabinet back wall 70. FIG. 30 is a plan view representation of horizontal base wall 112, which includes a series of spaced apart front and rear openings 178 that extend transversely throughout the majority of the length of horizontal base wall 112. Each opening 178 includes an enlarged central area and a pair of restricted end areas, as is shown and described in ______ U.S. Pat. No. ______ issued ______, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. With this construction, each opening 178 is adapted to receive an elongated mounted member such as a screw or other fastener, or a tab-type mounting member, for use in securing components or modules to base wall 112. As shown in FIG. 31, stock rest 160 includes openings 180 in dividers 174, which are positioned so as to be in vertical alignment with selected ones of horizontal base wall openings 178 when stock rest 160 is positioned within storage cabinet interior 72. Fasteners, such as threaded screws or the like, extend through the aligned openings 180 and 178, so as to secure stock rest 160 in position on horizontal base wall 112. Alternatively, each end wall 176 may include downwardly extending mounting tabs adapted to be engaged within selected openings 178, to secure stock rest to base wall 112. FIGS. 33 and 34 illustrate an alternative stock rest 182 which may be positioned within storage cabinet interior 72 in place of stock rest 160. Stock rest 182 has a similar overall configuration as stock rest 160, including a series of upwardly facing channels or troughs defined by lower walls 184 in combination with side walls 186. Dividers 188 are located between side walls 186 of adjacent troughs or channels, and include openings 190 for use in mounting stock rest 182 to horizontal base wall 112. Stock rest 182 further includes trapezoidal end walls 192 configured similarly to end walls 176 of stock rest 160, to orient stock rest 182 at an angle toward storage cabinet back wall 70. Stock rest 182 is configured to receive and support the butt end of each of a series of guns or other weapons having a configuration in which the stock is relatively wide, such as an M16 or M4 machine gun. Each lower wall 184 includes an opening 194 that is configured to receive the lower end of a weapon accessory, such as a scope or bayonet adapted for use with the weapon. FIGS. 35 and 36 illustrate another configuration of a stock rest 196, which is constructed similarly to stock rest 182. Stock rest 196 is mounted within storage cabinet interior 72 in the same manner as noted previously, and is configured to support yet another type of weapon or other firearm in an upright orientation such that the weapon or firearm leans toward back wall 70 of storage cabinet 62. FIGS. 37 and 38 a similarly constructed stock rest 198, which includes wider troughs or channels that are adapted to support other types of firearms. Stock rest 198 is also mounted within storage cabinet interior 72 in the same manner as stock rests 160 and 182, so as to position the firearms in an upright orientation leaning toward storage cabinet back wall 70. FIGS. 39 and 40 illustrate yet another stock rest 200 which is configured similarly to the previously described stock rests, and is mounted within storage cabinet interior 72 in the same manner. Stock rest 200 includes a central mounting section 202 in combination with a pair of side mounting sections 204. Circular openings 206, 208 are formed in mounting sections 202, 204, respectively, to receive the butt end of a weapon having a round configuration, such as an M2 machine gun or the like. While certain stock rests 160, 182, 196, 198 and 200 are shown and described as being engageable within storage cabinet interior, it is understood that other stock rest configurations are possible and are contemplated within the scope of the present invention. Generally speaking, each stock rest is configured so as to support a weapon or other firearm in an upright orientation within storage cabinet interior 72, with the inclination of the stock end engagement area being such that the weapon is inclined toward cabinet back wall 70. Referring to FIGS. 21-24, mounting member 162 defines a generally C-shaped cross section, including a support wall 208, in combination with upper and lower flanges 210, 212, respectively. Support wall 208 includes end extensions 214, which includes a pair of vertically spaced mounting studs or rivets 216, or any other satisfactory type of headed mounting members. Corner posts C3 and C4 of storage cabinet 62 include vertically spaced key hole openings 218, in accordance with conventional construction. Each key hole opening 218 includes an enlarged upper portion which is configured to receive the mounting studs 216 that extend rearwardly from extensions 214, which are then moved downwardly into engagement within a restricted lower portion of each key hole opening 218, so as to secure mounting member 162 to and between corner posts C3 and C4. With this arrangement, mounting member 162 can be placed at any desired elevation within storage cabinet interior 72, and the position of mounting member 162 can be adjusted at any time simply by removing mounting member 162 from one set of key hole openings 218 and engaging mounting member 162 with another set of key hole openings 218 in a desired elevation. It should also be understood that mounting member 162 may be mounted within storage cabinet interior 72 in a fixed position, or alternatively may be adjustably mounted within storage cabinet interior 72 by any satisfactory adjustable mounting arrangement other than that as shown and described. Support wall 218 of mounting member 162 includes an upper row of square openings 220 and a lower row of square openings 222. Openings 220 and 222 are laterally spaced at predetermined regular spacing, and extend throughout the majority of the length of mounting member 162. Small circular openings 224 and 226 are located vertically below upper rectangular openings 220 and lower rectangular openings 222, respectively. Mounting member 162 is employed to support barrel rests such as 164 in a desired elevation within storage cabinet interior 72. As shown in FIGS. 22-24, each barrel rest 164 includes a mounting section 230 and a barrel support section 232. Mounting section 230 is formed with a pair of rearwardly extending engagement lances or tabs 224, which have the same spacing as mounting openings 220, 222 in mounting member 162. Tabs 234 may be formed in a stamping operation from the material of mounting section 230, such that the material of each tab 234 is formed integrally with the material of mounting section 230 at the upper end of each tab 234. In this manner, a downwardly facing space is defined between the forwardly facing surface of each tab 234 and the rearwardly facing surface of mounting section 230. However, it is understood that any other satisfactory method of forming tabs 234 may be employed. In addition, mounting section 230 includes a retainer opening 236 below each mounting tab 234. Outwardly extending barrel support section 232 includes a body section 238 defining an outwardly facing support edge 240, in combination with a pair of spaced apart support arms 242 that extend outwardly from the opposite sides of support edge 240. The outer area of barrel support section 232 is coated with a resilient material so as to prevent barrel rest 164 from scratching the barrel of the gun that it supports. In this manner, support edge 240 and support arms 242 are coated with the resilient material, so as to present relatively soft surfaces that engage the firearm barrel. The resilient material may be any satisfactory plastic, rubber or other cushioning material, and may be applied to body section 238 in a dipping process or the like. Barrel rest 164 is engaged at a desired location along the length of mounting member 162 by placing tabs 234 in alignment with a pair of adjacent openings in mounting member 162, such as a pair of lower openings 222. A downward force is then applied to barrel rest 164, such that each tab 234 is moved downwardly along the rearwardly facing surface of support wall 208 until the upper edge of each opening 222 is brought into engagement with the upper extent of tab 234 at its connection to the material of mounting section 230. Barrel rest 164 is disengaged from mounting member 162 by reversing such steps. In this manner, barrel rest 164 may be quickly and easily engaged with and disengaged from mounting member 162, to enable barrel rest 164 to be located in a desired position for use in supporting an upper area of a weapon or firearm. When barrel rest 164 is engaged with mounting member 162 in this manner, retainer openings 236 in mounting section 230 are in alignment with a pair of adjacent retainer openings 226 in mounting member 162. A fastener, such as a screw 244, is engaged within the aligned openings 236, 226, so as to prevent inadvertent removal of barrel rest 164 and to maintain barrel rest 164 in engagement in the desired location on mounting member 162. The configuration of support edge 240 and support arms 242 is particularly designed to cradle the barrel of a certain type of weapon or other firearm that is supported at its lower end by one of the previously described stock rests, such as stock rest 160. FIG. 25 illustrates such operation of stock rest 160 and barrel rest 164, in which barrel B of weapon G1 is engaged with support edge 240 between support arms 242 so as to receive and support weapon barrel B above stock rest 160. Alternatively, the specific configuration of support edge 240 is such that barrel rest 164 may support a scope or bayonet that is separate from or engaged with the firearm, such that barrel rest 164 may be used to support a number of different items within the storage cabinet interior 72. FIGS. 26-29 illustrate differently configured barrel rests that can be engaged with mounting member 162 so as to support the upper end of a weapon or firearm, the lower end of which is supported via engagement with one of the stock rests as described previously. FIG. 26 illustrates the top plan view of barrel rest 164. FIG. 27 illustrates a barrel rest 248 having elongated arms 250 and a body section defining a specially configured support edge 252, for receiving the upper area of a weapon or firearm having a corresponding shape. FIG. 28 illustrates an alternative barrel rest 254, which includes relatively short, narrow arms 256 that cooperate with a support edge 258 to define a recess configured to receive the upper portion of a weapon or firearm having a similar shape. FIG. 29 illustrates yet another barrel rest 260, which includes elongated arms 262 that cooperate with a support edge 264 to define a long, narrow recess configured to receive the upper portion of a weapon or firearm having a similar shape. It can be appreciated that the barrel rests illustrated in FIGS. 26-29 are illustrative of a wide variety of barrel rest configurations that are possible, with each barrel rest having a shape configured to receive and engage the upper end of a weapon or firearm having a similar shape. It can also be appreciated that rests similar to those as illustrated may be used to support elongated items or equipment other than firearms. In each case, however, the rest includes a mounting section as described previously for engagement with mounting member 162, so as to secure the rest to mounting member 162 within storage cabinet interior 72 above the stock rest. In a preferred system, a barrel rest and stock rest combination are selected to be positioned within storage cabinet interior 72, according to the shape and other parameters of the firearms or weapons intended to be contained within the storage cabinet assembly 60. Referring to FIGS. 22-24, each pistol support 166 includes a mounting section 260 having a mounting lance or tab 262 that extends rearwardly from mounting section 260, and which is formed similarly to mounting tabs 234 of barrel rest mounting section 230. In addition, mounting section 260 includes a retainer opening 264 located vertically below tab 262. Pistol support 166 further includes a support section 266 that extends outwardly from the upper end of mounting section 260, and which includes an angled support plate 268. A support finger 270 is secured at its inner end to support plate 268, and extends outwardly from support plate 268 at an upwardly extending angle. Finger 270 is preferably oriented so as to be perpendicular to support plate 268. A resilient coating 272, such as a plastic, rubber or the like, is applied to finger 270 and to support plate 268, e.g. in a dipping process, to present relatively soft, cushioned outer surfaces of support finger 270 and support plate 268. Each pistol support 166 may be mounted in any desired location along the length of mounting member 162, by engaging mounting tab 262 within any one of openings 220, 222 in mounting member support wall 208. Each pistol support 166 is secured to mounting member 162 in a manner similar to that of barrel rest 164, by placing the tab 262 within a selected opening and applying a downward force to the pistol support 166 so as to slide mounting tab 262 downwardly along the rearwardly facing surface of support wall 208, until the lower edge of the opening engages the upper end of the mounting tab 262. A fastener, such as a screw 274, is then engaged through retainer opening 264 and the aligned retainer opening 224 or 226 in mounting member 162, to maintain pistol support 166 in position and prevent its inadvertent removal. In use, a pistol P (FIG. 25) is supported from pistol support 166 by engaging support finger 270 within the barrel of pistol P. In this manner, pistol P is supported such that its butt end faces outwardly, which facilitates quick and easy removal of pistol P from pistol support 166. The resilient coating 272 applied to support finger 270 and support plate 268 prevents scratching or marring of the pistol barrel. While the invention has been shown and described with respect to engagement of barrel rests and pistol supports with mounting member 162, for use in mounting weapons, accessories and other equipment within the interior of storage cabinet assembly 60, it is understood that such components are illustrative of many different types of support components that may be employed in storage cabinet assembly 60. As to other such components, which may be used to support items of equipment within storage cabinet assembly 60, it is contemplated that the same type of removable engagement system may be employed to mount such components within storage cabinet interior 72, to support any type of weapon, accessory or related equipment. Referring to FIG. 4, bin assembly 168 may be mounted within storage cabinet interior 72 for storing optics, flashlights, removable stocks or barrels, bayonets, cases, holders, supports or other weapon-related equipment or accessories. Bin assembly 168 includes a pair of bin side walls 278, in combination with a fixed-position bottom shelf 280 to which the lower ends of side walls 278 are secured. Bottom shelf 280 includes front and rear depending support walls 282, 284 (FIG. 16), respectively, which extend downwardly from the front and rear edges, respectively, of bottom shelf 280. Support walls 282, 284 are spaced apart from each other a distance slightly greater than the depth of the stock rests, such as 160, and have a height slightly greater than that of the stock rests. In this manner, bin assembly 168 can be installed over any of the stock rests that may be mounted within the bottom of storage cabinet interior 72, such that support walls 282, 284 enable bin assembly 168 to bridge over the underlying portion of the stock rest. Alternatively, the stock rest may be formed so as to have a length that extends only to the side of bin assembly 168, since the portion of the stock rest located below the bin assembly 168 is unusable. In a representative construction, each support wall 282, 284 may have a flange at its lower end, with openings that are adapted to be positioned in alignment with selected ones of horizontal base wall openings 178. Screws or other satisfactory fasteners may be engaged within the aligned openings, to secure the lower end of bin assembly 168 in position within storage unit interior 72. Alternatively, support walls 282, 284 may be formed with tabs that extend through the slotted portions of base wall openings 178. Referring to FIG. 8, the upper end of each bin side wall 278 is formed with a flange 286, which is adapted to be positioned adjacent the downwardly facing surface of top panel 96. Flanges 286 have openings that are adapted to be placed into alignment with openings such as 288 in top panel 96, and screws or other satisfactory fasteners are engaged within the aligned openings to secure the upper end of bin assembly 168 in position within storage cabinet interior 72. It is understood that this mounting arrangement is illustrative, and that any other type of satisfactory mounting arrangement may be employed for securing the upper end of bin assembly 168 in position. A series of shelves 290 are adapted to be engaged with and span between bin assembly side walls 278 above bottom shelf 280. Preferably, the position of each shelf 290 can be adjusted along the height of the side walls 278. To accomplish this, each side wall 278 includes a series of vertically spaced front shelf mounting members 292 and a series of vertically spaced rear shelf mounting members 294, as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19. Representatively, shelf mounting members 292, 294 may be formed in a stamping operation from an inwardly deformed portion of the material of side wall 278, with open areas located above and below each shelf mounting member. Each shelf 290 includes a front mounting ear 296 on each of its sides and a rear mounting ear 298 on each of its sides. In the illustrated embodiment, each shelf 290 includes a pair of side flanges, and mounting ears 296, 298 are formed from a portion of the material of each side flange 300. Mounting ears 296, 298 have a configuration adapted to be engaged with front and rear shelf mounting members 292, 294, respectively. With this construction, each shelf 290 is engaged with bin assembly side walls 278 by positioning mounting ears 296, 298 vertically above shelf mounting members 292, 294, respectively, and applying a downward force to the shelf 290 so as to engage the mounting ears 296, 298 with the respective shelf mounting members 292, 294. Any desired number of shelves can be engaged with side walls 278 in any position along the height of side walls 278, according to the dimensions and configuration of the items adapted to be supported by the shelves 290. FIGS. 41-55 contain representations of various illustrative configurations of components that can be mounted within storage cabinet interior 72, according to the items intended to be contained within the storage cabinet assembly 60. In FIG. 41, storage cabinet interior 72 is illustrated as being outfitted with a stock rest 160′, which has a configuration somewhat similar to stock rest 160. An upper mounting member 162a is secured between corner posts C3 and C4 in an upper position within storage cabinet interior 72, and barrel rests 164 are secured to mounting member 162a at desired locations along the length of mounting member 162a, to support the barrels of firearms having stocks that are supported by stock rest 160′. An additional lower mounting member 162b is located below the upper mounting member 162a, and may be used to secure pistol supports or any other storage components within storage cabinet interior 72. FIG. 42 illustrates a configuration in which horizontally extending, vertically spaced rows of pistol supports 166 are secured to each of a series of mounting members 162a, 162b, 162c, 162d, 162e and 162f. In this embodiment, storage cabinet assembly 60 includes stock rest 160, so as to enable the storage cabinet assembly to be used to store rifles or other firearms by removing certain of pistol supports 166 and installing one or more barrel rests in desired locations to one or more of mounting members 162a-162f. FIG. 43 illustrates a configuration in which a series of bin assemblies 168 are mounted side-by-side within storage cabinet interior 72, to occupy substantially the entire volume of storage cabinet interior 178. FIG. 44 illustrates a configuration in which one bin assembly 168 is mounted to one side of storage cabinet interior 178. The remainder of the volume of storage cabinet interior 72 is occupied by a modified bin assembly 302, which consists of a pair of shelf side walls 278 and bottom shelves 280, secured within storage cabinet interior 72 in the same manner as described previously. Modified elongated shelves 304 are secured between the shelf side walls 278, and are mounted to shelf side walls 278 in the same manner as described above. FIG. 45 illustrates a configuration in which stock rest 196 is secured in the bottom of storage cabinet interior 72. An upper mounting member 162a is employed to secure barrel rests 254, each of which is in alignment with one of the channels or troughs defined by stock rest 196. A lower mounting member 162b is mounted within storage cabinet interior 72 between stock rest 196 and upper mounting member 162a. A series of barrel rests 164 are mounted to lower mounting member 162b. In this configuration, a weapon such as a machine gun is supported by stock rest 196 in combination with each of barrel rests 254. A bayonet or scope associated with the weapon is engaged at its lower end with one of the openings in the stock rest channel or trough, and is supported thereabove by engagement within the recess defined by support edge 240 of barrel rest 164. FIG. 46 illustrates a configuration in which stock rest 198 is mounted in the bottom of storage cabinet interior 72. A mounting member 162 is utilized to mount a series of barrel rests 248, each of which is in alignment with one of the channels or troughs defined by stock rest 198. FIG. 47 illustrates a configuration in which a pair of bin assemblies 168 are mounted in each side of storage cabinet interior 72. An open space is defined between the bin assemblies 168, so as to expose a portion of stock rest 160 that may be utilized to store rifles or other firearms between bin assemblies 168. Suitable barrel rests are secured to mounting member 162 between bin assemblies 168, so as to accommodate the rifles or other firearms. FIG. 48 illustrates a configuration in which wide, open shelves are contained within storage cabinet interior 72. In this configuration, bin assembly side walls 278 are mounted to opposite sides of storage cabinet interior 278, in the same manner described previously with respect to bin assembly 168. Three bottom shelves 280 are mounted in the bottom of storage cabinet interior 72. Modified elongated shelves 306 extend between shelf side walls 278, and are interconnected therewith in the same manner as described previously with respect to bin assembly 168. FIG. 49 illustrates a configuration in which a portion of stock rest 160 is exposed for use in supporting rifles or other elongated firearms, with the remainder of the stock rest 160 being covered by a bottom shelf 280. Upper shelves are contained within the top portion of storage cabinet 62. The upper shelves include vertical shelf walls 308, which are secured to top panel 96 in the same manner described previously with respect to shelf side walls 278. Each shelf wall 308 includes a flange at its lower end, which is secured to a bottom shelf member such as 310, 312, which in turn are supported via a mounting member 162 to which a series of shelf support brackets 318 (FIG. 51) are mounted. Intermediate shelves 314, 316 are secured to shelf walls 308, in the same manner as described previously with respect to shelves 290 of bin assembly 168. FIG. 50 illustrates a configuration similar to that of FIG. 49. In this configuration, a series of shelf walls 308 support shelf members 314 in a side-by-side manner. FIG. 51 illustrates a configuration similar to that of FIG. 50. In this configuration, a single shelf module is contained in the upper portion of storage cabinet assembly 60. Lower shelf 310 is supported by a pair of mounting brackets 318, which are configured for engagement with mounting member 162 in the same manner as described previously. Shelf walls 308 are engaged with lower shelf 310, and intermediate shelves 314 are engaged with shelf walls 308 above lower shelf 310. FIG. 52 illustrates a configuration in which a shelf module as in FIG. 51 is combined with a bin assembly 168′, which is configured similarly to bin 168 but is mounted at its upper end to shelf member 310 instead of being mounted to the underside of top panel 96, as described previously. FIG. 53 illustrates a configuration in which an elongated lower shelf member 310′ is engaged with shelf walls 308, which are secured to a mounting member 162 as described previously via a bracket arrangement. Intermediate shelves 310′ are engaged with shelf walls 308 above lower shelf 310′. FIG. 54 illustrates a similar configuration, in which a pair of shelf modules, similar to those illustrated in FIG. 51, are contained within the upper extent of storage cabinet interior 72. FIG. 55 illustrates yet another alternative configuration, in which a shelf arrangement as shown in FIG. 53 is combined with a series of barrel rests that are secured to a mounting member located below the shelf assembly, to support weapons or other firearms therebelow in combination with stock rest 160. It can thus be appreciated that the present invention provides a shelf system which can be uniquely configured and reconfigured according to user requirements, simply by positioning or repositioning certain components within the storage cabinet interior 72. Such arrangement and rearrangement of the components may take place during initial manufacture, or on site or at any other location where it is desired to alter the storage cabinet configuration. The various components can be installed and removed using only a screwdriver, which facilitates quick and easy installation and removal. Various alternatives and embodiments are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention.

<SOH> BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>This invention relates to a storage cabinet, and more particularly to various aspects of a storage cabinet that facilitate storage of weapons such as rifles, pistols and other firearms, as well as related equipment and accessories. In certain military, police and other environments, there is a need to safely and securely store firearms and related equipment in a manner such that the firearms and related equipment are quickly and easily accessible when necessary. There is a further need to ensure that firearm storage occupies a minimal amount of space, especially when open, since it is frequently the case that personnel must quickly gain access to the firearms and related equipment and move to an exit area of a room or facility in which the firearms and related equipment are stored. This need is especially keen in a naval environment, since available space is at a premium on naval vessels. In addition, there is a need for a firearm and related equipment storage system which can be tailored according to specific user requirements or applications, either at the time of manufacture or in a retrofit manner. The present invention contemplates a storage cabinet assembly that is well suited for use in storing firearms and related equipment. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a storage cabinet system includes a cabinet defining an interior and including a door arrangement movable between an open position providing access to the cabinet interior and a closed position preventing access to the cabinet interior. The storage cabinet system further includes a series of differently configured storage components or modules that are adapted to be mounted within the cabinet interior. Certain of the storage components or modules are in the form of firearm storage components or modules that are configured to support and store firearms within the cabinet interior. The firearm storage components include one or more stock rests, one or barrel rests, and one or more pistol supports. The stock rests are adapted to be mounted to the cabinet so as to be located in a lower area of the cabinet interior. Each stock rest includes an upwardly facing stock support surface that is configured so as to accommodate the stock of a certain type of firearm. The stock support surfaces are configured to engage the butt end of a stock of a firearm, and to position the firearm such that the firearm leans toward the back wall of the storage cabinet. The one or more barrel rests are adapted to be secured within the cabinet interior at a location above the stock rests. Each barrel rest includes a recess configured to receive and engage a firearm barrel at a location above the stock rest, so as to position the firearm in an upright orientation within the cabinet interior. The orientation and position of the barrel rests is such that each barrel rest prevents the upper end of the firearm from contacting the rear wall of the cabinet. Each barrel rest includes a mounting section for use in mounting the barrel rest within the cabinet interior, and a barrel rest section that extends outwardly from the mounting section and is configured to receive and engage the barrel of a certain type of firearm adapted to be supported by the stock rest located below the barrel rest. The stock rests and barrel rests function to support the firearm from below and to cradle the upper end of the firearm, so that the firearm can be quickly and easily grasped and removed from the support components when needed. Each pistol support also includes a mounting section for use in mounting the pistol support within the cabinet interior, and a pistol support section that extends outwardly from the mounting section. The pistol support section is in the form of an elongated finger or rod oriented at an upwardly extending angle, which is adapted to be received within the barrel of a pistol for supporting the pistol within the cabinet interior. The pistol support is configured such that the pistol handle faces outwardly when the pistol barrel is engaged with the finger or rod, so that the pistol can be easily and quickly grasped and removed from the pistol support when necessary. The barrel rests and the pistol supports are secured within the cabinet interior via a mounting member that is configured to engage and support the barrel rests and the pistol supports. In one form, the mounting member is engaged with and extends between a pair of vertical support members forming a part of the cabinet. The mounting member and the vertical support members include engagement structure which enables the mounting member to be secured within the cabinet interior at different elevations, so as to provide flexibility in the height of the barrel rests and pistol supports relative to the stock rest. The mounting member and the mounting sections of the barrel rests and pistol supports include engagement structure which enables the barrel rests and pistol supports to be placed in a variety of different positions on the mounting member, to provide additional flexibility in the configuration of the components within the cabinet interior. In addition to the firearm support components described above, the present invention further contemplates shelf or bin-type storage components or modules that may be positioned within the cabinet interior so as to store firearm related equipment and accessories. The shelf or bin-type storage components may be mounted in the cabinet interior along with the firearm storage components as described, or may be mounted within the cabinet interior in place of the firearm storage components. The present, invention further contemplates a door and lock system for a storage cabinet, which is particularly well suited for use in storing firearms and related equipment within the cabinet. In accordance with this aspect of the invention, a storage cabinet assembly includes a cabinet defining an interior, in combination with a folding door arrangement mounted to the cabinet. The folding door arrangement includes a pair of folding bifold door sections, each of which includes an inner door member and an outer door member. The folding door sections are movable between a closed position in which the folding door sections prevent access to the cabinet interior, and an open position in which the folding door sections provide access to the cabinet interior. The inner door members of the folding door sections are located adjacent each other when the folding door sections are in the closed position. A locking arrangement is associated with the folding door arrangement, for selectively preventing movement of the folding door sections away from the closed position. The locking arrangement includes a locking or latch member carried by each of the folding door sections, with each latch member being movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position. Each latch member in its engaged position maintains its associated door section in the closed position, and in the disengaged position enables movement of the door section between the closed position and the open position. The locking arrangement further includes a movable control member carried by each door section. Each control member is interconnected with one of the latch members, and the control members are movable between a first, locking position in which the control members place the latch members in the engaged position, and a second, release position in which the control members place the latch members in the disengaged position. The control members in the first, locking position overlie the inner door members, and are adapted to be secured together to maintain the door sections in the closed position. In this manner, the control members provide a single point locking mechanism for selectively preventing access to the interior of the cabinet. In a preferred form, the control members define inner ends that are located adjacent each other when the control members are in the first, locking position. The inner ends of the control members include openings, and a lock is engageable through the openings so as to selectively maintain the control members in the first position. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a storage cabinet assembly includes a cabinet defining an interior, in combination with a folding door arrangement including a pair of folding door sections, as described above. The inner and outer door members of each door section are movable together when the door section is in the open position. The cabinet defines a recess in alignment with the folded door members when the door sections are in the open position. An extension and retraction mechanism is interconnected with each door section, to enable each door section to be moved into one of the recesses when the door section is in the open position. In this manner, the doors can be recessed when opened, to prevent the doors from interfering with personnel gaining access to the items contained within the cabinet. The invention also contemplates a method of configuring a storage cabinet, substantially in accordance with the foregoing summary. The various features and aspects of the present invention may be utilized separately or in various subcombinations, and each provides advantages in construction, assembly or operation of a storage cabinet, particularly suitable for use in storing firearms and related equipment. In a preferred form, the various features and aspects of the invention are utilized in combination so as to provide a storage cabinet, as well as a method of constructing and configuring a storage cabinet, that are particularly advantageous in storing of firearms and related equipment and accessories. Various other features, objects and advantages of the invention will be made apparent from the following description taken together with the drawings.

<SOH> BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>This invention relates to a storage cabinet, and more particularly to various aspects of a storage cabinet that facilitate storage of weapons such as rifles, pistols and other firearms, as well as related equipment and accessories. In certain military, police and other environments, there is a need to safely and securely store firearms and related equipment in a manner such that the firearms and related equipment are quickly and easily accessible when necessary. There is a further need to ensure that firearm storage occupies a minimal amount of space, especially when open, since it is frequently the case that personnel must quickly gain access to the firearms and related equipment and move to an exit area of a room or facility in which the firearms and related equipment are stored. This need is especially keen in a naval environment, since available space is at a premium on naval vessels. In addition, there is a need for a firearm and related equipment storage system which can be tailored according to specific user requirements or applications, either at the time of manufacture or in a retrofit manner. The present invention contemplates a storage cabinet assembly that is well suited for use in storing firearms and related equipment. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a storage cabinet system includes a cabinet defining an interior and including a door arrangement movable between an open position providing access to the cabinet interior and a closed position preventing access to the cabinet interior. The storage cabinet system further includes a series of differently configured storage components or modules that are adapted to be mounted within the cabinet interior. Certain of the storage components or modules are in the form of firearm storage components or modules that are configured to support and store firearms within the cabinet interior. The firearm storage components include one or more stock rests, one or barrel rests, and one or more pistol supports. The stock rests are adapted to be mounted to the cabinet so as to be located in a lower area of the cabinet interior. Each stock rest includes an upwardly facing stock support surface that is configured so as to accommodate the stock of a certain type of firearm. The stock support surfaces are configured to engage the butt end of a stock of a firearm, and to position the firearm such that the firearm leans toward the back wall of the storage cabinet. The one or more barrel rests are adapted to be secured within the cabinet interior at a location above the stock rests. Each barrel rest includes a recess configured to receive and engage a firearm barrel at a location above the stock rest, so as to position the firearm in an upright orientation within the cabinet interior. The orientation and position of the barrel rests is such that each barrel rest prevents the upper end of the firearm from contacting the rear wall of the cabinet. Each barrel rest includes a mounting section for use in mounting the barrel rest within the cabinet interior, and a barrel rest section that extends outwardly from the mounting section and is configured to receive and engage the barrel of a certain type of firearm adapted to be supported by the stock rest located below the barrel rest. The stock rests and barrel rests function to support the firearm from below and to cradle the upper end of the firearm, so that the firearm can be quickly and easily grasped and removed from the support components when needed. Each pistol support also includes a mounting section for use in mounting the pistol support within the cabinet interior, and a pistol support section that extends outwardly from the mounting section. The pistol support section is in the form of an elongated finger or rod oriented at an upwardly extending angle, which is adapted to be received within the barrel of a pistol for supporting the pistol within the cabinet interior. The pistol support is configured such that the pistol handle faces outwardly when the pistol barrel is engaged with the finger or rod, so that the pistol can be easily and quickly grasped and removed from the pistol support when necessary. The barrel rests and the pistol supports are secured within the cabinet interior via a mounting member that is configured to engage and support the barrel rests and the pistol supports. In one form, the mounting member is engaged with and extends between a pair of vertical support members forming a part of the cabinet. The mounting member and the vertical support members include engagement structure which enables the mounting member to be secured within the cabinet interior at different elevations, so as to provide flexibility in the height of the barrel rests and pistol supports relative to the stock rest. The mounting member and the mounting sections of the barrel rests and pistol supports include engagement structure which enables the barrel rests and pistol supports to be placed in a variety of different positions on the mounting member, to provide additional flexibility in the configuration of the components within the cabinet interior. In addition to the firearm support components described above, the present invention further contemplates shelf or bin-type storage components or modules that may be positioned within the cabinet interior so as to store firearm related equipment and accessories. The shelf or bin-type storage components may be mounted in the cabinet interior along with the firearm storage components as described, or may be mounted within the cabinet interior in place of the firearm storage components. The present, invention further contemplates a door and lock system for a storage cabinet, which is particularly well suited for use in storing firearms and related equipment within the cabinet. In accordance with this aspect of the invention, a storage cabinet assembly includes a cabinet defining an interior, in combination with a folding door arrangement mounted to the cabinet. The folding door arrangement includes a pair of folding bifold door sections, each of which includes an inner door member and an outer door member. The folding door sections are movable between a closed position in which the folding door sections prevent access to the cabinet interior, and an open position in which the folding door sections provide access to the cabinet interior. The inner door members of the folding door sections are located adjacent each other when the folding door sections are in the closed position. A locking arrangement is associated with the folding door arrangement, for selectively preventing movement of the folding door sections away from the closed position. The locking arrangement includes a locking or latch member carried by each of the folding door sections, with each latch member being movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position. Each latch member in its engaged position maintains its associated door section in the closed position, and in the disengaged position enables movement of the door section between the closed position and the open position. The locking arrangement further includes a movable control member carried by each door section. Each control member is interconnected with one of the latch members, and the control members are movable between a first, locking position in which the control members place the latch members in the engaged position, and a second, release position in which the control members place the latch members in the disengaged position. The control members in the first, locking position overlie the inner door members, and are adapted to be secured together to maintain the door sections in the closed position. In this manner, the control members provide a single point locking mechanism for selectively preventing access to the interior of the cabinet. In a preferred form, the control members define inner ends that are located adjacent each other when the control members are in the first, locking position. The inner ends of the control members include openings, and a lock is engageable through the openings so as to selectively maintain the control members in the first position. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a storage cabinet assembly includes a cabinet defining an interior, in combination with a folding door arrangement including a pair of folding door sections, as described above. The inner and outer door members of each door section are movable together when the door section is in the open position. The cabinet defines a recess in alignment with the folded door members when the door sections are in the open position. An extension and retraction mechanism is interconnected with each door section, to enable each door section to be moved into one of the recesses when the door section is in the open position. In this manner, the doors can be recessed when opened, to prevent the doors from interfering with personnel gaining access to the items contained within the cabinet. The invention also contemplates a method of configuring a storage cabinet, substantially in accordance with the foregoing summary. The various features and aspects of the present invention may be utilized separately or in various subcombinations, and each provides advantages in construction, assembly or operation of a storage cabinet, particularly suitable for use in storing firearms and related equipment. In a preferred form, the various features and aspects of the invention are utilized in combination so as to provide a storage cabinet, as well as a method of constructing and configuring a storage cabinet, that are particularly advantageous in storing of firearms and related equipment and accessories. Various other features, objects and advantages of the invention will be made apparent from the following description taken together with the drawings.

20060605

20090120

20061116

62323.0

E05B6546

TRAN, HANH VAN

MODULAR SECURITY CABINET SYSTEM FOR STORING FIREARMS OR THE LIKE

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

E05B

ACCEPTED

Methods, compositions and blends for forming articles having improved environmental stress crack resistance

Several processes for the manufacture of thin-walled tubes are described, including: injection moulding an article and annealing the article, injection moulding a blend of a polymer and a high melt flow polymer, injection moulding a blend of a polymer and nanoparticles or nanocomposites. Using nanoparticles to improve ESCR and/or tear resistance of a polymer or blend is also disclosed.

1. A process for the manufacture of flexible thin-walled articles comprising: injection moulding a body of the article from a plastics material; adapting the body to form a base of the article; and annealing the plastics material. 2. A process according to claim 1, wherein the annealing step is carried out in situ by filling the article with a medium having a sufficiently high temperature to facilitate annealing of the article through the transfer of heat from the medium to the article itself. 3. A process according to claim 1, wherein the annealing step is carried out in situ by placing the article in a medium having a sufficiently high temperature to facilitate annealing of the article through the transfer of beat from the medium to the article. 4. A process according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the temperature of the annealing medium is greater than 18° C. more preferably greater than 22° C., even more preferably greater than 25° C., yet even more preferably greater an 30° C., and most preferably greater than 35° C. 5. A process according to claim 1, wherein the annealing step is carried out during storage of the final packaged product in a heated or naturally warm storage area, the temperature in which is constantly at or periodically raised or allowed to rise to 22° C. or more, more preferably 25° C. or more, yet store preferably 27° C. or more, even more preferably 30° C. or more and most preferably 35° C. or more for sufficient time to anneal the plastics material. 6. A process according to claim 1, wherein only a selected area of the plastics material is annealed. 7. A process according to claim 1, wherein the body is adapted by crimping at one end to form the base of the article. 8. A process according to claim 1, wherein the plastics material includes at least one polymer and at least one compatible agent. 9. A process according to claim 8 wherein the at least one polymer and the at least one compatible polymer includes at least one polypropylene polymer. 10. A process according to claim 9, wherein the at least one polymer includes at least one polypropylene and the at least one compatible polymer includes at least one polypropylene compatible polymer. 11. A process according to claim 8, wherein the compatible agent is a compatible polymer having an MFI of cater to 100. 12. A process according to claim 11, wherein the at least one polymer includes at least one polypropylene polymer and the at least one compatible polymer includes at least one polypropylene polymer. 13. A process for the manufacture of flexible thin-walled articles including: injection moulding a blend of (a) at least one polymer and (b) at least one high melt flow compatible polymer having an MFI of greater than 100. 14. A process according to claim 13, wherein the high melt flow compatible polymer has an MFI of greater than 200. 15. A process according to claim 14, wherein the high melt flow compatible polymer has an MFI of greater than 300. 16. A process according to claim 13, wherein at least one of (a) and (b) includes a polymer formed using a metallocene or similar catalyst system. 17. A process according to claim 16, wherein both components (a) and (b) include a propylene and/or ethylene polymer or copolymer. 18. A process according to claim 13, wherein component (a) is present in an amount of from about 40 to about 99.9 weight percent of the blend based on the total weight of (a) and (b) and forms the continuous or co-continuous phase of the blend. 19. A process according to claim 13, wherein the (a) and/or (b) polymer includes a polypropylene having varying tacticity within its structure. 20. A process according to claim 13, where both (a) and (b) have an MFI of greater than 100. 21. A process according to claim 13, further including annealing the injection moulded thin-walled article. 22. A process according to claim 13, wherein the blend further includes (c) nanoparticles dispersed therein. 23. A process according to claim 13, wherein the extractables content for the compositions of the invention and mouldings therefrom is preferably less than or equal to 2.0 wt %, more preferably less than or equal to 1.6 wt %, most preferably less than or equal to 1.4 wt % as measured by ASTM D-5227. 24. A process according to claim 13, wherein the at least one polymer has a higher crystallinity that the at least one compatible polymer. 25. A process for the manufacture of flexible thin-walled articles including: injection moulding a blend of (a) at least one polymer and (b) at let one, compatible polymer, wherein at least one of (a) and (b) includes a polypropylene having varying tacticity within its structure. 26. A process for the manufacture of flexible thin-walled articles including: injection moulding a blend of (a) at least one polymer and b) at least one compatible polymer, wherein the extractables content for the blend and/or the flexible thin-walled article manufactured is less than or equal to 2.0 wt % as measured by ASTM D-5227.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention according to one aspect, relates to a process for the manufacture of flexible thin-walled articles, such as tubes or the like, wherein an improvement in Environmental Stress Crack Resistance (ESCR) and other properties is provided by annealing of the article after forming to its final shape. There are also provided, according to further aspects of the invention, compositions and blends that may be useful in the manufacture of flexible thin-walled articles or other articles, the compositions and blends having improved ESCR and other properties. DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART Thin-walled tubular containers, such as those used in the cosmetics industry, are currently produced mainly by a combination of extrusion and cutting-to-length of the tube body, injection moulding of the head and shoulders and the welding of the body to the head and shoulders. Low Melt Flow Index (MFI) polyethylene (MFI generally less than 2) is the preferred polymer for tube manufacture as it generally imparts the properties of good “feel” and flexibility required by customers and is suitable for extrusion processing. In addition, low MFI low density polyethylene (LDPE) offers sufficient product resistance and barrier properties to make it suitable for most products currently packed into tubes. In cases where the barrier properties of polyethylene are inadequate for particular applications, medium density polyethylene (MDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP) and multilayer polymer films are commonly used. Because the body of the tube is extruded, low MFI polymers with inherently good ESCR are able to be used in their manufacture. In addition, being a relatively low shear rate process, the extrusion process introduces minimal stresses and molecular orientation of the polymer into the tube body during manufacture. The use of polymers with inherently good ESCR, the relative lack of molecular orientation in extruded and extrusion/blow-moulded tubes as well as the relatively low pressures and processing speeds inherent in the extrusion process results in extruded tubes having low built-in stresses and inherently good ESCR. Consequently, stress relief of extruded tubes by annealing is of minimal value for the vast majority of applications and tube types. While the injection moulding of flexible thin walled articles such as tubes has been proposed, prior to the developments described in PCT/AU98/00255 (the '255 patent), which is incorporated herein by reference, it has not been possible to injection mould such articles having relatively long, thin sections without the articles being too susceptible to failure to be of commercial or practical use. The main problems have been associated with the polymers used to injection mould tubes, in that the process of injection moulding a cylindrical or other shaped tube requires the polymer to simultaneously have a high MFI to enable the polymer to flow down the long, narrow and curved path dictated by the tube shape without the use of excessive injection pressures, yet to have sufficiently good mechanical properties to be able to withstand handling and resist the stress cracking effects of many of the products that will be packed in it. To infection mould a tube requires the polymer/polymer blend to have flow properties capable of forming moulded parts with radii and a length/thickness ratio of 100 and often much higher, such as over 350. Typically the polymer or polymer blends are required to have an MFI of greater than 10, preferably greater than 20, more preferably greater 30 and frequently greater than 50. It is well known that the physical properties of polymers, particularly ESCR, decrease significantly as the MFI increases, so the inherent ESCR properties of polymer/polymer blends with MFIs required for injection moulded tubes are significantly and inherently lower than those for extruded tubes. To compound this problem, forcing a polymer to flow in a mould with such dimensions introduces severe stresses into the polymer, these stresses being “frozen” into the article thus produced when the polymer rapidly cools below its crystallising temperature before these stresses can be relieved. These stresses result in the tube having surprisingly different and deteriorated properties relative to the other products moulded from the same polymers under less severe moulding conditions. Further stresses are introduced into injection moulded tubes when they are filled with product and then crimped and sealed—most often by heat sealing or ultrasonic welding. This process often involves bending the ‘open’ end of the tube back on itself through an angle of up to 180° to form a fold at the edge of the seal. This fold is in the direction of the flow of the polymer during moulding, which direction having been demonstrated to be the direction of maximum weakness of the moulded product. This ‘folded and sealed’ area, where the tube is required to be deformed in order to effect a seal, is an area of the injection-moulded tube particularly susceptible to stress and flex cracking. Similarly, the body of the tube is permanently distorted, and consequently additionally and permanently stressed, by the crimping/sealing process, as can be readily seen from the distorted shape of the crimped and sealed tube relative to its uncrimped and unsealed shape. These stresses, especially those induced by permanent distortion of the article after crimping and sealing, but also those imposed during the squeezing and flexing of the tube during use, have the effect of significantly reducing the ESCR and other physical properties of the polymers make up the injection moulded article, thereby make it necessary to use polymers that display unusually good ESCR and other physical properties when moulded into that desired articles. Such polymers/blends may have a number of disadvantages relative to other polymers/blends, such as being more expensive, requiring longer cooling times (and hence longer cycle times), having higher stiffness (ie. poorer ‘feel’), requiring more intense or expensive compounding, etc. The following examples illustrate the exceptionally high level of stresses that are moulded into tubes when they are manufactured using the injection moulded process as opposed to the extrusion process. Tubes with 120×35 mm dimensions were injection moulded using DuPont 2020T polymer, a 1.1 MFI polymer extensively used in commercial extruded tube manufacture and which DuPont describes as “especially suited for injection moulded closure and extruded tubing where flexibility and maximum resistance to environmental stress cracking is required”. The injection-moulded tubes were moulded with extreme difficulty, requiring very high injection pressures and temperatures simply to get the 2020T to fill the mould. In each moulding significant degrees of core shifting/flexing were noted, due no doubt to the extremely high injection pressures that were required. In addition, it was noted that the tubes had visually no resistance to flexing in the direction of the material flow, with significant cracking being induced with loss than 5 manual squeezes of the tube. The environmental stress cracking of the same tubes was tested using the ESCR test as herein described a in spite of claims of “maximum resistance” to environmental stress cracking, was found to be totally in adequate for moulding thin-walled tubes by injection moulding. This is in stark contrast with its status as a ‘polymer of choice’ for tubes made by the extrusion process. The dramatic degradation of the properties of 2020T when injection moulded is almost exclusively due to the exceptionally high level of moulded-in and oriented stresses relative to those in tubes extruded from the same material. In another illustration of the very high level of moulded-in stresses inherent in injection moulded tubes, Dowlex 2517, a 25 MFI LLDPEs was moulded into 150×50 mm tubes. In a pamphlet on its Dowlex LLDPEs. Dow advises that LLDPEs have substantially better ESCR properties than equivalent high pressure LDPE. To illustrate the difference, a Dow pamphlet states that in one comparative test a high flow Dowlex LLDPE has an ESCR in oil some 80 times better than that achieved by a high pressure LDPE with the similar density and MFI (5700 hrs, compared to 70 hrs). It states that the LLDPE has an ESCR approximately 10 times better than the LDPE when immersed in a 10% Teric solution at 50° C. (225 hrs compared to 26 hrs). However, contrary to these observations, we have found that when these polymers are moulded in the form of thin walled tubes and ESCR subsequently tested using the ESCR test as herein described both Dow's ‘Dowlex’ LLDPE 2517 and Kemacor's LD 8153 (a high pressure LDPE with similar MFI and density) performed poorly in 10% Teric N9 at 50° C., and both failed within 20 minutes, an ESCR that is of the order of 600 times less d=that indicated in the pamphlet. The extreme degradation in the ESCR performance of both polymers when injection moulded into tubes is almost exclusively the result of the high level of moulded-in and oriented stresses in the injection moulded tubes. As an indication of the extent of the increase in Strain in the area of a tube that is folded and sealed relative to the unsealed (i.e. open) tube, the stain on the area resulting from scaling was calculated using the formula: Strain in polymer=Radius of fold/Square of the thickness of the strip. Assuming a nominal radius for a flat polymer strip of 1 metre and a strip thickness of 0.5 mm (a typical wall thickness for a tube), the strain on the unsealed polymer is 0.00025. When sealed, the radius of the strip at the edge of the seal is of the order of 0.65 mm, resulting in a calculated strain of 0.385. In other words, sealing the tube results in an increase in strain in the polymer of over 1600 times that in an unsealed tube. For extruded tubes, with their inherently higher ESCR polymer and significantly lower moulded-in processing stresses, this increase in strain presents few problems in terms of ESCR and/or tear strength performance. That is, annealing articles made using these polymers in combination with the extrusion process is not like to result in noticeable and/or commercially valuable improvements in ESCR and tear strength of the article. However, the applicant has found that when in section moulding thin wall flexible articles, with their significantly higher moulded-in and oriented stresses and being formed from intrinsically lower ESCR polymers and hence having greater inherent susceptibility to flex and ESCR failure, annealing can make a significant difference to both the ESCR and/or tar strength of the article. Such improvements may mean the difference between functionality and non-functionality of the article in terms of its commercial application. We have now found that annealing flexible injection moulded thin walled article just before, during or after the article has been fined and/or distorted to its final required shape significantly improves the ESCR and a number of other physical properties of the article, such as resistance to tearing in the direction of the polymer flow when measured using the Gullwing Tear test method (ASTM D-1004). These improvements are most noticeable in the areas of the article that have had additional stresses imposed on them such as occur as a result of any distortion of the article during and subsequent to sealing or having load imposed on it by, for example, stacking. An additional benefit of the annealing of the present invention is that increasing their ESCR etc. enables the use of polymers/blends for the manufacture of flexible thin-walled articles that would, in their unannealed condition, result in flexible thin walled articles that are either marginal or unsuitable for packaging particular products. During the annealing process the article may, if heated or otherwise treated sufficiently to soften, and/or in cases where the article is sufficiently supported to prevent unwanted distortion of the article, melt the polymer, be reshaped by the application of appropriate forces by various equipment. While not wishing to be bound by the proposed theory, it is believed that the rapid cooling of the polymer during the injection moulding step from a molten state to below the solidification temperature of the polymer results in various stresses and being captured in the solid piece, and that filer stresses are introduced as a result of the distortion of the article resetting from the sealing process. These stresses make the article more susceptible to attack by stress crack agents and physical flexing, and hence to failure. This is particularly the case in the period immediately after filling and sealing when, due to the distortion of the moulding resulting from sealing, the stresses with the moulding are at their highest (to an extent, they ‘relax’ and dissipate over an extended time) and the stress crack agent is in direct contact with the article and can ‘attack’ the highly stressed areas in the period subsequent to filling and scaling to cause failure. It is believed that by annealing the polymer the stresses are relieved before the stress crack agents are able to ‘attack’ the stressed polymer in order to cause failure. If the stresses are not immediately relieved, it is believed that for many polymer formulations the stress crack agent is able to cause failure of the article before the ‘normal’ relaxation of the polymer is able to reduce the susceptibility to article failure. The degree of moulded-in stresses, and hence the degree of reduction in ESCR and other proper performance can vary somewhat from moulding to moulding and over time. Thus it is difficult to reliably and accurately compensate for the variation in ESCR reduction between mouldings in the absence of annealing treatment. A further complication is that due to the dual reduction in stresses over time together with the fact that the extent of stress reduction will depend on the conditions (primarily time and temperature) under which the articles are stored prior to and after filling and sealing, it is not possible to reliably and consistently forecast how long it may take for all tubes made from a particular polymer formulation to become suitable for use due to natural stress reduction. For this reason amongst others, in order to minimise the possibility of commercial failure due to inadequate ESCR and other property performance, it is currently generally necessary to use polymers with proven exceptionally good ESCR performance when in a stressed state. This requirement has a number of potentially negative aspects, in particular in the areas of potentially higher polymer/unit cost increased cycle times and less-than-ideal ‘feel’ and flexibility. It is therefore advantageous if the moulded-in stresses can be relieved before they can substantially adversely affect the commercial performance of the thin walled article. It has been found that, provided the moulded-in stresses in the injection moulded article are relieved to a greater or lesser extent before the stress crack potential of the product that is filled into the article sufficient time in contact with the polymer in its stressed state to cause or initiate cracking, flexible thin walled injection moulded articles with improved ESCR and other property performance can be produced. Further, it has been found that annealing articles enables a much wider range of polymers and polymer blends to be used in the manufacture of commercially useful flexible thin walled articles than is the case if annealing is not practiced. If there is a significant time lapse the moulding and filling & sealing operations (e.g. if the article is moulded in one location, packed and then shipped to another location for filling and sealing) and it is desired to effect annealing of the moulding prior to the article being shipped—most conveniently, immediately post moulding—many of the benefits of annealing just prior to, during and/or after distortion of the article can still be achieved by annealing post moulding. The benefits of this way not as produced as those that can be achieved by annealing after the article has been distorted but may, depending on the polymer formulation and moulding conditions, nevertheless be worthwhile. The benefits of annealing post moulding but pre filling are most noticeable in areas of the moulding that are subjected to least additional stresses upon crimping and scaling. These areas are most frequently those that are relatively distant to the ‘crimp and seal’ area—for example, those areas relatively near the head and shoulders of a tube. We have found that areas of the moulding that are annealed, allowed to cool (if the annealing process elevates the temperature of the moulding above its preannealing temperature) and then subjected to considerable distortion such as occurs in and around the sealed area of the tube during a crimp and seal operation may manifest dramatically deteriorated ESCR performance relative to the same considerably distorted areas in equivalent unannealed mouldings. This is illustrated by the ESCR test as herein described, in which three sets of strips of the polymer blend taken from the same area of the mouldings were subjected to said ESCR test. One set of strips was annealed after bending and stapling, another set was not annealed and the third set of strips was annealed prior to bonding and stapling. The ESCR results were as follows: Only 4% of strips annealed after bending and stapling failed within 190 hrs 25% of the unannealed strips failed within 190 hrs Virtually all (94%) of strips annealed before banding and stapling failed within only 3.5 hrs. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As the above results illustrate, annealing tubes when they are in a stressed state significantly improves their ESCR relative to unannealed tubes, whereas annealing tubes in an unstressed state and subsequently stressing them results in dramatically reduced ESCR. Thus, according to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a process for the manufacture of flexible thin-walled articles comprising injection moulding a body of the article from a plastics material; adapting the body to form a base of the article; and annealing the plastics material. Annealing is generally defined as the process for removing or diminishing the strains and stresses in therapeutics. It is often achieved by heating the substance to be annealed and then allowing it to gradually cool. Two successful techniques often employed when annealing thermoplastics include one which withdraws the thermoplastics from a heat source, and the other which causes the heat from the heat source to diminish. Both techniques are often referred to as bulk annealing techniques since they involve heating the interior and exterior of the thermoplastics. The former is generally achieved in lehrs and the latter is generally achieved in ovens. Additional techniques for bulk annealing thermoplastics include those which employ infrared radiation. Thermal annealing is often the preferred method of annealing since simple equipment and techniques are widely and inexpensively available to practice the step. In other, less preferred embodiments, the annealing can be practiced by applying pressure, expression, or tension for a short time. It is of increasing interest to reduce the stresses and strains of thermoplastics without employing bulk annealing techniques such as the above-described. Accordingly, a process for reducing strains in thermoplastics by surface annealing may be employed which unexpectedly and simultaneously preserves the physical and chemical properties of the thermoplastics. Surface annealing is defined as heating the outer layer of the thermoplastic which is the external layer of the thermoplastic that often no more than half the thickness of the area to be annealed, for example, 0.25 mm thick in the case of a 0.5 mm wall-thickness article. Moreover, there is no initiation with respect to the heat source being utilized in this surface annealing other than that it does not cause the outer layer of the thermoplastic and the internal portion of the thermoplastic to be heated to the same temperature, wherein the internal portion is defined as any part of the thermoplastic not including the outer layer as previously defined. Thus heat may penetrate internal portion; however, the internal portion is cooler defined the outer layer after the outer film layer is surface annealed. Therefore, bulk annealing is prevented. Surface annealing is particularly effective in terms of increasing the ESCR of a thin walled flexible article when the surface that is annealed is the surface that will come into contact with the stress crack agent. The interior wall of a tube or other container, in preference to the exterior wall of a tube or other container, is an example of a surface for which surface annealing is particularly effective. This is because an annealed interior wall of a tub or other container presents the stress crack agent with a surface with reduced stress and hence an improved ESCR relative to an unannealed interior wall, thereby minimising the chances of the stress cock agent being able to initiate stress cracking that could eventually lead to the failure of the tube or container. If the outer surface of the tube or container is the annealed surface, the stress crack agent is able to initiate cracking in the unannealed interior surface with which it is in immediate contact, thereby potentially weakening the tube or container. Annealing of the interior surface of a tube or other container may be achieved by the blowing of hot air onto said surface, the close proximity of a source of radiant heat to the interior surface or other suitable means familiar to those skilled in the art. Annealing of the injection moulded thin-walled article according to this aspect of the invention may be facilitated by one or more of a variety of techniques. For example, the annealing step may include subjecting the plastics material of the article to various types of electromagnetic radiation, such as far infra-red, infra-red, ultra-violet and microwave radiation. Alternatively, sonic, supersonic and/or ultrasonic energy, electrical energy, electron are, electron beam, plasma (e.g., corona glow discharge, etc.), stream, heated gas (e.g. hot air), magnetic fields, ionising radiation losers, radio frequency and direct contact with heated or vibrating surfaces may be employed. Preferably, the annealing step is carried out by application of heat to the plastics material immediately before, during or immediately after the body is adapted to form the article. According to a particular embodiment, the annealing process is carried out in situ by filling the article with a medium having a sufficiently high temperature to facilitate annealing of the article through the transfer of heat from the medium to the article itself. In this case, the heated medium way be inserted before, during or immediately after the distortion (if any) of the article. Due to the thin-wall nature of the article, the temperature of the areas of the articles that come into contact with, or are in relatively close proximity to, the medium may assume a temperature close or equal to that of the medium itself. For example, although the specific area of the article that will be scaled should preferably not come into direct contact with the medium, once the medium has been introduced into the article the temperature of the area to be sealed will tend towards that of the medium. Provided such temperature is high enough to initiate annealing, it will result in the partial or complete annealing of the areas of the article, including the area of the article to be sealed. The temperature of the in situ annealing medium is preferably greater than 18° C., more preferably greater than 22° C., even more preferably greater than 25° C., yet even more preferably greater than 30° C., and most preferably greater than 35° C. Alternative heat-based annealing processes include immersing the article in, or passing the article through a bath, oven or other apparatus containing or able to direct at or subject the article to a warming liquid or gas or other annealing agent. For example, the articles can be immersed into a hot aqueous bath for sufficient time to heat them to within the desired temperature range. The particular residence time within the hot aqueous bath can depend on a variety of factors such as the shape and/or thickness of the articles and whether the aqueous bath is quiescent or agitated, whether the bath size to number of articles results in fluctuation of bath temperature, and other factors. This annealing method is particularly useful in cases where it is desirable that the filled contents of the article are also heated above a particular temperature, such as in retorting of some foods. The pieces can then be removed from the aqueous bath, dried and cooled to ambient temperature. In other preferred embodiments, radiant heating is employed, such as heating with infrared light. One advantage of radiant heating especially with infrared light is the rapidity with which heating step can be priced. Still another advantage is that a separate drying step can be eliminated. When one or more types of electromagnetic radiation is the annealing agent, an article comprised of the polymer should be exposed to the radiation for a time period at least sufficient to absorb enough energy to stress relieve the polymer against stress cracking therein. Exposures occurs at one or more ranges of frequencies which are capable of being absorbed by the polymer and which are effective for stress relieving without or substantially without causing heat induced softening or flowing of the polymer. The electromagnetic radiation is selected from infrared, visible, ultraviolet, microwave, radio, loser and other types of electromagnetic radiation. The annealing treatment may, depending on the plastics material and the article, be carried out prior to, during or after the distortion of the article. If the annealing process is carried out prior to the distortion of the article, it is preferred that the effects of the annealing process an still impacting on the polymer during the distortion process. For example, if heat is used to effect annealing and the heat source is removed or significantly reduced prior to distortion of the article, the plastics material should preferably still be sufficiently warm during and after the distortion process to enable the annealing of the distorted article to take place. Another method of annealing using heat is to store the final packaged product in heated or naturally warm storage areas, the temperature in which is constantly at or periodically raised or allowed to rise to 22° C. or more, more preferably 25° C. or more, yet more preferably 27° C. or more, even more preferably 30° C. or more and most preferably 35° C. or more for sufficient time to anneal the article or part thereof as measured by an improvement in ESCR and/or Gullwing tear resistance in the direction of the flow of the polymer relative to the unannealed article or part thereof. The entire article does not necessarily need to be annealed to achieve the beneficial effects of this aspect of the invention if desired, the annealing process can be directed to one or more areas of the article in which it has been determined annealing will have particularly beneficial effects, such as those areas in the injection moulded article that are most susceptible to ESCR or other mechanical failure. Partial annealing of the article may be achieved by, for example, annealing some parts of the article by eared radiation while shielding other parts of the article from the radiation. In the case of a tube, areas that may be beneficially selectively annealed include the crimped/sealed and adjacent area and other areas of the tube a are distorted and consequently have additional and unusual stresses imposed on them as a result of the crimping/sealing process. In addition, annealing can take place in one or more stages. For example, part of the article may first be subjected to annealing by, for example, filling it with a warm fluid medium. This will anneal those areas of the article that are in contact with and/or close proximity to the warm fluid medium. When the article is a tube, this initial annealing process will primarily anneal the body of the tube, although if the medium is sufficiently warm and sufficient time is allowed it may also anneal other areas of the tube, such as the area to be crimped and sealed. Subsequent to the initial annealing, and in a separate operation, the tube may then be crimped and sealed at the open end, which will anneal this portion of the tube. The extent of the desired annealing of a particular article can be determined by experimentation, and may wary depending on the extent/intensity of the deleterious effects of product to be packed into the article on the article as well as the nature of the plastics material used to mould the article and the moulding conditions used in the manufacture of the article and the desired properties of the treated article. Particularly deleterious products (ie. with high stress cracking potential) may beneficially be packed into articles which have been more extensively annealed than the same article intended for use with a less deleterious product. Similarly, articles that have higher levels of stress due for example to their shape, the conditions of their manufacture and/or the extent of additional stresses posed on them due to filling, crimping and sealing, etc. may benefit from more intensive annealing than would otherwise be the case. It is further noted herein that there is no limitation with respect to the orientation of the thermoplastics to the heat sources employed. Therefore, the heat source and the thermoplastic may be moving, the heat source may move while the thermoplastic remains stationary or vice versa. Once heated to the desired temperature range, the article may be cooled or allowed to cool as desired. The cooling step can similarly comprise various cooling techniques. Especially preferred for use herein are dry cooling techniques. For example, the articles can be cooled to room temperature with forced air convection cooling. Alternatively, the articles can be allowed to cool naturally, i.e. without accelerated cooling means. The air can be at room temperature or, if desired, can be chilled to shorten the cooling steps duration. In still another variation, ultrasonic heating can be used in substitution for the radiant heating. In still other variations, forced hot air convection heating can be employed. The pieces can be fed into a oven or other heating zones with various combinations of radiant and convection heating. The plastics material of the article according to this aspect of the invention is not limited provided that it is capable of being injection moulded into a flexible thin-walled article. Indeed, preferred forms of the plastics material are hereafter described in accordance with further aspects of the invention. In general, as described in PCT/AU99/00255, it has been found that it is possible to injection mould flexible thin-walled articles having relatively long thin-walled sections by selection of the polymers used in the injection moulding process having a time to failure of greater than 10 hours when tested according to the following ESCR test procedure: i) a plurality (preferably 6 or more) strips of the polymer or polymer blend incorporating any post moulding treatment intended for the final article having the cross-sectional dimensions of 0.65 mm in thickness and 10 mm in width arm injection moulded under high shear, long flow length conditions, the same as or similar to those intended for use in the manufacture of the flexible thin-walled article; ii) the strips are bent back upon themselves and stapled 3 mm from the bend; iii) the bent steps are immersed in a solution of a stress crack agent such as an ethoxylated nonylphenol, eg. a 10% solution of Teric; N9 (nonylphenol ethoxylated with 9 moles of ethylene oxide—Orica Australia Pty Ltd) and held at a temperature of 50° C.; iv) the strips are observed for signs of cracking, any signs of cracking are regarded as a failure; and v) the time to failure is when 50% of the strips show signs of cracking. The ESCR test described above was developed to simulate the stresses that are imposed on the area of a tube that is crimped and sealed after the comp and seal operation is carried out, this being an area of the crimped and sealed tube that is particularly susceptible to flex and ESCR failure. The need for this special test arose because ‘standard’ ESCR tests such as ASTM D-1693 are totally inadequate for determining the ESCR of polymers when moulded into flexible thin walled mouldings and subsequently crimped and sealed—a fact clearly illustrated by the comparison between ESCR results on Dupont 2020T and Dowlex 2517 polymers using a ‘standard’ ESCR test and the abovementioned test. Generally, in order to select a polymer blend suitable for the manufacture of flexible thin-walled articles it is necessary for the polymer blend to have an ESCR, tested according to the above procedure, of greater than 10 hours. Preferably the ESCR of the polymer blend is greater than 100 hours, more preferably greater than 200 hours and most preferably greater than 360 hours. Where the thin-walled article is a tube or other container used for the packaging of a composition such as a moisturiser or a shampoo which may be quite aggressive to the thin walled article and result in a degradation of its properties over time, it is desirable to select a polymer blend having an ESCR sufficiently high such that the thin walled article formed from the blend is able to withstand the rigours of use despite any degradation of properties resulting from the aggressive nature of the materials contained within the thin-walled article. Where the thin-walled article is used for the packaging of a relatively inert material, a lower ESCR may be tolerated. The ESCR test as hereinbefore defined may be conducted using a variety of stress crack agents. The preferred stress crack agent is Teric N9, a 9-mole ethoxylate of nonylphenol ex Orica Australia Pty Ltd. Other ethoxylates of nonylphenol may also advantageously be used. Other stress crack agents may be used and will be selected based upon the desired end-use, for example mineral oils, cationic surfactants, solvents and other agents which will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The ESCR test as described above is conducted under moulding conditions the same as or similar to those to be used in the manufacture of thin walled articles. For example, were it is intended to produce the thin walled article using a moulding incorporating melt flow oscillation techniques, it is advantageous to conduct the ESCR tests on panels produced from mouldings made by employing melt flow oscillation techniques. Similarly, the moulding conditions intended for use to mould the thin walled articles, such as injection speed, injection pressure, melt temperature, core and cavity temperature, etc. are advantageously used to produce mouldings for use in the ESCR test. The suitability of a polymer or blend for the application of the present invention, as well as the potential beneficial effects thereof may be determined by carrying out the ESCR test as described above, but preferably with the following additions and modifications: Prepare two sets of 6 or more strips for subjecting to the ESCR test After bending and stapling the two sets of strips, subject one set of strips to the proposed annealing treatment (eg. an elevated temperature of 50° C. for 30 minutes, allow the strips to cool to 22° C.) and maintained at 22° C. for 2 hrs Insert the two sets of strips in the stress crack medium as prescribed by the ESCR test. The potential benefit of the present invention may be assessed by comparing the ESCR and/or Gullwing tear resistance of the polymer when tested with and without being subjected to the annealing process when in the stressed state. The present invention is particularly applicable and useful for walled articles where the difference in time to failure, as measured by the ESCR test as herein described, between annealed and unannealed strips of the polymer blend used to manufacture the article is greater than 5 hrs, preferably greater than 10 hrs, more preferably greater than 20 hrs, even more preferably greater than 30 hrs, more preferably greater than 50 hrs, even more preferably greater than 100 hrs and most preferably greater than 350 hrs. Alternatively, the suitability of a polymer or blend for the application of the present invention may be determined by comparing the Gullwing Tear Resistance (measured in the direction of the flow of the polymer) of annealed and unannealed strips cut from mouldings such as may be used in the ESCR test, such strips being of suitable dimensions for carrying out the test. Annealed strips preferably have tear resistance that is more than 5% greater than that of unannealed strips, preferably more than 10% greater, more preferably more than 15% greater and most preferably more than 20% greater. The Tear Resistance of an injection moulded flexible thin walled article is particularly relevant when the article is made of polymers that have a tendency to split or tear relatively easily, such as polypropylene. This tendency to tear or split is often exacerbated when the polymers are moulded into articles that are, by the nature of the moulding process, tool design and moulding conditions, highly orientated. The Gullwing Tear test is particularly useful for accessing the suitability of, amongst other polymers, polypropylene-based polymers and blends thereof (including those cited above) for the production of injection moulded flexible thin walled articles because such polymers and blends thereof may well pass the ESCR test but still be unsuitable for commercial injection moulded flexible thin walled articles because of poor tear resistance. As is noted above, annealing such articles by means of the present invention may improve their tear resistance to the point where the article develops commercial utility. The benefit of the present invention is illustrated by the following example. A formulation consisting of 25% Profax SC973 (100 MFI PP ex Basell), 34% Engage 8401 (30 MFI mPE ex Dupont-Dow) and 41% WSG 189 (100 MFI LDPE ex Qenos) was moulded into 165 mm long by 0.5 mm thick cylindrical tubes under moulding conditions designed to introduce maximum stresses into the moulded tubes. The ESCR of both annealed and unannealed strips cut from tubes was assessed using the ESCR method described herein. It was found that over 60% of unannealed strips taken from unannealed tubes failed the ESCR test within 2 hrs, whereas no failures were noted in the strips taken form the tubes, said strips having been annealed by heating the stapled strips for 30 minutes at 50° C., cooling to 22° C. and conditioning at 22° C. for 2 hrs. Further, 94% of the unannealed strips, compared to only 22% of the annealed strips, had failed by 360 hrs. This illustrates that the present invention significantly improves the ESCR of injection moulded flexible thin walled articles, and enables the use of many polymer blends that may not have adequate ESCR when tested according to the method described herein and which are intended for use for the manufacture of commercially valuable flexible thin walled articles. The benefits of the present invention are most noticeable in flexible thin-walled articles having a thin section less than 1 mm in thickness and wherein the thin section is substantially continuous for greater than 50 mm in the direction of flow of the molten polymer blend in the mould, preferably greater than 90 mm in the direction of flow of the molten polymer blend in the mould and most preferably greater than 100 mm in the direction of flow of the molten polymer blend in the mould. Blends of isotactic polypropylene with ethylene propylene copolymers having 4 wt. % to 35 wt. % ethylene, both components having isotactic propylene sequences long enough to crystallize are described in WO 00/01766 which is hereby incorporated by reference. Such blends may be suitable for the manufacture of flexible tubes and other containers that are subjected to heating by such methods as heat-filling with the product the container is required to contain and/or heat treating the filled container by methods such as retorting. Blends conforming to the above specification comprise 1 wt. % to 95 wt. % of the isotactic polypropylene and an ethylene propylene copolymer with greater than 65 wt. % propylene and preferably greater than 80 wt. % propylene. Blends of various polypropylene polymers and ethylene, propylene or butene α-olefin polymers may also be particularly suitable for the manufacture of flexible tubes and other containers that are subjected to heating by such methods as heat-filling with the product the container is required to contain and/or heat treating the filled container by methods such as retorting. Blends conforming to the above specification comprise component (a) at least one isotactic, syndiotactic or atactic polypropylene homopolymer or α-olefin copolymer, preferably one or more of a C2 to C20 α-olefin copolymer, more preferably one or more of a C2 to C8 α-olefin copolymer made with a variety of catalysts such as metallocene or similar catalysts, and component (b) at least one of an ethylene, propylene and/or butene copolymer, preferably a C2 to C20 α-olefin ethylene, propylene or butene copolymer, more preferably a C2 to C8 α-olefin ethylene copolymer made with a variety of catalysts such as metallocene or similar catalysts and featuring a super-random distribution of the copolymer within and amongst the molecular chains of the polymer. The blends consist of 1% to 99% of component (a) and 99% to 1% of component (b), preferably 30% to 99% of component (a) and 70% to 1% of component (b), even more preferably 45% to 99% of component (a) and 55% to 1% of component (b), yet more preferably 55% to 99% of component (a) and 45% to 1% of component (b), and most preferably 60% to 99% of component (a) and 40% to 1% of component (b). As is noted in PCT/AU98/00255, AU 200020674 A1, AU 72146-99, Australian Innovation Patent No 2002200093 and Australian Innovation Patent 2002100211, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference, blending at least one compatible agent with at least one polymer frequently has the effect of substantially improving the ESCR. Such incorporation of a compatible agent also frequently improves the Gullwing tear test of the blend. The at least one compatible agent is preferably a polymer (also referred to herein as a ‘compatible polymer’) and when blended with the at least one polymer results in blends having properties which, when used to mould flexible thin-walled articles such as flexible injection moulded tubes, are superior to the original constituents or the neat polymers. This phenomenon is advantageously used to formulate blends suitable for the reaction moulding of the flexible tin walled articles of the invention. A particular class of compatible agents have been found by the applicant to be particularly useful in blends for the manufacture of flexible thin-walled articles by injection moulding. Those are high melt flow compatible polymers. It has been found that blends including such compatible agents are particularly useful in the process described above in relation to the first aspect of the invention, and may also be useful in processes that do not include the above described annealing of the article formed. Therefore, according to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a process for the manufacture of flexible thin-walled articles comprising injection moulding a blend of (a) at least one polymer and (b) at least one high melt flow compatible polymer having an MFI of greater than 100. It will be appreciated that the following discussion of the blends according to the second aspect of the invention will be equally applicable to the processes of the first aspect of the invention. The high melt flow compatible polymer has an MFI of greater than 100, preferably greater than 200, more preferably greater than 300, and may have an MFI of greater than 500, still further greater than 1000 and yet further greater than 1,500. One or more of the polymer components of either or both (a) and (b) are advantageously produced with a metallocene or similar catalyst system. In the polymer blend, component (a) is preferably about 40 to about 99.9 weight percent of the blend based on the total weight of (a) and (b) and forms the continuous or co-continuous phase of the blend. The polymer blend is generally formed by mixing blend components (a) and (b) under high shear mixing conditions or other means capable of producing an intimate mix, such as in parallel or series reactors, each reactor producing one or more components of blend components a) and/or b). A unit such as a twin-screw extruder would be an example of a suitable piece of mixing equipment. Other areas to achieve a well mixed blend will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The polymer blend may be prepared by extrusion of some or alt of the components of the polymer blend and the resulting extrusion chopped and used in the injection moulding process of the present invention. Alternatively, the polymer blend may be provided in its component form and subjected to mixing before and during the melting of the polymer blend in the present process. The high melt flow compatible polymer may be selected from the group consisting of ethylene vinyl acetate; ethylene, vinyl alcohol; plasticised polyvinyl acetate and polyvinyl alcohol; alkyl carboxyl substituted polyolefins; copolymers of anhydrides of organic acids; epoxy group containing copolymers; chlorinated polyethylene; ethylene-propylene-butylene etc. copolymers; ultra low density, very low density, low density, medium density and high density polyethylene and copolymers thereof; polypropylene, polybutylene and copolymers thereof; polyester ethers; polyether-esters (such as DuPont's Hytrel range); acrylonitrile-methacrylate copolymers; block copolymers having styrene end blocks; half esters; amino and alkoxysilane grafted polyethylenes; vinyl addition polymers; styrene-butadiene block copolymers; acid grafted polyolefins; vinyl pyrrolidine grafted polyolefins; block copolymers of dihydric monomers; propylene graft unsaturated esters; modified polyolefins comprising amide, epoxy, hydroxy or C2-C6 acyloxy functional groups; otter polymeric compatibilisers suitable for use with polyolefins; particles coated with any of the above; and mixtures thereof. In the above compatible polymers the functional groups are generally incorporated into the modified polyolefin as part of an unsaturated monomer which is either copolymerised with an olefin monomer or grafted onto a polyolefin to form the modified polyolefin. Included are ethyl and/or methyl acrylates of ethylene and/or propylene, and ethylene acrylic acid and methacrylic acid copolymer resins. Also included are blends of compatible polymers, such as a neutralised ionomer such as a Surlyn (Dupont) and EEA and/or EMA and/or EMAA. For example, a low MFI partly neutralised ionomer such as Surlyn 9970 (MFI=14) may be compounded with a high MFI EMA such as Nucrel 599 (Dupont) (MFI=500) to achieve a compatible polymer blend with a higher MFI than is achievable with the Surlyn alone, while still being able to benefit from the beneficial properties of the Surlyn. Those skilled in the ad will appreciate that the above example is but one of a very wide variety of combinations of compatible polymers that are covered by the present invention. Alkyl carboxyl substituted polyolefins may include substituted polyolefins where the carboxyl groups are derived from acids, esters, anhydrides and salts thereof. Caboxylic salts include neutralised carboxylic acids and are often referred to as ionomers (eg. Surlyn). Typically acids, anhydrides and esters include methacrylic acid, acrylic acid, ethacrylic acid, glysidyl maleate, 2-hydroxyacrylate, diethyl maleate, maleic anhydride, maleic acid, esters of dicarboxylic acids, etc. Preferred examples include ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymer such as polyethylene methacrylic acid and polyethylene acrylic acid and salts thereof. Copolymers of anhydrides of organic acids include copolymers of maleic anhydride as well as copolymers of cyclic anhydrides. Poly-2-oxazoline compounds and fluoroelastomers are also suited for use as a high melt flow compatible polymer. Incorporation of 1-40%, most preferably 2-20% of poly-2-oxazoline compounds is preferred. These compatible polymers improve the adhesion of the PE blend to various substrates, which may make them useful for printing or labelling. The compatibilizing polymer comprises an α-olefin copolymer substrate grafted with amounts of monovinylidene aromatic polymer. Preferably, the α-olefin copolymer substrate is a terpolymer of ethylene, propylene and a non-conjugated diolefin. Particularly useful as compatible polymers and high MFI compatible polymers are various aromatic/aliphatic olefin copolymers of which styrene-1,4-butadiene-butylene-styrene bock copolymers (SBBSA copolymers), styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymers (SBS copolymers) and styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene copolymer (SEBS copolymers) are particularly useful examples for the production of flexible thin walled articles. The high melt flow compatible polymer of the second aspect of the present invention is a compatible polymer or a mixture thereof wherein at least one compatible polymer generally has an MFI of greater than 100, preferably greater than 200, more preferably greater than 300, and potentially greater tin 500, or greater than 1,000, or still further greater than 1500. Unless otherwise stated, MFI is measured according to ASTM D 1238 (Condition 190° C./2.16 kg). Unless otherwise stated, the MFI of polymers in which propylene constitutes over 50% of the weight units of the polymer are measured by ASTM D 1238 at 230° C., 2.16 kg. Preferably the high melt flow compatible polymer of the present invention is a polypropylene homopolymer, a block or random co or tetrapolymer of polypropylene, or a mixture thereof, wherein the propylene-based polymer component has an MFI (as measured by ASTM D 1238 at 230° C., 2.16 kg) of 100 g/10 min or more, often greater than 200, sometimes greater than 300, and even greater than 1500. Preferably the propylene-based polymer component is an isotactic or syndiotactic polypropylene homopolymer or copolymer having a MFI falling within the ranges specified above. Preferably the propylene-based polymer component will have a MWD of from 1.8 to 4.0 and a narrow composition distribution that is characteristic of metallocene or similar catalysed propylene polymer. However, propylene-based polymers such as are cited in U.S. Pat. No. 6,476,173 and which is incorporated herein by reference and which have MWDs up to 20 will often produce good results. Polymers such as are cited above are conveniently produced using a stereospecific metallocene catalyst system. Random ethylene/propylene/vinyl aromatic interpolymers such as ethylene/propylene/styrene interpolymers may also be used as the compatible and/or high melt flow compatible polymer in the present invention. Polymers having similar specifications to those described above but having Mars less that 100 are also useful as compatible polymers of the present invention. A wide variety of polypropylene-based high melt flow compatible polymers, particularly when blended with low molecular weight plastomers, substantially linear polyethylenes, metallocene long-chain branched polyethylenes and copolymers of the aforementioned ethylene polymers as the polymer, will produce blends suitable for use in the process of the present invention. Many monomers have been copolymerized with propylene to form copolymers of propylene for use as compatible polymers. Many high MFI grades of these copolymers are suitable as the polymer or compatible polymers for use in the present invention. High MFI polypropylenes suitable as a high melt flow compatible polymer for use in the process of the present invention include isotactic, sydiotactic and atactic polypropylene and blends thereof of various MFIs, densities and crystallinities as would produce desired properties in products moulded by the process of the present invention, Polypropylenes particularly useful as the high melt flow compatible polymer include homopolymers or copolymers of propylene and one or more α-olefins selected from ethylene or linear or branched C4 to C20 α-olefines, preferably ethylene or C4 to C8 α-olefins, more preferably ethylene, 1-butene, 1-hexene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, 3-methyl-1-pentene, 3,5,5-trimethyl-1-hexene, and 1-octene, even more preferably ethylene or 1-butene or hexene or octene, and optionally, minor amounts of non-conjugated diolefins, preferably C6-C20 diolefins. In one embodiment, the α-olefin ca contain cyclic structures that are fully saturated such that the α-olefin monomer does not contain a cyclic moiety with any olefinic unsaturation or any aromatic structures. Preferred α-olefins are mono-olefins. These propylene copolymers with prescribed range of comonomer levels are preferably prepared by polymerization of the suitable olefins in the presence of supported or unsupported metallocene or similar catalyst systems. When the propylene-based compatible polymer either consists of or contains one or more copolymers, such copolymers are preferably composed of propylene as a main monomer and an α-olefin other than propylene as the co-monomer. The content of the propylene is generally 70 mole percent or more, often 80 mole % or more, frequently 90 mole % or more and sometimes 98 mole % or more. The polypropylene copolymer of the present invention preferably comprises a random crystallisable copolymer having a narrow compositional distribution such as can be produced by metallocene or the like catalysts. Many copolymers of ethylene are also useful as high melt flow compatible polymers in the process of the present invention. For example single site catalysed polymers such a metallocene catalysed polyethylene and ethylene. The polymer blends preferably include (a) at least one polymer having an MFI of greater than 10, preferably greater than 20, more preferably greater than 30, even more preferably greater than 50, the polymer preferably being an ethylene or propylene or butene homo or α-olefin interpolymer and preferably produced with a metallocene or similar catalyst which will display narrow composition distribution, meaning that the fractional comonomer content from molecule to molecule will be similar; and (b) at least one high melt flow compatible polymer, preferably an ethylene, propylene or butene homo or α-olefin interpolymer having a melt flow rate of greater than 100 and preferably produced using a metallocene or similar catalyst. All references to metallocene catalysts shall include other catalysts (e.g. single-site and geometry catalysts) capable of producing polymers having properties the same as or similar to metallocene-produced polymers (e.g. narrow or broad MWD, narrow composition distribution). Such blends can optionally include additives well known tot those skilled in the art, and may include amongst others, additives that reduce the water vapour and/or oxygen transmission rates of the polymers in which they are incorporated. For example, and as described in WO/02/074854 which is incorporated by references the addition of between 0.5% and 3% of a low MW hydrogenated aliphatic resin such as poly(dicyclopentadiene) may reduce the normalised moisture vapour transmission and sometimes the O2 transmission rate of the blend and articles made therefrom. Polyethylene, as used herein, can be a homopolymer or a copolymer and includes ethylene plastomers, VLDPE, LLDPE, LDPE, and HDPE, Ethylene plastomers, as used herein, refers generally to a class of ethylene based copolymers with density of less than about 0.915 g/cc (down to about 0.865 g/cc). Ethylene plastomers have an ethylene crystallinity between plastics (i.e. linear low density and very low density polyethylenes) and ethylene/α-olefin elastomer. VLDPE is very low density polyethylene, typically having a density in the range of from 0.90 to 0.915 g/cc. LLDPE is linear low density polyethylene, typically basing a density in the range of from 0.915 to 0.930 g/cc. LDPE is low density polyethylene, typically having a density in the range of from 0.915 to 0.930 g/cc. HDPE is high density polyethylene, typically having a density in the range of from 0.930 to 0.970 g/cc. Although PCT/AU98/00255 advises that “a wide variety of polypropylene polymers possessing a very wide range of MFIs (1-200+), densities and crystallinities will produce blends suitable for use is the process of the present invention”, it does not describe any particular advantages to be derived from the incorporation of at least one compatible polymer of any nature, including polypropylene polymers, with high MFIs, and indeed gives no examples of compatible polymers with an MFI greater than 100. The compatible polymer largely forms the disperse or co-continuous phase of the blends of the present invention. It has now been found that, surprisingly, the incorporation of at least one high melt flow compatible polymer in formulations for the manufacture of a flexible tin walled article frequently has a number of significant advantages relative to the use of the same compatible polymer(s) but with a low MFI. It has also been found that provided the molecular weight of the at least one compatible polymer doesn't fall below a value beyond which its ability to improve the ESCR and/or tear strength in the direction of the polymer flow of the moulded blend is negated, the incorporation of high MFI compatible polymers into the blend has a number of significant advantages relative to the incorporation of low MFI grades of the same compatible polymer. For example, the high melt flow compatible polymer frequently has the effect of increasing the shear sensitivity and overall MFI of the whole blend, thereby improving its flow properties. Also, because there is usually an inverse relationship between MFI and some physical properties of polymers, it is frequently found that polymer properties such as flex modulus and hardness decrease with increasing MFI. When it is desired, for example for reasons of cost ESCR effectiveness, etc., to use as a particular compatible polymer, but the low MFI grades of that polymer (i.e. polymers with MFIs≦100) have a flex modulus that is too high relative to the desired application and which results in mouldings and that are too stiff, the substitution of a high MFI chemically similar or identical compatible polymer for all or part of the compatible polymer with an MFI of ≦100 in a blend enables the production and use of blends with much higher MFI than were previously attainable while at the same time reducing the adverse impact on properties such as ‘feel’ and higher flex modulus that would normally be associated with lower MFI grades of the compatible polymer. Depending on the desired properties of the moulded article, the high melt flow compatible polymer can be used either as the sole compatible polymer in a blend or may be blended with other MFI compatible polymers, which may be either high or low MFI compatible polymers. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that the interaction between the polymer and the compatible polymers and particularly a high melt flow compatible polymer forms regions within the moulded articles which can be regarded as “joints”. These “joints” appear to absorb or disperse stress in articles made from the polymer blend. The presence of these “joints” interspersed within the article appears to absorb or dissipate the stresses within the article which would otherwise result in decreased physical properties. It is believed that the benefits obtained form the use of at least one high melt flow compatible polymer are due primarily to their being more effectively dispersed in the at least one compatible polymer relative to lower MFI versions of the same compatible polymer and that they enable the formation of more and, smaller disperse phase particles sizes relative to that enable with low MFI versions of the same polymer. In general, the higher the MFI of the compatible polymer, the smaller the particle size that it can form, although there will be an MFI (and hence MW) beyond which reducing the MW further will not resulting further reductions in high melt flow compatible polymer particle size. The smaller particle size of the disperse phase in turn results in an increase of the total surface area of a given weight percentage of the compatible polymer, thereby enabling a greater number of joints and areas of interaction between the polymer and the disperse phase (i.e. the compatible polymer) of the blend. The effect of reducing the particle size of a compatible polymer on the number of particles of the compatible polymer in the blend is illustrated by the fact that for a given weight % of a compatible polymer in a blend, halving the particle size (eg. by halving the particle radius) of the compatible polymer increases the number of compatible polymer particles by a factor of 8 and the total surface area of the compatible polymer by a factor of 2. Thus halving the radius of the particles of compatible polymer increases the number of stress-relieving ‘joints’ within the moulding by a factor of 8 and the surface area of the interface between the compatible polymer and the polymer by a factor of 2. Both these increases have the potential effect of improving moulding properties such as ESCR and tear strength. Again without wishing to be bound by theory, we believe that the increase in particle numbers and surface area of the compatible polymer of the discontinuous phase is one of the key reasons for many of the property improvements (eg, ESCR, tear strength) of the invention. The improvements in ESCR etc. resulting from the incorporation of high MFI compatible polymers open enables the percentage of compatible polymer in a blend to be reduced while still attaining an acceptable ESCR etc. This may be advantageous, for example where it is desirable to reduce the amount of a polypropylene compatible polymer in a blend in order to reduce the flex modulus of said blend. Alternatively, and using the same example, maintaining the weight % of the high melt flow compatible polypropylene results in significant increase in the number of disperse phase particles relative to a low MFI equivalent polypropylene which in turn increases the overall ESCR of the blend. This ESCR improvement in turn enables the use of higher MFI polymers, thereby increasing the blend's processing characteristics while maintaining acceptable ESCR performance. Without wishing to be bound by theory, we believe that the interfacial tension between two miscible polymers decreases with decreasing molecular weight, so that as the MFI of the disperse phase increases so does the compatibility between the polymers until they become miscible. For each type of compatible polymer there will be an upper limit on how high it's MFI (i.e. how low its molecular weight) can be before it starts to unacceptably degrade the performance of a particular blend for use in a particular application. This upper limit will vary, depending on the characteristics of the particular compatible polymer (e.g. homopolymer or copolymer PP, ionomer etc.), the properties of any other compatible polymers in the blend as well as the characteristics of the polymer(s) and the interaction between them as well as the end use of the moulded product (eg. what is intended to be packed into the product), and can be determined by experimentation. For some applications some degradation of some characteristics of a particular blend due to the incorporation of one or more high MFI compatible polymers relative to the same blend but with a low MFI version of the same compatible polymer may be acceptable in order to achieve the benefits of the improvement of other properties of the blend that result from their incorporation. Again, the limits on how high the MFI of the high melt flow compatible polymer can be as well as the level of incorporation that can achieved before the blend performance is degraded to an unacceptable level can be determined by experiment. The high melt flow compatible polymer may be directly produced in a reactor using appropriate catalysts (including metallocenes or similar catalysts) and processing conditions. The high melt flow compatible polymer may also be prepared by ‘cracking’ lower MFI polymers of the same type by means of various peroxides or other molecular chain-cutting polymers known to those skilled in the art. For example, a 50 MFI polypropylene homopolymer or copolymer may be converted into a high MFI (e.g. a 300, 500, 1,000 or 1500 MFI) polypropylene homopolymer or copolymer by means of cracking it. The cracking required to produce a high melt flow compatible polymer of a particular MFI can be achieved prior to incorporation of the high melt flow compatible polymer into the polymer, thereby producing a high melt flow compatible polymer ready for incorporation into the blend. Alternatively, the high melt flow compatible polymer may be produced in situ in the blend by incorporating into and/or coating the compatible polymer with an appropriate amount and type of a cracking agent capable of cracking the polymer to the required MFI, adding the thus prepared compatible polymer/cracking agent combination to one or more of the other blend components and processing the resultant blend under conditions (usually a high enough temperature) sufficient to enable the cracking agent to reduce the MW (molecular weight) of the compatible polymer to a level that will result in the desired MFI of the compatible polymer. If this latter method of achieving the high melt flow compatible polymer is used, it is necessary to assess the impact, if any, of the cracking agent on the other blend components during processing (ie. to assess for any unintended cracking or cross-linking of the other blend components by the cracking agent), and if necessary to adjust the blend formulation to correct for the consequences of these effects on the overall properties of the blond. A further method of producing blends of the present invention containing a high melt flow compatible polymer as the disperse phase within a continuous or continuous phase of a polymer is to produce a reactor blend of the high melt flow compatible polymer and polymer. This may be achieved by a number of means that are known to those skilled in the art. For example, the high melt flow compatible polymer and polymer may be produced in a single reactor in the presence of appropriate catalysts. Alternatively they may be produced in parallel or series in two or more reactors, or one polymerized component may be added in its finished state a reactor in which the other component is being produced. Some preferred properties of the final composition when moulded include high tensile strength, flexibility and tear strength. The extractables content for the compositions of the invention and mouldings therefrom is preferably less than or equal to 2.0 wt %, more preferably less than or equal to 1.6 wt %, most preferably less than or equal to 1.4 wt % as measured by ASTM D-5227. Similar to the function of compatible agents as described in PCT/AU98/00255, the high melt flow compatible polymer of this aspect of the present invention is used in an amount at least sufficient to improve the environmental stress crack resistance and/or tear resistance, as measured by the Gullwing tear test, of the polymer blend. The high melt flow compatible polymer may also be used in amounts in excess of those requested to compatibility the polymer blend in order to improve the viscosity characteristics of said polymer blend so as to optimise the moulding characteristics of said polymer blend and/or general properties of the moulded product such as softness and flexibility. Typically, the high melt flow compatible polymer is used in an amount of from about 2 to about 40 weight percent of the polymer blind, although lower or higher amounts may be used in certain polymer blends. The optimum amount for a specific formulation will depend on the properties required and can be determined by experimentation. Further it has been found that inclusion of percentages of high melt flow compatible polymers that are greater than necessary for increasing the environmental stress crack resistance of the polymer blend will often also enable the improvement of the polymer blend properties such as tear and impact strength, barrier properties, chemical resistance, processing and product feel. For example, the incorporation of greater than necessary percentages of a polypropylene-based high melt flow compatible polymer to improve the environmental stress crack resistance of a polyethylene-based polymer blend to the desired level may improve the chemical resistance and general barrier properties, and reduce the water vapour and water transmission rate of the polymer blend compared to polymer blends containing the minimum amount of polypropylene-based high melt flow compatible polymer required to improve the environmental stress crack resistance only. The properties of such blends of the high melt flow compatible polymer of the present invention may further be modified by the selection of suitable grades of the high melt flow compatible polymer and/or the polymer components to achieve the desired final properties. For example, where it is desired to have a polymer blend containing a relatively high percentage of polypropylene-based polymers, blend properties such as the ‘feel’, ‘softness’, impact resistance (especially low-temperature impact resistance), elongation-to-break, tear resistance and/or irritability of such a blend may be substantially modified by utilising a relatively low percentage of low-flex-modulus polymers as the polyethylene-based components of the blend. Examples of suitable low-flex-modulus polyethylene-based polymers include low flex modulus plastomers such as DuPont-Dow Engage 8401 plastomer and some of Mitsui's Tafmer XR propylene/α-olefin copolymers. Further, it has been found that the inclusion of greater than necessary percentages of the high melt flow compatible polymer may enable the incorporation of greater percentages of other polymers than would otherwise be consistent with this invention. Thus, using the high melt flow compatible polymer in such quantities may enable the incorporation of greater-than-otherwise-possible amounts of such beneficial, essentially incompatible other polymers such as nylons and EVOH, with concomitant improvements in properties such as tear and impact strength, barrier properties, chemical resistance and product feel. The high melt flow compatible polymer containing polymer blend may also incorporate a variety of other additives. Examples of additional additives include further polymers, slip agents, anti-tack agents, pigments, dyes, filers, antioxidants, plasticisers, UV protection, viscosity modifying polymers, additives (some of which may themselves be polymers) capable of reacting with or absorbing deleterious chemicals such as oxygen and other mould release polymers and melt strength modifiers amongst others. Additionally, compatibilisers that improve various properties of the blends, such as weld line strength, compatibility between the polymer and high melt flow compatible polymer, disperse phase particle size reduction, ESCR, tear strength, etc., may be added to the blends. The abovementioned and other suitable additives may be added to one or more components of the polymer blend or the polymer blend as a whole prior to moulding in order to modify its properties to suit specific applications or to achieve specific effects in the end product. In cases where one or more of the additives is itself a polymer, for example in the case of some oxygen-scavenging systems, said polymer may be the polymer or compatible polymer of the polymer blend. Non-polymer additives may be compatible polymers of the polymer blend. A wide variety of polymers may be used as the polymer in blends with the high melt flow compatible polymer of the present invention. These polymers include olefin homopolymers and copolymers, preferably ethylene or propylene or butene homopolymers and copolymers with C3-C20 α or beta olefins and/or polymers, preferably C3-C8 α or beta olefins, such polymers having densities ranging from very low to high density (density ranges between 0.85 and 0.97 g/cm3). Also suitable for use in the present invention are ethylene, propylene and butene copolymers with terminal vinyl groups and ethylene, propylene and butene copolymers containing greater than 50% ethylene, propylene or butene which are copolymerised with comonomers such as methyl acrylates, ethyl acrylates, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid and other polar comonomers, ionomers, styrene-ethylene/butene-styrene ABA copolymers, styrene, halo- or alkyl substituted styrenes or other vinylidene aromatic monomers and/or one or more hundred aliphatic or cycloaliphatic vinylidene monomers, tetrafluoroethylene, vinylbenzocyclobutane, and naphthenics (e.g., cyclopentene, cyclohexene and cyclooctene). These polymers may be made by a wide variety of methods including high and low pressure processes, using a wide variety of catalysts such as Ziegler-Natta and metallocenes, and have molecular structures ranging from linear to highly branched, thus included are LDPE, MDPE and HDPE. Particularly suitable for use in the present invention are plastomers, ‘substantially linear’ and branched polyethylenes or polypropylenes, copolymers of propylene and ethylene or one or more α-olefins, terpolymers of ethylene, propylene and one or more α-olefin (of which Montell's Catalloy polymers are an example) and polymers and copolymers of propylene manufactured using metallocene or similar catalysts and which are characterized by a super random distribution of the copolymers. Random propylene copolymers are suitable for the production of flexible thin-walled mouldings, particularly when improved optical clarity is required. Other polymers suitable for use in the present inversion include polylactic acid polymers, other suitable biodegradable polymers and polyketones, ethylene carbon monoxide copolymers (ECO), ethylene/propylene carbon monoxide polymers (EPCO), linear alternating ECO copolymers such as those disclosed by U.S. Ser. No. 08/009,198, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, recycled polyethylene (e.g., post consumer recycled high density polyethylene recovered from waste bottles). As exemplified in JP 07316356, JP 07316355 and JP 07330982 which are incorporated herein by reference, blends of crystalline PP in combination with ethylene/styrene/α-olefin elastomers may be suitable as a polymer for the production of flexible thin walled articles. Also suitable for use as polymers are linear or branched isotactic polymers, particularly polypropylene and polybutene homopolymers or random copolymers which have a structure in which their tacticity varies within the range of between 25 and 60% of [mmmm] pentad concentration. This variation in tacticity is due to the statistic distribution of stereoscopic errors in the polymer chains. Such polymers are described in, amongst others, WO 01/27169 (P&G), WO/99/52955 (Ringer) and WO 99/52950 and (Rieger) which are hereby incorporated by reference. The term “stereoscopic error” refers to a stereoscopic sequence, typically but not exclusively characterized by a [mrrm] pentad, which has been introduced into a polymer in which a different pentad (eg. [mmmm] (isotactic) or [mrmr] (syndiotactic) characterises the polymer. These stereoscopic errors change the characteristics of the polymer—for example, an isotactic PP with stereoscopic errors tends to have more elastomeric properties than the same polymer without stereoscopic errors. The term “tacticity” is measure of the orderliness of the succession of configurational repeating units in the main and/or side chains of a polymer molecule. Also suitable for use in the present invention are linear or branched isotactic polymers having an arbitrary or rather regular sequence of isotactic and atactic blocks within the polymer molecules, such as are described in WO/99/29749 (ExxonMobil), which is hereby incorporated by reference. WO/99/2949 describes a branched polyolefin having crystalline sidechains and an amorphous backbone wherein at least 90 mole percent of the sidechains are isotactic or syndiotactic polypropylene and at least 80 mole percent of the backbone is atactic polypropylene. Polymers with reduced tacticity such as are described above may have particular utility in blends as at least one compatible polymers in blends in which the at least one polymer is a crystalline or semi-crystalline PP. This will be particularly the case when the polymer(s) in question has a relatively low flex modulus as it acts to reduce the flex modulus of the blend with a crystalline or semi-crystalline PP at least one polymer, and increasing the tear resistance flex modulus and impact resistance of the blend. Recent developments in polypropylene polymerisation technology have application for injection moulded flexible thin walled mouldings. One such development is the ability to produce very flexible, soft and elastic polypropylene polymers with minor percentage of ethylene copolymer and essentially no diene. These polymers have limited crystallinity due to adjacent isotactic propylene units and have a relatively low melting point. They are generally devoid of any substantial intermolecular heterogeneity in tacticity and comonomer composition, and are substantially free of diene. They are also devoid of any substantial heterogeneity in intramolecular composition distribution. The ethylene copolymer includes lower limit of 5% by weight ethylene-derived units to an upper limit of 25% by weight ethylene-derived units. Within these ranges, these copolymers are mildly crystalline as measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and are exceptionally soft, while still retaining substantial tensile strength and elasticity. Such polymers are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,525,157 (ExxonMobil). Recent developments have resulted in the synthesis of partially atactic, partially isotactic polypropylene polymers which have elastomeric properties. It is believed that in these components each molecule consists of portions which are isotactic, and therefore crystalline, while the other portions of the same polypropylene molecule are atactic and therefore amorphous. Such polymers are be suitable for injection molded flexible thin walled mouldings, either as the at least one polymer or the at least one compatible polymer in blends combinations with other polymers, such as polyethylenes, polypropylenes and/or α-olefin copolymers thereof. Examples of these propylene homopolymers containing different levels of isotacticity in different portions of the molecule are described by in, amongst others, U.S. Pat. No. 5,594,080 (Waymouth), in Journal American Chemical Society (1995), Vol. 117, page 11586, and in the Journal American Chemical Society (1997). Vol. 119, page 3635. Especially when polymers such as are described in the P&G, Rieger, Waymouth and ExxonMobil patents are incorporated in blends having have an MFI greater than 10, preferably greater than 20 more preferably greater than 30 and most preferably greater than 50, and still more preferably the polymers themselves have an MFI greater than 10, preferably greater than 20 more preferably greater than 30 and most preferably great than 50, they may be used either as the sole polymer or as a compatible polymer or high melt flow compatible polymer and may have either narrow or broad molecular weight distribution. Polymers such as may have described above are often particularly to the production of flexible thin walled articles relative to the equivalent polymers of higher tacticity because their relatively reduced tacticity results in polymers with reduced rigidity an increased flexibility and elasticity. If the polymer(s) is used as a compatible polymer or high melt flow compatible polymer, it is advantageous, though not necessary, that it is used in conjunction with at least one polymer that is made from the same monomer(s) as the compatible polymer or high welt flow compatible polymer because this results in greater compatibility/stability between the polymer(s) as well as allowing for easier recycling of injection moulded flexible thin walled articles produced from such blends. For example, if the polymer is a polypropylene homopolymer or copolymer with tacticity varying between 25 and 60% of [mmmm] pentad concentration, it can be blended with a polypropylene homopolymer or copolymer with a higher tacticity to produce a blend suitable for use in flexible thin walled articles. Alternatively, these polymers may be used in conjunction with other polymers to form blends that art suitable for use to manufacture flexible injection moulded thin walled articles. For example, these polymers may be blended with polyethylenes and copolymers of different types, including LDPE, MDPE and HDPE, which in turn may be manufactured using a variety of different manufacture, techniques, catalysts and copolymers such as are described in PCT/AU98/00255 and herein. Preferably, the polyethylene is manufactured using metallocene or similar catalysts. In many blends suitable for the present invention, it is advantageous to incorporate at least two polymers into blends, with at least one polymer having a higher crystallinity, and preferably a higher MFI, than the at least one other polymer. It is preferable, though not essential, that the higher crystallinity polymer has a crystallinity that is at least 5% greater, and preferably 10% or more greater than the crystallinity of the at least one other polymer. The high crystallinity polymer may be made by a variety of methods using a variety of catalysts including metallocene, Ziegler Natta, constrained geometry catalysts, or may be produced by a free radical reaction process, and may be linear, substantially linear or branched in structure. In blends in which a high crystallinity polymer is incorporated with an at lest one lower crystallinity polymer (which is preferably a metallocene polymer), better ESCR results are often obtained when the high crystallinity polymer has a broad MWD (molecular weight distribution). A broad MWD (i.e. multi modal) high crystallinity polymer can be produced by a variety of methods. These include: 1) Intimately blending two or more polymers having different MFIs in appropriate blending equipment; 2) Producing bi or multi modal polymers by means of ‘tandem’ reactors; and 3) Producing bi or multi modal polymers in a single reactor using appropriate catalysts. We have found that plastomers, substantially linear polyethylenes, metallocene branched polyethylenes and copolymers of the aforementioned ethylene polymers, propylene α-olefin interpolymers and metallocene propylene polymers and interpolymers are preferred polymers for use in the present invention for the production of thin-walled products, and especially for the production of flexible thin walled articles. A key characterised of plastomers, substantially linear polyethylenes metallocene branched polyethylenes and copolymers of the aforementioned ethylene polymers, propylene α-olefin interpolymers and metallocene propylene polymers and interpolymers is their composition distribution the uniformity of distribution of comonomer within and among the molecules of the polymer. Another advantage of such catalysts is that the degree of molecular branch within and between the molecules of the polymers produced by them is more uniform than is obtained using conventional catalysts. For example, convention Ziegler-Natta catalysts generally yield copolymers having a considerably broader composition distribution—and in the case of copolymers the comonomer distribution in polymers thus produced will vary widely among the polymer molecules, and will also be less randomly distributed within a given molecule. Also, the degree of long chain branch is more consistent between molecules produced by metallocene or similar catalysts than are produced by Z-N or similar catalysts. These polymers may advantageously have a molecular weight distribution in a ratio Mw/Mn range of 1.5-30, preferably in the range of 1.8-10 and more preferably in the rouge 2-4. Generally, plastomer, substantially linear or branched ethylene or propylene polymers comprise ethylene or propylene homopolymers and interpolymers of ethylene and/or propylene, with at least one C3-C20 α-olefin copolymer being especially preferred. The term “interpolymer” is used herein to indicate a copolymer or a ter polymer or the like. That is, at least one other comonomer is copolymerised with ethylene or propylene to make the interpolymer α-olefins. When the polymer is a plastomer, substantially linear or branched polymer in which propylene or butene constitutes over 50% of the polymer, the MFI of the propylene or butene α-olefin copolymer may be higher thin is generally acceptable for flexible thin-walled injection moulded articles when ethylene α-olefins constitute the polymer, due to propylene and butene α-olefins generally possessing better inherent ESCR properties at the same MFI compared to most ethylene α-olefins. Thus, many propylene and butene α-olefins, particularly those prepared by metallocene or similar catalysts, can have MFIs up to and greater than 200 and still produce acceptable flexible thin walled articles with good ESCR when used as the at least one polymer and/or at least on compatible polymer. The optimum MFI for a particular propylene or butene α-olefin polymer can be determined by experimentation by one skilled in the art, but will preferably be >30, more preferably >50, and generally >100 and possibly >150. α-olefins suitable for copolymerisation with propylene or butene to produce propylene or butene α-olefins suitable for the present invention include α-olefins in the range of about 2 to about 20 carbon atoms, preferably in the range of about 3-16 carbons, most preferably in the range of about 2-8 carbon atoms. Illustrative non-limiting examples of such α-olefins are ethylene, propylene, 1-butene, 1-pentene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, 1-hexene, 1-octene, and 1-dodecene and the like. Polyene comonomers suitable for the copolymerisation with propylene or butene to form propylene or butane copolymers suitable for the present invention have, in the main, about 3 to 20 carbon atoms, preferably in the range of about 4 to about 20 carbon atoms, most preferably in the range of about 4 to about 15 carbon atoms. In one embodiment the polyene is a diene that has in the range of about 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, and may be a straight chained, branched chained or cyclic, hydrocarbon diene. Preferably the diene is a non-conjugated diene. Non-limiting examples of propylene or butene α-olefin plastomers suitable for the present invention include propylene or butene/butene-1, propylene or butene/hexene-1, propylene or butene/octene-1 and propylene or butane/ethylene copolymers. Non-limiting examples of terpolymer propylene or butene plastomers suitable for the present invention include ethylene/propylene or butene/1,4 hexadiene and propylene or butene/octene-1/1,4-hexadiene. Copolymers of propylene or butene with other α-olefins having 2 to 8 carbon atoms that are particularly useful for the present invention are copolymers comprising propylene or butane and ethylene as indispensable components (monomer units) as well as copolymers of propylene or butene with ethylene and at least one α-olefin having 4 to 8 carbon atoms usable herein include, for example, 1-butene, 3-methyl-1-butene, 1-pentene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, 1-hexene, and 1-octene. Further, the copolymer way contain as a comonomer 0.5 to 10% by weight of a nonconjugated diene, such as 1,4-hexadiene, 5-methyl-1,5-hexadiene, 1,4-octadiene, cyclohexadiene, cyclooctadiene, dicyclopentadiene, 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene, 5-butylidene-2-norbornene, or 2-isopropenyl-5-norbornene. Preferably these copolymers are prepared using metallocene or similar catalysts. The percentages of ethylene and/or other α-olefins copolymerised with propylene or butene to form polymers suitable for the present invention can be varied widely, depending on the desired properties of the mouldings made from blends of these materials. In general, the higher the percentage of ethylene and/or α-olefin copolymer polymerised with the propylene or butene, the lower the flex modulus of the resultant polymer and so the more flexible the mouldings made from them will be in which said polymers constitute the polymer of the blend. U.S. Pat. No. 6,355,736, which is hereby incorporated by reference, describes a propylene block copolymer composition comprising (A) a propylene-olefin random copolymer with a propylene content of 99.4 to 99.9 mol % and (B) a propylene-α-olefin random copolymer with a propylene content of 35 to 60 mot %. It further describes propylene block copolymer compositions wherein the content of the propylene-α-olefin random copolymer (B) is from 22 to 40% by weight based on the weight of the propylene block copolymer composition. Such propylene block copolymers are suited for use as the polymer component and/or the high melt flow compatible polymer in the present invention. U.S. Pat. No. 6,458,901, which is hereby incorporated by reference, describes propylene copolymers suitable for use as the polymer component and/or the high melt flow compatible polymer suitable for use in the present invention. The propylene copolymers described comprise propylene, at least one olefin selected from the group consisting of olefins having 2 to 20 carbon atoms except propylene, and a cyclic olefin, and are characterized in that the total number of carbon atoms of the monomers except the cyclic olefin is at least 7. The incorporation of cyclic olefins into polymers consisting of propylene, at least one olefin selected from the group consisting of olefins having 2 to 20 carbon atoms except propylene results in the improvement of the heat resistance of the resultant polymer. The propylene copolymer preferably contains 0.01 to 20% by mole, more preferably 0-05 to 15% by mole, particularly preferably 0.1 to 10% by mole, most preferably 0.15 to 5% by mole, of the cyclic olefin. When the propylene copolymer of the present invention comprises ethylene (the olefin having two carbon atoms), the content of ethylene is preferably 80% by mole or less, more preferably 70% by mole or less, particularly preferably 60% by mole or less, most preferably 50% by mole or less, from the viewpoint of the improvement of flexibility of the thermoplastic resin composition. The short chain branch distribution index (SCBDI) is defined as the weight percent of molecules having a comonomer content within 15% of the median total molar comonomer content. The SCBDI of the propylene polymers suitable for the present invention is preferably greater than about 30%, and especially greater than about 30%, with figures of 70% or more being achievable. Unless otherwise stated, when a copolymer is described as having a certain percentage of a particular monomer in its composition, for example a propylene/ethylene copolymer with 5% ethylene, it means that the copolymer consists of 5% by weight of ethylene-derived units out of the sum of the weights of propylene and ethylene-derived units, in this particular case this being 100%. Unless otherwise stated, MWD (molecular weight distribution) ma the ratio of the weight average molecular weight to the number average molecular weight, i.e. Mw/Mn. Unless otherwise stated, ‘crystallizable’ (eg. as used in ‘propylene/ethylene copolymer with isotactic propylene crystallisable sequences’) means that a particular polymer or blend has generally crystallisable sequences of a particular type (eg. isotactic propylene) which may be identified by the heat of fusion characteristic of the particular crystallisable sequences as highlighted in DSC analysis. Examples of blends utilising the benefits of the addition of a high melt flow compatible polymer into the polymer are clearly illustrated by the following examples: EXAMPLE 1 A 25:37.5:37.5 blend of SC973:Engage 8401:WSM 168 was injection moulded into tubes and the ESCR tested. SC973 is the compatible polymer in this formulation and is a 100 MFI PP obtained from Basell. This formulation had a ±30% ESCR failure rate after 360 hours. EXAMPLE 2 A 25:37.5:37.5 blend of Atofina 3960:Engage 8401:WSM 168 was injection moulded into tubes and the ESCR tested. Atofina 3960 is the compatible polymer in this formulation, and is a 350 MFI PP obtained from Atofina. This formulation showed a 0% ESCR failure rate after 360 hrs as well as significantly improved clarity relative to the comparative formula. The only difference between the formulations of Examples 1 and 2 is the substitution of the high melt flow compatible polymer approximately chemical equivalent of the compatible polymer for the compatible polymer, with the key difference between them being the much higher MFI of the high melt flow compatible polymer relative to the compatible polymer. The significant improvement in ESCR performance is due to the much higher MFI (i.e. much lower MW) of the high melt flow compatible polymer relative to the compatible polymer. Examples of blends according to the second aspect of the invention will now be described. It will be understood that the percentages of the various types of blend components illustrated in these example may be varied depending on the desired properties of the mouldings produced therefrom, and that the range of percentages of the types of blend components that will produce acceptable mouldings may be determined by experimentation. EXAMPLE 3 70% propylene/butene copolymer with a butene content of 15%, an of 50 and a MWD of <4 and made by a metallocene/single site catalyst. 30% Exact 4038, a 125 MFI 0.885 density ethylene/butene copolymer from ExxonMobil. This example illustrates the incorporation of a high MFI mPE compatible polymer into a propylene/α-olefin copolymer, and which is suitable for the manufacture of tin-walled flexible articles. EXAMPLE 4 70% propylene/octene copolymer with an octene content of 20%, an MFI of 30 and a MWD of <4 and made by a metallocene/single site catalyst 30% of Fina 3960, a 350 MFI PP homopolymer from Atofina. This example illustrates the incorporation of a high MFI PP compatible polymer into a propylene/octene α-olefin copolymer, and which is suitable for the manufacture of thin-walled flexible articles. EXAMPLE 5 70% propylene/ethylene substantially linear copolymer with an ethylene content of 25%, an MFI of 50 and a MWD of <4 and made by metallocene/single site catalysts. 30% of Fina 3960, a 350 MFI PP homopolymer from Atofina. This example illustrates the incorporation of a high MFI PP compatible polymer into a substantially linear propylene/ethylene α-olefin copolymer, and which is suitable for the manufacture of thin-walled flexible articles. EXAMPLE 6 80% propylene/butene copolymer plastomer with an butene content of 30%, an MFI of 70 and a MWD of <4 and made by a metallocene/single site catalyst. 10% of a 50 MFI isotactic or syndiotactic PP homopolymer made using a metallocene/single site catalyst 10% of Fina 3960, a 350 MFI PP homopolymer from Atofina. This example illustrates the incorporation of a high MFI PP and a low MFI PP compatible polymer into a propylene/butene α-olefin copolymer plastomer, and which is suitable for the manufacture of thin-walled flexible articles. EXAMPLE 7 90% propylene/butene copolymer with an butene content of 30%, an MFI of 70 and a MWD of <4 and made by a metallocene/single site catalyst. 10% of a 500 MFI polyethylene or ethylene α-olefin copolymer made with a metallocene catalyst. This example illustrates the incorporation of a high MFI polyethylene or ethylene α-olefin copolymer as the compatible polymer in combination with a propylene/butene α-olefin copolymer. The α-olefin percentage it the copolymer may be varied from 0.5% to 49% depending on requirements of the end use. EXAMPLE 8 90% propylene/butene copolymer with a butene content of 30%, an MFI of 150 an a MWD of >4 and made by a metallocene/single site catalyst. 10% of a 500 MFI polyethylene, preferably made by a metallocene/single site catalyst. This example illustrates the incorporation of a high MFI polyethylene as the compatible polymer in combination with a high MFI polypropylene compatible polymer. EXAMPLE 9 40% propylene/ethylene copolymer with a density of 0.86 and reduced isotacticity, and MFI of 14 such as Vistamaxx 1120 (ExxonMobil) 60% of Fina 3960, a 350 MFI PP homopolymer from Atofina. This example illustrates the incorporation of a high crystallinity, high MFI PP polymer into a propylene/ethylene α-olefin copolymer with altered tacticity and reduced isotacticity, and which is suitable for the manufacture of thin-walled flexible articles. EXAMPLE 10 30% propylene/ethylene copolymer with an MFI of 14, a density of 0.86 and altered tacticity such as Vistamaxx 1120. 30% of a 50 MFI isotactic or syndiotactic PP random copolymer and 40% of Fina 3960, a 350 MFI PP homopolymer from Atofina. This example illustrates the incorporation of a high PP and a low MFI propylene/ethylene copolymer with statistic distribution of stereoscopic errors together with a PP random copolymer. This blend is suitable for the manufacture of thin-walled flexible articles and which has improved clarity and a lower tendency to stress whiten due to the incorporation of the random copolymer in place of some of the PP homopolymer. EXAMPLE 11 35% propylene/ethylene copolymer with stereoscopic errors having and MFI of 300, density of 0.86 and a flex modulus (1% secant) of approximately 13 MPa 65% 100 MFI random PP copolymer This example illustrates the incorporation of a very high MFI propylene/ethylene copolymer with stereoscopic errors in a readily available grade of prior art random PP copolymer to produce a relatively high MFI blend that is suitable for the manufacture of thin walled flexible articles. EXAMPLE 12 35% propylene/ethylene copolymer with stereoscopic errors having an MFI of 300, density of 0.86 and a flex modulus (1% secant) of approximately 13 MPa 40% 100 MFI random PP copolymer 25% 100 MFI PP copolymer such as Basell's SC973 This example illustrates the incorporation of a very high MFI propylene/ethylene copolymer with stereoscopic errors in a readily available grade of prior art random PP copolymer and a readily available grade of prior art PP copolymer to produce a relatively high MFI blend that is suitable for the manufacturer of thin walled flexible articles. Further to the above description, developments in the production of highly-branched polyolefins have enabled the production of star, comb, nanogel and other similar polymers. These polymers feature a plurality of polyolefin arms linked to a polymeric backbone to provide a highly branched structure in which the properties of the highly branched structure can be conveniently tailored to the application for which the polymer is used. The choice of specific reactive polymeric backbone and/or its manner of preparation controls the branched structure as to comb, star, nanogel or structural combinations thereof. That allows for the preparation of polymers having relatively low viscosities compared to their linear counterparts at the same absolute molecular weight. These polymer types and blends made therefrom may be particularly suitable for the production of injection moulded flexible thin walled mouldings. The rheological behaviour of these polymers with controlled branching shows surprising and useful features. These polymers frequently have a zero-shear viscosity that is larger than a linear polymer of the same molecular weight. They show a rapid drop in viscosity with shear rate (large degree of shear thinning) and a plateau modulus that is at least two times lower than that of prior art linear and branched polymers. This latter characteristic is especially surprising, since ethylene polymers of various types exhibit essentially the same plateau modulus. This was thought to be intrinsic to the monomer type and not dependent on polymer architecture. The lower plateau modulus means that the comb and similar polymers are much less entangled than the linears, thus giving them such low viscosity for their molecular weight. The utility of these properties of these polymers is that hey have a very low viscosity for their molecular weights under melt processing conditions and so will process much more easily than the prior art polymers. Even when added in relatively small quantities to conventional blends suitable for injection moulded flexible thin walled mouldings, they can significantly improve blend processability. U.S. Pat. No. 6,355,757 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,084,030 amongst other patents describe the production of polymers such as are described above. The copolymers of the above and similar inventions have utility in blends suitable for the production of injection moulded flexible thin walled mouldings, those blends comprising the branched copolymer of the inventions at a very wide range (eg. 0.1-99.9% weight percent), but most often between 1-5%. Depending on the properties of a specific highly-branched polymer of the above inventions and the desired properties of a particular formulation, said polymer may be used as a component of the at least one polymer or at least one compatible polymer part of the composition of the present invention. Depending on their properties they may also be regarded as additives rather than components of the polymer portion of the present invention. Recent catalyst and process developments have enabled the production of a variety of polypropylene homo and copolymers possessing properties that make them particularly useful for the production of injection moulded flexible thin walled articles. Amongst these useful polymers are elastomeric PP homo and copolymers polymers produced by altering the tacticity of the polymer by various means as well as the ability to produce low flex modulus PP α-olefin copolymers with relatively low percentages of α-olefin copolymers. As examples of one of these recent developments are linear or branched isotactic polymers, particularly polypropylene and polybutene homopolymers or random copolymers which have a structure in which their tacticity varies within the range of between 25 and 60% of [mmmm] pentad concentration. This variation in tacticity is due to the statistic distribution of stereoscopic errors in the polymer chains. Such polymers are described in, amongst others, WO 01/27169 (P&G), WO 99/52955 (Rieger) and WO 99/52950 (Rieger). Similarly, propylene/ethylene copolymers of the types described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,525,157 (ExxonMobil) are suitable for use in injection moulded flexible thin walled mouldings. It is worth noting that propylene α-olefins in which the number of Cs in the α-olefin is >4 have particular utility for packaging requiring improved cold creep resistance relative to propylene α-olefins in which the number of Cs in the α-olefin is ≦4. When the at least one polymer of a blend is a linear, substantially linear or branched polymer in which propylene or butene constitutes over 50% of the polymer, the MFI of the at least one polymer homo or α-olefin copolymer may be higher than is generally acceptable when ethylene α-olefins constitute the at least one polymer due to propylene and butene homo or α-olefins generally possessing better inherent ESCR properties at the same MFI compared to most ethylene α-olefins. Thus some propylene and butane homo or α-olefin copolymers, particularly those prepared by metallocene or similar catalysts, may have MFIs up to and greater than 50 and still produce acceptable injection moulded flexible thin wailed mouldings with good ESCR when used as the at least one polymer. The optimum MFI for a particular propylene or butene homo or α-olefin copolymer at least one polymer can be determined by experimentation, but will preferably be >30, more preferably >50 and, depending on the characteristics of the particular polypropylene or polybutene homo or α-olefin copolymer, may be even more preferably >100 and often >150. α-olefins suitable for copolymerisation with propylene or butene to produce propylene or butene α-olefins suitable for injection moulded flexible thin walled mouldings include α-olefins in the range of about 2 to about 20 carbon atoms, preferably in the range of about 2-16 carbons, most preferably in the range of about 2-8 carbon atoms. Further, the copolymer may contain as a comonomer 0.5 to 10% by weight of a nonconjugated diene, such as 1,4-hexadiene, 5-methyl-1,5-hexadiene, 1,4-octadiene, cyclohexadiene, cyclooctadiene, dicyclopetadiene, 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene, 5-butylidene-2-norbornene, or 2-isopropenyl-5-norbornene. Preferably these copolymers are prepared using metallocene or similar catalysts. The percentages of ethylene and or other α-olefins copolymerised with propylene or butene to form polymers suitable for injection moulded flexible thin walled mouldings can be varied widely, depending on the desired properties of the mouldings made from blends of these materials. In general, the higher the percentage of ethylene and/or other α-olefin copolymer polymerised with the propylene or butene, the lower the flex modulus of the resultant polymer and so the more flexible the mouldings made from them will be in which said polymers constitute the at least one polymer of the blend. Blends designed for recoverability and which contain a dispersed phase or co-continuous phase of a greater crystallinity and a continuous or co-continuous phase of lesser crystallinity such as are described below are suitable for the production of injection moulded flexible thin walled mouldings. The sizes of the individual domains of the dispersed phase in these blends are preferably very small. The components of the blend are also compatible to the extent that no compatibiliser needs to be added to attain and retain this fine morphology. One of the components is a polymer comprising predominately stereospecific polypropylene, preferably isotactic polypropylene. This is the component with greater crystallinity (an XPP). A second component is a copolymer of propylene and at least one C2, C4-C20 α-olefin preferably ethylene. This is the component with lesser crystallinity (an SXPP). In the copolymer the propylene is preferably polymerised substantially stereospecifically. Preferably the copolymer has a substantially uniform composition distribution, preferably as a result of polymerisation with a metallocene catalyst. Most preferably, said SXPP is an ethylene propylene copolymer, e.g. ethylene propylene semicrystalline elastomer. It has been found that blending an at-least-one XPP and an at-least-one SXPP results in advantageous processing characterstics while still providing a composition having decreased flexural modulus and increased tensile strength, elongation, recovery and overall toughness. A third polymeric component which is another crystallizable propylene α-olefin copolymer (an SPX2) has a crystallinity between those of the XP and SXPP. One type of PP blend suitable for injection moulded flexible thin walled mouldings comprises a crystalline isotactic or syndiotactic polypropylene (XPP) with a semi-crystalline α-olefin PP copolymer (SXPP) of the same tacticity as the XPP, preferably an ethylene propylene copolymer containing 4 wt. % to 35 wt. % α-olefin, preferably ethylene, and optionally a second propylene α-olefin copolymer with a crystallinity intermediate between the XPP and SXPP and preferably with similar tacticity. These blends have heterophase morphology. It is believed that this matching of stereoregularity increases the compatibility of the components and results in improved adhesion at the interface of the domains of the polymers of different crystallinities. In the polymer blend composition. Narrow intermolecular and intermolecular compositional distribution in the copolymer is preferred, but not essential. These and similar blends may be particularly suitable for the manufacture of flexible injection moulded flexible thin walled mouldings and other containers that are subjected to heating by such methods as heat-filling with the product the container is required to contain and/or heat treating the filled container by methods such as resorting. Blend composition can vary widely depending on the application and may comprise 1% to 95% by weight of XPP and a SXPP with greater than 65 percent by weight propylene and preferably greater than 80% by weight propylene. Polypropylene-based at least one polymer compositions that have low flex modulus have particular utility for injection moulded flexible thin walled mouldings. The following are illustrations of some broad formulations that are capable of providing suitable low-flex-modulus PP compositions. Formulation Type 1: 1. 8-25% crystalline PP or PP copolymer, most preferably 12-18%. If it is a copolymer, it should have at least 85% by weight of PP, preferably more than 90%. 2. 75%-92%, most preferably 82-88%, of two elastomeric polymers. Polymer a) and Polymer b): Polymer a) having 15-32% α-olefin, preferably 25-30%, optionally including 0.5-5% diene and Polymer b) having 32-45% α-olefin, preferably 35-40%, optionally including 0.5-5% diene. The weight ratio of polymer a) to polymer b) is 1:5 to 5:1. The above composition may be prepared by sequential polymerisation or blending. The preferred α-olefin is ethylene. Depending on properties needed, the above compositions may be used in combination with EPR (ethylene/propylene copolymers), ethylene/propylene/diene terpolymers (EPDM), ethylene/C4-C12 α-olefins (eg. ethylene/octane such as Engage). Such elastomeric polymers may be present in 5%-80% weight of composition. Formula Type 2: 1. 10-60% of a crystalline propylene homo or co polymer 2. 10-40% propylene/ethylene copolymer insoluble in xylene (i.e. low ethylene copolymer content) and 3. 30-60% ethylene/propylene copolymer soluble in xylene at room temp (i.e. high ethylene copolymer content) The above composition may be prepared by sequential polymerisation or blending. Formula Type 3: 1. 70-98% of a crystalline PP homo or copolymer 2. 2-30% somewhat xylene insoluble propylene/ethylene copolymer (i.e. relatively low ethylene copolymer) This blend has a relatively high flex mod, due to the relatively high % crystalline copolymer and relatively low α-olefin PP copolymer, and may be prepared by sequential polymerisation or blending. Other types of formulations include simple blending of a variety of different types of PP at least one polymers such as have been mentioned above, preferably PP homo polymers of different tacticities and PP α-olefin copolymers of various tacticities and degrees of α-olefin content together with at least one compatible polymers of various types, particularly mPEs and PP homopolymers of different tacticities and PP α-olefin copolymers of various tacticities and degrees of α-olefin content having a lower flex modulus than the PP at least one polymer used in the particular blend. In addition to its use in PP blends, blends of HD/MD/LDPE with PE copolymers that can act as ‘tie molecules’, eg. low density mPE, can also be improved using the techniques of sperulite boundary strengthening. This enable the tie molecules to be concentrated at the crystal boundary, which effectively increases the number of tie molecules at the crystal interface, which in turn leads to increased blend ESCR. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the percentages of the various types of blend components illustrated in the above examples may be varied depending on the desired properties of the moulding, and that the range of percentages of the types of blend components that will produce acceptable mouldings may be determined by experimentation.

<SOH> FIELD OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The present invention according to one aspect, relates to a process for the manufacture of flexible thin-walled articles, such as tubes or the like, wherein an improvement in Environmental Stress Crack Resistance (ESCR) and other properties is provided by annealing of the article after forming to its final shape. There are also provided, according to further aspects of the invention, compositions and blends that may be useful in the manufacture of flexible thin-walled articles or other articles, the compositions and blends having improved ESCR and other properties.

20060410

20130827

20060928

94155.0

B29C4500

HUSON, MONICA ANNE

METHODS, COMPOSITIONS AND BLENDS FOR FORMING ARTICLES HAVING IMPROVED ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS CRACK RESISTANCE

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

B29C

ACCEPTED

Anti-inflammatory substituted phenols and elastomeric compositions for oral delivery of drugs

3,5-di-substituted-4-hydroxybenzylidene phosphonates and sulfonates useful in treating inflammatory disease, particularly osteoarthritis, and elastomeric particles for oral delivery of drugs are disclosed.

1. A method of treating inflamatory disease in a subject comprising administering to the subject a compound comprising the structure of Formula I: where; X is a phosphonate or sulfonate ion, or an acid, salt, ester, or amide thereof; R is H, an alkyl ester-forming group, or an alkyl ether-forming group; R1 and R2 are alike or different, and are bulky groups comprising a ring-bound tertiary carbon atom; and R3 and R4 are alike or different, and are H, F, or CH3. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the calcium salt of the said phosphonate or sulfonate has a solubility in animal serum at physiological temperature, pH, and Ca2+ concentration, of less than 0.1 weight-%. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein said solubility is less than 0.01 weight-%. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein X is a phosphonate ion, an acid, salt, ester, or amide thereof 5. The method of claim 1, wherein said compound, upon hydrolysis in said animal, forms a phosphonate ion. 6. A process for producing an anti-inflamatory drug having reduced undesirable complications or side effects, said process comprising attaching to the drug's structure a phosphonate or an acid, salt, ester, or amide thereof that forms the phosphonate upon hydrolysis in an animal, wherein the solubility of a Ca2+ salt of said phosphonate in animal serum is less than 0.1 weight-%. 7. The method of claim 6, the said solubility being less than 0.01 weight-%. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein said drug comprises the chemical structure: where: R is H, a phenol ester forming group, or an ether forming group; R1 and R2 are alike or different, and are groups comprising a tertiary carbon atom bound to the ring, tert-butyl, trimethylsilyl, or trifluoromethyl; and R3 and R4 are alike or different, and are hydrogen, fluorine, or methyl. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the phosphorus atom is bound to at least two oxygen atoms. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the phosphorus atom is bound to two oxygen atoms and a nitrogen atom. 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the phosphorus atom is bound to three oxygen atoms. 12. The method of claim 8, wherein the compound is a phosphonate, or is hydrolyzed to a phosphonate in vivo. 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the compound comprises the acid: or a salt, ester, or amide thereof. 14. The method of claim 8, wherein the compound comprises the acid: or a salt, ester, or amide thereof 15. The method of claim 1, wherein said compound comprises the anion: 16. The method of claim 8, wherein said compound comprises the anion: 17. A method of treating inflamatory disease comprising administering to an animal a compound comprising the structure: where R is H, a phenol ester forming group, or an ether forming group; R1 and R2 are alike or different, and are bulky groups comprising a tertiary carbon atom bound to the ring, tert-butyl, trimethylsilyl, or trifluoromethyl; and R3 and R4 are alike or different, and are hydrogen, fluorine, or methyl. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the sulfur atom is bound to at least two oxygen atoms. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the sulfur atom is bound to two oxygen atoms and a nitrogen atom. 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the sulfur atom is bound to three oxygen atoms. 21. The method of claim 17, wherein the compound is a sulfonate, or is hydrolyzed to a sulfonate in vivo. 22. A method of treating a disease, said method comprising orally administering to a subject in need of such treatment a safe and effective amount of a composition containing multiple particles of an elastomer in which a drug is dissolved or dispersed. 23. The method of claim 22, wherein at least 50% of the particles are smaller than ⅛′ in their longest dimension. 24. The method of claim 22, wherein the drug is at least ten times more soluble in an organic solvent than it is in water. 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the drug is at least one hundred times more soluble in an organic solvent than it is in water. 26. The method of claim 1, wherein said disease is arthritis of a joint or a bone. 27. The method of claim 8, wherein the disease is arthritis of a joint or a bone. 28. The method of claim 17, wherein the disease is arthritis of a joint or a bone. 29. The method of claim 22, wherein the disease is arthritis of a joint or a bone. 30. Use of a a compound comprising the structure of Formula I: where; X is a phosphonate or sulfonate ion, or an acid, salt, ester, or amide thereof; R is H, an alkyl ester-forming group, or an alkyl ether-forming group; R1 and R2 are alike or different, and are bulky groups comprising a ring-bound tertiary carbon atom; and R3 and R4 are alike or different, and are H, F, or CH3; for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of inflamatory disorders.

This application is being filed on 13 Jan. 2004, as a PCT International Patent application in the name of Adam Heller and Charles Haymore, both U.S. citizens, applicants for the designation of all countries. Therapeutically useful phenols, phenol esters and phenol ethers, having bulky substituents in their 2 and 6 positions and a methylene group in their 4-position, the methylene group bound to a phosphonate or sulfonate anion, ester or amide are disclosed. The esters and amides are hydrolysable to phosphonates or sulfonates. The solubility of the calcium salts of the phosphonates or of the sulfonates in serum is less than 0.1 weight % at 37° C. Elastomer-comprising vehicles for oral drug delivery are also disclosed. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The use of derivatives of 2,6-disubstituted phenols, such as 2,6-di-tert-butylphenols, as drugs is taught in the U.S. patents listed in Table 1. Their activity has been ascribed to inhibition of cyclooxidase (COX), or 5-lipooxygenase or leucotriene-oxidase. As anti-inflammatory drugs, they prevent, alleviate, cure, or are otherwise useful in treating animals, including humans, for pain, inflammatory disease, arthritic disease, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, periodontal disease, gingivitis, conjunctivitis, fever, and sunburn. As anti-viral drugs they prevent, alleviate, cure, or are otherwise they useful in treating hepatitis C, herpes, papilloma, warts, and other viral diseases. As anti-allergic drugs they prevent, alleviate, cure, or are otherwise useful in treating allergies, hay fever, poison ivy exposure, hypersensitivity, contact dermatitis, eczema, and asthma. As antilipidemics, they prevent, alleviate, cure, or are otherwise useful in treating atherosclerosis, high serum cholesterol, and cerebral stroke damage. Nguyen U.S. Pat. No. 5,128,331 describes the lowering of plasma lipids and blood pressure by a di-phosphonate. The patents listed below in Table 1 disclose 2,6-di-substituted phenol-containing drugs and therapeutic uses. The papers listed below in Table 2 disclose anti-inflammatory 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-(2-arylethenyl) phenols. TABLE 1 US Patent Inventor Assignee Action or effect 4,029,812 Wagner Dow Chemical Hypolipidemic 4,076,841 Wagner Dow Chemical Hypolipidemic 4,078,084 Wagner Dow Chemical Hypolipidemic 4,124,725 Moore Riker Labs Anti-inflammatory 4,172,082 Moore Riker Labs Anti-inflammatory 4,172,151 Moore Riker Labs Anti-inflammatory 4,212,882 Moore Riker Labs Anti-inflammatory 4,357,345 Moore Riker Labs Anti-inflammatory 4,414,217 Moore Riker Labs Anti-inflammatory 4,418,074 Moore Riker Labs Anti-inflammatory 4,431,831 Moore Riker Labs Anti-inflammatory 4,535,165 Moore Riker Labs Anti-inflammatory 4,568,696 Smerbeck Warner Lambert Anti-inflammatory Leukotriene synthesis inhibitor, 4,677,113 Bell Riker Labs antiallergic 4,636,516 Kubo Yamanouchi Antiarthritic 4,708,966 Loomans Procter & Gamble Anti-inflammatory 4,711,903 Mueller G. D. Searle 5-lipooxygenase inhibitor 4,714,776 Bell Riker Labs Antiallergic 4,755,524 Mueller G. D. Searle 5-lipooxygenase inhibitor 4,833,155 Muchowski Syntex Anti-inflammatory 4,835,190 Mueller G. D. Searle Anti-inflammatory & antiallergy 4,849,428 Dobson Procter & Gamble Anti-inflammatory 4,857,588 Mueller G. D. Searle 5-lipooxygenase inhibitor Anti-inflammatory, 4,906,662 Hashimoto Otsuka Pharma lipooxygenase inhibitor 4,935,440 Muchowski Syntex Anti-inflammatory 4,968,710 Rustad Riker Labs Antiallergic 4,985,465 Hendler Antiviral Hypolipidemic, 5,128,331 Nguyen Symphar lowering of blood pressure 5,143,928 Cetenko Warner Lambert Anti-inflammatory 5,155,122 Connor Warner Lambert Anti-inflammatory 5,234,937 Capiris Warner Lambert Anti-inflammatory 5,237,070 Scherrer Warner Lambert Anti-inflammatory 5,248,682 Connor Warner Lambert Anti-inflammatory 5,256,680 Connor Warner Lambert Anti-inflammatory 5,280,045 Dobson Procter & Gamble Anti-inflammatory 5,290,800 Cetenko Warner Lambert Anti-inflammatory 5,298,514 Mueller G. D. Searle Anti-inflammatory 5,340,815 Connor Warner Lambert Anti-inflammatory 5,342,838 Mueller G. D. Searle Anti-inflammatory 5,347,036 Scherrer Riker Labs Anti-inflammatory 5,356,898 Belliotti Warner Lambert Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant 5,376,670 Connor Warner Lambert Anti-inflammatory 5,487,893 Vachy Fileco Antiviral 5,494,927 Cetenko Warner Lambert Anti-inflammatory 5,495,043 Scherrer Riker Labs Antiallergic 5,498,745 Scherrer Riker Labs Antiallergic 5,510,361 Scherz Procter & Gamble Anti-inflammatory 5,527,824 Scherrer Riker Labs Leucotriene synthesase inhibitor 5,612,321 Nguyen Hercules Antiarthritic 5,700,451 Yue Procter & Gamble Sunscreen 5,709,847 Bissett Procter & Gamble Sunscreen 5,804,572 Blank Procter & Gamble Anti-wrinkle, skin atrophy prevention 5,849,732 Suzuki Tanabe Seiyaku Antioxidant preventing heart attacks 5,942,530 Panetta Eli Lilly Pain treatment 6,153,226 Vachy Fileco Antiviral 6,218,437 Chojkier U. California Anti-hepatitis C 6,348,493 Chojkier U. California Anti-hepatitis C 6,369,097 Chojkier U. California Anti-hepatitis C 6,420,428 Chojkier U. California Anti-hepatitis C TABLE 2 Lazer et al., J. Med. Chem, 1989, 32, pp. 100-104 K. F. Swingle et al. In: “Anti-inflammatory and Anti-rheumatic Drugs” K. D. Rainsford, editor, CRC Press, 1985, pp. 105-126, “Anti-inflammatory activity of antioxidants” Moore & Swingle, Agents & Actions, 12 (5): 674-683 (1982) Hidaka et al. Ensho 3 (4): 511-512 (1983) Isomura et al., Chem. Pharm. Bull., 31 (9): 3168-3185 (1983) Isomura et al., Chem. Pharm. Bull., 32 (1): 152-165 (1984); Noda et al., Kokai 80/15, 460 Katsumi et al., “Pharmacological Properties of a New Anti-inflammatory Compound, α-(3,5-di-tertbutyl-4-hydroxybenzylidene)-γ-butyrolactone (KME-4) and its Inhibitory Effects on Prostaglandin Synthetase and 5-lipooxygenase, Jpn. J. Pharmacol. 36 (1), 77-85 (1984) VanDerGoot et al., European J. Medicinal Chem., 13 (5) 425-428 Katayama et al., “In-vitro effect of N-methoxy-3-(3,5-ditert- butyl-4-hydroxy-benzylidene)-2-pyrrolidone (E-5110), a novel non- steroidal anti-inflammatory agent, on generation of some inflammatory mediators” Agents and Action, 21, 269-271 (1987) Lazer et al. “Effect of Structure on Potency and Selectivity in 2,6- Disubstituted 4-(2-Arylethenyl)-phenol Lipooxygenase Inhibitors J. Med. Chem. 33, 1982-1998 (1990). The 2,6-disubstituted phenols, such as 2,6-di-tert-butylphenols are useful also as antioxidants and are used as stabilizing additives in plastics, elastomers, waxes and oils. Compound 1, the calcium salt of the monoethyl ester of (((3,5 -bis (1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-hydroxyphenyl)methyl) phosphonic acid, is an antioxidant sold, for example, by Ciba® Specialty Chemicals as Irganox® 1425. It is described by Ciba® Specialty Chemicals as a “highly efficient, non-discoloring stabilizer for organic substrates such as plastics, synthetic fibers, elastomers, adhesives, waxes, oils and fats. It protects these substrates against thermo-oxidative degradation. It is odorless, stable to light, and has excellent color retention. It has good compatibility with most substrates and high resistance to extraction” (by water or organic solvents). Furthermore, according to Ciba® Specialty Chemicals, Compound 1 imparts processing and good long term stability to polyolefins. It is particularly suitable for use in polypropylene fibers. Compound 1 is also an effective stabilizer for polyesters, crosslinked elastomers, specialty adhesives, and natural and synthetic tackifier resins and is additionally used as an esterification catalyst for the preparation of rosin esters. It is recommended for applications requiring improved extraction resistance, low volatility, excellent color and color stability and superior gas-fading resistance.” Its solubility in water is reported to be <0.01 weight %. In the rat, the oral LD50 of Compound 1 exceeds 6000 mg/kg and in the Chinese hamster it exceeds 2000 mg/kg. Its 4 hour inhalation at >2.35 mg/l air aerosol, with exposure to an aerosol comprising mostly (˜80%) particles smaller than 7 μm, resulted in no deaths of rats. Its intraperitoneal LD 50 in the rat is 662 mg/kg. No bioconcentration (accumulation) was detected in carp at 0.3-3 ppm. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides compounds of the family shown as Structure 1, referred to herein as the “anti-inflammatory structure.” The compounds of the invention are useful drugs for treating diseases, particularly inflammatory diseases, including arthritic diseases, such as inflammations of joints, osteoarthritis, or Crohn's disease. In these compounds, R can be H, or an ester-forming group such as acetyl (CH3CO—) or benzoyl, or an ether-forming group such as methyl, ethyl, or lactate. R1 and R2 are bulky groups. The bulky groups can be identical or non-identical, and can be a group containing a ring-bound tertiary carbon atom, such as that of the tert-butyl group in Compound 1, or that of the trifluoromethyl group, or it can be a trialkylsilyl group, such as a trimethylsilyl group. X contains phosphorus or sulfur, and is preferably a phosphonic or sulfonic acid, or a salt of these acids, or an ester of these acids, or an amide of these acids. The solubility of the calcium salts of the phosphonic or sulfonic acids in water at 37° C. between pH 7.2 and 7.4 and at the normal physiological concentration of dissolved calcium cations in serum is less than 0.1 weight % and preferably less than 0.01 weight %. The concentration of the dissolved or protein-bound biologically active phosphonate or sulfonate increases, however, when the local concentration of a calcium ion binding or precipitating anion is increased. It is known that the concentrations of some calcium binding or precipitating anions are higher in inflamed and/or arthritic tissues than in normal tissues. Anions, the concentrations of which are higher in arthritic or inflamed tissues, are exemplified by di-, tri-, and polyphosphates and are specifically exemplified by pyrophosphate. The higher concentration of pyrophosphate, such as H2P2O72−, in the arthritic tissue is known to cause the accumulation of insoluble calcium pyrophosphate, such as Ca2P2O7, containing matter in osteoarthritic tissues and in arthritic joints, where pyrophosphate is generated or released and is precipitated as a calcium salt. Because the pyrophosphate or other calcium binding agent reacts with the calcium salt of the anti-arthritic drug, exemplified by Compound 1, according to a reaction such as the above-shown calcium pyrophosphate precipitating reaction, the soluble anion of the anti-arthritic or analgesic drug is locally released. Local release provides for an adequate therapeutic concentration of the drug in the diseased tissue, while its systemic concentration remains low enough to avoid undesired effects that would result if tissues other than the diseased tissue were exposed to the damagingly high concentrations of the anion. Thus the recognized damage to parts of the digestive system, the kidneys and the skin caused by anti-arthritic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs is alleviated or altogether avoided. These and other drugs can be delivered orally in small particles of elastomers, or in capsules or tablets comprising small particles of elastomers, in which the drugs are dispersed or dissolved. Although the drug can be added to the particles of the elastomer by soaking the particles in a solution of the drug, it is preferred to add the drug before or while the elastomer is being compounded. The elastomer can be any non-toxic rubber or elastomer. Examples include elastomers comprising silicones, polydienes, polyolefins, and copolymers of styrene and butadiene. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Compounds Useful compounds of the invention contain the “anti-inflamatory structure” shown below as Structure 1. In the anti-inflamatory Structure 1, X=P or S, phosphonic or sulfonic acid, or salt, ester, or amide thereof, or a phosphonate or sulfonate ion; R=H, or ester-forming group (acetyl, benzoyl), or ester-forming group (methyl, ethyl, lactate); and R1, R2=bulky groups such as ring-bound tertiary C (tert-butyl; trifluromethyl; trialkylsilyl (trimethylsilyl)) (—C(CH3)3, —CF3, —Si(CH3)3 ) or -methylcyclohexyl; R3, R4=—H, —F, or —CH3. Useful compounds of the invention are phosphonates or sulfonates or their precursors, the solubility of the calcium salts of which in serum at 37° C. is less than 0.1 weight %, preferably less than 0.01 weight %, comprising the anti-inflammatory structure. They are exemplified by the phenols or phenol esters, or phenol ethers of Structure 1. Preferred are phenols and phenol esters that can be hydrolyzed in the digestive system. Examples of the phenol esters are acetate, lactate and pyruvate esters. The phenols are substituted in their 2 and 6 positions with bulky functions R1 and R2. The preferred bulky substituent is the tertiary butyl function —C (CH3)3, its tri-alkylated carbon bound to the ring. Other examples of such bulky functions are —Si(CH3)3 and —CF3. In general, it is preferred that the ring-bound carbon atoms of the bulky functions be tertiary carbon atoms, meaning that their neighboring atoms, opposite their ring side, not be hydrogens, but carbon or oxygen or sulfur or nitrogen. Thus phenols where R1 or R2 is 1-methylcyclohexyl are useful. While the ring bound atoms in the 2 and 6 positions of the phenols are preferably carbon atoms, as are the atoms next to the ring bound carbons, the atoms further removed from the aromatic ring can be nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur. The group in position 4, para to the OH of the phenol, is —C(R3R4)X, where R3 and R4 can be identical or different. R3 and R4 are chosen from the group hydrogen, fluorine or methyl. X is, or comprises, at neutral pH, a phosphonate or a sulfonate anion, or is a compound forming upon its hydrolysis a phosphonate or sulfonate anion, such as an amide or an ester. The preferred group in position 4 is —CH2X, where X is or comprises at neutral pH, a phosphonate or a sulfonate anion, or is a compound forming upon its hydrolysis a phosphonate or sulfonate anion, such as an amide or an ester. Thus, X is a phosphonate or a phosphonate precursor, yielding upon hydrolysis a phosphonate, exemplified by functions 3, 4, and 5 or a phosphamide. Alternatively, is a sulfonate or sulfonate precursor, yielding upon hydrolysis a sulfonate. The salts can be of any non-toxic organic or inorganic cation, such as choline, ammonium, lysine, Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Li+, or Zn2+. While the ethyl esters are shown in functions 4 and 5, the esters can be of other alcohols, for example, of butyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, ethylene glycol, glycerol, glucose, and other sugars. For function 5, the two alcohols can be similar or can differ. With diols or triols, or with sugars, the diesters can be cyclic, as shown in Function 6 for glycerol. Other examples of the group in the 4 position of the phenol include sulfonates (Function 7) and hydrolysable, sulfonate precursors, such as the esters of Function 8 and the amides of Function 9. While the ethyl ester is shown in Function 8, it can be an ester of another alcohol, for example, those listed above. Examples of the cations in the salts of Function 7 are those mentioned for the phosphonates and examples of the alcohols in Function 8 are those listed for the phosphonate esters. The amides of Function 9 can be monoalkyl or dialkylamides, the nitrogen bound hydrogen atoms being replaced by groups such as CH3, C2H5 or cyclohexyl. The groups can be cyclic or heterocyclic. The most preferred compounds are the Function 4 phosphonate esters and Function 3 salts of Compound 1. Other useful compounds would include, for example, Compound 2, an analog of 16-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid and an inhibitor of leukotriene production in a neutrophils according to J. R Falck et al. PCT Int. Appl. (1999), WO 9959964 A1 19991125 Application: WO 99-US10728 19990514 Although the subject compounds of this invention can be administered or applied by any method of drug administration, for example, by injection in the arthritic tissue or elsewhere, or rectally, or in a salve applied to the skin, the preferred method is oral administration of capsules or tablets. The daily dosage is about 1 microgram/kg to about 100 mg/kg, the preferred dosage being about 0.01 mg/kg to about 10 mg/kg. While not wishing to be bound by any theory, a feature of the phosphonate and sulfonate anions, particularly the preferred phosphonate anions, is their binding with partially or fully hydrated cations having a charge greater than one, such as Ca2+, Mg1+, Fe2+, or Zn2+. Upon binding with Ca2+, the phosphonates displace water molecules solvating the Ca2+, cation, neutralize or reverse its positive charge, forming a salt that is substantially insoluble at or near the physiological pH, temperature, and Ca2+ ion concentration. Because they bind hydrated or partially hydrated Ca2+, the drugs of the anti-inflammatory structure can accumulate where hydrated Ca2+ abounds, for example at surfaces of bones and in calcified arthritic cartilage, symptomatic in condrochalcinosis articularis. Because in the osteoarthitic joint the concentrations of Ca2+-binding ligands, such as pyrophosphate, is increased, and the concentrations of di-, tri-, or poly-phosphates exemplified by calcium ion binding nucleotide mono, di-, and tri-phosphates, DNA, RNA and their degradation products may be increased, the concentration of the dissolved and biologically active phosphonate or sulfonate ion can be locally high, even though the systemic concentration is low. The high concentration of the drug at the site where it is needed and its much lower concentration where it is not needed can reduce the well-known complications and side effects of treatments by the anti-inflammatory drug. Specifically, gastric and duodenal ulcers, hepatic injury, renal toxicity, lower bowel toxicity, and cutaneous toxicity caused by or associated with the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs could be avoided. The increase in the local concentration of the dissolved phosphonate or sulfonate could result, for example, from the shifting of the equilibria such as whereby the soluble anion is released from its insoluble calcium salt. Increase in the pyrophosphate concentration in the osteoarthritic joint has been reported, for example by Henry J. Mankin of the Orthopedic Research Laboratories of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School in the Chapter “Normal Articular Cartilage and the Alterations in Osteoarthritis” in the book “Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs”, Joseph G. Lombardino, Ed., Wiley, New York, 1985, page 28. Usually it is preferred that the solubility of the Ca2+ salt of the phosphonate or the sulfonate administered or formed of the administered compound be less that 0.1 weight-% in water at pH 7.2 at 37° C. at the physiological Ca2+ concentration in serum; and it is most preferred that the solubility under these conditions be less than about 0.01 weight-%. While the hindered phenols, such as Compound 1, are examples of a family of compounds with anti-inflammatory structures, other anti-inflammatory structural element-comprising phosphonates and sulfonates, having similarly insoluble calcium salts, can be used for treatment of the inflammatory disease exemplified by osteoarthritis. Another useful phosphonate is Compound 2, an analog of 16-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid and an inhibitor of leukotriene production in neutrophils, according to J. R Falck et al. PCT Int. Appl. (1999), WO 9959964 A1 19991125. Oral Drug Delivery Using Elastomeric Vehicles: The diffusion coefficients and the solubilities of organic solvent-soluble compounds are, in general, higher in elastomers than they are in other polymers. This has made them useful materials in drug delivering implants, particularly in subcutaneous implants and in drug delivering patches worn on the skin. Organic soluble compounds are compounds that are more soluble in at least one organic solvent than they are in water, are preferably at lest ten times more soluble in an organic solvent than they are in water and, are most preferably at least one hundred times more soluble in an organic solvent than they are in water. The most widely used elastomeric implant materials are elastomeric silicones and polyurethanes. Their use in drug delivering implants has been described, for example, by Blackshear, 1979, “Implantable drug-delivery systems,” Scientific American, 241(6): 66-73; Orienti et al., 1991, “Diffusion of naproxen in presence of β-cyclodextrin across a silicone rubber membrane,” Pharmaceutica Acta Helvetiae, 66(7): 204-8; Szycher, “Hydrophilic polyurethane elastomers for drug delivery systems,” PCT Int. Appl. WO 9105809 A1 19910502; Bardin, 1994, “Implantable contraception,” Current Therapy in Endocrinology and Metabolism, 5: 263-70; and Li et al., 1995, “An in-vitro evaluation of silicone elastomer latex for topical drug delivery,” Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 47(6): 47-50. Elastomers are described herein as useful vehicles for oral drug delivery. The drug is dissolved, or dissolved and dispersed, in the elastomer. Unlike in implants, biocompatibility of the elastomers is not of essence for oral drug delivery. In addition to the elastomeric silicones and polyurethanes, elastomeric materials of which non-toxic rubber products are made can also be used. They include, for example, elastomers made of polymers or copolymers of styrene and butadiene, cis-isoprene, chlorinated butadiene, or olefins. The polymers and co-polymers that are precursors of the preferred elastomers are preferably crosslinked or vulcanized to improve their mechanical strength, to reduce or prevent their adhesion to surfaces, and to prevent or reduce their dissolution in solvents. The elastomer in the particles is preferably vulcanized or crosslinked. The elastomer particles are taken orally either as such, or encapsulated in a readily dissolved gelatin or other capsule. They pass the digestive system and are excreted without substantially changing their shape. Tires are an example of a drug-containing vulcanized elastomer. Examples of drugs contained in tires include antioxidants added prior to vulcanization in the compounding of rubbers in the manufacture of tires. They are exemplified by added, or in-situ formed, 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol derivatives, constituting 1-3 weight % of the tires. As seen in Examples 10, 11, 13, and 14, orally-administered drug-comprising elastomers are effective in treating disease in animals. Useful elastomer particles are larger than about 0.001 cm in diameter and smaller than about 1 cm in diameter; preferred particles are larger than about 0.01 cm in diameter and smaller than about 0.5 cm diameter; most preferred particles are larger than about 0.05 and smaller than about 0.4 cm diameter. The elastomer particles, in which the drug is preferably homogeneously distributed, can have any shape. The drug can be dissolved or dispersed in the particles. It is preferred that at least 1 weight-% of the drug contained in the particles be dissolved rather than dispersed, and it is most preferred that at least 10 weight-% of the drug be dissolved. The preferred particles can have hollow domains; however, the preferred volume fraction of the hollow domains is less than 10 volume-%. When the particles are non-spherical, the above diameters represent their longest dimension. The particles can comprise any non-toxic elastomer, vulcanized or crosslinked elastomers being preferred. The preferred particles are insoluble in the fluids of the digestive system and are excreted without change in their shape. After passing the digestive system, the weight of the particles decreases preferably by less than about the weight of the drug carried by the particles. The drug content of the elastomeric particles is greater than about 0.001 weight-% and is less than about 20 weight-%; it is preferably greater than about 0.01 weight-% and less than about 10 weight-%; most preferably it is greater than about 0.03 weight-% and less than about 3 weight-%. A therapeutically useful weight of the drug containing elastomeric particles is administered orally. The preferred weight of the daily ingested particles during the period of therapy is between about 0.1 g and about 30 g, and the most preferred weight is between about 0.5 g and about 10 g. The distance to which the drug diffuses in the elastomer during the period between the oral intake of the particles and their excretion is termed herein the “diffusion length.” Elastomeric particles passing the digestive system release some or all of the therapeutic agent before their excretion. The elastomeric particles can be designed so that all of their therapeutically active ingredient is released in a period shorter than the period between their oral intake and excretion. This is done by making the dimensions of the particles small relative to the diffusion length of the active ingredient in the elastomer. Alternatively, the particles can be designed so that only a fraction of their active ingredient is extracted in the period of passage through the digestive system. This is done by making the dimensions of the particles large relative to the diffusion length of the active ingredient in the elastomer. In general, it is preferred to tailor the diffusion length of the active ingredient and the dimensions of the ingested particles so that all, or only a fraction of, the active ingredient is released in the period between the oral intake of the particles and their excretion. The preferred extracted fraction in the period of passage through the digestive system is greater than 0.001 and smaller than 0.99; the most preferred fraction is greater than 0.01 and smaller than 0.8. Because the period between the oral intake of the particles and their excretion can vary, it is preferred to use the elastomeric particles when bowel movements are regular. When the period between ingestion and excretion is shorter than normal, for example in case of diarrhea, the amount ingested can be increased; when the period is longer, for example in case of constipation, the amount can be decreased. It is preferred to label the therapeutic composition made with the elastomeric particles with a statement such as “for regular bowel movement”. It is also preferred to label the therapeutic matter with warnings against usage in case of irregular bowel movement, such as in cases of diarrhea or constipation or to appropriately label compositions designed to treat these special situations. The elastomeric particles can be used as vehicles for any drug that is soluble in the elastomer and diffuses in the elastomer. The solubility of the drug in the elastomer is greater than about 0.001 weight-%, preferably greater than about 0.01 weight % and most preferably greater than 0.1 weight-%. Examples of applications are treatment of inflammatory diseases of the digestive tract, such as Crohn's disease, where the passing particles may provide elevated drug concentrations at the inflamed tissue. Other examples are treatment of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis. Examples of the active components of drugs in the elastomeric vehicle include those of this application and those described in its cited references, listed in part in Table 1 and the novel drugs disclosed in this application. EXAMPLES In this application “rubber” and “elastomer” have the same meaning. The meanings of the terms “tires”, “ground tires” and “ground rubber tires” are the same. The latter terms mean rubber tires that were ground to particles of about 1/16 inch to about ⅛ inch average diameter. In the following studies, dogs received with their daily meal one tablespoonful of ground tires for four weeks. Ground tires were administered to 8 dogs diagnosed with arthritis or chronic or degenerative joint disease. The condition of 5 dogs did not improve. The Examples below describe 3 dogs in which improvement was evident. Compound 1 was administered to 5 dogs with arthritis or chronic or degenerative joint disease. The Examples below describe 4 dogs for which improvement was evident. Example 1 Compounding of Elastomers with Antioxidants and Their Grinding to Small Particles The base material, SBR rubber Duradene 706 (Firestone Polymers, Akron, Ohio) was in the form of a 75 lb block termed “bale”. SBR rubber is an elastomeric copolymer of styrene and butadiene, or an elastomeric copolymer formed mostly of styrene and butadiene. The Duradene 706 bale was sheared to blocks of about 1 inch×4 inches×12 inches that were placed in a roller mill. The roller mill had two 14 inch diameter rollers, rolling in opposite directions. As a result of the rolling, the sheared blocks of rubber were spread, covering about the entire surface of the rollers. At the point where the rubber was “banded”, meaning that the rubber covered the circumference of the rollers on the roller mill, the additives were spread and well mixed with the rubber. The weight percentages (wt %) of materials in the banded mixture were 1.8 wt % stearic acid; 1.8 wt % of either Compound 1 or 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol (from Aldrich, Milwaukee, Wis.) ; 0.9 wt % of zinc oxide; 1.35-wt % tetramethylthiuram disulfide; 1.8-wt % sulfur; and 92.35 wt % of Duradene 706. After the ingredients were thoroughly mixed, the banded rubber sheets were heated for 15 minutes to 320° F. to crosslink the elastomer by its vulcanization, then allowed to cool to ambient temperature and ground, using an extrusion grinder # 4625 at about 4,900 rpm, to particles having a diameter in the range of about 1/16 inch to about ⅛ inch. Examples 2 through 14 Methodology The experiments below were performed on dogs after the informed consent of their owners was obtained. The owners did not know whether their dog was receiving the drug candidate or a placebo. The specified compound was administered orally once a day with the dog's meal. A control group, receiving a placebo, was given ground dry dog food of similar particle size. The owners reported weekly any change in the ability of their dog to stand up, walk, run, climb and descend stairs, get on and off a bed, sofa, or chair, get into and out of a car, their limping and behavior. Examples 2-6 Placebos In these examples the dogs were given as a daily oral dose for 4 weeks, 1 tablespoonful of the placebo. In Example 3 the dog was a 12 year old male Pug weighing 24 lbs; in Example 4, it was a 13 year old male Scooter weighing 19 lbs; in Example 5, it was a 10 year old male Australian Cattle mix weighing 28 lbs; in Example 6, it was a 10 year old male Sheltie weighing 43 lbs; in Example 7, it was a 13 year old male Golden Retriever weighing 58 lbs. In each of the placebo controls there was no physical improvement, except that two of the owners reported that their dog appeared initially “slightly perkier”. Example 7 Effectiveness of Compound 1 Versus the Placebo A 33 lb 11 year old male Kelpie-mix having arthritis in the shoulders and in the elbow had difficulty getting down stairs, bed, sofa, or out of a car. The dog was given orally 1 tablespoonful of the placebo daily with its meal for four weeks. The condition of the dog did not change. In the next four-week period the dog was given daily one gelatin capsule containing about 10 mg of Compound 1. After 1 week the dog got down the sofa and out of the car more easily. After 2 weeks it moved smoothly, had less difficulty getting out of the car or off the sofa, ran better and more often, and was more active. After 3 weeks, it was freely getting off the bed, down from the sofa and out of the car. In the 4th week, the dog's condition continued to improve. Example 8 Effectiveness of Compound 1 Versus the Placebo A 13-lb 15-year-old spayed female miniature Poodle had an unknown disease making it difficult for it to climb stairs, jump, climb, or run; causing it to limp when first getting out of her bed in the morning. The dog was given daily for four weeks 1 flat tablespoonful of the placebo. There was no change, other than the dog being more active, which the owner attributed to cooler weather. After 3 months of no treatment, the dog was given daily one gelatin capsule containing about 10 mg of Compound 1 for 4 weeks. After two weeks the dog climbed stairs with less hesitation and ran occasionally. After 3 weeks, it ran frequently and jumped up on the sofa without hesitation. After 4 weeks it was climbing and running freely. Example 9 Effectiveness of Compound 1 Versus Rimadyl® An 85 lb 12-year-old female Labrador retriever was diagnosed as suffering of arthritis of the hips. The dog had severe difficulty standing up and was not running. The dog was treated with Rimadyl®, which slightly improved the dog's condition. The dog was then given daily one gelatin capsule containing about 15 mg of Compound 1 and Rimadyl®. After 1 week of taking Compound 1, the dog stood up without assistance and limped less. After two weeks the dog moved faster and was not bothered by its hips. After 3 weeks, it started to move faster, then to run and the Rimadyl® was discontinued. In the 4th week of treatment with Compound 1, the dog got up and moved rapidly with ease and it's running improved. Example 10 Effectiveness of Rubber Particles Compounded with Compound 1 A 32 lb 12 year old male Cocker spaniel was diagnosed as suffering from arthritis of the right knee. The dog had surgery a year earlier on this knee. The dog could not jump up and down on the owner's bed or into the car of the owner. After the dog was given daily for 4 weeks one gelatin capsule containing about 200 mg of the rubber compounded, as described in Example 1, with Compound 1, the dog regained its ability to freely jump up and down the bed and into the car. Example 11 Effectiveness of Ground Tires and of Compound 1 A 62-lb 13½-year-old male Australian cattle dog was diagnosed as suffering from arthritis. The dog had difficulty standing and stood only for short periods; could walk only short distances, limped, climbed only one or two stairs a day, and did not run. The dog was first given daily orally for 4 weeks, 1 level tablespoonful of ground rubber tires having a particle size of about 1/16 inch to about ⅛ inch. After 1 week, the dog limped slightly less. In the second week, the dog, for the first time in several years, jumped off the bed without showing signs of distress; in the third week it got up and walked; in the 4th week, again for the first time in year, it jumped out of the car instead of waiting to be lifted out. The dog was not treated for the next 5 months. After this period, the dog could get up without assistance, stand for only a brief time, walk only a short distance and climb only two steps. The treatment of the dog then was resumed, this time with Compound 1. The dog was given daily, one gelatin capsule containing about 10 mg of Compound 1 for 4 weeks. After one week the dog stood longer, walked, and enjoyed the outdoors; after 2 weeks, the dog stood well, limped less, and climbed the 3 stairs to and from the house; after 3 weeks it trotted and climbed 5 stairs; after 4 weeks its condition was further improved. Example 12 Ineffectiveness of the Rubber Compounded with 2,6-di-tert-butyl4-methylphenol A 13.5 year old 80 lb male Samoyed, having difficulty in getting up and limping because of back hip arthritis, was given daily orally 1 tablespoonful of the placebo for a period of four weeks. There was no change in its condition. Next, the dog was given 1 tablespoonful of the elastomer of Example 1, made with of 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol. There was no change in the condition of the dog. Example 13 Effectiveness of Ground Tires A five-year-old 82 lb female Rottweiler had trouble getting into position to defecate, getting up and lying down, and going on hikes because of arthritis and hip dysplasia. A veterinarian characterized its hip x-rays as the “worst she had seen.” The dog was given daily one tablespoonful of ground tires for four weeks. In the first week, the owner noticed a “dramatic difference”. The dog was getting up with ease, ran around, and went hiking with the owner. After two weeks, the dog jumped into the owner's truck, after not doing this since the dog was young. The arthritis and hip dysplasia symptoms of the dog disappeared after four weeks. Example 14 Effectiveness of Ground Tires A 10 year old female black Labrador weighing 101 lbs was diagnosed as having arthritis and possibly dysplasia of the hips, causing the dog to limp, and making it hard for the dog to run for more than 1 to 20 minutes, or to go up and down stairs. The dog was given one tablespoonful of ground tires for four weeks. Within the 4-week treatment period, the dog stopped limping, was able to go up and down stairs, and regained its ability to run for an extended period.

<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The use of derivatives of 2,6-disubstituted phenols, such as 2,6-di-tert-butylphenols, as drugs is taught in the U.S. patents listed in Table 1. Their activity has been ascribed to inhibition of cyclooxidase (COX), or 5-lipooxygenase or leucotriene-oxidase. As anti-inflammatory drugs, they prevent, alleviate, cure, or are otherwise useful in treating animals, including humans, for pain, inflammatory disease, arthritic disease, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, periodontal disease, gingivitis, conjunctivitis, fever, and sunburn. As anti-viral drugs they prevent, alleviate, cure, or are otherwise they useful in treating hepatitis C, herpes, papilloma, warts, and other viral diseases. As anti-allergic drugs they prevent, alleviate, cure, or are otherwise useful in treating allergies, hay fever, poison ivy exposure, hypersensitivity, contact dermatitis, eczema, and asthma. As antilipidemics, they prevent, alleviate, cure, or are otherwise useful in treating atherosclerosis, high serum cholesterol, and cerebral stroke damage. Nguyen U.S. Pat. No. 5,128,331 describes the lowering of plasma lipids and blood pressure by a di-phosphonate. The patents listed below in Table 1 disclose 2,6-di-substituted phenol-containing drugs and therapeutic uses. The papers listed below in Table 2 disclose anti-inflammatory 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-(2-arylethenyl) phenols. TABLE 1 US Patent Inventor Assignee Action or effect 4,029,812 Wagner Dow Chemical Hypolipidemic 4,076,841 Wagner Dow Chemical Hypolipidemic 4,078,084 Wagner Dow Chemical Hypolipidemic 4,124,725 Moore Riker Labs Anti-inflammatory 4,172,082 Moore Riker Labs Anti-inflammatory 4,172,151 Moore Riker Labs Anti-inflammatory 4,212,882 Moore Riker Labs Anti-inflammatory 4,357,345 Moore Riker Labs Anti-inflammatory 4,414,217 Moore Riker Labs Anti-inflammatory 4,418,074 Moore Riker Labs Anti-inflammatory 4,431,831 Moore Riker Labs Anti-inflammatory 4,535,165 Moore Riker Labs Anti-inflammatory 4,568,696 Smerbeck Warner Lambert Anti-inflammatory Leukotriene synthesis inhibitor, 4,677,113 Bell Riker Labs antiallergic 4,636,516 Kubo Yamanouchi Antiarthritic 4,708,966 Loomans Procter & Gamble Anti-inflammatory 4,711,903 Mueller G. D. Searle 5-lipooxygenase inhibitor 4,714,776 Bell Riker Labs Antiallergic 4,755,524 Mueller G. D. Searle 5-lipooxygenase inhibitor 4,833,155 Muchowski Syntex Anti-inflammatory 4,835,190 Mueller G. D. Searle Anti-inflammatory & antiallergy 4,849,428 Dobson Procter & Gamble Anti-inflammatory 4,857,588 Mueller G. D. Searle 5-lipooxygenase inhibitor Anti-inflammatory, 4,906,662 Hashimoto Otsuka Pharma lipooxygenase inhibitor 4,935,440 Muchowski Syntex Anti-inflammatory 4,968,710 Rustad Riker Labs Antiallergic 4,985,465 Hendler Antiviral Hypolipidemic, 5,128,331 Nguyen Symphar lowering of blood pressure 5,143,928 Cetenko Warner Lambert Anti-inflammatory 5,155,122 Connor Warner Lambert Anti-inflammatory 5,234,937 Capiris Warner Lambert Anti-inflammatory 5,237,070 Scherrer Warner Lambert Anti-inflammatory 5,248,682 Connor Warner Lambert Anti-inflammatory 5,256,680 Connor Warner Lambert Anti-inflammatory 5,280,045 Dobson Procter & Gamble Anti-inflammatory 5,290,800 Cetenko Warner Lambert Anti-inflammatory 5,298,514 Mueller G. D. Searle Anti-inflammatory 5,340,815 Connor Warner Lambert Anti-inflammatory 5,342,838 Mueller G. D. Searle Anti-inflammatory 5,347,036 Scherrer Riker Labs Anti-inflammatory 5,356,898 Belliotti Warner Lambert Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant 5,376,670 Connor Warner Lambert Anti-inflammatory 5,487,893 Vachy Fileco Antiviral 5,494,927 Cetenko Warner Lambert Anti-inflammatory 5,495,043 Scherrer Riker Labs Antiallergic 5,498,745 Scherrer Riker Labs Antiallergic 5,510,361 Scherz Procter & Gamble Anti-inflammatory 5,527,824 Scherrer Riker Labs Leucotriene synthesase inhibitor 5,612,321 Nguyen Hercules Antiarthritic 5,700,451 Yue Procter & Gamble Sunscreen 5,709,847 Bissett Procter & Gamble Sunscreen 5,804,572 Blank Procter & Gamble Anti-wrinkle, skin atrophy prevention 5,849,732 Suzuki Tanabe Seiyaku Antioxidant preventing heart attacks 5,942,530 Panetta Eli Lilly Pain treatment 6,153,226 Vachy Fileco Antiviral 6,218,437 Chojkier U. California Anti-hepatitis C 6,348,493 Chojkier U. California Anti-hepatitis C 6,369,097 Chojkier U. California Anti-hepatitis C 6,420,428 Chojkier U. California Anti-hepatitis C TABLE 2 Lazer et al., J. Med. Chem, 1989, 32, pp. 100-104 K. F. Swingle et al. In: “Anti-inflammatory and Anti-rheumatic Drugs” K. D. Rainsford, editor, CRC Press, 1985, pp. 105-126, “Anti-inflammatory activity of antioxidants” Moore & Swingle, Agents & Actions, 12 (5): 674-683 (1982) Hidaka et al. Ensho 3 (4): 511-512 (1983) Isomura et al., Chem. Pharm. Bull., 31 (9): 3168-3185 (1983) Isomura et al., Chem. Pharm. Bull., 32 (1): 152-165 (1984); Noda et al., Kokai 80/15, 460 Katsumi et al., “Pharmacological Properties of a New Anti-inflammatory Compound, α-(3,5-di-tertbutyl-4-hydroxybenzylidene)-γ-butyrolactone (KME-4) and its Inhibitory Effects on Prostaglandin Synthetase and 5-lipooxygenase, Jpn. J. Pharmacol. 36 (1), 77-85 (1984) VanDerGoot et al., European J. Medicinal Chem., 13 (5) 425-428 Katayama et al., “In-vitro effect of N-methoxy-3-(3,5-ditert- butyl-4-hydroxy-benzylidene)-2-pyrrolidone (E-5110), a novel non- steroidal anti-inflammatory agent, on generation of some inflammatory mediators” Agents and Action, 21, 269-271 (1987) Lazer et al. “Effect of Structure on Potency and Selectivity in 2,6- Disubstituted 4-(2-Arylethenyl)-phenol Lipooxygenase Inhibitors J. Med. Chem. 33, 1982-1998 (1990). The 2,6-disubstituted phenols, such as 2,6-di-tert-butylphenols are useful also as antioxidants and are used as stabilizing additives in plastics, elastomers, waxes and oils. Compound 1, the calcium salt of the monoethyl ester of (((3,5 -bis (1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-hydroxyphenyl)methyl) phosphonic acid, is an antioxidant sold, for example, by Ciba® Specialty Chemicals as Irganox® 1425. It is described by Ciba® Specialty Chemicals as a “highly efficient, non-discoloring stabilizer for organic substrates such as plastics, synthetic fibers, elastomers, adhesives, waxes, oils and fats. It protects these substrates against thermo-oxidative degradation. It is odorless, stable to light, and has excellent color retention. It has good compatibility with most substrates and high resistance to extraction” (by water or organic solvents). Furthermore, according to Ciba® Specialty Chemicals, Compound 1 imparts processing and good long term stability to polyolefins. It is particularly suitable for use in polypropylene fibers. Compound 1 is also an effective stabilizer for polyesters, crosslinked elastomers, specialty adhesives, and natural and synthetic tackifier resins and is additionally used as an esterification catalyst for the preparation of rosin esters. It is recommended for applications requiring improved extraction resistance, low volatility, excellent color and color stability and superior gas-fading resistance.” Its solubility in water is reported to be <0.01 weight %. In the rat, the oral LD50 of Compound 1 exceeds 6000 mg/kg and in the Chinese hamster it exceeds 2000 mg/kg. Its 4 hour inhalation at >2.35 mg/l air aerosol, with exposure to an aerosol comprising mostly (˜80%) particles smaller than 7 μm, resulted in no deaths of rats. Its intraperitoneal LD 50 in the rat is 662 mg/kg. No bioconcentration (accumulation) was detected in carp at 0.3-3 ppm.

<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The invention provides compounds of the family shown as Structure 1, referred to herein as the “anti-inflammatory structure.” The compounds of the invention are useful drugs for treating diseases, particularly inflammatory diseases, including arthritic diseases, such as inflammations of joints, osteoarthritis, or Crohn's disease. In these compounds, R can be H, or an ester-forming group such as acetyl (CH 3 CO—) or benzoyl, or an ether-forming group such as methyl, ethyl, or lactate. R 1 and R 2 are bulky groups. The bulky groups can be identical or non-identical, and can be a group containing a ring-bound tertiary carbon atom, such as that of the tert-butyl group in Compound 1, or that of the trifluoromethyl group, or it can be a trialkylsilyl group, such as a trimethylsilyl group. X contains phosphorus or sulfur, and is preferably a phosphonic or sulfonic acid, or a salt of these acids, or an ester of these acids, or an amide of these acids. The solubility of the calcium salts of the phosphonic or sulfonic acids in water at 37° C. between pH 7.2 and 7.4 and at the normal physiological concentration of dissolved calcium cations in serum is less than 0.1 weight % and preferably less than 0.01 weight %. The concentration of the dissolved or protein-bound biologically active phosphonate or sulfonate increases, however, when the local concentration of a calcium ion binding or precipitating anion is increased. It is known that the concentrations of some calcium binding or precipitating anions are higher in inflamed and/or arthritic tissues than in normal tissues. Anions, the concentrations of which are higher in arthritic or inflamed tissues, are exemplified by di-, tri-, and polyphosphates and are specifically exemplified by pyrophosphate. The higher concentration of pyrophosphate, such as H 2 P 2 O 7 2− , in the arthritic tissue is known to cause the accumulation of insoluble calcium pyrophosphate, such as Ca 2 P 2 O 7 , containing matter in osteoarthritic tissues and in arthritic joints, where pyrophosphate is generated or released and is precipitated as a calcium salt. Because the pyrophosphate or other calcium binding agent reacts with the calcium salt of the anti-arthritic drug, exemplified by Compound 1, according to a reaction such as the above-shown calcium pyrophosphate precipitating reaction, the soluble anion of the anti-arthritic or analgesic drug is locally released. Local release provides for an adequate therapeutic concentration of the drug in the diseased tissue, while its systemic concentration remains low enough to avoid undesired effects that would result if tissues other than the diseased tissue were exposed to the damagingly high concentrations of the anion. Thus the recognized damage to parts of the digestive system, the kidneys and the skin caused by anti-arthritic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs is alleviated or altogether avoided. These and other drugs can be delivered orally in small particles of elastomers, or in capsules or tablets comprising small particles of elastomers, in which the drugs are dispersed or dissolved. Although the drug can be added to the particles of the elastomer by soaking the particles in a solution of the drug, it is preferred to add the drug before or while the elastomer is being compounded. The elastomer can be any non-toxic rubber or elastomer. Examples include elastomers comprising silicones, polydienes, polyolefins, and copolymers of styrene and butadiene. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"?

20060515

20090120

20061116

99580.0

A61K31695

WESTERBERG, NISSA M

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY SUBSTITUTED PHENOLS AND ELASTOMERIC COMPOSITIONS FOR ORAL DELIVERY OF DRUGS

SMALL

ACCEPTED

A61K

ACCEPTED

Watermark embedding and detection of a motion image signal

Methods and arrangements are disclosed for embedding and detecting a watermark in a cinema movie, such that the watermark can be detected in a copy made by a handheld video camera. The watermark embedder divides each image frame into two areas. A watermark bit ‘+1’ is embedded in a frame by increasing the luminance of the first part and decreasing the luminance of the second part. A watermark bit ‘−1’ is embedded by decreasing the luminance of the first part and increasing the luminance of the second part. It is achieved with the invention that the embedded watermark survives ‘de-flicker’ operations that are often used to remove flicker caused by the different frame rates of cinema projection equipment and consumer camcorders.

1. A method of embedding a watermark in a motion image signal, the method comprising the steps of: representing said watermark by a sequence of watermark samples each having a first or a second value; dividing an image of said motion image signal into at least a first and a second image area; determining a global property of the first and the second image area; modifying said image to increase the global property of its first area and decrease the global property of its second area for embedding the first value of a watermark sample into said image, and to decrease the global property of its first area and increase the global property of its second area for embedding the second value of said watermark sample into said image. 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said global property is the mean luminance value of the respective image area. 3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said modifying step comprises modifying series of consecutive images in accordance with the same watermark sample. 4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second image areas are the upper and lower of an image halves, respectively. 5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second image areas are the left and right of an image halves, respectively. 6. An arrangement for embedding a watermark in a motion image signal, the arrangement comprising: means for representing said watermark by a sequence of watermark samples each having a first or a second value; means for dividing an image of said motion image signal into at least a first and a second image area; means for determining a global property of the first and the second image area; image modifying means being arranged to increase the global property of the first image area and decrease the global property of the second image area in response to the first value of a watermark sample to be embedded into said image, and to decrease the global property of the first image area and increase the global property of the image second area in response to embedding the second value of a watermark sample to be embedded into said image. 7. A method of detecting a watermark in a watermarked motion image host signal, the method comprising the steps of: dividing each image of said host signal into at least a first and a second image area; determining a global property of the first and the second image area; computing, for each of a series of images, the difference between the global property of the first and the second image area; correlating, for said series of images, the respective differences with the watermark to be detected. 8. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said global property is the mean luminance value of the respective image area. 9. A method as claimed in claim 7, frther including the step of subtracting from the series of global properties a low-pass filtered version thereof, and applying the correlating step to the subtracted signal. 10. A method as claimed in claim 9, ftrther including the step of determining the sign of said subtracted signal, and applying the correlating step to said sign.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a method and arrangement for embedding a watermark in motion image signals such as movies projected in cinemas. The invention also relates to a method and arrangement for detecting a watermark embedded in such motion image signals. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Watermark embedding is an important aspect of copy protection strategies. Although most copy protection schemes deal with protection of electronically distributed contents (broadcasts, storage media), copy protection is also desired for movies shown in theaters. Nowadays, illegal copying of cinema material by means of a handheld video camera is already common practice. Although the quality is usually low, the economical impact of illegal VHS tapes, CD-Videos and DVDs can be enormous. For this reason, cinema owners are obliged to prevent the presence of video cameras on their premises. Not following this rule may be sanctioned with a ban on the future availability of content. In view hereof, it is envisioned to provide that a watermark will be added during show time. The watermark is to identify the cinema, the presentation time, operator, etc. Robustness to geometric distortions is a key requirement for such watermark embedding schemes. A handheld camera will not only seriously degrade the video by filtering (the optical path from the screen to the camera, transfer to tape, etc.) but also seriously geometrically distort the video (shifting, scaling, rotation, shearing, changes in perspective, etc.). In addition, these geometrical distortions can change from frame to frame. A prior-art method of embedding a watermark in cinema movies, which meets the robustness requirements, is disclosed in Jaap Haitsma and Ton Kalker: A Watermarking Scheme for Digital Cinema; Proceedings ICIP, Vol.2, 2001, pp. 487-489. The robustness to geometric distortions is achieved by exploiting only the temporal axis to embed the watermark. The watermark is a periodic pseudo-random sequence of watermark samples having two distinct values, e.g. ‘1’ and ‘−1’. One watermark sample is embedded in each image. The value ‘1’ is embedded in an image by increasing a global property (e.g. the mean luminance) of the image, the value ‘−1’ is embedded by decreasing said global property. The prior-art watermark embedding method actually embeds flicker. By embedding the same watermark sample in a number of consecutive images, the flicker is made imperceptible (the human eye is less sensitive to low-frequency flicker). Flicker of the recorded movie is also caused by a) the typical mismatch between the cinema projector's frame rate (24 frames per second) and the camcorder's frame rate (25 fps for PAL, 29.97 fps for NTSC), and b) the difference between the two display scan formats (progressive vs. interlace). This kind of flicker is so annoying that de-flickering tools have been made widely available to the public. For example, a de-flicker plug-in for the video capturing and processing application “Virtualdub” has been found on the Internet. A problem of the prior-art watermark embedding scheme is that de-flicker tools also remove the embedded watermark. OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to further improve the prior-art watermark embedding and detection method. It is a particular object of the invention to provide a watermark embedding and detection scheme, which is robust to de-flickering operations. To this end, the method of embedding a watermark in a motion image signal according to the invention includes dividing each image into at least a first and a second image area. One value of a watermark sample is embedded in an image by increasing the global property (e.g. the mean luminance) of its first area and decreasing the global property of its second area. The other value of the watermark sample is embedded in the opposite way, i.e. by decreasing the global property of the first image area and increasing the global property of the second image area. The invention exploits the insight that de-flickering tools remove flicker by adjusting the mean luminance of successive images to exhibit a low-pass character. The mean luminance is adjusted in practice by multiplying all pixels of an image by the same factor. Because this operation does not affect the (sign of the) modifications applied to the distinct image areas, the watermark information will be retained. In view hereof, the global property of an image area being modified to embed the watermark is the mean luminance of said image area. In a preferred embodiment of the method, the first and the second image area are the upper and lower half of an image. In general, there are more horizontal than vertical movements in a movie. The horizontal movements influence the mean luminance values to a smaller extent. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a watermark embedder in accordance with the invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a watermark detector in accordance with the invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a correlation stage, which is an element of the watermark detector shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 shows graphs of the mean luminance values of an original image sequence and a watermarked image sequence. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a watermark embedder in accordance with the invention. The embedder receives a sequence of images or frames having a luminance F(n,k) at spatial position n of frame k. The embedder further receives a watermark in the form of a pseudo-random sequence w(n) of length N, where w(n)∈[−1, 1]. An appropriate value of N for this application is N=1024. The arrangement comprises a dividing stage 10, which divides each image into a first (e.g. upper half) area and a second (e.g. lower half) area. The luminance of said image areas is denoted F1(n,k) and F2(n,k), respectively. In the simplest embodiment of the watermark embedder, the sequence w(n) is directly applied to embedding stages 11 and 12. In such an embodiment, embedding stage 11 adds one applied watermark sample w(n) to every pixel of the first image area, whereas embedding stage 12 subtracts the same watermark sample from every pixel of the second image area. Clipping is performed where necessary. The mean luminances of the first and second image areas are thus oppositely modulated by the watermark. Other examples of global image properties that can be modulated by the watermark are picture histograms (a list of relative frequencies of luminance values in the picture), or features derived therefrom such as high order moments (average of luminance values to a power k). The mean luminance is a specific example of the latter (k=l). Since the Human Visual System (HVS) is sensitive to flicker in low spatial frequencies, this simple embodiment may suffer from artifacts in especially non-moving flat areas. These artifacts are significantly reduced by lowering the flicker frequency of the watermark. This is performed by a repetition stage 13, which repeats each watermark sample during a predetermined number K of consecutive images. The same watermark sample is thus embedded in K consecutive frames. The watermark repeats itself every N=1024 frames. The watermark sample w(n) being embedded in frame k can be mathematically denoted by w(└k/K┘mod N). For simplicity, this expression will hereinafter be abbreviated to w(k). The preferred embodiment of the embedder which is shown in FIG. 1 further adapts the embedding depth in dependence upon the image contents. To this end, the embedder comprises multipliers 14 and 15, which multiply the watermark sample w(k) by a local scaling factor CF,1(n,k) and CF,2(n,k), respectively. The local scaling factors are derived from the image contents by image analyzers 16 and 17, respectively. For example, they are large in moving textured parts of an area and small in non-moving flat parts. The outputs of the embedding stages 11 and 12 can be formulated as: Fw,1(n,k)=F1(n,k)+CF,1(n,k)w(k) Fw,2(n,k)=F2(n,k)−CF,2(n,k)w(k) It will be appreciated that both embedding operations can be carried out in a time-sequential manner by a single processing circuit under appropriate software control. The two image areas are subsequently combined by a combining stage 18 into a single watermarked image Fw(n,k). FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a watermark detector in accordance with the invention. Although the original signal is available during detection, the detector does not utilize any knowledge about the original. The arrangement receives a watermarked sequence of images or frames having a luminance Fw(n,k) at spatial position n of frame k. The detector comprises a dividing stage 20, which divides each image into a first (e.g. upper half) area and a second (e.g. lower half) area in a similar manner as dividing stage 10 (FIG. 1) of the embedder. The luminance of each image area is denoted Fw,1(n,k) and Fw,2(n,k), respectively. For each image area, the detector futher includes a mean luminance computing circuit 21, 22, which computes the mean luminance values fw,1(k) and fw,2(k) (or other global property, if applicable) of the respective image areas in accordance with: f w , i ⁡ ( k ) = 1 N ⁢ ∑ n _ ⁢ F w , i ⁡ ( n _ , k ) In practice, the mean luminance values of a movie exhibit a low-pass nature as a function of the frame number k (i.e. as a function of time). The detector estimates the mean luminance values of the original (unwatermarked) movie by low-pass filtering (25,27) the respective mean luminance values fw,1(k) and fw,2(k). Estimations of the mean luminance modifications as introduced by the embedder are subsequently obtained by subtracting (26, 27) the low-pass filtered mean values from the unfiltered mean luminance values. The detector estimates the embedded watermark sample by subtracting (23) both estimations, followed by a sign operation (29). The estimated watermark sample being embedded in frame k is denoted v(k). The arrangement thus generates a sequence of estimated watermark samples. In a correlation stage 3, the estimated sequence of watermark samples is correlated with the watermark being looked for. The detector receives this watermark being looked for in the form of a pseudo-random sequence w(n) of length N, where w(n)∈[−1, 1]. The detector comprises a repetition stage 24, which is identical to same repetition stage 13 of the embedder. The repetition stage repeats each watermark sample during K consecutive images. The watermark repeats itself every N=1024 frames. The watermark samples being applied to the correlation stage 3 for frame are denoted w(k). Again, w(k) is an abbreviation for the mathematically more correct expression w(└k/K┘modN). It should be noted that the low-pass filter/subtracter combinations 25,26 and 27,28, as well as the sign operation 29 are optional. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the correlation stage 3. The estimated watermark samples of successive images are distributed to K buffers 31, 32, . . . , where, as described above, K is the number of consecutive images in which the same watermark sample is embedded. Each buffer stores N estimated watermark samples (or N computed mean luminance values, or N estimated mean luminance modification values). Typical values of the watermark length N and the frames per watermark sample K are 1024 and 5, respectively. Accordingly, the first buffer 31 contains estimated watermark samples v(1), v(6), v(11), . . . , the second buffer 32 contains v(2), v(7), v(12), . . . , etc. This implies that the granularity of watermark detection is approximately 3 minutes and 25 seconds for PAL video. The watermark is detected by determining the similarity of the contents of each buffer with the reference watermark w(n) being looked for. Each watermark can identify, for instance, one theatre. A well-known example of similarity is cross-correlation, but other measures are possible. The contents of each buffer are cross-correlated with the reference watermark in respective correlators 33,34, . . . The correlation is preferably performed using Symmetrical Phase Only Matched Filtering (SPOMF). For a description of SPOMF, reference is made to International Patent application WO 99/45706. In said document, the correlation is performed in the two-dimensional spatial domain. Blocks of N×N image pixels are correlated with an N×N reference watermark. The result of the SPOMF operation is an N×N pattern of correlation values exhibiting one or more peaks if a watermark has been embedded. The K correlators 33,34, . . . operate in the one-dimensional time domain. The output of each correlator is a series of N correlation values which is stored in a corresponding one of K buffers 35,36, . . . A peak detector 37 searches the highest correlation value in the K buffers, and applies said peak value to a threshold circuit 38. If the peak value of at least one of the buffers is larger than a given threshold value, it is decided that the watermark is present. Otherwise, the content will be classified as not watermarked. A payload can be encoded in the signal by embedding shifted versions of the watermark w(n) in a manner similar to the one disclosed in International Patent Application WO-A-99/45705. It should further be noted that, although parallel correlators are shown in FIG. 3, it may be advantageous to carry out the respective operations in a time-sequential manner. In order to describe the invention in even more details, a mathematical analysis of the prior-art watermarking scheme, an analysis of the publicly available de-flickering tool, and the operation of the watermarking scheme in accordance with the invention will now be given. The watermark w is a periodic pseudo-random sequence containing only ‘1’ and ‘−1’ sample values with period M. A watermark sample w(n) is embedded in K consecutive frames k, k+1, . . . , k+K−1. By embedding one watermark sample in K consecutive frames, the frequency of the flickering due to the embedding is decreased. A ‘1’ is embedded in an image by increasing the luminance value of each pixel with a value Cf(n,k). A ‘−1’ is embedded by decreasing the luminance value of each pixel with CF(n,k). Herein, n is the spatial coordinate of a pixel within frame k. More mathematically, we have: F W ⁡ ( n _ , k ) = { F ⁡ ( n _ , k ) + C F ⁡ ( n _ , k ) if ⁢ ⁢ w ⁢ ⌊ k / T ⌋ = 1 F ⁡ ( n _ , k ) - C F ⁡ ( n _ , k ) if ⁢ ⁢ w ⁢ ⌊ k / T ⌋ = - 1 where F is the frame to be embedded and Fw is the embedded frame. The change CF is chosen to be such that the watermark is not visible, and therefore depends on F. In [2], a texture detector and a motion detector are used to determine CF. As a result, the mean luminance values of the watermarked video fw f w ⁡ ( k ) = 1 N ⁢ ∑ n _ ⁢ F w ⁡ ( n _ , k ) with N being the number of pixels per frame, will exhibit a change with respect to the original mean luminance values fw(k)=f(k)+cF(k)w(└k/T┘) (1) Herein, CF is the local depth of the watermark w, which is directly related to CF: c F ⁡ ( k ) = 1 N ⁢ C F ⁡ ( n _ , k ) FIG. 4 shows, at (a), a graph of the mean luminance values of an original sequence and, at (b), a graph of the mean luminance values of an embedded sequence to visualize the watermark embedding concept. Due to the watermark embedding, the mean luminance values will decrease or increase with respect to the original mean luminance values in time. See Eq. (1). In practice, the mean luminance values of a movie exhibit a low-pass nature. Therefore, the detector estimates these luminance values of the original unwatermarked movie by low-pass filtering the mean luminance values of the watermarked movie fw. The detector estimates the watermark v by subtracting these low-pass filtered means from the mean luminance values of the watermarked movie fw, followed by a sign operation. More mathematically, v(k)=sign{fw(k)−(fw {circle around (x)}g)(k)} (2) where {circle around (x )} denotes a (one-dimensional) convolution, and g is a low-pass filter. Since a watermark sample is embedded in K consecutive frames, this operation yields K estimates {tilde over (w)}1 of the watermark w: {tilde over (w)}1(k)=v(l+kK),0≲<K (3) Each of these K estimated watermarks {tilde over (w)}l is correlated with the original watermark w. If the absolute correlation value dl =|(w,{tilde over (w)}l )| is larger than a threshold value, it is decided that the video sequence is watermarked. A movie is projected progressively at a frame rate of 24 frames per second (fps), however, a standard video camera records at 25 fps (PAL) or 29.97 fps (NTSC) interlaced. Due to this interlacing, the luminance will not be the same throughout recording of one frame, as the shutter may just be opening or just be closing. Since the video camera and the projector are not synchronized, this problem is difficult to be solved for a camera man. In addition, since the frame rates of the projector and the video camera are not matched, a similar problem reveals itself; at some points in time, a frame is recorded when the shutter is half-open or even fully shut. The result of these mismatches is a flickering in the recorded movie. A ‘de-flicker’ plug-in for Virtualdub can be found on the Internet. This plug-in removes the flickering in four steps: In a first pass, it calculates the mean luminance values {circumflex over (f)}w of the movie; Subsequently, it filters these means {circumflex over (f)}w with a low-pass filter h (default is a simple averaging filter of length 12); Then it calculates factors β(k) between the original means {circumflex over (f)}w(k) and the filtered means for each frame: β ⁡ ( k ) = ( f ~ w ⊗ h ) ⁢ ( k ) f ~ w ⁡ ( k ) In a second pass, the luminance value of each pixel in frame k is multiplied by the corresponding factor β(k) rounded to the nearest integer, and clipped if it exceeds the maximum luminance value 255. Note that β(k) is non-negative for all k, since {circumflex over (f)}w (k)≳0 and h is a low-pass filter. If we ignore the rounding and the clipping for the moment, the result of these multiplications in the last step is that the means of the new constructed video {tilde over (f)}w,deflic resembles the low-pass filtered means of {circumflex over (f)}w: {circumflex over (f)}w,deflic =β(k){circumflex over (f)}(k)=({circumflex over (f)}w {circle around (x,)}h)(k) Perceptually, this means that the new constructed video exhibits less flickering, because flickering can be seen as a high-frequency component in the mean luminance values of the frames, which are now filtered out. Unfortunately, the watermarking scheme is actually a flickering, although imperceptible. As a direct consequence, this ‘de-flicker’ plug-in removes the watermark. The watermark embedding scheme must thus be modified in such a way that it is robust to de-flickering. This is all the more true as this ‘de-flicker’ tool is widely used to undo the pirate copies from the flickering. To this end, each frame is divided into two parts (e.g. left/right or top/bottom), and the watermark sample is embedded in these parts in an opposite way. To embed a watermark sample, the mean luminance of one part is increased and the mean luminance of the other part is decreased. Consequently, the mean luminance values fw of the watermarked movie now consist of two parts fw(k)=fw,l(k)+fw,2(k) with (cf. Eq. (1)) fw,1(k)=f1(k)+CF,1(k)w(└k/T┘ and fw,2(k)=f2(k)−cF,2(k)w(└k/T┘) (4) After capturing with a camera, the ‘de-flicker’ tool removes the flickering by low-pass filtering the mean luminance values {circumflex over (f)}w: fw,deflic(k)=β(k)└{circumflex over (f)}w,1(k)+{circumflex over (f)}w,2(k)┘ The detection of the watermark for the modified watermarking scheme is similar to the detection method described above. First, the detector estimates the luminance values of the original unwatermarked movie for both parts by low-pass filtering the mean luminance values of both parts. Then it subtracts the result of both operations from the luminance values of the corresponding parts. Finally, it makes an estimate of the watermark {tilde over (v)} by subtraction followed by a sign operation (cf. Eq. (2)): {tilde over (v)}(k)=sign{(fw,1,defic(k)−(fw,1,deflic {circle around (x)}g)(k)−(fw,2,defic{circle around (x)}(k)−(fw,2,deflic{circle around (x)}g)(k))} (5) The K estimations {tilde over (w)}1 (see Eq. (3)) are obtained in a similar way and correlated with the watermark w. The embedded watermark survives the de-flicker operation because the de-flicker tool multiplies all the pixels of an image by the same factor β(k), thereby leaving the luminance differences between the two image areas substantially intact The effect of the invention can also be explained more mathematically. It is assumed that the original unwatermarked movie exhibits a low-pass nature. After capturing of the movie with a camera, the mean luminance values of the watermarked parts {circumflex over (f)}w,1 and {circumflex over (f)}w,2 exhibit a flickering {circumflex over (f)}w,1,(k)=γ(k)fw,1(k) and {circumflex over (f)}w,2(k)=γ(k)fw,2(k) Herein, γ(k)>0 corresponds to the change in the mean luminance value (the flickering) of frame k. The ‘de-flicker’ plug-in removes this flickering by low-pass filtering the mean luminance values {circumflex over (f)}w,deflic (k)=β(k){circumflex over (f)}w (k)=γ(k)γ(k) [f(k)+{cF,1(k)−cF,2 (k)}w(└k/T┘)]=f(k). From this expression it follows that β ⁡ ( k ) ⁢ γ ⁡ ( k ) ≈ f ⁡ ( k ) f ⁡ ( k ) + { c F , 1 ⁡ ( k ) - c F , 2 ⁡ ( k ) } ⁢ w ⁡ ( ⌊ k / T ⌋ ) Since in practice {cF,1(k)−cF,2(k)}w(└k/T┘) is relatively small compared to f(k), we can approximate β(k)γ(k) by 1. By using this approximation, we see that {circumflex over (f)}w,l,deflic (k)=β(k)γ(k)fw,l (k)=fw,l (k)=fl (k)+cF,l (k)w(└k/T┘) For the other part, we obtain a similar result {circumflex over (f)}w,2,deflic (k)=f2 (k)−cF,2 (k)w (└k/T┘) Using these results, we finally obtain the following expression for {tilde over (v)}(see Eq. (5)) v ~ ⁡ ( k ) ≈ sign ⁢ { f 1 ⁡ ( k ) - f 2 ⁡ ( k ) + ⌊ c F , 1 ⁡ ( k ) + c F , 2 ⁡ ( k ) ⌋ ⁢ w ⁡ ( ⌊ k / T ⌋ ) - [ f 1 ⁡ ( k ) - f 2 ⁡ ( k ) ] } = sign ⁢ { [ c F , 1 ⁡ ( k ) + c F , 2 ⁡ ( k ) ] ⁢ w ⁡ ( ⌊ k / T ⌋ ) } = sign ⁢ { w ⁡ ( ⌊ k / T ⌋ ) } where it is assumed that the low-pass filter g completely filters out the watermark. Note that cF,l(k)+cF,2(k) does not influence the sign of the expression, because it is non-negative for all k. It can be seen from this expression that the watermark indeed survives the ‘de-flicker’ operation after the modification. Methods and arrangements are disclosed for embedding and detecting a watermark in a cinema movie, such that the watermark can be detected in a copy made by a handheld video camera. The watermark embedder divides each image frame into two areas. A watermark bit ‘+1’ is embedded in a flame by increasing the luminance of the first part and decreasing the luminance of the second part. A watermark bit ‘−1’ is embedded by decreasing the luminance of the first part and increasing the luminance of the second part. It is achieved with the invention that the embedded watermark survives ‘de-flicker’ operations that are often used to remove flicker caused by the different frame rates of cinema projection equipment and consumer camcorders.

<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Watermark embedding is an important aspect of copy protection strategies. Although most copy protection schemes deal with protection of electronically distributed contents (broadcasts, storage media), copy protection is also desired for movies shown in theaters. Nowadays, illegal copying of cinema material by means of a handheld video camera is already common practice. Although the quality is usually low, the economical impact of illegal VHS tapes, CD-Videos and DVDs can be enormous. For this reason, cinema owners are obliged to prevent the presence of video cameras on their premises. Not following this rule may be sanctioned with a ban on the future availability of content. In view hereof, it is envisioned to provide that a watermark will be added during show time. The watermark is to identify the cinema, the presentation time, operator, etc. Robustness to geometric distortions is a key requirement for such watermark embedding schemes. A handheld camera will not only seriously degrade the video by filtering (the optical path from the screen to the camera, transfer to tape, etc.) but also seriously geometrically distort the video (shifting, scaling, rotation, shearing, changes in perspective, etc.). In addition, these geometrical distortions can change from frame to frame. A prior-art method of embedding a watermark in cinema movies, which meets the robustness requirements, is disclosed in Jaap Haitsma and Ton Kalker: A Watermarking Scheme for Digital Cinema; Proceedings ICIP, Vol.2, 2001, pp. 487-489. The robustness to geometric distortions is achieved by exploiting only the temporal axis to embed the watermark. The watermark is a periodic pseudo-random sequence of watermark samples having two distinct values, e.g. ‘1’ and ‘−1’. One watermark sample is embedded in each image. The value ‘1’ is embedded in an image by increasing a global property (e.g. the mean luminance) of the image, the value ‘−1’ is embedded by decreasing said global property. The prior-art watermark embedding method actually embeds flicker. By embedding the same watermark sample in a number of consecutive images, the flicker is made imperceptible (the human eye is less sensitive to low-frequency flicker). Flicker of the recorded movie is also caused by a) the typical mismatch between the cinema projector's frame rate (24 frames per second) and the camcorder's frame rate (25 fps for PAL, 29.97 fps for NTSC), and b) the difference between the two display scan formats (progressive vs. interlace). This kind of flicker is so annoying that de-flickering tools have been made widely available to the public. For example, a de-flicker plug-in for the video capturing and processing application “Virtualdub” has been found on the Internet. A problem of the prior-art watermark embedding scheme is that de-flicker tools also remove the embedded watermark.

<SOH> OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>It is an object of the invention to further improve the prior-art watermark embedding and detection method. It is a particular object of the invention to provide a watermark embedding and detection scheme, which is robust to de-flickering operations. To this end, the method of embedding a watermark in a motion image signal according to the invention includes dividing each image into at least a first and a second image area. One value of a watermark sample is embedded in an image by increasing the global property (e.g. the mean luminance) of its first area and decreasing the global property of its second area. The other value of the watermark sample is embedded in the opposite way, i.e. by decreasing the global property of the first image area and increasing the global property of the second image area. The invention exploits the insight that de-flickering tools remove flicker by adjusting the mean luminance of successive images to exhibit a low-pass character. The mean luminance is adjusted in practice by multiplying all pixels of an image by the same factor. Because this operation does not affect the (sign of the) modifications applied to the distinct image areas, the watermark information will be retained. In view hereof, the global property of an image area being modified to embed the watermark is the mean luminance of said image area. In a preferred embodiment of the method, the first and the second image area are the upper and lower half of an image. In general, there are more horizontal than vertical movements in a movie. The horizontal movements influence the mean luminance values to a smaller extent.

20050720

20101130

20060615

75819.0

G06F700

BITAR, NANCY

WATERMARK EMBEDDING AND DETECTION OF A MOTION IMAGE SIGNAL

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

G06F

ACCEPTED

Point switch

A point switching device (4) that is disposed at a diverging point on tracks (3) on which a moving body (1) travels is provided. This point switching device includes: a point (8) that rotates around a support point (20) on one end, and can move between a first position (P1) and a second position (P2); a first coil (33a) that generates an induction field to drive the point to the first position; a second coil (33b) that generates an induction field to drive the point to the second position; and an excitation control unit (40) that selectively supplies an intermittent exciting current to the first coil or the second coil.

1. A point switching device that is provided at a diverging point on tracks on which a movable body travels, comprising: a point adapted to move between a first position and a second position by rotating about a support point on one end thereof; a first coil for generating an induction field to drive the point to the first position; a second coil for generating an induction field to drive the point to the second position; and an excitation control unit for selectively supplying an intermittent exciting current to the first coil or the second coil. 2. The point switching device according to claim 1, further comprising: an electricity supply unit, having a battery as a source of electricity, for supplying electricity to the first coil and the second coil. 3. The point switching device according to claim 1, further comprising. a point position display unit for displaying on the tracks whether the point is located in the first position or the second position.

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a point switching device that is electrically controlled. BACKGROUND ART In connection with toys that are moved on rails, such as train models that run on rails, point switching devices that are electrically controlled through the operations by users are already widely known as the means of switching points at the diverging point on rails. However, when one of diverging tracks is made travelable by a point, a conventional point switching device needs to switch the point so as to allow a movable body that is coming in the opposite direction from the other diverging track to pass through the diverging point. If the switching operation is not performed, the running of the movable body is blocked by the point, and the movement of the movable body might be interrupted, or the movable body might be derailed. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a point switching device that does not require a point switching operation to allow a movable body coming from the opposite direction on a non-selected track of diverging tracks to pass through the diverging point. The above described problems are eliminated by a point switching device that is provided at a diverging point on tracks on which a movable body travels. This point switching device includes: a point that can move between a first position and a second position by rotating around a support point on one end thereof; a first coil that generates an induction field to drive the point to the first position; a second coil that generates an induction field to drive the point to the second position; and an excitation control unit that selectively supplies an intermittent exciting current to the first coil or the second coil. According to the present invention, when an exciting current is applied to the first coil, for example, the first coil generates an induction field to move the point to the first position. The exciting current is not constantly supplied to the first coil, but is intermittently supplied to the first coil. Accordingly, an induction field is only intermittently generated. When the induction field is generated, the point is guided toward the first position. However, when the induction field is not generated, the position of the point is not maintained in the first position. Even if the traveling of the movable body is blocked by the point, the point is pushed by the movable body still heading forward, and is moved to the second position. While the point is located in the second position, the movable body can pass through the diverging point. After the movable body passes through the diverging point, the point moved to the second position is driven back to the first position when an induction field is generated again. Thus, the point switching operation for the movable body coming from the direction blocked by the point is unnecessary. Furthermore, the intermittent electricity supply can save electricity consumption. The point switching device may further include an electricity supply unit that has a battery as the source of electricity to be supplied to the first coil and the second coil. Thus, the point switching device has a different power source from that of the tracks, and can be used even if the tracks do not require a power source. The point switching device may further include a point position display unit that displays on the tracks whether the point is located in the first position or the second position. Thus, the travel able direction of the movable body at the diverging point is clearly indicated, so that the running direction of the movable body can be recognized at a glance. Thus, the entire operation to allow the movable body to travel can be simplified. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows an example of embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2A is an enlarged view of the diverging rails; FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the point, taken along the line J-K of FIG. 2A; FIG. 3 shows the bottom side of the diverging rails; FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the diverging rails, taken along the line L-M of FIG. 3, with the bottom side of the diverging rails facing upward; FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of the point switching device; FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the received data processing to be performed by the control unit of the point switching device; FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the point switching operation to be performed by the control unit of the point switching device; FIG. 8 shows the relationship between the state of the coils and the sate of the point; FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing a situation in which the point moves in such a manner as to make one path travelable through a point switching operation by a user; FIG. 10A is a schematic view showing a situation in which the train model runs into the point from the opposite direction of a path that is different from the travelable path; and FIG. 10B is a schematic view showing a situation in which the train model can pass through the diverging point. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION FIG. 1 shows an example of embodiment of the present invention. A train model 1 is remotely controlled with drive information contained in a control signal transmitted from a controller 2. The train model 1 runs on rails 3 as tracks, and a point switching device 4 is provided at a diverging point on the rails 3. The point switching operation of the point switching device 4 is also remotely controlled with the drive information contained in the control signal transmitted from the controller 2. The controller 2 is capable of controlling the running of each of train models 1 . . . 1, and also is capable of controlling the point switching operation of each of point switching devices 4 . . . 4. The means of remote control may be of a cable type or a wireless type. In this embodiment, infrared rays are used as the means of remote control, and the train models 1 . . . 1 are identified with ID codes that are unique to each train model 1. The point switching devices 4 . . . 4 are identified with point numbers that are unique to each switching device 4. The train model 1 includes a chassis 70 and a compartment body 71 that covers the upper portion of the chassis 70 as a unit to move the train. A pair of side-to-side front wheels 72 and a pair of side-to-side rear wheels 73 are rotatably attached to the chassis 70 via an axle 72a and an axle 73a, respectively. The front wheels 72 or the rear wheels 73 are rotated by a drive motor provided in the train model 1, so that the train model 1 can travel. The point switching device 4 includes diverging rails 6, a control box 7, and a battery placement unit 19. The diverging rails 6 diverge so that the train model 1 coming from the direction C can travel in the direction A or the direction B. Hereinafter, the path that extends from the direction C to the direction A will be referred to as the path X, and the path that extends from the direction C to the direction B will be referred to as the path Y. The diverging rails 6 include a point 8, LED lamp display units 9a and 9b each of which serves as a point location display unit for each of the directions A and B, and track pieces 10a, 10b, and 10c that guide the train model 1 toward the directions A, B, and C, respectively. Further, rail connecting units 11a, 11b, and 11c for connecting the rails 3 to each of the directions A, B, and C are provided at the ends of the diverging rails 6. Hereinafter, the LED display units 9a and 9b, and the track pieces 10a, 10b, and 10c will be referred to simply as the LED display unit 9 and the track piece 10, unless a specific distinction is necessary. The track piece 10 is located in the middle of a running unit 76, and have is elevated to be belt-like shaped. The train model 1 travels on the track piece 10 so that the side-to-side wheels 72 and 73 sandwich the track piece 10. As the inner side surfaces of the front wheels 72 and the rear wheels 73 of the train model 1 travels in contact with the outer side surfaces of the track pieces 10, the train model 1 travels in a direction guided by the track piece 10. For instance, the train model 1 traveling from the direction C to the direction A runs from the track piece 10c to the track piece 10a via the point 8. The train model 1 traveling from the direction C to the direction B runs from the track piece 10c to the track piece 10c via the point 8. Each of the track pieces 10 continues to a track piece (not shown) provided on the rails to which the diverging rails 6 are connected. A remote-control signal light receiver 15 that receives the control signal from the controller 2, an initial setting switch 16 for setting the initial position of the point 8, and a point number setting switch 17 for setting the point number of the point switching device 4 are provided on the surface of the control box 7. The battery placement unit 19 houses a battery (batteries) to serve as an electricity supply unit for the point switching device 4. Each of the LED lamp display units 9 has an LED lamp, and turns on the LED lamp corresponding to the travelable path in conjunction with the movement of point 8. For example, FIG. 1 shows a situation in which the path X is a travelable path. In this situation, the LED lamp of the LED lamp display unit 9a is turned on, and the LED lamp of the LED lamp display unit 9b is turned off. Although the LED lamp display units 9 may be in any color and may take any shape, it is preferable that each of the LED lamp display units 9 is in a high-visibility color and has a high-visibility shape. Referring now to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the configuration of the point 8 is described. FIG. 2A is an enlarged view of the upper side of the diverging rails 6. FIG. 2Bis a cross-sectional view of the point 8 of the diverging rails 6, taken along the line J-K of FIG. 2A. The point 8 is long and thin shaped, and one end of the point 8 is attached to the diverging rails 6 via a shaft 20. A movable portion 21 that is the other end of the point 8 can move between a first position P1 and a second position P2, with the shaft 20 serving as the point of support. The point 8 further has a protrusion 22 provided at the lower side of the movable portion 21, as shown in FIG. 2B. The protrusion 22 protrudes through the bottom side of the diverging rails 6. Therefore, a groove 23 is formed between the positions P1 and P2, so that the protrusion 22 can move between the positions P1 and P2 but cannot move beyond the positions P1 and P2. The relationship between the positions of the point 8 and the paths is now described. When the movable portion 21 is located at the first position P1, the point 8 becomes parallel to the path X, and functions as a track piece that connects the track piece 10c to the track piece 10a. Accordingly, when the movable portion 21 is located at the first position P1, the train model 1 coming from the direction C travels along the path X. Meanwhile, the second position P2 is located on the right side of the traveling direction of the train model 1 coming from the direction C. Therefore, when the movable portion 21 is at the second position P2, the right-side front wheel 72 (in the traveling direction) of the train model 1 coming from the direction C runs into a rim of the point 8 after the train model 1 travels past the track piece 10c. The rim into which the right-side front wheel 72 runs is referred to as the P1-side rim 8a, and the rim on the other side is referred to as the P2-side rim 8b. Since the point 8 does not move beyond the second position P2, the train model 1 travels along the P1-side rim 8a, and is then guided from the track piece 10c to the track piece 10b. Accordingly, when the movable portion 21 is located at the second position P2, the train model 1 travels along the path Y. When the movable portion 21 is at the first position P1, the left-side front wheel 72 (in the traveling direction) of the train model 1 traveling in the reverse direction of the path Y runs into the P1-side rim 8a of the point 8. Therefore, the train model 1 cannot travel further ahead, unless the movable portion 21 switches to the second position P2. When the movable portion 21 is at the second position P2, the left-side front wheel 72 (in the traveling direction) of the train model 1 traveling in the reverse direction of the path X runs into the P2-side rim 8b of the point 8. Therefore, the train model 1 cannot travel further ahead, unless the movable portion 21 switches to the first position P1. Hereinafter, the situation in which the movable portion 21 is at the first position P1 will be sometimes referred to as “the situation in which the point 8 is at the first position P1” or “the situation in which the protrusion 22 is at the first position P1”. The same applied to the second position P2. Also, the situation in which the movable portion 21 moves between the first position P1 and the second position P2 might be referred to as “the point 8 is switched”. Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the configuration for moving the movable portion 21 between the first position P1 and the second position P2 is described. FIG. 3 shows the bottom side of the diverging rails 6. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the diverging rails 6, taken along the line L-M of FIG. 3. In FIG. 4, the upper side of the diverging rails 6 faces downward. The line L-M is perpendicular to the path X. Hereinafter, the direction perpendicular to the path X will be referred to as the L-M direction(s). As shown in FIG. 3, a base plate 30 into which an IC is incorporated, a movable plate 31, and a coil placement unit 32 are disposed on the bottom surface of the diverging rails 6. As shown in FIG. 4, the coil placement unit 32 is provided as a concave portion on the bottom side of the diverging rails 6. In the coil placement unit 32, a coil 33a as a first coil and a coil 33b as a second coil are placed in parallel in the L-M direction, and are arranged at a distance from each other. Hereinafter, the coil 33a and the coil 33b will be referred to as the coils 33, unless there is a need to specifically distinguish between the two coils. With the bottom surface 32a of the coil placement unit 32 facing down, the movable plate 31 is provided to cover the coil placement unit 32. The movable plate 31 has a protrusive sensor 34 that is located at the concave portion formed between the coil 33a and the coil 33b. The sensor 34 has a ferromagnetic body that characteristically sticks to a magnet. When an exciting current is applied to one of the coils 33, the sensor 34 is attracted to the coil 33 that has generated an induction field and become an electromagnet, and the movable plate 31 is also moved in the same direction. As the sensor 34 moves between the coil 33a and the coil 33b in the L-M directions, the movable plate 31 moves in the L-M directions. The movable plate 31 has a hole 35 in which the protrusion 22 of the point 8 can run. As the movable plate 31 moves in the L-M directions, the protrusion 22 moves with the hole 35, and the movable portion 21 moves accordingly. FIG. 4 shows the situation in which an exciting current is applied to the coil 33a to become an electromagnet, and the sensor 34 is attracted to the coil 33a. In this situation, the protrusion 22 is located at the first position P1. When an exciting current is applied to the coil 33b, the coil 33b becomes an electromagnet, and the sensor 34 is attracted to the coil 33b. As the sensor 34 moves in the L direction, the movable plate 31 also moves in the L direction, and the protrusion 22 moves with the hole 35. When the sensor 34 sticks to the coil 33b, the protrusion 22 is located at the second position P2. The sensor 34 moves between the coil 33a and the coil 33b, the position of the point 8 is switched between the first position P1 and the second position P2. Although the movable plate 31 moves in the L-M directions, the protrusion 22 moves along the arc of the circular that has a radius equivalent to the length between the shaft 20 and the protrusion 22, with the shaft 20 being the center. When the movable plate 31 moves in the L direction, the protrusion 22 does not move in a direction parallel to the L direction, but slightly inclines toward the shaft 20. Therefore, the hole 35 should be designed to have such a size as to allow the protrusion 22 to move with the movable plate 31. The hole 35 of this embodiment is formed as a groove-like hole extending in parallel with the path X. Further, guide protrusions 36a and 36b for guiding the movable plate 31 in the L-M directions are provided on the bottom side of the diverging rails 6, and guide holes 37a and 37b in which the guide protrusions 36a and 36b run respectively are formed in the movable plate 31. The guide holes 37a and 37b of this embodiment are grooves that extend in parallel with the L-M directions. FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of the point switching device 4. The point switching device 4 includes a control unit 40 as an excitation control unit that controls the switching of the point 8 according to a user instruction, as well as the above described remote-control signal receiver 15, the initial setting switch 16, and the point number setting switch 17. The control unit 40 is formed as a computer that includes a CPU and various peripheral circuits such as a RAM and a ROM that are necessary for the operation of the CPU. In the following, the function of each component of the point switching device 4 is described. When a user sets a point number with the point number setting switch 17, a point number memory unit 42 stores the point number as its own point number. The initial setting switch 16 is a switch for a user to set the initial position of the point 8 to the first position P1 or the second position P2. As the initial position is set by a user, the position is stored in a point position memory unit 43. The point position memory unit 43 stores the current position of the point 8, as well as the initial position. When receiving the control signal from the controller 2, the remote-control signal receiver 15 sends the control signal to a received data determining unit 45. The received data determining unit 45 determines whether the control signal indicates a point switching instruction that is directed to itself. Whether or not the control signal is determined to be the data to instruct itself to perform point switching depends on whether or not the control signal contains a code for a point switching instruction. Whether or not the control signal is determined to be directed to itself depends on whether or not the control signal contains the point number that is set with the point number setting switch 17. When the received data determining unit 45 determines that the control signal is a signal for instructing itself to perform point switching, a signal for a point switching instruction is sent to a switch control unit 46. Upon receipt of the point switching instructing signal, the switch control unit 46 refers to the current position of the point 8 stored in the point position memory unit 43, and determines the position P1, P2 to which the movable portion 21 should be moved. The switch control unit 46 then transmits an instruction signal to a drive circuit 47 to intermittently supply an exciting current to the coil 33 corresponding to the determined position. According to the instruction transmitted from the switch control unit 46, the drive circuit 47 intermittently supplies an exciting current to the designated coil 33. An LED drive circuit 48 refers to the position P1 or P2 of the point 8 stored in the point position memory unit 43, and determines a travelable path. The LED drive circuit 48 then turns on the LED lamp of the LED display unit 9 corresponding to the determined path, and turns off the LED lamp of the LED display unit 9 irrelevant to the determined path. Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, the operation flow for the point switching to be performed by the control unit 40 is described. First, whether received data contains a code for point switching is determined (step S50). If the received data contains such a code, the received data is determined to be point switching data, and continuously whether the received data contains the point number of itself is determined (step S51). If the received data contains the point number, the received data is determined to instruct itself to perform point switching, and the operation moves on to the point switching operation (step S52). If the received data does not contain the point number of the device, it is put into a standby state to wait for a remote-control signal. In the point switching operation, the position to which the point 8 is to be switched is first specified in step S60, and the coil 33 corresponding to the specified position is selected. An instruction to start an exciting current supply to the selected coil 33 is then issued (step S61). When the exciting current supply starts, timer counting also starts (step S62). The timer is counted until the preset timer runs out (step S63). When the preset timer is determined to have run out, an instruction to interrupt the exciting current supply is issued (step S64). Then, the timer counting starts (step S65), and is continued until the preset timer runs out (step S66). When the preset timer is determined to have run out, the operation returns to step S61 to start supplying the exciting current again. The procedures up to step S66 are then repeated. As a result of the above procedures, an exciting current is intermittently supplied to the coil 33 selected in step S60. In the above described operation, the control unit 40 performs in a time-sharing multitasking mode. Although the procedures of steps S61 to S66 for intermittently supplying an exciting current are repeated, when a next point switching signal for itself is received, the point switching operation according to the received instruction is started as an interrupt operation. Also, the exciting current is intermittently supplied through the timer counting operation by the control unit 40 in the above described operation. However, the intermittent timing may be stored beforehand in the drive circuit 47. In such a case, the control unit 40 selects the coil 33 to which the exciting current is to be supplied, and simply issues an instruction to supply the exciting current to the selected coil 33, so that the drive circuit 47 supplies the exciting current to the selected coil 33 in the predetermined timing. Referring now to FIGS. 8, 9, 10A, and 10B, the state of the point 8 affected by intermittently supplying the exciting current to the coil 33 is described. FIG. 8 shows the relationship between the state of the coil 33 to which the exciting current is supplied and the position of the point 8. FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing the position of the point 8 that is switched through a point switching operation by a user. FIGS. 10A and 10B are schematic views showing movement of the point 8. A case where the point 8 is located in the second position P2 as shown in FIG. 9 is now described. Here, an exciting current is intermittently supplied to the coil 33b corresponding to the second position P2, as described above. Accordingly, the coil 33b repeatedly switches between an electromagnetic state T1 and a non-electromagnetic state T2, as shown in FIG. 8. A case where the train model 1 runs in the reverse direction of the path X in the above state is now described. A trail 75a shown in FIG. 10A is the trail that is drawn by the left-side front wheel 72 in the traveling direction of the train model 1, and a trail 75b is the trail that is drawn by the right-side front wheel 72 in the traveling direction of the train model 1. As shown in FIG. 10A, the left-side front wheel 72 in the traveling direction runs into the rim 8b on P2-side of the point 8. As shown in FIG. 8, if the timing W1 falls in the state T2 in which the coil 33b is not an electromagnet, the position of the point 8 is not maintained. Accordingly, the point 8 is pushed in the traveling direction of the train model 1, and moved to the first position P1. Thus, the train model 1 can travel in the reverse direction of the path X. FIG. 10B shows such a situation. In this situation, an exciting current is intermittently supplied to the coil 33b even during a time T3 in which the train model 1 is passing through the point 8 in the reverse direction of the path X. Accordingly, the timing W2 in which the coil 33b again becomes an electromagnet falls in the time T3. In such a case, however, the point 8 is interrupted by the left-side wheels 72 and 73 in the traveling direction of the train model 1, so that the point 8 cannot return to the second position P2. After the train model 1 passes through the point 8, the point 8 returns to the second position P2 in the timing W3 in which the coil 33b again becomes an electromagnet. When the point 8 is switched so as to travel along the path Y, it is not necessary for a user to switch the point 8 so as to allow the train model 1 to pass through the point 8 in the reverse direction of the path X. The same applied to the case where the point 8 is located in the first position P1, that is, the path X is travelable according to a point switching instruction from a user. If the coil 33 is in the electromagnetic state T1 when the front wheels 72 of the train model 1 traveling in the reverse direction of the path X run into the point 8, the train model 1 is stopped until the coil 33 is put into the non-electromagnetic state T2, and the point 8 is then moved so as to let the train model 1 pass. To shorten the stopping time, it is preferable to make the duration of the electromagnetic state T1 very much shorter than the duration of the non-electromagnetic state T2. Alternatively, the force for maintaining the position of the point 8, namely, the suction force of the electromagnetic coil 33, may be made smaller than the force of the train model 1 pushing the point 8. The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications may be made to it. For example, although the suction force of a magnetic body is utilized in the above embodiment, it is possible to utilize repulsive force. Also, a movable body 1 is not necessarily the train model 1, but any other type of movable body that can travel on tracks, such as a vehicle model, may be employed. Such a movable body does not need to have the wheels 72 and 73, and may only have a contact portion that is to be in contact with the track pieces 10 and the point 8. Further, the driving method for the movable body 1 is not limited to a motor, as long as it can be controlled by the controller 2. Although the battery placement unit 19 is provided in the point switching device 4 in the above embodiment, it is not necessary to employ the battery placement unit 19 if a current is supplied to the tracks 3. Also, the exciting current to be supplied to the selected coil 33 is not necessarily a direct current, but may be an alternating current. It is also possible to set the point number and the initial position of the point 8 according to an instruction from the controller 8. As described so far, the present invention can provide a point switching device that does not require a point switching operation to allow a movable body traveling in the reverse direction of a non-selected path of the diverging paths to pass through the point.

<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>In connection with toys that are moved on rails, such as train models that run on rails, point switching devices that are electrically controlled through the operations by users are already widely known as the means of switching points at the diverging point on rails. However, when one of diverging tracks is made travelable by a point, a conventional point switching device needs to switch the point so as to allow a movable body that is coming in the opposite direction from the other diverging track to pass through the diverging point. If the switching operation is not performed, the running of the movable body is blocked by the point, and the movement of the movable body might be interrupted, or the movable body might be derailed.

<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS <EOH>FIG. 1 shows an example of embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2A is an enlarged view of the diverging rails; FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the point, taken along the line J-K of FIG. 2A ; FIG. 3 shows the bottom side of the diverging rails; FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the diverging rails, taken along the line L-M of FIG. 3 , with the bottom side of the diverging rails facing upward; FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of the point switching device; FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the received data processing to be performed by the control unit of the point switching device; FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the point switching operation to be performed by the control unit of the point switching device; FIG. 8 shows the relationship between the state of the coils and the sate of the point; FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing a situation in which the point moves in such a manner as to make one path travelable through a point switching operation by a user; FIG. 10A is a schematic view showing a situation in which the train model runs into the point from the opposite direction of a path that is different from the travelable path; and FIG. 10B is a schematic view showing a situation in which the train model can pass through the diverging point. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"?

20051013

20080506

20060601

86502.0

A63H1932

LE, MARK T

POINT SWITCHING DEVICE

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

A63H

ACCEPTED

Background motion vector detection

A selector (502) for selecting a background motion vector for a pixel in an occlusion region of an image, from a set of motion vectors being computed for the image, comprises: computing means (510) for computing a model-based motion vector for the pixel on basis of a motion model being determined on basis of a part of (402-436) a motion vector field (400) of the image; comparing means (511) for comparing the model-based motion vector with each of the motion vectors of the set of motion vectors; and selecting means (512) for selecting a particular motion vector of the set of motion vectors on basis of the comparing and for assigning the particular motion vector as the background motion vector.

1. A selector (502) for selecting a background motion vector for a pixel in an occlusion region of an image, from a set of motion vectors being computed for the image, the selector (502) comprising: computing means (510) for computing a model-based motion vector for the pixel on basis of a motion model being determined on basis of a part of (402-436) a motion vector field (400) of the image; comparing means (511) for comparing the model-based motion vector with each of the motion vectors of the set of motion vectors; and selecting means (512) for selecting a particular motion vector of the set of motion vectors on basis of the comparing and for assigning the particular motion vector as the background motion vector. 2. A selector (502) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the part of the motion vector field (400) corresponds with motion vectors being estimated for groups of pixels in the neighborhood of the borders of the image. 3. A selector (502) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the comparing unit is arranged to compute differences between the model-based motion vector and the respective motion vectors of the set of motion vectors and the selecting unit is arranged to select the particular motion vector if the corresponding difference is the minimum difference of the differences. 4. A selector (502) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motion model comprises translation and zoom. 5. An up-conversion unit (500) for computing a pixel value in an occlusion region of an output image, on basis of a sequence of input images, the up-conversion unit (500) comprising: a motion estimation unit (504) for estimating motion vectors of the image, the motion vectors forming a motion vector field (400); a detection unit (508) for detecting the occlusion region in the image, on basis of the motion vectors; a motion model determination unit (505) for determining a motion model on basis of a part of (402-436) the motion vector field (400); an interpolating unit (506) for computing the pixel value by means of temporal interpolation, on basis of a background motion vector; and the selector (502) for selecting the background motion vector for the pixel, as claimed in claim 1. 6. An image processing apparatus (600) comprising: receiving means (602) for receiving a signal corresponding to a sequence of input images; and an up-conversion unit (500) for computing a pixel value in an occlusion region of an output image, as claimed in claim 5. 7. An image processing apparatus (600) as claimed in claim 6, characterized in further comprising a display device (606) for displaying the output image. 8. An image processing apparatus (600) as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that it is a TV. 9. A method of selecting a background motion vector for a pixel in an occlusion region of an image, from a set of motion vectors being computed for the image, the method comprising: computing a model-based motion vector for the pixel on basis of a motion model being determined on basis of a part of (402-436) a motion vector field (400) of the image; comparing the model-based motion vector with each of the motion vectors of the set of motion vectors; and selecting a particular motion vector of the set of motion vectors on basis of the comparing and for assigning the particular motion vector as the background motion vector. 10. A computer program product to be loaded by a computer arrangement, comprising instructions to select a background motion vector for a pixel in an occlusion region of an image, from a set of motion vectors being computed for the image, the computer arrangement comprising processing means and a memory, the computer program product, after being loaded, providing said processing means with the capability to carry out: computing a model-based motion vector for the pixel on basis of a motion model being determined on basis of a part of (402-436) a motion vector field (400) of the image; comparing the model-based motion vector with each of the motion vectors of the set of motion vectors; and selecting a particular motion vector of the set of motion vectors on basis of the comparing and for assigning the particular motion vector as the background motion vector.

The invention relates to a selector for selecting a background motion vector for a pixel in an occlusion region of an image, from a set of motion vectors being computed for the image. The invention further relates to an up-conversion unit for computing a pixel value in an occlusion region of an output image, on basis of a sequence of input images, the up-conversion unit comprising: a motion estimation unit for estimating motion vectors of the image, the motion vectors forming a motion vector field; a detection unit for detecting the occlusion region in the image, on basis of the motion vectors; a motion model determination unit for determining a motion model on basis of a part of the motion vector field; an interpolating unit for computing the pixel value by means of temporal interpolation, on basis of a background motion vector; and the selector for selecting the background motion vector for the pixel, as described above. The invention further relates to an image processing apparatus comprising: receiving means for receiving a signal corresponding to a sequence of input images; and an up-conversion unit as described above. The invention further relates to a method of selecting a background motion vector for a pixel in an occlusion region of an image, from a set of motion vectors being computed for the image. The invention further relates a computer program product to be loaded by a computer arrangement, comprising instructions to select a background motion vector for a pixel in an occlusion region of an image, from a set of motion vectors being computed for the image. In images resulting from motion compensated image rate converters, artifacts are visible at the boundaries of moving objects, where either covering or uncovering of background occurs. These artifacts are usually referred to as halos. There are two reasons for these halos. The first, rather trivial, cause is the resolution of the motion vector field. Usually, the density of the grid at which the motion vectors are available is much less than that of the pixel grid. If, for example, motion vectors are available for blocks of 8×8 pixels then the contours of moving objects can only roughly be approximated at the vector grid, resulting in a blocky halo effect. A second, less trivial cause, is that a motion estimation unit, estimating motion between two successive images of a video sequence, cannot perform well in regions where covering or uncovering occurs, as it is typical for these regions that the background information only occurs in either of the two images. Moreover, up-conversion units usually combine information from both images, i.e. bi-directional interpolation, using the wrongly estimated motion vectors, to create the up-converted image. Since, one of these images does not contain the correct information, due to the occlusion, the up-converted image is incorrect for occlusion regions. In order to solve these problems, an up-conversion unit should be able to detect the occlusion regions, detect the type of occlusion present in these regions (i.e. covering or uncovering), determine the correct motion vectors for these regions, and perform the up-conversion. The book “Video processing for multimedia systems”, by G. de Haan, University Press Eindhoven, 2000, ISBN 90-9014015-8, chapter 4, describes methods for the detection of occlusion regions and for the covering/uncovering classification. So, remains the requirement for determining the correct motion vector in occlusion regions. It is an object of the invention to provide a selector for easily determining an appropriate motion vector in an occlusion region. This object of the invention is achieved in that the selector comprises: computing means for computing a model-based motion vector for the pixel on basis of a motion model being determined on basis of a part of a motion vector field of the image; comparing means for comparing the model-based motion vector with each of the motion vectors of the set of motion vectors; and selecting means for selecting a particular motion vector of the set of motion vectors on basis of the comparing and for assigning the particular motion vector as the background motion vector. Typically, the set of motion vectors being computed for the occlusion region comprises a motion vector which corresponds with the movement of the foreground, i.e. the foreground motion vector and a motion vector which corresponds with the movement of the background, i.e. the background motion vector. However it is not directly known which one of the motion vectors of the set corresponds to the background. This background motion vector might correspond to the null vector, i.e. no motion. However, it is to be noticed that in many cases the camera is moving to track the main subject of the scene. That means that the foreground motion vector corresponds to the null vector and the background motion vector is not equal to the null vector. To select the background motion vector from the set of motion vectors, use is made of a global motion model of the background of the image. Based on the model a model-based motion vector is determined for the particular pixel. The motion vectors of the set are compared with the model-based motion vector. The one which fits best is selected as the background motion vector. Preferably the global motion model is based on motion vectors of the borders of the motion vector field. In other words, the part of the motion vector field which is applied for determining the motion model corresponds with motion vectors being estimated for groups of pixels in the neighborhood of the borders of the image. The probability that these motion vectors correspond with the background is relatively high. In an embodiment of the selector according to the invention, the comparing unit is arranged to compute differences between the model-based motion vector and the respective motion vectors of the set of motion vectors and the selecting unit is arranged to select the particular motion vector if the corresponding difference is the minimum difference of the differences. The difference might be a L1-norm, i.e. the sum of absolute differences of the components of the motion vectors to be compared. Alternatively, the difference is a L2-norm, i.e. the sum of squared differences of the components of the motion vectors to be compared. In an embodiment of the selector according to the invention, the motion model comprises translation and zoom. The parameters of such a model are relatively easy to compute, while the model is robust. With such a pan-zoom model the most frequent geometrical operations within video images can be described. With this pan-zoom model, the model-based motion vector {right arrow over (D)}b for a particular pixel can be determined by: D → b = [ t x + z x ⁢ x t y + z y ⁢ y ] ( 1 ) where tx and ty define the translation, zx and zy define the zoom and x and y the location in the image. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,278,736 and in the article “An efficient true-motion estimator using candidate vectors from a parametric motion model”, by G. de Haan, et al., in IEEE Transactions on circuits and systems for video technology, Vol. 8, no. 1, pages 85-91, March 1998 is described how a motion model can be made based on a part of a motion vector field. It is a further object of the invention to provide an up-conversion unit of the kind described in the opening paragraph comprising a selector for easily determining an appropriate motion vector in an occlusion region. This object of the invention is achieved in that the selector for selecting the background motion vector for the pixel is as claimed in claim 1. It is a further object of the invention to provide an image processing apparatus of the kind described in the opening paragraph comprising a selector for easily determining an appropriate motion vector in an occlusion region. This object of the invention is achieved in that the selector for selecting the background motion vector for the pixel is as claimed in claim 1. The image processing apparatus may comprise additional components, e.g. a display device for displaying the output images. The image processing apparatus might support one or more of the following types of image processing: Video compression, i.e. encoding or decoding, e.g. according to the MPEG standard. De-interlacing: Interlacing is the common video broadcast procedure for transmitting the odd or even numbered image lines alternately. De-interlacing attempts to restore the full vertical resolution, i.e. make odd and even lines available simultaneously for each image; Inage rate conversion: From a series of original input images a larger series of output images is calculated. Output images are temporally located between two original input images; and Temporal noise reduction. This can also involve spatial processing, resulting in spatial-temporal noise reduction. The image processing apparatus might e.g. be a TV, a set top box, a VCR (Video Cassette Recorder) player, a satellite tuner, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) player or recorder. It is a further object of the invention to provide a method for easily determining an appropriate motion vector in an occlusion region. This object of the invention is achieved in that the method comprises: computing a model-based motion vector for the pixel on basis of a motion model being determined on basis of a part of a motion vector field of the image; comparing the model-based motion vector with each of the motion vectors of the set of motion vectors; selecting a particular motion vector of the set of motion vectors on basis of the comparing and for assigning the particular motion vector as the background motion vector. It is a further object of the invention to provide a computer program product of the kind described in the opening paragraph for easily determining an appropriate motion vector in an occlusion region. This object of the invention is achieved in that the computer program product, after being loaded, provides processing means with the capability to carry out: computing a model-based motion vector for the pixel on basis of a motion model being determined on basis of a part of a motion vector field of the image; comparing the model-based motion vector with each of the motion vectors of the set of motion vectors; selecting a particular motion vector of the set of motion vectors on basis of the comparing and for assigning the particular motion vector as the background motion vector. Modifications of the selector and variations thereof may correspond to modifications and variations thereof of the method, the up-conversion unit, the image processing apparatus and the computer program product described. These and other aspects of the selector, of the method, the up-conversion unit, the image processing apparatus and of the computer program product according to the invention will become apparent from and will be elucidated with respect to the implementations and embodiments described hereinafter and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 schematically shows an image sequence containing a moving ball; FIG. 2 schematically shows a 2-D representation of the situation depicted in FIG. 1; FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B schematically show bi-directional matches used in prior art motion estimation; FIG. 4 schematically shows which part of a motion vector field is used to determine a motion model according to the invention; FIG. 5 schematically shows an up-conversion unit according to the invention; and FIG. 6 schematically shows an embodiment of the image processing apparatus according to the invention. Same reference numerals are used to denote similar parts throughout the figures. Consider the situation in FIG. 1. Two successive original, i.e. input, images 100 and 104 are given at a first point in time n−1 and a second point in time n, respectively. These images 100 and 104 schematically show a ball 106 moving from left to right. An intermediate image 102 is created at n−a with 0<a<1. This intermediate image 102 is constructed from both original images 100 and 104. The quantity time corresponds with the axis 108. The vertical co-ordinates correspond with the axis 110 and the horizontal co-ordinates correspond with the axis 112. It is assumed that the ball has a velocity of {right arrow over (f)}g and that the background is stationary, i.e. {right arrow over (b)}g={right arrow over (0)}. FIG. 2 schematically shows a 2-D representation of the situation depicted in FIG. 1. Note that FIG. 2 is rotated with respect to FIG. 1. Only the temporal 108 and the horizontal 112 axes are shown. The ball 106 is now represented by the Grey rectangle. The motion trajectories of the ball 106 and of the background are indicated by the arrows 114 and 116, respectively. The output image 102 image at n−a is created by motion compensated interpolation, using motion vectors estimated to be valid at n−a. The problems in the motion estimation unit and interpolator according to the prior art, causing the halo, will be discussed below. In general, a motion estimation unit determines a motion vector for a group of pixels by selecting the best matching motion vector from a set of candidate motion vectors. The match error is usually a Sum of Absolute Differences (SAD) obtained by fetching pixels from the input image at n−1 and comparing those pixels with pixels fetched from the input image at n, using the candidate motion vector, i.e.: ɛ ⁡ ( D → , X → , n ) = ∑ x → ∈ ⁢ B ⁡ ( X → ) ⁢ ⁢  F ⁡ ( x → - ( 1 - α ) ⁢ D → , n - 1 ) - F ⁡ ( x → + α ⁢ ⁢ D → , n )  ( 2 ) here {right arrow over (D)} is the motion vector, B({right arrow over (X)}) is the block located at block position {right arrow over (X)}, {right arrow over (x)} is a pixel position, F({right arrow over (x)},n) is a luminance frame, n is the image number and a is a relative position. An example is given in FIG. 3A. The motion vector {right arrow over (D)}1 points to the same information in both images, hence it has a low match error. The motion vector {right arrow over (D)}2 points to information in image 100 at time n−1 which differs from the information in image 104 at time n. A high match error is the result. A problem occurs in occlusion areas. In these areas no motion vector can result in a correct match since the information is not present in one of the two frames. In case of uncovering new information appears and is therefore not present in image 100 at time n−1. In case of covering information disappears and is therefore not present in image 104 at time n. The result of this is that the motion vector field is erroneous in occlusion areas. FIG. 3B shows these problem areas 118 and 120 in Grey. The black dots 122 and 124 represent pixels for which a motion vector has to be estimated. The black dots 122 and 124 are located in the background, but since the background is covered in either image 100 at time n−1 or image 104 at time n there is no motion vector which describes the motion of these image parts. In known up-conversion units, usually pixel value information from both images, F(n) and F(n−1), is used for interpolation. For example, motion compensated averaging uses a motion compensated pixel from the image 100 at time n−1 and a motion compensated pixel from the image 104 at time n: F ⁡ ( x → , n - α ) = F ⁡ ( x → - ( 1 - α ) ⁢ D → , n - 1 ) + F ⁡ ( x → + α ⁢ ⁢ D → , n ) 2 ( 3 ) Even if the correct motion vector is used, the result in occlusion areas is erroneous since either the pixel from the image 100 at time n−1 or from the image 104 at time n is wrong. A solution to the halo problem comprises at least two actions. Firstly, adjust the probably wrong motion vector in occlusion regions such that the correct motion vector is used in the up-conversion. Secondly, using the correct motion vector, fetch the pixel value information from the correct image, i.e. use unidirectional fetches instead of bi-directional fetches. There are some difficulties however. In order to perform the first action it must be known where the occlusion areas are. Hence occlusion detection and foreground/background motion detection is required. In order to perform the second action it must be known what type of occlusion there is. If it is covering, then the pixel value information from the image at time n−1 must be fetched. If it is uncovering, then the pixel value information from the image at time n must be fetched. Hence covering/uncovering detection is required. The book “Video processing for multimedia systems”, by G. de Haan, University Press Eindhoven, 2000, ISBN 90-9014015-8, chapter 4, describes methods for the detection of occlusion regions and for the covering/uncovering classification. In the following the foreground/background motion detection according to the invention is described. FIG. 4 schematically shows which part of a motion vector field 400 is used to determine a global motion model of the background, according to the invention. It is assumed that the background motion is present at the borders of the image. Hence, a number of motion vectors belonging to blocks of pixels located at the border of the image, i.e. at the border of motion vector field are used to determine the motion model of the background of the image. The method to determine a motion model is described in detail in patent specification U.S. Pat. No. 6,278,736 and in the article “An efficient true-motion estimator using candidate vectors from a parametric motion model”, by G. de Haan, et al., in IEEE Transactions on circuits and systems for video technology, Vol. 8, no. 1, pages 85-91, March 1998. This method determines a pan-zoom model from the motion vector of pairs of blocks and takes the component-wise median as the global pan-zoom model. A difference between the approach according to the invention and the one mentioned in the cited article is the choice of the blocks. In the approach according to the invention blocks from the borders of the image are used. Preferably 5 blocks 402-410 from the top, 5 blocks 412-420 from the bottom border, 4 blocks 422-428 from the left and 4 blocks 430-436 from the right border are used. That means a total of 18 blocks. With this pan-zoom model, the model-based motion vector {right arrow over (D)}b for a particular pixel can be determined by means of Equation 1. In order to determine the background motion vector of a location {right arrow over (x)}, in an occlusion region a set of motion vectors being determined by the motion estimation unit are required. Typically this set of motion vector comprises two motion vectors. The first one is the one which has been estimated for the location {right arrow over (x)} by the motion estimation unit 502: {right arrow over (D)}c={right arrow over (D)}({right arrow over (x)}) and an alternative motion vector in a motion vector being determined for a location {right arrow over (x)}+δ in the neighborhood, {right arrow over (D)}a={right arrow over (D)}({right arrow over (x)}+δ). In general, one of these motion vectors corresponds to the foreground motion vector and the other corresponds to the background motion vector. In order to determine the alternative motion vector {right arrow over (D)}a, motion vectors from locations a number of pixels (typically δ=16) to the left {right arrow over (D)}l and right {right arrow over (D)}r of the current position are evaluated. The motion vector being most different from the current vector is selected as the alternative motion vector {right arrow over (D)}a, D → l = D → ( x → - ( 16 , 0 ) ) ⁢ ⁢ D → r = D → ( x → + ( 16 , 0 ) ) ( 4 ) D a → = { D l → ⁢ ⁢ if ⁢ ⁢  D l → - D c →  <  D r → - D c →  D r → ⁢ ⁢ if ⁢ ⁢  D l → - D c →  <  D r → - D c →  ( 5 ) where {right arrow over (D)}({right arrow over (x)}) is the vector field. (See also U.S. Pat. No. 5,777,682) In order to classify the motion vectors {right arrow over (D)}c and {right arrow over (D)}a into foreground and background these motion vectors are compared with the motion vector which is computed on basis of the motion model for the background of the image, {right arrow over (D)}b. The actual background vector is the motion vector which has the minimal distance to {right arrow over (D)}b, i.e.: If |{right arrow over (D)}c−{right arrow over (D)}b|<|{right arrow over (D)}a−{right arrow over (D)}b|{right arrow over (b)}g={right arrow over (D)}c and {right arrow over (f)}g={right arrow over (D)}a (6) If |{right arrow over (D)}c−{right arrow over (D)}b|≧|{right arrow over (D)}a−{right arrow over (D)}b|{right arrow over (b)}g={right arrow over (D)}a and {right arrow over (f)}g={right arrow over (d)}c (7) FIG. 5 schematically shows an up-conversion unit 500 according to the invention. The up-conversion unit is arranged to compute a pixel value in an occlusion region of an output image, on basis of a sequence of input images. The up-conversion unit comprises: a motion estimation unit 504 for estimating motion vectors of the image. The motion vectors form a motion vector field. The motion estimation unit is e.g. as specified in the article “True-Motion Estimation with 3-D Recursive Search Block Matching” by G. de Haan et. al. in IEEE Transactions on circuits and systems for video technology, vol. 3, no. 5, October 1993, pages 368-379; a detection unit 508 for detecting the occlusion regions in the image, on basis of the motion vectors. This detection unit 508 is specified in more detail in the book “Video processing for multimedia systems”, by G. de Haan, University Press Eindhoven, 2000, ISBN 90-9014015-8, chapter 4; a motion model determination unit 505 for determining a motion model on basis of a part of the motion vector field. This motion model determination unit 505 is as described in connection with FIG. 4; an interpolating unit 506 for computing the pixel value of the output image 102 by means of temporal interpolation, on basis of a background motion vector; and a selector 502 for selecting the background motion vector for the pixel, as described above. This selector comprises: a motion vector computing unit 510 for computing a model-based motion vector {right arrow over (D)}b for the pixel on basis of a motion model being determined on basis of a part 402-436 of a motion vector field 400 of the image; a comparing unit 511 for comparing the model-based motion vector {right arrow over (D)}b with each of the motion vectors {right arrow over (D)}c and {right arrow over (D)}a of the set of motion vectors; a selector unit 512 for selecting a particular motion vector of the set of motion vectors on basis of the comparing and for assigning the particular motion vector as the background motion vector. The motion estimation unit 504, the detection unit 508, the motion model determination unit 505, the interpolating unit 506, and the selector 502 may be implemented using one processor. Normally, these functions are performed under control of a software program product. During execution, normally the software program product is loaded into a memory, like a RAM, and executed from there. The program may be loaded from a background memory, like a ROM, hard disk, or magnetically and/or optical storage, or may be loaded via a network like Internet. Optionally an application specific integrated circuit provides the disclosed functionality. The working of the up-conversion unit 500 is as follows. On the input connector 514 a signal representing a series of input images 100 and 104 is provided. The up-conversion unit 500 is arranged to provide a series of output images at the output connector 516, comprising the input images 100 and 104 and intermediate images, e.g. 102. The motion estimation unit 504 is arranged to compute a motion vector field 400 for the intermediate image on basis of the input images 100 and 104. On basis of the pixel values 524 of the input images 100 and 104 and on basis of the motion vectors 522 the interpolating unit 506 is arranged to compute the pixel values of the intermediate image 102. In principle this is done by means of a bi-directional fetch of pixel values. However, as explained above, this results in artifacts in occlusion regions. Because of that, the up-conversion unit 500 according to the invention is arranged to perform an alternative interpolation for these occlusion regions. The up-conversion unit 500 comprises a detection unit 508 for detecting the occlusion regions in the image and for control of the interpolating unit 506. The detection unit 508 is arranged to classify the type of occlusion as described in patent application EP1048170. The classification is based on comparing neighboring motion vectors. The classification is as follows: occlusion = { uncovering ⁢ ⁢ if ⁢ ⁢ D l , x < D r , x covering ⁢ ⁢ if ⁢ ⁢ D l , x > D r , x ( 8 ) with Dl,x the x-component of the left motion vector and Dr,x the x-component of the right motion vector to be compared. The detection unit 508 provides the selector 502 with a set of motion vectors 518. Typically this set of motion vectors comprises two motion vectors. The selector 502 is arranged to determine which of these motion vectors corresponds to the background motion and which of these motion vectors corresponds with the foreground motion. On basis of the background motion vector 526 the interpolation unit 506 is arranged to fetch the corresponding pixel value in the appropriate image: in the case of covering the background motion vector is applied to fetch the pixel value in image at time n−1; and in the case of uncovering the background motion vector is applied to fetch the pixel value in image at time n; Optionally additional pixel values are fetched in both preceding and succeeding images on basis of an other motion vector. By means of a filtering operation, e.g. an order statistical operation like a median, the eventual pixel value of the intermediate image is computed. In summary the halo reduction is as follows. The halo reduction starts by determining the occlusion regions. Only in the occlusion regions the upconversion deviates from the “normal” upconversion, motion compensated averaging, as specified in Equation 3. In occlusion regions the motion vector field is inaccurate. Therefore, it is tested whether or not an alternative motion vector {right arrow over (D)}a is better than the one {right arrow over (D)}c which has been estimated by the motion estimation unit 504 for the current pixel. These two motion vectors, the current {right arrow over (D)}c and alternate {right arrow over (D)}a motion vector are provided to the selector 502 which is arranged to determine the background motion vector. With the appropriate motion vector the appropriate pixel value is fetched from the preceding or succeeding image. FIG. 6 schematically shows an embodiment of the image processing apparatus 600 according to the invention, comprising: Receiving means 602 for receiving a signal representing input images. The signal may be a broadcast signal received via an antenna or cable but may also be a signal from a storage device like a VCR (Video Cassette Recorder) or Digital Versatile Disk (DVD). The signal is provided at the input connector 608; The up-conversion unit 500 as described in connection with FIG. 5; and A display device 606 for displaying the output images of the up-conversion unit 500. The image processing apparatus 600 might e.g. be a TV. Alternatively the image processing apparatus 600 does not comprise the optional display device 606 but provides the output images to an apparatus that does comprise a display device 606. Then the image processing apparatus 600 might be e.g. a set top box, a satellite-tuner, a VCR player, a DVD player or recorder. Optionally the image processing apparatus 600 comprises storage means, like a hard-disk or means for storage on removable media, e.g. optical disks. The image processing apparatus 600 might also be a system being applied by a film-studio or broadcaster. It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention and that those skilled in the art will be able to design alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be constructed as limiting the claim. The word ‘comprising’ does not exclude the presence of elements or steps not listed in a claim. The word “a” or “an” preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The invention can be implemented by means of hardware comprising several distinct elements and by means of a suitable programmed computer. In the unit claims enumerating several means, several of these means can be embodied by one and the same item of hardware.

20050720

20090414

20060406

95814.0

G06K900

BAYAT, ALI

BACKGROUND MOTION VECTOR DETECTION

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

G06K

ACCEPTED

Asynchronous wrapper for a globally asynchronous, locally synchronous (gals) circuit

The invention concerns an asynchronous wrapper for a globally asynchronous, locally synchronous circuit. The asynchronous wrapper operates with a request signal-driven clock control, supplemented by a local clock unit in the absence of request signals. It has at least one input unit which is adapted to receive a request signal from outside and to indicate to the outside the reception of the request signal by the delivery of an associated acknowledgement signal, and a pausable clock unit which is adapted to repeatedly produce a first clock signal and to deliver it to an internally synchronous circuit block associated with the asynchronous wrapper. The input unit is adapted to produce, if a request signal is applied, a second clock signal which is in a defined time relationship with the request signal and to deliver it to the internally synchronous circuit block. There is further provided a time-out unit which is connected to the input unit and which is adapted to start the delivery of the first clock signal when external request signals are absent over a given period of time.

1. An asynchronous wrapper comprising at least one input unit which is adapted to receive a request signal from outside and to indicate to the outside the reception of the request signal by the delivery of an associated acknowledgement signal, and a pausable clock unit which is adapted to repeatedly produce a first clock signal and deliver it to an internally synchronous circuit block associated with the asynchronous wrapper, characterised in that the input unit is adapted to produce, if a request signal is applied, a second clock signal which is in a defined time relationship with the request signal and to deliver it to the internally synchronous circuit block, and there is provided a time-out unit which is connected to the input unit and which is adapted to suppress delivery of the first clock signal to the favour of the delivery of the second clock signal. 2. An asynchronous wrapper as set forth in claim 1 wherein the time-out unit is adapted to suppress the delivery of the first clock signal to the favor of the delivery of the second clock signal. 3. An asynchronous wrapper as set forth in claim 1 wherein the time-out unit is adapted with the expiry of a predetermined period of time after delivery of the last second clock signal to deliver a control signal for enabling the delivery of the first clock signal. 4. An asynchronous wrapper as set forth in claim 1 having a clock control unit which is connected to the clock unit and to the input unit and which is adapted to drive the clock unit for the delivery of a number of clock pulses, wherein the number of clock pulses is less than or equal to the depth of a pipeline of the associated, internally synchronous circuit block. 5. An asynchronous wrapper as set forth in claim 4 wherein the clock control unit is adapted to send a control signal for stopping to the clock unit after delivery of the necessary number of clock pulses. 6. An asynchronous wrapper as set forth in claim 1 wherein the input unit is adapted, when a request signal is applied, to deliver a control signal to the internally synchronous circuit block for enabling a data input. 7. An asynchronous wrapper as set forth in claim 1 comprising at least one output unit which is adapted to send a request signal to the outside and upon the reception of an acknowledgement signal from the outside to deliver a control signal to the internally synchronous circuit block for enabling a data output. 8. An asynchronous wrapper as set forth in claim 7 wherein the input unit and the output unit are adapted to communicate with the outside by way of a four-phase handshake protocol. 9. A globally asynchronous locally synchronous (GALS) circuit including at least one internally synchronous circuit block and a respectively associated asynchronous wrapper as set forth in claim 1. 10. A GALS circuit as set forth in claim 9 wherein connected upstream of a data input of the internally synchronous circuit block is a data latch whose operation is controlled by the input unit. 11. A method of clock control of an internally synchronous circuit block of an integrated circuit by means of an asynchronous wrapper, wherein the internally synchronous circuit block can be clock controlled by means of a first clock signal which a local clock signal generator can produce, comprising the steps: a) pausing the delivery of the first clock signal or switching off the local generator, b) waiting for the reception of a request signal from the outside at the input of the asynchronous wrapper, c) delivering a second clock signal from the asynchronous wrapper to the internally synchronous circuit block in a defined time relationship with the reception of the request signal and without the aid of the local clock signal generator, and d) waiting for the reception of a next request signal from the outside and possibly repeating the preceding step. 12. A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein, in the absence of a request signal over a predeterminable period of time (time-out), switching over is effected to the delivery of the first clock signal which is produced by means of the local clock signal generator. 13. A method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the local clock signal generator is switched off after emptying of a pipeline of the internally synchronous circuit block or after the arrival of a new request signal. 14. An asynchronous wrapper as set forth in claim 6 wherein the input unit and the output unit are adapted to communicate with the outside by way of a four-phase handshake protocol. 15. An asynchronous wrapper as set forth in claim 14 comprising at least one output unit which is adapted to send a request signal to the outside and upon the reception of an acknowledgement signal from the outside to deliver a control signal to the internally synchronous circuit block for enabling a data output.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of International Application PCT/EP03/14949 having an international filing date of Dec. 29, 2003, and from which priority is claimed under all applicable sections of Title 35 of the United States Code including, but not limited to, Sections 120, 363 and 365(c), and which in turn claims priority under 35 USC §119 to German Patent Application No. 10303673.3-53 filed on Jan. 24, 2003. TECHNICAL FIELD The invention concerns an asynchronous wrapper for a globally asynchronous, locally synchronous (GALS) circuit. It further concerns a GALS circuit and a method of clock control of an internally synchronous circuit block. BACKGROUND ART Nowadays highly integrated semiconductor components for wireless communication include digital as well as analog circuits for data and signal processing on a chip. Digital signal-processing circuits are implemented by means of dedicated datapath-oriented circuits. Alternatively, implementation with a DSP (digital signal processor) is possible. A system with datapath architecture typically has complex circuit blocks which execute expensive and complicated arithmetic or trigonometric operations. A 5 GHz modem for wireless operation in an LAN (local area network) in accordance with the Standard IEEE 802.11a includes for example an FFT/IFFT (fast Fourier transform/inverse FFT) processor, a Viterbi decoder, a CORDIC processor and cross- and auto-correlators. The communication between those blocks is effected at high data rates. In that case periods of long inactivity frequently follow time portions with a high data throughput. A serious technical problem in modern ASICs (application specific integrated circuits) is synchronisation of the different functional blocks which are integrated on a chip. The use of a global time clock for all functional blocks is to be embodied in the design only at a high level of complication and expenditure. In addition a synchronous global time clock produces increased electromagnetic interference (EMI). That causes difficulties in terms of integrating analog and digital circuits on a chip. To resolve the above-indicated problems, in recent times so-called globally asynchronous, locally synchronous (GALS) circuit architectures have been proposed. Synchronously operating circuits trigger all storage operations in accordance with a common time raster which is defined by the status of a global signal. That signal is identified as the clock. Usually the rising edge of the clock signal is used for triggering storage operations. The disadvantage of synchronously operating circuits is that the basic assumption that the clock signal is available to all parts of the circuitry at the same moment in time—that is to say synchronously—is not correct in reality. That is governed by the signal propagation time. Asynchronous circuits dispense with a time raster with discrete time steps. The function of asynchronous circuits is based on the occurrence of events. The instantaneous condition of the circuit is determined completely by the polarity of signal changes and the sequence thereof. GALS circuits have circuit blocks which operate internally synchronously. Those locally synchronous circuit blocks communicate with each other asynchronously, that is to say by means of a handshake protocol. There is therefore no need for the individual, locally synchronised circuit blocks also to be globally synchronised with each other. As long as each individual locally synchronous block follows the handshake protocol, those circuit blocks can be combined together in any manner. A GALS architecture is distinguished by a modular structure which permits a high level of flexibility in the circuit design. For, as the interface in relation to any locally synchronous circuit module is asynchronous, any synchronous circuits can be integrated with each other. Any locally synchronous circuit block can have a time raster with an individual clock signal frequency. For conversion of the asynchronous communication between the locally synchronous circuit blocks, they each have a respective asynchronous wrapping circuit which is also referred to as an ‘asynchronous wrapper’. An asynchronous wrapper has input and output ports as well as a local clock signal generator. Each port of the wrapper, that is to say each input and each output, has an associated port control which is responsible for conversion of the handshake protocol. The port and the control together form an input unit and an output unit respectively. The clock signal generator of an asynchronous wrapper is adapted to produce the clock signal at a signal frequency which is tuneable in a given frequency range. An important feature of clock signal generators for asynchronous wrappers is that the production of the clock signal can be interrupted (it is pausable). The publication by David S Bormann, Peter Y K Cheoung, Asynchronous Wrapper for Heterogeneous Systems, In Proc International Conf Computer Design (ICCD), October 1997, pages 307 through 314 discloses an asynchronous wrapper with an input unit, an output unit and a clock signal generator. At the same time that article describes a method of clock control of an internally synchronous circuit block of an integrated circuit by means of an asynchronous wrapper. The input unit or the output unit produce and send a stretch signal to the clock signal generator when a request signal of an adjacent preceding circuit block was received at the input or a request signal was sent at the output to an adjacent subsequent circuit block. The stretch signal is present at a control input of the clock signal generator until a handshake has taken place for data exchange with an adjacent circuit. As long as the stretch signal is present the delivery of the next clock signal from the clock signal generator to the synchronous circuit block is delayed. In that way circuit blocks can be individually internally synchronously clock controlled and at the same time exchange data asynchronously with circuit blocks in the environment. A disadvantage is that this asynchronous wrapper is designed for uses which are not specified in greater detail and it is therefore not suited to circuit environments which are predetermined in an individual case. That applies in particular in regard to power consumption which is required for a GALS block. Mechanisms for reducing the power consumption can only be implemented with difficulty, with the known asynchronous wrappers. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The technical object of the present invention is to provide an asynchronous wrapper which permits the implementation of a GALS block with a low power consumption. In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, that object is attained by an asynchronous wrapper having at least one input unit which is adapted to receive a request signal from outside and to indicate to the outside the reception of the request signal by the delivery of an associated acknowledgement signal, a pausable clock unit which is adapted to repeatedly produce a first clock signal and deliver it to an internally synchronous circuit block associated with the asynchronous wrapper, wherein the input unit is adapted in response to the reception of a request signal to produce a second clock signal which is in a defined time relationship with the request signal and to deliver it to the internally synchronous circuit block, and wherein there is provided a time-out unit which is connected to the input unit and which is adapted to suppress delivery of the first clock signal. The invention is based on the realisation that a GALS block for processing a continuous data stream operates most effectively in a quasi-synchronous mode. In accordance with the invention a quasi-synchronous mode can be implemented in which a GALS block is operated in an operating mode which is driven by request signals (referred to as ‘request driven’). The internally synchronous circuit block is accordingly clock controlled whenever data actually arrive at its input. In the case of an asynchronous wrapper, request signals enter from the outside, that is to say from an adjacent asynchronous wrapper which precedes in the data flow when data are present for input at the local, internally synchronous circuit block. Accordingly the basic idea of the apparatus according to the invention is embodied in the input unit which is adapted for the delivery of a clock signal (indicated in some places here as the ‘second’ signal only for distinguishing purposes) in a defined time relationship with the inputted request signal. In principle the apparatus according to the invention can also operate without a pausable clock unit and without a time-out unit. The consequence of this is that it is clock controlled solely by means of the second clock signals. In the absence of request signals, the locally synchronous circuit would not be clock controlled in that case. That admittedly suffers from the disadvantage that data which have remained in the pipeline of the synchronous circuit are not outputted. Nonetheless the output would be continued with a renewed receipt of request signals. To obviate that disadvantage, in accordance with the invention, the internally synchronous circuit is clock controlled by means of two alternative sources, either by means of the clock unit or by means of the input unit, on the basis of request signals. It would also be possible to refer to ‘multiplexing’ of the first and second clock signals. The clock control which is synchronised with incoming request signals, by the ‘second’ clock signals, basically has priority over clock control by means of ‘first’ clock signals from the clock unit. In that respect however it is guaranteed that a clock period of a ‘first’ clock signal is concluded before a ‘second’ clock signal is delivered to the internally synchronous circuit block. In accordance with the invention a second clock signal is synchronised with a currently received request signal by the second clock signal being produced in defined time relationship with the request signal. The defined time relationship can signify for example that the rising edge and the falling edge of the second clock signal are produced in a fixed time spacing relative to the rising edge and the falling edge of the request signal. Upon the receipt of a request signal which enters in the context of a continuous data stream, clock control with a clock signal by a specifically provided clock generator is dispensed with. Such a clock generator is nonetheless a constituent part of the asynchronous wrapper according to an aspect of the invention, in order if necessary also to be able to drive the internally synchronous circuit block without an applied request signal. The arrangement according to the invention has various advantages. It firstly makes it possible to dispense with a global clock tree. If there are no request signals from the outside, the arrangement according to the invention permits clock control by means of the first clock signals only when required, that is to say for example as long as data are present for delivery to the outside in the pipeline of the internally synchronous circuit. The asynchronous wrapper according to the invention can therefore provide for a low power consumption on the part of a GALS block, which is oriented to the actual data processing need. In addition, according to an aspect of the invention, by virtue of the clock control which is dependent on request signals, there are only few boundary conditions for the clock frequency of the local clock generator which produces the ‘first’ clock signals. The clock frequency of a local clock generator does not have to be adapted in particular to the data rate. That allows a simple design configuration in respect of a ring oscillator of the local clock generator. In a first embodiment of the invention the time-out unit is adapted with the expiry of a predetermined period of time after delivery of the last second clock signal to deliver a control signal for enabling the delivery of the first clock signal. This embodiment involves waiting during a so-called time-out period of time, after the last request signal, before clock control by the local clock generator replaces clock control by incoming request signals. That has the advantage on the one hand that clock control does not jump to and fro uncontrolledly between the first and second clock signals if no request signal is applied only for a short time. On the other hand, enablement of the first clock signal makes it possible to empty the pipeline of the local, internally synchronous circuit, independently of the presence of a request signal, and thus to obtain an interconnected data flow over a plurality of GALS blocks as such. A second embodiment which is an alternative to the first embodiment is based on the idea of providing for supplementing the communication protocol between the asynchronous wrappers of adjacent GALS blocks, instead of waiting for a given period of time by means of the time-out unit. In this alternative embodiment, with a corresponding signal, the asynchronous wrapper of the preceding GALS block indicates that a current request signal is the last request signal for the time being. The signal can be a modified request signal or a separate signal which is to be transmitted in parallel with a request signal. For example the output unit of the asynchronous wrapper can be adapted for emitting the signal. The corresponding circuitry conversion procedure involved is known per se to the man skilled in the art. The input unit is correspondingly adapted to receive the signal. It can also deal with the function of delivering the enable signal for the first clock signal, which is performed in the first embodiment by the time-out unit. To optimise the power consumption, the first and the second embodiments should provide that clock control by means of the first signal is effected only as long as data are present in the pipeline. Preferably therefore there is provided a clock control unit which is connected to the clock unit and to the input unit and which is adapted to drive the clock unit to deliver a number of clock pulses, wherein the number of clock pulses is less than or equal to the depth of a pipeline of the associated, internally synchronous circuit block. In that way, clock control of the internally synchronous circuit can be interrupted after emptying of the pipeline, until request signals are again present. To pause or interrupt the clock control by means of the first clock signal the clock control unit is preferably adapted to send a control signal for stopping to the clock unit after delivery of the said number of clock pulses. In the asynchronous wrapper according to the invention, the input unit is preferably adapted to deliver a control signal to the internally synchronous circuit block for enabling data input, when a request signal is applied. A plurality of input units can be provided. That is appropriate for example if the GALS block is connected at the input side to a plurality of other GALS blocks. Equally, it is possible to provide one or more output units which are adapted to send a request signal to the outside and, in response to the reception of a acknowledgement signal from the outside, to deliver a control signal to the internally synchronous circuit block for enabling a data output. Preferably, the communication between an output unit of a first GALS block on the one hand and a connected input unit of a second GALS block on the other hand is effected by way of a four-phase handshake protocol which is known per se to the man skilled in the art. The input unit and the output unit are preferably respectively adapted to communicate by means of the four-phase handshake protocol. GALS blocks with an internally synchronous circuit block and an asynchronous wrapper can be implemented by means of the asynchronous wrapper according to the invention. Taking various such GALS blocks, it is possible to implement GALS architectures in highly integrated circuits, including at least one internally synchronous circuit block and a respectively associated asynchronous wrapper. In a GALS block according to the invention, a data latch is preferably connected upstream of a data input of the internally synchronous circuit block, the operation of the data latch being controlled by the input unit. It serves on the one hand in known manner for buffering incoming data. On the other the data latch prevents the occurrence of metastable conditions at the input of the internally synchronous circuit block. In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, to attain the above-indicated object, there is proposed a method of clock control of an internally synchronous circuit block of an integrated circuit by means of an asynchronous wrapper, wherein the internally synchronous circuit block can be clock controlled by means of a first clock signal which a local clock signal generator can produce. The method according to the invention has the following steps: a) pausing the delivery of the first clock signal or switching off the local clock generator, b) waiting for the reception of a request signal from the outside at the input of the asynchronous wrapper, c) delivering a second clock signal from the asynchronous wrapper to the internally synchronous circuit block in a defined time relationship with the reception of the request signal and without the aid of the local clock signal generator, and d) waiting for the reception of a next request signal from the outside and possibly repeating the preceding step. The method according to the invention breaks with the asynchronous clock method which is currently usual in connection with GALS architectures and in which the local clock signal can be delayed if required. In place thereof it proposes a clock control which is oriented to the presence of a request signal. The local (first) clock signal is paused or the local clock signal generator switched off. A clock signal which in the context of the present application is referred to as the ‘second clock signal’ is directly derived for the locally synchronous block, from the incoming external request signal. The local clock generator serves exclusively to empty internal pipeline stages of the locally synchronous circuit if no external request signal is applied over a given period of time. The advantages of the method are apparent directly from the foregoing description in relation to the asynchronous wrapper according to the invention. An embodiment of the method according to the invention, in the absence of a request signal over a predeterminable period of time, involves switching over to the delivery of the first clock signal which is produced by means of the local clock signal generator. In this embodiment the local clock signal generator is switched off again preferably after emptying of a pipeline of the internally synchronous circuit block or after the arrival of a fresh request signal. The advantages of these embodiments of the method according to the invention are also apparent from the description of the apparatus according to the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further features and advantages of the invention are made clear hereinafter by means of the description of embodiments by way of example with reference to the accompanying Figures in which: FIG. 1 shows a block circuit diagram of an embodiment of an asynchronous wrapper, FIG. 2 shows a detail block circuit diagram of the asynchronous wrapper of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 shows a circuit diagram of the clock signal generator of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 shows a circuit diagram of the clock control from FIG. 2, FIG. 5 shows a block circuit diagram of the time-out detector of FIG. 2, FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of the input of the wrapper of FIG. 2, FIG. 7 shows a specification of an input control of the input of the wrapper of FIG. 2, FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of the output of the wrapper of FIG. 2, FIG. 9 shows a specification of an output control of the output of FIG. 8, FIG. 10 shows a diagram with a representation of the variation in respect of time of various signals in different modes of operation of the asynchronous wrapper, and FIG. 11 shows a block circuit diagram of an example of use in the form of a baseband transmitter for wireless communication. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 shows a simplified block diagram of a circuit 10 having a local synchronous block 12 and an asynchronous wrapper 14. The locally synchronous block 12 has inputs and outputs (not described in greater detail herein) for data which are exchanged with adjacent circuit blocks. That is symbolically indicated by arrows 16 and 18. The asynchronous wrapper of the circuit 10 has an input 20 for receiving and emitting handshake signals. The input communicates by means of the handshake signals for example with an output of an adjacent, similar asynchronous wrapper (not shown) which precedes in the data flow. Connected to the input 20 is an output 22 which in a similar manner exchanges handshake signals with the environment. For example the output 22 communicates with an input of an adjacent, similar asynchronous wrapper (also not shown) which follows in the data flow. A time-out detector 24 is connected on the one hand to the input 20 and on the other hand to a clock signal generator 26. The connection of the clock signal generator 26 to the time-out detector 24 is effected by way of control inputs. The clock signal generator 26 is also connected to the output 22 by way of a control input and output. The connection of the locally synchronous block 12 (in this application also referred to as being internally synchronous) to the asynchronous wrapper 14 is effected by way of control lines 28 and 30. A clock signal from the clock signal generator 26 and request signals of external circuits from the input 20 are passed to the locally synchronous block 12 by way of the control lines 28 and 30. Accordingly the locally synchronous circuit 12 is driven both by incoming request signals from external circuits and also by the local clock signal. A request signal which is passed by way of the input 20 originates from an asynchronous wrapper of an adjacent circuit block. It is synchronised with data which reach the locally synchronous block 12 by way of the data line 16. The concept behind the present embodiment is based on a distributed control mechanism which is referred to as a token flow approach. Each locally synchronous block 12 of various circuits 10 which are combined in a system has its own asynchronous wrapper. That asynchronous wrapper additionally sends signals to adjacent wrappers which provide information about the instantaneous condition of the wrapper. In this connection, the combination of a data unit with an item of information relating to the validity of that data unit is referred to as a token. The adjacent wrappers operate their respective locally synchronous block 12 in dependence on that signal. In addition the modules which belong to a locally synchronous block produce a further signal for transmission to the functionally following module which indicates the end of operation. In dependence on that signal, the module accepts the data of the preceding module and processes same. If no request signal is present at the input 20 for a predetermined period of time, the wrapper 14 changes into another condition in which it produces internal clock signals by means of a local ring oscillator which is described in greater detail hereinafter. The number of the internally produced clock signals is so established that it is equal to the number of clock cycles which are necessary to empty the pipeline of the locally synchronous circuit 12. As soon as no more valid data are in the synchronous block, the clock signal generator 26 stops. The locally synchronous block 12 is then inactive until a next request signal arrives. The arrival of a request signal is detected on the basis of a change in the condition at the input 20. Usually in that case the detection of a rising signal edge is interpreted as the arrival of a fresh request signal. When a request signal is detected at the input 20 while the locally synchronous block is driven after the detection of a time-out by the local clock signal generator, firstly the current clock signal must be terminated in order to avoid metastability at the data inputs of the locally synchronous block 12. The clock signal production can then be changed over from the local ring oscillator of the clock signal generator 26 to the input line 30. Further circuits which are described in greater detail hereinafter are required to prevent metastability in the management of that situation. The circuit architecture proposed here enjoys numerous advantages. As in any GALS system, first of all no global clock tree is required. The clock signal is produced by ‘multiplexing’ of the local clock signal and the request signals. On the basis of operation driven by request signals, the frequency of the local clock signal generator does not have to coincide precisely with the frequency of a global clock signal generator or with the data rate. That reduces the number of boundary conditions in respect of the design of the ring oscillator. The present implementation further does not require a large register capacity for input data in the locally synchronous block 12. That avoids an unwanted delay and at the same time simplifies the hardware structure of the system. In the case of the concept which is involved here the locally synchronous block 12 responds directly to request signals and thus avoids delays. A further advantage of the use of a token flow approach in the circuit concept proposed here is that, instead of locally synchronous pipelines, it is equally possible to use completely asynchronous circuits, if that is desired. Finally the present architecture offers an efficient power saving mechanism. A respective synchronous block 12 is driven only when data are present at its input or when expulsion of the data which have still remained in the local pipeline is required. At all other times the locally synchronous block 12 is out of operation. FIG. 2 shows a detailed block diagram of the GALS block of FIG. 1. In addition to the components shown in FIG. 1 the asynchronous wrapper 14 has a clock control 32 and a transparent latch 34. The function of the asynchronous wrapper 14 is described in greater detail hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 2 through 9. Besides the functional blocks, FIG. 2 also shows their connections and the signals transmitted on the connections. The connecting lines indicate the direction of transmission of the signals, by the directional arrows. Clock control of the locally synchronous module 12 is effected with a signal INT_CLK. The signal INT_CLK is the output signal of an OR gate 36, to the inputs of which are applied on the one hand a signal REQ_INT and on the other hand a signal LCLKM. The signal REQ_INT is produced by the input 20 when a request signal REQ_A has been received from the outside by way of the time-out generator 24 in the form of a further signal REQ_A1 at the input. Details relating to the structure and function of the time-out generator 24 are described hereinafter with reference to FIG. 5. The signal LCLKM is the output signal of an AND gate 38, whose two inputs are connected on the one hand to the clock generator 26 and on the other hand to the time-out generator 24. The function of the AND gate 38 involves permitting the time-out generator 24, by means of a signal ST, to control the transfer of the output signal LCLK of the clock generator 26 to the OR gate 36. The signals REQ_INT and INT_CLK mutually exclude each other. For that reason the INT_CLK signal which reaches the locally synchronous module 12 is always produced uniquely either on the basis of a request signal from the outside or on the basis of clock control by the clock generator 26, which is controlled by the time-out generator 24. Data signals DATA-IN which arrive from the outside by way of the data line 16 are buffered in the transparent latch 34. That is required to prevent a metastable condition at the input of the locally synchronous block. Operation of the latch 34 is controlled with a signal DLE, wherein the register is transparent when the signal DLE is applied. The signal DLE is applied after a signal change in the clock generator 26 if data stored in the latch previously was already written into the register stage of the locally synchronous module 12. There is no need for the locally synchronous module 12 to have further registers. The incoming data can then be passed directly to a logic block (not shown) which is connected upstream of the first register stage (also not shown). The structure and the function of the pausable clock generator 26 are described in greater detail hereinafter with reference to FIG. 3. The local clock signal generator 26 has a ring oscillator 39 which comprises a Müller C element 40, a delay section 44 and an OR gate 46 (with downstream inverter). The ring oscillator 29 receives signals by way of two control inputs, on the one hand from an arbiter 42 and on the other hand by way of a second input of the OR gate 46. On the one hand the output signal LCLK of the ring oscillator is returned to the OR gate 46. On the other hand the OR gate 46 is connected to an output of the clock control 32, by way of which a signal STOPI can be applied. The ring oscillator 39 can be stopped by means of the signal STOPI. The STOPI signal occurs in two cases: on the one hand immediately after a reset in order to prevent activation of the oscillator prior to the arrival of the first request signal in relation to the local block. On the other hand, after a time-out, that is to say when the number of local clock cycles is equal to the number of cycles which is necessary to output all valid data within the pipeline. In that situation the local clock signal is blocked off in order to prevent unnecessary power consumption. The ring oscillator 39 can assume three basic modes: sleep mode, time-out mode and clock generator mode. In the sleep mode a stop signal STOPI blocks operation of the clock generator 26. In the time-out measurement mode the input handshake is enabled and the input waits for the arrival of a time-out event. A time-out event is the absence of a request signal at the input for a predetermined period of time (Ttime-out). The input handshake also waits for a change in signal on the request signal line. In the present embodiment the clock generator is also adapted to produce a time-out signal. The clock generator mode is activated when a time-out has occurred. In other words, the locally synchronous block 12 is then clock-controlled in order to output all valid data in the pipeline. FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the clock control 32. The task of the clock control 32 is control of the clock generator 26. The clock control 32 produces two output signals: STOPI and STOP. The signal STOP is a control signal for an asynchronous finite state machine (AFSM) of an input control which is associated with the input 20. This will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter in the context of FIGS. 6 and 7. When the STOP signal is applied the local clock signal is stopped. The STOP signal is activated when a counter 48 which is clock controlled with the local clock signal reaches a number which is equal to the depth of the synchronous pipeline. The signal STOPI is derived from the signal STOP by means of an additional D-type flip-flop 50. That signal is used directly as a control signal for the ring oscillator 39 of the clock generator. The D-type flip-flop serves to hold that signal in the activated condition until a new request signal arrives. FIG. 5 shows a block circuit diagram of the time-out detector 24. The time-out detector 24 has a counter 52. The counter 52 counts the number of negative, that is to say falling edges of the local clock signal. That counter is in the form of a standard synchronous counter. When it reaches its last value it produces a time-out signal. The reset signal RST is activated once during each handshake at the input port. The RST signal and the clock signal basically do not exclude each other. That fact conceals the risk of a metastable behaviour on the part of the counter 52. In order to avoid metastability an exclusion element 54 (mutual exclusion element or MUTEX) is connected upstream of the input of the counter 52. The MUTEX element triggers the simultaneous occurrence of a rising edge of the clock signal and a falling edge of the reset signal. A flip-flop 60 connected on the input side of the MUTEX element 54 serves for mutually exclusive occurrence of a reset and an LCLK signal at the input of the counter 52. A further problematical situation is the simultaneous occurrence of an external request signal REQ_A and a time-out signal. Such a condition could harm the underlying burst mode operation and cause defective operation of the AFSM. A further MUTEX element 56 is provided to resolve that possible problem. In order to keep the line available for most of the time for the request signal REQ_A1, identified in FIG. 5 by reference 58, the time-out signal should be active on the input side of the MUTEX element 56 only for a very short period of time. That behaviour is achieved by means of two flip-flops 62 and 63. The first flip-flop 62 is set to a logic ‘high’ signal (‘1’) when a time-out occurs, that is to say when the output of the counter 52 is ‘1’. When a time-out is initiated subsequently to the arbitration step the second flip-flop 63 is switched. That switching of the second flip-flop 63 activates the signal ST. That in turn leads to resetting of the first flip-flop 62, which permits an external request signal REQ_A to be rapidly passed to the asynchronous fine state machine (AFSM) in the input 20. FIG. 6 shows a block circuit diagram of the input 20. The input 20 has an input control 70, the ports of which are specified in greater detail in FIG. 7. The function of the input control 70 is to guarantee a reliable data transfer. The input control 70 is in the form of an AFSM which operates in the burst mode. In the normal mode of operation the input control reacts to incoming request signals and by means of a signal REQ_INT initiates the delivery of a clock signal for each incoming request signal. If there is no request signal on the input lines for a given period of time, a signal ST is activated (time-out). In that condition the input control is adapted to react to two possible events: the first possible event is the termination of the expected number of internal clock signals, which is indicated by a signal STOP. In that way the input control 70 is reset to its initial condition. The second possible event is the arrival of a request signal during the output of remaining data in the pipeline. In that case a local clock signal which has already begun must be sure to be concluded and the control of the clock signal must be transferred to the request signal. In the present embodiment the input control 70 is connected to a circuit which follows a ‘broad’ four-phase handshake protocol. The input control 70 does not produce a transfer to a clock control by means of the request signal before half of a clock signal after the preceding transfer of the request signal. The further circuit elements which are shown in FIG. 6 serve to suppress an acknowledgement signal ACK_INT produced by the output 22 during local clock production by means of the clock generator 26. ACK_INT is enabled when the transfer is effected from the local clock production again to the mode of operation driven by the request signal. That happens by activation of a signal ACK_EN. A flip-flop 72 is provided to produce a signal DATAV_IN which is provided to the locally synchronous module 12 and which indicates that currently valid data are present at the input of the locally synchronous module 12. The input described here involves an input of ‘pull type’. In a similar manner it is possible to construct an input of the ‘push type’, with only slight modifications which are known to the man skilled in the art. For supplemental description of the graph in FIG. 7 (‘signal transition graph’), set out hereinafter are the logical equations which form the basis for the output signals of the input control 70. In this case a prime at the end of a signal denotes the inversion of that signal, a plus sign denotes a logical ‘or’ and a multiplication sign denotes a logical ‘and’. REQ_INT=REQ_A1·REQ_INT+ACKC′·REQ_INT+REQ_A1·ACKC′·ST′·Z0′ ACK_A=ACKC′·REQ_INT+ST·ACK_A+REQ_A1·RST+REQ_A1·ACKC′·Z0+REQ_A1·ACKC′·ST′·Z0′ ACKEN=ACKI1+ACKC·ACKEN+ACKEN·Z0′ RST=STOP+CKC′·REQ_INT+REQ_A1·RST+ACKC′·ST·Z0+REQ_A1·ACKC′·ST′·Z0′ REQI1=REQ_A1·ST·ACKI1′·ACKEN′·Z0′ Z0=STOP+REQ_A1·Z0+ST·Z0+ACKC·ACKI1′·ACKEN Z1=REQ_A1′·ACKC+ACKC·Z1+REQ_A1′·ST′·Z1 Z0 and Z1 are internal signals which ensure defect-free operation of the input control 70. The structure and function of the output 22 are described hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of the output 22. The output 22 has an output control 80 in the form of an asynchronous fine state machine (ASFM) and two flip-flops 82 and 84. The flip-flops 82 and 84 serve to condition the signals which indicate that output data are valid (DOV) or not valid (DONV) in order to be able to further use those signals accordingly in the output control 80. As the AFSM of the output 20 is event-controlled and not level-controlled, the level-based signal DATAV_OUT is transformed into two event-based signals DOV and DONV by a procedure whereby they are switched by means of the signal INT_CLK which is delayed in a delay element 86 (in the sense of a ‘strobing’). The output control can be excited from two mutually exclusive sources: by means of the internal request signal REQ_INT and by means of the local clock signal LCLKM. If no valid data are present at the output 20, in other words DONV is activated, each request signal which is indicated either by activation of the REQ_INT or LCLKM is activated immediately by activation of the signal ACK_INT. If output data have to be transmitted to the next GALS block, that is to say DOV is activated, an output handshake must be implemented by means of the signals REQ_B and ACK_B. In that case the internal handshake (signals REQ_INT and ACK_INT) must be coupled to the output handshake (signals REQ_B and ACK_B). If both DOV is activated and the signal LCLKM is applied, the local clock generator must be delayed by means of the signals REQI2 and ACKI2 until an output handshake is implemented. That prevents a new clock cycle from beginning before data transfer at the output is concluded. The logical equations for implementation of the asynchronous finite state machine of the output control 80 are as follows: REQ_B=REQ_INT·REQ_B+ACK_B′·REQ_B+LCLKM·REQI2+A-CKI2′·REQI2+DOV·ACK_INT+LCLKM·ACK_B′·DOV+REQ_INT·ACK_B′·DOV REQI2=ACK_B·REQI2+REQI2·ACK_INT+LCLKM·ACK_B′·DOV ACK_INT=ACK_B′·REQ_B+ACKI2′·REQI2+LCLKM·ACK_INT+REQ_INT·ACK_INT+DOV·ACK_INT+DONV·ACK_INT+LCLKM·ACK_B′·DOV+REQ_INT·ACK_B′·DOV LCLKM·ACK_B′·DONV+REQ_INT·ACK_B′·DONV Z0=ACK_B+REQ_B+LCLKM·DOV+REQ_INT·DOV+A-CK12′·DONV′·Z0+LCLKM′·REQ_INT′·ACKI2′·Z0 Z0 is an internal signal which was added for reliable operation of the AFSM. The output port 22 described here is of the ‘push type’. The structure of an output port of the ‘pull type’ would be very similar. The circuit described herein with reference to FIGS. 2 through 9 allows a new request signal to enter at the input 20 during the output of data which have remained in the pipeline. That leads to a markedly more complicated circuit structure and involves additional control and evaluation circuits. For certain uses therefore the wrapper described here can be markedly simplified. FIG. 10 shows the result of a simulation of the operation of the asynchronous wrapper of FIG. 2 for various modes of operation. A 21-stage FIFO register was selected for the simulation, as the locally synchronous module 12. The simulated overall system comprises three successively connected GALS blocks. FIG. 10 shows the patterns in respect of time of various signals. The uppermost line shows the pattern in respect of time of the signal INT_CLK on the basis of a signal pattern 90 in respect of time. The signal INT_CLK occurs within a respective asynchronous wrapper. It will be apparent here that the signal INT_CLK arises out of the signals LCLKM and REQ_A, as has already been described with reference to FIG. 2. In the normal mode of operation a handshake occurs on the lines REQ_A and ACK_A. Each request signal is interpreted as a new clock cycle. If the signal REQ_A remains at 0 the wrapper waits for the occurrence of a time-out. During the waiting period the internal clock signal production is switched off. The occurrence of a time-out is activated with a signal ST. That causes activation of the local clock signal LCLK which again drives the signal INT_CLK. If the signal REQ_A 94 indicates the occurrence of new data prior to the deactivation of LCLKM, a transfer is initiated. In that mode a local clock cycle is completely concluded and then control by way of the internal clock signal is given to the request line REQ_A 94. Finally, the transfer is made to the normal mode of operation which also prevailed at the beginning. FIG. 11 shows as an embodiment by way of example of a GALS system a baseband processor for a wireless broad-band communication system integrated on a chip in a 5 GHz band corresponding to the Standard IEEE 802.11a. That Standard specifies a broad-band communication system using OFDM (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing) with data rates in the range of between 6 and 54 Mbit/s. The baseband transmitter shown in FIG. 11 has three GALS blocks 100, 102 and 104. Associated with each of the GALS blocks 100, 102 and 104 is an asynchronous wrapper which is not shown here in the functional illustration of the baseband transmitter. Division of the blocks follows considerations in terms of the functionality and the complexity of the functional blocks of the baseband transmitter. The first GALS block 100 has an input buffer 106, a scrambler 108, a signal field generator 110, an encoder 112, an interleaver 114 and a QAM mapper 116. The specified blocks 106 through 116 are known per se to the man skilled in the art. The most extensive blocks of the GALS block 100 are the interleaver 114 and the mapper 116. The second GALS block has a pilot channel insertion unit 118 and a pilot scrambler 120. The third GALS block 104 includes a block 122 for performing inverse fast Fourier transform, a guard interval insertion unit 124 and a preamble insertion unit 126. The IFFT unit 122 takes up about 85% of the circuitry involvement of the GALS block 3. The described synchronous blocks 100, 102 and 104 with their sub-blocks 106 through 126 are constructed in a token flow style. One problem is that the third block 104 must supply output data at an established speed for passing to a digital/analog converter (not shown). That is achieved by the local oscillator of the block 104 being tuned to a frequency which is somewhat greater than the fixed clock frequency of the digital/analog converter. The output data are then practically extracted from the locally synchronous 104 at the desired frequency of the digital/analog converter by means of the signal ACK. A test gave a data throughput of about 100 Msps between the GALS block 104 and the external synchronous environment 128.

<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>Nowadays highly integrated semiconductor components for wireless communication include digital as well as analog circuits for data and signal processing on a chip. Digital signal-processing circuits are implemented by means of dedicated datapath-oriented circuits. Alternatively, implementation with a DSP (digital signal processor) is possible. A system with datapath architecture typically has complex circuit blocks which execute expensive and complicated arithmetic or trigonometric operations. A 5 GHz modem for wireless operation in an LAN (local area network) in accordance with the Standard IEEE 802.11a includes for example an FFT/IFFT (fast Fourier transform/inverse FFT) processor, a Viterbi decoder, a CORDIC processor and cross- and auto-correlators. The communication between those blocks is effected at high data rates. In that case periods of long inactivity frequently follow time portions with a high data throughput. A serious technical problem in modern ASICs (application specific integrated circuits) is synchronisation of the different functional blocks which are integrated on a chip. The use of a global time clock for all functional blocks is to be embodied in the design only at a high level of complication and expenditure. In addition a synchronous global time clock produces increased electromagnetic interference (EMI). That causes difficulties in terms of integrating analog and digital circuits on a chip. To resolve the above-indicated problems, in recent times so-called globally asynchronous, locally synchronous (GALS) circuit architectures have been proposed. Synchronously operating circuits trigger all storage operations in accordance with a common time raster which is defined by the status of a global signal. That signal is identified as the clock. Usually the rising edge of the clock signal is used for triggering storage operations. The disadvantage of synchronously operating circuits is that the basic assumption that the clock signal is available to all parts of the circuitry at the same moment in time—that is to say synchronously—is not correct in reality. That is governed by the signal propagation time. Asynchronous circuits dispense with a time raster with discrete time steps. The function of asynchronous circuits is based on the occurrence of events. The instantaneous condition of the circuit is determined completely by the polarity of signal changes and the sequence thereof. GALS circuits have circuit blocks which operate internally synchronously. Those locally synchronous circuit blocks communicate with each other asynchronously, that is to say by means of a handshake protocol. There is therefore no need for the individual, locally synchronised circuit blocks also to be globally synchronised with each other. As long as each individual locally synchronous block follows the handshake protocol, those circuit blocks can be combined together in any manner. A GALS architecture is distinguished by a modular structure which permits a high level of flexibility in the circuit design. For, as the interface in relation to any locally synchronous circuit module is asynchronous, any synchronous circuits can be integrated with each other. Any locally synchronous circuit block can have a time raster with an individual clock signal frequency. For conversion of the asynchronous communication between the locally synchronous circuit blocks, they each have a respective asynchronous wrapping circuit which is also referred to as an ‘asynchronous wrapper’. An asynchronous wrapper has input and output ports as well as a local clock signal generator. Each port of the wrapper, that is to say each input and each output, has an associated port control which is responsible for conversion of the handshake protocol. The port and the control together form an input unit and an output unit respectively. The clock signal generator of an asynchronous wrapper is adapted to produce the clock signal at a signal frequency which is tuneable in a given frequency range. An important feature of clock signal generators for asynchronous wrappers is that the production of the clock signal can be interrupted (it is pausable). The publication by David S Bormann, Peter Y K Cheoung, Asynchronous Wrapper for Heterogeneous Systems, In Proc International Conf Computer Design (ICCD), October 1997, pages 307 through 314 discloses an asynchronous wrapper with an input unit, an output unit and a clock signal generator. At the same time that article describes a method of clock control of an internally synchronous circuit block of an integrated circuit by means of an asynchronous wrapper. The input unit or the output unit produce and send a stretch signal to the clock signal generator when a request signal of an adjacent preceding circuit block was received at the input or a request signal was sent at the output to an adjacent subsequent circuit block. The stretch signal is present at a control input of the clock signal generator until a handshake has taken place for data exchange with an adjacent circuit. As long as the stretch signal is present the delivery of the next clock signal from the clock signal generator to the synchronous circuit block is delayed. In that way circuit blocks can be individually internally synchronously clock controlled and at the same time exchange data asynchronously with circuit blocks in the environment. A disadvantage is that this asynchronous wrapper is designed for uses which are not specified in greater detail and it is therefore not suited to circuit environments which are predetermined in an individual case. That applies in particular in regard to power consumption which is required for a GALS block. Mechanisms for reducing the power consumption can only be implemented with difficulty, with the known asynchronous wrappers.

<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>Further features and advantages of the invention are made clear hereinafter by means of the description of embodiments by way of example with reference to the accompanying Figures in which: FIG. 1 shows a block circuit diagram of an embodiment of an asynchronous wrapper, FIG. 2 shows a detail block circuit diagram of the asynchronous wrapper of FIG. 1 , FIG. 3 shows a circuit diagram of the clock signal generator of FIG. 2 , FIG. 4 shows a circuit diagram of the clock control from FIG. 2 , FIG. 5 shows a block circuit diagram of the time-out detector of FIG. 2 , FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of the input of the wrapper of FIG. 2 , FIG. 7 shows a specification of an input control of the input of the wrapper of FIG. 2 , FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of the output of the wrapper of FIG. 2 , FIG. 9 shows a specification of an output control of the output of FIG. 8 , FIG. 10 shows a diagram with a representation of the variation in respect of time of various signals in different modes of operation of the asynchronous wrapper, and FIG. 11 shows a block circuit diagram of an example of use in the form of a baseband transmitter for wireless communication. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"?

20051216

20080916

20060720

80813.0

G06F112

BAE, JI H

ASYNCHRONOUS WRAPPER FOR A GLOBALLY ASYNCHRONOUS, LOCALLY SYNCHRONOUS (GALS) CIRCUIT

SMALL

ACCEPTED

G06F

ACCEPTED

Anti-buckling device for thin-walled fluid ducts

Disclosed is an anti-buckling device (1) which is made of an elastic material and comprises several ribs (2) that extend in the longitudinal direction thereof, the space between two ribs (2) forming a groove (3). The anti-buckling device (1) is inserted into a thin-walled duct. The anti-buckling device (1) prevents the duct from buckling and thus from being occluded in a bend when said duct is bent. A fluid is able to circulate within the duct and bypass the bend in the grooves (3) of the anti-buckling device (1). The envelope of the cross section of the anti-buckling device is essentially lenticular as a duct having a round cross section also becomes lenticular in a bend.

1. An anti-buckling device for thin-walled fluid ducts, wherein: in its longitudinal direction it has several ribs whereby the space between two adjacent ribs forms a groove, the cross-section of the anti-buckling device fills the cross-section of a duct in such a way that the duct walls lie on the ribs at a buckling point but cannot penetrate into the grooves, the grooves remain open and permeable for fluids when the anti-buckling device is bent, fluids can circulate through the grooves of the anti-buckling device and, if necessary, transmit pressure forces. 2. The anti-buckling device for thin-walled fluid ducts according to claim 1, wherein in their longitudinal direction the ribs are interrupted and thereby the grooves are connected to each other by way of transverse connections. 3. The anti-buckling device for thin-walled fluid ducts according to claim 2, wherein the interrupted ribs are formed as knobs and the grooves with the transverse connections form an intermediate space. 4. The anti-buckling device for thin-walled fluid ducts according to claim 1, wherein it is formed in such a way that at least one plastic pipe can be inserted in it. 5. The anti-buckling device for thin-walled fluid ducts according to claim 4, wherein the at least one plastic pipe is reinforced. 6. The anti-buckling device for thin-walled fluid ducts according to claim 1, wherein the envelope essentially corresponds to the cross-section of the duct and the buckling point. 7. The anti-buckling device for thin-walled fluid ducts according to claim 6, wherein the envelope is lenticular. 8. The anti-buckling device for thin-walled fluid ducts according to claim 1, wherein the envelope essentially corresponds to the cross-section of the duct along the entire length of the anti-buckling device. 9. The anti-buckling device for thin-walled fluid ducts according to claim 8, wherein the envelope is lenticular in the middle of the anti-buckling device and becomes continuously more circular in both directions. 10. The anti-buckling device for thin-walled fluid ducts according to claim 1, wherein its cross-section and the envelope exhibit multiple rotational symmetry. 11. The anti-buckling device for thin-walled fluid ducts according to claim 1, wherein the thin-walled duct is a hose and the anti-buckling device is deformable and can adjust itself to deformations in the cross-section of the hose. 12. The anti-buckling device for thin-walled fluid ducts according to claim 1, wherein the thin-walled duct is a core worked into a woven material and the anti-buckling device is deformable can adjust itself to changes in the cross-section of the core induced by a pressure ρ. 13. The anti-buckling device for thin-walled fluid ducts according to claim 1, wherein it consists of an elastic material. 14. The anti-buckling device for thin-walled fluid ducts according to claim 1, wherein it consists of an elastomer. 15. The anti-buckling device for thin-walled fluid ducts according to claim 13, wherein the elastic material has a hardness of between 20 and 80 Shore. 16. The anti-buckling device for thin-walled fluid ducts according to claim 15, wherein the elastic material has a hardness of between 20 and 60 Shore. 17. The anti-buckling device for thin-walled fluid ducts according to claim 1, wherein the ribs are applied to the inside of a duct wall 9. 18. The anti-buckling device for thin-walled fluid ducts according to claim 3, wherein the knobs are applied to the inside of a duct wall 9.

The present invention relates to an anti-buckling device for thin-walled fluid ducts in accordance with the introductory section of claim 1. Most closely related to the anti-buckling device in accordance with the invention is WO 01/14782 (D1). Document D1 discloses a self-adjusting segmented opening of a pipe or duct. From both sides webs are recessed asymmetrically in a pipe perpendicularly to the direction of flow. Chambers are produced in which vortices can form. The vortices influence the hydro- or aerodynamic characteristics of the pipe. For example, the mass throughflow through a pipe can be regulated. Depending on the configuration minimum and/or maximum mass flows can be set. However, the invention disclosed in (D1) cannot guarantee a minimum throughflow if pipes or hoses are bent and buckling occurs. The webs on the internal walls even increase the tendency of a pipe to become occluded in such cases. The present invention is intended to prevent thin-walled fluid ducts becoming buckled or constricted in tight radii, and the throughflow being impeded or even interrupted. FIG. 1 shows a cross-section through a first example of embodiment FIGS. 2a, b isometrically show a first example of embodiment in a elongated and bent condition FIGS. 3a, b show a longitudinal section through a duct with different bends FIG. 4 shows a cross-section through a strongly bent duct with an inserted anti-buckling device FIG. 5 shows a front view of a buckling point FIGS. 6-8 various envelopes with different cross-sections of the first example of embodiment FIGS. 9a, b show a cross-section and a top view of a second example of embodiment FIGS. 10, 11 show two variants of the top view of the second example of embodiment FIG. 12 shows a cross-section through a third example of embodiment FIGS. 13a, b show cross-sections through a hose with a first example of embodiment FIGS. 14a, b show cross-sections through a core with a third example of embodiment FIGS. 15a, b show cross-section through core with a variant of a third example of embodiment FIG. 1 shows a cross-section through an anti-buckling device 1 according to the invention. It is shaped in such a way that on both sides of a middle line M several ribs 2 are present. Between every two ribs 2 grooves 3 are thus formed. The isometric view of the anti-buckling device 1 in FIG. 2a shows this in an elongated, straight and thus non-functional form. The ribs 2 run parallel to each other along the entire length of the anti-buckling device 1. The grooves 3 can be seen between the ribs 2. A bent, functioning form of the anti-buckling device 1 is shown in FIG. 2b. Here the ribs 2 and grooves 3 run in parallel to each other. In order to keep deformation of the cross-section to a minimum the anti-buckling device 1 is made of an elastic material, for example an elastomer, with a hardness of between 30 and 80 Shore. When the anti-buckling device 1 is bent, one side is always elongated and the opposite side is always compressed. The elastomer is able to permit this deformation without buckling and essentially changing its cross-section; this means that the ribs 2 and groove 3 continue to be present when the anti-buckling device 1 is bent. FIGS. 3a, b show longitudinal sections through a thin-walled duct 6 at various bending radii. In the area of the bend an elongation zone 7 occurs, with a buckling point 8 opposite it. In a strongly bent duct 6—as shown in FIG. 3b—a point can be reached at which the buckling point 8 is so compressed that it comes into contact with the elongation zone 7 thereby occluding the duct 6. In FIG. 4 an anti-buckling device 1 is inserted into a strongly bent duct 6. The buckling point 8 can now no longer reach the elongation zone 7 and the duct 6 remains open for fluids. In order to prevent buckling before and after the anti-buckling device 1 it is expedient to select the length of the anti-buckling device 1 to be approximately equal to the length of the elongation zone 7. FIG. 5 shows a section AA in FIG. 3a. The cross-section of an essentially circular duct 6 is essentially lenticular at the buckling point 8. This shape is produced by the interaction of pressure and tensile forces in the duct bend. The elongation zone 7 is produced by tensile forces in the outer radius of the duct bend and is pulled towards the midline M, while the buckling point 8 is produced by pressure forces in the inner radius and is pressed towards the midline M. The diameter orthogonal to the midline M is thereby reduced and that along the midline M enlarged. In both directions away from the buckling points 8 the duct 6 continuously reassumes its original cross-section, for example a circular cross-section. The inventive concept therefore includes constantly varying the envelope 4 of the anti-buckling device 1 matching it to the cross-section of the duct 5, for example from a circular to a lenticular form. FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 show various cross sections of anti-buckling devices 1 with their corresponding envelopes. With their lenticular or rhomboid shape the envelopes 4 in FIGS. 6 and 7 take into account the cross-section at the buckling point 8 described in FIG. 5. Other envelopes 4, such as in FIG. 8 with, for example, triple rotational symmetry are also of course considered to be in accordance with the invention. In general the envelopes 4 can be built up of polygonal and/or curved segments which occur by connecting adjacent ribs 2. Accordingly the shape and arrangement of the ribs 4 can be freely selected. Essential to the inventive concept is that the grooves 3 remove open and permeable when the anti-buckling device 1 is bent. FIG. 9a shows a cross-section through a second example of embodiment of an anti-buckling device 1. The ribs 2 and grooves 3 are comparatively broader and the ribs 2 are not as high, with the grooves 3 being less deep accordingly. The top view of 9b show that this form of embodiment allows the ribs 2 to be interrupted and thereby create transverse connections 9. The transverse connections 9 are useful in two respects. On the one hand the ribs 2 are exposed to less pressure and tension during strong bending, and on the other hand they support regular fluid throughflow as they connect grooves 3 to each other and fluid can flow around occlusions in individual grooves in the area of a bend. FIG. 10 is a variant of FIG. 9b. The transverse connections 10 are arranged in such a way that both throughflow directions essentially exhibit the same flow conditions in the anti-buckling device. FIG. 11 shows a further variant. The ribs 2, which are not at the edge of the anti-buckling device 1 are reduced to knobs 11. In place of the grooves 3 and transverse connections 10 there is an intermediate space 12 in which a fluid can flow around the knobs 11. As a further variant it is possible to apply the knobs 11, for example by way of screen printing, to the inside of the duct wall 9. Ribs can of course also be created using the same method. The cross-section through a third example of embodiment is shown in FIG. 12. The two middle ribs are shaped so that they can hold at least one plastic pipe 13. The wall thickness of the plastic pipe 13 is dimensioned in such a way that the maximum pressure and tension forces which can arise during bending of a duct 6 cannot essentially affect the cross-section of the plastic pipe. In the case of greater forces reinforced plastic pipes 13 can also be used. By way of this measure a minimum throughflow cross-section for a fluid can be guaranteed. The third example of embodiment is particularly suitable for transmitting a pressure, for example via a fluid column which has bends. In this case large quantities of fluid do not have to flow through the cross-section of the at least one plastic pipe 13. The function consists in the fact that the fluid column is not interrupted and the gravitational pressure it produces is essentially proportional to the height of the column. FIGS. 13 and 14 show how the anti-buckling device according to the invention functions in thin-walled ducts 6 such as hoses 14 or cores 15, which are made of textile gas or liquid-tight materials, inserted in woven materials FIG. 13a shows the anti-buckling device in a duct 6 or a hose 14 at the buckling point 8. The cross-section is essentially lenticular and a fluid can move through the grooves. At the buckling point 8 the duct wall 9 essentially forms the envelope 4 and does not penetrate into the grooves 3. In the same way the area of the envelope 4 essentially constitutes the minimum cross-section area which a bent thin-walled duct 6 can assume at the buckling point 8 with an inserted anti-buckling device 1. The cross-section shown in FIG. 13b is to be positioned before and after the buckling point 8. The cross-section is essentially circular and with increasing distance from the buckling point 8 corresponds to the original cross-section of the duct 6 or hose 14. The anti-buckling device 1 with a lenticular cross-section is slightly deformed thereby. Pneumatic aircraft seats (CH 1428/92), for example, can utilise this type of anti-buckling device. FIGS. 14a, b show cross-sections of a core 15 in a woven material 16. A third example of embodiment with a single plastic pipe 13 is shown as the anti-buckling device. At the buckling point 8 the cross-section, as has already been stated, is essentially lenticular and the duct wall 9 forms the envelope (FIG. 14a). The plastic pipe 13 in turn guarantees a minimum throughflow cross-section in the middle of the anti-buckling device 1. FIG. 14b also shows a cross-section before and after the buckling point 8. This cross-section is essentially circular, like the one in FIG. 13b. However, as the core 15 is in a woven material 16, and as through shortening of the diameter D in the woven material level to D′ stresses a [N/m] are introduced into the woven material, a force is required to achieve the circular cross-section. This force can be produced with an excess pressure ρ in the wire 15. The excess pressure ρ is attained by the application of pressure to the core or simply through the gravitational force of a column of liquid. In this way the anti-buckling device can be used in G-suits (EP 0 983 190) in order to prevent buckling of fluid-filled cores in the hip, knee and elbow joint regions and to guarantee that the height of the liquid column essentially corresponds to the difference in height between pilot's neck and ankles. FIGS. 15a, b, essentially show the same configuration as FIGS. 14a, b. The anti-buckling device 1 is dimensioned here so that it is not deformed by changes in the cross-section. The width of the cross-section thus approximately corresponds to the diameter D′. This type of configuration can of course also be used in a duct 6 or in a hose 14.

20060303

20091229

20060713

60095.0

F16L1100

HOOK, JAMES F

ANTI-BUCKLING DEVICE FOR THIN-WALLED FLUID DUCTS

SMALL

ACCEPTED

F16L

ACCEPTED

Burner for a heater

The present invention provides a burner (10) for a heater for combustion of a hydrocarbon liquid. The burner (10) comprises a combustion chamber having a combustion zone (17) for combusting the hydrocarbon liquid and at least one tank portion (13, 15) for containing an amount of the hydrocarbon liquid. The or each tank portion (13, 15) is positioned adjacent the combustion zone (17) and arranged to feed the hydrocarbon liquid into the combustion zone (17). The or each tank portion (13, 15) is at least in part filled with a filling material having a plurality of portions that pass through the interior of the or each tank portion (13, 15).

1. A burner for a heater for combustion of a hydrocarbon liquid, the burner comprising: a combustion chamber having a combustion zone for combusting the hydrocarbon liquid and at least one tank portion for containing an amount of the hydrocarbon liquid, the or each tank portion being positioned adjacent the combustion zone and being arranged to feed the hydrocarbon liquid into the combustion zone, the or each tank portion being at least in part filled with a filling material having a plurality of portions that pass through the interior of the or each tank portion, wherein the filling material is arranged for distribution of at least some of the heat that is developed in the combustion zone and is directed into the or each tank portion whereby at least one local heat maxima in the tank portion is reduced, thereby reducing the likelihood of ignition in the tank portion. 2. The burner as claimed in claim 1 wherein the filling material comprises more than one hundred particles which define spaces between them. 3. The burner as claimed in claim 1 wherein the filling material comprises a mesh. 4. The burner as claimed in claim 1 wherein the filling material comprises a mesh gauze. 5. The burner as claimed in claim 1 wherein the filling material comprises steel wool. 6. The burner as claimed in claim 1 wherein the filling material comprises a metallic material. 7. The burner as claimed in claim 1 being a wherein the burner is part of a fireplace. 8. The burner as claimed in claim 1 further comprising combustion control means for controlling gas exchange of the combustion in a first combustion zone. 9. The burner as claimed in claim 8 wherein the control means comprises an opening that allows diffusion of oxygen into the combustion chamber and a closure for the opening. 10. The burner as claimed in claim 9 wherein the combustion control means comprises a shutter that is arranged to adjust the opening so as to control the combustion in the combustion zone. 11. The burner as claimed in claim 10 wherein the shutter is arranged to close the opening so as to extinguish a flame in the combustion zone. 12. The burner as claimed in claim 11 wherein the shutter is arranged so that, when the opening is closed, the lid portion overlaps the shutter. 13. The burner as claimed in claim 1 further comprising spacers positioned adjacent an external portion of the burner and arranged to avoid direct contact between the burner and an item that supports the burner. 14. The burner as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a tray in which the burner is positioned and which is arranged to avoid direct contact between the burner an item that supports the burner. 15. The burner as claimed in claim 13 wherein the item is combustible. 16. The burner as claimed in claim 1 wherein the burner is arranged for positioning in an item so that at least a portion of the burner is positioned below a surface of the item. 17. The burner as claimed in claim 1 wherein the burner is arranged for positioning in a fireplace. 18. The burner as claimed in claim 1 wherein the burner is arranged for positioning in a furniture item. 19. The burner as claimed in claim 1 wherein the combustion chamber further comprises a fuel inlet opening through which the hydrocarbon liquid may be filled into the or each tank portion of the combustion chamber. 20. The burner as claimed in claim 8 wherein the fuel inlet opening is remote from the opening of the combustion control means. 21. The burner as claimed in claim 20 wherein the fuel inlet opening comprises a closure. 22. The burner as claimed in claim 10 being arranged so that, when the shutter of the combustion control means is fully open, a shutter of the fuel inlet opening is closed and only when at least a portion of the shutter of the combustion control means is closed the fuel inlet opening is fully open. 23. The burner as claimed in claim 22 wherein the shutter of the combustion control means and the shutter of the fuel inlet means are provided in the form of an integral part. 24. The burner as claimed in claim 1 comprising two tank portions between which the combustion zone is positioned. 25. The burner as claimed in claim 23 wherein the tank portions are separated from the combustion zone by wall portions that comprise apertures to allow the fuel to penetrate from the tank portions into the combustion zone. 26. The burner as claimed in claim 1 wherein the burner comprises at least two tank portions and wherein the combustion zone is positioned between the at least two tank portions. 27. A heater comprising the burner as claimed in claim 1. 28. A burner for a heater for combustion of a hydrocarbon liquid, the burner comprising: a combustion chamber having a combustion zone for combusting the hydrocarbon liquid and at least one tank portion for containing an amount of the hydrocarbon liquid, the or each tank portion being positioned adjacent the combustion zone and being arranged to feed the hydrocarbon liquid into the combustion zone, and a fuel inlet portion having a closure; and a combustion control means for controlling gas exchange of the combustion zone through an gas exchange opening of the combustion chamber wherein the closure of the fuel inlet is arranged so that filling of the fuel into the or each tank portion is only possible if the combustion control means closes at least a portion of the gas exchange opening of the combustion chamber. 29. The burner as claimed in claim 28 wherein the combustion control means comprises a shutter for controlling the gas exchange through the gas exchange opening of the combustion chamber and wherein the closure of the fuel inlet opening also includes a shutter. 30. The burner as claimed in claim 29 wherein the shutter for controlling gas and the shutter of the fuel inlet opening are coupled. 31. The burner as claimed in claim 14 wherein the item is combustible.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention broadly relates to a burner for a heater. The burner is arranged for combustion of a hydrocarbon liquid. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Traditionally, heating of buildings such as private homes involves gas, oil, wood and electric heaters. Generally, wood heaters have the disadvantage that a flue is required for exhaust fumes and that the wood needs to be stored. In many dwellings such as apartments, units and townhouses installation of a flue and storage of the wood may cause problems or may not be possible at all. Gas heaters have similar problems as a gas connection is required. Oil heaters also need to be flued. Electrical heaters are generally rather expensive to operate and require electrical connections. One interesting and largely environmentally clean alternative is a heater that is arranged for combustion of a hydrocarbon liquid such as an alcohol. For example, if ethanol is combusted, the exhaust products are largely limited to carbon dioxide and water steam. A simple burner for ethanol has previously been used to provide a heat source for a fireplace. This burner comprises an open tank in which ethanol is combusted. However, as ethanol and other hydrocarbon liquids are easily combustible and may even be explosive if in vapour form or mixed with air, there is a need for a burner for a hydrocarbon liquid that provides improved safety. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides in a first aspect a burner for a heater for combustion of a hydrocarbon liquid, the burner comprising: a combustion chamber having a combustion zone for combusting the hydrocarbon liquid and at least one tank portion for containing an amount of the hydrocarbon liquid, the or each tank portion being positioned adjacent the combustion zone and being arranged to feed the hydrocarbon liquid into the combustion zone, the or each tank portion being at least in part filled with a filling material having a plurality of portions that pass through the interior of the or each tank portion. A combustible gas over the surface of the hydrocarbon liquid typically needs to have a temperature above a threshold value to ignite. The filling material typically is arranged for distribution of at least some of the heat that is in use developed in the combustion zone and directed into the or each tank portion whereby local heat maxima in the tank portion are reduced and thereby likelihood of ignition in the tank portion is reduced. Further, as typically burning of the hydrocarbon liquid in the tank portion is avoided, fuel efficiency is also increased. For example the filling material may comprise a large number, such as more than one hundred or more than one thousand particles which define spaces between them. Alternatively, the filling material may comprise a mesh or gauze such as a mesh or gauze of wires or fibres or a metallic wool such as steel wool. The filling material may comprise a metallic material, a plastics material, a mineral or any other suitable material. The steel wool may be stainless steel wool which has superior corrosion properties compared with conventional steel wool. The heater may be a heater for heating at least a portion of a building such as a commercial space or a home. For example, the burner may form a part of a fireplace. The burner typically comprises a combustion control means for controlling gas exchange of the combustion in the combustion zone. For example, the control means may comprise an opening that allows diffusion of oxygen into the combustion chamber and a closure for the opening. This particular arrangement has the advantage that operation of the flame of the burner may be extinguished at any time by simply closing the opening and thereby interrupting the supply of oxygen required for the combustion. This feature therefore provides a further significant safety advantage. The control means may also be arranged to regulate the oxygen diffusion into the combustion chamber so as to regulate the combustion properties of the burner. This feature therefore allows the regulation of the heat and flame output and of the consumption of the hydrocarbon liquid. For example, the combustion control means may comprise a shutter that is arranged to adjust the opening and/or close the opening so that combustion may be controlled and/or to extinguish a flame in the combustion zone. The combustion chamber may comprise a lid portion in which the opening is positioned and the shutter may be arranged to slide across the opening of the lid portion. The shutter typically is guided by a guide and moveable relative to the opening typically in a straight direction. The shutter may also be connected to the combustion chamber by a hinge that allows the sliding movement. In this case, the hinge may be arranged for movement about a vertical axis. Alternatively, the shutter may be moveable relative to the opening in a direction that has a vertical component. In this case the hinge typically is arranged for movement about a horizontal axis. The shutter may be positioned inside the combustion chamber and may be arranged for sliding across an inner surface of the lid portion. In a specific embodiment the shutter and the lid portion are arranged so that the shutter may not interfere with objects located on the burner. Further, a mechanism that may be associated with the shutter may be positioned so that it cannot easily be accessed from the outside of the combustion chamber which further improves the safety of the burner. Further, the shutter may comprise rollers which are guided by guides in the lid portion and which improve the smoothness of the sliding motion when the shutter is moved and thereby reduce likelihood of spark formation. In order to reduce the likelihood of jamming of the shutter, a portion of the shutter that in use is in contact with the lid portion may comprise a material that is softer than the lid portion which it contacts. In one specific embodiment the shutter is arranged so that, when the opening is closed, the lid portion overlaps the shutter. Because of the overlap, the likelihood of oxygen diffusion into the combustion chamber with an amount sufficient for combustion is further reduced which further improves the safety of the burner. Further, the shutter may comprise a handle portion that in use projects through a slot of the lid portion and the burner may be arranged so that movement of the handle portion along the slot effects sliding of the shutter across the opening of the lid portion. The chamber may be configured such that oxygen diffusion through the slot is substantially inhibited. The combustion chamber may comprise stainless steel and the softer material may be brass. Spacers may be positioned at an external portion of the burner arranged for positioning between the burner and an item that supports the burner so that direct contact of the burner with the item is avoided and the item may comprise a combustible material such as a timber material. For example, the burner with the spacers may be arranged for positioning in the combustible material. The burner may also comprise a tray in which the burner is positioned and which is arranged to avoid direct contact with the combustible material. The heater typically is arranged for positioning in an item so that at least a portion of the burner is positioned below a surface of the item. For example, the heater may be arranged for positioning in the item so that the surface of the item is approximately at the same level as a top portion of the combustion chamber. The heater may be arranged for positioning in a fireplace or any other building portion or in a furniture item such as a table. The heater typically does not have any connections such as fuel lines and typically is arranged for manual refilling. This has the particular advantage that it is relatively easy to install the heater in a building. Further, typically no flue is required. The combustion chamber may comprise a fuel inlet opening through which the hydrocarbon liquid may be filled into the or each tank portion of the combustion chamber. The fuel inlet opening is typically remote from the opening of the combustion control means. Further, the fuel inlet opening may comprise a closure, such as a shutter, and the burner may be arranged so that, when the shutter of the combustion control means is fully open, the shutter of the fuel inlet opening is closed and only when at least a portion of the shutter of the combustion control means is closed the fuel inlet opening is fully open. In a specific embodiment the shutter of the combustion control means and the shutter of the fuel inlet means are provided in form of an integral part. The fuel inlet opening may also comprise a grid through which the hydrocarbon liquid is filled into a tank portion. The grid functions to reduce the likelihood of formation of air pockets in the hydrocarbon liquid during filling and formation of air bubbles when the fuel is filled into the tank portion. In a specific example the combustion chamber comprises two tank portions between which the combustion zone is positioned. In this example the combustion zone is located underneath the opening of the combustion control means. The tank portions are separated from the combustion zone by wall portions that comprise apertures to allow the fuel to penetrate from the tank portions into the combustion zone. The burner may be arranged for the combustion of any hydrocarbon liquid including any type of alcohol. In a specific embodiment the burner is arranged for the combustion of ethanol or methylated spirits which has the advantage that the combustion is largely environmentally friendly. The present invention provides in a second aspect a heater comprising the above-defined burner. The present invention provides in a third aspect a a heater for combustion of a hydrocarbon liquid, the burner comprising: a combustion chamber having a combustion zone for combusting the hydrocarbon liquid and at least one tank portion for containing an amount of the hydrocarbon liquid, the or each tank portion being positioned adjacent the combustion zone and being arranged to feed the hydrocarbon liquid into the combustion zone, and a fuel inlet portion having a closure, and a combustion control means for controlling gas exchange of the combustion zone through an gas exchange opening of the combustion chamber wherein the closure of the fuel inlet opening is arranged so that filling of the fuel into the or each tank portion is only possible if the combustion control means closes at least a portion of the gas exchange opening of the combustion chamber. The combustion control means typically comprises a shutter for controlling the gas exchange through the gas exchange opening of the combustion chamber. The closure of the fuel inlet opening typically also includes a shutter. Typically the shutter for controlling gas and the shutter of the fuel inlet opening are coupled and may also be integrally formed. The invention will be more fully understood from the following description of a specific embodiment. The description is provided with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is (a) a side-view, (b) a further side-view, (c) a top-view and (d) a perspective view of a burner for a heater according to a specific embodiment, FIG. 2 is a perspective and exploded view of components of the burner shown in FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 the burner for a heater according to a specific embodiment is now described. In this embodiment the burner 10 comprises a lid portion 12 and a body portion 14. The lid portion 12 and body portion 14 are composed of stainless steel. The lid portion 12 has an opening 16 below which the combustion zone 17 of the burner is located. In this embodiment, the combustion zone 17 is positioned between two tank portions 13 and 15 of the burner and stainless steel walls 18 and 20 separate the tank portions 15 and 17 from the combustion zone 17. The walls 18 and 20 have apertures 19 which allow the hydrocarbon liquid to penetrate from the tank portions 15 and 17 into the combustion zone 17. The tank portions 15 and 17 are filled with stainless steel wool (not shown) which distributes heat and reduces likelihood of ignition in the tank portions 15 and 17 and thereby reduces formation of air pockets within the hydrocarbon liquid. It will be appreciated that in alternative embodiments the burner may take any other suitable form. For example, the burner may comprise one or more than two tank portions. Further, the tank portions may be filled with any material that conducts heat and that allows fuel to be stored in the tank portions. Alternative examples any type of metal wool (not necessarily stainless) and a large number of small particles such as metal balls. Further the material with which the tank portions are filled may not necessarily be metallic but may comprise a non-metallic material. In this embodiment, the burner 10 is arranged for the combustion of ethanol or methylated spirits which has the advantage that the combustion is largely environmentally friendly. The burner also comprises a shutter 22 that is guided by guides 24 and 26. The shutter 22 has a handle portion 28 that projects through a slot 30 of the lid portion 12. By moving the handle portion 28 along the slot 30 the shutter adjusts the opening 16 and thereby controls the exchange of oxygen and exhaust through the opening 16 (and also controls the convection of oxygen within the combustion chamber). This allows to control heat output of the burner and the fuel consumption. Further, the shutter may fully close opening 16 so that the penetration of oxygen into the combustion chamber is substantially stopped whereby the flame in the combustion zone is extinguished. The shutter 22 is larger than the opening 16 so that in a closed position the shutter 22 overlaps lid portion 12 from the inside and, due to the overlap, the likelihood of diffusion of an amount of oxygen into the combustion chamber that is sufficient for combustion is further reduced. Wall portion 18 comprises a flat portion 32 which has a recess portion 34 positioned underneath handle portion 28 and slot 30 so as to prevent diffusion of oxygen through the slot into the interior of the burner 10. In this embodiment the shutter 22 comprises brass rollers (not shown) which are received by guides 24 and 26 so that during sliding of the shutters the rollers roll in guides 24 and 26 which reduces friction. Further, as the rollers are composed of brass which is a soft material, likelihood of jamming is reduced. It will be appreciated that in alternative embodiments the shutter may take any other form and shape. For example, the shutter may be hingetly connected to the body portion 14 or to the lid 12 portion. Alternatively, the shutter may be a lid that is removable from the body portion lid. The lid portion 12 comprises a fuel inlet opening 34 which has an internal grid (not shown) through which during a fuel filling process fuel penetrates and which reduces likelihood of formation of air pockets in the fuel. The shutter 22, the opening 34 and the opening 16 are arranged so that, when shutter 22 opens fuel inlet opening 34, the shutter 22 closes at least a portion of opening 16 and thereby reduces the flame in the combustion zone which improves the safety during filling the hydrocarbon liquid into the burner 10. Further, fuel inlet opening 34 has a lid 36 and in this specific embodiment wall 20 has a scale that functions as a fuel level indicator. In this embodiment the burner is largely composed of stainless steel (the exception being the brass rollers of the shutter 22) which resists corrosion. However, in variations of the embodiment the burner may be composed of any other suitable metallic or non-metallic material and may also comprise ceramics materials. The body 14 has a V-shaped bottom portion 38 and therefore gravity permits the direction of the hydrocarbon liquid to the combustion zone. The lid portion 12 has lips 40 and 42 which are arranged to be slidingly received by the interior of the body portion 14 and thereby provide a largely oxygen diffusion tight connection with the body portion 14. The burner 10 may also comprise spacers (not shown) such as brackets that allow the burner to be installed into a combustible medium such as a timber plate. In this case the spacers may be arranged to inhibit direct contact of the combustion chamber and the combustible medium. The burner 10 typically is arranged for insertion into a cavity of an item such as a portion of a building, eg a fire place, or a furniture item such as a table. Typically an upper edge of the burner 10 is flush with a surface of the item. Although the invention has been described with reference to particular examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms. For example, the burner may be arranged for the combustion of any hydrocarbon liquid. Further, the burner may have any volume, size and shape including for example round, rectangular and triangular shapes.

<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Traditionally, heating of buildings such as private homes involves gas, oil, wood and electric heaters. Generally, wood heaters have the disadvantage that a flue is required for exhaust fumes and that the wood needs to be stored. In many dwellings such as apartments, units and townhouses installation of a flue and storage of the wood may cause problems or may not be possible at all. Gas heaters have similar problems as a gas connection is required. Oil heaters also need to be flued. Electrical heaters are generally rather expensive to operate and require electrical connections. One interesting and largely environmentally clean alternative is a heater that is arranged for combustion of a hydrocarbon liquid such as an alcohol. For example, if ethanol is combusted, the exhaust products are largely limited to carbon dioxide and water steam. A simple burner for ethanol has previously been used to provide a heat source for a fireplace. This burner comprises an open tank in which ethanol is combusted. However, as ethanol and other hydrocarbon liquids are easily combustible and may even be explosive if in vapour form or mixed with air, there is a need for a burner for a hydrocarbon liquid that provides improved safety.

<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The present invention provides in a first aspect a burner for a heater for combustion of a hydrocarbon liquid, the burner comprising: a combustion chamber having a combustion zone for combusting the hydrocarbon liquid and at least one tank portion for containing an amount of the hydrocarbon liquid, the or each tank portion being positioned adjacent the combustion zone and being arranged to feed the hydrocarbon liquid into the combustion zone, the or each tank portion being at least in part filled with a filling material having a plurality of portions that pass through the interior of the or each tank portion. A combustible gas over the surface of the hydrocarbon liquid typically needs to have a temperature above a threshold value to ignite. The filling material typically is arranged for distribution of at least some of the heat that is in use developed in the combustion zone and directed into the or each tank portion whereby local heat maxima in the tank portion are reduced and thereby likelihood of ignition in the tank portion is reduced. Further, as typically burning of the hydrocarbon liquid in the tank portion is avoided, fuel efficiency is also increased. For example the filling material may comprise a large number, such as more than one hundred or more than one thousand particles which define spaces between them. Alternatively, the filling material may comprise a mesh or gauze such as a mesh or gauze of wires or fibres or a metallic wool such as steel wool. The filling material may comprise a metallic material, a plastics material, a mineral or any other suitable material. The steel wool may be stainless steel wool which has superior corrosion properties compared with conventional steel wool. The heater may be a heater for heating at least a portion of a building such as a commercial space or a home. For example, the burner may form a part of a fireplace. The burner typically comprises a combustion control means for controlling gas exchange of the combustion in the combustion zone. For example, the control means may comprise an opening that allows diffusion of oxygen into the combustion chamber and a closure for the opening. This particular arrangement has the advantage that operation of the flame of the burner may be extinguished at any time by simply closing the opening and thereby interrupting the supply of oxygen required for the combustion. This feature therefore provides a further significant safety advantage. The control means may also be arranged to regulate the oxygen diffusion into the combustion chamber so as to regulate the combustion properties of the burner. This feature therefore allows the regulation of the heat and flame output and of the consumption of the hydrocarbon liquid. For example, the combustion control means may comprise a shutter that is arranged to adjust the opening and/or close the opening so that combustion may be controlled and/or to extinguish a flame in the combustion zone. The combustion chamber may comprise a lid portion in which the opening is positioned and the shutter may be arranged to slide across the opening of the lid portion. The shutter typically is guided by a guide and moveable relative to the opening typically in a straight direction. The shutter may also be connected to the combustion chamber by a hinge that allows the sliding movement. In this case, the hinge may be arranged for movement about a vertical axis. Alternatively, the shutter may be moveable relative to the opening in a direction that has a vertical component. In this case the hinge typically is arranged for movement about a horizontal axis. The shutter may be positioned inside the combustion chamber and may be arranged for sliding across an inner surface of the lid portion. In a specific embodiment the shutter and the lid portion are arranged so that the shutter may not interfere with objects located on the burner. Further, a mechanism that may be associated with the shutter may be positioned so that it cannot easily be accessed from the outside of the combustion chamber which further improves the safety of the burner. Further, the shutter may comprise rollers which are guided by guides in the lid portion and which improve the smoothness of the sliding motion when the shutter is moved and thereby reduce likelihood of spark formation. In order to reduce the likelihood of jamming of the shutter, a portion of the shutter that in use is in contact with the lid portion may comprise a material that is softer than the lid portion which it contacts. In one specific embodiment the shutter is arranged so that, when the opening is closed, the lid portion overlaps the shutter. Because of the overlap, the likelihood of oxygen diffusion into the combustion chamber with an amount sufficient for combustion is further reduced which further improves the safety of the burner. Further, the shutter may comprise a handle portion that in use projects through a slot of the lid portion and the burner may be arranged so that movement of the handle portion along the slot effects sliding of the shutter across the opening of the lid portion. The chamber may be configured such that oxygen diffusion through the slot is substantially inhibited. The combustion chamber may comprise stainless steel and the softer material may be brass. Spacers may be positioned at an external portion of the burner arranged for positioning between the burner and an item that supports the burner so that direct contact of the burner with the item is avoided and the item may comprise a combustible material such as a timber material. For example, the burner with the spacers may be arranged for positioning in the combustible material. The burner may also comprise a tray in which the burner is positioned and which is arranged to avoid direct contact with the combustible material. The heater typically is arranged for positioning in an item so that at least a portion of the burner is positioned below a surface of the item. For example, the heater may be arranged for positioning in the item so that the surface of the item is approximately at the same level as a top portion of the combustion chamber. The heater may be arranged for positioning in a fireplace or any other building portion or in a furniture item such as a table. The heater typically does not have any connections such as fuel lines and typically is arranged for manual refilling. This has the particular advantage that it is relatively easy to install the heater in a building. Further, typically no flue is required. The combustion chamber may comprise a fuel inlet opening through which the hydrocarbon liquid may be filled into the or each tank portion of the combustion chamber. The fuel inlet opening is typically remote from the opening of the combustion control means. Further, the fuel inlet opening may comprise a closure, such as a shutter, and the burner may be arranged so that, when the shutter of the combustion control means is fully open, the shutter of the fuel inlet opening is closed and only when at least a portion of the shutter of the combustion control means is closed the fuel inlet opening is fully open. In a specific embodiment the shutter of the combustion control means and the shutter of the fuel inlet means are provided in form of an integral part. The fuel inlet opening may also comprise a grid through which the hydrocarbon liquid is filled into a tank portion. The grid functions to reduce the likelihood of formation of air pockets in the hydrocarbon liquid during filling and formation of air bubbles when the fuel is filled into the tank portion. In a specific example the combustion chamber comprises two tank portions between which the combustion zone is positioned. In this example the combustion zone is located underneath the opening of the combustion control means. The tank portions are separated from the combustion zone by wall portions that comprise apertures to allow the fuel to penetrate from the tank portions into the combustion zone. The burner may be arranged for the combustion of any hydrocarbon liquid including any type of alcohol. In a specific embodiment the burner is arranged for the combustion of ethanol or methylated spirits which has the advantage that the combustion is largely environmentally friendly. The present invention provides in a second aspect a heater comprising the above-defined burner. The present invention provides in a third aspect a a heater for combustion of a hydrocarbon liquid, the burner comprising: a combustion chamber having a combustion zone for combusting the hydrocarbon liquid and at least one tank portion for containing an amount of the hydrocarbon liquid, the or each tank portion being positioned adjacent the combustion zone and being arranged to feed the hydrocarbon liquid into the combustion zone, and a fuel inlet portion having a closure, and a combustion control means for controlling gas exchange of the combustion zone through an gas exchange opening of the combustion chamber wherein the closure of the fuel inlet opening is arranged so that filling of the fuel into the or each tank portion is only possible if the combustion control means closes at least a portion of the gas exchange opening of the combustion chamber. The combustion control means typically comprises a shutter for controlling the gas exchange through the gas exchange opening of the combustion chamber. The closure of the fuel inlet opening typically also includes a shutter. Typically the shutter for controlling gas and the shutter of the fuel inlet opening are coupled and may also be integrally formed. The invention will be more fully understood from the following description of a specific embodiment. The description is provided with reference to the accompanying drawings.

20050722

20071030

20060622

66530.0

F23D1428

BASICHAS, ALFRED

BURNER FOR A HEATER

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

F23D

ACCEPTED

Led illumination light source

According to the present invention, a substrate 11, a cluster of LED chips, which are arranged two-dimensionally on the substrate 11, and a plurality of phosphor resin portions 13a, 13b that cover the respective LED chips are provided. The phosphor resin portion 13a, 13b includes a phosphor for transforming the emission of its associated LED chip into a light ray having a longer wavelength than that of the emission. A size of the phosphor resin portions 13b, which cover the LED chips located in an outer region of the cluster, is set bigger than that of the other phosphor resin portions 13a, which cover the LED chips located in the remaining non-outer region.

1. An LED lamp comprising: a substrate; a cluster of LED chips, which are arranged two-dimensionally on the substrate; and a plurality of phosphor resin portions that cover the respective LED chips, wherein each said phosphor resin portion includes a phosphor for transforming the emission of its associated LED chip into a light ray having a longer wavelength than that of the emission, and wherein a size of the phosphor resin portions, which cover the LED chips located in an outer region of the cluster, is set bigger than that of the other phosphor resin portions, which cover the LED chips located in the remaining non-outer region. 2. The LED lamp of claim 1, wherein if a reference position is defined with respect to the cluster of LED chips, the size of the phosphor resin portions, covering the LED chips that are located most distant from the reference position, is set bigger than that of the phosphor resin portion covering the LED chip at the reference position. 3. The LED lamp of claim 1, wherein each said phosphor resin portion has a substantially cylindrical shape with an almost circular cross section when viewed perpendicularly to the substrate, and wherein the diameter of the phosphor resin portions, covering the LED chips located in the outer region, is greater than that of the phosphor resin portions covering the LED chips located in the remaining non-outer region. 4. The LED lamp of claim 1, wherein at least one of the LED chips emits a light ray, of which the peak wavelength falls within the visible radiation range of 380 nm to 780 nm, and wherein the phosphor included in the phosphor resin portion that covers the at least one LED chip produces a light ray, of which the peak wavelength also falls within the visible radiation range of 380 nm to 780 nm but is different from the peak wavelength of the LED chip. 5. The LED lamp of claim 3, wherein the at least one LED chip of the cluster is a blue LED chip that emits a blue light ray, and wherein the phosphor included in the phosphor resin portion covering the blue LED chip is a yellow phosphor that transforms the blue light ray into a yellow light ray. 6. The LED lamp of claim 2, wherein the outer region is a region defined by outermost ones of the LED chips that are arranged two-dimensionally. 7. The LED lamp of claim 2, wherein the phosphor resin portions located in the outer region have substantially equal sizes, and wherein the phosphor resin portions located inside of the outer region also have substantially equal sizes. 8. The LED lamp of claim 1, wherein each of the LED chips is a bare chip LED, and wherein the bare chip LED is flip-chip bonded to the substrate. 9. The LED lamp of claim 1, wherein the substrate has a plurality of openings to store the phosphor resin portions that cover the respective LED chips, and wherein each inner side surface of the substrate, defining its associated opening, functions as a reflective surface for reflecting the emission of its associated LED chip. 10. The LED lamp of claim 9, further comprising a lens that covers each said phosphor resin portion. 11. A method for fabricating an LED lamp, the method comprising the steps of: arranging a cluster of LED chips on a substrate; and providing a plurality of phosphor resin portions such that the LED chips are covered with the phosphor resin portions, each said phosphor resin portion including a phosphor that transforms the emission of its associated LED chip into a light ray having a longer wavelength than the emission, wherein the step of providing the phosphor resin portions includes the step of setting, if a reference position is defined with respect to the cluster of LED chips, the size of the phosphor resin portions, covering the LED chips that are located most distant from the reference position, bigger than that of the phosphor resin portion covering the LED chip at the reference position.

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an LED lamp and more particularly relates to a white LED lamp that can be used as general illumination. BACKGROUND ART A light emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor device that can radiate an emission in a bright color with high efficiency even though its size is small. The emission of an LED has an excellent monochromatic peak. To obtain white light from LEDs, a conventional LED lamp arranges red, green and blue LEDs close to each other and gets the light rays in those three different colors diffused and mixed together. An LED lamp of this type, however, easily produces color unevenness because the LED of each color has an excellent monochromatic peak. That is to say, unless the light rays emitted from the respective LEDs are mixed together uniformly, color unevenness will be produced inevitably in the resultant white light. Thus, to overcome such a color unevenness problem, an LED lamp for obtaining white light by combining a blue LED and a yellow phosphor was developed (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 10-242513 and Japanese Patent No. 2998696, for example). According to the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 10-242513, white light is obtained by combining together the emission of a blue LED and the yellow emission of a yellow phosphor, which is produced when excited by the emission of the blue LED. That is to say, the white light can be obtained by using just one type of LEDs. Accordingly, the color unevenness problem, which arises when white light is produced by arranging multiple types of LEDs close together, is avoidable. But the luminous flux of a single LED is too low. Accordingly, to obtain a luminous flux comparable to that of an incandescent lamp, a fluorescent lamp or any other general illumination used extensively today, an LED lamp preferably includes a plurality of LEDs that are arranged as an array. LED lamps of that type are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publications No. 2003-59332 and No. 2003-124528. A relevant prior art is also disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-324313. However, an LED lamp, which can overcome the color unevenness problem of the bullet-shaped LED lamp disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2998696, is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-324313. Hereinafter, this LED lamp that can overcome the color unevenness problem will be described. The LED lamp with the bullet-shaped appearance as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2998696 has a configuration such as that illustrated in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the bullet-shaped LED lamp 200 includes an LED chip 121, a bullet-shaped transparent housing 127 to cover the LED chip 121, and leads 122a and 122b to supply current to the LED chip 121. A cup reflector 123 for reflecting the emission of the LED chip 121 in the direction indicated by the arrow D is provided for the mount portion of the lead 122b on which the LED chip 121 is mounted. The LED chip 121 is encapsulated with a first resin portion 124, in which a phosphor 126 is dispersed and which is further encapsulated with a second resin portion. If the LED chip 121 emits a blue light ray, the phosphor 126 is excited by the blue light ray to produce a yellow light ray. As a result, the blue and yellow light rays are mixed together to produce white light. However, the first resin portion 124 is formed by filling the cup reflector 123 with a resin to encapsulate the LED chip 121 and then curing the resin. For that reason, the first resin portion 124 easily has a rugged upper surface as shown in FIG. 2 on a larger scale. Then, the thickness of the resin including the phosphor 126 loses its uniformity, thus making non-uniform the amounts of the phosphor 126 present along the optical paths E and F of multiple light rays going out of the LED chip 121 through the first resin portion 124. As a result, the unwanted color unevenness is produced. To overcome such a problem, the LED lamp disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-324313 is designed such that the reflective surface of a light reflecting member (i.e., a reflector) is spaced apart from the side surface of a resin portion in which a phosphor is dispersed. FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) are respectively a side cross-sectional view and a top view illustrating an LED lamp as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-324313. In the LED lamp 300 shown in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b), an LED chip 112 mounted on a substrate 111 is covered with a resin portion 113 in which a phosphor is dispersed. A reflector 151 with a reflective surface 151a is bonded to the substrate 111 such that the reflective surface 151a of the reflector 151 is spaced apart from the side surface of the resin portion 113. Since the side surface of the resin portion 113 is spaced apart from the reflective surface 151a of the reflector 151, the shape of the resin portion 113 can be freely designed without being restricted by the shape of the reflective surface 151a of the reflector 151. As a result, the color unevenness can be reduced significantly. By arranging a plurality of LED lamps having the structure shown in FIG. 3 in matrix, an LED array such as that shown in FIG. 4 is obtained. In the LED lamp 300 shown in FIG. 4, the resin portions 113, each covering its associated LED chip 112, are arranged in columns and rows on the substrate 111, and a reflector 151, having a plurality of reflective surfaces 151a for the respective resin portions 113, is bonded onto the substrate 111. In such an arrangement, the luminous fluxes of a plurality of LEDs can be combined together. Thus, a luminous flux, comparable to that of an incandescent lamp, a fluorescent lamp or any other general illumination source that is used extensively today, can be obtained easily. In fabricating the LED lamp 300 shown in FIG. 4, after the LED chips 112 have been mounted in columns and rows on the substrate 111, all of their resin portions 113 are preferably made at a time so as to cover the respective LED chips 112. Ideally, every LED chip 112 should be located at or around the center of the resin portion 113 as shown in FIG. 5. Actually, however, if the manufacturing process has significant tolerance, then not every LED chip 112 will be located at the center of its associated resin portion 113 to cause misalignment. As a result, some LED chips 112 may be exposed on the resin portions 113 as shown in FIG. 6. The LED chips 112 are likely to be exposed as shown in FIG. 6 particularly in the outer region of the matrix. FIG. 7 illustrates LED chips 112a and 112b, which are located in the outer region and exposed on the resin portions 113. Specifically, the LED chip 112b is located on the outermost region, while the LED chip 112a is located on the second outermost region. As shown in FIG. 7, there is no resin portion 113 on a part of the LED chip 112b facing the outermost region. Thus, (blue) light ray A emitted from the LED chip 112b is not mixed with the emission of the phosphor but is reflected by the reflector (not shown) to be output as it is (i.e., as a blue ray) in the direction pointed by the arrow G. A light ray (i.e., the blue ray in this case) emitted from an LED chip has directivity and does not mix with other chromatic rays easily. As a result, color unevenness is produced to make the white light emitted from a white LED lamp look as if the white light included blue components. The white LED lamp with such color unevenness is a defective product. Thus, such color unevenness decreases the yield and eventually increases the cost of white LED lamps. Also, in the arrangement shown in FIG. 7, another blue ray A is radiated from the LED chip 112a, which is located next to the LED chip 112b. However, the light ray A emitted from the LED chip 112a is less noticeable than the light ray A emitted from the outermost LED chip 112b. This is because the light ray A emitted from the LED chip 112a mixes with a light ray B that has passed through the phosphor in the resin portion 113 covering the outermost LED chip 112a (e.g., a light ray containing relatively a lot of yellow components). As a result, the light as pointed by the arrow H looks more like white. Consequently, in such a white LED lamp in which a plurality of LED chips are arranged, the blue light ray A emitted from the outermost LED chip 112b is a major factor of the color unevenness. In the example illustrated in FIG. 7, the LED chips 112 are fully exposed on their resin portions 113. However, even if those LED chips 112 are not exposed fully but are misaligned from their centers so much as to reduce the outermost thickness of the resin portions 113 significantly, the color unevenness problem is also caused by the blue light ray A. In order to overcome the problems described above, a primary object of the present invention is to provide an LED lamp that produces light with significantly reduced color unevenness. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION An LED lamp according to the present invention includes: a substrate; a cluster of LED chips, which are arranged two-dimensionally on the substrate; and a plurality of phosphor resin portions that cover the respective LED chips. Each phosphor resin portion includes a phosphor for transforming the emission of its associated LED chip into a light ray having a longer wavelength than that of the emission. A size of the phosphor resin portions, which cover the LED chips located in an outer region of the cluster, is set bigger than that of the other phosphor resin portions, which cover the LED chips located in the remaining non-outer region. In one preferred embodiment, if a reference position is defined with respect to the cluster of LED chips, the size of the phosphor resin portions, covering the LED chips that are located most distant from the reference position, is set bigger than that of the phosphor resin portion covering the LED chip at the reference position. In another preferred embodiment, each phosphor resin portion has a substantially cylindrical shape with an almost circular cross section when viewed perpendicularly to the substrate, and the diameter of the phosphor resin portions, covering the LED chips located in the outer region, is greater than that of the phosphor resin portions covering the LED chips located in the remaining non-outer region. In another preferred embodiment, at least one of the LED chips emits a light ray, of which the peak wavelength falls within the visible radiation range of 380 nm to 780 nm, and the phosphor included in the phosphor resin portion that covers the at least one LED chip produces a light ray, of which the peak wavelength also falls within the visible radiation range of 380 nm to 780 nm but is different from the peak wavelength of the LED chip. In another preferred embodiment, the at least one LED chip of the cluster is a blue LED chip that emits a blue light ray, and the phosphor included in the phosphor resin portion covering the blue LED chip is a yellow phosphor that transforms the blue light ray into a yellow light ray. In another preferred embodiment, the outer region is a region defined by outermost ones of the LED chips that are arranged two-dimensionally. In another preferred embodiment, the phosphor resin portions located in the outer region have substantially equal sizes, and the phosphor resin portions located inside of the outer region also have substantially equal sizes. In another preferred embodiment, each of the LED chips is a bare chip LED, which is flip-chip bonded to the substrate. In another preferred embodiment, the substrate has a plurality of openings to store the phosphor resin portions that cover the respective LED chips, and each inner side surface of the substrate, defining its associated opening, functions as a reflective surface for reflecting the emission of its associated LED chip. In another preferred embodiment, the LED lamp further includes a lens that covers each phosphor resin portion. Another LED lamp according to the present invention includes: a substrate; a cluster of LED chips, which are arranged two-dimensionally on the substrate; and a plurality of phosphor resin portions that cover the respective LED chips. Each phosphor resin portion includes a phosphor for transforming the emission of its associated LED chip into a light ray having a longer wavelength than that of the emission and a resin in which the phosphor is dispersed. The LED lamp further includes means for removing a chromatic ray that has been emitted from some of the two-dimensionally arranged LED chips that are located in an outer region of the cluster. In one preferred embodiment, the substrate has a plurality of openings to store the phosphor resin portions that cover the respective LED chips, and each inner side surface of the substrate, defining its associated opening, functions as a reflective surface for reflecting the emission of its associated LED chip. The means for removing the chromatic ray is realized by bringing the phosphor resin portions that cover the LED chips in the outer region into contact with the respective reflective surfaces of the openings to store the phosphor resin portions at least in parts of the openings facing an outermost region. In another preferred embodiment, the phosphor resin portions that cover the LED chips located in the non-outer region are spaced apart from the reflective surfaces of the openings to store the phosphor resin portions. In another preferred embodiment, the substrate has a plurality of openings to store the phosphor resin portions that cover the respective LED chips, and each inner side surface of the substrate, defining its associated opening, functions as a reflective surface for reflecting the emission of its associated LED chip. The means for removing the chromatic ray is realized by making outermost parts of the reflective surfaces of the openings, in which the phosphor resin portions, covering the LED chips in the outer region, are stored, extend substantially perpendicularly. In another preferred embodiment, the substrate has a plurality of openings to store the phosphor resin portions that cover the respective LED chips, and each inner side surface of the substrate, defining its associated opening, functions as a reflective surface for reflecting the emission of its associated LED chip. The means for removing the chromatic ray is realized by defining outermost parts of the reflective surfaces of the openings, in which the phosphor resin portions, covering the LED chips in the outer region, are stored, as at least one of a diffusive surface, a low-reflectance surface and a surface with the property of absorbing the chromatic ray. In another preferred embodiment, the substrate has a plurality of openings to store the phosphor resin portions that cover the respective LED chips, and each inner side surface of the substrate, defining its associated opening, functions as a reflective surface for reflecting the emission of its associated LED chip. The LED lamp further includes lenses, which are provided so as to fill the openings. The means for removing the chromatic ray is realized by defining outermost parts of the lenses in the openings, in which the phosphor resin portions, covering the LED chips in the outer region, are stored, as a diffusive surface. In another preferred embodiment, the substrate has a plurality of openings to store the phosphor resin portions that cover the respective LED chips, and each inner side surface of the substrate, defining its associated opening, functions as a reflective surface for reflecting the emission of its associated LED chip. The LED lamp further includes lenses, which are provided so as to fill the openings. The means for removing the chromatic ray is realized by making the lenses in the openings, in which the phosphor resin portions, covering the LED chips in the outer region, are stored, have at least one of diffusion property, low transmittance, and the property of absorbing the chromatic ray. In another preferred embodiment, the substrate has a plurality of openings to store the phosphor resin portions that cover the respective LED chips, and each inner side surface of the substrate, defining its associated opening, functions as a reflective surface for reflecting the emission of its associated LED chip. The LED lamp further includes lenses, which are provided so as to fill the openings. The means for removing the chromatic ray is realized by providing at least one of an opaque layer, a light diffusing layer, a low-transmittance layer, and a chromatic ray absorbing layer on outermost parts of the lenses in the openings, in which the phosphor resin portions, covering the LED chips in the outer region, are stored. In another preferred embodiment, the outer region is a region defined by outermost ones of the LED chips that are arranged two-dimensionally. A method for fabricating an LED lamp according to the present invention includes the steps of: arranging a cluster of LED chips on a substrate; and providing a plurality of phosphor resin portions such that the LED chips are covered with the phosphor resin portions. Each phosphor resin portion includes a phosphor that transforms the emission of its associated LED chip into a light ray having a longer wavelength than the emission. The step of providing the phosphor resin portions includes the step of setting, if a reference position is defined with respect to the cluster of LED chips, the size of the phosphor resin portions, covering the LED chips that are located most distant from the reference position, bigger than that of the phosphor resin portion covering the LED chip at the reference position. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the configuration of a bullet-shaped LED lamp as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2998696. FIG. 2 illustrates the main portion of the bullet-shaped LED lamp shown in FIG. 1 on a larger scale. FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) are respectively a side cross-sectional view and a top view illustrating an LED lamp as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-324313. FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary configuration in which a number of LED lamps with the configuration shown in FIG. 3 are arranged in matrix. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a positional relationship between an LED chip 112 and a resin portion 113. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a positional relationship between another LED chip 112 and another resin portion 113. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a mechanism to produce color unevenness. FIG. 8 is a perspective view schematically illustrating an arrangement for an LED lamp 100 according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b) are cross-sectional views of an LED chip 12 located in the inner region and an LED chip 12 located in the outer region, respectively, as viewed from over themselves. FIG. 10 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a configuration for a card LED lamp 100 according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating how the card LED lamp 100 may be used. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an LED chip 12 and its surrounding portions in an LED lamp 100 with a reflector 151. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the process step of forming multiple phosphor resin portions 13 by a screen process printing technique. FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the process step of forming multiple phosphor resin portions 13 by an intaglio printing technique. FIGS. 15(a) and 15(b) are plan views showing the upper and lower surfaces 52a and 52b of the printing block 52 for use in the intaglio printing process. FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing the process step of forming multiple phosphor resin portions 13 by a transfer (planographic) technique. FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing the process step of forming multiple phosphor resin portions 13 by a dispenser method. FIGS. 18(a) and 18(b) are top views showing a combination of a phosphor resin portion 13a and a reflective surface 151a, which are located in the inner region, and a combination of a phosphor resin portion 13b and a reflective surface 151a, which are located in the outer region, respectively. FIG. 19 is a top view showing a combination of a phosphor resin portion 13b and a reflective surface 151a that are located in the outer region. FIGS. 20(a) and 20(b) are side cross-sectional views showing a combination of a phosphor resin portion 13a and a reflective surface 151a, which are located in the inner region, and a combination of a phosphor resin portion 13b and a reflective surface 151a, 151b, which are located in the outer region, respectively. FIGS. 21(a) and 21(b) are top views showing reflective surfaces 151a and 151c in the inner and outer regions, respectively. FIGS. 22(a) and 22(b) are side cross-sectional views showing lenses 14 and 14, 14a in the inner and outer regions, respectively. FIG. 23 is a side cross-sectional view showing a lens 14b in the outer region. FIG. 24 is a side cross-sectional view showing a mask 14c on a lens 14 in the outer region. FIGS. 25(a) and 25(b) are top views showing substrates 11 and 11a in the inner and outer regions, respectively. FIG. 26 is a top view showing a substrate 11, 11a in the outer region. FIGS. 27(a) and 27(b) are respectively a side cross-sectional view and a top view illustrating an arrangement in which two LED chips 12A and 12B are provided within a single phosphor resin portions 13. FIGS. 28(a) to 28(c) show layouts (exemplary arrangements) of a cluster of LED chips in an LED lamp according to the present invention. FIGS. 29(a) and 29(b) show other layouts (exemplary arrangements) of a cluster of LED chips in an LED lamp according to the present invention. FIGS. 30(a) through 30(e) show alternative layouts (exemplary arrangements) of a cluster of LED chips in an LED lamp according to the present invention. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION First of all, the principal features of an LED lamp according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 28 through 30. Referring to FIG. 28(a), illustrated is an exemplary layout (or arrangement) of a cluster of LED chips 1 that are arranged on the substrate of an LED lamp according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 28(a), the LED lamp of the present invention includes a plurality of LED chips 1, which are arranged two-dimensionally on the substrate, and phosphor resin portions 2, which cover their associated LED chips 1. Each of the phosphor resin portions 2 includes a phosphor for transforming the emission of its associated LED chip 1 into a light ray having a longer wavelength than that of the emission. The prominent feature of the present invention is that the size of the phosphor resin portions, which cover the LED chips 1 located in an outer region of the cluster, is set bigger than that of the other phosphor resin portions, which cover the LED chips located in the remaining non-outer region (i.e., the inner region) of the cluster. Looked at from a different viewpoint, the present invention is characterized in that if a reference position T is defined with respect to the cluster of LED chips 1, the size of the phosphor resin portions 2, covering the LED chips 1 that are located at most distant positions L from the reference position T, is set bigger than that of the phosphor resin portion 2 covering the LED chip 1 located at the reference position T. In FIG. 28(a), the rectangular portion representing the LED chip 1 located at the reference position T is not hatched. As will be described more fully later, after the two-dimensional cluster of LED chips 1 has been formed on the substrate, the phosphor resin portions 2 are provided so as to cover their associated LED chips 1 preferably by a printing technique, for example. In that case, the printing block needs to be positioned with respect to the cluster of LED chips 1 on the substrate. The reference point for that positioning is preferably defined at or around the center of the substrate. As a result, the center of the LED chip 1 located near the reference position matches highly accurately that of the phosphor resin portion 2 that covers the LED chip 1. However, misalignment may occur between the center of any other LED chip 1 and that of the phosphor resin portion 2 that covers the LED chip 1. This misalignment usually tends to be the maximum at the LED chips 1 that are located most distant from the reference position T. Thus, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the size of the phosphor resin portions 2 at the positions L is set bigger than that of the phosphor resin portion 2 at the reference position T such that the misaligned LED chips 1 would not be exposed on the phosphor resin portions 2 even in cases of such misalignment. FIGS. 28(b) and 28(c) illustrate two exemplary arrangements of LED chips 1 in an LED lamp in which the phosphor resin portions 2 located at the most distant positions L with respect to the reference position T have an increased size. In the example illustrated in FIG. 28(b), the LED chips 1, which are located at the four corners of a cluster of nine (=3×3) LED chips, are covered with a bigger phosphor resin portion 2 than that located at the reference position T (i.e., at the center). FIGS. 29(a) and 29(b) illustrate examples in which the reference position T has been shifted from the center of the cluster. Even in such situations, the size of the phosphor resin portions 2 located at the most distant positions L with respect to the reference position T is also set bigger than that of the phosphor resin portion 2 located at the reference position T. In that case, the size of the remaining phosphor resin portions 2, located at respective positions other than the most distant positions L with respect to the reference position T, may also be set bigger than that of the phosphor resin portion 2 located at the reference position T. The chromatic color produced by that misalignment is most visually noticeable in a situation where the misalignment has occurred in the outer region of the cluster of LED chips (as will be described in further detail later). For that reason, in a preferred embodiment of an LED lamp according to the present invention, the size of the phosphor resin portions that cover the LED chips located in an outer region of the two-dimensional cluster (which will be sometimes referred to herein as an “outer region” simply) is set bigger than that of the other phosphor resin portions that cover the LED chips located in the remaining non-outer region. Then, the emission of chromatic rays from the respective LED chips located in the outer region can be minimized. As a result, the color unevenness can be eliminated effectively. FIGS. 30(a) through 30(e) illustrate exemplary arrangements of 64 (=8×8) LED chips according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In FIGS. 30(a) through 30(e), the solid circles represent phosphor resin portions of the smaller size, while the open circles represent phosphor resin portions of the bigger size. In these examples, the reference position is not an issue. Accordingly, even if the arrangement of phosphor resin portions is determined by a method in which the position of a particular LED chip is not considered a reference, the arrangements illustrated in these drawings may also be adopted. In the example illustrated in FIG. 30(a), all of the LED chips located in the outermost region of the LED chip cluster are covered with the bigger phosphor resin portions. On the other hand, in the examples illustrated in FIGS. 30(b), 30(c) and 30(e), some of the LED chips located in the outermost region of the cluster are covered with the smaller phosphor resin portions. And in the example illustrated in FIG. 30(d), not just the LED chips located in the outermost region of the LED chip cluster but also some of the LED chips located inside of them are covered with the bigger phosphor resin portions. In this manner, by setting the size of the phosphor resin portions in the outer region of the cluster (which could be easily affected by the color unevenness) bigger than that of the phosphor resin portions in the inner region, the effects of the present invention are achieved sufficiently. Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a number of like components with substantially the same function are identified by the same reference numeral for the sake of simplicity. It should be noted, however, that the present invention is in no way limited to the following specific preferred embodiments. EMBODIMENT 1 Hereinafter, an LED lamp according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. FIG. 8 schematically illustrates an arrangement for an LED lamp 100 according to this preferred embodiment. FIG. 9(a) is a cross-sectional view of an LED chip, which is located in the non-outer region of an LED chip cluster, as viewed on a plane parallel to the principal surface of a substrate. On the other hand, FIG. 9(b) is a cross-sectional view of another LED chip, which is located in the outer region of the cluster, as also viewed on a plane parallel to the principal surface. The LED lamp 100 includes a substrate 11, a cluster of LED chips 12 that are arranged two-dimensionally on the substrate 11, and phosphor resin portions 13 (13a and 13b) that cover their associated LED chips 12. Each of these phosphor resin portions 13 includes a phosphor (or luminophor) for transforming the emission of its associated LED chip 12 into a light ray having a longer wavelength than the emission and a resin in which the phosphor is dispersed. The LED chip 12 produces light having a peak wavelength falling within the visible range of 380 nm to 780 nm. The phosphor dispersed in the phosphor resin portion 13 produces an emission that has a different peak wavelength from that of the LED chip 12 within the visible range of 380 nm to 780 nm. For example, the LED chip 12 may emit a blue light ray and the phosphor included in the phosphor resin portion 13 may be a yellow phosphor that transforms the blue ray into a yellow ray. In that case, the blue and yellow rays are mixed together to produce white light. Specifically, the LED chip 12 may be made of a gallium nitride (GaN) based material and may emit light with a wavelength of 460 nm, for example. When such a blue-ray-emitting LED chip is used, (Y.Sm)3, (Al.Ga)5O12:Ce or (Y0.39Gd0.57Ce0.03Sm0.01)3Al5O12 may be used effectively as the phosphor. In the cluster of LED chips 12 that are arranged two-dimensionally on the substrate 11, the size of the phosphor resin portions 13b that cover the LED chips 12 located in the outer region of the cluster is set bigger than that of the phosphor resin portions 13 that cover the LED chips 12 located in the remaining non-outer region (i.e., the inner region) of the cluster. As used herein, the “size of each phosphor resin portion 13” is measured as the phosphor resin portion 13 is viewed from right over the substrate 11 (i.e., along a normal to the substrate 11). More specifically, the “size of the phosphor resin portion 13” refers to the cross-sectional area of the phosphor resin portion 13 as taken along a plane, which is perpendicular to the normal to the substrate 11 and on which its associated LED chip 12 is present. And examples of such cross sections are shown in FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b). In this preferred embodiment, the phosphor resin portions 13 have a substantially cylindrical shape. Thus, when viewed from over the substrate 11, the phosphor resin portions 13 have a substantially circular upper surface as shown in FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b). The phosphor resin portions 13 illustrated in FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b) have deviated from their intended positions (i.e., the positions at which their associated LED chips 12 are centered). In at least some (or even all) of the phosphor resin portions 13 shown in FIG. 8, the LED chip 12 may be located at the center of its associated phosphor resin portion 13. In this preferred embodiment, the phosphor resin portions 13 have a substantially cylindrical shape. Alternatively, the phosphor resin portions may also have a quadrangular prism shape or any other polygonal prism shape. As shown in FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b), the diameter of the phosphor resin portion 13b located in the outer region of the LED chip cluster is greater than that of the phosphor resin portion 13a located in the inner (or center) region of the LED chip cluster. As can be seen from FIG. 9(b), by increasing the size (i.e., the diameter) of the phosphor resin portion 13b in the outer region, even if misalignment has occurred during the process step of making the phosphor resin portions 13, it is still possible to prevent the LED chip 12 from being exposed either partially or entirely on the resin portion 13b. On the other hand, the phosphor resin portion 13a in the inner region shown in FIG. 9(a) is big enough to prevent its associated LED chip 12 from being exposed on the phosphor resin portion 13a unless some misalignment has occurred between the LED chip 12 and the phosphor resin portion 13a. FIG. 9(a) illustrates a situation where that misalignment has occurred to expose part of the LED chip 12 on the phosphor resin portion 13a. A blue ray is emitted from the LED chip 12 in the state shown in FIG. 9(a). This ray corresponds to the light ray A emitted from the LED chip 112a shown in FIG. 7. The light ray A is mixed with another light ray (i.e., the light ray B shown in FIG. 7 in this case), thereby outputting (white) light as pointed by the arrow H. For that reason, the color unevenness due to the smaller (more exactly, the standard) size of the phosphor resin portions 13b in the inner region does not pose a serious problem. In this preferred embodiment, the cross-sectional area of the phosphor resin portion 13b (i.e., the area of the circle shown in FIG. 9(a)) is defined at least about 5% (e.g., 5% to 30%, preferably 14%) bigger than that of the phosphor resin portion 13a (i.e., the area of the circle shown in FIG. 9(a)). Comparing their diameters, the diameter of the phosphor resin portion 13b is defined at least about 5% (e.g., 5% to 30%, preferably 7% at a tolerance of 2%) greater than that of the phosphor resin portion 13b. In the example illustrated in FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b), if the LED chip 12 has approximately 0.3 mm×0.3 mm dimensions, then the phosphor resin portion 13a may have a diameter of about 0.75 mm, while the phosphor resin portion 13b may have a diameter of about 0.8 mm. It should be noted that these numerical values are just examples. Thus, the areas or diameters of the phosphor resin portions 13a and 13b may be appropriately defined according to the error (e.g., tolerance) allowed in the process step of making the phosphor resin portions. Although it is contrary to the principle of this preferred embodiment, it is not impossible to adopt an arrangement in which every phosphor resin portion 13 has an increased size as shown in FIG. 9(b), no matter whether the resin portion 13 is located in the inner region or in the outer region. In that case, however, every combination of the LED chip 12 and the phosphor resin portion 13 would be imbalanced and the luminous flux of the LED lamp might decrease. That is why in this preferred embodiment, the size of the phosphor resin portions 13b in the outer region (in the outermost region, in particular) is selectively increased in order to keep the luminous flux of the LED lamp 100 sufficiently high and yet minimize the color unevenness. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 8, the phosphor resin portions 13 covering the LED chips 12 are arranged as a 4×4 matrix on the substrate 11. However, the number is not particularly limited as long as the arrangement is at least a 3×3 matrix. For example, the arrangement may be a 5×5 matrix, a 6×6 matrix as shown in FIG. 4 or even a 7×7 or 8×8 matrix, too. Furthermore, the two-dimensional arrangement of the phosphor resin portions 13 is not limited to the matrix arrangement such as that shown in FIG. 8, either, but may also be a substantially concentric arrangement, a spiral arrangement or any other suitable arrangement. In any of those alternative arrangements, by setting the diameter of the phosphor resin portions 13 (13b) located in the outer region greater than that of the phosphor resin portions 13 (13a) located in the inner region, the color unevenness, which may be caused by some misalignment during the process step of making the phosphor resin portions 13, can be minimized or even eliminated. In this case, if the LED chips 12 do not have to be arranged in matrix, then the surrounding region may be defined by at least four chips (i.e., one chip located at the center and the other three chips surrounding it). Meanwhile, if the LED chips 12 have to be arranged in matrix, then the surrounding region may be defined by at least 3×3 matrix as described above. Suppose LED chips are further developed so dramatically as to make just a single LED chip 12 provide a huge luminous flux. In that case, even a white LED lamp made up of only four or nine LED chips may realize a luminous flux that is high enough to make the lamp effectively usable as general illumination. When that day comes, the technology of this preferred embodiment may be effectively applicable to even a white LED lamp including such a small number of LED chips 12. FIG. 10 illustrates an LED lamp 100 in which 8×8 phosphor resin portions 13 are arranged in matrix on the substrate 11. In the LED lamp 100 shown in FIG. 10, to minimize the color unevenness that could be caused by chromatic rays (i.e., blue rays) emitted from the surrounding region, the phosphor resin portions 13b located in the outer region (i.e., the outermost region) have the bigger size as shown in FIG. 9(b) while the phosphor resin portions 13a located elsewhere (i.e., in the inner region) have the smaller size (more exactly, the standard size) as shown in FIG. 9(a). In the arrangement shown in FIG. 10, to minimize the color unevenness that could be caused by the blue rays emitted from the outer phosphor resin portions 13 located inside of the outermost region (e.g., in the next outermost region), those phosphor resin portions 13 located inside of the outermost region may also be the phosphor resin portions 13b shown in FIG. 9(b). However, if all of the phosphor resin portions 13 had their sizes increased, then the luminous flux would decrease as described above. In addition, if the amount of unnecessary phosphor were increased, then the cost would rise, too. If the phosphor resin portions 13b located in the outer region have substantially equal sizes and if the phosphor resin portions 13a located in the inner region also have substantially equal sizes, then the phosphor resin portions 13 to be made have just two different sizes, which is advantageous considering the simplicity of the manufacturing process. However, the closer to the outermost region the LED chips 12 are, the more serious the effects of the color unevenness generated would be. That is why phosphor resin portions 13 of multiple different sizes may be designed and arranged such that the phosphor resin portions 13 increase their sizes toward the outermost region. That is to say, phosphor resin portions 13 of just two different sizes may be arranged. Or phosphor resin portions 13 of gradually changing sizes may be arranged with the degree of seriousness of the color unevenness taken into account. If the phosphor resin portions 13 are formed by the screen process printing technique to be described later, then phosphor resin portions 13 of arbitrary sizes may be provided on the substrate surface just by changing the diameters of holes of the printing block from one position to another. Thus, the sizes of the phosphor resin portions 13 can be changed gradually without increasing the number of manufacturing process steps. FIG. 10 illustrates a card LED lamp 100. In this card LED lamp 100, the substrate 11 includes a feeder section 20, which is electrically connected to the LED chips in the phosphor resin portions 13 by way of interconnects embedded in the substrate 11. The detailed configuration of the feeder section 20 is not shown in FIG. 10. Optionally, a feeder terminal may be provided on the surface of the feeder section 10. When the card LED lamp 100 shown in FIG. 10 is actually used, a metallic reflector with multiple openings to accommodate the phosphor resin portions 13 covering the respective LED chips 12 (see the reflector 151 shown in FIG. 4) is preferably put on the substrate 11 in order to define the direction of the illumination light and increase the luminous flux. It should be noted that the substrate 11 and the reflector (151) may be collectively called the “substrate” of the LED lamp 100 (i.e., the “substrate” may include the reflector). Alternatively, if the surface of the substrate 11 is turned into a reflective surface (151a in FIG. 12), then the substrate 11 itself may be used as an optical reflective member. This card LED lamp 100 may be used as shown in FIG. 11. FIG. 11 shows the LED lamp 100 obtained by bonding the reflector 151 to the substrate 11, a connector 30 to/from which the LED lamp 100 is attachable and removable freely, and a lighting circuit 33 to be electrically connected to the LED lamp 100 by way of the connector 30. The LED lamp 100 is inserted into the connector 30 that has a pair of guide grooves 31. The connector 30 includes a feeder electrode (not shown) to be electrically connected to the feeder electrode (not shown, either) that is provided on the feeder section 10 of the LED lamp 100. The feeder electrode of the connector 30 is electrically connected to the lighting circuit by way of lines 32. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a portion of the LED lamp 100 with the reflector 151, surrounding the LED chip 12, on a larger scale. In FIG. 12, the LED chip 12 is flip-chip bonded to an interconnection pattern 42 of a multilayer wiring board 41, which is attached to the metal plate 40. In this case, the substrate 11 is made up of the metal plate 40 and the multilayer wiring board 41. The LED chip 12 is an LED bare chip, which is covered with the phosphor resin portion 13. And the phosphor resin portion 13 is further covered with a lens 14, which may be made of a resin, for example. In this preferred embodiment, the multilayer wiring board 41 includes a two-layered interconnection pattern 42, in which interconnects belonging to the two different layers are connected together by way of via metals 43. Specifically, the interconnects 42 belonging to the upper layer are connected to the electrodes of the LED chip 12 via Au bumps 44. In the example illustrated in FIG. 12, an adhesive sheet (stress relaxing layer) 45 is provided between the reflector 151 and the multilayer wiring board 41. This adhesive sheet 45 can not only relax the stress, resulting from the difference in thermal expansion coefficient between the metallic reflector 151 and the multilayer wiring board 42, but also ensure electrical insulation between the reflector 151 and the upper-level interconnects of the multilayer wiring board 41. The reflector 151 has an opening 15 to accommodate the phosphor resin portion 13 that covers the LED chip 12. The side surface defining the opening 15 is used as a reflective surface 151a for reflecting the light that has been emitted from the LED chip 12. In this case, the reflective surface 151a is spaced apart from the side surface of the phosphor resin portion 13 such that the shape of the phosphor resin portion 13 is not affected by the reflective surface 151a so much as to produce color unevenness. The specifics and effects of this spacing arrangement are disclosed in detail in the description and drawings of European Patent Publication EP 1 418 630 A1 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/704,005, which was filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Nov. 7, 2003. The entire contents of European Patent Publication EP 1 418 630 A1 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/704,005 are hereby incorporated by reference. In this preferred embodiment, the reflector 151a is designed such that not just the side surface of the phosphor resin portions 13a but also that of the phosphor resin portions 13b with the greater diameter are spaced apart from the reflector 151a in order to minimize the color unevenness. FIGS. 8 and 10 show substantially cylindrical phosphor resin portions 13. As used herein, the “substantially cylindrical” shape may refer to not only a completely circular cross section but also a polygonal cross section with at least six vertices. This is because a polygon with at least six vertices substantially has axial symmetry and can be virtually identified with a “circle”. By using a phosphor resin portion 13 with such a substantially cylindrical shape, even if the LED chip 12 being ultrasonic flip-chip bonded to the substrate rotated due to the ultrasonic vibrations applied thereto, the luminous intensity distribution of the LED chip would not be affected so easily as compared with a phosphor resin portion with a triangular or square cross section. In the preferred embodiment described above, the white LED lamp 100, including a plurality of LEDs each made up of a blue LED chip 12 and a yellow phosphor, has been described. However, a white LED lamp, which produces white light by combining an ultraviolet LED chip, emitting an ultraviolet ray, with a phosphor that produces red (R), green (G) and blue (B) rays when excited with the ultraviolet ray, was also developed recently. When used, the ultraviolet LED chip emits an ultraviolet ray with a peak wavelength of 380 nm to 400 nm. Thus, even though the light ray may be called an “ultraviolet ray”, chromatic rays may still be emitted. Accordingly, the arrangement of this preferred embodiment, including the phosphor resin portions 13a and 13b, can also be used effectively even in an LED lamp using such ultraviolet LED chips. The phosphor, producing red (R), green (G) and blue (B) rays, has peak wavelengths of 450 nm, 540 nm and 610 nm within the visible range of 380 nm to 780 nm. Hereinafter, a method of forming the multiple phosphor resin portions 13 in the same process step (i.e., “simultaneously” so to speak) will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 through 17. Various methods may be used to form the phosphor resin portions 13 simultaneously. Examples of those methods include a screen process printing method, an intaglio printing method, a transfer method and a dispenser method. FIG. 13 shows the process step of forming the phosphor resin portions 13 by the screen process printing technique. First, a substrate 11 on which multiple LED chips 12 are arranged is prepared. FIG. 13 shows only two LED chips 12 to make this method easily understandable. Actually, however, a substrate 11 on which a far greater number of LED chips 12 are arranged two-dimensionally (e.g., in matrix, substantially concentrically or spirally) should be prepared to fabricate the LED lamp 100 of this preferred embodiment. Next, a printing plate 51, having a plurality of openings (or through holes) 51a in the same size as that of the phosphor resin portions 13 (13a and 13b) to be obtained, is placed over the substrate 11 such that the LED chips 12 are located within the openings 51a. Then, the printing plate 51 and the substrate 11 are brought into close contact with each other. Thereafter, a squeeze 50 is moved in a printing direction, thereby filling the openings 51a with a resin paste 60 on the printing plate 51 and covering the LED chips 12 with the resin paste 60. When the printing process is finished, the printing plate 51 is removed. The phosphor is dispersed in the resin paste 60. Accordingly, when the resin paste 60 is cured, the phosphor resin portions 13 can be obtained. If the size of the outer phosphor resin portions 13 should be different from that of the inner phosphor resin portions 13, then the size of the openings 51a in the outer region may be different that of the openings 51a in the inner region. As for the other methods to be described below, the same process step as this process step of the screen process printing method will not be described again but the description will be focused on only their unique process steps. FIG. 14 shows the process step of forming the phosphor resin portions 13 by the intaglio printing method. FIGS. 15(a) and 15(b) respectively show the upper surface 52a and lower surface 52b of a printing plate 52 for use in this intaglio printing process. When the intaglio printing method is adopted, the printing plate 52 shown in FIGS. 15(a) and 15(b), having recesses 53 (i.e., not reaching the upper surface 52a) on the lower surface 52b, is prepared and those recesses 53 are filled with a resin paste 60. Then, as shown in FIG. 14, the printing plate 52 is placed over the substrate 11 on which the LED chips 12 are arranged and the printing plate 52 and the substrate 11 are brought into close contact with each other. Thereafter, by removing the printing plate 52, the phosphor resin portions 13 can be obtained. FIG. 16 shows the process step of forming the phosphor resin portions 13 by the transfer (planographic) method. According to this method, a photosensitive resin film 56 is deposited on a block 55, a plurality of openings 57, corresponding in shape to the phosphor resin portions 13 to be obtained, are provided using a resist, and then those openings 57 are filled with a resin paste 60. Thereafter, the block 55 is pressed against the substrate 11, thereby transferring the resin paste 60 onto the substrate 11. In this manner, the phosphor resin portions 13 are formed so as to cover the LED chips 12. FIG. 17 shows the process step of forming the phosphor resin portions 13 by the dispenser method. According to this method, the phosphor resin portions 13 are formed by spraying a predetermined amount of resin paste 60 over the LED chips 12 on the substrate 11 using a dispenser 58 including syringes 59 to spray the resin paste 60. If a greater amount of resin paste 60 is sprayed for the phosphor resin portions 13b than for the phosphor resin portions 13a, then the size of the phosphor resin portions 13b can be increased. In the LED lamp 100 of this preferred embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of LED chips 12 are arranged two-dimensionally such that the size (e.g., the diameter) of the phosphor resin portions 13b located in the outer region is bigger than that of the phosphor resin portions 13a located in the inner region. Thus, the emission of chromatic rays from the outer LED chips can be minimized, and therefore, the color unevenness can be substantially eliminated. As a result, the present invention contributes to increasing the yield of white LED lamps significantly and popularizing LED lamps as general illumination. EMBODIMENT 2 Hereinafter, an LED lamp according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first preferred embodiment described above, a means for removing a chromatic ray (a blue ray in this case) that could be emitted from outer LED chips is implemented by changing the sizes of phosphor resin portions 13a and 13b for the inner and outer regions. However, such a chromatic ray may also be removed by a different means. FIGS. 18(a) and 18(b) are top views showing a combination of a phosphor resin portion 13a and a reflective surface 151a, which are located in the inner region, and a combination of a phosphor resin portion 13b and a reflective surface 151a, which are located in the outer region, respectively. In the arrangement for the inner region shown in FIG. 18(a), the phosphor resin portion 13a and the reflective surface 151a are spaced apart from each other and their distance is substantially constant. Specifically, in the example shown in FIG. 18(a), the phosphor resin portion 13a is located at the center of the reflective surface 151a. On the other hand, in the arrangement for the outer region shown in FIG. 18(b), the outermost part (i.e., that part facing the direction pointed by the arrow 80) of the phosphor resin portion 13b is in contact with the reflective surface 151a. In this example, that contact part of the reflective surface 151a extends substantially perpendicularly. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 18(a), if the LED chip 12 is exposed on the phosphor resin portion 13a, a chromatic ray A will be emitted from the LED chip 12 but mixed with another light ray after that to produce light H (which is almost white). In the arrangement shown in FIG. 18(b) on the other hand, the outermost part of the phosphor resin portion 13b is in contact with the reflective surface 151a. Accordingly, even if the LED chip 12 is exposed on the phosphor resin portion 13a, no or almost no light ray will be radiated in that direction (i.e., toward the outermost region). To reduce the radiation of the light ray toward the outermost region even more effectively, the circular opening to accommodate the phosphor resin portion 13 may be deformed as shown in FIG. 19 such that a predetermined region of the phosphor resin portion 13 (e.g., at least a quarter of the circle outlining the phosphor resin portion) contacts with the reflective surface 151a. Alternatively, the radiation of the light ray toward the outermost region can also be minimized even by the technique of changing the angles of the reflective surface 151a. FIGS. 20(a) and 20(b) are side cross-sectional views showing a combination of a phosphor resin portion 13a and a reflective surface 151a, which are located in the inner region, and a combination of a phosphor resin portion 13b and a reflective surface 151a, 151b, which are located in the outer region, respectively. The arrangement shown in FIG. 20(a) is similar to that shown in FIG. 18(a) and the reflective surface 151a is angled with respect to a normal to the substrate 11 and may have a parabolic shape, for example. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 20(b) on the other hand, the outermost part (i.e., that part facing the direction pointed by the arrow 80) of the reflective surface 151b extends substantially perpendicularly to the substrate 11, thereby preventing the chromatic ray A from going out of the lamp. As another alternative, the radiation of the light ray toward the outermost region may also be minimized by changing the surface properties of the reflective surface 151a. FIGS. 21(a) and 21(b) are top views showing arrangements in the inner and outer regions, respectively. Specifically, the arrangement shown in FIG. 21(a) is similar to those shown in FIGS. 18(a) and 20(a). In the example illustrated in FIG. 21(a), the reflective surface 151a is made of a high-reflectivity material with a specular surface to improve the reflection property of the reflective surface 151a and to reflect uniformly any light ray with a wavelength falling within the visible radiation range. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 21(b) on the other hand, the reflective surface 151c has been subject to a diffusion treatment for minimizing the radiation of the chromatic ray A, a surface treatment for decreasing the reflectance, or a surface treatment for producing the property of absorbing the color of the light ray A (e.g., absorb a short-wave ray or a blue ray). In other words, the reflective surface 151c is designed as at least one of a diffusive surface, a low-reflectance surface, and a surface with the property of absorbing the chromatic ray. Consequently, the light ray A that has been emitted from the LED chip 12 has its directivity weakened and mixed with another ray while leaving the lamp. As a result, the color unevenness problem can be resolved. Optionally, such a surface (e.g., a diffusive surface) may be selectively provided for that part facing the outermost region in the following manner. For example, the reflective surface 151 may be subjected to a roughening treatment. If the reflector 151 is made of aluminum, then the reflectance thereof may be decreased by coloring the reflector 151 in black through an alumite treatment. Or the blue ray may be absorbed if the reflector 151 is colored in yellow. Alternatively, a coloring agent may be added to an epoxy resin, an acrylic resin or any other suitable resin, and then the mixture may be either deposited on the surface of the reflector by an electrodeposition process or applied thereto with a spray, for example. If a black-based coloring agent is selected, the reflectance can be decreased. On the other hand, if the coloring agent selected has some chromatic color, then its opponent color can be absorbed. For example, if the coloring agent is blue, then yellow can be absorbed. If the coloring agent is red, then green can be absorbed. Red is absorbed with a green coloring agent. And blue is absorbed with a yellow agent. Means for removing the chromatic rays does not have to be one of those reflectors but may also be implemented as a lens 14 that covers the phosphor resin portion 13. FIGS. 22(a) and 22(b) are side cross-sectional views showing arrangements for an inner region and an outer region, respectively. In FIG. 22(a), a convex lens 14 is provided so as to cover the entire surfaces of the phosphor resin portion 13. On the other hand, in FIG. 22(b), a part 14a of a lens 14, facing the outermost region as pointed by the arrow 80, has a substantially planar surface. Then, the light ray A that has been reflected from the reflective surface 151a is focused to a lesser degree, and therefore, color mixture occurs relatively easily and color unevenness can be minimized. If the light ray A needs to be further diffused, that part 14a is preferably subjected to a diffusion treatment. As another alternative, instead of changing the shape as in the part 14a, a lens 14b with at least one of diffusion property, low transmittance and the property of absorbing the chromatic color of the light ray A may be used as the lens 14 for the outer region as shown in FIG. 23, thereby minimizing the color unevenness. The lens 14b may be made diffusive with the addition of a photo diffuser or a photo disperser such as alumina or silica. The transmittance of the lens 14b may be decreased by adding the photo diffuser or disperser profusely (e.g., 10% or more although such agent is typically added at approximately 1-3%). And the lens 14b may be given the property of absorbing the chromatic color of the light ray A by adding a pigment in the chromatic color. Furthermore, the color unevenness can also be minimized by providing a mask 14c such as an opaque layer on a part of a lens 14 in the outer region, facing the outermost region as pointed by the arrow 80, as shown in FIG. 24. The mask 14c does not have to be the opaque layer but may also be a light diffusing layer, a low-transmittance layer or a layer that absorbs the chromatic color of the light ray A. In addition, the means for removing the chromatic ray may also be implemented as the substrate 11. It is possible to use only that means implemented as the substrate 11. However, unlike the reflective surface 151a, the light ray A strikes the substrate 11 indirectly, not directly. For that reason, such means is preferably used just additionally in combination with any of the various means mentioned above. FIGS. 25(a) and 25(b) are top views showing arrangements for the inner region and the outer region, respectively. The arrangement shown in FIG. 25(a) is similar to that shown in FIG. 18(a) and so on. To obtain a more luminous flux, the surface of the substrate 11 is made of a high-reflectivity material and treated so as to reflect uniformly any light ray with a wavelength falling within the visible range. In the substrate 11a shown in FIG. 25(b) on the other hand, its surface is treated so as to have either the property of absorbing the chromatic color of the light ray A (e.g., absorbing a short-wave ray or a blue ray) or a low transmittance. Optionally, as shown in FIG. 26, the substrate 11a with such a property (e.g., the property of absorbing a short-wave ray) may be selectively provided only as a part of the substrate 11 facing the outermost region as pointed by the arrow 80. In the first and second preferred embodiments described above, one LED chip 12 is provided within one phosphor resin portion 13. However, the present invention is in no way limited to those specific preferred embodiments. If necessary, two or more LED chips 12 may be provided within a single phosphor resin portion 13. FIGS. 27(a) and 27(b) illustrate such an alternative arrangement in which two LED chips 12A and 12B are provided within one phosphor resin portion 13. In this case, the LED chips 12A and 12B may emit either light rays falling within the same wavelength range or light rays falling within mutually different wavelength ranges. For example, the LED chip 12A may be a blue LED chip and the LED chip 12B may be a red LED chip. Then, the two or more LED chips 12 (e.g., 12A and 12B in this example) that are covered with the same phosphor resin portion 13 have a peak wavelength within the range of 380 nm to 780 nm (e.g., a wavelength range of 380 nm to 470 nm, or a wavelength of 460 nm if there is provided only one LED chip 12A of one type) and a peak wavelength of 610 nm to 650 nm (e.g., a wavelength of 620 nm if there is provided only one LED chip 12B of another type). When the blue LED chip 12A and red LED chip 12B are both used, a white LED lamp, of which the color rendering performance is excellent in red colors, can be obtained. More specifically, if a blue LED chip and a yellow phosphor are combined, white can be produced but that white is somewhat short of red components. Consequently, the resultant white LED lamp exhibits insufficient color rendering performance in red colors. However, if the red LED chip 12B is combined with the blue LED chip 12A, then the color rendering performance of the white LED lamp in red colors can be improved. As a result, an LED lamp that can be used as general illumination even more effectively is realized. The present invention has been described by way of illustrative preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is in no way limited to those specific preferred embodiments but may be modified in various manners. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention provides an LED lamp with its color unevenness minimized, and therefore, can contribute to popularizing LED lamps as general illumination.

<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>A light emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor device that can radiate an emission in a bright color with high efficiency even though its size is small. The emission of an LED has an excellent monochromatic peak. To obtain white light from LEDs, a conventional LED lamp arranges red, green and blue LEDs close to each other and gets the light rays in those three different colors diffused and mixed together. An LED lamp of this type, however, easily produces color unevenness because the LED of each color has an excellent monochromatic peak. That is to say, unless the light rays emitted from the respective LEDs are mixed together uniformly, color unevenness will be produced inevitably in the resultant white light. Thus, to overcome such a color unevenness problem, an LED lamp for obtaining white light by combining a blue LED and a yellow phosphor was developed (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 10-242513 and Japanese Patent No. 2998696, for example). According to the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 10-242513, white light is obtained by combining together the emission of a blue LED and the yellow emission of a yellow phosphor, which is produced when excited by the emission of the blue LED. That is to say, the white light can be obtained by using just one type of LEDs. Accordingly, the color unevenness problem, which arises when white light is produced by arranging multiple types of LEDs close together, is avoidable. But the luminous flux of a single LED is too low. Accordingly, to obtain a luminous flux comparable to that of an incandescent lamp, a fluorescent lamp or any other general illumination used extensively today, an LED lamp preferably includes a plurality of LEDs that are arranged as an array. LED lamps of that type are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publications No. 2003-59332 and No. 2003-124528. A relevant prior art is also disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-324313. However, an LED lamp, which can overcome the color unevenness problem of the bullet-shaped LED lamp disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2998696, is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-324313. Hereinafter, this LED lamp that can overcome the color unevenness problem will be described. The LED lamp with the bullet-shaped appearance as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2998696 has a configuration such as that illustrated in FIG. 1 . As shown in FIG. 1 , the bullet-shaped LED lamp 200 includes an LED chip 121 , a bullet-shaped transparent housing 127 to cover the LED chip 121 , and leads 122 a and 122 b to supply current to the LED chip 121 . A cup reflector 123 for reflecting the emission of the LED chip 121 in the direction indicated by the arrow D is provided for the mount portion of the lead 122 b on which the LED chip 121 is mounted. The LED chip 121 is encapsulated with a first resin portion 124 , in which a phosphor 126 is dispersed and which is further encapsulated with a second resin portion. If the LED chip 121 emits a blue light ray, the phosphor 126 is excited by the blue light ray to produce a yellow light ray. As a result, the blue and yellow light rays are mixed together to produce white light. However, the first resin portion 124 is formed by filling the cup reflector 123 with a resin to encapsulate the LED chip 121 and then curing the resin. For that reason, the first resin portion 124 easily has a rugged upper surface as shown in FIG. 2 on a larger scale. Then, the thickness of the resin including the phosphor 126 loses its uniformity, thus making non-uniform the amounts of the phosphor 126 present along the optical paths E and F of multiple light rays going out of the LED chip 121 through the first resin portion 124 . As a result, the unwanted color unevenness is produced. To overcome such a problem, the LED lamp disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-324313 is designed such that the reflective surface of a light reflecting member (i.e., a reflector) is spaced apart from the side surface of a resin portion in which a phosphor is dispersed. FIGS. 3 ( a ) and 3 ( b ) are respectively a side cross-sectional view and a top view illustrating an LED lamp as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-324313. In the LED lamp 300 shown in FIGS. 3 ( a ) and 3 ( b ), an LED chip 112 mounted on a substrate 111 is covered with a resin portion 113 in which a phosphor is dispersed. A reflector 151 with a reflective surface 151 a is bonded to the substrate 111 such that the reflective surface 151 a of the reflector 151 is spaced apart from the side surface of the resin portion 113 . Since the side surface of the resin portion 113 is spaced apart from the reflective surface 151 a of the reflector 151 , the shape of the resin portion 113 can be freely designed without being restricted by the shape of the reflective surface 151 a of the reflector 151 . As a result, the color unevenness can be reduced significantly. By arranging a plurality of LED lamps having the structure shown in FIG. 3 in matrix, an LED array such as that shown in FIG. 4 is obtained. In the LED lamp 300 shown in FIG. 4 , the resin portions 113 , each covering its associated LED chip 112 , are arranged in columns and rows on the substrate 111 , and a reflector 151 , having a plurality of reflective surfaces 151 a for the respective resin portions 113 , is bonded onto the substrate 111 . In such an arrangement, the luminous fluxes of a plurality of LEDs can be combined together. Thus, a luminous flux, comparable to that of an incandescent lamp, a fluorescent lamp or any other general illumination source that is used extensively today, can be obtained easily. In fabricating the LED lamp 300 shown in FIG. 4 , after the LED chips 112 have been mounted in columns and rows on the substrate 111 , all of their resin portions 113 are preferably made at a time so as to cover the respective LED chips 112 . Ideally, every LED chip 112 should be located at or around the center of the resin portion 113 as shown in FIG. 5 . Actually, however, if the manufacturing process has significant tolerance, then not every LED chip 112 will be located at the center of its associated resin portion 113 to cause misalignment. As a result, some LED chips 112 may be exposed on the resin portions 113 as shown in FIG. 6 . The LED chips 112 are likely to be exposed as shown in FIG. 6 particularly in the outer region of the matrix. FIG. 7 illustrates LED chips 112 a and 112 b , which are located in the outer region and exposed on the resin portions 113 . Specifically, the LED chip 112 b is located on the outermost region, while the LED chip 112 a is located on the second outermost region. As shown in FIG. 7 , there is no resin portion 113 on a part of the LED chip 112 b facing the outermost region. Thus, (blue) light ray A emitted from the LED chip 112 b is not mixed with the emission of the phosphor but is reflected by the reflector (not shown) to be output as it is (i.e., as a blue ray) in the direction pointed by the arrow G. A light ray (i.e., the blue ray in this case) emitted from an LED chip has directivity and does not mix with other chromatic rays easily. As a result, color unevenness is produced to make the white light emitted from a white LED lamp look as if the white light included blue components. The white LED lamp with such color unevenness is a defective product. Thus, such color unevenness decreases the yield and eventually increases the cost of white LED lamps. Also, in the arrangement shown in FIG. 7 , another blue ray A is radiated from the LED chip 112 a , which is located next to the LED chip 112 b . However, the light ray A emitted from the LED chip 112 a is less noticeable than the light ray A emitted from the outermost LED chip 112 b . This is because the light ray A emitted from the LED chip 112 a mixes with a light ray B that has passed through the phosphor in the resin portion 113 covering the outermost LED chip 112 a (e.g., a light ray containing relatively a lot of yellow components). As a result, the light as pointed by the arrow H looks more like white. Consequently, in such a white LED lamp in which a plurality of LED chips are arranged, the blue light ray A emitted from the outermost LED chip 112 b is a major factor of the color unevenness. In the example illustrated in FIG. 7 , the LED chips 112 are fully exposed on their resin portions 113 . However, even if those LED chips 112 are not exposed fully but are misaligned from their centers so much as to reduce the outermost thickness of the resin portions 113 significantly, the color unevenness problem is also caused by the blue light ray A. In order to overcome the problems described above, a primary object of the present invention is to provide an LED lamp that produces light with significantly reduced color unevenness.

<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS <EOH>FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the configuration of a bullet-shaped LED lamp as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2998696. FIG. 2 illustrates the main portion of the bullet-shaped LED lamp shown in FIG. 1 on a larger scale. FIGS. 3 ( a ) and 3 ( b ) are respectively a side cross-sectional view and a top view illustrating an LED lamp as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-324313. FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary configuration in which a number of LED lamps with the configuration shown in FIG. 3 are arranged in matrix. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a positional relationship between an LED chip 112 and a resin portion 113 . FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a positional relationship between another LED chip 112 and another resin portion 113 . FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a mechanism to produce color unevenness. FIG. 8 is a perspective view schematically illustrating an arrangement for an LED lamp 100 according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 9 ( a ) and 9 ( b ) are cross-sectional views of an LED chip 12 located in the inner region and an LED chip 12 located in the outer region, respectively, as viewed from over themselves. FIG. 10 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a configuration for a card LED lamp 100 according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating how the card LED lamp 100 may be used. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an LED chip 12 and its surrounding portions in an LED lamp 100 with a reflector 151 . FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the process step of forming multiple phosphor resin portions 13 by a screen process printing technique. FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the process step of forming multiple phosphor resin portions 13 by an intaglio printing technique. FIGS. 15 ( a ) and 15 ( b ) are plan views showing the upper and lower surfaces 52 a and 52 b of the printing block 52 for use in the intaglio printing process. FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing the process step of forming multiple phosphor resin portions 13 by a transfer (planographic) technique. FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing the process step of forming multiple phosphor resin portions 13 by a dispenser method. FIGS. 18 ( a ) and 18 ( b ) are top views showing a combination of a phosphor resin portion 13 a and a reflective surface 151 a , which are located in the inner region, and a combination of a phosphor resin portion 13 b and a reflective surface 151 a , which are located in the outer region, respectively. FIG. 19 is a top view showing a combination of a phosphor resin portion 13 b and a reflective surface 151 a that are located in the outer region. FIGS. 20 ( a ) and 20 ( b ) are side cross-sectional views showing a combination of a phosphor resin portion 13 a and a reflective surface 151 a , which are located in the inner region, and a combination of a phosphor resin portion 13 b and a reflective surface 151 a , 151 b , which are located in the outer region, respectively. FIGS. 21 ( a ) and 21 ( b ) are top views showing reflective surfaces 151 a and 151 c in the inner and outer regions, respectively. FIGS. 22 ( a ) and 22 ( b ) are side cross-sectional views showing lenses 14 and 14 , 14 a in the inner and outer regions, respectively. FIG. 23 is a side cross-sectional view showing a lens 14 b in the outer region. FIG. 24 is a side cross-sectional view showing a mask 14 c on a lens 14 in the outer region. FIGS. 25 ( a ) and 25 ( b ) are top views showing substrates 11 and 11 a in the inner and outer regions, respectively. FIG. 26 is a top view showing a substrate 11 , 11 a in the outer region. FIGS. 27 ( a ) and 27 ( b ) are respectively a side cross-sectional view and a top view illustrating an arrangement in which two LED chips 12 A and 12 B are provided within a single phosphor resin portions 13 . FIGS. 28 ( a ) to 28 ( c ) show layouts (exemplary arrangements) of a cluster of LED chips in an LED lamp according to the present invention. FIGS. 29 ( a ) and 29 ( b ) show other layouts (exemplary arrangements) of a cluster of LED chips in an LED lamp according to the present invention. FIGS. 30 ( a ) through 30 ( e ) show alternative layouts (exemplary arrangements) of a cluster of LED chips in an LED lamp according to the present invention. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"?

20050725

20070626

20060622

79459.0

H01L3300

MANDALA, VICTOR A

LED LAMP

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

H01L

ACCEPTED

Configuration and process for carbonyl removal

A plant (100) includes a gas turbine (110) that receives a feed gas (130), wherein a metal plates from a metal carbonyl contained in the feed gas onto a sacrificial metal (152A) in an adsorber (150A), and wherein the feed gas in the adsorber has a temperature sufficient for plating the metal onto the sacrificial metal.

1. A plant comprising: a gas turbine receiving a feed gas, wherein a metal plates from a metal carbonyl contained in the feed gas onto a sacrificial metal in an adsorber; and wherein the feed gas in the adsorber has a temperature sufficient for plating the metal onto the sacrificial metal. 2. The plant of claim 1 wherein the plant is an integrated gasification combined cycle plant. 3. The plant of claim 1 wherein the gas turbine is coupled to a power generator. 4. The plant of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the feed gas is produced from gasification of a material selected from the group consisting of petroleum coke, visbreaker bottoms, asphaltenes, and vacuum bottoms. 5. The plant of claim 1 wherein the feed gas comprises syngas. 6. The plant of claim 1 wherein the metal carbonyl is selected from the group consisting of nickel carbonyl, iron carbonyl, and cobalt carbonyl. 7. The plant of claim 1 wherein the gas turbine has at least one of a turbine blade that comprises the sacrificial metal and a gas conduit that comprises the sacrificial metal. 8. The plant of claim 1 wherein the sacrificial metal comprises iron. 9. The plant of claim 1 wherein the sacrificial metal comprises steel turnings or steel shavings. 10. The plant of claim 1 wherein the feed gas is heated by a gas turbine feed gas preheater. 11. The plant of claim 1 wherein the feed gas is heated to a temperature of about 270° C. to about 330° C. 12. The plant of claim 1 further comprising a second adsorber, wherein the adsorber and the second adsorber operate in series. 13. The plant of claim 1 wherein the metal that plates from the metal carbonyl is nickel, iron, or cobalt. 14. A method of reducing a metal carbonyl concentration in a feed gas for a gas turbine, comprising: providing a feed gas that includes a metal carbonyl; contacting the feed gas in an adsorber with a sacrificial metal at a temperature sufficient to plate a metal from the metal carbonyl onto the sacrificial metal, thereby producing a purified feed gas; and providing the purified feed gas to a gas turbine. 15. The method of claim 14 wherein at least a portion of the feed gas is produced from gasification of a material selected from the group consisting of petroleum coke, visbreaker bottoms, asphaltenes, and vacuum bottoms. 16. The method of claim 14 wherein the feed gas comprises syngas. 17. The method of claim 14 wherein the metal carbonyl is selected from the group consisting of nickel carbonyl, iron carbonyl, and cobalt carbonyl. 18. The method of claim 14 wherein the sacrificial metal comprises iron. 19. The method of claim 14 wherein the feed gas is heated by a gas turbine feed gas preheater to a temperature of about 270° C. to about 330° C. 20. The method of claim 14 wherein the metal is nickel, iron, or cobalt. 21. A plant comprising a device that receives a feed gas, and an adsorber that is upstream and fluidly coupled to the device, wherein a metal plates from a metal carbonyl contained in the feed gas onto a sacrificial metal in the adsorber, and wherein the feed gas in the adsorber has a temperature sufficient for plating the metal onto the sacrificial metal. 22. The plant of claim 21 wherein the device includes a metal catalyst for a synthesis process. 23. The plant of claim 22 wherein the device is a reaction vessel or a pipeline receiving a synthesis gas.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The field of the invention is gas purification, and especially of combustible gases. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Gasification of refinery residues, and especially of heavy oil based products (e.g., petroleum coke, visbreaker bottoms, asphaltenes, vacuum bottoms, etc.) to produce a gaseous product referred to as syngas frequently leads to the formation of nickel and iron carbonyls. These carbonyls are typically present in syngas even at ambient temperature, and complete removal of the carbonyls in an acid gas removal system using chemical solvents is very difficult, if not impossible. As a result, trace amounts of the metal carbonyls not removed from the syngas will pass to downstream components, often creating operating problems in a gas turbine by plating out in the gas turbine. To avoid such problems, numerous approaches have been developed to at least partially remove metal carbonyls from various gas streams. In one approach, surfaces in contact with a gas stream containing the metal carbonyls maybe coated with austenitic (18/8) stainless steel to avoid reaction with the metal carbonyls. While such a coating may reduce metal plating to at least some degree, use of stainless steel is relatively expensive. Furthermore, coating of surfaces susceptible to metal plating with stainless steel will not (at least to a significant degree) reduce the concentration of metal carbonyls in the gas stream and therefore only shift the problems associated with metal carbonyls to a location downstream of the stainless steel coating. In another approach, Dvorak et al. employed spent catalysts comprising Cu and/or CuO and ZnO to reduce the concentration of sulfur compounds and iron carbonyl in a gas stream (Chemical Abstracts, Vol. 96 (1982), Abstract No. 164.903e). While the spent catalysts were relatively effective for removal of sulfur compounds, only small amounts of iron carbonyl were removed from the gases. Moreover, Cu and CuO sorbents are known to exhibit significant activity as hydrogenation catalysts. Consequently, when such catalysts are used in syngas, conversion of at least a portion of the syngas to methane and alcohols is almost unavoidable. To improve reduction of iron carbonyl from a gas stream, the gas stream may be contacted with ZnO and/or ZnS as proposed in EP023911A2. ZnO and/or ZnS reduced the concentration of iron carbonyl to a significant extent (here: 99%/), however, nickel carbonyl was removed in this system only to a significantly less degree (here: 77%). Alternatively, zeolites have been employed to reduce metal carbonyls from gas streams (Golden et al. Sen. Sci. and Techn. (1991), 26, 12: 1559-1574). Zeolites reduce the concentration of metal carbonyls from syngas with relatively high efficiency, however, the zeolites system described by Golden et al was limited to gas streams that are substantially free of hydrogen sulfide. In a still further approach, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,451,384 to Carr, a gas stream containing metal carbonyls is contacted with lead oxide that is bound on a solid support (e.g., alumina). Lead oxide-based removal of metal carbonyls, and particularly iron carbonyl, is relatively effective, but however, has various significant disadvantages. Among other things, the gas stream typically needs to free of appreciable quantities of sulfur compounds to avoid sorbent poisoning. Furthermore, a highly toxic lead nitrate solution is employed to coat the carrier via a calcination process, which poses an environmental and health hazard. Moreover, operation of lead oxide beads at temperatures higher than 100° C. will tend to produce carbon deposits, especially in the absence of hydrogen. To circumvent at least some of the problems associated with lead oxide, a hydrophobic porous adsorbent maybe employed as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,165,428 to Eijkhout et al. Suitable adsorbents include Si/Al-containing zeolites with a pore size of between about 0.5 nm to 4.0 nm and an average pore volume of 0.005 ml/g sorbent. Eijkhout's system may advantageously operate under conditions where the gas stream comprises significant amounts of hydrogen sulfide and water. However, effective removal of metal carbonyls is at least in part dependent on proper pore size. Moreover, Si/Al-containing zeolites are thought to act as molecular sieves. Consequently, disposal of saturated Si/Al-containing zeolites will still pose substantial health and environmental risks due to the high toxicity and low boiling point of metal carbonyls. Therefore, although various configurations and processes are known in the art to remove metal carbonyls from a gas stream, all or almost all suffer from one or more disadvantages. Thus, there is still a need for improved configurations and processes for carbonyl removal. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a plant that includes a gas turbine receiving a feed gas that is passed through an adsorber in which a metal plates onto a sacrificial metal, wherein the feed gas in the adsorber has a temperature sufficient for plating the metal onto the sacrificial metal. In one aspect of the inventive subject matter, the plant is an integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) plant, and at least a portion of the feed gas is produced from gasification of petroleum coke, visbreaker bottoms, asphaltenes, or vacuum bottoms. Consequently, the contemplated feed gas may comprise syngas. In another aspect of the inventive subject matter, the metal carbonyl is selected from the group consisting of nickel carbonyl, iron carbonyl, and cobalt carbonyl. Thus, the contemplated metals are nickel, iron, and cobalt. In a further aspect of the inventive subject matter, the sacrificial metal comprises iron, and preferably comprises steel turnings or steel shavings. Alternatively, the gas turbine has at least one of a turbine blade that comprises the sacrificial metal and a gas conduit that comprises the sacrificial metal. In yet another aspect of the inventive subject matter the feed gas is heated by a gas turbine feed gas preheater, preferably to a temperature of about 270° C. to about 330° C. Moreover, contemplated configurations may include a second adsorber, wherein the second adsorber operates in series with the first adsorber. Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION As used herein, the term “metal carbonyl” refers to a molecule in which a metal in ionic form forms a compound with (CO)n−, wherein n is typically between 1 and 8, and includes mixed metal carbonyls, in which at least one (CO)n− and one other anion form the compound. Particularly contemplated metal carbonyls include nickel carbonyl (Ni(CO)4), iron carbonyl (Fe(CO)5), and cobalt carbonyl ((CO)3Co:(CO2:Co(CO)3). Consequently, particularly contemplated metals include nickel, iron, and cobalt. As also used herein, the term “the metal plates” refers to the decomposition of a metal carbonyl (which may be in gas and/or liquid phase) and the concomitant deposition of the metal, wherein the metal deposits in elemental form on the sacrificial metal. As further used herein, the term “sacrificial metal” refers to various metals in pure form or alloyed with at least one alloying element, however, particularly excluding copper. Especially preferred sacrificial metals include iron, most preferably as the predominant component. In a particularly preferred aspect of the inventive subject matter, as depicted in FIG. 1, a plant 100 includes a gas turbine 110 that is coupled to a power generator 120. The gas turbine 110 is driven by combustion of feed gas 130, which is preferably preheated by gas turbine feed gas preheater 140 to a temperature of about 300° C. Downstream of the preheater 140 are two adsorbers 150A and 150B in series, wherein each of the adsorbers comprises sacrificial metal 152A and 152B, respectively. Furthermore, each of the adsorbers 150A and 150B include a bypass 154A an 154B, respectively, such that one or both adsorbers can be replaced while maintaining continuous flow of the (preheated) feed gas to the gas turbine 110. With respect to contemplated plants, it should be appreciated that a particular nature of the plant is not limiting to the inventive subject matter. However, it is generally preferred that suitable plants include a gas turbine, and particularly preferred plants are IGCC plants. Thus, it is contemplated that the gas turbine is coupled to a power generator. There are numerous power generators known in the art, and all of the known power generators are contemplated suitable for use herein. Similarly, there are numerous gas turbines known in the art, and all of the known gas turbines are contemplated suitable for use herein. Exemplary gas turbines include various air-cooled gas turbines, water-cooled gas turbines, and/or integrated steam cooled gas turbines (see e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,424,668). In further aspects of the inventive subject matter, the nature of suitable feed gas may vary considerably, and it is generally contemplated that all gas streams are suitable that (a) can be partially or entirely employed as gas to drive a gas turbine, (b) can be employed for synthesis purposes (e.g., methanol or ammonia manufacture) and (c) will comprise at least temporarily a metal carbonyl. However, especially preferred feed gases include gases formed in a gasification reaction that employs gasification of hydrocarbonaceous materials, and especially heavy oil refinery residues. For example, suitable gasification materials for generation of contemplated feed gases include petroleum coke, visbreaker bottoms, asphaltenes, or vacuum bottoms. Alternatively, numerous other refinery fraction or residues are also considered suitable. Furthermore, it should be recognized that suitable feed gases may have been treated in one or more processes that change the chemical composition of the feed gas. For example, contemplated feed gases may be subjected to one or more shift conversions prior to entering the turbine. Alternatively, or additionally, it is contemplated that the feed gas maybe subjected to an acid gas removal process (which may or may not completely remove sulfurous compounds in the feed gas). Consequently, a particularly preferred feed gas is a syngas from a gasification of refinery residues after shift conversion and acid gas removal. Moreover, the feed gas may in further preferred aspects also be subjected to a cooling or heating step, and it is especially preferred that the feed gas is heated in a gas turbine feed gas preheater to a temperature of about 100° C. to 400° C., more preferably to a temperature between about 200° C. to 380° C., even more preferably to a temperature between about 250° C. to 350° C., and most preferably to a temperature of about 300° C. There are numerous gas turbine feed gas preheaters known in the art, and all of those are considered suitable for use herein. With respect to the absorber, it is generally contemplated that suitable adsorbers may have any configuration and/or dimension so long as the contemplated adsorbers include at least some sacrificial metal, receive a feed gas, and provide the feed gas after contacting the sacrificial metal to a gas turbine. However, in a particularly preferred aspect of the inventive subject matter, the adsorber comprises a pipe with a diameter of about two times the diameter of the syngas pipe and a length of about ten times the diameter of the syngas pipe, wherein the adsorber is filled with steel shavings and/or steel turnings. Preferred adsorbers are positioned downstream of a gas turbine feed gas preheater (e.g., a syngas preheater), and upstream of the gas turbine. While not limiting to the inventive subject matter, it is especially preferred that contemplated plants include at least two adsorbers (which may be in parallel/adjacent position relative to each other), which are fluidly coupled in series such that a first adsorber receives the preheated feed gas, and provides a substantially metal carbonyl depleted (ie., at least 95 mol %, more typically at least 98 mol %, most typically at least 99 mol %) feed gas to the second adsorber, which in this configuration acts as a guard bed and provides the substantially metal carbonyl depleted feed gas to the gas turbine. Furthermore, it is especially preferred that in such configurations the first and second adsorbers are fluidly coupled to the gas turbine using bypass piping such that (a) the first adsorber can be removed from the plant while the feed gas is continuously provided to the gas turbine via the second adsorber, and (b) that after removing the first adsorber and installing a replacement adsorber with a fresh batch of sacrificial metal the second adsorber will act as the leading adsorber (i.e., as the first adsorber). In alternative configurations, however, the number of adsorbers may vary considerably, and appropriate configurations may include between one and six adsorbers, and even more. For example, where a gas turbine receives a discontinuous supply of feed gas, only one adsorber may be employed. On the other hand, where substantially complete depletion of a continuous supply of feed gas is required, three and even more adsorbers may be employed. Consequently, depending on the particular number and configuration of adsorbers, two or more adsorbers may be operated in series, in parallel, or in a mixed mode (some adsorbers serial and other adsorbers parallel). However, it is generally preferred that operation of two or more adsorbers will allow for continuous flow of the feed gas (and thereby continuous removal of metal carbonyl from the feed gas) to the gas turbine gas. Alternatively, and especially where the feed gas comprises syngas that is employed for synthesis of industrial products (e.g., ammonia, methanol, or other alcohols) or hydrogen production, it is contemplated that preferred locations of the adsorber or adsorbers are upstream of a synthesis loop or synthesis reactor. Thus, it should be appreciated that such configurations advantageously reduce the concentration of metal carbonyls in the synthesis process, which may adversely affect catalyst performance due to the build-up of the metal carbonyls (and metals) on the surface of the catalyst. With respect to the sacrificial metal in the adsorber it is particularly preferred that the sacrificial metal (or metal alloy) comprises iron, and most preferably comprises steel shavings and/or turnings. It should be especially appreciated that the use of contemplated sacrificial metals not only allows for efficient removal of metal carbonyls from the feed gas (infra), but also converts the highly toxic metal carbonyls to non-toxic plated metal and CO and/or CO2. Thus, disposal of the sacrificial metal after saturation with plated metal is environmentally safe and does generally not present a health hazard. In alternative aspects of the inventive subject matter, suitable sacrificial metals and metal alloys need not be restricted to iron comprising metals, and particularly suitable alternative sacrificial metals include all metals and metal alloys onto which a metal plates from a metal carbonyl (plating conditions include temperatures between 0° C. and several hundred ° C. at pressures between atmospheric pressure and several ten thousand psig). Thus, it is contemplated that the sacrificial metal may also be any metal that is present in the gas turbine (e.g., the turbine blade or gas conduit) onto which a metal would plate from a metal carbonyl contained in the feed gas. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that contemplated adsorbers may include additional materials or implements that assist in removal and/or plating of a metal from the metal carbonyl. Thus, especially preferred materials include zeolites, which may or may not be coated with metal oxides, and contemplated implements may include electrodes or electrical coupling to the sacrificial metal to promote deposition of a metal from a metal carbonyl (e.g., via electrodeposition). Furthermore, the contact surface of the sacrificial metal to the feed gas may be enlarged by various methods, and all known methods of increasing a contact surface to a gas are considered suitable for use herein (e.g., introducing porosity, formation of microspheres, etc.). It is generally contemplated that kinetics and quantity of removal of the metal carbonyl from the feed gas will at least in part depend on the initial concentration of the metal carbonyl in the feed gas, the temperature of the feed gas when the feed gas contacts the sacrificial metal, and the type of metal employed. However, it is generally contemplated that when the sacrificial metal comprises steel shavings and/or steel turnings, and the feed gas comprises a gas from a gasification of a hydrocarbonaceous material, substantially complete removal (ie., removal of at least 95 mol %, more typically at least 98 mol %, most typically at least 99 mol %) of the metal carbonyl can be achieved by employing sufficient amounts of sacrificial metal at elevated temperatures (typically between about 100-400° C., most preferably about 300° C.). It should still further be recognized that while contemplated configurations and processes are particularly advantageous for plants in which a turbine receives a metal carbonyl containing feed gas, that numerous alternative configurations and processes are also contemplated. Suitable alternative configurations and processes include all configurations and processes in which a metal carbonyl containing gas contacts a surface under conditions that enable at least partial plating of the metal carbonyl onto the surface, and wherein plating of the metal carbonyl is generally considered undesirable or even detrimental to the surface. For example, numerous synthetic processes (e.g., ammonia synthesis, synthesis of single or mixed alcohols, or Fischer-Tropsch synthesis of hydrocarbons and hydrogen production) include metal containing catalysts, which can be poisoned by plating of a metal from a metal carbonyl. Therefore, it is contemplated that alternative surfaces include synthesis catalysts, and vessels containing such catalysts. Furthermore, it is contemplated that pipelines, vessels, valves, and other components conveying feed gas containing a metal carbonyl can be protected using adsorbers according to the inventive subject matter. In a still further preferred aspect, it is contemplated that configurations and methods according to the inventive subject matter may also be employed to remove or at least reduce the concentration of metal carbonyls from a gas that is vented into an environment (e.g., plant or atmosphere) to protect the environment. Therefore, contemplated plants may also include a device that receives a feed gas, and an adsorber that is upstream and fluidly coupled to the device, wherein a metal plates from a metal carbonyl contained in the feed gas onto a sacrificial metal in the adsorber, and wherein the feed gas in the adsorber has a temperature sufficient for plating the metal onto the sacrificial metal. In particularly contemplated aspects, the plant may include a metal catalyst for a synthesis process, and/or a reaction vessel or a pipeline receiving a synthesis gas. Thus, specific embodiments and applications of improved configurations and processes for carbonyl removal have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced.

<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Gasification of refinery residues, and especially of heavy oil based products (e.g., petroleum coke, visbreaker bottoms, asphaltenes, vacuum bottoms, etc.) to produce a gaseous product referred to as syngas frequently leads to the formation of nickel and iron carbonyls. These carbonyls are typically present in syngas even at ambient temperature, and complete removal of the carbonyls in an acid gas removal system using chemical solvents is very difficult, if not impossible. As a result, trace amounts of the metal carbonyls not removed from the syngas will pass to downstream components, often creating operating problems in a gas turbine by plating out in the gas turbine. To avoid such problems, numerous approaches have been developed to at least partially remove metal carbonyls from various gas streams. In one approach, surfaces in contact with a gas stream containing the metal carbonyls maybe coated with austenitic (18/8) stainless steel to avoid reaction with the metal carbonyls. While such a coating may reduce metal plating to at least some degree, use of stainless steel is relatively expensive. Furthermore, coating of surfaces susceptible to metal plating with stainless steel will not (at least to a significant degree) reduce the concentration of metal carbonyls in the gas stream and therefore only shift the problems associated with metal carbonyls to a location downstream of the stainless steel coating. In another approach, Dvorak et al. employed spent catalysts comprising Cu and/or CuO and ZnO to reduce the concentration of sulfur compounds and iron carbonyl in a gas stream (Chemical Abstracts, Vol. 96 (1982), Abstract No. 164.903e). While the spent catalysts were relatively effective for removal of sulfur compounds, only small amounts of iron carbonyl were removed from the gases. Moreover, Cu and CuO sorbents are known to exhibit significant activity as hydrogenation catalysts. Consequently, when such catalysts are used in syngas, conversion of at least a portion of the syngas to methane and alcohols is almost unavoidable. To improve reduction of iron carbonyl from a gas stream, the gas stream may be contacted with ZnO and/or ZnS as proposed in EP023911A2. ZnO and/or ZnS reduced the concentration of iron carbonyl to a significant extent (here: 99%/), however, nickel carbonyl was removed in this system only to a significantly less degree (here: 77%). Alternatively, zeolites have been employed to reduce metal carbonyls from gas streams (Golden et al. Sen. Sci. and Techn. (1991), 26, 12: 1559-1574). Zeolites reduce the concentration of metal carbonyls from syngas with relatively high efficiency, however, the zeolites system described by Golden et al was limited to gas streams that are substantially free of hydrogen sulfide. In a still further approach, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,451,384 to Carr, a gas stream containing metal carbonyls is contacted with lead oxide that is bound on a solid support (e.g., alumina). Lead oxide-based removal of metal carbonyls, and particularly iron carbonyl, is relatively effective, but however, has various significant disadvantages. Among other things, the gas stream typically needs to free of appreciable quantities of sulfur compounds to avoid sorbent poisoning. Furthermore, a highly toxic lead nitrate solution is employed to coat the carrier via a calcination process, which poses an environmental and health hazard. Moreover, operation of lead oxide beads at temperatures higher than 100° C. will tend to produce carbon deposits, especially in the absence of hydrogen. To circumvent at least some of the problems associated with lead oxide, a hydrophobic porous adsorbent maybe employed as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,165,428 to Eijkhout et al. Suitable adsorbents include Si/Al-containing zeolites with a pore size of between about 0.5 nm to 4.0 nm and an average pore volume of 0.005 ml/g sorbent. Eijkhout's system may advantageously operate under conditions where the gas stream comprises significant amounts of hydrogen sulfide and water. However, effective removal of metal carbonyls is at least in part dependent on proper pore size. Moreover, Si/Al-containing zeolites are thought to act as molecular sieves. Consequently, disposal of saturated Si/Al-containing zeolites will still pose substantial health and environmental risks due to the high toxicity and low boiling point of metal carbonyls. Therefore, although various configurations and processes are known in the art to remove metal carbonyls from a gas stream, all or almost all suffer from one or more disadvantages. Thus, there is still a need for improved configurations and processes for carbonyl removal.

<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The present invention is directed to a plant that includes a gas turbine receiving a feed gas that is passed through an adsorber in which a metal plates onto a sacrificial metal, wherein the feed gas in the adsorber has a temperature sufficient for plating the metal onto the sacrificial metal. In one aspect of the inventive subject matter, the plant is an integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) plant, and at least a portion of the feed gas is produced from gasification of petroleum coke, visbreaker bottoms, asphaltenes, or vacuum bottoms. Consequently, the contemplated feed gas may comprise syngas. In another aspect of the inventive subject matter, the metal carbonyl is selected from the group consisting of nickel carbonyl, iron carbonyl, and cobalt carbonyl. Thus, the contemplated metals are nickel, iron, and cobalt. In a further aspect of the inventive subject matter, the sacrificial metal comprises iron, and preferably comprises steel turnings or steel shavings. Alternatively, the gas turbine has at least one of a turbine blade that comprises the sacrificial metal and a gas conduit that comprises the sacrificial metal. In yet another aspect of the inventive subject matter the feed gas is heated by a gas turbine feed gas preheater, preferably to a temperature of about 270° C. to about 330° C. Moreover, contemplated configurations may include a second adsorber, wherein the second adsorber operates in series with the first adsorber. Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawing. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"?

20060503

20090804

20070215

97749.0

B01D5364

JONES, CHRISTOPHER P

CONFIGURATION AND PROCESS FOR CARBONYL REMOVAL

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

B01D

ACCEPTED

Control valve arrangements

A valve arrangement includes a valve member, which rotates continuously in one sense. The generally cylindrical head of the valve member, within the housing, is formed to co-operate with various ports to create reciprocation in the actuator. It is preferred to provide some vibration of the valve member, to assist in overcoming the effects of friction.

1-26. (canceled) 27. A control valve arrangement comprising a valve member, a housing within which the valve member is mounted for continuous rotation in one sense, the housing having at least one port for receiving pressurised working fluid from a supply, at least one port for returning fluid to the supply, at least one port for providing pressurised fluid to an actuator, and at least one port for receiving returned fluid from the actuator, the housing and the valve member cooperating to define valve chambers therebetween, which change the connections between the ports as the valve member rotates, thereby operating the actuator, and the valve further comprising vibration means operable to cause vibration of the valve member to counteract friction between surfaces of the valve member and the housing. 28. An arrangement according to claim 27, wherein the vibration means causes axial vibration of the valve member. 29. An arrangement according to claim 27, wherein the vibration means is operable to cause vibration and to apply the vibration to the valve member. 30. An arrangement according to claim 27, wherein the vibration means are provided by a portion of the valve member formed to weight the valve member eccentrically so that the valve member is caused to vibrate as it rotates. 31. A control valve arrangement for providing pressurised working fluid to an actuator and for receiving returned fluid from the actuator, the arrangement comprising first valve means operable to connect a supply of pressurised working fluid to a plurality of inlets of the actuator in accordance with a pre-arranged sequence, second valve means operable to provide a connection to the actuator in accordance with a second pre-arranged sequence, to pass returned fluid from the actuator to the supply, and wherein the second valve means is controlled by working fluid supplied by the first valve means. 32. An arrangement according to claim 31, wherein the first valve is a rotary valve. 33. An arrangement according to claim 31, wherein the second valve means is a spool valve. 34. An arrangement according to claim 33, wherein the spool valve has first and second positions which connect the actuator to vent respective chambers of the actuator. 35. An arrangement according to claim 34, wherein the spool valve is driven between its positions by the pressurised working fluid being supplied to the actuator. 36. An arrangement according to claim 33, wherein delay means are operable to delay the supply of working fluid from the first valve to the actuator, to allow the working fluid to change the position of the spool valve before working fluid reaches the actuator. 37. An arrangement according to claim 31, wherein feedback means are provided, which act to correct excessive movement of the actuator. 38. An arrangement according to claim 37, wherein the feedback means include a vent valve operable to vent working fluid from the actuator in the event of excessive movement, the vented working fluid being provided to control the first valve means to correct the excess of movement. 39. An arrangement according to claim 37, wherein the feedback means comprise an accumulator to which working fluid is forced by excessive movement, thereby resisting the said excessive movement. 40. A control arrangement for providing working fluid to an actuator and for receiving return fluid from the actuator, the arrangement comprising first valve means operable to connect and disconnect a supply of pressurised working fluid to a plurality of ports of an actuator to effect a working sequence of the actuator, and second valve means operable to connect the supply to the first valve means to provide pilot pressure controlling the state of the first valve means, thereby controlling the working sequence of the actuator. 41. An arrangement according to claim 40, wherein the first valve means is a spool valve having a spool position controlled by the second valve means. 42. An arrangement according to claim 40, wherein the second valve means is a rotary valve. 43. An arrangement according to claim 42, wherein the rotary valve is in accordance with claim 27. 44. An arrangement according to claim 42, wherein the rotary valve creates reciprocatory movement as it rotates, the reciprocating member and spool of the first valve means being connected together to reciprocate together. 45. An arrangement according to claim 42, wherein the rotary valve comprises a rotary valve member which is caused to reciprocate axially as it rotates. 46. An arrangement according to claim 42, wherein the rotary valve member and spool are connected by a common shaft. 47. An arrangement according to claim 40, wherein feedback means are provided, which act to correct excessive movement of the actuator. 48. An arrangement according to claim 47, wherein the feedback means includes a vent valve operable to vent working fluid from the actuator in the event of excessive movement, the vented working fluid being provided to correct excessive movement of the first valve means. 49. An arrangement according to claim 47, wherein the feedback means comprise an accumulator to which working fluid is forced by excessive movement, thereby resisting the said movement.

The present invention relates to control valve arrangements and in particular, but not exclusively, valve arrangements for controlling an actuator to cause the actuator to execute a predetermined sequence of operations. The present invention provides a control valve arrangement comprising a valve member, a housing within which the valve member is mounted for continuous rotation in one sense, the housing having at least one port for receiving pressurised working fluid from a supply, at least one port for returning fluid to the supply, at least one port for providing pressurised fluid to an actuator, and at least one port for receiving returned fluid from the actuator, the housing and the valve member cooperating to define valve chambers therebetween, which change the connections between the ports as the valve member rotates, thereby operating the actuator, and the valve further comprising vibration means operable to cause vibration of the valve member to counteract friction between surfaces of the valve member and the housing. Preferably the vibration means causes axial vibration of the valve member. The vibration means may be operable to cause vibration and to apply the vibration to the valve member. Alternatively, the vibration means may be provided by a portion of the valve member formed to weight the valve member eccentrically so that the valve member is caused to vibrate as it rotates. The invention also provides a control valve arrangement for providing pressurised working fluid to an actuator and for receiving returned fluid from the actuator, the arrangement comprising first valve means operable to connect a supply of pressurised working fluid to a plurality of inlets of the actuator in accordance with a pre-arranged sequence, second valve means operable to provide a connection to the actuator in accordance with a second pre-arranged sequence, to pass returned fluid from the actuator to the supply, and wherein the second valve means is controlled by working fluid supplied by the first valve means. Preferably the first valve is a rotary valve. The second valve means may be a spool valve. Preferably the spool valve has first and second positions which connect the actuator to vent respective chambers of the actuator. The spool valve is preferably driven between its positions by the pressurised working fluid being supplied to the actuator. There may be delay means operable to delay the supply of working fluid from the first valve to the actuator, to allow the working fluid to change the position of the spool valve before working fluid reaches the actuator. Feedback means are preferably provided, which act to correct excessive movement of the actuator. The feedback means may include a vent valve operable to vent working fluid from the actuator in the event of excessive movement, the vented working fluid being provided to control the first valve means to correct the excess of movement. The feedback means may comprise an accumulator to which working fluid is forced by excessive movement, thereby resisting the said excessive movement. In a third aspect, the invention provides a control arrangement for providing working fluid to an actuator and for receiving return fluid from the actuator, the arrangement comprising first valve means operable to connect and disconnect a supply of pressurised working fluid to a plurality of ports of an actuator to effect a working sequence of the actuator, and second valve means operable to connect the supply to the first valve means to provide pilot pressure controlling the state of the first valve means, thereby controlling the working sequence of the actuator. The first valve means is preferably a spool valve having a spool position controlled by the second valve means. The second valve means may be a rotary valve. Preferably the rotary valve is in accordance with the first aspect of the invention as set out above. The rotary valve preferably creates reciprocatory movement as it rotates, the reciprocating member and spool of the first valve means being connected together to reciprocate together. The rotary valve may comprise a rotary valve member which is caused to reciprocate axially as it rotates. The rotary valve member and spool may be connected by a common shaft. Feedback means are preferably provided, which act to correct excessive movement of the actuator. The feedback means may include a vent valve operable to vent working fluid from the actuator in the event of excessive movement, the vented working fluid being provided to correct excessive movement of the first valve means. The feedback means may comprise an accumulator to which working fluid is forced by excessive movement, thereby resisting the said movement. Examples of the present invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an actuator valve, with FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C being sections along the lines A-A, B-B and C-C, respectively, in FIG. 1D; FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a sequence of operation of the valve of FIG. 1; FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrammatic views of modified valves; FIGS. 5A and 5B and FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate alternatives using a rotary valve and a spool valve; FIG. 7 is a simple diagram of a jet valve for use in the alternative of FIGS. 6A, 6B, 8 and 9; and FIGS. 8 and 9 are schematic sections through a further example having an integrated rotary and spool valve. FIG. 1 shows a control valve for use, for example, for controlling the supply of pressurised fluid to an actuator in order to cause the actuator to execute a predetermined sequence for creating driving forces. The valve 10 includes a valve member 12 which is mounted within a housing 14 and driven by a motor 16 to rotate continuously in one sense about its axis 17. The housing has a port 18 for receiving pressurised working fluid from a supply (not shown). Ports 20, 22 provide connections between the valve 10 and an actuator (not shown), each acting either to provide pressurised fluid to the actuator, or to receive return fluid from the actuator, according to the position of the member 12. A further port 24 returns fluid from the valve 10 to the supply. The member 12 is located within a chamber 26 within the housing 14. The member 12 has a generally cylindrical head 28 coupled by a shaft 30 to the motor 16. The head 28 has a pair of cut away regions 32 at each of the opposite ends of the head 28. A first plenum is formed within the body of the housing 14 and communicates with the first ports 20. Valve ports 36 of the plenum 34 are opened or closed by the head 28 and the regions 32, as the member 12 rotates. When in communication with the regions 32, the ports 36 are alternately connected to the pressure port 18 and return port 24. Similarly, a second plenum 38 is provided in communication with the second ports 22 and having valve ports 40 which are opened and closed by the head 28 and regions 32. When in communication with the regions 32, the ports 40 are alternately connected to the pressure port 18 and return port 24. The effect of the valve 10 is illustrated in FIGS. 2a to 2d, which are schematic diagrams showing an upper view which illustrates the connections made by the first of the regions 32, a middle view showing the connections made by the other region 32, and a lower view showing the effect on an actuator 42. The actuator is a simple piston actuator having a head 44 moving in a cavity 46 to which pressurised fluid can be applied selectively through ports 48 to push the head 44 in either direction, the other of the ports 48 being vented. The sequence of operation illustrated in FIGS. 2a to 2d is set out only by way of example and shows a sequence appropriate to an actuator of the type illustrated. Other sequences could be provided either for the actuator 42 or for an alternative actuator design. FIG. 2a shows the initial condition in which the pressure port 18 is connected through the lower region 32 to the ports 20 to provide pressurised working fluid (pneumatic or hydraulic) to raise the actuator head 44. Return fluid is connected through the ports 22 and the upper region 32 to the return port 24. As the member 12 rotates (in the clockwise direction as shown in the drawings), the position of FIG. 2b is reached, in which the pressure port 18 is connected through the lower region 32 to the ports 22 and then to the actuator 42 above the head 44, causing the actuator 42 to be driven down. A return path is provided from the other (lower) face of the head 44 through the ports 20 and the upper region 32, to the return port 24. Further clockwise rotation of the member 12 reaches the position of FIG. 2C in which connections are as described in relation to FIG. 2b, but with the various connections being about to close. These close as rotation continues, opening a fresh set of connections as shown in FIG. 2d. In this position, the pressure port 18 is connected through the lower region 32 to the ports 20 to apply pressure below the actuator head 44 to cause the actuator to rise. A return path from above the head 44 is provided to the ports 22 and through the upper region 32 to the return port 24. Further rotation of the member 12 returns the valve to the position of FIG. 2a, with the connections described in relation to FIG. 2d being near to closing. It is apparent from considering these drawings that the positioning of the regions 32 diametrically opposite each other provides a 180° rotational symmetry, so that the sequence described above is executed twice during each complete rotation of the member 12. It can be understood from FIGS. 1 and 2 that one pair of the regions 32 communicates with the pressure port 18 but not the return port 24, whereas the other pair of regions 32 communicate with the return port 24, but not with the pressure port 18. Thus, the route for pressurised fluid through the valve 10 is kept separate from the route for return fluid through the valve 10 and this assists in achieving adequate sealing between the two routes, to prevent leakage from the pressure path to the return path, through the valve 10. Reference has been made above to the separation of the pressure and return paths within the valve 10, and that this facilitates sealing between them. Precision machining and an appropriate choice of materials, such as ceramics, is expected to allow adequate sealing to be provided. However, both factors tend to increase the cost of the valve 10. This is partly offset by the use of pairs of ports 20, 22 to allow the overall size of the valve 10 to be reduced without affecting the power delivered to the actuator 42. This reduction in size reduces the material and machining costs. However, the use of precision machining in order to improve sealing has a tendency to create frictional effects between adjacent surfaces within the valve 10, particularly between the member 12 and the housing 14. These effects can interfere with the performance of the valve 10, particularly by increasing the power required of the motor 16, or preventing the member 12 rotating smoothly. FIG. 3 illustrates schematically and in simplified form a modification to the arrangements of FIGS. 1 and 2, to reduce the effects of friction. FIG. 3 shows a valve 50 which may be as shown as described in relation to FIGS. 1 and 2, but is shown in FIG. 3 as a simplified form having a single pressure port 18A and a member 12A controlling pressure to ports 20A. The member 12A is driven by a motor 16A. The member 12A is partially cut away at 32A to connect the port 18A intermittently to the ports 20A. A second motor 52 is provided, connected to the member 12A by a shaft 54. The motor 52 is a low power motor, relative to the motor 16A and applies a reciprocating force axially along the member 12A, causing axial vibration of the member 12A as it rotates. This continuous vibration, the amplitude of which can be extremely small, serves to prevent the member 12A being at rest within the housing 14A and thus helps avoid friction causing the member 12A to stick within the housing 14A. FIG. 4 shows a further alternative for reducing the effect of friction within the valve 50A. In this example, the orientation of the valve 50A is significant. The rotation axis 56 of the member 12A is shown as approximately horizontal. The shape and dimensions of the components may be the same as illustrated in FIG. 3 but in the arrangement of FIG. 4, the member 12 is formed to have a centre of gravity which is eccentric, i.e. not located at the axis 56. In FIG. 4, a centre of gravity is indicated at 58. The eccentric weighting of the member 12A causes vibration as the member 12A rotates. This vibration will be generally transverse to the axis 56. Again, the vibration tends to disturb any friction effects which might otherwise arise between the member 12A and the housing 14A. A vibration motor 52A can also be used to create axial vibration in the arrangement of FIG. 4, as described in relation to FIG. 3. In the examples discussed above, the valves 10, 10A are rotary valves connected directly to the actuator and controlling the supply of pressurised working fluid to the actuator, and also controlling the return of working fluid from the actuator. The next examples show arrangements in which a rotary valve is connected directly to an actuator to control the supply of pressurised working fluid, but does not cooperate in the return path for working fluid. FIG. 5a illustrates a valve 10C which is a rotary valve based around a member 12C in a housing 14C acting generally as described in relation to FIG. 3 to connect a pressure port 18C to ports 20C or 22C, alternately. The ports of each pair of ports 20C, 22C are diametrically located relative to the member 12, as can be seen from FIG. 5b. The member 12C has two cut away regions 32C so that either both ports 20C or both ports 22C are connected to the pressure port 18. A control actuator 6o in the form of a piston actuator is provided within the housing 14C to control the axial position of the member 12C within the housing 14C. This has the effect of varying the effective area of the ports 20C, 22C as can readily be appreciated from consideration of FIG. 5a, so that the actuator 60 controls the pressure supplied to the main actuator 42C. Supply from the ports 20C, 22C to the main actuator 42C is by hydraulic or pneumatic lines 62. The ports 20C provide pressure to one side of the actuator head 44, pressure to the other side being provided through the ports 22C, to create drive in opposite directions. When one of the pairs of ports 20C, 22C is providing pressurised working fluid, the other pair of ports is closed and consequently, working fluid cannot return through the valve 10C. The return of working fluid is controlled by a spool valve 64 illustrated schematically in FIG. 5b. The spool valve 64 has two positions. In the position shown, a return path is provided from the right hand chamber (as viewed in FIG. 5a) of the actuator 42C to a sump 66 from which working fluid may be drawn for pressurisation and re-use. The left hand chamber of the actuator 42C is closed by the valve 64. In the alternative position of the valve 64, as indicated by the conventional hydraulic symbols used in FIG. 5b, the left hand chamber of the actuator 42C is connected to the sump 66, while the right hand chamber is closed by the valve 64. Consequently, when both valves are in the condition illustrated in FIG. 5b, pressurised working fluid is provided from the ports 20C of the valve 10C, to the right hand chamber of the actuator 42C, causing movement of the head 44C to the left, as viewed in FIG. 5b. The left hand chamber of the actuator 42C is emptied to the sump 66 by this movement, through the valve 64. As the member 12C turns through 90°, and with the spool valve 64 in the alternative position (as will be described), pressurised fluid is provided from the valve 10C through the ports 22C to the left hand chamber of the actuator 42C. The right hand chamber is vented through the valve 64 to the sump 66. In the example shown in FIG. 5b, the lines 62 from the ports 20C and 22C are both tapped at 68 to provide pilot pressure at 70 to control the position of the spool valve 64. Thus, pressure in the line 62 from the ports 20C tends to move the valve 64 from the position shown in FIG. 5b to the alternative position, whereas pressure in the line 62 from the ports 22C tends to move the valve 64 from the alternative position to the position shown in FIG. 5b. Thus, each time the valve 10C changes to reverse the pressure supply to the actuator 42C, the spool valve 64 is also caused to change state by virtue of the pilot pressure at 70. In an alternative arrangement, one direction of movement of the spool valve 64 may be created mechanically or manually. For example, the spool valve may be mechanically or manually moved to a position which retracts the actuator, and move by pressure to a position which drives the actuator. The lines 62 are constricted at 72, downstream of the taps 68, to create a delay between the instigation of movement of the spool valve 64, and movement of the actuator 42C. This ensures that the valve 64 has been able to change state before working fluid begins to be forced from the actuator 42C. When the arrangements described are correctly set up and functioning correctly, the actuator 42C will execute symmetrical oscillations about a centre position. However, in practice, wear, leaks or other factors may cause the actuator head 44 to drift toward one end or the other of the actuator 42C. FIG. 5b illustrates two alternative feedback arrangements to seek to control this drift and return the head 44C to a centred oscillation. It is to be understood that in practice, only one or other alternative would normally be required. Both alternatives make use of a second vent 74 at each end of the actuator 42C. The head 44C carries collars 76 to either side, which cooperate with steps 78 in the walls of the actuator cavity so that as the head 44C approaches one end of the cavity, the corresponding principal vent 80 is closed, but continued movement in the same direction will continue to force working fluid from the second vent 74, by the action of the collar 76. Thus, until the vent 8o is closed, generally unrestricted venting of the working fluid is available through the valve 64 to the sump 66 but thereafter, the second vent 74 comes into use. In the first alternative, the second vents 74 are each connected directly to a respective accumulator 82 into which working fluid must be forced from the vent 74 against the pressure within the accumulator 82. Thus, the accumulator 82 serves as a form of pneumatic spring providing increasing resistance as the head 44C moves further toward the end of the actuator cavity. Thus, the accumulator 82 seeks to limit the approach of the head 44C to the end of the cavity, thus restoring the actuator oscillations to a centred position. In the second alternative, the vents 74 are provided with non-return valves 84 through which the vents 74 are connected to a common return line 86 connected to one end of the control actuator 60, the other end being vented at 88. During normal operation of this alternative, working fluid leaving the actuator 42C will normally vent through the main vents 80, passing freely through the valve 64 to the sump 66. If the head 44C moves sufficiently to close the main vent 80, working fluid is then forced through the corresponding second vent 74, passing through the valve 84, along the return line 86 and into the control actuator 60, which causes pressure to increase within the actuator 60, causing the actuator 60 to move the member 12C along its axis. This has the effect of restricting the ports 20C, 22C, to reduce the working pressure being applied to the actuator 42C and thus provides a feedback mechanism by which excessive movement of the head 44C is counteracted. In a further alternative, not illustrated, the control actuator 60 can be used for a second purpose in addition to the feedback control which has just been described. This second purpose relates to an alternative construction of the valve 10C, in which the member 12C has several sets of regions 32C along its length, each serving to create a different operating sequence in the actuator 42, so that the operating sequence being used can be changed by axial movement of the member 12C, to cause a different set of regions 32 to come into cooperation with the ports 20C, 22C. Thus, in this alternative, additional control lines are provided to allow pressure to be applied to the control actuator 6o to control the axial position of the member 12C, in addition to the feedback pressure received from the line 86, which provides a smaller feedback control pressure as described above. Thus, it can be seen that in the example described in relation to FIG. 5, the rotary valve is directly connected to the actuator to provide pressurised working fluid, and also provides pilot pressure to control the spool valve, with the return path for working fluid being controlled by the spool valve, not the rotary valve. FIGS. 6a and 6b illustrate a further example in which a rotary valve 10D and spool valve 64D are both used to control an actuator 42D. In this example, the valve 10D is shown in FIG. 6a, having a rotating member 12D within a housing 14D and driven to rotate continuously in one sense about its axis 17D by a motor 16D. Pressurised working fluid is received at a port 18D, which is connected through regions 32D to ports 20D and 22D, alternately. In this example, the valve 10D is not connected directly to the actuator 42D, but is used only provide pilot pressure to the spool valve 64D. Specifically, the ports 20D are connected through jet devices 90, to be described, to lines 92 which meet to provide pilot pressure to the left hand end (as illustrated in FIG. 6b) of the spool valve 64D. Conversely, the ports 22D provide pressure through jets 90 to lines 94, which provide pressurised working fluid to the right band end of the valve 64D. Consequently, the valve alternately applies pilot pressure to opposite ends of the spool 96 of the valve 64D, causing the spool 96 to shuttle in alternate directions. The spool 96 is shown in its mid position in FIG. 6b. A central port 98 receives pressurised working fluid from the supply at 100, to a chamber 102 around the spool 96. Neighbouring chambers 104 to either side of the chamber 102 communicate with respective exit ports 106 which are in turn connected with opposite ends of the actuator 42D. Communication between the chamber 102 and the chambers 104 is controlled by lands 108 on the spool 96. As the spool 96 shuttles back and forth, each land 108 moves into the chamber 102, closing it from the corresponding chamber 104, or moves into the corresponding chamber 104, clear of the chamber 102, allowing communication between the chamber 102 and the corresponding chamber 104. When communication with one of the chambers 104 is provided in this manner, communication with the other chamber 104 will be blocked by the other land 108. Consequently, oscillation of the spool 96 connects the chamber 102 alternately to the chambers 104 and thus causes the actuator 42D to reciprocate. Second lands 110 provide control, in a similar manner, over communication from the chambers 104 to corresponding third chambers 112, positioned to either side of the chambers 104. Thus, the lands 110 can move into the third chambers 112 to close them from the corresponding chamber 104, or can move into the corresponding chamber 104, to provide communication with the corresponding third chamber 112. It can readily be understood from FIG. 6b, that when the spool 96 has moved to a position in which a land 108 has opened communication between the chamber 102 and the corresponding chamber 104, the corresponding land 110 will have moved to block communication from the corresponding chamber 104 to the corresponding chamber 112. Conversely, when communication between the chamber 102 and the corresponding chamber 104 is blocked, communication from the corresponding chamber 104 will be open with the corresponding third chamber 112. The third chambers 112 are both connected to the return line 114 for working fluid. Operation of the valve 10 will alternately cause the spool 96 to move to the left or to the right as shown in FIG. 6b. When pressure is leaving the ports 20D of the valve 10D, to drive the spool 96 to the right, as shown in FIG. 6b, pressurised working fluid passes through the pressure port 98 and chamber 102 to the right hand chamber 104 and thus to the right hand end of the actuator 42D, driving the head 44D toward the left of FIG. 6b. When the valve 10D switches to provide pressurised working fluid through the ports 22D, the spool 96 is driven to the left, as shown in FIG. 6b, connecting the pressure port 98 through the chamber 102 to the left hand chamber 104 and thus to the left hand end of the actuator 42D, thus driving the head 44D toward the right of FIG. 6b. In an alternative arrangement, one direction of movement of the spool 96 may be created mechanically or manually. It can thus be understood that in this example, the rotary valve 10D is not connected directly to the actuator 42D, but only supplies pilot pressure to the spool valve 64D. The spool valve 64D is connected directly to the actuator 42D and controls pressurised working fluid to the actuator 42, and also the return of working fluid from the actuator 42D. Accumulators 82D are illustrated in FIG. 6b, connected through second vents 74D to the actuator 42D, to provide a feedback effect as described more fully in relation to FIG. 5b. The rotary valve 10D of FIGS. 6a and 6b is shown as a simple valve provided a single working sequence and without axial movement. Alternatively, the member 12D could be axially movable to adjust pressure, as described above in relation to FIG. 5a. Alternatively, the member 12D could be movable between several axial positions which allow the working sequence to be changed, again as described above in relation to FIG. 5a. The jet arrangements go shown in FIGS. 6a and 6b can be understood more clearly by reference to FIG. 7, which is a highly simplified schematic diagram of one jet 90. The jet go has two heads 120 which each have a nozzle 122. The nozzles 122 face each other but are separated by a gap at 124. In the example of FIG. 7, pressurised fluid is normally supplied from the direction of the arrow 126. Under sufficient pressure, as when the supply is from the main pressurised working fluid supply, the nozzle 122 will create a jet of working fluid which will cross the gap 124 and enter the other nozzle 122 to leave the jet 90 as indicated by the arrow 128, and still under pressure. If working fluid subsequently returns in the direction 130 and not under pressure, the pressure will be insufficient to cause the fluid to cross the gap 124 and the fluid will fall, as indicated at 132, to be conveyed away for re-use. Thus, the jet go forms a form of valve which will allow working fluid to pass when under full pressure, but will reject fluid at return pressure. Thus, in the arrangement of FIG. 6b, returned fluid being driven from the ends of the spool 96 will encounter the jets go and, rather than being forced into the ports 20D, 22D, will fall away to the return line 114. In the next example, shown in FIG. 8, a rotary valve is again used to provide pilot pressure to a spool valve, as in the example illustrated in FIGS. 6a and 6b, with the spool valve being connected directly to the actuator to control pressure and return paths. However, the example of FIG. 8 shows the rotary valve physically integrated with the spool valve, as will now be described. In FIG. 8, a rotary valve 10E is provided, based around a rotating member 12E within a housing 14E and driven by a motor 16E. A pressure port 18E connects the valve 10E to the supply of pressurised working fluid. Return ports 24E ultimately drain the valve 10E. Within the valve 10E, the member 12E is in the form of a disc rotating about its centre and having two circular faces 140, each partially cut away to provide a region 32E, the regions 32E being generally diametrically opposite each other and on opposite faces 140. A connecting bore 142 is provided through the body of the member 12A, between the regions 32E. As the disc 12E rotates, the pressure port 18E will remain in communication with the regions 32E, through the circumferential passage 143. The regions 32E will, alternately, be in communication through a respective jet 90E with chambers 144 to either side of the member 12E. The jets 90E are of the form described in relation to FIG. 7 and can either pass pressurised working fluid from the corresponding region 32E across to the corresponding chamber 144, or can return fluid from the chamber 144 to a corresponding return port 24E. Consequently, as the member 12E rotates, a first position is reached as shown in FIG. 8. The pressure port 18E communicates with the regions 32E, and then through the corresponding jet 90E to the chamber 144 to the right of the member 12E. This causes the member 12E to be driven to the left, as viewed in FIG. 8. Upon further rotation, the position of FIG. 9 is reached, in which the pressure port 18 is in communication with the recesses 32E and pressure passes through the other jet 90E to the chamber 144 to the left of the member 12E, as shown in FIG. 9. This causes the member 12E to be driven to the right. Meanwhile, working fluid within the chamber 144 to the right of the member 12E can vent through the jet 90E to a return port 24E. Consequently, rotation of the member 12E is converted into axial reciprocation. The member 12E is connected by a head 146 and shaft 148 to a spool valve, generally at 64E and having a spool 96E carrying lands 108E. The spool 96E slides in a cylinder 150, having three sets of ports, namely a pressure port 98E, in communication with the supply of pressurised working fluid, and two return ports 114E. The spool 96E interconnects the various ports either as shown in FIG. 8, with the pressure port 98E in communication with the left hand ports 106E, and the right hand ports 106E vented to an appropriate return line, or to the position shown in FIG. 9, with the pressure port 98 in communication with the right hand ports 114E, and the left hand ports vented to an appropriate return line. Consequently, connection of the left hand ports and right hand ports 114E to corresponding sides of an actuator of the type described above will cause reciprocation of the actuator, as the spool valve 64E reciprocates. Reciprocation, and the avoidance of friction within the system, may be assisted by the presence of springs 152. Accordingly, in this example, rotation of the valve member 12E is turned into reciprocation of the member 12E, which in turn is mechanically connected to the spool 96E to control the spool valve 64E and thus execute the operating sequence of pressurised fluid to the actuator to which the arrangement is connected. In effect, the valve member 12E is serving to provide pilot pressure to cause axial movement of itself, which pilot pressure serves as pilot pressure for the spool 96E, because the valve member 12E and the spool 96E are mechanically connected. It will be apparent that many variations and modifications can be made to the arrangements described above. In particular, various arrangements described in the examples are interchangeable. Axial vibration could be provided to any of the rotary valves, to assist in reducing friction. The number of ports on the valve could be varied. Feedback arrangements, such as those described, could be incorporated or omitted from various arrangements. It is envisaged that these arrangements will be able to act to reverse very quickly the supply of working fluid, allowing actuators to be driven at frequencies which generate vibration, thus allowing vibrator devices to be driven. Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

20051025

20101116

20060608

98066.0

F16K2900

RIVELL, JOHN A

CONTROL VALVE ARRANGEMENTS

SMALL

ACCEPTED

F16K

ACCEPTED

3,6-Disubstituted azabicyclo hexane derivatives as muscarinic receptor antagonists

This invention generally relates to derivatives of 3,6 disubstituted azabicyclo hexanes. The compounds of this invention can function as muscarinic receptor antagonists and can be used for the treatment of various diseases of the respiratory, urinary and gastrointestinal systems mediated through muscarinic receptors. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds of the present invention and the methods of treating the diseases mediated through muscarinic receptors.

1. A compound having the structure of Formula I: and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts, pharmaceutically acceptable solvates, ester, enantiomers, diastereomers, N-oxides, polymorphs, prodrugs, or metabolites wherein Ar represents an aryl or a heteroaryl ring having 1-2 hetero atoms selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulphur and nitrogen atoms, the aryl or heteroaryl rings may be unsubstituted or substituted by one to three substituents independently selected from lower alkyl(C1-C4), trifluoromethyl cyano, hydroxy, nitro, halogen (e.g. F, Cl, Br or I), lower alkoxy(C1-C4), amino or lower alkylamino(C1-C4); R1 represents a hydrogen, hydroxy, hydroxymethyl, loweralkyl(C1-C4), amino, alkoxy, cycloalkyl(C3-C7), carbamoyl, halogen (e.g. F, Cl, Br, 1) or aryl; R2 represents alkyl, C3-C7 cycloalkyl ring, C3-C7 cycloalkenyl ring, an aryl or a heteroaryl ring having 1 to 2 hetero atoms selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulphur and nitrogen atoms; the aryl or a hetero aryl ring may be unsubstituted or substituted by one to three substituents independently selected from lower alkyl(C1-C4), trifluoromethyl, cyano, hydroxy, nitro, lower alkoxycarbonyl, halogen, lower alkoxy(C1-C4), unsubstituted amino or lower alkyl(C1-C4) amino; W represents (CH2)p, where p represents 0 to 1; X represents an oxygen, sulphur, NR or no atom wherein R represents hydrogen or C1-6 alkyl; Y represents CHR5CO wherein R5 represents hydrogen or methyl or (CH2)q wherein q represents 0 to 4; m represents 0 to 2; R3 represents hydrogen, lower alkyl(C1-C4) or CO2C (CH3)3; and R4 represents C1-C15 saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon (straight chain or branched) in which any 1 to 6 hydrogen atoms may be substituted with the group independently selected from halogen (e.g. F, Cl, Br, I), carboxylic acid, carboxylic acid ester, aryl, aryloxy, arylalkyl, arylalkenyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, heteroarylalkenyl having 1 to 2 hetero atoms selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur with option that any 1 to 5 hydrogen atoms on the ring in said aryl, aryloxy, arylalkyl, arylalkenyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkenyl may be substituted with lower alkyl, trifluoromethyl, halogen (e.g. F, Cl, Br, I), cyano, nitro, hydroxy, lower (C1-C4) alkoxy, amino, lower (C1-C4) alkylamino, sulphonylamino, amide, carboxylic acid, carboxylic acid ester or benzyl ester. 2. The compound according to claim 1 having the structure of Formula II and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts, pharmaceutically acceptable solvates, esters, enantiomers, diastereomers, N-oxides, polymorphs, prodrugs, metabolites, wherein Ar, R1, R2, R3, R4, W, X and Y are as defined for Formula I. 3. The compound according to claim 1 having the structure of Formula III and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts, pharmaceutically acceptable solvates, esters, enantiomers, diastereomers, N-oxides, polymorphs, prodrugs, metabolites, wherein Ar, R1, R2, R3 and R4 are as defined for Formula I. 4. The compound according to claim 1 having the structure of Formula IV and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts, pharmaceutically acceptable solvates, esters, enantiomers, diastereomers, N-oxides, polymorphs, prodrugs, metabolites, wherein Ar, R1, R3 and R4 are as defined for Formula I and r is 1 to 4. 5. The compound according to claim 1 having the structure of Formula V and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts, pharmaceutically acceptable solvates, esters, enantiomers, diastereomers, N-oxides, polymorphs, prodrugs, metabolites, wherein Ar, R1, R3 and R4 are as defined for Formula I and s is 1 to 3. 6. The compound according to claim 1 having the structure of Formula VI and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts, pharmaceutically acceptable solvates, esters, enantiomers, diastereomers, N-oxides, polymorphs, prodrugs, metabolites, wherein R3, R4 and s are as defined for Formula I and s is 1 to 3. 7. A compound selected from the group consisting of: (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-(4-methoxy)phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-thienylmethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-thienylmethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(5-nitro-2-furylmethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-methyl-pentyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(1,4-benzodioxan-6-yl)ethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenethyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-[3-(3,4-methyldioxyphenyl)propyl)]-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3,5-dimethoxybenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-methoxybenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-trifluoromethylbenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3. 1.O]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(5-methyl-2-furylmethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(4-methylphenoxy)ethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-nitrobenzyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-chlorophenethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-nitrobenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-phenylpropyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-hydroxybenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-hydroxybenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-t-butylbenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-methylquinolinyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-nitro-4-methoxybenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-nitro-4-hydroxybenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-aminobenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(6-aminopyridin-2-yl-methyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-phenoxyethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-phenoxypropyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-methylpyrollyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1,4-benzodioxan-6-yl)-3-methyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5═,6═)-N-[3-(4-methyl-3-pentyl)-3-azabicyclo-[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(3,4-methylendioxyphenyl)ethyl]-3-azabicyclo-[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclobutyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo-[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-3-azabicyclo-[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopropyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-[2-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)ethyl]-3-azabicyclo-[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopropyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzyl)-3-azabicyclo-[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopropyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzyl]-3-azabicyclo-[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-phenylcarboethoxyethyl]-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-(2-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-(4-methylphenyl)ethyl]-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-bromophenylmethylpyridine)-3-azabicyclo-[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-pyridylmethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-indanyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-methylbenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2,4,6-trimethylbenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)ethyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-pentyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-cyanobenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-cyanobenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-cyanobenzyl)-3-azabicyclo-[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-methylpyridyl)-3-azabicyclocyanobenzyl[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-bromo-2-methylthienyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-(phenyl)ethyl]-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide (1═,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-nitrobenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1═,5═,6═)-N-[3-(4-methoxycarbonyl]benzyl]-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1═,5α,6α)-N-[3-(diphenylmethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-carboxybenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-aminobenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-carboethoxypropyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(4-acetylphenyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(4-methoxycarbonyl)phenyl)ethyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-cyanobenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-cyanobenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-cyanobenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-methylbutyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-hydroxymethyl phenethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclobentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-Fluoro-4-aminobenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)ethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(3-methylphenoxy)ethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-(3-methylphenoxy)propyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-methylbenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(2-methylbenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1,3-dioxolan-2-yl-methyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-carboxy)propyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0.]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-phenylethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2,2-diphenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-phenylethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-5-yl)ethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopropyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-phenylethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopropyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-phenylethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclobutyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-phenylcarboxy)ethyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cycloheptyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(3-indoyl)ethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-methylnaphthyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-indoyl-3-yl)ethyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-hexyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphth-1-yl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-chlorobenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(2-methoxyphenyl)ethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(4-fluorophenyl)ethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(indan-5-yl)ethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-(naphth-1-yl)ethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)ethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphth-6-yl)ethyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-(cis-(hex-3-enyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopropyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-(trans-hex-3-enyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopropyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-(trans-hex-3-enyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-(cis-hex-3-enyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-(trans-hex-3-enyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-(cis-hex-3-enyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-naphthylmethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-phenyl-1-methyl)-2-oxoethyl]-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(4-carbamoylphenyl)ethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(4-benzyloxycarbonylphenyl)ethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-(2-methylpropyl)benzane-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(phenyl-1-methyl)-2-oxoethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-hexyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(4-cyanophenyl)ethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(4-sulphamroylphenyl)ethyl)1-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-cyclohexylmethyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-benzyl-2azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2,2-diphenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-chloro-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-phenyl propionamide N-methyl-N-(1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-phenyl-ethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-cyclopentyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetamide N-methyl-N-(1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3,4-methylenedioxyethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-cyclopentyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetamide N-methyl-N-(1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(9-benzyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-cyclopentyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetamide N-methyl-(1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3,4-methylenedioxyethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-cyclohexyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetamide N-methyl-N-(1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-cyclohexyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetamide N-methyl-N-(1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-cyclopentyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetamide N-methyl-N-(1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-cyclopentyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetamide L (+)tartarate salt. 8. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a compound as defined in any of claims 1-7 together with pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, excipients or diluents. 9. A method for treating or prophylaxis of an animal or a human suffering from a disease or disorder of the respiratory, urinary and gastrointestinal systems, wherein the disease or disorder is mediated through muscarinic receptors, comprising administering to said animal or human, a therapeutically effective amount of a compound having the structure of Formula I. and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts, pharmaceutically acceptable solvates, esters, enantiomers, diastereomers, N-oxides, polymorphs, prodrugs, or metabolites, wherein Ar represents an aryl or a heteroaryl ring having 1-2 hetero atoms selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulphur and nitrogen atoms, the aryl or heteroaryl rings may be unsubstituted or substituted by one to three substituents independently selected from lower alkyl(C1-C4), trifluoromethyl cyano, hydroxy, nitro, halogen (e.g. F, Cl, Br or I), lower alkoxy(C1-C4), amino or lower alkylamino(C1-C4); R1 represents a hydrogen, hydroxy, hydroxymethyl, loweralkyl(C1-C4), amino, alkoxy, cycloalkyl(C3-C7), carbamoyl, halogen (e.g. F, Cl, Br, I) or aryl; R2 represents alkyl, C3-C7 cycloalkyl ring, C3-C7 cycloalkenyl ring, an aryl or a heteroaryl ring having 1 to 2 hetero atoms selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulphur and nitrogen atoms; the aryl or a hetero aryl ring may be unsubstituted or substituted by one to three substituents independently selected from lower alkyl(C1-C4), trifluoromethyl, cyano, hydroxy, nitro, lower alkoxycarbonyl, halogen, lower alkoxy(C1-C4), unsubstituted amino or lower alkyl(C1-C4) amino; W represents (CH2)p, where p represents 0 to 1; X represents an oxygen, sulphur, nitrogen or no atom; Y represents CHR5CO wherein R5 represents hydrogen or methyl or (CH2)q wherein q represents 0 to 4; m represents 0 to 2; R3 represents hydrogen, lower alkyl(C1-C4) or CO2C(CH3)3; and R4 represents C1-C15 saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon (straight chain or branched) in which any 1 to 6 hydrogen atoms may be substituted with the group independently selected from halogen (e.g. F, Cl, Br, I), carboxylic acid, carboxylic acid ester, aryl, aryloxy, arylalkyl, arylalkenyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, heteroarylalkenyl having 1 to 2 hetero atoms selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur with option that any 1 to 5 hydrogen atoms on the ring in said aryl, aryloxy, arylalkyl, arylalkenyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkenyl may be substituted with lower alkyl, trifluoromethyl, halogen (F, Cl, Br, I), cyano, nitro, hydroxy, lower (C1-C4) alkoxy, amino, lower (C1-C4) alkylamino, sulphonylamino, amide, carboxylic acid, carboxylic acid ester or benzyl ester. 10. The method according to claim 9 for treatment or prophylaxis of an animal or a human suffering from a disease or disorder of the respiratory, urinary and gastrointestinal systems, wherein the disease or disorder is mediated through muscarinic receptors, comprising administering to said animal or human, a therapeutically effective amount of compound having the structure of Formula II and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts, pharmaceutically acceptable solvates, esters, enantiomers, diastereomers, N-oxides, polymorphs, prodrugs, metabolites, wherein Ar, R1, R2, R3, R4, W, X and Y are as defined for Formula I. 11. The method according to claim 9 for treatment or prophylaxis of an animal or a human suffering from a disease or disorder of the respiratory, urinary and gastrointestinal systems, wherein the disease or disorder is mediated through muscarinic receptors, comprising administering to said animal or human, a therapeutically effective amount of a compound having the structure of Formula III and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts, pharmaceutically acceptable solvates, esters, enantiomers, diastereomers, N-oxides, polymorphs, prodrugs, metabolites, wherein Ar, R1, R2, R3 and R4 are as defined for Formula I. 12. The method according to claim 9 for treatment or prophylaxis of an animal or a human suffering from a disease or disorder of the respiratory, urinary and gastrointestinal systems, wherein the disease or disorder is mediated through muscarinic receptors, comprising administering to said animal or human, a therapeutically effective amount of a compound having the structure of Formula IV and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts, pharmaceutically acceptable solvates, esters, enantiomers, diastereomers, N-oxides, polymorphs, prodrugs, metabolites, wherein Ar, R1, R3 and R4 are as defined for Formula I and r is 1 to 4. 13. The method according to claim 9 for treatment or prophylaxis of an animal or a human suffering from a disease or disorder of the respiratory, urinary and gastrointestinal systems, wherein the disease or disorder is mediated through muscarinic receptors, comprising administering to said animal or human, a therapeutically effective amount of a compound having the structure of Formula V and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts, pharmaceutically acceptable solvates, esters, enantiomers, diastereomers, N-oxides, polymorphs, prodrugs, metabolites, wherein Ar, R1, R3 and R4 are as defined for Formula I and s is 1 to 3. 14. The method according to claim 9 for treatment or prophylaxis of an animal or a human suffering from a disease or disorder of the respiratory, urinary and gastrointestinal systems, wherein the disease or disorder is mediated through muscarinic receptors, comprising administering to said animal or human, a therapeutically effective amount of a compound having the structure of Formula VI and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts, pharmaceutically acceptable solvates, esters, enantiomers, diastereomers, N-oxides, polymorphs, prodrugs, metabolites, wherein R3, R4 are as defined for Formula I and s is 1 to 3. 15. The method according to claim 9 wherein the disease or disorder is urinary incontinence, lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis, irritable bowel syndrome, obesity, diabetes or gastrointestinal hyperkinesis. 16. The method according to claim 10 wherein the disease or disorder is urinary incontinence, lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis, irritable bowel syndrome, obesity, diabetes or gastrointestinal hyperkinesis. 17. The method according to claim 11 wherein the disease or disorder is urinary incontinence, lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis, irritable bowel syndrome, obesity, diabetes or gastrointestinal hyperkinesis. 18. The method according to claim 12 wherein the disease or disorder is urinary incontinence, lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis, irritable bowel syndrome, obesity, diabetes or gastrointestinal hyperkinesis. 19. The method according to claim 13 wherein the disease or disorder is urinary incontinence, lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis, irritable bowel syndrome, obesity, diabetes or gastrointestinal hyperkinesis. 20. The method according to claim 14 wherein the disease or disorder is urinary incontinence, lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis, irritable bowel syndrome, obesity, diabetes or gastrointestinal hyperkinesis. 21. The method for treatment or prophylaxis of an animal or a human suffering from a disease or disorder of the respiratory, urinary and gastrointestinal systems, wherein the disease or disorder is mediated through muscarinic receptors, comprising administering to said animal or human, a therapeutically effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition according to claim 8. 22. The method according to claim 21 wherein the disease or disorder is urinary incontinence, lower urinary tract symptoms, (LUTS), bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis, irritable bowel syndrome, obesity, diabetes or gastrointestinal hyperkinesis. 23. A process of preparing a compound of Formula I, and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts, pharmaceutically acceptable solvates, esters, enantiomers, diastereomers, N-oxides, polymorphs, prodrugs, or metabolites, wherein Ar represents an aryl or a heteroaryl ring having 1-2 hetero atoms selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulphur and nitrogen atoms, the aryl or heteroaryl rings may be unsubstituted or substituted by one to three substituents independently selected from lower alkyl(C1-C4), trifluoromethyl cyano, hydroxy, nitro, halogen (e.g. F, Cl, Br or I), lower alkoxy(C1-C4), amino or lower alkylamino(C1-C4); R1 represents a hydrogen, hydroxy, hydroxymethyl, loweralkyl(C1-C4), amino, alkoxy, cycloalkyl(C3-C7), carbamoyl, halogen (e.g. F, Cl, Br, I) or aryl; R2 represents alkyl, C3-C7 cycloalkyl ring, C3-C7 cycloalkenyl ring, an aryl or a heteroaryl ring having 1 to 2 hetero atoms selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulphur and nitrogen atoms; the aryl or a hetero aryl ring may be unsubstituted or substituted by one to three substituents independently selected from lower alkyl(C1-C4), trifluoromethyl, cyano, hydroxy, nitro, lower alkoxycarbonyl, halogen, lower alkoxy(C1-C4), unsubstituted amino or lower alkyl(C1-C4) amino; W represents (CH2)p, where p represents 0 to 1; X represents an oxygen, sulphur, nitrogen or no atom; Y represents CHR5CO wherein R5 represents hydrogen or methyl or (CH2)q wherein q represents 0 to 4; m represents 0 to 2; R3 represents hydrogen, lower alkyl(C1-C4) or CO2C(CH3)3; and R4 represents C1-C15 saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon (straight chain or branched) in which any 1 to 6 hydrogen atoms may be substituted with the group independently selected from halogen (e.g. F, Cl, Br, I), carboxylic acid, carboxylic acid ester, aryl, aryloxy, arylalkyl, arylalkenyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, heteroarvlalkenyl having 1 to 2 hetero atoms selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur with option that any 1 to 5 hydrogen atoms on the ring in the said aryl, aryloxy, arylalkyl, arylalkenyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkenyl may be substituted with lower alkyl, trifluoromethyl, halogen (e.g. F, Cl, Br, I), cyano, nitro, hydroxy, lower (C1-C4)alkoxy, amino, lower (C1-C4)alkylamino, sulphonylamino, amide, carboxylic acid, carboxylic acid ester or benzyl ester, comprising (a) condensing a compound of Formula VIII with a compound of Formula VII wherein Ar, R1, R2, W, X, Y and R3 have the same meanings as defined earlier for Formula I, to give a protected compound of Formula IX wherein Ar, R1, R2, W, X, Y and R3 are the same as defined earlier and P is a protecting group for an amino group, (b) deprotecting the compound of Formula DC in the presence of a deprotecting agent to give an unprotected intermediate of Formula X wherein Ar, R1, R2, W, X, Y and R3 as defined earlier, and (c) N-alkylating or benzylating the intermediate of Formula X with a suitable alkylating or benzylating agent to give a compound of Formula I wherein Ar, R1, R2, W, X, Y, R3 and R4 are as defined earlier. 24. The process according to claim 23 wherein P is selected from the group consisting of benzyl and t-butyloxy carbonyl groups. 25. The process according to claim 23 wherein the reaction of a compound of Formula VII with a compound of Formula VII to give a compound of Formula IX is carried out in the presence of a condensing agent which is selected from the group consisting of 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethyl carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) and 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBLD. 26. The process according to claim 23 wherein the reaction of a compound of Formula VII with a compound of Formula VIII to give a compound of Formula IX is carried out in a suitable solvent selected from the group consisting of N,N-dimethylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide, toluene and xylene. 27. The process according to claim 23 wherein the reaction of a compound of Formula VII with a compound of Formula VIII is carried out at temperature ranging from 0-140° C. 28. The process according to claim 23 wherein the reaction of a compound of Formula IX to give a compound of Formula X is carried out with a deprotecting agent which is selected from the group consisting of palladium on carbon trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and hydrochloric acid. 29. The process according to claim 23 wherein the deprotection of a compound of Formula DC to give a compound of Formula X is carried out in a suitable organic solvent selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, tetrahydrofuran and acetonitrile. 30. The process according to claim 23 wherein the N-alkylation or benzylation of a compound of Formula X to give a compound of Formula I is carried out with a suitable alkylating or benzylating agent L-R4 wherein L is any leaving group and R4 is as defined earlier. 31. The process according to claim 30 wherein the leaving group is selected from the group consisting of halogen, O-methyl and O-tosyl groups. 32. The process according to claim 30 wherein the N-alkylation or benzylation of a compound of Formula X to give a compound of Formula I is carried out in a suitable organic solvent selected from the group consisting of N,N-dimethylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide, tetrahydrofuran and acetonitrile.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention generally relates to derivatives of 3,6-disubstituted azabicyclo hexanes. The compounds of this invention can function as muscarinic receptor antagonists and can be used for the treatment of various diseases of the respiratory, urinary and gastrointestinal systems mediated through muscarinic receptors. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds of the present invention and the methods of treating the diseases mediated through muscarinic receptors. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Muscarinic receptors as members of the G Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) are composed of a family of 5 receptor sub-types (M1, M2, M3, M4 and M5) and are activated by the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. These receptors are widely distributed on multiple organs and tissues and are critical to the maintenance of central and peripheral cholinergic neurotransmission. The regional distribution of these receptor sub-types in the brain and other organs has been documented. For example, the M1 subtype is located primarily in neuronal tissues such as cereberal cortex and autonomic ganglia, the M2 subtype is present mainly in the heart where it mediates cholinergically induced bradycardia, and the M3 subtype is located predominantly on smooth muscle and salivary glands (Nature, 1986; 323: 411; Science, 1987; 237: 527). A review in Current Opinions in Chemical Biology, 1999; 3: 426, as well as in Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, 2001; 22: 409 by Eglen et. al., describe the biological potentials of modulating muscarinic receptor subtypes by ligands in different disease conditions like Alzheimer's disease, pain, urinary disease condition, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease etc. A review in J. Med. Chem., 2000; 43: 4333 by Christian C. Felder et. al. describes therapeutic opportunities for muscarinic receptors in the central nervous system and elaborates on muscarinic receptor structure and function, pharmacology and their therapeutic uses. The pharmacological and medical aspects of the muscarinic class of acetylcholine agonists and antagonists are presented in a review in Molecules, 2001, 6: 142. N. J. M. Birdsall et. al. in Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, 2001; 22: 215 have also summarized the recent developments on the role of different muscarinic receptor subtypes using different muscarinic receptors of knock out mice. Muscarinic agonists such as muscarine and pilocarpine and antagonists such as atropine have been known for over a century, but little progress has been made in the discovery of receptor subtype-selective compounds making it difficult to assign specific functions to the individual receptors. Although classical muscarinic antagonists such as atropine are potent bronchodilators, their clinical utility is limited due to high incidence of both peripheral and central adverse effects such as tachycardia, blurred vision, dryness of mouth, constipation, dementia, etc. Subsequent development of the quarterly derivatives of atropine such as ipratropium bromide are better tolerated than parenterally administered options but most of them are not ideal anti-cholinergic bronchodilators due to lack of selectivity for muscarinic receptor sub-types. The existing compounds offer limited therapeutic benefit due to their lack of selectivity resulting in dose limiting side-effects such as thirst, nausea, mydriasis and those associated with the heart such as tachycardia mediated by the M2 receptor. Annual review of Pharmacological Toxicol., 2001; 41: 691, describes the pharmacology of the lower urinary tract infections. Although anti muscarinic agents such as oxybutynin and tolterodine that act non-selectively on muscarinic receptors have been used for many years to treat bladder hyperactivity, the clinical effectiveness of these agents has been limited due to the side effects such as dry mouth, blurred vision and constipation. Tolterodine is considered to be generally better tolerated than oxybutynin. (W. D. Steers et. al. in Curr. Opin. Invest. Drugs, 2: 268, C. R. Chapple et. al. in Urology, 55: 33), Steers W D, Barrot D M, Wein A J, 1996, Voiding dysfunction: diagnosis classification and management. In “Adult and Pediatric Urology,” ed. J Y Gillenwatter, J T Grayhack, S S Howards, J W Duckett, pp 1220-1325, St. Louis, Mo.; Mosby. 3rd edition.) Despite these advances, there remains a need for development of new highly selective muscarinic antagonists which can interact with distinct subtypes, thus avoiding the occurrence of adverse effects. Compounds having antagonistic activity against muscarinic receptors have been described in Japanese patent application Laid Open Number 92921/1994 and 135958/1994; WO 93/16048; U.S. Pat. No. 3,176,019; GB 940,540; EP 0325 571; WO 98/29402; EP 0801067; EP 0388054; WO 9109013; U.S. Pat. No. 5,281,601. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,174,900, 6,130,232 and 5,948,792; WO 97/45414 are related to 1,4-disubstituted piperidine derivatives; WO 98/05641 describes fluorinated, 1,4-disubstitued piperidine derivatives; WO 93/16018 and WO96/33973 are other close art references. A report in J. Med. Chem., 2002; 44:984, describes cyclohexylmethyl piperidinyl triphenylpropioamide derivatives as selective M3 antagonist discriminating against the other receptor subtypes. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides 3,6-disubstituted azabicyclo hexanes which function as muscarinic receptor antagonists and are useful as safe treatment of various diseases of the respiratory, urinary and gastrointestinal systems, and methods for the syntheses of the compounds. The present invention includes 3,6-disubstituted azabicyclo [3.1.0], [3.1.1] and [3.1.2] hexanes. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds, and which may also contain acceptable carriers, excipients or diluents which are useful for the treatment of various diseases of the respiratory, urinary and gastrointestinal systems. The present invention also includes within its scope prodrugs of the compounds. In general, such prodrugs are functionalized derivatives of these compounds which readily get converted in vivo into the defined compounds. Conventional procedures for the selection and preparation of suitable prodrugs are known to the artisan of ordinary skill in the art. The invention also includes the enantiomers, diastereomers, N-oxides, polymorphs, pharmaceutically acceptable salts, pharmaceutically acceptable solvates, esters and metabolities of these compounds having the same type of activity. The invention further includes pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of the present invention, their enantiomers, diastereomers, prodrugs, N-oxides, polymorphs, pharmaceutically acceptable salts, pharmaceutically acceptable solvates, esters, or metabolites in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and optionally included excipients. Other advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description or may be learnt by the practice of the invention. The objects and the advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the mechanisms and combinations pointed out in the appended claims. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a compound having the structure of Formula I: and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts, pharmaceutically acceptable solvates, esters, enantiomers, diastereomers, N-oxides, polymorphs, prodrugs, or metabolites, wherein Ar represents an aryl or a heteroaryl ring having 1-2 hetero atoms selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulphur and nitrogen atoms, the aryl or heteroaryl rings may be unsubstituted or substituted by one to three substituents independently selected from lower alkyl(C1-C4), trifluoromethyl cyano, hydroxy, nitro, halogen (e.g. F, Cl, Br or I), lower alkoxy(C1-C4), amino or lower alkylamino(C1-C4); R1 represents a hydrogen, hydroxy, hydroxymethyl, loweralkyl(C1-C4), amino, alkoxy, cycloalkyl(C3-C7), carbamoyl, halogen (e.g. F, Cl, Br, I) or aryl; R2 represents alkyl, C3-C7 cycloalkyl ring, C3-C7 cycloalkenyl ring, an aryl or a heteroaryl ring having 1 to 2 hetero atoms selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulphur and nitrogen atoms; the aryl or a hetero aryl ring may be unsubstituted or substituted by one to three substituents independently selected from lower alkyl(C1-C4), trifluoromethyl, cyano, hydroxy, nitro, lower alkoxycarbonyl, halogen, lower alkoxy(C1-C4), unsubstituted amino or lower alkyl(C1-C4) amino; W represents (CH2)p, where p represents 0 to 1; X represents an oxygen, sulphur, NR or no atom wherein R represents hydrogen or C1-6 alkyl; Y represents CHR5CO wherein R5 represents hydrogen or methyl or (CH2)q wherein q represents 0 to 4; m represents 0 to 2; R3 represents hydrogen, lower alkyl(C1-C4) or CO2C (CH3)3; R4 represents C1-C15 saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon (straight chain or branched) in which any 1 to 6 hydrogen atoms may be substituted with the group independently selected from halogen (e.g. F, Cl, Br, I), carboxylic acid, carboxylic acid ester, aryl, aryloxy, arylalkyl, arylalkenyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, heteroarylalkenyl having 1 to 2 hetero atoms selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur with an option that any 1 to 5 hydrogen atoms on an aryl or heteroaryl ring in said aryl, aryloxy, arylalkyl, arylalkenyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkenyl group may be substituted with lower alkyl, trifluoromethyl, halogen (e.g. F, Cl, Br, I), cyano, nitro, hydroxy, lower (C1-C4)alkoxy, amino, lower (C1-C4)alkylamino, sulphonylamino, amide, carboxylic acid, carboxylic acid ester or benzyl ester. In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a compound having the structure of Formula II and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts, pharmaceutically acceptable solvates, esters, enantiomers, diastereomers, N-oxides, polymorphs, prodrugs, metabolites, wherein Ar, R1, R2, R3, R4, W, X and Y are as defined for Formula I. In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a compound having the stucture of Formula III and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts, pharmaceutically acceptable solvates, esters, enantiomers, diastereomers, N-oxides, polymorphs, prodrugs, metabolites, wherein Ar, R1, R2, R3 and R4 are as defined for Formula I In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a compound having the structure of Formula IV and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts, pharmaceutically acceptable solvates, esters, enantiomers, diastereomers, N-oxides, polymorphs, prodrugs, metabolites, wherein Ar, R1, R3 and R4 are as defined for Formula I and r is 1 to 4. In accordance with a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a compound having the stucture of Formula V and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts, pharmaceutically acceptable solvates, esters, enantiomers, diastereomers, N-oxides, polymorphs, prodrugs, metabolites, wherein Ar, R1, R3 and R4 are as defined for Formula I and s is 1 to 3. In accordance with a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a compound having the stucture of Formula VI and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts, pharmaceutically acceptable solvates, esters, enantiomers, diastereomers, N-oxides, polymorphs, prodrugs, metabolites, wherein Formula VI wherein R3, R4 and s are the same as defined for Formula V. In accordance with a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for treatment or prophylaxis of an animal or a human suffering from a disease or disorder of the respiratory, urinary and gastrointestinal systems, wherein the disease or disorder is mediated through muscarinic receptors, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof, an effective amount of compounds as described above. In accordance with an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for treatment or prophylaxis of an animal or a human suffering from a disease or disorder of the respiratory systems such as bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis, etc., urinary system which induce such urinary disorders as urinary incontinence, lower urinary tract systems (LUTS), etc., and gastrointestinal system such as irritable bowel syndrome, obesity, diabetes and gastrointestinal hyperkinesis with compounds as described above, wherein the disease or disorder is associated with muscarinic receptors, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof, an effective amount of compounds as described above. In accordance with a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process for preparing the compounds as described above. The compounds of the present invention exhibit significant potency in terms of their activity, which was determined by in vitro receptor binding and functional assays and in vitro experiments using anaesthetized rabbit. Compounds were tested in vitro and in vitro. Some compounds were found to function as potent muscarinic receptor antagonists with high affinity towards M3 receptors. Therefore, the present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions for treatment of diseases or disorders associated with muscarinic receptors. Compounds and compositions described herein can be administered orally or parenterally. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The compounds described herein may be prepared by the reaction sequence as show in Scheme-I. The preparation comprises condensing a compound of Formula VII with the compound of Formula VIII, wherein Ar represents an aryl or a heteroaryl ring having 1-2 hetero atoms selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulphur and nitrogen atoms, the aryl or heteroaryl rings may be unsubstituted or substituted by one to three substituents independently selected from lower alkyl(C1-C4), trifluoromethyl cyano, hydroxy, nitro, halogen (e.g. F, Cl, Br or I), lower alkoxy(C1-C4), amino or lower alkylamino(C1-C4); R1 represents a hydrogen, hydroxy, hydroxymethyl, loweralkyl(C1-C4), amino, alkoxy, cycloalkyl(C3-C7), carbamoyl, halogen (e.g. F, Cl, Br, I) or aryl; R2 represents alkyl, C3-C7 cycloalkyl ring, C3-C7 cycloalkenyl ring, an aryl or a heteroaryl ring having 1 to 2 hetero atoms selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulphur and nitrogen atoms; the aryl or a hetero aryl ring may be unsubstituted or substituted by one to three substituents independently selected from lower alkyl(C1-C4), trifluoromethyl, cyano, hydroxy, nitro, lower alkoxycarbonyl, halogen, lower alkoxy(C1-C4), unsubstituted amino or lower alkyl(C1-C4) amino; W represents (CH2)p, where p represents 0 to 1; X represents an oxygen, sulphur, NR or no atom wherein R represents hydrogen or C1-6 alkyl; Y represents CHR5CO wherein R5 represents hydrogen or methyl or (CH2)q wherein q represents 0 to 4; m represents 0 to 2; R3 represents hydrogen, lower alkyl(C1-C4) or CO2C(CH3)3; P is any group which can be used to protect an amino group and is selected from benzyl and t-butyloxy carbonyl groups, in the presence of a condensing agent to give a protected compound of Formula IX wherein R1, R2, R3, W, X, Y, P and m are as defined earlier, which on deprotection through reaction with a deprotecting agent in an organic solvent gives an unprotected compound of Formula X wherein R1, R2, R3, W, X, Y and m are the same as defined earlier, which is finally N-alkylated or benzylated with a suitable alkylating or benzylating agent L-R4 wherein L is any leaving group known in the art, to give a compound of Formula I. The reaction of the compound of Formula VII with a compound of Formula VIII to give a compound of Formula IX can be carried out in the presence of a condensing agent, for example 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethyl carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) and 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU). The reaction of the compound of Formula VII with a compound of Formula VIII to give a compound of Formula IX can be carried out in a suitable solvent, for example N,N-dimethylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide, toluene and xylene at a temperature ranging from about 0-140° C. The deprotection of the compound of Formula IX to give a compound of Formula X can be carried out with a deprotecting agent, for example palladium on carbon, trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and hydrochloric acid. The deprotection of the compound of Formula IX to give a compound of Formula X can be carried out in a suitable organic solvent, for example methanol, ethanol, tetrahydrofuran and acetonitrile at temperatures ranging from about 10-50° C. The N-alkylation or benzylation of the compound of Formula X to give a compound of Formula I can be carried out with a suitable alkylating or benzylating agent, L-R4 wherein L is any leaving group, known in the art, for example halogen, O-mestyl and O-tosyl group. The N-alkylation or benzylation of the compound of Formula X to give a compound of Formula I can be carried out in a suitable organic solvent such as N,N-dimethylformamide dimethylsulfoxide, tetrahydrofaran and acetonitrile, at temperatures ranging from about 25 to about 100° C. In the above scheme, where specific bases, condensing agents, protecting groups, deprotecting agents, N-alkylating/benzylating agents, solvents, catalysts etc. are mentioned, it is to be understood that other bases, condensing agents, protecting groups, deprotecting agents, N-alkylating/benzylating agents, solvents, catalysts etc. known to those skilled in the art may be used. Similarly, the reaction temperature and duration may be adjusted according to the desired needs. An illustrative list of particular compounds which are capable of being produced by Scheme I and shown in Table 1 include: Compound Chemical Name No. 1. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-(4-methoxy)phenylacetamide 2. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-thienylmethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide 3. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-thienylmethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 4. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(5-nitro-2-furylmethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 5. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-methyl-pentyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 6. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(1,4-benzodioxan-6-yl)ethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 7. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenethyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 8. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-[3-(3,4-methyldioxyphenyl)propyl)]-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 9. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 10. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3,5-dimethoxybenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 11. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 12. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-methoxybenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 13. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-trifluoromethylbenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 14. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(5-methyl-2-furylmethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 15. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(4-methylphenoxy)ethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 16. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-nitrobenzyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 17. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-chlorophenethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 18. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-nitrobenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 19. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-phenylpropyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 20. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-hydroxybenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 21. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-hydroxybenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 22. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-t-butylbenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 23. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-methylquinolinyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 24. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-nitro-4-methoxybenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 25. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-nitro-4-hydroxybenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-h 2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 26. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 27. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-aminobenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 28. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(6-aminopyridin-2-yl-methyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 29. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-phenoxyethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 30. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-phenoxypropyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 31. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-methylpyrollyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 32. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1,4-benzodioxan-6-yl)-3-methyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 33. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 34. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-methyl-3-pentyl)-3-azabicyclo-[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 35. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(3,4-methylendioxyphenyl)ethyl]-3-azabicyclo-[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclobutyl-2-phenylacetamide 36. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo-[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 37. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-3-azabicyclo-[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopropyl-2-phenylacetamide 38. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-[2-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)ethyl]-3-azabicyclo-[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopropyl-2-phenylacetamide 39. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzyl)-3-azabicyclo-[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopropyl-2-phenylacetamide 40. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzyl]-3-azabicyclo-[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 41. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-phenylcarboethoxyethyl]-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 42. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-(2-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 43. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-(4-methylphenyl)ethyl]-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 44. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-bromophenylmethylpyridine)-3-azabicyclo-[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 45. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-pyridylmethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 46. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-indanyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 47. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-methylbenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 48. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2,4,6-trimethylbenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 49. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 50. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)ethyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 51. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-pentyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 52. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-cyanobenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 53. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-cyanobenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 54. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 55. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-cyanobenzyl)-3-azabicyclo-[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide 56. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-methylpyridyl)-3-azabicyclocyanobenzyl[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 57. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-bromo-2-methylthienyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide 58. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-(phenyl)ethyl]-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide 59. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-nitrobenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 60. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-methoxycarbonyl]benzyl]-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 61. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(diphenylmethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 62. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-carboxybenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 63. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-aminobenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 64. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-carboethoxypropyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 65. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(4-acetylphenyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 66. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(4-methoxycarbonyl)phenyl)ethyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 67. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-cyanobenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 68. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-cyanobenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide 69. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-cyanobenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide 70. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-methylbutyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide 71. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-hydroxymethyl phenethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclobentyl-2-phenylacetamide 72. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-Fluoro-4-aminobenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 73. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)ethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 74. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(3-methylphenoxy)ethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 75. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-(3-methylphenoxy)propyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 76. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-methylbenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 77. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(2-methylbenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 78. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1,3-dioxolan-2-yl-methyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 79. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-carboxy)propyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 80. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-phenylethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2,2-diphenylacetamide 81. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-phenylethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-1-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 82. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-5-yl)ethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopropyl-2-phenylacetamide 83. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-phenylethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopropyl-2-phenylacetamide 84. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-phenylethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclobutyl-2-phenylacetamide 85. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-phenylcarboxy)ethyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cycloheptyl-2-phenylacetamide 86. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(3-indoyl)ethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide 87. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-methylnaphthyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide 88. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-indoyl-3-yl)ethyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 89. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-hexyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 90. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphth-1-yl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 91. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-chlorobenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 92. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(2-methoxyphenyl)ethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 93. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(4-fluorophenyl)ethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 94. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(indan-5-yl)ethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 95. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-(naphth-1-yl)ethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 96. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)ethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 97. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphth-6-yl)ethyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 98. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-(cis-(hex-3-enyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopropyl-2-phenylacetamide 99. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-(trans-hex-3-enyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopropyl-2-phenylacetamide 100. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-(trans-hex-3-enyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide 101. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-(cis-hex-3-enyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide 102. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-(trans-hex-3-enyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 103. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-(cis-hex-3-enyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 104. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-naphthylmethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 105. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-phenyl-1-methyl)-2-oxoethyl]-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 106. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(4-carbamoylphenyl)ethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 107. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(4-benzyloxycarbonylphenyl)ethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 108. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-(2-methylpropyl)benzane-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 109. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(phenyl-1-methyl)-2-oxoethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide 110. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-hexyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide 111. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(4-cyanophenyl)ethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 112. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(4-sulphamoylphenyl)ethyl)1-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 113. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-cyclohexylmethyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide 114. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2,2-diphenylacetamide 115. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-chloro-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide 116. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide 117. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetamide 118. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hey-6-yl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetamide 119. (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-phenyl propionamide 120. N-methyl-N-(1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-phenyl-ethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-cyclopentyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetamide 121. N-methyl-N-(1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3,4-methylenedidxyethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-cyclopentyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetamide 122. N-methyl-N-(1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(9-benzyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-cyclopentyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetamide 123. N-methyl-(1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3,4-methylenedioxyethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-cyclohexyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetamide 124. N-methyl-N-(1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-cyclohexyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetamide 125. N-methyl-N-(1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-cyclopentyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetamide 126. N-methyl-N-(1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-cyclopentyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetamide L (+)tartarate salt. TABLE I Formula I Compound No. Ar R1 R2 R3 R4 1 OH H 2 OH H 3 OH H 4 OH H 5 OH H 6 OH H 7 OH H 8 OH H 9 OH H 10 OH H 11 OH H 12 OH H 13 OH H 14 OH H 15 OH H 16 OH H 17 OH H 18 OH H 19 OH H 20 OH H 21 OH H 22 OH H 23 OH H 24 OH H 25 OH H 26 OH H 27 OH H 28 OH H 29 OH H 30 OH H 31 OH H 32 OH H 33 OH H 34 OH H 35 OH H 36 OH H 37 OH H 38 OH H 39 OH H 40 OH H 41 OH H 42 OH H 43 OH H 44 OH H 45 OH H 46 OH H 47 OH H 48 OH H 49 OH H 50 OH H 51 OH H 52 OH H 53 OH H 54 OH H 55 OH H 56 OH H 57 OH H 58 OH H 59 OH H 60 OH H 61 OH H 62 OH H 63 OH H 64 OH H 65 OH H 66 OH H 67 OH H 68 OH H 69 OH H 70 OH H 71 OH H 72 OH H 73 OH H 74 OH H 75 OH H 76 OH H 77 OH H 78 OH H 79 OH H 80 OH H 81 OH H 82 OH H 83 OH H 84 OH H 85 OH H 86 OH H 87 OH H 88 OH H 89 OH H 90 OH H 91 OH H 92 OH H 93 OH H 94 OH H 95 OH H 96 OH H 97 OH H 98 OH H 99 OH H 100 OH H 101 OH H 102 OH H 103 OH H 104 OH H 105 OH H 106 OH H 107 OH H 108 OH H 109 OH H 110 OH H 111 OH H 112 OH H 113 OH H 114 H H 115 Cl H 116 H H 117 OH H H 118 H H 119 OH CH3 H 120 OH CH3 121 OH CH3 122 OH CH3 123 OH CH3 124 OH CH3 125 OH CH3 126 OH CH3 (wherein, W is (CH2)p where p = 0, X is no atom and Y is (CH2)q where q = 0, m = 0) Compounds or compositions disclosed may be administered to an animal for treatment orally, or by parenteral route. Pharmaceutical compositions disclosed herein can be produced and administered in dosage units, each unit containing a certain amount of at least one compound described herein and/or at least one physiologically acceptable salt addition thereof. The dosage may be varied over extremely wide limits as the compounds are effective at low dosage levels and relatively free of toxicity. The compounds may be administered in the low micromolar concentration, which is therapeutically effective, and the dosage may be increased as desired up to the maximum dosage tolerated by the patient. The present invention also includes within its scope prodrugs of the compounds of Formulae I, II, III, I, V and VI. In general, such prodrugs will be functional derivatives of these compounds, which readily are converted in vivo into the defined compounds. Conventional procedures for the selection and preparation of suitable prodrugs are known. The present invention also includes the enantiomers, diastereomers, N-Oxides, polymorphs, solvates and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of these compounds as well as metabolites having the same type of activity. The present invention further includes pharmaceutical composition comprising the molecules of Formulae I, II, III, IV, V and VI or prodrugs, metabolite enantiomers, diastereomers. N-oxides, polymorphs solvates or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, in combination with pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and optionally included excipient. The examples mentioned below demonstrate the general synthetic procedure as well as the specific preparation of the preferred compound. The examples are provided to illustrate particular aspects of the disclosure and should not be constrained to limit the scope of the present invention, as defined by the claims. Experimental Details Various solvents, such as acetone, methanol, pyridine, ether, tetrahydrofuran, hexanes, and dichloromethane, were dried using various drying reagents according to procedures well known in the literature. IR spectra were recorded as nujol mulls or a thin neat film on a Perkin Elmer Paragon instrument, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) were recorded on a Varian XL-300 MHz instrument using tetramethylsilane as an internal standard. EXAMPLE 1 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-(4-methoxy)phenyl acetamide (Compound No. 1) Step-1a: Synthesis of 2-Hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-(4-methoxy)phenylacetic acid This was prepared following the procedure described in J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 75, 2654 (1953). Step-1b: Synthesis of (1α,5α,6α)-6-amino-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane This was synthesized as per reported procedure of Braish, T. F. et. al., Synlett. 1100 (1996). Step-1c: Synthesis of (1α,5α,6α)-6-tert-butoxy carbonylamino-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane This was synthesized as per reported procedure of Braish, T. F. et. al., Synlett. 1110 (1996). Step-1d: Synthesis (1α,5α,6α)-N-3-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl-6-tert butoxycarbonylamino-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane To a solution of compound of step-1c (1 mmol) in 10 ml of acetonitrile was added 5-bromo-4-methyl pent-3-ene (0.75 mmol) followed by the addition of potassium carbonate (3 mmol) and potassium iodide (2 mmol). The reaction mixture was refluxed for 5 hours and then brought to room temperature and filtered. The filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure and the residue was purified by column chromatography (60×20 mesh size silica gel). The compound was eluted with 1:1 EtOAc:Hexane mixture. 1HNMR (CDCl3): δ value: 5.09-5.04 (t, 4H), 4.56 (bs, 1H), 3.11-3.08 (d, 2H), 2.76 (s, 1H), 2.36-2.31 (m, 4H), 2.11-2.03 (m, 2H), 1.67 (s, 3H), 1.52-1.43 (m, 13H) IR (DCM): 1706 cm−1 Step-1e: Synthesis of (1α,5α,6α)-3-N-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-6-amino-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane hydrochloride To a solution of compound of step-1d in EtOAc (20 ml) at 0° C. was added saturated solution of hydrochloric acid in EtOAc. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 16 hours and then concentrated under reduced pressure to give a solid. m.p.: 231° C. Step-1f: Synthesis of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-(4-methoxy)phenyl acetamide (Compound No. 1) A solution of 2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-(4-methoxy)phenylacetic acid (1mmol) and (1α,5α,6α)-3-N-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-6-amino-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane hydrochloride (1 mmol) in DMF (5 ml) was cooled to 0° C. The reaction mixture was treated with 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBT, 1.1 mmol) and N-methyl morpholine (NMM, 4mmol) and stirred at 0° C. for half an hr. EDC.HCl (1-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]-3-ethyl-carbodiimide hydrochloride; 1 mmol) was added and the reaction mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 1 hr. and then at room temperature overnight. The reaction mixture was poured into saturated sodium bicarbonate solution and extracted with EtOAc. The organic layer was washed with water, dried over sodium sulphate and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by column chromatography (100×200 mesh size silicagel) eluting the compound with 70:30 EtOAc-hexane mixture. 1NMR (CDCl3, δ-value): 7.54-6.84 (m, 4-Ar—H); 6.35 (bs, 1H) 5.04 (t, 1H); 3.79 (s, 3H); 3.19-1.17 (m, 26H) IR (DCM): 1652 cm−1 EXAMPLE 2 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-Thienylmethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 2) Step-2a: Synthesis of 2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetic acid This was prepared by following the procedure in J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 75, 2654 (1953). Step-2b: Synthesis of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide The compound was synthesized by procedure of Example 1, step-f, using 2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetic acid in place of 2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-(4-methoxy)phenylacetic acid and (1α,5α,6α)-3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo-6-amino[3.1.0]hexane instead of (1α,5α,6α)-3-N-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-6-amino-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane hydrochloride. Step-2c: Synthesis of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-cyclohexyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetamide The compound of Step-b (1 mmol) in MeOH (20 ml) was added to a suspension of Pd—C in MeOH (10 ml) and the reaction mixture was hydrogenated in parr apparatus at 45 psi for 3 hrs. The reaction mixture was filtered over celite and concentrated under reduced pressure to hrs. The reaction mixture was filtered over celite and concentrated under reduced pressure to give the compound. 1HNMR (CDCl3-δ value): 7.47-6.74 (m, 5ArH), 3.24-3.16 (m, 3H), 3.07-3.02 (m, 2H), 2.9-1.23 (m, 13H). IR (DCM): 1660 cm−1 Step-2d: Synthesis of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-Thienylmethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 2) A solution of compound of step c (1 mmol) and 2-formylthiophene (1.1 mmol) in dry THF was stirred over molecular sieves for 2 hours and then sodium triacetoxy borohydride was added and the reaction mixture stirred at room temperature overnight. The reaction mixture was filtered, concentrated under reduced pressure and EtOAc was added. The organic layer was washed with water, dried and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by column chromatography (100-200 mesh, silica gel), eluting the compound with 40:60 EtOAc-hexane. m.pt.: 153-154° C. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ value): 7.59-6.81 (m, 8 ArH), 6.59 (bs, 1H); 3.73 (s, 2H), 3.12-1.23 (m, 18H). IR (KBr): 1656 cm−1 EXAMPLE 3 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-thienylmethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 3) Step-3a: Synthesis of 2-hydroxy-2-cylopentyl-2-phenyl acetic acid This was prepared by following the procedure in J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 75, 2654 (1953). Step-3b: Synthesis of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide This was synthesized by procedure of Example 2, Step b, using 2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetic acid in place of 2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-(4-(methoxy)phenylacetic acid and (1α,5α,6α)-3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo-6-amino[3.1.0]hexane instead of (1α,5α,6α)-3-N-(4-methyl-3-pentyl)-6-amino-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane hydrochloride. Step-3c: Synthesis of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo-[3.10]hex-6-yl]-2-cyclopentyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetmide The compound was synthesized by following the procedure of Example-2, Step-c, but using the compound (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide. Step-3d: Synthesis of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-thienylmethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 3) The compound was synthesized by following the procedure of Example-2, Step-d, using (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo-[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide instead of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo-[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide. 1HNMR (CDCl3-δ values): 7.58-6.82 (m, 8ArH), 6.36 (bs, 1H), 3.74 (s, 2H), 3.11-3.10 (m, 16H) IR(DCM): 1658 cm−1 EXAMPLE 4 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(5-nitro-2-furylmethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 4) A solution of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1 mmol) in TBF containing acetic acid (3.7 mmol); 5-nitrofurfural (2.5 mmol) and sodium triacetoxyborohydride (3.2 mmol) was stirred at room temperature overnight. The reaction mixture was poured into saturated bicarbonate solution and extracted with EtOAc. The organic layer was washed with water and dried. The crude compound obtained after removing the solvents was purified by column chromatography (100-200 mesh silica gel) eluting the compound with 20:80 EtOAc:Hexane mixture. 1 HNMR (CDCl3 δ-value): 7.58-7.23 (m, 5ArH), 6.44 (bs, 1H); 6.37 (d, 1H), 3.66 (s, 2H), 3.14-2.90 (m, 51), 2.52-2.48 (m, 2H), 1.60-1.47 (m, 8H), 1.46-1.42 (m, 2H) IR (DCM): 1655 cm−1 EXAMPLE 5 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-methyl-pentyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 5) A solution of (1α,5α,6α)-N-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetamide (1 mmol) in 15 ml of acetonitrile containing 4-methylpentyl methanesulphonate (2 mmol) and potassium carbonate (2 mmol) was refluxed for 8 hours. The reaction mixture was filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by column chromatography (100-200 mesh, silicagel) eluting the compound with 80:20:EtOAc-hexane mixture. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ value): 7.63-7.26 (m, 5ArH); 6.37 (bs, 1H), 3.14-3.07 (m, 4H); 2.85 (s, 1H); 2.33-2.28 (m, 3H), 1.7-0.82 (m, 21H) IR (DCM): 1651 cm−1 EXAMPLE 6 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(1,4-benzodioxan-6-yl)ethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 6) Step-6a: Synthesis of 6-(2-bromoethyl)-1,4-benzodioxan The compound was synthesized following the procedure of EP 0388054 A1. Step-6b: Synthesis of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(1,4-benzodioxan-6-yl)ethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example-5 using 6-(2-bromoethyl)-1,4-benzodioxan, instead of 4-methylpentyl methane sulphonate. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ values): 7.60-7.23 (m, 5ArH), 6.76-6.56 (m, 3H), 5.30 (s, 1H), 4.22 (s, 4H), 3.24-2.57 (m, 10H), 1.67-0.89 (m, 10H) IR (DCM): 1661 cm−1 EXAMPLE 7 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 7) Step-7a: Synthesis of 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenethylbromide The compound was synthesized following the procedure described in EP 0388054 A1 and starting with 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenylacetic acid. Step-7b: Synthesis of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 5, using 3,4,5-trimehtoxyphenethyl bromide instead of 4-methylpentyl methane sulphonate. 1HNMR (CDCl3): 7.59-6.42 (m, 7ArH), 6.37 (bs, 1H), 3.82 (s, 9H), 3.19-0.89 (m, 20H). IR (DCM): 1653 cm−1 EXAMPLE 8 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-[3-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)propyl)]-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 8) The compound was synthesized by following the procedure of Example 5, using 3-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)propylbromide instead of 4-methylpentyl methane sulphonate. 1HNMR (CDCl3): 7.59-6.56 (m, 8ArH), 5.29 (s, 211), 3.19-0.89 (m, 22H) IR (DCM): 1654 cm−1 EXAMPLE 9 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0] hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 9) Step-9a: Synthesis of 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzylchloride The compound was synthesized following the procedure described in EP0388054 A1 and starting with 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoic acid. Step-9b: Synthesis of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide The compound was prepared by following the procedure of Example-5, using 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzylchloride instead of 4-methylpentyl methanesulphonate. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.59-6.46 (m, 7ArH), 6.40 (bs, 1H), 3.82 (s, 9H), 3.46 (s, 2H), 3.09-1.01 (m, 16H) IR (D)CM): 1653 cm−1 EXAMPLE 10 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3,5-dimethoxybenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 10) To a solution of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-cyclopentyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetamide (1 mmol), 3,5-dimethoxybenzylchloride (1.3 mmol), potassium carbonate (2 mmol) and potassium iodide (2 mmol) in acetonitrile was refluxed for 8 hours. The reaction mixture was filtered, concentrated under reduced pressure and the residue was purified by column chromatography (100-200 mesh size silicagel) eluting the compound with 1:1 EtOAc-hexane mixture. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ values): 7.58-6.44 (m, 8ArH), 6.33 (bs, 1H), 3.76 (s, 6H), 3.52 (s, 2H), 3.11-3.10 (m, 16H) EXAMPLE 11 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 11) The compound was synthesized by following the procedure of Example 10 but using 3,4-dimethoxybenzylchloride instead of 3,5-dimethoxybenzylchloride. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.58-6.74 (m, 8ArH), 6.42 (bs, 1H), 3.84 (s, 2H), 3.49-0.89 (m, 16H) IR (DCM): 1657 cm−1 EXAMPLE 12 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-[3-(3-methoxybenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 12) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 10, using 3-methoxybenzylchloride instead of 3,5-dimethoxybenzylchloride. The pure product was eluted with 20:80 EtOAc-hexane mixture. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ values): 7.60-6.76 (m, 9Ar—H), 6.44 (bs, 1H), 3.78 (s, 3H), 3.57 (s, 2H), 3.13-0.89 (m, 16H) IR (DCM): 1661 cm−1 EXAMPLE 13 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-trifluoromethylbenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl 2-phenyl acetamide (Compound No. 13) A solution of ((1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1 mmol), 4-trifluoromethylbenzaldehyde (2.64 mmol), sodium triacetoxyborohydride (3.3 mmol) and acetic acid (3.8 mmol) in THF was stirred at room temperature for 4 days. The reaction mixture was poured into saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution and extracted with dichloromethane. The organic layer was washed with water, dried and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by column chromatography (100-200 mesh size silicagel) and compound was eluted with 20:80 EtOAc-hexane mixture 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.60-7.23 (m, 9ArH), 6.49 (ds, 1H), 3.68 (s, 2H), 3.12-1.10 (m, 16H) IR(DCM): 1651 cm−1 EXAMPLE 14 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(5-methyl-2-furylmethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0],hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 14) The compound was synthesized by following the procedure of Example 13, using 5-methyl-2-furancarboxaldehyde instead of 4-trifluoromethylbenzaldehyde. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.57-5.99 (m, 7ArH), 5.84 (s, 1H), 3.53 (s, 2H), 3.09-7H), 2.24 (s, 3H), 1.63-1.16 (m, 9H). IR (DCM): 1638 cm−1 EXAMPLE 15 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(4-methylphenoxy)ethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 15) The compound was synthesized by following the procedure of Example 10, using 4-methylphenoxyethyl bromide instead of 3,5-dimethoxybenzylchloride. The compound was eluted with 30:70-EtOAc-hexane mixture. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ values): 7.58-6.73 (m, 9ArH), 6.48 (s, 1H), 4.01 (t, 3H), 3.25-2.63 (m, 9H), 2.26 (s, 3H), 1.62-1.18 (m, 9H) IR (DCM): 1652 cm− EXAMPLE 16 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-[3-nitrobenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 16) The compound was prepared by following the procedure of Example 13 but using 3-nitrobenzaldehyde instead of 4-trifluoromethylbenzaldehyde. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 8.09-7.23 (m, 9ArH), 6.47 (bs, 1H), 3.67 (6, 2H), 3.22-1.23 (m, 16H) IR (DCM): 1654 cm−1 EXAMPLE 17 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-chlorophenethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 17) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 5 but using 4-chlorophenylthylmethane sulphonate instead of 4-methylpentyl methanesulphonate. 1HNMR (CDCl3 δ-values): 7.58-7.06 (m, 9ArH), 6.39 (s, 1H), 3.16-3.11 (t, 2H), 3.02-0.87 (m, 18H) IR(DCM): 1657 cm−1 EXAMPLE 18 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-nitrobenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 18) The compound was synthesized using the procedure of Example 10, using 4-nitrobenzyl chloride instead of 3,5-dimethoxy benzyl chloride. m.pt: 85-87° C. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ values): 7.58-7.06 (m, 9ArH), 6.39 (s, 1H), 3.16-3.11 (t, 2H), 3.02-0.87 (m, 18H) IR (DCM): 1657 cm−1 EXAMPLE 19 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-phenylpropyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 19) The compound was synthesized by following the procedure of Example 13, using phenylpropionaldehyde instead of 4-trifluoromethyl benzaldehyde. 1HNMR(CDCl3, δ-values): 7.59-7.12 (m, 10 ArH), 6.38 (bs, 1H), 3.11-1.25 (m, 22H) EXAMPLE 20 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-hydroxybenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 20) The compound was synthesized by following the procedure of Example 13, using 3-hydroxybenzaldehyde instead of 4-trifluoromethyl benzaldehyde. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.59-6.67 (m, 9ArH), 6.54 (bs, 1H), 3.47 (s, 2H), 3.04-0.83 (m, 16H) EXAMPLE 21 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-phenylethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 21) The compound was synthesized by following the procedure of Example 13, using acetophenone instead of 4-trifluoromethyl-benzaldehyde. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.58-7.15 (m, 10ArH), 6.36 (bs, 1H), 3.29 (q, 1H), 3.19-1.23 (m, 20H) IR(DCM): 1652 cm−1 EXAMPLE 22 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-t-butylbenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 22) The compound was synthesized by following the procedure of Example 10, using 4-t-butylbenzylbromide instead of 3,5-dimethoxybenzylbromide. m.pt.: 60-62° C. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.58-7.12 (m, 9ArH), 6.35 (bs, 1H), 3.40 (s, 2H), 3.13-1.36 (m, 16H), 1.29 (s, 9H) IR(DCM): 1652 cm−1 EXAMPLE 23 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-methylquinolinyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 23) The compound was synthesized by following the procedure of Example 10 but using 2-chloromethyl quinoline instead of 3,5-dimethoxybenzylbromide. m.pt.: 54-57° C. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 8.08-7.26 (m, 11ArH), 6.44 (bs, 1H), 3.87 (s, 2H), 3.13-1.15 (m, 16H) IR (DCM): 1646 cm−1 EXAMPLE 24 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-nitro-4-methoxybenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 24) The compound was synthesized by following the procedure of Example 13 but using 3-nitro-4-methoxybenzaldehyde instead of 4-trifluoromethyl benzaldehyde. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.68-6.97 (m, 8ArH), 6.46 (bs, 1H), 3.93 (s, 3H), 3.50 (s, 2H), 3.04-1.10 (m, 16H) IR (DCM): 1650 cm−1 EXAMPLE 25 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-nitro-4-hydroxybenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 25) The compound was synthesized by following the procedure of Example 13 but using 3-nitro-4-hydroxy benzaldehyde instead of 4-trifluoromethyl benzaldehyde. IR (DCM): 1658 cm−1 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.91-7.05 (m, 8ArH), 6.44 (bs, 1H), 3.49 (s, 2H), 3.04-1.23 (m, 16H) EXAMPLE 26 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 26) The compound was synthesized by following the procedure of Example 10, using 3,4-dichlorophenethyl methanesulphonate instead of 4-methylpentyl methane sulphonate. 1HNMR (CDCl3): 7.581-6.7 (m, 8ArH), 6.39 (bs, 1H), 3.14-0.88 (m, 20H) EXAMPLE 27 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-aminobenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 27) The solution of compound of Example 15 (1 mmol) in methanol was cooled in an ice bath and to it raney nickel and hydrazine hydrate (2 mmol) were added. The reaction mixture was further stirred for 2 hours in an ice bath. It was filtered over celite, the filtrate was concentrated, and the residue taken in DCM. The residue was washed with water, dried and purified by column chromatography (100-200 mesh, silicagel) eluting the compound with 70:30 EtOAc-hexane mixture. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values: 7.59-6.52 (m, 9ArH), 6.37 (bs, 1H), 3.44 (s, 2H), 3.0778-1.25 (m, IR (DCM): 1645 cm−1 EXAMPLE 28 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(6-aminopyridin-2-yl-methyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 28) Step-a: Synthesis of 6-tert-butoxy carbonyl amino-2-pyridine methyl methane sulphonate The compound was synthesized following the procedure described in J. Med. Chem., 2000, Vol. 43 (26), 5017-5029 Step-b: Synthesis of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(6-tert-butoxycarbonyl aminopyridin-2-yl methyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide To a solution of compound of Step-a (1 mmol) in acetonitrile was added (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl phenyl acetamide (1 mmol), potassium carbonate (3 mmol) and the RM was stirred overnight at RT. The RM was poured into water and extracted with EtOAc. The organic layers were dried and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by column chromatography eluting the compound with 5:95 MeOH-DCM. m.pt: 60° C. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.74-6.93 (m, 8ArH), 6.39 (bs, 1H), 3.54 (s, 2H), 3.10-2.43 (m, 6H), 1.65-1.01 (m, 19H) IR(DCM): 1658 cm−1 Step-c: Synthesis of Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(6-aminopyridin-2-yl-methyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide The compound of Step-b (1 mmol) was taken in EtOAc and EtOAc saturated with hydrochloric acid was added to the RM. The RM was stirred at RT for 3 days. The RM was cooled to 0° C. purified with aq. NaHCO3. The organic layer was purified by 10% MeOH-DCM. 1HNMR (CDCl3): 7.59-6.33 (m, 8H), 3.57 (s, 2H), 3.14-2.44 (m, 7H), 1.89-1.15 (m, 9H) EXAMPLE 29 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-phenoxyethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 29) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 10 but using 2-phenoxyethylbromide instead of 3,5-dimethoxybenzylbromide. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.58-6.83 (m, 10ArH), 6.38 (bs, 1H), 3.96 (t, 2H), 3.077-1.25 (m, 16H) IR (DCM): 1645 cm−1 EXAMPLE 30 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-phenoxypropyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 30) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 10 using 3-phenoxypropylbromide instead of 3,5-dimethoxybenzylbromide. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ values): 7.58-6.84 (m, 10ArH), 6.38 (bs, 1H), 3.93 (t, 2H), 3.13-1.42 (m, 20H) IR (DCM): 1652 cm−1 EXAMPLE 31 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-methylpyrollyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 31) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 13 but using pyrrole-2-carboxaldehyde instead of 4-trifluoromethyl benzaldehyde. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 9.17 (s, 1H), 7.58-6.05 (m, 8ArH), 5.96 (bs, 1H), 3.61 (s, 2H), 3.07-1.15 (m, 16H) IR (DCM): 1645 cm−1 EXAMPLE 32 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1,4-benzodioxan-6-yl)-methyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 32) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 13 using 1,4-benzodioxan-6-carboxaldehyde instead of 4-trifluoromethyl bezaldehyde. m.pt.: 61-64° C. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.57-6.65 (m, 8ArH), 6.33 (bs, 1H), 4.22 (s, 4H), 3.41 (s, 2H), 3.04-1.10 (m, 16H) IR (DCM): 1655 cm−1 EXAMPLE 33 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclobutyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 33) The compound was prepared by the following procedure: Step-a: Synthesis of 2-hydroxy-2-cyclobutyl-2-phenylacetic acid This was synthesized as per reported procedure of Saul B. Kadin and Joseph G. Cannon, J. Org. Chem., 1962, 27, 240-245. Step-b: Synthesis of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclobutyl-2-phenylacetamide This compound was prepared by following the procedure of Example 2, Step-b but using 2-hydroxy-2-cyclobutyl-2-phenylacetic acid instead of 2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenyl acetic acid. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.47-6.19 (m, 10ArH), 6.19 (bs, 1H), 3.52 (s, 2H), 3.36-3.27 (m, 1H), 3.06-2.98 (m, 3H), 2.35-2.32 (m, 2H), 1.88-1.74 (m, 8H). EXAMPLE 34 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-methyl-3-pentyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclobutyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 34) Step-a: Synthesis of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-cyclobutyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetamide The compound was prepared following the procedure of Example 2, Step-c by using (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-cyclobutyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenyacetamide instead of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-benzyl-3-bicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl-2-cyclohexyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetamide. Step-b: Synthesis of compound (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclobutyl-2-phenylacetamide The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 5 using (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl-2-cyclobutyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetamide instead of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-cyclopentyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetamide and 5-bromo-2-methyl-pent-3-ene instead of 4-methylpentyl methane sulphonate. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.48-7.26 (m, 5ArH), 6.13 (bs, 1H), 5.07-5.03 (t, 1H), 3.49 (bs, 1H), 3.34 (m, 1H), 3.10 (m, 2H), 2.86 (s, 1H), 2.33 (m, 4H), 2.09-1.57 (m, 16H). IR (DCM): 1651 cm−1 EXAMPLE 35 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-[2-(3,4-methylendioxyphenyl)ethyl]-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclobutyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 35) The compound was prepared by following the procedure of Example 10 but using 3,4-methylenedioxy phenethylbromide instead of 3,5-dimethoxybenzyl bromide and (1α,5α,6α)-N-3-[azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclobutyl-2-phenylacetamide instead of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenyl-acetamide. 1HNMR (CDCl3): 7.48-7.29 (m, 5H), 6.7-6.58 (m, 3H), 6.16 (s, 1H), 5.9 (s, 2H), 3.33 (m, 1H), 3.13 (m, 2H), 2.84 (s, 1H), 2.56 (m, 4H) 2.33 (m, 2H),2.054-1.6 (m, 8H). EXAMPLE 36 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopropyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 36) Step-a: Synthesis of 2-hydroxy-2-cyclopropyl-2-phenylacetic acid The compound was synthesized as per reported procedure of Saul B. Kadin and Joseph G. Cannon, J. Org. Chem. 1962, 27, 240-245. Step-b: Synthesis of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopropyl-2-phenylacetamide The above compound was prepared by following the procedure of Example 2, Step-b using 2-hydroxy-2-cyclopropyl-2-phenylacetic acid instead of 2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetic acid. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.59-7.29 (m, 5H), 6.05 (bs, 1H), 3.54 (s, 2H), 3.06 (m, 3H), 2.37 (m, 2H), 2.04 (s, 1H), 1.54-1.45 (m, 3H), 0.54 (m, 4H). IR (DCM): 1648 cm−1 EXAMPLE 37 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-[4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopropyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 37) Step-a: Synthesis of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-cyclopropyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetamide The compound was prepared by following the procedure of Example 2 step-c, using (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo-[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-cyclopropyl-2-phenylacetamide instead of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo-[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide. Step-b: Synthesis of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-[4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopropyl-2-phenylacetamide The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 5 using(1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-cyclopropyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetamide instead of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-cyclopentyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetamide and 5-bromo-5-methyl-pent-3-one instead of 4-methylpentyl methane sulphonate. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.59-7.29 (m, 5H), 6.00 (s, 1H), 5.06 (t, 1H), 3.44 (bs, 1H), 3.12 (m, 2H), 2.94 (s, 1H), 2.34 (m, 4H), 2.06 (m, 2H), 1.66-1.45 (m, 0H), 0.56 (m, 4H) IR (DCM): 1651 cm−1 EXAMPLE 38 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-2-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)ethyl]-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopropyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 38) The compound was prepared following the procedure of Example 10 using 3,4-methylenedioxyphenethylbromide instead of 3,4-dimethoxybenzylbromide and (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopropyl-2-phenylacetamide instead of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-valus): 7.59-7.30 (m, 5H), 6.67-6.66 (m, 3H), 6.03 (s, 1H), 5.9 (s, 2H), 3.17 (m, 2H), 2.92 (s, 1H), 2.58 (m, 4H), 2.36 (m, 2H), 1.65-1.47 (m, 3H), 0.08 (m, 1H), 0.05 (m, 4H) IR (DCM): 1649 cm−1 EXAMPLE 39 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzyl)]-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 39) The compound was prepared following the procedure of Example 13 using 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde instead of 4-trifluoromethylbenzaldehyde. m.pt: 68-73° C. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ values): 7.58-6.78 (m, 8ArH), 6.66 (bs, 1H), 6.41 (s, 1H), 5.85 (s, 3H), 3.46 (s, 2H), 3.05-1.11 (m, 17H) IR DCM): 1654 cm−1 EXAMPLE 40 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzyl)]-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 40) The compound was prepared following the procedure of Example 13 using 3-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde instead of 4-trifluoromethylbenzaldehyde. m.pt: 66-73° C. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-value): 7.57-6.67 (m, 8ArH), 6.37 (bs, 1H), 3.85 (s, 3H), 3.45 (s, 2H), 3.13-2.94 (m, 4H), 2.38-2.35 (m, 2H), 1.67-1.25 9m, 10H) IR (DCM): 1655 cm−1 EXAMPLE 41 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-phenylcarboethoxyethyl]-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 41) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 10 using 2-bromoethylphenylacetate instead of 3,5-dimethoxybenzylchloride. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ values): 7.58-7.26 (m, 10ArH), 6.38 (bs, 1H), 4.12-4.01 (m, 3H), 3.15-2.33 (m, 6H), 1.60-0.85 (m, 13H) IR (DCM): 1646 and 1741 cm−1 EXAMPLE 42 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-[1-(2-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 42) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 13 using 2-hydroxyacetophenone instead of 4-trifluoromethyl benzaldehyde. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.57-6.70 (m, 9ArH), 6.45 (bs, 1H), 3.38-1.16 (m, 20H) IR (DCM): 1655 cm−1 EXAMPLE 43 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-[1-(4-methylphenyl)ethyl]-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 43) The compound was synthesized by following the procedure of Example 13 using 4-methylacetophenone instead of 4-trifluoromethylbenzaldehyde. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.58-7.04 (m, 9ArH), 6.33 (bs, 1H), 3.28-1.45 (m, 12H), 1.25-1.21 (m, 11H)) IR (DCM): 1646 cm−1 EXAMPLE 44 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-(1-bromophenylmethyl)pyridine)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 44) The above compound was prepared by following the procedure of Example 10 using 3-(1-bromophenyl methyl)pyridine hydrochloride instead of 3,5-dimethoxybenzylbromide. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 8.45-7.06 (m, 14ArH), 6.46 (bs, 1H), 4.17 (s, 1H), 3.12-0.91 (m, 16H) IR (DCM): 1660 cm−1 EXAMPLE 45 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-pyridylmethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 45) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 10 using 4-chloromethylpyridine hydrochloride instead of 3,5-dimethoxybenzylbromide. m.pt: 70-73° C. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.40-7.16 (m, 15ArH), 6.27 (bs, 1H), 3.82 (s, 1H), 3.33-1.24 (m, 11H) IR (DCM): 1657 cm−1 EXAMPLE 46 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-indanyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 46) To a solution of (1α,5α,6α)-N-(3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1 mmol) in THE was added 1-bromoindan (1.5 mmol) and N-ethyldiisopropylamine (4 mmol) under nitrogen atmosphere. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 5 days. The reaction mixture was poured into saturated sodium bicarbonate solution and extracted with EtOAc. The organic layer was dried, concentrated under reduced pressure and purified by column chromatography (silicagel, 100-200 mesh) eluting the compound with 30:70 EtOAc-hexane. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.58-7.12 (m, 9ArH), 6.36 (bs, 1H), 4.26-4.22 (t, 1H), (m, 20H) IR (DCM): 1652 cm−1 EXAMPLE 47 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-methylbenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 47) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 13 using 3-methylbenzaldehyde instead of 4-trfluoromethylbenzaldehyde. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.58-6.99 (m, 9ArH), 6.36 (bs, 1H), 3.49 (s, 2H), 3.06-0.85 (m, 19H) IR (DCM): 1645 cm−1 EXAMPLE 48 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2,4,6-trimethylbenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound To.48) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 13 using 2,4,6-trimethylbenzaldehyde instead of 4-trifluoromethylbenzaldehyde. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.56-7.22 (m, 7ArH), 6.30 (bs, 1H), 3.49 (s, 2H), 3.10-0.85 (m, 25H). IR (DCM): 1646 cm−1 EXAMPLE 49 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-[2-(3,4dimethoxyphenyl)ethyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 49) Step-a: Synthesis of 3,4-dimethoxyphenethylbromide The compound was synthesized as per reported procedure in EP 0388054A1, using 1,2-dimethoxybenzene instead of 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran. Step-b: Synthesis of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-[2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)ethyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide The compound was synthesized following the procedure described in Example 10 using 3,4-dimethoxyphenethyl bromide instead of 3,5-dimethoxybenzylbromide. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.58-7.56 (d, 2ArH), 7.36-7.23 (m, 3H), 6.77-6.67 (m, 3H), 6.39 (bs, 1H), 3.88-3.83 (s, 6H), 3.18-3.15 (d, 2H), 3.15-2.37 (m, 10H), 1.73-0.87 (m, 10H) IR (DCM): 1642 cm−1 EXAMPLE 50 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-[2-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)ethyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 50) Step-a: Synthesis of 3,4-dimethylphenethylbromide The compound was synthesized as per reported procedure in EP0388054A1 using o-xylene instead of 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran. Step-b: Synthesis of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-[2-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)ethyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide The compound was synthesized following the procedure described in Example 10 using 3,4-dimethylphenethyl bromide instead of 3,5-dimethoxy benzylbromide. 1HNMR (CDCl3): 7.58-7.56 (d, 2ArH), 7.38-7.28 (m, 2ArH), 7.28-6.36 (m, 2ArH), 7.02-7.00 (d, 1ArH), 6.92-6.87 (m, 2ArH), 6.36 (bs, 1H), 3.16-3.13 (m, 3H), 3.02-2.99 (m, 1H), 2.85 (bs, 1H), 2.63-2.53 (m, 4H), 2.37-2.34 (m, 2H), 2.20 (bs, 6H), 1.63-1.25 (m, 11H) IR (DCM): 1646 cm−1 EXAMPLE 51 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-pentyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 51) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 10, using 1-bromopentane instead of 3,5-dimethoxybenzylchloride. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.58-7.55 (d, 2ArH), 7.35-7.22 (m, 3H), 6.35 (bs, 1H), 3.09-3.06 (m, 3H), 2.98 (m, 1M), 2.85 (bs, 1H), 2.31-2.27 (m, 4H), 1.77-0.83 (m, 7H) EXAMPLE 52 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-cyanobenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 52) The compound was prepared following the procedure of Example 10, using 4-cyanobenzylbromide instead of 3,5-dimethoxybenzylchloride. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.58-7.53 (m, 4ArH), 7.34-7.26 (m, 5ArH), 6.47 (bs, 1H), 3.57 (s, 2H), 3.06-2.97 (m, 4H), 2.35 (d, 2H, J=7.6), 1.64-1.45 (m, 8H), 1.25-1.16 (m, 2H), IR (KBr): 1652 cm−1, 2228 cm−1 EXAMPLE 53 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-cyanobenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 53) To a solution of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1 mmol) in DMF (10 ml) was added 2-cyanobenzylbromide (1.2 mmol), potassium carbonate (2 mmol) and potassium iodide (2 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred overnight at room temperature, poured into water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was dried and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by column chromatography (100-200 mesh silicagel) eluting the compound with 25.75 EtOAc-hexane mixture. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-value): 7.59-7.23 (m, 10ArH), 6.40 (bs, 11H), 3.73 (s, 2H), 3.09-2.96 (m, 5H), 2.48-2.43 (m, 2H), 1.55-1.25 (m, 8H), 1.30-1.25 (m, 2H) IR (KBr): 1651 cm−1, 2225 cm−1 EXAMPLE 54 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 54) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 10 using 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzylbromide instead of 3,5-dimethoxybenzylchloride. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.57-7.22 (m, 5ArH), 6.38 (s, 1H), 3.72 (s, 2H), 3.05-1.23 (m, 16H), IR(KBr): 1653 cm−1 EXAMPLE 55 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-cyanobenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 55) The compound was prepared following the procedure of Example 53, using cyanobenzylbromide instead of 2-cyanobenzylbromide. m.pt.:66° C. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-value): 7.66-7.46 (m, 4ArH), 7.33-7.26 (m, 5ArH), 6.66 (bs, 1H), 3.57 (s, 2H), 3.07-2.98 (m, 3H), 2.69 (m, 1H), 2.44-2.33 (m, 3H), 1.81-1.77 (m, 1H), 1.46-1.43 (m, 2H), 1.25-1.11 (m, 7H), 0.90-0.82 (m, 2H) IR (KBr): 1655 cm−1, 2228 cm−1 EXAMPLE 56 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-methylpyridyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 56) The compound was prepared following the procedure of Example 10, using 3-chloromethylpyridine hydrochloride instead of 3,5-dimethoxybenzylchloride. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-value): 8.45-7.18 (m, (ArH), 6.44 (bs, 1H), 3.53 (s, 2H), 3.05-1.17 (m, 16H). IR (KBr): 1653 cm−1 EXAMPLE 57 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-bromo-2-methylthienyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 57) The compound was prepared following the procedure of Example 13, using 4-bromo-thiophene-2-carboxaldehyde instead of 4-trifluoromethylbenzaldehyde. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.58-6.74 (m, 7ArH), 6.40 (bs, 1H), 3.74 (s, 2H), 3.13-1.10 (m, 16H) IR (KBr): 1653 cm−1 EXAMPLE 58 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-[1-(phenyl)ethyl]-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 58) The compound was prepared following the procedure of Example 10, using 1-phenylethyl bromide instead of 3,5-dimethoxybenzylbromide. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.59-6.17 (m, 10ArH), 6.57 (bs, 1H), 4.13-4.10 (Q, 1H), 3.28-0.87 (m, 21H) IR(DCM): 1659 cm−1 EXAMPLE 59 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-[2-nitrobenzyl]-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 59) The compound was prepared following the procedure of Example 13, using 2-nitrobenzaldehyde instead of 4-trifluoromethylbenzyldehyde. m.pt: 161-163° C. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.81-7.23 (m, 9ArH), 6.38 (bs, 1H), 3.84 (s, 2H), 3.08-1.25 (m, 16H) IR (DCM): 1640 cm−1 EXAMPLE 60 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-[4-methoxycarbonyl]benzyl]-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 61) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 10, using methyl-4-(bromomethyl)benzoate instead of 3,5 dimethoxybenzylchloride. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.94-7.23 (m, 9ArH), 6.40 (bs, 1H), 3.89 (s, 3H), 3.57 (s, 2H), 3.07-0.82 (m, 16H) IR (DCM): 1643 cm−1 EXAMPLE 61 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-[diphenylmethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 61) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 10, using benzhydrylbromide instead of 3,5-dimethoxybenzylchloride. 1HNMR(CDCl3) δ-values): 7.59-7.10 (m, 15ArH), 6.39 (bs, 1H), 4.16 (s, 1H), 3.13-0.82 (m, 16H) IR (DCM): 1652 cm−1 EXAMPLE 62 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-carboxybenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 62) The solution of compound (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-carbomethoxybenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (1 mmol) in methanol (20 ml) containing lithiumhydroxide (4 mmol) in 5 ml of water was stirred at room temperature for 24 hours. The reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure, the residue was cooled in ice and acidified with acetic acid. It was extracted with ethyl acetate and the residue after removing the solvent was purified by column chromatography (100-200 mesh silicagel) eluting the compound with ethyl acetate. m.pt: 124°-129° C. 1HNMR (DMSO-d6, δ-values): 7.88-7.21 (m, 9ArH), 5.46 (s, 1H), 3.59 (s, 2H), 2.94-1.18 (m, 16H) IR (DCM): 1656 cm−1 EXAMPLE 63 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-aminobenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 63) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 27, using (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-nitrobenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide. m.pt: 67-72° C. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.58-6.56 (m, 9ArH), 6.43 (bs, 1H), 3.51 (s, 2H), 3.02-0.83 (m, 16H) IR (DCM): 1647 cm−1 EXAMPLE 64 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-carboethoxypropyl)]-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 64) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 46, using ethyl-2-bromopropionate instead of 1-bromoindan. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.58-7.23 (m, 5ArH), 6.38 (bs, 1H), 4.15-4.07 (q, 2H), 3.28-1.21 (m, 23H). IR (DCM): 1652 cm−1 and 1731 cm−1 EXAMPLE 65 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(4-acetylphenyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 65) The above compound was prepared by following the procedure of Example 53, using 2-(4-acetylphenyl)ethylbromide instead of 2-cyanobenzylbromide. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 8.09-7.83 (m, 2ArH), 7.59-7.56 (m, 2ArH), 7.36-7.22 (m, 5ArH), 6.39 (bs, 1H), 3.76-3.16 (m, 2H), 3.14-2.83 (m, 3H), 2.75-2.63 (m, 4H), 2.58-2.57 (bs, 3H), 2.36 (bs, 2H), 1.67-0.87 (m, 10H) IR (DCM): 1662 cm−1 EXAMPLE 66 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(4-methoxycarbonyl)phenyl)ethyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 66) The compound was synthesized by following the procedure of Example 10, using 4-methoxycarbonyl phenethylbromide instead of 3,5-dimethoxybenzylchloride. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.93-7.90 (d, 2H), 7.58-7.56 (d, 21), 7.35-7.30 (M, 2H), 7.27-7.20 (m, 3H1), 6.36 (bs, 1H), 3.88 (s, 3H), 3.15-3.12 (d, 2H), 3.09 (bs, 1H), 3.01-2.99 (m, 1H), 2.82 (bs, 1H), 2.75-2.71 (m, 2H), 2.64-2.59 (m, 2H), 2.37-2.34 (m, 2H), 1.63-1.16 (m, 11H) IR (DCM): 1654 cm−1 and 1720 cm−1 EXAMPLE 67 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-[3-cyanobenzyl]-3-azabicyclo-[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 67) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 53, using 3-cyanobenzylbromide instead of 2-cyanobenzylbromide. 1HNMR (CDCl 3, δ-values): 7.59-7.46 (m, 5ArH), 7.38-7.23 (m, 4ArH), 6.41 (bs, 1H), 3.54 (s, 2H), 3.05-2.95 (m, 5H), 2.38-2.34 (m, 2H), 1.68-1.41 (m, 8H), 1.20-1.17 (m, 2H) IR (DCM): 1648 cm−1 and 2229 cm−1 EXAMPLE 68 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-[2-cyanobenzyl]-3-azabicyclo-[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 68) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 53, using (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo-[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide-2-phenylacetamide instead of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.58-7.24 (m, 9ArH), 6.65 (bs, 1H), 3.73 (s, 2H), 3.10-2.73 (m, 3H), 2.48 (m, 1H), 2.46-2.42 (m, 3H), 1.68-1.65 (m, 1H), 1.62-m, 9H), 0.99-0.95 (m, 2H). IR (DCM): 1648 cm−1 and 2224 cm−1 EXAMPLE 69 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-cyanobenzyl)-3-azabicyclo-[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 69) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 53, using (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo-[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide instead of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide and 3-cyanobenzyl bromide instead of 2-cyanobenzylbromide. m.pt: 68-70° C. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.59-7.46 (m, 5ArH), 7.38-7.22 (m, 4ArH) 6.63 (bs, 1H), 3.54 (s, 2H), 3.06-2.97 (m, 3H), 2.68 (m, 1H), 2.39-2.34 (m, 3H), 1.81-1.77 (m, 1H), 1.66-1.16 (m, 9H), 0.87-0.83 (m, 2H). IR (DCM): 1654 cm−1 and 2229 cm−1 EXAMPLE 70 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-methylbutyl)-3-azabicyclo-[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 70) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 53, using (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo-[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide instead of (1α,5α6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide and 1-bromo-3-methylbutane instead of 2-cyanobenzyl bromide. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.59-7.56 (m, 2ArH), 7.35-7.22 (m, 3ArH), 6.56 (bs, 1H), 3.07 (t, 2H), 2.85-2.80 (m, 2H), 2.35-2.25 (m, 5H), 1.66-1.62 (m, 1H), 1.41-1.16 (m, 12H), 0.91-0.88 (m, 2H), 0.83 (d, 6H, J=6.0 Hz) IR (DCM): 1655 cm−1 EXAMPLE 71 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-hydroxymethylphenethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 71) Step-a: Synthesis of 4-hydroxymethylphenethyl chloride The compound was prepared following the procedure given in U.S. Pat. No. 4,595,690. Step-b: The title compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 10, using 4-hydroxy methylphenethylchloride instead of 3,5-dimethoxybenzylchloride 1HNMR (CDCl3): 7.58-7.56 (m, 2ArH), 7.36-7.24 (m, 5H), 7.16-7.13 (d, 2H), 6.40 (bs, 1H), 4.64 (s, 2H), 3.17-3.10 (m, 3H), 3.02-2.97 (m, 1H), 2.84 (bs, 1H), 2.67-2.62 (m, 4H), 2.41 (bs, 2H), 1.77-1.16 (m, 11H) IR (DCM): 1655 cm−1 EXAMPLE 72 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-fluoro-4-aminobenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 72) Step-a: Synthesis of 4-tert butoxy carboxylamino-3-fluorobenzylbromide The compound was synthesized following the procedure described in J. Med. Chem., 2000, 43(26), 5017-5029 Step-b: Synthesis of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-fluoro-4-tert-butoxy)carbonylamino-3-fluorobenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentylphenylacetamide The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 10, using 4-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-3-fluorobenzylbromide instead of 3,5-dimethoxybenzylchloride Step-c: Synthesis of(1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-fluoro-4-aminobenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide The compound of Step-b was dissolved in EtOH and ethanolic hydrochloric acid (5 ml) was added to the RM. The RM was stirred overnight at RT. The RM was concentrated under reduced pressure to give the desired product. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.58-7.55 (m, 2ArH), 7.35-7.55 (m, 2ArH), 7.35-7.22 (ml, 3ArH), 6.87-6.63 (m, 3ArH), 6.34 (bs, 1H), 3.62 (bs, 2H), 3.49 (b, 2H), 3.10 (bs, 1H), 3.04-2.95 (bs, 4H), 2.33-2.30 (m, 2H), 1.63-0.88 (m, 10H) IR (DCM): 1640 cm−1 EXAMPLE 73 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-[1-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)ethyl]-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 73) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 10, using 1-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)ethylbromide instead of 3,5-dimethoxybenzylchloride. 1HMR (CDCl3 δ-values): 7.63-6.92 (m, 8ArH), 6.34 (bs, 1H), 3.27-3.25 (q, 1H), 3.14-0.85 (m, 25H). IR (DCM): 1658 cm−1 EXAMPLE 74 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-[2-(3-methylphenoxy)ethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 74) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 10, using 2-(3-methylphenoxy)ethyl bromide instead of 3;5-dimethoxybenzylchloride. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.58-6.64 (m, 9ArH), 6.37 (s, 1H), 3.97-3.93 (t, 2H), 3.18-1.17 (m, 21H). IR (DCM): 1658 cm−1 EXAMPLE 75 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-[3-(3-methylphenoxy)propyl]-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 75) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 10, using 3-(3-methylphenoxy)propylbromide instead of 3,5-dimethoxybenzylchloride. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.58-6.65 (m, 9ArH), 6.35 (bs, 1H), 3.94-3.89 (t, 2H), 3.12-1.25 (m, 23H). IR (DCM): 1657 cm−1 EXAMPLE 76 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-methylbenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 76) The compound was prepared following the procedure of Example 13, using 2-methylbenzaldehyde instead of 4-trifluoromethylbenzaldehyde. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.58-7.08 (m, 9ArH), 6.35 (bs, 1H), 3.49 (s, 2H), 3.09-0.88 (m, 19H) IR (DCM): 1653 cm−1 EXAMPLE 77 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(2-methylphenyl)ethyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 77) The compound was prepared following the procedure of Example 10, using 2-(2-methylphenyl)ethylbromide instead of 3,5-dimethoxybenzylchloride. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.59-7.09 (m, 9ArH), 6.35 (bs, 1H), 3.19 (m, 10H), 2.27 (8, 3H), 160-1.25 (m, 10H) IR (CM): 1654 cm−1 EXAMPLE 78 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1,3-dioxolan-2-ylmethyl)-3-azabicyclo-[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 78) The compound was synthesized by following the procedure of Example 10, but using 2-bromomethyl-1,3-dioxolane instead of 3,5-dimethoxybenzylchloride. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.57-7.22 (m, 5ArH), 6.39 (bs, 1H), 4.90 (t, 1H), 3.95-3.79 (m, 4H), 3.22-1.18 (m, 19H) IR (DCM): 1652 cm−1 EXAMPLE 79 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-2-(carboxy)propyl[3-azabicyclo-[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 79) The compound was synthesized by following the procedure of Example 62, using (1α,5α6α)-N-[3-[2-(carboethoxy)propyl]-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide instead of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-carbomethoxy) benzyl-3-azabicyclo-[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide. m.pt: 91-95° C. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-value): 7.68-7.17 (m, 5ArH), 3.57-2.68 (m, 10H), 1.88 (s, 3H), 1.47-0.83 (m, 9H). IR (KBr): 1627 cm−1 and 1714 cm−1 EXAMPLE 80 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-phenylethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2,2-diphenylacetamide (Compound No. 30) Step-a: Synthesis of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2,2-diphenylacetamide The compound was synthesized by following the procedure of Example 1, using 2,2-diphenylacetic acid instead of 2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-(4-methoxy)phenylacetic acid and (1α,5α,6α)-3-azabicyclo-[3.1.0]-hexane instead of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-[4-methyl-3-pentenyl]-6-amino-3-azabicyclo[-[3.1.0]hexane hydrochloride. Step-b: Synthesis of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo-[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2,2-diphenylacetamide The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 2, Step-c, using (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo-[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2,2-diphenylacetamide instead of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide. Step-c: Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-phenylethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2,2-diphenylacetamide A solution of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2,2-diphenylacetamide (1 mmol), 1-phenylethylbromide (1.2 mmol), potassium carbonate (2 mmol) and potassium iodide (2 mmol) in 10 ml of acetonitrile was refluxed for 8 hours. The reaction mixture was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. The crude compound was purified by column chromatography (100-200 mesh silicagel) eluting the compound with 60:40-EtOAc-hexane mixture. m.pt: 70-73° C. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.40-7.16 (m, 15ArH), 6.27 (bs, 1H), 3.82 (s, 1H), 3.33-3.21 (m, 3H), 3.19-3.13 (d, 1H), 2.81-2.39 (m, 2H), 1.56-1.24 (m, 5H). EXAMPLE 81 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-phenylethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cycloheptyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 81) Step-a: Synthesis of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cycloheptyl-2-phenylacetamide The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 1 using 2-hydroxy-2-cycloheptyl-2-phenylacetic acid instead of 2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-(4-methoxy)phenylacetic acid and (1α,5α,6α)-3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo-6-amino-[3.1.0]hexane instead of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[4-methyl-3-pentenyl)]-6-amino-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane hydrochloride. Step-b: Synthesis of (1α,5═,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cycloheptyl-2-phenylacetamide The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 2, Step-c, using (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cycloheptyl-2-phenylacetamide instead of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide. Step-c: Synthesis of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-phenylethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cycloheptyl-2-phenylacetamide The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 80, Step-c, using (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cycloheptyl-2-phenylacetamide instead of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-hydroxy-2,2-diphenylacetamide. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.60-7.14 (m, 10ArH), 6.54 (bs, 1H), 3.28-3.16 (m, 2H), 2.98 (s, 1H IR (DCM): 1652 cm−1 EXAMPLE 82 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(2,3-dihydrobenzofuran -5-yl)ethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopropyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound N The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 5, using (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-cyclopropyl-2-hydroxy-2-cyclophenylacetamide instead of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-cyclopentyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenyl acetamide and 5-(2-bromoethyl)-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran instead of 4-methylpentylmethane sulphonate. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.58-7.34 (m, 5ArH), 6.99 (bs, 1H), 6.88 (d, J=8Hz, 1H), 6.67 (d, J=8Hz, 1H), 6.03 (m, 1H), 4.54 (t, 2H), 3.15 (m, 4H), 2.59-2.38 (m, 6H), 1.8 (m, 1H), 1.47 (m, 2H), 0.28 (m, 1H), 0.56 (m, 4H) IR (DCM): 1665 cm−1 EXAMPLE 83 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-phenylethyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopropyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 83) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 5 using (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopropyl-2-phenylacetamide instead of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-cyclopropyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetamide and 1-phenyl ethyl bromide instead of 4-methylpentylmethane sulphonate. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.58 (m, 2H), 7.38-7.17 (m, 8H), 5.99 (bs, 1H), 3.40 (d, J=3.0, 1H), 3.31 (m, 1H), 3.20 (q, J=6.5, 1H), 3.06 (m, 1H), 2.78 (m, 1H), 2.4 (m, 1H), 2.15 (m, 1H), 1.50 (m, 2H), 1.4(m, 1H), 1.25 (d, J=6.5, 3H), 0.56 (m, 4H) IR(KBr): 1655 cm−1 EXAMPLE 84 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-phenylethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclobutyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 84) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 80, Step-c using (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclobutyl-2-phenylacetamide instead of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2,2-diphenyl acetamide. 1HMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.46-7.15 (m, 10ArH), 6.15 (m, 1H), 3.28 (m, 2H), 3.19 (q, J=6.5; 1H), 2.98 (m, 1H), 2.76 (m, 1H), 2.4 (m, 1H), 2.15-1.8 (m, 3H), 1.42 (m, 1H), 1.28 (m, 8H). IR (DCM): 1655 cm−1 EXAMPLE 85 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-phenylcarboxyethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cycloheptyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 85) The compound was prepared following the procedure of Example 63 using (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-phenylcarboxyethyl)-3 azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2hydroxy-2-cycloheptyl-2-phenylacetamide. 1HNMR (DMSO d6, δ-values): 7.68-7.18 (m, 10ArH), 5.75 (s, 1H), 3.35-2.59 (m, 7H), 1.98 (m, 2H), 1.47-1.15 (m, 9H), IR (DCM): 1638 cm−1 EXAMPLE 86 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(3-indoyl)ethyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 86) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 53 using (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide instead of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide and 3-(2-bromomethyl)indole instead of 2-cyanobenzyl bromide. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.96 (m, 1H0, 7.60-7.01 (m, 10ArH), 6.60 (bs, 1H) 3.20 (t, 2H), 2.95-2.68 (m, 6H), 2.39 (m, 3H), 1.32-1.12 (m, 10H), 0.87-0.85 (m, 2H) EXAMPLE 87 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-methylnaphthyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 87) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 54 using (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide instead of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide and 2-(bromomethyl)naphthalene instead of 2-cyanobenzyl bromide. m.pt.: 165-168° C. 1HNMR (CDCl3 δ-values): 7.78-7.72 (m, 3ArH), 7.63-7.57 (m, 3ArH), 7.44-7.31 (m, 6H), 6.59 (bs, 1H), 3.69 (s, 2H), 3.12-3.04 (m, 3H), 2.72 (m, 1H), 2.40(m, 3H), 1.82-1.78 (m, 1H), 1.66-1.54 (m, 2H), 1.45-1.12 (m, 8H), 0.88-0.84 (m, 1H) IR(KBr): 1653 cm−1 EXAMPLE 88 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-indol-3-yl)ethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 88) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 54 using 3-(2-bromoethyl)indole instead of 2-cyanobenzyl bromide. m.pt.: 55-57° C. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 8.07-8.01 (m, 1H), 7.65-7.60 (m, 3ArH), 7.42-7.05 (m, 7H), 6.44 (bs, 1H), 2.96-2.87 (m, 5H), 2.78-2.76 (m, 2H), 2.47-2.43 (m, 2H), 1.75-1.73 (m, 4H), 1.71-1.53 (m, 4H), 1.04 (m, 1H), 0.95 (m, 1H), IR (KBr): 1668 cm−1 EXAMPLE 89 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-hexyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 89) The compound was synthesized using the procedure described in Example 54 using 1-bromohexane instead of 2-cyanobenzyl bromide. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.58-7.56 (m, 2ArH), 7.36-7.26 (m, 3ArH), 6.31 (bs, 1H), 3.14-2.86 (m, 5H), 2.33-2.25 (m, 4H), 1.61-1.22 (m, 18H), 0.86 (t, 3H) IR (DCM): 1653 cm−1 EXAMPLE 90 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphth-1-yl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 90) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 46 using 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-naphthylbromide instead of 1-bromoindan. m.pt.: 66-71° C. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.62-7.03 (m, 9ArH), 6.37 (bs, 1H), 3.66 (bs, 1H), 3.18-2.72 (m, 9H), 2.08-1.29 (m, 13H) IR(KBr): 1657 cm−1 EXAMPLE 91 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-chlorobenzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 91) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 10, using 2-chlorobenzyl bromide instead of 3,5-dimethoxybenzyl bromide. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.58-7.12 (m, 9ArH), 6.38 (s, 1H), 3.65 (s, 2H), 3.12-1.10 (m, 16E), IR (KBr): 1658 cm−1 EXAMPLE 92 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(2-methoxyphenyl)ethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 92) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 10, using 2-methoxyphenethyl bromide instead of 3,5-dimethoxybenzylbromide. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.58-6.79(m, 9ArH), 6.31 (bs, 1H), 3.77 (s, 3H), 3.16-2.35 (m, 10H), 1.65-1.41 (m, 10H) IR (KBr): 1659 cm−1 EXAMPLE 93 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(4-fluorophenyl)ethyl]-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 93) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 10, using 2-(4-fluorophenyl)ethyl bromide instead of 3,5-dimethoxybenzylchloride. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.59-6.89 (m, 9ArH), 6.37 (bs, 1H), 3.15-2.33 (m, 11H), 1.64-1.18 (m, 10H) IP, (DCM): 1654 cm−1 EXAMPLE 94 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-[1-(indan-5-yl)ethyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 94) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 10, using 5-(1-bromoethyl)indane instead of 3,5-dimethoxybenzylchloride. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.56-6.93 (m, 8ArH), 6.30 (bs, 1H), 3.27-2.76 (m, 11H), 2.05-1.20 (m, 15H) EXAMPLE 95 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-[1-(naphth-1-yl)ethyl]-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 95) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 10, using 1-(1-bromoethyl)naphthalene instead of 3,5-dimethoxybenzyl chloride. m.pt: 82-87° C. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 8.36-7.25 (m, 12ArH), 3.95-3.93 (q, 1H), 3.43-2.04 (m, 7H), 1.57-1.23 (m, 13H) IR(KBr): 1654 cm−1 EXAMPLE 96 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-[1-(3,4-methylene dioxyphenyl)ethyl]-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 96) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 10, using 1-(1-bromoethyl)3,4-methylene dioxyphenyl instead of 3,5-dimethoxybenzyl chloride. m.pt: 53-56° C. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.62-6.37 (m, 8ArH), 5.94 (m, 2H), 3.30-2.39 (m, 7H), 1.65-1.23 (m, 13H) IR(KBr): 1655 cm−1 EXAMPLE 97 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-[1-(1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphth-6yl)ethyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 97) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 10, using 1-(1-bromoethyl)1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene instead of 3,5-dimethoxybenzyl chloride. m.pt: 73-78° C. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.60-6.89 (m, 8ArH), 6.33 (s, 1H), 3.28-2.73 (m, 9H), 2.37 (q, 1H), 2.02-1.58 (m, 14H), 1.27-1.12 (m, 5H) IR (KBr): 1654.8 cm−1 EXAMPLE 98 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-[1-(cis-(hex-3-enyl)]-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopropyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 98) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 10 using (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopropyl-2-phenylacetamide instead of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide and cis-3-hexen-1-methanesulphonate instead of 3,5-dimethoxybenzyl chloride. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.59-7.26 (m, 5ArH), 6.0 (bs, 1H), 5.38-5.26 (m, 2H), 3.15-2.93 (m, 2H), 2.83 (s, 1H), 2.37-2.32 (m, 9H), 2.13-2.11 (m, 2H), 2.04-2.01 (m, 2H), 1.45-1.25 (m, 2H), 0.97-0.92 (m, 3H), 0.058-0.052 (m, 5H) IR (DCM): 1652 cm−1 EXAMPLE 99 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-[1-(trans hex-3-enyl)]-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopropyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 99) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 10 using (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopropyl-2-phenylacetamide instead of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide and trans-3-hexen-1-methane sulphonate instead of 3,5-dimethoxybenzyl chloride. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.62-7.33 (m, 5ArH), 6.04 (bs, 1H), 5.55-5.33 (m, 2H), 3.15-2.93 (m, 2H), 2.83 (s, 1H), 2.37-2.32 (m, 9H), 2.13-2.11 (m, 2H), 2.04-2.01 (m, 2H), 1.45-1.25 (m, 2H), 0.97-0.92 (m, 3H), 0.058-0.052 (m, 5H) IR (DCM): 1652 cm−1 EXAMPLE 100 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-(trans hex-3-enyl)]-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 100) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 10 using (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide instead of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide and trans-3-hexen-1-methanesulphonate instead of 3,5-dimethoxybenzyl chloride. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.59-7.23 (m, 5ArH), 6.59 (bs, 1H), 5.45-5.30 (m, 2H), 3.11-3.08 (m, 2H), 2.39-2.36 (m, 3H), 3.11-3.08 (m, 2H), 2.86 (s, 1H), 2.39-2.36 (m, 3H), 2.06-1.97 (m, 6H), 1;45-1.22 (m, 13H), 0.96-0.89 (m, 2H) IR (DCM): 1652 cm−1 EXAMPLE 101 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-(cis hex-3-enyl)]-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 101) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 10 using cis-3-hexene-1-methanesulphonate instead of 3,5-dimethoxybenzyl chloride and (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide instead of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide. 1NMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.59-7.23 (m, 5ArH), 6.58 (bs, 1H), 5.38-5.23 (m, 2H), 3.10-3.07 (m, 2H), 2.8 (s, 1H), 2.39-2.34 (m, 4H), 2.13-2.01 (m, 5H), 1.66-1.42 9m, 10H), 1.26-0.89 (m, 5H). IR (DCM): 1651 cm−1 EXAMPLE 102 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-(trans-hex-3-enyl)]-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 102) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 10 using trans-hex-3-ene-1-methane sulphonate instead of 3,5-dimethoxybenzyl chloride. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.63-7.23 (m, 10ArH), 6.11 (bs, 1H), 3.56 (m, 2H), 3.41 (bs, 1H), 3.14-3.10 (m, 2H), 2.93-2.90 (m, 2H), 2.30-2.04 (m, 2H), 1.59-1.42 (m, 3H), 1.42-1.37 (m, 1H), 1.25 (s, 2H), 0.67-0.47 (m, 5H). EXAMPLE 103 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-(cis hex-3-enyl)]-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 103) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 10 using cis-hex-3-ene-1-methanesulphonate instead of 3,5-dimethoxybenzyl chloride. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.58-7.27 (m, 5ArH), 6.34 (bs, 1H), 5.40-5.22 (m, 2H), 3.4-3.0 (m, 4H), 2.84 (m, 1H), 2.33 (m, 4H), 2.12-1.98 (4H), 1.7-1.2 (m, 13H) IR(DCM): 1651 cm−1 EXAMPLE 104 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-naphthylmethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 104) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 53 using 2-(bromomethyl)naphthalene instead of 2-cyanobenzylbromide. m.pt.: 70-72° C. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.79-7.72 (m, 3ArH), 7.63-7.56 (m, 3ArH), 7.44-7.23 (m, 6ArH), 6.38 (bs, 1H), 3.69 (s, 2H), 3.11-2.98 (m, 5H), 2.41-2.38 (m, 2H), 1.69-1.43 (m, 8H), 1.28-1.11 (m,2H) IR (KBr): 1656 cm−1 EXAMPLE 105 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-phenyl-1-methyl)-2-oxoethyl]-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 105) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 53 using 2-(bromompropiophenone) instead of 2-cyanobenzyl bromide. m.pt.: 57-59° C. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 8.04-8.01 (m, 2ArH), 7.60-7.22 (m, 8ArH), 6.39 (bs, 1H), 3.98 (q, 1H), 3.09-2.92 (m, 4H), 2.73-2.55 (m, 3H), 1.79-1.41 (m, 8), 1.25-1.10 (m, 5H). IR (Br): 1658 cm−1 EXAMPLE 106 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(4-carbamoylphenyl)ethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 106) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 10, using 4-carbamoyl phenethylbromide instead of 3,5-dimethoxybenzyl chloride. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.70-7.67 (d, 2ArH), 7.52-7.41 (m, 2ArH), 7.35 (m, 1H), 7.22-6.86 (m, 3H), 3.01-2.98 (m, 1H), 2.72-2.58 (m, 7H), 1.55-0.78 (m, 10H). IR (KBr): 1659, 1618 cm−1 EXAMPLE 107 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(4-benzyloxycarbonylphenyl)ethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 107) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 10 using benzyl-4-(2-bromoethylbenzoate instead of 3,5-dimethoxybenzyl chloride. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.96-7.93 (d, 2H), 7.55-7.51 (d, 2H), 7.44-7.19 (m, 10H), 6.39 (bs, 1H), 5.33 (s, 2H0, 3.16-2.98 (m, 4H), 2.82-2.62 (m, 5H),2.40-2.32 (s, 2H), 1.82-0.84 (m, 10H). IR (DCM): 1718, 1659 cm−1 EXAMPLE 108 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-T-[3-(1-(2-methylpropyl)benzane-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 103) The compound was synthesized by following the procedure described in Example 10 using (1-bromo-2-methylpropyl)benzene instead of 3,5-dimethoxybenzylchloride. m.pt: 143-145° C. 1HNMR (CDCl3; δ-values): 7.58-7.08 (m, 8ArH), 6.35 (bs, 1H), 3.16-2.84 (m, 5H), 2.09-2.05 (m, 2H) 2.74-2.67 (m, 6H), 2.4 (m, 1H), 1.64-1.25 (m, 10H) EXAMPLE 109 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-[2-(phenyl-1-methyl)-2-oxoethyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 109) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 53, using (1α,5α6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide instead of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide and 2-bromopropiophenone instead of 2-cyanobenzylbromide. m.pt: 79-81° C. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 8.04-8.02 (m, 2ArH), 7.58-7.25 (m, 8ArH), 6.60 (bs, 1H), 3.98 (q, 1H), 3.08-3.04 (m, 1H), 2.94-2.90 (m, 1H), 2.73-2.56 (m, 5H), 1.68-1.64 (m, 1H), 1.59-1.10 (m, 13H), 0.99 (m, 1H) IR (KBr): 1674 cm−1 EXAMPLE 110 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-hexyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2- cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 110) The compound was synthesized by following the procedure of Example 53 using (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-cyclohexyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetamide instead of (1α,5α,6α)-N-(3-azabicyclo-[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide and 1-bromohexane instead of 2-cyanobenzyl bromide. m.pt: 59-61° C. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.59-7.56 (m, 2ArH), 7.35-7.22 (m, 3ArH), 6.57 (bs, 1H), 3.09-3.04 (m, 2H), 2.85-2.77 (m, 2H), 2.37-2.26 (m, 5H), 1.64-1.11 (m, 18H), 0.87-0.83 (m, 4H) IR (KBr): 1655 cm−1 EXAMPLE 111 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(4-cyanophenyl)ethyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 111) The compound was synthesized by following the procedure of Example 10, using 4-cyanophenyl bromide instead of 3,4-dimethoxybenzylchloride. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.56 (m, 4H), 7.33-7.26 (m, 5H), 6.53 (bs, 1H), 3.63 (s, 1H), 3.24 (m, 2H), 3.01 (m, 2H), 2.85-2.74 (m, 3H0, 2.55 (m, 2H), 2.4 (m, 1H), 1.86-0.86 (m, 10H) IR (KBr): 1658 cm−1 and 2228 cm−1 EXAMPLE 112 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(2-(4-sulphamoylphenyl)ethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound 112) The compound was synthesized by following the procedure of Example 10 using 4-sulphamoyl phenethylbromide instead of 3,5-dimethoxybenzyl chloride. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.81-7.78 (m, 2H), 7.60-7.58 (m, 21), 7.44-7.22 (m, 6H), 3.18-3.02 (m, 3H), 2.78-2.68 (m, 5H), 2.50 (bs, 2H), 2.4 (m, 1H), 1.61-0.86 (m, 10H) IR (KBr): 1656 cm−1 EXAMPLE 113 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-cyclohexylmethyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 113) The compound was synthesized by following the procedure of Example 10 cyclohexylmethyl methane sulphonate instead of 3,5-dimethoxybenzylchloride. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.58-7.14 (m, 5H), 6.35 (s, 1H), 3.38-2.88 (m, 5H), 2.25-1.78 (m, 4H), 1.7-1.1 (m, 20H) IR (DCM): 1645 cm−1 EXAMPLE 114 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2,2-diphenylacetamide (Compound No. 114) A solution of diphenylacetic acid (1 mmol) and (1α,5α,6α)-3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-6-amino hexane (1.1 mmol) in 5 ml of DMF was cooled to 0° C. HOBT (1.2 mmol) and NMM (1 mmol) were added to the reaction mixture and stirred for 30 min. at 0° C.EDC (1 mmol) was added to the reaction mixture and stirred for 1 hr. at 0° C. and then at room temperature overnight. The reaction mixture was poured into water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was dried and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by column chromatography (100-200 mesh silicagel) eluting the compound with 50:50 EtOAc-hexane mixture to give a yellow solid. m.pt: 169° C. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.37-7.18 (m, 15ArH), 5.57 (bs, 1H), 4.83 (s, 1H), 3.54 (s, 2H), 3.08-2.93 (m, (3H), 2.37-2.35 (d, 2H), 1.28-1.24 (m, 2H) IR (KBr): 1648 cm−1 EXAMPLE 115 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-chloro-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 115) A solution of (1α,5α,6α)-3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo-6-amino[3.1.0]hexane (1 mmol) was dissolved in 5 ml of DCM and cooled to −20° C. A solution of 2-chloro-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetylchloride (1.1 mmol) in DCM (5 ml) was added to the reaction mixture and the reaction mixture was stirred at the same temperature for half an hour. It was then warmed to room temperature for 15 minutes. Triethylamine (2 mmol) was added after cooling the reaction mixture to −20° C. The reaction mixture was stirred at the same temperature for 30 minutes, warmed to room temperature and stirred at room temperature for 2 hours. The reaction mixture was poured into water and extracted with DCM. The organic layer was dried, concentrated under reduced pressure and the residue purified by column chromatography (100-200 mesh size, silicagel) eluting the compound with 15:85 EtOAc-hexane mixture. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.67-7.20 (m, 5ArH), 6.82 (s, 1H), 3.53 (s, 2H), 3.10-3.02 (m, 3H), 2.38-2.31 (m, 2H), 1.73-0.87 (m, 13H). IR (KBr): 1674 cm−1 EXAMPLE 116 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-cyclohexyl-1-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 116) Step-a: Synthesis of α-cyclohexylphenylacetonitrile The compound was synthesized following the procedure described in Organic Synthesis Coll. Vol. 3 pg 220. Step-b: Synthesis of α-cyclohexylphenylacetic acid To a mixture of 7.5 ml each of conc. sulphuric acid, acetic acid and water, the compound of Step-a (10 mmol) was added and the reaction mixture was refluxed for 12 hours. The reaction mixture was poured into ice and extracted with dichloromethane. The organic layer was separated and concentrated under reduced pressure and purified by column chromatography. Step-c: Synthesis of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example 1 using α-cyclohexylphenylacetic acid instead of 2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-(4methoxy)phenylacetic acid and (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-benzyl-6-amino-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane(1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)]-6-amino-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hexane hydrochloride. 1HNMR (CDCl3): 7.34-7.16 (m, 10ArH), 5.47 (bs, 1H), 3.60 (s, 2H), 3.08-2.98 (m, 3H), 2.76 (dm, 2H), 2.35 (m, 2H), 1.43-0.91 (m, 1H) IR (Br): 1646 cm−1 EXAMPLE 117 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 117) (1α,5α,6α)-3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo-6-amino[3.1.0]-hexane (1 mmol) was dissolved in DMF (10 ml) and to it 2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetylchloride (1.2 mmol) was added followed by the addition of potassium carbonate (2 mmol) and potassium iodide (2 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 3 hours. The reaction mixture was poured into water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was dried and the residue obtained after removal of solvents was purified by column chromatography (100-200 mesh size silicagel) eluting the compound with DCM. m.pt. 81° C. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.41-7.21 (m, 10ArH), 6.69 (bs, 1H), 5.34 (s, 1H), 3.59 (s, 2H), 3.15-3.11 (m, 3H), 2.45-2.41 (m, 211), 1.62-1.55 (m, 2H) IR (KBr): 1666 cm−1 EXAMPLE 113 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 118) Step-a: Synthesis of α-cyclopentylphenylacetonitrile The compound was synthesized following the procedure described in Organic Synthesis Coll. Vol. 3 pg. 220, using cyclopentylbromide instead of cyclohexylbromide. Step-b: Synthesis of α-cyclopentylphenylacetic acid The compound was synthesized following the procedure described of Example-116, step-b, using α-cyclopentylphenylacetonitrile instead of α-cyclohexylphenylacetonitrile. Step-c: Synthesis of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.1-hex-6-yl-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example-1, using α-cyclopentylphenylacetic acid instead of 2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-(4-methoxy)phenylacetic acid and (1α,5α,6α)-3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo-6-amino[3.1.0]hexane instead of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)]-6-amino-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexanehydrochloride. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-value): 7.34-7.16 (m, 10ArH), 5.42 (s, 1H), 3.64 (s, 2H), 3.08-2.86 (m, 4H), 2.35 (m, 2H), 1.68-1.19 (m, 8H), 0.88 (m, 2H). IR (DCM): 1644 cm−1 EXAMPLE 119 Preparation of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-phenylpropionamide (Compound No. 119) The compound was synthesized following the procedure of Example-1 using 2-hydroxy-2-phenyl propionic acid instead of 2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-(4-methoxy)phenyl acetic acid and (1α,5α,6α)-3-benzyl-3-azabicyclo-6-amino[3.1.0]hexane instead of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)]-6-amino-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hexane hydrochloride. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-value):7.53-7.18 (m, 10ArH), 6.35 (bs, 1H), 3.53 (s, 2H), 3.07-3.04 (m, 3H), 2.38-2.33 (m, 2H), 1.78 (s, 3H), 0.970-0.85 (m, 2H) IR(DCM): 1659 cm−1 EXAMPLE 120 Preparation of N-methyl-N-(1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-phenyl ethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-cyclopentyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 120) Step-a: Preparation of N-(1-tert-Butoxycarbonyl (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide To a cold solution of 1 gm (1 mmol) of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-pentyl-2-phenylacetamide in DCM (50 ml) were added 0.9 ml (2mmol) of triethylamine and 0.6 ml, 1.2 mmol of Ditert-butyl dicarbonate diluted with DCM (2 ml) at 0° C. The reaction mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 20 minutes and then at room temperature for 2 hours. The reaction mixture was poured into water, and the organic layer was separated, dried over anhydrous Na2SO4 and concentrated under reduced pressure. The crude compound was purified by column chromatography and the desired product eluted with 30:70 EtOAC-Hexane. m.pt: 69-75° C. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-value):7.23-7.50 (m, 5ArH), 6.59 (s, 1H), 3.67-3.64 (m, 2H), 3.35-3.31 (m, 2H), 2.96 (m, 1H), 2.94 (m, 1H), 1.66-1.45 (m, 8H), 1.40 (s, 9H), 1.26 (1.25 (m, 1H) Step-b: Preparation of N-(1-tert-Butyloxycarbonyl-(1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-cyclopentyl-2-trimethylslilyloxy-2-phenylacetamide To a stirred solution of compound in step 120-a (960 mg, 1 mmol) and imidazole (604 mg, 3.7 mmol) in DMF (20 mg), was added trimethylsilylchloride (0.8 ml, 2.7 mmol) at room temperature and the reaction mixture was stirred for 18 hours. The reaction mixture was poured into water and extracted with diethylether. The organic layer was washed with H2O, brine, and dried over anhydrous Na2SO4. The evaporation of solvent gave the crude product which was purified by silicagel column chromatography. The desired product was eluted with 10:90-EtOAc-hexane mixture. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-value):7.63-7.53 (m, 5ArH), 7.30 (s, 1H), 4.02-3.98 (d, 2H), 3.66 (s, 2H), 3.24-3.13 (m, 1H), 2.74 (s, 1H), 2.11-1.84 (m, 8H), 1.69 (s, 9H), 1.38 (m, 1H), 1.15 (m, 1H), 0.214 (s, 9H). Step-c: Preparation of N-methyl-N-(1-tert-butoxycarbonyl (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentyl-2-phenylacetamide To a stirred solution of compound synthesized in step-120b (825 mg, 1 mmol) in dry THF (15 ml), were sequentially added sodium hydride (556 ml, 152 mg, 1.8 mmol), and tetrabutyl ammonium iodide (50 mg, 0.07 mmol) at 0° C. After 10 minutes, iodomethane was added. The mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature and stirred for 19 hours. The reaction mixture was quenched with saturated NH4Cl solution and the mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was washed with brine, dried over anhydrous Na2SO4 and concentrated. The residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography and the desired product eluted with 8:92 EtOAc-Hexane mixture. IR: 1699.1 cm−1, 1651.9 cm−1 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-value): 7.29-7.23 (m, 5ArH), 3.7 (bs, 2H), 3.40 (bs, 2H), 2.76 (bs, 2H), 2.44 (s, 3H), 1.80-1.51 (m, 8H), 1.43 (s, 9H), 1.25 (m, 1H), 1.22 (m, 1H), 0.19 (s, 3H) Step-d: Preparation of N-methyl(1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-cyclopentyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetamide hydrochloride The compound synthesized in step c (330 m, 1 mmol) was dissolved in 10% HCl—MeOH (8 ml) and the mixture was stirred for 17 hours at room temperature. The solvent was evaporated to obtain the crude compound which was used without purification. IR: 1631.30 cm−1 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-value): 7.40-7.13 (m, 5ArH), 3.60 (bs, 2H), 3.42 (bs, 2H), 2.96 (bs, 2H), 2.75 (s, 3H), 2.00-1.55 (m, 8H), 1.32-1.25 (m, 2H). Step-e: Preparation of N-methyl-N-(1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-phenyl ethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-cyclopentyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetamide To a solution of compound of step-120d (230 mg, 1 mmol) in CH3CN (25 ml) were added potassium carbonate (226 mg, 3 mmol), 1-bromo-1-phenylethane (160 mg, 1.5 mmol) and potassium iodide (170 mg, 1.5 mmol) at room temperature. The reaction mixture was refluxed for 8 hours. The reaction mixture was extracted with EtOAc. The combined organic extract was dried over anhy. Na2SO4 and concentrated. The crude compound was purified by silica gel (100-200 mesh) column chromatography and the desired product was eluted with 20:80 EtOAc/Hexane mixture. IR=1628 cm−1 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-value): 7.41-7.19 (m, 10ArH), 5.27 (s, 1H), 3.20-3.18 (m, 2H), 3.02-2.99 (m, 2H), 2.74-2.70 (m, 1H), 2.68 (s, 3H), 2.25 (m, 1H), 2.21 (m, 1H), 1.18-1.38 (m, 8H), 1.29 (s, 3H), 1.26 (m, 1H), 1.25 (s, 1H) EXAMPLE 121 N-methyl-N-(1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3,4-methylenedioxyethyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-cyclopentyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 121) This compound was synthesized following the same procedure as for Example 120, using 3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl ethyl bromide instead of 1-bromo-1-phenyl ethane. The desired product was eluted with 50:50 EtoAc-Hexane mixture. IR (DCM): 1621.2 cm−1 1HMR (CDCl3-δ-values): 7.39-7.21 (m, 5ArH), 6.74-6.60 (m, 3Ar—H), 5.92 (s, 2H), 5.17 (s, 1H), 3.14-3.01 (m, 4H), 2.71 (s, 3H), 2.60-2.58 (m, 4H), 2.33 (m, 2H), 1. EXAMPLE 122 Preparation of N-methyl-N-(1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(1-benzyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-cyclopentyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 122) This compound was synthesized following the same method as for Example 120e, using benzyl bromide instead of 1-bromo-1-phenyl ethane. The desired product eluted with 50:50 EtoAc/Hexane mixture. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-value): 7.40-7.23 (m, 10ArH), 5.19 (s, 1H), 3.54 (s, 2H), 3.03 (m, 4H), 2.70 (s, 3H), 2.35 (m, 2H), 1.79-1.44 (m, 8H), 1.42 (m, 1H), 1.25 (m, 1H) IR=1627.8 cm−1 EXAMPLE 123 Preparation of N-methyl(1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3,4-methylenedioxyethyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-cyclohexyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 123) Step-a: Preparation of N-(1-tert-butoxycarbonyl(1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide This compound was synthesized following the same method as for Example 120, step a, by using (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexyl-2-phenylacetamide instead of (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-hydroxy -2-phenylacetamide. m.pt: 93-97° C. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-values): 7.59-7.23 (m, 5ArH), 6.78 (s, 1H), 3.67-3.61 (m, 2H), 3.35-3.32 (m, 2H), 2.61 (s, 1H), 2.41-2.37 (m, 2H), 1.77-1.44 (m, 10H), 1.40 (s, 9H), 1.11 (m, 1H), 0.85 (m, 1H). IR: 1698.8 cm−1 and 1676 cm−1 Step-b: Preparation of N-(1-tert-butyloxycarbonyl(1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-cyclohexyl-2-trimethylsilyloxy-2-phenylacetamide This compound was synthesized following the same procedure as for Example 120, step-b, using N-(1-tert-butyloxycarbonyl(1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-cyclohexyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenyl acetamide instead of N-(t-tert-butyloxycarbonyl(1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-cyclopenyl-2-trimethylsilyloxy-2-phenylacetamide. m.pt. : 62-66° C. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-value): 7.26-7.14 (m, 5ArH), 3.74-3.64 (m, 2H), 3.40 (bs, 2H), 2.37 (s, 3H), 2.30 (bs, 2H), 1.71-1.53 (m, 10H), 1.42 (s, 3H), 1.33-1.21 (m, 2H), 0.19 (s, 9H). IR :1701.15 cm−1 1652.3 cm−1 Step-c: N-methyl-N-(1-tert-butyloxy carbonyl 1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-cyclohexyl-2-trimethyl-silyloxy-2-phenylacetamide This compound was synthesized following the same procedure as for Example 120, step-c, using N-methyl-N-(1-tert-butyloxy carbonyl 1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-cyclohexyl-2-trimethyl-silyloxy-2-phenylacetamide instead of N-(1-tert-butyloxy carbonyl (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl]-2-cyclohexyl-2-trimethylsilyloxy-2-phenylacetamide. The desired product eluted with 25:75 EtoAc/hexane mixture. m.pt.: 62-66° C. 1HNMR (CDCl3-δ-values): 7.26-7.14 (m, 5ArH), 3.74-3.64 (m, 2H), 3.40 (bs, 2H), 2.37 (s, 3H), 2.30 (bs, 2H), 1.71-1.53 (m, 10H), 1.42 (s, 3), 1.33-1.21 (m, 2H), 0.19 (s, 9H). IR (KBr): 1701.5 cm−1 and 1652.3 cm−1 Step-d: Preparation of N-methyl(1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-cyclohexyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetamide hydrochloride This compound was synthesized following the same procedure as for Example 120, Step-d, by using N-methyl-N-(1-tert-butyloxy carbonyl (1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-cyclohexyl-2-trimethylsilyloxy-2-phenylacetamide. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-value): 7.42-7.22 (m, 5ArH), 5.30 (s, 1H), 3.73-3.00 (m, 6H), 2.81 (s, 3H), 1.82-1.38 (m, 10H), 1.32-1.25 (m, 2H) IR: 1627.10 cm−1 Step e: Preparation of N-methyl(1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(3,4-methylenedioxyethyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-cyclohexyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetamide This compound was synthesized following the same procedure as for Example 120, using compound synthesized in step-123d and 3,4-methylenedioxyphenylethylbromide. The crude compound was purified by silicagel (100-200) column chromatography and the desired product was eluted with 40:60 EtoAc/Hexane. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-value): 7.41-7.21 (m, 5ArH), 6.74-6.61 (m, 3 ArH), 5.92 (s, 2H), 4.80 (s, 1H), 3.21-3.18 (m, 1H), 3.06:2.95 (m, 2H), 2.75 (s, 3H), 2.65-2.49 (m, 5H), 2.37-2.32 (t, 2H), 1.80-0.88 (m, 12H) IR (KBr): 1622.2 cm−1 EXAMPLE 124 Preparation of N-methyl-N-(1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-cyclohexyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 124) This compound was synthesized following the same procedure as for Example 123, using 5-bromo-2-methyl-2-pentene instead of 3,4-methylenedioxyphenylethylbromide. Eluent=40% EtoAc/Hexane 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-value): 7.43-7.21 (m, 5ArH), 5.12-5.07 (t, 1H), 4.87 (s, 1H), 3.39-3.36 (m, 1H), 3.18-2.98 (m, 2H), 2.75 (s, 3H), 2.50 (bs, 1H), 2.38-2.27 (m, 3H), 2.12-2.05 (m, 2H), 1.69-1.25 (m, 14H), 1.11 (s, 6H) IR: 1627.1 cm−1 EXAMPLE 125 Preparation of N-methyl-N-(1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-cyclopentyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetamide (Compound No. 125) The compound was synthesized following the same procedure as for Example 120, using 5-bromo-2-methyl-2-pentene instead of 1-bromo-1-phenyl ethane. 1HNMR (CDCl3, δ-value): 7.40-7.21 (m, 5ArH), 5.21 (s, 1H), 5.09-5.05 (t, 1H), 3.12-3.09 (m, 2H), 2.95 (s, 1H), 2.71 (s, 3H), 2.37-2.32 (m, 3H), 2.09-2.07 (m, 2H0, 1.68 (s, 6H), 1.65-1.51 (m, 8H), 1.48-1.41 (m, 2H), 1.25 (m, 2H). IR: 1632.8 cm−1, 1651.9 cm−1 EXAMPLE 126 Preparation of N-methyl-N-(1α,5α,6α)-N-[3-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hex-6-yl]-2-cyclopentyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetamide L(+) Tartarate salt (Compound No. 126) To a solution of compound synthesized in Example 125 (485 mg, 1 mmol) in 8 ml of EtOH was added L (+) tartaric acid (184 mg, 1mmol) and the reaction mixture heated at 60° C. for 1 hr. After 1 hour the reaction mixture was concentrated to give a solid compound. mpt.: 71-75° C. IR (Kbi): 1735 cm−1 and 1625.7 cm−1 HPLC: 98.60% Biological Activity Radioligand Binding Assays: The affinity of test compounds for M2 and M3 muscarinic receptor subtypes was determined by [3H]—N-methylscopolamine binding studies using rat heart and submandibular gland respectively as described by Moriya et al., (Life Sci., 1999,64(25):2351-2358) with minor modifications. Membrane preparation: Submandibular glands and heart were isolated and placed in ice cold homogenizing buffer (HEPES 20 mM, 10 mM EDTA, pH 7.4) immediately after sacrifice. The tissues were homogenized in 10 volumes of homogenizing buffer and the homogenate was filtered through two layers of wet gauze and filtrate was centrifuged at 500 g for 10 min. The supernatant was subsequently centrifuged at 40,000 g for 20 min. The pellet thus obtained was resuspended in same volume of assay buffer (HEPES 20 mM, EDTA 5 mM, pH 7.4) and were stored at −70° C. until the time of assay. Ligand binding assay The compounds were dissolved and diluted in DMSO. The membrane homogenates (150-250 μg protein) were incubated in 250 μl of assay buffer (HEPES 20 mM, pH 7.4) at 24-25° C. for 3 h. Non-specific binding was determined in the-presence of 1 μM atropine. The incubation was terminated by vacuum filtration over GF/B fiber filters(Wallac). The filters were then washed with ice cold 50 mM Tris HCl buffer (pH 7.4). The filter mats were dried and bound radioactivity retained on filters was counted. The IC50 & Kd were estimated by using the non-linear curve fitting program using G Pad Prism software. The value of inhibition constant Ki was calculated from competitive binding studies by using Cheng & Prusoff equation (Biochem Pharmacol, 1973,22: 3099-3108), Ki=IC50/(1+L/Kd), where L is the concentration of [3H]NMS used in the particular experiment. Functional Experiments Using Isolated Rat Bladder: Methodology: Animals were euthanized by overdose of urethane and whole bladder was isolated and removed rapidly and placed in ice cold Tyrode buffer with the following composition (mMol/L) NaCl 137; KCl 2.7; CaCl2 1.8; MgCl2 0.1; NaHCO3 11.9; NaH2PO4 0.4; Glucose 5:55 and continuously gassed with 95% O2 and 5% CO2. The bladder was cut into longitudinal strips (3mm wide and 5-6 mm long) and mounted in 10 ml organ baths at 30° C., with one end connected to the base of the tissue holder and the other end connected to a polygraph through a force displacement transducer. Each tissue was maintained at a constant basal tension of 2 g and allowed to equilibrate for 1 hour during which the PSS was changed every 15 min. At the end of equilibration period the stabilization of the tissue contractile response was assessed with 1 μmol/L of Carbachol consecutively for 2-3 times. Subsequently a cumulative concentration response curve to carbachol (10-9 mol/L to 3×10−5 mol/L) was obtained. After several washes, once the baseline was achieved, cumulative concentration response curve was obtained in presence of NCE (NCE added 20 min. prior to the second CRC). The contractile results were expressed as % of control E max. ED50 values were calculated by fitting a non-linear regression curve (Graph Pad Prism). PKB values were calculated by the formula pKB=−log [(molar concentration of antagonist/(dose ratio−1))] where, dose ratio ED50 in the presence of antagonist/ED50 in the absence of antagonist. The results of In-Vitro tests are listed in Table II. TABLE II Receptor Binding Assay Functional pKi (nM) Assay pKB M2 M3 (nM) Compound No. 2 5.5 6.89 7.52 Compound No. 3 5.4 6.28 8.04 Compound No. 17 6.3 7.1 7.02 Compound No. 19 5.58 6.11 7.52 Compound No. 21 6.2 7.6 8.2 Compound No. 43 5.91 7.23 6.86 Compound No. 50 6.09 7.36 7.48 Compound No. 58 6.81 8.23 7.89 Compound No. 66 6.27 7.36 7.67 Compound No. 71 6.01 7.37 6.8 Compound No. 81 7.27 8.62 7.89 Compound No. 115 <6 <6 5.45 Compound No. 116 <6 <6 6.03 Compound No. 117 <6 <6 5.08 Compound No. 125 7.61 7.58 8.36 While the present invention has been described in terms of its specific embodiments, certain modifications and equivalents will be apparent to those skilled in the art and are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.

<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Muscarinic receptors as members of the G Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) are composed of a family of 5 receptor sub-types (M 1 , M 2 , M 3 , M 4 and M 5 ) and are activated by the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. These receptors are widely distributed on multiple organs and tissues and are critical to the maintenance of central and peripheral cholinergic neurotransmission. The regional distribution of these receptor sub-types in the brain and other organs has been documented. For example, the M 1 subtype is located primarily in neuronal tissues such as cereberal cortex and autonomic ganglia, the M 2 subtype is present mainly in the heart where it mediates cholinergically induced bradycardia, and the M 3 subtype is located predominantly on smooth muscle and salivary glands ( Nature, 1986; 323: 411; Science, 1987; 237: 527). A review in Current Opinions in Chemical Biology, 1999; 3: 426, as well as in Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, 2001; 22: 409 by Eglen et. al., describe the biological potentials of modulating muscarinic receptor subtypes by ligands in different disease conditions like Alzheimer's disease, pain, urinary disease condition, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease etc. A review in J. Med. Chem., 2000; 43: 4333 by Christian C. Felder et. al. describes therapeutic opportunities for muscarinic receptors in the central nervous system and elaborates on muscarinic receptor structure and function, pharmacology and their therapeutic uses. The pharmacological and medical aspects of the muscarinic class of acetylcholine agonists and antagonists are presented in a review in Molecules, 2001, 6: 142. N. J. M. Birdsall et. al. in Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, 2001; 22: 215 have also summarized the recent developments on the role of different muscarinic receptor subtypes using different muscarinic receptors of knock out mice. Muscarinic agonists such as muscarine and pilocarpine and antagonists such as atropine have been known for over a century, but little progress has been made in the discovery of receptor subtype-selective compounds making it difficult to assign specific functions to the individual receptors. Although classical muscarinic antagonists such as atropine are potent bronchodilators, their clinical utility is limited due to high incidence of both peripheral and central adverse effects such as tachycardia, blurred vision, dryness of mouth, constipation, dementia, etc. Subsequent development of the quarterly derivatives of atropine such as ipratropium bromide are better tolerated than parenterally administered options but most of them are not ideal anti-cholinergic bronchodilators due to lack of selectivity for muscarinic receptor sub-types. The existing compounds offer limited therapeutic benefit due to their lack of selectivity resulting in dose limiting side-effects such as thirst, nausea, mydriasis and those associated with the heart such as tachycardia mediated by the M 2 receptor. Annual review of Pharmacological Toxicol., 2001; 41: 691, describes the pharmacology of the lower urinary tract infections. Although anti muscarinic agents such as oxybutynin and tolterodine that act non-selectively on muscarinic receptors have been used for many years to treat bladder hyperactivity, the clinical effectiveness of these agents has been limited due to the side effects such as dry mouth, blurred vision and constipation. Tolterodine is considered to be generally better tolerated than oxybutynin. (W. D. Steers et. al. in Curr. Opin. Invest. Drugs, 2: 268, C. R. Chapple et. al. in Urology, 55: 33), Steers W D, Barrot D M, Wein A J, 1996, Voiding dysfunction: diagnosis classification and management. In “Adult and Pediatric Urology,” ed. J Y Gillenwatter, J T Grayhack, S S Howards, J W Duckett, pp 1220-1325, St. Louis, Mo.; Mosby. 3 rd edition.) Despite these advances, there remains a need for development of new highly selective muscarinic antagonists which can interact with distinct subtypes, thus avoiding the occurrence of adverse effects. Compounds having antagonistic activity against muscarinic receptors have been described in Japanese patent application Laid Open Number 92921/1994 and 135958/1994; WO 93/16048; U.S. Pat. No. 3,176,019; GB 940,540; EP 0325 571; WO 98/29402; EP 0801067; EP 0388054; WO 9109013; U.S. Pat. No. 5,281,601. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,174,900, 6,130,232 and 5,948,792; WO 97/45414 are related to 1,4-disubstituted piperidine derivatives; WO 98/05641 describes fluorinated, 1,4-disubstitued piperidine derivatives; WO 93/16018 and WO96/33973 are other close art references. A report in J. Med. Chem., 2002; 44:984, describes cyclohexylmethyl piperidinyl triphenylpropioamide derivatives as selective M 3 antagonist discriminating against the other receptor subtypes.

<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The present invention provides 3,6-disubstituted azabicyclo hexanes which function as muscarinic receptor antagonists and are useful as safe treatment of various diseases of the respiratory, urinary and gastrointestinal systems, and methods for the syntheses of the compounds. The present invention includes 3,6-disubstituted azabicyclo [3.1.0], [3.1.1] and [3.1.2] hexanes. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds, and which may also contain acceptable carriers, excipients or diluents which are useful for the treatment of various diseases of the respiratory, urinary and gastrointestinal systems. The present invention also includes within its scope prodrugs of the compounds. In general, such prodrugs are functionalized derivatives of these compounds which readily get converted in vivo into the defined compounds. Conventional procedures for the selection and preparation of suitable prodrugs are known to the artisan of ordinary skill in the art. The invention also includes the enantiomers, diastereomers, N-oxides, polymorphs, pharmaceutically acceptable salts, pharmaceutically acceptable solvates, esters and metabolities of these compounds having the same type of activity. The invention further includes pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of the present invention, their enantiomers, diastereomers, prodrugs, N-oxides, polymorphs, pharmaceutically acceptable salts, pharmaceutically acceptable solvates, esters, or metabolites in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and optionally included excipients. Other advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description or may be learnt by the practice of the invention. The objects and the advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the mechanisms and combinations pointed out in the appended claims. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a compound having the structure of Formula I: and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts, pharmaceutically acceptable solvates, esters, enantiomers, diastereomers, N-oxides, polymorphs, prodrugs, or metabolites, wherein Ar represents an aryl or a heteroaryl ring having 1-2 hetero atoms selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulphur and nitrogen atoms, the aryl or heteroaryl rings may be unsubstituted or substituted by one to three substituents independently selected from lower alkyl(C 1 -C 4 ), trifluoromethyl cyano, hydroxy, nitro, halogen (e.g. F, Cl, Br or I), lower alkoxy(C 1 -C 4 ), amino or lower alkylamino(C 1 -C 4 ); R 1 represents a hydrogen, hydroxy, hydroxymethyl, loweralkyl(C 1 -C 4 ), amino, alkoxy, cycloalkyl(C 3 -C 7 ), carbamoyl, halogen (e.g. F, Cl, Br, I) or aryl; R 2 represents alkyl, C 3 -C 7 cycloalkyl ring, C 3 -C 7 cycloalkenyl ring, an aryl or a heteroaryl ring having 1 to 2 hetero atoms selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulphur and nitrogen atoms; the aryl or a hetero aryl ring may be unsubstituted or substituted by one to three substituents independently selected from lower alkyl(C 1 -C 4 ), trifluoromethyl, cyano, hydroxy, nitro, lower alkoxycarbonyl, halogen, lower alkoxy(C 1 -C 4 ), unsubstituted amino or lower alkyl(C 1 -C 4 ) amino; W represents (CH 2 ) p , where p represents 0 to 1; X represents an oxygen, sulphur, NR or no atom wherein R represents hydrogen or C 1-6 alkyl; Y represents CHR 5 CO wherein R 5 represents hydrogen or methyl or (CH 2 ) q wherein q represents 0 to 4; m represents 0 to 2; R 3 represents hydrogen, lower alkyl(C 1 -C 4 ) or CO 2 C (CH 3 ) 3 ; R 4 represents C 1 -C 15 saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon (straight chain or branched) in which any 1 to 6 hydrogen atoms may be substituted with the group independently selected from halogen (e.g. F, Cl, Br, I), carboxylic acid, carboxylic acid ester, aryl, aryloxy, arylalkyl, arylalkenyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, heteroarylalkenyl having 1 to 2 hetero atoms selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur with an option that any 1 to 5 hydrogen atoms on an aryl or heteroaryl ring in said aryl, aryloxy, arylalkyl, arylalkenyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkenyl group may be substituted with lower alkyl, trifluoromethyl, halogen (e.g. F, Cl, Br, I), cyano, nitro, hydroxy, lower (C 1 -C 4 )alkoxy, amino, lower (C 1 -C 4 )alkylamino, sulphonylamino, amide, carboxylic acid, carboxylic acid ester or benzyl ester. In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a compound having the structure of Formula II and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts, pharmaceutically acceptable solvates, esters, enantiomers, diastereomers, N-oxides, polymorphs, prodrugs, metabolites, wherein Ar, R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , W, X and Y are as defined for Formula I. In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a compound having the stucture of Formula III and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts, pharmaceutically acceptable solvates, esters, enantiomers, diastereomers, N-oxides, polymorphs, prodrugs, metabolites, wherein Ar, R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are as defined for Formula I In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a compound having the structure of Formula IV and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts, pharmaceutically acceptable solvates, esters, enantiomers, diastereomers, N-oxides, polymorphs, prodrugs, metabolites, wherein Ar, R 1 , R 3 and R 4 are as defined for Formula I and r is 1 to 4. In accordance with a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a compound having the stucture of Formula V and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts, pharmaceutically acceptable solvates, esters, enantiomers, diastereomers, N-oxides, polymorphs, prodrugs, metabolites, wherein Ar, R 1 , R 3 and R 4 are as defined for Formula I and s is 1 to 3. In accordance with a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a compound having the stucture of Formula VI and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts, pharmaceutically acceptable solvates, esters, enantiomers, diastereomers, N-oxides, polymorphs, prodrugs, metabolites, wherein Formula VI wherein R 3 , R 4 and s are the same as defined for Formula V. In accordance with a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for treatment or prophylaxis of an animal or a human suffering from a disease or disorder of the respiratory, urinary and gastrointestinal systems, wherein the disease or disorder is mediated through muscarinic receptors, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof, an effective amount of compounds as described above. In accordance with an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for treatment or prophylaxis of an animal or a human suffering from a disease or disorder of the respiratory systems such as bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis, etc., urinary system which induce such urinary disorders as urinary incontinence, lower urinary tract systems (LUTS), etc., and gastrointestinal system such as irritable bowel syndrome, obesity, diabetes and gastrointestinal hyperkinesis with compounds as described above, wherein the disease or disorder is associated with muscarinic receptors, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof, an effective amount of compounds as described above. In accordance with a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process for preparing the compounds as described above. The compounds of the present invention exhibit significant potency in terms of their activity, which was determined by in vitro receptor binding and functional assays and in vitro experiments using anaesthetized rabbit. Compounds were tested in vitro and in vitro. Some compounds were found to function as potent muscarinic receptor antagonists with high affinity towards M 3 receptors. Therefore, the present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions for treatment of diseases or disorders associated with muscarinic receptors. Compounds and compositions described herein can be administered orally or parenterally. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"?

20060506

20090210

20061102

81101.0

A61K3155

NOLAN, JASON MICHAEL

3,6-DISUBSTITUTED AZABICYCLO HEXANE DERIVATIVES AS MUSCARINIC RECEPTOR ANTAGONISTS

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

A61K

ACCEPTED

Surgical clips without protusions

A surgical clip (5) is provided for clipping a tubular structure (9) in vivo to ligate the tubular structure. The clip comprises first and second clip portions (6, 7). A hinge portion (8) is provided connecting the clip portions together and to enable the clip portions to be hinged together from an open clip condition to a closed clip condition thereby to ligate a tubular structure placed between the clip portions. A lock is provided for locking the clip portions together in the closed clip condition. In the closed clip condition the clip has a substantially smooth external profile, for example including blunt ends (21), so as to reduce the possibility of the clip (in use) eroding surrounding tissue structures.

1-103. (canceled) 104. A surgical clip for clipping a tubular structure in vivo so as to ligate the tubular structure, the clip comprising: first and second clip portions; and a hinge portion connecting said clip portions together to enable said clip portions to be hinged together from an open clip condition to a closed clip condition so as to ligate a tubular structure placed between said clip portions; wherein each of the clip portions has a clamping surface which is arranged to be positioned in opposition to, generally parallel to and spaced apart from the clamping surface of the other clip portion in said closed clip condition; and wherein the hinge portion has a pivot axis about which the first and second clip portions are hinged and in said closed clip condition the maximum dimension of the clip in the direction of that hinge axis is between 0.5 and 1.0 times the maximum dimension of the clip in a direction orthogonal to the hinge axis, which orthogonal direction is generally parallel to said opposed clamping surfaces in said closed clip condition; and wherein in the or each said closed clip condition the clip is substantially free of i) external projections and ii) rough or sharp ends or edges so as to reduce the possibility of the clip eroding tissue structures surrounding the clip in vivo. 105. A clip as claimed in claim 104, wherein in said closed clip condition said maximum dimension of the clip in the direction of the hinge axis is at least 0.6 times the maximum dimension of the clip in said orthogonal direction. 106. A clip as claimed in claim 104, wherein in said closed clip condition said maximum dimension of the clip in the direction of the hinge axis is at least 0.7 times the maximum dimension of the clip in said orthogonal direction. 107. A clip as claimed in claim 104, wherein in said closed clip condition said maximum dimension of the clip in the direction of the hinge axis is at least 0.8 times, preferably 0.9 times, the maximum dimension of the clip in said orthogonal direction. 108. A clip as claimed in claim 104, further comprising a lock for locking said clip portions together in said closed clip condition, said lock being provided on the opposite side of the clip to the hinge portion so that, in use, the tubular structure to be ligated can be positioned between the hinge portion and said lock, said lock comprising a first lock portion provided on the first clip portion and a second lock portion provided on the second clip portion, which first and second lock portions are arranged to cooperate to lock said clip portions together in said closed clip condition, said first lock portion protruding from the first clip portion and said second lock portion being arranged to at least partially receive said protruding first lock portion. 109. A clip as claimed in claim 108, wherein said first lock portion is provided with at least one barb and the second lock portion is arranged to receive said at least one barb so as to lock said clip portions together in said closed clip condition, said second lock portion is provided with at least one barb, and at least one of the first and second lock portions is provided with a plurality of barbs to function like a locking ratchet when the clip portions are hinged to said closed clip condition. 110. A clip as claimed in claim 109, wherein both of said first and second lock portions are provided with a plurality of barbs and wherein in said closed clip condition at least two barbs of said first lock portion are in contact with at least two barbs of the second lock portion to provide a plurality of barb-to-barb contacts. 111. A clip as claimed in claim 110, wherein the plurality of barbs enable the clip portions to be locked together in a plurality of different said closed clip conditions, each different closed clip condition representing a different spacing between the clip portions, so as to allow for the ligation of tubular structures of a range of different sizes. 112. A clip as claimed in claim 104, wherein the clip in said closed clip condition has a generally spherical external shape. 113. A clip as claimed in claim 112, wherein both of said clip portions are generally hemispherical in shape. 114. A clip as claimed in claim 104, wherein the clip in said closed clip condition has a generally oval external shape. 115. A clip as claimed in claim 114, wherein both of said clip portions are generally hemioval in shape. 116. A clip as claimed in claim 104, wherein the spacing between the clamping surfaces in the or each said closed clip condition is at least 0.1 mm, preferably at least 0.3 mm. 117. A clip as claimed in claim 116, wherein the spacing is less than about 1 mm, preferably less than 0.5 mm. 118. A clip as claimed in claim 104, wherein at least one of the first and second clip portions has a non-homogeneous construction, with the part of said at least one clip portion which forms the external profile of the clip in said closed clip condition being made of a first material and the part of said at least one clip portion which forms said clamping surface being formed of a second material which is softer than the first material. 119. A clip as claimed in claim 118, wherein the second material is moulded in situ on the first material in a multi-stage moulding process. 120. A clip as claimed in claim 118, wherein the first material has a hardness generally similar to that of hard polypropylene and the second material has a hardness generally similar to that of soft silicone. 121. A clip as claimed in claim 118, wherein the hinge portion is also made of said first material. 122. A clip as claimed in claim 104, wherein at least the majority of the clip structure is non-metallic, for example it is made of nylon or polydioxanone. 123. A clip as claimed in claim 104, wherein the clamping surfaces of the clip are generally planar. 124. A surgical clip for clipping a tubular structure in vivo so as to ligate the tubular structure, the clip comprising: first and second clip portions; a hinge portion connecting said clip portions together to enable said clip portions to be hinged together from an open clip condition to at least one closed clip condition so as to ligate a tubular structure placed between said clip portions; and a lock for locking said clip portions together in said closed clip condition; wherein in said closed clip condition the clip has a substantially smooth generally spherical or generally oval external shape so as to reduce the possibility of the clip eroding tissue structures surrounding the clip in use. 125. A clip as claimed in claim 124, wherein in said closed clip condition the clip is substantially free of external projections. 126. A clip as claimed in claim 124, wherein said lock comprises a first lock portion which protrudes from the first clip portion to terminate at a distal end, said distal end of said first lock portion being arranged to be substantially shielded from projecting into said surrounding tissue structures in said closed clip condition. 127. A clip as claimed in claim 126, wherein said distal end of said first lock portion is arranged to be substantially shielded from projecting into said surrounding tissue structures by intimate nesting of the first lock portion with the body of the second clip portion. 128. A clip as claimed in claim 127, wherein the second clip portion is provided with a recess to receive said distal end of said first lock portion in said closed clip condition to shield said distal end from projecting into said surrounding tissue structures. 129. A clip as claimed in claim 128, wherein the recess is an open-sided channel, so that at least one side of said distal end of said first lock portion is not shielded by the second clip portion from contact with said surrounding tissue structures. 130. A clip as claimed in claim 126, wherein said lock further comprises a second lock portion provided on the second clip portion, at least one of said first and second lock portions being provided with a plurality of barbs to function like a ratchet when the clip portions are hinged to said closed clip condition and wherein the plurality of barbs of said at least one lock portion enable the clip portions to be locked together in a plurality of different said closed clip conditions, each different closed clip condition representing a different spacing between the clip portions, so as to allow for the ligation of tubular structures of a range of different sizes. 131. A clip as claimed in claim 125, wherein said lock comprises a first lock portion which protrudes from the first clip portion and each of the clip portions has a clamping surface which is arranged to be positioned in opposition to the clamping surface of the other clip portion in said closed clip condition and said first lock portion protrudes from the first clip portion's clamping surface in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first clip portion's clamping surface. 132. A clip as claimed in claim 131, wherein the hinge portion has a pivot axis about which the first and second clip portions are hinged and in said closed clip condition the maximum dimension of the clip in the direction of that hinge axis is at least 0.5 times the maximum dimension of the clip in a direction orthogonal to the hinge axis, which orthogonal direction is generally parallel to said opposed clamping surfaces in said closed clip condition. 133. A clip as claimed in claim 132, wherein in said closed clip condition the maximum dimension of the clip in the direction of that hinge axis is at least 0.6 times the maximum dimension of the clip in a direction orthogonal to the hinge axis, which orthogonal direction is generally parallel to said opposed clamping surfaces in said closed clip condition. 134. A clip as claimed in claim 132, wherein in said closed clip condition the maximum dimension of the clip in the direction of that hinge axis is at least 0.7 times the maximum dimension of the clip in a direction orthogonal to the hinge axis, which orthogonal direction is generally parallel to said opposed clamping surfaces in said closed clip condition. 135. A clip as claimed in claim 132, wherein in said closed clip condition the maximum dimension of the clip in the direction of that hinge axis is at least 0.8 times, preferably 0.9 times and most preferably as great as the maximum dimension of the clip in a direction orthogonal to the hinge axis, which orthogonal direction is generally parallel to said opposed clamping surfaces in said closed clip condition. 136. A clip as claimed in claim 124, wherein both of said clip portions are generally hemispherical in shape. 137. A clip as claimed in claim 124, wherein both of said clip portions are generally hemioval in shape. 138. A clip as claimed in claim 131, wherein the clip is so constructed and arranged that, in the or each said closed clip condition, at least part of one of said clamping surfaces is spaced apart from at least part of the other of said clamping surfaces, the size of the spacing being appropriate to the size of the tubular structure to be ligated and being at least 0.1 mm, preferably at least 0.3 mm. 139. A clip as claimed in claim 138, wherein the spacing is less than about 1 mm, preferably less than 0.5 mm. 140. A clip as claimed in claim 124, wherein at least one of the first and second clip portions has a non-homogeneous construction, with the part of said at least one clip portion which forms the external profile of the clip in said closed clip condition being made of a first material and the part of said at least one clip portion which forms said clamping surface being formed of a second material which is softer than the first material. 141. A clip as claimed in claim 140, wherein the second material is moulded in situ on the first material in a multi-stage moulding process. 142. A clip as claimed in claim 140, wherein the first material has a hardness generally similar to that of hard polypropylene and the second material has a hardness generally similar to that of soft silicone. 143. A clip as claimed in claim 140, wherein the hinge portion is also made of said first material. 144. A clip as claimed in claim 124, wherein at least the majority of the clip structure is non-metallic, for example it is made of nylon or polydioxanone. 145. A clip as claimed in claim 124, wherein the clip is substantially free of rough or sharp ends or edges, at least when in said closed clip condition. 146. A clip as claimed in claim 104, wherein the clip is provided in a sterile container. 147. A clip as claimed in claim 124, wherein the clip is provided in a sterile container. 148. A cartridge or magazine comprising a plurality of surgical clips having the construction claimed in claim 104, said surgical clips being removably provided in a cartridge or magazine structure and the cartridge or magazine being provided in a sterile container. 149. A cartridge or magazine comprising a plurality of surgical clips having the construction claimed in claim 124, said surgical clips being removably provided in a cartridge or magazine structure and the cartridge or magazine being provided in a sterile container. 150. A combination of a surgical clip application device and at least one surgical clip having the construction claimed in claim 104, wherein the application device is operable to apply said at least one clip around a tubular structure to be ligated and to switch said at least one clip from its open clip condition to its closed clip condition so as to ligate the tubular structure. 151. A combination of a surgical clip application device and at least one surgical clip having the construction claimed in claim 124, wherein the application device is operable to apply said at least one clip around a tubular structure to be ligated and to switch said at least one clip from its open clip condition to its closed clip condition so as to ligate the tubular structure. 152. A combination as claimed in claim 150, wherein the application device is pre-loaded with a plurality of said clips and is provided in a sterile container. 153. A combination as claimed in claim 151, wherein the application device is pre-loaded with a plurality of said clips and is provided in a sterile container. 154. A method of ligating a tubular structure comprising: providing a surgical clip as claimed in claim 104; applying the clip in said open clip condition to the tubular structure to be ligated, with the tubular structure extending between the open clip portions; and hinging the clip portions together about the hinge portion so as to convert the clip from its open clip condition to its closed clip condition, thereby to ligate the tubular structure. 155. A method of ligating a tubular structure comprising: providing a surgical clip as claimed in claim 124; applying the clip in said open clip condition to the tubular structure to be ligated, with the tubular structure extending between the open clip portions; and hinging the clip portions together about the hinge portion so as to convert the clip from its open clip condition to its closed clip condition, thereby to ligate the tubular structure.

This invention relates to surgical clips for use in the occlusion or ligation of tubular structures. The ligation or occlusion of tubular structures such as vessels, for example arteries, veins or lymphatics, is routinely performed by clipping. Such clips may, for example, be folded metal pieces, often stainless steel or titanium, which are available in various different sizes—one such prior art clip is shown in FIG. 1. These clips are applied singly from an independent cartridge, or singly from a semi-automatic, pre-filled magazine. In either case, the clip (mounted in an applicator device) is passed across the vessel to be clipped. The applicator device is then operated. As shown in the sequence of FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c, operation of the applicator device causes the distal (open) tips of the bent metal clip 1 to be brought together first. After the tips have been brought together so as to trap the vessel 2 within the confines of the clip, the central portions of the clip are brought together to ligate the vessel. In this way it is hoped that the vessel will not slip out of the clip during application of the clip. There are, however, several problems associated with these prior art, metal clips. A first problem is that vessels, such as arteries, are tubular structures (generally of circular cross-section) that have their thickness composed mainly of smooth muscle. This gives the vessels a variable degree of “substance”, which might be enhanced further by a disease process affecting them, such as atheroma, calcification (especially in diabetes) or stiffening (as with hypertension). By placing a bent, flat profile metal clip across a tubular structure that does not wish to be flat, there is a risk that the vessel will slip out of the clip. This risk generally increases with vessel size. By way of example, FIG. 3 shows a vessel 3 which is to be “clipped in continuity”, prior to division. The vessel 3 has two clips 4 applied to it (spaced apart by say 1 cm) to occlude it. In FIG. 3, arrow X marks the site of the intended division of the vessel. In the sort of situation illustrated in FIG. 3, the problem of the vessel 3 slipping out of the clips 4 is more annoying than dangerous. Provided the vessel 3 is still intact when one of the clips 4 slips off, there is no loss of blood and the surgeon can simply apply another clip (not shown). Indeed, it is quite common for a surgeon to apply a pair of clips to each side of the site to be cut so as to provide redundancy if one of the clips should slip off. Once the surgeon establishes that the clips 4 have not slipped off the vessel 3, that vessel can then be cut. A typical procedure of this sort would be where clips are used in the harvesting of long saphenous vein for cardiac or peripheral bypass use, or in colorectal surgery when dividing vessels within the mesentery. The situation is far more dangerous, however, if a clip is being used to prevent bleeding from an already divided vessel, which vessel might be difficult for a surgeon to access. It might occur with a venous bleed within the pelvis during colorectal or urological surgery. Alternatively, the vessel might be a damaged vessel during a laparoscopic procedure, for example a torn intercostal vein encountered during a laparoscopic cervical sympathectomy. In such a situation, if an applied clip slips off the vessel significant volumes of blood can be lost during the time taken to apply one or more further clips. A second problem can occur even when a prior art clip is applied successfully. The closed ends of prior art metal clips can be relatively sharp and rough. As a result these ends can erode into adjacent structures in much the same way as suture ends of prolene, at the top end of an aortic graft anastomosis, are thought to erode into the adjacent duodenum, causing an aorto-enteric fistula. As a result, vascular surgeons would hesitate to place a prior art, metal clip adjacent to the femoral vein, for example at the sapheno-femoral junction, so as to ligate, for example, the deep pudendal venous tributary, for fear of the clip ends eroding into the femoral vein, causing bleeding and the possibility also of thrombosis. Additionally, if clips are used close to the skin surface, for example in harvesting long saphenous vein, it is possible that the clips can easily be felt by the patient through the closed skin, which is undesirable. A third problem can arise as a result of the prior art clips being metallic. Sometimes patients post-operatively require a Computerised Tomography (CT) or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan. In some MRI scanners the metal of the clip can be caused to “vibrate” dramatically in the created magnetic field, causing heating of the clip and local tissue damage. In a CT scanner the presence of the metal clip can cause a “starburst” artefactual effect on the final film produced, which effect may cloud local pathology, for example a small carcinoma in the head of the pancreas. A fourth problem can arise with prior art clips when a vessel is to be divided in continuity, as described above in conjunction with FIG. 3. In such a situation it is common for the clips to need to be placed at least several millimetres apart, maybe even up to a centimetre or more, to allow the scissors or knife access to cut, as well as to minimize the risk of the cutting implement dislodging the clips. This need to leave at least several millimetres between a clip and what will end up being the cut end of a vessel can have adverse consequences. For example, it increases the length of vessel to which the surgeon requires access. This is exacerbated in the event that the surgeon feels it necessary to provide a plurality of clips to either side of the cutting site so as to provide an improved safety margin. In certain procedures a surgeon may only have a very short length of vessel (for example 1 cm) accessible, so the access demands associated with prior art clips can lead to practical problems. In addition, the result of the clip spacing being such that, after vessel division, it leaves several millimetres between a clip and the cut end of a vessel can theoretically cause problems with neovascularization. This is seen, for example, in the recurrence of varicose veins in the groin following ligation and division of long saphenous vein tributaries. This arises, in theory, because the cut ends of the vessel expose endothelium. The longer the end of a vessel between the cut vessel end and the clip closest to the cut end the greater is the exposed amount of endothelium. This results in production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which can pool in the area adjacent to the cut vessel ends. This in turn encourages the endothelium to divide, stimulating new vessel formation to try to “bridge the gap”, i.e. to reconnect the opposed cut ends of the vessel. In the event that it were possible for a surgeon to be secure in the knowledge that a vessel is clipped in such a way that the clip would be totally secure, then the surgeon could have the confidence to place clips closer together prior to dividing a vessel in continuity. When the vessel is then subsequently divided between the clips the distance from each clip to the cut end of its respective vessel would be minimised, thereby exposing the minimum of endothelium, minimizing growth factor release and minimizing the risks for neovascularization. According to the present invention there is provided a surgical clip for clipping a tubular structure in vivo so as to ligate the tubular structure, the clip comprising: first and second clip portions; and a hinge portion connecting said clip portions together to enable said clip portions to be hinged together from an open clip condition to a closed clip condition so as to ligate a tubular structure placed between said clip portions. According to a first aspect of the present invention the clip further comprises a lock for locking said clip portions together in said closed clip condition, in which condition the clip has a substantially smooth exterior profile so as to reduce the possibility of the clip eroding tissue structures surrounding the clip in use. In this closed clip condition the clip is substantially free of external projections. Advantageously the lock comprises a first lock portion which protrudes from the first clip portion to terminate at a distal end, said distal end of said first lock portion being arranged to be substantially shielded from projecting into said surrounding tissue structures in said closed clip condition. Advantageously said distal end of said first lock portion is arranged to be substantially shielded from projecting into said surrounding tissue structures by intimate nesting of the first lock portion with the body of the second clip portion. For example, the second clip portion may be provided with a recess to receive said distal end of said first lock portion in said closed clip condition to shield said distal end from projecting into said surrounding tissue structures. The recess may be an open-sided channel, so that at least one side of the distal end of the first lock portion is not shielded by the second clip portion from contact with surrounding tissue structures. It is, however, preferred for the recess to be a hole, so that the distal end of the first lock portion will be surrounded in the closed clip condition so as to be internally received within the body of the second clip portion. By being internally received within the body of the second clip portion the protruding first lock portion is particularly well shielded from contact with surrounding tissue, reducing the possibilities for the clip abrading the surrounding tissue in use. According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a surgical clip for clipping a tubular structure in vivo so as to ligate the tubular structure, the clip comprising: first and second clip portions; and a hinge portion connecting said clip portions together to enable said clip portions to be hinged together from an open clip condition to at least one closed clip condition so as to ligate a tubular structure placed between said clip portions; wherein each of the clip portions has a clamping surface which is arranged to be positioned in opposition to the clamping surface of the other clip portion in the closed clip condition; and wherein the hinge portion has a pivot axis about which the first and second clip portions are hinged and in said closed clip condition the maximum dimension of the clip in the direction of that hinge axis is at least 0.25 times the maximum dimension of the clip in a direction orthogonal to the hinge axis, which orthogonal direction is generally parallel to said opposed clamping surfaces in said closed clip condition. A plurality of clips may be provided in a variety of different sizes to cater for the clipping of tubular structures of different sizes. Although the majority of the clip may be made of metal, for example stainless steel or titanium, advantageously at least a majority of the clip structure is non-metallic, for example being made of nylon or polydiaxonone, so as to render the clip substantially invisible during magnetic resonance imaging (I) or computerised tomography (CT) scanning, whilst still remaining visible to ultrasound. Advantageously, the clip is so constructed and arranged that, in the (or each) closed clip condition, at least part of one of the clamping surfaces is spaced apart from at least part of the other of the clamping surfaces. In such a situation the size of the spacing could be made to be appropriate to the size of the tubular structure to be ligated. This, and the provision of a lock for locking the clip portions together in the closed clip condition, may help to reduce the possibility of the tubular structure slipping out from the clip once the clip is in its closed clip condition. Improving the non-slip nature of the clip provides the surgeon with improved peace of mind, enabling the clips to be placed very close together on a vessel to be divided in continuity. By minimising this distance some of the abovementioned problems with prior art clips, such as the aforementioned neovascularization risk, can be fully or partially solved. A cartridge or magazine may be provided comprising a plurality of the clips, with the clips being removably provided in a cartridge or magazine structure. Alternatively or additionally, the surgical clip may be provided in combination with a surgical clip application device, which device is operable to apply the clip around the tubular structure to be ligated and to switch the clip from its open clip condition to its closed clip condition so as to ligate the tubular structure. The clip, cartridge or magazine or application device/clip combination may advantageously be provided in a sterile container, ideally with any unused contents of the sterile container being disposed of after a single patient procedure. According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of ligating a tubular structure comprising: providing a surgical clip in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention; applying the clip in said open clip condition to the tubular structure to be ligated, with the tubular structure extending between the open clip portions; and hinging the clip portions together about the hinge portion so as to convert the clip from its open clip condition to its closed clip condition, thereby to ligate the tubular structure. Embodiments of apparatus in accordance with the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is an enlarged end elevation of a prior art metal clip prior to use; FIGS. 2a-2c show, in sequence, the clip of FIG. 1 being progressively deformed around a tubular structure so as to ligate that structure; FIG. 3 is a schematic, perspective view of a vessel to be clipped and divided in continuity, showing the application thereto of two FIG. 1-style prior art clips; FIGS. 4a and 4b are enlarged end elevations of a first embodiment of surgical clip, showing the clip (with a vessel received therein) in open and closed conditions respectively; FIGS. 5a and 5b are enlarged end elevations of a second embodiment of surgical clip, showing the clip (with a vessel received therein) in open and closed conditions respectively; FIG. 6a is a perspective view, to a different scale, of the clip of FIG. 5a (with the vessel removed for clarity); FIG. 6b is a similar view to that of FIG. 6a, but additionally showing the vessel to be ligated received in the clip; FIGS. 7a and 7b are enlarged end elevations of a third embodiment of surgical clip, showing the clip (with a vessel received therein) in open and closed conditions respectively; FIG. 7c is an enlargement of the lock area shown in FIG. 7b; FIG. 8a is an enlarged end elevation of a fourth embodiment of clip shown in its open clip condition; FIGS. 8b and 8c show the clip of FIG. 8a in two different ones of a plurality of closed clip conditions; FIGS. 9a and 9b are perspective views of a fifth embodiment of clip, showing the clip in open and closed conditions respectively; FIG. 10 is an enlarged, schematic, end elevation of a sixth embodiment of clip in an open clip condition; FIGS. 11a and 11b are schematic, enlarged, end elevations of a seventh embodiment of clip in open and closed clip conditions respectively; FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a clip in a sterile package; FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a plurality of clips in a cartridge or magazine packaged in a sterile package; and FIG. 14 is a top plan view of a clip application device in a sterile package. FIG. 4 illustrates a first embodiment of surgical clip for use in clipping a tubular structure in vivo so as to ligate the tubular structure. The clip 5 comprises a first clip portion or half 6 and a second clip portion or half 7. A hinge portion 8 connects the clip portion 6, 7 together. FIG. 4a shows the clip in an open condition, with the clip portion 6, 7 angled at right angles to one another, with a tubular structure 9, such as a vein or vessel, placed between the open clip portions. The hinge portion 8 enables the clip portion 6, 7 to be closed together to assume the closed clip condition shown in FIG. 4b, in which condition the tubular structure 9 is compressed so as to ligate it. As will be described below in conjunction with FIG. 6, the clip 5 has a substantially smooth external profile in its closed clip condition so as to reduce the possibility of the clip eroding surrounding structures. In addition, the absence of rough or sharp ends or edges to the exterior of the clip 5 should be noted. The first clip portion 6 is provided with a planar clamping surface 10 and the second clip portion 7 is provided with a planar clamping surface 11, which clamping surfaces 10, 11 are arranged to be positioned opposite to one another, with their planar surfaces generally parallel in the closed condition of the clip, as shown in FIG. 4b. Although shown as being planar, the clamping surfaces 10, 11 need not be planar. Furthermore, one or more of the clamping surfaces 10, 11 may additionally be provided with surface undulation so as to enhance gripping of the tubular structure 9. In addition, as described in more detail below, one or more of the clamping surfaces may be provided with a pad of cushioning material. The clip 5 is provided with a lock 12 for locking the clip portions 6, 7 together in the closed clip condition. The lock 12 is provided on the opposite side of the clip 5 to the hinge portion 8 so that, as shown in FIG. 4b, the tubular structure 9 ligated by the clip is positioned between the hinge portion 8 and the lock 12. The lock comprises a first lock portion 12a provided on the first clip portion 6 and a second lock portion 12b provided on the second clip portion 7. The first lock portion 12a protrudes beyond the clamping surface 10 of the first clip portion 6 in a direction substantially perpendicular to that clamping surface 10. The distal portion 13 of the first lock portion 12a is larger than the more proximal portion 14 of the protruding first lock portion, thereby forming a barb-like member. The second lock portion 12b is provided on the outside edge of the second clip portion 7 and includes a barb which forms a recess 15 into which the barb 13 of the first lock portion 12a “snaps” (as shown in FIG. 4b) in the closed clip condition. The second clip portion 7 is thus provided with an external, open recess to receive the first lock portion 12a in the closed clip condition, to shield the distal end from projecting into surrounding tissue structures. It will, however, be noted that in the closed clip condition one side of the distal end of the first lock position 12a is nonetheless still exposed to contact surrounding tissue structures. The first and second locking portions 12a, 12b are arranged to function as a permanent lock to prevent the clip, once in its closed clip condition, from being opened to be returned to its open clip condition. In this way the clip portions can be reliably locked together. A further benefit of the illustrated construction of lock is that it provides a good feel on closure, snapping shut, giving the surgeon confidence that the lock has been locked securely. The second clip portion 7 is provided with a lip or step 16 of predetermined height. The step 16 provides a “stand-off” between the clamping surfaces 10, 11 in the closed clip condition so as to accommodate the wall of the tubular structure 9, as best seen in FIG. 4b. The height of the step 16, and thus the size of the spacing between the clamping surfaces 10, 11, is chosen to be appropriate to the size and wall thickness of the tubular structure to be ligated and/or to the overall dimension of the clip. For example, the size of the standoff might be between 0.1-1 mm. A clip for use in ligating a small vein of 1-2 mm diameter might itself have a height (“Z”) of approximately 3-4 mm, with a “stand-off” (represented by step 16) of approximately 0.3-0.5 mm. The intention is that when the clip is hinged to its closed condition the enclosed tubular structure 9 will be well compressed and flat and have no tendency to slip or move relative to the clip structure. The reliability and non-slip nature of the clip is intended to allow a pair of clips to be placed as close together as possible as will still allow a knife to pass between them. An advantage of this will be to help minimise the problem of neovascularization discussed above. The second embodiment of clip, illustrated in FIGS. 5a and 5b, is generally similar in construction and operating principle to the first embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4a and 4b. As a consequence, where constructional details are similar, like reference numerals have been employed. The main area of difference is in the form of the lock 17 and the step 18. One such difference is that the distal end of the first lock portion 17a is internally received within the body of the second clip portion. In the FIG. 5 embodiment the first lock portion 17a still protrudes from the first clip portion's clamping surface 10, but is moved in from the edge of the first clip portion. The second lock portion 17b takes the form of a hole in the second clip portion's clamping surface 11, which hole extends through the full depth of the body of the second clip portion 7 and opens through the underside of the clip portion. As a consequence, the first lock portion is surrounded in the closed clip condition and is shielded from substantial contact with the surrounding tissue structures. This is thought to be preferable to the arrangement illustrated in FIGS. 4a and a 4b because it eliminates the possibility of the first lock portion 17a abrading and irritating the surrounding tissue structures. Each of the first and second lock portions 17a, 17b comprises a single barb, which barbs cooperate in the closed clip condition so as to lock the two clip portions 6, 7 together, as illustrated in FIG. 5b. As can also be seen from that figure, the step 18 functions to provide the above-discussed “stand-off”. FIGS. 6a and 6b show how the first and second locking portions 17a, 17b do not extend across the full width of the clip. FIG. 6a shows the second embodiment of clip in its open clip condition, prior to application to the tubular structure to be ligated. FIG. 6b shows the clip applied to the tubular structure 9 to be ligated, with the tubular structure extending between the open clip portions 6, 7. The curved nature of the first and second clip portions 6, 7 is apparent from FIGS. 6a, 6b. The heavily radiused corners, referenced 19, contribute to the substantially smooth external profile of the clip in its closed clip condition, thereby reducing the possibility of the clip eroding surrounding structures in vivo. A significant difference from prior art, metal clips is in the aspect ratio of the clip. In FIG. 6a the pivot axis 20 of the hinge portion is illustrated. The maximum (width) dimension of the clip in the direction of that hinge axis is referenced “X”. The maximum dimension of the clip in any direction orthogonal to the hinge axis 20 is the length dimension referenced “Y”. In the closed clip condition this maximum (length) dimension is measured generally parallel to the closed clamping surfaces 10, 11. In contrast, the (height) dimension “Z” of the clip (see FIG. 5b) in the closed clip condition is comparatively small. In the closed clip condition the maximum dimension “X” of the clip in the direction of the hinge axis 20 is, as shown, preferably at least 0.25 (more preferably at least any one of 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8 or 0.9) times the maximum dimension of the clip in all directions orthogonal to the hinge axis, including the largest dimension “Y” of the clip in the length direction. It will be appreciated that once “X” is approximately equal to “Y”, the clip will have a shape very suitable for receipt in the body. As a consequence, the ends 21 of the clip, when in its closed clip condition, are blunt. This contrasts with prior art metal clips where the width dimension of the clip is commonly of the order of 1/10 to ⅕ of the length dimension of the clip, leading to the clip (in its closed condition) having sharp ends, which enable the prior art clips to be felt through the skin when used close to the skin surface and/or risk adjacent structures being eroded by the comparatively sharp ends of the clip. It will be appreciated that the larger is the width “X” at the clip, the greater will be the area of the clamping surfaces 10, 11 available to clamp and ligate the vessel 9. For a given degree of vessel compression, increasing the clip-to-vessel contact area generally improves clip security and reduces the likelihood of the clip damaging the vessel wall. The third embodiment of clip, illustration in FIGS. 7a-7c, is generally similar in construction and operating principle to the second embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. As a consequence, where constructional details are similar, like reference numerals have been employed. The area of difference is in the form of the lock 17′. The first lock portion 17′a in FIG. 7 is generally similar to the first lock portion 17a in FIGS. 5 and 6, in that it protrudes from the first clip portion's, clamping surface 10 and comprises a single barb at its distal end. The construction of the second lock portion 17′b is, however, different from the second lock portion 17b in FIG. 6, in that it comprises five barbs, defining therebetween four barb-receiving recesses, thereby providing a choice of four different closed clip conditions or positions. This can have advantages in allowing a single construction of clip to be used to ligate vessels of a range of different sizes and thicknesses and/or with an unknown level of ‘substance’ enhanced by a disease process affecting the vessel. FIGS. 7b and 7c illustrate a closed clip condition representative of the maximum degree of closure of the four available levels of closure. Additionally, this arrangement provides a good feel for the surgeon. The multiple barbs of the second lock portion 17′b will cause the lock portions to function like a ratchet. As the clip is hinged from its open clip condition (FIG. 7a) to the illustrated one of the closed clip conditions (FIGS. 7b and 7c), the barb of the first lock portion 17′a will sequentially ratchet through the four barb-receiving recesses, which ratchet action may be felt by the surgeon through the clip application device (not shown) and/or provide a clicking sound, providing the surgeon with reassurance that the lock is functioning correctly. It will be appreciated that if the vessel 9 to be ligated is bigger, or more diseased, than that shown in FIG. 7, it may be necessary and/or desirable to close the clip only so far as one of the other three available closed clip conditions (not shown). It will also be appreciated that the first lock portion 17′a may be provided with more than one barb, so that when in a said closed clip condition a plurality of barbs of the first lock portion 17′a are in barb-to-barb contact with a plurality of barbs of the second lock portion 17′b. Increasing the number of contact points between the two lock portions 17′a, 17′b can enhance locking security. It will also be appreciated that numbers of barbs other than four may be employed. Finally, it should be noted that in the fully closed clip condition illustrated in FIGS. 7b and 7c, the distal end of the projection of the first locking portion 17′a is arranged not to extend beyond the underside of the second clip portion 7 so as not to disrupt the generally smooth profile of the undersurface of the second clip portion 7. In addition, the fact that the projection of the first locking portion 17a is internally received within the body of the second clip portion 7 provides the same benefits described above in relation to the FIGS. 5a and 5b embodiments. FIGS. 8a-c illustrate the closing sequence of a fourth embodiment of clip 22, with the tubular structure to be ligated omitted for reasons of clarity. In common with the earlier embodiments, the clip 22 comprises first and second clip portions 23, 24, connected by a hinge portion 25. As in the earlier embodiments, the clamping surfaces 26, 27 of the first and second clip portions 23, 24 are planar. This fourth embodiment of clip is, like the third embodiment of clip, intended to be able to ligate tubular structures of a wide range of different diameters, through the ability of its lock 28 to be able to lock the first and second clip portions 23, 24 together in a plurality of different closed clip conditions. FIG. 8b illustrates a first closed clip condition. FIG. 8c illustrates a second closed clip condition. From the following description of the lock it will be apparent that locking can also take place in closed clip conditions between these first and second closed clip conditions. A pair of first lock portions 28a, 28b are provided on the first clip portion and a pair of second lock portions 28c, 28d are provided on the second clip portion 24. The first lock portions 28a, 28b each comprise a projection with a single barb at its distal tip. The second lock portions 28c, 28d each comprise a plurality of barbs, with barb-receiving recesses formed therebetween. By hinging the first and second clip portions 23, 24 together around the hinge portion 25 and pressing the first clip portion 23 down onto the second clip portion 24, the barbs of the first lock portions 28a, 28b can be made to engage the first (uppermost as drawn) recesses of the second lock portions 28c, 28d. If the tubular structure to be ligated is suitably large and/or has a large wall thickness, the first closed condition illustrated in FIG. 7b may be sufficient to fully ligate the tubular structure, such that the first and second clip portions 23, 24 need not be pressed together further. If, however, the tubular structure (not shown) is smaller, the two clip portions 23, 24 may be pushed together further, either finally to reach the second closed clip condition shown in FIG. 7c, or an intermediate closed clip condition (not shown) between the FIG. 7b and FIG. 7c first and second closed clip conditions. It will be noted that the second clip portion 24 is provided with a step 29 at either end of its clamping surface 27 to provide a “stand-off” in the manner discussed above in conjunction with the first and second clip embodiments. If, as intimated above, the condition illustrated in FIG. 8b is the final, closed clip condition, it will be appreciated that the lower, unshielded barbs of the first lock portion 28a will be exposed to contact with surrounding tissue. This is not as desirable as the condition shown in FIG. 8c, in which the closed clip presents a smoother external profile to the surrounding tissue structures. By way of explanation, in this specification, when the term ‘closed clip condition’ is used it can mean either the sole available condition in which the clip is closed, for examples as in FIGS. 4-6 and 9-11, or any one of a plurality of available conditions in which the clip is closed, for example as in FIGS. 7 and 8. Providing the second lock portions 28c, 28d with plural barbs, and plural recesses therebetween, provides a ratchet-like arrangement, thereby accommodating vessels of different sizes and/or ‘substances’. Although the first lock portions 28a, 28b are each shown as comprising only a single barb, it will be appreciated that multiple barbs could equally well be provided to increase the number of barb-to-barb contacts in the final closed clip condition. In the same way, the first embodiment of FIG. 4 could readily be modified to make one or both of its first and second lock portions 12a, 12b multi-barbed. FIGS. 9a and 9b are perspective views of a fifth embodiment of clip, showing the clip in open and closed conditions respectively. Apart from its aspect ratio, and the absence of a step to provide a stand-off, the fifth embodiment of clip is generally similar in construction and operating principal to the second embodiment of clip illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. As a consequence, where constructional details are similar, like reference numerals have been employed. In contrast to the second embodiment of clip, the aspect ratio of the sixth embodiment of clip is somewhat different. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, in the second embodiment of clip where the width, length and height of the clip are referenced “X”, “Y” and “Z” respectively, the height “Z” of the closed clip is fairly small and is smaller than the width “X” and length “Y” of the clip. As shown in FIG. 9, this need not however, be the case. In FIG. 9 the height “Z” of the closed clip is substantially larger. In FIG. 9 the height “Z” is larger than the width “X” of the clip and generally equal to the length “Y” of the clip. As will be appreciated from FIG. 9b, the generally cylindrical nature of the fifth embodiment of clip, when in its closed clip condition, means that the length “Y” and height “Z” of the clip will be approximately equal to one another. It will, however, be noted that, as in the earlier embodiments, in the fifth embodiment of clip the maximum dimension of (width “X”) of the clip in the direction of hinge axis is over 0.25 times the maximum dimension (length “Y”) of the clip in the direction orthogonal to the hinge axis, which orthogonal direction is parallel to the opposed clamping surfaces in the closed clip condition illustrated in FIG. 9b. Although in this illustrated embodiment the maximum width of the clip is coincident with the hinge axis, the width need not be measured at the hinge axis but could be displaced therefrom, albeit with the measurement being in a direction parallel to the hinge axis. Although in FIG. 9 the first and second lock portions 17a, 17b are shown to have the same constructions as the first and second lock portions of the second embodiment of clip illustrated in FIGS. 6a and 6b, the comments above concerning how those locking portions might be modified (to make one or both of the locking portions include a plurality of barbs) apply equally here. FIG. 10 illustrates a sixth embodiment of clip 30 in which the first and second clip portions 31, 32 are both either generally hemispherical or hemioval in shape, such that when the clip portions are hinged around the hinge portion 33 to adopt a closed clip condition (not shown) the closed clip has a substantially smooth external (generally spherical or oval) shape. In this embodiment the lock takes the form of a press stud arrangement, in which the distal end of the first lock portion protruding from the first clip portion has a generally spherical head 34 and the second lock portion provided in the second clip portion 32 takes the form of a recess 35 (shown in dotted lines) having an opening slightly smaller in size than the generally spherical head 34 so that the first and second lock portions are required to deform elastically to enable them to be locked together. In this embodiment, in which the shape of the clip in its closed condition is generally spherical, the width, length and height of the clip are all equal. FIGS. 11a and 11b illustrate a seventh embodiment of clip which is identical to the sixth embodiment of clip illustrated in FIG. 10, except that in the seventh embodiment the hinge portion 33 is elongated so as to provide a “stand-off” gap as shown in FIG. 11b. From the range of lock constructions illustrated, it will be appreciated that other forms of lock may be provided. For example, any form of lock that securely locks when the clip is in the closed clip condition should be appropriate. Particularly preferred are ones that snap shut automatically, reliably and with a good “feel”. In each of the aforementioned embodiments of clip, one or both of the first and second clip portions may have a non-homogeneous construction, for example with the part of at least one clip portion which forms the substantially smooth external profile being made of a first, hard material and the part of the clip portion which forms the clamping surface being made of a second, softer material. To illustrate this, in FIGS. 4a and 4b the second clip portion is shown as being optionally provided with a pad 40 (in broken lines) of the second, softer material inset into the internal surface of the second clip portion 7 to form a cushioned central portion to the clamping surface 11. This pad 40 may, for example, have a hardness generally similar to that of soft silicone, and may have been moulded in situ on the material forming the remainder of the clip using a multi-stage moulding process. In such a situation the material of the remainder of the clip may, for example, have a hardness generally similar to that of hard polypropylene. This non-homogeneous construction for the clip means that the main structure of the clip can have the required strength, whereas at least one of the clamping surfaces for contact with the tubular structure can be cushioned so as to deform more exactly to the vessel being clamped, thereby improving clip security, and to avoid cutting through the vessel. It will be appreciated that other biocompatible plastics materials may be used instead for the clip. Plastics materials are cheap and easily mouldable. Alternatively, some or all of the clip may be made of metal, for example stainless steel or titanium, with or without an inset pad of cushioning material. FIGS. 5a-6a also show, in broken lines, a pad 40 of cushioning material optionally provided in the second clip portion 7. As can be seen, the pad 40 can extend the full width of the second clip portion 7. Alternatively, it may stop short of the full width (not shown). To illustrate how both of the first and second clip portions (23, 24) might optionally be provided with a pad 40 of cushioning material, two such pads 40a, 40b have been illustrated in FIG. 8a in broken lines. Although only illustrated in conjunction with selected embodiments, the principles of non-homogeneous construction and/or the provision of cushioning material apply equally to all embodiments. As described below, it is envisaged that the aforementioned embodiments of clip would be applied to the tubular structure to be ligated using a specific application device or tool. The clips could be provided in a cartridge or magazine for serial application using an application device. Alternatively, the application device may be pre-loaded with a plurality of clips. The clips, cartridge or magazine or application device may advantageously be provided in a sterile container. The above-described embodiments of clip may be provided singly, and may for example be provided in a sterile container, such as an envelope at least a portion of which is transparent. FIG. 12 shows schematically a clip received in a sterile envelope 41 comprising two planar sheets heat sealed together around their peripheral edge 42, which envelope can be torn open by the surgeon prior to use of the clip. Rather than being provided singly, a plurality of clips may alternatively be provided in a cartridge or magazine structure from which they are removed prior to use. By way of example, FIG. 13 illustrates a portion of a cartridge or magazine structure 43 in which a pair of clips 44 are shown as being removably provided. In the illustrated arrangement the opposing clip portions are placed on either side of a central web 45 of the magazine structure. A form of catch (not shown) may be provided on the magazine structure so as to prevent the clips 44 from falling out of the structure, with the clips only parting company with the structure when removed therefrom by the surgeon. The square, shown in broken lines and referenced 46, denotes the outline of a sterile container in which the magazine structure 43 may be received, the sterile container having a construction similar, for example, to that described above in conjunction with FIG. 12. FIG. 14 illustrates, schematically, an application device which is pre-loaded with a plurality of clips. At one end of the applicator device 50 there is provided a pair of handles 51 which, upon being squeezed together, cause a clip 52 to be displaced (in direction 53) from the opposite end of the device and squeezed together to lock together the clip portions. If, therefore, a vessel 54 to be ligated is positioned between the end prongs 55 of the device, a clip 52 may be clipped on to the vessel 54. The manner of operation of the applicator device could be generally similar to that of the PREMIUM SURGICLIP (Trademark) single use automatic clip application device manufactured by United States Surgical, a division of Tyco Healthcare Group LP. Such a device is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,030,226; 5,197,970; 5,514,149; and 5,626,592, as well as in U.S. design Pat. Nos. 320,654 and 320,850, the contents of which documents are hereby incorporated by way of reference. The rectangle represented by broken lines 56 in FIG. 14 denotes a sterile container in which the application device 50 may advantageously be provided. Four examples of the use of the above described embodiments of clip might include one or more of the following four applications. 1. In the groin dissection during varicose vein surgery, when all tributaries of the LSV/femoral vein have to be ligated and divided—here the new clip would be useful as its smooth surface would not cause potential problems of erosion/thrombosis in the femoral vein and the ability to minimum distance between cut ends of vessel would minimize neovascularization—perhaps the most common cause of recurrence. 2. In harvesting LSV for cardiac/peripheral bypass surgery, the new clips just below the skin surface, being smooth, would not cause discomfort to the patient as rough ended, flat clips as in use now might. 3. With a bleeding vessel at laparoscopic cholecystectomy e.g. the cystic artery, secure placement of a single new clip should prevent undue blood loss and instil confidence in the surgeon that the new clip is indeed secure and will not be dislodged with further dissection. 4. In the brain, clipping beri-aneurysms will be secure first time, with no possibility of slippage, in a difficult, tight, working environment. Post-procedure, when MRI/CT scanning might be necessary, if the clip is of a non-metallic substance, no artefact will be seen on scans.

20050926

20121016

20060907

68740.0

A61B1708

BACHMAN, LINDSEY MICHELE

SURGICAL CLIPS WITHOUT PROTUSIONS

SMALL

ACCEPTED

A61B

ACCEPTED

Process for thermally treating a product with steam

A method for thermally treating a product in order to have the product obtain the desired product properties, comprising the following steps: (a) determining the water activity value which, for carrying out the thermal treatment, is required to have the product obtain the desired properties; (b) contacting the product with water vapour, at an increased temperature and an associated saturated vapour pressure (p*), while the temperature on the surface of the product is 80-260° C.; (c) setting a vapour pressure (p) in step (b) such that p/p* is equal to the water activity value determined in step (a); and (d) maintaining for a time duration (t) the process conditions mentioned in steps (b) and (c) for obtaining the product with the desired product properties.

1. A method for thermally treating a product in order to have the product obtain the desired product properties, comprising the following steps: (a) determining the water activity value which, for carrying out the thermal treatment, is required to have the product obtain the desired properties; (b) contacting the product with water vapour, at an increased temperature and an associated saturated vapour pressure (p*), while the temperature on the surface of the product is 80-260° C.; (c) setting a vapour pressure (p) in step (b) such that p/p* is equal to the water activity value determined in step (a); and (d) maintaining for a time duration (t) the process conditions mentioned in steps (b) and (c) for obtaining the product with the desired product properties. 2. A method for thermally treating a product in the presence of water vapour, wherein the temperature on the surface of the product is 80-260° C. and the ratio of the vapour pressure and the saturated vapour pressure used has a value of the 0.15-0.95. 3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the temperature of the surface of the product is 80-220° C. 4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the p/p* has a value of 0.3-0.8. 5. A method according to claim 1, wherein-the p/p* has a value of 0.4-0.8. 6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the p/p* has a value of 0.5-0.8. 7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the product is a food and the food is roasted, baked, fried or sterilised. 8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the food is sterilised and the p/p* has a value of 0.8-0.95. 9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the food is baked and the p/p* has a value of 0.15-0.8. 10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the food is treated for 10 seconds-30 minutes. 11. A method according to claim 1, which is carried out in a continuous system in which the product and the water vapour flow in the same direction or in opposite directions. 12. A method according to claim 11, which is carried out in a continuous system comprising a vertical shaft within which, due to gravity, the product flows downwards and is contacted with water vapour which is blown upwards in the shaft in counter flow. 13. A method according to claim 11, which is carried out in a continuous system comprising a double walled tube transport within which the water vapour and the product flow in the same direction, and the double wall comprises a heating medium. 14. A method according to claim 1, which is carried out in a batch system within which the pressure is below 12 Bara. 15. A method according to claim 1, wherein the water vapour comprises superheated steam. 16. A method according to claim 1, wherein the product is a food which is selected from the group of cocoa beans, cocoa nibs, coffee beans, nuts, peanuts, soy products, (powder-form) herbs, (powder-form) spices, potato, starch and cereal products, and bread, cake, meat, snack and fish products. 17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the food is roasted and is selected from the group of cocoa beans, cocoa nibs, coffee beans, peanuts and nuts. 18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the food is cocoa beans or cocoa nibs. 19. A method according to claim 16, in which the food is baked and is selected from the group of the bread or cake products. 20. A method according to claim 16, wherein the temperature on the surface of the food is 80-140° C. 21. A method according to claim 18 wherein the food has an aw-value of 0.4-0.8. 22. A food obtainable with the method according to claim 16. 23. A food according to claim 21 comprising cocoa beans and/cocoa nibs.

The invention relates to a method for thermally treating a product, for instance a food. Roasting, baking, frying and sterilising are known thermal treatments to which products such as foods can be subjected. As a rule, such thermal treatments are aimed at improving the quality and the storage life of products. Roasting is for instance understood to mean a heat treatment of a food in which by means of Maillard-reactions the flavour and odour of the treated food are improved. It can also be possible to improve the colour of the food in this manner. Roasting foods is done both in continuous and batch systems, while heating takes place through direct contact with warm process air or indirectly via a heated wall. The development of flavour and odour through roasting is an extremely complicated chemical process. Reactions occur between the reducing sugars present and free amino acids, the so-called Maillard-reactions or non-enzymatic browning. The process is continued by Amadori conversion reactions and Strecker degradations. This series of different reactions may lead to a number of highly differing flavour profiles and aromas and the occurrence of undesired additional effects. In addition, in known thermal treatments of foods, eventual products are obtained whose quality and storage life often leave to be desired. Surprisingly, it has now been found that products with extraordinary quality and preservability can be obtained when the thermal treatments takes place in the presence of water vapour and under specific conditions. Therefore, the invention relates to a method for thermally treating a product in order to have the product obtain the desired product properties, comprising the following steps: (a) determining the water activity value which is required for carrying out the thermal treatment for having the products obtain the desired properties; (b) contacting the product with water vapour, at an increased temperature and associated saturated vapour pressure (p*), while the temperature on the surface of the product is 80-260° C.; (c) setting a vapour pressure (p) in step (b) such that p/p* is essentially equal to the water activity value determined in step (a); and (d) maintaining the process conditions mentioned in the steps (b) and (c) for a time duration (d) for obtaining the product with the desired product properties. As is customary, the water activity value (aw-value) is defined as the water vapour pressure above the food in equilibrium with its surroundings at a particular temperature divided by the saturated vapour pressure of water at that particular temperature. With the method according to the present invention, products can be roasted, baked, fried or sterilised. The products to be treated can be foods or other products, such as, for instance, manure or silt which have to be sterilised. The aw-value to be determined corresponds to the desired product properties. When foods are concerned, for killing bacterial spores, the aw-value during the thermal treatment is preferably 0.5-1; for killing vegetative cells the aw-value during the thermal treatment is preferably smaller than 0.7 or greater than 0.8; for promoting Maillard-reactions the aw-value during the thermal treatment is preferably 0.4-0.8; for the prevention of enzymatic activity the aw-value during the thermal treatment is preferably 0-0.2; and for prevention of formation of acrylamide the aw-value during the thermal treatment will, as a rule, have to be 0.1-1. The skilled person will know from experience which aw-value is required during the thermal treatment because, as a rule, this is closely connected to the product properties of the product to be obtained. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the method is carried out such that the temperature on the surface of the product is 80-260° C., and the p/p* has a value of 0.15-0.95. Therefore, the invention also relates to a method for thermally treating a product in the presence of water vapour, wherein the temperature on the surface of the product is 80-260 C.°, and the ratio of the vapour pressure used and the saturated vapour pressure (p/p*) has a value of 0.15-0.95. In a suitable embodiment of the method according to the invention, the temperature on the surface of the product is 80-220° C., whereupon the thermal treatment is stopped and the product is cooled. Preferably, the method is carried out in the presence of water vapour and in absence of oxygen. The temperature of the water vapour is, suitably, 90-270° C., and preferably 90-230° C. Preferably, the water vapour contains superheated steam. The foods to be treated with the method of the invention can be foods of varying nature. Suitable foods are cocoa beans, cocoa nibs, coffee beans, peanuts, nuts, soy products, (powder-form) herbs such as, for instance, basil leaves or paprika powder, (powder-form) spices such as for instance pepper, potato, starch and cereal products such as, for instance, fries and crisps, and bread, cake, meat, snack and fish products. It will be clear to the skilled person that cocoa nibs, coffee beans, peanuts, nuts, soy products will be roasted, whereas the other products can be baked and/or fried. Preferably, cocoa beans, cocoa nibs, coffee beans, nuts or peanuts are roasted while using the method of the invention, and more preferably cocoa beans or cocoa nibs. Bread, cake, meat, snack and fish products can be baked in an attractive manner with the method according to the invention. Preferably, the baking is carried out such that a temperature on the surface of the food is 150-250° C. Bread—and in particular cake products can be baked in a particularly favorable manner with the method according to the invention. The fact is that, with the invention, the content of carcinogenic acrylamides can be reduced to a particular extent. This holds in particular when baking and preparing cake products, in particular gingercakes. These favorable results can be attributed to the aw-value to be obtained which is the result of the temperature and vapour pressure to be used and the presence of water vapour. By contrast, loaves of bread and cakes are baked in known processes in the presence of dry air, that is, absence of water vapour. Therefore, the invention also relates to a method for baking a bread or cake product in which, respectively, a bread or cake product, in the presence of water vapour, is subjected to a thermal treatment, wherein the temperature on the surface of the bread or cake product is 80-260° C., and the P/p* (the ratio of the vapour pressure used and the saturated vapour pressure) has a value of 0.15-0.8, preferably 0.2-0.8, and more preferably 0.4-0.8. Therefore, during the thermal treatment, the bread or cake product has an aw-value of 0.15-0.8, preferably 0.2-0.8 and more preferably 0.4-0.8. The skilled person will understand that the bread or cake product which is subjected to the thermal treatment will, as a rule, be a bread or cake dough. Preferably, the baking is carried out such that the temperature on the surface of the bread or cake product is 150-250° C. Preferably, frying foods is, according to the invention, also carried out such that the temperature on the surface of the food is 150-250° C. Different products such as manure, silt, (powder-form) herbs and/or (powder-form) spices can be sterilised with the method according to the invention in a particularly attractive manner. Therefore, the invention also relates to a method for sterilising a product wherein the product in the presence of water vapour is subjected to a thermal treatment, the temperature on the surface of the product being 80-260° C. and a ratio of the vapour pressure and the saturated vapour pressure (p/p*) having a value of 0.8-0.95, preferably 0.85-0.95. Therefore, the thus sterilised products have an aw-value of 0.8-0.95, preferably 0.85-0.95. Manure and silt as well as foods can be sterilised well in this manner. In particular (powder-form) herbs and/or (powder-form) spices can be sterilised particularly attractively in this manner. Preferably, sterilising is carried out such that the temperature on the surface of the product is 110-130 C.°. During roasting, baking or frying the different foods, the value of the ratio of the vapour pressure and the saturated vapour pressure (p/p*) is, very suitably, 0.3-0.8, preferably 0.4-0.8, and more preferably 0.5-0.8. The temperature on the surface of the food depends on the type of food, and the time duration the food is heated. Therefore, without problems, the skilled person can regulate the conditions such that the food, during the thermal treatment, has the desired temperature and aw-value. As already stated, the temperature to be used on the surface of the food will depend on the type of food to be treated. For instance, the temperature of nuts or peanuts is preferably 140-180° C., that of coffee is preferably 180-220° C., and that of cocoa preferably 80-140° C. As a rule, the temperature of the water vapour will at least be 1° C. higher than the temperate on the surface of the foods. Depending on the food to be treated, the thermal treatment can be selected from the group of roasting, baking and frying. The method of the invention can be carried out while using a batch system or a continuous system. When the method takes place in a batch system, preferably, a pressure lower than 12 bara is used. For foods that can be thermally treated at relatively low temperatures, such as a cocoa beans, cocoa nibs, nuts and peanuts, the pressure of the water vapour in a batch system is, preferably, below 3 bara, more preferably atmospheric. For foods that usually can be thermally treated at higher temperatures, such as coffee, in a batch system, preferably, a pressure of over 3 bara is used, and more preferably a pressure of over 5 bara but below 12 bara. In batch systems, as a rule, the food is contacted with the water vapour for 1.5 to 120 minutes. The method according to the invention can particularly suitably be used in a continuous system, in which the food and the water vapour (steam), preferably superheated water vapour (steam), flow in the same direction or in the opposite direction. In a suitable embodiment, the continuous system comprises a vertical shaft in which, due to gravity, the food flows downwards and is contacted with the water vapour, preferably superheated water vapour, which is blown upwards into the shaft in counter flow. In a suitable embodiment, the vertical shaft has a length of 0.5-2 metres. The shaft can be insulated or provided with a heated casing for preventing the formation of condensation on the inner wall of the shaft. In a different suitable embodiment, the continuous system comprises a double walled tube transport within which the food with the water vapour, preferably steam, and more preferably superheated steam, as a transport medium flow in the same direction within one single tube or a series of connected tubes. The tubes are provided with a heating medium, for instance thermal oil or steam. The required energy for roasting the food is, in principle, obtained from the heating medium in the double wall and not from the transport medium directly blown in, for instance steam. The tube transport can have a length of some tens to some hundreds of metres depending on the desired final temperature of the food, the desired product properties, and a heating medium to be used. If a continuous system is used, the time of treatment, that is the time duration of the contact between the food and the water vapour, can vary between 10 seconds and 30 minutes. This is determined by the type of continuous system that is used in the method. For instance, the roasting time can be 10-30 minutes when a vertical shaft is used within which the food and the water vapour are contacted with each other in counter flow. When, by contrast, a double walled tube transport is used within which the water vapour and the food proceed at high speed in the same direction, the roasting time can, for instance, be 10-30 seconds. The pressure used in a continuous system depends on the aw-value to be reached but is preferably below 5 bara, and more preferably below 2 bara. In a suitable embodiment of the invention, the foods are granular or powder-form foods. The foods which are obtained with the method according to the invention have unique product qualities. They exhibit extraordinary flavour and odour profiles, and contain particularly low contents of thermophilic spore forming bacteria. Further, they contain surprisingly low contents of carcinogenic acrylamides. Therefore, the invention also relates to a food which can be obtained with the method according to the invention. The method according to the invention also has the advantage that the risk of a fire occurring is reduced, and the odour and dust problems towards the surroundings of the process are better controlled. The temperature on the surface of the cocoa beans or cocoa nibs is, suitably, 80-140 C.°, preferably 85-135 C.°. The temperature on the surface of pure cocoa is preferably 80-110° C. and still more preferably 85-105° C. The temperature on the surface of the cocoa beans or cocoa nibs to be used in dairy products to be sterilised is, preferably, 110-140° C., and still more preferably 115-135° C. The aw-values of the cocoa beans or cocoa nibs during roasting is preferably 0.3-0.8, more preferably 0.5-0.8, still more preferably 0.5-0.6. Cocoa beans or cocoa nibs which have been roasted with the method according to the invention are unprecedented as to flavour profiles and aromas, while off-flavours that are naturally present can be discerned less prominently. Further, they contain a particularly low content of thermophilic spore forming bacteria. This is of importance for UHT sterilised dairy products in which cocoa has been used. It occurs that heat resistant spores from the cocoa survive the UHT treatment in the dairy industry, which, eventually, results in food decay of a dairy product intended to be preservable. As regards pure cocoa, in which the highly volatile odour and flavour components disappear in customary roasting processes, now, with a brief roasting time and at a low temperature of for instance 90° C., an optimal product can be obtained with lower germ counts and certainly free of undesired microorganisms, such as E. coli and Salmonella. Pure cocoa which can be obtained with the method according to the invention can have a germ count of below 5,000/g while the germ count of traditionally roasted cocoa, customarily, is approximately 100,000/g. Further, the cocoa beans or cocoa nibs which can be obtained with the method according to the invention contain a surprisingly low content of carcinogenic acrylamides. While cocoa roasted in the traditional manner contains, as a rule, 350 ppb or more of acrylamides, the cocoa foods according to the invention contain less than 250 ppb of acrylamides, preferably less than 200 and more preferably less than 150 ppb of acrylamides. This same phenomenon occurs, as has already been indicated hereinabove, when baking cake products, in particular gingercakes. EXAMPLE 1 In a first experiment, cocoa nibs were continuously supplied to a vertical pipe (one metre long, 0.4 metre diameter, and a content of 125 litres), while the pipe was provided with a regulating valve at the underside. In counter flow, superheated steam at a pressure of 1.08 bara and a temperature of 165° C. was blown into the pipe from below. The roasting temperature of the cocoa nibs was 130° C., the aw-value of the cocoa nibs during roasting was 0.4 and the roasting capacity was 88 kg/hour. The roasted product had a moisture content of 1.6%, a germ count smaller than 10/g and contained no thermophilic spore formers. EXAMPLE 2 An experiment was carried out in the same manner as described in Example 1 except that the roasting temperature of the cocoa nibs during roasting was 110° C., the cocoa nibs had an aw-value of 0.8 and the roasting capacity was 120 kg/hour. The roasted product had a moisture content of 3.36%, a germ count of 10/g and contained no thermophilic spore formers. EXAMPLE 3 Cocoa nibs of the same type were roasted while using a continuous system comprising a double walled tube (150 metres long, and a cross-section of 150 millimetres). With steam as transport medium, the cocoa nibs were blown through the tube. The steam was blown into the tube at a pressure of 2 bara while the steam temperature was 120° C. The double wall was heated by steam at a pressure of 6 bara (160° C.). The roasting temperature of the cocoa nibs was 120° C., the aw-value of the nibs was 0.8 and the roasting capacity was 3,000 kg/hour. The roasted product had a moisture content of 3.8%, a germ count of 270/g and it contained 140 ppb of acrylamides. EXAMPLE 4 Cocoa nibs of the same type were roasted in a batch drum of the Barth 7500-type. During the process, steam was blown into the drum to prevent the presence of air. The roasting temperature of the nibs was 115° C., the aw-value of the nibs during roasting was 0.6 and the batch size 3,500 kg/40 minutes. The roasted product had a moisture content or 4.8%, a germ count smaller than 10 per gram, it contained no detectable thermophilic spore formers and contained 155 ppb of acrylamides. From the results shown hereinabove it will be clear that with the method according to the invention, cocoa nibs can be obtained of an extraordinarily good quality. Further, the products obtained exhibited an extraordinary flavour and aroma profile. EXAMPLE 5 An amount of paprika powder (approximately 60 g) or an amount of basil (approximately 25 g) are placed batch-wise on a sieve plate and sterilised with superheated steam of 125° C. for 5 minutes and a pressure of, successively, 1 and 2.4 bara; leading, at equilibrium, to an aw-value of 0.43 and 0.82. The results relative to the initial contamination have been summarised in the table. Temperature Killing off Product ° C. aw-value (log) Basil 125 0.43 1 125 0.82 3 Paprika 125 0.43 2 powder 125 0.82 4 EXAMPLE 6 200 g of peanuts were batch-wise placed on a sieve plate and, for five minutes, flowed through from above with superheated steam at a temperature of 160° C. at a pressure of 1 bara; leading, at equilibrium, to an aw-value of the peanuts of 0.16. As to colour and flavour, the roasted peanuts could not be distinguished from traditionally roasted peanuts (reference). An acrylamide concentration of 0.05 mg/kg was found against a content of 0.18 mg/kg of the reference product. EXAMPLE 7 Gingercake (700 g of dough) was baked for 50 minutes in an atmosphere of superheated steam at a temperature of 155° C. and a pressure of 3 bara; leading, at equilibrium, to an aw-value of 0.54. The baked gingercake was slightly darker than the bread traditionally baked in air (reference). A concentration of acrylamide was measured of 0.200 mg/kg, while the average literature value is 0.315 mg/kg, with a maximum of 3.190 mg/kg. EXAMPLE 8 220 grams of oven fries were placed batch-wise on a sieve plate and flowed through from above with superheated steam with a temperature of 175° C. at a pressure of 1 bara; leading, at equilibrium, to an aw-value of the oven fries of 0.11. As to colour and flavour, the fried oven fries could not be distinguished from traditionally air-fried oven fries (reference). A concentration of acrylamide was found of 0.26 mg/kg with a content of a 0.10 mg/kg of the starting product. From the results of, in particular, Examples 6-8 it will be clear that also with the method according to the invention, in a particularly attractive manner, foods can be baked, fried or sterilised.

20050926

20150217

20060615

65158.0

A47J3900

SMITH, CHAIM A

Process for thermally treating a product with steam

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

A47J

ACCEPTED

Swab for collecting biological specimens

The present invention relates to a swab for collecting biological specimens of the type consisting of a rod terminating in a tip covered with fibre with hydrophilic properties to allow absorption of said specimens, wherein said fibre covers said tip in the form of a layer deposited by flocking.

1. Swab (20) for collecting biological specimens of the type consisting of a rod (14) terminating in a tip (16) covered with fibre (17) with hydrophilic properties to allow absorption of said specimens, wherein said fibre (17) covers said tip (16) in the form of a layer deposited by flocking. 2. Swab as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rod tip (16) is shaped with a rounded geometry, such as an ogive, said fibre (17) being arranged in a uniform thickness. 3. Swab as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rod tip (16) is shaped with a geometry at least partly truncated or with edges. 4. Swab as claimed in claim 1, wherein said layer of said fibre (17) has a thickness between 0.6 and 3 mm. 5. Swab as claimed in claim 1, wherein in said fibre layer (17), said fibre has a count between 1.7 and 3.3 Dtex. 6. Swab as claimed in claim 1, wherein in said layer (17), said fibre has a length and count variable from respectively 0.6 mm and 1.7 Dtex to provide a fine nap, to a length of 3 mm and a count of 3.3 Dtex to provide a long nap. 7. Swab as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fibre (17) is chosen from rayon, polyester, polyamide, carbon fibre, alginate; natural fibres such as cotton and silk; or their mixtures. 8. Device for collecting and transporting biological specimens comprising a test-tube (10) containing a culture medium (11), and a swab (20) as claimed in claim 1. 9. Method for preparing a swab (20) as claimed in claim 1, comprising the steps of applying an adhesive to the tip (16) of said rod (14) of said swab (20) to be covered by fibre (17), and subjecting said swab (20) to flocking with the pre-selected fibre (17) in an electrostatic field.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a swab for collecting biological specimens. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the field of clinical and diagnostic analyses, swabs for collecting biological specimens of organic material are known, consisting essentially of a cylindrical rod around one end of which, known as the tip, is wrapped a wad of fibre such as rayon or a natural fibre such as cotton, with hydrophilic properties to allow rapid absorption of the quantity of specimen to be collected and tested. Stable adherence of the fibre wrapped around the tip of the rod is generally achieved by gluing. Usually, especially if the specimen is to be examined by culturing the microorganisms gathered with the collection, a swab is immersed in a test-tube containing culture medium immediately after collection for appropriate conservation of the specimen during storage and/or transport thereof to the analytical laboratory. An example of this type of device is given in patent EP0643131 by the same Applicant and refers to a swab for collecting and in vitro transporting specimens, of the type comprising a test-tube with culture medium in gel form and a rod carrying at one end a stopper for sealing the test-tube and at the opposite end means for collecting said specimen, for example a wad of fibre wrapped around the tip of the rod, to be dipped into the culture medium. The tip of the cylindrical rod, generally manufactured from essentially rigid material such as plastic, for example by extrusion, commonly presents a truncating cut which would make it difficult to insert the swab rod into the cavities (oral, nasal, ocular or rectal, urethral, vaginal etc.) of the patient from whom the specimen is taken, if the tip is not adequately protected. Therefore, the wad of hydrophilic fibre wrapped around said truncated end must not only contain sufficient material to allow absorption of the specimen in the desired quantity, in general 100 microlitres, but must also have a sufficiently thick and rounded shape to sheathe the edge of the truncated end so that it cannot cause damage or irritation to the patient during specimen collection. For this reason the fibre wad is wrapped around the tip of the rod in a rounded shape, typically developing into an ogive or similar shape so that it gradually becomes thicker towards the end of the rod thus reaching maximum thickness and therefore maximum protective effect, precisely around the truncated end. A wad of such a shape, while protecting the patient from any risk of contact with said truncated end of the rod, results in a number of drawbacks. The main one is that the thickness of the wad, because of the hydrophilic nature of the fibre, leads to penetration of collected liquid specimen into the mass of said wad. As, for practical reasons, the sample is released from the swab at the moment of analysis by simply gripping the rod of the swab and delicately sliding its tip and hence the fibre impregnated with liquid, along for example a petri dish with culture medium, in practice by spreading the specimen onto this latter (swabbing), even if this operation is repeated and is careful, it does not enable the entire volume e.g. the 100 ml of absorbed specimen to be released, because that part of it which has penetrated into the interior of the wad in the direction of its tip cannot be pressed out towards the surface and hence released by the swab during this operation Due to this defect, on average only about 40% of the liquid specimen collected can in practice be recovered for analysis. Such loss of specimen translates inevitably into reduced sensitivity of analysis and increased false negatives. In this respect, referring to the aforementioned average specimen loss after swabbing the swab, by testing only the 40 microlitres released for swabbing out of the 100 microlitres of specimen initially collected, it becomes difficult to establish whether a negative test effectively refers to the absence of the microorganism sought or rather to its non- or insufficient transfer from swab to test plate. A further problem derived from the bulky fibre wad of a swab of the known art is particularly evident for example in the case of urethral or ocular use of said swab. In these and other particular applications it would actually be even more desirable to be able to minimize swab thickness and hence patient discomfort during collection. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION As a solution to these problems, and also to achieve other advantages which will be apparent from the description, the present invention proposes a swab for collecting biological specimens of the type consisting of a rod terminating with a tip covered in fibre with hydrophilic properties to allow absorption of said specimens, characterised In that said fibre covers said tip In the form of a layer applied by means of flocking. With the aim of better understanding the characteristics and advantages of the invention, a non-limiting example of a practical embodiment thereof is described hereinafter, with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings. Said example refers to the case of a swab suitable for both the collection and storage of a biological specimen, and therefore also includes a test-tube containing a culture medium suitable for the collected microorganisms into which the swab is to be immersed after collection, such as for example the type described in the aforementioned patent EP0643131 by the same Applicant. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of the two components of a device in accordance with the example, that is the swab and test-tube, whereby the test-tube is partially sectioned longitudinally. FIG. 2 shows an enlarged detail of the swab of FIG. 1 in section. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference to said figures, a device of the invention in accordance with the illustrated example comprises an essentially cylindrical test-tube 10 containing a culture medium in gel form 11, presenting a free surface level 12 inside the test-tube. The upper open end of the test-tube presents a collar 13 for receiving a closure means. The device is completed by a swab 20 consisting of a rod 14 carrying at one end a stopper 15 which has to act as the closure means of the test-tube and is hence shaped so that it can engage, for example by snap-engaging, with the collar 13 of the test-tube. At the opposite end, the rod 14 terminates with a tip 16 carrying a suitable means, for example a layer of fibre 17, for collecting the specimen to be analysed. In the illustrated example, said tip 16 of the rod is shaped in a rounded geometry, similar to an ogive, and said fibre 17 being disposed as a layer of uniform thickness. In general terms, in accordance with the fundamental characteristic of the invention, said fibre with hydrophilic properties is deposited by means of flocking. The flocking technique is preferably of the type conducted in an electrostatic field which deposits the fibres in an ordered manner, perpendicular to the surface of the tip of the swab rod, which has been previously coated with adhesive for example by immersion or spraying. The fibre which is to form the flocked layer is subjected to an electrostatic field, and is hence deposited in an oriented manner and anchored to the surface of the tip, being retained by the adhesive. The adhesive is preferably water-based: once dried it enables the fibre to be anchored in a stable manner to the swab and to resist abrasion. The flocked swab is then dried by exposing it to a source of heat or radio-frequency. The tip of the swab stem is covered with a layer of fibre, preferably of uniform thickness, and from 0.6 to 3 mm thick. The fibre count, i.e. the weight in grams per 100 linear metres of a single fibre, is preferably between, 1.7 and 3.3 Dtex. In particular, a fibre of 0.6 mm length and 1.7 Dtex can be applied by flocking to obtain a fine nap, and a fibre up to 3 mm in length and 3.3 Dtex can be applied to obtain a long nap, obtaining, for values intermediate between the aforedefined, corresponding intermediate characteristics of thickness and fineness of the flocked layer. Within the wide choice of such values, the expedient to be respected according to the objects of the invention is to maintain an ordered arrangement of the fibres, substantially parallel to each other and normal to the surface of the rod, avoiding any overlapping of fibres which can occur if the nap is too long. Indeed, in this manner the capillary represented by each fibre, by virtue of which it can carry out its task of absorbing and releasing essentially the same quantity of specimen, remains unimpaired and functional. The amount of fibre to be deposited for forming the flocked layer in accordance with the invention is determined on the basis of the type of fibre and the pre-chosen layer characteristics of thickness and fineness, in such a manner as to enable 100 microlitres of specimen to be absorbed. In accordance with the objects of the invention, the fibre is chosen from a wide range of materials provided they are hydrophilic by capillarity, such as for example, synthetic or artificial materials e.g. rayon, polyester, polyamide, carbon fibre or alginate, natural materials e.g. cotton and silk, or mixtures thereof. EXAMPLES Some preparative examples are now given of a swab according to the invention. Such examples are not intended in any way to limit the scope of the invention. Example 1 A swab is prepared using a plastic rod, suitable for human clinical collection, of diameter 2.5 mm which decreases to 1 mm over a length of about 6 cm. The tip of the part with the smallest diameter is dipped in or sprayed with an adhesive, then the rod is placed vertically in a flocking apparatus in electrostatic field to deposit a polyamide flock. The polyamide flock of 0.7 mm length and 1.7 Dtex allows 0.5 μl per mm2 to be absorbed, therefore by flocking the 10 mm long tip of said rod the absorbing capacity obtained is 40 μl. Example 2 Proceeding as per example 1, a rod with a spatulate end is used, suited for example to collecting organic specimens from the oral cavity of a patient. Polyester fibre of 1 mm length and 1.7 Dtex count are used for the flocking. Example 3 Proceeding as per examples 1 and 2, polyester fibre of 2 mm length and 2.5 Dtex count is used. Continuing in general terms, it is calculated that a swab of the invention is capable of releasing about 90% of the absorbed specimen by swabbing, in this manner considerably increasing the sensitivity of the analysis compared with swabs of the known art, in particular by almost completely eliminating the risk of false negatives resulting from the incomplete release of the collected specimen from swab to test plate. In addition, the fact of being able to form, according to the invention, a fibre layer of any thickness, even very small, around the tip of the rod rather than a mass to cover it, as in the known art, means that the required rounded shape of the swab, i.e. free of edges, no longer has to depend on the mass of fibre itself but on the tip of the rod, which can therefore be preferably shaped into a round form, as indeed occurs in the aforedescribed example and shown in the accompanying drawings. Particularly in specific cases where swabs of the greatest possible thinness are required, for example urethral or ocular, this represents a further definite advantage over known swabs. Indeed a swab can be provided with a rounded tip by virtue of its shaping, around which a thin layer of fibre is deposited by flocking to allow on the one hand collection of a sufficient quantity of specimen for analysis, and on the other to minimize the total bulk of the part of the swab which is to penetrate the urethra, in consequence so reducing the discomfort of the patient undergoing the collection procedure. The shape given to the tip of the swab nevertheless varies greatly according to the type of collection it is intended for, and can even be truncated or have edges when the type of collection (for example oral) allows it. According to the invention, the type of adhesive, type of fibre and fibre characteristics, such as length and count, are in any case chosen from a wide range of options in order to obtain an ideal specific marker for identifying the microbiological specimen, whether by a direct diagnostic technique, by immuno-test, or by molecular biology techniques such as PCR, or with other known culturing, enrichment or selection techniques. The specimen to be collected with a swab of the invention generally consists of bacteria or viruses or DNA or RNA or a mixture thereof.

<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>In the field of clinical and diagnostic analyses, swabs for collecting biological specimens of organic material are known, consisting essentially of a cylindrical rod around one end of which, known as the tip, is wrapped a wad of fibre such as rayon or a natural fibre such as cotton, with hydrophilic properties to allow rapid absorption of the quantity of specimen to be collected and tested. Stable adherence of the fibre wrapped around the tip of the rod is generally achieved by gluing. Usually, especially if the specimen is to be examined by culturing the microorganisms gathered with the collection, a swab is immersed in a test-tube containing culture medium immediately after collection for appropriate conservation of the specimen during storage and/or transport thereof to the analytical laboratory. An example of this type of device is given in patent EP0643131 by the same Applicant and refers to a swab for collecting and in vitro transporting specimens, of the type comprising a test-tube with culture medium in gel form and a rod carrying at one end a stopper for sealing the test-tube and at the opposite end means for collecting said specimen, for example a wad of fibre wrapped around the tip of the rod, to be dipped into the culture medium. The tip of the cylindrical rod, generally manufactured from essentially rigid material such as plastic, for example by extrusion, commonly presents a truncating cut which would make it difficult to insert the swab rod into the cavities (oral, nasal, ocular or rectal, urethral, vaginal etc.) of the patient from whom the specimen is taken, if the tip is not adequately protected. Therefore, the wad of hydrophilic fibre wrapped around said truncated end must not only contain sufficient material to allow absorption of the specimen in the desired quantity, in general 100 microlitres, but must also have a sufficiently thick and rounded shape to sheathe the edge of the truncated end so that it cannot cause damage or irritation to the patient during specimen collection. For this reason the fibre wad is wrapped around the tip of the rod in a rounded shape, typically developing into an ogive or similar shape so that it gradually becomes thicker towards the end of the rod thus reaching maximum thickness and therefore maximum protective effect, precisely around the truncated end. A wad of such a shape, while protecting the patient from any risk of contact with said truncated end of the rod, results in a number of drawbacks. The main one is that the thickness of the wad, because of the hydrophilic nature of the fibre, leads to penetration of collected liquid specimen into the mass of said wad. As, for practical reasons, the sample is released from the swab at the moment of analysis by simply gripping the rod of the swab and delicately sliding its tip and hence the fibre impregnated with liquid, along for example a petri dish with culture medium, in practice by spreading the specimen onto this latter (swabbing), even if this operation is repeated and is careful, it does not enable the entire volume e.g. the 100 ml of absorbed specimen to be released, because that part of it which has penetrated into the interior of the wad in the direction of its tip cannot be pressed out towards the surface and hence released by the swab during this operation Due to this defect, on average only about 40% of the liquid specimen collected can in practice be recovered for analysis. Such loss of specimen translates inevitably into reduced sensitivity of analysis and increased false negatives. In this respect, referring to the aforementioned average specimen loss after swabbing the swab, by testing only the 40 microlitres released for swabbing out of the 100 microlitres of specimen initially collected, it becomes difficult to establish whether a negative test effectively refers to the absence of the microorganism sought or rather to its non- or insufficient transfer from swab to test plate. A further problem derived from the bulky fibre wad of a swab of the known art is particularly evident for example in the case of urethral or ocular use of said swab. In these and other particular applications it would actually be even more desirable to be able to minimize swab thickness and hence patient discomfort during collection.

<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>As a solution to these problems, and also to achieve other advantages which will be apparent from the description, the present invention proposes a swab for collecting biological specimens of the type consisting of a rod terminating with a tip covered in fibre with hydrophilic properties to allow absorption of said specimens, characterised In that said fibre covers said tip In the form of a layer applied by means of flocking. With the aim of better understanding the characteristics and advantages of the invention, a non-limiting example of a practical embodiment thereof is described hereinafter, with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings. Said example refers to the case of a swab suitable for both the collection and storage of a biological specimen, and therefore also includes a test-tube containing a culture medium suitable for the collected microorganisms into which the swab is to be immersed after collection, such as for example the type described in the aforementioned patent EP0643131 by the same Applicant.

20050728

20120214

20060629

59864.0

A61B1000

PANI, JOHN

SWAB FOR COLLECTING BIOLOGICAL SPECIMENS

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

A61B

ACCEPTED

One-way valve device

The one-way valve device for recontamination-protected repeated discharge of a flowable material from a container of a reducible volume includes a valve seat which consists of a rigid plastic material and which is arranged in the container neck and extends transversely across the interior of the container neck and comprises a plurality of passage openings. Moreover, a pin-like projection is formed on the valve seat and extends in the axial direction of the container neck to the exit opening. The valve seat has arranged thereabove an elastic seal which is held with an annular section on the valve seat and comprises a sleeve-like section which surrounds the projection of the valve seat at a radial distance with the exception of its end section which rests on the end section of the projection. A sterilization zone of silver or the like is arranged in the space between the projection of the valve seat and the elastic seal. The application of pressure to the contents of the container has the effect that the sleeve-like part is axially displaced relative to the pin-like projection, so that the contents of the container can exit. Seated on the container neck are also an inner cap and an outer cap which are in threaded engagement with one another. In the closing position of the outer cap, the sleeve-like section of the seal is firmly pressed against the projection of the valve seat, so that no container contents can exit. This system is excellently suited for applying multiple doses without any contamination.

1. A one-way device for discharging a flowable material from a container of a preferably reducible volume comprising an outer cap which includes an exit opening for the material, said one-way device comprising a valve seat arranged in a neck of the container and comprising a base body which extends transversely across the opening of the container neck and rests on the inner wall of the container neck and includes at least one passage opening, and a projection which extends in axial direction of the container neck towards the exit opening and an elastic seal which comprises an annular section resting on the base body, and a sleeve-like section which surrounds the projection at a radial distance with the exception of its end section which in the closed state of the one-way valve device rests on the projections, the outer cap being arranged to be movable between a rearward closing position and an advanced opening position, and comprising an inner annular attachment which in the closing position presses the sleeve-like section of the seal into abutment with the projection. 2. The one-way device according to claim 1, wherein an annular inner cap is secured to the container neck and grips over said neck with an outer annular wall and an inner annular wall. 3. The one-way valve device according to claim 2, wherein the outer annular wall of the inner cap comprises an external thread which is in engagement with an internal thread of an annular wall of the outer cap. 4. The one-way valve device according to claim 3, wherein the inner cap and/or the outer cap have formed thereon stops by which the range of rotation of the outer cap is limited. 5. The one-way valve device according to claim 2, wherein the inner annular wall of the inner cap presses the annular section of the seal against the base body of the valve seat. 6. The one-way valve device according to claim 1, wherein the projection comprises an axial section tapering towards the free end thereof, against which the sleeve-like section of the seal can be pressed by the inner attachment of the outer cap. 7. The one-way valve device according to claim 6, wherein the inner annular attachment of the outer cap comprises an obliquely downwardly expanding wall section which cooperates with the tapering axial section of the projection. 8. The one-way valve device according to claim 1 wherein, a cavity remains above the seal between the end section of the projection and the outer cap surrounding said projection. 9. The one-way valve device according to claim 8, wherein a sterilization zone is arranged in the cavity. 10. The one-way valve device according to claim 1, wherein, a further sterilization zone is arranged between the valve seat and the seal. 11. The one-way valve device according to claim 1, wherein, the base body of the valve seat includes a plurality of through holes radially outside the projection. 12. The one-way valve device according to claim 1, where the base body of the valve device includes a planar base plate which passes into a circumferential wall which rests on the inner wall of the container neck and which rests with an outwardly surrounding shoulder on the edge of the container neck. 13. The one-way valve device according to any claim 1, wherein the projection of the valve seat has a circular cylindrical section, an adjoining tapering, preferably conically beveled section, and an adjoining circular cylindrical end section. 14. The one-way valve device according to wherein the projection of the valve seat in longitudinal section has an arcuate contour at least in part. 15. The one-way valve device according to claim 1, wherein the upper edge of the projection is arranged in the closed state of the valve inside the container opening. 16. The one-way valve device according to claim 1, wherein, the annular section of the seal has a planar shape and is held by the inner annular wall of the inner cap radially outside the passage openings in contact with the valve seat. 17. The one-way valve device according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve-like section of the seal in longitudinal section starting from the annular section, is first given a conically tapering shape, then a cylindrical shape, then again a conically tapering shape and is made cylindrical on the outside thereof. 18. The one-way valve device according to claim 1 wherein the sleeve-like section of the seal in longitudinal section has an arcuate contour. 19. The one-way valve device according to claim 1, wherein the upper edge of the projection of the valve seat is in alignment with the upper side of the outer cap in the closed state of the valve. 20. The one-way valve device according to claim 1, wherein at least one sterilization zone includes a spiral sterilization element which surrounds the projection. 21. The one-way valve device according to claim 20, wherein the sterilization zone in the closed state of the valve is in contact on the upper and portion with both the projection and the sleeve-like section of the seal. 22. The one-way valve device according to claim 1, wherein the sterilization zone consists of silver or of another oligodynamically active metal or bactericidal substance or is coated therewith. 23. The one-way valve device according to claim 1, wherein at least one sterilization zone is formed by coating at least parts of the valve seat and/or the seat and/or the outer cap with oligodynamically active metals or bactericidal substances.

The present invention relates to a one-way valve device for discharging a flowable material from a container of a preferably reducible volume, comprising an outer cap which is seated on the container neck and has an exit opening for the material. If the container has a reducible volume, it may e.g. consist of a rigid outer container and of a flexible inner pouch which after discharge of container contents contracts each time accordingly, with pressure compensating openings being provided in the outer container for pressure compensation between the rigid outer container and the inner pouch. The container, however, may also be single-walled and e.g. have the shape of a tube which is compressed for discharging the material. Further examples of a container having a reducible volume are bellows-type containers, which gradually collapse upon discharge of the flowable material, and syringes the volume of which can be reduced by advancing a syringe plunger. It goes without saying that the above enumeration is only by way of example and not complete. If the container is not of a reducible volume, volume compensation may also be achieved during discharge of the container contents through inflowing air which should then flow through a sterile filter. The flowable contents of the container may be liquid and then be discharged in liquid form or as a spray, or it may be a suspension, cream, gel, ointment, or another substance, optionally of high viscosity. The one-way valve device of the above-considered type discharges the contents of the container in partial amounts, and the discharge in doses may be distributed over a prolonged period of time. With many applications, it is important that the filling material remaining in the container should not be impaired by contamination, for instance by microorganisms or inorganic or organic impurities. Above all in pharmaceutical materials, but also e.g. in the case of cosmetic container contents, this determines the quality and is e.g. also applicable to flowable substances to be counted among foodstuff. That is why the material volume discharged from the container must not be compensated by (unfiltered) air entering into the container if a situation is to be prevented where bacteria, dust, moisture, oxygen etc. get into contact with the remaining contents of the container. That is why in the container of the preferred type the volume must be reduced in proportion to the amount of material discharged. It must above all be ensured that no microorganisms penetrate through the container opening and contaminate the remaining contents of the container. Of course, it is also important to ensure that no contents of the container exits independently, for example during transportation of the container. It is the object of the present invention to indicate a one-way valve device of the type in question in which the sterility of the flowable material remaining in the container is guaranteed, and in which it is also ensured that no contents of the container exits independently out of the container. This object is achieved according to the invention by the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are characterized in the dependent claims. The one-way valve device according to the invention includes a valve seat which consists of a rigid plastic material such as PE/PP and is arranged in the neck of the container if the container has such a neck. By contrast, when the container has, for instance, a continuous tubular shape, the valve seat is inserted in the end section of the container. The valve seat includes a base body which extends transversely across the opening of the container neck and in this part comprises at least one passage opening that when released allows for the passage of the flowable material towards the exit opening of the container. Apart from the circular part extending transversely across the passage opening, the base body includes a section which rests on the inner wall of the container neck. Moreover, the circular part of the base body has connected thereto in its center a preferably pin-like projection preferably integrally attached to said circular part, which extends in axial direction of the container neck to the exit opening of the container. Furthermore, the one-way valve device according to the invention includes an elastic seal which has an annular section that rests at least partly on the circular part of the base body of the valve seat and may (but need not) cover the passage opening, and a sleeve-like section integrally formed therewith, which surrounds the pin-like projection of the valve seat at a radial distance, with the exception of an end section of the sleeve-like part which in the closed state of the valve device rests on the pin-like projection. The annular section of the elastic seal is here pressed radially outside of the at least one passage opening of the valve seat against the valve seat. Furthermore, according to the invention the outer cap is arranged to be movable between a closing position which is rearward with respect to the container and an advanced opening position and comprises an inner annular attachment which in the closing position presses the sleeve-like section of the seal into abutment with the pin-like projection. In the one-way valve device of the invention, such a configuration guarantees the sterility of the material remaining in the container and it is moreover ensured in the closing position of the outer cap that no contents of the container can unintentionally exit, for example in an overhead position of the container, because the outer cap firmly presses the seal onto the pin-like attachment of the valve seat, thereby safely closing the flow path of the container contents to the outside. The closing position of the outer cap is preferably secured by a releasable locking engagement. It may also be that the opening position of the outer cap is detachably fixable by a locking nose, etc. With great advantage the one-way valve includes a sterilization zone in the space between the pin-like projection of the valve seat and the sleeve-like section of the elastic seal, the sterilization means exerting a germicidal effect on possibly penetrating microorganisms, etc. Said sterilization zone may be a preferably spiral sterilization element which surrounds the projection, or it may be formed by coating at least parts of the valve seat and/or the seal with oligodynamically active metals or bactericidal substances. It is also suggested with great advantage that an annular cavity in which a further sterilization zone is arranged should remain above the seal between the end section of the preferably pin-like projection and the outer cap surrounding the same. This sterilization zone may also be formed by coating surfaces defining the annular cavity. In the one-way valve device according to the invention, the valve seat closes the container neck, except for its at least one passage opening. In the closed state of the valve, the elastic seal firmly rests with its annular section on the circular section of the base body of the valve seat because it is pressed in its annular outer portion into abutment with the valve seat. The elastic seal which lies flat on the base body of the valve seat preferably closes the at least one passage opening of the valve seat. However, it is also within the scope of the present invention that the seal in the area of the at least one passage opening has already passed into the sleeve-like section, i.e. in this case the seal does not close the passage opening in the inoperative state of the valve, which may be expedient in the case of a highly viscous container contents to reduce the force needed for discharging container contents. Furthermore, the elastic seal rests in the upper end portion of its sleeve-like section tightly on the circumference of the pin-shaped projection in the closed state of the one-way valve, so that the exit path of the container contents is safely closed. It is thereby ensured that no container contents can exist, and harmful substances can thus not pass to the container contents positioned between the seal and the pin-shaped projection. When pressure is exerted on the container contents, preferably by applying an external force on the container, the flowable material is pressed through the at least one passage opening of the valve seat against the annular section of the elastic seal, which is preferably positioned thereabove, whereby said seal is lifted from the base body of the valve seat. This is also the case when the seal is shaped such that it covers the least one passage opening at a certain distance. The passage of the container contents into the space between the pin-like projection and the sleeve-like section of the elastic seal has the consequence that the sleeve-like section moves in axial direction of the container neck and thus releases an annular passage path for the container contents between the sleeve-like section of the seal and the pin-like projection. When pressure is no longer exerted on the container contents, the seal returns into its initial position due to its elasticity. The seal which already rests as such on the pin-like projection is firmly pressed against the projection by displacement of the outer cap into the closing position and is held in said position. The sterilization zone which is preferably arranged in the space between the seal and the valve seat may surround the projection of the valve seat in a spiral form. The dimensions should here be chosen such that the sterilization zone, which may be formed by a coated helical spring, is in contact on the upper end portion of the projection with both said projection and the sleeve-like section of the seal, so that microorganisms possibly entering into the exit opening of the container automatically pass through the sterilization element when traveling downwards. This reliably prevents microbial contamination in said area. The sterilization zone preferably consists of silver or it includes a silver coating developing a germicidal effect. Instead of silver, other oligodynamically active metals or bactericidal substances can also be used. Since a sterilization zone is also formed, preferably by a wall coating, above the seal between the end section of the pin-like projection and the outer cap surrounding said projection, microorganisms, etc., which have entered through the exit opening of the container, are here already efficiently combated, so that the container contents remains sterile. Furthermore, with great advantage the one-way valve device according to the invention includes an annular inner cap below the outer cap, said inner cap being fixed to the container neck and gripping over said neck with an outer annular wall and an inner annular wall. Said inner cap is preferably secured to the container neck by the inner cap gripping with an inner annular projection of its outer wall under a surrounding projection protruding externally on the container neck, the arrangement being chosen such that the annular inner cap is non-rotatably seated on the container neck. Furthermore, it is suggested that the outer annular wall of the inner cap should comprise an external thread which is in engagement with an internal thread of an opposite annular wall of the outer cap. The outer cap is thereby rotatable relative to the remaining components of the one-way valve device, and the area of rotation should here be defined by stops. For instance, the outer cap may be moved by half a rotation from the closing position into the opening position. Due to the rotation into the opening position, the outer cap is advanced in the axial direction of the container, the inner annular attachment of the outer cap releasing the press fit of the sleeve-like section of the seal. At the same time, viewed relatively, the end section of the pin-like projection exits from the exit opening of the outer cap, and upon exertion of pressure on the container contents the sleeve-like section of the seal can be displaced in axial direction (in the illustration of FIGS. 1 and 2 upwards). As a result, the container contents can pass between and through the pin-like projection and the sleeve-like section of the seal and leave the container through the exit opening of the outer cap that is now free. In further details, it is suggested that the pin-like projection should have an axial section tapering towards the free end, against which the sleeve-like section of the seal can be pressed through the inner annular attachment of the outer cap. Viewed in cross section, the inner annular attachment of the outer cap should comprise a wall section expanding obliquely downwards, which cooperates with the tapering axial section of the projection. The annular attachment of the outer cap can be supported in the closing state radially outside on the inner annular wall of the inner cap, resulting in a high closing force. The base body of the valve seat contains, expediently radially outside the projection, a plurality of through holes for the passage of the container contents. The projection molded in the center of the circular planar base plate of the base body preferably includes a circular cylindrical section, an adjoining tapering, preferably conically beveled section, and then again an adjoining end section of a circular cylindrical shape, whose upper edge is arranged inside the container opening of the outer cap, preferably in alignment with the upper side thereof. The annular section of the seal has a planar shape and is held by an inner annular wall of the inner cap radially outside the at least one passage opening in contact with the base plate of the valve seat. In a further variant of the invention, the sleeve-like section of the seal in longitudinal section starting from the annular section first comprises a conically tapering section, then a cylindrical section and then again a conically or arcuately tapering section which on its outside ends again in a cylindrical section. The sleeve-like section is pressed in the area of its upper conically or arcuately tapering section against the pin-like projection when the outer cap is in the closing position. Further details of the invention become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment and from the drawing, in which: FIG. 1 is a vertical section through the upper end portion of a container provided with an embodiment of the one-way valve device, in the closed state of the system; and FIG. 2 is an illustration according to FIG. 1 in the opened state of the system. The one-way valve device according to the invention includes a valve seat 1 inserted into the neck 5 of a container 6, an elastic seal 2, an inner cap 3 and an outer cap 4. The valve seat 1 consists of a planar circular base plate 7 through which a plurality of circumferentially evenly spaced-apart passage openings 8 extend, of an outwardly adjoining cylindrical circumferential wall 9 which tightly rests on the inner wall of the container neck 5 and ends in an outwardly oriented annular collar 9 resting on the upper edge of the container neck 5. In the center of the circular base plate 7, a pin-like or peg-like projection 11 is molded that projects from the base plate 7 at a right angle and, extending therefrom, has a circular cylindrical section 12 which passes into a section 13 which is tapered upwards in the form of a truncated cone and which is joined by an end section 14 which has a circular cylindrical form again. In the closed state of the system, the end section 14 projects into a central exit opening 16 of the container cap 4 and its upper side ends flush with the upper side of the outer cap 4. In the opened system, the outer cap 4 is shifted upwards in the illustration of FIG. 2, so that the exit opening 16 of the outer cap 4 is exposed. Like the valve seat 1, the seal 2, which consists of an elastic plastic material, is also produced in one piece and includes a planar annular section 17 which on its radial inner circumferential edge passes into a sleeve-like section whose central longitudinal axis extends in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the annular section 17. Starting from the annular section 17, the sleeve-like section consists of a first conically upwardly tapering section 18, an adjoining circular cylindrical section 19, then again of an adjoining, conically or arcuately tapering section 20 and of an end section 21 whose outer wall is again shaped as a circular cylinder. The tapering section 20 may loosely rest on the section 13 of the pin-like projection 11 in the opened system and is firmly pressed against said section in the closed system. The inner cap 3 includes an outer annular wall 22 which with an internally surrounding projection grips under an outer projection of the container neck 5, and an inner annular wall 23 engaging into the container neck 5, which presses the annular section 17 of the seal 2 firmly against the valve seat, namely radially outside the passage openings 8. The outer annular wall 22 is provided with an external thread 24. The outer cap 4 includes an outer wall 25 which is approximately bell-shaped on the whole and which rests with its front edge 26, which is the lower one in the figures, on a shoulder 27 of the container 6 in the closed state of the system. Radially inside the bell-shaped circumferential wall 25, the outer cap 4 includes an annular wall 28 which engages with an internal thread 29 into the thread 24 of the inner cap. The outer cap 4 is thus rotatably arranged on the container neck and can be displaced by a corresponding rotation upwards into the opening position, as shown in FIG. 2. In the opened state, the edge 26 is spaced apart from the shoulder 27, and the conically upwardly tapering exit opening 16 is exposed. A cavity 30, the boundary walls of which may be coated with a sterilizing material, remains above the front edge of the seal 2. The bottom side of the upper wall 31 of the outer cap 4 has formed thereon a downwardly projecting annular projection 32 which with an inclined inner wall 33 and in the closed state of the system presses the section 20 of the seal 2 (or part thereof) firmly against the section 13 of the projection 11, so that the contents of the container cannot exit out of the container or the exit opening 16. In the annular space between the pin-like projection 11 of the valve seat and the section of the seal 2, which is sleeve-shaped on the whole, a sterilization element provided with a silver coating may be arranged in the form of a spiral screw which surrounds the projection 11 at a small distance. When pressurized filling material of the container 6 or filling material subjected to pressure is pressed through the passage openings 8 of the valve seat 1, the radially inner portion of the seal 2 is lifted upwards, i.e. the whole sleeve-like section of the seal 1 travels upwards, and filling material passes between and through the seal 1 and the pin-like projection 11 and exits out of the exit opening 16. When pressure is no longer exerted on the contents of the container, the sealing element 2 will return automatically on account of the elasticity of its material into the initial position in which it rests on the pin-like projection 11 in the upper area thereof.

20050728

20090414

20060907

87807.0

F16K3144

NICHOLS II, ROBERT K

ONE-WAY VALVE DEVICE

SMALL

ACCEPTED

F16K

ACCEPTED

Optical network, optical edge router, program thereof, cut through method, and edge router

An optical network has: sections for establishing optical paths; a plurality of optical edge routers for connecting external IP networks to the optical network (1001); and a plurality of optical cross connects, for connecting the optical edge routers by the optical paths, having switching sections with respect to an optical pulse unit. In the optical network, each of the optical edge routers has both of: (1) an optical network control instance (INSp) for maintaining topology information in the optical network and switching/signaling the optical paths; and (2) an IP network instance (INSi) for maintaining a routing table in each of the external IP networks and activating routing protocols between the external IP networks and the IP network instance. By doing this, it is possible to realize a multi-layer cooperative function and provide highly safe optical networks, etc.

1. An optical network comprising: sections for establishing optical paths; a plurality of optical edge routers for connecting external IP networks to the optical network; and a plurality of optical cross connects, for connecting the optical edge routers by the optical paths, having switching sections with respect to an optical pulse unit, wherein each of the optical edge routers has both of: an optical network control instance for maintaining topology information in the optical network and switching/signaling the optical paths; and an IP network instance for maintaining a routing table in each of the external IP networks and activating routing protocols between the external IP networks and the IP network instance. 2. An optical network according to claim 1 wherein the routing protocols for exchanging route information among the external IP networks are activated among the optical network control instances in the edge routers to which the external IP networks are connected. 3. An optical network according to claim 1 or 2, wherein BGPs are used for protocols for exchanging the route information of the external IP networks. 4. An optical edge router, used for an optical network, for transmitting packets between external IP networks and the optical edge router, comprising: a section for transmitting the packets between neighboring routers in neighboring external IP networks; a section for exchanging route information between the neighboring routers; a section for producing a routing table and storing the produced routing table in a storage section; a section for collecting topology information existing in the optical network and storing the collected topology information in a storage section; a section for signaling so as to establish/release optical paths; a section for notifying route information to other optical edge routers which face the optical edge router; and a section for reading out the routing table and the topology information from the storage section and producing packet forwarding tables which set e.g., to where the packets are to be transmitted in the section for transmitting the packets. 5. A program, used for optical networks and optical edge routers having sections for predetermined calculations and sections for transmitting packets between the section for predetermined calculations and external IP networks, wherein the section for the predetermined calculations comprises functions of: exchanging route information between neighboring routers in the external IP networks; producing a routing table and storing the produced routing table in a storage section; collecting topology information inside the optical networks and storing the collected topology information in the storage section; signaling so as to establish/release the optical paths; notifying route information to other optical edge routers which face the optical edge router; and reading out the routing tables and the topology information from the storage sections and producing a packet forwarding table which sets, e.g., where the packets are to be transmitted to by the section for transmitting the packets. 6. A cutting-through method for direct communication by a plurality of edge routers for connecting a core network and a plurality of external IP networks mutually at border points of the core network and the external IP networks, comprising: maintaining lists, in which ingress-side IP address correspond to identifiers for showing outgoing interfaces of egress edge routers, in ingress edge routers; adding the identifiers corresponding to the ingress-side IP address to the IP packets by the ingress edge routers when IP packets are transmitted; transmitting the IP packets to the outgoing interfaces by referring to the identifiers added to the IP packets in the egress edge routers. 7. A cutting-through method according to claim 6 wherein MPLS labels are used for the identifiers. 8. A cutting-through method according to claim 6 wherein correspondence information with respect to the ingress-side IP address and its corresponding identifiers are exchanged among the edge routers by control signals. 9. An edge router comprising: inputting sections for connecting a core network and a plurality of external IP networks at border points mutually and handling incoming IP packets, inputted from the external IP networks, to the core network; and outputting sections for handling outgoing IP packets outputted from the core network to the external IP networks, wherein the inputting sections has: a section for maintaining lists, in which ingress-side IP addresses correspond to identifiers for showing outgoing interfaces of other egress edge routers; and a section for adding the identifiers corresponding to the ingress-side IP addresses of the IP packets to the IP packets, in accordance with the lists when the IP packets are transmitted to other edge routers, and the outputting section has a section for referring to the identifiers and transmitting the IP packets to the outgoing interfaces, indicated by the identifiers. 10. An edge router according to claim 9 wherein MPLS labels are used for the identifiers. 11. An edge router according to claim 9, further comprising a section for exchanging information, in which the ingress-side IP addresses correspond to the identifiers, among other edge routers mutually by control signals, and wherein the section for maintaining the lists has a section for generating or updating the lists in accordance with the information obtained by the exchanging section with respect to the correspondence information between the ingress-side IP addresses and the identifiers. 12. A program, installed to an information processing apparatus, for realizing functions corresponding to edge routers, the functions being inputting functions, for connecting a core network and a plurality of external IP networks at border points mutually and handling incoming IP packets inputted from the external IP networks to the core network; and outputting functions, for handling outgoing IP packets outputted from the core network to the external IP networks, wherein, the inputting functions serve for: a function for maintaining lists in which ingress-side IP addresses correspond to identifiers for showing outgoing interfaces of other egress edge routers; and a function for adding the identifiers corresponding to the ingress-side IP addresses of the IP packets to the IP packets in accordance with the lists when the IP packets are transmitted to other edge routers, and the outputting function serves for referring to the identifiers and transmitting the IP packets, indicated by the identifiers, to the outgoing interfaces. 13. A program according to claim 12 wherein MPLS labels are used for the identifiers. 14. A program according to claim 12 further comprising a function for exchanging information, in which the ingress-side IP addresses correspond to the identifiers, among other edge routers mutually by control signals, and wherein the function for maintaining the lists serves for generating or updating the lists in accordance with the information obtained by the exchanging section with respect to the correspondence information between the ingress-side IP addresses and the identifiers. 15. A recording medium, readable by the information processing apparatus, on which the program according to claim 12 is recorded. 16. An information transmission network system, having a plurality of line exchangers and a plurality of packet exchangers, for setting communication lines among the packet exchangers, the line exchangers and the packet exchangers being connected by communication lines, wherein, the line exchangers have a line switch and a section for controlling line paths; the line switch has a function for connecting the communication lines, connected to the line exchangers, arbitrarily; each of the packet exchangers, connected to the line exchangers, has a packet switch, a section for controlling line paths, a section for controlling packet paths, and a cooperative control section; the packet switch has functions for selecting communication lines for transmission and outputting in accordance with packet-ingress-side's information transmitted via the communication lines; the sections for controlling line paths in the line exchangers are connected to the sections for controlling line paths in other line exchangers via lines the among line exchangers; the sections for controlling line paths in the packet exchangers are connected to at least the sections for controlling line paths in the line exchangers via lines among the packet exchangers and the line exchangers; the sections for controlling line paths in the line exchangers and the sections for controlling line paths in the packet exchangers have a function for acknowledging line connection conditions in a communication network, by exchanging information of the communication conditions among the communication lines; the section for controlling packet paths acknowledges connection-related-information with respect to packet exchange among the packet exchangers connected via the communication lines, by exchanging the information for the packet paths via the communication lines, and determines the communication lines for output in accordance with the packet-ingress-side's information; the cooperative control sections have functions for receiving instructions regarding new communication lines, referring to two pieces of information, i.e., connection information, with respect to line-exchanging-network, collected by the section for controlling line paths, and connection information with respect to packet-exchange collected by the section for controlling packet paths, selecting paths, being used for the new communication lines, and instructing the section for controlling line paths to set paths being used for the new communication lines; and the section for controlling line paths has functions for transmitting messages to the line exchangers to set up lines in accordance with the instructed paths so that the line exchangers, receiving the messages for controlling and setting the connected lines, set up the communication lines, and sending control messages to the line exchangers for setting the lines in accordance with the instructed paths. 17. An information transmission network system according to claim 16, for setting the communication lines among the packet exchangers and packet/line exchangers, having packet/line exchangers in which the packet exchangers and the line exchangers are integrated. 18. A packet exchanger in an information transmission network system, having a plurality of line exchangers and a plurality of packet exchangers, for setting communication lines among the packet exchangers, comprising: a packet switch having a function for selecting communication lines used for transmittance, in accordance with packet-ingress-side's information transmitted by the communication lines and outputting; at least one section for controlling line paths in the line exchangers, connected to the communication lines among the packet exchangers/line exchangers, for exchanging connection information of the communication lines and acknowledging line connection condition in a communication network; a section for controlling packet paths having functions for acknowledging connection-related-information with respect to packet exchange by exchanging information of the packet paths via the communication lines among the packet exchangers connected via the communication lines, and determining the communication lines for output; and a cooperative control section having a function for receiving instructions by new communication lines, referring to two pieces of information, i.e., connection information, with respect to the packet exchange, collected by the section for controlling line paths, and connection information with respect to the packet exchange collected by the section for controlling packet paths, selecting paths used for the new communication lines, and instructing the section for controlling line paths to set paths used for the new communication lines; wherein the section for controlling line paths have functions for transmitting messages to the line exchangers to set up lines in accordance with the instructed paths so that the line exchangers receive the messages for controlling and setting the connected lines, set up the communication lines, and send control messages to the line exchangers for setting the lines in accordance with the instructed paths. 19. A packet/line exchanger in an information transmission network system, having a plurality of line exchangers and a plurality of packet exchangers, for setting communication lines among the packet exchangers, comprising: line switches, connected to the line exchangers, having a function for connecting the communication lines arbitrarily; a packet switch having function for selecting communication lines used for transmittance, in accordance with packet-ingress-side's information transmitted by the communication lines and outputting the same; at least a section for controlling line paths in the line exchangers, connected to the communication lines among the packet exchangers/line exchangers, for exchanging connection information of the communication lines and acknowledging line connection conditions in a communication network; a section for controlling packet paths having functions for acknowledging connection-related-information with respect to packet exchange by exchanging information of the packet paths via the communication lines among the packet exchangers connected via the communication lines, and determining a communication line for output; and a cooperative control section having a function for receiving instructions by new communication lines, referring to two pieces of information, i.e., connection information, with respect to the packet exchange, collected by the section for controlling line paths, and connection information with respect to the packet exchange collected by the section for controlling packet paths, selecting paths used for the new communication lines, and instructing the section for controlling line paths to set paths being used for the new communication lines; wherein the section for controlling line paths has functions for transmitting messages to the line exchangers to set up lines in accordance with the instructed path, instructed by the cooperative control section, so that the line exchangers, receive the messages for controlling and setting the connected lines, set up the communication lines, and send control messages to the line exchangers for setting the lines in accordance with the instructed paths.

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an optical network formed in a plurality of routers and optical cross connects, an optical edge router, and a program therefor. Also, the present invention relates to a communication method in a core network having connections realized by a light or a layer 2 path. In particular, the present invention relates to a cutting-through method. Also, the present invention relates to an information transmission network system, a packet exchanger and a packet/line exchanger for transmitting data. In particular, the present invention relates to a technology for establishing transmission lines for transmitting data for realizing the transmission of the data. BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, techniques (optical IP techniques) for establishing paths, i.e., TDM (Time Division Multiplexing) channels and wavelengths, by signaling protocols which can be activated in an IP (Internet Protocol) layer have been developed. For the optical IP network models using these techniques, two models, i.e., (1) a peer model represented by prior art document 1, and (2) an overlay model represented by an OIF-UNI (see prior art document 2), have been proposed. In the peer model in (1), IP addresses, existing in a same address space as external IP networks being connected to an optical network, are used. The peer model is characterized in that a device, i.e., an optical cross connect, can be acknowledged as a node by external IP networks. Therefore, multi-layer cooperative functions, i.e., designating optical paths by using the external IP networks, and establishing the optical paths cooperatively with routing protocols in the external IP networks, can be realized easily. However, the addresses existing in the same space as the external IP networks are used for controlling the optical paths; therefore, there is a problem in containing a plurality of external IP networks in an optical network. In the overlay model in (2), an address space for the optical network and an address space for the external IP networks contained there, are independent completely; therefore, topologies and addresses in the optical network are invisible to external IP networks. Therefore, in contrast to the peer model, it is characterized in that, providing multi-layer cooperative functions is difficult, but that it is easy to contain a plurality of networks. Also, in general, in the overlay mode, information regarding paths between the external IP networks are exchanged by passing the routing protocols in the established optical paths; thus, it is necessary to establish/release neighborhood relationships each time the optical paths are established/released. If the neighborhood relationships of the routing operation change, instability increases in the external IP networks because the external IP networks acknowledge that the topologies are being changed in the network. In general, for carriers, i.e., an applicant having a plurality of IP networks, in terms of efficient use of network resources, i.e., optical fibers, it is very important to multiplex a plurality of IP networks on a single optical network. Also, if multi-layer cooperative functions for controlling the optical paths autonomously are realized in accordance with fluctuations (i.e., updating the routing, and increasing/decreasing traffic amount) in the IP networks, it may reduce operational costs for the carriers. In addition, if multi-layer cooperative functions are realized, the optical paths are established/released frequently. In terms of safety in the networks, it is desirable that the routing operation in the external IP networks not be affected by the fluctuations of the topologies of the optical paths. Therefore, new optical IP network models satisfying these requirements are necessary in order to apply the optical IP techniques to backbone networks owned by carriers. In a core network formed by conventional optical paths or layer 2 paths, an apparatus having pre-installed IP routers as an edge router has additional functions, i.e., GMPLS (for example, see prior art document 3), for setting the optical paths. There are ordinary IP connections (inter-router connections) via these paths among the edge routers. In order to realize direct communications mutually among all of the edge routers, the optical paths or the layer 2 paths must be established in the core network in a mesh manner. Therefore, if the number of the edge routers increases, the number of the paths maintained in an edge router increases; thus, the number of the IP interfaces which the edge router must have increases. As explained above, if, in terms of scalability, the core network is a large one, the number of the IP interfaces which the edge router must have increases. In general, the IP interfaces are expensive because complicated IP processes, i.e., retrieving the IP addresses, are conducted. Also, such a complication is a bottle neck for increasing interface speeds. On the other hand, in these core networks, the optical paths are realized by wavelength or logical connection of the layer 2; therefore, number of the connections which can be established by each apparatus is limited. For example, if the optical paths are realized by multiplexing wavelengths, there is a limit due to the number of the wavelength multiplexes in a WDM apparatus. Communication speed with respect to a wavelength is determined by the IP interface speeds in the edge router; therefore, several wavelengths are consumed unless the interface speeds improve. Accordingly, the number of the edge routers which can be contained in the core network is limited due to the limitations of the number of the wavelengths in the WDM apparatus; therefore, it is not possible to facilitate larger scale networks. There are problems in core networks formed by conventional optical paths or the layer 2 paths in terms of architecture, cost performance, and scalability. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram for explaining a conventional data transmission network. A plurality of line exchangers 3200 are connected by at least a communication line 3300; thus, a line exchange network is formed. A plurality of packet exchangers 3100 are connected to the line exchangers in this line exchange network via the communication lines 3300. Each of the line exchangers 3200 is formed by a line switch and a section for controlling line paths. The line switch is connected to a line switch disposed in at least other line exchanger via a plurality of communication lines. The section for controlling line paths controls the line switch and connects two communication lines. The communication line is, i.e., an optical line, an SDH/SONET line, an ATM line, an MPLS-LSP line, or an FR line. The section for controlling line paths is connected to the line switch disposed in at least one other line exchanger via communication paths 3700 between the line exchangers. The section for controlling line paths exchanges information, i.e., the number of the communication lines for connecting and exchanging the lines mutually, via the communication lines between the line exchangers. It is possible to know the connection relationships in an entire line exchange network by using communication protocols, i.e., OSPF-TE (see prior art document 4) and PNNI (prior art document 5). FIG. 12 is a schematic view for showing connection information among the line exchangers. Each of the packet exchangers 3100 is formed by a packet switch, a section for setting and controlling lines, and a section for controlling packet lines. The packet switch is connected to at least the line exchanger 3200 via the communication lines 3300. The section for setting and controlling lines is connected to at least the packet exchanger/communication lines 3600 among the line exchangers. If parties, i.e., maintenance providers, instruct the packet exchangers 3100 to set new communication lines between two random packet exchangers, the section for setting and controlling lines sends out a message to the line exchangers 3200 to set and control lines. The line exchangers 3200 having received the message for setting and controlling lines, select vacant communication lines necessary for connecting two packet exchangers in accordance with connection-related information in an entire line exchange network in the line exchange network. For example, the communication lines 3300-1-2, 3300-2-1, 3300-5-1, and 3300-4-1 are vacant lines among the packet line exchangers 3100-1 and 3100-2 in accordance with the connection-related information. If these communication lines are connected by the line switches disposed in the line exchangers 3200-1, 2, and 3, it is determined that the communication lines among the packet exchangers 3100-1 and 3100-2 are connectable. In accordance with the determination result, the message for setting and controlling lines is transmitted to other line exchangers. By repeating this, the communication lines are set among the packet exchangers; thus, it is possible to exchange packet data. The section for controlling packet lines inserts a packet route information message into the communication lines 3300 by a packet insertion/extraction circuit. The inserted packet route information message is transmitted to at least one other section for controlling packet paths via the communication lines. By exchanging the message, it is possible to obtain the connection-related information in a packet communication network mutually. FIG. 13 is a view for showing route information of a packet exchange network. It is possible to determine the paths for transmitting packets in accordance with this route information. The packet exchange network corresponds to networks, i.e., IP packet networks. It is possible to determine the connection relationship of the packet networks and the paths for transmitting packets by using protocols, i.e., the OSPF (see prior art document 6) and the IS-IS protocol (see a prior art document 7). For example, it is determined that the packets transmitted from the packet exchanger 3100-1 to the packet exchanger 3100-3 are transmitted to the communication line 3300-1-1. FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram for explaining a conventional data transmission network. A plurality of line exchangers 3200 are connected by at least a communication line 3300; thus, a line exchange network is formed. A plurality of packet exchangers 3100 are connected to the line exchangers in this line exchange network via the communication lines 3300. Each of the line exchangers 3200 is formed by a line switch and a section for controlling line/packet paths. The line switch is connected to a line switch disposed in at least one other line exchanger via a plurality of communication lines. The section for controlling packet lines controls the line switch and connects two communication lines. The communication line is, i.e., an optical line, a SDH/SONET line, an ATM line, an MPLS-LSP line, or an FR line. The section for controlling line/packet paths is connected to the line switch disposed in at least one other line exchanger via communication paths 3700 between the line exchangers. Each of the packet exchangers 3100 is formed by a packet switch, and a section for controlling line/packet paths. The packet switch is connected to at least the line exchanger 3200 via the communication lines 3300. The section for setting and controlling lines/packets is connected to at least the line exchanger 3200 by packet exchanger/communication lines 3600 among the line exchangers. The section for controlling line/packet path exchanges information, i.e., the number of the communication lines for connecting and exchanging the lines mutually, via the communication paths 3700 among line exchangers. In addition, by exchanging the packet route information messages, it is possible to obtain connection-related information of the packet communication network. It is possible to learn the connection relationship in the entire line exchange network by using communication protocols, i.e., OSPF-TE (see prior art document 4) and a PNNI (see a prior art document 5). Also, it is possible to learn the connection relationship in the packet network mutually by using communication protocols, i.e., the OFPF protocol and the IS-IS protocol. FIG. 15 shows the connection information of a line exchange network and an integrated packet exchange network. It is possible to determine optimum paths for transmitting packets in accordance with this information. If parties, i.e., maintenance providers, instruct the packet exchangers to set new communication lines between two random packet exchangers, the section for controlling line/packet paths selects the communication lines for connecting two packet exchangers by using the line network information and the packet network information. For example, the communication lines 3300-1-2, 3300-2-1, 3300-5-1, and 3300-4-1 are connected by the line switches disposed in the line exchangers 3200-1, 2, and 3 among the packet exchangers 3100-1 and 3100-2. By doing this, it is determined that the communication lines among the packet exchangers 3100-1 and 3100-2 are connectable. In accordance with the determination results, a message for setting and controlling connected lines is transmitted to the other line exchangers. By repeating this, the communication lines are set among the packet exchangers; thus, it is possible to exchange packet data. In accordance with the above explained conventional technology, the connection information of the line exchange network and the connection information of the packet exchange network are independent. Therefore, the packet exchanger cannot dispose the communication lines optimally among the packet exchangers by using the information of the line exchange network. Also, in the other conventional technology explained above, the connection information of the line exchange network and the connection information of the packet exchange network are stored commonly; therefore, the packet exchanger can dispose the communication lines optimally by using the information of the line exchange network. However, there has been a problem in separating the packet transmission network and a network for exchanging and controlling lines in that the packets transmitted from the packet exchangers 3100-1 to 3100-3 have been transmitted to the communication path 3600-1 undesirably. Prior Art Document 1 Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching: “Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching Architecture”, IETF Internet-Draft, [online], May, 2003, [retrieved July, 2003], Internet<URL HYPERLINK “http://www.ietf.org//internet-drafts/draft-ietf-ccamp-gmpls-architecture-07.txt” http://www.ietforg//internet-drafts/draft-ietf-ccamp-gmpls-architecture-07.txt Prior Art Document 2 Network Interface, “User Network Interface (UNI) 1.0 Signaling Specification: Changes from OIF200.125.5”, The Optical Internetworking Forum, Contribution Number: OIF2000.125.7 Prior Art Document 3 Generalized MPLS-Signaling Functional Description, IETF,[online], August 2002, [retrieved December 2002], Internet “URL:http://www.ietf.org/internet-drafts/draft-ietf-mpls-generalized-signaling-09.txt” Prior Art Document 4 IETF, “OSPF Extensions in Support of Generalized MPLS”, K. K ompella (Editor), Y. Rekhter (Editor), Juniper Networks, December 2002, [online], [retrieved May 23, H-15], Internet “http://www.ietf, org/internet-drafts/draft-ietf-ccamp-ospf-gmpls-extensions-09.txt” Prior Art Document 5 ATM Forums “Private Network-Network interface Specification Version1.1(PNNI 1.1)”, April 2002, [online], retrieved May 23, H15], Internet “ftp://ftp.atmforum.com/pub/approved-specs/af-pnni-0055.001.pdf” Prior Art Document 6 IETF, “OSPF Version 2, RFC2328”, J. Moy, Ascend Communications, Inc., April 1998[online], [retrieved May 23, H15], Internet internet “ftp://ftp.rfc-editor.org/in-notes/rfc2328.txt” Prior Art Document 7 ISO, “Intermediate System to Intermediate System, DP 10589” DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an optical network, etc. for realizing a multi-layer cooperative function having high stability in the network. The invention for solving the above problems is an optical network system. This optical network system comprises: sections for establishing optical paths; a plurality of optical edge routers for connecting external IP networks to the optical network; and a plurality of optical cross connects, for connecting the optical edge routers by the optical paths, having switching sections with respect to an optical pulse unit. In addition, the present invention is characterized in that each of the optical edge router has both of: (1) an optical network control instance for maintaining topology information in the optical network and switching/signaling the optical paths; and (2) an IP network instance for maintaining a routing table in each of the external IP networks and activating routing protocols between the external IP networks and the IP network instance. The “sections for establishing optical paths” have a function for establishing paths for the optical signals. An RSVP-TE of the GMPLS corresponds to the sections for establishing optical paths in embodiments which will be explained later. The “optical edge routers” have a function for connecting the external IP networks and the optical network. By this function, more specifically, IP packets (ingress-side IP address) to be processed correspond to the optical paths so that the IP packets are relayed to appropriate optical paths. An “optical cross connect device (optical core router)” switches paths (optical paths) of the optical signals by switching the optical signals. In general, the “optical paths” indicate paths, formed with respect to a wavelength unit, for optical signals. In the present invention, they contain channels, i.e., TDM (SONET.SDH [Synchronous Optical NETwork/Synchronous Digital Hierarchy]). In addition, the wavelengths and the TDM channels can be handled in a similar manner in the above explained GMPLS protocol. “Topology information in the optical network” indicates information about, i.e., what kind of interfaces are contained in apparatuses forming the optical network, and what kind of address is allocated in the apparatuses. “Signaling” indicates communications, i.e., specifying counterparts, and monitoring/requesting conditions in either one of the apparatus with each other. Also, “signaling protocols” are used for the communications above. By doing this, the address space in the external IP network and the address space used for controlling the optical network are separated completely; thus, it is possible to contain a plurality of IP networks in a single optical network. In addition, since an edge router has both of the instances, it is possible to control the optical paths integrally by using information about the external IP networks; that is, multi-layer cooperation is available. Instances indicate data as actual values based on classes with respect to object-oriented-programming. It is frequently used in contrast to the class; therefore, the class is explained as a “type”, and the instance is explained as “reality”. Also, the optical network system of the present invention is characterized in that, in the optical network, the routing protocols, for exchanging route information among the external IP networks, are activated among the optical network control instances in the edge router to which the external IP networks are connected. By doing this, the external IP networks may acknowledge as if neighboring routing relationship for exchanging route information in the external IP networks is always established among the optical edge routers. This neighboring routing relationship is not affected by fluctuations of the topologies in the optical paths; therefore, the external network may acknowledge as if the topologies are always stable. Also, the optical network system of the present invention is characterized in that, in the optical network system, BGPs (Border Gateway Protocols) are used for protocols for exchanging the route information of the external IP networks. The BGPs are protocols for exchanging information about IP paths between different networks. In the embodiments which will be explained later, the BGPs are used for communicating the route information among the optical edge routers without modifying the BGPs. Because of the BGPs, as a standard protocol, used in the IP networks commonly, it is possible to avoid costs for developing the protocols. Also, the present invention is an optical edge router for transmitting packets between the edge routers and the external IP networks. This optical edge router comprises: a section for transmitting packets between neighboring routers in the external IP networks; a section for exchanging route information between the neighboring routers; a section for producing routing tables and storing the same in a storage section; a section for collecting topologies inside the optical networks and storing the same in the storage section; a section for signaling so as to establish/release the optical paths; a section for notifying route information to other optical edge routers which face the optical edge router; and a section for reading out the routing tables and the topology information from the storage section and producing packet forwarding tables which set where the packets are to be transmitted in the section for transmitting the packets. In the embodiments which will be explained later, the section for transmitting packets corresponds to a transmitting processing section. The section for exchanging route information corresponds to an IP network routing protocol processing section. The section for producing routing table corresponds to an IP network routing protocol processing section. This section for storing the produced routing table corresponds to a section for storing IP network routing tables. A section for collecting topology information corresponds to an OSPF-TE processing section. The section for signaling corresponds to an RSVP-TE processing section. The section for notifying paths information corresponds to the BGP processing section. A section for storing topology information corresponds to an optical network topology DB. Also, the present invention is a program, used for optical networks and optical edge routers having sections for predetermined calculations, and sections for transmitting packets between a section for predetermined calculations and external IP networks. This program is executed by the section for the predetermined calculations, and the section for the predetermined calculations comprises functions of: exchanging route information; producing a routing table; collecting topology information; signaling; notifying route information; and producing a packet forwarding table. Also, another object of the present invention is to provide a cutting-through method and an edge router for reducing the cost of the edge router and improving the scalability by omitting a part of the IP processing operation in the edge routers. The present invention is a cutting-through method for direct communication by a plurality of edge routers for connecting a core network and a plurality of external IP networks mutually at border points of the core network and the external IP networks. The present invention is characterized in that, lists are maintained in which ingress-side IP addresses correspond to identifiers for showing outgoing interfaces of egress edge routers, in ingress edge routers; the identifiers, corresponding to the ingress-side IP addresses, are added to the IP packets by the ingress edge routers when IP packets are transmitted; and the IP packets are transmitted to the outgoing interfaces by referring to the identifiers added to the IP packets in the egress edge routers. According to the present invention, IP addresses are retrieved only by an interface near the external IP networks in the ingress edge router in contrast to the conventional retrieving of IP addresses by the edge routers on both side's of the core network. By doing this, it is possible to omit complicated IP processing operations by the interface near the external IP networks in the edge router; thus, it is possible to limit the IP address retrieval to simple processes, i.e., referring to identifiers. By doing this, it is possible to reduce the cost of the interface near the core network in the edge router. In addition, because the interface speed may be increased by the simple processes, it is possible to reduce the number of the paths in the core network by increasing the speed with respect to a path; thus, it is possible to improve scalability. It is preferable that that MPLS labels should be used for the identifiers. According to the present invention, it is possible to use elemental functions, i.e., tables for managing the MPLS labels (MPLS label tables), and capsulation hardware for adding the MPLS labels to the IP packets and removing them therefrom, for supporting existing MPLSs; thus, it is possible to reduce the cost for development. It is preferable that correspondence information with respect to the ingress-side IP addresses and corresponding identifiers be exchanged among the edge routers by control signals. According to the present invention, the edge router exchanges the information necessary to generate the lists in which the ingress-side IP addresses correspond to the identifiers automatically; therefore, it is possible to omit manual-setting processes; thus, it is possible to reduce operational costs of the network. The present invention is an edge router comprising: inputting sections for connecting a core network and a plurality of external IP networks at its border points mutually and handling incoming IP packets, inputted from the external IP networks, to the core network; and outputting sections for handling outgoing IP packets outputted from the core network to the external IP networks. The present invention is characterized in that the inputting sections have: a section for maintaining lists, in which ingress-side IP addresses correspond to identifiers for showing outgoing interfaces of other egress edge routers; and a section for adding the identifiers corresponding to the ingress-side IP addresses of the IP packets to the IP packets, in accordance with the lists when the IP packets are transmitted to other edge routers. Also, it is characterized in that the outputting section has a section for referring to the identifiers and transmitting the IP packets to the outgoing interfaces, indicated by the identifiers. The present invention can realize edge router device for implementing the cutting-through method in which the ingress-side IP addresses are retrieved by only the ingress edge router, and the outgoing interface is determined by only retrieving the identifiers. It is preferable that that MPLS labels should be used for the identifiers. According to the present invention, it is possible to use elemental functions, i.e., tables for managing the MPLS labels (MPLS label tables), and capsulation hardware for adding the MPLS labels to the IP packets and removing them therefrom, for supporting existing MPLSs; thus, it is possible to reduce the cost for development. It is preferable that the edge router should further comprise a section for exchanging information, in which the ingress-side IP addresses correspond to the identifiers, among other edge routers mutually by control signals. Also, it is preferable that the section for maintaining the lists have a section for generating or updating the lists in accordance with the information obtained by the exchanging section with respect to the correspondence information between the ingress-side IP addresses and the identifiers. According to the present invention, the edge router exchanges the information necessary to generate the lists in which the ingress-side IP addresses correspond to the identifiers automatically; therefore, it is possible to omit manual-setting processes; thus, it is possible to reduce operational costs of the edge router. The present invention is a program, installed to an information processing apparatus, for realizing functions corresponding to edge routers, the functions being inputting functions, for connecting a core network and a plurality of external IP networks at border points mutually and handling incoming IP packets inputted from the external IP networks to the core network; and outputting functions, for handling outgoing IP packets outputted from the core network to the external IP networks. The present invention is characterized in that the inputting functions serve for: a function for maintaining lists in which ingress-side IP addresses correspond to identifiers for showing outgoing interfaces of other egress edge routers; and a function for adding the identifier corresponding to the ingress-side IP addresses of the IP packets to the IP packets in accordance with the lists when the IP packets are transmitted to other edge routers. Also, it is characterized in that the outputting function serves for referring to the identifiers and transmitting the IP packets, indicated by the identifiers, to the outgoing interfaces. It is preferable that that MPLS labels should be used for the identifiers. Also, it is preferable that the program further comprise a function for exchanging information, in which the ingress-side IP addresses correspond to the identifiers, among other edge routers mutually by the control signals. Also, it is preferable that the function for maintaining the lists serve for generating or updating the lists in accordance with the information obtained by the exchanging section with respect to the correspondence information between the ingress-side IP addresses and the identifiers. The present invention is a recording medium, readable by the information processing apparatus, on which the program according to the present invention is recorded. The program according to the present invention is recorded on the recording medium according to the present invention; therefore, the program can be installed to the information processing apparatus by this recording medium. Otherwise, the program according to the present invention can be installed to the information processing apparatus directly from a server maintaining the program according to the present invention via a network. By doing this, a part of the IP processes in the edge router is omitted by using the information processing apparatus, i.e., a computer, and it is possible to realize a cutting-through method and the edge router for reducing the cost of the edge router and improving scalability. The present invention is an information transmission network system, having a plurality of line exchangers and a plurality of packet exchangers, for setting communication lines among the packet exchangers, the line exchangers and the packet exchangers being connected by the communication lines. In the present invention, the line exchanger has a line switch and a section for controlling line paths. The line switch has a function for connecting the communication lines, connected to the line exchangers, arbitrarily. Each of the packet exchangers, connected to the line exchangers, has a packet switch, a section for controlling line paths, a section for controlling packet paths, and a cooperative control section. The packet switch has functions for selecting the communication lines for transmission and outputting the same in accordance with packet-ingress-side's information transmitted via the communication lines. The section for controlling line paths in the line exchanger is connected to the section for controlling line paths in other line exchangers via lines among line exchangers. The section for controlling line paths in the packet exchanger is connected to at least the section for controlling line paths in the line exchangers via lines among the packet exchangers and the line exchangers. The section for controlling line paths in the line exchanger and the section for controlling line paths in the packet exchanger have a function for acknowledging line connection conditions in a communication network, by exchanging information of the communication condition among the communication lines. The section for controlling packet paths acknowledges connection-related-information with respect to packet exchange among the packet exchangers connected via the communication lines, by exchanging the information for the packet paths via the communication lines, and determines the communication lines for output in accordance with the packet-ingress-side's information. The cooperative control sections have functions for receiving instructions regarding new communication lines, referring to two information, i.e., connection information, with respect to line-exchanging-network, collected by the section for controlling line paths, and connection information with respect to packet-exchange collected by the section for controlling packet paths, selecting paths used for the new communication lines, and instructing the section for controlling line paths to set paths being used for the new communication lines. The section for controlling line paths has functions for transmitting messages to the line exchangers to set up lines in accordance with the instructed paths so that the line exchangers, receiving the messages for controlling and setting the connected lines, set up the communication lines, and sending control messages to the line exchangers for setting the lines in accordance with the instructed paths. The present invention is an information transmission network system for setting the communication lines among the packet exchangers and among the packet exchangers and the line exchangers, having packet/line exchangers in which the packet exchangers and the line exchangers are integrated. The present invention is a packet exchanger in an information transmission network system, having a plurality of line exchangers and a plurality of packet exchangers, for setting communication lines among packet exchangers, comprising: a packet switch having a function for selecting communication lines used for transmittance, in accordance with the packet-ingress-side's information transmitted, by the communication lines and outputting the same; at least a section for controlling line paths in the line exchangers, connected to the communication lines among the packet exchangers/line exchangers, for exchanging connection information of the communication lines and acknowledging line connection conditions in a communication network; a section for controlling packet paths having functions for acknowledging connection-related-information with respect to packet exchange by exchanging information of the packet paths via the communication lines among the packet exchangers connected via the communication lines, and determining the communication lines for output; and a cooperative control section having a function for receiving instructions by new communication lines, referring to two pieces of information, i.e., connection information, with respect to the packet exchange, collected by the section for controlling line paths, and connection information with respect to the packet exchange collected by the section for controlling packet paths, selecting paths used for the new communication lines, and instructing the section for controlling line paths to set paths used for the new communication lines. In the present invention, the section for controlling line paths has functions for transmitting messages to the line exchangers to set up lines in accordance with the instructed path so that the line exchangers, receive the messages for controlling and set the connected lines, set up the communication lines, and send control messages to the line exchangers for setting the lines in accordance with the instructed paths. The present invention is a packet/line exchanger in an information transmission network system, having a plurality of line exchangers and a plurality of packet exchangers, for setting communication lines among packet exchangers, comprising: line switches, connected to the line exchangers, having a function for connecting the communication lines arbitrarily; a packet switch having a function for selecting communication lines used for transmittance, in accordance with the packet-ingress-side's information transmitted, by the communication lines and outputting the same; at least a section for controlling line paths in the line exchangers, connected to the communication lines among the packet exchangers/line exchangers, for exchanging connection information of the communication lines and acknowledging line connection conditions in a communication network; a section for controlling packet paths having functions for acknowledging connection-related-information with respect to packet exchange by exchanging information of the packet paths via the communication lines among the packet exchangers connected via the communication lines, and determining the communication lines for output; and a cooperative control section having function for receiving instructions by new communication lines, referring to two pieces of information, i.e., connection information, with respect to the packet exchange, collected by the section for controlling line paths, and connection information with respect to the packet exchange collected by the section for controlling packet paths, selecting paths used for the new communication lines, and instructing the section for controlling line paths to set paths being used for the new communication lines. In the present invention, the section for controlling line paths, has functions for, transmitting messages to the line exchangers to set up lines in accordance with the instructed path, instructed by the cooperative control section, so that the line exchangers, receiving the messages for controlling and setting the connected lines, setting up the communication lines, and sending control messages to the line exchangers for setting the lines in accordance with the instructed paths. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view showing a general structure of an optical network including external IP networks in the embodiments. FIG. 2 is a view showing a neighboring relationship between instances and routings maintained by nodes on the optical network. FIG. 3 is an example for IP network routing table in the embodiments. FIG. 4 is a function block diagram showing a more specific structure of the optical edge router in the embodiments. FIG. 5 is a function block diagram showing a more specific structure of the optical cross connects in the embodiments. FIG. 6 is a sequential diagram showing a flow of route information in the embodiments. FIG. 7 is a view for explaining general structure of the optical network. FIG. 8 is a view for explaining details of the optical cutting-through processes. FIG. 9 a view explaining an MPLS label table. FIG. 10 is a view for explaining the structure of the edge routers for realizing the optical cut-through. FIG. 11 is a view showing a first conventional structure in a data transmission network. FIG. 12 is a view showing connection information in a line exchange network. FIG. 13 is a view showing route information in a packet exchange network. FIG. 14 is a view showing a second conventional structure in a data transmission network. FIG. 15 is a view showing connection information in which the line exchange network and the packet exchange network shown in FIG. 14 are integrated. FIG. 16 is a view for explaining a structure of the data transmission network in a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 17 is a view showing connection information in the line exchange network shown in FIG. 16. FIG. 18 is a view showing route information in the packet exchange network shown in FIG. 16. FIG. 19 is a view for explaining a fourth embodiment of the present invention. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION FIRST EMBODIMENT A first embodiment for implementing the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to drawings. FIG. 1 is a view showing a general structure of an optical network including external IP networks. As shown in FIG. 1, an optical network 1001 includes two sets of external IP networks 1002A and 1002B1, consisting of, i.e., totally 4 (four) sites: 1002A1, 1002A2, 1002B1, and 1002B2. The external IP networks 1002A2 and 1002B2 are contained in the optical network 1001 via edge routers 1003 so that an optical path 1005 is established among the optical edge routers 1003 through optical cross connects (optical cross connect device) 1004 (1004a, 1004b . . . ). Also, BGP peers 1006 are established among the optical edge routers 1003 for exchanging route information of the external IP networks. GMPLS is used for a protocol for controlling the optical paths in the optical network. The GMPLS, used in the present embodiment, is a technique for routing signals on the optical IP network 1001. Routing paths have conventionally been designated by adding labels to packets in a conventional MPLS (Multi-Protocol Label Switching). In contrast, in the GMPLS, the routing paths are determined based on wavelengths in optical signals, and actual data are routed as a non-modified optical signals by preparing IP channels used for controlling exclusively. In the routing, the optical signals are not converted to electric signals; therefore, the routing can be done at a high speed. The BGP peers 1006 are established among the optical edge routers 1003 so as to exchange information by a protocol BGP. The BGP is a one-for-one protocol. Steps for establishing the BGP peers 1006 consists of, in order, i.e., (1) establishing a three-way-handshake connection by TCP, (2) transmitting an OPEN message, and (3) returning a KEEPALIVE message. When the BGP peers 1006 are established, information is exchanged, i.e., the routing table (see table 3 which will be explained later) is exchanged, route information is updated by an UPDATE message, and the KEEPALIVE message is exchanged periodically. In the present specification, with respect to reference numerals of the external IP network 1002, if it is explained as a superordinate concept, a reference numeral 1002 is used simply. If it is explained individually and specifically, reference numerals 1002A, 1002b, 1002A1, 1002A2, 1002B1, and 1002B2 are used. The optical edge routers 1003 are understood similarly. That is, if it is explained as a superordinate concept, a reference numeral 1003 is used. If it is explained individually and specifically, reference numerals 1003A, 1003b, 1003A1, 1003A2, 1003B1, and 1003B2 are used. Also, instances INS are understood similarly. That is, if it is explained as a superordinate concept, a reference symbol INS is used. If it is explained individually and specifically, reference symbols INSi and INSp. The other reference numerals and symbols are understood similarly to the reference numerals 1002 and 1003, etc. FIG. 2 is a view showing a neighboring relationship between instances and routings maintained by nodes on the optical network. As shown in FIG. 2, similarly to the case of FIG. 1, an optical network 1011 contains two sets of external IP networks 1002A and two sets of 1002B, consisting of, i.e., totally 4 (four) sites: 1002A1, 1002A2, 1002B1, and 1002B2. The external IP networks 1002 (1002A1, 1002A2, 1002B1, 1002B2) are contained in the optical network 1011 via the optical edge routers 1003 (1003A1, 1003A2, 1003B1, 1003B2). The optical edge routers 1003 are connected by the optical cross connects 1004 (1004a, 1004b . . . ). Also, the external IP network is formed by an ordinary IP router R (called “neighboring IP router R” adequately). Next, nodes (optical edge routers 1003, optical cross connects 1004) are explained as follows. Each of the optical edge routers 1003 has both an optical network control instance INSp and an IP network instance INSi. The optical network control instance INSp activates routing protocols and signaling protocols for controlling optical paths 1005 in the optical network 1001 and maintains topology information, obtained by them, inside the optical network 1011. If the GMPLS is used for controlling the optical network, OSPF-TE (Open Shortest Path First-TE) is activated as a routing protocol, and RSVP-TE (Resource reservation Protocol-TE) is activated as a signaling protocol. OSPF-TE is obtained by enlarging OSPF, which is a kind of path-selecting (routing) protocol, so that property information (i.e., resource amount) in the external IP networks 1002 can be notified. The RSVP-TE for establishing label paths along designated paths is enlarged currently so that the optical paths 1005 (see FIG. 1) can be established, too. The IP network instance INSi exchanges route information of the external IP networks among the IP network instance INSi and the external IP networks 1002, and generates a routing table (hereinafter called “IP network routing table”) of the external IP network 1002 as shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the IP network routing table contains information, i.e., a prefix (destination network address) of a ingress-side IP address, an address mask, and a next hop. In general, the routing table is initialized when the routers are set up. Also, the routing table is updated because, i.e., the topology fluctuates, and the paths are changed due to the routers. The optical edge routers 1003 and the IP network routing table according to the present embodiment are similar to ordinary routers and an ordinary routing table. Each of the optical edge routers 1003 maintains both of the instances INSp and INSi; therefore, it is possible to control the optical paths 1005 autonomously by triggers, i.e., updating route information of the external IP networks in the external IP networks 1002, and increase in the traffic amount. FIG. 4 is a function block diagram showing a more specific structure of the optical edge router in the embodiments. The optical edge routers 1003 (1003A1, 1003A2, 1003B1, 1003B2) in the present embodiment will be explained with reference to FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 4, each of the optical edge routers 1003 includes a section 1031 for processing protocols (section for processing calculations) in which software-like processes are executed and a section 1032 for processing transmission in which hardware-like processes are executed. The section 1031 for processing protocols has the above explained IP network instance INSi and the above explained optical network control instance INSp. The IP network instance INSi has a section 1311 for processing IP network routing protocol according to which the routing protocols, for exchanging route information of the external IP networks between the section 1311 and neighboring nodes (ordinary IP router R) in the external IP networks 1002, are activated, and a section 1312 for storing IP network routing tables (see FIG. 3) produced by the routing protocol. Incidentally, the IP network routing tables are produced by either one of processes in which, i.e., route information received from the external IP networks 1002 is input by the section 1311 for processing IP network routing protocol, or the route information maintained in a section 1314 for storing route information of the external IP networks is input. In addition, in the optical edge router 1003 (1003A1), route information near the external IP network 1002 (near reference numeral 1002A1) is received by the section 1311 for processing IP network routing protocol and input into the section 1314 for storing route information of the external IP networks. On the other hand, in the other site (near reference numeral 1002A2), the route information is received by the section 1317 for processing BGP via the (facing) optical edge router 1003 (1003A2) and input into the section 1314 for storing route information of the external IP networks. OSPF and BGP can be used for the routing protocols. Also, the optical network control instance INSp is provided with a section 1315, for processing OSPF-TE and collecting topology information (and resource information regarding the number of wavelengths in a link, etc.) in the optical network 1001 from the neighboring node (i.e., optical cross connect 1004), and a section 1316 for processing RSVP-TE and signaling so as to establish/release the optical path 1005. Operations in these two sections 1315 and 1316 are conducted in accordance with standard operations defined by the GMPLS. In addition, the optical network control instance INSp is provided with a section 1317 for processing BGP and notifying route information (the same contents in the above explained route information of the IP network routing table) of the external IP networks to the other facing optical edge routers 1003. The section 1317 for processing BGP also has a function for receiving notification in a reverse direction, i.e., route information of the external IP networks notified from the facing other optical edge routers 1003. Reference numeral 1313 indicates an optical network topology DB for storing topology information collected by the section 1315 for processing OSPF-TE. The optical network topology DB 1313 stores/reads out information between the section 1313 and the section 1316 for processing RSVP-TE. Also, reference numeral 1314 indicates a section for storing route information of the external IP. Incidentally, in the present embodiment, the section 1031 for processing protocols is provided with a section 1318 for generating a packet forwarding table and setting the transmission of received IP packets in accordance with an IP network routing table stored in the section 1312 for storing IP network routing tables and the topology information of the optical network 1001 stored in the optical network topology DB 1313. On the other hand, the section 1032 for processing transmission is provided with sections 1321a and 1321b for processing packet transmission, a section 1322 for storing packet forwarding table, and a packet switch 1323. By the structure in the section 1032 for processing transmission, processes are executed, i.e., electric signal IP packets are converted to optical signal IP packets, and in contrast, the optical signal IP packets are converted to the electric signal IP packets, and paths of the IP packets are switched by the packet switch 1323 and transmitted. The transmission of the packets, and the IP routing table transmission table, and the IP routing packet forwarding table, are explained additionally. In an ordinary large-scale router, the section 1032 for processing packet transmission is built in an interface card (also called a line card). This interface card includes, in order, an optical line (optical fiber)—a section for ending optical signals (optical signalselectric signals)—sections 1321 for processing packet transmission (determining next hop by retrieving IP addresses)—and a packet switch 1323. At present, optical fibers are mainly used for lines; therefore, the signals output to the external IP networks 1002 are the optical signal IP packets (and converted into the electric signals later). Therefore, sections 1321a and 1321b for processing packet transmission have the same structure as each other. A converting section for converting the optical signals and the electric signals alternately, not shown in the drawings, exists between the section 1321a for processing packet transmission disposed near the external IP network 1002 and the external IP network 1002. With respect to both of the tables, the IP network routing table has information, as shown in FIG. 3, in accordance with routing protocol type activated between the neighboring IP router R disposed near the external IP network 1002 and the table 1312. In contrast, in general, the packets are transmitted in a hardware-like manner; therefore, a table for transmitting packets has simplified information so that the hardware can acknowledge it. Next, the optical cross connect 1004 maintains only the optical network control instance INSp; thus, the optical cross connect 1004 does not have the IP network instance INSi. Therefore, the optical cross connect 1004 does not exchange the route information (route information in the external IP network) with the external IP network 1002 at all, and instead, the optical cross connect 1004 only controls inside of the optical network 1001. FIG. 5 is a function block diagram showing a more specific structure of the optical cross connects in the embodiments. The optical cross connects 1004 (1004a, 1004b . . . ) according to the present embodiment are explained with reference to FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 5, the optical cross connect 1004 includes a section 1041 for processing protocols and a section 1042 for processing transmission similarly to the above explained optical edge router 1003 (see FIG. 4). Also, the section 1041 for processing protocols is provided with the optical network control instance INSp′. The optical network control instance INSp′ is provided with the optical network topology DB 1413, the section 1415 for processing OSPF-TE, and the section 1416 for processing RSVP-TE. Explanations for these sections are omitted because these section have approximately the same functions as those in the above explained optical edge router 1003 (The optical network topology DB 1413=the optical network topology DB 1313, the section 1415 for processing OSPF-TE=the section 1315 for processing OSPF-TE, and the section 1416 for processing RSVP-TE=the section 1316 for processing RSVP-TE). The neighboring node 1004 in FIG. 4 indicates the other optical edge routers 1004 or the other nodes (i.e., switches). The section 1042 for processing transmission is provided with optical interfaces 1421a and 1421b, a section 1422 for storing an optical path table, and an optical switch 1423. The optical path 1005 is switched by this structure of the section 1042 for processing transmission. A relationship in which entrance port numbers, set by the RSVP-TE signal when the optical paths are established, correspond to exit port numbers is maintained in the optical path table stored in the section 1422 for storing optical path table; thus, the optical switch 1423 sets the lines (optical path 1005) in accordance with the correspondence relationship. Next, the neighborhood relationship of the routing protocol between the instances INS, and information exchange are explained. An ordinary IP routing neighborhood relationship 8 is established between the optical edge router 1003 and the neighboring IP router R disposed in the external IP network 1002. Route information (route information in the external IP network) is exchanged. More specifically, the optical edge router 1003A1 receives the route information in the external IP network 1002A1 from the external IP network 1002A1 and notifies the route information received from the optical edge router 1003A2 to the external IP network 1002A1. The BGP peer 1006 is established between the optical edge routers 1003 so that each of the optical edge routers 1003 exchanges the route information in the external IP network, the route information being received from the external IP network 1012. The BGP peer 1006 is established between the optical network control instances INSp in each one of the optical edge routers 1003. The route information in the external IP network belongs to the external IP network 1002. That is, each one of the optical edge routers 1003 passes (notifies) the route information in the external IP network maintained in the IP network instance INSi to the optical network control instance INSp and notifies to the optical edge router 1003 facing the same via the BGP peer 1006. The BGP peer 1006 is established only between the optical edge routers 1003 for containing sites belonging to the same external IP network 1002. With respect the same external IP networks 1002, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the external IP network 1002A1 and 1002A2 are the same as each other, and the external IP network 1002B1 and the external IP network B2 are the same as each other. The optical network control instance INSp establishes a neighboring node in the optical network 1001 and GMPLS neighborhood relationship 1007. More specifically, the optical network control instance INSp establishes a neighborhood relationship of the OSPF-TE as a routing protocol in the GMPLS and exchanges the topology information in the optical network 1001. Also, when the optical path 1005 is established/released, the message for signaling RSVP-TE is transported via the neighborhood relationship between the optical network control instance INSp. All the optical network control instances INSp in the optical network 1001 are connected by the GMPLS neighborhood relationship 1007. In contrast, the BGP peer 1006 for exchanging the route information in the external IP network 1002 is not established between IP network instances INSi containing different external IP networks 1002. Therefore, the optical network control instances INSp are used commonly in all of the external IP networks for containing the optical network control instances INSp. The IP network instances INSi are independent with respect to each one of the external IP networks 1002. For example, the optical edge router 1003A1 for containing the external IP networks 1002A establishes the BGP peer 1006 between the optical edge router 1003A2 and the optical edge router 1003A1. However, the optical edge router 1003A1 does not establish the BGP peer 1006 among the optical edge router 1003A1, the optical edge router 1003B1 for containing the external IP networks 1002B, and the optical edge router 1003B2. In this way, the optical network control instances INSp for controlling the optical path 1005 and the IP network instances INSi for exchanging the route information in the external IP networks 1002 are separated in the optical edge router 1003. By doing this, it is possible to contain a plurality of external IP networks 1002 in the optical network easily while a multilayer cooperative function can be realized with high stability. If the multi-layer cooperation is available, it is possible to establish/release the optical path 1005 autonomously in cooperation with the external IP networks 1002; thus, it is possible to use optical resources, i.e., wavelengths and optical fibers effectively and efficiently. By doing this, it is possible to lower the network cost and provide a great capacity of IP services to users at a lower price. FIG. 6 is a sequential diagram showing a flow of route information (route information in the external IP networks) in the embodiments. An example (the external IP network 1002A1→the optical network 1001→the external IP network 1002A2) of a flow of the route information in the external IP networks according to the present embodiment is explained with reference to this sequential diagram and FIG. 2, etc. Firstly, the optical edge router 1003A1 in the optical network 1001 receives route information in the external IP network (step S11) transmitted from the external IP network 1002A1 by the routing protocol activated by the IP network instance INSi in the optical edge router 1003A1. Next, the optical edge router 1003A1 notifies the route information in the received external IP network to the optical network control instance INSp in the router 1003A1 (step S12). The optical network control instance INSp being notified of the route information in the external IP networks advertises to the optical edge router 1003A2, facing the same, for connecting the external IP network 1000A2 to the optical network 1001 of route information in the external IP networks via the BGP peer 1006 (step S13). To add more explanation, the route information in the external IP network transmitted from the neighboring IP router R is processed/transmitted, in order, [the section 1311 for processing IP network routing protocol]→[the section 1314 for storing route information of the external IP networks]→[the section 1317 for notifying route information] and is advertised in the optical edge router 1003, facing the same, via the BGP peer 1006. The optical edge router 1003A2 receiving the route information in the external IP networks advertised via the BGP peer 1006 notifies the received route information in the external IP networks from the optical network control instance INSp to the IP network instance INSi thereinside (step S14). This route information in the external IP networks is advertised in the external IP network by the routing protocol activated by the IP network instance INSi. The present invention explained above is not limited to the above explained embodiment. The present invention can be modified/implemented variously within the scope of the concept of the invention. For example, the external IP networks 1002 may be another type of optical network. Also, as long as the optical network 1001 is connected to the other external IP networks 1002 via the optical edge routers 1003, the inner structure in the optical network 1001 may be not limited specifically. For example, the optical cross connects 1004 should not be understood narrowly. SECOND EMBODIMENT A second embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 7 to 10. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining an optical network. FIG. 8 is a view for explaining details of optical cutting-through processes. FIG. 9 is a view explaining an MPLS label table. FIG. 10 is a view for explaining a structure of the edge routers for realizing the optical cut-through. As shown in FIG. 7, the present embodiment is an edge router comprising: an optical network 2001 as a core network; a plurality of external IP networks 2002, the networks 2001 and 2002 being connected at border points. As shown in FIG. 8, the edge router further comprises: IP/MPLS interface 2017 for processing incoming IP packets transmitted from the external IP networks 2002 to the optical network 2001; and an MPLS interface 2020 for processing outgoing IP packets transmitted from the optical network 2001 to the external IP networks 2002. The present embodiment is characterized in that the IP/MPLS interface 2017 is provided with: an IP/MPLS forwarding table 2019 for maintaining lists, in which ingress-side IP address correspond to identifiers for showing outgoing interfaces of other edge routers; and a section 2018 for processing packet transmission for adding the identifiers corresponding to the ingress-side IP addresses to the IP packets in accordance with the IP/MPLS forwarding table 2019 when the IP packets are transmitted to the other edge routers, and the MPLS interface 2020 is provided with a section 2021 for processing MPLS transmission for transmitting the IP packets to the outgoing interface indicated by the identifiers by referring to the identifiers and the MPLS forwarding table 2022. The MPLS label is used for the identifier. A section 2011 for processing control signals and exchanging information, in which the ingress-side IP addresses correspond to the identifiers, between the other edge router is provided. The IP/MPLS forwarding table 2019 generates/updates the list based on the correspondence information obtained by the section 2011 for processing control signals. Embodiments of the present invention are explained in more details as follows. In the present embodiment, MPLS labels are used for the identifiers for indicating the outgoing interface in the egress edge router. The ingress-side IP addresses and MPLS label values are exchanged automatically by the control signals among the edge routers mutually. Also, a proposed core network is an optical network in which edge routers are connected directly by optical paths. Firstly, as shown in FIG. 7, a network is proposed to have an optical network 2001 and a plurality of external IP networks 2002 connecting thereto. The optical network 2001 is formed by an OXC (optical cross connect) 2003 and a WDM. Direct IP communication is available among a plurality of the edge routers 2004 mutually, disposed on borders with respect to the external IP networks 2002 via the optical path 2005. Also, a control signal 2006, for exchanging the ingress-side IP addresses and its corresponding MPLS label values, flows between the edge routers 2004 mutually. Firstly, a structure of the edge router is explained. As shown in FIG. 28, the edge router comprises, generally two sections, i.e., a section 2011 for processing control signals and a section 2012 for processing transmission. The section 2011 for processing control signals has two modules, i.e., a routing protocol module 2013 for exchanging the route information with the external IP networks 2002, and an IP path/MPLS label exchanging protocol module 2014 for exchanging the ingress-side IP addresses and the MPLS labels between the other edge routers connected to the optical network 2001. The section 2011 has two tables, i.e., an IP routing table 2015 for maintaining information in which the ingress-side IP addresses, next hop addresses, and outgoing interfaces correspond to each other, and an MPLS label table 2016 for maintaining information in which the ingress-side IP addresses, input label values, output label values, and outgoing interface numbers correspond to each other. On the other hand, the section 2012 for processing transmission is formed by a plurality of IP/MPLS interfaces 2017 facing the external IP networks 2002 and a plurality of MPLS interfaces 2020 facing the optical network 2001. The IP/MPLS interfaces 2017 are formed by a section 2018 for processing packet transmission by the ingress-side IP addresses as a key and an IP/MPLS forwarding table 2019 which is referred to the packet transmission. Also, the MPLS interfaces 2020 is formed by a section 2021 for processing transmission by the MPLS label value as a key and an MPLS forwarding table 2022 which is referred to the transmission. When the ingress-side IP addresses and the MPLS label values are received from the optical network 2001, the processes are as follows. Among the information, in which the ingress-side IP addresses received by the IP path/MPLS label exchanging protocol module 2014 and the MPLS label value correspond to each other, the information regarding the IP addresses is input into the IP routing table 2015, and all the information including the MPLS label value is input into the MPLS label table 2016. As similar with the routing table which belongs to an ordinary router, the received ingress-side IP addresses, corresponding next hop addresses, i.e., the IP addresses in the edge router facing the same, and the outgoing interface number directed to the edge router facing the same are input to the IP routing table 2015. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9, the MPLS label table 2016 is formed by ingress-side IP addresses 2031, an input label value 2032, and an outgoing interface 2034. In this case, the ingress-side IP addresses received by the facing edge router are input into the ingress-side IP addresses 2031. The received MPLS labels are input into the output label value 2033. The outgoing interface numbers are input into the outgoing interface 2034. Next, the routing protocol module 2013 advertises the new route information input into the IP routing table 2015 to the external IP networks 2002. Also, at the same time, the information input into the MPLS label table 2016 is converted into a format of a forwarding table which is referred to by the packet transmission and transmitted to the IP/MPLS interfaces 2017 and the MPLS interfaces 2020. In contrast, if a new route information is received from the external IP networks 2002, the processes are as follows. Firstly, the routing protocol module 2013 receiving the route information writes the received path into the IP routing table 2015. The routing protocol module 2013 notifies to the IP path/MPLS label exchanging protocol module 2014 that the new route information is input into the IP routing table 2015. Then, the IP path/MPLS label exchanging protocol module 2014 reads out the newly-input route information from the IP routing table 2015 and allocates a corresponding label value to the path (ingress-side IP address). Furthermore, a list, in which the ingress-side IP addresses correspond to the allocated label value, is notified to the edge router, facing the same, by the control signal 2006 and input into the MPLS label table 2016. At this time, the ingress-side IP addresses read out from the IP routing table 2015 are input into the ingress-side IP addresses 2031. The label values allocated by the IP path/MPLS label exchanging protocol module 2014 are input into the output label value 2033. Finally, the information input into the IP routing table 2015 and the MPLS label table 2016 are converted into a forwarding table format which is referred at the packet transmission; thus, the information is transmitted to the IP/MPLS interfaces 2017 and to the MPLS interfaces 2020. Next, the cutting-through method is explained in detail. As shown in FIG. 10, an edge router 2004-1 and an edge router 2004-2 are connected by an optical path via the optical network 2001. Firstly, relationships, in which the ingress-side IP addresses, located on the IP routing table 2015 maintained by the edge routers 2004-1 and 2004-2, correspond to the MPLS label values selected by the edge routers 2004-1 and 2004-2, are notified to the edge routers 2004-1 and 2004-2 facing each other by using the control signals 2006 between the edge routers 2004-1 and 2004-2. For example, if the edge router 2004-2 maintains route information indicating 100.1.1.0/24 and 15 is selected as its corresponding label value, the combination is notified to the edge router 2004-1 by the control signals 2006. As a result, the edge router 2004-1 adds an entry indicating “add label 15 to the packet which will be transmitted to 100.1.10/24” into the IP/MPLS forwarding table 2019 disposed inside the edge router 2004-1. Next, a case is proposed in which the IP packets 2007, which will be transmitted to 100.1.1 from the external IP networks 2002, are input into the edge router 2004-1. The edge router 2004-1 retrieves the IP/MPLS forwarding table 2019 by using the ingress-side IP address of the IP packet 2007 input into the IP/MPLS interfaces 2017 as a key, and obtains the output value (=15) and the outgoing interface number (=1). Consequently, the MPLS label having the label value (15) is added to the IP packet 2007 so as to be output to the optical network 2001. Switching operation at the IP packet level is not executed in the optical network 2001; that is, the IP packet 2007 is transmitted on the previously-established optical path 2005 so as to arrive at the MPLS interfaces 2020 in the edge router 2004-2. The edge router 2004-2 receiving the IP packet 2007 retrieves an MPLS forwarding table 2022 on the MPLS interfaces 2020, by using the added label value (=15) on the IP packet 2007 as a key and obtains the outgoing interface number (=5) which will be output to the external IP networks 2002. Consequently, the MPLS label is removed from the IP packet 2007 and transmitted from the outgoing interface. In this way, the processes are limited to handling of the MPLS label in the interface near the optical net work 2001; thus, it is possible to omit IP processes. The edge router according to the present embodiment can be realized by computer apparatuses as information process apparatuses. That is, the present embodiment is a program, installed to computer apparatuses, for realizing functions corresponding to edge routers, one of the functions being an inputting function for connecting a core network 2001 and a plurality of external IP networks 2002 at border points mutually and handling incoming IP packets inputted from the external IP networks 2002 to the optical network 2001; and another one of the functions being an outputting function, corresponding to the MPLS interfaces 2020, for handling outgoing IP packets outputted from the optical network 2001 to the external IP networks 2002. In the program, the inputting function serves for: a function, corresponding to the IP/MPLS forwarding table 2019, for maintaining lists, in which ingress-side IP addresses correspond to identifiers for showing outgoing interfaces of other egress edge routers; and a function, corresponding to the section 2018 for processing packet transmission, for adding the identifier corresponding to the ingress-side IP addresses of the IP packets to the IP packets in accordance with the lists 2019 when the IP packets are transmitted to other edge routers. Also, the outputting function serves for a function, corresponding to the MPLS forwarding table 2022, for referring to the identifiers and transmitting the outgoing interface IP packets, indicated by the identifiers, to the outgoing interfaces. By installing this into the computer apparatuses, the apparatuses can be edge routers in accordance with the present embodiment. MPLS labels are used for the identifiers. In addition, the program according to the present embodiment, being installed to computer apparatuses, realizes functions of the edge routers, the functions being: a function, corresponding to a section 2011 for processing control signals, for exchanging information, in which the ingress-side IP addresses correspond to the identifiers, among other edge routers mutually by the control signals; and another function being a function, corresponding to the IP/MPLS forwarding table 2019, for generating or updating the lists in accordance with the information obtained by the section 2011 for processing control signals. The program according to the present embodiment is recorded on the recording medium according to the present invention; therefore, the program can be installed to the computer apparatuses by this recording medium. Otherwise, the program according to the present embodiment can be installed to the computer apparatuses directly from a server maintaining the program according to the present invention via a network. By doing this, a part of the IP processes in the edge router is omitted by using the computer apparatus, etc., and it is possible to realize a cutting-through method and edge router for reducing the cost of the edge router and improving scalability. Embodiment 3 FIG. 16 is a view for explaining a structure of the data transmission network in a third embodiment of the present invention. A plurality of line exchangers 3200 form a line exchange network in which at least communication lines 3300 are connected. A plurality of packet exchangers 31000 are connected to the line exchangers in this line exchange network via the communication lines 3300; thus, a packet exchange network is formed. The line exchangers 3200 are formed by line switches and sections for controlling line paths. The line switches are connected line switches in at least one other line exchanger via a plurality of communication lines. The section for controlling line paths controls the line switches and combines two communication lines. The communication line is, i.e., an optical line, an SDH/SONET line, an ATM line, an MPLS-LSP line, or an FR line. The section for controlling line paths is connected to at least the section for controlling line paths in the other line exchangers 3200 and to sections for controlling line paths in packet exchangers 31000 by communication paths 3700 among the line exchangers and communication lines 3600 among packet exchangers/line exchangers respectively. The sections for controlling line paths exchange information, regarding the number of the communication lines for connecting and exchanging lines mutually, via the communication paths 3700 among the line exchangers. For example, it is possible to know a connection relationship in an entire line exchange network by using communication protocols, i.e., OSPF-TE (see prior art document 4) and a PNNI (prior art document 5). FIG. 17 is a view showing connection information in line exchange network. The packet exchangers 31000 connected to the line exchangers are formed by packet switches, sections for controlling line paths, a cooperative control section, and sections for controlling packet paths. The packet switches are connected to at least the line exchanger 3200 by the communication lines 3300. The sections for controlling line paths are connected to the sections for controlling line paths in at least the line exchangers 3200 by communication lines 3600 among packet exchangers/line exchangers. The sections for controlling line paths collect information regarding the number of the communication lines in the line exchange network via the communication lines. For example, it is possible to know the connection relationship in an entire line exchange network by using communication protocols, i.e., OSPF-TE (see prior art document 4) and PNNI (prior art document 5). FIG. 17 is a view showing connection information in a line exchange network. Sections for controlling packet paths insert packet route information messages into the communication lines 3300 by packet insertion/extraction circuits. The inserted packet route information messages are transmitted to at least one of the other section for controlling packet paths via the communication lines 3300. By exchanging the messages, it is possible to obtain the connection-related information in the packet communication network mutually. FIG. 18 is a view showing route information in packet exchange network. It is possible to determine the packet transmission paths based on the route information. The packet exchange network corresponds to IP packet networks. It is possible to determine the connection relationship of the packet networks and the paths for transmitting packets by using protocols, i.e., OSPF (see prior art document 7). For example, it is determined that the packets transmitted from the packet exchanger 31000-1 to the packet exchanger 31000-3 are transmitted to the communication line 3300-1-1. If parties, i.e., maintenance providers, instruct to set new communication lines between arbitrary two packet exchangers, the cooperative control section refers to two information, i.e., connection information, collected by the section for controlling line paths, in the line exchangers, and connection information, collected by the sections for controlling packet paths, in the packet exchangers, selects the communication lines, and instructs the section for controlling line paths to send out a message for setting and controlling connected lines. For example, the communication lines 3300-1-2, 3300-2-1, 3300-5-1, and 3300-4-1 are connected by the line switches among a packet exchanger 1000-1 and a packet exchanger 1000-2; thus, it is determined that the communication lines among the packet exchangers 1000-1 and 1000-2 are connectable. The section for controlling line paths sends out a message for setting and controlling connected lines and is transmitted to line exchanger 3200-1. The line exchanger 3200-1, having received the message for setting and controlling lines sets the line based on the instructed paths. By repeating this, the communication lines are set among the packet exchangers; thus, it is possible to exchange packet data. Embodiment 4 FIG. 19 is a view for explaining a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In contrast to embodiment 3, in this embodiment, the packet exchangers and the line exchangers are integrated to form packet line exchangers 32000. As shown in FIG. 19, data transmission network according to the present embodiment is formed by at least the line exchanger 3200, a plurality of packet exchangers 31000, the packet/line exchangers 32000-1, and communication lines for connecting these exchangers. The packet/line exchangers 32000-1 are provided with line switches, packet switches, sections for controlling line paths, sections for controlling packet lines, and a cooperative control section. In the section for controlling line paths according to the present embodiment, the sections for controlling line paths in the packet exchangers 31000 according to the embodiment 3, and the section for controlling line paths in the line exchangers 3200, are connected by internal communication paths. Also, the line switches have a function for connecting the communication lines, connected to the line exchangers, arbitrarily. The packet switches have functions for selecting communication lines for transmitting the packets, transmitted by the communication lines, based on the packet-ingress-side's information and output the same. The sections for controlling line paths are connected to the sections for controlling line paths in the line exchangers by the communication paths among the line exchangers. The sections for controlling line paths have a function for acknowledging line-connection-conditions in the communication network by exchanging the connection information in the communication lines. The sections for controlling packet paths have functions for acknowledging the connection-related information regarding packet exchange and determining the communication lines for outputting the same based on the packet-ingress-side's information, by exchanging the information regarding packet paths via the communication lines between the sections for controlling packet paths and the packet exchangers connected by the communication lines. The cooperative control section has a function for receiving instructions for setting new communication lines, instructed by parties, i.e., maintenance providers. If the instruction regarding setting of the new communication lines is received, the cooperative control section refers to two information, i.e., connection information, collected by the section for controlling line paths, in the line exchangers, and connection information, collected by the sections for controlling packet paths, selects the communication lines for the new communication lines, and instructs the section for controlling line paths of the new communication lines. The sections for controlling line paths set the communication lines among the packet exchangers and the packet/line exchangers in accordance with the paths instructed by the cooperative control sections, by sending the message for setting and controlling the connected lines and setting lines to the line exchangers, setting the communication lines based on the message for setting and controlling the connected lines by the line exchangers having received the message for setting and controlling the connected lines, and transmitting the message in accordance with the instructed paths. Regardless of whether or not the packet exchangers and the line exchangers are integrated, there is no functional difference; therefore, it is possible to exchange packet data similarly. The present invention obtained by the inventors is explained specifically in accordance with the embodiments. It should be noted certainly that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications may be made within the range of the concept of the present invention. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY According to the present invention, it is possible to improve efficiency for using optical resources by including a plurality of IP networks in a single optical network. Also, it is possible to control the optical paths autonomously in accordance with the IP network condition; thus, it is possible to reduce operational costs. As explained above, according to the present invention, retrieving the IP addresses necessary to be conducted on both sides of the edge routers in the optical network is limited to an ingress edge router; therefore, it is possible to select the outgoing interface in the egress edge router by only handling the identifiers, i.e., MPLS labels. Therefore, it is possible to simplify processes necessary in the interfaces near the optical network. By doing this, it is possible to use the edge routers economically. In addition, because the interface speed may be increased by the simple processes, it is possible to reduce the number of the paths in the core network by increasing the speed with respect to a path; thus, it is possible to improve scalability. Also, fluctuations in the topology of the optical paths are invisible from the external IP networks; thus, it is possible to maintain the routing operation in the IP network stably. That is, it is possible to realize a multi-layer cooperative function and provide highly safe optical networks, etc. According to the network system for data transmission of the present invention, it is possible to dispose the communication lines among the packet exchangers optimally by using the information regarding the line exchange network. Also, it is possible to dispose the communication lines and the packet exchangers optimally by using the information regarding the line exchange network by the packet/line exchangers.

<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>Conventionally, techniques (optical IP techniques) for establishing paths, i.e., TDM (Time Division Multiplexing) channels and wavelengths, by signaling protocols which can be activated in an IP (Internet Protocol) layer have been developed. For the optical IP network models using these techniques, two models, i.e., (1) a peer model represented by prior art document 1, and (2) an overlay model represented by an OIF-UNI (see prior art document 2), have been proposed. In the peer model in (1), IP addresses, existing in a same address space as external IP networks being connected to an optical network, are used. The peer model is characterized in that a device, i.e., an optical cross connect, can be acknowledged as a node by external IP networks. Therefore, multi-layer cooperative functions, i.e., designating optical paths by using the external IP networks, and establishing the optical paths cooperatively with routing protocols in the external IP networks, can be realized easily. However, the addresses existing in the same space as the external IP networks are used for controlling the optical paths; therefore, there is a problem in containing a plurality of external IP networks in an optical network. In the overlay model in (2), an address space for the optical network and an address space for the external IP networks contained there, are independent completely; therefore, topologies and addresses in the optical network are invisible to external IP networks. Therefore, in contrast to the peer model, it is characterized in that, providing multi-layer cooperative functions is difficult, but that it is easy to contain a plurality of networks. Also, in general, in the overlay mode, information regarding paths between the external IP networks are exchanged by passing the routing protocols in the established optical paths; thus, it is necessary to establish/release neighborhood relationships each time the optical paths are established/released. If the neighborhood relationships of the routing operation change, instability increases in the external IP networks because the external IP networks acknowledge that the topologies are being changed in the network. In general, for carriers, i.e., an applicant having a plurality of IP networks, in terms of efficient use of network resources, i.e., optical fibers, it is very important to multiplex a plurality of IP networks on a single optical network. Also, if multi-layer cooperative functions for controlling the optical paths autonomously are realized in accordance with fluctuations (i.e., updating the routing, and increasing/decreasing traffic amount) in the IP networks, it may reduce operational costs for the carriers. In addition, if multi-layer cooperative functions are realized, the optical paths are established/released frequently. In terms of safety in the networks, it is desirable that the routing operation in the external IP networks not be affected by the fluctuations of the topologies of the optical paths. Therefore, new optical IP network models satisfying these requirements are necessary in order to apply the optical IP techniques to backbone networks owned by carriers. In a core network formed by conventional optical paths or layer 2 paths, an apparatus having pre-installed IP routers as an edge router has additional functions, i.e., GMPLS (for example, see prior art document 3), for setting the optical paths. There are ordinary IP connections (inter-router connections) via these paths among the edge routers. In order to realize direct communications mutually among all of the edge routers, the optical paths or the layer 2 paths must be established in the core network in a mesh manner. Therefore, if the number of the edge routers increases, the number of the paths maintained in an edge router increases; thus, the number of the IP interfaces which the edge router must have increases. As explained above, if, in terms of scalability, the core network is a large one, the number of the IP interfaces which the edge router must have increases. In general, the IP interfaces are expensive because complicated IP processes, i.e., retrieving the IP addresses, are conducted. Also, such a complication is a bottle neck for increasing interface speeds. On the other hand, in these core networks, the optical paths are realized by wavelength or logical connection of the layer 2 ; therefore, number of the connections which can be established by each apparatus is limited. For example, if the optical paths are realized by multiplexing wavelengths, there is a limit due to the number of the wavelength multiplexes in a WDM apparatus. Communication speed with respect to a wavelength is determined by the IP interface speeds in the edge router; therefore, several wavelengths are consumed unless the interface speeds improve. Accordingly, the number of the edge routers which can be contained in the core network is limited due to the limitations of the number of the wavelengths in the WDM apparatus; therefore, it is not possible to facilitate larger scale networks. There are problems in core networks formed by conventional optical paths or the layer 2 paths in terms of architecture, cost performance, and scalability. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram for explaining a conventional data transmission network. A plurality of line exchangers 3200 are connected by at least a communication line 3300 ; thus, a line exchange network is formed. A plurality of packet exchangers 3100 are connected to the line exchangers in this line exchange network via the communication lines 3300 . Each of the line exchangers 3200 is formed by a line switch and a section for controlling line paths. The line switch is connected to a line switch disposed in at least other line exchanger via a plurality of communication lines. The section for controlling line paths controls the line switch and connects two communication lines. The communication line is, i.e., an optical line, an SDH/SONET line, an ATM line, an MPLS-LSP line, or an FR line. The section for controlling line paths is connected to the line switch disposed in at least one other line exchanger via communication paths 3700 between the line exchangers. The section for controlling line paths exchanges information, i.e., the number of the communication lines for connecting and exchanging the lines mutually, via the communication lines between the line exchangers. It is possible to know the connection relationships in an entire line exchange network by using communication protocols, i.e., OSPF-TE (see prior art document 4) and PNNI (prior art document 5). FIG. 12 is a schematic view for showing connection information among the line exchangers. Each of the packet exchangers 3100 is formed by a packet switch, a section for setting and controlling lines, and a section for controlling packet lines. The packet switch is connected to at least the line exchanger 3200 via the communication lines 3300 . The section for setting and controlling lines is connected to at least the packet exchanger/communication lines 3600 among the line exchangers. If parties, i.e., maintenance providers, instruct the packet exchangers 3100 to set new communication lines between two random packet exchangers, the section for setting and controlling lines sends out a message to the line exchangers 3200 to set and control lines. The line exchangers 3200 having received the message for setting and controlling lines, select vacant communication lines necessary for connecting two packet exchangers in accordance with connection-related information in an entire line exchange network in the line exchange network. For example, the communication lines 3300 - 1 - 2 , 3300 - 2 - 1 , 3300 - 5 - 1 , and 3300 - 4 - 1 are vacant lines among the packet line exchangers 3100 - 1 and 3100 - 2 in accordance with the connection-related information. If these communication lines are connected by the line switches disposed in the line exchangers 3200 - 1 , 2 , and 3 , it is determined that the communication lines among the packet exchangers 3100 - 1 and 3100 - 2 are connectable. In accordance with the determination result, the message for setting and controlling lines is transmitted to other line exchangers. By repeating this, the communication lines are set among the packet exchangers; thus, it is possible to exchange packet data. The section for controlling packet lines inserts a packet route information message into the communication lines 3300 by a packet insertion/extraction circuit. The inserted packet route information message is transmitted to at least one other section for controlling packet paths via the communication lines. By exchanging the message, it is possible to obtain the connection-related information in a packet communication network mutually. FIG. 13 is a view for showing route information of a packet exchange network. It is possible to determine the paths for transmitting packets in accordance with this route information. The packet exchange network corresponds to networks, i.e., IP packet networks. It is possible to determine the connection relationship of the packet networks and the paths for transmitting packets by using protocols, i.e., the OSPF (see prior art document 6) and the IS-IS protocol (see a prior art document 7). For example, it is determined that the packets transmitted from the packet exchanger 3100 - 1 to the packet exchanger 3100 - 3 are transmitted to the communication line 3300 - 1 - 1 . FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram for explaining a conventional data transmission network. A plurality of line exchangers 3200 are connected by at least a communication line 3300 ; thus, a line exchange network is formed. A plurality of packet exchangers 3100 are connected to the line exchangers in this line exchange network via the communication lines 3300 . Each of the line exchangers 3200 is formed by a line switch and a section for controlling line/packet paths. The line switch is connected to a line switch disposed in at least one other line exchanger via a plurality of communication lines. The section for controlling packet lines controls the line switch and connects two communication lines. The communication line is, i.e., an optical line, a SDH/SONET line, an ATM line, an MPLS-LSP line, or an FR line. The section for controlling line/packet paths is connected to the line switch disposed in at least one other line exchanger via communication paths 3700 between the line exchangers. Each of the packet exchangers 3100 is formed by a packet switch, and a section for controlling line/packet paths. The packet switch is connected to at least the line exchanger 3200 via the communication lines 3300 . The section for setting and controlling lines/packets is connected to at least the line exchanger 3200 by packet exchanger/communication lines 3600 among the line exchangers. The section for controlling line/packet path exchanges information, i.e., the number of the communication lines for connecting and exchanging the lines mutually, via the communication paths 3700 among line exchangers. In addition, by exchanging the packet route information messages, it is possible to obtain connection-related information of the packet communication network. It is possible to learn the connection relationship in the entire line exchange network by using communication protocols, i.e., OSPF-TE (see prior art document 4) and a PNNI (see a prior art document 5). Also, it is possible to learn the connection relationship in the packet network mutually by using communication protocols, i.e., the OFPF protocol and the IS-IS protocol. FIG. 15 shows the connection information of a line exchange network and an integrated packet exchange network. It is possible to determine optimum paths for transmitting packets in accordance with this information. If parties, i.e., maintenance providers, instruct the packet exchangers to set new communication lines between two random packet exchangers, the section for controlling line/packet paths selects the communication lines for connecting two packet exchangers by using the line network information and the packet network information. For example, the communication lines 3300 - 1 - 2 , 3300 - 2 - 1 , 3300 - 5 - 1 , and 3300 - 4 - 1 are connected by the line switches disposed in the line exchangers 3200 - 1 , 2 , and 3 among the packet exchangers 3100 - 1 and 3100 - 2 . By doing this, it is determined that the communication lines among the packet exchangers 3100 - 1 and 3100 - 2 are connectable. In accordance with the determination results, a message for setting and controlling connected lines is transmitted to the other line exchangers. By repeating this, the communication lines are set among the packet exchangers; thus, it is possible to exchange packet data. In accordance with the above explained conventional technology, the connection information of the line exchange network and the connection information of the packet exchange network are independent. Therefore, the packet exchanger cannot dispose the communication lines optimally among the packet exchangers by using the information of the line exchange network. Also, in the other conventional technology explained above, the connection information of the line exchange network and the connection information of the packet exchange network are stored commonly; therefore, the packet exchanger can dispose the communication lines optimally by using the information of the line exchange network. However, there has been a problem in separating the packet transmission network and a network for exchanging and controlling lines in that the packets transmitted from the packet exchangers 3100 - 1 to 3100 - 3 have been transmitted to the communication path 3600 - 1 undesirably. Prior Art Document 1 Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching: “Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching Architecture”, IETF Internet-Draft, [online], May, 2003, [retrieved July, 2003], Internet<URL HYPERLINK “http://www.ietf.org//internet-drafts/draft-ietf-ccamp-gmpls-architecture-07.txt” http://www.ietforg//internet-drafts/draft-ietf-ccamp-gmpls-architecture-07.txt Prior Art Document 2 Network Interface, “User Network Interface (UNI) 1.0 Signaling Specification: Changes from OIF200.125.5”, The Optical Internetworking Forum, Contribution Number: OIF2000.125.7 Prior Art Document 3 Generalized MPLS-Signaling Functional Description, IETF,[online], August 2002, [retrieved December 2002], Internet “URL:http://www.ietf.org/internet-drafts/draft-ietf-mpls-generalized-signaling-09.txt” Prior Art Document 4 IETF, “OSPF Extensions in Support of Generalized MPLS”, K. K ompella (Editor), Y. Rekhter (Editor), Juniper Networks, December 2002, [online], [retrieved May 23, H-15], Internet “http://www.ietf, org/internet-drafts/draft-ietf-ccamp-ospf-gmpls-extensions-09.txt” Prior Art Document 5 ATM Forums “Private Network-Network interface Specification Version1.1(PNNI 1.1)”, April 2002, [online], retrieved May 23, H15], Internet “ftp://ftp.atmforum.com/pub/approved-specs/af-pnni-0055.001.pdf” Prior Art Document 6 IETF, “OSPF Version 2, RFC2328”, J. Moy, Ascend Communications, Inc., April 1998[online], [retrieved May 23, H15], Internet internet “ftp://ftp.rfc-editor.org/in-notes/rfc2328.txt” Prior Art Document 7 ISO, “Intermediate System to Intermediate System, DP 10589 ”

<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS <EOH>FIG. 1 is a view showing a general structure of an optical network including external IP networks in the embodiments. FIG. 2 is a view showing a neighboring relationship between instances and routings maintained by nodes on the optical network. FIG. 3 is an example for IP network routing table in the embodiments. FIG. 4 is a function block diagram showing a more specific structure of the optical edge router in the embodiments. FIG. 5 is a function block diagram showing a more specific structure of the optical cross connects in the embodiments. FIG. 6 is a sequential diagram showing a flow of route information in the embodiments. FIG. 7 is a view for explaining general structure of the optical network. FIG. 8 is a view for explaining details of the optical cutting-through processes. FIG. 9 a view explaining an MPLS label table. FIG. 10 is a view for explaining the structure of the edge routers for realizing the optical cut-through. FIG. 11 is a view showing a first conventional structure in a data transmission network. FIG. 12 is a view showing connection information in a line exchange network. FIG. 13 is a view showing route information in a packet exchange network. FIG. 14 is a view showing a second conventional structure in a data transmission network. FIG. 15 is a view showing connection information in which the line exchange network and the packet exchange network shown in FIG. 14 are integrated. FIG. 16 is a view for explaining a structure of the data transmission network in a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 17 is a view showing connection information in the line exchange network shown in FIG. 16 . FIG. 18 is a view showing route information in the packet exchange network shown in FIG. 16 . FIG. 19 is a view for explaining a fourth embodiment of the present invention. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"?

20050801

20130910

20060615

65697.0

H04L1256

CRUTCHFIELD, CHRISTOPHER M

Optical network, optical edge router, program thereof, cut through method, and edge router

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

H04L

ACCEPTED

Yogurt with a two-phase structure and method for production thereof

The invention relates to a yogurt with a two-phase structure, comprising fat globules connected to a mixed system of protein material and fatty material and globules of free fat into which a flavour preparation can be incorporated. The invention further relates to a yogurt with a two-phase structure into which a chocolate preparation or a vanilla preparation containing chocolate chips has been incorporated and, furthermore, a method for production of such a yogurt with a two-phase structure.

1. A yogurt, characterized in that it has a bimodal structure that comprises fat globules connected to the Protein-Fat mixed network and free fat globules. 2. The yogurt as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the bimodal structure comprises free fat globules not connected to the Protein-Fat mixed network, with a particle diameter of between 0.05 and 3 μm, and fat globules connected to the Protein-Fat mixed network, with a particle diameter of between 10 and 140 μm. 3. The yogurt as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a flavored preparation. 4. The yogurt as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the flavored preparation is a chocolate-flavored preparation. 5. The yogurt as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the flavored preparation is a vanilla-flavored preparation with chocolate chips. 6. A process for preparing a yogurt as claimed in any one of the preceding claims from a yogurt bulk and a homogenized cream, characterized in that it includes a step of mixing at least 56% by weight of yogurt bulk with 7% to 14% by weight of homogenized cream, relative to the total weight of the finished product. 7. The preparation process as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the yogurt bulk is stirred. 8. The preparation process as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that, in the mixing step, the homogenized cream is incorporated in-line or in-tank into the yogurt bulk and then mixed with the yogurt bulk in-tank or in-line in a static or dynamic mixer. 9. The preparation process as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that it also includes a step of incorporating a flavored preparation into the yogurt of bimodal structure, after the mixing step. 10. The preparation process as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the flavored preparation is incorporated in-line or in-tank into the yogurt of bimodal structure and then mixed in-tank or in-line by means of a static or dynamic mixer. 11. The preparation process as claimed in claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the flavored preparation incorporated is a chocolate-flavored preparation or a vanilla-flavored preparation with chocolate chips. 12. A yogurt that may be obtained via the process as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 11, characterized in that it has a bimodal structure.

The present invention relates to a yogurt of bimodal structure into which may be incorporated a flavored preparation such as a chocolate-flavored preparation. The invention also relates to a process for manufacturing such a yogurt. Dairy specialty products flavored with “hot” flavorings are generally very much appreciated by consumers. Examples of hot flavorings that may especially be mentioned include chocolate, cocoa, caramel, vanilla, coffee, praline, nougat, honey, flavorings from oil-yielding fruit, especially such as walnut, hazelnut, almond and pistachio, and flavorings from spices especially such as cinnamon, coriander and curry. For example, the Danette products, sold by the Danone group, are hot-flavored dairy specialty products that are very much appreciated by consumers. These specialty products are unfermented dairy products, which have pH values generally of between 6 and 7. Tests of marketing of hot-flavored yogurts, such as chocolate-flavored yogurts have never been fruitful. Specifically, a chocolate-flavored yogurt tested by a panel of consumers receives a low overall satisfaction grade. This absence of consumer satisfaction may especially be explained by the organoleptic incompatibility between fermented dairy products, such as yogurts, and hot flavorings, especially chocolate flavorings. Specifically, during the process for manufacturing a fermented dairy product, especially a yogurt, the fermentation step results in the production, within the dairy bulk, of lactic acid. The presence of lactic acid in the dairy bulk reduces the pH values of said bulk. In the case especially of a yogurt, the pH is then lowered to values of between 4 and 5. However, in acidic medium, chocolate and cocoa have a bitter taste and false tastes, such as fermented aromatic notes. Thus, the use of hot flavorings to flavor fermented dairy products, such as yogurts or unripened cheese, with pH values of between 4 and 5, is limited due to the presence of an aftertaste and strong acidity, which denature the true taste of the flavorings used. In processes for manufacturing unripened cheese, it is known practice to incorporate fat, especially cream, into a low-fat paste that has already undergone at least one fermentation step. This process of incorporating cream into the fermented bulk allows the bulk to be enriched with fat up to a nutritionally and sensorily desired value. However, a process characterized by the incorporation of sweetened or unsweetened, homogenized or unhomogenized cream into a fermented bulk is not used in yogurt manufacturing processes for reasons of complexity of the process and/or for economic or traditional reasons of manufacture of a yogurt. In standard processes for manufacturing a yogurt, a single mix is developed by mixing together all the dairy ingredients of the future yogurt and, optionally, ingredients such as sugar. This single mix is then homogenized, pasteurized, seeded with specific thermophilic lactic acid bacteria, Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbruekii bulgaricus, and fermented. After cooling, the white mass obtained is packaged directly, alone or after mixing with a fruit or aromatic preparation. In such a process for manufacturing a yogurt; the fermentation step, during which the whole protein network, consisting of the aggregation of proteins present in the dairy bulk, is formed, takes place in the presence of small, homogeneous fat globules. These globules thus participate fully and intimately in the construction of a Protein-Fat mixed network, i.e. a dense mixed network with the substantial nesting of the fat globules in the protein network. A yogurt of monomodal structure is thus observed, i.e. in which the fat globules have diameters distributed about a predominant mean value. Advantageously, if the distribution of the fat globule diameters is represented on a graph showing the volume occupied by the particles, expressed as a percentage, relative to the total volume, as a function of the Naperian logarithm of the diameter of the fat globules, a Gaussian distribution is observed, about a mean value (see FIG. 2). In conclusion, homogeneity of the protein and lipid phases is observed (see FIG. 4). Surprisingly, the Applicant has developed a yogurt of bimodal structure, whose perceived acidity in the mouth is considerably reduced. Similarly, the Applicant has discovered a novel process for manufacturing a yogurt of bimodal structure. The Applicant has discovered, entirely surprisingly, that the yogurt with a bimodal structure is perceived in the mouth as being less acidic than a product produced from the fermentation of a single mix. Said yogurt may thus be combined with a preparation containing a hot flavoring, especially a chocolate flavored preparation or a vanilla flavored preparation with chocolate chips. The products thus obtained are appreciated and highly graded by consumers. For the purposes of the present invention, the term “yogurt” means a coagulated dairy product obtained by lactic acid fermentation by means of the action of thermophilic microorganisms, derived from Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbruekii bulgaricus cultures, starting with milk and dairy products. It is the presence of these two bacterial strains that characterizes the designation yogurt. These specific microorganisms must be viable, in an amount of at least 107 CFU/g on the best before date, the abbreviations CFU meaning colony-forming unit. The lactic acid fermentation results in a reduction in the. pH and coagulation. The dairy products are chosen from the group consisting of pasteurized milk, concentrated milk, pasteurized partially skimmed milk, concentrated partially skimmed milk, pasteurized skimmed milk, concentrated skimmed milk, pasteurized cream, pasteurized low-fat cream, and mixtures thereof. The yogurt according to the invention may also optionally contain added dairy raw materials or other ingredients such as sugar or sweetening agents, one or more flavoring(s), fruit, cereals, or nutritional substances, especially vitamins, minerals and fiber. The dairy raw materials are chosen from the group consisting of powdered milk, powdered skimmed milk, unfermented buttermilk, partially or totally dehydrated liquid buttermilk, concentrated whey, whey powder, whey proteins, concentrated whey proteins, water-soluble dairy proteins, milk protein-based preparations containing a minimum of 34% total nitrogenous matter, dietary casein and caseinates manufactured from pasteurized products. For the purpose of the present invention, the term “sugar or sweetening agent” means any sweetening carbohydrate. By extension, for the purposes of the present invention, products also comprising lactic acid bacteria, other than the microorganisms Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbruekii bulgaricus, and especially microorganisms derived from Bifidobacterium and/or Lactobacillus acidophilus and/or Lactobacillus casei strains, may also be termed yogurt. These additional lactic acid strains are intended to give the finished product various properties, such as the property of promoting the equilibrium of the flora. In the finished product, the microorganisms must be in viable form. Such a yogurt thus satisfies the specifications for fermented milks and yogurts of AFNOR standard NF 04-600 and of the codex standard. Stan A-11a-1975. AFNOR standard NF 04-600 states, inter alia, that the product must not have been heated after fermentation. Furthermore, in a yogurt, the dairy products and the dairy raw materials must represent a minimum of 70% (m/m) of the finished product. One subject of the present invention-is thus a yogurt, characterized in that it has a bimodal structure, i.e. in which the diameters of the fat globules are distributed about two predominant values. In the product according to the invention, fat globules connected to a Protein-Fat mixed network, formed during the fermentation step, on the one hand, and aggregates of free fat globules, i.e. not connected to the Protein-Fat network, on the other hand, are observed, entirely surprisingly (see FIG. 5). Thus, the yogurt according to the invention is characterized by its bimodal structure, which comprises, on the one hand, free fat globules having a particle diameter of between 0.05 and 3 μm, advantageously between 0.31 and 0.42 μm and even more advantageously between 0.33 and 0.39μm, and, on the other hand, fat globules connected to the protein network, having a particle diameter of between 10 and 140 μm, advantageously between 41 and 76 μm and even more advantageously between 48 and 65 μm (see FIG. 3). In comparison, a yogurt of the prior art has a monomodal structure in which the fat globules are connected to the protein network and have a particle diameter of between 10 and 140 μm, advantageously between 41 and 76 μm and even more advantageously between 4.8 and 65 μm. The Sauter diameter of the yogurt according to the invention is characteristically two to four times greater than that of a homogenized cream, used in the process according to the invention, and at least 20 times smaller than that of a yogurt of monomodal structure, advantageously than that of the yogurt of monomodal structure used in the process according to the invention. Even more advantageously, the Sauter diameter of the yogurt according to the invention is characteristically at least 40 times smaller than that of the yogurt of monomodal, structure used in the process according to the invention. The value D(V, 0.9) of the yogurt according to the invention is characteristically at least 40 times, advantageously at least 60 times and even more advantageously at least 70 times greater than that of a homogenized cream used in the process according to the invention. The value D(V, 0.9 ) of the yogurt according to the invention is characteristically 0.9 to 1 times that of the yogurt of monomodal structure used in the process according to the invention. In one particular embodiment of the invention, the yogurt according to the invention is characterized by a Sauter diameter D(3.2) of between 0.70 μm and 1.00 μm, advantageously between 0.78 μm and 0.90 μm and a value D(V, 0.9) of between 70.00 μm and 80.00 μm and advantageously between 74.00 μm and 75 μm. In comparison, a yogurt of the prior art, of monomodal structure, is characterized by a Sauter diameter D(3.2) of between 45.00 μm and 46.00 μm and a value D(V, 0.9) of between 75.00 μm and 76.50 μm. The Sauter diameter D(3.2) is the mean weight diameter of the fat globules at the surface. It is defined as the mean of the ratio between the volume equivalent diameter dv and the surface area equivalent diameter ds: D(3.2)=Σdv3/Σds2 The equivalent diameter is the diameter that the particle would have if it were spherical, thus dv is the volume equivalent diameter and ds the surface area equivalent diameter. Thus, dv≡(6Vp/π)1/3 ds(Ap/π)1/2 with Vp being the volume of the particle and Ap the surface area of the particle. The value D(V,0.9) represents the particle size value for which the particle distribution is such that exactly 90% of the particles of the sample (v/v) are less than or equal to said value. In one particular embodiment of the invention, a Sauter diameter D(3.2) of between 0.78 μm and 0.90 μm and a value D(V,0.9) of between 74.00 μm and 75.00 μm are advantageous characteristics of the yogurt according to the invention. A Sauter diameter D(3.2) at least three times greater than that of a homogenized cream, used in the process according to the invention, and at least 40 times less than that of the yogurt of monomodal structure, used in the process according to the invention, is an advantageous characteristic of the yogurt according to the invention. A value D(V,0.9) at least 60 times greater than that of a homogenized cream, used in the process according to the invention, and 0.95 to 1 times that of the yogurt of monomodal structure used in the process according to the invention, is an advantageous characteristic of the yogurt according to the invention. The fat globule diameter values are preferentially determined using a laser granulometry method. In the granulometry method, a Mastersizer S (MSS) machine (Malvern), helium-neon laser source with a focal lens of 300 mm, is advantageously used. The samples measured are prehomogenized and then diluted in 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS. On becoming adsorbed onto the hydrophobic parts of the casein micelles and of the whey proteins, the SDS causes their desagglomeration by electrostatic repulsion. The addition of SDS makes it possible to prevent the agglomeration of proteins, in particular of those that stabilize the fat. It gives a precise image of the size of the fat droplets, by overcoming their agglomeration. This technique makes it possible to evaluate the Sauter diameter D(3.2) of the particles and to calculate the value D(V,0.9). Advantageously, the yogurt is characterized in that it is perceived in the mouth by the consumers as being less acidic than a standard yogurt of monomodal structure. The sensory profile serves to create an organoleptic identity card for the product according to the invention. It is the description of a product, with a set of standardized descriptors, by a group of individuals trained to quantify these descriptors on an evaluation scale. This group of trained individuals constitutes the sensory panel. The sensory panel is composed of individuals recruited by means of recruitment tests based on sensory capacities, verbal expression and behavior. The panel is trained for six months to describe products with a standardized language and to use a grading scale. At the end of the training, the panel must achieve a certain level of performance, it must be repeatable and discriminating and the judges must be in consensus. The tests that it performs will first be “sequential monatic”, i.e. no comparison is made, and then comparative, between a yogurt of the same composition of monomodal structure and a yogurt according to the invention. The sensory panel is composed of 15 individuals, who taste the same product twice according to a given experimental plan; each will not taste the same product first. Each person of the panel will report these choices on a computer. The data will be processed statistically, by means of an Anova test. All things being otherwise equal, i.e. the protein content, the fat content, the carbohydrate content, the pH and the Dornic acidity, the yogurt according to the invention is perceived in the mouth as being less acidic than a standard yogurt. It is assumed that the difference in organoleptic perception of the yogurt according to the invention is due to the presence of free fat globules of very small diameter, between 0.05 and 3 μm, which must have an effect of masking in the mouth the acidity of the yogurt. The free fat globules must have a lining effect in the mouth and it may be that they thus mask the acidity of the yogurt according to the invention. It is assumed that said small free fat globules thus mechanically reduce the perception of acidity of the product according to the invention, by the sensory receptors. In conclusion, this very different organoleptic perception is quite probably due to the particle size profile of the product, which is different than that of a standard yogurt. According to one advantageous variant of the invention, a flavored preparation is incorporated into said yogurt. Advantageously, this flavored preparation is a chocolate-flavored preparation or a vanilla-flavored preparation with chocolate chips. For the purposes of the present invention, the term “flavored preparation” means any preparation that may be used conventionally to perfume a yogurt or a dairy product-based product. Said preparation may thus especially contain one or more flavoring(s), including hot flavorings, fruit, especially fresh fruit and/or conserved and/or frozen and/or powdered fruit and/or fruit puree and/or fruit pulp and/or fruit syrup and/or fruit juice, cereals, or nutritional substances, especially vitamins, minerals and fiber. Examples of hot flavorings that may especially be mentioned include chocolate, cocoa, caramel, vanilla, coffee, praline, nougat, honey, flavorings from oil-yielding fruit, especially such as walnut, hazelnut, almond and pistachio and flavorings from spices especially such as cinnamon, coriander and curry. The novel particle-size profile of the yogurt according to the invention modifies its organoleptic perception, which is then perceived as being less acidic. The incorporation of a hot flavoring into such a yogurt makes it possible to obtain a tasty yogurt, in which the bitterness and the false tastes that hot flavorings usually have, especially chocolate and cocoa, in acidic medium are not perceived. The yogurt according to the invention may also comprise food additives. The use of these additives will need to be in accordance with the regulations in force. These additives may be sweeteners and/or flavorings and/or dyes and/or preserving agents conventionally used by those skilled in the art in the context of the manufacture of food products, and especially in the context of the production of yogurts. Since this list is not limiting, other food additives may be used, under two conditions: they must not be added directly into the dairy compounds, and they will only be provided by added ingredients. One subject of the present invention is thus a process for preparing a yogurt as described above, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: a) manufacture of a yogurt according to a standard process of the art; b) manufacture of a homogenized cream; c) mixing of the yogurt bulk with the homogenized cream; d) production of a yogurt of bimodal structure. Advantageously, step a) of manufacture of a yogurt comprises at least one step of lactic acid fermentation. Advantageously, step a) of manufacture of a yogurt comprises at least one stirring step. Advantageously, the homogenized cream added during step c) is sweetened. The proportions of homogenized cream to be added depend on the nature and the fat content of the cream used in the manufacturing process and also on the nature and the fat content of the yogurt bulk used in the manufacturing process. A person skilled in the art, in the light of his “standard” general knowledge, is perfectly capable of determining the minimum amounts of homogenized cream to be added, in order to modify the organoleptic perception of the final product, and the maximum amounts of homogenized cream to be added, in order to maintain the designation yogurt. In one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the proportions of cream added to the yogurt bulk are between 7% and 14% (m/m) of homogenized cream, relative to the total weight of the finished product, and advantageously between 9% and 12% (m/m) of homogenized cream, relative to the total weight of the finished product. Since the final product comprises a minimum of 70% (m/m) of dairy products and of dairy raw materials, in order especially to be able to benefit from the designation yogurt, the weight amount of yogurt bulk in the finished product is at least 56% (m/m) relative to the total weight of the finished product. For the purposes of the present invention, the term “homogenized cream” means a prepasteurized cream derived from milk, which has been subjected to a heat treatment and to homogenization. This cream may advantageously be sweetened. The cream may be sweetened by means of any sweetening agent, i.e. any sweetening carbohydrate, conventionally used by a person skilled in the art. Examples of sweetening agents that may especially be mentioned include beet sugar or white sugar, cane sugar or brown sugar and sweeteners such as aspartame, saccharin, cyclamate, acesulfame K and thaumatine. Homogenization is a process that is well known to those skilled in the art, which makes it possible to produce fat globules whose diameters have, within a narrow spectrum, a low mean, of about from 0.1 to 1.0 μm, and a low standard deviation. The homogenization operation is performed at a temperature above 60° C. in a homogenizer, which is a machine for spraying milk at a very high pressure, of about from 150 to 350 kg/cm2, into a tube at the end of which is a conical clack valve made especially of agate or steel. On working its way between this valve and its seating, the cream becomes laminated and the physicochemical structure of the globular membrane is modified. The homogenization takes place in one step or two steps. The yogurt bulk is produced according to a known method of the art. By way of illustration, step a) of manufacturing a yogurt, according to a standard process of the art, includes the following steps: i) mixing of the prepasteurized or concentrated and standardized milk; ii) heat treatment followed by homogenization of the mix obtained after step i); iii) cooling of the mix to the fermentation temperature, followed by seeding of the mix with the specific thermophilic lactic acid bacteria Lactobacillus, bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus; iv) cooling to a temperature of between 15 and 25° C.; v) storage. According to one advantageous mode of the invention, the prepasteurized or concentrated and standardized milk is mixed, in step i), with a mixture of proteins, advantageously of caseinates and whey proteins, and optionally with a sweetening agent. Advantageously, the protein mixture and the sweetening agent are in the form of powders. For the purposes of the present invention, the prepasteurization corresponds to a heat treatment of the raw milk, which is intended to destroy the pathogenic microorganisms and to reduce the total flora. According to a standard process, the prepasteurization is performed at a temperature of between 70 and 80° C. and advantageously at a temperature of about 72° C. for about 30 seconds. The standardization of the fat and of the proteins of the milk corresponds to a development of the dairy mix by assembling the dairy raw materials to obtain a precise protein and fat content. In a conventional manner, the heat treatment, in step ii), takes place at a temperature of between 80 and 100° C. Optionally, the fermentation step iii) also includes the addition of other lactic acid bacteria, such as Bifidobacterium and/or Lactobacillus acidophilus and/or Lactobacillus casei strains. The fermentation temperature is advantageously between 30 and 50° C., more advantageously between 35 and 45° C. and even more advantageously between 37 and 41° C. The product set to ferment is cooled, once it has reached the desired acidity, to a temperature of between 15 and 25° C. and advantageously to a temperature of between 18 and 22° C. Advantageously, the targeted acidity corresponds to pH values of between 4 and 5 and more advantageously between 4.2 and 4.8. The yogurt thus obtained is then stored in a storage tank, advantageously at a temperature of between 15 and 25° C. and even more advantageously at a temperature of between 18 and 22° C. The homogenized cream is produced according to a known method of the art. By way of illustration, step b) of manufacture of a homogenized sweetened cream, according to a standard process of the art, includes the following steps: i) mixing of a prepasteurized cream; ii) heat treatment, followed by homogenization; iii) sterilization; iv) cooling, followed by storage. Advantageously, in step i), a sweetening agent is incorporated into the prepasteurized cream. For the purposes of the present invention, the term “sweetening agent” means any material usually used by a person skilled in the art to give a sweet taste to food products. Examples of sweetening agents that may especially be mentioned include beet sugar or white sugar, cane sugar or brown sugar, and sweeteners such as aspartame, saccharin, cyclamate, acesulfame K and thaumatine. The homogenization step makes it possible to produce fat globules whose diameters have a low mean, of about from 0.1 to 1.0 μm, and a low standard deviation, i.e. a narrow spectrum. Sterilization is advantageously performed at a temperature above 100° C. for a fairly short time. Advantageously, the sterilization time is between 10 and 30 seconds. The cream is then cooled to a temperature advantageously between 5 and 15° C. and more advantageously to a temperature of between 6 and 10° C. The cream thus obtained is then stored in a storage tank, advantageously at a temperature of between. 5 and 15° C. and even more advantageously at a temperature of between 6 and 10° C. According to one advantageous variant of the invention, the mixing step c) first includes a step of in-line or in-tank (batchwise) incorporation of the homogenized sweetened cream into the yogurt bulk, followed by a step of mixing the homogenized sweetened cream and the yogurt bulk, in-line in a static or dynamic mixer, or in-tank. Advantageously, the step of mixing of the homogenized sweetened cream and of the yogurt bulk takes place in a static mixer. According to another advantageous variant of the invention, the preparation process also includes a step e) of incorporating a flavored preparation into the yogurt of bimodal structure. The proportions of flavored preparation to be added depend on the nature of the flavored preparation used, especially on its concentration of flavoring and of the flavoring used, and also on the nature, particularly the taste, of the final targeted product. A person skilled in the art, in the light of his “standard” knowledge, is entirely capable of determining the minimum and maximum amounts of flavored preparation to be added. In one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the proportions of flavored preparation added to the yogurt of bimodal structure are between 10% and 18% (m/m) and advantageously between 12% and 16% (m/m) of flavored preparation relative to the total amount of finished product. For the purposes of the present invention, the term “flavored preparation” means any preparation that may be conventionally used to perfume a yogurt or a product derived from dairy products. Said preparation may thus especially contain one or more flavoring(s), including hot flavorings, fruit, cereals or nutritional substances, especially vitamins, minerals and fiber. Examples of hot flavorings that may especially be mentioned include chocolate, cocoa, caramel, vanilla, coffee, praline, nougat, honey, flavorings from oil-yielding fruit, especially such as walnut, hazelnut, almond and pistachio, and flavorings from spices especially such as cinnamon, coriander and curry. Advantageously in the preparation process according to the present invention, the flavored preparation is incorporated in-line or in-tank (batchwise) into the yogurt of bimodal structure and then mixed in-tank or in-line by means of a static or dynamic mixer, and even more advantageously using a dynamic mixer. In a particularly advantageous manner, the flavored preparation incorporated is a chocolate-flavoured preparation or a vanilla-flavored preparation with chocolate chips. According to another advantageous variant of the invention, the preparation process also includes a step f) of packaging followed by cooling and finally storage. Advantageously, the yogurt according to the invention is cooled after packaging to a temperature of between 2 and 6° C. The yogurt according to the invention thus obtained may also be stored in a storage tank, advantageously at a temperature of between 5 and 22° C., before being packaged and then cooled to a temperature of between 2 and 6° C. A subject of the present invention is also a yogurt that may be obtained via the process as described above, characterized in that it has a bimodal structure. DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 illustrates the particle size distribution of the fat globules in a homogenized sweetened cream (experiments 1 and 2). A monomodal distribution is observed. FIG. 2 illustrates the particle size distribution of the fat globules in a standard yogurt (experiments 1 and 2). A monomodal distribution is observed. FIG. 3 illustrates the particle size distribution of the fat globules in a yogurt according to the invention (experiments 1 and 2). A bimodal distribution is observed. FIG. 4 represents a microscopic observation of a yogurt of monomodal structure, obtained via a standard process, containing 6% fat. FIG. 5 shows a microscopic, observation of a yogurt obtained via the process of the invention, starting with a yogurt bulk containing 3.7% fat and a homogenized sweetened cream containing 20% fat. The examples that follow illustrate -the invention without, however, limiting its scope. EXAMPLE 1 Formulation of a Chocolate-Flavored Yogurt According to the Invention Formulation of a chocolate-flavored yogurt according to the invention: Yogurt bulk 75.5 w/w % Homogenized sweetened cream 10.5 w/w % Chocolate-flavored preparation 14 w/w % The yogurt bulk is composed of 3.7 w/w % fat, with a total protein content of 4.23 w/w % and comprises 7.2 w/w % sucrose, mixed with homogenized sweetened cream composed of 20 w/w % fat and15 w/w % sucrose. This finished-product-is composed of 6.4 w/w % fat, 3.6 w/w % in total of protein and 15.5 w/w % carbohydrates, including 7 w/w % sucrose. The sum of the non-dairy and unfermented dairy ingredients in the finished product is less than 30% by weight. This product thus satisfies the legal constraints of the designation yogurt. EXAMPLE 2 Process for Preparing a Chocolate-Flavored Yogurt According to the Invention a) Manufacture of the Yogurt Bulk A preparation based on milk and dairy products is preheated to 81° C., degassed and then heated to 89° C. It is then homogenized while hot and at a pressure of 250 bar. On leaving the homogenizer, the preparation should be at a temperature of 95° C. After the homogenization step, the preparation is pasteurized for 8 minutes at 95° C. and then brought to room temperature. The preparation is then cooled to a temperature of 4° C. Next, the preparation is seeded with thermophilic lactic acid bacteria, at least with the lactic acid bacteria derived from the strains Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbruekii bulgaricus, and heated to 39° C. The-preparation is left to ferment. When the yogurt bulk has sufficiently fermented, i.e. when it has reached an acidity corresponding to a pH value of about 4.65, it is smoothed on a 0.5 mm filter and then cooled to a temperature of 20° C. Depending on the desired characteristics of the final product, a person skilled in the art knows which parameters of the process he should modify. b) Manufacture of the Homogenized Cream Skimmed milk is sweetened and mixed with a cream containing 400 g/l of fat. This preparation is filtered at 0.5 mm. It is then preheated to 95° C. and then maintained at room temperature for 6 minutes, before being homogenized at a total pressure of 205 bar. After the homogenization step, the preparation is pasteurized at a temperature of 118° C. and then cooled to 6° C. Depending on the desired characteristics of the final product, a person skilled in the art knows which process parameters he should modify. c) Mixing of the Yogurt Bulk with the Sweetened Homogenized Cream and Incorporation of the Chocolate-Flavored Preparation 10.5% of sweetened homogenized cream is incorporated into 75.5% of yogurt bulk in a static mixer. 14% by mass of a vanilla-flavored preparation with chocolate chips is then incorporated, in a dynamic mixer. The percentages are expressed by mass relative to the total mass of the finished product. The yogurt is packaged and stored in a cold chamber. EXAMPLE 3 Measurement of the Particle Size Distribution of the Fat Globules a) Test Products The particle size distribution of the fat globules in the following products was measured: a homogenized sweetened cream; a yogurt obtained via the standard process (standard yogurt); a yogurt obtained via the process of the invention in which the fat has been added after the fermentation step. b) Measuring Method In order to determine the structure of the products, laser granulometry methods were used. In the granulometry method, a Mastersizer S (MSS) machine (Malvern), with a helium-neon laser source with a 300 mm focal lens, was used. The measured samples were prehomogenized and then diluted in 1% SDS. On becoming adsorbed onto the hydrophobic parts of the casein micelles and of the whey proteins, the SDS causes their desagglomeration by electrostatic repulsion. The addition of SDS makes it possible to prevent the agglomeration of proteins, in particular of those that stabilize the fat. It gives a precise image of the size of the fat droplets, by overcoming their agglomeration. This technique makes it possible to evaluate the Sauter diameter D(3.2) of the particles and to calculate the value D(V,0.9). The measuring protocol of the granulometry method is as follows: 1. switching on the laser for at least 30 minutes before taking a measurement (warming-up time of the machine). 2. configuration of the equipment: 300 mm focal lens; polydispersity analysis; refractive index: water 1.33; fat 1.46; alignment of the laser; measurement of the background noise. 3. preparation of the sample (dilution in the presence of 1% SDS) 4. placing of the sample in the measuring cell to obtain a turbidity level of from 15% to. 30% 5. starting of the measurement: evaluation of the size distribution of the fat globules; calculation of the Sauter diameter D(3.2) and of D(v,0.9) 6. cleaning with distilled water between each measurement. To ensure the reproducibility of the measurements and to overcome the uncertainties associated with handling, two measurements are taken per sample. c) Results The values obtained for the main parameters are summarized in table 1 below: TABLE 1 D(3.2) μm D(v, 0.9) μm Ex- Experi- periment 1 Experiment 2 ment 1 Experiment 2 Homogenized 0.35 0.35 1.04 1.04 sweetened cream Standard 45.65 45.38 76.14 75.55 yogurt Yogurt 0.83 0.87 74.64 74.22 according to the invention D(3. 2) corresponds to the Sauter diameter, which illustrates the mean size of the fat globules. The value D(V,0.9) represents the particle size value for which a particle distribution is observed such that exactly 90% of the particles of the sample (v/v) have a size less than or equal to this value. FIG. 1 shows the particle size distribution of the fat globules in the homogenized sweetened cream (experiments 1 and 2). A monomodal distribution and a particle diameter of the fat globules of between 0.05 μm and 2.28 μm are observed. FIG. 2 illustrates the particle size distribution of the fat globules in the standard yogurt (experiments 1 and 2). A monomodal distribution and a fat globule particle diameter of between 12.21 μm and 120.67 μm are observed. FIG. 3 illustrates the particle size distribution of the fat globules in the yogurt according to the invention (experiments 1 and 2). Albimodal distribution and a fat globule particle diameter of between 0.05 μm and 2.65 μm, on the one hand, and between 14.22 μm and 120.67 μm, on the other hand, are observed. d) Conclusions The yogurt according to the invention has a bimodal structure, due to the presence of free small fat globules and the presence of larger fat globules connected to the protein network. EXAMPLE 4 Observation by Optical Microscope a) Test Products The particle size distribution of the fat globules was measured in the following-two products: a yogurt obtained via a standard process containing 6% fat, i.e. a standard yogurt of monomodal structure; a yogurt obtained via the process of the invention, from a yogurt bulk containing 3.7% fat and a homogenized sweetened cream containing 20% fat. b) Measuring Method The optical microscopy method is based on the principle of fluorescence, and this tool allows the structure to be observed in terms of size and distribution of the aggregates. The fat is stained with the staining marker Nile blue. This tool allows the structure to be observed in terms of size and distribution, of the protein aggregates in which the fatty phase is included, and of the pores containing the soluble phase, including the soluble proteins. A yogurt of monomodal structure, obtained via a standard process, containing 6% fat (FIG. 4) and a yogurt obtained via the process of the invention, starting with a yogurt bulk containing 3.7% fat and a homogenized sweetened cream containing 20% fat (FIG. 5) are observed by microscope. c) Conclusions For the samples corresponding to the yogurt of monomodal structure, homogeneity of the protein and lipid phases is noted. The fat globules, obtained after homogenization, of small and uniform size, are clearly connected to the protein network during the fermentation step, resulting in the formation of a dense mixed network, with substantial nesting of the fat globules in the protein network. The structure of the samples corresponding to the yogurt according to the invention may be considered as being very different insofar as the aggregates, with a predominance of fat, are clearly present with the simultaneous presence of a relatively dense protein network. Furthermore, the presence of isolated particles not connected to the protein network is clearly observed. These observations thus clearly demonstrate a difference between the structure of the samples.

20060612

20120424

20060928

66452.0

A23C912

BADR, HAMID R

YOGURT WITH A TWO-PHASE STRUCTURE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCTION THEREOF

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

A23C

ACCEPTED

Holder

A holding device 20 includes a fixed portion 21 having a rectangular hole 21a and locking grooves 21b; a holding groove 22 having a notch portion 22a through which an intermediated portion of a probe 1 passes; and a holding hole 23 through which the distal portion of the probe 1 is inserted. The depth of the holding groove 22 is formed to a sufficient extent to allow the intermediate portion 1b to be pressed down into the holding groove at least twice in a superimposed state. The width of the notch portion 22a is formed so as to prevent the intermediated portion 1b from falling out. In order to locate the top portion 23a of the holding hole 23 on the lower side than the bottom portion 22c of the holding groove 22, a spacing B is provided therebetween. A rectangular projection 31a is engaged in a rectangular hole 21a in the fixed portion 21.

1. A holding device comprising: a fixed portion removable with respect to a predetermined member; a holding groove formed further toward the front side than the fixed portion and having a notch portion with a predetermined width, the notch portion being passed through by an intermediate portion of the therapeutic device or probe; and a holding hole into which the distal portion of the therapeutic device or the probe is placed, the holding hole having a predetermined diameter and being formed further toward the front side than the holding groove. 2. The holding device according to claim 1, wherein the depth of the holding groove is formed to a sufficient extent to allow the intermediate portion of the therapeutic device or probe to be pressed down into the holding groove at least twice. 3. The holding device according to claim 1, wherein a predetermined spacing is provided between the bottom portion of the holding groove and the top portion of the holding hole. 4. The holding device according to claim 1, wherein the fixed portion has at least a rectangular hole or locking grooves.

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a holding device in which an elongated therapeutic device or probe to be inserted through a therapeutic device insertion channel of an endoscope, is to be placed. BACKGROUND ART In recent years, endoscopes are in widespread use in medical field and industrial field. In particular, the endoscope having a soft insertion portion allows an organ in a body cavity in the depths to be diagnosed without being incised, by inserting the insertion portion of the endoscope into the bending body cavity. Also, as necessary, inserting a therapeutic device through a therapeutic device insertion channel provided in the endoscope, enables a treatment/therapy such as collection of a tissue biopsy or removal of a polyp. However, for example, when examining a lower digestive tract by inserting an endoscope having an elongated insertion portion into the body cavity from the anus side, a measure of skill has been required in order to smoothly insert the insertion portion into the winding digestive tract. This is because it cannot be perceived where the distal end of the insertion portion is located in the body cavity, or how is a current inserted state of the insertion portion. In order to detect an inserted state of the insertion portion of the endoscope, Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-239754, to the same assignee as this application, proposes an insertion shape detecting probe. This insertion shape detecting probe can detect an insertion shape with a high degree of accuracy, by inserting it into a therapeutic device insertion channel provided in the endoscope, as necessary. However, besides this insertion shape detecting probe, therapeutic devices or the like are also inserted into the therapeutic insertion channel. Therefore, when attempting to insert a therapeutic device into the therapeutic insertion channel, it is necessary to once withdraw the insertion shape detecting probe from the therapeutic insertion channel, and to suspend it from a holding device or the like while using another therapeutic device. However, since the insertion shape detecting probe has an elongated shape, it has been difficult to suspend the insertion shape detecting probe without allowing it to contact a floor of an examination room or the like. Hence, it has been extremely difficult for a single operator to perform this work. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a holding device allowing a single operator to easily perform suspending work for a holding device such as the insertion shape detecting probe. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION The present invention includes a fixed portion that is removable with respect to a predetermined member; a holding groove formed further toward the front side than the fixed portion and having a notch portion with a predetermined width, the notch portion being passed through by an intermediate portion of the therapeutic device or probe; and a holding hole into which the distal portion of the therapeutic device or probe is placed, the holding hole having a predetermined diameter and being formed further toward the front side than the holding groove. With these arrangements, the intermediate portion of the therapeutic device or probe is placed into the holding groove through the notch portion, and lastly, the distal portion of the therapeutic device or probe is inserted through the holding hole, whereby the elongated therapeutic device or probe can be stably suspended from the holding device in a loop shape. Also, in the present invention, the depth of the holding groove is formed to a sufficient extent to allow the intermediate portion of the therapeutic device or probe to be pressed down into the holding groove at least twice. With this feature, the intermediate portion of the therapeutic device or probe is placed in the holding groove a plurality of times via the notch portion, thus forming a plurality of loops. Furthermore, in the present invention, a predetermined spacing is provided between the bottom portion of the holding groove and the top portion of the holding hole. By virtue of this feature, when the distal portion of the therapeutic device or probe that forms loops is lastly inserted through the holding hole, or when the probe suspended from the holding device is again inserted through a therapeutic device insertion channel, it is possible to hold the distal portion of the probe without allowing a hand to contact the intermediate portion of the probe. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an insertion portion shape observation device. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a holding device. FIG. 3 is a side view of the holding device. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the holding device and a fixture. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a fixture having another construction. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the holding device mounted on the fixture. FIG. 8 is a representation of a probe suspended from the holding device. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a holding device having another construction. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the top surface and the side surface of a holding device having still another construction. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION To explain the present invention in more detail, descriptions will be given below with reference to the accompanying drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, a holding device 20 according to the present invention is used in an endoscope apparatus 2 in which, for example, an insertion shape detecting probe (hereinafter abbreviated to a “probe”) 1 is employed. The endoscope apparatus 2 comprises an endoscope 3, a video processor 4, a first monitor 5, a bed 6 for insertion shape detection, an insertion shape detecting device 7, a second monitor 8, and an arm member 30. The endoscope 3 is inserted into a body cavity or the like of a subject, for example, through the anus thereof, for observation of an area to be observed. The video processor 4 produces image signals from image-pickup signals obtained by picking up an image with the endoscope 3. The first monitor 5 displays the image signals from the video processor 4 as an endoscope image. The subject lies on the bed 6 for insertion shape detection (hereinafter abbreviated to the “bed”). The bed 6 detects magnetic fields from the probe 1 inserted in the subject. The insertion shape detecting device 7 drives the probe 1, and also outputs image signals obtained by imaging an insertion shape of the endoscope 3 in the body cavity, based on signals corresponding to the magnetic fields detected by the bed 6. The second monitor 8 displays an insertion portion shape image based on the image signals outputted from the insertion shape detecting device 7. The arm member 30 is an elongated fixture, and the proximal portion thereof is fitted to the insertion shape detecting device 7, for example, so as to be turnable. The holding device 20 is fitted to a mounting portion, which is the distal portion of the arm member 30. The endoscope 3 is configured to comprise an insertion portion 11, operation portion 12, and universal cord 13. The insertion portion 3 has an elongated shape, and is inserted into a body cavity. The operation portion 12 is juxtaposed with the proximal portion of the insertion portion 11, and also serves as a grasping portion. The universal cord 13 extends from a side portion of the operation portion 12, and is connected to an external unit such as the video processor 4. The probe 1 is inserted into the therapeutic device insertion channel 15 through a therapeutic device insertion port 14. As shape detecting elements, the probe 1 has, for example, a plurality of source coils 16 that are each magnetic field generating elements for generating a magnetic field. The probe 1 is connected to the insertion shape detecting device 7 through a connector portion 1a. During operation, the arm member 30 is turnably disposed at an ease-to-use place, for example, on the bed 6 side, on the insertion shape detecting device 7, on a trolley (not shown) on which the video processor 4 is to be mounted, or the like. Thereby, the holding device can be disposed close at an operator's hand. As indicated by the broken lines in FIG. 1, the probe 1 is placed in the holding device 20, so that an intermediate portion and the distal portion of the elongated probe 1 is suspended therefrom without contacting a floor surface. More specific descriptions of the holding device 20 are now made with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4. When intended for holding the probe 1, the holding device 20 is formed of an elastic material, such as silicon rubber. The objective is to prevent the outer surface of the probe 1 from being scratched, and to prevent the occurrence of a malfunction caused by giving a shock or the like to the source coils 16 provided in the probe 1 when placing the intermediate portion of the probe 1 into the holding device 20. As shown in FIG. 2, the holding device 20 comprises a fixed portion 21, a holding groove 22 formed further toward the front side than the fixed portion 21, and a holding hole 23 formed further toward the front side than the holding groove 22. The fixed portion 21 includes a rectangular hole 21a and a pair of locking grooves 21b that are removably disposed with respect to the mounting portion (described later) that is provided at the distal portion of the arm member 30. The holding groove 22 has a notch portion 22a having a predetermined width, the notch portion being passed through by the intermediate portion of the probe 1. The diameter of the holding hole 23 is formed so that the distal portion of the probe 1 is inserted therethrough. As shown in FIG. 3, the depth of the holding groove 22 is formed to a sufficient extent to allow the intermediate portion 1b of the probe 1 to be pressed down into the holding groove 22 and to be placed at least twice in a superimposed state with free play. The width of the notch portion 22a is formed smaller than the diameter of the intermediate portion 1b. The objective is to prevent the intermediate portion 1b of the probe 1 placed in the holding device 20 from falling out. Therefore, when the intermediate portion 1b is to be placed into the holding groove 22, the intermediate portion 1b pushes the notch portion 22a open against the elastic force of the notch portion 22a, whereby the intermediate portion 1b is passed through the holding groove 22. Here, reference numeral 22b denotes an inclined surface for guiding the intermediate portion 1b to the notch portion 22a. Providing the inclined surface 22b allows the intermediate portion 1b to be smoothly guided to the notch portion 22a and to be placed into the holding groove 22. In order that the top portion 23a of the holding hole 23 is located lower than the bottom portion 22c of the holding groove 22, a predetermined spacing B is provided therebetween, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Thereby, when the distal portion 1c of the probe 1 is inserted into the holding hole 23, or when the distal portion 1c of the probe 1 is withdrawn from the holding hole 23, it is possible to prevent a hand from contacting the intermediate portion 1b of the probe 1 placed in the holding groove 22. Reference numeral 23b denotes a guide surface formed as an inclined surface for smoothly guiding the distal end 1d of the probe 1 to the holding hole 23, and is formed on either of the opposite sides of the holding hole 23. Providing the guide surfaces 23b allows the distal portion 1c of the probe 1 to be smoothly guided to the holding hole 23. As shown in FIG. 5, a rectangular projection 31a constituting a mounting portion 31 formed at the distal portion of the arm member 30, is engaged into a rectangular hole 21a in the fixed portion 21. The size of the rectangular hole 21a is made a little smaller than the external size of the rectangular projection 31a. Therefore, the rectangular hole 21a is reliably fitted to the rectangular projection 31a under the elastic force of the holding device 20. On the other hand, the locking grooves 21b of the fixed portion 21 are fitted to a pair of locking portions 35a formed in a mounting hardware 35 shown in FIG. 6. The mounting hardware 35 is fixed by a fixing screw 32 to the distal portion of, for example, an arm member 30A as shown in FIG. 7 that has a joint portion in an intermediate portion. The width of each of the locking grooves 21b is formed a little smaller than the thickness of each of the locking portions 35a. Alternatively, the distance between locking portions 35a is made smaller than the wall thickness between the locking grooves 21b. Thereby, the locking grooves 21b is reliably fitted to the mounting hardware 35 under the elastic force of the holding device 20. The fixing screw 32 is inserted through through-holes 35b formed in the mounting hardware 35. Operations of the holding device 20 with the above-described features will now be described. First, the operator inserts the insertion portion 11 of the endoscope 3 through the anus. Then, when attempting to check a bending state of the insertion portion 11, the probe 1 is inserted into the therapeutic device insertion channel 15. As indicated by the broken lines in FIG. 1, the probe 1 is suspended in advance from the holding device 20. Also, the arm member 30 has been turned with respect to the insertion shape detecting device 7, so that the holding device 20 is disposed close at the operator's hand. The probe 1 is now removed from the holding device 20. Specifically, the distal portion 1c of the probe 1 shown in FIG. 7 is first withdrawn from the holding hole 23. Next, the intermediate portion 1b of the probe 1 adjacent to the distal portion thereof is removed from the holding groove 22 through the notch portion 22a, and then the probe 1 is inserted into the therapeutic device insertion channel 15. Then, an insertion portion shape image is displayed on the screen of the second monitor 8. The operator can make a check of the insertion portion shape by observing this insertion portion shape image. Next, observing an endoscope image displayed on the screen of the first monitor 5, when the operator determines, for example, that it is necessary to collect a tissue biopsy, a grasping forceps (not shown) is inserted into the therapeutic device insertion channel 15. At this time, for example, while instructing a registered nurse or the like to prepare for a grasping forceps, the operator must withdraw the probe 1 from the therapeutic device insertion channel 15, and in turn, must insert the grasping forceps into the therapeutic device insertion channel 15. Thus, the operator first withdraws the probe 1 from the therapeutic device insertion channel 15. Here, as shown in FIG. 7, the intermediate portion 1b of the probe 1 adjacent to the proximal portion thereof is placed into the holding groove 22 through the notch portion 22a of the holding device 20 disposed close at the operator's hand. Next, the probe 1 is withdrawn from the therapeutic device insertion channel 15, and this time, the intermediate portion 1b of the probe 1 adjacent to the central part thereof is placed into the holding groove 22 through the notch portion 22a. After the probe 1 has been completely withdrawn from the therapeutic device insertion channel 15, the distal portion 1c of the probe 1 is inserted through the holding hole 23. Thereby, the elongated probe 1 can be suspended from the holding device 20 with a plurality of loops each having a relatively large diameter formed. Here, the lowermost end of the probe 1 is held apart from the floor surface of the examination room, e.g., by a distance of L, without contacting the floor surface of the examination room (see also FIG. 1). In this manner, disposing, close at the operator's hand, the holding device having the holding hole and holding groove formed in a predetermined place, enables a single operator to efficiently withdraw and suspend the elongated probe from the holding device, without allowing the elongated probe to contact the floor surface of the examination room. Furthermore, providing the predetermined spacing between the holding hole and holding groove prevents a hand from contacting the intermediate portion of the probe when treating the distal portion of the probe. Moreover, providing the rectangular hole and the pair of locking grooves in the fixed portion allows the fixed portion to adapt to a plurality of types of mounting portions of the arm member. The shape of the holding device is not limited to the one shown in the above-described embodiment. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the holding device may be a holding device 20A that has a pair of holding grooves 22 each having a notch 22a. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 10, the holding device may be a holding device 20B that has the holding devices 20A shown in FIG. 9 on both sides of the rectangular holes 21a. The holding device according to this embodiment is formed of an elastic material for the purpose of holding the probe. However, when the holding device is to be used for the purpose of holding a therapeutic device such as a grasping forceps, or the like, a material to match the therapeutic device may be selected to thereby form the holding device using the material. Also, the holding device may be a reuse type that can be reused by disinfecting and sterilizing it after use, or alternatively may be a single-use type that is thrown away after one use. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY As described above, the holding device according to the present invention is useful for quickly placing therein the elongated therapeutic device or probe that is to be inserted into or withdrawn from the therapeutic insertion channel of the endoscope, without allowing the therapeutic device or prove or the like to temporarily contact a floor surface.

<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>In recent years, endoscopes are in widespread use in medical field and industrial field. In particular, the endoscope having a soft insertion portion allows an organ in a body cavity in the depths to be diagnosed without being incised, by inserting the insertion portion of the endoscope into the bending body cavity. Also, as necessary, inserting a therapeutic device through a therapeutic device insertion channel provided in the endoscope, enables a treatment/therapy such as collection of a tissue biopsy or removal of a polyp. However, for example, when examining a lower digestive tract by inserting an endoscope having an elongated insertion portion into the body cavity from the anus side, a measure of skill has been required in order to smoothly insert the insertion portion into the winding digestive tract. This is because it cannot be perceived where the distal end of the insertion portion is located in the body cavity, or how is a current inserted state of the insertion portion. In order to detect an inserted state of the insertion portion of the endoscope, Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-239754, to the same assignee as this application, proposes an insertion shape detecting probe. This insertion shape detecting probe can detect an insertion shape with a high degree of accuracy, by inserting it into a therapeutic device insertion channel provided in the endoscope, as necessary. However, besides this insertion shape detecting probe, therapeutic devices or the like are also inserted into the therapeutic insertion channel. Therefore, when attempting to insert a therapeutic device into the therapeutic insertion channel, it is necessary to once withdraw the insertion shape detecting probe from the therapeutic insertion channel, and to suspend it from a holding device or the like while using another therapeutic device. However, since the insertion shape detecting probe has an elongated shape, it has been difficult to suspend the insertion shape detecting probe without allowing it to contact a floor of an examination room or the like. Hence, it has been extremely difficult for a single operator to perform this work. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a holding device allowing a single operator to easily perform suspending work for a holding device such as the insertion shape detecting probe.

<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an insertion portion shape observation device. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a holding device. FIG. 3 is a side view of the holding device. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 3 . FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the holding device and a fixture. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a fixture having another construction. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the holding device mounted on the fixture. FIG. 8 is a representation of a probe suspended from the holding device. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a holding device having another construction. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the top surface and the side surface of a holding device having still another construction. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"?

20050802

20070814

20060803

67571.0

B05B1506

RAMIREZ, RAMON O

HOLDER FOR A MEDICAL DEVICE

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

B05B

ACCEPTED

Firewall device

A firewall apparatus including plural virtual firewalls, each virtual firewall including a dependent firewall policy, is disclosed. The firewall apparatus includes: a distribution management table for managing a user name and a virtual firewall ID; a part configured to receive authentication information for network connection from a user terminal, and hold a user name included in the authentication information; a part configured to report the authentication information to the authentication server; and a part configured to receive an authentication response from the authentication server, and hold a user ID, included in the authentication response, to be provided to the user terminal. The firewall apparatus registers the user ID in the distribution management table associating the user ID with the user name.

1. A firewall apparatus including plural virtual firewalls, each virtual firewall including a dependent firewall policy, the firewall apparatus comprising: a distribution management table for managing a user name and a virtual firewall ID; a part configured to receive authentication information for a network connection from a user terminal, and hold the user name included in the authentication information; a part configured to report the authentication information to an authentication server; and a part configured to receive an authentication response from the authentication server, and hold a user ID, included in the authentication response, to be provided to the user terminal; wherein the firewall apparatus registers the user ID in the distribution management table associating the user ID with the user name. 2. The firewall apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: after the connection between the user terminal and a network is established, the firewall apparatus searches the distribution management table by using a source user ID of a packet sent from the user terminal as a search key, and retrieves the virtual firewall ID associated with the source user ID so as to distribute the packet to a virtual firewall corresponding to the virtual firewall ID, and the firewall apparatus searches the distribution management table by using a destination user ID of a packet sent from a communication partner terminal of the user terminal as the search key, and retrieves the virtual firewall ID associated with the destination user ID so as to distribute the packet to the virtual firewall corresponding to the virtual firewall ID. 3. The firewall apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the authentication server authenticates a user requesting network connection, and the user ID to be provided to the user terminal is reported to the user terminal, and the user terminal is provided with the user ID only after the report of the user ID is received. 4. The firewall apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: when the authentication response from the authentication server indicates an authentication error, the firewall apparatus reports the authentication error to the user terminal without registering the user ID in the distribution management table. 5. The firewall apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: when the user name included in the authentication information for the network connection sent from the user terminal is not registered in the distribution management table, the firewall apparatus does not register the user ID included in the authentication response from the authentication server in the distribution management table, after the connection between the user terminal and a network is established, the firewall apparatus distributes the packet sent from the user terminal corresponding to the user ID to a virtual firewall for unregistered users, and the firewall apparatus distributes a packet sent from a communication partner terminal of the user terminal corresponding to the user ID to the virtual firewall for unregistered users. 6. The firewall apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: when the user name included in the authentication information for the network connection sent from the user terminal is not registered in the distribution management table, the firewall apparatus registers, in the distribution management table, the user ID included in the authentication response from the authentication server and a virtual firewall ID for unregistered users. 7. The firewall apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: when the user name included in the authentication information for the network connection sent from the user terminal is not registered in the distribution management table, the firewall apparatus reports an authentication error to the user terminal. 8. The firewall apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1-7, wherein: the authentication server is a Radius server, the user ID is a user IP address, the network is the Internet, and the network connection from the user terminal uses PPP (Point to Point Protocol). 9. A firewall apparatus comprising: a distribution management table for managing a user name, a user ID, and a filtering ID associating them with each other; a filtering table, being specified by the filtering ID, including a dependent filtering policy; a part configured to receive authentication information, issued by a user terminal when starting a network connection, so as to hold the user name; a part configured to report the authentication information to an authentication server; a part configured to receive an authentication response from the authentication server so as to hold a user ID, included in the authentication response, to be provided to the user terminal; wherein the firewall apparatus registers the user ID in the distribution management table associating the user ID with the user name. 10. The firewall apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein: after the connection between the user terminal and a network is established, the firewall apparatus searches the distribution management table by using a source user ID of a packet sent from the user terminal as a search key, and retrieves the filtering ID associated with the source user ID so as to provide the filtering ID to the packet sent from the user terminal, the firewall apparatus searches the distribution management table by using a destination user ID of a packet sent from a communication partner terminal of the user terminal as the search key, and retrieves the filtering ID associated with the destination user ID so as to provide the filtering ID to the packet sent from the communication partner terminal of the user terminal, and the firewall apparatus passes or discards a packet to which the filtering ID is provided according to a filtering policy included in a filtering table specified by the filtering ID. 11. A firewall apparatus comprising: a distribution management table for managing a user name, a user ID, and an individual filtering ID and a common filtering ID associating them with each other; an individual filtering table associated with the individual filtering ID; a common filtering table associated with the common filtering ID; a part configured to receive authentication information, issued by a user terminal when starting a network connection, so as to hold the user name; a part configured to report the authentication information to an authentication server; a part configured to receive an authentication response from the authentication server so as to hold a user ID, included in the authentication response, to be provided to the user terminal; wherein the firewall apparatus registers the user ID in the distribution management table associating the user ID with the user name. 12. The firewall apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein: after the connection between the user terminal and a network is established, the firewall apparatus searches the distribution management table by using a source user ID of a packet sent from the user terminal as a search key, and retrieves the individual filtering ID and the common filtering ID associated with the source user ID so as to provide the individual filtering ID and the common filtering ID to the packet sent from the user terminal, the firewall apparatus searches the distribution management table by using a destination user ID of a packet sent from a communication partner terminal of the user terminal as the search key, and retrieves the individual filtering ID and the common filtering ID associated with the destination user ID so as to provide the individual filtering ID and the common filtering ID to the packet sent from the communication partner terminal of the user terminal, and the firewall apparatus passes or discards a packet to which the individual filtering ID and the common filtering ID are provided according to a filtering policy included in an individual filtering table specified by the individual filtering ID and according to a filtering policy included in a common filtering table specified by the common filtering ID 13. The firewall apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein: when the user name included in the authentication information issued by the user terminal when starting the network connection is not registered in the distribution management table, the firewall apparatus does not register the user ID included in the authentication response from the authentication server in the distribution management table, and the firewall apparatus processes a packet sent from the user terminal corresponding to the user ID or a packet sent from the communication partner terminal of the user terminal according to a filtering policy for unregistered users. 14. The firewall apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein: when the user name included in the authentication information issued by the user terminal when starting the network connection is not registered in the distribution management table, the firewall apparatus registers the user ID included in the authentication response from the authentication server and a filtering ID for unregistered users in the distribution management table. 15. A firewall apparatus comprising: a distribution management table for managing a user name, a user ID, a virtual firewall ID, and a filtering ID associating them with each other; plural virtual firewalls, each being specified by the filtering ID, each including at least a filtering table being specified by the filtering ID; a part configured to receive authentication information, issued by a user terminal when starting a network connection, so as to hold the user name; a part configured to report the authentication information to an authentication server; a part configured to receive an authentication response from the authentication server so as to hold the user ID, included in the authentication response, to be provided to the user terminal; wherein the firewall apparatus registers the user ID in the distribution management table associating the user ID with the user name. 16. The firewall apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein: after the connection between the user terminal and a network is established, the firewall apparatus searches the distribution management table by using a source user ID of a packet sent from the user terminal as a search key, and retrieves the virtual firewall ID and the filtering ID associated with the source user ID so as to distribute the packet sent from the user terminal to a virtual firewall specified by the retrieved virtual firewall ID and to provide the filtering ID to the packet sent from the user terminal, the firewall apparatus searches the distribution management table by using a destination user ID of a packet sent from a communication partner terminal of the user terminal as the search key, and retrieves the virtual firewall ID and the filtering ID associated with the destination user ID so as to distribute the packet sent from the communication partner terminal of the user terminal to the virtual firewall specified by the extracted virtual firewall ID and to provide the filtering ID to the packet sent from the communication partner terminal of the user terminal, and the firewall apparatus passes or discards a packet to which the filtering ID is provided according to a filtering policy included in a filtering table specified by the filtering ID. 17. A firewall apparatus comprising: a distribution management table for managing a user name, a user ID, a virtual firewall ID, an individual filtering ID and a common filtering ID associating them with each other; a virtual firewall including an individual filtering table corresponding to the individual filtering ID and a common filtering table corresponding to the common filtering ID; a part configured to receive authentication information, issued by a user terminal when starting a network connection, so as to hold the user name; a part configured to report the authentication information to an authentication server; and a part configured to receive an authentication response from the authentication server so as to hold the user ID, included in the authentication response, to be provided to the user terminal; wherein the firewall apparatus registers the user ID in the distribution management table associating the user ID with the user name. 18. The firewall apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein: after the connection between the user terminal and a network is established, the firewall apparatus searches the distribution management table by using a source user ID of a packet sent from the user terminal as a search key, and retrieves the virtual firewall ID, the individual filtering ID and the common filtering ID associated with the source user ID so as to distribute the packet sent from the user terminal to a virtual firewall specified by the retrieved virtual firewall ID and to provide the individual filtering ID and the common filtering ID to the packet sent from the user terminal, the firewall apparatus searches the distribution management table by using a destination user ID of a packet sent from a communication partner terminal of the user terminal as the search key, and retrieves the virtual firewall ID, and the individual filtering ID, and the common filtering ID associated with the destination user ID so as to distribute the packet sent from the communication partner terminal of the user terminal to the virtual firewall specified by the extracted virtual firewall ID and to provide the individual filtering ID and the common filtering ID to the packet sent from the communication partner terminal of the user terminal, and the firewall apparatus passes or discards, in the distributed virtual firewall, the packet to which the individual filtering ID and a common filtering ID are provided according to a filtering policy included in an individual filtering table specified by the individual filtering ID and according to a filtering policy included in a common filtering table specified by the common filtering ID. 19. The firewall apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein: when the user name included in the authentication information issued from the user terminal when starting the network connection is not registered in the distribution management table, the firewall apparatus does not register the user ID included in the authentication response from the authentication server in the distribution management table, and the firewall apparatus processes a packet sent from the user terminal corresponding to the user ID or a packet sent from the communication partner terminal of the user terminal corresponding to the user ID according to a filtering policy for unregistered users. 20. The firewall apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein: when the user name included in the authentication information issued from the user terminal when starting the network connection is not registered in the distribution management table, the firewall apparatus registers, in the distribution management table, the user ID included in the authentication response from the authentication server and the virtual firewall ID for unregistered users. 21. The firewall apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein: when the authentication response from the authentication server indicates an authentication error, the firewall apparatus reports the authentication error to the user terminal without registering the user ID in the distribution management table. 22. The firewall apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein: when the user name included in the authentication information issued from the user terminal when starting the network connection is not registered in the distribution management table, the firewall apparatus reports an authentication error to the user terminal. 23. The firewall apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 9-22, wherein: the filtering table does not include, as an element of the filtering policy, the user ID to be provided to the user terminal. 24. The firewall apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 9-23, wherein: the authentication server is a Radius server, the user ID is a user IP address, the network is the Internet, and the network connection from the user terminal uses PPP. 25. A firewall apparatus provided between a plurality of user terminals and a network and performing filtering for the user terminals, the firewall apparatus comprising: an individual filtering table holding security policies for each user; a common filtering table holding a security policy common to plural users; a distribution management table for managing user terminal information, a common filtering table ID, and an individual filtering table ID; a communication part configured to communicate with an authentication server determining whether the user terminal is connectable; a communication part configured to communicate with an identifier management server managing the common filtering table ID and the individual filtering ID associated with the user; a communication part configured to communicate with a security policy management server managing correspondence between a user-specific security policy to be written into the individual filtering table and the user, wherein, the firewall apparatus receives a connection request with authentication information including a user name from the user terminal when starting a network connection, holds the user name and reports the user name to the authentication server, holds user terminal information accompanied by an authentication response received from the authentication server, reports the user name to the identifier management server and to the security policy server, writes the common filtering table ID, the individual filtering table ID and the user terminal information received from the identifier management server into the distribution management table associating them with each other, and writes policy information received from the security policy server and the individual filtering table ID into the individual filtering table. 26. The firewall apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein: after the connection between the user terminal that issues the connection request and the network is established, the firewall apparatus receives a packet sent from the user terminal or sent to the user terminal, the firewall apparatus searches the distribution management table using the user terminal information included in the received packet as a search key so as to retrieve the common filtering table ID and the individual filtering table ID associated with the user terminal information, and the firewall apparatus filters the received packet using a common filtering table corresponding to the retrieved common filtering table and an individual filtering table corresponding to the individual filtering table ID. 27. The firewall apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein: when the user terminal disconnects the connection to the network, the firewall apparatus receives a disconnection request from the user terminal, searches the distribution management table using the user terminal information as a search key so as to retrieve the individual filtering table ID from an entry associated with the user terminal information and to invalidate the entry associated with the user terminal information, and the firewall apparatus invalidates information in the individual filtering table corresponding to the retrieved individual filtering table ID. 28. A firewall apparatus provided between a plurality of user terminals and a network and performing filtering for the user terminals, the firewall apparatus comprising: at least a virtual firewall performing packet filtering for plural users; at least an individual filtering table holding security policies for each user; at least a common filtering table holding a security policy common to plural users; a distribution management table for managing user terminal information, a virtual firewall ID, a common filtering table ID, and an individual filtering table ID; a communication part configured to communicate with an authentication server determining whether the user terminal is connectable; a communication part configured to communicate with an identifier management server managing the virtual firewall ID, the common filtering table ID and the individual filtering table ID associated with the user; a communication part configured to communicate with a security policy management server managing correspondence between a user-specific security policy to be written into the individual filtering table and the user, wherein, the firewall apparatus receives a connection request with authentication information including a user name from the user terminal when starting a network connection, holds the user name and reports the user name to the authentication server, holds user terminal information accompanied by an authentication response received from the authentication server, reports the user name to the identifier management server and to the security policy server, writes the virtual firewall ID, the common filtering table ID, the individual filtering table ID and the user terminal information received from the identifier management server into the distribution management table associating them with each other, and writes policy information received from the security server and the individual filtering table ID into the individual filtering table of the virtual firewall indicated by the virtual firewall ID. 29. The firewall apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein: after the connection between the user terminal that issued the connection request and the network is established, the firewall apparatus receives a packet sent from the user terminal or sent to the user terminal, the firewall apparatus searches the distribution management table using the user terminal information included in the received packet as a search key so as to retrieve the virtual firewall ID, the common filtering table ID and the individual filtering table ID associated with the user terminal information, and the firewall apparatus distributes the received packet to a virtual firewall indicated by the retrieved virtual firewall ID, and filters the received packet using a common filtering table corresponding to the retrieved common filtering table and an individual filtering table corresponding to the individual filtering table ID. 30. The firewall apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein: when the user terminal disconnects the connection to the network, the firewall apparatus receives a disconnection request from the user terminal, searches the distribution management table using the user terminal information as a search key so as to retrieve the virtual firewall ID and the individual filtering table ID from an entry associated with the user terminal information and to invalidate the entry associated with the user terminal information, and the firewall apparatus invalidates information in the individual filtering table corresponding to the retrieved individual filtering table ID, wherein the individual filtering table is held in the virtual firewall corresponding to the retrieved virtual firewall ID. 31. The firewall apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein: the virtual firewalls are in a one-to-one correspondence with contract networks connected to the network, and the firewall apparatus accommodates the contract networks the number of which is the same as the number of the virtual firewalls. 32. The firewall apparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein: plural authentication servers are provided for each contract network, and the firewall apparatus determines an authentication server based on the user name included in the connection request issued from the user terminal to perform authentication. 33. The firewall apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein: the security policy server includes a security policy table in which the user name is associated with at least a security policy, and the firewall apparatus communicates with at least a security policy server including the same security policy table. 34. The firewall apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein: the identifier management table includes a user name, a common filtering table ID, and an individual filtering table ID in which they are associated with each other, and the firewall apparatus communicates with at least one identifier management server including the same identifier management table. 35. The firewall apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein: the identifier management server includes the identifier management table including the user name, the virtual firewall ID, the common filtering table ID, and the individual filtering table ID in which they are associated with each other, and the firewall apparatus communicates with at least one identifier management server including the same identifier management table. 36. A firewall apparatus provided between a plurality of user terminals and a network and performing filtering for the user terminals, the firewall apparatus comprising: an individual filtering table holding security policies for each user; a common filtering table holding a security policy common to plural users; a distribution management table for managing user terminal information, a common filtering table ID, and an individual filtering table ID; a communication part configured to communicate with an authentication server determining whether the user terminal is connectable; a communication part configured to communicate with an identifier management server managing the common filtering table ID and the individual filtering table ID associated with the user; wherein, the firewall apparatus receives a connection request with authentication information including a user name from the terminal when starting a network connection, holds the user name and reports the user name to the authentication server, holds user terminal information accompanied by an authentication response received from the authentication server, reports the user name to the identifier management server, writes the common filtering table ID, the individual filtering table ID and the user terminal information received from the identifier management server into the distribution management table associating them with each other, and searches the security policy table using the held user name as a key to retrieve policy information associated with the user name, and writes the retrieved policy information and the individual filtering table ID into the individual filtering table. 37. A firewall apparatus provided between a plurality of user terminals and a network and performing filtering for the user terminals, the firewall apparatus comprising: an individual filtering table holding security policies for each user; a common filtering table holding a security policy common to plural users; a distribution management table for managing user terminal information, a common filtering table ID, and an individual filtering table ID; an identifier management table in which a user name, a common filtering table ID and an individual filtering table ID are associated with each other; a communication part configured to communicate with an authentication server determining whether the user terminal is connectable; a communication part configured to communicate with a security policy management server managing correspondence between the security policy specific to the user to be written into the individual filtering table and the user; wherein, the firewall apparatus receives a connection request with authentication information including a user name from the user terminal when starting a network connection, holds the user name and reports the user name to the authentication server, holds user terminal information accompanied by an authentication response received from the authentication server, reports the user name to the security policy server, searches the identifier management table using the held user name as a key to retrieve the common filtering table ID and the individual filtering table ID associated with the user name, and writes the retrieved common filtering table ID, the individual filtering table ID and the user terminal information into the distribution management server associating them with each other, and writes policy information received from the security policy server and the individual filtering table ID into the individual filtering table. 38. A firewall apparatus provided between a plurality of user terminals and a network and performing filtering for the user terminals, the firewall apparatus comprising: an individual filtering table holding security policies for each user; a common filtering table holding a security policy common to plural users; a distribution management table for managing user terminal information, a common filtering table ID, and an individual filtering table ID; a security policy table in which a user name is associated with at least a security policy; an identifier management table in which the user name, the common filtering table ID and the individual filtering table ID are associated with each other; a communication part configured to communicate with an authentication server determining whether the user terminal is connectable; wherein, the firewall apparatus: receives a connection request with authentication information including the user name from the user terminal when starting network connection, holds the user name and reports the user name to the authentication server, holds user terminal information accompanied by an authentication response received from the authentication server, searches the identifier management table using the held user name as a key to retrieve the common filtering table ID and the individual filtering table ID associated with the user name, and writes the retrieved common filtering table ID, the individual filtering table ID and the user terminal information into the distribution management table associating them with each other, and searches the security policy table using the held user name as a key to retrieve policy information associated with the user name, and writes the retrieved policy information and the individual filtering table ID into the individual filtering table. 39. A firewall apparatus provided between a plurality of user terminals and a network and performing filtering for the user terminals, the firewall apparatus comprising: at least a virtual firewall performing packet filtering for plural users; at least an individual filtering table holding security policies for each user; at least a common filtering table holding a security policy common to plural users; a distribution management table for managing user terminal information, a virtual firewall ID, a common filtering table ID, and an individual filtering table ID; a security policy table in which a user name is associated with at least a security policy; a communication part configured to communicate with an authentication server determining whether the user terminal is connectable; and a communication part configured to communicate with an identifier management server managing the virtual firewall ID, the common filtering table ID and the individual filtering ID associated with the user; wherein, the firewall apparatus receives a connection request with authentication information including the user name from the user terminal when starting a network connection, holds the user name and reports the user name to the authentication server, holds user terminal information accompanied by an authentication response received from the authentication server, reports the user name to the identifier management server, writes the virtual firewall ID, the common filtering table ID, the individual filtering table ID and the user terminal information received from the identifier management server into the distribution management table associating them with each other, and searches the security policy table using the held user name as a key to retrieve policy information associated with the user name, and writes the retrieved policy information and the individual filtering table ID into the individual filtering table in the virtual firewall indicated by the virtual firewall ID. 40. A firewall apparatus provided between a plurality of user terminals and a network and performing filtering for the user terminals, the firewall apparatus comprising: at least a virtual firewall performing packet filtering for plural users; at least an individual filtering table holding security policies for each user; at least a common filtering table holding a security policy common to plural users; a distribution management table for managing user terminal information, a virtual firewall ID, a common filtering table ID, and an individual filtering table ID; an identifier management table in which the user name, the common filtering table ID and the individual filtering table ID are associated with each other; a communication part configured to communicate with an authentication server determining whether the user terminal is connectable; and a communication part configured to communicate with a security policy server managing correspondence between the security policy specific to the user to be written into the individual filtering table and the user; wherein, the firewall apparatus receives a connection request with authentication information including a user name from the user terminal when starting a network connection, holds the user name and reports the user name to the authentication server, holds user terminal information accompanied by an authentication response received from the authentication server, reports the user name to the security policy server, searches the identifier management table using the held user name as a key to retrieve the virtual firewall ID, the common filtering table ID and the individual filtering table ID associated with the user name, and writes the virtual firewall ID, the retrieved common filtering table ID, the individual filtering table ID and the user terminal information into the distribution management table associating them with each other, and writes policy information received from the security policy server and the individual filtering table ID into the individual filtering table in the virtual firewall indicated by the virtual firewall ID. 41. A firewall apparatus provided between a plurality of user terminals and a network and performing filtering for the user terminals, the firewall apparatus comprising: at least a virtual firewall performing packet filtering for plural users; at least an individual filtering table holding security policies for each user; at least a common filtering table holding a security policy common to plural users; a distribution management table for managing user terminal information, a virtual firewall ID, a common filtering table ID, and an individual filtering table ID; a security policy table in which a user name is associated with at least a security policy; a communication part configured to communicate with an authentication server determining whether the user terminal is connectable; wherein, the firewall apparatus receives a connection request with authentication information including a user name from the user terminal when starting a network connection, holds the user name and reports the user name to the authentication server, holds user terminal information accompanied by an authentication response received from the authentication server, searches the identifier management table using the held user name as a key to retrieve the virtual firewall ID, the common filtering table ID and the individual filtering table ID associated with the user name, and writes the virtual firewall ID, the retrieved common filtering table ID, the individual filtering table ID and the user terminal information into the distribution management table associating them with each other, and searches the security policy table using the held user name as a key to retrieve policy information associated with the user name, and writes the retrieved policy information and the individual filtering table ID into the individual filtering table in the virtual firewall indicated by the virtual firewall ID. 42. A firewall apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 25-41, wherein: the authentication server is a Radius server, the user terminal information is an IP address provided to the user terminal, connection to the network from the user terminal is PPP, and PAP or CHAP is used for authentication.

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a firewall apparatus for protecting a user connecting to an external network such as the Internet. BACKGROUND ART There exists firewalls (to be also referred to as FW) as means for improving security of an own terminal or an own network. The firewall is placed between the own terminal or the own network that requires high security and an external network. The firewall determines whether a packet transmitted from the external network to the own terminal or network, or a packet transmitted from the own terminal or network to the external network is permitted to pass through the firewall according to a predetermined security policy. The firewall performs a filtering process in which, if the packet is permitted to pass through the firewall, the packet is passed through the firewall, and if not, the packet is discarded. One rule is formed by associating address, protocol type, port number, direction, availability of being passed through, or other condition with each other so that the security policy is formed by plural rules. In addition, the firewall can be categorized into three types according to its placement. The first type is, as shown in FIG. 1, a firewall 10 (to be referred to as “terminal base firewall” hereinafter) that is included in the own terminal. The firewall 10 is used for protecting the own terminal 10 against an external network (the Internet, for example) 12. The second one is, as shown in FIG. 2, a firewall 10 (to be referred to as “CPE base firewall” hereinafter) that is placed at an edge of the own network 13 and is connected to the external network 12. This firewall is used for protecting the own network 13 against the external network 12. The third one is, as shown in FIG. 3, a firewall 10 (to be referred to as “NW base firewall” hereinafter) that accommodates more than one networks 13 or terminals 11 that are operated by corresponding independent policies and that are required to increase security, and the firewall is placed at a position connecting to the external network 12 and is used for protecting each network 13 or terminal against the external network 12. As constant connection users are increasing, necessity of security is increasing. Under the circumstances, it is required to provide users who do not have enough knowledge of security with a security service for compensating for lack of skill with low cost. In this view point, among the above-mentioned firewalls, the NW base firewall in which the firewall is provided in the network side is effective. That is, by using the NW base firewall, economy by integrating accommodated users and reduction of user activities by outsourcing can be expected. However, since it is necessary to provide each user with the security policy, an architecture for constructing virtual firewalls for each user in a physical firewall is required according to the firewall of this method. FIG. 4 shows a method for constructing the virtual firewall according to a conventional technology. For assigning a virtual firewall to a user's terminal, server or network, a fixed user ID is associated with a virtual firewall ID. The fixed user ID is a VLAN-ID of a network to which the user's terminal or server belongs, or an IP address of the user's terminal or server. In FIG. 4, an IP address [a.a.a.a] of a sever 211 of a user #a and an IP address [b.b.b.b] of a sever 212 of a user #b are registered in a distribution management table 201 beforehand as fixed user IDs in which the fixed user IDs are associated with virtual firewall IDs 202 and 203 respectively. Then, for example, in a communication between the sever 211 and a connection partner terminal 213 of the user #a, for a packet 221 sent from the server 221, the distribution management table 201 is referred to by using the source IP address [a.a.a.a] as a search key, and the virtual firewall ID 202 that is associated with the source IP address [a.a.a.a] is retrieved so that the packet 221 is distributed to the virtual firewall 202. In addition, for a packet 222 sent from the connection partner terminal 213, the distribution management table 201 is referred to by using the destination IP address b.b.b.b as a search key, and the virtual firewall ID 203 that is associated with the destination IP address b.b.b.b is retrieved so that the packet 222 is distributed to the virtual firewall 203. In each of the virtual firewalls 202 and 203, a filtering rule conforming to a security policy defined by the user #a and the user #b, respectively, is described. According to the rule, the packet 221 and the packet 222 are passed or discarded. Accordingly, an attacking packet from an unauthorized access person to the server 211 can be filtered, for example. This conventional technology is mainly applied to a data center and the like. In the data center, since a fixed user ID is used, the user ID can be registered in the distribution table 201 beforehand. “Investigation of secure content filtering method in a data center” (IEICE Society conference (2002) B-6-38 2002.8.20) is a prior art document relating to the conventional technology. As another conventional technology for setting security communications for each user, there is a document (Japanese Laid Open Patent Application No. 2001-298499, “Security communication method, communication system and the apparatus). However, the conventional technology mainly presumes IP sec communications. Security communications for each user defined in the document are merely for determining the strength of an authentication algorithm or an encryption algorithm used for communications according to a request of a user, which is different from a function for filtering attacking packets due to invalid accesses. In a constant connection service used by a user, a user ID (user IP address) is assigned for the first time when a connection between the user terminal and a network is established. More particularly, the user ID is assigned for the first time when a PPP (Point to Point Protocol) session is established. In addition, the user IP address is generally variable. Therefore, even if one tries to apply the virtual firewall of the conventional technology to the constant connection service, it is difficult to apply the virtual firewall of the conventional technology to the constant connection service since it is impossible to register a user IP address in the distribution management table beforehand. In addition, as to the constant connection service, since the number of accommodated users is much larger than a case for applying the firewall to a data center and the like, it is required to increase the number of users to be accommodated simultaneously by the NW based firewall apparatus. Other than the viewpoint of a placement location of a firewall, the firewall can be classified to two types as follows from a viewpoint of a holding method of the security policy. A first firewall is one that includes the security policy inside of the firewall. Regular firewalls adopt this method. Another firewall is one, as shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, that has the security policy outside of the firewall 10. The security policy is distributed to plural firewalls 10. For each type of before-mentioned firewalls (terminal base firewall, CPE base firewall, or NW base firewall), many of the firewalls include the security policy in the inside. However, as to the firewall that uses the method for distributing the security policy, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2002-544607 discloses applying such method to the terminal base firewall. In addition, a document (┌distributed Firewalls┘ (November 1999, Special issue on Security, ISSN 1044-63971)) discloses applying the method to the CPE base firewall. In addition, also as to the NW base firewall, when an accommodated network or terminal is statically connected, the same situation as the CPE base firewall applies to the NW base firewall. However, as to the NW base firewall, in a case where the accommodated network or the terminal is dynamically connected and disconnected, or the accommodating NW base firewall is changed, the method of holding the security policy in the inside of the firewall is not useful since all security policies relating to the networks or the terminals that the firewall may accommodate should be held regardless of the connection and disconnection of the network or the terminal. Therefore, in such an environment, a NW base firewall apparatus having means for keeping an optimum capacity of the security policies according to connection or disconnection of the network or the terminal becomes necessary. In addition, as to the NW base firewall having means for loading security policies in response to connection of networks or terminals, since plural networks or terminals are connected to the NW base firewall, the NW base firewall may load many security policies. In this case, processes in the CPU of the NW base firewall for loading security policies becomes large, so that processes of filtering and transferring cannot be performed. Thus, the filtering and transferring performance is affected. In addition, the apparatus that delivers the security policy cannot distribute the security policy when the distributing amount exceeds the apparatus's performance. Further, as to a line used for distributing the security policy, when the distributing amount exceeds the circuit capacity, discard or delay may occur in distributing the security policy. Therefore, a NW base firewall apparatus including means for reducing the security policy amount to be delivered is necessary. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION A first object of the present invention is to provide a firewall apparatus that can provide a service even in a communication environment in which the user ID cannot be associated with the virtual firewall ID beforehand. In addition, a second object of the present invention is to provide a firewall apparatus that can increase the number of multiple users. Further, a third object of the present invention is to provide a firewall apparatus that can hold or discard necessary security policies according to connection or disconnection of an accommodating network or terminal, and that can reduce the security policy amount to be loaded. The first object is achieved by a firewall apparatus including plural virtual firewalls, each virtual firewall including a dependent firewall policy, the firewall apparatus including: a distribution management table for managing a user name and a virtual firewall ID; a part configured to receive authentication information for network connection from a user terminal, and hold a user name included in the authentication information; a part configured to report the authentication information to the authentication server; and a part configured to receive an authentication response from the authentication server, and hold a user ID, included in the authentication response, to be provided to the user terminal; wherein the firewall apparatus registers the user ID in the distribution management table associating the user ID with the user name. According to the present invention, by using the authentication information for network connection from the user terminal, the user ID can be dynamically associated with the virtual firewall ID even in the communication environment in which the user ID cannot be associated with the virtual firewall ID beforehand. Then, the filtering rule complying with the security policy corresponding to the user terminal can be applied to a packet transmitted or received by the user terminal of the user ID. The second object of the present invention can be achieved by a firewall apparatus including: a distribution management table for managing a user name, a user ID, and a filtering ID associating them with each other; a filtering table, being specified by the filtering ID, including a dependent filtering policy; a part configured to receive authentication information, issued by a user terminal when starting network connection, so as to hold the user name; a part configured to report the authentication information to an authentication server; a part configured to receive an authentication response from the authentication server so as to hold a user ID, included in the authentication response, to be provided to the user terminal, wherein the firewall apparatus registers the user ID in the distribution management table associating the user ID with the user name. According to the present invention, since the filtering ID is introduced so that the filtering policy is identified by the filtering ID for each user, plural independent filtering policies can be managed in each virtual firewall so that the number of multiple users can be increased. In addition, since the search area for a packet for each user is restricted only to a table corresponding to a filtering ID provided to the packet, it can be avoided that the search process time unnecessarily increases. In addition, in the present invention, the filtering ID is divided into an individual filtering ID and a common filtering ID so that a filtering policy specific to each user is written in the individual filtering table and a filtering policy commonly used for plural users is written in the common filtering table. Accordingly, for example, in a case where 10 users use two identical filtering rules, if a conventional technology is applied, 20 rules are written in the filtering table. On the other hand, according to the present invention, only two rules need to be written in the filtering table. Thus, it becomes possible to efficiently manage the filtering policy. The third object of the present invention can be achieved by a firewall apparatus provided between plural user terminals and a network and performing filtering for the plural user terminals, the firewall apparatus including: an individual filtering table holding security policies for each user; a common filtering table holding a security policy common to plural users; a distribution management table for managing user terminal information, a common filtering table ID, and an individual filtering table ID; a communication part configured to communicate with an authentication server determining whether the user terminal is connectable; a communication part configured to communicate with an identifier management server managing the common filtering table ID and the individual filtering ID associated with a user; a communication part configured to communicate with a security policy management server managing correspondence between a user-specific security policy to be written into the individual filtering table and the user, wherein, the filtering apparatus: receives a connection request with authentication information including a user name from the terminal when starting network connection, holds the user name, and reports the user name to the authentication server, holds user terminal information accompanied by an authentication response received from the authentication server, reports the user name to the identifier management server and to the security policy server, writes the common filtering table ID, the individual filtering table ID, and the user terminal information received from the identifier management server into the distribution management table associating them with each other, and writes policy information received from the security server and the individual filtering table ID into the individual filtering table. According to the present invention, a necessary security policy can be loaded simultaneously with a start of connection of the network or the terminal. In addition, an identifier indicating an area to which the security policy is written at the start of network connection is associated with user terminal information provided to the network or the terminal to start connection by authentication, so that the identifier is determined based on the user terminal information of the network or terminal at the time of disconnection so as to discard the security policy in the area indicated by the identifier. Therefore, the security policy can be discarded simultaneously with disconnection of the network or the terminal. In addition, according to the firewall apparatus of the present invention, by dividing the security policy into an individual security policy and a common security policy, the common security policy can be always held in the firewall apparatus and only the individual security policy needs to be loaded at the time of start of connection by the network or the terminal. Therefore, the security policy amount to be loaded can be decreased. In addition, according to the firewall apparatus of the present invention, all firewall apparatuses can be connected to an apparatus for distributing the security policy and an apparatus that can check the identifier so that the firewall apparatuses can load the security policy. Therefore, even when the network or the terminal changes an accommodating firewall apparatus to start network connection or to perform disconnection, the firewall apparatus can properly load the security policy. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a conventional firewall apparatus; FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing another example of a conventional firewall apparatus; FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing another example of a conventional firewall apparatus; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a virtual firewall establishing method according to a conventional technology; FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional firewall apparatus in which a security policy is provided in its outside; FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another example of a conventional firewall apparatus in which a security policy is provided in its outside; FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another example of a conventional firewall apparatus in which a security policy is provided in its outside; FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of a firewall apparatus in an embodiment 1-1 of the present invention; FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram showing operations of the firewall apparatus in the embodiment 1-1; FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing operations of the firewall apparatus in the embodiment 1-2; FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a distribution management table in an embodiment 1-3; FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram showing operations of the firewall apparatus in the embodiment 1-3; FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a distribution management table in the embodiment 1-4; FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram showing operations of the firewall apparatus in the embodiment 1-4; FIG. 15 is a sequence diagram showing operations of the firewall apparatus in the embodiment 1-5; FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of the distribution management table in the embodiment 1-5; FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing an outline configuration of a firewall apparatus in an embodiment 2-1 of the present invention; FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a configuration of a filtering table in a virtual firewall in the firewall apparatus in the embodiment 2-1; FIG. 19 is a sequence diagram showing operations of the firewall apparatus in the embodiment 2-1; FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing an outline configuration of a firewall apparatus in an embodiment 2-2 of the present invention; FIG. 21 is a sequence diagram showing operations of the firewall apparatus in the embodiment 2-2; FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an initial state of the distribution management table in an embodiment 2-3; FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a state in which an IP address is registered in the distribution management table in an embodiment 2-3; FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a configuration of a filtering table in a virtual firewall in the firewall apparatus in the embodiment 2-3; FIG. 25 is a sequence diagram showing operations of the firewall apparatus in the embodiment 2-4; FIG. 26 is a diagram showing information in the distribution management table in the embodiment 2-5; FIG. 27 is a sequence diagram showing operations of the firewall apparatus in the embodiment 2-5; FIG. 28 is a diagram showing information in the distribution management table in an embodiment 2-6; FIG. 29 is a sequence diagram showing operations of the firewall apparatus in the embodiment 2-6; FIG. 30 is a diagram showing information in the distribution management table in an embodiment 2-7; FIG. 31 is a sequence diagram showing operations of the firewall apparatus in the embodiment 2-7; FIG. 32 is a diagram showing contents in a filtering table; FIG. 33 is a diagram showing contents in an individual filtering table; FIG. 34 is a block diagram showing an outline configuration of a firewall apparatus and a network model in which the firewall apparatus is used according to embodiment 3-1 of the present invention; FIG. 35 is a diagram showing detail of authentication information in an authentication server shown in FIG. 34; FIG. 36 is a diagram showing detail of a pool table held in a user terminal information part in the authentication server shown in FIG. 34; FIG. 37 is a diagram showing detail of an identifier management table in the identifier management server shown in FIG. 34; FIG. 38 is a diagram showing detail of a security policy table in the security policy server shown in FIG. 34; FIG. 39 is a diagram showing detail of the distribution management table, in an initial state, in the firewall apparatus shown in FIG. 34; FIG. 40 is a diagram showing an example of a sequence of operations of the network model shown in FIG. 34; FIG. 41 is a diagram showing an example of a sequence of operations of the network model shown in FIG. 34; FIG. 42 is a block diagram showing an outline configuration of a firewall apparatus and a network model in which the firewall apparatus is used according to an embodiment 3-2; FIG. 43 is a diagram showing an example of a sequence of operations of the network model shown in FIG. 42; FIG. 44 is a block diagram showing an outline configuration of a firewall apparatus and a network model in which the firewall apparatus is used according to an embodiment 3-3; FIG. 45 is a diagram showing an example of a sequence of operations of the network model shown in FIG. 44; FIG. 46 is a block diagram showing an outline configuration of a firewall apparatus and a network model in which the firewall apparatus is used according to an embodiment 3-4; FIG. 47 is a diagram showing an example of a sequence of operations of the network model shown in FIG. 46; FIG. 48 is a block diagram showing an outline configuration of a firewall apparatus and a network model in which the firewall apparatus is used according to an embodiment 3-5; FIG. 49 is a diagram showing an example of a sequence of operations of the network model shown in FIG. 48; FIG. 50 is a block diagram showing an outline configuration of a firewall apparatus and a network model in which the firewall apparatus is used according to an embodiment 3-6; FIG. 51 is a diagram showing details of authentication information in an authentication server 1 shown in FIG. 50; FIG. 52 is a diagram showing details of a pool table held in a user terminal information part in the authentication server 1 shown in FIG. 50; FIG. 53 is a diagram showing details of authentication information in an authentication server 2 shown in FIG. 50; FIG. 54 is a diagram showing details of a pool table held in a user terminal information part in the authentication server 2 shown in FIG. 50; FIG. 55 is a diagram showing a user name sent to the firewall apparatus via the user terminal (2002-1) by the user (2015-1); FIG. 56 is a diagram showing a user name sent to the firewall apparatus via the user terminal (2002-2) by the user (2015-2); FIG. 57 is a diagram showing details of a identifier management table 2012 in the identifier management server shown in FIG. 50; FIG. 58 is a diagram showing details of a security policy table in the security policy server shown in FIG. 50; FIG. 59 is a diagram showing one example of a sequence of operations of the network model shown in FIG. 50; FIG. 60 is a diagram showing another example of a sequence of operations of the network model shown in FIG. 50; FIG. 61 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a computer system. PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In the following, embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to figures. Embodiment 1-1-Embodiment 1-5 Embodiment 1-1 First, an embodiment 1-1 of the present invention is described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the method of connecting to the network from the user is PPP, and the authentication communication method is RADIUS. The firewall apparatus 100 includes a virtual firewall for each user. For example, the firewall apparatus 100 includes a virtual firewall 102 to which a security policy of the user #a is applied for protecting a terminal 111 of the user #a, and a virtual firewall 103 to which a security policy of the user #b is applied for protecting a terminal 112 of the user #b. In a distribution management table 101, user names and virtual firewall IDs that can be set beforehand are registered. That is, the distribution management table 101 registers associations between a user name #a and a virtual firewall ID 102, and a user name #b and a virtual firewall ID 103. However, since each user IP address that is a user ID for each user terminal has not been determined, it cannot be registered at this time (in a state of the distribution management table 101-1). In this example, it is assumed that the terminal 111 of the user #a connects to the Internet 110, and, after that, the terminal 111 performs IP communications with a connection partner terminal 113. First, as a network connection request from the user terminal 111, information of LPC (Link Control Protocol) is exchanged between the user terminal 111 and the firewall apparatus 100 (139). After that, by exchanging authentication information (140), the firewall apparatus 100 extracts the user name #a sent from the user terminal 111 and holds the user name #a (process point 150). Then, the authentication information (user name and password) are sent to the RADIUS server 130 (141). The authentication is performed by the RADIUS server 130, and the firewall apparatus 100 receives the response 142 so that the firewall apparatus 100 holds a user IP address, included in the response 142, to be supplied to the user terminal. Assume that the user IP address is [a.a.a.a]. Then, by using the user name #a as a search key, the firewall apparatus registers the user IP address [a.a.a.a] in a line including #a as the user name (process point 151, a state of the distribution management table 101-2). At the same time, while information of NCP (Network Control Protocol) is exchanged between the user terminal 111 and the firewall apparatus 100 (143), the firewall apparatus 100 sends the user IP address [a.a.a.a] to the user terminal 111 so that the user terminal 111 recognizes that the own IP address is [a.a.a.a]. After completing NCP, a PPP connection is established between the user terminal and the network. After that, when the firewall apparatus 100 receives a packet 121 that is sent from the user terminal 111 to the connection partner terminal 113, the firewall apparatus 100 refers to the distribution management table 101 by using [a.a.a.a], as a search key, included in the packet as the source IP address so as to extract the virtual firewall ID=102 and distribute the packet 121 to the virtual firewall 102 (process point 152). Accordingly, a pass or discard process is applied to the packet 121 according to a filtering rule according to the security policy determined by the user #a. In addition, when the firewall apparatus 100 receives a packet 122 that is sent from the connection partner terminal 113 to the user terminal 111, the firewall apparatus 100 refers to the distribution management table 101 by using [a.a.a.a], as a search key, included in the packet as the destination IP address so as to extract the virtual firewall ID=102 included in the line of [a.a.a.a], and distributes the packet 122 to the virtual firewall 102 (process point 153). Accordingly, the pass or discard process is applied to the packet 122 according to a filtering rule according to the security policy determined by the user #a. A similar procedure is applied to a case where the terminal 112 of the user #b connects to the Internet 110 and the terminal 112 performs IP communications with a connection partner terminal 113. That is, the packet sent and received by the terminal 112 is distributed to the virtual firewall 103, so that the pass or discard process is applied to the packet according to a filtering rule according to a security policy determined by the user #b. Embodiment 1-2 The embodiment 1-2 of the present invention is described with reference to FIG. 10. This embodiment shows a case where the combination of the user name and the password sent by the report 141 of the user name and the password in the embodiment 1-1 is not the same as the combination of the user name and the password registered in the RADIUS server 130 for the reason that the user name or the password sent from the user #a is not correct. Since the process of the report 141 of the user name and the password from the LCP 139 is the same as that of the embodiment 1-1, the process is not described in this embodiment. When an authentication error report 642 is sent from the RADIUS server 130 due to the above-mentioned reason, the firewall apparatus 100 sends an authentication error report 643 to the user terminal 111, and terminates the PPP establishment process. In this case, the firewall apparatus 100 does not perform any process for the distribution management table 101. Embodiment 1-3 The embodiment 1-3 of the present invention is described with reference to FIGS. 8, 11 and 12. This embodiment shows a case where a terminal 114 of a firewall-service-unregistered user #c connects to the Internet 110, and, after that, the terminal 114 performs IP communications with a connection partner terminal 113. As to the firewall-service-unregistered user #c, the user name and the virtual firewall are not registered in the distribution management table 101-3. But the user #c receives a communication service to the Internet 110 via the terminal 114, and the user name and the password are registered in the RADIUS server 130. In FIG. 12, operations from the start to the report 142 of the use IP address are the same as those of the embodiment 1-1. When the firewall apparatus 100 receives the report 142 of the user IP address, the firewall apparatus 100 holds a user IP address [c.c.c.c], included in the report 142 of the user IP address, to be provided to the user terminal. Then, the firewall apparatus 100 searches the distribution management table 101-3 for the user name #c. But, since the user name #c does not exist, the firewall apparatus 100 does not register the user IP address [c.c.c.c] in the distribution management table 101-3. In addition, at the same time, while the firewall apparatus 100 exchanges information of NCP with the user terminal 114 in (143), the firewall apparatus 100 sends the user IP address [c.c.c.c] to the user terminal 114, and the user terminal 114 recognizes that the own user IP address is [c.c.c.c]. After completing NCP, a PPP connection is established between the user terminal and the network. After that, the firewall apparatus 100 receives a packet 121 that is sent from the user terminal 114 to the connection partner terminal 113, and the firewall apparatus 100 refers to the distribution management table 101 by using [c.c.c.c], as a search key, included in the packet 121 as a source IP address, so that it is determined that the source IP address is not registered. When the source IP address is not registered, since a virtual firewall to which the packet is to be distributed is written as a virtual firewall 104 in a last line in the distribution management table 101-3 as shown in FIG. 11, the packet 121 is distributed to the virtual firewall 104 for the unregistered user (process point 152). In the same way, also as for a packet 122 sent from the communication partner terminal 113, when the firewall apparatus 100 refers to the distribution management table 101 by using the destination user IP address [c.c.c.c] as a search key, it is determined that the destination IP address is not registered, so that the packet 122 is distributed to the virtual firewall 104 for the unregistered user (process point 153). The virtual firewall 104 for the unregistered user does not include a filtering rule to unconditionally pass all packets, or includes a filtering rule common for all unregistered users. Embodiment 1-4 The embodiment 1-4 of the present invention is described with reference to FIGS. 8, 13 and 14. This embodiment shows a case where the terminal 114 of the firewall-service-unregistered user #c connects to the Internet 110, and, after that, the terminal 114 performs IP communications with the connection partner terminal 113 in the same way as the embodiment 1-3. As to the firewall-service-unregistered user #c, the user name and the virtual firewall are not registered in the distribution management table 101-4. But, the user #c receives a communication service to the Internet 110 via the terminal 114, and the user name and the password are registered in the RADIUS server 130. In FIG. 14, operations from the start to the notification 142 of the use IP address are the same as those of the embodiment 1-1. When the firewall apparatus 100 receives the report 142 of the user IP address, the firewall apparatus 100 holds the user IP address [c.c.c.c], included in the report 142 of the user IP address, to be provided to the user terminal. Then, the firewall apparatus 100 searches the distribution management table 101-4 for the user name #c. But, the user name #c does not exist. In this case, the firewall apparatus 100 registers the user IP address [c.c.c.c] and ID=104 of the virtual firewall 104 for unregistered users in the distribution management table 101-4. In addition, at the same time, while the firewall apparatus 100 exchanges information of NCP with the user terminal 114 in (143), the firewall apparatus 100 sends the user IP address [c.c.c.c] to the user terminal 114, and the user terminal 114 recognizes that the own user IP address is [c.c.c.c]. After completing NCP, a PPP connection is established between the user terminal and the network. After that, the firewall apparatus 100 receives a packet 121 that is sent from the user terminal 114 to the connection partner terminal 113, and the firewall apparatus 100 refers to the distribution management table 101 by using [c.c.c.c], as a search key, included in the packet 121 as a source IP address, so that the firewall apparatus 100 retrieves the virtual firewall ID=104 that is associated with the source IP address so as to distribute the packet 121 to the virtual firewall 104 (process point 152). In the same way, also as for a packet 122 sent from the communication partner terminal 113, the firewall apparatus 100 refers to the distribution management table 101-4 by using [c.c.c.c] as a search key, included in the packet 121 as a destination IP address, so that the firewall apparatus 100 retrieves the virtual firewall ID=104 that is associated with the destination IP address so as to distribute the packet 121 to the virtual firewall 104 (process point 153). In the same way as the embodiment 1-3, the virtual firewall 104 for the unregistered users does not include a filtering rule to unconditionally pass all packets, or includes a filtering rule common for all unregistered users. In addition, when the source IP address is not registered, the packet is discarded as shown in the last line of the distribution management table 101-4 in FIG. 13. Accordingly, when a malicious user sends, in an IP Spoofing attack and the like, a large amount of packets having an IP address that is not assigned to any user, the firewall apparatus 100 can discard the packets. Embodiment 1-5 The embodiment 1-5 of the present invention is described with reference to FIGS. 8, 15 and 16. This embodiment shows a case where a terminal 115 of a firewall-service-unregistered user #d connects to the Internet 110, and, after that, the terminal 115 performs IP communications with a connection partner terminal 113. The user #d is a user who should be registered in the firewall service. But, in this case, the user name #d is not correctly registered in the distribution management table 101-5 for the reason that the manager of the firewall apparatus 100 forgot about registering the user name #d in the distribution management table 101-5 or erroneously registered the user name. However, the user name #d and the password are correctly registered in the RADIUS server 130. In FIG. 15, operations from the start to the report 142 of the user IP address are the same as those of the embodiment 1-1, and the description is not presented here. When the firewall apparatus 100 receives the report 142 of the user IP address, the firewall apparatus 100 holds the user IP address [d.d.d.d], included in the report 142 of the user IP address, to be provided to the user terminal. Then, the firewall apparatus 100 searches the distribution management table 101-5 for the user name #d. The user name #d does not exist. When the user name does not exist, the firewall apparatus sends an authentication error report 943 to the user terminal 115, and ends the PPP establishment process. Effects of the embodiments 1-1˜1-5 The firewall apparatus in the embodiment 1-1 includes means for dynamically registering the user IP address in the distribution management table for a case where a user IP address is assigned for the first time when the connection between the user terminal and the network is established and the value of the user IP address is variable like the constant connection service. In addition, the firewall apparatus supporting dynamic user identifier of the present invention includes virtual firewalls for each user. Accordingly, in a communication environment in which associating the user IP address with the virtual firewall ID cannot be performed beforehand, authentication information from the user terminal for network connection can be used so that the user IP address is dynamically associated with the virtual firewall ID so as to apply a filtering rule complying with security policy that the user defines to packets that the user terminal transmits or receives. In addition, savings due to integration of accommodating users and reduction of user workload due to outsourcing become possible. As to the firewall apparatus of the embodiment 1-2, when the user name or the password sent from the user includes an error and an authentication error report from the RADIUS server is sent, the authentication error report is transmitted to the user terminal without any processing on the distribution management table. Accordingly, distribution management table search and registration processes are prevented when network connection is refused, so that a surplus of processing ability can be used for other processes. The firewall apparatuses of the embodiment 1-3 and the embodiment 1-4 can accommodate a user terminal of a user who does not use the firewall service, so that inconvenience for changing physical connections can be eliminated which inconvenience occurs each time when each user who does not use the firewall service uses a service. In addition, as to the means in the embodiment 1-3, the unregistered user is not registered in the distribution management table, so that transmit/receive packet of the unregistered user is automatically distributed to the virtual firewall for unregistered users. Thus, the number of entries registered in the distribution management table can be limited to registered users who are currently establishing a network connection, so that search time can be decreased. On the other hand, as to the means of the embodiment 1-4, the unregistered user is registered in the distribution management table, and the transmission/receive packet of the unregistered user is distributed to a virtual firewall for unregistered users. In addition, when a user is not registered in the distribution management table, the packet of the user is discarded. Thus, when a malicious user transmits large amount of packets having an IP address that is not assigned to any user for the purpose of IP Spoofing attack and the like, the firewall apparatus can discard these packets. As mentioned above, each means of the embodiment 1-3 and the embodiment 1-4 can be used differently according to usage. As to the firewall apparatus of the embodiment 1-5, when a manager of the firewall apparatus forgets about registering the user name in the distribution management table or erroneously registers the user name, communication that should not be established can be forced to terminate from the viewpoint of security. Embodiment 2-1˜Embodiment 2-7 Next, the embodiment 2-1˜the embodiment 2-7 are described. According to the operation shown in the embodiment 1-1 and the like, in a communication environment in which associating the user IP address with the virtual firewall ID cannot be performed beforehand, authentication information for network connection from the user terminal can be used so that the user IP address is dynamically associated with the virtual firewall ID so as to apply a filtering rule complying with security policy that the user defines to packets that the user terminal transmits or receives. However, in the case of the constant connection service, the number of accommodated users is much larger than the number of users in a data center. In the case of the data center, an estimated number of accommodated users is several hundreds to several thousands. On the other hand, in the case of the constant connection service, the number of accommodated users is several tens of thousands to several hundreds of thousands. Currently, many of implemented reliable virtual firewall apparatuses introduced in a service have been developed for the data center, so that the number of users that can be actually accommodated is several hundreds to several thousands as mentioned above. Although the number of the accommodated users is different for developing the virtual firewall apparatus for the constant connection service, diverting development and adding development based on the virtual firewall apparatus for the data center is very effective from the viewpoint of efficiency of development and utilization of existing technology. Therefore, the problem of providing the virtual firewall apparatus for the constant connection service is increasing the multiple number of users. In addition, the number of multiple users is large in the constant connection service, the number of sum of filtering rules increases in proportion to the number of multiple users for keeping serviceability for providing independent security policy for each user. However, in actuality, there are many filtering rules commonly used for users so that the rules overlap in view of the firewall apparatus as a whole, which is inefficient. As a result, it leads to an increase in the amount of filtering tables. As mentioned above, for developing the virtual firewall apparatus for the constant connection service, increase of the number of multiple users and efficiency of the filtering tables are problems to be solved. In embodiments 2-1˜2-7, a firewall apparatus that increases the multiple number of users and that increases efficiency of the filtering tables is described. Embodiment 2-1 FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing an outline configuration of a firewall apparatus of the embodiment 2-1 of the present invention. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a configuration of a filtering table in the virtual firewall in the present embodiment. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the method for network connection from the user is PPP (Point to point Protocol), and communication for authentication is RADIUS. The firewall apparatus 300 includes plural virtual firewalls (302, 303, . . . , 304). Further, as shown in FIG. 18, each firewall (302, 303) includes plural filtering tables (561, 562, 563) each being identified by a corresponding filtering ID, and each filtering table (561, 562, 563) includes one or more filtering policies independent of each user. In the present embodiment, security policies defined by the user #a and the user #b are stored in the virtual firewall 302, and a security policy defined by the user #d is stored in the virtual firewall 303. Further, in the virtual firewall 302, the security policy of the user #a is written in the filtering table 561 whose filtering ID is α, the security policy of the user #b is written in the filtering table 562 whose filtering ID is β. In addition, the security policy of the user #d is written in the filtering table 563 whose filtering ID is γ in the virtual firewall 303. The reason why the user #a and the user #b are accommodated in the same virtual firewall 302 is that, for example, common filtering policies for the user #a and the user #b are the same, or the virtual firewall is established for each Internet provider and the user #a and the user #b belong to the same Internet provider. In the distribution management table 301, user names, virtual firewall IDs and filtering IDs that can be set beforehand are registered. That is, in the distribution management table 301, correspondence among the user #a, the virtual firewall ID (302) and the filtering ID (α), correspondence among the user #b, the virtual firewall ID (302) and the filtering ID (β), and correspondence between the virtual firewall ID (303) and the filtering ID (γ) are registered. However, the user IP address that is a user ID of each user terminal is not decided so that it cannot be registered at this time (state of distribution management table 301-1 in FIG. 19). Unless the user IP address is registered in the distribution management table 301, it cannot be performed to distribute packets from each user to a corresponding virtual firewall and to assign a filtering ID. In the present embodiment, the terminal 311 of the user #a connects to the Internet 310, and after that, the terminal 311 performs IP communications with a connection partner terminal 313. In the following, by using FIG. 19, the operation of the firewall apparatus of the present embodiment is described. FIG. 19 is a sequence diagram indicating operations of the firewall apparatus of the present embodiment. First, as a network connection request from the user terminal 311, information of LCP is exchanged between the user terminal 311 and the firewall apparatus 300 (839 in FIG. 19). Based on the exchange of authentication information that is performed after that (840 in FIG. 19), the firewall apparatus 300 extracts the user name #a sent from the user terminal 311 so as to hold the user name #a (process point 850 in FIG. 19). Then, the authentication information (user name and password) is reported to the RADIUS server 330 (841 in FIG. 19). The RADIUS server 330 performs authentication. When the firewall apparatus receives the response (842 in FIG. 19), the firewall apparatus 300 holds a user IP address to be assigned to the user terminal included in the response. It is assumed that the user IP address is [a a. a. a]. Then, by using the user name #a as a search key, the firewall apparatus 300 registers the user IP address [a. a. a. a] into a line that includes #a as a user name in the distribution management table (process point 851 in FIG. 19 state of distribution management table 301-2 in FIG. 19). In addition, at the same time, the firewall apparatus 300 sends the user IP address [a. a. a. a] to the user terminal 311 so that the user terminal ascertains that the own user IP address is [a. a. a. a] while exchanging information of NCP (Network Control Protocol) between the user terminal 311 and the firewall apparatus 300. After exchanging NCP, a PPP connection is established between the user terminal 311 and the Internet 320. After that, when the firewall apparatus 300 receives a packet 321 sent from the user terminal 311 to the connection partner terminal 313, the firewall apparatus 300 searches the distribution management table (301-2 in FIG. 19) by using, as a search key, [a. a. a. a] included in the packet as the source IP address so as to extract a virtual firewall ID (ID=302) and a filtering ID (ID=α), distribute the packet 321 to the virtual firewall 302 and assign the filtering ID α to the packet 321 (process point 852 in FIG. 19). As shown in FIG. 18, a “pass” or “discard” process is applied to the packet 322 to which the filtering ID has been assigned according to a filtering rule complying with the security policy of the user #a included in the filtering table 561 having filtering ID α. In addition, when the firewall apparatus 300 receives a packet 323 sent from the communication partner terminal 313 to the user terminal 311, the firewall apparatus 300 searches the distribution management table (301-2 in FIG. 19) by using, as a search key, [a. a. a. a] included in the packet as the destination IP address so as to extract the virtual firewall ID (ID=302) and the filtering ID (ID=a) included in a line of [a. a. a. a] and assign filtering ID a to the packet 323 (process point 853 in FIG. 19). In the virtual firewall 302 to which the packet 324, to which the filtering ID is assigned, is distributed, the passing or discarding process is applied to the packet 324 according to a filtering rule complying with a security policy of the user #a written in the filtering table 561 corresponding to the filtering ID α. Also in a case where the terminal 312 of the user #b connects to the Internet 310 via a network, and after that, performs IP communications with the connection partner terminal 313, a similar procedure is applied. That is, a packet sent/received by the terminal 312 is distributed to the virtual firewall 302; after that, the passing or discarding process is applied to the packet according to a filtering rule complying with a security policy of the user #b in the filtering table 562. As described above, in this embodiment, by introducing the filtering ID (α, β, γ), plural independent filtering policies can be managed by each virtual firewall (302, 303, 304) so that the number of multiple users can be increased. In addition, as to a search region for a packet for each user, only a table having the same filtering ID assigned to the packet is searched, so it can be avoided that search process time becomes unnecessarily long. Embodiment 2-2 The firewall apparatus of the embodiment 2-2 of the present invention is different from the firewall apparatus in the before-mentioned embodiment 2-1 in that the firewall apparatus of the embodiment 2-2 does not include the virtual firewall. In the following, as for the firewall apparatus of this embodiment, features different from the firewall apparatus of the embodiment 2-1 are mainly described. Also in this embodiment, it is assumed that the network connection method from the user is PPP and authentication communication is RADIUS. FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing an outline configuration of the firewall apparatus of the embodiment 2-2 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 20, the firewall apparatus 300 of this embodiment includes plural filtering tables (561, 562) each being identified by a corresponding filtering ID, and each filtering table includes an independent filtering policy for each user. In this embodiment, a security policy of the user #a is written in the filtering table 561 to which α is assigned as the filtering ID, and a security policy of the user #b is written in the filtering table 562 to which β is assigned as the filtering ID. In the distribution management table 301, user names and filtering IDs that can be set beforehand are registered. That is, in the distribution management table 301, correspondence between the user name #a, and the filtering ID (α), and correspondence between the user name #b and the filtering ID (β) are registered. However, the user IP address that becomes a user ID of each user terminal is not decided so that it cannot be registered at this time (state of distribution management table 301-1 in FIG. 21). Unless the user IP address is registered in the distribution management table 301, it cannot be performed to assign a filtering ID to a packet from each user. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the terminal 311 of the user #a connects to the Internet 310 via a network, and after that, the terminal 311 performs IP communications with a connection partner terminal 313. In the following, by using FIG. 21, the operations of the firewall apparatus of the present embodiment are described. FIG. 21 is a sequence diagram indicating operations of the firewall apparatus of the present embodiment. Operations from exchange (839 in FIG. 21) of information of LCP between the user terminal 311 and the firewall apparatus 300 to exchange (843 in FIG. 21) of information of NCP between the user terminal 311 and the firewall apparatus 300 are the same as those in the embodiment 2-1. Thus, the description for the operations are not provided. After NCP ends, PPP connection is established between the user terminal 311 and the Internet 320. After that, when the firewall apparatus 300 receives a packet 321 sent from the user terminal 311 to the connection partner terminal 313, the firewall apparatus 300 searches the distribution management table (301-2 in FIG. 21) by using, as a search key, [a. a. a. a] included in the packet as a source IP address so as to extract a filtering ID (ID=α), and assign the filtering ID α to the packet 321 (process point 852 in FIG. 21). A passing or discarding process is applied to the packet 323 to which the filtering ID has been assigned according to a filtering rule complying with the security policy of the user #a included in the filtering table 561 having filtering ID α. In addition, when the firewall apparatus 300 receives the packet 323 sent from the communication partner terminal 313 to the user terminal 311, the firewall apparatus 300 searches the distribution management table (301-2 in FIG. 21) by using, as a search key, [a. a. a. a] included in the packet as the destination IP address so as to extract the filtering ID (ID=α) included in a line of [a. a. a. a] and assign filtering ID α to the packet 323 (process point 853 in FIG. 21). The passing or discarding process is applied to the packet 324 to which the filtering ID has been assigned according to a filtering rule complying with a security policy of the user #a written in the filtering table 561 corresponding to the filtering ID α. Also in a case where the terminal 312 of the user #b connects to the Internet 310 via a network, and after that, performs IP communications with the connection partner terminal 313, a similar procedure is applied. That is, the passing or discarding process is applied to the packet sent/received by the terminal 312, according to a filtering rule complying with a security policy of the user #b in the filtering table 562. Embodiment 2-3 The firewall apparatus of the embodiment 2-3 of the present invention is different from the firewall apparatus in the above-mentioned embodiment 2-1 in that the filtering ID is classified into two types: individual filtering ID and common filtering ID. In the following, as for the firewall apparatus of this embodiment, features different from the firewall apparatus of the embodiment 2-1 are mainly described. An outline configuration of the firewall apparatus of this embodiment 2-3 is the same as that shown in FIG. 17. Also in this embodiment, it is assumed that the network connection method from the user is PPP and authentication communication is RADIUS. In the firewall apparatus of this embodiment, the filtering ID of the embodiment 2-1 is divided to an individual filtering ID and a common filtering ID, so that filtering policies specific for each user are included in corresponding individual filtering tables, and a filtering policy that can be commonly used for plural users is included in the common filtering table. Therefore, in this embodiment, each of the distribution management table 301 in FIG. 17 and the distribution management table (301-1) in FIG. 19 is replaced by a distribution management table 601 shown in FIG. 22, and the distribution management table (301-2) shown in FIG. 19 is replaced by a distribution management table shown in FIG. 23. FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a configuration of a filtering table in the virtual firewall in the firewall apparatus of this embodiment. The firewall apparatus 300 of this embodiment includes plural virtual firewalls (302, 303, . . . , 304). In addition, as shown in FIG. 24, each virtual firewall (302, 303) includes plural filtering tables (561, 562, 563) identified by corresponding individual filtering IDs and plural filtering tables (571, 572) identified by the common filtering ID. Filtering policies specific for each user are written in corresponding individual filtering tables (561, 562, 563), and filtering policies commonly used plural users are written in the common filtering tables (571, 572). Being associated with that, as shown in FIG. 22, the distribution management table 601 manages user name, virtual firewall ID, individual filtering ID and common filtering ID. In this embodiment, security policies defined by the user #a and the user #b are stored in the virtual firewall 302, security policies defined by the user #d are stored in the virtual firewall 303, and further, individual filtering policies of the user #a are written in the individual filtering table 561 to which α is assigned as the filtering ID in the virtual firewall 302, individual filtering policies of the user #b are written in the individual filtering table 562 to which β is assigned as the filtering ID in the virtual firewall 302, individual filtering policies of the user #d are written in the individual filtering table 563 to which γ is assigned as the filtering ID in the virtual firewall 303. Filtering policies written in a common filtering table 571 to which “I” is assigned as the filtering ID are also applied to the user #a and the user #b. In the same way, filtering policies written in a common filtering table 572 to which “II” is assigned as the filtering ID are also applied to the user #d. In the distribution management table 601, user names, virtual firewall IDs, individual filtering IDs and common filtering IDs that can be set beforehand are registered. That is, the distribution management table 601 registers correspondence among the user name #a, the virtual firewall ID (302), the individual filtering ID (α), and the common firewall ID (I); correspondence between the individual filtering ID (β) and the common filtering ID (I); and correspondence among the user name #b, the virtual firewall ID (303), the individual filtering ID (γ), and the common firewall ID (II). However, the user IP address that is a user ID of each user terminal is not decided so that it cannot be registered at this time (state of distribution management table 601-1 in FIG. 22). Unless the user IP address is registered in the distribution management table 601, it cannot be performed to distribute packets from each user to a corresponding virtual firewall and to assign an individual filtering ID and a common filtering ID. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the terminal 311 of the user #a is connected to the Internet 310, and after that, the terminal 311 performs IP communications with a connection partner terminal 313. In the following, by using FIG. 19, the operation of the firewall apparatus of the present embodiment is described. Operations from exchange of information of LCP between the user terminal 311 and the firewall apparatus 300 to exchange of information of NCP between the user terminal 311 and the firewall apparatus 300 are the same as those in the embodiment 2-1. Thus, the description for the operations are not provided. After NCP ends, PPP connection is established between the user terminal 311 and the Internet 320. After that, as shown in FIG. 17, when the firewall apparatus 300 receives a packet 321 sent from the user terminal 311 to the connection partner terminal 313, the firewall apparatus 300 searches a distribution management table 1101 by using, as a search key, [a. a. a. a] included in the packet as the source IP address so as to extract the virtual firewall ID (ID=302), the individual filtering ID (ID=α) and the common filtering ID (ID=I), distribute the packet 321 to the virtual firewall 302 and assign the individual filtering ID a and the common filtering ID I to the packet 321 (process point 852 in FIG. 19). As shown in FIG. 24, as for the packet 322 to which the individual filtering ID and the common filtering ID are assigned, a passing or discarding process is applied to the packet 322 according to a filtering rule complying with the security policy of the user #a written in the individual filtering table 561 having α as the filtering ID. If any rule to be applied does not exist in the filtering policy written in the individual filtering table 561, the passing or discarding process is performed for the packet according to the filtering policy written in the common filtering table 571 to which I is assigned as the common filtering ID. In addition, when the firewall apparatus 300 receives the packet 323 sent from the communication partner terminal 313 to the user terminal 311, the firewall apparatus 300 searches the distribution management table 1101 by using, as a search key, [a. a. a. a] included in the packet as the destination IP address so as to extract the virtual firewall ID (ID=302), the individual filtering ID (ID=α) and the common filtering ID (ID=I) included in a line of [a. a. a. a], and distributes the packet 323 to the virtual firewall 302 and assigns the filtering ID a and the common filtering ID I to the packet 323 (process point 853 in FIG. 19). As for the packet 324 to which the individual filtering ID and the common filtering ID are assigned, the passing or discarding process is applied to the packet 324 according to a filtering rule complying with the security policy of the user #a written in the individual filtering table 561 having α as the filtering ID. If any rule to be applied does not exist in the filtering policy written in the individual filtering table 561, the passing or discarding process is performed for the packet according to the filtering policy written in the common filtering table 571 to which I is assigned as the common filtering ID. As described above, according to the present embodiment, when 10 users similarly use two filtering rules, for example, 20 rules are written in the filtering table by applying a conventional technology. In contrast, according to the present embodiment, only two rules need to be written in the filtering table. That is, by introducing the common filtering ID and the common filtering table, the filtering policies can be efficiently managed. Also in the embodiment 2-2 in which the virtual firewall is not used, the individual filtering table and the common filtering table in this embodiment can be introduced. In such a case, in the embodiment 2-2, the distribution management table is provided with the individual filtering ID and the common filtering ID similar to those of this embodiment instead of the filtering ID, and is provided with the individual filtering table and the common filtering table similar to those of this embodiment instead of the filtering table. Embodiment 2-4 This embodiment of the firewall apparatus is an embodiment in which, in the firewall apparatus of the embodiments 2-1 or 2-2, the combination of the user name and the password sent by the report of the user name and the password is not the same as the combination of the user name and the password registered in the RADIUS server 330 for the reason that the user name or the password sent from the user #a is not correct, for example. Operations of the firewall apparatus of the embodiment 2-4 are described with reference to FIG. 25. FIG. 25 is a sequence chart showing the operations of the firewall apparatus of the embodiment 2-4. Since the processes from the LCP (339 in FIG. 25) to the report (341 in FIG. 25) of the user name and the password are the same as those of the embodiment 2-1, the processes are not described in this embodiment. When an authentication error report is sent from the RADIUS server 330 due to the above-mentioned reason (1242 in FIG. 25), the firewall apparatus 300 sends an authentication error report to the user terminal 311 (1243 in FIG. 25), and terminates the PPP establishment process. In this case, the firewall apparatus 300 does not perform any process on the distribution management table 301. Embodiment 2-5 This embodiment of the firewall apparatus is an embodiment in which, in the firewall apparatus of the embodiment 2-1, a terminal 314 of a firewall-service-unregistered user #c connects to the Internet 310, and, after that, the terminal 314 performs IP communications with a connection partner terminal 313. An outline configuration of the firewall apparatus of this embodiment 2-5 is the same as that of FIG. 17, and FIG. 26 is a diagram showing information of the distribution management table of this embodiment. As to the firewall-service-unregistered user #c, the user name and the virtual firewall are not registered in the distribution management table 301-3. But, the user #c receives a communication service to the Internet 310 via the terminal 314, and the user name and the password are registered in the RADIUS server 330. Operations of the firewall apparatus of this embodiment are described with reference to FIG. 27. FIG. 27 is a sequence diagram showing the operations of the firewall apparatus of this embodiment. In FIG. 27, since the processes from the LCP (339 in FIG. 27) to the notification (342 in FIG. 27) of the user name and the password are the same as those of the embodiment 2-1, the processes are not described in this embodiment. When the firewall apparatus 300 receives the report (342 in FIG. 27) of the user IP address, the firewall apparatus 300 holds a user IP address [c.c.c.c] included in the report of the user IP address, to be provided to the user terminal. Then, the firewall apparatus 300 searches the distribution management table (301-3) for the user name #c. But, since the user name #c does not exist, the firewall apparatus does not register the user IP address [c.c.c.c] in the distribution management table (301-3). In addition, at the same time, while the firewall apparatus 300 exchanges information of NCP with the user terminal 314 in (343 in FIG. 27), the firewall apparatus 300 sends the user IP address [c.c.c.c] to the user terminal 314, and the user terminal 314 ascertains that the own user IP address is [c.c.c.c]. After completing NCP, a PPP connection is established between the user terminal and the network. After that, when the firewall apparatus 300 receives a packet 321 that is sent from the user terminal 314 to the connection partner terminal 313, the firewall apparatus 300 searches the distribution management table (301-3) by using [c.c.c.c] as a search key, included in the packet 321 as a source IP address, so that it is determined that the source IP address is not registered. When the source IP address is not registered, since a virtual firewall to which the packet is to be distributed is written to be a virtual firewall 304 as shown in a last line in the distribution management table (301-3) as shown in FIG. 26, the packet 321 is distributed to the virtual firewall 304 for unregistered users (process point 352 in FIG. 27). In the same way, also as for a packet 323 sent from the communication partner terminal 313, when it is determined that the destination IP address is not registered as a result of searching of the distribution management table (301-3) by using the destination user IP address [c.c.c.c] as a search key, the packet 323 is distributed to a virtual firewall 304 for unregistered users (process point 353 in FIG. 27). The virtual firewall 304 for the unregistered users does not include a filtering rule to unconditionally pass all packets, or includes a filtering rule common for all unregistered users. The firewall apparatus of this embodiment can be applied to the before-mentioned embodiment 2-2. In such as case, a packet from the terminal 314 of the firewall service-unregistered user #c and a packet to the terminal 314 of the firewall service-unregistered user #c pass through an alternative route 305 shown in FIG. 20 Embodiment 2-6 This embodiment of the firewall apparatus is an embodiment in which, conditions are the same as those of the firewall apparatus in the embodiment 2-5, wherein the terminal 314 of the firewall-service-unregistered user #c connects to the Internet 310, and, after that, the terminal 314 performs IP communications with the connection partner terminal 313. An outline configuration of the firewall apparatus of this embodiment is the same as that of FIG. 17, and FIG. 28 is a diagram showing information of the distribution management table of this embodiment. As to the firewall-service-unregistered user #c, the user name and the virtual firewall are not registered in the distribution management table 301-4. But, the user #c receives a communication service to the Internet 310 via the terminal 314, and the user name and the password are registered in the RADIUS server 330. Operations of the firewall apparatus of this embodiment are described with reference to FIG. 29. FIG. 29 is a sequence chart showing the operations of the firewall apparatus of this embodiment. In FIG. 29, since the processes from the LCP (339 in FIG. 29) to the notification (342 in FIG. 29) of the user name and the password are the same as those of the embodiment 2-1, the processes are not described in this embodiment. When the firewall apparatus 300 receives the report (342 in FIG. 29) of the user IP address, the firewall apparatus 300 holds a user IP address [c.c.c.c], included in the notification of the user IP address, to be provided to the user terminal. Then, the firewall apparatus 300 searches the distribution management table (301-4) for the user name #c. But, the user name #c does not exist. In this case, as shown in FIG. 28, the firewall apparatus 300 registers the user IP address [c.c.c.c] and ID=304 of the virtual firewall 304 for unregistered users in the distribution management table (301-4). In addition, at the same time, while the firewall apparatus 100 exchanges information of NCP with the user terminal 314 in (343 in FIG. 29), the firewall apparatus 300 sends the user IP address [c.c.c.c] to the user terminal 314, and the user terminal 314 ascertains that the own user IP address is [c.c.c.c]. After completing NCP, a PPP connection is established between the user terminal and the network. After that, when the firewall apparatus 300 receives a packet 321 that is sent from the user terminal 314 to the connection partner terminal 313, and the firewall apparatus 300 searches the distribution management table (301-4) by using [c.c.c.c] as a search key, included in the packet 321 as a source IP address, so that the firewall apparatus 300 extracts the virtual firewall ID=304 that is associated with the source IP address so as to distribute the packet 321 to the virtual firewall 304 for the unregistered user (process point 352 in FIG. 29). In the same way, also as for a packet 323 sent from the communication partner terminal 313, the firewall apparatus 300 searches the distribution management table (301-4) by using [c.c.c.c] as a search key, included in the packet 323 as a destination IP address, so that the firewall apparatus 300 extracts the virtual firewall ID=304 that is associated with the destination IP address so as to distribute the packet 323 to the virtual firewall 304 for the unregistered user (process point 353 in FIG. 29). In the same way as the embodiment 2-5, the virtual firewall 304 for the unregistered user does not include a filtering rule so as to unconditionally pass all packets, or includes a filtering rule common for all unregistered users. In addition, when the source IP address is not registered, the packet is discarded as shown in the last line of the distribution management table 301-4 in FIG. 28. Accordingly, when a malicious user sends a large amount of packets having an IP address that is not assigned to any user in an IP Spoofing attack and the like, the firewall apparatus 300 can discard the packet. The firewall apparatus of this embodiment can be also applied to the before-mentioned embodiment 2-2. In this case, the user IP address [c. c. c. c] and the filtering ID for the unregistered users are registered in the distribution table (301-4). Then, a packet from the terminal 314 of the firewall service-unregistered user #c and a packet to the terminal 314 of the firewall service-unregistered user #c pass through an alternative route 305 shown in FIG. 20. Embodiment 2-7 This embodiment of the firewall apparatus is an embodiment in which, as in the embodiment 2-1, the terminal 315 of the firewall-service-unregistered user #d connects to the Internet 310, and, after that, the terminal 315 performs IP communications with the connection partner terminal 313. An outline configuration of the firewall apparatus of this embodiment is the same as that of FIG. 17, and FIG. 30 is a diagram showing information of the distribution management table of this embodiment. The user #d is a user who should be registered in the firewall service. But, in this embodiment, the user name #d is not correctly registered in the distribution management table (301-5) for the reason that the manager of the firewall apparatus 300 forgot about registering the user name #d in the distribution management table (301-5) or erroneously registered the user name. However, the user name #d and the password are correctly registered in the RADIUS server 330. Operations of the firewall apparatus of this embodiment are described with reference to FIG. 31. FIG. 31 is a sequence chart showing the operations of the firewall apparatus of this embodiment. In FIG. 31, since the processes from the LCP (339 in FIG. 31) to the report (342 in FIG. 31) of the user IP address are the same as those of the embodiment 2-1, the processes are not described in this embodiment. When the firewall apparatus 300 receives the report (342 in FIG. 31) of the user IP address, the firewall apparatus 300 holds the user IP address [d. d. d. d], included in the report 342 of the user IP address, to be provided to the user terminal. Then, the firewall apparatus 300 searches the distribution management table (301-5) for the user name #d by using the user name as a key. But, the user name #d does not exist. When the user name does not exist, the firewall apparatus 300 sends an authentication error report (1743 in FIG. 31) to the user terminal 315, and ends the PPP establishment process. The firewall apparatus of this embodiment can be also applied to the before-mentioned embodiment 2-2. Generally, as shown in FIG. 32, the filtering table is generated based on IP addresses of the user terminal side and the connection partner terminal side, port numbers of the user terminal side and the connection partner terminal side, and the like. As mentioned above, in the case of the constant connection service, the user terminal side IP address changes each time when PPP connection is established. Therefore, the user terminal side IP address to be registered on the filtering table 1961 in FIG. 32 needs to be dynamically set for each PPP connection, and the setting process amount increases in proportion to the number of rules. On the other hand, as for the individual filtering table based on the present invention shown in FIG. 33, an individual filtering ID is assigned to a packet in the distributing management table 2001, and the individual filtering ID instead of the user terminal side IP address is used in the individual filtering table 2061. Since the individual filtering ID is a fixed value irrespective of a value of the user terminal side IP address, there is no effect on the individual filtering table 2061 however repeatedly PPP connection is performed. Only a part for associating the user terminal side IP address with the individual filtering ID in the individual management table 2001 is affected by the change of the user terminal side IP address for each PPP connection, so that only one line needs to be changed irrespective of the number of the rules in the individual filtering table 2061. As mentioned above, introduction of the filtering ID contributes to a decreasing process amount in the inside of the filtering apparatus. In addition, by introducing the common filtering ID of the present invention, filtering policies that can be commonly used for plural users can be integrated to one so that a filtering table can be commonly provided to all users. Thus, this contributes to decreasing the filtering table amount in the whole firewall apparatus. Effects of embodiments 2-1˜2-7 According to the filtering apparatus of the embodiments 2-1˜2-7, the multiple number of users can be increased and the efficiency of the filtering table can be increased. Embodiments 3-1˜3-6 In the following, embodiments 3-1˜3-6 are described in detail with reference to figures. Embodiment 3-1 FIG. 34 is a block diagram showing an outline configuration of an authentication collaboration type distribution firewall apparatus of the embodiment 3-1 of the present invention, and a network model in which the authentication collaboration type distribution firewall apparatus of the embodiment 3-1 of the present invention is used. The authentication collaboration type distribution firewall apparatus (to be simply referred to as “firewall apparatus” hereinafter) 501 accommodates a user terminal (502-1) used by a user (515-1) and a user terminal (502-2) used by a user (515-2) wherein each terminal starts communication by authentication, and the firewall apparatus is connected to an external network (the Internet, for example) 503. In addition, the firewall apparatus 501 is connected to a security policy server 504 that includes a security policy table 511 holding security policies specific for users, and is connected to an identifier management server 505 that includes an identifier management table 512 holding identifiers to be distributed to the firewall apparatus 501. Further, the firewall apparatus 501 is connected to an authentication server 506 that includes authentication information 513 of users, and a user terminal information part 514 holding a pool table including user terminal information to be provided to a user terminal when authenticating. A RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial-in User Service) server, for example, can be used as the authentication server. In addition, an IP address to be provided to a user terminal can be used as the user terminal information stored in the user terminal. information part 514. In addition, PPP (Point to Point Protocol) is used by the user terminal (502-1, 502-2) to connect to the network, and PAP (Password Authentication Protocol) or CHAP (Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol) can be used for authentication. In addition, the firewall apparatus 501 includes a distribution management table 507 for associating user terminal information included in a received packet with an identifier that indicates a filtering table for filtering the received packet, and a firewall part 508 that actually performs filtering. Further, the firewall part 508 includes a common filtering table 509 holding security policies common to the user (515-1) and the user (515-2), and an individual filtering table area for holding an individual security policy of the user (515-1) or the user (515-2). The individual filtering table area is divided to an area in which identification information is written, and an area, associated with the area in which identification information are written, in which security policy is written. FIG. 35 is a diagram showing details of the authentication information in the authentication server shown in FIG. 34. FIG. 36 is a diagram showing details of the pool table held in the user terminal information part 514 in the authentication server shown in FIG. 34. In addition, FIG. 37 is a diagram showing details of the identifier management table 512 in the identifier management server shown in FIG. 34, FIG. 38 is a diagram showing details of the security policy table 511 in the security policy server shown in FIG. 34, and FIG. 39 is a diagram showing detail of the distribution management table, in its initial state, in the firewall apparatus shown in FIG. 34. FIGS. 40 and 41 show one example of a sequence of operations of the network model shown in FIG. 34, and FIGS. 40 and 41 show a sequence in which, after the user (515-1) connects to the external network 503, the user (515-1) disconnects; after that, the user (515-2) connects to the external network 503, and after that, the user (515-2) disconnects. In the beginning, a connection start sequence of the user (515-1) is described. First, the user (515-1) sends a user name (user 515-1) and a password (α) to the firewall apparatus 501 using the user terminal (11-1, 11-2 in FIG. 40). The firewall apparatus 501 that receives the user name (user 515-1) and the password (α) holds the user name (user 515-1) (11-3 in FIG. 40), and sends the user name (user 515-1) and the password (α) to the authentication server 506 (11-4 in FIG. 40). The authentication server 506 retrieves authentication information 513 using the received user name (user 515-1) and the password (α) so as to determine that authentication is possible (11-5 in FIG. 40). In addition, the authentication server 506 extracts, from the pool table of the user terminal information part 514, usable user terminal information (IP_1) in which the in-use flag is “0”, changes the extracted in-use flag to “1”, and reports the extracted user terminal information (IP_1) to the firewall apparatus 501 with an authentication approval report (11-6, 11-7 in FIG. 40). The firewall apparatus 501 holds the received user terminal information (IP_1), and associates the user terminal information with a line to which the user connects (11-8 in FIG. 40), and sends the held user name (user 515-1) to the identifier management server 505 (11-9 in FIG. 40). The identifier management server 505 searches the identifier management table 512 based on the received user name (user 515-2) so as to extract a common filtering table ID (common 509) and an individual filtering table ID (individual 510-1) that are associated with the user name, and sends the identifiers (common 509, individual 510-1) to the firewall apparatus 501 (11-10, 11-11 in FIG. 40). The firewall apparatus 501 holds the received individual filtering table ID (individual 510-1), and writes the received common filtering table ID (common 509), the individual filtering table ID (individual 510-1) and the holding user terminal information (IP_1) into the distribution management table 507 shown in FIG. 39 (11-12 in FIG. 40). In addition, the firewall apparatus 501 sends the holding user name (user 515-1) to the security policy server 504 (11-13 in FIG. 40). The security policy server 504 searches the holding security policy table 512 based on the received user name (user 515-1) so as to extract individual security policies (rule 1-1˜rule 1-m) associated with the user name (11-4 in FIG. 40) and sends them to the firewall apparatus 501 (11-15 in FIG. 40). The firewall apparatus 501 writes the holding individual filtering table ID (individual 510-1) into the identification information of the individual filtering table area 510, and writes the received individual security policies (rule 1-1˜rule 1-m) into the security policy area (11-16 in FIG. 40). After performing this series of processes, the firewall apparatus 501 sends an authentication success report including the holding user terminal information (IP_1) to the user terminal (502-1) (11-17 in FIG. 40). Then, the connection start sequence ends, so that the user (515-1) can connect to the external network 503 via the user terminal (502-1). Next, a communication sequence between the user terminal (502-1) and the external network 503 is described. When the user terminal (502-1) transfers a packet to the external network 503, the user terminal (502-1) determines its own address as the user terminal information (IP_1) finally received in the connection start sequence, and adds the address to a packet to transfer the packet to the firewall apparatus 501 (11-18 in FIG. 40). The firewall apparatus 501 extracts the user terminal information (IP_1) from the received packet, searches the distribution management table 507 using the user terminal information (IP_1) as a key so as to extract the common filtering table ID (common 509) and the individual filtering table ID (individual 510-1) (11-19 in FIG. 40). Next, the firewall part 508 performs packet filtering using filtering tables indicated by the extracted common filtering table ID (common 509) and the individual filtering table ID (individual 510-1) (11-20, 11-21 in FIG. 40). After that, the packet is transferred to the external network 503 (11-22 in FIG. 40). In a case when the firewall apparatus 501 receives a packet for the user terminal (502-1) from the external network 503 (11-23 in FIG. 40) and transfers the packet to the user terminal (502-1), since the packet received from the external network 503 includes the user terminal information (IP_1) as a destination address, the firewall apparatus 501 extracts the user terminal information (IP_1) from the received packet (11-24 in FIG. 40). Then, the firewall apparatus 501 transfers the packet to the user terminal (502-1) (11-27 in FIG. 40) after filtering the packet according to a sequence the same as that for transferring a packet from the user terminal (502-1) to the external network 503 (11-25, 11-26 in FIG. 40). Based on the above-mentioned processes, the firewall apparatus 501 of the present embodiment performs a filtering process for packets sent from both directions of the user terminal side and the external network side so as to transfer the packet. Next, a disconnection sequence from the user (515-1) is described. When disconnecting, a disconnection request is reported to the firewall apparatus 501 (11-28, 11-29 in FIG. 40) from the user (515-1) via the user terminal (502-1). When the firewall apparatus 501 receives the disconnection request, the firewall apparatus 501 checks a line via which the request is received, and derives the user terminal information (IP-1) associated with the line in the connection start sequence. Based on the user terminal information, the firewall apparatus 501 extracts the individual filtering table ID (individual 510-1) from an entry associated with the user terminal information (IP-1) in the distribution management table 507, and deletes the entry (11-30 in FIG. 40). In addition, the firewall apparatus 501 sends the derived user terminal information (IP-1) to the authentication server 506 (11-32 in FIG. 40). The authentication server 5-6 restores, to “0”, the in-use flag in an entry associated with the received user terminal information in the pool table in the user terminal information part 514 (11-33 in FIG. 40). In this way, information in various tables changed in the connection sequence are restored to a state before the connection, so that the disconnection sequence ends. Next, a connection start sequence, a communication sequence and a disconnection sequence are performed for the user (515-2) in the same way for the user (515-1) (11-34˜11-66 in FIG. 41). Characteristics of sequences for the user (515-2) are as follows. Since the disconnection sequence is performed for the user (515-1), information on the user (515-1) does not exist in the distribution management table 507 and in the individual filtering table area 510 in the firewall apparatus 501. Thus, information on user (515-2) can be written into the same areas, and the user terminal information (IP_1) used by the user terminal (515-1) can be used, so that filtering can be performed by using the security policy for the user (515-2) even though the user terminal information for the user (515-2) is the same as the user terminal information (IP_1) for the user (515-2). Accordingly, using the individual filtering table area 510 and the common filtering table 509, only security policies to be written into the individual filtering table area 510 are loaded so that loading workload can be reduced, which is a problem to be solved by the present invention. In addition, the user terminal uses the individual filtering table area 510 and the area of the distribution management table 507 only while the user terminal is connecting to the network, and these areas are not used when the user terminal is disconnected. Thus, information in the individual filtering table area 510 and the distribution management table 507 in the firewall apparatus 501 need to be held only for the number of the user terminals that connect simultaneously, so that capacity of the security policies to be held can be reduced. In addition, by associating the user terminal information provided for each connection with the security policies, filtering corresponding to a current user can be performed even though the user terminal information is the same as that of a past different user terminal. Embodiment 3-2 FIG. 42 is a block diagram showing an outline configuration of a firewall apparatus of the embodiment 3-2 of the present invention, and a network model in which the firewall apparatus of the embodiment 3-2 of the present invention is used. In the network model shown in FIG. 42, a firewall apparatus 1201 and a user terminal 1202 connected to the firewall apparatus 1201 are newly added to the network model shown in FIG. 34. In addition, the user (515-1) can connect to the firewall apparatus 1201, and the firewall apparatus 1201 is connected to the external network 503, the security policy server 504, the identifier management server 505 and the authentication server 506. The firewall apparatus 1201 includes a distribution management table 1207 including information for associating user terminal information included in a received packet with an identifier that indicates a filtering table for filtering the received packet, and a firewall part 1208 that actually performs filtering. Further, the firewall part 1208 includes a common filtering table 1209 holding security policies common to plural users including the user (515-1) and an individual filtering table area 1210 for holding individual security policies of the user (515-1). The individual filtering table area 1210 is divided to an area in which identification information is written, and an area in which security policies are written. FIG. 43 is a diagram showing an example of a sequence of operations in the network model in FIG. 42. FIG. 43 shows a sequence in which, after the sequence shown in FIG. 40 is performed, the user (515-1) connects to the external network 503 again from the user terminal 1202 connected to the firewall apparatus 1201, performs communications and disconnects. A connection sequence in which the user (515-1) moves to the user terminal 1202 to perform re-connection, a sequence for performing communication and a sequence for disconnection, shown in 12-1˜12-33 in FIG. 43, are the same as the sequences performed using the firewall apparatus 501 shown in FIG. 40. Thus, the description is not provided. In addition, individual security policies for the user (515-1) sent to the firewall apparatus 1201 from the security policy server 504 and each identifier sent from the identifier management server 505 are the same as information sent to the firewall apparatus 501 in FIG. 40. Accordingly, in the present embodiment, security policies corresponding to a user can be applied even though the user changes the firewall apparatus that accommodates the user. Embodiment 3-3 FIG. 44 is a block diagram showing an outline configuration of a firewall apparatus of the embodiment 3-3 of the present invention, and a network model in which the firewall apparatus of the embodiment 3-3 of the present invention is used. This embodiment is different from the before-mentioned embodiment 3-1 in that firewall apparatus 501 holds, in its inside, the identifier management table 512 associating user names with various identifiers held in the identifier management server 505. FIG. 45 is a diagram showing an example of a sequence showing operations of the network model shown in FIG. 44. The sequence is different from the sequence shown in FIG. 40 in that communication with the identifier management server 505 is deleted, and a sequence for the identifier management table 512 held in the inside of the firewall apparatus 501 is newly added. In the sequence changed from the sequence in FIG. 40, the firewall apparatus 501 holds user information received from the authentication server 506 in 11-8 in FIG. 45, and associates a connection line of the user terminal (502-1) with the user information. After that, the firewall apparatus 501 searches the identifier management table 512 using the user name held in 11-3 in FIG. 45 as a search key to extract the common filtering table ID and the individual filtering table ID (15-19, 15-10, 15-11 in FIG. 45). In this embodiment, since the firewall apparatus 501 needs to hold the identifier management table 512 including various identifiers for all users who may be accommodated, more memory capacity of the firewall apparatus 501 becomes necessary or the number of the users that can be accommodated decreases. However, operations can be performed without performing communication with the identifier management server. Embodiment 3-4 FIG. 46 is a block diagram showing an outline configuration of a firewall apparatus of the embodiment 3-4 of the present invention, and a network model in which the firewall apparatus of the embodiment 3-4 of the present invention is used. This embodiment is different from the before-mentioned embodiment 3-1 in that firewall apparatus 501 holds, in its inside, the security policy table 511 associating user names with various individual security policies held in the security policy server 504. FIG. 47 is a diagram showing an example of a sequence showing operations of the network model shown in FIG. 46. The sequence is different from the sequence shown in FIG. 40 in that communication with the security policy server 504 is deleted, and a sequence for the security policy table 511 held in the inside of the firewall apparatus 501 is newly added. In the sequence changed from the sequence in FIG. 40, after the firewall apparatus 501 writes various identifiers in the distribution management table 507 in the 11-12 in FIG. 47, the firewall apparatus 501 searches the security policy table 511 using the user name held in 11-3 in FIG. 47 as a search key to extract security policies corresponding to the user name (17-13, 17-14, 17-15 in FIG. 47). In this embodiment, since the firewall apparatus 501 needs to hold the security policy table 511 including individual security policies for all users who may be accommodated, more memory capacity of the firewall apparatus becomes necessary or the number of the users that may be accommodated decreased. However, operations can be performed without performing communication with the security policy server. Embodiment 3-5 FIG. 48 is a block diagram showing an outline configuration of a firewall apparatus of the embodiment 3-5 of the present invention, and a network model in which the firewall apparatus of the embodiment 3-5 of the present invention is used. This embodiment is different from the before-mentioned embodiment 3-1 in that firewall apparatus 501 holds, in its inside, the security policy table 511 associating user names with various individual security policies held in the security policy server 504 and the identifier management table 512 associating user names with various identifies held in the identifier management server 505. FIG. 49 is a diagram showing an example of a sequence showing operations of the network model shown in FIG. 48. The sequence is different from the sequence shown in FIG. 40 in that communication parts with the security policy server 504 and communication parts with the identifier management server 505 are deleted, and a sequence for the security policy table 511 and a sequence for the identifier management table 512 held in the inside of the firewall apparatus 501 are newly added. In sequences changed from the sequence in FIG. 40, after the firewall apparatus 501 holds user information received from the authentication server 506, and associates a connection line of the user terminal (502-1) with the user information in 11-8 in FIG. 49, the firewall apparatus 501 searches the identifier management table 512 using the user name held in 11-3 in FIG. 49 as a search key to extract the common filtering table ID and the individual filtering table ID (19-9, 19-10, 19-11 in FIG. 49). In addition to that, after the firewall apparatus 501 writes various identifiers in the distribution management table 507 in the 11-12 in FIG. 47, the firewall apparatus 501 searches the security policy table 511 using the user name held in 11-3 in FIG. 47 as a search key to extract security policies corresponding to the user name (19-13, 19-14, 19-15 in FIG. 49). In this embodiment, since the firewall apparatus 501 needs to hold the security policy table 511 including individual security policies for all users who may be accommodated, more memory capacity of the firewall apparatus becomes necessary or the number of the users that can be accommodated further decreases, and since the firewall apparatus 501 needs to hold the identifier management table 512 including various identifies for all users who may be accommodated, more memory capacity of the firewall apparatus becomes necessary or the number of the users that can be accommodated further decreases. However, operations can be performed without performing communications with the security policy server and the identifier management server. Embodiment 3-6 FIG. 50 is a block diagram showing an outline configuration of a firewall apparatus of the embodiment 3-6 of the present invention, and a network model in which the firewall apparatus of the embodiment 3-6 of the present invention is used. The firewall apparatus 2001 accommodates a user terminal (2002-1), used by a user (2015-1), that starts to connect to an external network 2003 via a contract network 1 (ISP: Internet Service Provider, for example) (2016-1) by authentication, and a user terminal (2002-2), used by a user (2015-2), that starts to connect to the external network 2003 via a contract network 2 (2016-2) by authentication. In addition, the firewall apparatus 2001 is connected to a security policy server 2004 that includes a security policy table 2011 holding security policies specific for users, and connected to an identifier management server 2005 that includes an identifier management table 2012 holding identifiers to be distributed to the firewall apparatus 2001. Further, the firewall apparatus 2001 is connected to an authentication server 1 (2006-1) that includes authentication information (2013-1) of users, and a user terminal information part (2014-1) holding a pool table including user terminal information to be provided to a user terminal when performing authentication, wherein the authentication server 1 authenticates a user to connect to an external network via the contract network 1. Further, the firewall apparatus 2001 is also connected to an authentication server 2 (2006-2) that includes authentication information (2013-2) of users, and a user terminal information part (2014-2) holding a pool table including user terminal information to be provided to a user terminal when performing authentication, wherein the authentication server 1 authenticates a user to connect to an external network via the contract network 2. In addition, the firewall apparatus 2001 includes a distribution management table 2007 for linking user terminal information attached to a received packet, virtual firewalls (2014-1, 2014-2) for filtering the received packet and an identifier to indicate a filtering table with each other. Further, the firewall apparatus 2001 includes a firewall part 2008 that actually performs filtering. The firewall part 2008 includes a virtual firewall 1 (2014-1) for performing filtering for a packet related to a user terminal connected to the external network 2003 via the contract network 1 (2016-1), and a virtual firewall 2 (2014-2) for performing filtering for a packet related to a user terminal connected to the external network 2003 via the contract network 2 (2016-2). The virtual firewall 1 (2014-1) includes a common filtering table (2009-1) holding security policies common to plural users for performing filtering by the virtual firewall 1 (2014-1), and an individual filtering table area (2010-1) for holding individual security policies for each user. The individual filtering table area (2010-1) is divided into an area in which identification information is written, and an area, associated with the area in which identification information is written, in which security policy is written. Like the virtual firewall 1 (2014-1), the virtual firewall 2 (2014-2) also includes a common filtering table (2009-2) and an individual filtering table area (2010-2), where the individual filtering table area (2010-2) is divided into an area in which identification information is written, and an area associated with the area in which identification information is written, in which security policy is written. FIG. 51 is a diagram showing details of the authentication information (2013-1) in the authentication server 1 shown in FIG. 50. FIG. 52 is a diagram showing details of the pool table held in the user terminal information part (2014-1) in the authentication server 1 shown in FIG. 50. Similarly, FIG. 53 is a diagram showing details of the authentication information (2013-2) in the authentication server 2 shown in FIG. 50. FIG. 54 is a diagram showing details of the pool table held in the user terminal information part (2014-2) in the authentication server 2 shown in FIG. 50. FIG. 55 is a diagram showing a user name sent to the firewall apparatus 2001 via the user terminal (2002-1) by the user (2015-1), and FIG. 56 is a diagram showing a user name sent to the firewall apparatus 2001 via the user terminal (2002-2) by the user (2015-2). FIG. 57 is a diagram showing details of the identifier management table 2012 in the identifier management server shown in FIG. 50, FIG. 58 is a diagram showing details of the security policy table 2011 in the security policy server shown in FIG. 50. FIGS. 59 and 60 show one example of a sequence of operations of the network model shown in FIG. 50, and FIGS. 59 and 60 show a sequence in which, after the user (2015-1) connects to the external network 2003 via the contract network 1 (2016-1), the user (2015-1) disconnects, and, a sequence in which, after the user (2015-2) connects to the external network 2003 via the contract network 2 (2016-2), the user (2015-2) disconnects. In the beginning, a connection start sequence of the user (2015-1) is described. First, the user (2015-1) sends a user name (user 2015-1_2016-1) and a password (α) to the firewall apparatus 2001 via the user terminal (2002-1) (21-1, 21-2 in FIG. 59). The firewall apparatus 2001 that receives the user name (user 2015-1_2016-1) and the password (α) holds a first half part of the user name (user 2015-1), and determines to send authentication information to the authentication server 1 (2006-1) based on a second half part of the user name so as to send the first half part of the user name (user 2015-1) and the password (α) (21-4 in FIG. 59). The authentication server 1 (2003-1) retrieves authentication information (2013-1) using the received first half part of the user name (user 2015-1) and the password (α) so as to determine that authentication is possible (21-5 in FIG. 59). In addition, the authentication server 1 (2003-1) extracts, from the pool table of the user terminal information part (2014-1), usable user terminal information (IP_1) in which the in-use flag is “0” (21-6 in FIG. 59), changes the extracted in-use flag to “1”, and reports the extracted user terminal information (IP_1) to the firewall apparatus 2001 with an authentication approval notification (21-7 in FIG. 59). The firewall apparatus 2001 holds the received user terminal information (IP_1) (21-8 in FIG. 59), and associates the user terminal information (IP_1) with a line to which the user terminal (2002-1) connects, and sends the held first half part of the user name (user 2015-1) to the identifier management server 2005 (21-9 in FIG. 59). The identifier management server 2005 searches the identifier management table 2012 based on the received first half part (user 2015-1) of the user name so as to extract a virtual firewall ID (virtual 2014-1), a common filtering table ID (common 2009-1), and an individual filtering table ID (individual 2010-1) that are associated with the half part (user 2015-2) of the user name, and sends the identifiers to the firewall apparatus 2001 (21-11 in FIG. 59). The firewall apparatus 2001 holds the received individual filtering table ID (individual 2010-1), and writes the received virtual firewall ID (virtual 2014-1), the common filtering table ID (common 2009-1), the individual filtering table ID (individual 2010-1) and the holding user terminal information (IP_1) into the distribution management table 2007 (21-12 in FIG. 59). In addition, the firewall apparatus 2001 sends the holding first half part (user 2015-1) of the user name to the security policy server 2004 (21-13 in FIG. 59). The security policy server 2004 searches the holding security policy table 2011 based on the received first half part (user 2015-1) of the user name so as to extract individual security policies (rule 1-1˜rule 1-m) associated with first half part (user 2015-1) of the user name (21-14 in FIG. 59) and sends them to the firewall apparatus 2001 (21-15 in FIG. 59). The firewall apparatus 2001 writes the holding individual filtering table ID (individual 2010-1) into the identification information area of the individual filtering table area (2010-1), and writes the received individual security policies into the security policy area (21-16 in FIG. 59). After performing this series of processes, the firewall apparatus 2001 sends an authentication success report including the holding user terminal information (IP_1) to the user terminal (2002-1) (21-17 in FIG. 59). Then, the connection start sequence ends, so that the user (2015-1) can connect to the external network 2003 via the user terminal (2002-1). Next, a communication sequence between the user terminal (2002-1) and the external network 2003 is described. When the user terminal (2002-1) transfers a packet to the external network 2003, the user terminal (2002-1) determines its own address as the user terminal information (IP_1) finally received in the connection start sequence, and adds the address to a packet to transfer the packet to the firewall apparatus 2001 (21-18 in FIG. 59). The firewall apparatus 2001 extracts the user terminal information (IP_1) from the received packet, searches the distribution management table 2007 using the user terminal information (IP_1) as a key so as to extract the virtual firewall ID (virtual 2014-1), the common filtering table ID (common 2009-1), and the individual filtering table ID (individual 2010-1) (21-19 in FIG. 59). Next, the firewall apparatus 2001 distributes the received packet to the virtual firewall (2014-1) indicated by the extracted virtual firewall ID (virtual 2014-1), and performs packet filtering using filtering tables indicated by the extracted common filtering table ID (common 2009-1) and the individual filtering table ID (individual 2010-1) in the virtual firewall (2014-1) indicated by the extracted virtual firewall ID (virtual 2014-1) (21-20, 21-21 in FIG. 59). After that, the packet is transferred to the external network 2003 via the contract network 1 (2016-1) (21-22 in FIG. 59). In a case when the firewall apparatus 2001 receives a packet for the user terminal (2002-1) from the external network 2003 via the contract network 1 (2016-1) (21-23 in FIG. 59) and transfers the packet to the user terminal (2002-1), since the packet received from the external network 2003 includes the user terminal information (IP_1) as a destination address, the firewall apparatus 2001 extracts the user terminal information (IP_1) from the received packet (21-24 in FIG. 59). Then, the firewall apparatus 2001 transfers the packet to the user terminal (2002-1) (21-27 in FIG. 59) after filtering the packet according to a sequence the same as that for transferring a packet from the user terminal (2002-1) to the external network 2003 (21-25, 21-26 in FIG. 59). Based on the above-mentioned processes, the firewall apparatus 2001 of the present embodiment performs filtering process for packets sent from both directions of the user terminal side and the external network side so as to transfer the packet. Next, a disconnection sequence from the user (2015-1) is described. When disconnecting, a disconnection request is sent to the firewall apparatus 2001 (21-28, 21-29 in FIG. 59) from the user (2015-1) via the user terminal (2002-1). When the firewall apparatus 2001 receives the disconnection request, the firewall apparatus 2001 checks a line via which the request is received, and derives the user terminal information (IP-1) that is associated with the line in the connection start sequence. Based on the user terminal information (IP_1), the firewall apparatus 2001 extracts the virtual firewall ID (virtual 2014-1) and the individual filtering table ID (individual 2010-1) from an entry associated with the user terminal information (IP-1) in the distribution management table 2007, and deletes the entry (21-30 in FIG. 59). Next, the firewall apparatus 2001 deletes identification information in which the extracted individual filtering table ID (individual 2010-1) is written and deletes the security policy area associated with the identification information in the individual filtering table area (2010-1) in the virtual firewall 1 (2014-1) indicated by the extracted virtual firewall ID (virtual 2014-1) (21-31 in FIG. 59). In addition, the firewall apparatus sends the derived user terminal information (IP-1) to the authentication server 1 (2006-1) (21-32 in FIG. 59). The authentication server 1 (2006-1) restores, to “0”, the in-use flag in an entry associated with the received user terminal information (IP_1) in the pool table in the user terminal information part (2014-1) (21-33 in FIG. 59). In this way, information in various tables changed in the connection sequence is restored to an state before the connection, so that the disconnection sequence ends. A connection start sequence, a communication sequence and a disconnection sequence are performed for the user (2015-2) in the same way for the user (2015-1) (21-34˜21-66 in FIG. 60). As mentioned above, in the present embodiment, the firewall apparatus 2001 operates as plural firewalls, so that a user can be authenticated for each firewall by the individual authentication server (2006-1, 2006-2), the user can connect to the external network 2003 via the contract network (2016-1, 2016-2) for each firewall, and security policies can be loaded for each user. In the above-mentioned description, although a case is described where each of the security server (504, 2004) and the identifier management server (505, 2005) is one machine, each firewall apparatus in this embodiment can be connected to two security servers having the same security table, or can be connected to two security policy servers having the same identifier management table. Effects of the embodiments 3-1˜3-6) According to the firewall apparatus of the embodiments 3-1˜3-6, when an accommodating network or terminal dynamically performs connection and disconnection, or when the firewall apparatus by which the network or the terminal is accommodated is changed, it becomes possible to keep the optimal security policy capacity, so that the security policy amount to be loaded into the firewall apparatus can be reduced. The firewall apparatus described so far in each embodiment can be realized by loading a program performing processes described in each embodiment into a computer system including a communication apparatus, for example. The computer system includes a CPU 600, a memory 601, a hard disk 601, and input-output apparatus 603 and a communication apparatus 604 as illustrated in FIG. 61, for example. Data held in processes in each embodiment are held in the memory 601, for example. In addition, the communication apparatus 604 is used as communication means with other servers. A router and the like are included in the computer system. The present invention is not limited to the specifically disclosed embodiments, and variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>There exists firewalls (to be also referred to as FW) as means for improving security of an own terminal or an own network. The firewall is placed between the own terminal or the own network that requires high security and an external network. The firewall determines whether a packet transmitted from the external network to the own terminal or network, or a packet transmitted from the own terminal or network to the external network is permitted to pass through the firewall according to a predetermined security policy. The firewall performs a filtering process in which, if the packet is permitted to pass through the firewall, the packet is passed through the firewall, and if not, the packet is discarded. One rule is formed by associating address, protocol type, port number, direction, availability of being passed through, or other condition with each other so that the security policy is formed by plural rules. In addition, the firewall can be categorized into three types according to its placement. The first type is, as shown in FIG. 1 , a firewall 10 (to be referred to as “terminal base firewall” hereinafter) that is included in the own terminal. The firewall 10 is used for protecting the own terminal 10 against an external network (the Internet, for example) 12 . The second one is, as shown in FIG. 2 , a firewall 10 (to be referred to as “CPE base firewall” hereinafter) that is placed at an edge of the own network 13 and is connected to the external network 12 . This firewall is used for protecting the own network 13 against the external network 12 . The third one is, as shown in FIG. 3 , a firewall 10 (to be referred to as “NW base firewall” hereinafter) that accommodates more than one networks 13 or terminals 11 that are operated by corresponding independent policies and that are required to increase security, and the firewall is placed at a position connecting to the external network 12 and is used for protecting each network 13 or terminal against the external network 12 . As constant connection users are increasing, necessity of security is increasing. Under the circumstances, it is required to provide users who do not have enough knowledge of security with a security service for compensating for lack of skill with low cost. In this view point, among the above-mentioned firewalls, the NW base firewall in which the firewall is provided in the network side is effective. That is, by using the NW base firewall, economy by integrating accommodated users and reduction of user activities by outsourcing can be expected. However, since it is necessary to provide each user with the security policy, an architecture for constructing virtual firewalls for each user in a physical firewall is required according to the firewall of this method. FIG. 4 shows a method for constructing the virtual firewall according to a conventional technology. For assigning a virtual firewall to a user's terminal, server or network, a fixed user ID is associated with a virtual firewall ID. The fixed user ID is a VLAN-ID of a network to which the user's terminal or server belongs, or an IP address of the user's terminal or server. In FIG. 4 , an IP address [a.a.a.a] of a sever 211 of a user #a and an IP address [b.b.b.b] of a sever 212 of a user #b are registered in a distribution management table 201 beforehand as fixed user IDs in which the fixed user IDs are associated with virtual firewall IDs 202 and 203 respectively. Then, for example, in a communication between the sever 211 and a connection partner terminal 213 of the user #a, for a packet 221 sent from the server 221 , the distribution management table 201 is referred to by using the source IP address [a.a.a.a] as a search key, and the virtual firewall ID 202 that is associated with the source IP address [a.a.a.a] is retrieved so that the packet 221 is distributed to the virtual firewall 202 . In addition, for a packet 222 sent from the connection partner terminal 213 , the distribution management table 201 is referred to by using the destination IP address b.b.b.b as a search key, and the virtual firewall ID 203 that is associated with the destination IP address b.b.b.b is retrieved so that the packet 222 is distributed to the virtual firewall 203 . In each of the virtual firewalls 202 and 203 , a filtering rule conforming to a security policy defined by the user #a and the user #b, respectively, is described. According to the rule, the packet 221 and the packet 222 are passed or discarded. Accordingly, an attacking packet from an unauthorized access person to the server 211 can be filtered, for example. This conventional technology is mainly applied to a data center and the like. In the data center, since a fixed user ID is used, the user ID can be registered in the distribution table 201 beforehand. “Investigation of secure content filtering method in a data center” (IEICE Society conference (2002) B-6-38 2002.8.20) is a prior art document relating to the conventional technology. As another conventional technology for setting security communications for each user, there is a document (Japanese Laid Open Patent Application No. 2001-298499, “Security communication method, communication system and the apparatus). However, the conventional technology mainly presumes IP sec communications. Security communications for each user defined in the document are merely for determining the strength of an authentication algorithm or an encryption algorithm used for communications according to a request of a user, which is different from a function for filtering attacking packets due to invalid accesses. In a constant connection service used by a user, a user ID (user IP address) is assigned for the first time when a connection between the user terminal and a network is established. More particularly, the user ID is assigned for the first time when a PPP (Point to Point Protocol) session is established. In addition, the user IP address is generally variable. Therefore, even if one tries to apply the virtual firewall of the conventional technology to the constant connection service, it is difficult to apply the virtual firewall of the conventional technology to the constant connection service since it is impossible to register a user IP address in the distribution management table beforehand. In addition, as to the constant connection service, since the number of accommodated users is much larger than a case for applying the firewall to a data center and the like, it is required to increase the number of users to be accommodated simultaneously by the NW based firewall apparatus. Other than the viewpoint of a placement location of a firewall, the firewall can be classified to two types as follows from a viewpoint of a holding method of the security policy. A first firewall is one that includes the security policy inside of the firewall. Regular firewalls adopt this method. Another firewall is one, as shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 , that has the security policy outside of the firewall 10 . The security policy is distributed to plural firewalls 10 . For each type of before-mentioned firewalls (terminal base firewall, CPE base firewall, or NW base firewall), many of the firewalls include the security policy in the inside. However, as to the firewall that uses the method for distributing the security policy, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2002-544607 discloses applying such method to the terminal base firewall. In addition, a document (┌distributed Firewalls┘ (November 1999, Special issue on Security, ISSN 1044-63971)) discloses applying the method to the CPE base firewall. In addition, also as to the NW base firewall, when an accommodated network or terminal is statically connected, the same situation as the CPE base firewall applies to the NW base firewall. However, as to the NW base firewall, in a case where the accommodated network or the terminal is dynamically connected and disconnected, or the accommodating NW base firewall is changed, the method of holding the security policy in the inside of the firewall is not useful since all security policies relating to the networks or the terminals that the firewall may accommodate should be held regardless of the connection and disconnection of the network or the terminal. Therefore, in such an environment, a NW base firewall apparatus having means for keeping an optimum capacity of the security policies according to connection or disconnection of the network or the terminal becomes necessary. In addition, as to the NW base firewall having means for loading security policies in response to connection of networks or terminals, since plural networks or terminals are connected to the NW base firewall, the NW base firewall may load many security policies. In this case, processes in the CPU of the NW base firewall for loading security policies becomes large, so that processes of filtering and transferring cannot be performed. Thus, the filtering and transferring performance is affected. In addition, the apparatus that delivers the security policy cannot distribute the security policy when the distributing amount exceeds the apparatus's performance. Further, as to a line used for distributing the security policy, when the distributing amount exceeds the circuit capacity, discard or delay may occur in distributing the security policy. Therefore, a NW base firewall apparatus including means for reducing the security policy amount to be delivered is necessary.

<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a conventional firewall apparatus; FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing another example of a conventional firewall apparatus; FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing another example of a conventional firewall apparatus; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a virtual firewall establishing method according to a conventional technology; FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional firewall apparatus in which a security policy is provided in its outside; FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another example of a conventional firewall apparatus in which a security policy is provided in its outside; FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another example of a conventional firewall apparatus in which a security policy is provided in its outside; FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of a firewall apparatus in an embodiment 1-1 of the present invention; FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram showing operations of the firewall apparatus in the embodiment 1-1; FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing operations of the firewall apparatus in the embodiment 1-2; FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a distribution management table in an embodiment 1-3; FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram showing operations of the firewall apparatus in the embodiment 1-3; FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a distribution management table in the embodiment 1-4; FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram showing operations of the firewall apparatus in the embodiment 1-4; FIG. 15 is a sequence diagram showing operations of the firewall apparatus in the embodiment 1-5; FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of the distribution management table in the embodiment 1-5; FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing an outline configuration of a firewall apparatus in an embodiment 2-1 of the present invention; FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a configuration of a filtering table in a virtual firewall in the firewall apparatus in the embodiment 2-1; FIG. 19 is a sequence diagram showing operations of the firewall apparatus in the embodiment 2-1; FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing an outline configuration of a firewall apparatus in an embodiment 2-2 of the present invention; FIG. 21 is a sequence diagram showing operations of the firewall apparatus in the embodiment 2-2; FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an initial state of the distribution management table in an embodiment 2-3; FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a state in which an IP address is registered in the distribution management table in an embodiment 2-3; FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a configuration of a filtering table in a virtual firewall in the firewall apparatus in the embodiment 2-3; FIG. 25 is a sequence diagram showing operations of the firewall apparatus in the embodiment 2-4; FIG. 26 is a diagram showing information in the distribution management table in the embodiment 2-5; FIG. 27 is a sequence diagram showing operations of the firewall apparatus in the embodiment 2-5; FIG. 28 is a diagram showing information in the distribution management table in an embodiment 2-6; FIG. 29 is a sequence diagram showing operations of the firewall apparatus in the embodiment 2-6; FIG. 30 is a diagram showing information in the distribution management table in an embodiment 2-7; FIG. 31 is a sequence diagram showing operations of the firewall apparatus in the embodiment 2-7; FIG. 32 is a diagram showing contents in a filtering table; FIG. 33 is a diagram showing contents in an individual filtering table; FIG. 34 is a block diagram showing an outline configuration of a firewall apparatus and a network model in which the firewall apparatus is used according to embodiment 3-1 of the present invention; FIG. 35 is a diagram showing detail of authentication information in an authentication server shown in FIG. 34 ; FIG. 36 is a diagram showing detail of a pool table held in a user terminal information part in the authentication server shown in FIG. 34 ; FIG. 37 is a diagram showing detail of an identifier management table in the identifier management server shown in FIG. 34 ; FIG. 38 is a diagram showing detail of a security policy table in the security policy server shown in FIG. 34 ; FIG. 39 is a diagram showing detail of the distribution management table, in an initial state, in the firewall apparatus shown in FIG. 34 ; FIG. 40 is a diagram showing an example of a sequence of operations of the network model shown in FIG. 34 ; FIG. 41 is a diagram showing an example of a sequence of operations of the network model shown in FIG. 34 ; FIG. 42 is a block diagram showing an outline configuration of a firewall apparatus and a network model in which the firewall apparatus is used according to an embodiment 3-2; FIG. 43 is a diagram showing an example of a sequence of operations of the network model shown in FIG. 42 ; FIG. 44 is a block diagram showing an outline configuration of a firewall apparatus and a network model in which the firewall apparatus is used according to an embodiment 3-3; FIG. 45 is a diagram showing an example of a sequence of operations of the network model shown in FIG. 44 ; FIG. 46 is a block diagram showing an outline configuration of a firewall apparatus and a network model in which the firewall apparatus is used according to an embodiment 3-4; FIG. 47 is a diagram showing an example of a sequence of operations of the network model shown in FIG. 46 ; FIG. 48 is a block diagram showing an outline configuration of a firewall apparatus and a network model in which the firewall apparatus is used according to an embodiment 3-5; FIG. 49 is a diagram showing an example of a sequence of operations of the network model shown in FIG. 48 ; FIG. 50 is a block diagram showing an outline configuration of a firewall apparatus and a network model in which the firewall apparatus is used according to an embodiment 3-6; FIG. 51 is a diagram showing details of authentication information in an authentication server 1 shown in FIG. 50 ; FIG. 52 is a diagram showing details of a pool table held in a user terminal information part in the authentication server 1 shown in FIG. 50 ; FIG. 53 is a diagram showing details of authentication information in an authentication server 2 shown in FIG. 50 ; FIG. 54 is a diagram showing details of a pool table held in a user terminal information part in the authentication server 2 shown in FIG. 50 ; FIG. 55 is a diagram showing a user name sent to the firewall apparatus via the user terminal ( 2002 - 1 ) by the user ( 2015 - 1 ); FIG. 56 is a diagram showing a user name sent to the firewall apparatus via the user terminal ( 2002 - 2 ) by the user ( 2015 - 2 ); FIG. 57 is a diagram showing details of a identifier management table 2012 in the identifier management server shown in FIG. 50 ; FIG. 58 is a diagram showing details of a security policy table in the security policy server shown in FIG. 50 ; FIG. 59 is a diagram showing one example of a sequence of operations of the network model shown in FIG. 50 ; FIG. 60 is a diagram showing another example of a sequence of operations of the network model shown in FIG. 50 ; FIG. 61 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a computer system. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"?

20050804

20100608

20060629

62062.0

G06F1516

TRUVAN, LEYNNA THANH

FIREWALL DEVICE

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

G06F

ACCEPTED

Cogeneration system

A Stirling engine-equipped cogeneration system is capable of utilizing thermal energy, without waste, and of offering high thermal usage efficiency at every stage of the thermal energy utilization process. The system includes a combustion chamber (11), a burner unit (5) installed to the combustion chamber, the burner unit driving combustion to generates exhaust gas within the combustion chamber, a liquid media jacket (21) that envelopes the combustion chamber, a liquid media flowing within the liquid media jacket and absorbing thermal energy from the burner-generated exhaust gas, a Stirling engine (4) operating from a sealed operating fluid heated by the heater (3) which is located within the combustion chamber facing the burner and subjected to the flow of exhaust gas generated within the combustion chamber, an exhaust gas flow channel (20) through which flows burner-generated exhaust gas after having flowed through and heating the heater, and an exhaust gas passage (22) having an entrance connected to the exhaust gas flow channel as means of allowing the exhaust gas to heat the liquid medium in the liquid media jacket. The exhaust gas generated from the burner-driven combustion flows into the heater to transfer thermal energy thereto, then flows into the exhaust gas passage, through the exhaust gas flow channel to transfer the thermal energy to the liquid medium, thereby heating the liquid medium and heater simultaneously.

1. A cogeneration system, comprising: a combustion chamber; a burner installed to said combustion chamber, and inducing exhaust gas-generating combustion within said combustion chamber; a liquid media jacket enveloping said combustion chamber and containing a liquid medium to be flowed therethrough, the liquid medium being heated by the exhaust gas generated by said burner; a Stirling engine having a heater installed within said combustion chamber and disposed in opposite to said burner so as to be struck by the flow of exhaust gas in said combustion chamber, and being operated by means of being supplied a thermal energy from said heater to an operating fluid sealed therein; an exhaust gas flow channel discharging exhaust gas which flows toward said heater from said burner and supplies the thermal energy to said heater; and an exhaust gas passage having an inlet connected to said exhaust gas flow channel and directing the flow of exhaust gas along said liquid medium jacket; wherein the exhaust gas generated by burner-driven combustion flows against said heater as means of transferring the thermal energy thereto, and then flows into said exhaust gas passage, via said exhaust gas flow channel, as means of transferring the thermal energy to the liquid medium, thereby providing a mechanism through which the exhaust gas is able to simultaneously transfer the thermal energy to said heater and the liquid medium. 2. The cogeneration system of claim 1, wherein a casing is provided as means of enclosing at least said heater of said Stirling engine and defining at least one of spaces forming said combustion chamber. 3. The cogeneration system of claim 1, wherein an electrical generator is connected to an output shaft of said Stirling engine. 4. The cogeneration system of claim 1, wherein a supply device is connected to said liquid medium jacket as means of supplying the heated liquid medium to a thermal energy utilization process. 5. The cogeneration system of claim 1, wherein a heat absorbing and discharging thermal accumulator is installed within said combustion chamber. 6. The cogeneration system of claim 5, wherein said thermal accumulator is disposed in opposition to said burner as means of allowing a burner flame and exhaust gas emitted from the burner-generated combustion to strike said thermal accumulator. 7. The cogeneration system of claim 1, wherein a constricting part is installed within said combustion chamber as means of accelerating the flow of exhaust gas blown against said heater. 8. The cogeneration system of claim 1, wherein said Stirling engine is equipped with a regenerator as means of cooling the operating fluid, and a coolant heated by the operating fluid through the operation of said regenerator heats the liquid medium. 9. The cogeneration system of claim 1, wherein an open and closable door is installed to said combustion chamber as means of exposing and sealing an internal region of said combustion chamber. 10. The cogeneration system of claim 9, wherein said burner is attached to said door. 11. The cogeneration system of claim 1, wherein a removable lid is attached to said combustion chamber, and said heater of said Stirling engine is attached to said lid. 12. The cogeneration system of claim 1, wherein various types of virgin oils, liquid refuse, waste gasses, solid waste materials, biomass fuels, or mixtures of any or all of these substances are used as fuel for said burner. 13. The cogeneration system of claim 1, wherein all types of virgin oils, liquid refuse, waste gasses, solid waste materials, biomass fuels, or mixtures of any or all of these substances are used as a base fuel material to which water is added in order to make an aqueous emulsion fuel for supply to said burner. 14. The cogeneration system of claim 13, wherein the aqueous emulsion fuel is supplied to said burner from a fuel preparation unit, said fuel preparation unit comprising: a mixing tank incorporating an agitator which agitates and mixes the base fuel material with water and a surfactant, the resulting liquid mixture being held in said mixing tank; an emulsifier emulsifying the liquid mixture supplied from said mixing tank; an ionizing unit ionizing water molecules in the liquid mixture supplied from said emulsifier; and a pump circulating the liquid mixture from said mixing tank to said emulsifier, then to said ionizing unit, and then back to said mixing tank. 15. The cogeneration system of claim 1, wherein an exhaust gas system of a separate process is connected to said burner as means of re-combusting an exhaust gasses generated by said separate process. 16. The cogeneration system of claim 15, wherein said exhaust gas system is structured of two ducts, one duct being connected directly to said burner, and the other duct being connected to said burner through a washing device which removes soot and ash from the exhaust gas. 17. The cogeneration system of claim 1, wherein a combustion gas supplied to said burner is a pure oxygen gas or an oxygen rich gas. 18. The cogeneration system of claim 1, wherein the fuel supplied to said burner is a mixture of oxygen and hydrogen gas. 19. The cogeneration system of claim 1, wherein said burner includes: an igniter, a nozzle with a spraying end that separately sprays out fuel and a primary gas which mix at a location external to said spraying end, a secondary gas supply system that sprays a secondary gas into a mixture of fuel and primary gas as means of imparting a spinning motion to the mixture of fuel and primary gas, a gasification duct that gasifies the fuel in the spinning mixture of primary gas and fuel flowing therethrough, and an oxidizing gas supply passage which supplies oxidizing gas to an outlet of said gasification duct, in order to ignite and combust the fuel. 20. The cogeneration system of claim 19, wherein said burner includes a double wall cylindrical structure at said spraying end of said nozzle, said cylindrical structure being formed from an inner cylinder enclosed within an outer cylinder, said gasification duct being formed of a space within said inner cylinder, and said oxidizing gas supply passage being formed by a space within said outer cylinder. 21. The cogeneration system of claim 15, wherein an exhaust gas heating furnace is installed to said exhaust gas system. 22. The cogeneration system of claim 21, wherein said heating furnace is equipped with a combustion chamber through which exhaust gas flows, and a burner installed within said combustion chamber as means of combusting and heating the exhaust gas. 23. The cogeneration system of claim 22, wherein the fuel supplied to said burner is any type of virgin oils, a liquid state waste product, a gas state waste product, a solid state waste product, biomass fuel, or a mixture of any of these substances. 24. The cogeneration system of claim 22, wherein the fuel supplied to said burner is any type of virgin oils, a liquid state waste product, a gas state waste product, a solid state waste product, biomass fuel, or a mixture of any of these substances used as a base fuel to which water is added to make an aqueous emulsion fuel. 25. The cogeneration system of claim 22, wherein a combustion gas supplied to said burner is a pure oxygen gas or an oxygen rich gas. 26. The cogeneration system of claim 22, wherein the fuel supplied to said burner is a mixture of oxygen and hydrogen gas. 27. The cogeneration system of claim 22, wherein said heating furnace is equipped with a Stirling engine which has a heater installed within said combustion chamber and operates from a thermal energy supplied by said heater heated by the burner-driven combustion, an output shaft of said Stirling engine being connected to an electrical generator. 28. The cogeneration system of claim 27, wherein a constricting part is installed within said combustion chamber as means of accelerating the flow of exhaust gas therein against said heater. 29. The cogeneration system of claim 27, wherein a removable lid is attached to said heating furnace, and said heater of said Stirling engine is attached to said lid. 30. The cogeneration system of claim 15, wherein an exhaust gas heating thermal plant is installed to said exhaust gas system, said thermal plant comprising a plurality of heating furnaces mutually interconnected by ducts in an inline configuration. 31. The cogeneration system of claim 30, wherein said thermal plant, in addition to said ducts interconnecting a plurality of heating furnaces in the inline configuration, is equipped with bypass ducts, each bypass duct bypassing each heating furnace. 32. The cogeneration system of claim 30, wherein said heating furnace is equipped with a Stirling engine which has a heater to be heated and operates from a thermal energy supplied by said heater, an output shaft of said Stirling engine being connected to an electrical generator.

TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to a Stirling engine-equipped cogeneration system that does not waste thermal energy, and that offers superior energy utilization characteristics. BACKGROUND ART The invention relates to Stirling engine-equipped cogeneration system of the type, for example, disclosed in Related Art References (Tokkyo bunken) 1 and 2. Related Art Reference 1 discloses a cogeneration system assembled from a hydrogen storing heat pump and a Stirling engine equipped with an electrical generator wherein the heater part of the Stirling engine includes a heat-generating fuel-combusting burner located at the center of the upper surface of the combustion case, and further includes combustion air passages being located at the upper wall of the combustion case and leading from an external region to the flame orifice of the burner. In this cogeneration system, the thermal energy lost from the burner is 15% of the total (100%) input thermal energy. Related Art Reference 2 describes a cogeneration system using a composite Stirling and Rankine cycle and driving a compressor that heats low-temperature steam and an electrical generator by the operation of Stirling engine. The heater of the Stirling engine is heated by air fed in from an air inlet port and heated by the combustion operation of the heat-generating burner, said heated air then being applied to a heat exchanging operation with air fed in from the air inlet port. [Related Art Reference (Tokkyo bunken) 1]: Japanese Patent Laid-open (Kokai) Publication No. H7-279758 [pages 3-5, FIG. 1 and FIGS. 6-8] [Related Art Reference (Tokkyo bunken) 2]: Japanese Patent Laid-open (Kokai) Publication No. 2000-213418 [pages 3-5, FIG. 1 and FIG. 5] Both of the above-noted conventional cogeneration systems employ a dedicated heating device to supply thermal energy to the Stirling engine heater, use the output of the Stirling engine to generate electricity from an electrical generator, and also use the obtained thermal energy to drive a hydrogen storing heat pump and compressor through a driving structure, thus they employ a mechanical structure to derive power from thermal energy. This structure wastes a large amount of the thermal energy generated by the thermal source, and therefore these cogeneration systems cannot be said to use thermal energy efficiently. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The inventor, in consideration of the above-noted shortcoming, puts forth a Stirling engine-equipped cogeneration system able to completely utilize thermal source energy with superior efficiency at the thermal energy utilization process. The cogeneration system invention includes a combustion chamber; a burner which is installed to the combustion chamber and induces an exhaust gas-generating combustion process within the combustion chamber; a liquid medium jacket which envelopes the combustion chamber and contains a liquid medium flowing therein, the liquid medium being heated by the exhaust gas generated by the burner; a Stirling engine which has a heater installed within the combustion chamber and disposed in opposite to the burner so as to be struck by the flow of exhaust gas in the combustion chamber, and is operated by means of being supplied a thermal energy from the heater to an operating fluid sealed therein; an exhaust gas flow channel which discharges exhaust gas flowing toward the heater from the burner and supplying the thermal energy to the heater; and an exhaust gas passage which has an inlet connected to the exhaust gas flow channel and directs the flow of exhaust gas along the liquid medium jacket, wherein the exhaust gas generated by the burner-driven combustion flows against the heater in order to transfer the thermal energy thereto, and flows into the exhaust gas passage, via the exhaust gas flow channel, in order to transfer the thermal energy to the liquid medium, thereby providing a mechanism through which the exhaust gas is able to simultaneously transfer the thermal energy to the heater and liquid medium in order. The cogeneration system invention is able to operate at an extremely low level of thermal loss due to the below-noted structures and processes. The Stirling engine heater is installed within the combustion chamber which is heated by the burner-driven combustion, the liquid medium jacket envelopes the combustion chamber, and the exhaust gas generated by the burner-driven combustion flows against and heats the Stirling engine heater which is disposed in opposition to the burner. Further, the exhaust gas also flows through the exhaust gas flow channel into the exhaust gas passage where it is applied to heat the liquid medium in the liquid medium jacket, thus allowing the liquid medium and heater to be simultaneously heated from a single combustion chamber. The heater and liquid medium, both which may be applied to a thermal utilization process, are heated with a high level of efficiency without the thermal losses which would otherwise occur if the thermal energy were to be transferred through space, over time, or by mechanical means. It is preferable that a casing is provided as means of enclosing at least the heater of the Stirling engine and defining at least one of spaces forming the combustion chamber. It is preferable that an electrical generator is connected to an output shaft of the Stirling engine. It is preferable that a supply device is connected to the liquid medium jacket as means of supplying the heated liquid medium to a thermal energy utilization process. It is preferable that a heat absorbing and discharging thermal accumulator is installed within the combustion chamber. It is preferable that the thermal accumulator is disposed in opposition to the burner as means of allowing a burner flame and exhaust gas emitted from the burner-generated combustion to strike the thermal accumulator. It is preferable that a constricting part is installed in the combustion chamber to accelerate the flow of exhaust gas blown against the heater. It is preferable that the Stirling engine is equipped with a regenerator as means of cooling the operating fluid, and that a coolant heated by the operating fluid through the operation of the regenerator heats the liquid medium. It is preferable that an open and closable door is installed to the combustion chamber as means of selectively exposing or sealing an internal region of the combustion chamber. It is preferable that the burner is attached to the door. It is preferable that a removable lid is attached to the combustion chamber, and that the heater of the Stirling engine is attached to the lid. It is preferable that various types of virgin oils, liquid refuse, waste gasses, solid waste materials, biomass fuels, or mixtures of any or all of these substances are used as fuel for the burner. It is preferable that all types of virgin oils, liquid refuse, waste gasses, solid waste materials, biomass fuels, or mixtures of any or all of these substances are used as a base fuel material to which water is added in order to make an aqueous emulsion fuel for supply to the burner. It is preferable that the aqueous emulsion fuel is supplied to the burner from a fuel preparation unit, the fuel preparation unit including a mixing and storing tank incorporating an agitator which agitates and mixes the base fuel material with water and a surfactant; an emulsifier which emulsifies the liquid mixture supplied from the mixing and storing tank; an ionizing unit that ionizes water molecules in the liquid mixture supplied from the emulsifier; and a pump that circulates the liquid mixture from the mixing and storing tank to the emulsifier, then to the ionizing unit, and then back to the mixing and storing tank. It is preferable that an exhaust gas system of another process is connected to the burner as means of re-combusting an exhaust gasses generated by another process. It is preferable that the exhaust gas system is structured of two duct systems, one duct system being connected directly to the burner, and the other duct system being connected to the burner through a washing device which removes soot and ash from the exhaust gas. It is preferable that a combustion gas supplied to the burner is in the form of a pure oxygen gas or an oxygen rich gas. It is preferable that the fuel supplied to the burner is in the form of a mixture of oxygen and hydrogen gas. It is preferable that the burner includes an igniter; a nozzle with a spraying end that separately sprays out fuel and a primary gas which mix at a location external to the spraying end; a secondary gas supply system that sprays a secondary gas into a mixture of fuel and primary gas as means of imparting a spinning motion to the mixture of fuel and primary gas; a gasification duct that gasifies the fuel in the spinning mixture of primary gas and fuel flowing therethrough; and an oxidizing gas supply passage which supplies oxidizing gas to an outlet of the gasification duct in order to ignite and combust the fuel. It is preferable that the burner includes a double wall cylindrical structure at the spraying end of the nozzle, the cylindrical structure being formed from an inner cylinder enclosed within an outer cylinder, the gasification duct being formed as a space within the inner cylinder, and the oxidizing gas supply passage being formed as a space within the outer cylinder. It is preferable that an exhaust gas heating furnace is installed to the exhaust gas system. It is preferable that the heating furnace is equipped with a combustion chamber through which exhaust gas flows, and a burner which is installed within the combustion chamber as means of combusting and heating the exhaust gas. It is preferable that the fuel supplied to the burner is any type of virgin oils, a liquid state waste product, a gas state waste product, a solid state waste product, biomass fuel, or a mixture of any or all of these substances. It is preferable that the fuel supplied to the burner is any type of virgin oils, a liquid state waste product, a gas state waste product, a solid state waste product, biomass fuel, or a mixture of any or all of these substances used as a base fuel to which water is added to make an aqueous emulsion fuel. It is preferable that a combustion gas supplied to the burner is a pure oxygen gas or an oxygen rich gas. It is preferable that the fuel supplied to the burner is a mixture of oxygen and hydrogen gas. It is preferable that the heating furnace is equipped with a Stirling engine which has a heater installed within the combustion chamber and operates from a thermal energy supplied by the heater heated by the burner-driven combustion, an output shaft of the Stirling engine being connected to an electrical generator. It is preferable that a constricting part is installed within the combustion chamber as means of accelerating the flow of exhaust gas therein against the heater. It is preferable that a removable lid is attached to the heating furnace, and that the heater of the Stirling engine is attached to the lid. It is preferable that an exhaust gas heating thermal plant is installed to the exhaust gas system, the thermal plant comprising a plurality of heating furnaces mutually interconnected by ducts in an inline configuration. It is preferable that the thermal plant, in addition to the ducts interconnecting a plurality of heating furnaces in the inline configuration, is equipped with bypass ducts, each bypass duct bypassing each heating furnace. It is preferable that the heating furnace is equipped with a Stirling engine which has a heater to be heated and operates from a thermal energy supplied by the heater, an output shaft of the Stirling engine being connected to an electrical generator. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention is further described in the detailed description which follows, with reference to the below-noted plurality of drawings representing non-limiting examples of exemplary embodiments of the present invention in which like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings, and wherein FIG. 1 is a cross section of a preferred embodiment of the cogeneration system invention; FIG. 2 is a side view of the burner used by the FIG. 1 cogeneration system; FIG. 3 is a side view of the double-wall pipe of the FIG. 2 burner; FIG. 4 is a side view cross section of the tip region of the double-wall pipe shown in FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a side view of the nozzle body used by the FIG. 2 burner; FIG. 6 is a side view of the aqueous emulsion fuel preparation unit used by the FIG. 1 cogeneration system; FIG. 7 is a side view cross section of the heating furnace which may be used by the FIG. 1 cogeneration system; FIG. 8 is a system drawing of the thermal plant which may be used by the FIG. 1 cogeneration system; and FIG. 9 is a cross section of another preferred embodiment of the cogeneration system invention. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The following provides a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the cogeneration system invention with reference to the attached figures. This embodiment of the cogeneration system 1, which is illustrated in FIG. 1, is primarily structured from boiler 2 which uses exhaust gas to heat a liquid medium [i.e., water] and extract thermal energy therefrom, Stirling engine 4 which includes heater 3 and which operates from a sealed operating fluid heated by heater 3, and burner unit 5 that serves as the thermal source from which thermal energy, that is, combustion flames, the thermal radiation from those flames, and combustion-generated exhaust gas, is supplied to boiler 2 and heater 3 of Stirling engine 4. Output shaft 6 of Stirling engine 4 is connected to electrical generator 7 as means of converting thermal energy generated by heater 3 into electricity. Stirling engine 4, electrical generator 7, and boiler 2 are mounted in a horizontal orientation to frame 10, Stirling engine 4 and electrical generator 7 through framework 8, and boiler 2 through mounting leg 9. Burner unit 5 is also installed in a horizontal orientation. These components may, of course, also be disposed in a vertical orientation. Boiler 2 is equipped with inner cylinder 12 which forms a partitioned region within combustion chamber 11 in which the air from burner unit 5 is combusted, outer cylinder 13 which envelopes the outside of inner cylinder 12 and forms the outer shell of boiler 2, and a pair of left and right end plates 14 and 15 which are installed at the left and right ends of outer cylinder 13 and internal cylinder 12 to seal combustion chamber 11. Burner unit 5 and Stirling engine 4 are disposed at the respective left and right sides of boiler 2, thus sandwiching boiler 2 therebetween. Burner unit 5 is attached to left end plate 14, and heater 3 of Stirling engine 4 is attached to right end plate 15, thus orienting burner unit 5 and heater 3 in mutual opposition inside of combustion chamber 11, such disposition allowing heater 3 to be heated by combustion from burner unit 5. To be more specific, boiler 2 includes outer cylinder 13 having large diameter part 13a on the left side which is the burner unit 5 side, and small diameter part 13b on the right side which is the Stirling engine 4 side, parts 13a and 13b being integral components of a single structure. Large diameter part 13a is equipped with exhaust discharge port 17 which is connected with exhaust duct 16 equipped with an exhaust gas processing induction fan drawing in exhaust gas and discharges exhaust gas travels toward an exhaust gas treatment process through said exhaust duct. Preheating passage 19, which is located at step wall 13c between large diameter part 13a and small diameter part 13b, preheats a liquid medium supplied to boiler 2 from a liquid supply device by means of a pump, with utilizing the thermal energy held in heat accumulator 27 (to be described subsequently). Inner cylinder 12 includes large diameter part 12a located at large diameter part 13a of outer cylinder 13, and small diameter part 12b located at small diameter part 13b of outer cylinder 13, small diameter part 13b forming a duct structure surrounding the front end of heater 3. Large diameter part 12a and small diameter part 12b are formed as separate components. Cone 12c forms a continuously narrowing passage extending from the right side of large diameter part 12a toward small diameter part 12b. The left end of small diameter part 12b inserts into cone 12c to form a continuous structure that accelerates the exhaust gas generated in combustion chamber 11 as said gas travels from burner unit 5 to and around heater 3. Cone 12c may also extend from the mouth at the left end of small diameter part 12b in a continually larger diameter toward the mouth of large part 12a which has a set diameter. Annular-shaped exhaust gas flow channel 20 is formed around the perimeter of small part 12b of inner cylinder 12, and between right end plate 15 and small part 13b of outer cylinder 13, as means of discharging exhaust gas flowing into heater 3 from burner unit 5 via cone 12c. Liquid media jacket 21 surrounds combustion chamber 11 between large diameter part 13a of outer cylinder 13 and large diameter part 12a of inner cylinder 12, and contains the flow of liquid medium heated by exhaust gas and thermal energy radiating from the inside of combustion chamber 11 as a result of the operation of burner unit 5. Also, exhaust gas passage 22 is provided as means of guiding the flow of exhaust gas to liquid media jacket 21. Liquid media jacket 21 connects to preheating passage 19 at the inlet port thereof and also connects to gas-liquid separator 23, said gas-liquid separator being a device that supplies the heated liquid medium to a thermal utilization process. Gas-liquid separator 23 separates the steam component from the liquid in liquid media jacket 21 and sends the steam component, as well as the high-temperature liquid component, to a thermal utilization process. Therefore, the liquid medium, which is supplied to liquid media jacket 21 from the liquid supply device via preheating passage 19, is heated within liquid media jacket 21, and passes through gas-liquid separator 23 as a gas and high-temperature liquid, and from there may be supplied to any type of thermal utilization process. Moreover, Stirling engine 4, which is a known type of engine, is equipped with a regenerator which cools the Stirling engine operating fluid. The regenerator is supplied with a coolant, such as water or other like substance, which is heated as the result of a heat exchange operation with the operating fluid. In case that the coolant heated by the regenerator flows through a pipe to a 3-way switching valve which connects to two pipes, one of the pipes being connected to preheating passage 19 through a heat exchanger, and the other connected to a thermal utilization process, the operation of the 3-way switching valve makes effective usage of the thermal discharge from Stirling engine 4 possible by means of preheating the liquid medium using the heated coolant and applying the heated coolant to the thermal utilization process. Moreover, discharge drain pipe 24 is connected to liquid media jacket 21. The inlet port of exhaust gas passage 22 connects to exhaust gas flow channel 20 in which flows exhaust gas which has previously heated heater 3, and the outlet port connects to discharge port 17 of outer cylinder large diameter part 13a. Re-circulation passage 25 branches off from exhaust gas passage 22 and is connected to combustion chamber 11 in order to re-circulate a part of the exhaust gas coming from the combustion flame draft of burner unit 5. Therefore, the exhaust gas generated from the combustion in burner unit 5 is accelerated through cone 12c, flows against and heats heater 3 which powers Stirling engine 4, and then flows through exhaust gas flow channel 20 into exhaust gas passage 22 to heat the liquid medium. One part of the exhaust gas returning to combustion chamber 11 is re-combusted, and the remaining part is sent from discharge port 17 to an exhaust gas process external to the system for further processing. Thermal accumulators 26 and 27 are located at appropriate locations in boiler 2 in order to absorb and radiate heat from the combustion occurring in burner unit 5. Thermal accumulators 26 and 27, and especially components residing within combustion chamber 11, are made from a fire and corrosion resistant material able to withstand the combustion flames and corrosive effects of soot and ash generated from the combustion reaction taking place in burner unit 5. Moreover, inner cylinder small diameter part 12b is also made from a corrosion resistant material. In this embodiment, thermal accumulator 26 inside of combustion chamber 11 is located apart from cone 12c, close to and opposing burner unit 5 in order to have both of the combustion flame and the exhaust gas discharged from the flame of burner unit 5 strike accumulator 26. Also, heat accumulator 27 is removably attached to the inner surfaces of inner cylinder large part 12a which forms the surface of combustion chamber 11, to left end plate 14, and to the inner surfaces of step wall 13c. Thermal accumulator 26 is structured from checker brick in which thru-holes are formed as means of preventing the obstruction of exhaust gas flowing from burner unit 5. Thermal accumulator 26 is replaceably mounted on stage 28 which is fixedly installed within combustion chamber 11. Thermal accumulators 26 and 27 become thermally saturated from the combustion in burner unit 5, and are thus able to suppress temperature fluctuations within combustion chamber 11, and to also heat, through thermal radiation, the liquid medium in liquid media jacket 21 and preheating channel 19. In this embodiment of cogeneration system 1, the combustion flame, thermal radiation, and exhaust gas generated by the combustion in burner unit 5 in combustion chamber 11 raise the temperature of heater 3 of Stirling engine 4 as well as the temperature of the liquid medium in boiler 2 through the flow of exhaust gas into exhaust gas passage 22 through exhaust gas flow channel 20. These thermal operations are made possible without moving or transporting heat through space or time while at the same time generating both heat and electricity. In addition, in this embodiment, left end plate 14, to which burner unit 5 is attached, is attached to boiler 2 through a hinge, thus forming a structure through which left end plate 14 functions as an opening and closing door through which the soot which accumulates in combustion chamber 11 may be removed, through which maintenance work can be conducted, and through which burner unit 5 can be taken out for inspection and maintenance at a location external to combustion chamber 11. Right end plate 15, to which heater 3 is attached, is structured as a cover part which can be removed from outer cylinder small diameter part 13b by means of a coupling device. Moreover, framework 8, on which Stirling engine 4 and other components are mounted, is attached to frame 10 through side rail 29. The removal of end plate 15 from outer cylinder small diameter part 13b and the slidable displacement of framework 8 allow heater 3 to be pulled out of combustion chamber 11 for maintenance. The following will describe burner unit 5 with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 5. Burner unit 5, which was developed by the inventors of the present invention, is a dual-flow misting-type burner unit [see Japanese patent application No. 2002-382741] structured from; double-wall pipe 32 which includes straightly formed fuel supply pipe 30 and gas supply pipe 31 which surrounds the external side of fuel supply pipe 30, gas supply pipe 31 supplying a primary gas such as air; mixing nozzle 33 which is attached to the tip of double-wall pipe 32 and which separately sprays out fuel and a primary gas from a spray tip so as to make them mix outside thereof, said fuel and primary gas being respectively supplied through fuel supply pipe 30 and gas supply pipe 31; double-wall cylinder 36 which provides a flame discharge orifice forward of nozzle 33, cylinder 36 being structured from inner cylinder 34 and outer cylinder 35, both cylinder 34 and 35 being round in cross section; low-flow fan 37 and high-flow fan 38 which draw in secondary gasses such as air and the like, fan 37 being used for low combustion rates and fan 38 for high combustion rates; igniter 39; and control unit 51 that controls the combustion process including initial ignition, combustion, and combustion quench. Fuel supply pipe 30 includes nozzle 33 connected to its tip part, and fuel solenoids 40 and 41 connected to its base part, solenoid 40 controlling the fuel supply for a low combustion rate, and solenoid 41 being an adjustable type controlling the fuel supply for a high combustion rate. Fuel enters fuel supply pipe 30 through either solenoid 40 or 41, and is sprayed out at high pressure from nozzle 33. The tip part of gas supply pipe 31 is connected to nozzle 33, and the base part thereof is provided with gas solenoids 42 and 43, solenoid 42 controlling the supply of primary gas for a low combustion rate, and solenoid 43 being an adjustable type controlling primary gas flow for high combustion rate. Primary gas also enters gas supply pipe 31 through either solenoid 42 or 43, and is sprayed out from nozzle 33 at high pressure. As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, nozzle 33, which is installed to the tip part of double-wall pipe 32, is primarily structured from hollow sleeve-shaped nozzle body 110 which connects to fuel supply pipe 30, and hollow sleeve-shaped nozzle cover 111 that surrounds nozzle body 110 and connects to gas supply pipe 31. Nozzle body 110 is structured from (noted in sequence from the base part to the tip part) connecting part 112 that threads into fuel supply pipe 30, first ring 113 which has a larger diameter than connecting part 112, pipe-shaped part 114 which has a smaller diameter than connecting part 112, second ring 115 which has a larger diameter than pipe-shaped part 114 but a smaller diameter than first ring 113, and fine pipe part 116 which extends beyond second ring 115. A threaded screw part is formed on the perimeter of first ring 113 and angular slits 117 are formed at appropriate intervals along the circumferential direction thereon and incline to an axis of nozzle body 110. Having much the same configuration as the first ring 113 structure, slits 118 are formed at appropriate intervals on the cone-shaped perimeter of the tip of second ring 115 which inclines to the axis of nozzle body 110. Fuel spray passage 119 runs from connecting part 112 through fine pipe part 116 in nozzle body 110 in order to introduce fuel into fine pipe part 116 from fuel supply pipe 30 which connects to connecting part 112, whereby fuel is sprayed out from fine pipe part 116. Fuel spray passage 19 provides means of pressuring the fuel passing therethrough by being formed to a diameter that decreases along its length extending from connecting part 112 to fine pipe part 116. Nozzle cover 111 includes, as noted in sequence from its base part to its tip part, connecting part 120 which forms a ring-shaped space around pipe-shaped part 114 of nozzle body 110, the inner perimeter of connecting part 120 threading into first ring 113 of nozzle body 110, and the outer perimeter threading into gas supply pipe 31; mid-section 121 which is formed to a smaller diameter than connecting part 120 and defines a narrow space around pipe-shaped part 114; and spray flange 124 which is formed as a tapered cone-shaped tip part covering second ring 115, defines gas spray chamber 122 around fine pipe part 116, and forms spray orifice 123, which connects to gas spray chamber 122 into which fine pipe part 116 protrudes, from which fuel and primary gas are sprayed out. Connecting part 120 installs against and around the perimeter of first ring 113, thus forming a structure able to impart a spinning motion to the primary gas flow passing through slits 117. Passage is constructed between mid-section 121 and pipe-shaped part 114 to raise the pressure of the flowing primary gas. Spray flange 124 installs against the cone-shaped surface of second ring 115, thus forming a structure able to strengthen a spinning motion to the primary gas flow passing through slits 118. Nozzle 33 may, for example, be assembled through a structure whereby nozzle body 110 is inserted and tightened into nozzle cover 111 after which nozzle body 110 is tightened to fuel supply pipe 30 and nozzle cover 111 is tightened to gas supply pipe 31. The gas flowing through gas passage 125 between nozzle cover 111 and nozzle body 110 (gas passage 125 being formed as a continuous passage from gas supply pipe 31 to spray orifice 123) is driven in a spinning motion by slits 117 of first ring 113 after which the pressure of the flowing gas is increased by the constricting effect applied by mid-section 121, and the spinning motion further strengthened by slits 118 of second ring 115. Finally, the fuel is sprayed out from fine pipe part 116 of nozzle body 110 and the primary gas is sprayed out from gas spray chamber 122 through spray orifice 123 as the high-speed spinning and shearing flow, whereby the fuel is mixed with and very finely atomized by the primary gas outside of nozzle 33. Cylindrical wind box 45 is installed around the tip of nozzle 33 through which the fuel and primary gas mixture, as mixed in the previously described process, is sprayed. Inverter-controlled high-flow fan 38, which draws in secondary gas supplied to wind box 45, is joined to wind box 45 via duct arranged in the tangential direction of wind box 45. High-flow fan 38, duct 46, and wind box 45 have the function of further promoting the mixing of the fuel and primary gas mixture through a circular flow path. The induction of a secondary gas in this manner drives the mixture of fuel and primary gas (which has been sprayed out from nozzle 33) with a high-speed circular motion which has the effect of ultra-atomizing the fuel under ultra-mixture condition. Moreover, double wall cylinder 36 is installed to the opposite side of wind box 45 from double-wall pipe 32. Inner cylinder 34 of double wall cylinder 36 forms a fuel gasification duct in which the fuel is gasified as the gas-fuel mixture moves therethrough with a spinning motion. In order to ignite and combust the fuel, outer cylinder 35 functions as an oxidation gas supply passage through which oxidation gas passes toward the exit orifice of inner cylinder 34 which extends outward from the end of outer cylinder 35. In this embodiment, outer cylinder 35 is structured to form a connecting passage to wind box 45 allowing part of the secondary gas, which serves as the oxidation gas, to flow through outer cylinder 35. Furthermore, a structure may be employed which does not limit the gasification of fuel to a mechanism thorough which the fuel is gasified after exiting nozzle 33, but which may supply previously gasified fuel, through fuel pipe 30, to be sprayed from nozzle 33. Igniter 39 is applied to an ignition method to light a pilot flame on pilot burner 47 which is disposed parallel to double-wall pipe 32 and extends to the tip of the nozzle. In other words, pilot flame electrode 49, which is connected to pilot flame transformer 48, emits an electrical discharge that ignites a pilot flame fed by the fuel gas discharged from pilot burner 47 after which fuel sprayed out of nozzle 33 is ignited by the pilot flame. Low-flow fan 37, which is installed behind nozzle 33, supplies secondary gas at a low flow rate during a low rate combustion condition after the mixture has ignited. Light fuel oil or other like substance, or both fuel gas and light fuel oil, may be used in place of fuel gas for this purpose. Furthermore, flame sensor 50, which is installed to burner unit 5, automatically functions as a sensor for detecting an emergency, outputting a warning and sending a fault condition signal to controller 51 in order to stop the combustion operation. To explain the operation of burner unit 5, after a pilot flame is lit at igniter 39, fuel solenoids 40 and 42 open to supply fuel and primary gas to nozzle 33 through fuel supply pipe 30 and gas supply pipe 31. Low-flow fan 37 then begins operation by blowing in a small amount of secondary gas which ignites and thus initiates low rate combustion. Next, high rate combustion initiates by fuel solenoid 41 and gas solenoid 43 gradually opening while high-flow fan 38 blows in a larger amount of air. The secondary gas effectively intermixes with the fuel and primary gas sprayed from nozzle 33, while ultra-atomizing the fuel under the spinning motion at a high rate of speed, and sends the fuel and primary gas to inner cylinder 34 to promote the gasification of the fuel. During this process, a part of the still spinning secondary gas flows into outer cylinder 35 and is blown out from the exit orifice of double-wall cylinder 36. The secondary gas blown out of outer cylinder 35 mixes with the gasified fuel at the exit orifice of inner cylinder 34 and combusts, thus it is created a stable, high-rate, and complete combustion condition. In particular, if water is mixed in with the fuel, it becomes possible to induce an aqueous gasification reaction within inner cylinder 34, and an oxidation reaction with the secondary gas emitted from outer cylinder 35 at the exit orifice of inner cylinder 34, thus generating an explosive combustion condition. In this high-rate combustion process, a step-less turn-down control system may be conducted through the adjustable operation of solenoids 41 and 43 and inverter controlled adjustable operation of high-flow fan 38. Burner unit 5 may use various types of fuel including kerosene, heavy fuel oil, vegetable oil, mineral oil and the like. Fuel types are not limited to virgin oils, but may also include used oils, high water-cut oils, liquid waste, oil processed from waste plastics, biomass fuels such as wood vinegar pyroligneous acid derived from drying bamboo and so forth, and waste gases such as exhaust gas. Fuel can also take the form of liquids into which particles and powders processed from solid waste and biomass substances have been mixed, mixtures of the above-noted substances, and aqueous emulsion fuels made by mixing water into base materials made from the above-noted substances. The aqueous component of these fuels may be clean or it may contain impurities. The use of aqueous emulsion fuels enables an aqueous gas reaction through which burner unit 5 is able to operate at high efficiency, and thus promote complete combustion which has the effect of purifying the exhaust gas. The gas supplied to burner unit 5 may, of course, be air, or it may be a combustible gas. Exhaust gases may be supplied for re-combustion as a result of the excellent combustion characteristics of burner unit 5 which is able to thermally separate fuel components at high temperatures. In addition, the structure of nozzle 33 allows the use of high viscosity fuels as well as low viscosity types. Also, by supplying and burning a mixture of oxygen and hydrogen, the resulting high temperature inhibits the generation of toxic components and eliminates exhaust gas. Moreover, a high temperature low NOx combustion process may be ensured by using pure oxygen or an oxygen rich gas as the combustion gas and supplying it to burner unit 5 as a single gas or in combination with other gasses. A gas including oxygen and/or hydrogen components may also be combusted in addition to the above-noted substances. The following will describe, with reference to FIG. 6, an aqueous emulsion fuel which can be supplied to burner unit 5 and combusted, and fuel preparation unit 62 which manufactures the aforesaid aqueous emulsion fuel. Aqueous emulsion fuel and fuel preparation unit 62 have been developed by the inventor of the present invention (disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-282360). Fuel preparation unit 62 includes; oil tank 52 which stores oil such as waste oil; water supply valve 53 which opens and closes to adjustably control the supply of utility-supplied water to a water pipe; a surfactant tank storing a surfactant which promotes and stabilizes emulsification; mixing tank 55 which stores a mixture of waste oil, surfactant and water, said waste oil and surfactant being respectively supplied from adjusting valve-installed pipes connected to oil tank 52 and the surfactant tank, and said water being supplied through water supply valve 53; agitator 56, installed to mixing tank 55, which creates a liquid mixture; emulsifier 57 which attenuates clusters in the mixture liquid supplied from mixing tank 55 by applying a water impact process (through which the liquid mixture is broken down) and a process contacting with crystals, in order to promote emulsification of the liquid mixture; ionizing unit 58 which generates a magnetic field of intersecting magnetic force lines to ionize the liquid component of the liquid mixture supplied from emulsifier 57; circulation pump 59 that draws the liquid mixture from mixing tank 55 and circulates it back to tank 55 through a closed loop pipe system connecting mixing tank 55, emulsifier 57, and ionizing unit 58; and automatic controller 54 that controls the fuel emulsification process. When preparing an aqueous emulsion fuel, one part waste oil and one part utility-supplied water are placed in mixing tank 55 along with a surfactant which is added at a volume of 0.1˜0.7% of the total. While agitator 56 is operating, pump 59 circulates the mixture from mixing tank 55, under pressure, through emulsifier 57 and ionizing unit 58 which has the effect, over a period of time, of creating a stable water-fuel emulsion. This type of fuel manufacturing process is automatically controlled through automatic controller 54. The prepared aqueous emulsion fuel is then deposited in reserve tank 60 by switching the fuel flow at the output side [emulsifier side] of pump 59 to reserve tank 60. Reserve tank 60 is connected to fuel supply pipe 30 of burner unit 5 through a pipe connected to oil pump 61 which intermittently supplies burner unit 5 with the manufactured aqueous emulsion fuel with excess fuel returning to reserve tank 60. The surfactant may be added to the mixture through an additive unit installed between mixing tank 55 and pump 59. Also, a water holding tank may be installed with the purpose of supplying water to mixing tank 55. While this description has specified a 1:1 mixture of waste oil and water, the water component may occupy up to 90% volume of the mixture. The aqueous emulsion fuel, as prepared by this process, is slow to evaporate at normal temperatures, and is able to be transported and stored with a high level of safety due to its high ignition temperature. This embodiment of the above-described fuel preparation unit 62, which includes emulsifier 57 and magnetic field-generating ionizing unit 58 [both of which need not be externally powered], pump 59, tanks 52, 24, 55, and 60, pipes, and other like components, is a simple structure capable of easily preparing an aqueous emulsion fuel at low cost. Moreover, in this embodiment, exhaust gas system 63 communicated with another process is connected to high-flow fan 38 of burner unit 5 to supply the exhaust gas, as the secondary gas, to burner unit 5 from another process. This secondary exhaust gas, as has been previously described, accelerates and is mixed into the spinning flow proximal to nozzle 33, and is blown out from outer cylinder 35, to provide an exhaust gas re-combustion process. Exhaust gas system 63 is divided into two systems, one including first exhaust gas duct 64 through which flows exhaust gas containing a large amount of soot and other foreign objects, and the second including second exhaust gas duct 65 through which flows exhaust gas containing a small amount of foreign objects. Second exhaust gas duct 65 connects directly to high-flow fan 38, and first exhaust gas duct 64 connects to high-flow fan 38 through heat exchanger 66 which is located between first exhaust gas duct 64 and exhaust duct 16 through which exhaust gas flows. Heat exchanger 66, which is disposed between exhaust duct 16 and first exhaust gas duct 64, includes an internally installed soot collector which removes solid objects from the exhaust gas flowing through first exhaust gas duct 64. Also, one of three stop valves 67 through 69 is installed on the intake side of fan 38 of second exhaust gas duct 65, and on the intake and exhaust sides of heat exchanger 66 of first exhaust gas duct 64. Exhaust gas may be drawn through exhaust gas system 63 by high-flow fan 38 in the following manner. When exhaust gas is flowing through first exhaust gas duct 64, first stop valve 67 in second exhaust gas duct 65 is closed, and second and third stop valves 68 and 69 on the heat exchanger 66 side are open. Conversely, when exhaust gas is flowing through second exhaust gas duct 65, first stop valve 67 in second exhaust gas duct 65 is open, and second and third stop valve 68 and 69 are closed. Adjustment valve 70 is installed to exhaust duct 16 to control the discharge pressure of heat exchanger 66 so as to adjust the combustion pressure within combustion chamber 11. To explain the operation of this embodiment of cogeneration system 1, operation starts with the ignition of burner unit 5 and the supply of fuel to burner unit 5 from fuel preparation unit 62, followed by the supply of exhaust gas, which serves as the secondary gas, from exhaust gas system 63, the supply of secondary gas resulting in burner unit 5 moving from a low combustion rate to a high combustion rate. The combustion is generated by burner unit 5, the heat is stored in thermal accumulators 26 and 27, and the exhaust gas circulating within boiler 2 transfers thermal energy to heater 3 and the liquid medium. Therefore, Stirling engine 4 begins operation when heater 3 reaches a preset temperature and electrical generator 7, which is driven by Stirling engine 4, initiates the generation of electricity while the heated liquid medium is supplied from gas-liquid separator 23 to the thermal utilization processes, this making it possible to provide two energy sources. Cogeneration system 1 of this embodiment specifies that heater 3 of Stirling engine 4 being installed within combustion chamber 11 which is thermally energized by the combustion propagated by burner unit 5 and liquid media jacket 21 which surrounds combustion chamber 11. The exhaust gas generated by the combustion from burner unit 5 flows over and imparts thermal energy to heater 3 of Stirling engine 4 being opposite to burner unit 5, and sequentially heats the liquid medium in medium jacket 21 by flowing into exhaust gas passage 22 through exhaust gas flow channel. Because the liquid medium and heater 3 are heated within a single combustion chamber 11 at the almost same time, there is no need to provide space, time, or mechanical means to transfer thermal energy in order to heat heater 3 and the liquid medium. Therefore, thermal energy loss is reduced, heater 3 and the thermal utilization liquid medium are more efficiently heated from combustion driven by burner unit 5, and cogeneration system 1 operates without wasting energy. In addition to high thermal utilization efficiency, this embodiment of the cogeneration system 1 combines boiler 2 and Stirling engine 4 into a single assembly which forms a more compact structure. The cogeneration system 1 is able to offer superior performance, especially when applied as a zone-type cogeneration system, due to boiler 2 and Stirling engine 4 not requiring their own heat source, and by boiler 2 and Stirling engine 4 being able to generate energy from various types of fuels that may even contain a variety of waste materials. The cogeneration of both electrical and thermal energy is made possible by Stirling engine 4 driving electrical generator 7, and by the liquid medium being supplied to a thermal utilization process. The installation of thermal accumulators 26 and 27 (which draw in and discharge heat) within combustion chamber 11 make it possible to control temperature fluctuations in combustion chamber 11 and to stabilize the heating process through which thermal energy is transferred to heater 3 and the liquid medium at a set temperature. As a result of the flames and exhaust gas discharged from burner unit 5 striking oppositely disposed thermal accumulator 26, it becomes possible for thermal accumulator 26 to store thermal energy at the highest temperature of the combustion conducted by burner unit 5, thus allowing the maximum amount of combustion energy from burner unit 5 to be transferred to heater 3 and the liquid medium. Even though both the liquid medium and heater 3 are heated through a single combustion chamber 11 simultaneously, the exhaust gas is effectively collected and supplied to heater 3 through cone 12c which is disposed in opposition thereto, thus forming a mechanism through which thermal energy is efficiently transferred to heater 3, and through which the efficient operation of Stirling engine 4 can be maintained at temperatures from 750˜800° C. Moreover, the coolant heated by the operation of the regenerator of Stirling engine 4 may be applied to heat the liquid medium or may be supplied to the heat utilization process. This process allows the heat discharged by Stirling engine 4, that is, part of the heat originating from the combustion within burner unit 5, to also be applied as the thermal energy to further increase the utilization of thermal energy from burner unit 5. Left end plate 14, which also functions as a door, may open to allow access to the internal region of combustion chamber 11 from which accumulated soot may be easily removed and in which other maintenance operations may be conducted. Moreover, the attachment of burner unit 5 to end plate 14 results in burner unit 5 swinging out of combustion chamber 11 when end plate 14 is opened, thus allowing convenient maintenance of burner unit 5. Conversely, right end plate 15 functions as a lid to which heater 3 of Stirling engine 4 is attached, the removal of end plate 15 exposing heater 3 to the external environment for convenient maintenance and repair work. The fuel supplied to burner unit 5 may take the form of various types of virgin oils, liquid waste products, gaseous waste products, solid state waste products, biomass fuels and a mixture made of some of them, in addition to normal sulphonated petroleum oils, vegetable oils, and mineral oils, because boiler 2 and Stirling engine 4 as an external-combustion engine is characterized by being able to operated by a variety of fuels. The cogeneration system is thus structured to use waste products as fuel, and in doing so promotes the re-cycling of waste products and protection of the environment. Moreover, the cogeneration system invention is able to promote the reduction of industrial waste products and the recycling of resources because burner unit 5 may be supplied with the aqueous emulsion fuel which is made by adding water to the base fuel substances such as a various types of virgin oils, liquid waste products, gaseous waste products, solid state waste products, biomass fuels and the mixture made of some of them. Namely, the system can be operated by the high combustion performance of the aqueous emulsion fuel and the above-mentioned characteristics of both of the boiler 2 and Stirling engine 4, even though the base fuel substances contains the waste products. Moreover, the fuel preparation unit, which is a simple structure constructed from mixing tank 55, agitator 56 installed to mixing tank 55, emulsifier 57, ionizing unit 58, and pump 59, is able to economically prepare aqueous emulsion fuels. Exhaust gas in the form of a gaseous state waste product may be supplied to burner unit 5 and washed through the re-combustion process. Furthermore, exhaust gas system 63, which supplies exhaust gas to burner unit 5, is structured from first and second exhaust gas ducts 64 and 65, second exhaust gas duct being directly connected to burner unit 5, and first exhaust gas duct 64 being connected to burner unit 5 through soot removing soot collector. The reliable operation of burner unit 5 is improved as a result of the soot collector removing soot from exhaust gas before said gas is supplied to burner unit 5. The combustion gas supplied to burner unit 5 may take the form of pure oxygen gas or an oxygen-rich gas, thus making it possible to run a low NOx combustion process. Moreover, the fuel supplied to burner unit 5 may also be a mixture of oxygen and hydrogen, thus making it possible to prevent the generation of toxic pollution components through a completely clean combustion process. Other substances may, of course, be mixed in with these fuel gasses and combusted. Moreover, burner unit 5 heats boiler 2 and heater 3 by completely combusting waste products which may be used as fuel, or aqueous emulsion fuels containing waste products. This is made possible by the structure of nozzle 33 which is able to separately spray out fuel and primary gas which are mixed external to the spray tip of nozzle 33, wind box 45, fan 38 and duct 46 which introduce a secondary gas into the fuel and primary gas mixture to impart a spinning motion to the mixture, inner cylinder 34 which serves as a fuel gasification duct for the spinning fuel and gas mixture flowing therethrough, and outer cylinder 35 which serves as an oxidation gas passage supplying oxidation gas to the discharge end of inner cylinder 34 in order to ignite and combust the fuel. When an aqueous emulsion fuel is burned, an aqueous gas reaction is induced resulting in a continuous, stable, high-temperature explosive combustion process. Moreover, complete combustion may be obtained, even in the presence of low air reaction, as a result of the supplementation of the required oxygen. Therefore, this combustion process reduces fuel expenses by minimizing thermal loss, maintaining a dependable and economical low-energy combustion, suppressing the generation of soot through complete combustion at high temperatures, and minimizing the production of NOx, SOx, CO, Co2, and other atmospheric pollutants so as not to contribute to global warming. Therefore, sufficient combustion heat is obtained from the aqueous gas reaction to support the operation of Stirling engine 4 which operates in a temperature range of from 750˜800° C., and because thermal loss from Stirling engine 4 is extremely small, the liquid medium in boiler 2 can be heated to a sufficiently high temperature. Also, the use of aqueous emulsion fuels to cogeneration system 1 makes it possible to attain a fuel processing thermal cycle in which the previously noted multiple types of low grade waste materials may be used as a source of thermal energy. Moreover, burner unit 5 is made to compact dimensions by means of being structured to include a double wall cylindrical assembly of inner cylinder 34 and outer cylinder 35 which respectively serve as gasification and oxygenation gas supply ducts. Due to the process through which an oxidation gas is supplied through the outer cylinder 35 while an aqueous gasification reaction occurs at the inner cylinder 34, a complete high-temperature combustion process is made possible through an oxidation combustion reaction of high efficiency and minimal thermal loss. Moreover, the combustion taking place in combustion chamber 11 eliminates the need for the normally used exhaust gas processing induction fan in exhaust duct 16. FIG. 7 illustrates heating furnace 71 which may be preferably assembled with the previously described cogeneration system 1 embodiment. Heating furnace 71 is connected to exhaust gas system 63, for example to second exhaust gas duct 65 to heat the exhaust gas therethrough. Heating furnace 71 is primarily structured from; equipment supporting frame structure 72; vertical housing 75 which is attached to frame structure 72, forms combustion chamber 74 through which exhaust gas flows, and to which thermal accumulator 73 having a flame and corrosion resistant property is installed at the internal surface thereof; vortex flame burner 77 installed within vertical housing 75, burner 77 operating to combust exhaust gasses while imparting a vortex-like spinning flow pattern to the combustion flame which is blown upward, along with combustion air, by fan 76 which is attached to the external part of vertical housing 75; Stirling engine 80 installed in a vertical orientation above top plate 78 of vertical housing 75, heater 79 of Stirling engine 80 being disposed within combustion chamber 74 facing vortex flame burner 77; electrical generator 82 which is connected to the output shaft 81 of Stirling engine 80; cone member 83 which is installed within the upper region of combustion chamber 74, the inner surface of cone member 83 extending toward heater 79 to form a constricting cone-like structure which accelerates exhaust gas blown toward heater 79; exhaust gas port 84 which is formed at the upper region of vertical housing 75 and connects to the open space between cone member 83 and top plate 78, and which directs the exhaust gas to second exhaust gas duct 65; adjustment valve 85 which is installed in the vicinity of exhaust gas port 84 and which is controllably opened and closed to adjust the exhaust gas flow rate to maintain an approximately uniform temperature within combustion chamber 74; preheating tank 86 which is installed external to vertical housing 75 and which stores and pre-heats the fuel supplied to vortex flame burner 77 by accumulating heat radiated from vertical housing 75; oil supply pipe 87 which is connected to preheating tank 86, runs through vertical housing 75, extends above and faces vortex flame burner 77, and drops fuel, supplied from preheating tank 86, down onto flame burner 77 by operation of the cock; heat resistant gas supply fan 89 which is attached to vertical housing 75, and which blows exhaust gas from another process into the internal region of vertical housing 75 through supply duct 88 whose opening is located between vortex flame burner 77 and oil supply pipe 87; exhaust gas intake duct 91 which supplies exhaust gas from another process to fan 89 through adjusting valve 90; temperature adjusting duct 93 which is connected to exhaust gas intake duct 91, duct 93 being equipped with adjusting valve 92 which directs air into the flow of exhaust gas in order to adjust the exhaust gas temperature; and oxygen supply duct 94 which connects to supply duct 88 and supplies a required amount of oxygen, from an oxygen condenser, which mixes in with the exhaust gas as means of inducing high-temperature oxygen-rich combustion. Stirling engine 80 and electrical generator 82 are able to slide vertically upward or downward on frame structure 72 through sliding base 95. Furthermore, top plate 78 is structured as a cover removably attached to the top of vertical housing 75 in which heater 79 is installed. Removing top plate 78 and lifting up sliding base 95 along frame structure 72 allows access to heater 79 which can be pulled out of combustion chamber 74 for maintenance work. Furthermore, stopper 96 is provided on frame structure 72, to limit the downward travel of sliding base 95. In heating furnace 71, vortex flame burner 77 combusts the fuel, combustion air, exhaust gas, and if necessary, oxygen which results in the generation of thermal energy and exhaust gas which is applied to heater 79 to drive Stirling engine 80 which in turn powers electrical generator 82 to generate electricity while combustion-heated high temperature exhaust gas is concurrently supplied to burner unit 5 through exhaust gas system 63. Supplying this large amount of thermal energy and high-temperature exhaust gas to burner unit 5 allows the combustion process to operate with a high degree of combustion efficiency. In cases where little heat is applied to burner unit 5, the addition of an exhaust gas makes it possible for cogeneration system 1 to operate with high efficiency. Furthermore, by using burner 77 to heat the exhaust gas, an exhaust gas combustion process is enabled which makes it possible to remove, or “wash” undesirable components from the exhaust gas. Heating furnace 71 may incorporate Stirling engine 80 to drive electrical generator 82, thus making heating furnace 71 electricity generating cogeneration system in itself. More specifically, it becomes possible to maintain the exhaust gas supplied to burner unit 5, from combustion chamber 74, at a high temperature due to the high efficiency and minimal thermal loss with which a Stirling engine operates. Also, cone member 83 in combustion chamber 74 collects and focuses the exhaust gas on heater 79, and therefore thermal energy is efficiently transferred to heater 79 to assure that Stirling engine 80 is able to operate with a high degree of efficiency. Removing top plate 78 of vertical housing 75 exposes heater 79 to the region external to combustion chamber 74, thus allowing maintenance to be performed on heater 79 in an easily accessible position. The method through which fuel is supplied to vortex flame burner 77 of heating furnace 71 is, in the same manner as previously described in regard to the fuel supplied to burner unit 5, designed to promote the recycling and reduction of waste products in order to contribute to environmental conservation. Heating furnace 71 is able to pre-heat the fuel supplied therein from pre-heating tank 86, therefore heating furnace 71 is able to liquidize incoming fuel, a factor that allows the use of high viscosity fuels. In addition, a clean combustion process is assured by supplying burner 77 with a combustion gas such as oxygen gas, oxygen-rich gas, or a mixture of oxygen and hydrogen gas from oxygen supply duct 94 in the same manner as previously described in regard to burner unit 5. Other substances may, of course, be mixed into the aforesaid gasses. FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of cogeneration system 1 in the form of thermal plant 97 structured from an array of multiple heating furnaces 71 (each furnace 71 shown in detail in FIG. 7) joined in an inline configuration by connecting duct 98, thus making it possible to heat each of the exhaust gas generated by other plants individually and to process said exhaust gas through multiple heating cycles. As FIG. 8 illustrates, the upper portion of each heating furnace 71 incorporates a gas supply port 99 opposing an exhaust gas port 84, the exhaust gas port 84 of each heating furnace 71 being connected to the gas supply port 99 of the adjacent heating furnace 71 by connecting duct 98, thus forming a structure allowing the exhaust gas discharged from each heating furnace 71 to flow from an upstream side to a downstream side therebetween. Second exhaust gas duct 65 is formed by the connection of exhaust gas port 84 of the last downstream heating furnace 71 to high-flow fan 38 of burner unit 5 through connecting duct 98, and the connection of all heating furnaces 71 through connecting duct 98. Therefore, thermal plant 97 includes the aforesaid first exhaust gas duct 64, which is provided as a bypass duct bypassing each heating furnace 71, in addition to second exhaust gas duct 65. A stop valve 100 is installed in each connecting duct 101 installed between the first and second exhaust gas ducts 64 and 65 between each heating furnace 71, and in the connecting duct 101 located between heating furnace 71 and burner unit 5. Firstly, by opening each adjustment valve 85 in second exhaust gas duct 65, and by closing each stop valve 100 in each connecting duct 101, the exhaust gas flow is routed through the second exhaust gas duct 65 and thus through each heating furnace 71. Secondly, by closing any of the adjustment valves 85 in second exhaust gas duct 65, and by opening a stop valve 100 in connecting duct 101 on the upstream side of the closed adjustment valve 85, it becomes possible to route the flow of exhaust gas, through the operation of an upstream heating furnace 71, from the second exhaust gas duct 65 to first exhaust gas duct 64. Thirdly, even when the exhaust gas flow is routed from second exhaust gas duct 65 to first exhaust gas duct 64, closing second stop valve 68 on the intake side of heat exchanger 66, while a stop valve 100 in connecting duct 101 is open, makes it possible to route the flow of exhaust gas back to second exhaust gas duct 65. In other words, the selective operation of valves 85 and 100 in connecting ducts 98 and 101, along with the selective operation of the aforesaid first, second, and third stop valves 67, 68, and 69, makes it possible to control the number of heating furnaces 71 to which exhaust gas is supplied, that is, to route the flow of exhaust gas around a specific heating furnace 71 if desired, thus allowing maintenance and repair work to be done on the bypassed heating furnace 71 without interrupting the continuing operation of thermal plant 97. Therefore, when the temperature of the exhaust gas supplied to burner unit 5 is too low and must be raised, the exhaust gas flow may be routed through the required number of heating furnaces 71 through second exhaust gas duct 65 and heated by each vortex flame burner 77. Conversely, when the exhaust gas temperature is effectively high, the exhaust gas flow may be routed around a heating furnace 71 through first exhaust gas duct 64. Therefore, in cases where the exhaust gas contains a large amount of debris, first stop valve 67 may be closed to route the gas flow through first exhaust gas duct 64. Providing thermal plant 97 as means of heating the exhaust gas flowing through exhaust gas system 63, and structuring thermal plant 97 to include multiple heating furnaces 71 connected in series through connecting ducts 98, makes it possible to maintain the exhaust gas, which is cooled as it travels through exhaust gas system 63, at the required high temperature constantly, to raise the thermal volume of the exhaust gas supplied to burner unit 5, and to have burner unit 5 generate a highly efficient combustion process. Also, this structure makes it possible to divert exhaust gas from heating furnace 71 through first exhaust gas duct 64 which serves as a bypass duct, to run or to shut down each heating furnace 71 as desired, to determine how many heating furnaces 71 will operate, and to keep cogeneration system 1 running even when one or more of the heating furnaces 71 are shut down for maintenance or repair work. Therefore, thermal plant 97 may also be applied as a cogeneration system able to generate electricity by having Stirling engine 80 drive electrical generator 82. Thermal plant 97 makes it possible to maintain the temperature of the exhaust gas supplied to burner unit 5 due to the Stirling engine's high operating efficiency and low thermal loss, to simultaneously generate electricity through the multiple Stirling engines 80 powered by the combustion heat and exhaust gas produced by the vortex flame burner 77 of each heating furnace 71, and lastly to drive Stirling engine 4 through the operation of boiler 2 while concurrently recycling thermal energy, through the liquid medium, to a thermal utilization plant. Also, it is preferable that heating furnace 71 and thermal plant 97 (which is equipped with multiple heating furnaces 71) send the coolant, which has been heated by the operation of the regenerator of Stirling engine 80, to another thermal utilization process, thus providing a process able to effectively use the discharge heat from Stirling engine 4 as thermal energy. FIG. 9 illustrates another preferred embodiment of cogeneration system 1. In this embodiment of cogeneration system 1, Stirling engine 4 (which includes heater 3) and electrical generator 7 are installed in casing 102, and heater 3 is located in cavity 103 defined within casing 102. As a result of this embodiment placing heater 3 within casing 102, combustion chamber 11 is formed into partitioned regions which include cavity 103, large diameter part 12a of inner cylinder 12, constricting cone part 104 put in place of cone 12b and separately structured large diameter part 12a, and first duct 105 which connects boiler 2 and casing 102 through a passage formed between cone part 104 and cavity 103, first duct 105 and cavity 103 form a structure which corresponds to small diameter part 12b of inner cylinder 12 described in the previous embodiment. As a result, a single combustion chamber 11 (which is enveloped by liquid media jacket 21 and heated by combustion from burner unit 5) extends from large diameter part 12a of inner cylinder 12 up to cavity 103 via first duct 105. To explain further, combustion chamber 11 is formed as a continuing chamber extending from outer cylinder 13 up to casing 102. In other words, casing 102 divides combustion chamber 11 into compartments. Furthermore, first duct 105 is formed as a pair of mutually disconnectable duct members 105a, one of which is an extending part opposing end wall 13d of outer cylinder 13 (end wall 13d being used in place of step wall 13c), and the other as an extending part opposing casing 102. Moreover, this embodiment eliminates small diameter part 13b of outer cylinder 13 in the previous embodiment, and replaces exhaust gas flow channel 20 (which, in the previous embodiment, connects the region around heater 3 with exhaust gas passage 22) with second duct 106 which connects cavity 103 on the casing 102 side with exhaust gas passage 22 on the outer cylinder 13 side. Second duct 106 is also structured from a pair of duct members 106a, one of which is formed as an extending part opposing end wall 13d of outer cylinder 13, and the other as an extending part opposing casing 102. Furthermore, in addition to eliminating small diameter part 13b of outer cylinder 13 which houses heater 3 in the previous embodiment, this embodiment also eliminates end plate 15 of the previous embodiment, provides an assembled structure of first and second ducts 105 and 106 whose disconnection allows the separation of outer cylinder 13 from casing 102. First and second ducts 105 and 106 connect the internal space of combustion chamber 11 to the space around heater 3, and thus place heater 3 within combustion chamber 11. End plate 15, which served as a lid in the previous embodiment, is replaced by casing 102 which, in this embodiment, contains heater 3 and functions as the lid of combustion chamber 11. Therefore, casing 102 may be movably mounted to framework 8 through slide rails 29. Ducts 105 and 106 may be separated and casing 102 slidably moved on framework 8 in a direction away from combustion chamber 11 in order to expose heater 3 for maintenance work. This embodiment provides the same operational effects as the previous embodiment, and may, of course, be used together with heating furnace 71 described in FIG. 7 and thermal plant 97 described in FIG. 8. Even though Stirling engine 4, which includes heater 3, is completely housed within casing 102, in case casing 102 may partition combustion chamber 11 into compartment, heater 3, though housed in casing 102, is still able to be placed within combustion chamber 11. The Stirling engines 4 and 80 described in these embodiments operate through the heating of heaters 3 and 79, and need not be of any specific structure or shape. Furthermore, it is preferable that the operation of the gas supplying devices, such as the oxygen condenser, be used in the late evening when the price of electricity is reduced. The cogeneration system described by the invention is equipped with a Stirling engine heater located within a combustion chamber, the internal region of the combustion chamber being heated by combustion generated by a burner, and a liquid medium jacket enveloping the combustion chamber. The exhaust gas generated by the burner-driven combustion flows against the Stirling engine heater which is located in a position opposing the burner, and then flows through an exhaust gas flow channel into an exhaust gas passage which transfers thermal energy to the liquid medium in the liquid medium jacket. Therefore, the exhaust gas from a single combustion chamber is able to simultaneously transfer thermal energy to both the heater and liquid medium which can be applied to a thermal utilization process. This structure is able to transfer thermal energy from burner-generated combustion to both the heater and liquid medium without employing space, time, or mechanically based heat transfer means, thus making it possible to transfer thermal energy with high efficiency and no thermal loss, and to drive a highly efficient cogeneration system utilizing a thermal energy source. This application is based on the Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-028483 filed on Feb. 5, 2003 entire content of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>The invention relates to Stirling engine-equipped cogeneration system of the type, for example, disclosed in Related Art References (Tokkyo bunken) 1 and 2. Related Art Reference 1 discloses a cogeneration system assembled from a hydrogen storing heat pump and a Stirling engine equipped with an electrical generator wherein the heater part of the Stirling engine includes a heat-generating fuel-combusting burner located at the center of the upper surface of the combustion case, and further includes combustion air passages being located at the upper wall of the combustion case and leading from an external region to the flame orifice of the burner. In this cogeneration system, the thermal energy lost from the burner is 15% of the total (100%) input thermal energy. Related Art Reference 2 describes a cogeneration system using a composite Stirling and Rankine cycle and driving a compressor that heats low-temperature steam and an electrical generator by the operation of Stirling engine. The heater of the Stirling engine is heated by air fed in from an air inlet port and heated by the combustion operation of the heat-generating burner, said heated air then being applied to a heat exchanging operation with air fed in from the air inlet port. [Related Art Reference (Tokkyo bunken) 1 ]: Japanese Patent Laid-open (Kokai) Publication No. H7-279758 [pages 3-5, FIG. 1 and FIGS. 6 - 8 ] [Related Art Reference (Tokkyo bunken) 2 ]: Japanese Patent Laid-open (Kokai) Publication No. 2000-213418 [pages 3-5, FIG. 1 and FIG. 5 ] Both of the above-noted conventional cogeneration systems employ a dedicated heating device to supply thermal energy to the Stirling engine heater, use the output of the Stirling engine to generate electricity from an electrical generator, and also use the obtained thermal energy to drive a hydrogen storing heat pump and compressor through a driving structure, thus they employ a mechanical structure to derive power from thermal energy. This structure wastes a large amount of the thermal energy generated by the thermal source, and therefore these cogeneration systems cannot be said to use thermal energy efficiently.

<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>The present invention is further described in the detailed description which follows, with reference to the below-noted plurality of drawings representing non-limiting examples of exemplary embodiments of the present invention in which like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings, and wherein FIG. 1 is a cross section of a preferred embodiment of the cogeneration system invention; FIG. 2 is a side view of the burner used by the FIG. 1 cogeneration system; FIG. 3 is a side view of the double-wall pipe of the FIG. 2 burner; FIG. 4 is a side view cross section of the tip region of the double-wall pipe shown in FIG. 3 ; FIG. 5 is a side view of the nozzle body used by the FIG. 2 burner; FIG. 6 is a side view of the aqueous emulsion fuel preparation unit used by the FIG. 1 cogeneration system; FIG. 7 is a side view cross section of the heating furnace which may be used by the FIG. 1 cogeneration system; FIG. 8 is a system drawing of the thermal plant which may be used by the FIG. 1 cogeneration system; and FIG. 9 is a cross section of another preferred embodiment of the cogeneration system invention. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"?

20050804

20080527

20060928

67953.0

F01K2508

NGUYEN, HOANG M

COGENERATION SYSTEM

SMALL

ACCEPTED

F01K

ACCEPTED

Paper cutting device with movable mobile receiving wood

In a paper cutting machine for cutting a plurality of sheets of paper stacked one upon another on a table, including a paper support (2) moving down from above along longitudinal beams (19, 19) and a cutter (3) moving up from below in an oblique direction, the paper support (2) having a rest (18) for receiving a cutting edge of the cutter, a function of moving the rest (18) in a predetermined pitch whenever the number of strokes of the cutter (3) reaches a predetermined number of times is provided. Accordingly, even when the cutting edge of the cutter cuts into the rest and gets deteriorated, the cutter need not be exchanged immediately, life of the rest can be elongated and the number of sheets cut till exchange can be drastically improved.

1. A paper cutting machine for cutting a plurality of sheets of paper stacked one upon another on a table, including a main body frame having a pair of longitudinal beams extending in a vertical direction; a paper support moving up and down along the longitudinal beams, for supporting sheets of paper from above; and a cutter moving up and down in an oblique direction, moving up from below to cut the sheets of paper; said paper support including a rest coming into contact with the uppermost sheet of paper and receiving a cutting edge of the cutter, and a paper support frame for supporting the rest fitted to the lower surface thereof, meshing with the longitudinal beams; said paper cutting machine comprising: a moving mechanism for moving said rest in a vertical direction with respect to the cutting edge of the cutter in a predetermined pitch; and a controller for operating the moving mechanism whenever the cutter reaches a predetermined number of strokes; wherein the rest is moved in the vertical direction with respect to the cutting edge of the cutter in the predetermined pitch whenever the number of strokes of the cutter for cutting the sheets of paper reaches a predetermined number of times. 2. A paper cutting machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said moving mechanism of the rest includes a solenoid fitted to the paper support frame, a rack interconnected to a rod as a movable core of the solenoid, a one-way clutch gear meshing with the rack, a rest rack formed on the rest fitted to the lower surface of the paper support frame in such a manner as to be capable of sliding, and a pinion gear meshing with the rest rack and capable of rotation upon acquiring power of the one-way clutch gear. 3. A paper cutting machine as defined in claim 1, which further comprises: a movable clamp mechanism having elastic bodies on both sides of the paper support frame for clamping the rest; and a stopper bracket fitted to the main body frame; wherein the movable clamp mechanism completely fixes the rest when the paper support exists at a position for supporting the sheets of paper, and comes into contact with the stopper bracket, releases the rest from clamping and allows the rest to slide when the paper support frame moves up and reaches a position near an upper dead point. 4. A paper cutting machine as defined in claim 3, wherein said movable clamp mechanism includes a spring guide pin inserted movably in the vertical direction into a through-hole formed on each side of a horizontal portion of the paper support frame in such a manner that a head thereof exists at the upper end, a spring fitted to an upper part of the spring guide pin higher than a horizontal portion of the paper support frame, and a receiving portion fitted to the lower end of each pin of the spring guide pin, and wherein the receiving portions biased by the spring support and clamp both ends of the rest. 5. A paper cutting machine as defined in claim 4, wherein said rest includes a rest main body portion formed of a resin and metal sheets fixed by screws to both ends of the rest main body portion, each of the metal sheets has a U-shaped groove through which the spring guide pin penetrates in such a manner as to be capable of sliding and is supported and clamped by the receiving portion.

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a cutting machine for cutting a plurality of sheets of paper, etc, stacked one upon another. More particularly, the invention relates to a cutting machine of paper, etc, that has a cutting edge rest on a paper support frame. BACKGROUND ART Generally, a paper cutting machine detects and controls a movement stop position of a cutting edge of a cutter blade by a limit switch, and has a rest for receiving the cutting edge so as not to create uncut portions of sheets of paper. A paper cutting machine having such a cutting edge rest is described in WO2004/096506 filed by the applicant of this application, for example. This paper cutting machine includes a stop mechanism for the cutting edge and prevents the cutting edge from excessively cutting into a rest surface of a paper support. To prevent the occurrence of the uncut portions of the sheets of paper, however, the cutting edge must cut into the rest surface to a certain extent and when cutting is conducted hundreds of times, the cutting edge receiving surface of the rest gets unavoidably deteriorated and quality of the cut surface unavoidably drops. It is therefore necessary to remove the rest, to adjust its position and to again fit a new cutting edge receiving surface, thereby impeding an efficient cutting operation. Needless to say, the rest must be replaced by new one when the cutting edge receiving surface gets deteriorated as a whole. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION PROBLEMS THAT THE INVENTION IS TO SOLVE It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a paper cutting machine that automatically moves a rest before a cutting edge receiving surface of the rest of a paper support gets deteriorated due to the cutting edge of a cutter blade without the necessity for frequent exchange of the rest, keeps quality of the cut surface of sheets of paper and can conduct an efficient cutting operation. MEANS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS In a paper cutting machine according to the present invention, a cutter blade is arranged below a paper support, the paper support for supporting sheets of paper from above has a rest for receiving a cutting edge of the cutter blade and the cutting apparatus cuts the sheets of paper by the cutter blade that moves up. This paper cutting machine cuts the sheets of paper by moving up the cutter blade in an oblique direction lest positioning errors of a plurality of sheets of paper occur. Because the sheets of paper are cut one by one from below and paper scraps fall naturally, the paper scrap do not remain around the rest and do not adhere to the cutting edge. In the paper cutting machine according to the invention, the cutter blade for cutting a plurality of sheets of paper that are stacked cuts the sheets of paper while obliquely moving along guide grooves inclined in the longitudinal direction of the cutter blade. The paper support has a paper support frame and the rest fitted to the paper support frame and can move along a pair of longitudinal beams extending in a vertical direction. When the final sheet of paper is cut, the cutting edge of the cutter blade cuts into an edge receiving surface of the rest but the cutting machine of the invention has a function of slightly moving the rest whenever the cutter blade moves in a predetermined number of strokes. However, the cutting machine has a clamp construction so that the rest of the paper support does not move during the cutting operation. In other words, in a paper cutting machine for cutting a plurality of sheets of paper stacked one upon another on a table, including a main body frame having a pair of longitudinal beams extending in a vertical direction, a paper support moving up and down along the longitudinal beams, for supporting sheets of paper from above, and a cutter blade moving up and down in an oblique direction, moving up from below and cutting the sheets of paper, wherein the paper support has a rest coming into contact with the uppermost sheet of paper and receiving a cutting edge of the cutter blade, and a paper support frame for supporting the rest fitted to the lower surface thereof, meshing with the longitudinal beams, the paper cutting machine having a movable rest according to the invention includes a moving mechanism for moving the rest in a vertical direction with respect to the cutting edge of the cutter blade in a predetermined pitch and a controller for operating the moving mechanism whenever the cutter blade reaches a predetermined number of strokes. The function of moving little by little the rest whenever the number of strokes of the cutter blade reaches the predetermined number of strokes includes a moving mechanism of the rest and a controller for operating the moving mechanism whenever the cutter blade reaches the predetermined number of strokes. The controller includes counting means for counting the number of strokes of the cutter blade and operation means for controlling so as to operate the moving mechanism. The counting means of the number of strokes of the cutter blade may be those, which are known in the past. For example, the counting means may be means for counting the number of strokes of the cutter blade moving up and down by detecting the position of the cutter blade by using an optical sensor or counting means that detects a plurality of stacked sheets of paper by using an optical sensor in a route till the sheets of paper reach a table of the cutting apparatus, and regards the number of times of passage of the plurality of stacked sheets as the number of strokes. However, the counting means need not be limited to these means. In such a case, a device for adding the number of strokes may be of a known type and is not particularly limited. For example, the device may be an adder using a computer. When the number of strokes counted by the counting means of the controller described above reaches the predetermined number of times, the operation means of the controller makes control so as to operate the moving mechanism of the rest. This operation means may be the one that has the function of operating the moving mechanism of the rest and corresponds to the construction of the rest moving mechanism. For example, when the rest moving mechanism generates driving force by a solenoid, the operation means of the controller is means for applying a current to the solenoid. Here, a concrete construction of the moving mechanism of the rest is not particularly limited as long as it operates at a predetermined number of strokes of the cutter blade and moves in a predetermined pitch. The term “predetermined number of strokes” means a critical number of times at which the cutting edge receiving surface of the rest gets deteriorated and cutting cannot be made correctly, and the distance of the moving pitch is within the range in which the cutting edge receiving surface adjacent to the deteriorated cutting edge surface does not affect the cutting operation. An example of the rest moving mechanism includes a solenoid fitted to a paper support frame, a rack interconnected to a rod as a movable core of the solenoid, a one-way clutch gear meshing with the rack, a rest rack formed on the rest fitted to the lower surface of the paper support frame in such a manner as to be capable of sliding, and a pinion gear meshing with the rest rack and capable of rotation upon acquiring power of the one-way clutch gear. To clamp the rest, the paper cutting machine further includes a movable clamp mechanism having elastic bodies on both sides of the paper support frame for clamping the rest and a stopper bracket fitted to the main body frame, wherein the movable clamp mechanism completely fixes the rest when the paper support exists at a position for supporting the sheets of paper, and comes into contact with the stopper bracket, releases the rest from clamping and allows the rest to slide when the paper support frame moves up and reaches a position near an upper dead point. The movable clamp mechanism described above preferably includes a spring guide pin inserted movably in the vertical direction into a through-hole formed on each side of a horizontal portion of the paper support fame in such a manner that a head thereof exists at the upper end, a spring fitted to an upper part of the spring guide pin higher than a horizontal portion of the paper support frame, and a receiving portion fitted to the lower end of each spring guide pin. According to this construction, the receiving portions biased by the spring support and clamp both ends of the rest. The material of the rest is a resin (for example, polypropylene) having suitable hardness suitable for keeping cutting quality of the cutter blade for a long time, and both ends of the rest must be reliably clamped by spring force, etc lest the rest deviates during cutting of the sheets of paper. When the rest made of the resin is clamped by the receiving portions made of a metal, a large clamping force is applied because a coefficient of friction between the resin and the metal is generally small. Therefore, the problem of deformation and breakage of the rest made of the resin occurs. In the invention, therefore, both end portions of the rest are preferably made of a metal having a greater coefficient of friction than the resin. More concretely, a metal sheet is fixed by a screw to both ends of the rest main body made of the resin, and this metal sheet is clamped by the receiving portion. A U-shaped groove is formed in the metal sheet and the spring guide described above penetrates through this U-shaped groove in such a manner as to be capable of sliding. The rest can slide when the paper support frame moves up and reaches a position near the upper dead point and the metal sheet is clamped by the receiving portion when the paper support exists at the paper supporting position, thereby completely fixing the rest. According to this construction, the clamping force can be made relatively small and the rest can be reliably fixed without inviting its deformation and breakage. ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION In the invention, the rest of the paper support automatically moves in the predetermined pitch when the cutter blade reaches the predetermined number of strokes. Consequently, the paper cutting surface does not become dull with deterioration of the cutting edge receiving surface and fluff does not occur on the cutting surface. Even when the cutting edge of the cutter blade cuts into the rest and gets deteriorated, the cutting edge need not be immediately replaced because the position of the rest the cutting edge strikes is changed by moving little by little one rest. Life of the rest can be thus prolonged, the number of the sheets of paper cut till the exchange drastically increases and eventually, the cutting cost can be decreased. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view showing a paper cutting machine according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the paper cutting machine according to the invention. FIG. 3A is a plan view showing a driving device of a movable rest in the embodiment. FIG. 3B is a front view showing the driving device of the movable rest in the embodiment. FIG. 4A is a plan view showing a concrete example of the rest. FIG. 4B is a front view showing a concrete example of the rest. FIG. 4C is a side view showing a concrete example of the rest. FIG. 5A is a plan view showing the driving device of the movable rest having the movable clamp mechanism in the embodiment. FIG. 5B is a front view showing the driving device of the movable rest having the movable clamp mechanism in the embodiment. FIG. 6A is a front view showing a concrete example of the movable clamp mechanism under the state in which the rest is clamped by force of a spring. FIG. 6B is a front view showing a concrete example of the movable clamp mechanism under the state in which the rest is released from clamping by compressing the spring. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing in detail an end portion of the rest. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The paper cutting machine according to the embodiment of the invention is constituted in such a manner as to clamp sheets of paper stacked by a paper support and to cut them one by one from below. Because the cutter blade is pushed up obliquely, the sheets of paper can be cut one by one from below and paper scraps after cutting naturally fall and do not adhere to the cutting edge of the cutter blade. It has been observed that the cutting resistance of the cutting machine for cutting a large number of cut materials stacked (sheet bundles, stacked sheets of paper, metal foils, thin metal sheet layers) irregularly changes depending on fluctuation of compressive elasticity as a deformation amount of the cut materials cut by a cutting tool and fluctuation of frictional force. To drive such a cutting machine by a driving motor, etc, it is necessary to set driving force of the driving motor on the basis of a maximum cutting resistance and also to set rigidity of the cutting machine itself on the basis of the maximum cutting resistance. The drawings show a cutting machine according to an embodiment of the invention. The cutting machine includes a paper support 2 for supporting a plurality of sheets of paper 1 stacked lest their positions deviate, and a cutter blade 3 for cutting the sheets of paper 1. The sheets of paper 1 stacked are put on a flat table 4. The paper support 2 moves down from above and firmly clamps the sheets of paper 1 lest their positions deviate when they are cut. The paper support 2 has a rest 18 and a paper support frame 20 having a bracket sectional shape and keeps contact with the sheets of paper throughout its entire width. The paper support frame 20 is connected by links 5 and 5 that are disposed equidistantly to a center shaft. The links 5 and 5 are connected to nuts 7 and 7 meshing with screws 6 through shafts 8 and 8. The distance between the nuts 7 and 7 respectively meshing with the screws 6 changes when the screws 6 rotate. Accordingly, the inclination of the links 5 and 5 connected to the paper support frame 20 through the shafts 8, 8, 9 and 9 changes. When the gap between the nuts 7 and 7 decreases in FIG. 1, the paper support 2 moves down and pushes the sheets of paper 1 stacked. Because the paper support 2 is guided at its both ends by a pair of longitudinal beams 19 and 19, it moves up and down with the movement of the nuts 7 and 7 when the screws 6 rotate but does not move in the transverse direction. The screw 6 is driven for rotation by a motor and rotates slowly while its rotating speed is lowered by a plurality of gears interposed between the screw 6 and the motor. A coil spring imparts spring force that pushes down the paper support 2. The coil spring is stretched when the links 5 and 5 erect and the paper support 2 moves down. Since the paper support in the invention employs the combination of the gear mechanism and the link mechanism, the paper support can firmly clamp the sheets of paper 1 when a motor corresponding to 25 W at DC 24 V, for example, is used. The inclination θ of the links 5 and 5 can be detected by detecting the positions of the nuts 7 and 7. As a result, the thickness of the sheets of paper 1 supported by the paper support 2 can be detected and the moving distance of the cutter blade 3 can be controlled smoothly. On the other hand, the cutter blade 3 is fitted below the paper support 2 under the state where it keeps surface contact with a cutter table 10, and slides between both guides 11 and 11. Moreover, the sliding direction of the cutter blade 3 is obliquely vertical, two guide grooves 12 and 12 are respectively formed in the guides 11 and 11 with a predetermined gap between them and these guide grooves 12 and 12 are inclined obliquely. Sliders 13 and 13 are fixed to a shaft pin penetrating through the cutter blade 3 and through the cutter table 10, and theses sliders 13 and 13 are fitted in the guide grooves. Therefore, when the sliders 13 and 13 slide along the guide grooves 12 and 12, the cutter blade 3 slides obliquely. However, the cutter blade 3 moves while being always kept horizontal because the sliders 13 and 13 slide while being fitted to both guide roves 12 and 12 that are formed in parallel with each other. When the sliders 13 and 13 exit at the extreme left of the inclined guide grooves 12 and 12, the cutter blade 3 moves down but when the sliders 13 and 13 slide and move to the right, the cutter blade 3 moves up. On the other hand, elongated apertures 14 and 14 are formed in the cutter table 10 with which the cutting edge of the cutter blade 3 keeps surface contact. Shaft pins 15 and 15 are fitted into the elongated apertures 14 and 14. Therefore, when the sliders 13 and 13 move in the oblique direction along the guide grooves 12 and 12, the cutter blade 3 moves in the oblique direction along the guide grooves 12 and 12 but the cutter table 10 moves up and down in the vertical direction. Incidentally, concrete means for moving up and down the cutter blade 3 and the cutter table 10 is not particularly limited. For example, a screw is fitted horizontally below the cutter blade 3 and is driven for rotation by a motor through a plurality of gears and a nut meshing with this screw moves with the rotation of the screw. The movement of the nut resulting from the rotation of the screw is transmitted to the sliders 13 and 13. Consequently, the cutter blade 3 is pushed up in the oblique direction along the guide grooves 12 and 12 and cuts one by one from below the sheets of paper 1 clamped by the paper support 2. Because the sheets of paper 1 are cut one by one, the paper scraps fall without rubbing the surface of the cutting edge and do not adhere to the cutting edge. In this cutting operation, the paper support 2 firmly clamps the sheets of paper 1 through the links 5 and 5 lest their positions deviate because the cutter blade 3 also moves in the horizontal direction simultaneously with its ascension. In the cutting machine according to the invention, the cutter blade 3 moves up and cuts the sheets of paper 1 clamped and the cutting edge of the cutter blade 3 slightly enters the cutting edge receiving surface of the support member of the paper support 2. Stoppers 16 and 16 are fitted to both sides of the paper support 2 lest parts of the sheets of paper 1 are left uncut because the cutting edge does not reach the cutting edge receiving surface, or the cutting edge of the cutter blade 3 excessively enters the cutting edge receiving surface, on the contrary. Because the stoppers 16 and 16 employ the screw mechanism, their distal end positions are adjustable. Stopper tables 17 and 17 are mounted to the cutter table 10 with which the cutter blade 3 keeps surface contact. When the cutter blade 3 moves up, the stopper tables 17 and 17 come into contact with the stoppers 16 and 16 fitted to the paper support 2 and inhibit ascension of the cutter blade 3. The cutter blade 3 moves up in the oblique direction but the cutter table 10 moves up in the vertical direction and the stopper tables 17 and 17 come into contact with the stoppers 16 and 16. As the cutter blade 3 moves up and the stopper tables 17 and 17 come into contact with the stopper 16 and 16, a load exceeding a predetermined value operates on the motor for moving up the cutter blade 3. The motor is so controlled as to stop its rotation when the load exceeds the predetermined value and the cutter blade 3 stops without creating the uncut sheets of paper and without allowing the cutting edge of the cutter blade 3 to excessively cut into the rest of the paper support. As described above, the cutting edge of the cutter blade 3 cuts into the cutting edge receiving surface of the rest to cut the sheets of paper 1 and as this cutting operation is repeated, the cutting edge receiving surface gets deteriorated, forming thereby a groove. As a result, the cutter blade 3 fails to correctly cut the sheets of paper 1. Therefore the invention makes the rest 18 movable. In other words, the rest 18 is allowed to slide in a predetermined pitch when the cutter blade 3 reaches a predetermined number of strokes (500 to 600, for example). The paper support frame 20 has a bracket sectional shape the upper part of which is open and both of its sides move up and down while being guided by the longitudinal beams 19 and 19 as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. The movable rest 18 is fitted to the lower surface of the paper support frame 20. Receiving portions 21 and 21 are fastened by screws to both sides of the lower surface and support both ends of the movable rest 18 in such a manner as to be sliding. FIG. 4 shows the movable rest 18. The movable rest 18 is made of a resin and rest racks 22 and 22 are formed on the upper surface of the rest 18 with a predetermined gap between them. Guide grooves 23 and 23 are formed outside the rest racks 22 and 22. Guide plates 24 and 24 fitted to the lower surface of the paper support frame 20 fit into the guide grooves 23 and 23. Pinion gears 26 and 26 mesh with the rest racks 22 and 22. The movable rest 18 can slide along the guide plates 24 and 24 when the pinion gears 26 and 26 rotate. Incidentally, this embodiment has the construction in which the pinion gears 26 are allowed to rotate by the operation of a solenoid 25 as shown in FIG. 2. A rack 28 is interconnected to a rod 27 as a movable core of the solenoid 25 and meshes with a one-way clutch gear 29. Therefore, when the solenoid 25 operates and the rack 28 moves down, the one-way clutch gear 29 rotates but when the rack 28 moves up, the one-way clutch gear 29 does not rotate. The one-way clutch gear 29 is fitted to a shaft 30. Both ends of the shaft 30 are pivotally supported by bearings of a retaining frame 35 fitted to the paper support frame 20. Gears 31 and 31 are fitted to both ends of the shaft 30. The gears 31 and 31 mesh with gears 32 and 32, and the gears 32 and 32 mesh with the pinion gears 26 and 26 described above. The gears 31 and 32 and the pinion gear 26 are fitted to a bracket 33. The bracket 33 is supported coaxially with the gears 31 and 31 in such a manner as to be capable of swinging. Therefore, when the solenoid 25 operates, the pinion gear 26 rotates through the rack 28, the one-way clutch 29, the gear 31 and the gear 32. When the pinion gear 26 rotates, the rest rack 22 moves, so that the movable rest 18 slides in a predetermined pitch. As for the operation of the solenoid, a controller (not shown) having an optical sensor and a computer detects the position of the cutter by using the optical sensor and the like, the computer calculates the number of strokes of the cutter moving up and down from the detection signal and a current is applied to the solenoid 25 whenever the number of times of strokes reaches a predetermined number of times. Here, the bracket 33 is supported coaxially with the gears 31 and 31 in such a manner as to be capable swinging and is pushed down by the spring force of the coil spring 34. In other words, the spring force is applied so that the pinion gear 26 can correctly mesh with the rest rack 22 of the movable rest 18 but does not undergo tooth jump during driving. Therefore, both ends of the coil spring 34 are interconnected to the distal end of the bracket 33 and to the paper support frame 20. To exchange the movable rest 18, the coil spring 34 is stretched and the bracket 33 is lifted up. In other words, the bracket 33 is lifted up while being swung with the shaft 30 of the gear 31 as the center, and under this state, the movable rest 18 can be exchanged. As described above, the movable rest 18 is so constituted as to be capable of moving little by little with the rotation of the pinion gear 26 but can be fixed to the paper support frame 20 when the sheets of paper 1 are cut. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the movable rest 18 is supported by the receiving portion 21 on the lower surface of the paper support frame 20. However, because the movable rest 18 has to move with the rotation of the pinion gear 26, the support structure of the movable rest 18 is not the structure that clamps always completely the movable rest 18 by the receiving portion 21. The paper support frame 20 has variable clamp mechanisms as shown in FIGS. 5A to 6B. The variable clamp mechanisms 36 and 36 are fitted to both sides of the paper support frame 20 and have a construction in which they clamp both ends of the movable rest 18 and this clamp is released near the upper dead point when the paper support frame 20 moves up. Each of the movable clamp mechanisms 36 includes a spring guide pin 41 movably up and down inserted into a through-hole disposed on each side of the horizontal portion of the paper support frame 20 in such a manner that its head exists at the upper end, a spring 40 fitted above the paper support frame horizontal portion of the spring guide pin 41 and the receiving portion 21 fitted to the lower end of the spring guide pin. The receiving portion 21 biased by the spring supports and clamps each end of the rest. Therefore, because the spring guide pin 41 is lifted up by the spring force of the spring 40, the receiving portion 21 moves up and can clamp the movable rest 18. In other words, the movable rest 18 is clamped by the receiving portion 21 biased by the spring force and the movable rest 18 can stably press the sheets of paper 1 without shake. However, when the movable rest 18 is always clamped, it cannot slide with the rotation of the pinion gear 26. When the paper support frame 20 moves up and reaches a position near the upper dead point as shown in FIG. 6B, the head of the spring guide pin 41 comes into contact with the stopper bracket 42. As a result, the spring guide pin 41 compresses the spring 40 and pushes it down and the receiving portion 21 separates from the movable rest 18. However, the movable rest 18 does not fall because it is supported by the receiving portion 21. When the paper support frame 20 reaches the position near the upper dead point, the pinion gear 26 starts rotating and can slide the movable rest 18. Here, the definite construction of the movable clamp mechanism 36 of the movable rest 18 is not particularly limited and any construction can be used as long as it can release clamp of the moveable rest 18 when the paper support frame 20 reaches the position near its upper dead point. The rest 18 is formed by fixing a metal sheet 45 by a screw to each end of a rest main body 44 made of a resin as shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B and 7. A U-shaped groove is formed in this metal sheet 44 and the spring guide pin 41 penetrates through the U-shaped groove in such a manner as to be capable of sliding. Consequently, the rest 18 is allowed to slide. When the metal sheet is clamped by the metallic receiving portion 21, the rest 18 can be completely fixed by a relatively small clamp force. Because both ends of the rest 18 clamped by the receiving portion 21 are formed of the metal sheet 44, the problem of deformation and breakage does not occur. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY As described above, the cutting machine according to the invention is particularly useful for the paper cutting apparatus having the construction in which the cutter is disposed below the paper support, the rest for receiving the cutting edge of the cutter is provided to the paper support for supporting the sheets of paper from above and the cutter moving up cuts the sheets of paper. However, the invention can be suitably applied to cutting apparatuses of sheet bundles, stacked paper, metal foils, metal sheet layers, and so forth, as long as the cutting apparatuses use the rising cutter and the rest for the cutting operation.

<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>Generally, a paper cutting machine detects and controls a movement stop position of a cutting edge of a cutter blade by a limit switch, and has a rest for receiving the cutting edge so as not to create uncut portions of sheets of paper. A paper cutting machine having such a cutting edge rest is described in WO2004/096506 filed by the applicant of this application, for example. This paper cutting machine includes a stop mechanism for the cutting edge and prevents the cutting edge from excessively cutting into a rest surface of a paper support. To prevent the occurrence of the uncut portions of the sheets of paper, however, the cutting edge must cut into the rest surface to a certain extent and when cutting is conducted hundreds of times, the cutting edge receiving surface of the rest gets unavoidably deteriorated and quality of the cut surface unavoidably drops. It is therefore necessary to remove the rest, to adjust its position and to again fit a new cutting edge receiving surface, thereby impeding an efficient cutting operation. Needless to say, the rest must be replaced by new one when the cutting edge receiving surface gets deteriorated as a whole.

<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS <EOH>FIG. 1 is a front view showing a paper cutting machine according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the paper cutting machine according to the invention. FIG. 3A is a plan view showing a driving device of a movable rest in the embodiment. FIG. 3B is a front view showing the driving device of the movable rest in the embodiment. FIG. 4A is a plan view showing a concrete example of the rest. FIG. 4B is a front view showing a concrete example of the rest. FIG. 4C is a side view showing a concrete example of the rest. FIG. 5A is a plan view showing the driving device of the movable rest having the movable clamp mechanism in the embodiment. FIG. 5B is a front view showing the driving device of the movable rest having the movable clamp mechanism in the embodiment. FIG. 6A is a front view showing a concrete example of the movable clamp mechanism under the state in which the rest is clamped by force of a spring. FIG. 6B is a front view showing a concrete example of the movable clamp mechanism under the state in which the rest is released from clamping by compressing the spring. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing in detail an end portion of the rest. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"?

20050804

20081230

20060622

96849.0

B26D106

LEE, LAURA MICHELLE

PAPER CUTTING MACHINE HAVING MOVABLE REST.

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

B26D

ACCEPTED

Porous particles and cosmetics

The invention provides porous particles having a small particle diameter of 75 μm or less on the average, the porous particles further containing an active ingredient, a process for producing the porous particles, and cosmetics containing the porous particles. The invention relates to porous particles having an average particle diameter of 75 μm or less, based on polyethylene resin having a crystallization degree of 70% or more, the porous particles further containing an active ingredient, cosmetics containing the porous particles, and a process for producing porous particles, which includes mixing polyethylene resin having a crystallization degree of 70% or more, and a low-molecular weight compound having a melting point lower than the softening temperature (or melting point) of the polyethylene resin, with each other at a temperature not lower than the softening temperature (or melting point) of the polyethylene resin, then spraying the mixture into a gaseous phase or a solvent at a temperature at which the viscosity of the mixture becomes 600 mPa·s or less, and removing the low-molecular weight compound from the resulting particles.

1. A us pas particle having an average particle diameter of 75 μm or less, comprising polyethylene resin having a crystallization degree of 70% or more as the main component. 2. The porous particle according to claim 1, wherein the porous particle is spherical. 3. The porous particle according to claim 1, which is obtained by mixing polyethylene resin having a crystallization degree of 70% or more and a low-molecular weight compound having a melting point lower than the softening temperature (or melting point) of the polyethylene resin with each other at a temperature not lower than the softening temperature (or melting point) of the polyethylene resin, then molding the mixture into particles by cooling and removing the low-molecular weight compound from the resulting particles. 4. The porous particle according to claim 1, comprising an active ingredient. 5. A cosmetic comprising the porous particle according to claim 1. 6. A process for producing porous particles, which comprises the steps of mixing polyethylene resin having a crystallization degree of 70% or more and a low-molecular weight compound having a melting point lower than the softening temperature (or melting point) of the polyethylene resin with each other at a temperature not lower than the softening temperature (or melting point) of the polyethylene resin, then spraying the mixture into a gaseous phase or a solvent at a temperature at which the viscosity of the mixture is 600 mPa·s or less and removing the low-molecular weight compound from the resulting particles. 7. A cosmetic composition comprising the porous particle according to claim 1. 8. (canceled) 9. A cosmetic composition comprising a porous particle produced according to the process of claim 6. 10. A method for producing a cosmetic comprising adding the porous particle according to claim 1 to a cosmetic formulation. 11. A method for producing a cosmetic comprising adding a porous particle produced according to the process of claim 6 to a cosmetic formulation.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to porous particles useful in cosmetics, a process for producing the same, and cosmetics containing the same. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventionally, porous particles have been developed. JP-B 2550262 discloses an oil absorber containing an organic acid metal salt and an oil-absorbing crosslinked polymer, containing porous particles which swell by absorbing a large amount of oil, are excellent in an ability to retain absorbed oil, and significantly improve the rate of absorption of oil. As a process for producing non-swelling porous particles, JP-A (W) 2000-516973 discloses porous spherical particles obtained by melt-mixing polypropylene with dichlorobenzole or amyl acetate for dissolving the polymer, then spray-cooling the mixture, and removing the solvent in a later step. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to porous particles having a small particle diameter of 75 μm or less on the average, which are preferable as cosmetics with oil absorptivity, the porous particles further containing an active ingredient, a process for producing the same, and cosmetics containing the same. The present invention relates to porous particles having an average particle diameter of 75 μm or less, containing polyethylene resin having a crystallization degree of 70% or more as the main component. The present invention also relates to the porous particles further containing an active ingredient and cosmetics containing the porous particles. The present invention also relates to a process for producing porous particles, which includes mixing polyethylene resin having a crystallization degree of 70% or more, and a low-molecular weight compound having a melting point lower than the softening temperature (or melting point) of the polyethylene resin with each other at a temperature not lower than the softening temperature (or melting point) of the polyethylene resin, then spraying the mixture into a gaseous phase or a solvent at a temperature at which the viscosity of the mixture is 600 mPa·s or less, and removing the low-molecular weight compound from the resulting particles. The present invention relates to cosmetics containing the porous particles described above or porous particles obtained by the process described above and another cosmetic ingredient. The present invention relates to use of the porous particles described above or porous particles obtained by the process described above as cosmetics. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The porous particles in JP-B 2550262 supra are a swelling type and thus change their particle shape upon absorption of oil, and therefore the feeling thereof on the skin is not satisfactory. Further, there is a problem that the production process is not easy, thus increasing the cost. In JP-A (W) 2000-516973 supra, there is a problem that the solvent is limited, the particles having a particle diameter of 100 μm or less are hardly made porous, and their porosity is low. [Porous Particles] The porous particles of the present invention are based on polyethylene resin having a crystallization degree of 70% or more and preferably a molecular weight of 1000 or more, and may contain other components, for example inorganic and organic pigments, coloring materials such as organic dyes etc., surfactants, silicone compounds, and antioxidants such as metal oxides etc. insofar as the effect of the present invention is not hindered. From the viewpoint of suppressing gritty feel and frictional feel, the average particle diameter of the porous particles is 75 μm or less, preferably 0.1 to 75 μm, more preferably 0.3 to 40 μm. This average particle diameter is the weight-average particle diameter of a suspension of the particles in alcohol measured by a laser diffraction particle-diameter distribution measuring instrument (LS-230 model manufactured by Coulter, Inc.) at room temperature (20° C.) The shape of the porous particles of the present invention is preferably spherical from the viewpoint of the excellent feel of the spherical particles on the skin and less aggregation of the particles. The void volume of the porous particles of this invention is preferably 5 to 95%, more preferably 30 to 70%. The void volume is determined by mercury porosimetry described later. The pores forming voids may be in the form of a communicating hole having the respective pores connected with one another. The porous particles of the present invention have an ability to absorb oil, and upon incorporation of an active ingredient, they function for example as a release agent for releasing the active ingredient by melting the active ingredient at the temperature of skin. [Polyethylene Resin] The polyethylene resin in the present invention is an ethylene polymer. The production process is not particularly limited. The polyethylene resin used may be modified or unmodified, but should have a crystallization degree of 70% or more. The degree of modification should be regulated in such a range that the degree of crystallization is kept at 70% or more. The molecular weight is preferably 1000 or more, more preferably 2000 or more. The upper limit of the molecular weight is not particularly limited, but for regulating the viscosity at the time of spraying, the molecular weight is preferably 20000 or less, more preferably 10000 or less. The molecular weight can be determined as viscometric average molecular weight by viscometry. The degree of crystallization is 70% or more, preferably 75% or more, more preferably 80% or more, and the upper limit is preferably 95% or less, from the viewpoint of easy availability of the material. As the degree of crystallization is increased, pores have smaller diameters even if the void volume is the same, and thus the resulting polyethylene resin is excellent in extendibility as described later. The degree of crystallization can be determined by an X-ray diffraction method under the following measurement conditions. <Measurement Conditions of the X-Ray Diffraction Method> Apparatus: RINT 2500, manufactured by Rigaku Denki Co., Ltd. Radiation source: Cu Tube current: 300 mA Tube voltage: 50 kV Scan speed: 2°/min. The melting point of the polyethylene resin is preferably 80° C. or more, more preferably 120° C. or more. The upper limit is not particularly limited, but is preferably 200° C. or less in order to prevent pyrolysis of the low-molecular weight compound in the production process described later. The melting point of the polyethylene resin can be measured by JIS K0064:1992. [Low-Molecular Weight Compound] The low-molecular weight compound used in the present invention is a compound having a molecular weight of preferably 50 to 1000, more preferably a compound having a molecular weight of 100 to 500. The low-molecular weight compound has a melting point lower than the softening temperature (or melting point) of the polyethylene resin, and the difference between the softening temperature (or melting point) of the polyethylene resin and the melting point of the low-molecular weight compound is preferably 10° C. or more, more preferably 20° C. or more, still more preferably 30° C. or more, in order to facilitate the production process described later. In respect of easy production, the difference in melting point may be 100° C. or less. Preferably, the low-molecular weight compound has a melting point of 25° C. or more and is in a solid form at room temperature (25° C.). The melting point of the low-molecular weight compound can be measured by JIS K0064:1992. The low-molecular weight compound is preferably hydrophobic for excellent compatibility with the polyethylene resin. The hydrophobic low-molecular weight compound includes a compound having 12 or more carbon atoms, silicone, and derivatives thereof. Examples of the low-molecular weight compound used in the present invention includes branched, linear or cyclic higher alcohols such as lauryl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, oleyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, lanoline alcohol, hydrogenated lanoline alcohol, isostearyl alcohol, cholesterol etc.; branched or linear higher fatty acids such as myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, arachidonic acid etc.; branched or linear alkyl ethers such as distearyl ether etc.; hydrocarbon compounds such as paraffin, vaseline, microcrystalline wax etc.; naturally occurring lipid and oil compounds such as squalane, squalene, mink oil, jojoba oil, carnauba wax, beeswax, candelilla wax, lanoline etc.; terpene compounds such as 1-menthol; ester compounds such as myristyl myristate, myristyl stearate, isopropyl myristate, isopropyl lanoline fatty ester, myristyl myristate, octyl dodecyl myristate, glycerin trimyristate, cholesteryl isostearate etc.; silicone, for example cyclic silicone such as octyl methyl cyclotetrasiloxane, dodecamethyl cyclohexasiloxane etc., linear silicone such as dimethyl polysiloxane, methyl phenyl polysiloxane etc., and amino-modified silicone, polyether-modified silicone, methyl phenyl polysiloxane, fatty acid-modified silicone, alcohol-modified silicone, alkoxy-modified silicone, epoxy-modified silicone, fluorine-modified silicone, cyclic silicone, alkyl-modified silicone etc., as well as derivatives thereof. The compounding ratio of the low-molecular weight compound is preferably 5 to 1900 parts by weight, more preferably 43 to 233 parts by weight, relative to 100 parts by weight of the polyethylene resin. In this range, porous particles having sufficient porosity can be obtained. [Active Ingredient] Various uses of the active ingredient are assumed, and thus its properties are not particularly limited, but the melting point is preferably not higher than the softening point (or melting point) of the polyethylene resin, more desirably lower than 50° C. in respect of releasability on the skin. An active ingredient soluble in sebaceous matter and sweat is also desirable even if its softening point is 50° C. or higher. The melting point of the active ingredient can be measured according to JIS K0064:1992. The active ingredient includes an emollient on the skin, a humectant having a water-retaining action arising from the specific structure, a protective agent acting as a protective membrane on the skin and hair, an antioxidant, an agent for reinforcing and repairing cuticles, a cooling agent, an antiperspirant, a blood circulation promoter etc. Such compounds include those mentioned as the low-molecular weight compound, and are not particularly limited insofar as they have a low-molecular weight. Among these compounds, mention is made particularly of naturally occurring compounds such as squalane, squalene etc., and silicone such as cyclic silicone and derivatives thereof. Other preferable examples include vitamins such as vitamin A, vitamin E, panthenol, pantothenyl ethyl ether etc.; ceramide and substances having a similar structure thereto (for example, substances represented by the general formulae (1) and (2) in JP-A 5-213731), 1-menthol, etc. The active ingredient may be a mixture of these substances. The active ingredient can be used as it is, without removing the low-molecular weight compound from the polyethylene resin in the process of producing the porous particles. Alternatively, after the porous particles are produced, the active ingredient can be contained in the porous particles by absorption. The compounding ratio of the active ingredient is preferably 5 to 1900 parts by weight, more preferably 43 to 233 parts by weight, relative to 100 parts by weight of the polyethylene resin. [Process for Producing the Porous Particles] To obtain the porous particles of the present invention, the polyethylene resin according to the present invention and the low-molecular weight compound having a melting point lower than the softening temperature (or melting point) of the polyethylene resin are mixed with each other at a temperature not lower than the softening temperature (or melting point) of the polyethylene resin. At the time of mixing, the polyethylene resin and the low-molecular weight compound are compounded in such a ratio that the amount of the low-molecular weight compound is preferably 5 to 1900 parts by weight, more preferably 43 to 233 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the polyethylene resin. In addition, solid and liquid components, for example inorganic and organic pigments, coloring materials such as organic dyes etc., surfactants, silicone compounds, and antioxidants such as metal oxides etc. can be melted in, or mixed with, the mixture. Then, the porous particles are obtained from this mixture by a spray cooling method or a solvent cooling method shown below, preferably the spray cooling method. <Spray Cooling Method> Preferably, the above mixture is sprayed into a gaseous phase preferably at 5 to 50° C. by using a rotating disk atomizer or one fluid nozzle or two or more fluid nozzles, and particles solidified by cooling are recovered. Preferably, the mixture together with compressed gas is sprayed into a gases phase by using a plurality of fluid (two or more fluids) nozzles. The compressed gas used as fluid may be compressed air or compressed nitrogen preferably at 9.8×104 Pa or more, more preferably at 9.8×104 to 29.4×104 Pa. This gas is preferably heated at the spraying temperature in order to prevent clogging in a nozzle upon cooling, thus enabling continuous production of the particles. From the viewpoint of achieving excellent spraying, the spraying temperature is a temperature at which the viscosity of the mixture of the polyethylene resin and the low-molecular weight compound becomes preferably 600 mPa·s or less, more preferably 300 mPa·s or less, still more preferably 100 mPa·s or less. Although there is no particular lower limit, the lower limit is preferably a temperature at which the viscosity becomes 5 mPa·s or more. Then, the low-molecular weight compound is removed from the resulting particles. The low-molecular weight compound is removed preferably with a solvent at a temperature lower than the softening temperature (or melting point) of the polyethylene resin, preferably a temperature of 20° C. or more, more preferably at a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of the low-molecular weight compound, from the viewpoint of the efficiency of removal. The low-molecular weight compound may be removed under reduced pressure. The solvent is added in an amount of preferably 1 to 100 parts by weight relative to 1 part by weight of the particles obtained by spraying, and is mixed at the above-mentioned temperature to eluate the low-molecular weight compound. This washing can be conducted repeatedly to give the porous particles. The solvent is not particularly limited insofar as it dissolves the low-molecular weight compound but does not dissolve the polyethylene resin. Examples of the solvent include lower alcohols such as ethanol, isopropanol etc.; lower ketone compounds; hydrocarbon solvents, for example aliphatic hydrocarbons such as hexane, heptane, dodecane, cyclohexane, methyl cyclohexane, isooctane, hydrogenated triisobutylene etc. and aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, xylene, ethyl benzene etc.; and silicone solvents such as octamethyl cyclotetrasiloxane, decamethyl cyclopentasiloxane etc. <Solvent Cooling Method> The solvent cooling method is a method which involves injecting the mixture dropwise in the form of spray mist into a solvent, instead of spraying the mixture into a gaseous phase. The solvent is preferably a solvent such as glycerin having a high boiling point and not compatible with the polyethylene resin and the low-molecular weight compound. The dropping temperature is a temperature at which the viscosity becomes preferably 600 mPa·s or less, more preferably 300 mPa·s or less, still more preferably 100 mPa·s or less, and is preferably not higher than the boiling point of the solvent. Although there is no particular lower limit, the lower limit is preferably a temperature at which the viscosity becomes 5 mPa·s or more. Thereafter, the particles can be obtained by cooling the solvent. The method of removing the low-molecular weight compound from the resulting particles is the same as in the spray cooling method. [Cosmetics] In the cosmetics of the present invention, the content of the porous particles according to the present invention can be selected suitably depending on the object of the cosmetics, and is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.1 to 50 wt %, more preferably 1 to 30 wt %. The form of the cosmetics of this invention is not particularly limited, and the cosmetics may be water-in-oil or oil-in-water emulsified cosmetics, oil cosmetics, spray cosmetics, stick-type cosmetics, aqueous cosmetics, sheet-shaped cosmetics, and gelled cosmetics. The type of the cosmetics of this invention is not particularly limited, and the cosmetics of this invention include skin cosmetics such asapack, foundation, lipstick, lotion, coldcream, hand cream, skin detergent, softening cosmetics, nutrient cosmetics, astringent cosmetics, whitening cosmetics, wrincle-care cosmetics, anti-aging cosmetics, cleansing cosmetics, antiperspirants and deodorant; and hair cosmetics such as a shampoo, rinse, treatment, hair-dressing, hair tonic etc. Preferably, the cosmetics of this invention further contain an alcohol. The alcohol includes C1-6 monohydric or polyhydric alcohols such as ethanol, glycerin, 1,3-butylene glycol, propylene glycol and sorbitol. In particular, a monohydric alcohol, particularly ethanol is preferable. The amount of the alcohol incorporated is preferably 5 to 30% by weight in the cosmetics of this invention, particularly preferably 2 to 50 times as high as the weight of the porous particles according to this invention. Depending on the form, type etc. of the cosmetics, other conventional components can be further incorporated as cosmetic components into the cosmetics of this invention in such a range that the effect of this invention is not hindered. Such cosmetic components include e.g. extender pigments such as mica, talc, sericite, kaolin, nylon powder, polymethylsilyl sesquioxane and barium sulfate; inorganic pigments such as titanium oxide, zinc white and iron oxide; powders whose surface was rendered hydrophobic by treating these powders with silicone, metal soap or N-acyl glutamic acid; hydrocarbons such as solid or liquid paraffin, microcrystalline wax, vaseline, ceresin, ozokerite and montan wax; vegetable or animal fats and oils or wax, such as olive, ozokerite, carnauba wax, lanoline and spermaceti; fatty acids or esters thereof such as stearic acid, palmitic acid, oleic acid, glycerin monostearate, glycerin distearate, glycerin monooleate, isopropyl myristate, isopropyl stearate and butyl stearate; higher alcohols such as cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, palmityl alcohol and hexyl dodecyl alcohol; adsorbents or thickening agents such as cationic cellulose, carboxybetaine type polymer and cationic silicone; polyhydric alcohols having a moisture retention action, such as glycol and sorbitol; efficacious components such as whitening agent, analgesic antiinflammatory agents, anti-itching agents, sterilizing disinfectants, astringents, skin softening agents and hormones; water; surfactants; W/O or O/W type emulsifying agents; emulsifying agents for silicone oil, such as polyether-modified silicone, polyether alkyl-modified silicone and glyceryl ether-modified silicone; thickening agents such as methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, polyacrylic acid, tragacanth, agar and gelatin; and other components such as emulsion stabilizer, chelating agents, UV protecting agents, pH adjusting agents, preservatives, coloring matters and perfumes. The porous particles of the present invention can be produced inexpensively and can give dry and powdery feel as an absorber of sebaceous matter. Further, the composite particles containing the active ingredient are excellent in feel during application, and can give an excellent feel on the skin for a long time. EXAMPLES The following examples show embodiments of the present invention. The Examples are set forth for merely illustrative purposes, and not intended to restrict the present invention. In the Examples, the term “%” refers to wt % unless otherwise specified. The viscosity at the time of spraying is a value measured at 60 rpm for 1 minute by a Brookfield viscometer (rotor having a measurement scale in the range of 5 to 95 was used). The melting point is a value measured according to JIS K0064:1992. The void volume was calculated from pore volume per one gram of particles by using a mercury porosimeter Pore Sizer 9320 manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation. The void volume (%) can be calculated according to the following equation: Void volume (%)=[(volume of pores in particles)/(volume of pores in particles+(true specific gravity of particles)−1)]×100 Example 1 Mitsui HiWax HW-200P (molecular weight 2000, melting point 122° C., degree of crystallization 87%, manufactured by Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.) as polyethylene resin, and stearic acid (LUNAC S-98, melting point 70° C., manufactured by Kao Corporation) as a low-molecular weight compound, were mixed with each other in a mixing ratio of 30:70 (polyethylene resin: stearic acid) and then melted by heating at 180° C. Then, the melt together with a nitrogen stream at 180° C. was sprayed through 2-fluid nozzles (glass sprayer M type, manufactured by SANSHO) into a gaseous phase at 25° C., cooled therein, and recovered as solid particles. The viscosity at the time of spraying was 40 mPa·s. 5 g of the particles were mixed in 100 ml ethanol at 60° C. and stirred for 2 minutes to extract the stearic acid, and then concentrated under reduced pressure through a 0.8 μm PTFE membrane filter to give spherical porous particles (weight-average particle diameter 20 μm, void volume 70%). Example 2 Spherical porous particles (weight-average particle diameter 15 μm, void volume 70%) were obtained by conducting the treatment in the same procedure as in Example 1 except that Mitsui HiWax HW-100P (molecular weight 1000, melting point 116° C., degree of crystallization 90%, manufactured by Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.) was used as the polyethylene resin. The viscosity at the time of spraying was 20 mPa·s. Example 3 Spherical porous particles (weight-average particle diameter 30 μm, void volume 70%) were obtained by conducting the treatment in the same procedure as in Example 1 except that Mitsui HiWax HW-800P (molecular weight 8000, melting point 127° C., degree of crystallization 90%, manufactured by Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.) was used as the polyethylene resin. The viscosity at the time of spraying was 120 mPa·s. Example 4 Spherical porous particles (weight-average particle diameter 20 μm, void volume 70%) were obtained by conducting the treatment in the same procedure as in Example 1 except that Mitsui HiWax HW-210P (molecular weight 2000, melting point 114° C., degree of crystallization 75%, manufactured by Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.) was used as the polyethylene resin. The viscosity at the time of spraying was 40 mPa·s. Example 5 Polyethylene/squalane composite particles (weight-average particle diameter 20 μm) were obtained by conducting the treatment in the same procedure as in Example 1 except that squalane (melting point −38° C.) was used as the low-molecular weight compound, and the extraction step was omitted. The viscosity at the time of spraying was 40 mPa·s. Example 6 1 g oleyl alcohol was mixed with 1 g of the spherical porous particles obtained in Example 1 to give composite particles having oleyl alcohol carried in voids of the porous particles. Example 7 Spherical porous particles (weight-average particle diameter 20 μm, void volume 70%) were obtained by conducting the treatment in the same procedure as in Example 1 except that Mitsui HiWax HW-220P (molecular weight 2000, melting point 114° C., degree of crystallization 70%, manufactured by Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.) was used as the polyethylene resin. The viscosity at the time of spraying was 40 mPa·s. Comparative Example 1 Spherical porous particles (weight-average particle diameter 28 μm, void volume 70%) were obtained by conducting the treatment in the same procedure as in Example 1 except that Mitsui HiWax HW-720P (molecular weight 7200, melting point 113° C., degree of crystallization 60%, manufactured by Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.) was used as the polyethylene resin. The viscosity at the time of spraying was 100 mPa·s. Comparative Example 2 Spherical porous particles (weight-average particle diameter 25 μm, void volume 70%) were obtained by conducting the treatment in the same procedure as in Example 1 except that Mitsui HiWaxNL100P (molecular weight 2400, melting point 110° C., degree of crystallization 54%, manufactured by Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.) was used as the polyethylene resin. The viscosity at the time of spraying was 80 mPa·s. Comparative Example 3 Spherical porous particles (weight-average particle diameter 20 μm, void volume 70%) were obtained by conducting the treatment in the same procedure as in Example 1 except that polypropylene resin (Mitsui HiWaxNP055, molecular weight 7000, melting point 136° C., degree of crystallization 60%, manufactured by Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.) was used in place of the polyethylene resin. The viscosity at the time of spraying was 40 mPa·s. Comparative Example 4 Spherical porous particles (weight-average particle diameter 20 μm, void volume 10%) were obtained by conducting the treatment in the same procedure as in Example 1 except that polypropylene resin (Mitsui HiWaxNP055, molecular weight 7000, melting point 136° C., degree of crystallization 60%, manufactured by Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.) , was used in place the polyethylene resin, and amyl acetate was used in place of stearic acid, and the mixing ratio by weight (polypropylene resin:amyl acetate) was 20:80. The viscosity at the time of spraying was 20 mPa·s. Comparative Example 5 Non-porous particles (weight-average particle diameter 20 μm) were obtained by conducting the treatment in the same procedure as in Example 2 except that the low-molecular weight compound was not used, and the extraction step was omitted. The viscosity at the time of spraying was 40 mPa·s. Comparative Example 6 1 g oleyl alcohol was mixed with 1 g of the particles obtained in Comparative Example 5 to give a mixture of the particles and oleyl alcohol. Test Example 1 Squalene was dropped gradually into 1 g of the spherical porous particles obtained in each of Examples 1 to 3 or 1 g of the non-porous particles obtained in Comparative Example 5, and the amount of squalene dropped and a change in the viscosity of the kneaded material under kneading with a spatula were observed, and the amount of total squalene dropped until a rapid reduction in viscosity was observed, was determined as the amount of oil absorbed into the particles. The results are shown in Table 1. TABLE 2 Amount of oil absorbed (ml/g) Example 1 4.0 Example 2 4.0 Example 3 4.0 Comparative 0.4 example 5 Test Example 2 The spherical porous particles obtained in Examples 1 to 4 and Comparative Examples 1 to 4 were evaluated for extendibility by the following method, and the feel thereof as cosmetics was evaluated by a specialist. The results are shown in Table 2. <Evaluation of Extendibility> A plurality of particles were sandwiched between fingers of the specialist, the fingers were rubbed together, and the state of the particles diffused between the fingers was judged according to the following criteria: ◯: Spread uniformly. X: Spread unevenly. TABLE 2 Extendibility Feel Example 1 ◯ Feel very dry and powdery Example 2 ◯ Feel very dry and powdery Example 3 ◯ Feel very dry and powdery Example 4 ◯ Feel dry and powdery Example 7 ◯ Feel dry and powdery Comparative example 1 X Feel slightly gritty (aggregated) Comparative example 2 X Feel slightly gritty (aggregated) Comparative example 3 X Feel slightly gritty (aggregated) Comparative example 4 X Feel slightly gritty (aggregated) As is evident from the results in Table 2, the spherical porous particles of the present invention were excellent in extendibility and feel. Test Example 3 The composite particles obtained in each of Examples 5 to 6 and Comparative Example 6 were applied in a suitable amount onto the inner side of the forearm, and the feel thereof during application was evaluated according to the following criteria Six hours after the application, the feel of the particles was further evaluated. The results are shown in Table 3. ◯: Spread uniformly. X: Spread unevenly. TABLE 3 Feel during application Feel in 6 hours after the application Example 5 ◯ Feel moist Example 6 ◯ Feel moist Comparative X Feel moist example 6 (Feel strongly liquid) As is evident from the results in Table 3, the composite particles of the present invention were excellent both in feel during application and in feel in 6 hours after application. Formulation Example of Cosmetics (Emollient Cream) Stearic acid 7.5% Cetostearyl alcohol 1.5 Liquid paraffin 10.0 Glycerin triisooctanoate 12.0 Lanolin 3.0 Cetyl palmitate 4.0 Monostearic acid polyethylene glycol (EO = 40) 2.0 Monostearic acid glycerin (self-emulsifiable) 5.0 Spherical porous particles in Example 1 3.0 Preservative/antioxidant suitable amount Perfume suitable amount Purified water in an amount to adjust the total to 100.0%

<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Conventionally, porous particles have been developed. JP-B 2550262 discloses an oil absorber containing an organic acid metal salt and an oil-absorbing crosslinked polymer, containing porous particles which swell by absorbing a large amount of oil, are excellent in an ability to retain absorbed oil, and significantly improve the rate of absorption of oil. As a process for producing non-swelling porous particles, JP-A (W) 2000-516973 discloses porous spherical particles obtained by melt-mixing polypropylene with dichlorobenzole or amyl acetate for dissolving the polymer, then spray-cooling the mixture, and removing the solvent in a later step.

<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The present invention relates to porous particles having a small particle diameter of 75 μm or less on the average, which are preferable as cosmetics with oil absorptivity, the porous particles further containing an active ingredient, a process for producing the same, and cosmetics containing the same. The present invention relates to porous particles having an average particle diameter of 75 μm or less, containing polyethylene resin having a crystallization degree of 70% or more as the main component. The present invention also relates to the porous particles further containing an active ingredient and cosmetics containing the porous particles. The present invention also relates to a process for producing porous particles, which includes mixing polyethylene resin having a crystallization degree of 70% or more, and a low-molecular weight compound having a melting point lower than the softening temperature (or melting point) of the polyethylene resin with each other at a temperature not lower than the softening temperature (or melting point) of the polyethylene resin, then spraying the mixture into a gaseous phase or a solvent at a temperature at which the viscosity of the mixture is 600 mPa·s or less, and removing the low-molecular weight compound from the resulting particles. The present invention relates to cosmetics containing the porous particles described above or porous particles obtained by the process described above and another cosmetic ingredient. The present invention relates to use of the porous particles described above or porous particles obtained by the process described above as cosmetics. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"?

20050804

20131105

20060914

99580.0

A61K881

WESTERBERG, NISSA M

Porous particles and cosmetics

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

A61K

ACCEPTED

Apparatus and process for the purification of air

A gas purification unit includes a gas purification vessel (12) and at least one of inlet conduit means (18, 20, 34) for connecting a feed gas source (16) to the gas purification vessel and outlet conduit means (36, 22, 24) for connecting the gas purification vessel (12) to at least one downstream gas processing unit. Each of said inlet and outlet conduit means includes at least two subsidiary pipes arranged in parallel and a common pipe (34, 36), each subsidiary pipe being in fluid flow communication with the common pipe and having a flow control valve (18, 20, 22, 24) operating in unison with the flow control valve of the or each other subsidiary pipe. The use of at least two valves in unison increases the reliability of the unit. The use of at least two smaller valves in place of a single large valve also increases the reliability.

1. A gas purification unit comprising a gas purification vessel and at least one of inlet conduit means for connecting a feed gas source to the gas purification vessel and outlet conduit means for connecting the gas purification vessel to at least one downstream gas processing unit, each of said inlet and outlet conduit means comprising at least two subsidiary pipes arranged in parallel and a common pipe, each subsidiary pipe being in fluid flow communication with the respective common pipe and having a flow control valve operating in unison with the flow control valve of the or each other respective subsidiary pipe. 2. A gas purification unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the diameter of each subsidiary pipe is less than the diameter of the common pipe and the flow capacity of each flow control valve is less than the flow capacity of the common pipe. 3. A gas purification unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the total cross-sectional area of the subsidiary pipes is at least equal to the cross-sectional area of the common pipe. 4. A gas purification unit as claimed in claim 1 comprising inlet conduit means. 5. A gas purification unit as claimed in claim 1 comprising outlet conduit means. 6. A gas purification unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the common pipe connects the subsidiary pipes to the gas purification vessel. 7. A gas purification unit as claimed in claim 6 comprising inlet conduit means, said unit further comprising an upstream single supply pipe in fluid flow communication with each subsidiary pipe of said inlet conduit means, the diameter of said supply pipe being about the same as the diameter of the common pipe. 8. A gas purification unit as claimed in claim 6 comprising outlet conduit means, said unit further comprising a downstream single outlet pipe in fluid flow communication with each subsidiary pipe of the outlet conduit means, the diameter of said outlet pipe being about the same as the diameter of the common pipe. 9. A gas purification unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said inlet and outlet conduit means comprises two subsidiary pipes. 10. A gas purification unit as claimed in claim 1 which is an air purification unit. 11. (Canceled). 12. A gas purification system comprising at least two gas purification units as defined in claim 1 in parallel and in fluid flow communication with each other. 13. A gas purification system as claimed in claim 12 wherein each gas purification unit is an air purification unit. 14. (Canceled). 15. A cryogenic air separation system comprising a gas purification system as defined in claim 13 and at least one downstream cryogenic air separation unit, said gas purification system being in fluid flow communication with said cryogenic air separation unit. 16. A process for purifying air for cryogenic separation comprising: feeding air to a gas purification unit as defined in claim 10; purifying said air in said gas purification unit to produce purified air; and feeding purified air to at least one cryogenic air separation unit, said process being characterised in that: feed air flow to the gas purification unit is controlled by at least two parallel flow control valves operating in unison, and/or purified air flow from the gas purification unit is controlled by at least two parallel flow control valves operating in unison. 17. Use of at least one gas purification unit as defined in claim 10 in a temperature swing adsorption (“TSA”) process for the purification of air. 18. Use of at least one gas purification unit as defined in claim 10 in a pressure swing adsorption (“PSA”) process for the purification of air.

The present invention relates to a gas purification unit. The invention has particular application to the purification of air upstream of a cryogenic air separation system. Typically, the invention is used in conjunction with an adsorption process such as a temperature swing adsorption (“TSA”) process or pressure swing adsorption (“PSA”) process. Where a feed gas is to be subjected to downstream processing, it may often be desirable or necessary to remove certain components from the feed gas prior to such processing. As an example, high boiling materials, e.g. water and carbon dioxide, which may be present in a feed gas, e.g. air, must be removed where the mixture is to be treated in a low temperature, e.g. cryogenic, process. If relatively high boiling materials are not removed, they may liquefy or solidify in subsequent processing and lead to pressure drops, flow difficulties or other disadvantages in the downstream process. Hazardous, e.g. explosive, materials should be removed prior to further processing of the feed gas so as to reduce the risk of build-up in the subsequent process thereby presenting a hazard. Hydrocarbon gases, e.g. acetylene, may present such a hazard. In an air separation process, air is typically compressed using a main air compressor (“MAC”) and the resultant compressed air is cooled and fed to a separator where condensed water is removed. The compressed air may be further cooled using, for example, refrigerated ethylene glycol. The bulk of the water is removed in this step by condensation and separation of the condensate. The resultant substantially water-free air is typically then fed to an adsorption process, where the components to be removed from the air are removed by adsorption, and then to an air separation unit. In treating air, water is conventionally removed first and then carbon dioxide by passing the air though a single adsorbent layer or separate layers of adsorbent for preferential adsorption of water and carbon dioxide prior to feeding the air to the downstream separation process. Several processes are known for removing an undesired component from a feed gas by adsorption on a solid adsorbent including TSA and PSA processes. Conventionally in such processes, two (or more) adsorbent beds are employed in parallel arrangement with one bed being regenerated “off-line” while the or each other bed is operated for adsorption. The roles of the beds are then periodically changed in the operating cycle. An adsorption bed is said to be “on-line” during the adsorption step. In a TSA process, the adsorption step generates heat of adsorption causing a heat pulse to progress downstream through the adsorbent bed. The heat pulse is allowed to proceed out of the downstream end of the adsorbent bed during the feed or on-line period. After adsorption, the flow of feed gas is shut off from the adsorbent bed which is then depressurised. The adsorbent is then exposed to a flow of hot regeneration gas, typically a waste stream or other gas from a downstream process, which strips the adsorbed materials from the adsorbent and so regenerates it for further use. Regeneration conventionally is carried out in a direction counter to that of the adsorption step. The bed is then re-pressurised in readiness to repeat the adsorption step. A PSA system typically involves a cycle in which the bed is on-line, and then depressurised, regenerated and then re-pressurised before being taken back on-line. Depressurisation involves releasing pressurised gas and leads to waste, generally known as “switch loss”. In PSA systems, the pressure of the regeneration gas is lower than that of the feed gas. It is this change in pressure that is used to remove the adsorbed component from the adsorbent. However, cycle times are usually short, for example of the order of 15 to 30 minutes, as compared with those employed in a TSA system which may be for example of the order of 2 to 20 hours. Gas to be purified is usually fed to a gas purification unit, such as a vessel containing at least one adsorption bed, via inlet conduit means comprising a pipe and a flow control valve. Similarly, purified gas is usually removed from the gas purification unit via outlet conduit means comprising a pipe and a flow control valve. If the flow control valve of either the inlet conduit means or the outlet conduit means fails, then the flow of gas through the gas purification unit will be restricted (if the valve fails in a partially open position) or prevented (if the valve fails in the closed position) thereby reducing or completely stopping gas throughput through the unit. The pipes to and from the gas purification unit have to be rated proportionally to the capacity of the unit to allow the appropriate gas flow through the unit. It necessarily follows, therefore, that larger gas purification units require pipes having larger diameters than pipes to and from smaller gas purification units. The size of the flow control valve must be appropriate to the size of the pipe with which it is associated. Butterfly valves are often used to control the gas flow through pipes to and from gas purification units. A large butterfly valve, e.g. one having a metal disc diameter of 100 cm, requires a powerful actuator to open and close the valve. The actuator must not only be able to move the large metal disc between the open and closed positions, but it must also be able to move the disc quickly and frequently during the adsorption/de-adsorption cycle of an adsorbent bed gas purification unit. For example, in a PSA process, the valve must be able to move from the fully open position to the closed position in about 1 or 2 seconds. Such powerful actuators are prone to breakdown as a result of, for example, bearing, seat or disc failure. Consequently, the reliability of a valve decreases as the size of the valve increases. In addition, the cost of a valve increases disproportionately as the size of the valve increases above a certain size. It is, therefore, an object of preferred embodiments of the present invention to increase the reliability of valves used to control gas flow into and out of a gas purification unit such as a vessel having at least one adsorbent bed. In addition, it is a further objective of preferred embodiments of the present invention to reduce the capital and operational costs associated with gas purification units. According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gas purification unit comprising a gas purification vessel and at least one of inlet conduit means for connecting a feed gas source to the gas purification vessel and outlet conduit means for connecting the gas purification vessel to at least one downstream gas processing unit, each of said inlet and outlet conduit means comprising at least two subsidiary pipes arranged in parallel and a common pipe, each subsidiary pipe being in fluid flow communication with the respective common pipe and having a flow control valve operating in unison with the flow control valve of the or each other respective subsidiary pipe. The flow control valves of the inlet conduit means or the outlet conduit means operate “in unison”, by which is meant they are operationally interrelated such that each valve opens and closes simultaneously and in phase. The flow control valves may be directly linked mechanically to each other or may be controlled individually. One advantage of this arrangement is that, if one valve were to fail (and be forced closed if it failed in an at least partially open position in line with common practice), then there is no total loss of gas throughput through the purification unit which improves the operational effectiveness of the unit. The chance of each valve failing at the same time is significantly less than that of single valve failure. In this way, reliability of the unit is improved in contrast to the commonly held belief that reliability of a system decreases as the number of components in that system increases. The flow control valves of a gas purification unit having multiple adsorbent beds do not usually operate to provide a variable gas flow. Instead, they usually operate as “switch valves”, that is to say that they operate either fully open or fully closed. In preferred embodiments, the diameter of each subsidiary pipe is less than the diameter of the common pipe and the flow capacity of each flow control valve is less than the flow capacity of the common pipe. It is well know in the art that smaller valves are inherently more reliable than larger valves. Therefore, not only is reliability improved by using two valves, in preferred embodiments, reliability is further improved by using smaller valves. In addition, the use of smaller valves saves significant capital and operating cost when compared with the use of larger valves. The total cross-sectional area of the subsidiary pipes is usually at least equal to the cross-sectional area of the common pipe. For a given gas purification vessel, such an arrangement provides a total gas flow to or from the vessel that is at least equal to the corresponding gas flow using conventional inlet or outlet conduit means. The gas purification unit may comprise either inlet conduit means or outlet conduit means having the multiple valve arrangement of the present invention. However, in preferred embodiments, the gas purification unit comprising both inlet and outlet conduit means. The common pipe preferably connects the subsidiary pipes to the gas purification vessel. In such embodiments, the unit may further comprise an upstream single supply pipe in fluid flow communication with each subsidiary pipe of the inlet conduit means. The diameter of the supply pipe is about the same as the diameter of the common pipe. Additionally or alternatively, the unit may further comprise a downstream single outlet pipe in flow communication with each subsidiary pipe of the outlet conduit means. The diameter of said outlet pipe is about the same as the diameter of the common pipe. The gas purification unit as described above is particularly suited for use in the purification of air. Such an air purification unit comprises an air purification vessel which usually comprises at least one adsorbent bed for removing a component such as carbon dioxide and/or water from the air. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gas purification system comprising at least two gas purification units according to the first aspect in parallel and in fluid flow communication with each other. Such a gas purification system may be used to purify air upstream of a cryogenic air separation unit. In these embodiments, each gas purification unit is an air purification unit. According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cryogenic air separation system comprising a gas purification system according to the second aspect and at least one downstream cryogenic air separation unit, said gas purification system being in fluid flow communication with said cryogenic air separation unit. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process for purifying air for cryogenic separation comprising: feeding air to a gas purification unit according the first aspect; purifying said air in said gas purification unit to produce purified air; and feeding purified air to at least one cryogenic air separation unit, said process being characterised in that: feed air flow to the gas purification unit is controlled by at least two parallel flow control valves operating in unison, and/or purified air flow from the gas purification unit is controlled by at least two parallel flow control valves operating in unison. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided use of at least one gas purification unit according to the first aspect in a TSA process for the purification of air. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided use of at least one gas purification unit according to the first aspect in a PSA process for the purification of air. The following is a description, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of presently preferred embodiments of the invention. In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a first embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention as part of an air purification system involving two air purification units in parallel; and FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1 as part of an air purification system involving three air purification units in parallel. Referring to FIG. 1, the air purification system 10 comprises two air purification vessels 12, 14. Each vessel comprises at least one bed of adsorbent material (not shown) and, while the first vessel 12 is on-line adsorbing a component from the air, the second vessel 14 is off-line with its adsorbent being regenerated. After regeneration is complete, the roles of the two vessels are reversed with the first vessel 12 going off-line for regeneration and the second vessel 14 coming on-line for adsorption. This cycle is repeated to maintain a continuous purification process. The adsorption/regeneration cycle involves introducing air to be purified to the system 10 via line 16. When the first vessel 12 is on-line, the first and third pairs of air flow control valves 18, 20 and 22, 24 are open and the second and fourth pairs of air flow control valves 26, 28 and 30, 32 are closed. Air is fed via line 16 to the first pair of valves 18, 20. The air stream is divided into two equal portions, the first portion passing through valve 18 and the second portion passing through valve 20. The two portions are then recombined and fed via line 34 to the first air purification vessel 12. The air is passed over the adsorbent material in the first vessel 12 and water and/or carbon dioxide are removed by adsorption. Substantially carbon dioxide-free air is removed from the first vessel via line 36 and divided into two equal portions. The first portion passes through valve 22 and the second portion passes through valve 24. The two portions are combined and the purified air removed from the purification system via line 38. The purified air is fed to a cryogenic air separation system (not shown). During the period when the first vessel 12 is on-line, regeneration gas is fed via line 40 through regeneration gas flow control valve 44 to the second vessel 14. Regeneration gas flow control valve 42 is closed. The absorbent material (not shown) in the second vessel 14 is regenerated and the spent regeneration gas removed from the second vessel 14 via line 46. Regeneration gas flow control valve 48 is open and, with regeneration gas flow control valve 50 being closed, the spent regeneration gas is removed from the system via line 52. In order to take the first vessel 12 off-line and to put the second vessel 14 on-line, air flow control valves 18, 20 and 22, 24 are closed and air flow control valves 26, 28 and 30, 32 are opened. Regeneration gas flow control valves 44, 48 are closed and regeneration flow control valves 42, 50 are opened. Depressurisation line 56 is used to release the initial pressure in the first vessel 12 (or second vessel 14) before the vessel goes into its regeneration phase. It is smaller than the regeneration vent system in order to give a more controlled rate of pressure reduction so that the risk of damaging the adsorbent material is reduced. When the second vessel 14 is on-line, the first and third pairs of air flow control valves 18, 20 and 22, 24 are closed and the second and fourth pairs of air flow control valves 26, 28 and 30, 32 are open. Air is fed via line 16 to the second pair of valves 26, 28. The air stream is divided into two equal portions, the first portion passing through valve 26 and the second portion passing through valve 28. The two portions are then recombined and fed via line 46 to the second air purification vessel 14. The air is passed over the adsorbent material in the second vessel 14 and carbon dioxide is removed by adsorption. Substantially carbon dioxide-free air is removed from the second vessel 14 via line 54 and divided into two equal portions. The first portion passes through valve 30 and the second portion passes through valve 32. The two portions are combined and the purified air removed from the purification system via line 38. The purified air is fed to a cryogenic air separation system (not shown). During the period when the second vessel 14 is on-line, regeneration gas is fed via line 40 through regeneration gas flow control valve 42 to the first vessel 12. Regeneration gas flow control valve 44 is closed. The absorbent material (not shown) in the first vessel 12 is regenerated and the spent regeneration gas removed from the first vessel 12 via line 34. Regeneration gas flow control valve 50 is open and, with regeneration gas flow control valve 48 being closed, the spent regeneration gas removed from the system via line 52. Conventionally, air flow to or from an adsorption vessel is controlled by a single flow control valve. However, in the exemplified embodiment of the present invention, the single valve has been replaced by a pair of smaller flow control valves arranged in parallel. The two valves in each pair are operationally interrelated with each other such that they both open and close simultaneously in unison. If one valve should fail, then it is usually forced closed (if failure occurs with the valve in an at least partially open position). However, the other valve of the pair would be operation and, thus, air flow through the adsorption vessel would be reduced but not totally interrupted. The reliability of the purification system is thereby increased despite have a larger number of components. Referring to FIG. 2, the air purification system 210 comprises three air purification vessels 212, 214, 216. Each vessel comprises at least one bed of adsorbent material (not shown) and, in operation, the first and second vessels 212, 214 are on-line while the adsorbent material in the third vessel 216 is being regenerated. After regeneration of the adsorbent material in the third vessel 216 is complete, the third vessel 216 comes on-line along side the second vessel 214 and the first vessel 212 goes off-line for regeneration. After regeneration of the adsorbent material in the first vessel 212 is complete, the first vessel 212 comes on-line along side the third vessel 216 and the second vessel 214 goes off-line for regeneration. After regeneration of the adsorbent material in the second vessel 214 is complete, the second vessel 214 comes on-line along side the first vessel 212 and the third vessel 216 goes off-line for regeneration. This cycle is repeated to maintain a continuous purification process. Air is fed to the purification system via line 217 and purified air removed from the system via line 242. The purified air is fed to a cryogenic air separation unit (not shown). Regeneration gas is fed to the system via line 244 and spent regeneration gas removed via line 246. Flow control valves 248, 250, 252, 254, 256, 258 control the flow of regeneration gas through the purification system and are opened and closed periodically in a conventional sequence analogous to that described for the two adsorption vessel system depicted in FIG. 1. The first vessel 212 has a first pair of air flow control valves 218, 220 which control the flow of air into the vessel and a second pair of air flow control valves 222, 224 which control the flow of air out of the vessel. The two pairs of flow control valves 226, 228 and 230, 232 control the flow of air through the second vessel 214 and the two pairs of flow control valves 234, 236 and 238, 240 control the flow of air through the third vessel 216. The two valves in each pair are operationally interrelated with each other such that they both open and close simultaneously in unison. If one valve should fail (and be forced closed if valve failure occurs in an at least partially open position), air flow through the respective vessel would be reduced but not totally interrupted. The reliability of the purification system as a whole is thereby increased despite having a larger number of components than a conventional three-vessel purification system. Throughout the specification, the term “means” in the context of means for carrying out a function, is intended to refer to at least one device adapted and/or constructed to carry out that function. It will be appreciated that the invention is not restricted to the details described above with reference to the preferred embodiments but that numerous modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

20060427

20091020

20061019

85337.0

B01D5302

HOPKINS, ROBERT A

APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR THE PURIFICATION OF AIR

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

B01D

ACCEPTED

Device to be used in healing processes

A device for tamponade of body cavities and for mechanical anchoring of a catheter, the device including a flexible tube segment (2) having an inner wall (4) and an outer wall (6) that surround an interior space (8), wherein the tube segment (2) is inflatable, and is configured without through-passing support bodies so that a displacement of tube wall material between the inner wall (4) and the outer wall (6) of the tube segment (2) is possible by inflation of the tube segment, wherein the tube segment is provided with two ends (7,9), which are fastened to a same closing element (10), configured so that a torus geometry is striven for as the inflatable tube segment (2) is inflated and the closing element (10) is a pipe nipple and the two ends (7,9) of the tube segment (2) are joined together fluid-tightly.

1. A device for tamponade of body cavities and for mechanical anchoring of a catheter, the device comprising: a flexible tube segment (2) having an inner wall (4) and an outer wall (6) that surround an interior hollow space (8), wherein said tube segment (2) is inflatable, and is configured without through-passing support bodies so that a displacement of tube wall material between said inner wall (4) and said outer wall (6) of said tube segment (2) is possible as inflation proceeds, wherein said tube segment further comprises: a) two ends (7,9), which are fastened to a same closing element (10), configured so that a torus geometry is striven for as said inflatable tube segment (2) is inflated and b) said closing element (10) is a pipe nipple and said two ends (7,9) of said tube segment (2) are joined together fluid-tightly. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least said outer wall (6) is thin-walled and elastically expandable. 3. The device according to claims 1, wherein at least said outer wall (6) of the tube segment (2) has a wall thickness of a few microns. 4. The device according to one of claims 1, wherein said tube segment (2) consists of a transparent material. 5. The device according to claims 1, wherein said tube segment (2) consists of a polyurethane, a polyurethane/polyvinyl chloride mixture, or a comparable polyurethane-based material or a polymer having comparable expansion and processing characteristics. 6. The device according to claims 1, wherein said tube segment (2) is configured for the reversible, sealing securement of a catheter at the end of a catheter shaft (15). 7. The device according to claim 1, wherein said tube segment (2) is formed by invaginating a single-walled tube section (1). 8. The device according to claims 1, wherein at least one end (7 or 9) of said tube section (1) is attached to the catheter shaft (15). 9. The device according to claim 1, wherein a channel (13) for the delivery and/or discharge of a fluid opens into the interior space (8) formed by said walls (4, 6) of said tube segment (2). 10. The device according to claims 7, wherein said tube section (1) or a portion thereof is preformed as a single-walled tube in the shape of a roll before being fashioned into a tube segment (2) by invagination. 11. The device according to claim 10, wherein a bulge produced vertically to the plane of rotation of said tube segment (2) by the invagination is thickened by preforming. 12. The device according to claim 10, wherein said tube section (1) is preformed in such a way that a tube portion (3) that forms the inner wall of said tube segment (2) after invagination is smaller in cross section and has a greater wall thickness than a tube portion (5) forming the outer wall (6). 13. The device according to claim 1, wherein said tube portion (3) is provided with a uniform wall thickness and a uniform inner diameter. 14. The device according to claim 1, wherein said tube segment (2) is implemented with a residual volume. 15. The device according to claim 1, wherein a channel (13) is connected via a flexible connecting tube to a valve (14) disposed outside said tube segment (2). 16. The device according to claim 15, wherein said valve (14) includes a valve lip. 17. The device according to claim 1, wherein said valve (14) is a circular sleeve consisting of flexible material and disposed between said tube ends (7, 9). 18. The device according to claim 1, wherein a clamping closure (21) having a longitudinally displacable sleeve (22) is slidably attached to said tube segment (2). 19. The device according to claim 1, wherein a collar-shaped abutment (16) is disposed on a selected one of said pipe nipple and said catheter shaft (15). 20. The device according to claim 1, wherein a pressure sensor is contained in an interior space (20). 21. The device according to claim 1, wherein a medically active substance can be introduced into the interior space (8) enclosed by said tube segment (2). 22. The device according to claim 21, wherein said medically active substance has at least one of radioactive and chemotherapeutic properties. 23. The device according to claim 21, wherein said tube segment (2) is covered in at least one subregion by a shield (21) and said shield suppresses or decreases the medicinal activity of the substance in the shielded subregion. 24. The device according to claim 1, wherein a radiographic contrast medium can be introduced into the interior space (8) enclosed by said tube segment (2). 25. The device according to claim 1, wherein said tube segment (2) has at least one of substances and bodies affixed to a surface. 26. The device according to claim 25, wherein the substances or bodies affixed to the surface of said tube segment are contained in at least one of a receptacle and a support connected to said tube segment. 27. The device according to claim 26, wherein said substances and bodies are constituted by at least one of radioactive and chemotherapeutic agents. 28. The device according to claim 25, wherein the substances and bodies affixed to the surface of said tube segment, are electrodes.

TECHNICAL FIELD The invention is concerned with a device to be used in healing processes as set forth in the preamble to claim 1. Devices that serve to tamponade cavities are known in medical technology. The devices are composed of inflatable elastic hollow bodies. Various sizes of these hollow bodies are known, so that they can be used to seal ostia of different sizes. Also used are devices whose outer contour is shaped so that they are able to fill a cavity completely when Inflated. In tamponade, especially of spaces in biological tissue, the problem arises that the tamponade device may not be fully adapted to the shape of the cavity and may exert undesirable pressure on adjacent mucosa. This problem is exacerbated by the fact that the tamponade balloon is designed without a residual volume and high restoring forces are present with the wall material used. In tamponade of the nasal cavities, a further problem is that these cavities have a strictly centrally controlled, locally uninfluencable system of nasal conchae, which exhibits periodic circadian pressure fluctuations that add to the internal pressure of a tamponade balloon that has no residual volume, thereby increasing the risk that tamponade will curtail vascular perfusion of the adjacent tissue. In view of the widely varying size ratios of the paranasal sinuses and the breadth of interindividual variation in the spatial configuration and volume of anatomical spaces, a large number of anatomically preformed devices is needed. This is very cost-intensive. In addition to the known devices for tamponading ostia and/or cavities, catheters composed of an elastic catheter shaft and a fillable balloon element mounted thereon are also used in medical technology. The catheter shaft comprises a filling channel that opens into the interior of the balloon through a port in the catheter wall. The balloon element itself serves primarily to anchor the catheter mechanically in a secure manner. It also often has a sealing function and prevents, for example, urine from leaking out of the bladder past the catheter through the urethra. The balloon fastened to the catheter strives to assume a spherical shape when filled with a fluid. The largest cross section of the balloon therefore exceeds the cross section of the ostium of the cavity and thus prevents retraction by conforming to the rim of the cavity opening. The spherical shape of the balloon is unsatisfactory for performing the holding and sealing function, since under tensile stress it has a tendency to assume a spindle shape and slip into the ostium, causing the securement of the device and the relatively small sealing contact area between the balloon wall and the rim of the cavity ostium to be lost. This is a particularly significant problem in connection with biological tissues, since the ostia of body cavities usually do not have a fixed width. For this reason, more or less broad-area retaining disks of rigid material have been mounted on the catheter shaft, but owing to their bulky construction they cannot be used with small ostia in the millimeter range. In addition, the spherical balloon requires the supporting body that passes through it, i.e., the catheter shaft, which can be very troublesome particularly in tight spaces. PRIOR ART EP 0 624 349 B1 discloses a device for tamponading and keeping open body cavities and passages delimited by bone after surgical manipulation, in which the outer shape of the balloon, in the fluid-filled state, is adapted to the inner shape of the body cavity. In this device, the balloon is implemented as a catheter shaped in anatomically idealized fashion and is adapted, in a wedge shape, to the human frontal sinus or ethmoid sinus. The chief disadvantage of this device is the large number of sizes needed due to the broad variation in shape of these spaces. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention Is to create a device to be used in healing processes that avoids the disadvantages recited above and can be used in a versatile manner. The device schall be usable, insofar as possible, both for tamponading and for catheter insertion. Finally, it is intended to be as inexpensive as possible to make and to be usable for both applications with respect to the naturally occurring sizes of the cavities. The set object is achieved according to the invention by means of the features of claim 1. Dependent claims 2 to 27 reflect advantageous improvements of the idea of the invention set forth in claim 1. The fashioning of the device as a flexible, double-walled, inflatable tube segment affords the possibility of a broad field of application. The device is, in addition, very easy to make. In the simplest embodiment, the tube segment is formed by an inner wall and an outer wall that surround a hollow space, at least the outer wall being thin-walled and elastically expandable. When a fluid, i.e. a liquid or a gas, is introduced into the tube segment, the outer wall of the tube segment unfolds and thereby lies against the walls of the ostium or the walls of a cavity that is to be filled. The unfolding and elastic expandability of the outer wall serve to adapt the outer wall fully to the spatial conditions. It is advantageous if the tube segment is made of a transparent material. Particularly suitable materials that may be contemplated for this purpose are polyurethane, or a polyurethane/polyvinyl fluoride-containing mixture or a comparable polyurethane-based material or a polymer having comparable expansion and processing characteristics. The tube segment can be made especially thin-walled with these materials. The desirable wall thickness is in the micron range, specifically preferably 5 to 15 μm. In addition, a probe can be inserted into the tube segment from the outside and the cavity observed from the inside. Such a tube segment can be used both for tamponade of cavities or ostia and for the reversible, sealing securement of catheters, by being disposed at the end of a catheter. By virtue of its characteristics, the device is particularly well suited for tamponade of natural or artificially created ostia. Catheters can also be well secured in hollow organs such as the urinary bladder, stomach or intestine. The novel securement also results in better sealing with respect to the opening of the cavity than would be possible with a spherical balloon, since sealing contact is made, not with a relatively small area of the cavity wall Immediately adjacent the ostium of the cavity, but rather with a much larger contact area constituted by the proximal toroidal bulge provided by the tube segment. When the inflatable tube segment is filled with the fluid, a longitudinally extending torus is formed that has especially favorable sealing properties. The production of the tube segment takes place in a particularly favorable manner by the invagination of a single-walled tube section. A tube section of a set length, for example 10 cm, is tucked into itself so that the two ends of the tube section roughly coincide. The ends can then be fastened to a terminating device in the form of a pipe nipple, or alternatively to a suitable location on a catheter. A channel for delivering and/or discharging fluid is inserted into the interior space produced by the walls of the tube segment formed in this way. If a fluid is introduced into the interior space of the tube segment, then the outer wall of the tube segment unfolds and expands and can be used, as appropriate, for tamponade or for securing a catheter. In order to achieve the particularly good mode of action of the subject matter of the invention, the tube segment is preformed as a single-walled tube before being shaped by invagination. This preforming is preferably executed in such a way that the portion of the tube forming the outer wall of the tube segment after invagination forms a torus swollen in the plane of rotation of the tube segment when inflated. The extent of the preforming can vary, that is, after preforming and invagination, the outer wall of the tube segment lies more or less folded against the inner wall thereof. It is also possible for at least the end wall that adjoins the outer end of the tube segment and is present after inflation to be fashioned as thicker in the preforming operation, in order to achieve an Improved sealing action for special cases. Quite generally, the preforming of the single-walled tube is executed in such a way that the portion of the tube that forms the inner wall of the tube segment after invagination has a smaller cross section and a greater wall thickness than the tube portion that forms the outer wall after invagination. Quite generally, it is also provided that the device is shaped so as to have a residual volume relative to the volume of a body cavity that it is to be tamponaded by it, i.e., the tube segment in the freely unfolded state has a greater volume than the body cavity to be tamponaded. The wall thickness, at least of the outer wall of the tube segment, is in the range of a few microns to enable the outer wall to unfold satisfactorily. The folds formed by excess wall material when the device is unfolded in a cavity to be tamponaded by it are capillary-sized. Fluids are thus retained therein by virtue of adhesion forces. The channel opening into the interior of the tube segment is connected via a flexible connecting tube to a valve disposed outside the tube segment. The valve can be fashioned as a lip valve. It is also possible, however, to provide the channel with a circular cuff made of flexible material, which keeps the fluid from flowing backward out of the interior space of the tube segment. It can be advantageous in some applications if the outer wall of the tube segment is formed of a polar, slightly water-permeable material, This material can be a semipermeable membrane, for example. Fashioning the device as a tube segment also makes it possible to place a pressure sensor in the interior space of the tube segment to measure transmural pressure during inflation. Excessive pressures during the inflation of the device can be detected and avoided in this way. So that the fluid does not inadvertently escape from the interior space of the tube segment, a valve is disposed at a suitable location in the channel. Various types of construction are possible here, in terms of both the design of the valve and its placement location in the channel. According to a variant, a clamping closure that has a longitudinally displaceable sleeve for partially or completely occluding the channel can be slid onto the tube segment. This sleeve can, by being displaced, simultaneously define the size of the tube segment itself. Finally, a collar-shaped abutment can be disposed on the pipe nipple or the catheter shaft for clamping and securing a cavity wall on the tube segment. The tube segment satisfies securing and sealing requirements by means of the ideal torus geometry that it strives to assume during inflation. When deflated, the tube segment can be stretched out longitudinally in folds in a manner that enables it to be inserted through very narrow openings. The tube segment can, if necessary, be equipped with a guide rod or a guide tube as a positioning aid. However, when deflated, the stretched-out double tube body does have a certain rigidity, due to the close mutual contact of four wall layers, that alone makes it possible to position it for most applications This self-supporting effect can be enhanced by fashioning the invaginated portion of the tube wall as thicker-walled than the rest of the tube segment. When the proximally or distally united ends of the tube are inflated along the stretched-out tube segment, a relative movement of the ends of the tube walls and the tube body occurs. As inflation proceeds, the material of the tube walls is displaced between the portions of the tube close to and those remote from the axis of rotation, which displacement begins at that moment when the two parts of the tube facing the axis of rotation come into contact, and is maintained until the united ends of the tube walls have come as close as they can to the center of rotation of the unfolded torus and the most energetically favorable geometry for the inflated tube segment has therefore been assumed. If the two united ends of the tube are then secured outside the wall of the cavity, the tube segment with its annular bulge conforms to the wall of the cavity and presses the wall against the collar-shaped abutment. The tube segment is held in position for as long as the internal pressure is maintained. If the tube segment is stretched out proximally in the deflated state, then inflation results in a distal movement of the tube segment that is suitable for unfolding the tube segment into a cavity. The tube segment is also suitable for expelling substances from a cavity in this way. Because of its thin-walled and residual-volume design that spares a through-passing support body, the tube segment is suitable in particular for tamponading structurally complex spaces or spaces containing a pressure-sensitive mucosa, such as, for example, the nasal cavity and the paranasal sinuses. It therefore lends itself to general applications in which the internal pressure must be transmitted directly to the wall of the body cavity, without the addition of any retraction force of the wall material of the tube segment, so that in this way the pressure exerted directly on the surrounding tissue can be measured by means of a manometer connected externally to the channel to make certain that the vascular perfusion pressure of the adjacent tissue is not exceeded by the tamponade. The toroidal shape of the tube segment further makes it possible to place a pressure sensor in the interior space between the tube portions of the double-tube body that are near the axis of rotation without thereby exerting a disruptive effect on the interface with the surrounding tissue. Given the residual volume of the tube segment, the pressure measured at that location corresponds to the pressure transmitted to the surrounding tissue via the tube portions remote from the axis. If the tube segment is equipped with a thin wall of polyurethane through which water “leaks” in small quantities, the tube segment can also be used to drain cavities or alternatively for the prolonged delivery of polar drug active ingredients, such as for example N2O, through the wall from inside to outside. It is, of course, equally feasible to utilize such effects in the opposite direction. The inventive combination of residual dimensioning of the balloon, microthin-walled construction for the balloon envelope, and the shaftless and catheterless tamponade tube makes the device according to the invention also suitable for the introduction of radiating media in a manner that is tolerated by the blood circulation and does not inhibit perfusion, for example to obliterate proliferating tissue in chronic inflammatory processes or for preoperative tumor reduction. The tamponade body enables even complexly shaped, bony cavities, such as for example the paranasal sinuses, to be completely filled with a radiating medium in a manner that is tolerated by the tissues, and in which the transmural force exerted on all surfaces of the cavity is nearly homogeneous and causes no significant impairment of tissue perfusion and the medium can subsequently be removed conveniently and completely from the cavity. Whereas heretofore such media were introduced freely into the body cavity and usually could not be retrieved completely after treatment, the present tube tamponade device thus enables the radioactive substance to be removed completely by evacuating the tamponade device and then simply withdrawing the entire body thereof. Its use in nuclear medicine can additionally be contemplated, in the long-term, perfusion-compatible irradiation of tumor tissue in the brain, breast, intestine, intraabdominal and intrathoracic organs, and, of course, surgically opened or created body spaces. To avoid inadvertent exposure of tissue outside the area to be treated, the tamponade device can be protected by suitable partial sheathing and/or by shielding with a material that is opaque to the radiation. The material can be a metal and can be implemented as a separate layer or as a direct component of the tube segment, for example in the form of a metallic layer vapor-deposited thereon. In addition to the ability of the tube tamponade device to be used in radiation therapy and nuclear medicine, radiodiagnostic use thereof can also be contemplated. Instead of a radioactive substance, radiopaque contrast media can be introduced into the tamponade body in order to visualize body cavities or organs in toto and to avoid exposing the tissue directly to the substance and preclude systemic uptake of the substance by the organism. If it is equipped with an internal valve mechanism, the tube segment can be detached from the fluid feed after inflation. This makes it possible to disconnect the tube segment from bothersome delivery lines when it is in the inflated state, e.g. when the tamponade device is inserted in the nasal cavity, and to secure the proximal end of the closure externally, on the surface of the body. This can be done by means of the clamping closure with its two longitudinal slits, the closure being wholly or partially retracted and spread over the terminating device during this retraction, if the clamping closure is designed so that it is not split over its entire length, but distally comprises a closed tube portion that surrounds the still folded together material of the tube wall, and if proximally its displaceability relative to the tube portion that is disposed beneath it and is not unfolded can be set in any desired position by means of a sleeve. For the special case of nasal tamponade after a nasal septum operation, the tube segment can be used by equipping it in its central lumen with a brace that gathers the unfolded, cylindrical, double-tube body together at one end and thus permits a planar bearing surface in the nature of a splint for the nasal septum, the splinting being maintained by tamponading the remaining space of the nasal cavity with the now cushion-like opposite portion of the tube segment The leg of the U-shaped splint that is in contact with the nasal septum can additionally serve as a carrier for therapeutic agents and be secured to the terminating device to maintain the gathering of the tube wall material. The inventive relative movement between the inflated tamponade tube and the pipe nipple for securing the tube makes it possible to use the present tube tamponade in a particular manner to seal the anus in patients with rectal incontinence syndrome. The annular bulge that forms when the tamponade body is filled conforms to the rectal sphincter from the inside and seats on it like a sealing cap. If the nipple securing the ends of the tube is placed outside the body and there connected to an abutment that holds the securing nipple in the anal fold and keeps the nipple from slipping into the rectum or anus, the contrary movements of the unfolded tamponade tube and of the extracorporeal securing element result in compressive sealing of the balloon body on the floor of the rectum and thereby counteracts incontinence. The abutment can be implemented in the form of an anchor-like tube element or rod element disposed substantially at right angles to the balloon body, or as an independent balloon that seats on the securing nipple and, as a possible variant embodiment, is supplied concomitantly via the filling lumen of the inner balloon. A draining or feeding catheter can in turn be inserted through the free, open lumen of the tucked-in tamponade balloon and a suitably shaped securing nipple. The tube segment can also serve to bring substances or bodies affixed to its surface into direct contact with the body cavity in order to focus therapeutic effects on the site to be treated. It is, for example, possible to attach outwardly conducted electrodes to the surface of the tube segment in order to stimulate body tissue with an electrical voltage or pick up and measure voltages that are present there. The electrodes are made of metal, per standard practice. They can be adhesive-bonded or vapor-deposited. It is further possible for receptacles or carriers containing radioactive or chemotherapeutic agents to be fastened to the tube segment. Such receptacles or carriers can be pressed directly against the site to be treated, which facilitates targeted treatment and makes it easier to prevent inadvertent secondary injury to surrounding healthy tissue. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention is described in further detail below with reference to several exemplary embodiments. In the drawing: FIG. 1 is a schematic depiction of a preformed tube section, FIG. 2 shows the preformed tube section of FIG. 1, shaped into the tube segment by invagination, FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section of an inflated tube segment, FIG. 4 is a schematic longitudinal section through another embodiment of a tube segment on a catheter, FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section of a tube segment with a brace inserted, and FIG. 6 illustrates a tube segment with a clamping closure slid thereonto. EXECUTION OF THE INVENTION Illustrated in FIG. 1 is a tube section 1 preformed for making a tube segment 2. Tube portion 3, which forms the subsequent inner wall 4 of tube segment 2, is unchanged as to wall thickness and inner and outer diameter By contrast, tube portion 5, which forms the subsequent outer wall 6 of tube segment 2, is considerably widened, whereby the wall thickness has diminished greatly. Tube end 7 adjacent this tube portion 5 is also partially widened. This preforming is carried out in heatable forming installations. A transparent polyurethane is used as the material of tube section 1 and thus tube segment 2. To form tube segment 2, the relatively stable tube portion 3 is pressed into the interior space of tube portion 5 and tube end 7 is rolled over, thereby producing the shape illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 illustrates the shape of a tube segment 2 when unfolded. For this purpose, a fluid is filled into the interior space 8 bounded by inner wall 4 and outer wall 6. When the interior space is emptied, outer wall 6 lies in the folded-up state against inner wall 4. FIG. 3 shows a practical exemplary embodiment of tube segment 2 that can be used for tamponading. Both ends 7 and 9 of tube segment 2 are grasped fluid-tightly by terminating device 10. Terminating device 10 is fashioned in the form of a pipe nipple. Opening 11 in the center of pipe nipple 10 can be occluded with a stopper 12, It is also possible, however, to insert a catheter shaft into opening 11. Interior space 8 of tube segment 2 is connected to a channel 13 provided for the delivery and/or discharge of a fluid. Tube segment 2 is shown inflated and greatly enlarged. Installed in channel 13 is a valve 14 that prevents the inadvertent outflow of fluid from interior space 8. In the example, valve 14 is formed by a lip valve that is known per se, with valve lips that lie against each other elastically. Affixed locally to the surface of tube segment 2 is a body 23 containing a chemotherapeutic or radioactive substance. When the tube segment is in the inflated state, said body Is pressed together with the body site to be treated, thus making it possible to develop an especially concentrated efficacy locally while avoiding Injury to surrounding healthy tissue. FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment in which tube segment 2 is placed on the end of a catheter 15. The ends 7, 9 of tube segment 2 are connected, one surrounding the other, to catheter tube 15. Channel 13 leads into interior space 8 of tube segment 2. The example shows the placement of tube segment 2 in a cavity that is not delineated in more detail. In this case, an annular abutment 16 can be placed like a collar on catheter shaft 15, so that, for example, the skin 17 at the opening to the cavity can be clamped sealingly between abutment 16 and outer wall 6 of tube segment 2. Such an implementation makes it possible, for example, to flush out a body cavity with a liquid in a controlled manner. Contamination of the environment is prevented by the annular abutment lying sealingly against the skin. FIG. 5 shows the use of tube segment 2 with the simultaneous application of a brace 18. Brace 18 is made of rigid material and is pushed by its one leg 19 into the free space 20 of tube portion 3. By means of brace 18, tube segment 2 can be provided with a rigid portion on a desired side. It can also be used to carry substances or bodies 23 affixed to its surface and to place them in a body cavity in a targeted manner and use them for chemical or therapeutic treatment. In this context, the gentle pressing together with the body caused by the tube segment applied to the back and inflated during use is of crucial importance for the success of the treatment. Correct and precise positioning of the body in the cavity is particularly easy to achieve. FIG. 6 shows a form of use of tube segment 2 in which a clamping closure 21 is slid onto tube segment 2. The size of the inflated portion of tube segment 2 can be defined by displacing clamping closure 21 along tube segment 2. The farther clamping closure 21 is slid to the left as seen in the drawing, the larger the released portion of tube segment 2 becomes. Clamping closure 21 is intended to be secured by means of a sleeve 22 that can also be displaced longitudinally. Clamping closure 21 is split over almost its entire length and is so selected with respect to its wall thickness that displacing the sleeve along damping closure 21 results in stronger or weaker closure of tube segment 2 and channel 13. To shield against radioactive media, clamping closure 21 can, in an embodiment of the kind shown in FIG. 6, be made of film-like, radiation-shielding material, for example of a polymer material with a metal vapor-deposited on one or both sides, or entirely of metal. The novel tube segment can be used in a versatile manner, as the examples show. It also permits improved access for visual probes, manometers and the like into the interiors of cavities. The tube segment even makes it possible to remove fluid or solid fractions from the cavity without the use of special instruments, by causing the interiorly disposed bulge in tube segment 2 to form a sort of lip-like closure merely by pulling on inner wall 4 while simultaneously bracing outer wall 6.

<SOH> TECHNICAL FIELD <EOH>The invention is concerned with a device to be used in healing processes as set forth in the preamble to claim 1 . Devices that serve to tamponade cavities are known in medical technology. The devices are composed of inflatable elastic hollow bodies. Various sizes of these hollow bodies are known, so that they can be used to seal ostia of different sizes. Also used are devices whose outer contour is shaped so that they are able to fill a cavity completely when Inflated. In tamponade, especially of spaces in biological tissue, the problem arises that the tamponade device may not be fully adapted to the shape of the cavity and may exert undesirable pressure on adjacent mucosa. This problem is exacerbated by the fact that the tamponade balloon is designed without a residual volume and high restoring forces are present with the wall material used. In tamponade of the nasal cavities, a further problem is that these cavities have a strictly centrally controlled, locally uninfluencable system of nasal conchae, which exhibits periodic circadian pressure fluctuations that add to the internal pressure of a tamponade balloon that has no residual volume, thereby increasing the risk that tamponade will curtail vascular perfusion of the adjacent tissue. In view of the widely varying size ratios of the paranasal sinuses and the breadth of interindividual variation in the spatial configuration and volume of anatomical spaces, a large number of anatomically preformed devices is needed. This is very cost-intensive. In addition to the known devices for tamponading ostia and/or cavities, catheters composed of an elastic catheter shaft and a fillable balloon element mounted thereon are also used in medical technology. The catheter shaft comprises a filling channel that opens into the interior of the balloon through a port in the catheter wall. The balloon element itself serves primarily to anchor the catheter mechanically in a secure manner. It also often has a sealing function and prevents, for example, urine from leaking out of the bladder past the catheter through the urethra. The balloon fastened to the catheter strives to assume a spherical shape when filled with a fluid. The largest cross section of the balloon therefore exceeds the cross section of the ostium of the cavity and thus prevents retraction by conforming to the rim of the cavity opening. The spherical shape of the balloon is unsatisfactory for performing the holding and sealing function, since under tensile stress it has a tendency to assume a spindle shape and slip into the ostium, causing the securement of the device and the relatively small sealing contact area between the balloon wall and the rim of the cavity ostium to be lost. This is a particularly significant problem in connection with biological tissues, since the ostia of body cavities usually do not have a fixed width. For this reason, more or less broad-area retaining disks of rigid material have been mounted on the catheter shaft, but owing to their bulky construction they cannot be used with small ostia in the millimeter range. In addition, the spherical balloon requires the supporting body that passes through it, i.e., the catheter shaft, which can be very troublesome particularly in tight spaces.

<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING <EOH>The invention is described in further detail below with reference to several exemplary embodiments. In the drawing: FIG. 1 is a schematic depiction of a preformed tube section, FIG. 2 shows the preformed tube section of FIG. 1 , shaped into the tube segment by invagination, FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section of an inflated tube segment, FIG. 4 is a schematic longitudinal section through another embodiment of a tube segment on a catheter, FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section of a tube segment with a brace inserted, and FIG. 6 illustrates a tube segment with a clamping closure slid thereonto. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"?

20050810

20100406

20060817

59116.0

A61M2900

STIGELL, THEODORE J

DEVICE FOR TAMPONADE OF BODY CAVITIES AND MECHANICAL ANCHORING OF A CATHETER

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

A61M

ACCEPTED

Radio packet communication method

A plurality of data packets that contain sequence numbers, respectively, are transmitted simultaneously between two STAs by using a wireless channel and MIMO. An STA receiving the plurality of data packets transmitted simultaneously by using MIMO generates a single ACK packet containing information that corresponds to a sequence number of each data packet successfully received, and transmits the single ACK packet to a transmit-side STA without using MIMO. Thus, a ratio of successful ACK packet receptions to total receptions can be increased. An effect of improving throughput achieved by simultaneous transmission can also be ensured.

1) A wireless packet communication method for transmitting a plurality of data packets simultaneously between two STAs by using a wireless channel and MIMO, characterized by comprising: including predetermined sequence numbers in said plurality of data packets, respectively, the predetermined sequence numbers being for distinguishing said plurality of data packets from each other; and generating a single ACK packet at an STA which has received a plurality of data packets transmitted simultaneously by using MIMO, and transmitting the single ACK packet to a transmit-side STA from the STA without using MIMO, the single ACK packet containing information that corresponds to a sequence number of a data packet successfully received. 2) A wireless packet communication method for transmitting a plurality of data packets simultaneously between two STAs by using a wireless channel and MIMO, characterized by comprising: including predetermined sequence numbers in said plurality of data packets, respectively, the predetermined sequence numbers being for distinguishing said plurality of data packets from each other; transmitting a plurality of data packets simultaneously from a transmit-side STA by using MIMO and thereafter transmitting a NACK request packet from the transmit-side STA without using MIMO, the NACK request packet being for requesting a NACK packet from a receive-side STA and containing information that corresponds to sequence numbers of all of data packets transmitted simultaneously; and receiving a plurality of data packets transmitted simultaneously by using MIMO and generating a single NACK packet at the receive-side STA, and transmitting the single NACK packet to the transmit-side STA from the receive-side STA without using MIMO, the single NACK packet containing information that corresponds to a sequence number of a data packet not received successfully among the sequence numbers acquired by receiving said NACK request packet. 3) A wireless packet communication method for transmitting a plurality of data packets simultaneously between two STAs by using a wireless channel and MIMO, characterized by comprising: including predetermined sequence numbers in said plurality of data packets, respectively, the predetermined sequence numbers being for distinguishing said plurality of data packets from each other; simultaneously transmitting a plurality of data packets continuously from a transmit-side STA by using MIMO, and thereafter transmitting an ACK request packet from the transmit-side STA without using MIMO, the ACK request packet being for requesting an ACK packet from a receive-side STA and containing information that corresponds to sequence numbers of all the data packets transmitted simultaneously continuously; and receiving the plurality of data packets transmitted simultaneously continuously by using MIMO and generating a single ACK packet at the receive-side STA, and transmitting the single ACK packet to the transmit-side STA from the receive-side STA without using MIMO, the single ACK packet containing information that corresponds to a sequence number of data packet successfully received among the sequence numbers acquired by receiving said ACK request packet. 4) A wireless packet communication method for transmitting a plurality of data packets simultaneously between two STAs by using a wireless channel and MIMO, characterized by comprising: including predetermined sequence numbers in said plurality of data packets, respectively, the predetermined sequence numbers being for distinguishing said plurality of data packets from each other; and simultaneously transmitting a plurality of data packets continuously from a transmit-side STA by using MIMO, and thereafter transmitting a NACK request packet from the transmit-side STA without using MIMO, the NACK request packet being for requesting a NACK packet from a receive-side STA and containing information that corresponds to sequence numbers of all the data packets transmitted simultaneously continuously; receiving the plurality of data packets transmitted simultaneously continuously by using MIMO and generating a single NACK packet at the receive-side STA, and transmitting the single NACK packet to the transmit-side STA from the receive-side STA without using MIMO, the single NACK packet containing information that corresponds to a sequence number of a data packet not successfully received among the sequence numbers acquired by receiving said NACK request packet. 5) The wireless communication method according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that the STA transmitting said ACK packet transmits said ACK packet at a transmission rate that falls within a range from a lowest one of transmission rates the STA has to a lowest one of transmission rates at which the STA have successfully received data packets. 6) The wireless packet communication method according to claim 2 or 4, characterized in that the STA transmitting said NACK packet transmits said NACK packet at a transmission rate that falls within a range from a lowest one of transmission rates the STA has to a lowest one of transmission rates at which the STA has successfully received data packets. 7) The wireless packet communication method according to any one of claims 2, 3, and 4, characterized in that the STA transmitting said ACK request packet or said NACK request packet transmits said ACK request packet or said NACK request packet at a transmission rate that falls within a range from a lowest one of transmission rates the STA has to a lowest one of transmission rates at which the STA has transmitted data packets. 8) A wireless packet communication apparatus for transmitting a plurality of data packets simultaneously between two STAs by using a wireless channel and MIMO, characterized by comprising: a transmit-side STA comprising a unit allowing predetermined sequence numbers to be included in said plurality of data packets, respectively, and transmitting said plurality of data packets simultaneously by using MIMO, the predetermined sequence numbers being for distinguishing said plurality of data packets from each other; and a receive-side STA comprising: a unit receiving a plurality of data packets transmitted simultaneously by using MIMO; a unit generating a single ACK packet containing information that corresponds to a sequence number of a data packet successfully received; and a unit transmitting said ACK packet to the transmit-side STA without using MIMO. 9) A wireless packet communication apparatus for transmitting a plurality of data packets simultaneously between two STAs by using a wireless channel and MIMO, characterized by comprising: a transmit-side STA comprising: a unit allowing predetermined sequence numbers to be included in said plurality of data packets, respectively, and transmitting said plurality of data packets simultaneously by using MIMO, the predetermined sequence numbers being for distinguishing said plurality of data packets from each other; and a unit transmitting a NACK request packet without using MIMO after the simultaneous transmission of said plurality of data packets, the NACK request packet being for requesting a NACK packet from a receive-side STA and containing information that corresponds to the sequence numbers of all of the data packets transmitted simultaneously; and a receive-side STA comprising: a unit receiving the plurality of data packets transmitted simultaneously by using MIMO; a unit generating a single NACK packet containing information that corresponds to a sequence number of a data packet not successfully received among the sequence numbers acquired by receiving said NACK request packet; and a unit transmitting said NACK packet to the transmit-side STA without using MIMO. 10) A wireless packet communication apparatus for transmitting a plurality of data packets simultaneously between two STAs by using a wireless channel and MIMO, characterized by comprising: a transmit-side STA comprising: a unit allowing predetermined sequence numbers to be included in said plurality of data packets, respectively, and simultaneously transmitting said plurality of data packets continuously by using MIMO, the predetermined sequence numbers being for distinguishing said plurality of data packets from each other; and a unit transmitting an ACK request packet without using MIMO after the continuous simultaneous transmission of said plurality of data packets, the ACK request packet being for requesting an ACK packet from a receive-side STA and containing information that corresponds to the sequence numbers of all of the data packets transmitted simultaneously continuously; and a receive-side STA comprising: a unit receiving the plurality of data packets transmitted simultaneously continuously by using MIMO; a unit generating a single ACK packet containing information that corresponds to a sequence number of a data packet successfully received among the sequence numbers acquired by receiving said ACK request packet; and a unit transmitting said ACK packet to the transmit- side STA without using MIMO. 11) A wireless packet communication apparatus for transmitting a plurality of data packets simultaneously between two STAs by using a wireless channel and MIMO, comprising by: a transmit-side STA comprising: a unit allowing predetermined sequence numbers to be included in said plurality of data packets, respectively, and simultaneously transmitting said plurality of data packets continuously by using MIMO, the predetermined sequence numbers being for distinguishing said plurality of data packets from each other; and a unit transmitting a NACK request packet without using MIMO after the continuous simultaneous transmission of said plurality of data packets, the NACK request packet being for requesting a NACK packet from a receive-side STA and containing information that corresponds to the sequence numbers of all of the data packets transmitted simultaneously continuously; and the receive-side STA comprising: a unit receiving the plurality of data packets transmitted simultaneously continuously by using MIMO; a unit generating a single NACK packet containing information that corresponds to a sequence number of a data packet not received successfully among the sequence numbers acquired by receiving said NACK request packet; and a unit transmitting said NACK packet to the transmit-side STA without using MIMO. 12) The wireless packet communication apparatus according to claim 8 or 10, characterized in that the STA transmitting said ACK packet includes a unit transmitting said ACK packet at a transmission rate that falls within a range from a lowest one of transmission rates the STA has to a lowest one of transmission rates at which the STA has successfully received data packets. 13) The wireless packet communication apparatus according to claim 9 or 11, characterized in that the STA transmitting said NACK packet includes a unit transmitting said NACK packet at a transmission rate that falls within a range from a lowest one of transmission rates the STA has to a lowest one of transmission rates at which the STA has successfully received data packets. 14) The wireless packet communication apparatus according to any one of claims 9, 10, and 11, characterized in that the STA transmitting said ACK request packet or said NACK request packet includes a unit transmitting said ACK request packet or said NACK request packet at a transmission rate that falls within a range from a lowest one of transmission rates the STA has to a lowest one of transmission rates at which the STA has transmitted data packets.

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a wireless packet communication method for transferring a plurality of data packets simultaneously between stations (hereinafter, STAs) by using Multiple Input Multiple Output (hereinafter, MIMO). More particularly, the present invention relates to a wireless packet communication method for retransmission processing in the case where data packets are not transferred normally. BACKGROUND ART In a conventional wireless packet communication apparatus, a wireless channel to be used is determined in advance. Prior to transmission of data packets, carrier sense is performed to detect whether or not that wireless channel is idle. Only when that wireless channel is idle, one data packet is transmitted. This management process enables a plurality of STAs to share one wireless channel in a staggered manner ((1) IEEE 802.11 “MAC and PHY Specification for Metropolitan Area Network”, IEEE 802.11, 1998, (2) “Low-powered Data Communication System/Broadband Mobile Access Communication System (CSMA) Standard”, ARIB SDT-T71 version 1.0, Association of Radio Industries and Businesses, settled in 2000). On the other hand, a wireless packet communication method is studied in order to improve transmission efficiency of data packets, in which a plurality of data packets are transmitted simultaneously on one wireless channel by using a known MIMO technique (Kurosaki et al., “100 Mbit/s SDM-COFDM over MIMO Channel for Broadband Mobile Communications”, Technical Reports of the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers, A. P 2001-96, RCS2001-135(2001-10)). In the space division multiplexing (SDM), different data packets are transmitted from a plurality of antennas on the same wireless channel at the same time. The data packets transmitted at the same time on the same wireless channel are received by digital signal processing that can deal with the difference in propagation coefficients of the respective data packets received by a plurality of wireless antennas of an opposed STA. FIG. 14 shows a relationship between a transmitting signal and a receiving signal in MIMO. The relationship between the transmitting signal and the receiving signal is represented by a determinant shown in FIG. 14. Propagation coefficients hxx are unknown on a receive side. Thus, the receive side estimates those propagation coefficients, obtains an inversion matrix of a transmission coefficient containing the propagation coefficients, and calculates transmitting values s1, s2, and s3 from the obtained inversion matrix and receiving values r1, r2, and r3. In general, the propagation coefficients hxx are changed with time and are also changed by a change in a wireless channel such as fading, reduction in signal intensities, and the like. Moreover, when MIMO number is increased, an effect of the change in the wireless channel on the channel condition becomes large. That is, a packet error rate or a bit error rate becomes larger with the increase of the MIMO number. Therefore, the MIMO number is determined (limited) in accordance with the propagation coefficients and the like. When transmission of a data packet is unsuccessful, the receive side transmits a response packet indicating that failure or does not transmit any response packet. In this case, the transmitting side determines that transmission of the data packet is unsuccessful, and retransmits the data packet. However, retransmission of data packets simultaneously transmitted using MIMO is not specifically defined. Thus, a problem in the case where a conventional retransmission process is applied to such simultaneous transmission is now described. FIG. 15 shows a general processing on exchanging data packets. After a transmit- side STA transmits a data packet, a receive-side STA transmits an acknowledgement (hereinafter, ACK) packet for the received data packet, thereby giving notice of information about the ratio of successful receptions of data packets to total receptions in the past on the receive-side STA. That method for transmitting an ACK packet can be applied without change to a wireless packet communication method that uses MIMO. In this case, it is considered that a packet exchange sequence as shown in FIG. 1 6 is performed. An STA receiving a plurality of data packets multiplexed by MIMO generates ACK packets. The number of those ACK packets is the same as the number of data packets that are successfully received. The thus generated ACK packets are sent back to an STA that is a sender of the data packets while being multiplexed by MIMO. As the number of the data packets successfully received increases, the number of the ACK packets multiplexed by MIMO also increases. As a result, a ratio of successful ACK packet receptions to total receptions becomes lower with the increase of data packets successfully received. Thus, an effect of improving throughput achieved by transmission of data packets using MIMO is weakened. This is because the transmit-side STA cannot distinguish failure in receiving of the data packets on the receive-side STA from failure in receiving of the ACK packets sent from the receive-side STA on the transmit-side STA. Thus, when the transmit-side STA does not receive the ACK packet, the transmit-side STA determines that transmission of the data packet is unsuccessful and retransmits the data packet. Therefore, in the case where the ratio of successful ACK packet receptions to total receptions is low, it is highly likely that the transmitting side wrongly determines that transmission of the data packet is unsuccessful although the receive side successfully receives the data packet. As a result, unnecessary control, i.e., transmission of the data packet that does not require retransmission is performed, thus reducing usability of a wireless channel. It is an object of the present invention to, in the case where a transmit-side STA transmits a plurality of data packets simultaneously by using MIMO, surely transmit a packet containing information about the ratio of successful receptions of data packets and total receptions in the past from a receive side, thereby achieving high throughput. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION According to the invention recited in claim 1, a plurality of data packets that are transmitted simultaneously between two STAs by using a wireless channel and MIMO contain predetermined sequence numbers for distinguishing the data packets from each other, respectively. An STA receiving those data packets transmitted simultaneously by using MIMO generates a single acknowledge packet containing information that corresponds to a sequence number of each data packet successfully received, and transmits the single acknowledge packet to a transmit-side STA without using MIMO. In the invention of claim 1, when a plurality of data packets are received, receiving results are stored as a whole in a single ACK packet, and the ACK packet is transmitted without being multiplexed by MIMO. Thus, a ratio of successful ACK packet receptions to total receptions can be increased. Therefore, an effect of improving throughput achieved by simultaneous transmission of data packets using MIMO can be ensured. Please note that a standard length of an ACK packet at present is extremely shorter than a length of a data packet, and increase in the length of the ACK packet is very small even if the receiving results of the data packets are added to the ACK packet. Therefore, the effect of improving the throughput cannot be impeded. According to the invention recited in claim 2, a transmit-side STA transmits a plurality of data packets simultaneously by using MIMO and thereafter transmits a negative acknowledgement request packet (hereinafter, NACK request packet) for requesting a negative acknowledge packet (hereinafter, NACK packet) from a receive-side STA without using MIMO. The NACK request packet contains information that corresponds to the sequence numbers of all the data packets transmitted simultaneously. The receive-side STA receives the plurality of data packets transmitted simultaneously by using MIMO, generates a single NACK packet containing information that corresponds to a sequence number of each data packet not received unsuccessfully among the sequence numbers acquired by receiving the NACK request packet, and transmits the single NACK packet to the transmit-side STA without using MIMO. In the invention of claim 2, the NACK request packet and the NACK packet are transmitted without being multiplexed by MIMO. Therefore, a ratio of successful packet receptions to total receptions can be increased. According to the invention recited in claim 3, a transmit-side STA simultaneously transmits a plurality of data packets continuously by using MIMO, and thereafter transmits an acknowledgement request packet (hereinafter, ACK request packet) for requesting an ACK packet from a receive-side STA without using MIMO. The ACK request packet contains information that corresponds to sequence numbers of all the data packets transmitted simultaneously continuously. The receive-side STA receives the plurality of data packets transmitted simultaneously continuously by using MIMO, generates a single ACK packet containing information that corresponds to a sequence number of each data packet successfully received among the sequence numbers acquired by receiving the ACK request packet, and transmits the single ACK packet to the transmit-side STA without using MIMO. In the invention of claim 3, when receiving a plurality of data packets that are transmitted simultaneously continuously by using MIMO, the receive-side STA also stores all receiving results as a whole in one ACK packet and transmits that ACK packet without using MIMO. Therefore, a ratio of successful ACK packet receptions to total receptions can be increased. Moreover, a ratio of successful ACK packet receptions to total receptions can be increased also because the ACK request packet is also transmitted without being multiplexed by MIMO. According to the invention recited in claim 4, a transmit-side STA simultaneously transmits a plurality of data packets continuously by using MIMO, and thereafter transmits a NACK request packet for requesting a NACK packet from a receive-side STA without using MIMO. The NACK request packet contains information that corresponds to sequence numbers of all the data packets transmitted simultaneously continuously. The receive-side STA receives the plurality of data packets transmitted simultaneously continuously by using MIMO, generates a single NACK packet containing information that corresponds to a sequence number of each data packet not received successfully among the sequence numbers acquired by receiving the NACK request packet, and transmits the single NACK packet to the transmit-side STA without using MIMO. In the invention of claim 4, when receiving a plurality of data packets that are transmitted simultaneously continuously by using MIMO, the receive-side STA also stores all receiving results in one NACK packet and transmits the NACK packet without using MIMO. This makes it possible to increase a ratio of successful NACK packet receptions to total receptions. Moreover, it is possible to increase a ratio of successful NACK request packet receptions to total receptions also because the NACK request packet is also transmitted without being multiplexed by MIMO. According to the invention recited in claim 5, the STA transmitting the ACK packet transmits the ACK packet at a transmission rate that falls within a range from a lowest one of transmission rates the STA has to a lowest one of transmission rates at which the STA has successfully received data packets. According to the invention recited in claim 6, the STA transmitting the NACK packet transmits the ACK packet at a transmission rate that falls within a range from a lowest one of transmission rates the STA has to a lowest one of transmission rates at which the STA has successfully received data packets. According to the invention recited in claim 7, the STA transmitting the ACK request packet or NACK request packet transmits the ACK request packet or NACK request packet at a transmission rate that falls within a range from a lowest one of transmission rates the STA has to a lowest one of transmission rates at which the STA has transmitted data packets. In the invention of claims 5 to 7, appropriately setting the transmission rate can increase the ratio of successful receptions of the ACK packet, NACK packet, ACK request packet, and NACK request packet to total receptions. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a flowchart according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a time chart of an exemplary operation in the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a flowchart according to a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a time chart of an exemplary operation in the second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a flowchart according to a third embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 6 is a time chart of an exemplary operation in the third embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 7 is a time chart of an exemplary operation of a fourth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 8 is a flowchart according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 9 is a time chart of an exemplary operation in the fifth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 10 is a time chart of an exemplary operation in a sixth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 11 illustrates a structure of a data packet; FIG. 12 illustrates structures of an extended ACK packet and an extended NACK packet; FIG. 13 illustrates structures of an extended NACK request packet and an extended ACK request packet; FIG. 14 shows a relationship between a transmitting signal and a receiving signal in MIMO; FIG. 15 shows a general processing on exchanging data packets; and FIG. 16 shows an exemplary method for transmitting an ACK packet in MIMO. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a flowchart according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows an exemplary operation in the first embodiment of the present invention. A data packet contains a data part and also contains packet type information, identification information (ID) of a receive-side STA, identification information (ID) of a transmit-side STA, a sequence number assigned for distinguishing a plurality of data packets transmitted simultaneously from each other, and a smallest one of sequence numbers of the data packets transmitted simultaneously, as shown in FIG. 11. In the present embodiment, an ACK packet that gives notice of successful receiving of a plurality of data packets as a whole is called as an extended ACK packet. This extended ACK packet contains packet type information, receive-side STA ID (a transmit-side STA of a data packet), and a sequence number of each data packet successfully received, in an example of FIG. 12(1). Alternatively, in an example of FIG. 12(2), a bitmap is used instead of describing the sequence number of each data packet successfully received. This bitmap represents successful receiving of a data packet by setting a bit corresponding to the sequence number of that data packet to a value in accordance with success or failure in receiving of that data packet. The most significant bit (MSB) in the bitmap corresponds to one of a plurality of data packets transmitted simultaneously that has the smallest sequence number. Please note that the example of FIG. 12(2) is used for responding to an extended ACK request packet that will be described later. Returning to FIG. 1, a receive-side STA determines whether or not there is a receiving signal (S001). When sensing the receiving signal, the receive-side STA determines whether or not one or more data packets are received (S002). In the case where at least one data packet is received, the receive-side STA acquires a transmit-side STA ID, a receive-side STA ID, and information on a sequence number that are contained in each of all received data packets (S003). Then, the receive-side STA determines whether or not the received data packet is addressed to an own STA. When the received data packet is addressed to another STA, the receive-side STA discards the received data packet (S004 and S008). When the received packet is addressed to the own STA, the own STA performs a receiving processing on each data packet (S005) and generates an extended ACK packet containing information corresponding to a sequence number of each data packet (S006). Then, the receive-side STA transmits the extended ACK packet to an STA that is a sender of the data packets without using MIMO (S007). In the exemplary operation of FIG. 2, SG1 to SG4 represent signals of respective series multiplexed by MIMO. In this example, a case is considered in which signals of four series are multiplexed by MIMO. SN1 to SN8 represent sequence numbers of data packets, respectively. A transmit-side STA 1 transmits four data packets simultaneously on one wireless channel by using MIMO after carrier sense having a constant duration. A receive-side STA 2 generates an extended ACK packet containing information that corresponds to a sequence number of each data packet successfully received among the sequence numbers SN 1 to SN4 of the four data packets transmitted simultaneously. The STA 2 transmits the extended ACK packet to the STA 1 without multiplexing it by MIMO. The above operation is repeated. Embodiment 2 FIG. 3 is a flowchart according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 shows an exemplary operation in the second embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, one NACK packet that gives notice of failure in receiving of a plurality of data packets as a whole is called as an extended NACK packet. This extended NACK packet is similar to the extended ACK packet shown in FIG. 12, and contains packet type information, receive-side STA ID (a transmit-side STA of data packets), and a sequence number of each data packet not received successfully in the example of FIG. 12(1). Alternatively, in the example of FIG. 12(2), instead of describing the sequence number of each data packet not received successfully, a bitmap is used. The bitmap represents failure in receiving of a data packet by setting a bit corresponding to the sequence number of that data packet to a value in accordance with success or failure in receiving of that data packet. The most significant bit (MSB) in the bitmap corresponds to a data packet having the smallest sequence number among a plurality of data packets transmitted simultaneously. The NACK packet is sent back to the transmit-side STA of the data packets in response to a NACK request packet transmitted from the transmit-side STA of the data packets for confirming success and failure in receiving of the respective data packets. In the present embodiment, one NACK request packet for requesting a notice of success and failure in receiving of a plurality of data packets transmitted simultaneously is called as an extended NACK request packet. An extended ACK request packet for requesting an extended ACK packet is similar to the NACK request packet. Each of the extended ACK request packet and the extended NACK request packet contains packet type information, a receive-side STA ID (a receive-side STA of data packets), a transmit-side STA ID (a transmit-side STA of the data packets), and sequence numbers of all the data packets transmitted simultaneously in an example of FIG. 13(1). Alternatively, in an example of FIG. 13(2), instead of describing the sequence numbers of all the data packets transmitted simultaneously, the smallest sequence number of the data packets transmitted simultaneously and the number of the data packets transmitted simultaneously are described. Referring to FIG. 3, a receive-side STA determines whether or not there is a receiving signal (S001). When sensing the receiving signal, the receive-side STA detects whether or not that receiving signal is an extended NACK request packet to the own STA (S101). In the case where the receiving signal is not the extended NACK request packet to the receive-side STA, the receive-side STA determines whether or not one or more data packets are received (S002). When receiving at least one data packet, the receive-side STA acquires a transmit-side STA ID, a receive-side STA ID, and information on a sequence number that are contained in each of all the received data packets (S003). Then, the receive-side STA determines whether or not the received data packet is addressed to an own STA. When the received data packet is addressed to another STA, the receive-side STA discards the data packet (S004 and S008). When the received data packet is addressed to the own STA, the STA performs a receiving processing on each data packet (S005) and goes back to Step S001 in order to receive the extended NACK request packet to the own STA. When receiving the extended NACK request packet in Step S101, the receive-side STA generates a single extended NACK packet containing information that corresponds to a sequence number of each data packet not received successfully among all the data packets for which information on success and failure in receiving is requested by that extended NACK request packet (S102). Then, the receive-side STA transmits the extended NACK packet to an STA that is a sender of the data packets without using MIMO (S103). Please note that, in the case where all the data packets transmitted simultaneously are successfully received, the extended NACK packet may not be generated. In the case where there is no data packet successfully received in Step S002, the receive-side STA receives the extended NACK request packet to the own STA (S101) and generates a single extended NACK packet that contains information corresponding to a sequence number of each data packet not received successfully among all the data packets that are transmitted simultaneously in Step S102. In the exemplary operation of FIG. 4, SG1 to SG4 represent signals of respective series multiplexed by MIMO. In this example, a case is considered in which signals of four series are multiplexed by MIMO. SN1 to SN4 represent sequence numbers of data packets, respectively. In this example, it is assumed that a data packet having a sequence number SN2 is not received successfully. A transmit-side STA 1 transmits four data packets simultaneously on one wireless channel by using MIMO after carrier sense having a constant duration, and then transmits an extended NACK request packet. An STA 2 on a receiving side receives the extended NACK request packet and then generates a single extended NACK packet storing information on the sequence number SN2 of the data packet not received successfully. The STA 2 transmits the extended NACK packet to the STA 1 without multiplexing it by MIMO. The above operation is repeated. Embodiment 3 FIG. 5 is a flowchart according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 shows an exemplary operation in the third embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a transmit-side STA 1 transmits four data packets (SN 1 to SN4) simultaneously on one wireless channel by using MIMO after carrier sense having a constant duration, and then simultaneously transmits four data packets (SN5 to SN8) continuously by using MIMO. That is, the transmit-side STA 1 carries out continuous simultaneous transmission of data packets. Continuous transmission of data packets can use a Group ACK procedure discussed in IEEE802.11TGe or the like. An extended ACK request packet and an extended ACK packet used in the present embodiment have the structures shown in FIGS. 13 and 12, respectively. Referring to FIG. 5, a receive-side STA determines whether or not there is a receiving signal (S001). When sensing the receiving signal, the receive-side STA detects whether or not the receiving signal is an extended ACK request packet to the own STA (S201). In the case where the receiving signal is not the extended ACK request packet to the receive-side STA, the own STA determines whether or not one or more data packets are received (S002). In the case where at least one data packet is received, the receive-side STA acquires a transmit-side STA ID, a receive-side STA ID, and information on a sequence number that are contained in each of all the received data packets (S003). Then, the receive-side STA determines whether or not the received data packet is addressed to an own STA. In the case where the receive-side STA receives data packets is addressed to another STA, the receive-side STA discards those data packets (S004 and S008). In the case where the received data packet is addressed to the own STA, the STA performs a receiving processing on the respective data packets (S005) and goes back to Step S001 in order to receive data packets that are transmitted simultaneously continuously or an extended ACK request packet to the own STA. For the data packets transmitted simultaneously continuously, the receiving processing is repeated in Steps S001 to S005. When receiving the extended ACK request packet in Step S201, the receive-side STA generates a single extended ACK packet containing information that corresponds to a sequence number of each data packet successfully received among all the data packets for which information on success and failure in receiving is requested by the received extended ACK request packet (S202). The receive-side STA then transmits the extended ACK packet to a transmit-side STA of the data packets without using MIMO (S203). In the case where there is no data packet successfully received in Step S002, the receive-side STA receives the extended ACK request packet to the own STA (S201) and generates a single extended ACK packet indicating that all the data packets transmitted simultaneously is not received successfully (S202). In the exemplary operation of FIG. 6, SG1 to SG4 represent signals of respective series multiplexed by MIMO. In this example, a case is considered in which signals of four series are multiplexed by MIMO. SN1 to SN8 represent sequence numbers of data packets, respectively. In this example, data packets having sequence numbers SN1 to SN4 are transmitted simultaneously, and thereafter data packets having sequence numbers SN5 to SN8 are transmitted simultaneously continuously. A transmit-side STA 1 simultaneously transmits eight data packets continuously on one wireless channel by using MIMO after carrier sense having a constant duration. Then, the transmit-side STA 1 transmits an extended ACK request packet. An STA 2 on a receiving side receives the extended ACK request packet and then generates a single extended ACK packet storing information on a sequence number of each data packet successfully received. The STA 2 transmits the extended ACK packet to the STA 1 without multiplexing it by MIMO. The above operation is repeated. Embodiment 4 A fourth embodiment has a feature that the extended ACK request packet transmitted from the transmit-side STA is replaced with an extended NACK request packet and the extended ACK packet transmitted from the receive-side STA is replaced with an extended NACK packet in the third embodiment shown in FIG. 5. A procedure is basically the same as that in the third embodiment. FIG. 7 shows an exemplary operation in the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the exemplary operation of FIG. 7, SG1 to SG4 represent signals of respective series multiplexed by MIMO. In this example, a case is considered in which signals of four series are multiplexed by MIMO. SN1 to SN8 represent sequence numbers of data packets, respectively. Data packets respectively having sequence numbers SN1 to SN4 are transmitted simultaneously, and thereafter data packet respectively having sequence numbers SN5 to SN8 are transmitted simultaneously continuously. In this example, data packets having sequence numbers SN3 and SN7 is not received successfully. A transmit-side STA 1 simultaneously transmits eight data packets continuously on one wireless channel by using MIMO after carrier sense having a constant duration, and then transmits an extended NACK request packet. An STA 2 on a receiving side receives the extended NACK request packet and then generates a single extended NACK packet storing therein information on the sequence numbers SN3 and SN7 of the data packets not received successfully. The STA 2 transmits the extended NACK packet to the STA 1 without multiplexing it by MIMO. The above operation is repeated. Embodiment 5 FIG. 8 is a flowchart according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 shows an exemplary operation of the fifth embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a transmission rate of the extended ACK packet or extended NACK packet is selected in the case where transmission rates for respective series multiplexed by MIMO can be independently set in the first to fourth embodiments. For example, a lowest one of transmission rates of a plurality of data packets successfully received or a lowest one of transmission rates for respective series that are preset is selected. The flowchart shown in FIG. 8 is similar to that in the first embodiment. Changed parts in this flowchart are now described. In Step S003B in FIG. 8, a receive-side STA acquires a transmit-side STA ID, a receive-side STA ID, and a sequence number for each data packet, and also acquires a transmission rate (a bit rate in transmission) of each data packet. The procedure then goes from Step S006 to Step S301 where the receive-side STA selects a transmission rate that does not exceed the lowest one of the transmission rates of the data packets successfully received, as a transmission rate used for transmission from the own STA. Therefore, when transmitting the extended ACK packet in Step S007, the receive-side STA uses a series corresponding to the selected transmission rate. In the case where the lowest one of the transmission rates for respective preset series is selected as the transmission rate of the extended ACK packet, it is not necessary to acquire the transmission rate of each received data packet in Step S003B. In the exemplary operation of FIG. 9, SG1 to SG4 represent signals of respective series that are multiplexed by MIMO. In this example, a case is considered in which signals of four series are multiplexed by MIMO. SN1 to SN8 represent sequence numbers of data packets, respectively. Transmission rates for SG 1 to SG4 are 24 Mbps, 18 Mbps, 6 Mbps, and 12 Mbps, respectively. A transmit-side STA 1 transmits four data packets simultaneously on one wireless channel by using MIMO after carrier sense having a constant duration. An STA 2 on a receiving side receives the four data packets transmitted simultaneously and acquires transmission rates of the respective data packets. Then, the STA 2 generates an extended ACK packet that stores information corresponding to a sequence number of each data packet successfully received. The STA 2 selects 6 Mbps that is the lowest transmission rate in the case where all the data packets are successfully received, as the lowest one of the transmission rates of a plurality of data packets received at the same time. The extended ACK packet is transmitted to the STA 1 at a transmission rate of 6 Mbps without being multiplexed by MIMO. The above operation is repeated. Embodiment 6 In a sixth embodiment, a transmission rate of an extended ACK request packet or an extended NACK request packet and a transmission rate of an extended ACK packet or an extended NACK packet are selected in the case where transmission rates for respective series that are multiplexed by MIMO can be independently set in the second to fourth embodiments. For example, the lowest one of the transmission rates for respective series that are present is selected as the transmission rate of the extended ACK request packet or extended NACK request packet, while a transmission rate that does not exceed the lowest transmission rate of a plurality of data packets successfully received is selected as the transmission rate of the extended ACK packet or extended NACK packet. FIG. 10 is a time chart showing an exemplary operation corresponding to the sixth embodiment. In the exemplary operation of FIG. 10, SG1 to SG4 represent signals of respective series multiplexed by MIMO. In this example, a case is considered in which signals of four series are multiplexed by MIMO. SN1 to SN4 represent sequence numbers of data packets, respectively. Transmission rates for SG1 to SG4 are 24 Mbps, 18 Mbps, 6 Mbps, and 12 Mbps, respectively. A transmit-side STA 1 transmits four data packets simultaneously on one wireless channel by using MIMO after carrier sense having a constant duration, and then transmits an extended NACK request packet at a transmission rate of 6 Mbps that is the lowest one of the transmission rates for the respective series without using MIMO. An STA 2 on a receiving side receives the four data packets transmitted simultaneously and the extended NACK request packet transmitted without using MIMO. Then, the STA 2 generates an extended NACK packet storing information that corresponds to a sequence number of each data packet not received successfully. The STA 2 selects 6 Mbps as the lowest one of the transmission rates of the data packets received at the same time, in the case where all the data packets are successfully received. The extended ACK packet is transmitted to the STA 1 at a transmission rate of 6 Mbps without being multiplexed by MIMO. The above operation is repeated. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY According to the present invention, a reception ACK packet (an ACK packet, a NACK packet) and a reception ACK request packet (an ACK request packet, a NACK request packet) are transmitted without being multiplexed by MIMO. This increases a ratio of successful receptions to total receptions. Thus, it is possible to reduce occurrence of incidents that a sender STA unnecessarily retransmits data packets, faultily recognizing a receiving condition of data packets in a receive-side STA, which can improve the throughput.

<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>In a conventional wireless packet communication apparatus, a wireless channel to be used is determined in advance. Prior to transmission of data packets, carrier sense is performed to detect whether or not that wireless channel is idle. Only when that wireless channel is idle, one data packet is transmitted. This management process enables a plurality of STAs to share one wireless channel in a staggered manner ((1) IEEE 802.11 “MAC and PHY Specification for Metropolitan Area Network”, IEEE 802.11, 1998, (2) “Low-powered Data Communication System/Broadband Mobile Access Communication System (CSMA) Standard”, ARIB SDT-T71 version 1.0, Association of Radio Industries and Businesses, settled in 2000). On the other hand, a wireless packet communication method is studied in order to improve transmission efficiency of data packets, in which a plurality of data packets are transmitted simultaneously on one wireless channel by using a known MIMO technique (Kurosaki et al., “100 Mbit/s SDM-COFDM over MIMO Channel for Broadband Mobile Communications”, Technical Reports of the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers, A. P 2001-96, RCS2001-135(2001-10)). In the space division multiplexing (SDM), different data packets are transmitted from a plurality of antennas on the same wireless channel at the same time. The data packets transmitted at the same time on the same wireless channel are received by digital signal processing that can deal with the difference in propagation coefficients of the respective data packets received by a plurality of wireless antennas of an opposed STA. FIG. 14 shows a relationship between a transmitting signal and a receiving signal in MIMO. The relationship between the transmitting signal and the receiving signal is represented by a determinant shown in FIG. 14 . Propagation coefficients hxx are unknown on a receive side. Thus, the receive side estimates those propagation coefficients, obtains an inversion matrix of a transmission coefficient containing the propagation coefficients, and calculates transmitting values s 1 , s 2 , and s 3 from the obtained inversion matrix and receiving values r 1 , r 2 , and r 3 . In general, the propagation coefficients hxx are changed with time and are also changed by a change in a wireless channel such as fading, reduction in signal intensities, and the like. Moreover, when MIMO number is increased, an effect of the change in the wireless channel on the channel condition becomes large. That is, a packet error rate or a bit error rate becomes larger with the increase of the MIMO number. Therefore, the MIMO number is determined (limited) in accordance with the propagation coefficients and the like. When transmission of a data packet is unsuccessful, the receive side transmits a response packet indicating that failure or does not transmit any response packet. In this case, the transmitting side determines that transmission of the data packet is unsuccessful, and retransmits the data packet. However, retransmission of data packets simultaneously transmitted using MIMO is not specifically defined. Thus, a problem in the case where a conventional retransmission process is applied to such simultaneous transmission is now described. FIG. 15 shows a general processing on exchanging data packets. After a transmit- side STA transmits a data packet, a receive-side STA transmits an acknowledgement (hereinafter, ACK) packet for the received data packet, thereby giving notice of information about the ratio of successful receptions of data packets to total receptions in the past on the receive-side STA. That method for transmitting an ACK packet can be applied without change to a wireless packet communication method that uses MIMO. In this case, it is considered that a packet exchange sequence as shown in FIG. 1 6 is performed. An STA receiving a plurality of data packets multiplexed by MIMO generates ACK packets. The number of those ACK packets is the same as the number of data packets that are successfully received. The thus generated ACK packets are sent back to an STA that is a sender of the data packets while being multiplexed by MIMO. As the number of the data packets successfully received increases, the number of the ACK packets multiplexed by MIMO also increases. As a result, a ratio of successful ACK packet receptions to total receptions becomes lower with the increase of data packets successfully received. Thus, an effect of improving throughput achieved by transmission of data packets using MIMO is weakened. This is because the transmit-side STA cannot distinguish failure in receiving of the data packets on the receive-side STA from failure in receiving of the ACK packets sent from the receive-side STA on the transmit-side STA. Thus, when the transmit-side STA does not receive the ACK packet, the transmit-side STA determines that transmission of the data packet is unsuccessful and retransmits the data packet. Therefore, in the case where the ratio of successful ACK packet receptions to total receptions is low, it is highly likely that the transmitting side wrongly determines that transmission of the data packet is unsuccessful although the receive side successfully receives the data packet. As a result, unnecessary control, i.e., transmission of the data packet that does not require retransmission is performed, thus reducing usability of a wireless channel. It is an object of the present invention to, in the case where a transmit-side STA transmits a plurality of data packets simultaneously by using MIMO, surely transmit a packet containing information about the ratio of successful receptions of data packets and total receptions in the past from a receive side, thereby achieving high throughput.

<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>FIG. 1 is a flowchart according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a time chart of an exemplary operation in the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a flowchart according to a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a time chart of an exemplary operation in the second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a flowchart according to a third embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 6 is a time chart of an exemplary operation in the third embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 7 is a time chart of an exemplary operation of a fourth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 8 is a flowchart according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 9 is a time chart of an exemplary operation in the fifth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 10 is a time chart of an exemplary operation in a sixth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 11 illustrates a structure of a data packet; FIG. 12 illustrates structures of an extended ACK packet and an extended NACK packet; FIG. 13 illustrates structures of an extended NACK request packet and an extended ACK request packet; FIG. 14 shows a relationship between a transmitting signal and a receiving signal in MIMO; FIG. 15 shows a general processing on exchanging data packets; and FIG. 16 shows an exemplary method for transmitting an ACK packet in MIMO. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"?

20050812

20080715

20060427

82386.0

H04Q700

AFSHAR, KAMRAN

WIRELESS PACKET COMMUNICATION METHOD AND WIRELESS PACKET COMMUNICATION APPARATUS

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

H04Q

ACCEPTED

Device for effecting heat transfer to rotating equipment, in particular gas turbines

A device for effecting heat transfer to rotating equipment, in particular gas turbines, is provided. A gas turbine (10) comprises a first rotating unit (11), i.e. an internal shaft and a second fixed unit (16), i.e. a housing. A third rotating unit (14, 17), i.e. rotor blades and plates connected to said rotor blades are disposed between the first unit (11) and the second unit (16). Said first (11) and third (14, 17) units are rotatable around a common axis (12) and with respect to each other. According to said invention, at least one device (21) for improving heat transfer by convection is assigned to the first rotating unit (11), i.e. the internal shaft.

1-11. (canceled) 12. A system for affecting the heat transfer in rotating equipment comprises: a rotating first unit, a stationary second unit; and a rotating third unit situated between the first unit and the second unit, wherein the first unit and the third unit rotate about a common axis, wherein the first unit and the third unit rotate relative to one another, and wherein at least one device is associated with the first rotating unit, the at least one device being positioned to improve convective heat transfer in the rotating equipment. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the rotating equipment is a gas turbine. 14. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the at least one device extends radially outward from the first rotating unit. 15. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the at least one device comprises a rigid element. 16. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the at least one device comprises a flexible element, and wherein an external shape of the flexible element changes during rotation. 17. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the external shape stretches during rotation. 18. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein: the common axis extends in an axial direction; the rotating third unit forms a plurality of chambers arranged in series in the axial direction; and the at least one device includes a plurality of devices, and each of the plurality of devices protrudes into one of the chambers. 19. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the rotating first unit comprises an inner shaft, the rotating third unit rotation-symmetrically surrounds the inner shaft; and the first unit and the third unit rotate in different directions of rotation and/or at different speeds relative to one another. 20. A gas turbine comprising: a rotating inner shaft; a stationary housing; a rotor assembly, the rotor assembly including a plurality of rotating blades, the rotating blades, the rotor assembly, and the inner shaft rotating about a common axis and relative to one another; and wherein at least one device is associated with the inner shaft, the at least one device being positioned to improve convective heat transfer in the gas turbine. 21. The gas turbine as recited in claim 20, wherein: the rotating inner shaft rotates about an axis and the axis extends in an axial direction; a plurality of rotating blades are arranged in series in the axial direction; a corresponding component extends between each of the plurality of rotating blades and the inner shaft, a plurality of rotating chambers each being defined by two adjacent ones of the components; the at least one device includes a plurality of devices, the plurality of devices radially protruding from the inner shaft into the chambers defined by the components. 22. The gas turbine as recited in claim 20, wherein the at least one device comprises a rigid element. 23. The gas turbine as recited in claim 20, wherein the at least one device comprises a flexible element, and wherein an external shape of the flexible element changes during rotation. 24. The gas turbine as recited in claim 23, wherein the external shape stretches during rotation. 25. The gas turbine as recited in claim 21, wherein at least one of the plurality of devices protrudes into its associated chamber to a different distance than another one of the plurality of devices. 26. The gas turbine as recited in claim 21, wherein the plurality of devices rotate together with the inner shaft, and the components rotate together with the rotating blades. 27. The gas turbine as recited in claim 21, wherein the plurality of devices and the components rotate in different directions of rotation and/or at different speeds relative to one another.

The present invention relates to a system for affecting the heat transfer in rotating equipment as recited in the preamble of Patent Claim 1. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a gas turbine as recited in the preamble of Patent Claim 6. Gas turbines used as propulsion units in aircrafts, for example, usually include a plurality of rotating blades arranged in series in the axial direction of the gas turbine. The rotating blades are surrounded by a stationary housing. A gap, which should have the smallest possible dimensions to avoid gas turbine efficiency losses, is formed between the rotating blades and the housing. The rotating blades and the stationary housing have different temperature variations over time. Thus, as heat is generated during operation of the gas turbine, in particular in non-steady-state operation of the gas turbine, the rotating blades and the stationary housing expand to different degrees. This may result in enlargement of the gap between the rotating blades and the housing. In rotating equipment, such as gas turbines, the different degrees of expansion of stationary units and rotating units should be compensated. This may be achieved by improving the heat transfer between the stationary units and the rotating units. Improved heat transfer between the stationary units and the rotating units equalizes the temperature variations over time and heat absorption, and thus ultimately the expansion of stationary and rotating units. For gas turbines this would mean that the rotating blades and housing expand equally or evenly even during non-steady-state operation of the gas turbine, whereby the size of the gap between the rotating blades and the housing is ideally no longer subject to fluctuations. On this basis, the object of the present invention is to provide a novel system for affecting the heat transfer in rotating equipment. Furthermore, it is the object of the present invention to provide a corresponding gas turbine. This object is achieved by refining the system mentioned in the preamble via the features of the characterizing clause of Patent Claim 1. According to the present invention, at least one device for improving the convective heat transfer in rotating equipment is associated with the first rotating unit. The different temperature variations over time of the units are thus improved. The gas turbine according to the present invention is characterized by the features of Patent Claim 6. The gas turbine has a rotating inner shaft, a stationary housing, and a rotor assembly having a plurality of disks, each having a plurality of rotating blades, the rotating blades and the inner shaft rotating about a common axis at different speeds and possibly in different directions with respect to one another. At least one device for improving the convective heat transfer is associated with the inner shaft according to the present invention. The rotating blades and the housing thus expand more evenly even during non-steady-state operation of the gas turbine. The radial gap between the rotating blades and the housing is thereby reduced, which reduces efficiency losses of the gas turbine. According to an advantageous refinement of the present invention, a plurality of rotating blades is arranged in series in the axial direction of the gas turbine. A component extending between the rotating blades and the inner shaft, namely a disk, is associated with each rotating blade. Two adjacent disks delimit a rotating chamber. A plurality of devices for improving convective heat transfer arranged in series in the axial direction are associated with the inner shaft, the devices extending radially from the inner shaft into the chambers delimited by the disks. The devices for improving convective heat transfer are designed as flexible elements whose external shape changes as they rotate. The devices improve, i.e., enhance the flow through the chambers, and thus increase the convective heat transfer in the rotating chambers. Preferred refinements of the present invention result from the subclaims and the description that follows. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is explained on the basis of the drawing without being limited thereto. FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross section of a detail of a gas turbine according to the present invention; FIG. 2 shows a detail of FIG. 1 in a cross section rotated 90° from the plane of the drawing with respect to FIG. 1; FIG. 1 shows a gas turbine 10 according to the present invention. Gas turbine 10 has a rotating inner shaft 11, FIG. 1 showing an axis of rotation 12 of inner shaft 11 and a wall 13 of the same. Gas turbine 10 also has a plurality of rotating blades 14 arranged in series in the axial direction. A stationery series of guide vanes 15 is positioned between each adjacent series of rotating blades 14. A stationary housing 16 delimiting gas turbine 10 to the outside is adjacent to rotating blades 14 and guide vanes 15. Rotating blades 14 rotate about the same axis of rotation 12 as inner shaft 11. As mentioned previously, guide vanes 15 and housing 16 are stationary, i.e., non-rotating. A gas turbine having a rotating inner shaft 11 is a medium-pressure or high-pressure component. As apparent from FIG. 1, a disk 17 extending toward inner shaft 11 is associated with each rotating blade 14. Disks 17 are fixedly attached to rotating blades 14 and rotate together with rotating blades 14 about axis of rotation 12. Disks 17 are fixedly connected to one another by a shroud 18. Shroud 18 also rotates together with rotating blades 14 and disks 17 about axis of rotation 12. Each pair of adjacent rotating disks 17 delimits a chamber extending between inner shaft 11 and shroud 18. Such a chamber is labeled with reference number 19 in FIG. 1. Chambers 19 therefore delimit a defined volume. Chambers 19 rotate about axis of rotation 12. In such a gas turbine 10, a gap is formed between an outer wall 20 of rotating blades 14 and housing 16. This gap should be as small as possible to avoid efficiency losses. It is important to note in this context that the gap between rotating blades 14 and housing 16 should have the smallest possible dimensions during the entire operation of gas turbine 10. However, since the rotating units of gas turbine 10, in particular rotating blades 14 and rotating disks 17, have temperature variations over time that are different from those of the stationary units, in particular those of stationary housing 16, the gap between rotating blades 14 and housing 16 is subject to changes in the gas turbines of the related art. Specifically, during acceleration, housing 16 according to the related art expands more rapidly under the effect of heat than rotating blades 14 do. In particular, the thermal portion of the gap between rotating blades 14 and housing 16 increases during acceleration of gas turbine 10. However, an increased gap impairs the efficiency of the gas turbine. An increase in the gap should therefore be avoided. According to the present invention, devices 21 for improving the convective heat transfer within chambers 19 and thus between rotating blades 14 and stationary housing 16 are associated with rotating inner shaft 11 of gas turbine 10. Devices 21 are fixedly attached to inner shaft 11 and rotate together with inner shaft 11 about axis of rotation 12. According to FIG. 1, devices 21 for improving the convective heat transfer protrude into chambers 19 delimited by disks 17. It should be pointed out here again that disks 17 rotate together with rotating blades 14 about axis of rotation 12. Rotating blades 14 and disks 17 therefore have the same direction of rotation and rotational speed with respect to axis of rotation 12. Devices 21 for improving convective heat transfer are fixedly attached to inner shaft 11. Devices 21 therefore rotate together with inner shaft 11 about axis of rotation 12. Inner shaft 11 and devices 21 for improving convective heat transfer therefore rotate at the same speed and in the same direction with respect to axis of rotation 12. However, rotating inner shaft 11 has a different speed and/or different direction of rotation compared to rotating blades 14 and thus rotating disks 17 and rotating chambers 19. Therefore, inner shaft 11 rotates together with devices 21 relative to rotating blades 14 and thus relative to rotating chambers 19 delimited by disks 17. Because devices 21 for improving convective heat transfer protrude into rotating chambers 19 and have a different direction of rotation and/or rotational speed relative to rotating chambers 19, an intensive flow is generated through rotating chambers 19, increasing the convective heat transfer in rotating chambers 19 and therefore ultimately causing a more rapid temperature change over time of rotating disks 17. This allows the different temperature variations over time of stationary housing 16 and rotating blades 14, and thus the different expansion characteristics of stationary housing 16 and rotating blades 14, to be better equalized. Rotating blades 14 and stationary housing 16 thus expand more evenly over the entire range of operation of gas turbine 10 according to the present invention. In particular, during the non-steady-state operation of gas turbine 10, a change in the gap between rotating blades 14 and housing 16 is reduced. This allows the efficiency of gas turbine 10 to be markedly improved, in particular during non-steady-state operation, which results in fuel savings and improvement in the surge limit of the compressor in gas turbine 10. Devices 21 for improving the convective heat transfer attached to rotating inner shaft 11 may be designed as elements of any desired shape. However, the design of devices 21 shown in FIG. 2 is preferred. Thus, in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, devices 21 for improving convective heat transfer are flexible elements made for example of flexible metal. Plastic. First sections 22 of devices 21 are fixedly anchored in wall 13 of inner shaft 11. Second sections 23 opposite first sections 22 of devices 21 protrude into rotating chambers 19. Because devices 21 are designed as flexible elements in the exemplary embodiment illustrated here, they may stretch under the effect of centrifugal force. In other words, this means that the external shape of devices 21, designed as flexible elements, changes as they rotate. Devices 21 may also be designed as metal strips or metal wires or metallic elements of any desired shape. The flexible elements may also protrude into chambers 19 to different depths. The length of the above-described device may be changed, i.e., adjusted, via a mechanism integrated into the shaft. Also conceivable are rigid elements which are suitable for deflecting axially flowing air into the chamber due to their shape and which have a radial dimension that is not greater than the hubs of the disks, so that they are installable on the shaft, i.e., may be pushed through the hubs. Therefore, it is within the scope of the present invention to increase in the rotating chambers the convective heat transfer in the rotating chambers of a gas turbine or a propulsion unit or another rotating device. This allows the different temperature variations over time of rotating units of a gas turbine 10, namely rotating blades 14 and rotating disks 17 attached to rotating blades 14, and stationary units, namely stationary housing 16, to be equalized. For this purpose, the above-mentioned devices 21 for improving convective heat transfer are associated with inner shaft 11 of gas turbine 10. Devices 21 therefore rotate together with inner shaft 11 about axis of rotation 12. Devices 21 for improving convective heat transfer and inner shaft 11 rotate at the same speed and in the same direction of rotation. Disks 17 associated with rotating blades 14 form chambers 19. Rotating blades 14 and disks 17 also rotate at the same speed and in the same direction about axis of rotation 12, but relative to inner shaft 11 and devices 21. However, the rotary motions of devices 21 and of chambers 19 delimited by disks 17 differ with respect to their rotational speed and/or the direction of rotation. Devices 21 for improving convective heat transfer protruding into chambers 19 therefore move with respect to chambers 19 and disks 17, ensuring an intensive flow through chambers 19 and ultimately increasing the convective heat transfer in the rotating chambers. Although the present invention has been described using the example of a gas turbine, it is not limited to this specific application. Rather, the present invention is applicable wherever heat transfer is to be influenced in rotating devices. Therefore, the area of application is not limited to gas turbines and other propulsion units in aeronautics, although this application is preferred and is particularly advantageous. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS gas turbine 10 inner shaft 11 axis of rotation 12 wall 13 rotating blade 14 guide vane 15 housing 16 disks 17 shroud 18 chamber 19 wall 20 device 21 section 22 section 23

20051003

20080909

20061102

73173.0

F04D2900

VERDIER, CHRISTOPHER M

DEVICE FOR EFFECTING HEAT TRANSFER TO ROTATING EQUIPMENT, IN PARTICULAR GAS TURBINES

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

F04D

ACCEPTED

Method for delineating a conducting element which is disposed on an insulating layer, and device and transistor thus obtained

A conducting layer is deposited on an insulating layer disposed on a substrate. A mask is formed on at least one area of the conducting layer, thus delineating in the conducting layer at least one complementary area not covered by the mask. The complementary areas of the conducting layer are rendered insulating by oxidation. Oxidation can comprise oxygen implantation and/or thermal oxidation. The material of the conducting layer and the oxygen can form a volatile oxide evaporating partly or totally. The conducting layer is preferably formed by first and second conducting layers. Thus, oxidation can be performed, after the mask has been removed, so that the surface of the second conducting layer is oxidized on the side walls and on the front face.

1-13. (canceled) 14. Method for delineating a conducting element disposed on an insulating layer, comprising deposition of a conducting layer on the front face of the insulating layer disposed on a substrate, formation of a mask on at least one area of the conducting layer designed to form the conducting element, so as to delineate in the conducting layer at least one complementary area not covered by the mask, the complementary areas of the conducting layer being rendered insulating by oxidation, method comprising formation, in said complementary areas of the conducting layer, of a volatile oxide from the material of the conducting layer and the oxygen arising from oxidation, the conducting layer evaporating at least partly. 15. Method according to claim 14, wherein oxidation is performed before the mask is removed. 16. Method according to claim 14, wherein oxidation is performed after the mask has been removed. 17. Method according to claim 14, wherein formation of the volatile oxide and evaporation of the conducting layer take place during oxidation. 18. Method according to claim 14, wherein the volatile oxide is formed, after oxidation, by stabilizing and evaporating annealing. 19. Method according to claim 14, wherein oxidation of the complementary areas of the conducting layer comprises oxygen implantation. 20. Method according to claim 14, wherein oxidation of the complementary areas of the conducting layer comprises thermal oxidation. 21. Method according to claim 14, wherein the complementary areas rendered insulating have a thickness at least equal to one atomic layer. 22. Method according to claim 14 wherein deposition of the conducting layer comprises a first step of deposition of a first conducting layer and a second step of deposition of a second conducting layer on the front face of the first conducting layer. 23. Method according to claim 22, comprising etching of the second conducting layer after formation of the mask and before oxidation. 24. Method according to claim 22, wherein the material of the first conducting layer is taken from the group comprising tungsten, molybdenum, nickel and cobalt, and the material of the second conducting layer is polycrystalline silicon. 25. Device comprising a conducting element disposed on an insulating layer, device obtained by the method according to claim 22, the area of the second conducting layer, designed to form the conducting element, being salient at the periphery of the area of the first conducting layer. 26. Transistor comprising a gate electrode, wherein the gate electrode is achieved by the method according to claim 14.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a method for delineating a conducting element disposed on an insulating layer, comprising deposition of a conducting layer on the front face of the insulating layer disposed on a substrate, formation of a mask on at least one area of the conducting layer designed to form the conducting element, so as to delineate in the conducting layer at least one complementary area not covered by the mask, the complementary areas of the conducting layer being rendered insulating by oxidation. STATE OF THE ART Microelectronic devices often comprise conducting elements 1 (FIG. 3) separated from a substrate 4 by a very thin insulating layer 2. For example, the gate of metal oxide semi-conductor (MOS) transistors of different natures, in particular made of metal, is separated from the semi-conducting substrate by an insulating layer the thickness whereof may be about a few nanometers. A typical fabrication method of such a conducting element is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3. Formation of the conducting element 1 is achieved by deposition of a layer of conducting material 3 on an insulating layer 2, disposed on a substrate 4, and delineation by etching of the layer of conducting material 3 through a photoresist mask 5 that is then removed. The mask is formed on an area 6 of the conducting layer 3 designed to form the conducting element 1, thus delineating, in the conducting layer and insulating layer, complementary areas 7 not covered by the mask 5. However, etching may damage (for example deform or oxidize) the complementary areas 7 of the insulating layer 2 and of the substrate 4, which is all the more difficult to prevent the smaller the thickness of the insulating layer 2. It is a fact that selective etching of the conducting material 3 with respect to the material of the insulating layer 2 certainly enables the etching to be stopped before the substrate 4 is reached. However selective etching is difficult to achieve. For example, titanium nitride (TiN) etching is typically performed by fluorohydrocarbon-based (CHxFy) processes. The same processes are used for etching of oxides, in particular silica (SiO2). The selectivity of etching of the insulating layer with respect to the TiN is therefore very low and damage to the oxide, or even piercing of the insulating layer and damage to the underlying substrate, is inevitable. In certain known processes, the substrate 4 can be oxidized or deformed at the end of etching through the insulating layer 2. This oxidation can be disadvantageous, in particular in the case of a Silicon on Insulator (SOI) substrate comprising a very thin active layer the resistance whereof is thus greatly increased. The document JP2002 134,544 describes a method for delineating a metal electrode. A metal layer is formed on an insulating layer disposed on a semi-conducting substrate. A photoresist mask is formed on an area of the metal layer. The metal layer is transformed by oxygen ion implantation in an insulating oxide layer in the area not covered by the photoresist mask. A metal electrode surrounded by an oxide layer is thus formed. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention is to remedy these shortcomings and, in particular, to delineate a conducting element disposed on an insulating layer without damaging the insulating layer and the substrate, so as to preserve the resistance characteristics of the device. According to the invention, this object is achieved by the accompanying claims. According to a first alternative embodiment of the invention, the conducting layer is formed by first and second conducting layers, the method comprising etching of the second conducting layer by means of the mask, oxidation being performed after the mask has been removed, so that the surface of the second conducting layer is oxidized on the side walls and on the front face and that the complementary areas of the first conducting layer are oxidized over the whole thickness of the first conducting layer. According to a second alternative embodiment of the invention, the method comprises stabilizing and evaporating annealing so that the material of the conducting layer and the oxygen arising from oxidation form a volatile oxide, the conducting layer evaporating at least partly. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other advantages and features will become more clearly apparent from the following description of particular embodiments of the invention given as non-restrictive examples only and represented in the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGS. 1 to 3 represent a method according to the prior art. FIGS. 4 to 6 represent different steps of a particular embodiment of a method according to the invention, comprising formation of a volatile oxide. FIGS. 7 to 10 represent steps of another particular embodiment of a method according to the invention, comprising formation of a volatile oxide, using first and second conducting layers. FIGS. 11 and 12 represent steps of another particular embodiment of a method according to the invention, comprising formation of a volatile oxide, after the mask has been removed. FIGS. 13 and 14 represent steps of another particular embodiment of a method according to the invention, comprising formation of a solid oxide, after the mask has been removed. DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS FIG. 4 shows stacking of a semi-conducting substrate 4 (for example Si, Ge, SiGe), of an insulating layer 2 and of a conducting layer 3. A mask 5 is disposed on the front face, on the area 6 of the conducting layer 3 designed to form the conducting element, thus delineating, in the conducting layer, complementary areas 7 not covered by the mask 5. The mask 5 can be made of photoresist or formed by a bilayer (a layer of organic photoresist and a mineral sacrificial layer called “hard mask”). In the particular embodiment represented in FIGS. 5 and 6, in order to delineate a conducting element, the complementary areas 7 of the conducting layer 3 are rendered insulating by thermal oxidation. As represented in FIG. 5, during oxidation, the material of the conducting layer 3 and the oxygen form a volatile oxide so that the complementary areas 7 of the conducting layer 3 evaporate partly during oxidation. The residual complementary areas 7 of the conducting layer 3 are oxidized over their whole thickness, whereas the area 6 of the conducting layer is protected by the mask 5. The material of the conducting layer is chosen among materials the oxide whereof is insulating so that the complementary areas 7 are no longer conducting after oxidation. Then the mask 5 is removed (FIG. 6). In FIG. 7, the conducting layer 3 is formed by superposed first and second conducting layers 3a and 3b. The mask 5 is formed above the layers 3a and 3b. The second conducting layer 3b can be etched before oxidizing of the layer 3a. As represented in FIG. 8, when the complementary areas 7 of the second conducting layer 3b are removed by etching, only the area 6b of the second conducting layer 3b is kept. In another alternative embodiment, the method comprises stabilizing and evaporating annealing after oxygen implantation using ion or plasma implantation techniques. Implantation is for example performed by oxygen ion acceleration or by a reactive ion etching (RIE) process. FIG. 9 illustrates evaporation of the oxidized complementary areas 7 of the first conducting layer, the area 6a of the first conducting layer 3a being protected by the mask 5. During annealing, the material of the first conducting layer 3a and the implanted oxygen form a volatile oxide and the oxidized complementary areas 7 of the conducting layer 3a evaporate. The conducting element 1 is then formed by superposition of the residual part (area 6b) of the layer 3b and by the non-oxidized part (area 6a) of the layer 3a. According to the annealing time and the implanted oxygen dose, the complementary areas evaporate partly (FIG. 9) or totally (FIG. 10). Removal of the mask 5 can be performed after annealing if the mask is mineral. In the case of a photoresist mask, it can be removed beforehand. For application of the method, with evaporation, the material of the first conducting layer 3a is preferably taken from the group comprising tungsten, molybdenum, nickel and cobalt, and the material of the second conducting layer 3b is polycrystalline silicon, a metal nitride or a metal silicide containing for example tungsten, tantalum or molybdenum (WSix, MoSix, TaSix). For example, using a first conducting layer 3a made of tungsten, the oxygen atoms are implanted in the tungsten crystal in a metastable state, for example on interstitial sites. A tungsten oxide then forms during stabilizing annealing. The WOx type oxide (x being comprised between 1 and 3) is volatile and evaporates. Typically this phenomenon can be obtained above 200° C. In the case of this technique, lateral oxygen diffusion is almost eliminated and the peripheral oxidation of the area 6a of the first conducting layer 3a under the area 6b of the second conducting layer 3b, represented in FIG. 11, is very low. In another development of the method with evaporation, represented in FIGS. 11 and 12, a volatile oxide is formed by thermal oxidation from the material of the conducting layer 3 and from the oxygen. In FIG. 11, the conducting layer 3 is formed by a first conducting layer 3a and an etched second conducting layer 3b. After the photoresist mask 5 has been removed, thermal oxidation can be performed in a furnace, for example at a temperature of more than 200° C. for tungsten. In this case, a volatile oxide of the tungsten WO3 is formed and evaporates. FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate this method respectively during evaporation and after complete evaporation. This method fosters diffusion of the oxygen atoms in the conducting material and the periphery of the area 6a of the first conducting layer 3a is oxidized under the area 6b of the second conducting layer 3b. This peripheral area thus also evaporates and a device is obtained the area 6b of the second conducting layer 3b whereof is salient at the periphery of the area 6a of the first conducting layer 3a. The area 6a of the first conducting layer 3a is thus reduced. In order to limit reduction of the area 6a and damage to the substrate 4, the thermal oxidation can be stopped as soon as the second conducting layer has evaporated or just before. The complementary areas 7 rendered insulating can then preferably present a thickness at least equal to one atomic layer. As represented in FIGS. 11 and 12, the material of the second conducting layer 3b is oxidized at the surface on the side walls and on the front face. The gate electrode of a transistor can be achieved by the method described above. In this case, the substrate 4 is formed by an active layer of semi-conducting material, for example homogeneous silicon or silicon on insulator (SOI). The method according to the invention enables the gate electrode to be delineated preventing deformation of the areas of the substrate corresponding to the complementary areas 7 and preventing diffusion of the oxidizing species in the active layer or in the insulating layer between the gate electrode and the active layer. Fabricating the gate electrode by means of two superposed layers 3a and 3b presents several advantages. This in particular makes it possible to reduce the stresses exerted by the conducting material on the insulator, to mask source and drain implantations made after the gate electrode has been achieved, to ensure a contact with the interconnections, to prevent any oxidation of the gate material subsequent to fabrication of the gate electrode and to protect the gate material from self-aligned metallization (siliconizing) of the source and drain. In another alternative embodiment of the invention, the mask 5 is removed (FIG. 13) after etching of the second conducting layer 3b (FIG. 8). The complementary areas 7 of the first conducting layer 3a are then oxidized by oxygen implantation, under suitable temperature and pressure conditions, or by thermal oxidation. In this case, represented in FIG. 14, the material of the second conducting layer 3b is oxidized at the surface both on its side walls and on its front face, whereas the complementary areas 7 of the first conducting layer 3a are oxidized over the whole thickness of the first conducting layer 3a. Diffusion of the atoms in the materials at high temperature, in particular in the case of thermal oxidation, can also lead to peripheral oxidation of the area 6a of the first conducting layer 3a under the second conducting layer 3b, as represented in FIG. 14. The first conducting layer 3a is preferably made of TiN and the second conducting layer 3b is made of polycrystalline silicon. Thus, an oxynitride TiOxNy forms when oxidation is performed. In the case of an oxygen implantation, a thermal stabilization of the metastable state of the layer comprising oxygen implanted by annealing in an inert atmosphere, for example an argon atmosphere, is preferably added. In this case, as in the case of thermal oxidation, the complementary areas 7 of the conducting layer 3 can form a solid oxide in which the oxygen atoms and the atoms of the conducting material are integrated in a single crystalline network, the oxygen atoms replacing for example the atoms of the conducting material. Thus, the conducting element 1 is formed by the non-insulating, in particular non-oxidized, parts of the conducting layer, whereas the areas rendered insulating form a lateral barrier of the conducting element. The invention is not limited to the embodiments represented, in particular oxidation can be performed either thermally or by oxygen implantation, after the mask has been removed. Moreover, formation of a volatile oxide, before or after the mask is removed, can be achieved by thermal oxidation or by oxygen implantation using a single conducting layer or two superposed conducting layers.

<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The invention relates to a method for delineating a conducting element disposed on an insulating layer, comprising deposition of a conducting layer on the front face of the insulating layer disposed on a substrate, formation of a mask on at least one area of the conducting layer designed to form the conducting element, so as to delineate in the conducting layer at least one complementary area not covered by the mask, the complementary areas of the conducting layer being rendered insulating by oxidation.

<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>Other advantages and features will become more clearly apparent from the following description of particular embodiments of the invention given as non-restrictive examples only and represented in the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGS. 1 to 3 represent a method according to the prior art. FIGS. 4 to 6 represent different steps of a particular embodiment of a method according to the invention, comprising formation of a volatile oxide. FIGS. 7 to 10 represent steps of another particular embodiment of a method according to the invention, comprising formation of a volatile oxide, using first and second conducting layers. FIGS. 11 and 12 represent steps of another particular embodiment of a method according to the invention, comprising formation of a volatile oxide, after the mask has been removed. FIGS. 13 and 14 represent steps of another particular embodiment of a method according to the invention, comprising formation of a solid oxide, after the mask has been removed. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"?

20050818

20080916

20060803

57995.0

H01L2144

CHAUDHARI, CHANDRA P

METHOD OF DELINEATING A CONDUCTING ELEMENT DISPOSED ON AN INSULATING LAYER, DEVICE AND TRANSISTOR THUS OBTAINED

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

H01L

ACCEPTED

Braking system

What is disclosed is a brake system for a mobile machine, e.g., for a wheel loader, comprising two hydraulic circuits to each of which at least one respective wheel brake cylinder is associated. Control of the wheel brake cylinders is effected through a brake valve arrangement which, in accordance with the invention, is formed by two brake valves each realized with a hydraulic pilot control, wherein the braking pressure at the one brake valve is reported via a control line into a pilot control chamber of the other brake valve.

1. A brake system for a mobile machine, comprising two hydraulic circuits to each of which at least one wheel brake cylinder is associated that is adapted to be controlled through the intermediary of a brake valve arrangement which may be actuated through the intermediary of mechanical operating means and/or a hydraulic pilot control, characterized in that the brake valve arrangement includes two brake valves that are each associated to one of these circuits, with the respective braking pressure of the one brake valve being conducted via a control passage into a control chamber of the other brake valve. 2. The brake system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the operating means comprise two brake pedals each acting on one of the brake valves via a respective actuation piston. 3. The brake system in accordance with claim 1, wherein in the control passage a directional control valve is provided whereby the connection with the control chamber may be blocked in accordance with operation of the operating means. 4. The brake system in accordance with claim 3, wherein the directional control valve is adapted to be operated through the brake pedal or the actuation piston. 5. The brake system in accordance with claim 1, wherein a pilot control chamber of the brake valves is adapted to be subjected to a pilot control pressure. 6. The brake system in accordance with claim 5, wherein the pilot control pressure is reduced to a predetermined level through the intermediary of a pressure reducing valve. 7. The brake system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the actuation piston is executed in two parts with a main piston and a control piston guided therein, with the pilot control pressure acting on the main piston defining a pilot control chamber in portions thereof, and the control pressure corresponding to the braking pressure acting on the control piston defining the control chamber in portions thereof. 8. The brake system in accordance with claim 7, wherein the control chamber is connected through a jacket bore of the main piston with a control port that is connected with the control passage. 9. The brake system in accordance with claim 8, wherein the control port is adapted to be closed by a control edge of the main piston. 10. The brake system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the control edge is formed on an annular groove of the main piston. 11. The brake system in accordance with claim 7, wherein the pilot control chamber is connected through the main piston with a pilot control port that is connected with the pressure reducing valve. 12. The brake system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the actuation piston is received in a pilot control housing of the brake valve. 13. The brake system in accordance with claim 2, wherein an actuation pin adapted to be acted upon by the pedal is inserted with play in the main piston. 14. The brake system in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that a spring chamber receiving a regulating spring arrangement of the brake valve is connected with a tank port.

The invention concerns a brake system for a mobile machine in accordance with the preamble of claim 1. Heavy-duty vehicles in construction, agriculture and forestry, as well as special-purpose vehicles are frequently deployed in difficult terrain and must possess brake systems having a high degree of operational safety at low operating forces. The legal requirements to the brake can in the case of heavy vehicles only be satisfied with the aid of a power brake. As a rule, hydraulic brake systems are preferred over pneumatically acting systems in mobile machines such as construction or forestry machinery. A vehicle must as a general rule be equipped with a service brake, a secondary brake, and a lock-type brake. The service brake and the secondary brake must be capable of controlled operation. In the case of the lock-type brake, which generally is a so-called spring-loaded brake adapted to be inversely operated with the aid of a hand brake valve, black-and-white operation is sufficient. In realizing the service brake function and the secondary brake function it is customary to employ a two-circuit brake system in which the wheel brake cylinders of the machine may be controlled through two hydraulic brake circuits. The braking function is then as a rule actuated by means of a brake pedal that acts on a two-circuit-brake valve, as is described in DE 43 22 634 A1. The brake valve in accordance with the known solution comprises two consecutively arranged regulating pistons whereby a respective braking pressure passage may be connected with a supply passage connected to a hydraulic accumulator or with a tank passage, so that upon operation of the pedal, both regulating pistons are displaced and a corresponding braking pressure is built up in each one of the brake circuits. Such a two-circuit brake valve may also be provided with a hydraulic pilot control in accordance with JP 9142271. Although two brake circuits are provided in this known solution, a brake failure may nevertheless still occur if, for instance, the pedal can not be operated (pebble located under the pedal), or if one of the two regulating pistons is jammed, so that the other regulating piston also can not be displaced any more. If the valve or the pedal, i.e., the service brake and the secondary brake, fail, then only the lock-type brake is available as an “emergency brake”. This is under the condition that the lock-type brake is correspondingly designed, e.g., as a dynamically acting multiple-disk brake in the drive train. In view of this, the invention is based on the object of furnishing a brake system for a mobile machine, wherein the fail-safe property of the service brake and of the secondary brake is enhanced at minimum complexity in terms of apparatus technology. This object is achieved through a brake system for a mobile machine in accordance with claim 1. In accordance with the invention, the brake system comprises two brake circuits to each of which at least one wheel brake cylinder is associated. Each brake circuit has its own brake valve, for example a single-circuit brake valve, whereby pressure medium may be applied to the associated wheel brake cylinders. Both brake valves may be actuated mechanically and hydraulically, wherein the respective braking pressure output by one brake valve may be conducted into a control chamber of the other brake valve, so that this other brake valve is in effect operated by the former brake valve. I.e., by a mechanical actuation of the one brake valve the other brake valve is controlled hydraulically, so that even in the event of blockage of the regulating piston of the other, hydraulically actuated, brake valve the former brake valve may still be actuated. The invention may be employed to particular advantage in a brake system designed with two brake pedals—e.g., wheel loaders. In this case the operational safety is ensured even when a brake pedal is blocked, for instance by a pebble, or when a regulating piston is blocked. The operator may then activate both (case of blocked pedal) or the other brake circuit (case of blocked regulating piston) by operating the respective other brake pedal, so that the service brake and also the secondary brake are realized with minimum complexity in terms of apparatus technology. Emergency braking may then be performed, for instance, by operating an emergency brake switch, whereby a hydraulic control pressure is applied to both brake valves, so that the wheel brake cylinders of both axles are supplied with pressure medium. Following braking of the vehicle, a mechanical apparatus then blocks the drive train. In order to avoid undesirable interactions with the mechanically applied braking force (pedal force), it is possible to associate to each brake valve a directional control valve whereby the connection of the control chamber of the one, pedal-operated valve to the brake port of the other valve is blocked, so that no control pressure is built up in the control chamber of the pedal-operated valve. This directional control valve may, e.g., be formed by a two-way valve, the piston of which is shifted into its blocking position by the pedal or by an actuation piston actuated by the pedal. In order to realize an emergency brake, or for purposely braking the machine under certain operating conditions—independently of operation of a pedal—the brake valves are provided with an additional pilot control port, whereby an external control pressure may be applied to the brake valves so as to shift their regulating pistons into their regulating positions. This external pilot control pressure is in one preferred embodiment controlled through a pressure reducing valve provided in pilot control lines leading to the pilot control ports of the two brake valves. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the actuation piston adapted to be shifted through the intermediary of the pedal is executed in two parts with a main piston and a pilot control piston guided therein. The above mentioned external pilot control pressure acts on the comparatively large end face of the main piston, whereas the smaller pilot control piston is adapted to be subjected to the pressure acting on the brake port of the respective other brake valve. Connection of a control chamber limited by the control piston with the control port is preferably carried out through jacket bores of the main piston that are connected with the control port via an annular groove. By suitably selecting the axial length of the annular groove it is possible to form a control edge at the outer periphery of the main piston, whereby the connection with the control port may be closed by actuating the main piston with the aid of the pedal. I.e., in this solution the above mentioned directional control valve is in effect formed by interaction of a control edge of the main piston with a passage leading to the control port. Hydraulic connection of the pilot control chamber limited by the larger end face of the main piston is preferably effected through the main piston, so that the pilot control housing receiving the main piston has a very simple design. An actuation pin adapted to be shifted by the pedal is preferably mounted with play in the actuation piston. The actuation piston or the main piston and the pilot control piston, respectively, are biased into their basic positions through the intermediary of a regulating spring arrangement. The spring chamber accommodating the regulating spring arrangement is in a preferred embodiment relieved towards the tank. Other advantageous developments of the invention are subject matter of further subclaims. In the following, preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail by referring to schematic drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 shows a circuit diagram of a brake system in accordance with the invention for a hydraulic machine such as a wheel loader; FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a head of a brake valve of the brake system of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a head of another embodiment of a brake valve. FIG. 1 shows a circuit diagram of a brake system 1 for a hydraulic machine, e.g., for a wheel loader. This is executed with two brake pedals. By means of the brake pedals 2, 4 it is possible to actuate a respective brake valve 6 or 8, to the brake port BR of which wheel cylinders 10, 12 (schematically indicated in FIG. 1) are connected, so that it is possible, e.g., to activate the wheel brake cylinder 10 of the front axle via the brake valve 6, and the wheel brake cylinder 12 of the rear axle via the brake valve 8. As will be explained hereinbelow in more detail, upon operation of one of the two brake pedals 2, 4 both brake valves 6, 8 are activated mechanically or hydraulically, respectively, so that the wheel brake cylinders 10, 12 are accordingly moreover supplied with pressure medium for engaging the brakes. It is thus the principle of a two-circuit-brake system wherein, however, instead of a conventional tandem valve (two-circuit-brake valve) two comparatively more simple valves are used, as employed, e.g., in single-circuit brake systems. The brake valves 6, 8 have in addition to the above mentioned brake port BR a reservoir port SP connected with a respective hydraulic accumulator 14, 16, as well as a tank port R connected with a tank T. A regulating piston 18 of the brake valves 6, 8 is biased through the intermediary of a spring arrangement into a basic position wherein the brake port BR is connected with the tank port T, so that the wheel brake cylinders are not subjected to a braking pressure. The regulating piston 18 is in this case acted on by a regulating spring arrangement 20 in a direction of closing the connection from the brake port BR to the tank port R. The tension of the regulating spring arrangement 20 may be changed with the aid of operating means 22, 24 that are in operative connection with the associated brake pedal 2 or 4, respectively. Each operating means 22, 24 has a main piston 26 and a control piston 28 which are supported on the regulating spring arrangement 22. Accordingly the regulating piston 18 may be shifted downward from its represented basic position (view of FIG. 1) by operating the brake pedals 2, 4 and a corresponding displacement of the main piston 26, in order to initiate a braking process. The braking pressure prevailing at the brake port BR acts via a control line 30 on a respective control surface of the brake valve 6, 8 acting in the closing direction (connection BR with R), whereas a spring chamber receiving the regulating spring arrangement 20 is connected with the drain through a tank line 32. The respective braking pressure prevailing at the brake port BR of a brake valve 6, 8 is reported via a control line 34 or 36 into a control chamber 38 or 40 of the respective other brake valve 8, 6, so that the control piston 28 is subjected to this control pressure in the control chamber 38 or 40 in the direction of an increase of the spring tension. In this embodiment there is moreover associated to each brake valve 6, 8 a two-way valve 42, 44 whereby, upon operation of a brake pedal 2, 4, the connection between the control chamber 38, 40 of the brake valve operated through the brake pedal 2, 4 may be closed through the brake port BR of the respective other brake valve 6, 8. Hereby the pilot control pressure in the associated control line 34, 36 is prevented from superseding the mechanical force applied by the brake pedal 2, 4. Upon actuation of, e.g., the brake pedal 2, initially the main piston 26 with the pilot control piston 28 is pushed downward (FIG. 1), whereby the regulating spring arrangement 20 is biased. At the same time the directional control valve 42 is taken into its blocking position, so that the control passage 36 is blocked towards the brake port BR of the other brake valve 8. Due to the increased bias of the regulating spring arrangement 20, the regulating piston 18 of the brake valve 6 is displaced downward from its basic position, and initially the connection between the brake port BR and the tank port R is closed, and then the connection between the reservoir port SP and the brake port BR is gradually opened, so that pressure medium is conducted to the wheel brake cylinders 10. Depending on the deflection of the brake pedal 2, the regulating piston 18 assumes a regulating position that determines the braking pressure acting on the wheel brake cylinders 10—the brake valve 6 in effect acts as a pressure reducing valve. At the same time the braking pressure effective at the brake port BR is conducted via the control line 34 and the opened two-way valve 44 into the control chamber 40. This control pressure acts in the direction of an increased tension of the regulating spring arrangement 20, so that as a result of this control pressure in the control chamber 40, the regulating piston 18 of the brake valve 8 is also shifted into a position wherein initially the ports R, SP and BR are closed, and subsequently the connection between the brake port BR and the reservoir port SP is opened. I.e., upon operation of the brake pedal 2, the brake valve 8 associated to the brake pedal 4 is also shifted into its braking position owing to the crosswise connection resulting from the control line 34, so that the wheel brake cylinders of the other axle are also supplied with pressure medium. When the brake pedal 2 is released, it is returned into its represented basic position by the reset force of the lower centering spring in FIG. 1 and by the control pressure in the control line 30 acting in the closing direction and as a result of the relief of the regulating spring arrangement 20, wherein again initially the three ports R, SP, BR are closed, and then the connection from the brake port BR to the tank port R is opened towards T—the braking pressure is reduced in both circuits. In the embodiment represented in FIG. 1, an additional option is provided in order to activate the two brake valves 6, 8 hydraulically, i.e., without operating any one of the two brake pedals 2, 4. To this end, it is possible to connect pilot control chambers 48 and 49, respectively, which are in portions thereof defined by the main pistons 26, via pilot control passages 50, 52 and a pressure reducing valve 54 with another pressure source which is in the present case a hydraulic accumulator 56. In the represented embodiment the pressure reducing valve 54 is electrically shifted from a position in which the two pilot control passages 50, 52 are connected to drain, into a position in which these two passages 50, 52 are connected with the further hydraulic accumulator 56. Through the pressure reducing valve 54 its pressure is reduced to a pressure level suited for activating the brake system, for instance 25 bar. Instead of electrical activation of the pressure reducing valve 54 it would, of course, also be possible to provide hydraulic activation. Upon activation of the pressure reducing valve 54 the two pilot control chambers 48, 49 are subjected to the pressure acting at the outlet of the pressure reducing valve 54, so that correspondingly both main pistons 26 are shifted, and the regulating spring arrangements 20, 22 of the brake valves 6, 8 are tensioned and correspondingly the regulating pistons 18 of these brake valves are taken into their regulating positions that depend on the pressure at the outlet of the pressure reducing valve 54. I.e., depending on the adjustment of the pressure reducing valve 54 it is possible to set a comparatively low braking effect or full braking. The particularity of the above described solution is that even when one of the two brake pedals 2, 4 is blocked, all the wheel brake cylinders 10, 12 may still be activated by operating the other pedal. I.e., the secondary brake is in this system realized through the fact that the operator has the possibility to operate the second brake pedal 2 and thereby initiate a braking process even if one brake pedal 4 is blocked. Even if a regulating piston 18 of a brake cylinder 6 or 8 is blocked, a sufficient braking effect is nevertheless ensured as the operator may then activate the secondary brake by operating the respective other brake pedal, so that the associated brake circuit is activated. The emergency brake, which is also prescribed by regulations, may in the above described brake system 1 be realized, e.g., in that the pressure reducing valve 54 is actuated through an emergency brake switch and thus the wheel brake cylinders 10, 12 are supplied with pressure medium through both circuits. It is then possible to do without provision of a costly dynamic brake, such as a multiple-disk brake, in the drive train. In this case it would only be necessary to provide mechanical blocking of the drive train which engages as soon as emergency braking is initiated. Such engagement should, however, only take place once the vehicle has been brought to a standstill via the brake system 1. FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of a brake valve 6, 8, with only the one range being represented in which the regulating spring arrangement 20 and the operating means 22, 24 including the brake pedal 2, 4 are arranged. A representation of the regulating piston 18 as well as of the valve housing accommodating the regulating piston and forming the ports BR, R, SP is omitted, and reference is made to the prior art. In FIG. 2 merely the upper part of the regulating piston 18, or of a spring cup supported thereon, is represented. The regulating piston 18 is guided in a brake valve housing 58 on which a brake valve head 60 is arranged. The latter includes a console 62 on which the brake pedal 2, 4 is mounted in a pivotable manner. The brake pedal 2, 4 is biased through the intermediary of a torsion spring 64 into its basic position determined by a stop. The brake valve head 60 moreover includes an actuation pin 66 which is supported on the bottom side of the brake pedal 2, 4 and shifted downward by the latter in the representation in accordance with FIG. 2. The actuation pin 66 is axially slidably guided in a pilot control housing 68 which is screwed into the brake valve housing 58. The pilot control housing 68 has an axial bore 70 that widens in a downward direction from a guide portion with seals 72 and a sliding guide for the actuation pin 66 towards a reception bore for a main piston 26. The main piston 26 has a blind bore 74 into which the actuation pin 66 plunges slidingly, i.e., with play. In the basic position the lower end face of the fixation pin 66 is supported on the end face of the blind bore 74. At the end portion of the main piston 26 removed from the actuation pin 66, a guide bore 76 is provided which also has the form of a blind bore and in which the control piston 28 is guided in an axially sliding manner. The lower end portion of the control piston 28 in the representation of FIG. 2 protrudes from the main piston 26 and contacts a spring cup 78 which in turn is supported on the lower end face of the pilot control housing 68. The lower end face of the main piston 26 also contacts this spring cup 78. In the represented embodiment, the regulating spring arrangement 20 includes an external regulating spring 80 on which the spring cup 78 rests, and an internal regulating spring 81 arranged coaxially therewith, which enters into contact with the spring cup 78 only following a predetermined axial stroke of the spring cup 78 and thus of the main piston 26 or of the control piston 28, respectively, so that a higher spring rate is then acting. On the pilot control housing 68 there are moreover provided a control port 82, a pilot control port 84, as well as a tank port 86. The tank port 86 is connected through the intermediary of the tank line 32 formed in the pilot control housing 68 with a spring chamber 88 receiving the regulating spring arrangement 20, so that this spring chamber is pressure-relieved towards the tank. Between the upper end face of the control piston 28 in the representation of FIG. 2 and the bottom of the guide bore 76 a control chamber 90 is limited in an axial direction, which is connected with the control port 82 through the intermediary of a radial bore 92 and an annular groove 94 of the main piston 26 as well as an oblique bore 96 in the pilot control housing 68. A pilot control chamber 46 limited by the upper end face of the main piston 26 in the representation of FIG. 2 is connected with the pilot control port 84 through the intermediary of a longitudinal bore 98 as well as peripheral groove 100 of the main piston 26 connecting thereto, and another oblique bore 102 in the pilot control housing 68. The space between actuation pin 66 and main piston 26 is connected with the peripheral groove 16 via a transverse bore 99, so that the main piston 26 receives the pressure in the control chamber 46 on its entire cross-section. The axial length of the annular groove 94 associated to the control port 82 is selected such that the oblique bore 96 is closed upon an axial displacement of the main piston 26 by a control edge 104. I.e., the annular groove 94 with the control edge 104 of the main piston 26 forms together with the oblique bore 96 the two-way valve 42 or 44, respectively, as represented in FIG. 1. In the event of a normal brake operation (service brake) the brake pedal 2 is shifted downwards, so that the main piston 26 is displaced downwardly against the force of the regulating spring 80 by the actuation pin 66. Following a predetermined stroke, the spring cup 78 contacts the internal regulating spring 81, so that the further axial displacement of the main piston 26 takes place against a higher spring force. Owing to this axial displacement of the main piston 26, the oblique bore 96 and thus the control port 82 is closed through the intermediary of the control edge 104, so that the control passage 36 (FIG. 1) is closed. In accordance with the pivoting movement of the brake pedal 2 the regulating spring arrangement 20 is thus tensioned, and accordingly the regulating piston 18 of the brake valve 6 assumes its regulating position wherein the brake port BR is connected with the hydraulic accumulator 14. The pressure output at the brake port is tapped and—in accordance with the preceding description—reported via the control passage 34 and the control port 82, the oblique bore 96, the annular groove 94 and the radial bore 92, into the control chamber 104 of the other brake valve 8. As a result of the braking pressure prevailing in the control chamber 104, the control piston 28 is shifted downwardly (FIG. 2) and the spring cup 78 is accordingly raised from the pilot control housing 68, and also the regulating piston 18 of the other brake valve 8 is shifted into a regulating position, so that the wheel brake cylinders 12 associated with this circuit are also supplied with pressure medium. The end face of the control piston 28 is selected such that the manifesting shift corresponds to the one manifesting in the case of the brake valve 6 that is directly actuated through the brake pedal 2. Owing to the pressure in the control chamber 38, the main piston 26 is acted upon in an upward direction, so that it remains in its basic position and the control piston 28 extends out of the main piston 26—the connection between the control chamber 104 and the control port 82 thus remains open in the other brake valve 8. In FIG. 3 a variant of the embodiment represented in FIG. 2 is shown. In this construction the two-way valves 42, 44 were omitted. This change was brought about solely due to the fact that the annular groove 94 of the main piston 26 is executed with a greater axial length than in the previously described embodiment, so that during the entire stroke of the main piston 26 the connection between the control chamber 38 and the control port 82 remains opened. I.e., in this case in both brake valves 6, 8 in the respective control chamber 38 the braking pressure at the brake port BR of the respective other brake valve 8, 6 takes effect. In the one brake valve 6 actuated by means of the brake pedal 2, 4, this control pressure may under certain circumstances interfere with the pedal force introduced through the brake pedal 2—such interactions are excluded in the embodiment represented in FIG. 2. Through actuation of the pressure reducing valve 54 it is possible to apply a predetermined control pressure to the control chambers 46 of the brake valves 6, 8 via the two pilot control passages 50, 52 connected to the pilot control ports 84 of the brake valves 6, 8, so that the main piston 26 is displaced downwardly by the pressure acting on its entire end face against the force of the spring arrangement 20, and the regulating piston 18 is shifted into a regulating position corresponding to the pressure. This actuation of the brake valves 6, 8 may be effected solely on the basis of a pilot control pressure via the pressure reducing valve. In order to relieve the pressure of the spring chamber 88, in the embodiment represented in FIG. 3 the tank port 86 is moreover not formed on the pilot control housing 68 but directly on the brake valve housing 58 and connected with the spring chamber 88 via a transverse bore 106. What is disclosed is a brake system for a mobile machine, e.g., for a wheel loader, comprising two hydraulic circuits to each of which at least one respective wheel brake cylinder is associated. Control of the wheel brake cylinders is effected through a brake valve arrangement which, in accordance with the invention, is formed by two brake valves each realized with a hydraulic pilot control, wherein the braking pressure at the one brake valve is reported via a control line into a pilot control chamber of the other brake valve. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 1 brake system 2 brake pedal 4 brake pedal 6 brake valve 8 brake valve 10 wheel brake cylinder 12 wheel brake cylinder 14 hydraulic accumulator 16 hydraulic accumulator 18 regulating piston 20 regulating spring arrangement 22 operating means 24 operating means 26 main piston 28 control piston 30 control line 32 tank line 34 control line 36 control line 38 control chamber 40 control chamber 42 two-way valve 44 two-way valve 48 pilot control chamber 49 pilot control chamber 50 pilot control passage 52 pilot control passage 54 pressure reducing valve 56 hydraulic accumulator 58 brake valve housing 60 brake valve head 62 console 64 torsion spring 66 fixation pin 68 pilot control housing 70 axial bore 74 blind bore 76 guide bore 78 spring cup 80 regulating spring 81 internal regulating spring 82 control port 84 pilot control port 86 tank port 88 spring chamber 90 control chamber 92 radial bore 94 annular groove 96 oblique bore 98 longitudinal bore 99 transverse bore 100 peripheral groove 102 further oblique bore 104 control edge 106 transverse bore

20050930

20110517

20060511

74525.0

B60T1374

IRVIN, THOMAS W

BRAKE SYSTEM

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

B60T

ACCEPTED

Preparation and use of 2-substituted-5-oxo-3-pyrazolidinecarboxylates

A method is disclosed for preparing a 2-substituted-5-oxo-3-pyrazolidinecarboxylate compound of Formula I. The method comprises contacting a succinic acid derivative of the formula R1OC(O)C(H)(X)C(R2a)(R2b)C(O)Y (i.e. Formula II) wherein X and Y are leaving groups and L, R1, R2a and R2b are as defined in the disclosure, with a substituted hydrazine of the formula LNHNH2 (i.e. Formula III) in the presence of a suitable acid scavenger and solvent. Also disclosed is the preparation of compounds of Formula IV wherein X1, R6, R7, R8a, R8b, R9, and n are as defined in the disclosure. Also disclosed is a composition comprising on a weight basis about 20 to 99% of the compound of Formula II wherein R1, R2a, R2b, R3, R4 and R5 are as defined in the disclosure; X is Cl, Br or I; and Y is F, Cl, Br or I; provided that when R2a and R2b are each H, and X and Y are each Cl then R1 is other than benzyl and when R2a and R2b are each phenyl, and X and Y are each Cl, then R1 is other than methyl or ethyl. Also disclosed is a crystalline composition comprising at least about 90% by weight of the compound of the formula R1OC(O)C(H)(X)C(R2a)(R2b)CO2H (i.e. Formula VI) wherein R2a and R2b are H, X is Br and R1 is methyl.

1. A method for preparing a 2-substituted-5-oxo-3-pyrazolidinecarboxylate compound of Formula I wherein L is H, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted tertiary alkyl, —C(O)R3, —S(O)2R3 or —P(O)(R3)2; R1 is an optionally substituted carbon moiety; R2a is H, OR4 or an optionally substituted carbon moiety; R2b is H or an optionally substituted carbon moiety; each R3 is independently OR5, N(R5)2 or an optionally substituted carbon moiety; R4 is an optionally substituted carbon moiety; and each R5 is selected from optionally substituted carbon moieties; comprising: contacting a succinic acid derivative of Formula II wherein X is a leaving group; and Y is a leaving group; with a substituted hydrazine of Formula III LNHNH2 III in the presence of a suitable acid scavenger and solvent. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein X is Cl, Br or I. 3. The method of claim 2 wherein X is Br. 4. The method of claim 1 wherein Y is Cl. 5. The method of claim 1 wherein R1 is C1-C4 alkyl. 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the compound of Formula I is of Formula Ia the compound of Formula II is of Formula IIa and the compound of Formula III is of Formula IIIa wherein each R9 is independently C1-C4 alkyl, C2-C4 alkenyl, C2-C4 alkynyl, C3-C6 cycloalkyl, C1-C4 haloalkyl, C2-C4 haloalkenyl, C2-C4 haloalkynyl, C3-C6 halocycloalkyl, halogen, CN, NO2, C1-C4 alkoxy, C1-C4 haloalkoxy, C1-C4 alkylthio, C1-C4 alkylsulfinyl, C1-C4 alkylsulfonyl, C1-C4 alkylamino, C2-C8 dialkylamino, C3-C6 cycloalkylamino, (C1-C4 alkyl)(C3-C6 cycloalkyl)amino, C2-C4 alkylcarbonyl, C2-C6 alkoxycarbonyl, C2-C6 alkylaminocarbonyl, C3-C8 dialkylaminocarbonyl or C3-C6 trialkylsilyl; Z is N or CR10; R10 is H or R9; and n is an integer from 0 to 3. 7. The method of claim 6 wherein X is Br. 8. The method of claim 6 wherein Y is Cl. 9. The method of claim 6 wherein R1 is CH3. 10. A method of preparing a compound of Formula IV wherein X1 is halogen; R6 is CH3, F, Cl or Br; R7 is F, Cl, Br, I, CN or CF3; R8a is H or C1-C4 alkyl; R8b is H or CH3; each R9 is independently C1-C4 alkyl, C2-C4 alkenyl, C2-C4 alkynyl, C3-C6 cycloalkyl, C1-C4 haloalkyl, C2-C4 haloalkenyl, C2-C4 haloalkynyl, C3-C6 halocycloalkyl, halogen, CN, NO2, C1-C4 alkoxy, C1-C4 haloalkoxy, C1-C4 alkylthio, C1-C4 alkylsulfinyl, C1-C4 alkylsulfonyl, C1-C4 alkylamino, C2-C8 dialkylamino, C3-C6 cycloalkylamino, (C1-C4 alkyl)(C3-C6 cycloalkyl)amino, C2-C4 alkylcarbonyl, C2-C6 alkoxycarbonyl, C2-C6 alkylaminocarbonyl, C3-C8 dialkylaminocarbonyl or C3-C6 trialkylsilyl; Z is N or CR10; R10 is H or R9; and n is an integer from 0 to 3 using a compound of Formula Ia wherein R1 is an optionally substituted carbon moiety; characterized by: preparing said compound of Formula Ia by the method of claim 6. 11. The method of claim 10 wherein R1 is C1-C4 alkyl. 12. The method of claim 11 wherein Z is N, n is 1, and R9 is Cl or Br and is at the 3-position. 13. A composition comprising on a weight basis about 20 to 99% of the compound of Formula II wherein R1 is an optionally substituted carbon moiety; R2a is H, OR4 or an optionally substituted carbon moiety; R2b is H or an optionally substituted carbon moiety; R4 is an optionally substituted carbon moiety; and X is Cl, Br or I; and Y is F, Cl, Br or I; provided that when R2a and R2b are each H, and X and Y are each Cl then R1 is other than benzyl and when R2a and R2b are each phenyl, and X and Y are each Cl, then R1 is other than methyl or ethyl. 14. The composition of claim 13 wherein R1 is methyl; R2a and R2b are H; X is Br; and Y is Cl. 15. The composition of claim 13 wherein R1 is ethyl; R2a and R2b are H; X is Br; and Y is Cl. 16. A crystalline composition comprising at least about 90% by weight of the compound of Formula VI wherein R2a and R2b are H. X is Br and R1 is methyl.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A need exists for additional methods to prepare 2-substituted-5-oxo-3-pyrazolidinecarboxylates. Such compounds include useful intermediates for the preparation of crop protection agents, pharmaceuticals, photographic developers and other fine chemicals. U.S. Pat. No. 3,153,654 and PCT Publication WO 03/015519 describe the preparation of 2-substituted-5-oxo-3-pyrazolidinecarboxylates by condensation of maleate or fumarate esters with substituted hydrazines in the presence of a base. However, alternative methods providing potentially greater yields are still needed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a method for preparing a 2-substituted-5-oxo-3-pyrazolidinecarboxylate compound of Formula I wherein L is H, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted tertiary alkyl, —C(O)R3, —S(O)2R3 or —P(O)(R3)2; R1 is an optionally substituted carbon moiety; R2a is H, OR4 or an optionally substituted carbon moiety; R2b is H or an optionally substituted carbon moiety; each R3 is independently OR5, N(R5)2 or an optionally substituted carbon moiety; R4 is an optionally substituted carbon moiety; and each R5 is selected from optionally substituted carbon moieties; the method comprising contacting a succinic acid derivative of Formula II wherein X is a leaving group; and Y is a leaving group; with a substituted hydrazine of Formula III LNHNH2 III in the presence of a suitable acid scavenger and solvent. This invention also relates to a method of preparing a compound of Formula IV, wherein X1 is halogen; R6 is CH3, F, Cl or Br; R7 is P, Cl, Br, I, CN or CF3; R8a is H or C1-C4 alkyl; R8b is H or CH3; each R9 is independently C1-C4 alkyl, C2-C4 alkenyl, C2-C4 alkynyl, C3-C6 cycloalkyl, C1-C4 haloalkyl, C2-C4 haloalkenyl, C2-C4 haloalkynyl, C3-C6 halocycloalkyl, halogen, CN, NO2, C1-C4 alkoxy, C1-C4 haloalkoxy, C1-C4 alkylthio, C1-C4 alkylsulfinyl, C1-C4 alkylsulfonyl, C1-C4 alkylamino, C2-C8 dialkylamino, C3-C6 cycloalkylamino, (C1-C4 alkyl)(C3-C6 cycloalkyl)amino, C2-C4 alkylcarbonyl, C2-C6 alkoxycarbonyl, C2-C6 alkylaminocarbonyl, C3-C8 dialkylaminocarbonyl or C3-C6 trialkylsilyl; Z is N or CR10; R10 is H or R9; and n is an integer from 0 to 3 using a compound of Formula Ia wherein R1 is an optionally substituted carbon moiety. This method is characterized by preparing the compound of Formula Ia (i.e. a subgenus of Formula I) by the method as indicated above. This invention further provides a composition comprising on a weight basis about 20 to 99% of the compound of Formula II wherein R1, R2a, R2b, R3, R4 and R5 are as above; X is Cl, Br or I; and Y is F, Cl, Br or I; provided that when R2a and R2b are each H, and X and Y are each Cl then R1 is other than benzyl and when R2a and R2b are each phenyl, and X and Y are each Cl, then R1 is other than methyl or ethyl. This invention further provides a crystalline composition comprising at least about 90% by weight of the compound of Formula VI wherein R2a and R2b are H, X is Br and R1 is methyl. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the recitations herein, the term “carbon moiety” refers to a radical comprising a carbon atom linking the radical to the remainder of the molecule. As the substituents R1, R2a, R2b, R3, R4 and R5 are separated from the reaction center, they can encompass a great variety of carbon-based groups preparable by modern methods of synthetic organic chemistry. Also the substituent L can encompass in addition to hydrogen a wide range of radicals selected from optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted tertiary alkyl, —C(O)R3, —S(O)2R3 or —P(O)(R3)2, which stereoelectronically align with the cyclization regiochemistry of the method of the present invention. The method of this invention is thus generally applicable to a wide range of starting compounds of Formula II and product compounds of Formula I. “Carbon moiety” thus includes alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl, which can be straight-chain or branched. “Carbon moiety” also includes carbocyclic and heterocyclic rings, which can be saturated, partially saturated, or completely unsaturated. Furthermore, unsaturated rings can be aromatic if Hückel's rule is satisfied. The carbocyclic and heterocyclic rings of a carbon moiety can form polycyclic ring systems comprising multiple rings connected together. The term “carbocyclic ring” denotes a ring wherein the atoms forming the ring backbone are selected only from carbon. The term “heterocyclic ring” denotes a ring wherein at least one of the ring backbone atoms is other than carbon. “Saturated carbocyclic” refers to a ring having a backbone consisting of carbon atoms linked to one another by single bonds; unless otherwise specified, the remaining carbon valences are occupied by hydrogen atoms. The term “aromatic ring system” denotes fully unsaturated carbocycles and heterocycles in which at least one ring in a polycyclic ring system is aromatic. Aromatic indicates that each of ring atoms is essentially in the same plane and has a p-orbital perpendicular to the ring plane, and in which (4n+2) π electrons, when n is 0 or a positive integer, are associated with the ring to comply with Hückel's rule. The term “aromatic carbocyclic ring system” includes fully aromatic carbocycles and carbocycles in which at least one ring of a polycyclic ring system is aromatic. The term “nonaromatic carbocyclic ring system” denotes fully saturated carbocycles as well as partially or fully unsaturated carbocycles wherein none of the rings in the ring system are aromatic. The terms “aromatic heterocyclic ring system” and “heteroaromatic ring” include fully aromatic heterocycles and heterocycles in which at least one ring of a polycyclic ring system is aromatic. The term “nonaromatic heterocyclic ring system” denotes fully saturated heterocycles as well as partially or fully unsaturated heterocycles wherein none of the rings in the ring system are aromatic. The term “aryl” denotes a carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring or ring system in which at least one ring is aromatic, and the aromatic ring provides the connection to the remainder of the molecule. The carbon moieties specified for R1, R2a, R2b, R3, R4 and R5 and the aryl and tertiary alkyl radicals specified for L are optionally substituted. The term “optionally substituted” in connection with these carbon moieties refers to carbon moieties that are unsubstituted or have at least one non-hydrogen substituent. Similarly, the term “optionally substituted” in connection with aryl and tertiary aryl refers to aryl and tertiary alkyl radicals that are unsubstituted or have a least on non-hydrogen substituent. Illustrative optional substituents include alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl, hydroxycarbonyl, formyl, alkylcarbonyl, alkenylcarbonyl, alkynylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, hydroxy, alkoxy, alkenyloxy, alkynyloxy, cycloalkoxy, aryloxy, alkylthio, alkenylthio, alkynylthio, cycloalkylthio, arylthio, alkylsulfinyl, alkenylsulfinyl, alkynylsulfinyl, cycloalkylsulfinyl, arylsulfinyl, alkylsulfonyl, alkenylsulfonyl, alkynylsulfonyl, cycloalkylsulfonyl, arylsulfonyl, amino, alkylamino, alkenylamino, alkynylamino, arylamino, aminocarbonyl, alkylaminocarbonyl, alkenylaminocarbonyl, alkynylaminocarbonyl, arylaminocarbonyl, alkylaminocarbonyl, alkenylaminocarbonyl, alkynylaminocarbonyl, arylaminocarbonyloxy, alkoxycarbonylamino, alkenyloxycarbonylamino, alkynyloxycarbonylamino and aryloxy-carbonylamino, each further optionally substituted; and halogen, cyano and nitro. The optional further substituents are independently selected from groups like those illustrated above for the substituents themselves to give additional substituent radicals for L, R1, R2a, R2b, R3, R4 and R5 such as haloalkyl, haloalkenyl and haloalkoxy. As a further example, alkylamino can be further substituted with alkyl, giving dialkylamino. The substituents can also be tied together by figuratively removing one or two hydrogen atoms from each of two substituents or a substituent and the supporting molecular structure and joining the radicals to produce cyclic and polycyclic structures fused or appended to the molecular structure supporting the substituents. For example, tying together adjacent hydroxy and methoxy groups attached to, for example, a phenyl ring gives a fused dioxolane structure containing the linking group —O—CH2—O—. Tying together a hydroxy group and the molecular structure to which it is attached can give cyclic ethers, including epoxides. Illustrative substituents also include oxygen, which when attached to carbon forms a carbonyl function. Similarly, sulfur when attached to carbon forms a thiocarbonyl function. Within the L, R1, R2a, R2b, R3, R4 or R5 moieties, tying together substituents can form cyclic and polycyclic structures. Also illustrative of R1, R2a and R2b are embodiments wherein at least two of the R1, R2a and R2b moieties are contained in the same radical (i.e. a ring system is formed). As the pyrazolidine moiety constitutes one ring, the R1 moiety contained in the same radical as R2a (or OR4) or R2b would result in a fused bicyclic or polycyclic ring system. Two R2a and R2b moieties contained in the same radical would result in a spiro ring system. As referred to herein, “alkyl”, used either alone or in compound words such as “alkylthio” or “haloalkyl” includes straight-chain or branched alkyl, such as, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, i-propyl, or the different butyl, pentyl or hexyl isomers. “Tertiary alkyl” denotes a branched alkyl radical wherein the carbon atom linked to the remainder of the molecule is also attached to three carbon atoms in the radical. Examples of “tertiary alkyl” include —C(CH3)3, —C(CH3)2CH2CH3 and —C(CH3)(CH2CH3)(CH2)2CH3. “Alkenyl” includes straight-chain or branched alkenes such as ethenyl, 1-propenyl, 2-propenyl, and the different butenyl, pentenyl and hexenyl isomers. “Alkenyl” also includes polyenes such as 1,2-propadienyl and 2,4-hexadienyl. “Alkynyl” includes straight-chain or branched alkynes such as ethynyl, 1-propynyl, 2-propynyl and the different butynyl, pentynyl and hexynyl isomers. “Alkynyl” can also include moieties comprised of multiple triple bonds such as 2,5-hexadiynyl. “Alkoxy” includes, for example, methoxy, ethoxy, n-propyloxy, isopropyloxy and the different butoxy, pentoxy and hexyloxy isomers. “Alkenyloxy” includes straight-chain or branched alkenyloxy moieties. Examples of “alkenyloxy” include H2C═CHCH2O, (CH3)2C═CHCH2O, (CH3)CH═CHCH2O, (CH3)CH═C(CH3)CH2O and CH2═CHCH2CH2O. “Alkynyloxy” includes straight-chain or branched alkynyloxy moieties. Examples of “alkynyloxy” include HC≡CCH2O, CH3C≡CCH2O and CH3C≡CCH2CH2O. “Alkylthio” includes branched or straight-chain alkylthio moieties such as methylthio, ethylthio, and the different propylthio, butylthio, pentylthio and hexylthio isomers. “Alkylsulfinyl” includes both enantiomers of an alkylsulfinyl group. Examples of “alkylsulfinyl” include CH3S(O), CH3CH2S(O), CH3CH2CH2S(O), (CH3)2CHS(O) and the different butylsulfinyl, pentylsulfinyl and hexylsulfinyl isomers. Examples of “alkylsulfonyl”include CH3S(O)2, CH3CH2S(O)2, CH3CH2CH2S(O)2, (CH3)2CHS(O)2 and the different butylsulfonyl, pentylsulfonyl and hexylsulfonyl isomers. “Alkylamino”, “alkenylthio”, “alkenylsulfinyl”, “alkenylsulfonyl”, “alkynylthio”, “alkynylsulfinyl”, “alkynylsulfonyl”, and the like, are defined analogously to the above examples. Examples of “alkylcarbonyl” include C(O)CH3, C(O)CH2CH2CH3 and C(O)CH(CH3)2. Examples of “alkoxycarbonyl” include CH3OC(═O), CH3CH2OC(═O), CH3CH2CH2OC(═O), (CH3)2CHOC(═O) and the different butoxy- or pentoxycarbonyl isomers. “Cycloalkyl” includes, for example, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, and cyclohexyl. The term “cycloalkoxy” includes the same groups linked through an oxygen atom such as cyclopentyloxy and cyclohexyloxy. “Cycloalkylamino” means the amino nitrogen atom is attached to a cycloalkyl radical and a hydrogen atom and includes groups such as cyclopropylamino, cyclobutylamino, cyclopentylamino and cyclohexylamino. “(Alkyl)(cycloalkyl)amino” means a cycloalkylamino group where the hydrogen atom is replaced by an alkyl radical; examples include groups such as (methyl)(cyclopropyl)amino, (butyl)(cyclobutyl)amino, (propyl)cyclopentylamino, (methyl)cyclohexylamino and the like. “Cycloalkenyl” includes groups such as cyclopentenyl and cyclohexenyl as well as groups with more-than one double bond such as 1,3- and 1,4-cyclohexadienyl. The term “halogen”, either alone or in compound words such as “haloalkyl”, includes fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine. The term “1-2 halogen” indicates that one or two of the available positions for that substituent may be halogen which are independently selected. Further, when used in compound words such as “haloalkyl”, said alkyl may be partially or fully substituted with halogen atoms which may be the same or different. Examples of “haloalkyl” include F3C, ClCH2, CF3CH2 and CF3CCl2. The term “sulfonate” refers to radicals comprising a —OS(O)2— wherein the sulfur atom is bonded to a carbon moiety, and the oxygen atom is bonded to the remainder of the molecule and thus serves as the attachment point for the sulfonate radical. Commonly used sulfonates include —OS(O)2Me, —OS(O)2Et, —OS(O)2-n-Pr, —OS(O)2CF3, —OS(O)2Ph and —S(O)2Ph-4-Me. The total number of carbon atoms in a substituent group is indicated by the “Ci-Cj” prefix where i and j are, for example, numbers from 1 to 3; e.g., Cl-C3 alkyl designates methyl through propyl. Although there is no definite limit to the sizes of Formulae I, II and III suitable for the rocesses of the invention, typically Formula I comprises 5-100, more commonly 5-50, and most commonly 5-25 carbon atoms, and 5-25, more commonly 5-15, and most commonly 5-10 heteroatoms. Typically Formula II comprises 5-50, more commonly 5-25, and most commonly 5-12 carbon atoms, and 5-15, more commonly 5-10, and most commonly 5-7 heteroatoms. Typically Formula III comprises 0-50, more commonly 6-25, and most commonly 6-13 carbon atoms, and 2-12, more commonly 2-7, and most commonly 2-5 heteroatoms. The heteroatoms are commonly selected from halogen, oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen and phosphorus. Three heteroatoms in Formulae I and II are the two oxygen atoms in the carboxylate ester group (R1OC(O)—) and the oxygen atom in the other carbonyl radical. Two heteroatoms in Formulae I and III are the two nitrogen atoms in the pyrazoline ring and the precursor hydrazine. X and Y typically each comprise at least one heteroatom. Although there is no definite limit to the size of R1, R2a, R2b, R3, R4 and R5, optionally substituted alkyl moieties of R1, R2a, R2b, R3, R4 and R5 commonly include 1 to 6 carbon atoms, more commonly 1 to 4 carbon atoms and most commonly 1 to 2 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain. Optionally substituted alkenyl and alkynyl moieties of R1, R2a, R2b, R3, R4 and R5 commonly include 2 to 6 carbon atoms, more commonly 2 to 4 carbon atoms and most commonly 2 to 3 carbon atoms in the alkenyl or alkynyl chain. Optionally substituted tertiary alkyl moieties of L commonly include 4 to 10 carbon atoms, more commonly 4 to 8 carbon atoms and most commonly 4 to 6 carbon atoms. As indicated above, the carbon moieties of R1, R2a, R2b, R3, R4 and R5 may be (among others) an aromatic ring or ring system. Also the aryl moiety of L is an aromatic ring or ring system. Examples of aromatic rings or ring systems include a phenyl ring, 5- or 6-membered heteroaromatic rings, aromatic 8-, 9- or 10-membered fused carbobicyclic ring. systems and aromatic 8-, 9- or 10-membered fused heterobicyclic ring systems wherein each ring or ring system is optionally substituted. The term “optionally substituted” in connection with these R1, R2a, R2b, R3, R4 and R5 carbon moieties and the aryl moiety of L refers to carbon moieties which are unsubstituted or have at least one non-hydrogen substituent. These carbon moieties may be substituted with as many optional substituents as can be accommodated by replacing a hydrogen atom with a non-hydrogen substituent on any available carbon or nitrogen atom. Commonly, the number of optional substituents (when present) ranges from one to four. An example of phenyl optionally substituted with from one to four substituents is the ring illustrated as U-1 in Exhibit 1, wherein Rv is any non-hydrogen substituent and r is an integer from 0 to 4. Examples of aromatic 8-, 9- or 10-membered fused carbobicyclic ring systems optionally substituted with from one to four substituents include a naphthyl group optionally substituted with from one to four substituents illustrated as U-85 and a 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthyl group optionally substituted with from one to four substituents illustrated as U-86 in Exhibit 1, wherein Rv is any substituent and r is an integer from 0 to 4. Examples of 5- or 6-membered heteroaromatic rings optionally substituted with from one to four substituents include the rings U-2 through U-53 illustrated in Exhibit 1 wherein Rv is any substituent and r is an integer from 1 to 4. Examples of aromatic 8-, 9- or 10-membered fused heterobicyclic ring systems optionally substituted with from one to four substituents include U-54 through U-84 illustrated in Exhibit 1 wherein Rv is any substituent, for example a substituent such as R9, and r is an integer from 0 to 4. Other examples of L, R1, R2a, R2b, R3, R4 and R5 include a benzyl group optionally substituted with from one to four substituents illustrated as U-87 and a benzoyl group optionally substituted with from one to four substituents illustrated as U-88 in Exhibit 1, wherein Rv is any substituent and r is an integer from 0 to 4. Although Rv groups are shown in the structures U-1 through U-85, it is noted that they do not need to be present since they are optional substituents. The nitrogen atoms that require substitution to fill their valence are substituted with H or Rv. Note that some U groups can only be substituted with less than 4 Rv groups (e.g., U-14, U-15, U-18 through U-21 and U-32 through U-34 can only be substituted with one Rv). Note that when the attachment point between (Rv)r and the U group is illustrated as floating, (Rv)r can be attached to any available carbon atom or nitrogen atom of the U group. Note that when the attachment point on the U group is illustrated as floating, the U group can be attached to the remainder of Formulae I, II and III through any available carbon of the U group by replacement of a hydrogen atom. As indicated above, the carbon moieties of R1, R2a, R2b, R3, R4 and R5 may be (among others) saturated or partially saturated carbocyclic and heterocyclic rings, which can be further optionally substituted. The term “optionally substituted” in connection with these R1, R2a, R2b, R3, R4 and R5 carbon moieties refers to carbon moieties which are unsubstituted or have at least one non-hydrogen substituent. These carbon moieties may be substituted with as many optional substituents as can be accommodated by replacing a hydrogen atom with a non-hydrogen substituent on any available carbon or nitrogen atom. Commonly, the number of optional substituents (when present) ranges from one to four. Examples of saturated or partially saturated carbocyclic rings include optionally substituted C3-C8 cycloalkyl and optionally substituted C3-C8 cycloalkyl. Examples of saturated or partially saturated heterocyclic rings include 5- or 6-membered nonaromatic heterocyclic rings optionally including one or two ring members selected from the group consisting of C(═O), SO or S(O)2, optionally substituted. Examples of such R1, R2a, R2b, R3, R4 and R5 carbon moieties include those illustrated as G-1 through G-35 in Exhibit 2. Note that when the attachment point on these G groups is illustrated as floating, the G group can be attached to the remainder of Formulae I and II through any available carbon or nitrogen of the G group by replacement of a hydrogen atom. The optional substituents can be attached to any available carbon or nitrogen by replacing a hydrogen atom (said substituents are not illustrated in Exhibit 2 since they are optional substituents). Note that when G comprises a ring selected from G-24 through G-31, G-34 and G-35, Q2 may be selected from O, S, NH or substituted N. It is noted that the carbon moieties of R1, R2a, R2b, R3, R4 and R5 and the aryl and tertiary alkyl moieties of L may be optionally substituted. As noted above, the R1, R2a, R2b, R3, R4 and R5 carbon moieties may commonly comprise, among other groups, a U group or a G group further optionally substituted with from one to four substituents. The L aryl moiety may commonly comprise, among other groups, a U group further optionally substituted with from one to four substituents. Thus the R1, R2a, R2b, R3, R4 and R5 carbon moieties may comprise a U group or a G group selected from U-1 through U-88 or G-1 through G-35, and further substituted with additional substituents including one to four U or G groups (which may be the same or different) with both the core U or G group and substituent U or G groups optionally further substituted. The L moiety may comprise a U group selected from U-1 through U-88 or a tertiary alkyl radical, and further substituted with additional substituents including one to four U or G groups (which may be the same or different) with both the core U group (or tertiary alkyl radical) and the substituent U or G groups optionally further substituted. Of particular note are L carbon moieties comprising a U group optionally substituted with from one to three additional substituents. For example, L can be U-11, in which an Rv attached to the 1-nitrogen is the group U-41 as shown in Exhibit 3. As generally defined herein, a “leaving group” denotes an atom or group of atoms displaceable in a nucleophilic substitution reaction. More particularly, “leaving group” refers to substituents X and Y, which are displaced in the reaction according to the method of the present invention. As is well known to those skilled in the art, a nucleophilic reaction leaving group carries the bonding electron pair with it as it is displaced. Accordingly the facility of leaving groups for displacement generally correlates with the stability of the leaving group species carrying the bonding electron pair. For this reason, strong leaving groups (e.g., Br, Cl, I and sulfonates such as OS(O)2CH3) give displaced species that can be regarded as the conjugate bases of strong acids. Because of its high electronegativity, fluoride (F) can also be a strong leaving group from sp2 carbon centers such as in acyl fluorides. According to the method of the present invention a compound of Formula I is prepared by reacting a compound of Formula II with a compound of Formula III as shown in Scheme 1. wherein R1, R2a, R2b, L, X and Y are as previously defined. Although the intermediate compound of Formula V can sometimes be isolated, it is usually not, because it spontaneously cyclizes to the corresponding compound of Formula I at room temperature. The cyclization is sometimes slow at room temperature, but proceeds at useful rates at elevated temperatures. While the 5-oxo-pyrazoline product of Formula I is shown in Scheme 1 as a lactam, one skilled in the art recognizes that this is tautomeric with the lactol of Formula Ib as shown in Scheme 2. wherein R1, R2a, R2b and L are as previously, defined. As these tautomers readily equilibrate, they are regarded as chemically equivalent. Unless otherwise indicated, all references to Formula I herein are to be construed to include also Formula Ib. Preferred for reason of ease of synthesis, better yield, higher purity, lower cost and/or product utility is the method of the present invention wherein: L is preferably H, optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted tertiary alkyl. More preferably, L is H or optionally substituted aryl. Even more preferably, L is optionally substituted aryl. Most preferably, L is phenyl or pyridyl, each optionally substituted. R1 is preferably C1-C16 alkyl, C1-C16 alkenyl or C1-C16 alkynyl, each optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from halogen, C1-C4 alkoxy or phenyl. More preferably, R1 is C1-C4 alkyl. Even more preferably, R1 is C1-C2 alkyl. Most preferably, R1 is methyl. Preferably, R2a is H or an optionally substituted carbon moiety. More preferably, R2a is H. Most preferably, R2a and R2b are each H. Preferably, each R3 is independently selected from OR5 or an optionally substituted carbon moiety. More preferably, each R3 is independently selected from an optionally substituted carbon moiety. Even more preferably, each R3 is independently selected from C1-C6 alkyl optionally substituted with one or more groups selected from halogen or C1-C4 alkoxy, or phenyl optionally substituted with 1-3 groups selected from halogen, C1-C4 alkyl or C1-C4 alkoxy. Most preferably, each R3 is independently selected from C1-C4 alkyl, phenyl or 4-methylphenyl. Preferably, each R5 is independently selected from C1-C6 alkyl optionally substituted with one or more groups selected from halogen or C1-C4 alkoxy. More preferably, each R5 is independently selected from C1-C4 alkyl. In the method of the present invention the leaving group Y of the starting compound of Formula II is first displaced to give the intermediate compound of Formula V, from which the leaving group X is displaced to give the final product of Formula I. Strong leaving groups are generally suitable for X and Y in the present method. Preferably leaving groups are selected for X and Y in view of their relative susceptibility to displacement so that leaving group Y is displaced before leaving group X. However, as nucleophilic substitution is inherently more rapid on acyl centers compared to the 2-position of esters, most combinations of strong leaving groups work well for X and Y in the present method. X is preferably Cl, Br, I or a sulfonate (e.g., OS(O)2CH3, OS(O)2CF3, OS(O)2Ph, OS(O)2Ph-4-Me). More preferably, X is Cl, Br or I. Even more preferably, X is Cl or Br. Most preferably, X is Br. Y is preferably F, Cl, Br or I. More preferably, Y is Cl or Br. Most preferably, Y is Cl. The combination of X being Br and Y being Cl is notable for rapid condensation according to the method of the present invention to give a compound of Formula I in high yield and regioselectivity. The reaction is conducted in the presence of a suitable acid scavenger. Suitable acid scavengers for the method of the present invention include bases and also chemical compounds not typically considered bases but nevertheless capable of reacting with and consuming strong acids such as hydrogen chloride and hydrogen bromide. Nonbasic acid scavengers include epoxides such as propylene oxide and olefins such as 2-methylpropene. Bases include ionic bases and nonionic bases. Nonionic bases include organic amines. Organic bases providing best results include amines that are only moderately basic and nucleophilic, e.g., N,N-diethylaniline. Useful ionic bases include fluorides, oxides, hydroxides, carbonates, carboxylates and phosphates of alkali and alkaline earth metal elements. Examples include NaF, MgO, CaO, LiHCO3, Li2CO3, LiOH, NaOAc, NaHCO3, Na2CO3, Na2HPO4, Na3PO4, KHCO3, K2CO3, K2HPO4 and K3PO4. Giving particularly good results are inorganic carbonate and phosphate bases comprising alkali metal elements (e.g., LiHCO3, Li2CO3, Li2HPO4, Li3PO4, NaHCO3, Na2CO3, Na2HPO4 and Ma3PO4). Of these, preferred for their low cost as well as excellent results are NaHCO3, Na2CO3, Na2HPO4 and Na3PO4. Particularly preferred is NaHCO3 and Na3PO4. Most preferred is NaHCO3. Preferably at least two equivalents of acid scavenger is employed in the method of the present invention. Typically about 2 to 2.5 equivalents of acid scavenger is used. For the reaction of relatively acidic hydrazines of Formula III wherein, for example, L is —S(O)2R3 it may be advantagous to add first an acid scavenger that is not a strong base to avoid deprotonating the hydrazine moiety of Formula III during the formation of the intermediate of Formula V and then add a strong base to deprotonate the hydrazine moiety of Formula V to accelerate the condensation to give the final product of Formula I. Suitable solvents include polar aprotic solvents such as N,N-dimethylformamide, methyl sulfoxide, ethyl acetate, dichloromethane, acetonitrile and the like. Nitrile solvents such as acetonitrile, proprionitrile and butyronitrile often provide optimal yields and product purities. Particularly preferred for its low cost and excellent utility as solvent for the method of this invention is acetonitrile. The method of the present invention can be conducted over a wide temperature range, but is typically conducted at temperatures between about −10 and 80° C. While the intermediate compound of Formula V can be formed at 80° C. or higher, the best yields and purities are often achieved by forming it at lower temperature, such as between about 0° C. and ambient temperature (e.g., about 15 to 25° C.). Typically during the addition of reactants the reaction mixture is cooled to a temperature of −5 to 5° C., most conveniently about 0° C. After the reactants have been combined, the temperature is typically increased to near ambient temperature. To then increase the rate of cyclization of the compound of Formula V to the compound of Formula I, a temperature in the range of about 30 to 80° C. is usually employed, more typically about 30 to 60° C., and most typically about 40° C. The product of Formula I can be isolated by the usual methods well known to those skilled in the art such as evaporation of solvent, chromatography and crystallization. Addition of an acid with a pKa in the range of 2 to 5 can buffer excess base and prevent saponification and degradation of the product of Formula I during isolation steps involving water and heat (such as removal of solvent by distillation). Acetic acid works well for this purpose. Also, addition of such acids as acetic acid to concentrated solutions of certain products of Formula I can promote their crystallization. Preferred methods of this invention include the method wherein the starting compound of Formula II is Formula IIa, the starting compound of Formula III is Formula IIIa and the product compound of Formula I is Formula Ia as shown in Scheme 3 below. wherein R1 is as defined for Formulae I and II; X and Y are as defined for Formula II; each R9 is independently C1-C4 alkyl, C2-C4 alkenyl, C2-C4 alkynyl, C3-C6 cycloalkyl, C1-C4 haloalkyl, C2-C4 haloalkenyl, C2-C4 haloalkynyl, C3-C6 halocycloalkyl, halogen, CN, NO2, C1-C4 alkoxy, C1-C4 haloalkoxy, C1-C4 alkylthio, C1-C4 alkylsulfinyl, C1-C4 alkylsulfonyl, C1-C4 alkylamino, C2-C8 dialkylamino, C3-C6 cycloalkylamino, (C1-C4 alkyl)(C3-C6 cycloalkyl)amino, C2-C4 alkylcarbonyl, C2-C6 alkoxycarbonyl, C2-C6 alkylaminocarbonyl, C3-C8 dialkylaminocarbonyl or C3-C6 trialkylsilyl; Z is N or CR10; R10 is H or R9; and n is an integer from 0 to 3. One skilled in the art will recognize that Formula Ia is a subgenus of Formula I, Formula IIa is subgenus of Formula II, Formula IIIa is a subgenus of Formula III, and Formula Va is a subgenus of Formula V. While a wide range of optionally substituted carbon moieties as already described are useful as R1 in esters of Formula Ia for the method of Scheme 3, commonly R1 is a radical containing up to 18 carbon atoms and selected from alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl; and benzyl and phenyl, each optionally substituted with alkyl and halogen. Preferably R1 is C1-C4 alkyl, more preferably R1 is C1-C2 alkyl, and most preferably R1 is methyl. Preferably X is Cl or Br, and more preferably X is Br. Preferably Y is Cl. Of note is the method shown in Scheme 3 wherein Z is N, n is 1 and R9 is Cl or Br and is located at the 3-position. As shown in Scheme 4, compounds of Formula II can be prepared by treating the corresponding carboxylic acids of Formula VI with the appropriate reagents to convert the hydroxy radical of the carboxylic acid function into a leaving group. wherein R1, R2a, R2b, X and Y are as previously defined. For example, a compound of Formula IIb (i.e. Formula II wherein Y is Cl) can be prepared by contacting a corresponding carboxylic acid of Formula VI with a reagent for converting carboxylic acids to acyl chlorides, such as thionyl chloride (S(O)Cl2) as shown in Scheme 5. wherein R1, R2a, R2b and X are as previously defined. The reaction of the carboxylic acid of Formula VI with thionyl chloride is typically conducted in the presence of a moderately polar aprotic solvent such as dichloromethane, 1,2-dichloroethane, benzene, chlorobenzene or toluene. The reaction can be catalyzed by addition of N,N-dimethylformamide. Typically the reaction temperature is in the range of about 30 to 80° C. When dichloromethane-is used as solvent, the reaction is conveniently conducted at about its boiling point of 40° C. Rapid removal of hydrogen chloride generated by the reaction is desirable and can be facilitated by boiling the solvent to limit the solubility of the hydrogen chloride. Because of its moderate boiling point, dichloromethane is preferred as a solvent. Because of compounds of Formula VI can be easily and inexpensively converted to compounds of Formula II wherein Y is Cl (i.e. Formula IIb), Y being Cl is preferred for the method of the present invention. However, other leaving groups are also useful as Y in the present method. Compounds of Formula II wherein Y is a leaving group other than Cl can be prepared either directly from the corresponding compounds of Formula VI or from the compounds of Formula IIb by methods well known to those skilled in the art (see, for example, H. W. Johnson & D. E. Bublitz, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1958, 80, 3150-3152 (VI to II (Y is Br)); G. Oláh et al., Chem. Ber. 1956, 89, 862-864 (IIb to II (Y is F)); R. N. Haszeldine, J. Chem. Soc. 1951, 584587 (IIb to II (Y is I))). As discussed above, acyl halide compounds of Formula II are easily prepared from the corresponding carboxylic acids of Formula VI by contacting with thionyl chloride (for Y is Cl) or other reagents for Y being another halide, or by contacting a compound of Formula II wherein Y is Cl with the appropriate reagent to convert Y to another halogen. Even though acyl halide compounds of Formula II are easily prepared, they are less simply isolated in 100% concentration, because they are typically not crystalline and at reduced pressures commonly available for chemical manufacturing their boiling points are typically higher than their decomposition temperatures, thereby precluding distilling them. Although solvents can be removed from acyl halide compounds of Formula II by such methods as evaporation or distillation of the solvent at reduced pressure, typically sufficient solvent is entrained to cause the concentration of the Formula II compound to remain below 100%. However, the solvents used to prepare the compounds of Formula II are generally compatible with the method of the present invention, and therefore the method of the present invention works well starting with compositions of compounds of Formula II wherein the concentration of Formula II compound is less than 100%. Therefore a composition of Formula II compound useful for the method of the present invention typically also comprises a solvent, particularly a solvent used to prepare the Formula II compound. Typical solvents include dichloromethane, 1,2-dichloroethane, benzene, chlorobenzene or toluene. Typically said composition comprises about 20 to 99% of Formula II compound on a weight basis. Preferably said composition comprises about 40 to 99 weight % of Formula II compound. More preferably said composition comprises about 50 to 99 weight % of Formula II compound. Also preferably said composition comprises at least about 80% of Formula II compound based on the sum of the weight of the Formula II compound (including all stereoisomers) and the weights of regioisomers of the Formula II compound in the composition. (For this calculation, the weight of Formula II compound (including all stereoisomers) is divided by the sum of the weight of the Formula II compound (including all stereoisomers) and the weights of regioisomers of the Formula II compound, and then the resulting division quotient is multiplied by 100%. The regioisomers of Formula II involve, for example, interchanging the placement of X and R2a or R2b.) More preferably said composition comprises at least about 90% of the Formula II compound based on the total weight of the Formula II compound and its regioisomers in the composition (i.e. the aforementioned sum of weights). Most preferably said composition comprises at least about 94% of Formula II compound based on the total weight of the Formula II compound and its regioisomers in the composition. Preferred is a composition comprising a compound of Formula II wherein Y is Cl and X is Cl, Br or I, preferably Cl or Br, and more preferably Br. Of note is a composition, including said preferred composition, comprising a compound of Formula II wherein when R2a and R2b are each H, and X and Y are each Cl then R1 is other than benzyl and when R2a and R2b are each phenyl, and X and Y are each Cl, then R1 is other than methyl or ethyl. Particularly preferred is a composition comprising the compound of Formula II wherein R2a and R2b are each H, X is Br, Y is Cl and R1 is methyl. Also particularly preferred is a composition comprising the compound of Formula II wherein R2a and R2b are each H, X is Br, Y is Cl and R1 is ethyl. This invention also pertains to the compounds of Formula II comprised by said compositions, including preferred compositions and compositions of note. Compounds of Formula VI can be prepared by a variety of chemical routes disclosed in the literature. For example, the compound of Formula VI wherein R2a and R2b are H, X is Br and R1 is ethyl can be prepared as described by U. Aeberhard et al., Helv. Chim. Acta 1983, 66, 2740-2759. The compound of Formula VI wherein R2a and R2b are H, X is Cl and R1 is benzyl can be prepared as described by J. E. Baldwin et al., Tetrahedron 1985, 41, 241. Compounds of Formula VI wherein R2a and R2b are H and X is OS(O)2Me, and R1 is ethyl, ethyl, isopropyl or benzyl can be prepared as described by S. C. Arnold & R. W. Lenz, Makromol. Chem. Macromol. Symp. 1986, 6, 285-303 and K. Fujishiro et al., Liquid Crystals 1992, 12 (3), 417-429. One skilled in the art appreciates that these example routes can be generalized. Of special interest is the compound of Formula VI wherein R2a and R2b are H, X is Br and R1 is methyl, because its crystalline nature facilitates purification. Therefore the present invention also relates to a crystalline composition (e.g., crystals) comprising at least about 90% by weight, preferably at least about 95% by weight, of the compound of Formula VI wherein R2a and R2b are H, X is Br and RI is methyl. Impurities in said crystalline composition can for example comprise regioisomers of the Formula VI compound and/or the solvent of crystallization entrained in the crystal lattice. Compounds of Formula III can be prepared by a wide variety of methods reported in the literature, for example, see G. H. Coleman in Org. Syn. Coll. Vol. I, 1941, 442-445 (L is aryl); O. Diels, Chem. Ber. 1914, 47, 2183-2195 (L is —C(O)R3); L. F. Audrieth & L. H. Diamond, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1954, 76, 4869-4871 (L is tertiary alkyl); L. Friedman et al. in Org. Syn. 1960, 40, 93-95 (L is S(O)2R3); and V. S. Sauro & M. S. Workentin, Can. J. Chem. 2002, 80, 250-262 (L is P(O)(R3)2). It is believed that one skilled in the art using the preceding description can utilize the present invention to its fullest extent. The following Example is, therefore, to be construed as merely illustrative, and not limiting of the disclosure in any way whatsoever. Steps in the following Example illustrate a procedure for each step in an overall synthetic transformation, and the starting material for each step may not have necessarily been prepared by a particular preparative run whose procedure is described in other Examples or Steps. Percentages are by weight except for chromatographic solvent mixtures or where otherwise indicated. Parts and percentages for chromatographic solvent mixtures are by volume unless otherwise indicated. 1H NMR spectra are reported in ppm downfield from tetramethylsilane; “s” means singlet, “d” means doublet, “t” means triplet, “q” means quartet, “m” means multiplet, “dd” means doublet of doublets, “dt” means doublet of triplets, and “br s” means broad singlet. “ABX” refers to a 1H NMR three-proton spin system in which two protons “A” and “B” have a chemical shift difference that is relatively small compared to their spin-spin coupling and the third proton “X”) has a chemical shift with a relatively large difference compared to the spin-spin coupling with protons “A” and “B”. EXAMPLE 1 Preparation of methyl 2-(3-chloro-2-pyridinyl)-5-oxo-3-pyrazolidinecarboxylate (Formula I wherein R1 is methyl, R2a and R2b are H and L is 3-chloro-2-pyridinyl) Step A: Preparation of 1-methyl hydrogen bromobutanedioate Methyl hydrogen (2Z)-2-butendioate (also known as the monomethyl ester of maleic acid) (50 g, 0.385 mol) was added dropwise to a solution of hydrogen bromide in acetic acid 141.43 g, 33%, 0.577 mol) at 0° C. over 1 h. The reaction mixture was stored at about 5° C. overnight. The solvent was then removed under reduced pressure. Toluene (100 mL) was added, and the mixture was evaporated under reduced pressure. The process was repeated three times using more toluene (3×100 mL). Then toluene (50 mL) was added, and the mixture was cooled to −2° C. Hexanes (50 mL) was added dropwise to the mixture. When the addition was complete the mixture was stirred about 30 minutes while the product crystallized. The product was then isolated by filtration and dried in vacuo to provide the title compound as a white solid (63.37 g, 81.8% yield). A sample recrystallized from toluene/hexanes melted at 38-40° C. IR (nujol): 1742, 1713, 1444, 1370, 1326, 1223, 1182, 1148, 1098, 996, 967, 909, 852 cm−1. 1H NMR (CDCl3) δ 4.57 (X of ABX pattern, J=6.1, 8.9 Hz, 1H), 3.81 (s, 3H), 3.35 (½ of AB in ABX pattern, J=8.8, 17.7 Hz, 1H), 3.05 (½ of AB in ABX pattern, J=6.1, 17.8 Hz, 1H). Step B: Preparation of methyl 2-bromo-4-chloro4-oxobutanoate Thionyl chloride (6.54 g, 54.9 mmol) in dichloromethane (7 mL) was added dropwise over 30 minutes to a mixture of 1-methyl hydrogen bromobutanedioate (i.e. the product of Step A) (10 g, 47.4 mmol) and N,N-dimethylformamide (5 drops) in dichloromethane (20 mL) heated at reflux. The mixture was heated at reflux for an additional 60 minutes and then allowed to cool to room temperature. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure to leave the title product as an oil (11 g, about 100% yield). IR (nujol): 3006, 2956, 1794, 1743, 1438, 1392, 1363, 1299, 1241, 1153, 1081, 977, 846, 832 cm−1. 1H NMR (CDCl3) δ 4.56 (X of ABX pattern, J=5.8, 8.5 Hz, 1H), 3.87-3.78 (m, 4E), 3.53 (½ of AB in ABX pattern, J=6, 18.5 Hz, 1H). Step C: Preparation of methyl 2-(3-chloro-2-pyridinyl)-5-oxo-3-pyrazolidine-carboxylate The crude product of Step B (i.e. methyl 2-bromo4-chloro4-oxobutanoate) (11.00 g, ˜47.4 mmol) in acetonitrile (25 mL) was added over 65 minutes to a mixture of 3-chloro-2(1H)-pyridinone hydrazone (alternatively named (3-chloro-pyridin-2-yl)-hydrazine) (6.55 g, 45.6 mmol) and sodium bicarbonate (9.23 g, 0.110 mol) in acetonitrile (60 mL) at 0° C. The mixture was then allowed to warm to room temperature and was stirred for 3 h. The mixture was then warmed and maintained at 38° C. for 8 h. Then the mixture was allowed to cool, and the solvent was removed by evaporation under reduced pressure. Water (25 mL) was added, and acetic acid (about 1.9 mL) was added until the slurry had a pH of about 5. After 2 h, the product was isolated by filtration, rinsed with water (10 mL) and dried in vacuo to provide the title compound as a pale yellow solid (11 g, 89.8% yield). A sample recrystallized from ethanol melted at 147-148° C. IR (nujol): 1756, 1690, 1581, 1429, 1295, 1202, 1183, 1165, 1125, 1079, 1032, 982, 966, 850, 813 cm−1. 1H NMR (DMSO-d6) δ 10.16 (s, 1H), 8.27 (dd, J=1.4, 4.6 Hz, 1H), 7.93 (dd, J=1.6, 7.8 Hz, 1H), 7.19 (dd, J=4.6, 7.8 Hz, 1H), 4.87 (X of ABX pattern, J=1.6, 9.6 Hz, 1H), 3.73 (s, 3H), 2.90 (½ of AB in ABX pattern, J=9.7, 16.7 Hz, 1H), 2.38 (½ of AB in ABX pattern, J=1.6, 16.9 Hz, 1H). By the procedures described herein together with methods known in the art, the compounds of Formulae II and III can be converted to compounds of Formula I as illustrated for Formulae Ia, IIa and IIIa in Table 1 and more generally for Formulae I, II and III in Table 2. The following abbreviations are used in the Tables: t is tertiary, s is secondary, n is normal, i is iso, Me is methyl, Et is ethyl, Pr is propyl, i-Pr is isopropyl, t-Bu is tertiary butyl, Ph is phenyl and Bn is benzyl (—CH2Ph). TABLE 1 X is Br; Y is Cl R1 is Me R1 is Et R1 is t-Bu R1 is Bn (R9)n Z (R9)n Z (R9)n Z (R9)n Z (R9)n Z (R9)n Z (R9)n Z (R9)n Z 3-Cl N 3-Cl CCl 3-Cl N 3-Cl CCl 3-Cl N 3-Cl CCl 3-Cl N 3-Cl CCl 3-Br N 3-Br CCI 3-Br N 3-Br CCl 3-Br N 3-Br CCl 3-Br N 3-Br CCl 3-Cl CH 3-Cl CBr 3-Cl CH 3-Cl CBr 3-Cl CH 3-Cl CBr 3-Cl CH 3-Cl CBr 3-Br CH 3-Br CBr 3-Br CH 3-Br CBr 3-Br CH 3-Br CBr 3-Br CH 3-Br CBr X is Cl; Y is Cl R1 is Me R1 is Et R1 is t-Bu R1 is Bn (R9)n Z (R9)n Z (R9)n Z (R9)n Z (R9)n Z (R9)n Z (R9)n Z (R9)n Z 3-Cl N 3-Cl CCl 3-Cl N 3-Cl CCl 3-Cl N 3-Cl CCl 3-Cl N 3-Cl CCl 3-Br N 3-Br CCI 3-Br N 3-Br CCl 3-Br N 3-Br CCl 3-Br N 3-Br CCl 3-Cl CH 3-Cl CBr 3-Cl CH 3-Cl CBr 3-Cl CH 3-Cl CBr 3-Cl CH 3-Cl CBr 3-Br CH 3-Br CBr 3-Br CH 3-Br CBr 3-Br CH 3-Br CBr 3-Br CH 3-Br CBr X is OS(O)2Me; Y is Cl R1 is Me R1 is Et R1 is t-Bu R1 is Bn (R9)n Z (R9)n Z (R9)n Z (R9)n Z (R9)n Z (R9)n Z (R9)n Z (R9)n Z 3-Cl N 3-Cl CCl 3-Cl N 3-Cl CCl 3-Cl N 3-Cl CCl 3-Cl N 3-Cl CCl 3-Br N 3-Br CCI 3-Br N 3-Br CCl 3-Br N 3-Br CCl 3-Br N 3-Br CCl 3-Cl CH 3-Cl CBr 3-Cl CH 3-Cl CBr 3-Cl CH 3-Cl CBr 3-Cl CH 3-Cl CBr 3-Br CH 3-Br CBr 3-Br CH 3-Br CBr 3-Br CH 3-Br CBr 3-Br CH 3-Br CBr X is OS(O)2Ph; Y is Cl R1 is Me R1 is Et R1 is t-Bu R1 is Bn (R9)n Z (R9)n Z (R9)n Z (R9)n Z (R9)n Z (R9)n Z (R9)n Z (R9)n Z 3-Cl N 3-Cl CCl 3-Cl N 3-Cl CCl 3-Cl N 3-Cl CCl 3-Cl N 3-Cl CCl 3-Br N 3-Br CCI 3-Br N 3-Br CCl 3-Br N 3-Br CCl 3-Br N 3-Br CCl 3-Cl CH 3-Cl CBr 3-Cl CH 3-Cl CBr 3-Cl CH 3-Cl CBr 3-Cl CH 3-Cl CBr 3-Br CH 3-Br CBr 3-Br CH 3-Br CBr 3-Br CH 3-Br CBr 3-Br CH 3-Br CBr X is Br; Y is Cl (R9)n R1 Z (R9)n R1 Z (R9)n R1 Z (R9)n R1 Z 5-Cl Me CH 3-OEt Me N 4-I Me CH 5-CF2H Me CH 4-n-Bu Et N 2-OCF3 Et N 3-CN Et CH 6-CH3 Et N 5-NMe2 n-Pr CH 3-cyclo-Pr n-Pr CH 3-NO2 n-Pr CH 3-CH2CF3 n-Pr CH 3-OCH2F i-Pr N H i-Pr N 3-S(O)2CH3 i-Pr CH 6-cyclohexyl i-Pr CH 4-OCH3 n-Bu CH 4-F n-Bu CCl 4-SCH3 n-Bu CH 4-CH2CH═CH2 n-Bu CH 3-Me s-Bu N 4-Me i-Bu CH 3-Br Bn N 3-CF3 t-Bu N (R9)n is 3-Br; Z is CBr R1 is Me R1 is Et R1 is n-Bu X Y X Y X Y X Y X Y X Y Cl Br I Cl Cl Br I Cl Cl Br I Cl Br Br OS(O)2Ph-4-Me Cl Br Br OS(O)2Ph-4-Me Cl Br Br OS(O)2Ph-4-Me Cl Br I OS(O)2CF3 Cl Br I OS(O)2CF3 Cl Br I OS(O)2CF3 Cl Br F OS(O)2CH2CH3 Cl Br F OS(O)2CH2CH3 Cl Br F OS(O)2CH2CH3 Cl (R9)n is 3-Cl; Z is N R1 is Me R1 is Et R1 is n-Bu X Y X Y X Y X Y X Y X Y Cl Br I Cl Cl Br I Cl Cl Br I Cl Br Br OS(O)2Ph-4-Me Cl Br Br OS(O)2Ph-4-Me Cl Br Br OS(O)2Ph-4-Me Cl Br I OS(O)2CF3 Cl Br I OS(O)2CF3 Cl Br I OS(O)2CF3 Cl Br F OS(O)2CH2CH3 Cl Br F OS(O)2CH2CH3 Cl Br F OS(O)2CH2CH3 Cl TABLE 2 R1 is Me, X is Br, Y is Cl R2a R2b L R2a R2b L H H Ph-4-Me H H —P(O)(OMe)2 Me H Ph H H —P(O)(OMe)Ph OMe H Ph H H —P(O)Et2 Me Me Ph-2-Cl H H —C(CH3)2(CH2)2CH3 H H 3-thienyl H H —C(CH3)2CF3 H H t-Bu H H —C(CH3)2CH2OCH3 H H —C(O)Ph Me H Ph-3-OMe H H —C(O)OMe Ph Ph Ph H H —C(O)N(Me)Et CH2CF3 H 2-napthyl H H —S(O)2Me O-allyl H Ph H H —S(O)2Ph-4-Me Me CH2OCH3 Ph-2,4-di-Me H H Ph-Ph-4-Me —(CH2)4— Ph H 2-thienyl Ph-3-OMe —(CH2)2O(CH2)2— Ph-4-i-Pr H H Ph R1 is Et, X is Br, Y is Cl R2a R2b L R2a R2b L H H Ph-3-Cl H H —P(O)(OEt)2 Et H Ph H H —P(O)(OEt)Ph-4-Me OEt H Ph H H —P(O)Me2 Me n-Pr Ph-2-Me H H —C(CH3)2(CH2)4CH3 H H 3-thienyl-2-Me H H —C(CH3)2CH2CF3 Me H t-Bu H H —C(CH2CH3)2CH3 H H —C(O)Ph-4-Cl Et H Ph-3-OMe H H —C(O)OCH2CH2OCH3 Ph Ph Ph-4-OEt H H —C(O)N(Me)2 H H 1-napthyl H H —S(O)2Me O-allyl H Ph-4-Me H H —S(O)2Ph-3-Br Me CH2OCH3 Ph-2,4-di-Cl H H Ph-Ph-4-Cl —(CH2)4— Ph-3-F H 2-thienyl Ph-4-OMe —(CH2)2O(CH2)2— Ph-4-CH(CH3)2 H H Ph Among the compounds preparable according to the method of the present invention, compounds of Formula Ia are particularly useful for preparing compounds of Formula IV wherein Z, R3 and n are defined as above; X1 is halogen; R6 is CH3, F, Cl or Br; R7 is F, Cl, Br, I, CN or CF3; R8a is H or C1-C4 alkyl; and R8b is H or CH3. Preferably Z is N, n is 1, and R3 is Cl or Br and is at the 3-position. Compounds of Formula IV are useful as insecticides, as described, for example, in PCT Publication No. WO 01/70671, published Sep. 27, 2001, PCT Publication No. WO 03/015519, published Feb. 27, 2003, and PCT Publication No. WO 03/015518, published Feb. 27, 2003, as well as in U.S. Patent Application 60/323,941, filed Sep. 21, 2001, the disclosure of which was substantively published on Mar. 27, 2003 in PCT Publication No. WO 03/024222. The preparation of compounds of Formula 9 and Formula IV is described in U.S. Patent Application 60/446451, filed Feb. 11, 2003 and U.S. Patent Application 60/446438, filed Feb. 11, 2003, and hereby incorporated herein in their entirety by reference; as well as in PCT Publication No. WO 03/016283, published Feb. 27, 2003. Compounds of Formula IV can be prepared from corresponding compounds of Formula Ia by the processes outlined in Schemes 6-11. As illustrated in Scheme 6, a compound of Formula Ia is treated with a halogenating reagent, usually in the presence of a solvent to provide the corresponding halo compound of Formula 6. wherein R1, R9, Z and n are as previously defined, and X1 is halogen. Halogenating reagents that can be used include phosphorus oxyhalides, phosphorus trihalides, phosphorus pentahalides, thionyl chloride, dihalotrialkylphosphoranes, dihalodiphenylphosphoranes, oxalyl chloride, phosgene, sulfur tetrafluoride and (diethylamino)sulfur trifluoride. Preferred are phosphorus oxyhalides and phosphorus pentahalides. To obtain complete conversion, at least 0.33 equivalents of phosphorus oxyhalide versus the compound of Formula Ia (i.e. the mole ratio of phosphorus oxyhalide to Formula Ia is at least 0.33) should be used, preferably between about 0.33 and 1.2 equivalents. To obtain complete conversion, at least 0.20 equivalents of phosphorus pentahalide versus the compound of Formula Ia should be used, preferably between about 0.20 and 1.0 equivalents. Typical solvents for this halogenation include halogenated alkanes, such as dichloromethane, chloroform, chlorobutane and the like, aromatic solvents, such as benzene, xylene, chlorobenzene and the like, ethers, such as tetrahydrofuran, p-dioxane, diethyl ether, and the like, and polar aprotic solvents such as acetonitrile, N,N-dimethylformamide, and the like. Optionally, an organic base, such as triethylamine, pyridine, N,N-dimethylaniline or the like, can be added. Addition of a catalyst, such as N,N-dimethylformamide, is also an option. Preferred is the process in which the solvent is acetonitrile and a base is absent. Typically, neither a base nor a catalyst is required when acetonitrile solvent is used. The preferred process is conducted by mixing the compound of Formula Ia in acetonitrile. The halogenating reagent is then added over a convenient time, and the mixture is then held at the desired temperature until the reaction is complete. The reaction temperature is typically between about 20° C. and the boiling point of acetonitrile, and the reaction time is typically less than 2 hours. The reaction mass is then neutralized with an inorganic base, such as sodium bicarbonate, sodium hydroxide and the like, or an organic base, such as sodium acetate. The desired product, a compound of Formula 6, can be isolated by methods known to those skilled in the art, including extraction, crystallization and distillation. Alternatively as shown in Scheme 7, compounds of Formula 6 wherein X1 is halogen such as Br or Cl can be prepared by treating the corresponding compounds of Formula 6a wherein x2 is a different halogen (e.g., Cl for making Formula 6 wherein X1 is Br) or a sulfonate group such as methanesulfonate, benzenesulfonate or p-toluenesulfonate with hydrogen bromide or hydrogen chloride, respectively. wherein R1, R9 and n are as previously defined for Formula Ia. By this method the X2 halogen or sulfonate substituent on the Formula 6a starting compound is replaced with Br or Cl from hydrogen bromide or hydrogen chloride, respectively. The reaction is conducted in a suitable solvent such as dibromomethane, dichloromethane, acetic acid, ethyl acetate or acetonitrile. The reaction can be conducted at or near atmospheric pressure or above atmospheric pressure in a pressure vessel. The hydrogen halide starting material can be added in the form of a gas to the reaction mixture containing the Formula 6a starting compound and solvent. When X2 in the starting compound of Formula 6a is a halogen such as Cl, the reaction is preferably conducted in such a way that the hydrogen halide generated from the reaction is removed by sparging or other suitable means. Alternatively, the hydrogen halide starting material can be first dissolved in an inert solvent in which it is highly soluble (such as acetic acid) before contacting with the starting compound of Formula 6a either neat or in solution. Also when X2 in the starting compound of Formula 6a is a halogen such as Cl, substantially more than one equivalent of hydrogen halide starting material (e.g., 4 to 10 equivalents) is typically needed depending upon the level of conversion desired. One equivalent of hydrogen halide starting material can provide high conversion when X2 in the starting compound of Formula 6a is a sulfonate group, but when the starting compound of Formula 6a comprises at least one basic function (e.g., a nitrogen-containing heterocycle), more than one equivalent of hydrogen halide starting material is typically needed. The reaction can be conducted between about 0 and 100° C., most conveniently near ambient temperature (e.g., about 10 to 40° C.), and more preferably between about 20 and 30° C. Addition of a Lewis acid catalyst (such as aluminum tribromide for preparing Formula 6 wherein X1 is Br) can facilitate the reaction. The product of Formula 6 is isolated by the usual methods known to those skilled in the art, including extraction, distillation and crystallization. Starting compounds of Formula 6a wherein X2 is Cl or Br are also of Formula 6 and can be prepared from corresponding compounds of Formula Ia as already described for Scheme 6. Starting compounds of Formula 6a wherein X2 is a sulfonate group can likewise be prepared from corresponding compounds of Formula Ia by standard methods such as treatment with a sulfonyl chloride (e.g., methanesulfonyl chloride, benzenesulfonyl chloride or p-toluenesulfonyl chloride) and base in a suitable solvent. Suitable solvents include dichloromethane, tetrahydrofuran, acetonitrile and the like. Suitable bases include tertiary amines (e.g., triethylamine, N,N-diisopropylethylamine) and ionic bases such as potassium carbonate and the like. A tertiary amine is preferred as the base. At least one of equivalent (preferably a small excess, e.g., 5-10%) of the sulfonyl chloride compound and the base relative to the compound Formula Ia is generally used to give complete conversion. The reaction is typically conducted at a temperature between about −50° C. and the boiling point of the solvent, more commonly between about 0° C. and ambient temperature (i.e. about 15 to 30° C.). The reaction is typically complete within a couple hours to several days; the progress of the reaction can by monitored by such techniques known to those skilled in the art as thin layer chromatography and analysis of the 1H NMR spectrum. The reaction mixture is then worked up, such as by washing with water, drying the organic phase and evaporating the solvent. The desired product, a compound of Formula 6a wherein X2 is a sulfonate group, can be isolated by methods known to those skilled in the art, including extraction, crystallization and distillation. As illustrated in Scheme 8, a compound of Formula 6 is then treated with an oxidizing agent optionally in the presence of acid. wherein R1, R9, Z, X1 and n are as previously defined for Formula 6 in Scheme 6. A compound of Formula 6 wherein R1 is C1-C4 alkyl is preferred as starting material for this step. The oxidizing agent can be hydrogen peroxide, organic peroxides, potassium persulfate, sodium persulfate, ammonium persulfate, potassium monopersulfate (e.g., Oxone®) or potassium permanganate. To obtain complete conversion, at least one equivalent of oxidizing agent versus the compound of Formula 6 should be used, preferably from about one to two equivalents. This oxidation is typically carried out in the presence of a solvent. The solvent can be an ether, such as tetrahydrofuran, p-dioxane and the like, an organic ester, such as ethyl acetate, dimethyl carbonate and the like, or a polar aprotic organic such as N,N-dimethylformamide, acetonitrile and the like. Acids suitable for use in the oxidation step include inorganic acids, such as sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid and the like, and organic acids, such as acetic acid, benzoic acid and the like. The acid, when used, should be used in greater than 0.1 equivalents versus the compound of Formula 6. To obtain complete conversion, one to five equivalents of acid can be used. For the compounds of Formula 6 wherein Z is CR10, the preferred oxidant is hydrogen peroxide and the oxidation is preferably carried out in the absence of acid. For the compounds of Formula 6 wherein Z is N, the preferred oxidant is potassium persulfate and the oxidation is preferably carried out in the presence of sulfuric acid. The reaction can be carried out by mixing the compound of Formula 6 in the desired solvent and, if used, the acid. The oxidant can then be added at a convenient rate. The reaction temperature is typically varied from as low as about 0° C. up to the boiling point of the solvent in order to obtain a reasonable reaction time to complete the reaction, preferably less than 8 hours. The desired product, a compound of Formula 7 can be isolated by methods known to those skilled in the art, including extraction, chromatography, crystallization and distillation. Carboxylic acid compounds of Formula 7 wherein R1 is H can be prepared by hydrolysis from corresponding ester compounds of Formula 7 wherein, for example, R1 is C1-C4 alkyl. Carboxylic ester compounds can be converted to carboxylic acid compounds by numerous methods including nucleophilic cleavage under anhydrous conditions or hydrolytic methods involving the use of either acids or bases (see T. W. Greene and P. G. M. Wuts, Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, 2nd ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 1991, pp. 224-269 for a review of methods). For compounds of Formula 7, base-catalyzed hydrolytic methods are preferred. Suitable bases include alkali metal (such as lithium, sodium or potassium) hydroxides. For example, the ester can be dissolved in a mixture of water and an alcohol such as ethanol. Upon treatment with sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, the ester is saponified to provide the sodium or potassium salt of the carboxylic acid. Acidification with a strong acid, such as hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid, yields the carboxylic acid of Formula 7 wherein R1 is H. The carboxylic acid can be isolated by methods known to those skilled in the art, including extraction, distillation and crystallization. Coupling of a pyrazolecarboxylic acid of Formula 7 wherein R1 is H with an anthranilic acid of Formula 8 provides the benzoxazinone of Formula 9. In Scheme 9, a benzoxazinone of Formula 9 is prepared directly via sequential addition of methanesulfonyl chloride in the presence of a tertiary amine such as triethylamine or pyridine to a pyrazolecarboxylic acid of Formula 7 wherein RI is H, followed by the addition of an anthranilic acid of Formula 8, followed by a second addition of tertiary amine and methanesulfonyl chloride. wherein R6, R7, R9, X1, Z and n are as defined for Formula IV. This procedure generally affords good yields of the benzoxazinone. Scheme 10 depicts an alternate preparation for benzoxazinones of Formula 9 involving coupling of a pyrazole acid chloride of Formula 11 with an isatoic anhydride of Formula 10 to provide the Formula 9 benzoxazinone directly. wherein R6, R7, R9, X1, Z and n are as defined for Formula IV. Solvents such as pyridine or pyridine/acetonitrile are suitable for this reaction. The acid chlorides of Formula 11 are available from the corresponding acids of Formula 7 wherein R1 is H by known procedures such as chlorination with thionyl chloride or oxalyl chloride. Compounds of Formula IV can be prepared by the reaction of benzoxazinones of Formula 9 with C1-C4 alkylamines and (C1-C4 alkyl)(methyl)amines of Formula 12 as outlined in Scheme 11. wherein R6, R7, R8a, R8b, R9, X1, Z and n are as previously defined. The reaction can be run neat or in a variety of suitable solvents including acetonitrile, tetrahydrofuran, diethyl ether, dichloromethane or chloroform with optimum temperatures ranging from room temperature to the reflux temperature of the solvent. The general reaction of benzoxazinones with amines to produce anthranilamides is well documented in the chemical literature. For a review of benzoxazinone chemistry see Jakobsen et al., Biorganic and Medicinal Chemistry 2000, 8, 2095-2103 and references cited within. See also Coppola, J. Heterocyclic Chemistry 1999, 36, 563-588.

<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>A need exists for additional methods to prepare 2-substituted-5-oxo-3-pyrazolidinecarboxylates. Such compounds include useful intermediates for the preparation of crop protection agents, pharmaceuticals, photographic developers and other fine chemicals. U.S. Pat. No. 3,153,654 and PCT Publication WO 03/015519 describe the preparation of 2-substituted-5-oxo-3-pyrazolidinecarboxylates by condensation of maleate or fumarate esters with substituted hydrazines in the presence of a base. However, alternative methods providing potentially greater yields are still needed.

<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>This invention relates to a method for preparing a 2-substituted-5-oxo-3-pyrazolidinecarboxylate compound of Formula I wherein L is H, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted tertiary alkyl, —C(O)R 3 , —S(O) 2 R 3 or —P(O)(R 3 ) 2 ; R 1 is an optionally substituted carbon moiety; R 2a is H, OR 4 or an optionally substituted carbon moiety; R 2b is H or an optionally substituted carbon moiety; each R 3 is independently OR 5 , N(R 5 ) 2 or an optionally substituted carbon moiety; R 4 is an optionally substituted carbon moiety; and each R 5 is selected from optionally substituted carbon moieties; the method comprising contacting a succinic acid derivative of Formula II wherein X is a leaving group; and Y is a leaving group; with a substituted hydrazine of Formula III in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="lead"? LNHNH 2 III in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="tail"? in the presence of a suitable acid scavenger and solvent. This invention also relates to a method of preparing a compound of Formula IV, wherein X 1 is halogen; R 6 is CH 3 , F, Cl or Br; R 7 is P, Cl, Br, I, CN or CF 3 ; R 8a is H or C 1 -C 4 alkyl; R 8b is H or CH 3 ; each R 9 is independently C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 2 -C 4 alkenyl, C 2 -C 4 alkynyl, C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, C 1 -C 4 haloalkyl, C 2 -C 4 haloalkenyl, C 2 -C 4 haloalkynyl, C 3 -C 6 halocycloalkyl, halogen, CN, NO 2 , C 1 -C 4 alkoxy, C 1 -C 4 haloalkoxy, C 1 -C 4 alkylthio, C 1 -C 4 alkylsulfinyl, C 1 -C 4 alkylsulfonyl, C 1 -C 4 alkylamino, C 2 -C 8 dialkylamino, C 3 -C 6 cycloalkylamino, (C 1 -C 4 alkyl)(C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl)amino, C 2 -C 4 alkylcarbonyl, C 2 -C 6 alkoxycarbonyl, C 2 -C 6 alkylaminocarbonyl, C 3 -C 8 dialkylaminocarbonyl or C 3 -C 6 trialkylsilyl; Z is N or CR 10 ; R 10 is H or R 9 ; and n is an integer from 0 to 3 using a compound of Formula Ia wherein R 1 is an optionally substituted carbon moiety. This method is characterized by preparing the compound of Formula Ia (i.e. a subgenus of Formula I) by the method as indicated above. This invention further provides a composition comprising on a weight basis about 20 to 99% of the compound of Formula II wherein R 1 , R 2a , R 2b , R 3 , R 4 and R 5 are as above; X is Cl, Br or I; and Y is F, Cl, Br or I; provided that when R 2a and R 2b are each H, and X and Y are each Cl then R 1 is other than benzyl and when R 2a and R 2b are each phenyl, and X and Y are each Cl, then R 1 is other than methyl or ethyl. This invention further provides a crystalline composition comprising at least about 90% by weight of the compound of Formula VI wherein R 2a and R 2b are H, X is Br and R 1 is methyl. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"?

20050816

20081028

20070125

75887.0

A61K314439

SHAMEEM, GOLAM M

PREPARATION AND USE OF 2-SUBSTITUTED-5-OXO-3-PYRAZOLIDINECARBOXYLATES

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

A61K

ACCEPTED

Optical module

An optical module comprises: a sub-mount 1, having four photodiodes 12 and two guide grooves 10 disposed on an optical element mounting surface 16; a fiber fixing member 2, having four V-grooves 21, four concave mirrors 22, and two guide rails 20 disposed on an optical fiber fixing surface 26; and four optical fibers 3, fixed to the fiber fixing member 2. With this optical module, the sub-mount 1 and fiber fixing member 2 are aligned and fixed by the fitting together of the guide grooves 10 and guide rails 20. A passive alignment type optical module that enables mass production and cost reduction is thus realized.

1. An optical module comprising: a sub-mount, having an optical semiconductor element, which is disposed on a predetermined first surface, and a first alignment portion, which is formed on the first surface; a fiber fixing member, having a fixing groove, which is formed on a predetermined second surface and is for aligning and fixing an optical fiber, a concave mirror, which is disposed with respect to the fixing groove and guides light emitted from one of either the optical fiber that is fixed to the fixing groove and the corresponding optical semiconductor element to the other, and a second alignment portion, which is formed on the second surface; and the optical fiber, fixed to the fixing groove; and wherein of the first alignment portion and the second alignment portion, one of either comprises a guide rail and the other comprises a guide groove that fit with the guide rail, and the sub-mount and the fiber fixing member are aligned and fixed by fitting together of the first alignment portion and second alignment portion. 2. The optical module according to claim 1 wherein the sub-mount has N (N being an integer no less than 2) of the optical semiconductor elements, the fiber fixing member has N of the fixing grooves that are mutually parallel and N of the concave mirrors, disposed, respectively, with respect to the N fixing grooves, and N of the optical fibers are, respectively, fixed in the N fixing grooves. 3. The optical module according to claim 1, wherein the optical semiconductor element is prepared from the same material and by the same semiconductor process as the sub-mount and thereby formed to be monolithic with the first alignment portion. 4. The optical module according to claim 1, wherein the sub-mount has an aligning mark formed by the same mask process as the first alignment portion and the optical semiconductor element is disposed by being aligned with respect to the sub-mount using the aligning mark as a reference. 5. The optical module according to claim 1, wherein the fiber fixing member is molded integrally from resin. 6. The optical module according to claim 1, wherein the second alignment portion is formed substantially parallel to the fixing groove. 7. The optical module according to claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the guide rail in the plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction thereof is a tapered shape. 8. The optical module according to claim 1, further comprising a lens, which is disposed between the optical semiconductor element and concave mirror and converge the light emitted from one of either the optical fiber and the corresponding optical semiconductor element to the other. 9. The optical module according to claim 1, wherein the optical semiconductor element is a photodetecting element. 10. The optical module according to claim 1, wherein the optical semiconductor element is a light emitting element.

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an optical module, wherein an optical fiber and an optical semiconductor element are connected optically. BACKGROUND ART With the improvement and expansion of backbone infrastructure in recent years, the focus of attention in the optical communication market is being directed to the furnishing of user line equipment and equipment for connecting user lines with the backbone. Specifically, enhancement of metro area networks, access systems, and school and company LANs and higher speeds and greater capacities in provider's servers and routers are being desired. In particular, optical connections in a school or company LAN or among servers, routers, etc., within a provider are called VSR (Very Short Reach) or interconnections. Although being short in distance, signal transmissions of high speed and high volume are desired of such optical connections. Since low cost is also desired, expensive equipment, such as that required for optical connection at a transmission rate of 10 Gbps, is not suitable even if it enables high speed. Due to such demands, optical modules for performing parallel transmission of optical signals at a maximum rate of approximately 2.5 Gbps are being noted. With such an optical module, a tape fiber, which is an optical fiber array, and an optical semiconductor element array are aligned and connected to transmit a plurality of optical signals in parallel. However, if the alignment is performed by fiber alignment, a low-cost optical module cannot be realized. Optical modules, with which alignment is carried out by passive alignment, have thus been proposed (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H7-77634, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H7-151940). FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing an arrangement example of a conventional passive alignment type optical module (see the document, “IEICE Technical Report LQE99-130, pp. 1-6”). The alignment of an optical fiber 92 and an optical semiconductor element 94 is carried out by the insertion and adhesion of guide pins 95, provided in a fiber ferrule 91, into guide pin insertion holes 96 provided in a substrate 93. Here, the optical fiber 92 is inserted in a fiber insertion portion that is aligned with respect to the guide pins 95 and optical semiconductor element 94 is aligned and fixed on the substrate 93 using an aligning mark, formed by the same mask process as the guide pin insertion holes 96, as a guide. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION With all optical modules of the conventional passive alignment type, the mounting of the optical fiber is performed at an early stage of the assembly process of the entire optical module. For example, with the optical module shown in FIG. 7, in the case where the substrate 93 is to be mounted onto a circuit substrate as a sub-mount, the substrate 93 is fixed upon being erected perpendicular to the circuit substrate for suppressing the module height. In this case, it will be difficult to mount the fiber ferrule 91 to the substrate 93 after the substrate 93 has been fixed to the circuit substrate. The mounting of the fiber ferrule 91, with the optical fiber 92, onto the substrate 93, with the optical semiconductor element 94, is thus performed prior to the step of fixing the substrate 93 to the circuit substrate. When such a step of mounting the optical fiber is carried out at an early stage of assembling the entire optical module, handling and automation in subsequent steps may be hindered. For example, in a step wherein the optical semiconductor element or the substrate provided with the optical semiconductor element is to be die-bonded or wire-bonded, etc., to the circuit substrate, a specialized device that takes into consideration that the optical fiber has been mounted already will be required. Such situations have hindered mass production and cost reduction of optical modules. The present invention has been made to resolve the above issues, and an object thereof is to provide an optical module suitable for mass production and cost reduction. In order to achieve the above object, the present invention's optical module comprises: (1) a sub-mount, having an optical semiconductor element, disposed on a predetermined first surface, and a first alignment portion, which is formed on the first surface; (2) a fiber fixing member, having a fixing groove, which is formed on a predetermined second surface and is for aligning and fixing an optical fiber, a concave mirror, which is disposed with respect to the fixing groove and guides light emitted from one of either the optical fiber that is fixed to the fixing groove and the corresponding optical semiconductor element to the other, and a second alignment portion, which is formed on the second surface; and (3) the optical fiber, fixed to the fixing groove; and wherein (4) of the first alignment portion and the second alignment portion, one of either comprises a guide rail and the other comprises a guide groove that fit with the guide rail, and the sub-mount and the fiber fixing member are aligned and fixed by fitting together of the first alignment portion and the second alignment portion. With the above-described optical module, the optical semiconductor element and the optical fiber are aligned by the fitting together of the first alignment portion of the sub-mount and the second alignment portion of the fiber fixing member. Alignment by passive alignment is thus enabled with this optical module. Also, since the guide rail and the guide groove are used as the alignment portions, the optical semiconductor element and the optical fiber can be aligned at high precision. Also, the second surface of the fiber fixing member, onto which the optical fiber is fixed, is positioned to face the first surface of the sub-mount, on which the optical semiconductor element is disposed. The step of aligning and fixing the fiber fixing member, to which the optical fiber is fixed, with respect to the sub-mount can thereby be performed after a step of die-bonding or wire-bonding, etc., the sub-mount to a circuit substrate. An optical module can thus be realized with which the handling and automation in the step of die-bonding or wire-bonding, etc., the sub-mount to the circuit substrate will not be hindered and with which mass production and cost reduction are enabled. Also, since the optical fiber is positioned parallel to the first surface of the sub-mount, the module height is kept low. Furthermore, a concave mirror is disposed as a light guiding optical system between the optical fiber and the optical semiconductor element. Since the light that is emitted from one of either of the optical fiber and the optical semiconductor element is thereby converged and guided to the other, a high optical coupling factor can be realized. The optical module may have an arrangement wherein the sub-mount has N (N being an integer no less than 2) of the optical semiconductor elements, the fiber fixing member has N of the fixing grooves that are mutually parallel and N of the concave mirrors, disposed, respectively, with respect to the N fixing grooves, and N of the optical fibers are, respectively, fixed in the N fixing grooves. In this case, since a plurality of optical signals can be transmitted in parallel, an optical module enabling transmission of higher speed and greater volume is provided. Also, the optical semiconductor element may be prepared from the same material and by the same semiconductor process as the sub-mount and thereby formed to be monolithic with the first alignment portion. Or, the sub-mount may have an aligning mark formed by the same mask process as the first alignment portion and the optical semiconductor element may be disposed by being aligned with respect to the sub-mount using the aligning mark as a reference. In these cases, a sub-mount, with which the optical semiconductor element and the first alignment portion are aligned at high precision with respect to each other, can be obtained. Also, the fiber fixing member may be molded integrally from resin. In this case, a fiber fixing member, with which the fixing groove, the concave mirror, and the second alignment portion are aligned at high precision with respect to each other, can be obtained. Also, the second alignment portion may be formed substantially parallel to the fixing groove. In this case, the second alignment portion and the fixing groove can be formed readily while being aligned with respect to each other. Also, the cross-sectional shape of the guide rail in the plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction thereof may be a tapered shape. In this case, the fitting together of the guide rail and the guide groove is facilitated. Also, the optical module may be equipped with a lens, which is disposed between the optical semiconductor element and the concave mirror and converge the light emitted from one of either the optical fiber and the corresponding optical semiconductor element to the other. In this case, the optical coupling factor can be improved further in accompaniment with the convergence by the concave mirror. Also, as the optical semiconductor element to be disposed on the sub-mount, a photodetecting element may be used. In this case, the optical module becomes an optical receiving module. Or, a light emitting element may be used as the optical semiconductor element. In this case, the optical module becomes an optical transmitting module. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a sectional side view showing the arrangement of an embodiment of an optical module. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a sub-mount equipped in the optical module shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a fiber fixing member equipped in the optical module of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the state wherein optical fibers are fixed to the fiber fixing member shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a sectional front view taken on line I-I of the optical module shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a sectional side view showing an arrangement example of a passive alignment type optical module. FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing an arrangement example of a conventional passive alignment type optical module. BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of the present invention's optical module shall now be described along with the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements shall be provided with the same symbols and redundant description shall be omitted. The dimensional proportions of the drawings do not necessarily match those of the descriptions. FIG. 1 is a sectional side view showing the arrangement of an embodiment of the present invention's optical module. The arrangement of this embodiment's optical module shall be described in outline using FIG. 1. This optical module is an optical module for optical transmission or optical receiving that transmits or receives optical signals in parallel and has N (where N is a natural number) optical fibers optically connected with N optical semiconductor elements. With the embodiment to be described below, N=4. Also, FIG. 1 shows the cross-sectional view in the plane containing the optical axes of one set among four sets of the optical fiber and the optical semiconductor element. In FIG. 1, the left-to-right direction is the direction of optical transmission along the optical axis of the optical fiber. The present optical module is equipped with a circuit substrate 41, a sub-mount 1, a fiber fixing member 2, and a coated optical fiber array 31. The circuit substrate 41 is a mounting substrate on which sub-mount 1 is mounted. Wirings, electronic circuits, etc., necessary for signal processing are also mounted on the circuit substrate 41. In FIG. 1, a pre-amplifier 43, which amplifies and outputs an electrical signal, is mounted on the circuit substrate 41. The sub-mount 1 is a substrate for installing the optical semiconductor element. This sub-mount 1 is set on the circuit substrate 41. The surface of the sub-mount 1 at the side opposite the side of the circuit substrate 41 is an optical element mounting surface (first surface) 16 on which the optical semiconductor element is disposed. For example, a silicon substrate may be used as the substrate of the sub-mount 1. A photodiode array 11 is disposed on the optical element mounting surface 16. This photodiode array 11 is an optical semiconductor element array, with which four photodiodes (photodetecting elements) 12 are arrayed at a fixed pitch as the optical semiconductor elements. These photodiodes 12 are disposed with a direction perpendicular to the optical axes of the optical fibers 3 to be described later (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 1) as the array direction. The pre-amp 43 on the circuit substrate 41, the photodiode array 11 on the sub-mount 1, and the electrodes, wirings, etc., disposed on the circuit substrate 41 and sub-mount 1 are electrically connected by die-bonding or wire-bonding, etc. The fiber fixing member 2 is a member that fixes the optical fibers. With respect to the sub-mount 1, this fiber fixing member 2 is installed at the side opposite the side of the circuit substrate 41. The surface of the fiber fixing member 2 that faces the optical element mounting surface 16 of the sub-mount 1 is an optical fiber fixing surface (second surface) 26 to which the optical fibers are fixed. The fiber fixing member 2 may, for example, be molded integrally from resin. On the optical fiber fixing surface 26, four V-grooves 21 are formed in parallel as fixing grooves for aligning and fixing the optical fibers. The coated optical fiber array 31, having four optical fibers arrayed at a fixed pitch, is installed with respect to the V-grooves 21. The coating is removed across a predetermined length at a front end portion of the coated optical fiber array 31, thereby exposing four optical fibers 3. These exposed optical fibers 3 are aligned and fixed, respectively, in the corresponding V-grooves 21. These V-grooves 21 and optical fibers 3 that are fixed to the V-grooves 21 are arrayed in a direction perpendicular to the optical axes of the optical fibers 3 and are positioned at the same pitch as the photodiodes 12 so as to correspond thereto. Also, along with an optical fiber fixing portion 2a, which is positioned above the sub-mount 1 and is provided with the V-grooves 21, the fiber fixing member 2 is provided with an array housing portion 2b, which protrudes in the direction in which the coated optical fiber array 31 extends from the sub-mount 1 and the optical fiber fixing portion 2a. Also, on the optical fiber fixing surface 26, concave mirrors 22 are disposed at positions on the optical axes and opposing the end faces, respectively, of the optical fibers 3. These concave mirrors 22 are provided, respectively, for the four V-grooves 21 and optical fibers 3. The concave mirrors 22 are also positioned on the upwardly directed optical axes of the corresponding photodiodes 12 as viewed from the sub-mount 1. Each concave mirror 22 converts the optical path of the light emitted from the end face of an optical fiber 3 vertically downward by substantially 90°, converts the light to parallel light, and guides the light while converging it toward a photodiode 12. Between the concave mirrors 22 and photodiodes 12, ball lenses 14 are aligned so that their optical axes are matched to the optical axes of the photodiodes 12. Each ball lens 14 converges the light, emitted from the optical fiber 3 and converted in the optical path by the concave mirror 22, onto the corresponding photodiode 12. With the present embodiment, a light guiding optical system between the optical fibers 3 and photodiodes 12 is arranged by the concave mirrors 22 and ball lenses 14. The ball lenses 14 can be aligned, for example, by fixing onto lens mounting pedestals formed using resist, etc., in the same semiconductor process as the photodiode array 11. The above-mentioned circuit substrate 41, sub-mount 1, fiber fixing member 2, etc., are housed in a casing 45, comprising a casing body portion 44a, and a casing cover portion 44b positioned above the casing body portion 44a. On a bottom portion 45a of the casing body portion 44a, the circuit substrate 41 is disposed with the surface, at the side opposite the surface on which the sub-mount 1 is mounted, facing the bottom portion 45a. An opening 47 is provided on the optical axes of the optical fibers 3 at a side portion 45b, which, among the side portions of the casing 45, is at the array housing portion 2b side as viewed from the optical fiber fixing portion 2a. The coated optical fiber array 31 is passed through this opening 47. The opening 47, through which the coated optical fiber array 31 is passed, is filled with a solder 48. This solder 48 fixes the coated optical fiber array 31 to the casing 45 and closes the opening 47 and thereby keeps the casing 45 airtight. When the coated optical fiber array 31 is fixed by the solder 48 in this manner, the use of a metal coating, such as that of a metallized fiber, is preferable as the coating of the coated optical fiber array 31. Or, the coated optical fiber array 31 may be fixed to the casing 45 by a resin, etc. At a side portion 45c of the casing 45 that opposes the side portion 45b is inserted output terminals 42. These output terminals 42 guide, to the exterior of the casing, the electrical signals from the photodiodes 12 that have been amplified by the pre-amps 43. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sub-mount 1 as viewed from the side of the fiber fixing member 2. The arrangement of the sub-mount 1 shall now be described in detail using FIG. 2. On the optical element mounting surface 16 of the sub-mount 1, two guide grooves 10, which extend in parallel to each other, are formed as first alignment portions. The guide grooves 10 are for aligning the optical fibers 3 and photodiodes 12 by passive alignment. The direction in which these guide grooves 10 are formed is perpendicular to the array direction of the photodiodes 12. Also, the guide grooves 10 are disposed at predetermined positions corresponding to second alignment portions equipped on the fiber fixing member 2. The cross-sectional shape in the plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of each guide groove 10 is a tapered shape that becomes gradually narrow in width from the optical element mounting surface 16 toward the inner side of the sub-mount 1. Also, on the optical element mounting surface 16 is formed an aligning mark 13. This aligning mark 13 serves as a reference in aligning and fixing the photodiode array 11 with respect to the sub-mount 1. The aligning mark 13 is aligned with respect to the two guide grooves 10 and is preferably formed by the same mask process as the guide grooves 10. With respect to aligning mark 13, the photodiode array 11 is installed at a position at the upstream side in the optical transmitting direction of the optical fibers 3. The photodiode array 11 can be fixed to the sub-mount 1, for example, by flip-chip bonding. The Guide grooves 10, which are the first alignment portions, are aligned with respect to the photodiode array 11. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the fiber fixing member 2 as viewed form the sub-mount 1 side. The arrangement of the fiber fixing member 2 shall now be described in detail using FIG. 3. On the optical fiber fixing surface 26 of the fiber fixing member 2, two guide rails 20, which extend in parallel to each other, are formed as second alignment portions. The guide rails 20 are fitted with the guide grooves 10 to align the optical fibers 3 and photodiodes 12 by passive alignment. As with the guide grooves 10, the cross-sectional shape in the plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of each guide rail 20 is a tapered shape that becomes gradually narrow in width from the optical fiber fixing surface 26 toward the sub-mount 1 side. The direction in which the guide rails 20 are formed is parallel to the direction in which the V-grooves 21 are formed. The optical fiber fixing surface 26 is formed so that as viewed in the array direction of the optical fibers 3, which is a direction perpendicular to the optical transmitting direction, the central portion is depressed along the optical transmitting direction. This depressed portion is a V-groove forming portion 26a at which the V-grooves 21 for fixing the optical fibers 3 are formed. By this arrangement, the distances between the optical fibers 3 and concave mirrors 22, which are installed on the optical fiber fixing surface 26, and the photodiodes 12, which are installed on the optical element mounting surface 16 of the sub-mount 1, are set favorably. With the present embodiment, the upstream side portion in the optical transmitting direction of the V-groove forming portion 26a is the array housing portion 2b, and the downstream side portion is the optical fiber fixing portion 2a. As described using FIG. 1, four V-grooves 21, extending along the optical transmitting direction, are formed in the optical fiber fixing portion 2a, and four concave mirrors 22 are disposed further at the downstream side. As viewed in the direction in which the optical fibers 3 are arrayed, the respective sides of the V-groove forming portion 26a are guide rail forming portions 26b. The two above-mentioned guide rails 20 are disposed, respectively, at the guide rail forming portions 26b at the respective sides so as to sandwich the four V-grooves 21 formed at the V-groove forming portion 26a. The guide rails 20, which are the second alignment portions, are aligned with respect to the V-grooves 21, and the optical fibers 3 fixed to the V-grooves 21. With the inclusion of the V-groove forming portion 26a and guide rail forming portions 26b, the width of the optical fiber fixing surface 26 in the array direction of the optical fibers 3 is substantially matched to the width of the sub-mount 1. At the respective sides of the optical fiber fixing surface 26 at the outer sides of guide rail forming portions 26b as viewed in the array direction of the optical fibers 3 are provided with the guide portions 27. These guide portions 27 protrude toward the side at which the sub-mount 1 is positioned as viewed from the optical fiber fixing surface 26 and are the portions that guide the fitting of the guide rails 20 with the guide grooves 10 in the process of aligning and fixing the fiber fixing member 2 with respect to the sub-mount 1. The height of protrusion of these guide portions 27 is set smaller than the height of the sub-mount 1. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the state wherein the coated optical fiber array 31 and optical fibers 3 are fixed to the fiber fixing member 2 shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 4, the optical fibers 3 are fixed, respectively, to the four V-grooves 21. This fixing is carried out by placing the optical fibers 3 in the V-grooves 21 and adhesively fixing by an adhesive agent. In the process of fixing, a glass plate, etc., may be used as a fiber holder. FIG. 5 is a sectional front view taken on line I-I of the optical module shown in FIG. 1. The fiber fixing member 2 is set so that its guide portions 27 sandwich the sub-mount 1 from both sides and guide rail forming portions 26b of the optical fiber fixing surface 26 of the fiber fixing member 2 contacts the optical element mounting surface 16 of the sub-mount 1. At that point, as shown in FIG. 5, the guide grooves 10, formed in the sub-mount 1 and guide rails 20, formed on the fiber fixing member 2, fit together. The photodiodes 12, which are aligned with respect to the guide grooves 10, and optical fibers 3, which are aligned with respect to the guide rails 20, are thereby aligned by passive alignment. The fiber fixing member 2 and circuit substrate 41, below the sub-mount 1, are fixed by an adhesive agent. In FIG. 5, an adhesive agent 46, which is filled between the lower surface of the guide portions 27 of the fiber fixing member 2 and the upper surface of the circuit substrate 41, is shown. A process of assembling the present optical module shall now be described using FIG. 1. The circuit substrate 41 is mounted to the casing body portion 44a. The sub-mount 1 and pre-amps 43 are furthermore mounted to the circuit substrate 41. The mounting can be performed by die-bonding by a resin or wire-bonding by gold wires or aluminum wires, etc. Meanwhile, as a separate process from the process of mounting the sub-mount 1, the optical fibers 3 are fixed to the fiber fixing member 2. By then fitting the guide rails 20 in the guide grooves 10, the fiber fixing member 2, to which the optical fibers 3 are fixed, is aligned and fixed with respect to the sub-mount 1. In this state, adhesive agent 46 is filled in the predetermined spaces to adhesively fix the fiber fixing member 2 to the circuit substrate 41. Lastly, by passing the coated optical fiber array 31 through the opening 47 and sealingly fixing the casing cover portion 44b on the casing body portion 44a, the optical module is completed. This fixing in a sealing manner can be performed by adhesive fixing using a resin. The effects of the optical module of the present embodiment shall now be described. With the present optical module, the optical fibers 3 and photodiodes 12 are aligned by the fitting together of the guide grooves 10 of the sub-mount 1 and guide rails 20 of the fiber fixing member 2. Alignment by passive alignment is thus realized with the present optical module. Also, the guide grooves 10 are used as first alignment portions and guide rails 20 are used as second alignment portions. The optical fibers 3 and photodiodes 12 are thus aligned at high precision. Guide rails may be used instead as the first alignment portions formed on the sub-mount 1, and guide grooves may be used as the second alignment portions formed on the fiber fixing member 2. Also, since the optical fiber fixing surface 26 is disposed so as to oppose the optical element mounting surface 16, the step of aligning and fixing the fiber fixing member 2, to which the optical fibers 3 are fixed, with respect to the sub-mount 1 can be performed after the step of die-bonding or wire-bonding, etc., the sub-mount 1 to the circuit substrate 41. Handling and automation of the step of die-bonding or wire-bonding, etc., the sub-mount 1 to the circuit substrate 41 will thus not be hindered. The present optical module thus enables mass production and cost reduction. Also, with the present optical module, since the optical fibers 3 are disposed parallel to the optical element mounting surface 16 of the sub-mount 1, the module height is kept low. Furthermore, the concave mirrors 22 are provided as the light guiding optical system between the optical fibers 3 and photodiodes 12. Since light emitted from the optical fibers 3 are thereby converged and guided to the photodiodes 12, a high optical coupling factor is realized. Also, with the present embodiment, the concave mirrors 22 make the light from the optical fibers 3 parallel light. Since the light from optical fibers 3 thus propagate as parallel light along the optical paths from the concave mirrors 22 to the ball lenses 14, the tolerance of the optical module is relaxed. For example, calculations using an optical simulator have shown that optical coupling is enabled even when the positional relationship between the concave mirrors 22 and photodiodes 12 is moved by approximately ±40 μm. The concave mirrors 22 are not necessarily limited to those that convert the reflected light into parallel light. Also, with the present optical module, since pluralities of the optical fibers 3 and photodiodes 12 are provided, respectively, a plurality of optical signals can be transmitted in parallel. An optical module, enabling high-speed, high-volume transmission, is thus realized. Also, the ball lenses 14 for converging light are disposed between the photodiodes 12 and concave mirrors 22. A high optical coupling factor is thus realized. However, in the case where an adequate optical coupling factor is obtained by just the convergence by the concave mirrors 22, the ball lenses 14 do not have to be provided. Such cases include the case where single mode fibers with a core diameter of 10 μm are used as the optical fibers 3 and the case where the photodiodes 12 that are used have an adequately large photodetecting diameter. The ball lenses 14 can be aligned by fixing onto lens mounting pedestals formed using a resist, etc., in the same semiconductor process as that of the photodiode array 11. The ball lenses 14 can thereby be aligned at a precision of within ±1 to 2 μm in this case. Also, in the case where the aligning mark 13 and guide grooves 10 are formed by the same mask process, the aligning mark 13 can be aligned at a precision of within ±1 to 2 μm with respect to the guide grooves 10. Thus, in this case, the photodiode array 11 and guide grooves 10 can be aligned at high precision with respect to each other. The photodiode array 11 can be prepared from the same material and by the same semiconductor process as the sub-mount 1 and thereby formed to be monolithic to the guide grooves 10. The photodiode array 11 and guide grooves 10 are aligned at high precision with respect to each other when formed in this manner as well. In this case, the aligning mark 13 need not be formed as it is unnecessary. In the case where the photodiode array 11 is mounted to the sub-mount 1 by flip-chip bonding, alignment can be performed at a precision of within ±5 μm. Also, in the case where the fiber fixing member 2 is integrally molded from resin, it can be prepared at a high precision wherein the precision of the respective pitches of the V-grooves 21 and concave mirrors 22, the relative positional relationship of the V-grooves 21 and concave mirrors 22, and relative positional relationship of the guide rails 20 and V-grooves 21 are within 10 μm. The fiber fixing member 2 may also be molded integrally using an MIM (Metal Injection Mold). With this type of molding, the precision can be made as high as in the case of integral molding from resin. Also, in the fiber fixing member 2, an adhesive agent having a refractive index matching characteristic can be filled between the optical fibers 3 and concave mirrors 22. The returning light from the front ends of the optical fibers 3 can thereby be restrained. Also, the guide rails 20 are formed substantially parallel to the V-grooves 21. The guide rails 20 and V-grooves 21 can thus be aligned and formed readily. Furthermore, since the guide rails 20 are formed, respectively, on the guide rail forming portions 26b at the respective sides of the V-grooves 21, sub-mount 1 and the fiber fixing member 2 are aligned at high precision. Also, the cross-sectional shapes in the plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the guide grooves 10 and guide rails 20 are tapered shapes. The guide grooves 10 and guide rails 20 can thus be fitted together readily. Also, since the fiber fixing member 2 is provided with the guide portions 27, the fitting of the guide grooves 10 and guide rails 20 can be performed readily in a single step. Optical modules, with which optical fibers and optical semiconductor elements are aligned by the fitting of guide rails and guide grooves, are also described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H7-77634 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H7-151940. In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H7-77634 is described an optical module, wherein optical fibers and optical semiconductor elements are aligned by passive alignment by the fitting of guide rails, formed on a substrate to which the optical fibers are fixed, with guide grooves that are directly formed in the optical semiconductor elements. However, this optical module has an arrangement wherein the optical fibers and the optical semiconductor elements are positioned along the same optical axis. Thus, portions for mounting the optical semiconductor elements must be provided on the substrate and along the optical axis in addition to the fixing portions for the optical fibers. This optical module thus cannot be made compact. Meanwhile, the present invention's optical module has an arrangement wherein, the concave mirrors 22, which convert the optical paths of the light emitted from the optical fibers 3, are provided and the light from the optical fibers 3 are made incident on the photodiodes 12 at positions opposing the optical fiber fixing surface 26. There is thus no need to provide portions for mounting the photodiodes 12 on the fiber fixing member 2. The present optical module can thus be made compact. Also, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H7-151940 is described an optical module, wherein an alignment substrate is provided in addition to a fiber fixing member and a sub-mount. However, with this optical module, an alignment portion must be formed not just on the fiber fixing member 2 and sub-mount but on the substrate as well. The step of forming the alignment portions and thus the process of manufacturing the entire optical module becomes complicated. Also, since there are two independent locations where alignment portions fit with each other (that is, the two locations for the fitting of the fiber fixing member with the substrate and the fitting of the sub-mount with the substrate), alignment errors will be amplified. Meanwhile, with the present invention's optical module, alignment portions 10 and 20 are provided just at the sub-mount 1 and fiber fixing member 2 and these are fitted directly to perform alignment. Thus, with this optical module, the manufacturing process is simplified and alignment is carried out at high precision. Also, as a passive alignment type optical module, the arrangement shown in FIG. 6 may be considered for example. With the optical module of FIG. 6, the alignment of an optical fiber 82 and an optical semiconductor element 84 is carried out by means of a V-groove and an aligning mark that have been formed on a substrate 81 by the same mask process. A planar mirror 85, which guides light between the optical fiber 82 and optical semiconductor element 84 is provided on the substrate 81. However, with this optical module, since the optical fiber 82 enters below the optical semiconductor element 84, the optical semiconductor element 84 is flip-chip mounted using the alignment mark as a guide after adhesively fixing the optical fiber 82 in the V-groove. Handling and automation in the step of flip-chip mounting the optical semiconductor element 84 are thus hindered. This optical module thus does not enable mass production and cost reduction. Meanwhile, with the optical module of FIG. 1, the fiber fixing member 2, to which the optical fibers 3 have been fixed, can be aligned and fixed with respect to the sub-mount 1 after die-bonding or wire-bonding, etc., the sub-mount 1 to the circuit substrate 41. This optical module can thus be mass-produced and reduced in cost. Also, with the optical module of FIG. 6, the rear surface (the surface at the side opposite the photodetecting surface) of the optical semiconductor element 84 is floated. Heat thus cannot be dissipated efficiently from the optical semiconductor element 84. This becomes a cause of unstable operation of the optical module, especially in the case of a VCSEL (Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser) or other element of high heat generation amount. Meanwhile, with the optical module of FIG. 1, since the photodiodes 12 are disposed on the sub-mount 1, the rear surfaces thereof are not floated. Heat can thus be dissipated efficiently from the photodiodes 12. Also, with an optical module, such as that shown in FIG. 6 or 7, the optical coupling factor is low since a concave mirror or other converging optical system is not used. That is, when high-speed operation of approximately 2.5 Gbps is considered, an element with a photodetecting diameter of 40 to 80 μm is normally used as the optical semiconductor element 84 or 94. Meanwhile, the distance along the optical axis from the optical fiber 82 or 92 to the optical semiconductor element 84 or 94 must be set to no less than the fiber cladding diameter (125 μm) in the case of the arrangement of FIG. 6 and no less than the loop height (approximately 100 μm) of the wires used in bonding in the case of the arrangement of FIG. 7. Consequently, the spot diameter on the optical semiconductor element 84 or 94 will be 117.5 μm in the case of a core diameter of 62.5 μm and a numerical aperture of 0.275 and will be 92 μm in the case of a core diameter of 50 μm, and thus the total light amount cannot be detected by the optical semiconductor element 84 or 94. The optical coupling factor will be lowered especially in the case where a multimode fiber of large core diameter and numerical aperture is used. On the other hand, with the optical module of FIG. 1, since the light from the optical fibers 3 are converged and guided by the concave mirrors 22 to the photodiodes 12, a high optical coupling factor is realized. An example of the optical design of the present invention's optical module shall now be described. Here, it shall be assumed that as each of the optical fibers 3, a multimode fiber with a core diameter of 62.5 μm and a numerical aperture of 0.275 is used, and as each of the photodiodes 12, a photodiode, having a photodetecting diameter of 80 μm and enabled to perform high-speed operation of up to 2.5 Gbps, is used. Also, the array pitch of the photodiodes 12 in the photodiode array 11 is 250 μm. In this case, in order to prevent cross-talk, in which the light from one optical fiber 3 becomes incident on the photodetecting portions of two or more the photodiodes 12, the spreading of the light flux must be restrained to be no more than 200 μm in consideration of a margin. The upper limit of the interval between the optical fibers 3 and concave mirrors 22 is thus 250 μm. Meanwhile, the interval between the concave mirrors 22 and photodiodes 12 must be set to no less than 250 μm in consideration of space for bonding wires, even if the ball lenses 14 are not to be provided. In addition, since the distance from the reflection centers of the concave mirrors 22 to the optical fibers 3 must also be considered, the interval between the concave mirrors 22 and photodiodes 12 must be set to no less than 312.5 μm. In the case where a glass plate, etc., is provided as an optical fiber holder, since the thickness thereof must be considered, the lower limit of the above-mentioned interval will be greater than 312.5 μm. By the above, in the present invention's optical module, the interval between the concave mirrors 22 and photodiodes 12 will be greater than the interval between the optical fibers 3 and concave mirrors 22 and the optical system will be a magnifying system. Even with an arrangement wherein the latter interval is set to the upper limit of 250 μm and the former interval is set to the lower limit of 312.5 μm, the magnification will be 1.25 and the image of a core of 62.5 μm diameter will be an image of 78 μm diameter on a photodiode 12. Although the photodetecting diameter of each photodiode 12 is 80 μm, in consideration of the tolerances of the manufacture and assembly of the respective members 1 and 2, it will be difficult to realize an optical coupling factor of 100%. Thus, with the present optical module, by providing a converging optical system of the concave mirrors 22, etc., the light from the optical fibers 3 are guided to the photodiodes 12 upon being converged. An optical coupling factor of 100% can thus be realized with this optical module. Although in the optical module shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 5, N, which expresses the number of the optical fibers 3, the number of the photodiodes 12, etc., is set to 4, this number N may be set as suited. When is N is set to 2 or more, since a plurality of optical signals can be transmitted in parallel as described above, transmission at higher speed and greater volume is enabled. Even when N is set to 1, the same effects as the optical module shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 5 are exhibited in regard to the alignment of the optical fiber 3 and photodiode 12, etc. Also, as the optical semiconductor element, a photodetecting element besides photodiode 12 may be used, or a light emitting element, such as a VCSEL, may be used. In the case where a light emitting element is used, the concave mirror 22 guides the light emitted from the light emitting element to the optical fiber 3 and the ball lens 14 converges the light emitted from the light emitting element. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention's optical module can be used as an optical module suitable for mass production and cost reduction. That is, with the present invention's optical module, the optical fiber and the optical semiconductor element are aligned by the fitting together of the first alignment portion and the second alignment portion. Alignment of the optical fiber and optical semiconductor element by passive alignment is thus realized. Also, since the guide rail and the guide groove are used as the alignment portions, the optical fiber and the optical semiconductor element are aligned at high precision. Also, the step of aligning and fixing the fiber fixing member, to which the optical fiber is fixed, with respect to the sub-mount can be performed after the step of die-bonding or wire-bonding, etc., the sub-mount to the circuit substrate. An optical module that enables mass production and cost reduction is thus realized. Also, since the optical fiber is disposed in parallel to the first surface of the sub-mount, the module height is kept low. Furthermore, the concave mirror is disposed as the light guiding optical system between the optical fiber and the optical semiconductor element. Since the light emitted from one of either of the optical fiber and the optical semiconductor element is thereby converged and guided to the other, a high optical coupling factor is realized.

<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>With the improvement and expansion of backbone infrastructure in recent years, the focus of attention in the optical communication market is being directed to the furnishing of user line equipment and equipment for connecting user lines with the backbone. Specifically, enhancement of metro area networks, access systems, and school and company LANs and higher speeds and greater capacities in provider's servers and routers are being desired. In particular, optical connections in a school or company LAN or among servers, routers, etc., within a provider are called VSR (Very Short Reach) or interconnections. Although being short in distance, signal transmissions of high speed and high volume are desired of such optical connections. Since low cost is also desired, expensive equipment, such as that required for optical connection at a transmission rate of 10 Gbps, is not suitable even if it enables high speed. Due to such demands, optical modules for performing parallel transmission of optical signals at a maximum rate of approximately 2.5 Gbps are being noted. With such an optical module, a tape fiber, which is an optical fiber array, and an optical semiconductor element array are aligned and connected to transmit a plurality of optical signals in parallel. However, if the alignment is performed by fiber alignment, a low-cost optical module cannot be realized. Optical modules, with which alignment is carried out by passive alignment, have thus been proposed (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H7-77634, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H7-151940). FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing an arrangement example of a conventional passive alignment type optical module (see the document, “IEICE Technical Report LQE99-130, pp. 1-6”). The alignment of an optical fiber 92 and an optical semiconductor element 94 is carried out by the insertion and adhesion of guide pins 95 , provided in a fiber ferrule 91 , into guide pin insertion holes 96 provided in a substrate 93 . Here, the optical fiber 92 is inserted in a fiber insertion portion that is aligned with respect to the guide pins 95 and optical semiconductor element 94 is aligned and fixed on the substrate 93 using an aligning mark, formed by the same mask process as the guide pin insertion holes 96 , as a guide.

<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>FIG. 1 is a sectional side view showing the arrangement of an embodiment of an optical module. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a sub-mount equipped in the optical module shown in FIG. 1 . FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a fiber fixing member equipped in the optical module of FIG. 1 . FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the state wherein optical fibers are fixed to the fiber fixing member shown in FIG. 3 . FIG. 5 is a sectional front view taken on line I-I of the optical module shown in FIG. 1 . FIG. 6 is a sectional side view showing an arrangement example of a passive alignment type optical module. FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing an arrangement example of a conventional passive alignment type optical module. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"?

20060605

20070807

20061019

75188.0

G02B636

HEALY, BRIAN

OPTICAL MODULE

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

G02B

ACCEPTED

Highly efficient hydrogen production method using microorganism

It is intended to obtain anaerobic microbial cells in an amount sufficient for hydrogen generation reaction, impart a hydrogen generation function to an aerobic microorganism within a short time and provide an industrial advantageous method of producing hydrogen. The above object can be established by providing a highly efficient microbial hydrogen production method characterized by comprising culturing a microorganism having a formate dehydrogenase gene and a hydrogenase gene under aerobic conditions, culturing the resulting microbial cells under anaerobic conditions in a liquid culture medium containing a formic acid compound, and then using the thus obtained cells for hydrogen generation.

1-11. (canceled) 12. A biological hydrogen production method comprising culturing a microorganism having a formate dehydrogenase gene and a hydrogenase gene under aerobic conditions to form a first cultured microorganism, culturing the first cultured microorganism in a liquid culture medium containing a formic acid compound under anaerobic conditions to form a second cultured microorganism, adding the second cultured microorganism to a solution for hydrogen generation in the reduced state, and supplying an organic substrate to generate hydrogen, wherein division and proliferation of the microbial cells are substantially suspended while generating hydrogen. 13. A biological hydrogen production method comprising culturing a microorganism having a formate dehydrogenase gene and a hydrogenase gene under aerobic conditions to form a first cultured microorganism, culturing the first cultured microorganism in a liquid culture medium containing a formic acid compound under anaerobic conditions to form a second cultured microorganism, recovering the microbial cells of the second cultured microorganism and adding the recovered microbial cells to a solution for hydrogen generation in the reduced state, and supplying an organic substrate to generate hydrogen, wherein division and proliferation of the microbial cells are substantially suspended while generating hydrogen. 14. A biological hydrogen production method comprising culturing a microorganism having a formate dehydrogenase gene and a hydrogenase gene under aerobic conditions to form a first cultured microorganism, culturing the first cultured microorganism under anaerobic conditions in a liquid culture medium containing a formic acid compound to form a second cultured microorganism with at least a two-fold increase in the number of microbial cells as compared to said first cultured microorganism, and using the second cultured microorganism for generating hydrogen. 15. The biological hydrogen production method according to claim 12, wherein the oxidation-reduction potential of the liquid culture medium containing a formic acid compound is maintained in a range of −200 millivolt to −500 millivolt during culturing under anaerobic conditions. 16. The biological hydrogen production method according to claim 13, wherein the oxidation-reduction potential of the liquid culture medium containing a formic acid compound is maintained in a range of −200 millivolt to −500 millivolt during culturing under anaerobic conditions. 17. The biological hydrogen production method according to claim 14, wherein the oxidation-reduction potential of the liquid culture medium containing a formic acid compound is maintained in a range of −200 millivolt to −500 millivolt during culturing under anaerobic conditions. 18. The biological hydrogen production method according to claim 12, wherein the oxidation-reduction potential of the solution for hydrogen generation in the reduced state is in a range of −100 millivolt to −500 millivolt. 19. The biological hydrogen production method according to claim 13, wherein the oxidation-reduction potential of the solution for hydrogen generation in the reduced state is in a range of −100 millivolt to −500 millivolt. 20. The biological hydrogen production method according to claim 12, wherein the organic substrate is formic acid, a formic acid salt, or a compound which can be converted into formic acid by metabolism in microbial cells. 21. The biological hydrogen production method according to claim 13, wherein the organic substrate is formic acid, a formic acid salt, or a compound which can be converted into formic acid by metabolism in microbial cells. 22. The biological hydrogen production method according to claim 12, wherein the concentration of microbial cells in the solution for hydrogen generation in the reduced state is 0.1% (w/w) to 80% (w/w), based on wet mass of microbial cells. 23. The biological hydrogen production method according to claim 13, wherein the concentration of microbial cells in the solution for hydrogen generation in the reduced state is 0.1% (w/w) to 80% (w/w), based on wet mass of microbial cells. 24. The biological hydrogen production method according to claim 12, wherein the pH of the solution for hydrogen generation is retained at 5.0 to 9.0, and an organic substrate is continuously supplied. 25. The biological hydrogen production method according to claim 13, wherein the pH of the solution for hydrogen generation is retained at 5.0 to 9.0, and an organic substrate is continuously supplied. 26. A method of fueling a fuel cell comprising supplying the hydrogen from the method of claim 12 to said fuel cell. 27. A method of fueling a fuel cell comprising supplying the hydrogen from the method of claim 13 to said fuel cell. 28. A method of fueling a fuel cell comprising supplying the hydrogen from the method of claim 14 to said fuel cell.

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a hydrogen production method using a microorganism, more particularly, a highly efficient hydrogen production method using an anaerobic microorganism utilizing an organic substrate as a carbon source. Hydrogen produced by the method of the present invention can be suitably used as a fuel of fuel cells, and the like. BACKGROUND ART Unlike fossil fuels, hydrogen is paid an attention as an ultimate clean energy source generating no substance which is feared in view of an environmental problem such as carbon dioxide gas and sulfur oxides even when fired, the calorie per unit mass of hydrogen is three times the colories of a petroleum, and when hydrogen is supplied to a fuel cell, it can be converted into electric energy and thermal energy at high efficiency. For producing hydrogen, technique such as a method for thermal decomposition of water and steam-reforming of natural gas or naphtha has previously been proposed as a chemical process. Since this process requires the reaction conditions at high temperatures and pressures, and the synthetic gas produced contains CO (carbon monoxide), it becomes necessary to perform CO removal which is technically solved with difficulty, so as to prevent the deterioration in a fuel cell electrode catalyst, when such hydrogen is used as a fuel for fuel cells. On the other hand, in a biological hydrogen production method using a microorganism, it is not necessary to remove CO, because such method has the reaction conditions at normal temperatures and pressures, and the generated gas does not contain CO. From these aspects, biological hydrogen production using a microorganism is more preferable as a method of supplying a fuel for fuel cells. Although the biological hydrogen production method has such excellent characteristics, a great progress has not been previously made as a method of supplying a fuel for fuel cells because such method has no economical practicability due to the productivity of hydrogen production, particularly a low hydrogen-generation rate (STY; Space Time Yield) per unit volume. Biological hydrogen production methods are roughly classified into a method using a photosynthesis microorganism, and a method using a non-photosynthesis microorganism (mainly anaerobic microorganisms). Since the former method uses light energy for hydrogen generation, there are many problems to be solved such as cost of hydrogen generation apparatuses requiring a large light collecting area due to its low light energy utilization efficiency, and difficult maintenance and management, and this method is not at practical level. The latter conventional hydrogen production method using an anaerobic microorganism relies on division and proliferation of the anaerobes. Anaerobic microorganisms have extremely slow division and proliferation (U.S. Pat. No. 5,834,264, and R. Nandi et al., Enzyme and Microbial Technology 19:20-25, 1996), and division and proliferation of anaerobic microorganisms require a greater free space necessary upon division and proliferation (“space” necessary for culturing, that is, proportionate to a reactor volume) as compared with that of other microorganisms although the reason has not been clarified. For this reason, the cell concentration in the stationary state that can be achieved by culturing of anaerobic microorganisms under anaerobic conditions necessary for hydrogen generation in the “space” of a fixed size is absolutely low as compared with that of other microorganisms. For these reasons, a hydrogen generation rate (STY) of anaerobic microorganisms is not sufficient. In this respect, significant improvement is demanded. In addition, when hydrogen produced by a biological production method is supplied to a fuel cell of a constant electric capacity, it is practically necessary to make a supply of an organic substrate as a hydrogen source to a hydrogen generation reactor, and a rapid response of current generation. Also in this respect, technical solution is demanded. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The aforementioned problem of the previous hydrogen production method relying on division and proliferation of anaerobic microorganisms is, in other words, that the prior art could not find out a method which realizes to obtain a high density anaerobe in a hydrogen generation reactor and acquire hydrogen generation function of anaerobes at the same time in a short time. An object of the present invention is to solve these technical problems regarding a hydrogen production method using an anaerobic microorganism. The object of the present invention is to obtain anaerobic microbial cells in an amount sufficient for hydrogen generation reaction, impart a hydrogen generation function to an anaerobic microorganism within a short time, and provide an industrially advantageous method of producing hydrogen. That is, an object of the present invention is to provide a method which has a sufficiently high hydrogen generation rate from the initial stage of the reaction, and can work a fuel cell at a practical level, not a method relying on division and proliferation of an anaerobic microorganism for a long time reaching 10-fold as described in the aforementioned US patent gazette. Steps relating to the method of producing hydrogen according to the present invention include the following first to third steps. That is, as a whole, the present invention comprises a first step of culturing particular microbial cells under aerobic conditions to proliferate microbial cells, a second step of culturing proliferated microbial cells in a culturing solution containing formic acids under anaerobic conditions to impart hydrogen generation ability to the microbial cells, and a third step of adding microbial cells to which hydrogen generation ability has been imparted like this to a hydrogen generation solution in the reduced state, and supplying an organic substrate to generate hydrogen. As a metabolic pathway associated with hydrogen generation in anaerobic microorganisms, various pathways are known (pathways such as generation of hydrogen as a metabolite in a degradation pathway of glucose to pyruvic acid, generation of hydrogen as a metabolite in a pathway of producing acetic acid from pyruvic acid via acetyl CoA, and generation of hydrogen from formic acid derived from pyruvic acid). The present invention relates to a biological hydrogen production method utilizing a metabolic pathway of producing hydrogen from formic acid in a microorganism cell in the third step. An object of the first step of the present invention is to proliferate and divide the aforementioned particular microbial cells by culturing the microbial cells under aerobic conditions, thereby to obtain the number of microbial cells required for hydrogen generation. However, microbial cells which have been cultured under aerobic conditions have no hydrogen generation ability. Since ethanol, acetic acid and lactic acid produced in the aerobic culture show inhibitory effect on the expression of hydrogen generation function of anaerobic microorganisms in the third step, it is preferable to recover the microbial cells from an aerobic culture solution before subjecting to the second step. Regarding the second step, even if division and proliferation are not repeated many times under anaerobic conditions (hydrogen generation while repeating division many times is the conventional hydrogen generation method wherein the division and proliferation are relied upon), hydrogen generation function can be expressed by dividing and proliferating a microorganism about once in a formic acid-containing culture solution under anaerobic conditions. Although the reason why function can be expressed by about one time division and proliferation is not clear, the present inventors presume as follows: Enzyme proteins involved in the pathway of producing hydrogen from formic acid are a formate dehydrogenase and a hydrogenase. These enzyme proteins usually function as a pair of units, and are present in the memrane or they are partially embedded in the membrane of microbial cells. As to conversion from the state where the unit function is not expressed as in aerobic division and proliferation into the state where the unit function is expressed, construction of the function for hydrogen generation of the aforementioned pair of units is completed by at least about one time division and proliferation of the microorganisms. Since the presence of oxygen has extremely great inhibiting effect on this construction, strict management of anaerobic conditions is required. In addition, the third step of the present invention is different from the prior art in hydrogen generation, and relates to a method not relying on division and proliferation of a microorganism used, that is, a highly efficient hydrogen production method wherein division and proliferation of a microorganism in a hydrogen generation reaction are suspended or substantially suspended. This highly efficient hydrogen production technique under suspension of division and proliferation is based on the aforementioned conclusion from detailed discussion of results of various studies which were practiced by the present inventors using a microorganism having a formate dehydrogenase gene and a hydrogenase gene. Of course, the present invention is not limited to this discussion contents. Based on the aforementioned conclusion, the present inventors further studied intensively and, as a result, found out a method which is used at a high density in a hydrogen generation reactor, that is, a method of industrially advantageously realizing to obtain an anaerobic microorganism in a sufficient number of microbial cells and obtaining of hydrogen generation function of an anaerobic microorganism within a short time as well as efficient hydrogen generation, and found out that this technique can work a fuel cell at a practical level, which resulted in the present invention. That is, the present invention relates to: (1) a highly efficient microbial hydrogen production method characterized by comprising culturing a microorganism having a formate dehydrogenase gene and a hydrogenase gene under aerobic conditions, culturing the resulting microbial cells under anaerobic conditions in a liquid culture medium containing a formic acid compound, and then using the thus obtained cells for hydrogen generation, (2) a highly efficient microbial hydrogen production method characterized by comprising culturing a microorganism having a formate dehydrogenase gene and a hydrogenase gene under aerobic conditions, culturing the resulting microbial cells under anaerobic conditions in a liquid culture medium containing a formic acid compound to increase the number of microbial cells by at least 2-fold, and then using the thus obtained cells for hydrogen generation, (3) a highly efficient biological hydrogen production method characterized by comprising adding the microbial cells obtained by the method as defined in (1) or (2) to a solution for hydrogen generation in the reduced state, and supplying an organic substrate to the solution to generate hydrogen, (4) a highly efficient biological hydrogen production method characterized by comprising recovering the microbial cells obtained by the method as defined in (1) or (2), adding the recovered microbial cells to a solution for hydrogen generation in the reduced state, and continuously supplying an organic substrate to the solution to generate hydrogen, (5) the highly biological hydrogen production method according to (1) or (2), wherein the oxidation-reduction potential of the above liquid culture medium containing a formic acid compound is maintained in a range of −200 millivolt to −500 millivolt during culturing under anaerobic conditions, (6) the highly efficient biological hydrogen production method according to (3) or (4), wherein the oxidation-reduction potential of the solution for hydrogen generation in the reduced state is in a range of −100 millivolt to −500 millivolt, (7) the highly efficient biological hydrogen production method according to (3) or (4), wherein the organic substrate is formic acid, a formic acid salt or a compound which can be converted into formic acid by metabolism in microbial cells, (8) the highly efficient biological hydrogen production method according to (3) or (4), wherein the concentration of microbial cells in the solution for hydrogen generation in the reduced state is 0.1% (w/w) to 80% (w/w) (based on wet mass of microbial cells), (9) the highly efficient biological hydrogen production method according to any one of (3) to (8), wherein the pH of the solution for hydrogen generation is retained at 5.0 to 9.0, and an organic substrate is continuously supplied, (10) use of hydrogen produced by the method as defined in any one of (1) to (9) as a fuel for fuel cells, (11) a microorganism having highly efficient biological hydrogen generation capability, obtained by culturing a microorganism having a formate dehydrogenase gene and a hydrogenase gene under aerobic conditions, culturing the resulting microbial cells in a liquid culture medium containing a formic acid compound under anaerobic conditions to increase the number of the microbial cells by at least 2-fold, and then recovering the said cells. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Microorganisms used in the invention are a microorganism having a formate dehydrogenase gene (F. Zinoni, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, Vol. 83, pp4650-4654, July 1986 Biochemistry) and a hydrogenase gene (R. Boehm, et al., Molecular Microbiology (1990) 4(2), 231-243), and is mainly an anaerobic microorganism. Specific examples of an anaerobic microorganism used in the present invention include microorganisms of the genus Escherichia—for example, Escherichia coli ATCC9637, ATCC11775, ATCC4157, etc., microorganisms of the genus Klebsiella—for example, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC13883, ATCC8044, etc., microorganisms of the genus Enterobacter—for example, Enterobacter aerogenes ATCC13048, ATCC29007, etc., and microorganisms of the genus Clostridium—for example, Clostridium beijerinckii ATCC25752, ATCC17795, etc. These anaerobic microorganisms are generally cultured first under aerobic conditions or anaerobic conditions, and the present inventors found that since division and proliferation under anaerobic conditions are extremely slow as compared with those under aerobic conditions, the first culture under aerobic conditions, followed by the second culture under anaerobic conditions are preferable. In this context, among anaerobic microorganisms, a facultative anaerobic microorganism (anaerobic microorganism which can survive under both of aerobic conditions and anaerobic conditions) is more suitably used than an obligate anaerobic microorganism (anaerobic microorganism which cannot survive under aerobic conditions). Among the aforementioned microorganisms, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, etc. are preferably used. The culture under aerobic conditions at the first step can be performed using a conventional nutrient medium containing a carbon source, a nitrogen source, an inorganic salt, etc. In the culturing, for example, glucose, and molasses can be used as a carbon source. As a nitrogen source, for example, ammonia, ammonium sulfate, ammonium chloride, ammonium nitrate, and urea can be used alone or in combination thereof. In addition, as am inorganic salt, for example, potassium monohydrogen phosphate, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, and magnesium sulfate can be used. Besides, if necessary, nutrients such as peptone, meat extract, yeast extract, corn steep liquor, casamino acid, and various vitamins such as biotin and thiamine may be appropriately added to a medium. The culturing can be usually performed at a temperature of about 20° C. to about 40° C., preferably about 25° C. to about 40° C. under aerobic conditions such as aerated agitation and shaking. In the culturing, the pH is adjusted to around 5 to 10, preferably around 6 to 8, and such pH adjustment during the culturing can be performed by adding an acid or an alkali. The concentration of a carbon source at the initiation of the culturing is 0.1 to 20% (W/V), preferably 1 to 5% (W/V). Further, the culturing time is usually a half day to 5 days. The number of microbial cells obtained by the first step is increased, but the microbial cells have no hydrogen generation capability. Next, in a second step, the microbial cells which have been cultured in the first step like this are preferably separated and recovered from the culture solution once, and are then used in the second step. It is preferable that microbial cells which have been proliferated under aerobic conditions are separated from the culture solution containing a component inhibiting hydrogen generation (e.g. ethanol, acetic acid, lactic acid, etc.). However, the microbial cells proliferated under aerobic conditions have no hydrogen generation capability. Examples of separation include centrifugal separation, and filtration. Recovered microbial cells are cultured under anaerobic conditions by suspending in a liquid culture medium containing a formic acid compound (hydrogen generation capability-inducing medium), thereby to impart hydrogen generation capability to microbial cells. That is, hydrogen generation capability is imparted to microbial cells at the second step. It is preferable that microbial cells are usually recovered after the number of microbial cells has been increased at least 2-fold or more. Herein, examples of the formic acid compound to be contained in an induction medium include formic acid and a formic acid salt (e.g. sodium formate), and it is preferable that such formic acid compound is generally contained at about 1 mM to 50 mM (millimolar) per 1 L of a liquid culture medium. The present procedure is performed for the purpose of inducing and expressing the function of a unit comprising formate dehydrogenase and hydrogenase in microorganism cells used under anaerobic conditions. For such purpose, it is preferable requirements to perform the procedure under management of strict anaerobic conditions in a liquid culture medium containing a formic acid compound. It is enough that a preferable extent of division and proliferation, that is, increase in the number of cells to around 2-fold extent or more may be confirmed. This extent of division and proliferation can be easily known by performing the conventional measurement of the optical density of microbial cells, for example, measurement with a spectrophotometer DU-800 manufactured by Beckman Coulter. Regarding a composition of an induction medium of a formic acid compound-containing liquid culture medium, it is preferable to satisfy the conditions under which microorganism cells to be used can be divided at least around once, but division and proliferation of microbial cells are not necessarily essential, and impartation of hydrogen generation capability to microbial cells by culturing induction is essential. To mention additionally, it is preferable conditions that a trace metal component (a necessary metal component is different depending on a microorganism species to be used, and is generally iron, molybdenum, etc.) necessary for inducing and expressing formate dehydrogenase and hydrogenase is contained. In addition, since this trace metal component is contained in a natural nutrient source (e.g. yeast extract, corn steep liquor, beef extract, fish extract, etc.) usually used in a microorganism culturing component to a considerable extent, it is not necessarily required to add the trace metal component separately, in some cases. In order that microorganism cells are divided, a carbon source is also a necessary component. In this source, sugars such as glucose, organic acids, and alcohols are usually used. In this case, it should be noted that, depending on the species of microorganisms used, hydrogen generation capability suppressed by a carbon source such as glucose present in a culture medium, that is, so-called glucose suppressing effect is seen in some cases. In this case, it is preferable to use a carbon source such as glucose at a necessary amount for around one time division of microorganism cells used. The amount can be easily determined by a person skilled in the art. In addition to a carbon source, a nitrogen source (ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, ammonium phosphate, etc.), phosphorus, potassium, etc. are added if necessary. Specifically, for example, culturing is performed using a formic acid compound-containing liquid culture medium having the following composition (induction medium composition) relative to an amount of around 30 g (gram) (wet mass) of microbial cells obtained by aerobic culture. TABLE 1 Induction medium composition Composition component Concentration Water 1000 ml (milliliter) Yeast extract 0.5% Tryptone peptone 1.0% Anhydrous sodium molybdate 10 μM (micromole) Sodium selenite pentahydrate 10 μM (micromole) Sodium secondary phosphate 26.5 mM (millimole) Sodium primary phosphate 73.5 mM (millimole) Glucose 20 mM (millimole) Sodium sulfate 0.05% Sodium formate 5 mM (millimole) In the present invention, unless otherwise indicated, % is expressed in terms of % by weight. With respect to realization of anaerobic conditions for imparting hydrogen generation capability to microbial cells at the present second step, the known method may be used. For example, an aqueous solution of desired anaerobic conditions may be obtained by referring to the method of preparing a liquid culture medium for sulfate-reducing microorganisms (Pfennig, N et al. (1981): The dissimilatory sulfate-reducing bacteria, In The Prokaryotes, A Handbook on Habitats, Isolation and Identification of Bacteria, Ed. by Starr. M. P. et al., P. 926-940, Berlin, Springer Verlag, and “Agricultural Chemistry Experimental Protocol, vol. 3, Ed. by Kyoto University, Faculty of Agriculture, Division of Agricultural Chemistry, 1990, 26 impression, published by Sangyo-Tosho Publishing Co.”). Specifically, it is preferable that, before use in the culturing, a dissolved gas is removed by treating an aqueous solution for an induction medium under reduced pressure. More specifically, by treating an induction medium under reduced pressure at about 13.33×102 Pa or lower, preferably about 6.67×102 Pa or lower, more preferably about 4.00×102 Pa or lower for about 1 to 60 minutes, preferably 5 to 60 minutes, a dissolved gas, particularly dissolved oxygen is removed, thereby to prepare an induction medium at the anaerobic state. During the treatment under reduced pressure, heating treatment may be performed if desired. The heating temperature is usually about 80° C. to 150° C. Since such treatment removes oxygen, it is useful for making anaerobic conditions. Alternatively, an aqueous solution used as a liquid culture medium of anaerobic conditions at the second step may be prepared optionally by adding a suitable reducing agent (e.g. thioglycolic acid, ascorbic acid, cysteine hydrochloride, mercaptoacetic acid, thiolacetic acid, glutathione, sodium sulfide, etc.) to an aqueous solution (e.g. aqueous solutions in Table 1). Alternatively, according to circumstances, it is an effective method of preparing an aqueous solution of the anaerobic state to appropriately combine these methods. The anaerobic state of an induction medium can be simply presumed by a resazurin indicator (decoloration from blue to colorless) to some extent, and can be specified by an oxidation-reduction potential measured by an oxidation-reduction potentiometer (e.g. ORP Electrodes manufactured by BROADLEY JAMES). An oxidation-reduction potential of an induction medium in which the anaerobic state is maintained is preferably about −200 mV to −500 mV, more preferably about −250 mV to −500 mV. For maintaining the anaerobic state during the reaction, it is desirable to prevent as much as possible the mixing of oxygen from the outside of the reaction system, and a method of sealing a reaction system with an inert gas such as nitrogen gas and carbon dioxide gas is usually used. Upon expression of unit function of enzyme proteins, it becomes necessary in some cases to add an adjusting solution for maintaining the pH of the reaction system and appropriately add various nutrient-dissolved solutions, in order to function metabolic function in microbial cells more effectively. In such case, in order to prevent the mixing of oxygen inhibiting function expression, it is effective to remove oxygen from the solution to be added in advance. The time and temperature required for division and proliferation to 2-fold or more the number of microbial cells in the present step, that is, the time and temperature necessary for expressing unit function of desired enzyme proteins are conditions of 5 hours to 24 hours, and 25° C. to 40° C. The pH of the liquid culture medium in the culturing of microbial cells is usually about 5.0 to 9.0. A method of recovering microbial cells having desired function like this is not particularly limited, but the known method such as centrifugation and membrane separation can be used. Subsequently, in the third step, the microbial cells having hydrogen generation capability, which have been recovered and separated as described above, are added to a solution for hydrogen generation in the reduced state, and an organic substrate is supplied to a biological hydrogen production method continuously or intermittently. It is preferable that an organic substrate is continuously supplied and, when supplied intermittently, it is required that a sufficient amount for hydrogen generation is present in the reaction system. As a use form of the recovered microbial cells, such cells may be used without any treatment, or they are immobilized with acrylamide, carrageenan or the like and then used. As to recovery and separation of microbial cells, the method of culturing microbial cells aerobically and further anaerobically, separating and recovering the microbial cells once after they acquire unit function of hydrogen generation, and adding the said cells to a solution for hydrogen generation to generate hydrogen under reduced state, as according to the present invention, is more preferable for exerting the effect of the method of the present invention than the method where the aerobically cultured microbial cells are directly used for hydrogen generation under reduced state. As a solution for hydrogen generation, there is used a solution having the same as or similar to the composition of an induction medium solution used in the second step. However, since hydrogen generation is vigorous, it is recommended to use an anti-foaming agent (commercially available anti-foaming agent, for example, a silicone-based anti-foaming agent, a polyether-based anti-foaming agent, etc.). Microbial cells are used at a concentration of about 0.1% (w/w) to 80% (w/w) (based on wet mass of microbial cells), preferably about 5% (w/w) to 70% (w/w) (based on wet mass of microbial cells), more preferably about 10% (w/w/) to 70% (w/w) (based on wet mass of microbial cells). Regarding the composition of a solution for hydrogen generation, a medium having a similar composition to that of the hydrogen generation ability-inducing medium at the second step is used. A reducing agent may also be used as in the second step. However, since proliferation of microbial cells is not caused, carbohydrates in the necessary amount for proliferating microbial cells are not usually contained in the above liquid composition. In this case, since it is an important point not to substantially proliferate microbial cells, a carbon source such as glucose used for proliferating microbial cells is not necessary in the medium. Even if a carbon source is used, only a necessary amount for maintaining hydrogen generation capability of microbial cells is enough (because the present invention is a biological hydrogen production method with cells which have substantially stopped proliferation). Specifically, culturing is usually performed using a solution for hydrogen generation having the following composition relative to an amount of about 800 g (gram) (wet mass) of microbial cells. TABLE 2 Composition of solution for hydrogen generation Composition component Concentration Water 1000 ml (milliliter) Yeast extract 0.5% Tryptone peptone 1.0% Anhydrous sodium molybdate 10 μM (micromole) Sodium selenite pentahydrate 10 μM (micromole) Sodium secondary phosphate 26.5 mM (millimole) Sodium primary phosphate 73.5 mM (millimole) Anti-foaming agent (Antifoam 0.1% (manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries. Ltd.)) The reduced state of a solution for hydrogen generation can be realized according to a method of realizing the aforementioned anaerobic conditions of a formic acid compound-containing liquid culture medium. The reduced state of a solution for hydrogen generation is specified such that its oxidation-reduction potential is about −100 mV to −500 mV, more preferably −200 mV to −500 mV. A formic acid compound is supplied not as a formic acid compound necessary for expressing induction of a protein function unit in the second step, but as an organic substrate necessary in a raw material for hydrogen generation in the third step. The formic acid compound which is an organic substrate continuously or intermittently supplied to a solution for hydrogen generation may be a compound which is converted into formic acid in the pathway occurring in the metabolism of microbial cells in a liquid culture medium (e.g. monosaccharide such as glucose, fructose, xylose, arabinose, etc., disaccharide such as sucrose, maltose, etc., molasses, etc.), or formic acid or a formic acid salt (e.g. sodium formate, potassium formate) which is directly supplied from the outside. An indirect supplying method using a compound capable of being changed into formic acid, and a direct supplying method may be used in combination thereof, but the direct supplying method from the outside is suitable. The amount and rate of an organic substrate which is continuously or intermittently supplied to a solution for hydrogen generation are not particularly limited as far as the pH of a solution is controlled in a range of about 5.0 to 9.0. The hydrogen generation reaction is performed under the condition of about 20° C. to 40° C., preferably about 30° C. to 40° C. The hydrogen generation container in which a hydrogen generation reaction is performed may be the previously known container. According to the method of the present invention, a remarkably high hydrogen generation rate (STY), and rapid response to supply of an organic substrate and hydrogen generation can be realized, and the technique excellent as a format of supplying hydrogen for a fuel cell can be provided. EXAMPLE The present invention will be explained below by way of Examples, but the present invention is not limited to those Examples. Example 1 Biological Hydrogen Production Method with Escherichia coli W Strain (ATCC 9637) The present bacterial strain was added to 500 ml of a liquid culture medium having a composition shown by the following Table 3, and shake culture was performed at 37° C. overnight under aerobic conditions. TABLE 3 Composition of aerobic culture medium (LB medium) Composition component Amount of component Water 1000 ml Tryptone 10 g Yeast extract 5 g Sodium chloride 5 g Then, in order to remove influences due to aerobic culture, the present liquid culture medium was subjected to a centrifuge (5000 rpm, 15 min), and the bacterial cells obtained by separating from the liquid culture medium were suspended in 6 L (liter) of an induction medium for expressing the unit function of enzyme protein having the composition shown by Table 1 under anaerobic conditions. The induction medium solution had been heated at 120° C. for 10 minutes in advance, dissolved oxygen had been immediately removed for 20 minutes under reduced pressure condition (about 4.0×102 Pa), and had been introduced in a glass container of an internal volume of 10 L (liter) equipped with a stirring device, a temperature maintaining device and an oxidation-reduction potential measuring device under the nitrogen atmosphere. Qualitative confirmation of an anaerobic extent of an induction medium was performed by change in tone of a resazurin indicator (change from blue to colorless). Culturing for induction-expressing the unit function of enzyme protein in the bacterial cells was performed at 30° C. for 2 hours under anaerobic conditions while stirring under the nitrogen atmosphere. During the induction culturing, an oxidation-reduction potential of the liquid culture medium was changed and maintained in the vicinity of −400 mV. In addition, when the bacterial cell concentration in an inducing liquid culture medium was measured with a spectrophotometer DU-800 manufactured by Beckman Coulter, the concentration was increased from the initial optical density (OD610) of 1.5 to the final OD610 of 3.7 in the bacterial cells. About 6500 g of the thus obtained induction liquid culture medium was subjected to a centrifuge (5000 rpm, 12 minutes) to recover the bacterial cells. Then, the recovered bacterial cells were suspended in 50 ml of a solution for hydrogen generation under the reduced state which has the composition of Table 2 (bacterial cell concentration of about 40%, based on wet mass of bacterial cells). The reactor of an internal volume of 200 ml for hydrogen generation was provided with a formic acid supplying nozzle, a stirring device, a pH adjusting device, a temperature maintaining device and an oxidation-reduction potential measuring device, and was fixed in a constant temperature water bath set at 37° C. An aqueous formic acid solution having a concentration of 5 M (mole)/L (liter) was continuously supplied to a reactor at a feed rate of 16 ml/hr using a micro pump, and the amount of a generated gas was measured. The pH in the system was controlled with a phosphate buffer at around 6.5, and the oxidation-reduction potential in the system was rapidly dropped from around −200 mV at the initial stage of the hydrogen generation reaction, and was maintained around −390 mV. At the same time with supply of formic acid, gas generation occurred, and such gas generation was continued during continuous supply of formic acid (for about 6 hours of experimental time). The gas generation rate measured with a gas flowmeter was an approximately constant average rate of 92 ml/min. and, when the collected gas was analyzed by gas chromatography, the generated gas contained 49% of hydrogen and the remaining carbon dioxide gas. Therefore, the hydrogen generation rate is 54 L (H2)/hr/L (reaction volume). This hydrogen-generation rate has a capacity to immediately activate a decentralized installation type 1 KW fuel cell for home use when needed. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY According to the present invention, by using a microorganism having a formate dehydrogenase gene and a hydrogenase gene, hydrogen useful for fuel cells can be supplied at a remarkably high hydrogen generation rate (STY), and a highly efficient biological hydrogen production method can be provided.

<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>Unlike fossil fuels, hydrogen is paid an attention as an ultimate clean energy source generating no substance which is feared in view of an environmental problem such as carbon dioxide gas and sulfur oxides even when fired, the calorie per unit mass of hydrogen is three times the colories of a petroleum, and when hydrogen is supplied to a fuel cell, it can be converted into electric energy and thermal energy at high efficiency. For producing hydrogen, technique such as a method for thermal decomposition of water and steam-reforming of natural gas or naphtha has previously been proposed as a chemical process. Since this process requires the reaction conditions at high temperatures and pressures, and the synthetic gas produced contains CO (carbon monoxide), it becomes necessary to perform CO removal which is technically solved with difficulty, so as to prevent the deterioration in a fuel cell electrode catalyst, when such hydrogen is used as a fuel for fuel cells. On the other hand, in a biological hydrogen production method using a microorganism, it is not necessary to remove CO, because such method has the reaction conditions at normal temperatures and pressures, and the generated gas does not contain CO. From these aspects, biological hydrogen production using a microorganism is more preferable as a method of supplying a fuel for fuel cells. Although the biological hydrogen production method has such excellent characteristics, a great progress has not been previously made as a method of supplying a fuel for fuel cells because such method has no economical practicability due to the productivity of hydrogen production, particularly a low hydrogen-generation rate (STY; Space Time Yield) per unit volume. Biological hydrogen production methods are roughly classified into a method using a photosynthesis microorganism, and a method using a non-photosynthesis microorganism (mainly anaerobic microorganisms). Since the former method uses light energy for hydrogen generation, there are many problems to be solved such as cost of hydrogen generation apparatuses requiring a large light collecting area due to its low light energy utilization efficiency, and difficult maintenance and management, and this method is not at practical level. The latter conventional hydrogen production method using an anaerobic microorganism relies on division and proliferation of the anaerobes. Anaerobic microorganisms have extremely slow division and proliferation (U.S. Pat. No. 5,834,264, and R. Nandi et al., Enzyme and Microbial Technology 19:20-25, 1996), and division and proliferation of anaerobic microorganisms require a greater free space necessary upon division and proliferation (“space” necessary for culturing, that is, proportionate to a reactor volume) as compared with that of other microorganisms although the reason has not been clarified. For this reason, the cell concentration in the stationary state that can be achieved by culturing of anaerobic microorganisms under anaerobic conditions necessary for hydrogen generation in the “space” of a fixed size is absolutely low as compared with that of other microorganisms. For these reasons, a hydrogen generation rate (STY) of anaerobic microorganisms is not sufficient. In this respect, significant improvement is demanded. In addition, when hydrogen produced by a biological production method is supplied to a fuel cell of a constant electric capacity, it is practically necessary to make a supply of an organic substrate as a hydrogen source to a hydrogen generation reactor, and a rapid response of current generation. Also in this respect, technical solution is demanded.

20060125

20081007

20060615

71087.0

C12P300

LILLING, HERBERT J

HIGHLY EFFICIENT HYDROGEN PRODUCTION METHOD USING MICROORGANISM

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

C12P

ACCEPTED

Process for the preparation of detergent compounds

A process for the preparation of detergents containing a relatively low amount of isoparaffins, involving separating a hydrocarbonaceous product stream from a Fischer-Tropsch process using a cobalt based catalyst and producing normally liquid and normally solid hydrocarbons into a light fraction boiling below an intermediate fraction having detergent hydrocarbons, an intermediate boiling fraction having detergent hydrocarbons and a heavy fraction boiling above the intermediate boiling fraction having detergent hydrocarbons, followed by conversion of the detergent hydrocarbons present in the intermediate boiling fraction into detergents, the Fischer-Tropsch process being carried out at a relatively high pressure.

1. A process for the preparation of detergents containing a relatively low amount of isoparaffins, comprising separating a hydrocarbonaceous product stream from a Fischer-Tropsch process using a cobalt based catalyst and producing normally liquid and normally solid hydrocarbons into a light fraction boiling below an intermediate fraction comprising detergent hydrocarbons, an intermediate boiling fraction comprising detergent hydrocarbons and a heavy fraction boiling above the intermediate boiling fraction comprising detergent hydrocarbons, followed by converting the detergent hydrocarbons present in the intermediate boiling fraction into detergents, the Fischer-Tropsch process being carried out at a pressure above 25 bara 2. (canceled) 3. The process to of claim 1, in which the Fischer-Tropsch process is carried out at a pressure above 35 bara. 4. The process of claim 1, in which the detergent hydrocarbons are C10 to C17 hydrocarbons. 5. The process of claim 1, in which the intermediate boiling fraction comprises at least 80 wt % on total fraction of detergent hydrocarbons. 6. The process of claim 1, in which the light fraction has a boiling range below 150° C., and/or in which the heavy fraction has a boiling range above 315° C. 7. The process of claim 1, in which the intermediate fraction has a boiling range of from 170° C. to 315° C. 8. The process of claim 1, further comprising subjecting the heavy fraction to a hydrocracking process to convert any hydrocarbons present in the fraction boiling above the boiling point of middle distillates into hydrocarbons boiling in the middle distillates boiling range. 9. The process of claim 1, in which the Fischer-Tropsch process is a low temperature process. 10. The process of claims 1, further comprising hydrogenating the hydrocarbonaceous product stream of the Fischer-Tropsch process before distillation. 11. The process of claims 1, further comprising hydrogenating the intermediate fraction obtained after distillation before converting into detergents. 12. The process of claim 10, in which the hydrogenating step uses a catalyst selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, tungsten, cobalt, nickel, ruthenium, iridium, osmium, platinum and palladium as a catalytically active metal, is carried out at a temperature between 150 and 325° C., and at a pressure between 5 and 120 bar. 13. The process of claim 10, in which the hydrogenated intermediate fraction comprising detergent hydrocarbons is at least partially catalytically dehydrogenated into mono-olefins before converting into detergents. 14. The process of claim 1, in which converting the detergent hydrocarbons, optionally after dehydrogenating, into detergents comprises at least one step selected from the group consisting of: alkylating with benzene or toluene optionally followed by sulfonating and neutralizing; alkylating with phenol followed by at least one step selected from the group consisting of alkoxylating, sulfonating and neutralizing, sulfating and neutralizing and alkoxylating combined with oxidizing; hydroformylating optionally followed by at least one step selected from the group consisting of alkoxylating, glycosylating sulfating, phosphatizing and combinations thereof sulfonating; epoxidizing; hydrobrominating followed by aminating and oxidizing and to amine oxide; and phosphonizing. 15. A process for the preparation of detergent hydrocarbons containing a relatively low amount of isoparaffins comprising separating a hydrocarbonaceous product stream comprising detergent hydrocarbons and hydrocarbons boiling above and below the boiling range of the before mentioned detergent hydrocarbons from a Fischer-Tropsch process using a cobalt based catalyst and producing normally liquid and normally solid hydrocarbons into a light fraction boiling below a fraction comprising detergent hydrocarbons, an intermediate boiling fraction comprising detergent hydrocarbons and a heavy fraction boiling above the intermediate boiling fraction comprising detergent hydrocarbons, the Fischer-Tropsch process being carried out at a pressure above 25 bara 16. The process of claim 1, in which the Fischer-Tropsch process is carried out at a temperature between 180° C. and 270° C.

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of detergents with a relatively low amount of isoparaffins, comprising separating a hydrocarbonaceous product stream, the hydrocarbonaceous product stream having a boiling range starting with a temperature below the boiling range of detergent hydrocarbons up to a temperature above the boiling range of detergent hydrocarbons, from a Fischer-Tropsch process using a cobalt based catalyst and producing normally liquid and normally solid hydrocarbons into a light fraction boiling below an intermediate fraction comprising detergent hydrocarbons, an intermediate boiling fraction comprising detergent hydrocarbons and a heavy fraction boiling above the intermediate boiling fraction comprising detergent hydrocarbons, followed by conversion of the detergent hydrocarbons present in the intermediate boiling fraction into detergents. The Fischer-Tropsch process is well known in the art. Synthesis gas, a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, is converted over a catalyst usually comprising a Group VIII metal or metal compound at elevated temperature and usually elevated pressure into mainly paraffinic and/or olefinic hydrocarbons and water. Depending on the reaction conditions (temperature, pressure, catalyst, H2/CO ratio, GHSV etc.) the product properties (e.g. the C5+ selectivity, the olefin content, the oxygenate content etc.) may vary. At the present moment there is a clear interest in the use of cobalt based catalyst at a temperature between 180 and 270° C. to make mainly very heavy paraffins comprising a major amount of normally solid hydrocarbons. In such Fischer-Tropsch processes substantial amounts of detergent hydrocarbons are produced, i.e. compounds having suitably 9 to 18 carbon atoms, preferably 10 to 17 carbon atoms. The preparation of detergents, especially biodegradable detergents, from linear olefins prepared in a Fischer-Tropsch process has been described in the literature. For instance, in ACS Symp. Series No. 238, 18-33 (191 ACS Nat. Meeting Div. Pet. Chem. Symp. New York, 13-18 Apr. 1986) it has been described that C9-C15 cuts of low and high temperature Fischer-Tropsch processes are suitable feedstocks in the alkylation of benzene to prepare alkylbenzenes, followed by sulfonation and neutralization to convert the alkylbenzenes into alkylbenzene-sulphonates. The direct products of these Fischer-Tropsch processes, using iron based catalysts, comprise rather large amounts of olefins. For instance, the high temperature process results in a product comprising about 70% olefins (60% straight chain product), the low temperature process results in about 25% olefins (linearity 93%). Also U.S. Pat. No. 3,674,885 describes the use of paraffin-olefin mixtures synthesized in a Fischer-Tropsch process in the alkylation of benzene. The paraffins are separated from the alkylation mixture and are recycled to a chlorination unit from which the paraffin-chloroparaffin effluent mixture is combined with the fresh Fischer-Tropsch olefin-paraffin mixture and the combined feeds are used to alkylate the benzene. Detergents may also be made directly from paraffins as described in WO 99/59942. There exists a clear commercial demand for linear hydrocarbons for the preparation of detergents. In general, the more linear the product, the higher the demand. See for instance U.S. Pat. No. 6,392,109, column 1, lines 12 and 13, and lines 28 to 31, clearly indicating that linear detergent hydrocarbons are preferred over branched detergent hydrocarbons. Thus, there is a clear need for detergent hydrocarbons with a (very) low amount of branched hydrocarbons. It has now been found that when carrying out a Fischer-Tropsch reaction using a cobalt based catalyst the amount of branched hydrocarbons decreases at higher pressures. Thus, when using the same reaction temperature, at higher pressures less branching occurs, at lower pressure more branching occurs. The present invention thus relates to a process for the preparation of detergents containing a relatively low amount of isoparaffins, comprising separating a hydrocarbonaceous product stream, suitably having a boiling range starting with a temperature below the boiling range of detergent hydrocarbons up to a temperature above the boiling range of detergent hydrocarbons, from a Fischer-Tropsch process using a cobalt based catalyst and producing normally liquid and normally solid hydrocarbons into a light fraction boiling below an intermediate fraction comprising detergent hydrocarbons, an intermediate boiling fraction comprising detergent hydrocarbons and a heavy fraction boiling above the intermediate boiling fraction comprising detergent hydrocarbons, followed by conversion of the detergent hydrocarbons present in the intermediate boiling fraction into detergents, the Fischer-Tropsch process being carried out at a pressure above 25 bara. The invention further relates to a process for the preparation of detergents containing a relatively low amount of isoparaffins, in which process detergent hydrocarbons present in an intermediate boiling fraction, which fraction has been obtained by separating the hydrocarbonaceous products stream from a Fischer-Tropsch process using a cobalt based catalyst and producing normally liquid and normally solid hydrocarbons into a light fraction boiling below an intermediate fraction comprising detergent hydrocarbons, an intermediate boiling fraction comprising detergent hydrocarbons and a heavy fraction boiling above the intermediate boiling fraction comprising detergent hydrocarbons, the Fischer-Tropsch process being carried out at a pressure above 25 bara, are converted into detergents. The process according to the invention may be carried out at all suitable pressures above 25 bara. Preferably the Fischer-Tropsch process is carried out at a pressure above 35 bara, more preferably above 45 bara, still more preferably above 55 bara. The higher the pressure, the less the amount of branched detergent hydrocarbons. A practical upper limit for the Fischer-Tropsch process is 200 bara, preferably the process is carried out at a pressure below 120 bara, more preferably below 100 bara. The Fischer-Tropsch process is suitably a low temperature process carried out at a temperature between 170 and 290° C., preferably at a temperature between 180 and 270° C., more preferably between 200 and 250° C. At higher temperature the conversion of synthesis gas into hydrocarbons is higher, however, the degree of branching (or the formation of iso-paraffins) is also higher. The above indicated temperatures, in combination with a pressure above 25 bara, result in a satisfactory syngas conversion, while branching is still at an acceptable (low) level. The amount of isoparaffins is suitably less than 20 wt % based on the total amount of C10 to C18 hydrocarbons, especially less than 10 wt %, preferably less than 7 wt %, more preferably less than 4 wt %. The relatively low amount of isoparaffins relates to a decreased amount of isoparaffins produced at pressures above 25 bara when compared with lower pressures. Suitably this means at least 5 mol % less isoparaffin when compared with a pressure of 20 bara. In the Fischer-Tropsch process a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide is catalytically converted into hydrocarbons and water. The Fischer-Tropsch catalysts are known in the art. Catalysts for use in this process frequently comprise, as the catalytically active component, a metal from Group VIII of the Periodic Table of Elements. Particular catalytically active metals include ruthenium, iron, cobalt and nickel. Cobalt is the catalytically active metal in the process of the present invention. Preferred hydrocarbonaceous feeds are natural gas or associated gas. These feedstocks usually result in synthesis gas having H2/CO ratio's of about 2. The catalytically active metal is preferably supported on a porous carrier. The porous carrier may be selected from any of the suitable refractory metal oxides or silicates or combinations thereof known in the art. Particular examples of preferred porous carriers include silica, alumina, titania, zirconia, ceria, gallia and mixtures thereof, especially silica, alumina and titania. The amount of catalytically active metal on the carrier is preferably in the range of from 3 to 300 pbw per 100 pbw of carrier material, more preferably from 10 to 80 pbw, especially from 20 to 60 pbw. If desired, the catalyst may also comprise one or more metals or metal oxides as promoters. Suitable metal oxide promoters may be selected from Groups IIA, IIIB, IVB, VB and VIB of the Periodic Table of Elements, or the actinides and lanthanides. In particular, oxides of magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, scandium, yttrium, lanthanum, cerium, titanium, zirconium, hafnium, thorium, uranium, vanadium, chromium and manganese are very suitable promoters. Particularly preferred metal oxide promoters for the catalyst used to prepare the waxes for use in the present invention are manganese and zirconium oxide. Suitable metal promoters may be selected from Groups VIIB or VIII of the Periodic Table. Rhenium and Group VIII noble metals are particularly suitable, with platinum and palladium being especially preferred. The amount of promoter present in the catalyst is suitably in the range of from 0.01 to 100 pbw, preferably 0.1 to 40, more preferably 1 to 20 pbw, per 100 pbw of carrier. The most preferred promoters are selected from vanadium, manganese, rhenium, zirconium and platinum. The catalytically active metal and the promoter, if present, may be deposited on the carrier material by any suitable treatment, such as impregnation, kneading and extrusion. After deposition of the metal and, if appropriate, the promoter on the carrier material, the loaded carrier is typically subjected to calcination. The effect of the calcination treatment is to remove crystal water, to decompose volatile decomposition products and to convert organic and inorganic compounds to their respective oxides. After calcination, the resulting catalyst may be activated by contacting the catalyst with hydrogen or a hydrogen-containing gas, typically at temperatures of about 200 to 350° C. Other processes for the preparation of Fischer-Tropsch catalysts comprise kneading/mulling, often followed by extrusion, drying/calcination and activation. The catalytic conversion process may be performed under conventional synthesis conditions known in the art. Typically, the catalytic conversion may be effected at a temperature and pressure as described above. In the catalytic conversion process especially more than 75 wt % of C5+, preferably more than 85 wt % C5+ hydrocarbons are formed. Depending on the catalyst and the conversion conditions, the amount of heavy wax (C20+) may be up to 60 wt %, sometimes up to 70 wt %, and sometimes even up till 85 wt %. Preferably a cobalt catalyst is used, a low H2/CO ratio is used (especially 1.7, or even lower) and a low temperature is used (200-250° C.), in combination with a high pressure. To avoid any coke formation, it is preferred to use an H2/CO ratio of at least 0.6. It is especially preferred to carry out the Fischer-Tropsch reaction under such conditions that the ASF-alpha value (Anderson-Schulz-Flory chain growth factor), for the obtained products having at least 20 carbon atoms, is at least 0.925, preferably at least 0.935, more preferably at least 0.945, even more preferably at least 0.955. A most suitable catalyst for this purpose is a cobalt-containing Fischer-Tropsch catalyst. Such catalysts are described in the literature, see e.g. AU 698392 and WO 99/34917. The Fischer-Tropsch process may be a slurry FT process, an ebullated bed process or a fixed bed FT process, especially a multitubular fixed bed. The product stream of the Fischer-Tropsch process is usually separated into a water stream, a gaseous stream comprising unconverted synthesis gas, carbon dioxide, inert gasses and C1 to C3, and optionally C4, compounds. The full Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbonaceous product suitably comprises a C3 to C200 fraction, preferably C4 to C150 fraction. The separation into the one or more light fractions, the intermediate fraction comprising the detergent hydrocarbons and the heavy fraction is suitably done by distillation. Commercially available equipment can be used. The distillation may be carried out at atmospheric pressure, but also reduced pressure may be used. Preferably atmospheric pressure is used to remove the light fraction(s) and vacuum distillation is used to remove the heavy fraction. The detergent hydrocarbons to be prepared according to the process of the invention, are suitably C10 to C18 hydrocarbons, preferably C10 to C17 hydrocarbons, more preferably C10 to C13 hydrocarbons or more preferably C14 to C17 hydrocarbons. The use of C10 to C17 hydrocarbons, especially the C10 to C12 or the C14 to C17 hydrocarbons, result in the most suitable detergents. The intermediate boiling fraction in the process of the present invention suitably comprises at least 80 wt % on total fraction of detergent hydrocarbons, preferably at least 90 wt %, more preferably at least 95 wt %, still more preferably at least 98 wt %. The detergent hydrocarbons consists mainly (i.e. at least 95 wt %) of paraffins (usually between 60 and 95 wt %), olefins (usually between 35 and 5 wt %) and oxygenates (usually mainly alcohols, between 0.1 and 5 wt %). The carbon skeleton of the paraffins, olefins and alcohols are identical, and usually contain between 2 and 20 wt %, more usually between 4 and 14 wt %, of branched carbon chains. Methyl groups, usually forming at least 80% of the branches, more usually at least 90%, are the main form of branches present. Suitably the light fraction has a boiling range below 150° C., preferably below 160° C., more preferably below 170° C. It is observed that one or more than one light boiling fractions may be removed from the hydrocarbonaceous Fischer-Tropsch stream. All these fraction suitably boil below the above mentioned temperatures. The light fraction may also boil at temperatures higher than mentioned above, but this will result in a loss of detergent hydrocarbons. Suitably the heavy fraction has a boiling range starting at a temperature above 315° C., preferably above 305° C. It is observed that one or more than one heavy fraction may be removed from the hydrocarbonaceous Fischer-Tropsch stream, suitably all boiling above the temperature mentioned above. The heavy fraction may boil at a lower temperature than the ones mentioned above, but this will result in the loss of detergent hydrocarbons. In another embodiment of the invention the heavy fraction has a boiling range above 250° C., preferably above 240° C. In this way mainly C10-C13 detergent hydrocarbons are produced. The intermediate fraction suitably has a boiling range from 170° C. to 315° C., preferably between 170° C. and 240° C. (comprising mainly C10-C13 detergent hydrocarbons) or preferably between 250° C. and 315° C. (comprising mainly C14-C17 detergent hydrocarbons). Very suitably the intermediate fraction comprises at least 80 wt %, preferably at least 90 wt %, more preferably at least 96 wt % based on total weight of the fraction, of detergent hydrocarbons in the range from C10 to C18 hydrocarbons, preferably C10 to C17 hydrocarbons, more preferably C10 to C13 hydrocarbons or more preferably C14 to C17 hydrocarbons. The heavy fraction boiling above the intermediate fraction comprising the detergent hydrocarbons is preferably subjected to a hydrocracking process to convert any hydrocarbons present in the fraction boiling above the boiling point of middle distillates into hydrocarbons boiling in the middle distillates boiling range. During the hydrocracking step also hydroisomerisation will occur. In the hydrocracking/hydroisomerisation step, hydrocarbon fuels are prepared from the hydrocarbon product of the one or more heavy Fischer-Tropsch fractions by hydrocracking and hydroisomerising the product with hydrogen in the presence of a suitable catalyst. Typically, the catalyst comprises as catalytically active component one or more metals selected from Groups VIB and VIII of the Periodic Table of Elements, in particular one or more metals selected from molybdenum, tungsten, cobalt, nickel, ruthenium, iridium, osmium, platinum and palladium. Preferably, the catalyst comprises one or more metals selected from nickel, platinum and palladium as the catalytically active component. Catalysts comprising platinum as the catalytically active component have been found to be particularly suitable for use in the second hydroconversion stage. Catalysts for the hydrocracking step typically comprise a refractory metal oxide as a carrier. The carrier material may be amorphous or crystalline. Suitable carrier materials include silica, alumina, silica-alumina, zirconia, titania and mixtures thereof. The carrier may comprise one or more zeolites, either alone or in combination with one or more of the aforementioned carrier materials. Preferred carrier materials for inclusion in the catalyst for use in the process of this invention are silica, alumina and silica-alumina. A particularly preferred catalyst comprises platinum supported on an amorphous silica-alumina carrier. In the hydrocracking/hydroisomerisation stage of this process, the heavy Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon product is contacted with hydrogen in the presence of the catalyst at elevated temperature and pressure. Typically, the temperatures necessary to yield the hydrocarbon fuels will lie in the range of from 200 to 400° C., preferably from 275 to 375° C. The pressure typically applied ranges from 20 to 250 bars, more preferably from 40 to 200 bars. Hydrogen may be supplied at a gas hourly space velocity of from 100 to 10000 Nl/l/hr, preferably from 500 to 5000 Nl/l/hr. The hydrocarbon feed may be provided at a weight hourly space velocity of from 0.1 to 5 kg/l/hr, preferably from 0.25 to 2 kg/l/hr. The ratio of hydrogen to hydrocarbon feed may range from 100 to 5000 Nl/kg and is preferably from 250 to 2500 Nl/kg. The degree of hydrocracking occurring in the hydrocracking/hydroisomerisation step may be measured by determining the degree of conversion of the fraction boiling above 370° C. Typically, the hydrocracking/hydroisomerisation stage is operated at a conversion of at least 40%. The hydrocarbon fuel produced in the hydrocracking stage will typically comprise hydrocarbons having boiling points lying in a number of different fuel fractions, for example naphtha, kerosene and gasoil fractions. Separation of the hydrocarbon fuel into the appropriate fractions may be conveniently achieved using distillation techniques well known in the art. In the process of the invention any reject streams obtained in the above described distillation processes may very suitably be used as additional feedstreams in the process for the preparation of fuels. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the hydrocarbonaceous product stream of the Fischer-Tropsch process, more especially the intermediate fraction comprising the detergent hydrocarbons, is hydrogenated before distillation. Any olefins or oxygenates are removed in that way, resulting in an optimum production of detergent hydrocarbons within a narrow carbon distribution range. Further, such hydrogenated fractions are more stable and less corrosive, making transport and/or storage more easy. In another embodiment of the invention, the intermediate fraction obtained after distillation is hydrogenated before conversion into detergents. Such hydrogenated fractions are more stable and less corrosive, making transport and/or storage more easy. Hydrogenation after distillation avoids the need to hydrogenate a large amount of Fischer-Tropsch product. The hydrogenation step suitably uses a catalyst comprising molybdenum, tungsten, cobalt, nickel, ruthenium, iridium, osmium, platinum or palladium as a catalytically active metal, preferably one or more of nickel and/or molybdenum, cobalt and/or tungsten, platinum and palladium. The hydrogenation step is suitably carried out at a temperature between 150 and 325° C., preferably between 200 and 275° C., a pressure between 5 and 120 bar, preferably between 20 and 70 bar. Hydrogen may be supplied to the hydroconversion stage at a gas hourly space velocity in the range of from 100 to 10000 Nl/l/hr, more preferably from 250 to 5000 Nl/l/hr. The hydrocarbon product being treated is typically supplied to the hydroconversion stage at a weight hourly space velocity in the range of from 0.1 to 5 kg/l/hr, more preferably from 0.25 to 2.5 kg/l/hr. The ratio of hydrogen to hydrocarbon product may range from 100 to 5000 Nl/kg and is preferably from 250 to 3000 Nl/kg. Catalysts for use in the hydrogenation step typically comprise a refractory metal oxide or silicate as a carrier. Suitable carrier materials include silica, alumina, silica-alumina, zirconia, titania and mixtures thereof. Preferred carrier materials for inclusion in the catalyst for use in the process of this invention are silica, alumina and silica-alumina. The catalyst may comprise the catalytically active component in an amount of from 0.05 to 80 parts by weight, preferably from 0.1 to 70 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of carrier material. The amount of catalytically active metal present in the catalyst will vary according to the specific metal concerned. One particularly suitable catalyst for use in the first hydroconversion stage comprises nickel in an amount in the range of from 5 to 70 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of carrier material. A second particularly suitable catalyst comprises platinum in an amount in the range of from 0.05 to 2.0 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of carrier material. Suitable catalysts for use in the hydrogenation step of the process of this invention are available commercially, or may be prepared by methods well known in the art, for example the methods discussed hereinbefore with reference to the preparation of the hydrocarbon synthesis catalyst. The hydrogenation step is operated under conditions such that substantially no isomerization or hydrocracking of the feed occurs. The precise operating conditions required to achieve the desired degree of hydrogenation without substantial hydrocracking or hydroisomerisation occurring will vary according to the composition of the hydrocarbon product being fed to the hydroconversion stage and the particular catalyst being employed. As a measure of the severity of the conditions prevailing in the hydroconversion stage and, hence, the degree of hydrocracking and isomerization occurring, the degree of conversion of the feed hydrocarbon may be determined. In this respect, conversion, in percent, is defined as the percent weight of the fraction of the feed boiling above 220° C. which is converted during the hydroconversion to a fraction boiling below 220° C. The conversion of the hydroconversion stage is below 20%, preferably below 10%, more preferably below 5%. In the case that there is too much hydroisomerisation and/or hydrocracking a decrease of the temperature or the use of a catalyst with a less acidic catalyst function will usually solve the problem. The detergent hydrocarbons, i.e. the molecules, especially paraffins and/or olefins, having the right number of carbon atoms, are converted into detergents according to methods known in the art. A very suitable method is the alkylation of aromatic compounds with olefins, followed by sulphonation and neutralization. The olefins may be the direct product of the Fischer-Tropsch reaction or obtained after dehydrogenation of paraffins. In the case that the intermediate fraction comprising the detergent hydrocarbons is obtained without any treatment, the olefins present in the fraction may be directly used for conversion into detergents. The remaining paraffins may be dehydrogenated, and the olefins thus obtained may be converted into detergents. Preferably the paraffins, directly obtained in the Fischer-Tropsch process, or obtained after hydrogenation of direct Fischer-Tropsch product, is at least partially catalytically dehydrogenated into mono-olefins before conversion into detergents. The desired detergent hydrocarbons are then suitably dehydrogenated. This may be done using processes well known in the art. For instance, the PACOL process of UOP optionally complemented by the DEFINE process of UOP (to convert any dienes in the feed to mono-olefins). In general, dehydrogenation of the detergent hydrocarbons in the instant process can be accomplished using any of the well-known dehydrogenation catalyst systems or “conventional dehydrogenation catalysts” including those described in “Detergent Manufacture Including Zeolite Builders and Other New Materials”, Ed. Sittig, Noyes Data Corp., New Jersey, 1979 and other dehydrogenation catalyst systems, for example those commercially available though UOP Corp. Dehydrogenation can be conducted in presence of hydrogen gas and commonly a precious metal catalyst is present though alternatively non-hydrogen, precious-metal free dehydrogenation systems such as a zeolite/air system can be used with no precious metals present. As is well known, dehydrogenation can be complete or partial, more typically partial. Usually between 5 and 50 wt % olefins are formed, suitably between 5 and 20 wt %. When partial, this step forms a mixture of olefin and unreacted paraffin. Such mixture is a suitable feed for e.g. a benzene alkylation step. After work up of the alkylation step, the unconverted paraffins may be recirculated to the start of the dehydrogenation process. Suitably the dehydrogenation process uses a catalyst containing molybdenum, tungsten, cobalt, nickel, ruthenium, iridium, osmium, platinum or palladium as a catalytically active metal, preferably one or more of nickel and/or molybdenum, cobalt and/or tungsten, platinum and palladium, more preferably platinum. The dehydrogenation step is suitably carried out at a temperature between 300 and 600° C., preferably between 400 and 500° C., a pressure between 0.1 and 20 bar, preferably between 1 and 4 bar. Following the dehydrogenation, the detergent hydrocarbon is converted into a detergent according to methods well known in the art. Suitably the reaction is selected from the following reactions: alkylation with benzene or toluene optionally followed by sulfonation and neutralisation; alkylation with phenol followed by at least one of alkoxylation, sulfonation and neutralisation, sulfation and neutralisation or alkoxylation combined with oxidation; hydroformylation optionally followed by at least one of alkoxylation, glycosylation, sulfation, phosphatation or combinations thereof sulfonation; epoxidation; hydrobromination followed by amination and oxidation to amine oxide; and phosphonation. A particularly preferred option is the alkylation of mono-aromatic compounds, e.g. benzene, toluene, xylene and mixtures thereof, followed by sulphonation. The alkylation process may use aluminium chloride, HF, fluoridated zeolites, non-acidic calcium mordenite and the like as catalyst. For example, appropriate process conditions for AlCl3 alkylation are exemplified by a reaction of 5 mole% AlCI3 relative to the detergent hydrocarbon at 100-300° C. for 0.5-1.0 hour in a batch or continuous reactor. Other suitable alkylation catalyst may be selected from shape-selective moderately acidic alkylation catalysts, preferably zeolitic. The zeolite in such catalysts for the alkylation step is preferably selected from the group consisting of mordenite, ZSM-4, ZSM-12, ZSM-20, offretite, gmelinite and zeolite beta in at least partially acidic form. More preferably, the zeolite in the alkylation step is substantially in acid form and is contained in a catalyst pellet comprising a conventional binder and further wherein said catalyst pellet comprises at least about 1%, more preferably at least 5%, more typically from 50% to about 90%, of said zeolite. A commercially available process is the DETAL process. More generally, suitable alkylation catalyst is typically at least partially crystalline, more preferably substantially crystalline not including binders or other materials used to form catalyst pellets, aggregates or composites. Moreover the catalyst is typically at least partially acidic. H-form mordenite is a suitable catalyst. In a preferred embodiment the detergent hydrocarbons are converted into highly linear alcohols according to the process as described in PCT/EPO2/06373. Beside the above described processes for the preparation of detergents, also other, well known process may be used. For instance, the detergent hydrocarbons, especially a preferred range of C14-C17 detergent hydrocarbons, may be converted into detergents via chlorination or sulfonation of the hydrogenated C14-C17 stream. Also the preparation of detergents directly from paraffins as described in WO 99/59942 may be used. In another embodiment the present invention relates to the preparation of detergent hydrocarbons comprising separating a hydrocarbonaceous product stream comprising detergent hydrocarbons and hydrocarbons boiling above and below the boiling range of the before mentioned detergent hydrocarbons from a Fischer-Tropsch process using a cobalt based catalyst and producing normally liquid and normally solid hydrocarbons into a light fraction boiling below a fraction comprising detergent hydrocarbons, an intermediate boiling fraction comprising detergent hydrocarbons and a heavy fraction boiling above the intermediate boiling fraction comprising detergent hydrocarbons, the Fischer-Tropsch process being carried out at a pressure above 25 bara. In a preferred embodiment the Fischer-Tropsch process is carried out at a pressure above 35 bara, preferably above 45 bara, more preferably above 55 bara. Especially the detergent hydrocarbons are CIO to C17 hydrocarbons, preferably C10 to C14 hydrocarbons. Further, the intermediate boiling fraction comprises at least 80 wt % on total fraction of detergent hydrocarbons, preferably at least 90 wt %, more preferably at least 95 wt %, still more preferably at least 98 wt %. The preferences for this embodiment are the same as for the process as described in the main claim. In this specification the term “mainly” means at least 80 wt %, unless otherwise specified. When an amount of a product or mixture is indicated as “wt %”, the percentage is based on the total product stream in which the product is present, unless otherwise specified. Under “normally liquid hydrocarbon product” is meant any product which is at STP (1 bar, 0° C.) a liquid product. For saturated hydrocarbons this means C5+ hydrocarbons. Under “normally solid product” is meant any product which is solid at STP. For saturated normal hydrocarbons this means C15+. The term Cn+ relates to molecules comprising n carbon atoms or more. The term Cn− refers to molecules comprising n carbon atoms or less. The term “middle distillates”, as used herein, is a reference to hydrocarbon mixtures of which the boiling point range corresponds substantially to that of kerosene and diesel fractions obtained in a conventional atmospheric distillation of crude mineral oil. EXAMPLE A cobalt containing Fischer-Tropsch catalyst (12 pbw Co on 100 pbw titania, Mn promoter) was tested at several conditions in the same reactor. The following results were obtained. Pressure 60 bara 40 bara 30 bara 20 bara Temperature 213° C. 215° C. 214° C. 215° C. STY 150 150 100 100 i-C12 (wt %) 2.7 5.1 8.9 >10 STY (space time yield), kg/m3/h. i-C12, wt % based on total C12 product.

20050819

20100309

20060706

98551.0

C07C712

BULLOCK, IN SUK C

PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF DETERGENT COMPOUNDS

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

C07C

ACCEPTED

Oil well pump apparatus

An oil well pumping apparatus for pumping oil from a well to a wellhead provides a tool body that is sized and shaped to be lowered into the production tubing string of the oil well. A working fluid is provided that can be pumped into the production tubing. A prime mover is provided for pumping the working fluid. A flow channel into the well bore enables the working fluid to be circulated from the prime mover via the production tubing to the tool body at a location in the well and then back to the wellhead area. A pumping mechanism is provided on the tool body, the pumping mechanism including first and second gerotors. The first gerotor is driven by the working fluid. The second gerotor is rotated by the first gerotor. The two gerotors are connected with a common shaft. The tool body has flow conveying portions that mix the working fluid and the produced oil as the oil is pumped. The pumping mechanism transmits the commingled fluid of oil and working fluid to the wellhead area where they are separated and the working fluid recycled.

1. An oil pump apparatus for pumping oil from an oil well having a wellhead and a well bore with casing and a production tubing string, comprising: a) a tool body that is sized and shaped to be lowered into the production tubing string of an oil well; b) a casing and production tubing; c) a working fluid that can be pumped into the production tubing; d) a prime mover for pumping the working fluid; e) a flow channel in the well bore that enables the working fluid to be circulated from the prime mover via the production tubing to the tool body at a location in the well and then back to the wellhead area; f) a pumping mechanism on the tool body, the pumping mechanism including a first impeller that is driven by the working fluid and a second impeller that is rotated by the first impeller, the second impeller pumping oil from the well via the tool body; g) wherein the tool body has flow conveying portions that mix the working fluid and the oil as the oil is pumped; and h) wherein the pumping mechanism transmits the commingled fluid of oil and working fluid to the wellhead area. 2. The oil pump apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a filter in the tool body that is positioned to filter the working fluid before it reaches the pumping mechanism. 3. The oil pump apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a filter in the tool body that is positioned to filter the oil being pumped before it reaches the pumping mechanism. 4. The oil pump apparatus of claim 1 wherein the working fluid is water or oil or a mixture of oil and water. 5. The oil pump apparatus of claim 1 wherein the working fluid is a fluid mixture of oil and water. 6. The oil pump apparatus of claim 1 wherein the working fluid is oil. 7. The oil pump apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a swab cup on the tool body that enables the tool body to be pumped to the well head area using the working fluid. 8. The oil pump apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a swab cup on the tool body that enables the tool body to be pumped into the well bore via the production tubing string using the working fluid. 9. The oil pump apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a swab cup on the tool body that enables the tool body to be pumped to the well head area using the working fluid. 10. The oil pump apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a swab cup on the tool body that enables the tool body to be pumped into the well bore via the production tubing string using the working fluid. 11. The oil pump apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a check valve on the tool body that prevents oil flow inside the tool body above the pumping mechanism. 12. The oil pump apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a check valve on the tool body that prevents the flow of the working fluid inside the tool body to a position below the tool body. 13. The oil pump apparatus of claim 1 wherein the impellers include upper and lower impellers connected by a common shaft. 14. The oil pump apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pumping mechanism includes a gerotor mechanism. 15. The oil pump apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pumping mechanism comprises an influent plate, a biasing mechanism, and a retainer, and the biasing mechanism is located between the influent plate and retainer. 16. The oil pump apparatus of claim 15, wherein an o-ring is located on the influent plate, the o-ring being used to sealingly attach the influent plate to the pumping mechanism. 17. The oil pump apparatus of claim 15, wherein the pumping mechanism further comprises a pin and the influent plate comprises a hole, the pin and hole being used to align the influent plate in the pumping mechanism. 18. An oil pump apparatus for pumping oil from an oil well having a wellhead and a well bore with casing and a production tubing string, comprising: a) a tool body that is sized and shaped to be lowered into the production tubing string of an oil well; b) a casing and production tubing; c) a working fluid that can be pumped into the production tubing; d) a prime mover for pumping the working fluid; e) a flow channel in the well bore that enables the working fluid to be circulated from the prime mover via the production tubing to the tool body at a location in the well and then back to the wellhead area; f) a pumping mechanism on the tool body, the pumping mechanism including a first gerotor device that is driven by the working fluid and a second gerotor device that is powered by the first gerotor device, the second gerotor device pumping oil from the well via the tool body; g) wherein the tool body has flow conveying portions that mix the working fluid and the oil as the oil is pumped; and h) wherein the pumping mechanism transmits the commingled fluid of oil and working fluid to the wellhead area. 19. The oil pump apparatus of claim 18 further comprising a filter in the tool body that is positioned to filter the working fluid before it reaches the pumping mechanism. 20. The oil pump apparatus of claim 18 further comprising a filter in the tool body that is positioned to filter the oil being pumped before it reaches the pumping mechanism. 21-35. (canceled)

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Priority is hereby claimed to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/372,533, filed on 21 Feb. 2003. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/372,533, filed on 21 Feb. 2003, is incorporated herein by reference. In the US this is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/372,533, filed on 21 Feb. 2003. STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT Not applicable REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX” Not applicable BACKGROUND 1. Field The present invention relates to oil well pumps. More particularly, the present invention relates to a downhole oil well pump apparatus that can use a circulating working fluid to drive a specially configured pump that is operated by the working fluid and wherein the pump transmits oil from the well to the surface by commingling the pumped oil with the working fluid, oil and the working fluid being separated at the wellhead or earth's surface. Even more particularly, the present invention can relate to an oil well pump that is operated in a downhole cased, production pipe environment that utilizes a pump having a single pump shaft that has gerotor devices at each end of the pump shaft, one of the gerotor devices being driven by the working fluid, the other gerotor device pumping the oil to be retrieved. 2. General Background In the pumping of oil from wells, various types of pumps are utilized, the most common of which is a surface mounted pump that reciprocates between lower and upper positions. Examples include the common oil well pumpjack, and the Ajusta® pump. Such pumps reciprocate sucker rods that are in the well and extend to the level of producing formation. One of the problems with pumps is the maintenance and repair that must be performed from time to time. SUMMARY The present invention provides an improved pumping system from pumping oil from a well that provides a downhole pump apparatus that can be operated with a working fluid that operates a specially configured pumping arrangement that includes a common shaft. One end portion of the shaft can be a gerotor that is driven by the working fluid. The other end portion of the shaft can have a gerotor that pumps oil from the well. In this arrangement, both the oil being pumped and the working fluid commingle as they are transmitted to the surface. A separator can be used at the earth's surface to separate the working fluid (for example, water) and the oil. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein: FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C are a sectional elevation view of a preferred embodiment, wherein the drawing 1A matches to the drawing 1B at match lines A-A and the drawing 1B matches to the drawing 1C at match lines B-B; FIG. 2 is a partial exploded perspective body of a preferred embodiment of FIGS. 1A-1C showing some of the pumping components; FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the geroter illustrating the pumping components; FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 3; FIG. 6 is a section view taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 3; FIGS. 7A-7B are perspective views of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention wherein the match line AA of FIG. 7A matches the match line AA of 7B; FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, top view of illustrating one of the filtered disks; FIG. 9 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating a filter disk spacer; FIGS. 10A-10E are sequential illustrations that show various positions of the gerotor devices for both the upper and lower gerotors; FIG. 11A is a schematic diagram showing operation of the apparatus and method of the present invention in a pumping position; FIG. 11B is a schematic diagram showing operation of the apparatus and method of the present invention in a retrieval position; FIG. 11C is a schematic diagram showing operation of the apparatus and method of the present invention in a neutral position; FIG. 12 is an exploded view of an alternative construction for the pump housing. FIG. 13 shows a tool for inserting a plate into the pump housing; FIG. 14 shows the plate tool inserting the plate into the pump housing; FIG. 15 shows the plate tool after the plate has been inserted into the pump housing; FIG. 16 shows a biasing member for maintaining a pressure on the plate when contained in the pump housing; FIG. 17 shows a tool for inserting a retainer into the pump housing; FIG. 18 shows the retainer tool inserting the retainer into the pump housing; FIG. 19 shows the retainer tool after the retainer has been inserted into the pump housing; and FIG. 20 shows the retainer in its final position after being inserted int the pump housing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Oil well pump apparatus 10 as shown in the sectional elevation view of FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C are in the lines A-A in figures 1A and 1B are match lines and the lines B-B in FIGS. 1B and 1C are match lines. Oil well pump 10 can be used in a well casing 11 that surrounds production tubing 12. A packer 13 can be set in between casing 11 and production tubing 12 as shown in FIG. 1C. Landing nipple 14 is positioned above packer 13. The landing nipple 14 receives the lower end portion 17 of tool body 15 as shown in FIG. 1C. Tool body 15 can be pumped hydraulically (FIG. 11A) or lowered into the production tubing 12 bore 18 using a work string (not shown) that grips neck portion 32 at tool body 15 upper end 16. The apparatus 10 of the present invention provides an oil well pump 10 that has a tool body 15 that is elongated to fit inside of the bore 18 of production tubing 12 as shown in FIGS. 1A-1C. A well annulus 19 is that space in between casing 11 and production tubing 12. During use, a working fluid such as water, “lease” water, or an oil water mixture can be used to power pump mechanism 26. This working fluid follows the path that is generally designated by the arrows 20, 21, 22 and 23 in FIGS. 1A-1B. The working fluid is pumped from the wellhead area 120 using a prime mover 121 as shown in FIG. 11A and indicated by arrows 20. Prime mover 121 (FIG. 11) can be a commercially available pump that receives working fluid via flowline 122 from reservoir 123. Reservoir 123 is supplied with the working fluid such as water via flowline 124 that exits oil/water separator 125. As the working fluid is pumped by prime mover 121 in the direction of arrows 20 through production tubing 12, the working fluid enters tee-shaped passage 34 as indicated by arrows 21. The working fluid then travels in sleeve bore 36 of sleeve 35 as indicated by arrows 22 until it reaches connector 60 and its flow passages 67. Arrows 23 indicate the flow of the working fluid from the passages 67 to retainer 111 and its passageways 112, 113. At this point, the working fluid enters pump mechanism 26 (see FIGS. 1B, 2, and 3-6). A check valve 25 is provided that prevents oil from flowing in a reverse direction. This check valve 25 has a spring 50 that is overcome by the pressure of working fluid that flows through passageway 51 in the direction of arrows 20, 21, 22, 23. The working fluid exits tool body 15 via passageway 137 and working fluid discharge port 65 (see arrow 24). The pump mechanism 26 is driven by the working fluid. The pump mechanism 26 also pumps oil from the well in the direction of oil flow arrows 27 as shown in FIGS. 1B, 1C and 11A. Connector 68 attaches to the lower end of pump mechanism housing 63. Connector 68 provides upper and lower external threads 69, 70 and flow passages 71 that enable oil to be produced to reach lower filter 31, suction ports 133, 134 of retainer 132 and lower gerotor device 151 so that the oil can be pumped by lower gerotor device 151 via passageway 135 to produced oil discharge port 66. At discharge port 66, the produced oil enters production tubing bore 18 where it commingles with the working fluid, the commingled mixture flowing into annulus 19 via perforations 114. Oil that flows from the producing formation in to the tool body (see arrows 27) flows upwardly via bore 86 of seating nipple 14. The lower end portion 17 of tool body 15 has a tapered section 84 that is shaped to fit seating nipple 14 as seen in FIG. 1C. An o-ring 87 on lower end 17 of tool body 15 can form a fluid seal between tool body 15 and seating nipple 14. Above passageway 86, oil is filtered with lower filter 31. Of similar construction to filter 30, filter 31 can be of alternating disks 76 and spacers 108 (FIGS. 8-9). Filter disk 76 can be secured to connector 68 with shaft 72 having threaded connection 73 attaching to connector 68 while retainer plate 74 and bolt 75 hold filter disks 76 to shaft 72 (see FIG. 1B, 7B and 8-9). Connector 68 attaches to pump mechanism body 3 at threaded connection 78. Connector 68 attaches to sleeve 80 and its internal threads 82 at threaded connection 79. Sleeve 80 has bore 81 occupied by lower filter 31 (see FIGS. 1B and 7B). Seating nipple 14 attaches to the lower end of sleeve 80 with threaded connection 83. Seating nipple 14 has bore 86 and external threads 85 that connect to sleeve 80 at threaded connection 83. The oil producing formation is below packer 13 and check valve 88. The producing oil enters the production tubing bore 18 via perforations (not shown) as is known in the art for oil wells. Check valve 88 and its spring 89 prevent the working fluid from flowing into the formation that contains oil. The check valve 88 is overcome by the pump 26 pressure as oil is pumped upwardly in the direction of arrows 27. Pump 26 can include two central impellers or rotors 94, 95. The upper central rotor 94 and outer rotor 98 are driven by the working fluid. The lower central rotor 95 and outer rotor 99 are connected to the upper rotor 94 with shaft 91 so that the lower central rotor 95 rotates when the upper rotor 95 is driven by the working fluid. Thus, driving the upper rotor 94 with the working fluid simultaneously drives the lower rotor 95 so that it pumps oil from the well production bore 18. The oil that is pumped mixes with the working fluid at perforations 114 in the production tubing as indicated schematically by the arrows 28, 29 in FIGS. 1A, 1B. The arrows 29 indicate the return of the oil/water mix in the annulus 19 that is in between casing 11 and production tubing 12. To create a bearing effect shaft 91 can be of a different material than pump housing 63. Additionally, seals such as o-rings can be placed at upper and lower positions of shaft 91. In FIG. 11A, the oil, water (or other working fluid) mix is collected in flowline 126 and flows into oil/water separator 125 as indicated by arrows 127. Oil is then removed from the separator in flowline 128 as indicated by arrows 129 in FIG. 11A. The working fluid (e.g., water) is separated and flows via flowline 124 back into reservoir 123 for reuse as the working fluid. As an alternate means to lower the tool body 15 into the well (if not using pumping of FIG. 11A), a neck section 32 is provided having an annular shoulder 33. This is common type of connector that is known in the oil field for lowering down hole tools into a well bore or as an alternate means of retrieval. An upper filter 30 is provided for filtering the working fluid before it enters the pump mechanism 26. A lower filter 31 is provided for filtering oil before it enters the pump mechanism 26. Tool body 15 can include a sleeve 35 that can be attached with a threaded connection 38 to the lower end portion of neck section 32 as shown in FIG. 1A. A pair of swab cups 37, 40 are attached to sleeve section 35 at spacer sleeve 42. The swab cup 37 provides an annular socket 39. The swab cup 40 provides an annular socket 41. The spacer sleeve 42 has a bore 43 that has an internal diameter that closely conforms to the outer surface of sleeve 35. The sleeve 35 provides bore 36 through which working fluid can flow as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. A third swab cup 44 can be positioned just above valve housing 48 as shown in FIG. 1B. The swab cup 44 has an annular socket 47. A spacer sleeve 45 with bore 46 is sized to closely fit over sleeve 35 as shown in FIG. 1B. Valve housing 48 has external threads that enable a threaded connection 49 to be formed with sleeve 52 at its bore 53 that is provided with internally threaded portions. The bore 53 of sleeve 52 carries filter 30 which is preferably in the form of a plurality of filter disks 54 separated by spacers 108 (see FIGS. 1B, 8-9). As shown in 7A, the filtered disks 54 of filter 30 are held in position upon shaft 57 with retainer plate 55 and bolt 56. Shaft 57 has an internally threaded portion 58 for receiving bolt 56 as shown in FIGS. 1B and 7A. A threaded connection 59 is formed between the lower end portion of shaft 57 and connector 60. The connector 60 has externally threaded portion 61, 62 and a plurality of longitudinally extending flow passages 71 as shown in FIG. 1B and 7A. Pump mechanism 26 (see FIGS. 1B, 2, 3) can include a pump housing 63 that is attached using a threaded connection to the bottom of connector 60 at thread 62. The pump housing 63 in FIG. 7B has internal threads 64 that enable connection with connector 60. Housing 63 can have a working fluid discharge port 65 and an oil discharge port 66 (see FIG. 3). Pump housing 63 can carry shaft 91. The shaft 91 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) has keyed end portions 92, 93. Each rotor 94, 95 can be provided with a correspondingly shaped opening so that it fits tightly to a keyed end portion 92 or 93 of shaft 91. In FIG. 2, the upper rotor 94 has a shaped opening 96 that fits the keyed end portion 92 of shaft 91. The rotor 95 has a shaped opening 97 that fits the keyed end portion 93 of shaft 91. Each of the central rotors 94, 95 can fit an outer rotor 98,99 that has a star shaped chamber 109,110. In FIGS. 2 and 3, upper rotor 94 fits the star shaped chamber 109 of rotor 98. Similarly, the lower rotor 95 fits the star shaped chamber 110 of rotor 99. Each rotor 94, 95 can have multiple lobes (e.g., four as shown). The upper rotor 94 can have lobes or gear teeth 100, 101, 102, 103. The lower rotor 95 can have lobes or gear teeth 104, 105, 106, 107. This configuration of a star shaped inner or central rotor rotating in a star shaped chamber of an outer rotor having one more lobe than the central or inner rotor is a per se known pumping device known as a “gerotor”. Gerotor pumps are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,273,501; 4,193,746, 4,540,347; 4,986,739; and 6,113,360 each hereby incorporated herein by reference. Working fluid that flows downwardly in the direction of arrow 23 enters the enlarged chamber 113 pat of passageway 112 of retainer 111 so that the working fluid can enter any part of the star shaped chamber 109 of upper disk 98. An influent plate 115 is supported above upper disk 98 and provides a shaped opening 116. When the working fluid is pumped from enlarged section 113 into the star shaped chamber 109 that is occupied by upper rotor 94, both rotors 94 and 98 rotate as shown in figures 10A-10E to provide an upper gerotor device 150. FIGS. 10A-10E show a sequence of operation during pumping of the upper central rotor 94 in relation to upper outer rotor 98 and its star shaped chamber 109. In FIG. 10A, the opening 116 is shown in position relative to rotors 94 and 98. The two reference dots 140, 141 are aligned in the starting position of FIG. 10A. Arrow 118 indicates the direction of rotation of rotor 94. Arrow 119 indicates the direct of rotation of upper disk 98. By inspecting the position of the reference dots 140, 141 in each of the views 10A-10E, the pumping sequence can be observed. The two gerotor devices 150, 151 provided at the keyed end portions 92, 93 of shaft 91 can each utilize an inner and outer rotors. At shaft upper end 92, upper inner rotor 94 can be mounted in star shaped chamber 109 of peripheral rotor 98. As the inner, central rotor 94 rotates, the outer rotor 98 also rotates, both being driven by the working fluid that is pumped under pressure to this upper gerotor 150. The rotor or impeller 94 rotates shaft 92 and lower inner rotor or impeller 95. As rotor 95 rotates with shaft 92, outer peripheral rotor 99 also rotates, pulling oil upwardly in the direction of arrows 27. Each inner, central rotor 94, 95 can have one less tooth or lobe than its associated outer rotor 98, 99 respectively as shown in FIGS. 2 and 10A-10E. While figures 10A-10E show upper rotors 94, 98, the same configuration of FIGS. 10A-10E can apply for lower rotors 95, 99. An eccentric relationship can be established by the parallel but nonconcentric axes of rotation of rotors 94, 98 so that full tooth or lobe engagement between rotors 94, 98 occurs at a single point only (see FIGS. 10A-10E). As working fluid flows through passageways 112, 113 into star shaped chamber 109 and shaped opening 116, rotors 94, 98 rotate as do rotors 95, 99. Oil to be produced is drawn through suction ports 133, 134 of retainer 132 to shaped opening 136 of effluent plate 117 and then into star shaped chamber 110 of outer rotor 99. The rotating rotors 95, 99 transmit the oil to be pumped via passageway 135 to oil discharge port 66. At discharge port 66, oil to be produced can mix with the working fluid and exit perforations 114 in production tubing 12 as indicated by arrows 28 in FIG. 1B. In the pumping mode of FIG. 11A, working fluid (e.g., water or oil) moves from the reservoir 123 to the prime mover 121. The prime mover 121 can be a positive displacement pump that pumps the working fluid through three way valve 130. In the pumping mode, three way valve 130 handle 131 is in the down position as shown in FIG. 11A, allowing the working fluid or power fluid into the tubing 12. The working fluid pumps the tool body 15 into the seating nipple 14 and then the lower swab cups 40, 44 flare outwardly sealing against the tubing 12 causing the power fluid to then enter the ports or channel 34 at the upper end 16 of the tool body 15. The working fluid travels through the center of the stacked disk upper filter 30 into the uppermost gerotor motor 150 causing the upper gerotor 150 to rotate and, in turn, causing the shaft 91 to rotate which causes the lower gerotor 151 to turn. When the lower gerotor 151 turns, it pumps produced oil into the casing annulus 19 so that it commingles (arrows 28) with the working fluid and returns to the surface. At the surface or wellhead 120, the oil/water separator 125 separates produced oil into a selected storage tank and recirculates the power fluid into the reservoir to complete the cycle. In the retrieval mode of FIG. 11B, working fluid moves from the reservoir 123 to the prime mover 121. The positive displacement prime mover 121 pumps the working fluid through the three way valve 130. In the retrieval mode, the three way valve handle 131 is in an upper position (as shown in FIG. 11B) that allows the working fluid to enter the casing annulus 19. The working fluid enters the perforated production tubing 12 at perforations 114 but does not pass the packer 13. This working fluid that travels in the annulus 19 flares the upper swab cup 37 against the production tubing 12 causing a seal. A check valve 88 can be provided to prevent circulation of the working fluid through the tool body 15 to the oil producing formation that is below valve 88 and packer 13. This arrangement causes the tool body 15 to lift upward and return to the wellhead 120 where it can be removed using an overshot. In FIG. 11B, the tool body 15 can thus be pumped to the surface or wellhead area 120 for servicing or replacement. The power fluid or working fluid circulates through the three way valve 130 to the oil separator 125 and then to the reservoir 123 completing the cycle. In FIG. 11C, a neutral mode is shown. When the tool body 15 is captured with an overshot, for example, the three way valve 130 is placed in a middle or neutral position as shown in FIG. 11C. The FIG. 11C configuration causes the power fluid or working fluid to circulate through the three way valve 130 and directly to the separator 125 and then back to the reservoir 123. The configuration of FIG. 11A produces zero pressure on the tubing 12. A hammer union can be loosened to remove the tool body 15 and release the overshot. The tool body 15 can be removed for servicing or replacement. A replacement pump can then be placed in the tubing 12 bore 18. A well operator then replaces the hammer union and places the handle 131 of the three way valve 130 in the down position of FIG. 11A. The tool body 15 is then pumped to the seating nipple 14 as shown in FIG. 1A, seating in the seating nipple 14 so that oil production can commence. FIGS. 12-20 show an alternative embodiment for pump housing 63. FIG. 12 is an exploded view of an alternative construction for pump housing 63. From top to bottom is shown retainer 111A, biasing member 210, influent plate 115A, and pump housing 63. Retainer 111A can comprise a plurality of holes 200 (as will be explained later) and passageway 112. Biasing member 210 can be a spring or other elastic member. Influent plate 115A can comprise shaped opening 116A, threaded bore 260, seat 220, track 235, and hole 230. Seat 220 can be used to seat a sealing member such as an o-ring. Hole 230 can be used to line up shaped opening 116A with star shaped chamber 109. Opening 116A can be positioned by inserting hole 230 over pin 250. Track 235 can be used to assist in lining up hole 230 over pin 250. Track 235 is preferably circular to assist lining hole 230 with pin 250. FIG. 13 shows tool 300 for inserting influent plate 115A into pump housing 63. Tool 300 can comprise handle 310, base 330, and screw 320. FIG. 14 shows tool 300 inserting influent plate 115A into pump housing 63. Screw 320 can be threaded into threaded bore 260 thereby attaching tool 300 to plate 115A. By pushing in the direction of arrow 315, handle 310 can be used to insert influent plate 115A into bore 63A. One object is to line up hole 230 with pin 250 thus ensuring that shaped opening 116A is properly aligned for gerotor operation. Track 235 can be used to assist in lining up hole 230 with pin 250. Influent plate 115A can be worked in the direction of arrow 315 until plate 115A rests on face 270 of pump housing 63 as shown in FIG. 15. Thread 320 can be reverse threaded to allow rotation in a counterclockwise direction without tending to separate tool 300 from plate 115A. FIG. 15 shows plate tool 300 after influent plate 115A has been inserted into pump housing 63. Also shown is pin 250 lining up with bore 230. O-ring 225 is shown sealingly engaging sidewall 280. Shaped opening 116A is shown properly lined up with outer rotor 98. To remove tool 300 handle 310 should be turned in a clockwise rotation and pulled upwardly. FIG. 16 shows a biasing member 210 for maintaining pressure on influent plate 115A when plate 115A is assembled in pump housing 63. FIG. 17 shows a tool 400 for inserting retainer 111A into pump housing 63. Tool 400 can comprise handle 410, base 420, space 430, and pins 440. Pins 440 can be constructed so that they mate with holes 200 of retainer 111A. FIG. 18 shows retainer tool 400 inserting retainer 111A into pump housing 63. Retainer 111A can include external threads which mate with threaded portion 290 of pump housing 63. To insert retainer 111A, handle 410 should be turned in the direction of arrow 440. Handle 410 is turned in the direction of arrow 440 until lower surface 425 contacts upper face 285 of pump housing. Spacer 430 can ensure that retainer 111A is inserted to a proper position for compressing biasing member 210. This position is shown in FIG. 19. Tool 400 is removed by pulling it out of bore 63A. FIG. 20 shows retainer 111A in its final position after being inserted into pump housing 63. Biasing member 210 has been compressed by retainer 111A maintaining a downward forced on influent plate 115A. Pin 250 resists rotational movement of influent plate 115A. O-ring 250 sealingly engages sidewall 280. As shown in FIG. 3, O-ring 500 can also be used to sealingly engage retainer 111 with influent plate 115. Accordingly, a single path for fluid flow is allowed—passageway 112A to enlarged section 113A; to shaped opening 116A; to star shaped chamber 109; and to passageway 137. Even where retainer 111A backs out somewhat during use biasing member 210 tends to push influent plate 115A towards face 270 and maintaining a fluid tight seal and proper position of influent plate 115A. PARTS LIST The following is a list of suitable parts and materials for the various elements of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 10 oil well pump 11 casing 12 production tubing 13 packer 14 seating nipple 15 tool body 16 upper end portion 17 lower end portion 18 bore 19 annulus 20 arrow 21 arrow 22 arrow 23 arrow 24 arrow 25 check valve 26 pump mechanism 27 oil flow arrow 28 oil mix flow arrow 29 return flow arrow 30 filter, upper 31 filter, lower 32 neck section 33 annular shoulder 34 channel 35 sleeve 36 sleeve bore 37 swab cup 38 threaded connection 39 annular socket 40 swab cup 41 annular socket 42 spacer sleeve 43 bore 44 swab cup 45 spacer sleeve 46 bore 47 annular socket 48 valve housing 49 threaded connection 50 spring 51 passageway 52 sleeve 53 bore 54 filter disk 55 retainer plate 56 bolt 57 shaft 58 internal threads 59 threaded connection 60 connector 61 external threads 62 external threads 63 pump mechanism housing 63A bore 64 internal threads 65 working fluid discharge port 66 produced oil discharge port 67 flow passage 68 connector 69 external threads 70 external threads 71 flow passage 72 shaft 73 threaded connection 74 retainer plate 75 bolt 76 filler disk 78 threaded connection 79 threaded connection 80 sleeve 81 bore 82 internal threads 83 threaded connection 84 tapered section 85 external threads 86 bore 87 o-ring 88 check valve 89 spring 90 internal threads 91 shaft 92 keyed portion 93 keyed portion 94 upper rotor 95 lower rotor 96 shaped opening 97 shaped opening 98 outer rotor 99 outer rotor 100 lobe 101 lobe 102 lobe 103 lobe 104 lobe 105 lobe 106 lobe 107 lobe 108 spacer 109 star shaped chamber 110 star shaped chamber 111 retainer 112 passageway 113 enlarged section 114 perforations 115 influent plate 116 shaped opening 117 effluent plate 118 arrow 119 arrow 120 wellhead area 121 prime mover 122 flowline 123 reservoir 124 flowline 125 separator 126 flowline 127 arrow 128 flowline 129 arrow 130 three way valve 131 handle 132 retainer 133 suction port 134 suction port 135 passageway 136 shaped opening 137 passageway 140 reference dot 141 reference dot 150 upper gerotor device 151 lower gerotor device 200 holes 210 biasing member 220 seat 225 o-ring 230 hole for pin 235 track 240 line 250 pin 260 bore 262 upper face 270 face 280 sidewall 285 upper face 290 threaded portion 300 tool for plate 310 handle 315 arrow 320 screw 330 base 400 tool for retainer 410 handle 420 base 425 lower surface of base 430 spacer 440 pins 440 arrow The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.

<SOH> BACKGROUND <EOH>1. Field The present invention relates to oil well pumps. More particularly, the present invention relates to a downhole oil well pump apparatus that can use a circulating working fluid to drive a specially configured pump that is operated by the working fluid and wherein the pump transmits oil from the well to the surface by commingling the pumped oil with the working fluid, oil and the working fluid being separated at the wellhead or earth's surface. Even more particularly, the present invention can relate to an oil well pump that is operated in a downhole cased, production pipe environment that utilizes a pump having a single pump shaft that has gerotor devices at each end of the pump shaft, one of the gerotor devices being driven by the working fluid, the other gerotor device pumping the oil to be retrieved. 2. General Background In the pumping of oil from wells, various types of pumps are utilized, the most common of which is a surface mounted pump that reciprocates between lower and upper positions. Examples include the common oil well pumpjack, and the Ajusta® pump. Such pumps reciprocate sucker rods that are in the well and extend to the level of producing formation. One of the problems with pumps is the maintenance and repair that must be performed from time to time.

<SOH> SUMMARY <EOH>The present invention provides an improved pumping system from pumping oil from a well that provides a downhole pump apparatus that can be operated with a working fluid that operates a specially configured pumping arrangement that includes a common shaft. One end portion of the shaft can be a gerotor that is driven by the working fluid. The other end portion of the shaft can have a gerotor that pumps oil from the well. In this arrangement, both the oil being pumped and the working fluid commingle as they are transmitted to the surface. A separator can be used at the earth's surface to separate the working fluid (for example, water) and the oil.

20060818

20080527

20070201

98919.0

E21B4300

ANDREWS, DAVID L

OIL WELL PUMP APPARATUS

SMALL

CONT-ACCEPTED

E21B

ACCEPTED

Rotary disc filter and module for constructing same

A rotary disk filter and a module for building a filter support for a rotary disk filter are disclosed. The rotary disk filter may comprise a drum, which is rotatable about its central longitudinal axis. The rotary disk filter may be adapted to receive a liquid which is to be filtered. In one implementation, the rotary disk filter may comprise at least one disk-shaped filter member which on the outside of the drum extends outwards in the transverse direction of the drum, and which has a filter support and at least one filter portion supported thereby. A first liquid duct may extend from the drum through the filter member and out through the filter portion. The filter portion may be made of filter segments, which are detachably secured to the filter support. At least one second liquid duct may extend between adjoining filter segments to provide liquid communication between the filter segments. The module may comprise two inner support portions and two outer support portions for at least partial enclosure of two adjoining filter segments, and an intermediate support portion adapted to be arranged between the two adjoining filter segments.

1. A rotary disk filter comprising a drum having a central longitudinal axis and being rotatably arranged about the same and adapted to receive a liquid which is to be filtered, and at least one disk-shaped filter member which on the outside of the drum extends outwards in the transverse direction of the drum and which has a filter support and at least one filter portion supported thereby, wherein a first liquid duct extends from the drum through the filter member and out through the filter portion, wherein the filter portion is made of filter segments, which are detachably secured to the filter support, and further wherein at least one second liquid duct extends between adjoining filter segments to provide liquid communication between the filter segments. 2. The rotary disk filter according to claim 1, wherein the at least one second liquid duct comprises hollow spaces in the filter support. 3. The rotary disk filter according to claim 1, wherein the filter support between the filter segments comprises a framework construction, whose hollow spaces constitute the at least one second liquid duct. 4. The rotary disk filter according to claim 1, wherein the filter support is made up of modules. 5. The rotary disk filter according to claim 4, wherein two modules constitute the filter support around a filter segment, and the two modules are interconnected at a distance from surrounding filter segments. 6. The rotary disk filter according to claim 1, wherein the filter segments are secured to the filter support by means of grooves in the filter support which extend in the plane of the filter segments. 7. The rotary disk filter according to claim 1, wherein the filter support forms at least a portion of a circumferential surface of the drum. 8. The rotary disk filter according to claim 1, wherein the filter support is made of plastic. 9. A module for building a filter support for a rotary disk filter, the filter support being arranged to support, around a drum, filter segments which on the outside of the drum extend outwards in the transverse direction of the drum, the filter support comprising: intermediate support portions between adjoining filter segments, inner support portions between the drum and the filter segments, and outer support portions on the side of the filter segments which faces away from the drum, wherein the filter support comprises two inner support portions and two outer support portions for at least partial enclosure of two adjoining filter segments, and an intermediate support portion (adapted to be arranged between the two adjoining filter segments. 10. The module according to claim 9, wherein the intermediate support portion comprises at least one liquid duct to provide liquid communication between adjoining filter segments. 11. The module according to claim 9, wherein the intermediate support portion comprises a framework construction, whose hollow spaces constitute liquid ducts to provide liquid communication between adjoining filter segments. 12. The module according to claim 9, wherein at one end of the outer support portions and the inner support portions includes means for interconnecting two modules. 13. The module according to claim 9, wherein the inner support portions are arranged to form portions of a circumferential surface of the drum. 14. The module according to claim 9, wherein the outer support portions and the inner support portions are symmetrically arranged on the intermediate support portion. 15. The module according to claim 9, comprising grooves for securing the filter segments, wherein the grooves extend in the plane of the filter segments. 16. The module according to claim 9, wherein the filter support is made of plastic.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a rotary disk filter comprising a drum having a central longitudinal axis and being rotatably arranged about the same and adapted to receive a liquid which is to be filtered, and at least one disk-shaped filter member which on the outside of the drum extends outwards in the transverse direction of the drum and which has a filter support and at least one filter portion supported thereby, a first liquid duct extending from the drum through the filter member and out through the filter portion, and the filter portion being made of filter segments, which are detachably secured to the filter support. The invention also relates to a module for building a filter support for a rotary disk filter. BACKGROUND ART Rotary disk filters are known from, for example, SE-C-224,131. In this filter, water is conducted through one end of a central rotatable drum and through openings in the circumference of the drum radially outwards to disk-shaped filter chambers. Each of the filter chambers is defined by a disk-shaped filter member having opposing filter portions which are supported by an annular filter support arranged between the same. The filter members are mounted in parallel along the longitudinal axis of the drum. When water flows out through the filter portions, particles are retained in the filter chambers. When cleaning the filter portions, the drum is rotated and water is flushed onto the filter portions from outside in the upper area of the rotary disk filter, particles and water flowing into the upper area of the drum and being collected in a trough extending through the drum. The filter portions comprise annular filter cloth portions arranged on the sides of the filter supports. SE-B-465,857 (WO 91/12067) discloses a rotary disk filter of a similar kind, in which the disk-shaped filter members comprise a plurality of separate, disk-shaped filter sections, which together establish annular filter members. By the annular filter members being divided into a plurality of separate units, also the filter cloth is divided into smaller pieces, which means that in case of a local damage to the cloth a replacement of the cloth is necessary on only one of the filter sections, not on an entire annular disk. In the two rotary disk filters described above, the filter cloth can be fastened in one of a plurality of ways. In a common solution, the filter cloth is glued directly to the filter support on opposing sides thereof. This is particularly common when the cloth consists of some textile or plastic material. The cloth can also be made of metal. In that case, it is often welded to the filter support, and if necessary reinforcement ribs are welded to the outside of the filter cloth for improved securing thereof. In a further way of fixing the cloth to the support, the cloth is designed as a “bag” which is slipped around a filter support and is shrunk on the same. Rotary disk filter constructions of this kind suffer from several problems. The filter cloth has a limited life in normal use and must be replaced at regular intervals. Moreover the filter cloth is sensitive and can easily be damaged, necessitating a premature replacement thereof. If the cloth is damaged, an entire filter cloth portion must be replaced. Rotary disk filters with detachably secured filter segments have therefore been developed. Such a rotary disk filter is disclosed in WO 99/30797, which discloses a rotary disk filter which has a filter portion consisting of several filter segments. The filter segments are detachably secured to a filter support and comprises a frame and a filter cloth expanded by the frame. The frame and the filter support are made of metal. Using detachably secured filter segments makes it easier to replace parts of the filter. This rotary disk filter functions in a satisfactory manner, but it is desirable to improve it further by, for instance, making manufacture less expensive. It would also be desirable to make these rotary disk filters lighter and less bulky when dimensioned for large flows. Moreover it would be desirable for the filter disks to entrain a smaller amount of water in their rotary motion than has been possible so far. A smaller amount of water would then accompany the particles through the trough of the rotary disk filter for drawing off filtered-off particles, which could thus increase the capacity of the rotary disk filter. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a rotary disk filter which, compared with prior-art rotary disk filters, is more compact and thus has a higher filtering capacity with the same space occupied. Another object of the invention is to provide a rotary disk filter which is lighter than prior-art rotary disk filters. A further object is to provide a rotary disk filter which compared with prior art can be manufactured at a lower cost. A special object of the present invention is to provide a module that enables construction of a filter support for a more compact rotary disk filter. Yet another object is to provide a module that enables less expensive construction of a filter support for a rotary disk filter. One more object is to provide a module for building a lighter rotary disk filter. According to the invention, these objects are achieved by the rotary disk filter of the type stated by way of introduction being given the features that are evident from claim 1. Preferred embodiments are defined by the subclaims 2-8. The objects are also achieved by a module according to claim 9, preferred embodiments being defined in the subclaims 10-16. The inventive rotary disk filter has at least one second liquid duct which extends between adjoining filter segments to provide liquid communication between the filter segments. In this way, liquid can move between the filter segments and is therefore not entrained in the rotary motion. As a result, the capacity of the rotary disk filter increases. In one embodiment of the invention, the second liquid ducts comprise hollow spaces in the filter support. Liquid communication between the filter segments can thus be provided in an extremely simple way. The filter support between the filter segments advantageously comprises a framework construction, whose hollow spaces constitute the second liquid ducts. In this manner, liquid communication can easily be provided, while at the same time the support can be made sufficiently strong with great economy in material. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the filter body is made up of modules. A rational construction can thus be ensured. Two modules preferably form a filter support round a filter segment, and the two modules are then interconnected at a distance from surrounding filter segments. This makes it possible to avoid joints between the filter segments, which makes it easier to provide a tight construction. The filter segments can be secured to the filter support by means of grooves in the filter support which are extended in the plane of the filter segments. The filter segments can thus be safely secured to the filter support while at the same time it is easy to insert and remove the filter segments. Moreover a certain self-sealing effect can be achieved. According to one embodiment of the invention, the filter support forms at least a portion of a circumferential surface of the drum. This makes it possible to manufacture the drum with a reduced consumption of material. The filter support is preferably made of plastic and can thus be manufactured at a relatively low cost. Further the filter support will be corrosion-resistant. The inventive module for building a filter support comprises two inner support portions and two outer support portions for at least partial enclosure of two adjoining filter segments, and an intermediate support portion adapted to be arranged between the two adjoining filter segments. Using such modules makes it possible to effectively build a filter support. The intermediate support portion preferably comprises at least one liquid duct for providing liquid communication between adjoining elements. As a result, liquid can move between the filter segments and is therefore not entrained when the filter support rotates during operation of the rotary disk filter. This means that the capacity of the rotary disk filter can be increased. The intermediate support portion advantageously comprises a framework construction, the hollow spaces of which constitute liquid ducts to provide liquid communication between adjoining filter segments. The framework construction gives good strength with a minimised consumption of material and further provides in a simple way ducts for the liquid to pass between the filter segments. One end of the outer support portions and the inner support portions preferably has means for interconnecting two modules. The modules can thus easily be interconnected to form a filter support. The inner support portions are advantageously arranged to form portions of a circumferential surface of the drum, which makes it possible to build the drum using a small amount of material. The outer support portions and the inner support portions are preferably symmetrically arranged on the intermediate support portion. Only one type of module thus is required for building the filter support. The inventive module may comprise grooves for securing of filter segments, which grooves extend in the plane of the filter segments. This makes it possible to safely secure the filter segments in a way that makes the segment easy to attach and detach. According to a preferred embodiment, the inventive module is made of plastic. It can thus be manufactured relatively inexpensively and allows a light filter support to be built. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings which by way of example illustrate currently preferred embodiments of the invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view which schematically shows the principle of a rotary disk filter according to prior-art technique. FIG. 2 is an end view of a rotary disk filter according to the invention with some concealed parts indicated by dashed lines. FIG. 3 is a side view of the rotary disk filter in FIG. 2 with some concealed parts indicated by dashed lines. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an inventive module for building a filter support. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a closing means for securing filter segments in the inventive rotary disk filter. FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a filter segment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The fundamental function of a rotary disk filter according to the invention is largely the same as for prior-art rotary disk filters of the type as shown in FIG. 1. The function of the inventive rotary disk filter will therefore be explained with reference to FIG. 1. The rotary disk filter 1 has a slowly rotating drum 2 which supports a plurality of disk-shaped filter members 3, whose normal direction is parallel to and concentric with the longitudinal axis or rotary axis C of the drum 2 and whose lateral faces, which are axially directed and radially extended, support a filter cloth 4. The liquid A which is to be filtered is conducted through an inlet 5 to the interior of the drum 2. From the interior of the drum 2 the filtering liquid A is conducted out through openings in the circumferential surface 6 of the drum 2 to the interior of the disk-shaped filter members 3. From there the filtering liquid A is finally conducted in a filtering direction out through the filter cloth 4. Any particles in the filtering liquid A adhere to the inside of the filter cloth 4. The rotary disk filter 1 is provided with flushing nozzles 7 for cleaning of the filter cloth 4, which are mounted on a number of flush tubes 8 which extend between the disk-shaped filter members. The flush tubes 8 are adapted to conduct flush liquid to the flushing nozzles 7 and are connected to an elongate liquid-conducting tube 9 which extends parallel to the centre axis C of the drum. The flushing nozzles flush the filter cloth axially from outside, in a direction opposite to the filtering direction, and the flushed-out particles are collected in a discharge trough 10 which is placed in the drum 2 in the upper portion thereof. As is evident from FIG. 2, the filter members 3 have according to a preferred embodiment of the invention a filter support 11 which extends radially outwards in the transverse direction of the drum 2 and is made up of a plurality of modules 12. The filter support 12 forms compartments in which filter segments 13 are arranged. As shown in FIG. 6, the filter segments 13 consist of a frame 14 which expands the filter cloth 4. The modules 12 have, as shown in FIG. 4, an intermediate support portion 15, from one end of which extend two outer support portions 16 outwards. From the other end of the intermediate support portion 15 extend two inner support portions 17 outwards. The intermediate support portion 15 consists of a framework construction 18 with hollow spaces 19. The inner support portions 17 have openings 20 which allow the liquid which is to be filtered to pass from the interior of the drum 2. The inner and outer support portions 17, 16 have at their ends holes 21 for insertion of screws for interconnecting two modules 12. On both sides of the intermediate support portion 15 there are two grooves 22 which extend parallel to the intermediate support portion 15 in the plane of the filter support 11. In each of the inner support portions 17 there are two parallel grooves 23 which are parallel to the inner support portion 17 and extend in the plane of the filter support 11. FIG. 6 shows a closing means in the form of a cover 24 for securing the filter segments 13 in the filter support 11. In construction of the rotary disk filter 1, seven modules 12 are attached to each other by means of screws in the holes 21 in such a manner that the modules form a semicircle. Two such semicircles are then mounted on the drum 2 and bolted together to form a filter support 11. By the joining of the modules 12 occurring essentially in the centre of the filter segments 13, tightness is improved compared with the case where the joining would occur between two filter segments 13. In each of the compartments formed by the filter support 11 between two adjoining modules 12, a filter segment 13 is inserted into the grooves 22 and 23 on both sides of the modules 12. The cover 24 is slipped on to the outer support portions 16 of two adjoining modules 12 and the two parallel filter segments 13 which these modules 12 enclose together. The cover 24 is screwed to the outer support portions 16 of the modules 12. A number of thus constructed disk-shaped filter members 3 are mounted on the drum 2 to provide the rotary disk filter 1. In the embodiment illustrated, ten filter members 3 are mounted on the drum 2. However, as many as twenty-two filter members can be arranged on a drum 2 to provide a rotary disk filter 1 with greater capacity. In operation of the rotary disk filter 1, the liquid A, preferably polluted water, which is to be filtered is supplied through the inlet 5 at one end of the drum 2 and is passed through a first liquid duct which extends from the interior of the drum 2 through the openings 20 in the inner support portions 17 of the modules 12 and out through the filter cloth 4 of the filter members 3. The drum 2 rotates slowly and the filter segments 13 which are positioned in the lower part of their course are passed by the liquid A. Pollutants then adhere to the inside of the filter cloth 4. When the filter segments 13 are positioned in the upper part of their course, they are cleaned by means of the above-described flushing equipment 7, 8, 9. The flushed-out pollutants are then removed by means of the discharge trough 10. The hollow spaces 19 in the framework construction 18 of the intermediate support portions 15 form a second liquid duct through which the liquid A can move between the filter segments 13. In contrast to the prior-art rotary disk filters, the liquid A will therefore not be entrained in the rotary motion of the filter members 3. The amount of liquid accompanying the pollutants out through the discharge trough 10 will thus be reduced. The speed of rotation of the drum 2 can thus be increased, which means that the capacity of the rotary disk filter 1 is increased. Therefore the rotary disk filter 1 can be made more compact than prior-art rotary disk filters. Also the load exerted on the suspension and driving device of the drum is reduced. The rotary disk filter 1 can be mounted at the factory and be delivered ready for use, but the module construction also makes it possible to deliver modules 12 for mounting the rotary disk 1 at the site where it is to be used. The module construction also makes it easy to enlarge an existing rotary disk filter 1 in order to increase its capacity. Modules 12, filter segments 13 and covers 24 for one or more new filter members 3 can then be delivered and mounted in the existing rotary disk filter 1. In the example described, the modules 12 are made by injection moulding of ABS plastic. Also other plastic materials can be used, and a suitable manufacturing process is then selected with regard to the type of plastic. Plastic is advantageous since it is a relatively inexpensive material that is easy to work and furthermore is corrosion resistant. Other materials may also be selected, but it should be taken into consideration that it is convenient to use a material which has a low weight in relation to its strength, thus minimising the weight of the completed rotary disk filter. The frame 14 of the filter segments 13 is advantageously made of pretensioned glass fibre, which makes the frame 14 strong, light and corrosion resistant. Alternatively, the frame 14 can be made of metal, preferably stainless steel. For sealing of the filter segment 13 against the filter support 4, the frame 14 is enclosed by a rubber strip, for instance of EPDM rubber. In order to facilitate insertion and removal of the filter segments 13 in the grooves 22, the outside of the rubber strip is flocked, which reduces friction against the filter support 11. The seal is to some extent also promoted by the filter segments 13, as the liquid A passes out through the filter cloth 4, being pressed outwards by the liquid pressure, so that the frame 14 is pressed against the outer boundary walls of the grooves 22, 23. In the shown embodiment the filter cloth 4 which is expanded by the frame 14 is a microfilter cloth with filter holes in the range 10-100 μm. The filter cloth 4 is selected according to the filtering capacity that is required. The inventive rotary disk filter can suitably be cleaned by means of a cleaning device of the type described in SE-C-515,001 (WO 00/37159). It will be appreciated that many modifications of the embodiments of the invention described above are feasible within the scope of the invention, which is defined in the appended claims. In the example shown, the modules 12 are mounted on a drum 2, the circumferential surface 6 of which has openings for the liquid to pass from the interior of the drum 2 to the filter segments 11. The light-weight modules 12 make it possible to select instead to make a skeleton for a drum and let the inner support portions 17 form the circumferential surface of the drum on the outside of the skeleton. Instead of making the intermediate support portions 12 with a framework construction 18, they can be given a flat web in which holes are bored to provide liquid communication between the filter segments.

<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>Rotary disk filters are known from, for example, SE-C-224,131. In this filter, water is conducted through one end of a central rotatable drum and through openings in the circumference of the drum radially outwards to disk-shaped filter chambers. Each of the filter chambers is defined by a disk-shaped filter member having opposing filter portions which are supported by an annular filter support arranged between the same. The filter members are mounted in parallel along the longitudinal axis of the drum. When water flows out through the filter portions, particles are retained in the filter chambers. When cleaning the filter portions, the drum is rotated and water is flushed onto the filter portions from outside in the upper area of the rotary disk filter, particles and water flowing into the upper area of the drum and being collected in a trough extending through the drum. The filter portions comprise annular filter cloth portions arranged on the sides of the filter supports. SE-B-465,857 (WO 91/12067) discloses a rotary disk filter of a similar kind, in which the disk-shaped filter members comprise a plurality of separate, disk-shaped filter sections, which together establish annular filter members. By the annular filter members being divided into a plurality of separate units, also the filter cloth is divided into smaller pieces, which means that in case of a local damage to the cloth a replacement of the cloth is necessary on only one of the filter sections, not on an entire annular disk. In the two rotary disk filters described above, the filter cloth can be fastened in one of a plurality of ways. In a common solution, the filter cloth is glued directly to the filter support on opposing sides thereof. This is particularly common when the cloth consists of some textile or plastic material. The cloth can also be made of metal. In that case, it is often welded to the filter support, and if necessary reinforcement ribs are welded to the outside of the filter cloth for improved securing thereof. In a further way of fixing the cloth to the support, the cloth is designed as a “bag” which is slipped around a filter support and is shrunk on the same. Rotary disk filter constructions of this kind suffer from several problems. The filter cloth has a limited life in normal use and must be replaced at regular intervals. Moreover the filter cloth is sensitive and can easily be damaged, necessitating a premature replacement thereof. If the cloth is damaged, an entire filter cloth portion must be replaced. Rotary disk filters with detachably secured filter segments have therefore been developed. Such a rotary disk filter is disclosed in WO 99/30797, which discloses a rotary disk filter which has a filter portion consisting of several filter segments. The filter segments are detachably secured to a filter support and comprises a frame and a filter cloth expanded by the frame. The frame and the filter support are made of metal. Using detachably secured filter segments makes it easier to replace parts of the filter. This rotary disk filter functions in a satisfactory manner, but it is desirable to improve it further by, for instance, making manufacture less expensive. It would also be desirable to make these rotary disk filters lighter and less bulky when dimensioned for large flows. Moreover it would be desirable for the filter disks to entrain a smaller amount of water in their rotary motion than has been possible so far. A smaller amount of water would then accompany the particles through the trough of the rotary disk filter for drawing off filtered-off particles, which could thus increase the capacity of the rotary disk filter.

<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>An object of the present invention is to provide a rotary disk filter which, compared with prior-art rotary disk filters, is more compact and thus has a higher filtering capacity with the same space occupied. Another object of the invention is to provide a rotary disk filter which is lighter than prior-art rotary disk filters. A further object is to provide a rotary disk filter which compared with prior art can be manufactured at a lower cost. A special object of the present invention is to provide a module that enables construction of a filter support for a more compact rotary disk filter. Yet another object is to provide a module that enables less expensive construction of a filter support for a rotary disk filter. One more object is to provide a module for building a lighter rotary disk filter. According to the invention, these objects are achieved by the rotary disk filter of the type stated by way of introduction being given the features that are evident from claim 1 . Preferred embodiments are defined by the subclaims 2 - 8 . The objects are also achieved by a module according to claim 9 , preferred embodiments being defined in the subclaims 10 - 16 . The inventive rotary disk filter has at least one second liquid duct which extends between adjoining filter segments to provide liquid communication between the filter segments. In this way, liquid can move between the filter segments and is therefore not entrained in the rotary motion. As a result, the capacity of the rotary disk filter increases. In one embodiment of the invention, the second liquid ducts comprise hollow spaces in the filter support. Liquid communication between the filter segments can thus be provided in an extremely simple way. The filter support between the filter segments advantageously comprises a framework construction, whose hollow spaces constitute the second liquid ducts. In this manner, liquid communication can easily be provided, while at the same time the support can be made sufficiently strong with great economy in material. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the filter body is made up of modules. A rational construction can thus be ensured. Two modules preferably form a filter support round a filter segment, and the two modules are then interconnected at a distance from surrounding filter segments. This makes it possible to avoid joints between the filter segments, which makes it easier to provide a tight construction. The filter segments can be secured to the filter support by means of grooves in the filter support which are extended in the plane of the filter segments. The filter segments can thus be safely secured to the filter support while at the same time it is easy to insert and remove the filter segments. Moreover a certain self-sealing effect can be achieved. According to one embodiment of the invention, the filter support forms at least a portion of a circumferential surface of the drum. This makes it possible to manufacture the drum with a reduced consumption of material. The filter support is preferably made of plastic and can thus be manufactured at a relatively low cost. Further the filter support will be corrosion-resistant. The inventive module for building a filter support comprises two inner support portions and two outer support portions for at least partial enclosure of two adjoining filter segments, and an intermediate support portion adapted to be arranged between the two adjoining filter segments. Using such modules makes it possible to effectively build a filter support. The intermediate support portion preferably comprises at least one liquid duct for providing liquid communication between adjoining elements. As a result, liquid can move between the filter segments and is therefore not entrained when the filter support rotates during operation of the rotary disk filter. This means that the capacity of the rotary disk filter can be increased. The intermediate support portion advantageously comprises a framework construction, the hollow spaces of which constitute liquid ducts to provide liquid communication between adjoining filter segments. The framework construction gives good strength with a minimised consumption of material and further provides in a simple way ducts for the liquid to pass between the filter segments. One end of the outer support portions and the inner support portions preferably has means for interconnecting two modules. The modules can thus easily be interconnected to form a filter support. The inner support portions are advantageously arranged to form portions of a circumferential surface of the drum, which makes it possible to build the drum using a small amount of material. The outer support portions and the inner support portions are preferably symmetrically arranged on the intermediate support portion. Only one type of module thus is required for building the filter support. The inventive module may comprise grooves for securing of filter segments, which grooves extend in the plane of the filter segments. This makes it possible to safely secure the filter segments in a way that makes the segment easy to attach and detach. According to a preferred embodiment, the inventive module is made of plastic. It can thus be manufactured relatively inexpensively and allows a light filter support to be built.

20060726

20091006

20061123

99019.0

B01D3300

LITHGOW, THOMAS M

ROTARY DISC FILTER AND MODULE FOR CONSTRUCTING SAME

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

B01D

ACCEPTED

Autonomous wide-angle license plate recognition

A system in a moving surveillance vehicle operates in background mode to capture images of license plates of neighboring moving vehicles, which may occupy lanes other than the lane in which the surveillance vehicle is moving. The images are used to determine the license plate numbers of the moving vehicles, which are then checked against a database to determine whether there are any potential law enforcement-related problems that require the attention of the operator. If so, the system alerts the operator using an audible tone, visual prompt, vibration, or in some other suitable manner. The entire process, including generation of the alert can occur autonomously of the operator.

1. A system carried by a first moving vehicle, comprising: at least one camera mounted on the first moving vehicle, the camera capturing an image of a license plate on any nearby second vehicle moving in a lane other than that occupied by the first moving vehicle and positioned in front of or behind the first vehicle with a viewing angle of at least 120 degrees, without a need for input from an operator of the first vehicle to initiate the capturing of the image upon noticing the second vehicle; and at least one processor that uses information derived from the image to determine the license plate of the second moving vehicle, and to alert the operator of first vehicle only upon discovering that there is a potential problem related to the second moving vehicle, all without a need for input from the operator. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first vehicle comprises a police patrol unit. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera comprises a motion video camera. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera comprises a still image camera. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera is mounted at the front of the first vehicle. 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera is mounted at the rear of the first vehicle. 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the viewing angle is at least 160 degrees. 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera has sufficient sensitivity to identify the license plate number of the second vehicle while the first vehicle is moving at a speed of at least 50 kilometers per hour. 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to derive a license plate number from the image, using a database local to the first vehicle. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to transmit at least a portion of the image to a remote facility for license plate recognition. 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to receive information related to the potential problem from a remote facility. 12. The system of claim 1, further comprising an auditory alert that alerts the operator to the existence of the potential problem. 13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a non-auditory alert that alerts the operator to the existence of the potential problem. 14. The system of claim 1, wherein the first vehicle comprises a police patrol unit, the camera has a viewing angle of at least 160 degrees, and the processor is programmed to derive a license plate number from the image, using a database local to the first vehicle. 15. The system of claim 1, wherein the first vehicle comprises a police patrol unit, the camera has a viewing angle of at least 160 degrees, and the processor is programmed to transmit at least a portion of the image to a remote facility for license plate recognition.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to license plate recognition. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Traffic police, highway patrol and other mobile security personnel have a need to accurately and efficiently identify potential law enforcement problems with respect to nearby motor vehicles. One well-recognized strategy is to “run” license plate numbers of such vehicles against a database. It is a well known practice for an officer in a patrol car to visually read a license plate of a target vehicle, and then call in the number to a support center. It is also known for an officer to utilize an on-board digital video camera to capture an image of the vehicle license plate of a parked vehicle, and even to use an on-board computer to analyze the image to determine the license plate number. In both cases, however, conscious effort is required on the part of the officer, which diverts attention from driving or other activities. In some cases the diversion of attention can be dangerous, and can even contribute to an otherwise preventable car accident. A highly advanced license plate recognition and checking system is described in Japanese patent 11-296785, published on Oct. 29, 1999, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. In that system the patrol car is provided with an on-board camera and camera controller, optical character recognition (OCR) software, a database, and a display device. While moving along a road, the driver places the patrol car in front of or behind the target car, and then triggers operation of the camera. The camera photographs the license plate of a preceding or following target vehicle, and sends the captured image to the on-board computer. OCR software running on the computer determines the license plate number, and applies that number against the on-board database. The results are displayed to the operator. Apparently, the inventors of Japanese patent 11-296785 did not appreciate that (a) forcing the driver of the patrol car to maneuver his vehicle relative to the target vehicle, and (b) forcing the operator to trigger the camera, involve conscious efforts on the part of the driver, which preclude the system from operating in a truly autonomous fashion. The issue of being fully autonomous is not a mere design choice. Fully autonomous operation is not only safer and more thorough, it also has a particularly important function in countering accusations of racial profiling. If a system could be devised that would autonomously process license plate information of all vehicles in view of the camera, including vehicles in other lanes, then the operator could not be reasonably accused of focusing on any particular car or driver. Thus, there is still a need for more fully autonomous surveillance of moving automotive vehicles from another moving vehicle. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is generally directed to systems and methods in which a first moving vehicle (surveillance vehicle) captures vehicle license plate number information from a second moving vehicle in a fully autonomous fashion, and applies that information against a database to identify potential problems with the second vehicle or its driver. In preferred embodiments the surveillance vehicle is preferably a police car or other patrol unit; and the second vehicles can be in any lane that is visible from the camera, including the same lane as that occupied by the first vehicle, other driving lanes, and even in parking areas or road shoulders. A digital video camera with a wide-angle lens is preferably used to capture the license place information. Alternatively, any other suitable image-capturing device could be used, including a still-image camera. The camera can advantageously be mounted on the front, rear, side or top of the surveillance vehicle, and preferably has a viewing angle range of at least 120°. An on-board processor can either (a) perform optical character recognition on an acquired image to determine the license plate number, or (b) transmit at least a portion of the image to a remote site for that determination. The license plate number can then be applied against one or more databases, which can be local and/or remote to the camera and processor, to identify potential problems with the car or driver of the second vehicle. Ideally, each of these functions is carried out continuously, in background mode without any input from the driver or other operator of the vehicle carrying the system. When potential problems are identified, the operator is notified using an auditory, visual or other alert. Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a moving surveillance vehicle carrying a surveillance system according to the inventive subject matter, with neighboring vehicles in various lanes. FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the surveillance system of FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 generally depicts a surveillance vehicle 10 equipped with a surveillance system 20 (see FIG. 2) that is driving along a roadway 30 in lane 32. Another vehicle 40 is traveling ahead of surveillance vehicle 10 in lane 22, while vehicles 42, 44 are traveling in the same direction as surveillance vehicle 10 in lane 34. Vehicles 46 and 48 are traveling in the oncoming direction in lane 36, across low median 35. Surveillance system 20 generally comprises first and second digital video cameras 22A, 22B, a processor 24 (see FIG. 2), and a signal generator 28 (see FIG. 2). The surveillance vehicle 10 will often be a patrol car 10, but can be any road or off-road vehicle, including jeeps, trucks, ambulances, buses, recreational vehicles, fire engines, and so forth. The neighboring vehicles 40, 42, 44, 46 and 48 can likewise be any combination of any types of vehicles, and will obviously be dispersed around the patrol car 10 in a manner that varies infinitely over time. Most of the neighboring vehicles 40, 42, 44, 46 and 48 will have rear license plates, and some can have front license plates. In this drawing, the relevant license plates for vehicles 40, 42, 44, 46 and 48 are 40A, 42A, 44A, 46A, and 48A, respectively. Cameras 22A, 22B are mounted at the front and rear portions of surveillance vehicle 10. Mounting can be on the bumpers or anywhere else, and can even be located in other positions such as in the siren tower on top of the surveillance vehicle 10 or inside the cab behind the windshield. One or both of cameras 22A, 22B can be mounted in the center line of the surveillance vehicle 10, or off-center in any suitable manner. There must of course be at least one camera, which could provide front, rear, side or combination coverage. Second, third, and other cameras are optional. A person skilled in the art should recognize that more than two cameras could be mounted on surveillance vehicle 10 in suitable locations (e.g., front, rear, side or top of vehicle) to allow up to 360° license plate scan coverage. Each camera 22A, 22B has a lens (not shown) that “sees” license plates within their respective viewing angles 24A, 24B. A wide-angle lens (not shown) is optional, and where present would preferably be a high-precision spherical lens adapted to minimize distortion and other aberrations for sharp and high-contrast images with a viewing angle range of about 75°-150°. Preferred viewing angles are at least 90°, more preferably at least 120°, still more preferably at least 150°, and most preferably at least 160°. Viewing angles 24A, 24B are shown as being pointed directly forward and aft of surveillance vehicle 10, but can alternatively be pointed in other directions as well. The viewing direction can optionally be motorized to scan a swath of area up, down, and sideways, or to point in a particular direction, and those functions can be automated and/or manual. As drawn, forward camera 22A can “see” license plates 40A, and 42A, but not license plate 48A. Rearward camera 22B can “see” license plate 44A, but not license plates 46A. In FIG. 1 cameras 22A, 22B are ordinary video cameras. Other types of cameras can be used, including still cameras, charge-coupled device cameras for higher resolution, infrared cameras for night operations, and so forth. The focus is most likely set to infinite, but there can also be an automatic focusing mechanism (not shown). One or both of cameras 20, 22 can be advantageously provided with illumination, which can be in the form of a controlled light source (not shown) adapted to brighten vehicle license plates during the day and/or allow camera operation during the night. Alternatively, the illumination means can be an infra-red (IR) light source, i.e. invisible to the driver of the neighboring vehicles. In FIG. 2 surveillance system 20 generally comprises first and second digital video cameras 22A, 22B, a processor 24, memory 26, and an alert generator 28. Processor 24 can be any suitable processor, including for example CPU(s) (central processing unit(s)) made by Intel Corp. (e.g., Pentium®, Xeon®), AMD (e.g., Athlon®), Motorola, IBM, etc., I/O (input/output) circuits, communication bus links, etc. Processor 24 receives digital image data input from cameras 22A, 22B, and processes the data software resident in memory 27. The software preferably includes an operating system (OS) (e.g., Windows®, Linux®, Unix®, Free BSD®, etc.), and optical character recognition programs. Memory 27 can also advantageously include county-wide, state-wide, nation-wide, or even multi-country vehicle license plate number data, as well as related information of interest such as law enforcement-related data. Information that is not available on-board the surveillance vehicle 10 can be accessed wirelessly from a remote facility 60. In that case system 20 would need to be adapted for wireless connection using communication hardware 29. Optical character recognition preferably occurs on board vehicle 10, but may alternatively or additionally occur in the remote facility 60, or elsewhere. Any suitable OCR software can be used, such as that of Hi-Tech Solutions, currently available through www.htsol.com. Many suitable OCR algorithms operate in three stages. The first stage involves vectorizing the captured (raster) image. The second stage deals with isolation of the vectors that describe the raster image. The third stage performs the subsequent alphanumeric character recognition to generate a plate string. More details on suitable theory, methods and algorithms can be found on the World-Wide-Web at: http://www.cae.wisc.edu/˜woochull/course/lpr.html; http://www.cs.technion.ac.il/Labs/Isl/Project/Projects_done/cars_plates/finalreport.htm; http://www.singaporegateway.com/optasia/imps, or in numerous literature sources such as, for example, “Computer Graphics: Principles and Practice”, Foley, van Dam, Flener, and Hughes, Addison Wesley, Reading, Mass., 1990; which are incorporated herein by reference. To lower cost, the processor 24, memory 28, and communication hardware 29 would generally be included as part of a laptop or other computer (shown generally as component 21) that had already been installed in vehicle 10 for other purposes. Alternatively, processor 40, memory 42, GUI 50, local license plate number database module 44, and speaker 46 can be implemented as an integral part of cameras 22A, 22B. The network used to communicate with remote facility 60 could be the same network already being used by computer 21, or could be some other network. Transmission of license plate data between processor 24 and remote facility 60 can be encrypted using any suitable data encryption algorithms to ensure data security. Processor 24 cooperates with one or more alert devices, such as speaker 28A, computer display 28B, or vibratory interface 28C. Alternatively, processor 24 can utilize any other speaker (not shown) in the vehicle 10. The entire system 20 is preferably programmed to operate autonomously in background mode, i.e., without any input being required from the operator. The operator is preferably only alerted where the system 20 has identified a possible law enforcement-related problem using the captured license plate information. System 20 can be designed to operate continuously for an extended period of time while vehicle 10 is patrolling the streets/highways, and can be turned on and off by the operator as desired. Multiple instances of system 20 can be installed and operated on multiple surveillance vehicles for more efficient license plate number check coverage, and the various systems may cooperate with each other by exchanging information. System 20 can also be operated in conjunction with global satellite or other positioning systems (not shown). Thus, for example, one squad car may identify a neighboring vehicle at a given location, and another squad car may identify the same vehicle 30 minutes later at another location. By calculating the distance traveled by the targeted vehicle, the system could calculate the minimum speed that the target vehicle traveled during that time frame. The vehicle license data gathered by system 20 during routine surveillance patrols could also be used for other than law enforcement purposes, as needed and/or authorized by local law regulations. A contemplated method includes the following steps: The processor 26 activates one or more cameras 22A, 22B, which capture images of nearby vehicle license plates. The captured information is read by a frame grabber in each camera. Pixel output from the frame grabber(s) is passed by the processor 26 through image processing software algorithms to enhance the image, if necessary, detect the vehicle license plate position, and through OCR software algorithms determine a license place number. The processor then checks the license plate number against corresponding data records stored in memory 28, or in remote license plate number facility 60, for potential law enforcement-related vehicle problems. If a problem is identified, the operator (not shown) is alerted audibly, visually or in a vibratory manner using one or more of speaker 28A, computer display 28B, or vibratory interface 28C, respectively. While the present invention has been described in detail with regards to the preferred embodiments, it should be appreciated that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In this regard it is important to note that practicing the invention is not limited to the applications described hereinabove. Many other applications and/or alterations can be utilized provided that such other applications and/or alterations do not depart from the intended purpose of the present invention. Also, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used in another embodiment to provide yet another embodiment such that the features are not limited to the specific embodiments described above. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover all such embodiments and variations as long as such embodiments and variations come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Traffic police, highway patrol and other mobile security personnel have a need to accurately and efficiently identify potential law enforcement problems with respect to nearby motor vehicles. One well-recognized strategy is to “run” license plate numbers of such vehicles against a database. It is a well known practice for an officer in a patrol car to visually read a license plate of a target vehicle, and then call in the number to a support center. It is also known for an officer to utilize an on-board digital video camera to capture an image of the vehicle license plate of a parked vehicle, and even to use an on-board computer to analyze the image to determine the license plate number. In both cases, however, conscious effort is required on the part of the officer, which diverts attention from driving or other activities. In some cases the diversion of attention can be dangerous, and can even contribute to an otherwise preventable car accident. A highly advanced license plate recognition and checking system is described in Japanese patent 11-296785, published on Oct. 29, 1999, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. In that system the patrol car is provided with an on-board camera and camera controller, optical character recognition (OCR) software, a database, and a display device. While moving along a road, the driver places the patrol car in front of or behind the target car, and then triggers operation of the camera. The camera photographs the license plate of a preceding or following target vehicle, and sends the captured image to the on-board computer. OCR software running on the computer determines the license plate number, and applies that number against the on-board database. The results are displayed to the operator. Apparently, the inventors of Japanese patent 11-296785 did not appreciate that (a) forcing the driver of the patrol car to maneuver his vehicle relative to the target vehicle, and (b) forcing the operator to trigger the camera, involve conscious efforts on the part of the driver, which preclude the system from operating in a truly autonomous fashion. The issue of being fully autonomous is not a mere design choice. Fully autonomous operation is not only safer and more thorough, it also has a particularly important function in countering accusations of racial profiling. If a system could be devised that would autonomously process license plate information of all vehicles in view of the camera, including vehicles in other lanes, then the operator could not be reasonably accused of focusing on any particular car or driver. Thus, there is still a need for more fully autonomous surveillance of moving automotive vehicles from another moving vehicle.

<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The present invention is generally directed to systems and methods in which a first moving vehicle (surveillance vehicle) captures vehicle license plate number information from a second moving vehicle in a fully autonomous fashion, and applies that information against a database to identify potential problems with the second vehicle or its driver. In preferred embodiments the surveillance vehicle is preferably a police car or other patrol unit; and the second vehicles can be in any lane that is visible from the camera, including the same lane as that occupied by the first vehicle, other driving lanes, and even in parking areas or road shoulders. A digital video camera with a wide-angle lens is preferably used to capture the license place information. Alternatively, any other suitable image-capturing device could be used, including a still-image camera. The camera can advantageously be mounted on the front, rear, side or top of the surveillance vehicle, and preferably has a viewing angle range of at least 120°. An on-board processor can either (a) perform optical character recognition on an acquired image to determine the license plate number, or (b) transmit at least a portion of the image to a remote site for that determination. The license plate number can then be applied against one or more databases, which can be local and/or remote to the camera and processor, to identify potential problems with the car or driver of the second vehicle. Ideally, each of these functions is carried out continuously, in background mode without any input from the driver or other operator of the vehicle carrying the system. When potential problems are identified, the operator is notified using an auditory, visual or other alert. Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components.

20050822

20100504

20060803

98748.0

G06K900

FITZPATRICK, ATIBA O

AUTONOMOUS WIDE-ANGLE LICENSE PLATE RECOGNITION

SMALL

ACCEPTED

G06K

ACCEPTED

Method and device for ultrasound measurement of blood flow

A method and a device (1) for ultrasound measurement of the blood flow through a heart valve are proposed. To permit a simple, automated measurement, it is proposed that the measurement area (9) of a measurement beam (7) is moved three-dimensionally by means of a multi-array transducer (11) and continuously evaluated for characteristic Doppler signals. It is further proposed to evaluate several measurement beams (7) with offset spatial, partially overlapping measurement areas (9) and/or several reference beams (8) with offset spatial measurement areas (10) for determination of the opening surface area, the volumetric flow rate, the flow volume and/or a value proportional thereto.

1-42. (canceled) 43. Method for ultrasound measurement of at least one of an opening surface area of a orifice through which a fluid flows, in particular blood, and of the volumetric flow rate and of the flow volume through the orifice, with evaluation of the backscatter of a measurement beam having a spatial measurement area and of a reference beam having a spatial measurement area, wherein the spatial measurement area of the reference beam lies within the spatial measurement area of the measurement beam, wherein several measurement beams with offset spatial, partially overlapping measurement areas covering the orifice completely and at least one of one reference beam and of several reference beams with offset spatial measurement areas are evaluated for determination of at least one of the opening surface area, the volumetric flow rate, the flow volume, and any value proportional thereto. 44. Method according to claim 43, wherein the orifice is at least one of dynamic and irregular. 45. Method according to claim 43, wherein a central measurement area of a measurement beam is surrounded in a rosette pattern by several measurement areas of further measurement beams. 46. Method according to claim 43, wherein, for each measurement beam, a reference beam is evaluated whose measurement area lies inside the measurement area of the associated measurement beam. 47. Method according to claim 43, wherein the several measurement beams are evaluated cumulatively, with overlaps of their measurement areas being compensated, in order to generate a power profile which is as homogeneous as possible across the entire area. 48. Method according to claim 43, wherein the measurement area of a central reference beam is surrounded in a rosette formation by several measurement areas of further reference beams. 49. Method according to claim 43, wherein the measurement area of a reference beam is directed into the inside of a vena contracta of the fluid flow through the orifice. 50. Method according to claim 43, wherein one reference beam forms a reference value for all the several measurement beams. 51. Method according to claim 43, wherein the reference values of several reference beams are continuously determined and the position of the measurement areas is corrected as a function of the reference values during a measurement period, so that the measurement area of a central reference beam remains within a vena contracta of the fluid flow through the orifice. 52. Method according to claim 43, wherein the reference values of several reference beams are continuously evaluated during a measurement period, and the measurement areas of the reference beams and of the measurement beams are shifted during a measurement period when the reference value of the central reference beam reaches or drops below a reference value of another reference beam into the direction from the central measurement area to the measurement area of the last-mentioned reference beam. 53. Method according to claim 43, wherein power spectra of Doppler signals of the backscattered measurement beams and the at least one reference beam are evaluated as backscatter to determine at least one of the opening surface area, the volumetric flow rate, the flow volume and the value proportional thereto. 54. Method according to claim 43, wherein pulsed ultrasound Doppler signals are used. 55. Method according to claim 43, wherein a transmit beam is generated by means of a matrix array transducer and directed to desired measurement areas. 56. Method according to claim 43, wherein the several measurement beams and the at least one reference beam are detected by means of a matrix array transducer as a function of the measurement areas. 57. Method according to claim 43, wherein during a measurement period, at least one of the opening surface area, the volumetric flow rate, the flow volume and the value proportional thereto is determined separately for two or more separate orifices. 58. Method according to claim 43, wherein at least one of the opening surface area, the volumetric flow rate, the flow volume and the value proportional thereto is displayed. 59. Method according to claim 43, wherein the measurement area of the measurement beam is moved free-dimensionally beforehand in a search mode, while Doppler signals are continuously detected and evaluated in respect of the occurrence of a Doppel spectrum characteristic of a vena contracta, so that thereafter for the determination, the measurement area of the reference beam is directed into the inside of the vena contracta of the fluid flow through the orifice and the measurement area of the measurement beam is directed into the area of the vena contracta of the fluid flow through the orifice. 60. Method according to claim 59, wherein, in order to detect a vena contracta, at least one of the following conditions are evaluated: whether the mean speed of the floor determined by means of the Doppler signals exceeds a minimum value or is maximal; whether the width of the speed spectrum of the floor determined by means of the Doppler signals falls below a maximum value; whether the power or the power integral over the speed of the floor determined by means of the Doppler signals exceeds a minimum value or is maximal; whether the Doppler spectrum shows an at least substantially continuous or constant line of maximal speed; and whether the speed spectrum of the floor determined by means of the Doppler signals at a given time and at maximum speed shows at least one of a substantially Gaussian distribution or normal distribution. 61. Device for ultrasound measurement of at least one of an opening surface area of a dynamic or irregular orifice through which a fluid flows, in particular blood, of the volumetric flow rate and of the flow volume through the orifice, with means for evaluation of the power spectrum of Doppler signals of a measurement beam having a spatial measurement area and of a reference beam having a spatial measurement area, wherein the spatial measurement area of the reference beam lies within the spatial measurement area of the measurement beam, wherein the device has a matrix array transducer for generating a transmit beam and for detecting the measurement beam and reference beam, and is adapted such that several measurement beams with offset spatial, partially overlapping measurement areas covering the orifice completely and at least one of one measurement beam and of several reference beams with offset spatial measurement areas can be detected and evaluated for determination at least one of the opening surface area, the volumetric flow rate, the flow volume and any value dependent thereon. 62. Method for ultrasound measurement of the opening surface area of a dynamic or irregular orifice through which a fluid flows, in particular blood, and/or of the volumetric flow rate and/or flow volume through the orifice, with evaluation of the backscatter of a measurement beam having a spatial measurement area and of a reference beam having a spatial measurement area, wherein the spatial measurement area of the reference beam lies within the spatial measurement area of the measurement beam, wherein the measurement area of the measurement beam is moved three-dimensionally beforehand in a search mode, while Doppler signals are continuously detected and are evaluated in respect of the occurrence of a Doppler spectrum characteristic of a vena contracta, so that thereafter, for determination of at least one of the opening surface area, the volumetric flow rate, the flow volume and any value proportional thereto, the measurement area of the reference beam is directed into the inside of the vena contracta of the fluid flow through the orifice and the measurement area of the measurement beam is directed into the area of the vena contracta of the fluid flow through the orifice. 63. Method according to claim 62, wherein, in order to detect the vena contracta, at least one of the following conditions are evaluated: whether the mean speed of the floor determine by means of the Doppler signals exceeds a minimum value or is maximal; whether the width of the speed spectrum of the floor determine by means of the Doppler signals falls below a maximum value; whether the power or the power integral over the speed of the floor determine by means of the Doppler signals exceeds a minimum value or is maximal; whether the Doppler spectrum of the floor determine by means of the Doppler signals shows an at least substantially continuous or constant line of maximal speed; and whether the speed spectrum at a given time and at maximum speed shows at least one of a substantially Gaussian distribution or normal distribution. 64. Method according to claim 62, wherein a three-dimensional data set with the information of the spatial distribution of velocity and volume flow is obtained in the search mode and stored so that this data set can be used later to determine at least one of the occurrence of a vena contracta, the opening surface area, the volumetric flow rate, the flow volume and a value dependent thereon.

The present invention relates to a method for ultrasound measurement in accordance with the preamble of claim 1 and to a device for ultrasound measurement in accordance with the preamble of claim 21. In particular, the present invention relates to the ultrasound measurement of the blood flow in the human or animal body through a dynamic or irregular orifice, for example an insufficient or stenosed heart valve, a constricted vein or artery or similar. It is desirable, for example, to determine the cross-sectional surface area of flow, hereinafter shortened to (effective) opening surface area, the volumetric flow rate and/or the flow volume in a diseased heart valve, in particular the return flow through a diseased heart valve, in order thereby to be able to determine the severity of a valve defect and, if appropriate, perform a heart valve operation with optimum results. WO 00/51495 A1, which forms the starting point of the present invention, discloses an ultrasound measurement method in which pulsed ultrasound signals are emitted and the backscattered ultrasound signals are evaluated on the basis of the Doppler technique. For example, in the case of an insufficient heart valve, in order to determine the opening surface area, the volumetric flow rate, the flow volume and/or a value proportional thereto (hereinafter also shortened to measurement values) of the blood return flow, the measurement area of a reference beam must lie within the vena contracta (beam constriction) in the return flow of the blood through the heart valve, and the measurement area of a measurement beam must completely cover the vena contracta of the return flow through the insufficient heart valve. The positioning of the measurement areas has hitherto only been possible manually, and it requires great manual dexterity and considerable experience on the part of the operator. Moreover, a problem of the known method is that the orifice of an insufficient heart valve can be several centimetres at its maximum extent and for this reason the orifice can no longer be completely covered by the measurement area of a conventional measurement beam. U.S. Pat. No. 6,464,642 B1 discloses a two-dimensional, so-called multi-array transducer for ultrasonic diagnostic in general, wherein a three-dimensional region of interest, e.g. the heart of a patient, can be displayed and Doppler signals evaluated. In the present invention, a spatial area/volume is sonified, i.e. exposed to ultrasound, by a transmit beam. The backscatter of different sample volumes of this sonified volume is detected and evaluated, wherein the sample volumes are located at least essentially in a common plane and have different cross sections transversal to beam direction, but at least essentially the same extension in beam direction. In the present invention, the term “measurement area” designates the sample volume with the respective cross section transversal to beam direction. The backscattered ultrasound waves are called “measurement beam” and “reference beam”, wherein the measurement beam has a greater measurement area than the reference beam. Preferably, the measurement area of the reference beam lies within the measurement area of the measurement beam. Thus, the terms “measurement beam” and “reference beam” designate in particular Doppler signals backscattered from the respective measurement area. The object of the present invention is to provide a method and a device for ultrasound measurement of at least one of the opening surface area of a dynamic or irregular orifice through which a fluid flows, in particular blood, of the volumetric flow rate, and of flow volume through the orifice, permitting simple and preferably automated operation and/or an accurate measurement, in particular on a relatively large or irregularly shaped or dynamic orifice. The above object is achieved by a method according to claim 1 or 13 or a device according to claim 21. Advantageous embodiments are subject of the subclaims. According to one aspect of the present invention, the measurement area of the measurement beam, particularly within the heart, is moved three-dimensionally beforehand in a search mode, in particular by means of a suitably controlled matrix array transducer, while Doppler signals are continuously detected and are evaluated in respect of the occurrence of a Doppler spectrum characteristic of a vena contracta. For example, the measurement area is moved in a meandering configuration and in different planes in succession, in order to locate a spatial region in which there is a vena contracta of the fluid flowing through an orifice. This greatly facilitates the practical application of the measurement method and the operation of a measurement device. In particular, automated detection of a vena contracta is possible without the operator requiring great experience or manual dexterity. According to a further aspect of the present invention, and one which can also be realized independently, several measurement beams with offset spatial, partially overlapping measurement areas covering the orifice completely, and/or several reference beams with offset spatial measurement areas are evaluated for determination of the measurement values. This leads to several advantages. The detection and evaluation of several offset measurement areas (these can optionally be the measurement areas of several measurement beams and/or of several reference beams) permit fine adjustment and, if appropriate, correction of motion or location during the measurement, so that it is possible to achieve a reliable complete coverage of the orifice by the measurement beams and/or a reliable positioning of a measurement area of a reference beam in the inside of the vena contracta of the fluid flowing through the orifice. The mutually overlapping measurement areas of the measurement beams permit a reliable coverage of larger orifices too, so that improved and more accurate determination of the measurement values is made possible. In particular, it is proposed to use what is called a matrix array transducer to generate preferably only one transmit beam to sonify a broad volume and to detect, preferably simultaneously if possible or sequentially, the measurement beams of different broad measurement areas and preferably the reference beams of different narrow measurement areas. This permits a simple, versatile structure, in which the directions of the beams and the depth range evaluated, and consequently the position of the measurement areas, can be controlled, in particular moved and adapted, electronically. Further advantages, features, properties and aspects of the present invention will become evident from the following description of a preferred illustrative embodiment with reference to the drawing, in which: FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic illustration of a proposed device for ultrasound measurement of the return flow through an insufficient heart valve; FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic illustration of a transmit beam in ultrasound measurement of a vena contracta in an orifice; FIG. 3 shows a diagrammatic illustration of a measurement beam and of a reference beam in ultrasound measurement of a vena contracta in the orifice; FIG. 4 shows a Doppler spectrum of a vena contracta; FIG. 5 shows a diagrammatic illustration of the device and method in a search mode; FIG. 6 shows a diagrammatic illustration of an insufficient heart valve and different positions of the measurement areas of the measurement beam and of reference beam in the ultrasound measurement; and FIG. 7 shows a display unit of the device. The diagrammatic illustration in FIG. 1 shows a proposed device 1 and a proposed method for ultrasound measurement of the opening surface area of a dynamic and/or irregular orifice 2 through which a fluid flows, in particular blood 3, and/or of the volumetric flow rate and/or flow volume through the orifice 2. In the diagrammatic illustration in FIG. 1, only part of a body 4 is indicated, with a heart 5 which is to be examined and through which blood 3 flows. A heart valve, in this case the mitral valve 15, is insufficient and therefore does not close completely during the contraction of the ventricles (hereinafter called systole), but instead forms the orifice 2 indicated diagrammatically in FIG. 1. During the systole, blood 3 flows back through the orifice 2. By means of the proposed device 1 and the proposed method, it is possible to determine “measurement values”, namely the effective opening surface area (for example a mean value, or the profile varying during the measurement or flow period) of the orifice 2, the volumetric flow rate of blood 3, in particular of the returning blood 3, which varies over time during the measurement or flow period, the total flow volume of the (returning) blood 3, and/or a proportional value. However, the proposed method is not limited to determining the measurement values in a mitral valve, and instead can be used to determine the measurement values in any heart valve or in any other dynamic and/or irregular orifice 2, particularly one through which blood 3 flows, for example a hole in the cardiac septum, a stenosed vein or artery, or similar. Moreover, the proposed method is not limited to determining the measurement values in a single orifice 2, and instead can also determine the measurement values of several orifices 2 in succession (for example during systole in an insufficient mitral valve and during diastole (relaxation and filling of the ventricles) in an insufficient aortic valve) or simultaneously (for example in the case of two orifices 2 in an insufficient mitral valve or in an insufficient mitral valve and a stenosed aortic valve). FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the basic principle of ultrasound measurement. A fluid, such as blood 3, flows through the diagrammatically indicated orifice 2, and forms adjacent to the orifice 2 in a region 6 a flow constriction with at least substantially laminar flow that is therefore also designated as vena contracta. Depending on several factors, as the shape of the orifice 2 and the blood 3, this laminar flow region 6 further narrows and merges increasingly into a turbulent current, as indicated diagrammatically in FIGS. 2 and 3. In particular, the proposed method relates to locating and/or measuring a vena contracta with a flow constriction of factor 0.65 to 0.85 (surface area or diameter of the narrowed area 6 to surface area or diameter of the orifice 2). Pulsed ultrasound signals are emitted in an ultrasound beam (transmit beam), as is indicated in FIG. 2, and the backscatter of ultrasound Doppler signals of a measurement beam 7 and of a reference beam 8 for determination of the measurement values is detected and evaluated, as is indicated in FIG. 3. The measurement beam 7 has a larger or wider measurement area 9. By contrast, the reference beam 8 has a smaller or narrower measurement area 10, which preferably lies centrally within the measurement area 9. To generate and to receive or detect the ultrasound waves, a multi-array transducer 11 is preferably used. The transducer 11 has a multiplicity of ultrasound generators, for example piezo elements, which are arranged in particular in a matrix formation and whose phase and amplitude can be controlled in such a way that the ultrasound waves are emitted as transmit beam 12, as indicated in FIG. 2, and the direction of the transmit beam 12 and its width or cross section can be controlled electronically. Accordingly, a spatial area/volume is sonified by the transmit beam 12. The measurement areas 9, 10 relate to different sample volumes of this sonified volume that are located at least essentially in a common plane and have different cross sections transversal to beam direction and that backscatter the measurement beam 7 and the reference beam 8, respectively. As regards the transducer 11 and the behaviour of the ultrasound waves, it should be noted that ultrasound generation across a large surface area (aperture) on the transducer 11 results in a converging transmit beam 12, that is to say a transmit beam which is relatively narrow or thin in the target area. By contrast, a relatively wide transmit beam 12, that is to say a transmit beam 12 which is of greater cross section or less convergent, shown diverging in FIG. 2 for illustration, is obtained when the ultrasound waves are emitted only from a small transducer area or aperture, that is to say when ultrasound waves are emitted by only a relatively small number of ultrasound generators, for example those lying at the centre of the transducer 11. The ultrasound waves also show the aforementioned behaviour when received. The size of the measurement area 9, 10 can be controlled by suitable choice of the receiving transducer aperture or area and evaluation. FIG. 3 shows that, with a small receiving transducer aperture or area, that is to say activation and evaluation of only some of the ultrasound generators/ultrasound receivers or piezo elements of the transducer 11, the received measurement beam 7 has a relatively wide measurement area 9, i.e. of large cross section. Conversely, the reference beam 8 has a narrow measurement area 10, i.e. of small cross section, with a large receiving transducer aperture or area, that is to say activation of many or all of the ultrasound generators/ultrasound receivers or piezo elements of the transducer 11. The transducer 11 generates the transmit beam 12 and receives the measurement beam 7 and the reference beam 8 in brief succession and iteratively one after another, and in this connection it is preferable for only a wide transmit beam 12 to be generated which insonates both measurement areas 9 and 10 at the same time, so that the measurement beam 7 and the reference beam 8 can be detected and evaluated simultaneously, with on the one hand only a small receiving transducer aperture of the transducer 11 being evaluated and on the other hand a large receiving transducer aperture of the transducer 11 being evaluated, this preferably being done by parallel data processing at sufficient speed and simultaneously. In particular, through the emission of pulsed ultrasound signals and the Doppler effect, it is possible to determine and fix the position and depth of the measurement areas 9, 10. Therefore, by means of the multi-array transducer 11 preferably provided, or by means of any other suitable sound generator and receiver, both the spatial position and also the size (in particular the cross section and depth) of the measurement areas 9, 10 can be controlled or fixed by appropriate evaluation in the proposed ultrasound measurement method. To perform the ultrasound measurements and to control the transducer 11, the device 1 preferably comprises, in addition to the transducer 11 itself, a control unit 13 and an associated display unit 14, as indicated in FIG. 1. The power and velocity spectra of the Doppler signals and of the measurement beam 7 and reference beam 8 are detected and evaluated in particular. FIG. 4 shows by way of example a diagrammatic Doppler spectrum (velocity as a function of time) of a vena contracta in a mitral valve, i.e. the return flow of blood 3 during two consecutive systoles. The Doppler spectrum does not in fact show a sharply contoured curve, but instead, per time, a spectrum of Doppler signals with different velocities and a spectrum of different backscattering power which varies with the partial measurement areas of different velocity, as is indicated by the dotted area in FIG. 4. The integral of the power values over velocity or the velocity spectrum at a given time represents a measure of the opening surface area of the orifice 2 if the measurement area 9 completely encloses or covers the orifice 2. The reference beam 8 is chosen so that its measurement area 10 lies completely within the vena contracta, wherein the area (cross section) of the measurement area 10 is known or can be calculated. By means of the reference beam 8, it is then possible, by suitable integral formation, to determine a calibration coefficient of the power backscattered from measurement area 10. This calibration coefficient, the known area (cross section) of the measurement area 10, and the power integral value obtained from the measurement beam 7 are used to determine the absolute value of the effective opening surface area of the orifice 2. The effective opening surface area is the cross sectional area of flow actually acting in the vena contracts and is smaller by the factor 0.65-0.85 than the geometric opening surface area. The effective opening surface area is simply called “opening surface area” hereinafter and in the claims. Accordingly, by integration of the product of power and velocity over the velocity or the velocity spectrum, it is possible to determine the absolute volumetric flow rate and, with additional integration over time, the absolute flow volume. Thus, the measurement values can be obtained. Further details, in particular concerning the aforementioned measurement and determination of the measurement values or other aspects of the measurement, are set out in WO 00/51495 A1, which is herewith incorporated in its full scope as supplementary disclosure. FIG. 5 shows a diagrammatic illustration of the proposed device 1 and the proposed method in a search mode. Here, preferably only the wide transmit beam 12 and wide measurement beam 7 are used. The detection and evaluation of the reference beam 8 may, if necessary, be omitted in the search mode with a view to rapid processing. The transmit beam 12 (not shown in FIG. 5) and the indicated measurement beam 7 are preferably moved in a meandering pattern, through corresponding control of the transducer 11, in order to scan or travel through the entire heart 5, e.g. as shown in FIG. 5 with broken lines in a pyramid shape, or through a partial volume of interest, e.g. one defined by an operator. Here, by means of suitable evaluation, the measurement area 9 of the measurement beam 7 is also positioned along the measurement beam 7 at different locations, so that, in view of the movement of the measurement beam 7, the measurement area 9 is moved in three dimensions, while Doppler signals are continuously detected and are evaluated in respect of the occurrence of a Doppler spectrum characteristic of a vena contracta. The scanning or search process can take place quasi continuously or steplessly on account of the rapid data processing and short operating times. However, a large number of measurements are in fact carried out iteratively in succession, the position of the detected and evaluated measurement area 9 being changed in incremental stages in order to scan the whole of the possible or the intended volume for occurrence of a Doppler spectrum characteristic of a vena contracta. It also becomes clear that, from this systematic scanning a three-dimensional data set (volume) with the information of the spatial distribution of velocity and volume flow can be obtained and that this data set can be used later after the scanning has been completed to determine the occurrence of a vena contracta or even the measurement values of the vena contracta. From what has been stated above, it will be clear that the proposed transducer 11 is preferably constructed in such a way that the ultrasound beams 7, 8, 12 can be moved in, for example, a conical spatial area with great spatial angle or cone angle. Accordingly, the transducer 11 is preferably what is called a two-dimensional matrix-array transducer, in other words an arrangement of ultrasound generators/ultrasound receivers or piezo elements which covers a large transducer aperture or area and extends in both area or aperture dimensions. To determine whether there is a Doppler spectrum which is characteristic of a vena contracta, a filtering process is preferably carried out first. For example, all velocity values below a minimum limit VMIN of, for example, 100 cm/s are not taken into consideration and/or only velocity values are considered which show a bell-shaped or approximately normal-distribution velocity profile and/or lie above a minimum value of, for example, 20-50% of the maximum value of the respective spectrum. Thereafter, for the spectra or values preferably filtered or prepared in some other suitable way, a check is preferably made to ascertain whether the mean velocity exceeds a minimum value, or the mean velocity of a selected spectrum or measurement area 9 is maximal for all spectra and/or measurement areas 9, whether the width of the Doppler or velocity spectrum falls below a maximum value, or the width of a selected Doppler or velocity spectrum is minimal for all spectra and/or measurement areas 9, whether the power or the power integral over the velocity spectrum exceeds a minimum value, or the power or the power integral over a selected spectrum is maximal for all spectra and/or measurement areas 9, whether the Doppler spectrum shows an at least substantially continuous or constant line of maximal velocity, as is indicated in FIG. 4, and/or whether the velocity spectrum at a given time, in particular at maximum velocity, as is indicated in FIG. 4, shows at least substantially a Gaussian distribution or normal distribution. It is only when at least one, two or preferably all of the aforementioned conditions are satisfied that the occurrence of a vena contracta is established or at least provisionally assumed, or displayed to an operator for selection, by the proposed method and proposed device 1, it being possible, if necessary, to switch to an imaging mode which depicts the spatial location of the suspected vena contracta. After the occurrence of a vena contracta has been established, it is possible, either automatically or in response to a corresponding confirmation signal from an operator, to direct the measurement area 9, 10 of the measurement beam 7 and the reference beam 8 to the suspected vena contracta and then perform an ultrasound measurement to determine the measurement values, as already explained above or in particular as described in more detail below. The proposed device 1 and the proposed method thus permit automated navigation to, location, and measurement of a dynamic and/or irregular orifice 2 through which a fluid flows, such as blood 3, and/or of the volumetric flow rate and/or flow volume through the orifice 2. A preferred approach in the actual measurement or determination of the measurement values is explained below with reference to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 shows a diagrammatic illustration of an insufficient heart valve, in particular a mitral valve which does not properly close during systole and accordingly presents the orifice 2. The orifice 2 can have a considerable size, in particular a length of several centimetres. As indicated in FIG. 6, the maximum extent of the orifice 2 can be greater than the area that can be covered by the measurement area 9 of one measurement beam 7. In this connection, it should be borne in mind that the measurement area 9 cannot be arbitrarily enlarged, since the power or power density both of the transmit beam 12 and also of the measurement beam 7 decreases as the size or cross-sectional area increases; for an accurate measurement, however, a certain power or a certain signal-to-noise ratio is necessary in the signals that can be evaluated. The proposed method and device 1 are preferably characterized by the fact that several measurement beams 7 with offset spatial, partially overlapping measurement areas 9 are detected and evaluated for determination of the measurement values. These measurement areas 9 are arranged, located and, if necessary, corrected to that the overlapping measurement areas 9 cover the orifice 2 completely, at least during the measurement. In particular, a central measurement beam 7 with central measurement area 9 is surrounded, in a rosette formation, by the further measurement beams 7 with their measurement areas 9, as can be seen from the measurement areas 9 shown in FIG. 6. However, other configuration, e.g. two or more lines with offset measurement areas 9, can be provided, wherein the measurement areas 9 overlap in a similar manner. Several measurement beams 7 with measurement areas 9, in particular all measurement beams 7 with measurement areas 9, are preferably detected and evaluated simultaneously or in succession iteratively within a measurement or measurement period. All measurement areas 9 are preferably evaluated cumulatively, it being possible for their overlaps areas 9 to be compensated, if necessary, so that it is possible to achieve a homogeneous power distribution which is as uniform as possible over the area formed by all the individual measurement areas 9. The preferably peripheral superposition or any other suitable superposition of the measurement areas 9 has the result that the orifice 2 is covered completely by the measurement areas 9 and, accordingly, an accurate determination of the measurement values can be guaranteed. Each measurement beam 7 is preferably assigned a reference beam 8, as indicated in FIG. 6 by the measurement areas 10 of reference beams 8 assigned to the measurement areas 9 of the measurement beams 7. In particular, the detection and evaluation for each measurement beam 7 and the reference beam 8 assigned to it take place simultaneously. All the reference beams 8 are preferably detected and evaluated in succession iteratively within a measurement or measurement period. The several offset measurement areas 9 of the measurement beams 7 permit fine adjustment and correction during the measurement period. If the power integral of the central measurement beam 7 or another measurement value no longer shows the highest value in relation to another measurement beam 7 with laterally offset measurement area 9, the measurement areas 9, 10 are corrected in such a way that the central measurement beam 7 with its measurement area 9 lies again in the centre of the orifice 2. This adjustment or correction is important in particular when the spatial position of orifice 2 is dynamic, that is to say changes during a measurement period, in particular moves laterally and/or when the position of the transducer 11 in relation to the vena contracta changes. Alternatively or in addition, the aforementioned fine adjustment or correction can also be effected by evaluation of the values provided by the reference beams 8 or of values proportional thereto, the position of the central reference beam 8 with its measurement area 10 being continuously corrected particularly in such a way that the central measurement area 10, during the entire measurement period, preferably remains completely within the vena contracta. To evaluate the reference beams 8, it should further be noted that a reference beam 8 is chosen to form a calibration coefficient for all the measurement beams 7, and in particular the highest calibration coefficient of all the reference beams 8 can be used as calibration coefficient for all the measurement beams 7. The calibration coefficient of the reference beams 8 are preferably also continuously determined, and the position of the measurement areas 9, 10 is corrected, as a function of the calibration coefficient during a measurement period, particularly in such a way that the measurement areas 9, 10 are displaced in parallel into the direction from the central measurement area 9, 10 to where a higher calibration coefficient has occurred. In the evaluation of the measurement beams 7 and reference beams 8 and determination of the measurement values, it is possible, if necessary, to ignore those backscatters or measurement beams 7 and reference beams 8 for which a correct position of the measurement areas 9, 10 was not present or not guaranteed, for example if the abovementioned criteria for the presence of a Doppler spectrum characterizing a vena contracta were not satisfied. According to a further embodiment, the proposed method and the proposed device 1 are characterized by the fact that the measurement values for several separate orifices 2 can be determined either in succession or simultaneously during a measurement period. Thus, it is possible, for example, that two separate orifices 2, with in each case a Doppler spectrum characterizing a vena contracta, are detected in the search mode and are thereafter measured either in succession or simultaneously to determine the measurement values. The measurement values can then be displayed to the operator, for example by means of the display unit 14 shown diagrammatically in FIG. 7. Depending on the temporary status (systole or diastole) and the flow (positive or negative), it will be evident to the trained operator what type of heart valve and disease are involved, for example an insufficient mitral valve in the display shown, where positive speeds denote flow in the direction towards the transducer 11 and negative speeds denote flow in the direction away from the transducer 11. The proposed device 1 and the proposed method are universally applicable, and the proposed automation in particular permits simple and safe operation and a rapid examination or measurement. Preferably, the transducer 11 is not held manually by an operator, but fixed by means of a suitable support not shown or the like, in particular on the breast of a patient not shown.

20051005

20100202

20060803

60548.0

A61B814

FERNANDEZ, KATHERINE L

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ULTRASOUND MEASUREMENT OF BLOOD FLOW

SMALL

ACCEPTED

A61B

ACCEPTED

Pixel having an organic light emitting diode and method of fabricating the pixel

A pixel having an organic light emitting diode (OLED) and method for fabricating the pixel is provided. A planariza-tion dielectric layer is provided between a thin-film transistor (TFT) based backplane and OLED layers. A through via between the TFT backplane and the OLED layers forms a sidewall angle of less than 90 degrees to the TFT backplane. The via area and edges of an OLED bottom electrode pattern may be covered with a dielectric cap.

1-25. (canceled) 26. A pixel having a vertical architecture, comprising: an organic light emitting diode (OLED) device having a bottom electrode, one or more OLED layers and a top electrode for emitting light; a thin-film transistor (TFT) based backplane for electrically driving the OLED device, the TFT based backplane being vertically integrated with the OLED layers; and a planarization dielectric layer provided between the TFT based backplane and the OLED bottom electrode so as to planarize the vertical profile on the TFT based backplane. 27. The pixel as claimed in claim 26, further comprising a via for providing a communication path between the TFT backplane and the OLED device through the planarization dielectric layer, wherein the sidewall of the via in the planarization layer is sloped against the TFT based backplane. 28. The pixel as claimed in claim 26, further comprising an additional dielectric layer provided between the OLED bottom electrode and the OLED layers, which is patterned in such a way that it insulates the OLED layers from the OLED bottom electrode at pixel edges while leaving the rest of the OLED bottom electrode in the direct contact with the OLED layers. 29. The pixel as claimed in claim 27, further comprising an additional dielectric layer provided between the OLED bottom electrode and the OLED layers, which is patterned in such a way that it insulates the OLED layers from the OLED bottom electrode at pixel edges and in and around the via while leaving the rest of the OLED bottom electrode in the direct contact with the OLED layers. 30. The pixel as claimed in claim 26, wherein the pixel has a roughness of the order of 1 nm on the planarization dielectric layer and subsequent electrode layer. 31. The pixel as claimed in claim 26, further comprising continuous sidewall coverage by pixel electrode material in the via profile in the planarization dielectric layer. 32. The pixel as claimed in claim 27, further comprising continuous sidewall coverage by pixel electrode material in the via profile in the planarization dielectric layer. 33. The pixel as claimed in claim 26, further comprising a shield electrode formed over the TFT. 34. The pixel as claimed in claim 27, wherein the TFT based backplane includes: a substrate; gate, source and drain nodes; an interlayer dielectric layer on the source and drain nodes; and an interconnection plate patterned on a via of the interlayer dielectric layer and being connected to the source or drain node; wherein the planarization dielectric layer planarizes the vertical profile on the substrate with the fabricated TFT based backplane, and the sloped via providing the communication path through the interconnection plate. 35. The pixel as claimed in claim 34, further comprising a contact plate on the interlayer dielectric layer, which is formed such that the interconnection plate overlaps a part of the contact plate, the sloped via providing the communication path through the contact plate. 36. The pixel as claimed in claim 34, further comprising a shield electrode disposed between the planalization dielectric layer and the interlayer dielectric layer, which is located separately from the interconnection plate. 37. The pixel as claimed in claim 27, wherein the TFT based backplane includes: a substrate; gate, source and drain nodes; an interlayer dielectric layer on the source and drain nodes; a contact plate which is formed such that the source or drain material overlaps the contact plate; wherein the planarization dielectric layer planarizes the vertical profile on the substrate with the fabricated TFT based backplane, and the sloped via providing the communication path through the contact plate. 38. The pixel as claimed in claim 37, further comprising a shield electrode is formed separately from the interconnection plate the contact plate. 39. The pixel as claimed in claim 26, wherein the planalization dielectric layer includes photosensitive benzocylobutene (BCB), the slope of the via being adjusted by the exposure time of the photosensitive BCB. 40. The pixel as claimed in claim 28, wherein the additional dielectric layer includes polymer dielectric, inorganic insulator, BCB, polyimide, polymer dielectric, silicon nitride, a thin film inorganic, or a combination thereof. 41. The pixel as claimed in claim 29, wherein the additional dielectric layer includes polymer dielectric, inorganic insulator, BCB, polyimide, polymer dielectric, silicon nitride, a thin film inorganic, or a combination thereof. 42. A method of fabricating a pixel, the pixel having an organic light emitting diode (OLED) bottom electrode, one or more OLED layers on the OLED bottom electrode, and a thin-film transistor (TFT) based backplane for electrically driving the OLED and including a substrate, the method comprising the steps of: forming the TFT based backplane; and forming a dielectric layer on the TFT based backplane, including the step of planarizing a vertical profile in the dielectric layer so as to planarize the vertical profile on the substrate with the TFT based backplane. 43. A method as claimed in claim 42, further comprising the step of: forming a via which provides a communication path between the TFT backplane and the OLED device through the planarization dielectric layer, such that the sidewall of the via in the planarization layer is sloped against the TFT based backplane. 44. A method as claimed in claim 42, further comprising the step of: forming an additional dielectric layer between the OLED bottom electrode and the OLED layers, which is patterned in such a way that it insulates the OLED layers from the OLED bottom electrode at pixel edges while leaving the rest of the OLED bottom electrode in the direct contact with the OLED layers. 45. A method as claimed in claim 43, further comprising the step of: forming an additional dielectric layer between the OLED bottom electrode and the OLED layers, which is patterned in such a way that it insulates the OLED layers from the OLED bottom electrode at pixel edges and in and around the via while leaving the rest of the OLED bottom electrode in the direct contact with the OLED layers. 46. A method as claimed in claim 42, wherein the planarization dielectric layer including photosensitive benzocylobutene (BCB), further comprising the step of: adjusting the exposure time of the photosensitive BCB such that the sidewall of the via in the planarization layer is sloped against the TFT based backplane. 47. A method as claimed in claim 43, wherein the planarization dielectric layer including photosensitive benzocylobutene (BCB), further comprising the step of: adjusting the exposure time of the photosensitive BCB such that the sidewall of the via in the planarization layer is sloped against the TFT based backplane. 48. A method as claimed in claim 44, wherein the planarization dielectric layer including photosensitive benzocylobutene (BCB), further comprising the step of: adjusting the exposure time of the photosensitive BCB such that the sidewall of the via in the planarization layer is sloped against the TFT based backplane. 49. A method as claimed in claim 42, wherein the pixel is formed such that the pixel has a roughness of the order of 1 nm on the planarization dielectric layer and subsequent electrode layer. 50. A method as claimed in claim 42, further comprising the step of providing continuous sidewall coverage by pixel electrode material in the via profile in the planarization dielectric layer. 51. A method as claimed in claim 43, further comprising the step of providing continuous sidewall coverage by pixel electrode material in the via profile in the planarization dielectric layer. 52. A method as claimed in claim 42, further comprising the step of forming a shield electrode over the TFT. 53. A method as claimed in claim 43, further comprising the steps of: patterning an interlayer dielectric on the TFT; forming a via in the interlayer dielectric to provide interconnection between a source node or a drain node of the TFT and a shield layer; deposing the shield layer and patterning to form a shield electrode and an interconnection plate, the sloped via is connected to the interconnection plate. 54. A method as claimed in claim 43, further comprising the steps of: forming a contact plate on a portion of the pixel area before source or drain metallization of the TFT based backplane, the source or drain metallization being performed so as to overlap a part of the contact plate, the contact plate contacting the sloped via. 55. A method as claimed in claim 43, further comprising the steps of: depositing an interlayer dielectric on the TFT; forming a contact plate on the interlayer dielectric; forming a via in the interlayer dielectric to provide interconnection between a source node or a drain node of the TFT and a shield layer; deposing the shield layer and patterning to form a shield electrode and an interconnection plate, the interconnection plate being formed so as to overlap a part of the contact pate, the contact plate contacting the sloped via. 56. A method as claimed in claim 46, wherein the insulation of the additional layer does not comply to OLED fabrication process in terms of profile height, sidewall angle of the via and surface roughness.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a pixel, more particularly, to a pixel having an organic emitting diode. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Organic light emitting diodes (OLEDS) are electro-luminescent (EL) devices for emitting light. The OLED generates light by a current flowing through an organic compound. Pixels including the OLEDs have various advantages, i.e. simple structure, fast response and wide viewing angle. There are two types of matrix displays with the OLEDs, passive type and active type. In the active matrix display, thin-film transistors (TFT) are provided in each pixel to drive the OLEDs of display. The active matrix eliminates high peak driving currents and thereby enables high-resolutions and high information density, improves power consumption and life-time compared to the passive matrix. Vertical pixel architecture, in which the TFT and the OLED device are stacked vertically, has been developed. Such architecture can achieve higher aperture ratios. This favors using lower mobility amorphous silicon TFT backplanes compared polysilicon TFT technology, which is of higher mobility but also of higher cost. The difficult part in building the vertical stacked pixels is to make a TFT backplane suitable for subsequent OLED fabrication and provide high yield and good performance of OLED pixels. The OLED device is typically made of very thin layers. Overall thickness of organic layers in the OLED is of the order of 100 nm. For this reason, it requires a smooth substrate to achieve good performance and yield. Step-wise features on the substrate surface and roughness can cause deterioration of light-emitting properties or OLED device failure due to shorts between its electrodes. It is, therefore, desirable to provide new pixel architecture, which can achieve a high aperture rate, and at the same time, higher yield rate. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide novel pixel architecture that obviates or mitigates at least one of the disadvantages of existing pixels. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided vertical pixel architecture in which a planarization dielectric layer is disposed between a TFT based backplane and OLED layers. The planarization dielectric layer is thick enough to smoothen a TFT substrate profile to such an extent that will make it suitable for subsequent fabrication of the OLEDs. Preferably, the planarization dielectric and subsequent electrode layer have a roughness of the order of 1 nm to permit successful OLED fabrication. Electrical connection between TFT circuit and OLED is provided by means through-via made in planarization dielectric. In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vertical pixel architecture in which continuous sidewall coverage is provided by pixel electrode material in a through-via profile provided in the planarization dielectric. This is achieved by the formation of sloped sidewalls of the through-via. Preferably, the angle between the via and a TFT substrate is less than 45 degrees. In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, the interconnection between TFT final metal and OLED bottom electrode in vertical pixel architecture is provided via a smooth contact plate made of conductive material. In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vertical pixel architecture in which a dielectric layer is deposited and patterned on the top of the pixel electrode in such a way that it covers pixel via and the edges of the pixel electrode. Other aspects and features of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from a review of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be further understood from the following description with reference to the drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-section view showing a vertically integrated pixel in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-section view showing an example of the pixel of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-section view showing an example of the pixel of FIG. 1, which incorporates a shield electrode; FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of surface planarization with BCB; FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-section view showing a sidewall slope β of the pixel of FIGS. 2 to 3; FIGS. 6 to 8 are schematic diagrams showing fabricating process of the pixel of FIG. 2; FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-section view showing an example of the pixel of FIG. 1, which incorporates a contact plate; FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-section view showing an example of the pixel of FIG. 1, which incorporates a shield electrode and a contact plate; FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-section view showing a vertically integrated pixel in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing fabricating process of the pixel of FIG. 11; FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a vertically integrated pixel in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A vertically integrated pixel of the present invention is described. FIG. 1 shows a vertically integrated pixel 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The pixel 10 includes OLED device layer 12 and a TFT based backplane 14 (hereinafter referred to as TFT backplane). The OLED device 12 includes one or more organic layers, a cathode and an anode. In the description, layers between the cathode and the anode are referred to as OLED layers 18. The OLED layers 18 may be incorporating an electron transport layer, an organic light emitting layer, a hole transport layer, and a hole injection layer. In FIG. 1, an OLED top electrode 16 and an OLED bottom electrode 20 are shown as the cathode and the anode, respectively. The top electrode 16 is transparent to enable the light to be emitted by the OLED in the direction opposite to the substrate (i.e., top-emitting OLED). However, reverse top-emitting OLED structure, where the bottom electrode 20 is a cathode, and the top electrode 16 is an (transparent) anode, is also possible. Each pixel of the TFT backplane 14 includes TFT pixel circuits formed on a substrate 30. In FIG. 1, two TFTs T1 and T2 form a pixel circuit. Each of the transistors T1-T2 has metallization for a source, a drain and a gate 6. In FIG. 1, “2” represents either a source node or a drain node. However, the pixel 10 may include more than two transistors. The OLED bottom electrode 20 is formed on the top of the TFT backplane 14, and is separated from the backplane 14 by a dielectric layer 22. The dielectric layer 22 is continuously provided everywhere on the top of the TFT pixel circuit except at a through-via 8, which provides electrical connection between a specific node of the TFT pixel circuit and the OLED bottom electrode 20. This specific node may be source node or drain node of a TFT, which depends on pixel circuit design and order of deposition for the OLED electrodes and layers. The details of circuit design and OLED fabrication are not to restrict the applicability of the present invention. Preferably, the planarization dielectric and subsequent electrode layer have a roughness of the order of 1 nm to permit successful OLED fabrication. Optionally, a shield electrode 24 is provided on the top of TFTs. FIG. 2 shows an example of the pixel 10 of FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, the sidewalls of the through-via 8 are sloped. The OLED bottom electrode material is disposed on the top surface of the dielectric layer 22 and along the sidewall of the sloped through-via 8. FIG. 3 is another example of the pixel of FIG. 1. In FIG. 3, the shield electrode 24 is provided above the TFT layers to keep the potential right on the top of the TFT pixel circuit at certain designed level regardless of the potential of the pixel electrode. The shield electrode 24 may be a thin-film conductor, Al, Al-alloy, Mo, Cr or the like. An interlayer dielectric 21 is provided between source/drain and shield layers. The connection between the desired pixel circuit node and the OLED bottom electrode 20 is made by means-of a via in the interlayer insulator 21, an interconnection plate 26 formed in the shield metal layer and the through-via 8 formed in the dielectric layer 22. The transistor structure of FIGS. 1 to 3 is typical for bottom-gate amorphous silicon TFT, and it is shown here as one possible example only. However, the method of pixel integration described here may be applicable in general to any appropriate known TFT backplane, including recrystallized or deposited poly-silicon, micro- and nano-crystalline silicon, CdSe and others. Active matrix TFT backplane may be fabricated by successive deposition and patterning of metal, insulator and semiconductor layers leading to an overall profile height of the structure that is in the range of a few 100 nm to 1 micron, with nearly vertical or sharp-angled sidewalls of the structures. On the other hand, in high performance small molecule and polymer organic light emitting devices, active organic layers have an overall thickness in the range of 10-100 nm. This implies that it is desirable to provide the OLED substrate with the roughness in 1 nm range to prevent electrical shorts between OLED layers or top and bottom electrodes. In addition, it is desirable that the substrate is either planer or has sufficiently smooth features whose vertical profile does not prevent reliable step coverage with thin OLED layers and their continuity, where necessary. In the embodiment of the preset invention, the planarization dielectric and subsequent electrode layer are formed so as to have a roughness of the order of 1 nm. The dielectric layer 22 smoothens or planarizes the vertical profiles of the structures on the substrate with fabricated TFT 14. Further, the through-via profile in the dielectric layer 22 enables continuous sidewall coverage by the OLED bottom electrode material, and reduction of thickness of the pixel electrode. The dielectric layer 22 of the pixel 10 is described in detail. The dielectric layer 22, which is used for separating the TFT backplane 14 and the OLED bottom electrode 20, smoothens or planarizes the vertical profiles of the structures on the substrate 30 with the fabricated TFT backplane 14. This ensures continuity of the electrodes16, 20 and organic layers 18 in the OLED device 12. This smooting/planarizing is achieved by using a planarizing dielectric, rather than one coating the substrate conformally. The planarizing dielectric may be an organic polymer such as benzocyclobutene (BCB), polyimide, polyamide, acrilic and others. Minimum thickness of planarization layer required depends on planarization properties of the dielectric and the profile height of TFT backplane. The thickness of planarizing dielectric can be between 0.5 and 5 μm. In the embodiment of the present invention, BCB layer, about 3 micron-thick, produced from photosensitive BCB-material is used as the planarizing layer. Planarizing dielectric layers are most often produced by application of corresponding initial material or monomer, which can be polymerized on the substrate by means of thermal cure, UV-cure with our without catalyst or by other method. The initial or monomer material can or cannot be patterned by photo-exposure. This property depends on chemical formulation of initial material or monomer by the manufacturer, whether the photosensitive components were added or not. The processing of the former may include steps such as application of initial material, pattern definition by photoexposure trough a photomask, pattern developing and final cure. As a result a patterned polymer layer is obtained. The processing of the latter may include application of initial material, cure, application and patterning of the mask, patterning cured polymer by means of plasma or wet etching with the mask, strip the mask. In some cases, like polyimides and BCB, there are available both photosensitive and non-photosensitive versions of initial material that can lead to about the same chemical composition and structure of polymer dielectric material after final cure. In the embodiment of the present invention, BCB-layer made of photosensitive initial material is used as a planarization dielectric. However, the present invention may be applicable to different types of material, such as but not limited to other planarization materials made of both of photosensitive and non-photosensitive initial formulations. FIG. 4 shows the planarization effect of BCB-layer. In this example, a TFT substrate is schematically shown as-having stepwise profile of the patterns 50 with nearly vertical sidewalls and profile height of 0.5-0.9 μm before application of BCB. After application of BCB-film, the patterns 50 are translated into 0.3-0.5 micron profiles 52 with the sidewall angle a about 10 degrees on the surface of BCB dielectric. In this example, the BCB-polymer film was produced by spin-coating photosensitive material (photosensitive BCB) with subsequent soft bake, exposure, post-exposure bake, pattern developing, solvent removal and cure. The process conditions are shown in Table 1. TABLE 1 Process conditions for planarization layer Nr Step Conditions 1 Spin-coating 2500-4000 rpm, 25-40 sec 2 Soft-bake 60-70° C., 90 sec 3 Exposure 12-60 sec 4 Post-exposure bake 50-60° C., 30 sec 5 Developing 2-4 min 6 Solvent removal 75° C., 60 sec 7 Cure 190-250° C., 2-4 hrs The through-via profile in the dielectric 22 of the pixel 10 is now described in detail. The OLED bottom electrode 20 is a conductive material such as indium-tin oxide (ITO) or the like, a metal film, Au, Pd, Ni or the like, sputtered, evaporated or fabricated by other method of thin film deposition. Other metals or thin multi-layer metal coatings may be also applicable. Typically, conductive layers in a flat-panel display substrate are fabricated by sputtering which has limitations in terms of step coverage. On the other hand, the roughness of the conductive layers such as metal films and ITO, increases with layer thickness. A thinner electrode layer produces a smoother surface suitable for OLED fabrication. This also reduces the cost of production. Therefore, a reduction of the thickness of the pixel electrode while maintaining its continuity over substrate profile is desirable. If the through-via had a nearly vertical sidewall, the thickness of the metal to cover sidewall continuously, could be of the same order as the depth of the via, which is equal to the thickness of the planarization dielectric layer (in a range of few micron). In the pixel 10 of FIGS. 2 to 3, the sidewall is made sloped rather than vertical. That permits the thickness of the pixel electrode to be reduced substantially in a vertically stacked pixel structure. FIG. 5 shows one example of a sidewall slop inside the via 8 of FIGS. 2 and 3. In FIG. 5, an angle β between the OLED bottom electrode 20 on the sidewall and a TFT final material 54 is less than 90 degrees. If planarizing polymer dielectric is formed from photosensitive initial formulation, the sloped sidewall can be achieved by means of appropriate exposure conditions. An example of sidewall slope control in the through-via for BCB-layer (i.e. dielectric 22), which is produced from photosensitive initial material, is presented in Table 2. TABLE 2 Sidewall angle in cured BCB layer which was produced from photosensitive BCB-material as a function of exposure time. Exposure time, sec Sidewall angle 20 45 30 33 180 27 The formation of the layer and patterning of the vias were achieved by means of spin-coating photosensitive BCB material with subsequent soft-bake, light-exposure, developing, developer solvent removal and cure. In Table 1, the sidewall angle β between the planarization layer 22 and the TFT final material 54 is shown as a function of photosensitive BCB-exposure time. After the exposure, the film underwent 30 seconds post-exposure bake at 55° C. and was developed for around 3 minutes in the developer solvent followed by 60 second bake at 75° C. for developer solvent removal and then final cure. The conditions for spin-coating, soft-bake, exposure, post-exposure bake and final cure are variable, and may depend on pixel design requirements. Recommendations about process conditions of Photo-BCB are given, for example, by “Cyclotene™ 4000 Series Advanced Electronic Resins (Photo-BCB)” of Dow Chemical (™), at hftp://www.dow.com/cyclotene/prods/402235.htm. As shown in Table 2, the sidewall angle β relates to the exposure time. The sidewall angle β becomes smaller when exposure time is longer. For example, for the sidewall angle β of less than 45 degrees and the planarization dielectric thickness of around 3 μm, the continuous coverage of the via sidewalls was achieved with a pixel electrode thickness of order 100 nm. This is much less than the through-via depth and enables the electrode surface of the OLED bottom electrode 20 to be sufficiently smooth. For polymer dielectric material made of non-photosensitive initial formulation, the sloped sidewall can be also achieved. For example, this can be done, by optimizing masking and plasma etching steps. The parameters, materials and/or process of fabricating the sloped through-vias 8 are adjusted so as to: ensure the continuous sidewall coverage by a material of the pixel electrode; make the roughness of the OLED electrode small enough (1 nm order) to prevent electrical shorts between the OLED top electrode 16 and the OLED bottom electrode 20. One example of fabricating the pixel 10 of FIG. 2 is shown in FIGS. 6 to 8. First, the TFT backplane 14 is fabricated (FIG. 6) on the substrate 30. Next, the TFT backplane 14 is coated with a planarization layer 22, where the vias 8 with sloped sidewalls are opened to the selected nodes of the TFT backplane 14 (FIG. 7). For BCB planarization layer made of photosensitive formulation, BCB material is applied by spin coating, and processed including soft-bake, UV-exposure through a photomask, post-exposure cure, developing, solvent removal and final cure. This sequence gives patterned material (with the through-vias 8) whose layer thickness and via sidewall slope depend on processing conditions, such as the exposure time as described above. Typically, surface roughness of cured BCB-layer is about 1 nm. Then, a thin residual layer on the bottom of the through-vias 8 is removed by plasma etching. Etching conditions are optimized for short etching time and minimum roughening of the BCB surface. For example, the fabrication of the pixel 10 may include plasma etching in CF4+O2 gas mixture or SF6+O2 gas mixture, a combination of high power high density plasma (for example, inductively coupled plasma) and low. power reactive ion etching to achieve short etching time (few-20 seconds); and virtually no change in roughness after plasma etching. Subsequently, a conductive material is deposited and patterned to form the OLED bottom electrode 20 (FIG. 8). Finally; the OLED layers 18 and transparent electrode top electrode 16 of the OLED are continuously applied over the pixels (FIG. 2). The shield electrode 24 of FIG. 3 is now described in detail. As shown in FIG. 3, optional shield electrode can be incorporated in a pixel structure. After formation of the TFT backplane 14, interlayer dielectric 21 is deposited. This can be done by means of CVD, plasma-enhanced CVD process or other method. Silicon nitride, silicon oxide or silicon oxide nitride with the thickness between 0.1 and 1 μm can be used as the interlayer dielectric 21. After formation of the vias in the interlayer dielectric that provide interconnection between source-drain and shield metallization layers, shield metal layer is deposited and patterned to form the shield electrodes 24 and interconnection plates 26. The interconnection plates 26 serve to carry the potential from the certain node of TFT pixel, which can be either source or drain of a TFT, to the bottom electrode of OLED device 20. Then, the planarization layer 22 is applied and patterned, as described above, which is followed by deposition and patterning of OLED bottom electrode 20, deposition of the OLED layers 18 and top transparent electrode 16. FIG. 9 shows another example of the pixel of FIG. 1. In FIG. 9, TFT source/drain metal overlaps a contact plate 23 made of thin and smooth conductive material, such as Cr, Mo or other. The contact plate 23 is formed by deposition and patterning of conductive films on the flat portion of pixel area. Preferably, the thickness of the contact plate 23 is between 50 and 150 nm. The contact between the certain node of the TFT circuit, which is in the source/drain metallization layer of the TFT backplane 14, and the OLED bottom electrode 20 is made via the contact plate 23 rather than directly. Depending on structure and fabrication method of the TFT backplane 14, the source-drain metal may have surface roughness well in excess of 1 nm. This may be the case if relatively thick metal layer, especially Al or Al-alloy, is used for source/drain metallization. Such a source-drain metallization can be required for the reasons associated with particular TFT fabrication process or display design. For example, highly conductive routing metallization is beneficial for reduction of power dissipation or better OLED brightness uniformity over the substrate area, especially if the display size is large. If such a source/drain metal would be in a direct contact with the bottom electrode of the OLED 20, its surface roughness is translated into the roughness of electrode 20 inside via area. This can make this area a source of shortages between OLED electrodes 20 and 16 and therefore cause OLED failure. Thus, in the pixel of FIG. 9, the contact to the bottom OLED electrode 20 is made via the smooth contact plate 23 formed in separate layer. In addition, if the TFT final metal (source/drain-metal) 2 is Al or Al-alloy or the like, and the bottom OLED electrode 20 is conductive oxide such as ITO, having a contact to the electrode 20 made of Cr, Mo or the like instead of Al/Al-alloy will reduce contact resistance, heat dissipation in the contact and improve overall contact reliability. The contact plate 23 is formed before source/drain metallization of the TFT backplane 14. The TFT source drain-metal, which is formed next, has to overlap some portion of the contact plate 23 but leave a sufficient portion open for formation of via 8. In addition, it is desirable that source/drain metal can be selectively etched over contact plate metal. For example, if source/drain metal is Al or Al-alloy, using Cr for contact plate would provide excellent wet-etch selectivity. Roughness of the order 1 nm is easy to achieve with thin layers of metals such as Cr, Mo, Ti produced by sputtering, evaporation or other methods. Appropriate thin multi-layer metal coating can off cause be also used for contact plate 23. After the TFT backplane 14 with the contact plate 23 is formed, further steps, application and patterning of the planarization dielectric layer 22, deposition and patterning of the bottom OLED electrode 20, deposition of the OLED layers 18 and OLED top electrode are performed in a manner described above. FIG. 10 shows another example of the pixel of FIG. 1. In FIG. 10, the pixel has the shield electrode 24 and the contact plate 23. As described above, the shield 24 is formed to keep electric potential on the top of the TFTs at certain desired level. As the TFT backplane 14 is formed, the interlayer dielectric 21 is deposited. Then the contact plate 23 is formed of a thin and smooth metal layer such as Cr, Mo or the like on a flat portion of the pixel area. Preferably, the thickness of the contact plate 23 is between 50 and 150 nm. The vias in the dielectric 21 are patterned to provide interconnections between the source/drain and shield metallization levels where necessary. Then, shield metal is deposited and patterned to form the shield electrodes 24 and the interconnection plates 26. The interconnection plate 26 is to overlap the contact plate 23 but to leave its sufficient portion open, as shown schematically in FIG. 10. Preferably, the shield metal is selectively etched over the contact plate metal. As the TFT backplane 14 with the shield electrodes 24 and the contact plates 23 is formed, the planarization dielectric 22 is applied and though-via 8 is formed on the top of the portion of contact plate 23, which is free from shield metal (FIG. 10). Further steps (deposition and patterning of the bottom OLED electrode 20, deposition of the OLED layers 18 and OLED top electrode) may be performed in a similar manner as described above. FIG. 11 shows a vertically integrated TFT-OLED pixel in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The dielectric layer 22 and the through-via profile of FIG. 11 are similar to those of FIG. 2. The pixel 10 of FIG. 11 further includes an additional dielectric layer, i.e. dielectric cap 40, which is deposited on the top of the OLED bottom electrode 20. The dielectric cap 40 is patterned so as to cover the via area and the edges of the OLED bottom electrode pattern leaving the rest of the OLED bottom electrode 20 uncovered. The OLED layers 18 and the top electrode 16 are deposited in a similar manner as described above. The dielectric cap 40 is provided to avoid breakage of continuously deposited OLED top electrode layers at the pixel edges, and therefore to prevent shortage of OLED devices. Further, the dielectric cap 40 insulates the via area, which, depending on the structure and fabrication method of the TFT backplane 14, may have higher surface roughness than the rest of the OLED bottom electrode 20 and may be therefore a source of the shortage of the OLED device. The dielectric cap 40 is made of material, which may be either polymer dielectric (such as, BCB, polyimide, other polymer dielectric) or inorganic insulator (such as, silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxide-nitride). The thickness of the polymer insulator may be from a few 100 nm to a few micron. With the polymer insulator, as shown above, the sidewall profile of the cap pattern can be made smooth enough to enable continuous coverage with the OLED layers 18 and OLED top electrode 16. With inorganic insulator, the thickness of the dielectric cap 40 is adjusted in such a way to enable continuous coverage of the profile steps associated with the cap layer by the OLED top electrode 16. The thickness of an inorganic insulator can be between 50 and 500 nm (most preferably 50 to 200 nm). In addition, the conditions of dry or wet patterning of an inorganic insulator, such as silicon oxide or the like, can be adjusted to form the sloped sidewalls. One example of the fabricating process for the pixel 10 of FIG. 11 is seen from FIGS. 6 to 8, 11 and 12. As the TFT backplane 14 is formed on the substrate 30 (FIG. 6), the planarization dielectric 22 is applied where the vias 8 with sloped sidewalls are opened to the source-drain metal 2 (FIG. 7). A conductive material is deposited and patterned to form the OLED bottom electrode 20 (FIG. 8). Then, the dielectric cap 40 is disposed as described above (FIG. 12). Then, the OLED layers 18 and the electrode are disposed and which completes the formation of the pixel structure shown in FIG. 11. FIG. 13 shows a vertically integrated pixel in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The pixel 10 in FIG. 13 includes the shield electrode 26 and the dielectric cap 40. First, the TFT backplane 14 is fabricated followed by deposition and patterning of the interlayer dielectric 21 and the shield electrode 24. The vias in the interlayer dielectric are formed to provide interconnection between the source/drain and interconnection plates 26 made in the shield metallization layer, where necessary. Next, shield metal is deposited and patterned to form the shield electrodes 24 and the interconnection plates 26. Next, the planarization dielectric 22 and the OLED bottom electrode 20 are deposited and patterned in a similar manner as described above. Then, the cap dielectric layer 40 is disposed and pattern as described in the previous embodiment. Finally, the OLED layers 18 and the OLED top electrode 16 are formed. According to the embodiments of the present invention, the vertical pixel integration provides higher aperture ratio, which leads to: the possibility of using more advanced multi-transistor pixel driver circuit for improved display performance without taking up extra light-emitting area from the pixel; the possibility of using a TFT backplane, such as amorphous silicon, having lower mobility in contrast to poly-silicon, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing cost; and the reduction of current density through OLED providing higher operational stability and improved lifetime of the display device. Further, the fabrication process sequences and critical processing details described above solve a variety of issues pertinent to vertical integration such as: smoothening out/planarizing vertical profiles in the dielectric layer 22 of the structures on the TFT substrate 14 to enable continuity of the OLED device layers 12; continuous sidewall coverage by pixel electrode material in the through-via profile in the dielectric 22; roughness of the order of 1 nm on the dielectric 22 and subsequent electrode layer, which enables successful OLED fabrication and to higher yield rate; and capping structure feature which do not comply to OLED fabrication process in terms of step height, sidewall angle and surface roughness by a dielectric layer. The via and edges of the electrode are covered with the dielectric cap 40. While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, changes and modifications may be made to such embodiments without departing from the true scope of the invention which is defined in the claims.

<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Organic light emitting diodes (OLEDS) are electro-luminescent (EL) devices for emitting light. The OLED generates light by a current flowing through an organic compound. Pixels including the OLEDs have various advantages, i.e. simple structure, fast response and wide viewing angle. There are two types of matrix displays with the OLEDs, passive type and active type. In the active matrix display, thin-film transistors (TFT) are provided in each pixel to drive the OLEDs of display. The active matrix eliminates high peak driving currents and thereby enables high-resolutions and high information density, improves power consumption and life-time compared to the passive matrix. Vertical pixel architecture, in which the TFT and the OLED device are stacked vertically, has been developed. Such architecture can achieve higher aperture ratios. This favors using lower mobility amorphous silicon TFT backplanes compared polysilicon TFT technology, which is of higher mobility but also of higher cost. The difficult part in building the vertical stacked pixels is to make a TFT backplane suitable for subsequent OLED fabrication and provide high yield and good performance of OLED pixels. The OLED device is typically made of very thin layers. Overall thickness of organic layers in the OLED is of the order of 100 nm. For this reason, it requires a smooth substrate to achieve good performance and yield. Step-wise features on the substrate surface and roughness can cause deterioration of light-emitting properties or OLED device failure due to shorts between its electrodes. It is, therefore, desirable to provide new pixel architecture, which can achieve a high aperture rate, and at the same time, higher yield rate.

<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>It is an object of the invention to provide novel pixel architecture that obviates or mitigates at least one of the disadvantages of existing pixels. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided vertical pixel architecture in which a planarization dielectric layer is disposed between a TFT based backplane and OLED layers. The planarization dielectric layer is thick enough to smoothen a TFT substrate profile to such an extent that will make it suitable for subsequent fabrication of the OLEDs. Preferably, the planarization dielectric and subsequent electrode layer have a roughness of the order of 1 nm to permit successful OLED fabrication. Electrical connection between TFT circuit and OLED is provided by means through-via made in planarization dielectric. In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vertical pixel architecture in which continuous sidewall coverage is provided by pixel electrode material in a through-via profile provided in the planarization dielectric. This is achieved by the formation of sloped sidewalls of the through-via. Preferably, the angle between the via and a TFT substrate is less than 45 degrees. In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, the interconnection between TFT final metal and OLED bottom electrode in vertical pixel architecture is provided via a smooth contact plate made of conductive material. In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vertical pixel architecture in which a dielectric layer is deposited and patterned on the top of the pixel electrode in such a way that it covers pixel via and the edges of the pixel electrode. Other aspects and features of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from a review of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

20060518

20110524

20070208

63865.0

H01L2908

WON, BUMSUK

PIXEL HAVING AN ORGANIC LIGHT EMITTING DIODE AND METHOD OF FABRICATING THE PIXEL

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

H01L

ACCEPTED

Reducing cache trashing of certain pieces

Cache memory interrupt service routines (ISRs) influence the replacement of necessary instructions of the instruction stream (301) they interrupt; it is known as “instruction cache trashing,” since the instructions contained in the instruction cache (102) prior to execution of the ISR (302) are overwritten by the ISRs instructions. To reduce trashing of the instruction cache memory, the instruction cache is dynamically partitioned into a first memory portion (501a) and a second memory portion (501b) during execution. The first memory portion (501a) is for storing instructions of the current instruction stream (301), and the second memory portion (501b) is for storing instructions of the ISR (302). Thus, the ISR (302) only affects the second memory portion (501b) and leaves instruction data stored within the first memory portion (501a) intact. This partitioning of the instruction cache (102) reduces processor fetch operations as well as reduces power consumption of the instruction cache memory (102).

1. A method of instruction cache management comprising the steps of: providing a first instruction cache memory; providing first instruction data within the first instruction cache memory for execution; providing a start of temporary cache indication, the start of temporary cache indication for initiating execution of a second program stream; creating a temporary cache within the first instruction cache memory upon receiving the start of temporary cache indication, the temporary cache for use in caching of instruction data for use in executing of the second program stream; executing instructions within the second program stream; and, removing the temporary cache upon execution of an instruction for terminating execution of the second program stream. 2. A method according to claim 1 comprising the step of providing a processor for execution of instruction data within the instruction cache and for execution of instruction data within the temporary cache for executing of the second program stream. 3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the second program stream has reduced instruction cache requirements as compared to the first instruction data within the first instruction cache memory. 4. A method according to claim 1 comprising a step of analyzing instruction data within the first instruction data in order to determine at which point in execution of the instructions to perform the step of creating the temporary cache. 5. A method according to claim 4 wherein the step of analyzing is performed by a software application including instruction data other than the first instruction data and the second program stream. 6. A method according to claim 4 wherein the step of analyzing comprises the step of assessing whether one of the first program stream and the second program stream include instructions of a predetermined type. 7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the instructions of a predetermined type are interrupt instructions. 8. A method according to claim 6 wherein the instructions of a predetermined type are return from interrupt instructions. 9. A method according to claim 4 wherein the step of analyzing comprises the step of assessing whether the second program stream is approximately sequential in nature and wherein the step of creating is performed in dependence upon the step of assessing. 10. A method according to claim 1 comprising the step of providing a main memory for storing of the second program stream at an address location, wherein the start of temporary cache indication is dependent upon the address location of the second program stream. 11. A method according to claim 1 wherein a size of the temporary cache is dependent upon an explicit instruction embedded in within the first instruction data. 12. A method of instruction cache management comprising the steps of: providing a first instruction cache memory; providing first instruction data within the first instruction cache for execution; providing an indication of a second stream of instruction data for execution one of in parallel with and in priority over the first instruction data, the second stream of instruction data shaving substantially smaller cache requirements over the cache requirements met by the first instruction data; creating a temporary cache within the instruction cache memory upon receiving an indication of the second stream's imminent execution, the temporary cache for use in caching of the instruction data of the second stream for use in execution of the second stream of instruction data; executing instructions within the second stream of instruction data; and removing of the temporary cache upon execution of an instruction for terminating execution of the second stream of instruction data. 13. A method according to claim 12 wherein the provided indication is an interrupt instruction. 14. A method according to claim 12 wherein the second stream of instruction data is approximately sequential in nature. 15. A method according to claim 12 wherein the second stream of instruction data is sequential in nature. 16. A method according to claim 12 wherein the indication is dependent upon an address in the first instruction cache memory that is used in a fetching operation that fetches instruction data for the second program stream from a predetermined memory location in the first instruction cache memory. 17. A method according to claim 12 comprising the step of providing a main memory for storing of the second stream of instruction data at an address location, wherein the indication of a second stream of instruction data is dependent upon this address location. 18. A cache memory comprising: an instruction cache memory for caching of instruction data of a first instruction data stream; a determination circuit for determining a presence of a second instruction data stream having known characteristics and for partitioning the instruction cache memory into a first memory portion and a temporary memory portion in dependence upon the presence of the second instruction data stream, wherein an instruction within the second instruction data stream is of an identifiable second type, the first memory portion for caching of instructions of the first instruction data stream and the temporary memory portion for caching of instructions of the second instruction data stream. 19. A cache memory according to claim 18 wherein the determination circuit is a hardware interrupt circuit. 20. A cache memory according to claim 18 wherein the second instruction data within the first instruction data stream is preceded by an explicit instruction. 21. A cache memory according to claim 18 wherein the known characteristics of the second instruction data stream comprise characteristics that identify the second instruction data stream as having instructions for executing in an approximately sequential nature. 22. A cache memory according to claim 18 wherein the known characteristics of the second instruction data stream comprise characteristics that identify the second instruction data stream as having instructions for executing in sequence. 23. A cache memory according to claim 18 wherein the second instruction data stream has reduced cache requirements over the first instruction data stream. 24. A cache memory according to claim 18 wherein the determination circuit comprises an instruction analysis circuit for identifying instructions of a predetermined type for creating of the temporary memory portion. 25. A cache memory according to claim 24 wherein the instructions of the predetermined type comprise an explicit instruction. 26. A cache memory according to claim 18 wherein the determination circuit comprises an instruction analysis circuit for identifying instructions of a predetermined type for terminating of the temporary memory portion. 27. A cache memory according to claim 26 wherein the instructions of the predetermined type comprise a return from interrupt instruction. 28. A cache memory according to claim 26 wherein the instruction of the predetermined type is an explicit instruction having one of a first type and a second type. 29. An integrated circuit comprising: an instruction cache memory for caching instructions for a first program stream; and, a circuit for creating and removing a temporary cache within the instruction cache memory, the temporary cache memory for being smaller in size than the instruction cache memory and for use in caching instructions within a second program stream that is other than the first program stream. 30. An integrated circuit according to claim 29 wherein the circuit is responsive to a first type of explicit instruction for creating the temporary cache. 31. An integrated circuit according to claim 30 wherein the circuit is responsive to a second type of explicit instruction for removing of the temporary cache. 32. An integrated circuit according to claim 29 wherein the circuit is responsive to an initiation of the second program stream that is sequential in nature for creating the temporary cache. 33. An integrated circuit according to claim 29 wherein the second program stream has substantially reduced instruction cache requirements over the first program stream. 34. An integrated circuit according to claim 29 wherein the circuit comprises an instruction analysis circuit for identifying instructions of a predetermined type and in response thereto for performing one of creating and removing of the temporary cache. 35. A storage medium having data stored therein for defining integrated circuit functional blocks, the integrated circuit functional blocks including: an instruction cache memory for caching instructions within a first program stream; and, a first circuit for creating and removing a temporary cache within the instruction cache memory, the temporary cache memory for being smaller in size than the instruction cache memory and for use in caching instructions within a second program stream that is other than the first program stream. 36. A storage medium according claim 35 wherein the data for defining the first circuit includes data for defining that the first circuit is responsive to an explicit instruction of a first type for creating of the temporary cache. 37. A storage medium according claim 35 wherein the data for defining the first circuit includes data for defining that the first circuit is responsive to an explicit instruction of a second type for removing the temporary cache. 38. A storage medium according claim 35 wherein the data for defining the first circuit includes data for defining that the circuit is responsive to an initiation of the second program stream that is sequential in nature for creating of the temporary cache. 39. A cache memory integrated according to claim 37 wherein the second program stream has substantially reduced instruction cache requirements over the first program stream. 40. A storage medium according claim 34 wherein the data for defining the first circuit includes data for defining that the circuit comprises an instruction analysis circuit for identifying instructions of a predetermined type and in response thereto for performing one of creating and removing of the temporary cache.

The invention relates to the area of processor caches and more specifically to the area of processor instruction caches. In computer systems, cache memories are used to decrease processor (CPU) access times to information, in the form of data and instructions, stored within main memory in the form of a read only memory (ROM) or a random access memory (RAM). Caches are on-chip memory banks that contain copies of certain pieces of data and instructions stored in main memory. Typically, there are two types of caches, data and instruction; however within this disclosure, only instruction caches are addressed. An instruction cache contains pieces of code for execution by the CPU. Whenever the CPU executes code that is already resident in the cache, for example while executing a sequence of instructions that form a loop, the execution of the loop is faster than accessing the main memory to read all of these loop instructions every time they are to be executed. However, when these instructions are not stored in the cache memory, then a cache-miss occurs, and the CPU has to wait until the needed data is fetched from the main memory into the cache memory. Once the data is fetched into the cache memory, the CPU resumes execution of the instructions. Unfortunately, during these fetch operations the CPU incurs stall cycles, while waiting for the needed data, and these waste valuable CPU processing bandwidth. During fetching operations, data is fetched from main memory in blocks, having a block size. The block size defines an amount of data that is fetched in one operation from main memory. Caches are organized in terms of cache ways, and cache sets of cache blocks. Depending on an instruction address of an instruction that is being executed by the processor, data fetched from memory having a block size is stored within a memory location within the cache set. The memory location within the cache set is in dependence upon the instruction address. The cache way within which the data block is stored is dependent on the cache replacement algorithm that is in use by a cache controller for the cache memory. Thus, for instance, bits 11 down to 6 of the instruction address determine the cache set for storing of the data fetched from main memory. In this example, the cache set is defined by bits 11 down to 6, and is applicable to a cache having a total cache size of 32 KB, with a way associativity of 8, and a blocksize of 64 bytes. This type of caches therefore has 64 cache sets, and each has 8 lines—the cache way associativity—with each line being 64 bytes in length. Typically, in cache memories, there is a certain replacement strategy for replacing of data stored within the cache with newly fetched blocks of data. The cache controller determines which of the 8 cache lines are to be replaced in the cache memory with a newly fetched data block. For this, the cache controller hardware, implements, for instance, a least recently used (LRU) process, where the cache controller hardware determines which cache line has not been accessed in the longest time and which cache line is most likely not needed for subsequent program flow. The newly fetched data is then placed in this cache line. Interrupt service routines (ISRs) are segments of instruction data including executable instructions that are executed whenever an interrupt is serviced. ISRs interrupt regular execution of a current instruction stream by the CPU, the CPU then services the instructions contained in the ISR, and typically resumes the current task once the ISR is completed. Of course, sometimes another task is resumed when the ISR affects the subsequent tasks of the processor, where the task scheduler of the Operating System typically handles this. Unfortunately, ISRs influence cache contents and thus have a significant effect on the execution time of the instruction stream they interrupt. Unfortunately, the interrupted instruction stream upon resumption thereof often requires fetching of some instructions from main memory, that were previously stored in the cache, because the ISR has replaced that instruction data with its own instruction data. Thus, ISRs increase the amount of fetching operations that are performed in order to resume execution of the interrupted instruction stream. ISRs typically do not contain loops within their instructions due to the simple nature and required speed for their execution. Thus, they have little reason to utilize the instruction cache. The way associativity of the cache, combined with a LRU replacement policy, potentially results in the ISR replacing all existing cache instruction data, whereas the re-use of a single cache way, or a sub-set of the available ways, by not using full LRU by the ISR would result in better overall performance of the system. Because of the non-loop nature of ISRs it is better to have the ISR replace its own instruction data from the cache, rather than instruction data that was present before the ISR started. Typically, a benefit to using instruction caches with ISRs is that when ISR instructions are loaded into the cache, a few more instructions are also fetched into the instruction cache memory, and hence the execution time of the ISRs is decreased. A “working set” is a set of instructions that need to be available to a process in order for the processor to execute a current task efficiently. For example, the working set for instructions contained in a loop process is an amount of instructions that are executed from the loop start to the loop end. In some cases however, the working set may exceed the size of the instruction cache, thus fetching operations replace instructions stored within the instruction cache with newly fetched instructions. Unfortunately, this overwrites some previously stored instructions in the instruction cache because of the limited cache size. This replacement of necessary instructions is termed to those of skill in the art as “instruction cache trashing,” since the instructions contained in the cache prior to execution of the ISR are overwritten by the ISR's instructions. Thus, execution of an ISR is similar to that of enlarging the working set, in that additional fetches are required in order for the program to execute efficiently. In both cases, additionally fetching operations are necessary in order to process the instructions by the CPU because the interrupted stream typically needs to have additional data fetched in order to resume its operation. Of course not only ISRs interrupt efficient processing, other code segments that have similar cache characteristics as ISRs, and that do not have any loop instructions contained therein, also serve to disturb a currently executing program's working set. For example in a Philips Digital Video Platform (DVP) a two CPU chip is utilized, where one chip is a RISC (MIPS®) and the other a VLIW (very large instruction word) processors such as the TriMedia®. The TriMedia® is a co-processor that executes all video and audio programs. However, during processing of data by this VLIW, a relatively big part of the VLIW CPU power is wasted due to instruction cache trashing. Typically more than half of the CPU power is consumed by stall cycles resulting from instruction cache trashing and poor access to main memory. One of the reasons for the decreased processing power may be due to driver model of DVP, resulting large pieces of code that are executed in the ISRs. Due to many reloads of trashed instructions from main memory, the main memory bandwidth requirements are also increased. A need therefore exists for reducing instruction cache trashing to assist in increasing CPU processing power, decreasing main memory bandwidth, as well as in reducing overall power consumption associated with data block transfers from memory as a result of trashing. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an instruction cache supporting reduced replacement of instructions with other instructions that are for use by another interrupting process. In accordance with the invention there is provided a method of instruction cache management comprising the steps of: providing a first instruction cache memory; providing first instruction data within the first instruction cache memory and for execution; providing a start of temporary cache indication, the start of temporary cache indication for initiating execution of a second program stream; creating a temporary cache within the first instruction cache memory upon receiving the start of temporary cache indication, the temporary cache for use in caching of instruction data for use in executing of the second program stream; executing instructions within the second program stream; and, removing the temporary cache upon execution of an instruction for terminating execution of the second program stream. In accordance with the invention there is provided a method of instruction cache management comprising the steps of: providing a first instruction cache memory; providing first instruction data within the first instruction cache for execution; providing an indication of a second stream of instruction data for execution one of in parallel with and in priority over the first instruction data, the second stream of instruction data having substantially smaller cache requirements over the cache requirements met by the first instruction cache memory; creating a temporary cache within the instruction cache memory upon receiving an indication of the second stream's imminent execution, the temporary cache for use in caching of the instruction data of the second stream for use in execution of the second stream of instruction data; executing instructions within the second stream of instruction data; and removing of the temporary cache upon execution of an instruction for terminating execution of the second stream of instruction data. In accordance with the invention there is provided a cache memory comprising: an instruction cache memory for caching of instruction data of a first instruction data stream; a determination circuit for determining a presence of a second instruction data stream having known characteristics and for partitioning the instruction cache memory into a first memory portion and a temporary memory portion in dependence upon the presence of the second instruction data stream, wherein an instruction within the second instruction data stream is of an identifiable second type, the first memory portion for caching of instructions of the first instruction data stream and the temporary memory portion for caching of instructions of the second instruction data stream. In accordance with the invention there is provided an integrated circuit comprising: an instruction cache memory for caching instructions for a first program stream; and, a circuit for creating and removing a temporary cache within the instruction cache memory, the temporary cache memory for being smaller in size than the instruction cache memory and for use in caching instructions within a second program stream that is other than the first program stream. In accordance with the invention there is provided a storage medium having data stored therein for defining integrated circuit functional blocks, the integrated circuit functional blocks including: an instruction cache memory for caching instructions within a first program stream; and, a first circuit for creating and removing a temporary cache within the instruction cache memory, the temporary cache memory for being smaller in size than the instruction cache memory and for use in caching instructions within a second program stream that is other than the first program stream. Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described in conjunction with the following drawings, in which: FIG. 1 illustrates a high level diagram of a portion of a computer processing system having a cache memory; FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the invention, a determination circuit disposed in hardware within the cache memory; FIG. 3 illustrates a first program stream having a pre-interrupt portion and a post interrupt portion, with a second program stream embedded therebetween; FIG. 4 illustrates a process flowchart for the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2; FIG. 5a illustrates a first program stream pre-interrupt portion stored within the instruction cache; FIG. 5b illustrates the instruction cache memory partitioned into a first memory portion and a second memory portion, the first memory portion having stored therein the first program stream pre-interrupt portion and the second memory portion having stored therein a second program stream; and, FIG. 5c illustrates the instruction cache memory after having the partition removed, with the instruction cache memory having stored therein a portion of the first program stream post-interrupt portion and a portion of the first program stream pre-interrupt portion. In the Internet publication of I. Kadayif et al, “An Energy Saving Strategy Based on Adaptive Loop Parallelization,” a multiple processor strategy is evaluated in order to allow each nested loop to execute using different number of processors, if doing so is beneficial to system energy savings. Thus, processors are shut down, or placed in a sleep state, when they are not being utilized for processing of information. Of course, since each of these processors typically has a cache memory associated therewith, the cache memory ends up being in a similar state to that of the processor when it is placed in a power saving mode. In the Internet publication of Kil-Whan Lee et al, “THE CACHE MEMORY SYSTEM FOR CalmRISC32,” a dual data cache system structure is proposed for use as the cache memory system for CalmRISC32 to improve performance and reduce power consumption. In this case, the cooperative cache system is applied to both data cache and instruction cache. Between the two types of locality, spatial and temporal locality, there is a high possibility that recently accessed items are accessed again in the near future in the temporal locality. Thus, a first cache memory is provided to address the spatial locality, and a second cache memory is provided to address the temporal locality. Both cache memories assist each other to improve—reduce—processor stall cycles. However, utilizing both of these cache memories does not reduce effects resulting from instruction cache trashing. Referring to FIG. 1, a high level diagram of a portion of a computer processing system is shown. The processing system includes a CPU 101 that receives instruction data for processing via an instruction cache memory 102 and other data for processing via a data cache memory 104, hereinbelow referred to as an instruction cache 102 and a data cache 104, respectively. Each cache, 102 and 104, is in communication with a main memory 103. The instruction cache 102 is for caching of only instruction data from the main memory 103, as it is required by the processor 101. Within the instruction cache 102 there is disposed an instruction cache controller 102a, including a fetching unit. The instruction cache controller 102a controls storage of data blocks within the instruction cache 102. The data cache 104 is for use in caching of data, which is other than instruction data, used for processing by the CPU 101. The data cache 104 has disposed therein a data cache controller 104a, including another fetching unit. Both cache controllers 102a and 104a are for controlling cache line replacement within each respective cache 102 and 104, as well as for fetching of instruction and other than instruction data from main memory 103 for storage within each respective cache 102 and 104. For example, cache controllers 102a and 104a each execute a LRU (last recently used) process in order to determine which cache lines are to be replaced within their respective caches 102 and 104 with the newly fetched data. Referring to FIG. 2, an embodiment of the invention is shown. In this case a determination circuit 201 is disposed within the instruction cache 102. The determination circuit 201 is for use in analyzing of instruction data retrieved from main memory 103 and provided to the instruction cache 102 using an instruction analysis circuit. Referring to FIG. 3, a first program stream is shown 301 having a pre-interrupt portion 301a and a post interrupt portion 301b, with a second program stream 302 embedded therebetween. The second program stream is optionally in the form of an interrupt service request (ISR) program stream. An instruction pointer (IP) 303 is provided for use in maintaining an index at which the CPU 101 executes the first program stream 301 and the second program stream 302. In FIG. 4, a process flowchart of the embodiment of the invention is shown. In accordance with the program streams depicted in FIG. 3, FIG. 5a illustrates a first program stream pre-interrupt portion 301a in execution from within the instruction cache 102 starting at instruction pointer (IP) address 303a. Fetches of instructions are performed from main memory 103 into the instruction cache 102 using the cache controller hardware 102a in order to reduce processor stall cycles during execution of the first program stream pre-interrupt portion 301a, from instruction pointer addresses 303a to 303b (FIG. 5a). A start of temporary cache indication (step 402 FIG. 4) is provided by the pre-interrupt portion 301a having an explicit instruction of a first type or by the determination circuit 201 determining at which point an instruction is provided indicative of an imminent execution of the second program stream 302 within the instruction cache 102. At this point, prior to execution of the second program stream 302, the determination circuit 201 instructs the cache controller 102a to partition the instruction cache 102 (step 403 FIG. 4) into a first memory portion 501a and second memory portion 501b (FIG. 5b). In the first memory portion 501a, a majority of cached instruction data associated with the first program stream pre-interrupt portion 301a is stored. When the whole instruction cache 102 is occupied by instruction data relating to the first program stream pre-interrupt portion 301a, the LRU process is preferably implemented by the cache controller 102a in order to free up memory space within the instruction cache 102 for use in enabling the creation of an available memory space that is to become the second memory portion 501b. The second memory portion 501b is used to implement a temporary cache 501b within the instruction cache 102. Optionally, instead of implementing the LRU process, the instruction cache controller 102a implements a dedicated memory allocating process in order to free up memory space within the instruction cache memory 102 for use as the temporary cache 501b. For example, at least one predetermined cache way from the instruction cache 102 is set aside for use as the second memory portion 501b. That said, for an 8 way set associate cache, for example, three of the cache ways are set aside for implementing of the second memory portion 501b. Thus, the second memory portion is constrained to being ⅜ of the total available instruction cache memory space. The instruction cache controller 102a then preferably utilizes the LRU process for controlling the replacement of data blocks within these 3 cache ways, but is not used to select the cache ways that are to be used for implementing of the second memory portion 501b. Further optionally, instead of having a fixed cache way assignment for the second memory portion 302, the interrupted program is stored in the instruction cache memory 102 with a LRU indication, such that it is the immediate candidate for replacement when the least recently used cache way is used in further processing. Upon having allocated the temporary cache 501b within the instruction cache memory 102, data relating to the second program stream 302 is fetched from main memory 103 and stored in this second memory portion 501b for execution, in step 404 (FIG. 4), by the processor 101. Referring to FIG. 5b, the processor 101 executes the second program stream 302 stored in the temporary cache 501b from IP address 303c to 303d. Of course, if this second memory portion 501b is not of sufficient size to accommodate the amount of data optimal for execution of this second program stream 302, the LRU process is implemented in the temporary cache 501b in order to reduce the amount of fetches performed from main memory 103. Upon termination of this second program stream 302 at IP address 303d (FIG. 5b), as determined by the determination circuit having received an explicit instruction of a second predetermined type, the temporary cache 501b is eliminated, in step 405 (FIG. 4), by the determination circuit 201 and the entire instruction cache 102 is again available for use by the post interrupt portion 301b of the first program stream 301 (FIG. 5c). Execution of the post interrupt portion 301b of the first program stream 301 is resumed at IP address 303e. Thus, a majority of instruction data stored in the first memory portion 501a by the first program stream 301 is available to the first program stream 301 with minimal fetching operations from main memory 103. Partitioning the instruction cache memory 102 into the first memory portion 501a and the second memory portion 501b, in the form of the temporary cache, (step 403 FIG. 4) realizes instruction processing advantages, such as a reduction in instruction cache trashing. Since the second program stream 302 typically does not contain loops instructions therein and is generally sequential in nature, instruction data fetched from main memory 103 for use in these generally sequential routines is rarely required subsequent to its execution. Therefore, the LRU process, executed by the instruction cache controller 102a, has an easy task of eliminating unnecessary instruction data from the instruction cache 102. Thus, the temporary cache 501b is advantageously relatively small, to act as a simple read ahead buffer for the second program stream 302, so that processor stall cycles are minimized for this second program stream 302, but not so large that a significant portion of the resulting first memory portion 501a is overwritten by implementing of the temporary cache 501b (step 403 FIG. 4). Since, the instruction cache first memory portion 501a contains data pertinent to the first program stream 301, overwriting a significant portion of this memory space is not advantageous because once execution of the first program stream 301b is resumed (FIG. 5c IP 303e), many fetches from main memory 103 are potentially necessary in order to resume execution of the first program stream post interrupt portion 301b in a fashion similar to its pre-interruption 301a fashion after interruption by the second program stream 302. Therefore, prior determination of the size of this second memory portion 501b is preferable, and potentially instructions are embedded into the program stream for use by the determination circuit 201 are implemented for determining a preferable size for the temporary cache 501b. Advantageously, the instruction cache controller 102a, including the fetching hardware, fetches new instruction data into the temporary cache 501b for use by the second program stream 302 without overwriting a significant portion of the instruction data for use by the first program stream post interrupt portion 301b. The determination circuit 201, in combination with the LRU process, or optionally using the dedicated memory allocating process, determines which portions of the instruction cache 102 to allocate to the temporary cache 501b, so that preferably a minimum amount of instruction data pertinent to the first program stream post interrupt portion 301b is overwritten. Thus, after returning from execution of the second program stream 302, the CPU 101 again executes the post interrupt portion 301b of the first program stream at IP 303e (FIG. 5c). Where, in execution of the post interrupt portion 301b of the first program stream 301, preferably an amount instruction data pertinent thereto is still stored in the instruction cache 102. Thus for example, if the instruction cache 102 has a size of 32 kBytes, and assuming a 8-way set associativity, while restricting memory allocated to the temporary cache 501b to a that of a 4 Kbyte cache way, this results in 28/32 of the original cache data still being pertinent to the first program stream post interrupt portion 301b after return from execution of the second program stream 302. Cache partitioning is implemented in two different manners in accordance with the invention. In the first manner, implementing instruction cache 102 partitioning is facilitated in hardware by having explicit instructions of a predetermined type that provide a start of temporary cache indication (step 402 FIG. 4) for triggering the determination circuit 201 for partitioning of the instruction cache. Once the determination circuit 201 reads an explicit instruction of a first type in the form of a start-of-temporary-cache instruction, the instruction cache 102 is partitioned into the first memory portion 501a and the temporary cache 501b (FIG. 5b), and the interrupt is processed. Of course, once the second program stream 302 has finished execution, then preferably an explicit instruction of a second type, in the form of an end-of-temporary-cache instruction, triggers the determination circuit 201 to free memory allocated to the temporary cache 501b so the entire instruction cache 102 is again useable by the first program stream post interrupt portion 301b. Of course, explicit instructions of the first and second types, in the form of hardware triggered interrupts and return from interrupt instructions, respectively, are supportable in an analogous fashion as will be evident to those of skill in the art. Of course, in some cases it is preferable to disable the partitioning of the instruction cache 102 when the second program stream 302 includes instructions that are other than sequential in nature, for example, in the form of loop instructions embedded in second program stream 302. If the temporary cache 501b is not of a large enough size to accommodate caching of the whole second program stream 302, then multiple fetches are generated to main memory 103 in order to retrieve instruction data necessary for use in the execution of loop instructions embedded in the second program stream 302, the memory size allocated to the temporary cache 501b is too small, thus the second program stream 302 is larger than the working set of the temporary cache 501b. Thus, for every loop iteration, fetches are generated to main memory 103, which disadvantageously results in stall cycles being incurred by the processor 101 for every iteration of the loop. In this case, it is not preferable to partition the instruction cache 102 since this leads to degraded processor performance as well as increased power consumption. Of course to those of skill in the art it is known that large ISRs are considered to be bad programming practice. Typically ISRs are small in order to assure short interrupt response time, thus leaving laborious work to normal program tasks such as those in the first program stream. In the second manner, second program stream 302 blocks of instruction data are identified as being stored in certain memory address regions within the main memory 103. In this manner, second program streams 302 are identified using addresses at which second program stream 302 instruction data is stored within the main memory 103. Of course, in order to identify the second program stream 302, preferably during compile and linking time of the program streams, load indications are provided within the program stream that preferably enable a majority of all the second program stream instruction data to be stored in a same memory address region within main memory 103. Thus, any fetching from this memory address region automatically allows for partitioning of the instruction cache (step 403 FIG. 4) for storing of this second program stream instruction data 302 within the temporary cache 501b. Advantageously, by using this approach, dedicated instructions used for implementing of the temporary cache 501b are obviated. The determination circuit 201 thus performs a role of determining the type of instructions that are within the second program stream 302, and based on this determination, performs partitioning (step 403 FIG. 4) of the instruction cache memory 102. If the instruction cache memory 102 is not partitioned accordingly, then more stall cycles may be observed and hence the performance benefits are not realized. Of course, instead of the determination circuit 201 processing the instruction data to make a determination, the information is optionally encoded within the instruction data for decoding by the determination circuit 201 instruction analysis circuit. Optionally, instead of implementing the determination circuit 201 in hardware, instructions are included within instruction data stored in memory 102 that are indicative of whether to partition the instruction cache or not. These instructions then result in the determination circuit 201, or other software routines being executed by the processor, determine whether it is advantageous to perform partitioning of the instruction cache 102 or not. Under software control the cache memory 102 is optionally partitioned in dependence upon the type of instruction data being executed as a result of software determination. Where the software determines that partitioning of the cache is advantageous, this operation is performed in order to increase processing power of the CPU as well as to decrease power consumption of the cache memory circuit 102 and memory bandwidth requirements. More fetches performed from main memory 103 result in more power consumed by the circuits. Enabling and disabling logic gates, at a hardware level, used to implement the instruction cache memory 102 and main memory 103 realizes power savings. Optionally, for a low hardware cost implementation of the present embodiment of the invention, the temporary cache 501b is created in a fixed cache way in the instruction cache 102. For example, the second memory portion 501b is only created in cache way 0. This advantageously allows the ISR to trash instruction cache data within this single cache way and not the other cache ways, thus leaving the other cache ways for use by the first program stream post interrupt portion 301b upon returning from execution of the second program stream 302. For example, for a total cache size of 32 KB with a blocksize of 64 bytes and with a total of 8 cache ways, a single predetermined number of cache ways with a fixed size of 4 Kbytes are allocated for implementing the temporary cache 501b. Of course, when there are a lot of fetches being performed to main memory 103, fetching of 64 byte blocks is often not enough for the reduction of processor stall cycles. Thus increasing the size of the fetch to two sequential 64 byte blocks is often preferable. Of course, optionally multiple sequential 64 byte blocks may be prefetched. Advantageously, by reducing instruction cache trashing as compared to prior art cache implementations, memory bandwidth requirements of the instruction data is decreased and the power consumption of the system is decreased. Less time is spent in executing of instructions as well as less time is spent in performing fetching operations to fetch data that has been removed by the execution of other instruction data. This has significant advantages for processor systems implemented in portable computing platforms, such as laptops. Numerous other embodiments may be envisaged without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

20050824

20080401

20060810

93715.0

G06F1200

ELMORE, STEPHEN C

REDUCING CACHE EFFECTS OF CERTAIN CODE PIECES

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

G06F

ACCEPTED

Combination assembly for managing a hose or like elastic pump tube in a positive displacement pump

A combination assembly is disclosed for managing a hose or like elastic pump tube or pump channel such that particularly is used in a peristaltic pump. The invention is characterized by having the pump equipped with an assembly for the adjustment of the pump pressure and/or compression imposed on the hose/tube, the assembly comprising a steplessly adjustable eccentric adjustment mechanism.

1. A combination assembly for managing a hose or like elastic pump tube or pump channel as used in a peristaltic pump, characterized in that the pump is equipped with an assembly for the adjustment of the pump pressure and/or compression imposed on the hose/tube, the assembly comprising a steplessly adjustable eccentric adjustment mechanism. 2. The combination assembly of claim 1, characterized in that the peristaltic pump is adaptable to employ, either alone or in conjunction with the eccentric adjustment mechanism, a captive hose fitting system for managing the pressure imposed on the pump hose/tube. 3. The combination assembly of claim 1, characterized in that the eccentric adjustment mechanism comprises an eccentric adjustment bushing (5), a worm gear (6), a spur gear (9), a lockcover (4), lockpins (11) and at least one locking bolt (12). 4. The combination assembly of claim 3, characterized in that the eccentric adjustment mechanism is employed to adjust the gap (23) between the pump rotor outer surface and the pump cavity inner periphery by way of rotating the eccentric adjustment bushing (5) mounted on the crankshaft pin (10). 5. The combination assembly of claim 3, characterized in that the eccentricity (19) of the eccentric adjustment bushing is accomplished by drilling the bore of the bushing eccentrically in regard to the outer periphery of the bushing. 6. The combination assembly of claim 5, characterized in that the rotation of the eccentric adjustment bushing is accomplished by means of a reduction gear adapted between the eccentric adjustment bushing and the crankshaft, the reduction gear being constructed by adapting the worm gear (6) into the solid body part of the eccentric adjustment bushing. 7. The combination assembly of claim 4, characterized in that a spur gear (9) is mounted to the end of the crankshaft pin or, alternatively, is machined directly to the end of the crankshaft pin. 8. The combination assembly of claim 3, characterized in that the adjustment force of hose compression is controlled using a calibrated torque wrench for rotating the worm gear (6) at its end (18). 9. The combination assembly of claim 4, characterized in that the eccentric adjustment bushing is locked to the crankshaft pin with the help of the lockcover (4) that is clamped against a conical surface (14) of the eccentric adjustment bushing with a bolt (12), whereby simultaneously the force imposed by the tightened bolt presses a sealing O-ring (15) placed between the lockcover flange and the eccentric adjustment bushing. 10. The combination assembly of claim 4, characterized in that the rotation of the lockcover is prevented with the help of the lockpins (11) placed between the crankshaft pin end and the lockcover. 11. The combination assembly of claim 4, characterized in that, by virtue of the lockcover, also the inner races of the bearings mounted on the eccentric adjustment bushing are clamped axially between a shoulder (17) of the eccentric adjustment bushing and a shoulder (16) of the crankshaft. 12. The combination assembly of claim 2, characterized in that the captive hose fitting system comprises a rubber flange (27) inserted to the hose end, seal gills advantageously comprising two gills (33), and two halves of a split collet (28) and, optionally, a mounting flange (7). 13. The combination assembly of claim 12, characterized in that the seal gills (33) are made to project from the hose end flange in a form with the diametrical dimension across the outer edges of the seal gills matching the outer diameter of the hose end flange and the seal gills being situated about the outer perimeter of the hose, at opposite sides thereof relative to each other, whereby the cross section of the seal gills is made 0.5 to 1 mm thicker than the width of the slits (34) made to the collet as it is divided into two halves. 14. The combination assembly of claim 12, characterized in that the feedthrough opening made on the pump body is of the same size or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the hose end flange (32) inserted to the hose end and that the split collet is placed about the hose end flange, behind the hose end flange (32), so that the seal gills remain trapped between the split collet halves. 15. The combination assembly of claim 12, characterized in that the flange of the split collet is fitted against the hose end flange inserted to the hose end and that to the rear side of the flange of the split collet is placed an O-ring (29), which becomes compressed in the gap between the flange of the split collet and a bevel (30) made to the edge of the feedthrough opening of the pump body thus exerting a force that presses the halves of the split collet against the seal gills and seals the gap between the split collet and the pump body. 16. The combination assembly of claim 12, characterized in that to the mounting flange is made a sunken shoulder (31) serving to prevent overtightening of the hose end flange.

The present invention relates to a combination assembly according to the preamble of claim 1 for managing a hose or like elastic pump tube or pump channel such that particularly is used in a positive displacement pump. Positive displacement pumps, in which peristaltic pumps form a subclass, are employed for pumping problematic substances in particular, such as abrasive, corrosive, slurried or high-viscosity liquids and liquid-suspended solids. Peristaltic pumps are also preferred when pumping as a primary function must be complemented with accurate metering, high hygienic standard and leakproofness. Peristaltic pumps are used widely, e.g., in the manufacture of foodstuffs, drugs, oil and chemical products. In heavy industries, peristaltic pumps serve to pump, i.a., such materials as liquids and ore/mineral suspensions. To operate properly, a peristaltic pump must be capable of forcing a volume of a fluid medium to move along a hose/tube by way of peristaltically compressing the hose from end to end during one turn of the pump rotor while simultaneously the next fluid volume is already filling the hose. Conventionally, this pumping sequence is implemented by rotating a nonrotary shoe or pressing roller, whereby the hose is subjected to progressive compression in the nip between the shoe/roller and the peripheral wall of the pump head. Furthermore, the hose/tube/tubing is selected to be sufficiently elastic and reinforces such that the hose resumes its circular profile immediately after the compression thereby creating a vacuum in its lumen thus inducing the entry of the next volume of the fluid medium into the hose. Most generally, this pump construction is implemented by way of flexing a straight hose/tube into a semicircle adapted into the pump head cavity wherein the hose is compressed radially by two diametrically opposite shoes or rollers. This kind of pump embodiment is characterized in that the shoe or roller applies a compressive force against the hose at all times and that the pump is typically half filled with a lubricant (e.g., glycerin) serving both to transfer frictional heat to the pump's external housing structures and therefrom out from the pump as well as to reduce sliding or rolling friction occurring in the compression of the hose. However, at higher rotor speeds or operation against a high head, the pump heats up so much that it must be stopped at regular intervals for cooling down. If the pump is specified for continuous operation, the pump as well as the drive motor/gear must be overdimensioned resulting in substantial investment and operating costs. Additional costs are also incurred during service and adjustment of the pump inasmuch as the lubricant must be drained and replaced at the same time as the seals of the pump housing and shaft are replaced. Moreover, in this kind of prior art construction, both ones of the rotor shoes/rollers begin to compress the hose at its suction end thus imparting a transient force impulse on both the stationary hose fixture and the hose itself. Such an impulse occurring twice during a single turn of the pump rotor imposes strong stresses on the hose and particularly the captive fiftings of the hose ends. In some pump constructions, attempts have been made to reduce the high abrasive friction and rapid pulsation by way of using compressing wheel rollingly running in bearings along an orbital trajectory. Herein, the hose may be bent into a full circle or even more, whereby the hose suction and discharge ends overlap. This kind of a single-contact rolling wheel minimizes the friction between the compressing wheel and the hose thus needing substantially less lubrication. Moreover, the single-contact pump rotor running over a full circle of the hose halves the number of pumping pulses, that is, only one fluid pulse instead of two is ejected from the pump per one turn of the rotor. Fluid pulsation also remains less aggressive due to the larger compressive area of the rotor that closes the lumen of the hose at a respectively slower speed resulting in slower onset/fall of the fluid pulse than in double-contact pumps. This kind of construction also has less friction and, hence, generates less heat thus facilitating continuous operation at a higher rotor speed, whereby the desired volumetric flow rate can be produced with a smaller pump, gear train and motor. However, continuous operation at a high speed is strenuous to both the hose and, in particular, the captive fittings of the hose ends. Hence, a typical problem in prior-art positive displacement pumps of the peristaltic type is associated with the captive securing of the hose ends to the pump housing. The hose is conventionally fixed with hose clamps/inserts to a support flange mounted to the external side of the pump housing. The captive securing of the hose ends must take the line pressure imposed on the pump, seal the hose feedthrough opening so that the medium serving as hose lubricant in the pump does not leak out from the pump housing and, simultaneously, fix the hose to the pump housing so tightly that the forces imposed by the rotor on the hose cannot pull/push the hose end free. The state of the art is represented, e.g., by patent publication FR-1114877 disclosing a construction in which a roll is adapted orbitally rotatable in the pump cavity by means of a crankshaft. The pump structure is illustrated in FIG. 2 of cited reference publication. It must be noted that the elastic pump flow channel does not cover a full 3600 circle in the pump cavity. In patent publication AU-19971675, “Orbital peristaltic pump with dynamic pump tube,” is disclosed an oscillatory compressive ring adapted rotatable in the pump cavity by alternative drive means. The tube is passed a full 360° circle along the inner periphery of the pump cavity and the suction/discharge ends of the tube enter/leave the pump cavity in a tangential fashion relative to the pump housing. The cross section of the tube is shown in FIG. 6 of cited reference publication. A crucial problem hampering prior-art constructions is the total lack of an adjustment mechanism for setting the compressive force. More specifically, no facility is provided for setting the compression applied on the pump hose or like elastic flow channel, whereby the distance between the rotor and the pump cavity cannot be varied from a constant value. In addition to the shortcomings listed above, conventional embodiments of the captive fitting of the hose to the pump housing are often implemented in an extremely awkward fashion. In other words, the technical implementation in regard to its practicable functionality and everyday servicing has mostly been neglected entirely. Almost invariably, the above-mentioned problems are associated with each other and often in an intimate causal relation to each other. Hence, it appears to be extremely essential for efficient and service-friendly operation of a peristaltic pump that further attempts are made to develop a system featuring simple and reliable captive fitting of the hose as well as an adjustment mechanism of the hose compression. It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above disadvantages. The goal of the invention is attained by means of a combination assembly for managing a hose or like elastic pump tube or pump channel, in particular such a hose/tube that is used in a positive displacement pump. The specifications of an assembly according to the invention are disclosed in the characterizing parts of appended claims. The invention differs from the prior art by virtue of having the pump equipped with an assembly suited for the adjustment of the pump pressure and/or compression imposed on the hose/tube, the assembly featuring a mechanism with steplessly adjustable eccentricity. In addition to this feature, the invention is characterized in that the peristaltic pump is adaptable to use, either alone or in conjunction with the eccentric adjustment mechanism, a captive hose fitting system for managing the pressure imposed on the pump hose/tube. In the following, the invention is described in more detail by making reference to the appended drawings in which FIG. 1 is an illustration of an embodiment of a peristaltic hose pump; FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side elevation view of an eccentric adjustment mechanism according to the invention adapted to a peristaltic pump; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional front elevation view of an eccentric adjustment mechanism according to the invention set into its uppermost position; FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional front elevation view of an eccentric adjustment mechanism according to the invention set into its lowermost position; FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an eccentric adjustment mechanism according to the invention; FIG. 6 is a longitudinally sectional view of a captive hose fitting system according to the invention adapted to a peristaltic pump; and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a captive hose fitting system according to the invention adapted to a peristaltic pump. Referring to FIG. 1, therein are shown the main components of a peristaltic pump. The pump comprises a pump body 1, a hose 2 and a rotor 3 mounted freely rotatable on bearings mounted onto an eccentric adjustment bushing 5. The eccentric adjustment bushing in turn is mounted on a crankshaft pin denoted by reference numeral 10 of FIG. 2. The crankshaft is mounted on bearings on the rear wall of pump body 1, centrally in regard to the pump cavity 34. The hose or like elastic pump tube or pump channel is inserted into the pump cavity with the rotor housed therein, whereby the hose rests against the pump cavity inner perimeter so as to cover a full circle. The hose ends are captively fitted in feedthrough openings 8 of the pump body. Actuated by the drive means, the crankshaft forces the rotor to rotate in the pump cavity at a given distance from the interior perimeter of the pump cavity. This distance is set smaller than the two-fold thickness of the hose/tube wall. Hereby, the rotor compresses the hose inserted in the pump cavity so that, with the rotation of the rotor, the volume of fluid medium being pumped and contained in the hose in front of the rotor is prevented from leaking in the reverse direction past the point of the hose compressed by the rotor. With the rotation of the rotor in the pump cavity, it rolls over the hose surface thus propelling the bulk of fluid medium contained in the hose. With the rotary progressive motion of the rotor and the hose recovering its circular profile immediately after the point of rotor compression, the hose creates a vacuum that causes the hose to become refilled with the fluid medium being pumped. In FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 is shown an eccentric adjustment mechanism comprising an eccentric adjustment bushing 5, a worm gear 6, a spur gear 9, a lockcover 4, lockpins 11 and locking bolt(s) 12. The eccentric adjustment mechanism serves to adjust the gap 23 shown in FIG. 4 between the rotor outer surface and the pump cavity inner periphery that determines the compressive force imposed on the hose. The rotor gap is adjusted by rotation of the eccentric bushing 5 mounted on the crankshaft pin 10. The rotor in turn is mounted on a bearing on the outer periphery of the eccentric bushing. The eccentricity 19 of the adjustment bushing illustrated in FIG. 3 is accomplished by drilling the bore of the bushing eccentrically in regard to the outer periphery of the bushing. The rotation of the eccentric adjustment bushing takes place with the help of a reduction gear such as a worm gear adapted between the eccentric bushing and the crankshaft. The reduction gear is constructed by adapting the worm 6, i.e., the driving shaft of the reduction gear, into the solid body part of the eccentric bushing. The spur gear 9, i.e., the driven gear, is mounted to the end of the crankshaft pin. Alternatively, the driven spur gear 9 may also be machined directly to the end of the crankshaft pin. With the rotation of the driving shaft, the eccentric bushing turns on the crankshaft pin, whereby the distance 23 between the rotor outer periphery and the pump cavity inner periphery changes as shown in FIG. 4. The maximum possible span of pump rotor-to-body distance adjustment is equal to the difference between wall thicknesses 20 and 21 of bushing 5 as shown in FIG. 3. A worm gear or like self-locking gear is advantageously used as the reduction gear. This allows the rotor gap adjustment to be carried out accurately and easily by a single operator, since the compressive force applied to the hose cannot rotate the bushing backward inasmuch as the self-locking reduction gear prevents uncontrolled rotation of the bushing. Based on the use of a toothed reduction gear, the rotor gap adjustment can be performed without the need for any special tools or adjustment shims. In a running pump, the eccentric adjustment bushing is continually subjected to forces that tend to rotate the eccentric bushing. With the help of lockcover 4, the eccentric bushing is locked to the crankshaft pin so that the reduction gear need not take all the rotational forces directed to the eccentric bushing during the operation of the pump. The lockcover is clamped against a conical surface 14 of the eccentric bushing with a bolt 12 illustrated in FIG. 2 to pass through the lockcover and fit into a threaded hole 22 of the crankshaft end shown in FIG. 3. In addition to providing the locking force of the conical fit, the tightened bolt presses a sealing O-ring 15 placed between the lockcover flange and the eccentric bushing in order to prevent the hose lubricant or other contamination from entering into the reduction gear and the interface between the eccentric bushing and the crankshaft pin. Thus, the screws passing through the lockcover only serve to provide the clamping force that keeps the lockcover tight against the conical surface 13. The force, which tends to rotate the eccentric bushing and is transmitted via the conical interface between the lockcover and the eccentric bushing, is transmitted further to the crankshaft end via the locking between the crankshaft and the lockcover. This locking is accomplished with the help of lockpins 11 sunken in the crankshaft end or a key slot. The lockcover is respectively provided with recesses 13 mating with the lockpins or key. By virtue of the lockcover, also the inner races of the bearings mounted on the eccentric bushing can be clamped axially between a shoulder 17 of the eccentric bushing and a shoulder 16 of the crankshaft. This is necessary to clamp the inner races of the bearings in a stationary and tight fit between the shoulders of the eccentric bushing and the crankshaft thus preventing the bearings from having a play in regard to the eccentric bushing. A characteristic property of a peristaltic pump based on positive displacement is that the inner surface of the hose/tube erodes during pumping. This process reduces the hose wall thickness and, thence, the compression of the hose in the gap between the pump rotor and body. Hence, the hose compression must be adjusted during the life of the hose. During continuous use, the known wall thickness of the hose wears down to an unknown value. In such a situation, it is very difficult to establish valid rules to be applied in conventional techniques of correct adjustment of hose compression. Invalid adjustment rules must be complemented with practical operating experience that frequently invokes serious overcompression and pump damage situations. In contrast, the eccentric adjustment assembly disclosed in the present application allows runtime adjustment of hose compression to be carried out simply with a calibrated torque wrench. The end 18 of the worm is so shaped as to be rotatable by means of the torque wrench. As the worm is thus turned with the torque wrench, an accurately set torque can be applied during rotation of the worm. With the applied torque thus being always constant, also the compressive force imposed on the hose becomes sufficiently accurately set to a constant value. In the adjustment of hose compression, it is important to apply a constant tightening torque at all times in order to compensate for slackening compression due to the wear of the hose. In FIG. 3 the eccentric adjustment is shown set into its minimum compression gap position. In FIG. 4 respectively, the eccentric adjustment is shown set into a position wherein the compression gap 23 is set to its maximum value. In FIG. 5 is shown an alternative embodiment of the eccentric adjustment assembly according to the invention. This modification of the adjustment assembly is suited for setting the hose compression particularly in small-size pumps in which the adoption of the above-described reduction-gear-based adjustment arrangement is not economically or physically viable. The eccentric adjustment assembly of FIG. 5 comprises a locknut 25 at the crankshaft end, a lockcone 27 and an eccentric bushing 5. In this embodiment, the hose compression adjustment is based on the same eccentric adjustment concept as described above and illustrated in FIG. 2. The principal differences between these two embodiments are seen in the technique of providing the torque for rotating the cone bushing and in the arrangement for locking the eccentric bushing in place. Rotation of the eccentric bushing on the crankshaft pin takes place by turning the bushing by the keyhead of its flange with a conventional wrench or tongs. The eccentric bushing is locked into the desired adjustment position by the lockcone 27. The lockcone is pressed home by way of tightening the locknut 25 onto an outer thread 26 made on the crankshaft end. The locknut is secured to the shaft with a tab washer. The lockcone is detached with the help of extractor threads 24 made on the flange of the lockcone. To this end, the lockcone flange is provided with two threaded holes 24 wherein extractor bolts can be fifted to remove the lockcone. The bolts are tightened until their tips meet an inner shoulder of the eccentric bushing, whereby they force the eccentric bushing off from its place. For precise hose compression adjustment, between the tab wafer and the eccentric bushing may be placed a dial plate with a graduation needed in the adjustment. The dial plate is secured to the shaft with the help of the same key slot as is used for securing the tab washer. A captive hose fitting system complementing the assembly according to the invention is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The captive system comprises a rubber flange 32 inserted to the hose end, seal gills advantageously comprising two gills 33, and two halves of a split collet 28 and a mounting flange 7 that may be replaced by a conventional piping flange if so desired. the outer perimeter of the hose, at opposite sides thereof relative to each other. The cross section of the seal gills is made 0.5 to 1 mm thicker than the width of the slits 34 made to the collet as it is divided into two halves. The feedthrough opening in the pump body is of the same size or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the hose end flange 32 inserted to the hose end. To mount the hose into the pump cavity, the hose end is passed from inside the cavity outward via the feedthrough opening. The length of the free hose end projecting out from the feedthrough opening is trimmed to about twice the hose thickness. The split collet 28 is placed about the hose end, behind the hose end flange 32, so that the seal gills 33 remain trapped between the split collet halves. Next, the flange of the split collet is fitted against the hose end flange already inserted to the hose end. To the rear side of the flange of the split collet is placed an O-ring 29. Finally, the hose end is pushed back into the pump cavity so deep that the flange of the split collet remains resting against the pump body 1. Then, the O-ring placed on the split collet remains compressed in the gap between the flange of the split collet and a bevel 30 made to the edge of the feedthrough opening of the pump body thus exerting a force that presses the halves of the split collet against the seal gills. Resultingly, a seal is established between the perimeter of the split collet and the pump cavity. The captive fitting set comprising the hose end flange, the split collet and the O-ring is tightened with the help of mounting screws 7 against the rim of the feedthrough opening made on the pump body. To accommodate the hose end flange, the mounting flange has a sunken shoulder 31 made thereon serving to prevent overtightening of the hose end flange. The depth of the sunken shoulder is dimensioned such that the mounting flange meets the flange of the split collet at a depth where the compression of the hose end flange at the hose end is about 30%. This amount of compression is sufficient to keep the hose end firmly clamped. Excessive compression of the hose end flange damages the hose end flange thus impairing the strength of the flange. In certain cases, the fixing holes of the mounting flange can be drilled into the same positions as those of a standardized piping flange corresponding to the nominal size and pressure specifications of the pump. Then, the mounting flange can be replaced by a conventional piping flange if so desired. A steel ring embedded in the hose end flange further assures that the hose end flange retains its shape and the flange cannot slip off from its captive position even under heavy mechanical stress. The seal gills, which provide the sealing of the longitudinal gaps between the halves of the slit collet employed in the clamping of the pump hose, also serve as indicators during the mounting of the pump hose to verify that the pump hose is clamped straight, not in a twisted position. The seal gills are cast such that they are in a horizontal position when the pump hose is correctly mounted. To a person skilled in the art it is obvious that the invention is not limited by the above-described exemplifying embodiment, but rather may be varied within the inventive spirit and scope of the appended claims. In addition to those described above, more benefits are obtained by virtue of the constructions implemented in the assembly of the invention. The captive hose fitting system provides simple and pull-resistant securing of the pump hose. The arrangement disclosed herein permits the use of a flanged hose and sealed feedthrough of the hose. The hose fitting system also facilitates correct and easy mounting of the hose and verification of the mounting. Additionally, it allows the use of a standardized piping flange to be used for pump connections. Respectively, the benefits and inventiveness of the eccentric adjustment assembly are appreciated, i.a., in reliable and accurate setting of hose compression force also on a worn hose. The eccentric adjustment bushing assembly the bearing to be tightened lashless onto the eccentric bushing with the help of the lockcover and, further, locking of the eccentric bushing and sealing of the compression adjustment gear with the help of the lockcover. All the adjustments can be carried out by a single operator without the need for special tools and storage of multiple spare parts separately. The assembly according to the invention represents a substantial advancement in the construction of a peristaltic pump as to its efficiency, operational reliability and, in particular, ease of service. The invention is characterized in that the assembly disclosed herein relates to the pumping of liquids and slurries by way of progressively compressing an elastic hose, starting from the hose suction end and finishing at the hose discharge end, whereby the progressive compression transfers forward the liquid or slurry volume in front of the compression point. Both of the mechanical constructions described above are advantageously utilized in the assembly according to the invention. The object of the invention is particularly directed to a novel and inventive approach to inserting the pump hose into the pump cavity, a captive fixing system for the hose ends, a replacement method of the hose giving minimized downtime, and an adjustment/locking mechanism of the compression applied to the hose.

20051024

20100601

20060525

70988.0

F04B4312

KASTURE, DNYANESH G

COMBINATION ASSEMBLY FOR MANAGING A HOSE OR LIKE ELASTIC PUMP TUBE IN A POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT PUMP

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

F04B

ACCEPTED

High-permittivity insulation film, thin film capacity element, thin film multilayer capacitor, and production method of thin film capacity element

A dielectric thin film 8, comprising a first bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8a expressed by a composition formula of (Bi2O2)2+(Am−1 Bm O3m+1)2− or Bi2 Am−1 Bm O3m+3, wherein “m” is a positive number, “A” is at least one element selected from Na, K, Pb, Ba, Sr, Ca and Bi, and “B” is at least one element selected from Fe, Co, Cr, Ga, Ti, Nb, Ta, Sb, V, Mo and W. Between the first bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8a and a lower portion electrode 6, a second bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8b including bismuth in excess of that in the composition formula of said first bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8a.

1. A high-permittivity insulation film, comprising at least a first bismuth layer-structured compound layer expressed by a composition formula of (Bi2O2)2+(Am−1 Bm O3m+1)2− or Bi2 Am−1 Bm O3m+3, wherein “m” is a positive number, “A” is at least one element selected from Na, K, Pb, Ba, Sr, Ca and Bi, and “B” is at least one element selected from Fe, Co, Cr, Ga, Ti, Nb, Ta, Sb, V, Mo, W and Mn, and a second bismuth layer-structured compound layer to be stacked with said first bismuth layer-structured compound layer, including bismuth in excess of that in said composition formula of said first bismuth layer-structured compound layer. 2. The high-permittivity insulation film as set forth in claim 1, wherein an excessive quantity of bismuth included in said second bismuth layer-structured compound layer is 0.1 mole folds or larger and 0.5 mole folds or smaller of said composition formula of said first bismuth layer-structured compound layer. 3. The high-permittivity insulation film as set forth in claim 1, wherein a thickness of said second bismuth layer-structured compound layer is thinner than a thickness of said first bismuth layer-structured compound layer. 4. The high-permittivity insulation film as set forth in claim 3, wherein a thickness of said second bismuth layer-structured compound layer is 1 nm or thicker and thinner than 300 nm. 5. The high-permittivity insulation film as set forth in claim 1, wherein a c-axis orientation degree of said second bismuth layer-structured compound layer is 80% or higher. 6. The high-permittivity insulation film as set forth in claim 1, wherein a c-axis orientation degree of said first bismuth layer-structured compound layer is 80% or higher. 7. The high-permittivity insulation film as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second bismuth layer-structured compound layer is composed of a plurality of layers having different bismuth excessive quantities. 8. The high-permittivity insulation film as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second bismuth layer-structured compound layer is composed of layers having a gradually changing bismuth excessive quantity along the layer thickness direction. 9. The high-permittivity insulation film as set forth in claim 1, wherein “m” in said composition formula is any one of 3, 4 and 5. 10. A thin film capacity element, wherein a lower portion electrode, a dielectric thin film and an upper portion electrode are formed successively on a substrate, wherein said dielectric thin film is composed of the high-permittivity insulation film as set forth in claim 1. 11. The thin film capacity element as set forth in claim 10, wherein said second bismuth layer-structured compound layer is stacked on a surface of said lower portion electrode, and said first bismuth layer-structured compound layer is stacked on a surface of said second bismuth layer-structured compound layer. 12. The thin film capacity element as set forth in claim 10, wherein a c-axis in said second bismuth layer-structured compound layer is oriented vertically with respect to the surface of said lower portion electrode. 13. The thin film capacity element as set forth in claim 10, where in a thickness of said dielectric thin film is 1 to 1000 nm. 14. A thin film multilayer capacitor, wherein a plurality of dielectric thin films and internal electrode thin films are alternately stacked on a substrate, wherein said dielectric thin film is composed of the high-permittivity insulation film as set forth in claim 1. 15. The thin film multilayer capacitor as set forth in claim 14, wherein said second bismuth layer-structured compound layer is stacked on a surface of said lower portion electrode, and said first bismuth layer-structured compound layer is stacked on a surface of said second bismuth layer-structured compound layer. 16. The thin film multilayer capacitor as set forth in claim 14, wherein a c-axis in said second bismuth layer-structured compound layer is oriented vertically with respect to the surface of said lower portion electrode thin film. 17. The thin film multilayer capacitor as set forth in claim 14, wherein a thickness of said dielectric thin film is 1 to 1000 nm. 18. A production method of the thin film capacity element as set forth in claim 10, including the steps of: forming said second bismuth layer-structured compound layer on a surface of said lower portion electrode; and forming said first bismuth layer-structured compound layer on a surface of said second bismuth layer-structured compound layer. 19. The production method of the thin film capacity element as set forth in claim 18, wherein a solution for composing said second bismuth layer-structured compound layer is applied on a surface of said lower portion electrode to form a coating film, so that a content of Bi in said bismuth layer-structured compound becomes excessive; then, said coating film is fired to form said second bismuth layer-structured compound layer; after that, said first bismuth layer-structured compound layer is formed. 20. The production method of the thin film capacity element as set forth in claim 19, wherein after forming said coating film on a surface of said lower portion electrode, said coating film is dried, then, said coating film is preliminarily fired at a temperature of not crystallizing the coating film, after that, said coating film is fired. 21. The production method of the thin film capacity element as set forth in claim 20, wherein a temperature of firing said coating film is 700 to 900° C., which is a temperature of crystallizing said coating film.

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a high-permittivity insulation film, a thin film capacity element, a thin film multilayer capacitor and a production method of the thin film multilayer capacitor. BACKGOUND ART In recent years, in the field of electronic devices, there have been demands for a furthermore compact capacitor element as an essential circuit element in a variety of electronic circuits along with electronic circuits becoming higher in density and more highly integrated. For example, a thin film capacitor using a single-layer dielectric thin film is behind in making a compact integrated circuit with a transistor or other active element, which has been a factor of hindering realization of an ultra-high integrated circuit. It was a low permittivity of a dielectric material to be used that has hindered attaining of a compact thin film capacitor. Accordingly, it is significant to use a dielectric material having a high permittivity to realize a more compact thin film capacitor with a relatively high capacity. Also, in recent years, a conventional multilayer film of SiO2 and Si3N4 has become hard to respond to a capacitor material for a DRAM of the next generation (gigabit generation) in terms of capacity density, and a material system having a higher permittivity has gathered attention. In such a material system, an application of TaOx (ε=30 or smaller) has been mainly studied but development of other materials has come to be actively pursued. On the other hand, as a dielectric material having a relatively high permittivity, (Ba, Sr)TiO3 (BST) and Pb(Mg1/3 Nb2/3)O3 (PMN) are known. It can be considered that it is possible to attain a compact body when composing a thin film capacity element by using a dielectric material of this kind. However, when using dielectric materials of this kind, the permittivity declined as the dielectric film became thinner in some cases. Also, a leakage property and a breakdown voltage were deteriorated due to apertures generated on the dielectric film as the film became thinner in some cases. Furthermore, it was liable that the dielectric film to be formed had poor surface smoothness and a permittivity change rate against a temperature was deteriorated. Note that due to a large effect by lead compounds, such as PMN, on the environment, a high capacity capacitor not containing lead has been desired in recent years. On the other hand, to realize a more compact multilayer ceramic capacitor with a larger capacity, it is desired that a thickness of one dielectric layer is made as thin as possible (a thinner layer) and the number of dielectric layers at a predetermined size is increased as much as possible (an increase of stacked layers). However, for example, when producing a multilayer ceramic capacitor by a sheet method (a method of forming a dielectric green sheet layer on a carrier film by using a dielectric layer paste by the doctor blade method, etc., printing an internal electrode layer paste to be a predetermined pattern thereon, then, releasing them one by one and stacking the same), the dielectric layer could not be made thinner than ceramic material powder. Furthermore, it was difficult to make the dielectric layer thin, for example, as 2 μm or thinner because of problems of short-circuiting and breaking of internal electrode, etc. due to a defective dielectric layer. Also, when a thickness of one dielectric layer was made thinner, the number of stacked layers was also limited. Note that the same problem remained in the case of producing a multilayer ceramic capacitor by the printing method (a method of alternately printing a dielectric layer paste and an internal electrode layer paste for a plurality of times on a carrier film, for example, by using the screen printing method, then, removing the carrier film). Due to the above reasons, there was a limit in making the multilayer ceramic capacitor more compact and higher in capacity. Thus, a variety of proposals have been made to solve the problem (for example, the Japanese Patent Publication No. 2000-124056, the Japanese Patent Publication No. 11-214245, the Japanese Patent Publication No. 56-144523, the Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-335173, and the Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-335174, etc.). These publications disclose methods of producing a multilayer ceramic capacitor formed by alternately stacking dielectric thin films and electrode thin films by using a variety of thin film forming methods, such as the CVD method, evaporation method and sputtering method. However, dielectric thin films formed by the methods described in the patent articles had poor surface smoothness, and short-circuiting of electrodes arose when stacking too much, so that those having 12 or 13 stacked layers or so were able to be produced at most. Therefore, even when the capacitor could be made compact, a higher capacity could not be attained. Note that as described in the non-patent article 1 [“Particle Orientation of Ferroelectric Ceramic having Bismuth Layer Structure and Application Thereof to Piezoelectric and Pyroelectric Material” by Tadashi Takenaka, pp. 23 to 77 in chapter 3 of Kyoto University Doctor of Engineering Thesis (1984)], it is known that a bulk bismuth layer-structured compound dielectric obtained by the sintering method is composed of a composition expressed by a composition formula of (Bi2O2)2+ (Am−1 Bm O3m+1)2− or Bi2Am−1 Bm O3m+3, wherein “m” is a positive number from 1 to 8, “A” is at least one element selected from Na, K, Pb, Ba, Sr, Ca and Bi, and “B” is at least one element selected from Fe, Co, Cr, Ga, Ti, Nb, Ta, Sb, V, Mo and W. However, in this article, nothing was disclosed on under what condition (for example, a relationship of a substrate surface and a c-axis orientation degree of a compound) when making the composition expressed by the above composition formula thinner (for example 1 μm or thinner), a thin film capable of giving a relatively high permittivity and a low loss, having an excellent leakage property, improved breakdown voltage, excellent temperature characteristics of permittivity, and excellent surface smoothness even when made to be thin could be obtained. The present inventors have developed a thin film capacity element composition disclosed in PCT/JP02/08574 and filed before. Also, as a result of carrying on further experiments, they found that the c-axis orientation degree of the compound could be still improved by making Bi contained in excess of a stoichiometric composition of the bismuth layer-structured compound, and filed before (The Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-012086 and The Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-012088). Also, the article [2001 Journal of Applied Physics Vol. 40 (2001) pp. 2977 to 2982, Part 1, No. 4B, April 2001] reports that the c-axis orientation degree can be improved by adding Bi excessively in a dielectric thin film of (Bi,La)4Ti3O12. However, this article only discloses a bismuth layer-structured compound expressed by a composition formula (Bi2O2)2+ (Am−1 Bm O3m+1)2− or Bi2Am−1 Bm O3m+3, wherein “m” is an odd number. Also, in this article, the excessive adding quantity of Bi is small as 2.5 to 7.5 mol % (0.4 mol or smaller with respect to the stoichiometric composition), which was proved to be insufficient to improve the leakage current resistant property according to an experiment by the present inventors. Also, as in the above article, in the bismuth layer-structured compound film added with an excessive amount of Bi, the leakage current resistance characteristic can be improved by improving the c-axis orientation degree, but the present inventors found that the permittivity declines comparing with a bismuth layer-structured compound, wherein an excessive amount of Bi is not added. Furthermore, the Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 11-121703 discloses a technique of suppressing reaction with a base material and preventing hindering of electric connection by forming an oxide layer including bismuth as a buffer layer between the bismuth layer-structured compound layer and the lower portion electrode. However, the buffer layer in the article is not a bismuth layer-structured compound film including an excessive amount of bismuth, and technical thought of improving the c-axis orientation by forming the buffer layer is not given. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention was made in consideration of the above circumstances and has as an object thereof to provide a high-permittivity insulation film, a thin film capacity element, a thin film multilayer capacitor and a production method of the thin film capacitor element, wherein a c-axis orientation is high, leakage current resistant property is particularly excellent, and the permittivity as a whole can be improved. The present inventors have been committed themselves to study a material and crystal structure of a dielectric thin film to be used for a capacitor, found that by using a bismuth layer-structured compound having a specific composition and making a c-axis ([001] direction) of the bismuth layer-structured compound vertical with respect to the substrate surface when composing the dielectric thin film as a thin film capacitor element composition, that is, by forming a c-axis orientation film (a thin film normal line is in parallel with the c-axis) of the bismuth layer-structured compound on the substrate surface, it was possible to provide a thin film capacity element compound capable of giving a relatively high permittivity and a low loss (tan δ is low), having an excellent leakage property, improved breakdown voltage, excellent temperature characteristics of the permittivity, and excellent surface smoothness even when made to be thin; and a thin film capacity element using the same. Also, it was found that by using such a thin film capacity element composition as a dielectric thin film, the number of stacked layers could be increased and a compact thin film multilayer capacitor capable of giving a relatively high capacity could be provided. Furthermore, it was found that by using such a composition as a high-permittivity insulation film, application to other use objects than a thin film capacity element became also possible. Furthermore, the present inventors found that as a result of excessively including Bi in a bismuth layer-structured compound in a predetermined excessive quantity with respect to a stoichiometric composition of the bismuth layer-structured compound in a composition, the leakage current resistant property could be improved, and furthermore, by placing a second bismuth layer-structured compound on a surface of a lower electrode, the c-axis orientation degree could be furthermore improved. Furthermore, from the fact that a bismuth layer-structured compound added with excessive bismuth had a declined permittivity than that of a bismuth layer-structured compound of a logical composition, the present inventors found that by combining the bismuth layer-structured compound added with excessive bismuth and the bismuth layer-structured compound of the logical composition, the leakage current resistant property could be improved and the permittivity could be improved as a whole, and completed the present invention. Namely, a high-permittivity insulation film according to the present invention is a high-permittivity insulation film, comprising at least a first bismuth layer-structured compound layer expressed by a composition formula of (Bi2O2)2+(Am−1 Bm O3m+1)2− or Bi2 Am−1 Bm O3m+3, wherein “m” is a positive number, “A” is at least one element selected from Na, K, Pb, Ba, Sr, Ca and Bi, and “B” is at least one element selected from Fe, Co, Cr, Ga, Ti, Nb, Ta, Sb, V, Mo, W and Mn, and a second bismuth layer-structured compound layer to be stacked with said first bismuth layer-structured compound layer, including bismuth in excess of that in said composition formula of said first bismuth layer-structured compound layer. According to the high-permittivity insulation film according to the present invention, the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer includes bismuth excessively, so that the leakage resistant property is improved in the high-permittivity insulation film. Also, the dielectric thin film also has the first bismuth layer-structured compound layer close to the logical composition, wherein bismuth is not excessive, and the layer has a higher permittivity than that of the layer 8b including excessive bismuth. As a result, the permittivity of the dielectric thin film as a whole is improved and the capacitance improves. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a high-permittivity insulation film having a particularly excellent leakage current resistant property and capable of improving a permittivity in total in the present invention. Furthermore, by arranging the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer on the surface of the lower portion electrode, the c-axis orientation degree can be furthermore improved. The high-permittivity insulation film is preferably used as a dielectric film in a thin film capacity element or a dielectric film in a thin film multilayer capacitor. Note that the high-permittivity insulation film of the present invention can be used, for example, as a gate insulation film of a semiconductor apparatus and an intermediate insulation film between a gate electrode and a floating gate, etc. other than the thin film dielectric film of a thin film capacity element or a capacitor. Note that the “thin film” mentioned in the present invention means a film of a material having a thickness of several Å to several μm or so formed by a variety of thin film forming methods and excludes a bulk (block) of a thick film having a thickness of several hundreds of μm or thicker formed by the sintering method. The thin film includes a continuous film which continuously covers a predetermined region and a discontinuous film which covers discontinuously at any intervals. The thin film may be formed at a part of or allover a substrate. Preferably, the first bismuth layer-structured compound layer and the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer are the same bismuth layer-structured compound layer having a same logical composition formula except that a content of bismuth in the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer is larger than that in the first bismuth layer-structured compound layer. Layers having the same logical composition formula exhibit a more excellent bonding property on a boundary surface of stacking and improved c-axis orientation degree. Note that the layers may be bismuth layer-structured compound layers having different formulas in the present invention. The bismuth excessive amount included in the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer against the composition formula of the first bismuth layer-structured compound layer is larger than 0, preferably 0.1 mole folds or larger and 0.5 mole folds or smaller, and more preferably 0.1 to 0.4 mole folds. When being in the range, the c-axis orientation degree of the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer improves, that of the first bismuth layer-structured compound layer also improves, and the leakage resistant property improves. Preferably, a thickness of said second bismuth layer-structured compound layer is thinner than a thickness of said first bismuth layer-structured compound layer. In this case, the thickness of said second bismuth layer-structured compound layer is 1 nm or thicker and thinner than 300 nm, more preferably 5 to 200 nm, and particularly preferably 10 to 100 nm. The second bismuth layer-structured compound layer functions as a buffer layer of the first bismuth layer-structured compound layer and, when the thickness is too thin, the function of improving the c-axis orientation degree and improving the leakage resistant property tend to deteriorate. Also, when a thickness of the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer is too thick, the thickness of the first bismuth layer-structured compound layer has to be thinner to respond to the demand for a thinner layer, and the permittivity in total tends to decline. In the present invention, it is preferable that the c-axis of the bismuth layer-structured compound is vertical with respect to the substrate surface, namely it is particularly preferable that the c-axis orientation degree of the bismuth layer-structured compound is 100%, but it does not always have to be 100%. It is preferable that the c-axis orientation degree of the second bismuth layer-structured compound is 80% or more, more preferably 90% or more. Also, the c-axis orientation degree of the first bismuth layer-structured compound is 80% or more, more preferably 90% or more. By improving the c-axis orientation degree of these layers, the leakage resistant property is improved in the high-permittivity insulation film. The second bismuth layer-structured compound layer may be composed of a single layer or a plurality of layers. In the case of composing of a plurality of layers, it may be composed of the same layers or composed of a plurality of layers having different bismuth excessive quantities. Alternately, the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer may be composed of layers having a gradually changing bismuth excessive quantity along the layer thickness direction. In the present invention, “m” in the composition formula is not particularly limited but it is preferably any one of 3, 4 and 5. When in a composition of m=3, 4 or 5, effects of the present invention are particularly enhanced. In the present invention, the first bismuth layer-structured compound layer and/or the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer may furthermore include a rare earth element (at least one element selected from Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu). By including the rare earth element, the leakage property can be furthermore improved. A thin film multilayer capacitor according to the present invention is a thin film multilayer capacitor, wherein a plurality of dielectric thin films and internal electrode thin films are alternately stacked on a substrate, wherein said dielectric thin film is composed of the high-permittivity insulation film as set forth in any one of the above. The thin film capacity element is not particularly limited, and a condenser (for example, a single layer thin film condenser and a multilayer thin film multilayer condenser, etc.) and a capacitor (for example, for a DRAM, etc.), etc. having a conductor-insulator-conductor structure may be mentioned. Preferably, said second bismuth layer-structured compound layer is stacked on a surface of said lower portion electrode, and said first bismuth layer-structured compound layer is stacked on a surface of said second bismuth layer-structured compound layer. It is relatively difficult to form a bismuth layer-structured compound layer having a high c-axis orientation degree on an electrode surface of a material, wherein crystal does not grow epitaxially, however, according to the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer added with excessive bismuth, a bismuth layer-structured compound layer having a high c-axis orientation degree can be formed. The c-axis in the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer is oriented vertically with respect to the surface of the lower portion electrode. A c-axis in the first bismuth layer-structured compound layer is also oriented vertically with respect to the surface of the lower portion electrode by following the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer, and the orientation degree is intensified as well. Preferably, a thickness of the dielectric thin film is 1 to 1000 nm, and more preferably 10 to 500 nm. In the present invention, even when a thickness of the dielectric thin film is made thin, the c-axis orientation degree is high, the leakage current resistant property is particularly excellent and, moreover, the permittivity can be improved in total. A thin film multilayer capacitor according to the present invention is a thin film multilayer capacitor, wherein a plurality of dielectric thin films and internal electrode thin films are alternately stacked on a substrate, wherein said dielectric thin film is composed of the high-permittivity insulation film as set forth in any one of the above. Preferably, said second bismuth layer-structured compound layer is stacked on a surface of said lower portion electrode, and said first bismuth layer-structured compound layer is stacked on a surface of said second bismuth layer-structured compound layer. It is relatively difficult to form a bismuth layer-structured compound layer having a high c-axis orientation degree on an electrode surface of a material, wherein crystal does not grow epitaxially, however, according to the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer added with excessive bismuth, a bismuth layer-structured compound layer having a high c-axis orientation degree can be formed. The c-axis in the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer is oriented vertically with respect to the surface of the lower portion electrode. A c-axis in the first bismuth layer-structured compound layer is also oriented vertically with respect to the surface of the lower portion electrode by following the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer, and the orientation degree is intensified as well. Preferably, a thickness of the dielectric thin film is 1 to 1000 nm, and more preferably 10 to 500 nm. In the present invention, even if the thickness of the dielectric thin film is made thin, the c-axis orientation degree is high, the leakage current resistant property is particularly excellent and, moreover, the permittivity can be improved in total. A production method of the thin film capacity element according to the present invention includes the steps of: forming said second bismuth layer-structured compound layer on a surface of said lower portion electrode; and forming said first bismuth layer-structured compound layer on a surface of said second bismuth layer-structured compound layer. A method of forming the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer is not particularly limited and a variety of thin film formation methods can be applied, but it is preferable to use a solution method. Namely, preferably, a solution for composing said second bismuth layer-structured compound layer is applied on a surface of said lower portion electrode to form a coating film, so that a content of Bi in said bismuth layer-structured compound becomes excessive; then, said coating film is fired to form said second bismuth layer-structured compound layer; after that, said first bismuth layer-structured compound layer is formed. By using the solution method, the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer including excessive bismuth can be easily formed. Note that the method for forming the first bismuth layer-structured compound layer is not particularly limited and a variety of thin film formation methods can be applied. But it is preferable to produce by the same method as that of the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer. By using the same production method, the production steps may be simplified. Preferably, after forming said coating film on a surface of said lower portion electrode, said coating film is dried, then, said coating film is preliminarily fired at a temperature of not crystallizing the coating film, after that, said coating film is fired. By performing the preliminary firing, coating can be repeated and crystallization in the firing step after that becomes easy. Preferably, a temperature of firing said coating film is 700 to 900° C., which is a temperature of crystallizing said coating film. Preferably, the temperature of firing said coating film is the room temperature (25° C.) to 400° C., and more preferably 50° C. to 300° C. preferably, a temperature of preliminary firing of the coating film is 300° C. to 500° C. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are schematic sectional views showing production steps of a thin film capacitor according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the production steps of the thin film capacitor shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a thin film capacitor according to another embodiment of the present invention. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Below, the present invention will be explained in detail based on embodiments shown in the drawings. First Embodiment In the present invention, a thin film capacitor, wherein a dielectric thin film is formed by a single layer, will be explained as an example of a thin film capacity element. As shown in FIG. 1A, a thin film capacitor 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention has a substrate 4, and a lower portion electrode thin film 6 is formed on the substrate 4 via an insulation layer 5. A dielectric thin film (high-permittivity insulation film) 8 is formed on the lower portion electrode thin film 6. As shown in FIG. 1B, an upper portion electrode thin film 10 is formed on the dielectric thin film 8. The substrate 4 is not particularly limited but composed of a single crystal having good lattice matching (for example, SrTiO3 single crystal, MgO single crystal and LaAlO3 single crystal, etc.), an amorphous material (for example, glass, fused silica and SiO2/Si, etc.) and other material (for example, ZrO2/Si and CeO2/Si, etc.), etc. A thickness of the substrate 4 is not particularly limited and is, for example, 100 to 1000 μm or so. In the present embodiment, a silicon monocrystal substrate is used as the substrate 4, an insulation layer 5 composed of a thermally-oxidized film (silicon oxidized film) is formed on a surface thereof, and a lower portion electrode thin film 6 is formed on the surface. A material for forming the lower portion electrode thin film 6 is not particularly limited as far as it has conductivity, and the lower portion electrode thin film 6 may be formed by using platinum (Pt), ruthenium (Ru), rhodium (Rh), palladium (Pd), iridium (Ir), gold (Au), silver (Ag), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni) and other metal, alloys containing these as a main component, and a conductive oxide having a perovskite structure, such as SrRuO3, CaRuO3, SrVO3, SrCrO3, SrCoO3, LaNiO3 and Nb dope SrTiO3, and a mixture of these. The lower portion electrode thin film in the case of using an amorphous material as the substrate 4 may be composed, for example, of ITO and other conductive glass. By placing a second bismuth layer-structured compound on a surface of the power portion electrode 6, it is possible to produce a dielectric film having a high c-axis orientation degree extremely easily even in the case of using an amorphous electrode, non-oriented electrode and an electrode oriented to other direction than the [001] direction (for example, [111] direction) as well as in the case of a lower portion electrode oriented to [001] direction. A thickness of the lower portion electrode thin film 6 is not particularly limited, but is preferably 10 to 1000 nm, and more preferably 50 to 200 nm or so. The upper electrode thin film 10 may be composed of the same material as that of the lower portion electrode thin film 6. A thickness thereof may be also same as that of the lower portion electrode thin film 6. The dielectric thin film 8 is composed of a multilayer film of a first bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8a and a second bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8b. The second bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8b is formed between the first bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8a and the lower portion electrode thin film 6 and has a function as a buffer layer of them. The first bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8a includes a bismuth layer-structured compound expressed by a composition formula of (Bi2O2)2+(Amm−1 Bm O3+1)2− or Bi2 Am−1 Bm O3m+3. Generally, a bismuth layer-structured compound has a layered configuration that a layered perovskite layer, wherein perovskite lattices composed of ABO3 are connected, is sandwiched by a pair of layers of Bi and O. In the above formula, “m” is not particularly limited as far as it is a positive number and may be an odd number or an even number. Note that when “m” is an even number, the reflection plane becomes parallel with a c-plane, so that the reflection plane works as a mirror and c-axis direction components of an intrinsic polarization cancel each other, consequently, there is not a polarization axis in the c-axis direction. Therefore, a paraelectric property is maintained to improve the temperature characteristics of permittivity and a low loss (tan δ is low) is realized. Also, when “m” is an odd number, a polarization axis is obtained also in the c-axis direction and a permittivity at the Curie's point becomes higher than that in the case where “m” is an even number. Note that, in the present embodiment, “m” is 3, 4 or 5 because of easiness in production. In the above formula, “A” is composed of at least one element selected from Na, K, Pb, Ba, Sr, Ca and Bi. Note that when “A” is composed of two or more elements, ratios thereof may be any. In the above formula, “B” is composed of at least one element selected from Fe, Co, Cr, Ga, Ti, Nb, Ta, Sb, V, Mo, W and Mn. Note that when “B” is composed of two or more elements, ratios thereof may be any. In the present embodiment, the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8b is composed of a bismuth layer-structured compound having the same stoichiometric composition as that of the first bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8a, but Bi in the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8b is included excessively comparing with that in the above composition formula of (Bi2O2)2+(Am−1 Bm O3m+1)2− or Bi2 Am−1 Bm O3m+3. For example, an excessive quantity of bismuth included in the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8b is larger than 0, preferably 0.1 mole folds or larger and 0.5 mole folds or smaller, and more preferably 0.1 to 0.4 mole folds. When in such a range, a c-axis orientation degree of the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8b particularly improves, that of the first bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8a also improves, and a leakage resistant property of the dielectric thin film 8 as a whole improves. For example, in the case of a bismuth layer-structured compound, wherein “m” above is 3, expressed by a composition formula of Bi4Ti3O12, an excessive content of Bi therein is larger than 0, and preferably in a range of 0.1 mole folds or larger and 0.5 mole folds or smaller in terms of Bi. Alternately, when expressing the bismuth layer-structured compound by a composition formula of Bi4+αTi3O12, “α” as the number of moles of the excessive content of Bi in the bismuth layer-structured compound is larger than 0, and preferably in a range of 0.4 (0.1 mole folds)≦α≦2.0 (0.5 mole folds). Alternately, in the case of a bismuth layer-structured compound, wherein “m” above is 4, expressed by a composition formula of SrBi4Ti4O15 or SrxCayBazBi4Ti4O15 (note that x+y+z=1, 0≦x≦1, 0≦y≦1 and 0≦z≦1), the excessive quantity of Bi is larger than 0, and preferably in a range of 0.1 mole folds or larger and 0.5 mole folds or smaller in terms of Bi. Alternately, when expressing the bismuth layer-structured compound by a composition formula of SrBi4+αTi4O15 or SrxCayBazBi4+αTi4O15 (note that x+y+z=1, 0≦x≦1, 0≦y≦1 and 0≦z≦1), “α” as the number of moles of the excessive content of Bi in the bismuth layer-structured compound is larger than 0, and preferably in a range of 0.4 (0.1 mole folds)≦α≦2.0 (0.5 mole folds). Furthermore, in the case of a bismuth layer-structured compound, wherein “m” above is 5, expressed by a composition formula of Sr2Bi4Ti5O18, the excessive quantity of Bi is larger than 0, and preferably in a range of 0.1 mole folds or larger and 0.5 mole folds or smaller in terms of Bi. Alternately, when expressing the bismuth layer-structured compound by a composition formula of Sr2Bi4+αTi5O18, “α” as the number of moles of the excessive content of Bi in the bismuth layer-structured compound is larger than 0, and preferably in a range of 0.4 (0.1 mole folds)≦α≦2.0 (0.5 mole folds). In the present embodiment, by including bismuth excessively in the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8b comparing with the stoichiometric composition, orientation to the [001] direction, that is, c-axis orientation in the bismuth layer-structured compound is intensified. Namely, the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8b is formed, so that the c-axis of the bismuth layer-structured compound is oriented vertically with respect to the substrate 4. When the c-axis orientation degree of the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8b is intensified, the c-axis orientation degree of the first bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8a is also intensified. Note that when forming a 8a having a stoichiometric composition, wherein the bismuth is not excessive but the permittivity is excellent, directly on the surface of the lower portion electrode 6, the c-axis orientation degree declines and the leakage resistant property declines. In the present invention, it is particularly preferable that the c-axis orientation degree of the bismuth layer-structured compound is 100%, but it does not always have to be 100%, and when preferably 80% or more, more preferably 90% or more and furthermore preferably 95% or more of the bismuth layer-structured compound is c-axis oriented, it is sufficient. The c-axis orientation degree “F.” of the bismuth layer-structured compound here is obtained by the formula (1) below. F(%)=(P−P0)/(1−P0)×100 (1) In the formula (1), P0 is X-ray diffraction intensity P of a c-axis of polycrystal having a completely random orientation, that is, a ratio of a total ΣI(001) of reflection intensity I(001) from a plane (001) of polycrystal having a completely random orientation and a total ΣI(hk1) of reflection intensity I(hk1) from respective crystal surfaces (hk1) of the polycrystal, that is ({ΣI(001)/ΣI(hk1)}; and P is X-ray diffraction intensity P of a c-axis of a bismuth layer-structured compound, that is, a ratio of a total ΣI(001) of reflection intensity I(001) from a plane (001) of the bismuth layer-structured compound and a total ΣI(hk1) of reflection intensity I(hk1) from respective crystal surfaces (hk1) of the bismuth layer-structured compound, that is ({ΣI(001)/ΣI(hk1)}. Here, “h”, “k” and “l” are any of 0 or larger integers, respectively. Here, because P0 is a constant, when the total ΣI(001) of reflection intensity I(001) from a plane (001) is equal to the total ΣI(hk1) of reflection intensity I(hk1) from respective crystal surfaces (hk1), that is, when P=1, the c-axis orientation degree F. of an anisotropic material becomes 100%. Note that the c-axis of the bismuth layer-structured compound means the direction of bonding a pair of (Bi2O2)2+ layers, that is, the [001] direction. In the present embodiment, due to the excessive inclusion of bismuth in the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8b, the c-axis orientation degree of the layer is improved and, moreover, that of the first bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8a formed thereon is also improved. As a result, the leakage resistant property in the dielectric thin film 8 improves. The dielectric thin film 8 also has the first bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8a close to the logical composition, wherein bismuth is not excessive, and the layer 8a has a higher permittivity than that of the layer 8b including excessive bismuth. As a result, the permittivity of the dielectric thin film as a whole is improved and the capacitance improves. Accordingly, in the present embodiment, it is possible to provide a dielectric thin film 8 having a higher c-axis orientation degree and particularly excellent leakage current resistant property and, moreover, capable of improving the permittivity in total. Also, the dielectric thin film 8 exhibits a low loss (tan δ is low), and a Q (1/tan δ) value rises when the tan δ decreases. The first bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8a and/or the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8b may furthermore include one or more element (rare earth element Re) selected from Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu. A substitution quantity by the rare earth element varies in accordance with an “m” value and, for example, when m=3, it is preferably 0.4≦x≦1.8, and more preferably 1.0≦x≦1.4 in the stoichiometric composition formula of Bi2A2−xRexB3O12. By substituting by the rare earth element in this range, the leakage property can be furthermore improved. Note that the dielectric thin film 8 has an excellent leakage property without the rare earth element Re as will be explained later on, but the leakage property can be furthermore excellent by the Re substitution. The dielectric thin film 8 composed of the first bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8a and the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8b has a film thickness in total of preferably 1 to 1000 nm and, in terms of attaining a higher capacity, 1 to 500 nm is more preferable. Also, in the present embodiment, a thickness of the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8b is thinner than a thickness of the first bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8a. In this case, the thickness of the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8b is preferably 1 nm or thicker but not thicker than 300 nm, more preferably 5 to 200 nm, and particularly preferably 10 to 100 nm. The second bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8b functions as a buffer layer of the first bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8a and, when hen the thickness is too thin, a function of improving the c-axis orientation degree and improving the leakage resistant property tends to decline. While when the thickness of the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8b is too thick, the thickness of the first bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8a has to be thinner to respond to the demand for a thinner layer, and the permittivity in total tends to decline. In the dielectric thin film 8, the permittivity at 25° C. (room temperature) and a measurement frequency of 100 kHz (AC 20 mV) is preferably higher than 100, and more preferably 150 or higher. The first bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8a and the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8b can be respectively formed by a variety of thin film formation methods, such as a vacuum deposition method, sputtering method, pulse laser deposition (PLD) method, metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) method, metal-organic decomposition method and other liquid phase method (CSD method). Particularly when the dielectric thin film 8 has to be formed at a low temperature, a plasma CVD, optical CVD, laser CVD, optical CSD and laser CSD methods are preferably used. In the present embodiment, the first bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8a and the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8b can be produced particularly by the method described below. As shown in FIG. 2, a material solution for forming the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8b shown in FIG. 1 is fabricated first. For example, when the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8b is a bismuth layer-structured compound expressed by a stoichiometric composition formula of SrBi4Ti4O15 and added with excessive bismuth, a toluene solution of 2-ethylhexanoate Sr, a 2-ethylhexanoate solution of 2-ethylhexanoate Bi, and a toluene solution of 2-ethylhexanoate Ti are prepared. Namely, Two of the solutions are mixed, so that the Bi adding quantity is increased by α mole comparing with that in the case of mixing them at the stoichiometric ratio, such as 1 mole of 2-ethyl hexanoate Sr, (4+α) moles of 2-ethyl hexanoate Bi and 4 moles of 2-ethyl hexanoate Ti, and the result is diluted by toluene, as a result, a material solution can be obtained. Next, the material solution is applied on the lower portion electrode 6 shown in FIG. 1A. The coating method is not particularly limited and the spin-coating method, dip coating method, spray method and a method of painting with a brush, etc. may be used. For example, about 1 to 300 nm of a coating film can be formed by one-time coating. The coating film is dried in the air to evaporate a catalyst in the coating film as shown in FIG. 2. The drying temperature is from the room temperature to 400° C. or so. Next, the coating film after drying is preliminarily fired (not to be crystallized) in an oxygen atmosphere. The preliminary firing temperature is 200 to 700° C. or so. Note that the steps from coating to preliminary firing may be repeatedly performed on the coating film after preliminary firing for one time or more. Note that when a thickness of the coating film before firing is too thick, it is liable that a preferably crystallized c-axis oriented bismuth layer-structured compound film is hard to be obtained. After that, main firing (also, simply referred to as “firing” or “crystallizing”) is performed on the coating film. The main firing is performed under a temperature condition of crystallizing the coating film, which is preferably 700 to 900° C. An atmosphere of the main firing is not particularly limited and may be an oxygen gas atmosphere. Note that the main firing after repeating the steps from coating to preliminary firing may be repeated for one or more times. Note that, at the time of the main firing, a thickness of the coating film before firing at one-time main firing is set, so that the film thickness after the one-time firing becomes preferably 200 nm or thinner, and more preferably 10 to 200 nm. When the thickness of the coating film before firing is too thick, it is liable that a preferably crystallized c-axis oriented bismuth layer-structured compound film is hard to be obtained after firing. Next, as shown in FIG. 2, a material solution for forming the first bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8a shown in FIG. 1 is fabricated. A bismuth adding quantity of a logical composition formula, wherein bismuth is not excessive, is attained when fabricating the material. Other than that, the first bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8a is formed on the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8b in the same way as in the case of forming the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8b. In the thus obtained 8b and the first bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8a, the c-axis is oriented vertically with respect to the substrate 4. The c-axis orientation degree of the bismuth layer-structured compounds is preferably 80% or higher, more preferably 90% or higher, and furthermore preferably 95% or higher. After that, as shown in FIG. 1B, the upper electrode 10 is formed by the sputtering method, etc. and subjected to thermal treatment in pO2=20 to 100% (oxygen partial pressure). The thermal treatment is performed preferably at 500 to 900° C. The dielectric thin film 8 as above and a thin film capacitor 2 using the same have a relatively high permittivity, a low loss, excellent leakage resistant property, improved breakdown voltage, excellent temperature characteristics of permittivity and excellent surface smoothness. Also, the dielectric thin film 8 as above and the thin film capacitor 2 are also excellent in the frequency characteristics and voltage characteristics. Second Embodiment In the present embodiment, a thin film multilayer capacitor, wherein the dielectric thin film is formed by multilayer, will be explained as an example of a thin film capacity element. As shown in FIG. 3, a thin film multilayer capacitor 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention has a capacitor element 22. The capacitor element 22 has a multilayer structure, wherein a plurality of dielectric thin films 80 and internal electrode thin films 24 and 26 are alternately arranged on a substrate 4a and a protective layer 30 is formed to cover the outermost arranged dielectric thin film 80. At both end portions of the capacitor element 22 are formed with a pair of external electrodes 28 and 29, and the pair of external electrodes 28 and 29 are electrically connected to exposed end surfaces of the plurality of internal electrode thin films 24 and 26 alternately arranged in the capacitor element 22 so as to configure a capacitor circuit. A shape of the capacitor element 22 is not particularly limited but normally rectangular parallelepiped. Also, a size thereof is not particularly limited and, for example, a length (0.01 to 10 mm)×width (0.01 to 10 mm)×height (0.01 to 1 mm) or so. The substrate 4a is formed by the same material as that of the substrate 4 in the first embodiment explained above. Each of the dielectric thin films 80 has the same configuration as that of the dielectric thin film 8 in the first embodiment explained above. The internal electrode thin films 24 and 26 are formed by the same material as that of the lower portion electrode thin film 6 and the upper portion electrode thin film 10 in the first embodiment. A material of the external electrodes 28 and 29 is not particularly limited and they are composed of CaRuO3, SrRuO3 and other conductive oxide; Cu, a Cu alloy, Ni, a Ni alloy or other base metal; Pt, Ag, Pd, an Ag—Pd alloy and other precious metal; etc. A thickness thereof is not particularly limited and may be, for example, 10 to 1000 nm or so. A material of the protective layer 30 is not particularly limited and it may be composed of, for example, a silicon oxide film and an aluminum oxide film, etc. In the thin film multilayer capacitor 20, after forming a first internal electrode thin film 24 on the substrate 4a by using a mask, such as a metal mask, the dielectric thin film 80 is formed on the internal electrode thin film 24, then, a second internal electrode thin film 26 is formed on the dielectric thin film 80. After repeating such steps for a plurality of times, an outermost dielectric thin film 80 on the opposite side of the substrate 4a is covered with the protective film 30, so that the capacitor element 22, wherein a plurality of internal electrode thin films 24 and 26 and dielectric thin films 80 are alternately arranged on the substrate 4a, is formed. By covering with the protective film 30, an effect of moisture in the air on the inside of the capacitor element 22 can be suppressed. Also, when forming the external electrodes 28 and 29 on both end portions of the capacitor element 22 by dipping or sputtering, etc., internal electrode thin films 24 as odd layers are electrically connected to one of the external electrode 28, and internal electrode thin films 24 as even layers are electrically connected to the other external electrode 29, so that the thin film multilayer capacitor 20 is obtained. In the present embodiment, it is preferable to use a substrate 4a composed of an amorphous material in terms of reducing the production cost. The dielectric thin film 80 used in the present embodiment has a relatively high permittivity even when made to be thin and, moreover, has preferable surface smoothness, so that it is possible to increase the number of stacked layers to 20 or more, and preferably 50 or more. Therefore, a compact thin film multilayer capacitor 20 capable of giving a relatively high capacity can be provided. In the thin film capacitor 2 and thin film multilayer capacitor 20 according to the present embodiment as explained above, it is preferable that an average change rate (Δε) of the permittivity against temperature in a range of at least −55 to +150° C. is within ±500 ppm/° C. (the reference temperature is 25° C.), and more preferably within ±300 ppm/° C. Next, the present invention will be explained further in detail by taking more specific examples of the embodiment of the present invention. Note that the present invention is not limited to the examples. Example 1 As shown in FIG. 2, a material solution for forming the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8b shown in FIG. 1 was fabricated first. In the present example, to compose the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8b by a bismuth layer-structured compound expressed by a composition formula of Bi4+αTi3O12 including bismuth in excess of that in a bismuth layer-structured compound expressed by a stoichiometric composition of Bi4Ti3O12 (BiT) and a composition formula of Bi2Am−1BmO3m+3, wherein m=3, A2=Bi2 and B3=Ti3, a solution below was prepared. First, a 2-ethylhexanoate solution of 2-ethylhexanoate Bi, and a toluene solution of 2-ethylhexanoate Ti were prepared as material solutions. Namely, the two solutions were mixed, so that the Bi adding quantity was increased by α mole comparing with that in the case of mixing them at the stoichiometric ratio, such as (4+α) moles of 2-ethyl hexanoate Bi and 3 moles of 2-ethyl hexanoate Ti, and the result was diluted by toluene, as a result, a material solution was obtained. Some kinds of material solutions were prepared, wherein the “α” indicating an excessive content of Bi was changed to 0, 0.4 (0.1 mole folds), 0.8 (0.2 mole folds), 1.2 (0.3 mole folds), 1.6 (0.4 mole folds) and 2.0 (0.5 mole folds). These kinds of material solutions-were diluted with toluene, so that Bi4Ti3O12 in the stoichiometric composition was included in the material solution at concentration of 0.1 mol/litter. Each of the material solutions was filtrated by a syringe filter having an aperture diameter of 0.2 μm made by PTFE in a clean room and put in a glass container cleaned in a clean room. Also, a material solution for forming the first bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8a was prepared in the same way as the material solution for forming the first bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8a explained above except for attaining α=0. Furthermore, the substrate 4 was prepared separately from the material solutions. The substrate 4 was a silicon single crystal (100) substrate, and an insulation layer 5 as a silicon oxide film was formed on a surface of the substrate 4 by thermal oxidization processing. A thickness of the insulation layer 5 was 0.5 μm. On a surface of the insulation layer 5, a lower portion electrode 6 formed by a Pt thin film was formed to be a thickness of 0.1 μm by the sputtering method. An area of the substrate 4 was 5 mm×10 mm. The substrate 4 was prepared by the number of the kinds of the material solutions, and each of them was set to a spin coater. The material solution for forming the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8b was added by 10μ litter on the surface of the substrate 4, and spin-coated under a condition of 4000 rpm for 20 seconds, so that a coating film was formed on the surface of the lower portion electrode 6. To evaporate a catalyst of each coating film, the substrate 4 was placed in a constant chamber (the inside is the air) set at 150° C. and dried for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, the substrate 4 was taken out and, as shown in FIG. 1A, a part of the coating film for forming the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8b was removed, so that a part of the surface of the lower portion electrode 6 was exposed. Next, to perform preliminary firing on the coating film, each substrate 4 was placed in a ring furnace. In the ring furnace, oxygen was flowing at 0.3 litter/minute, the temperature was raised to 400° C. at the temperature rising rate of 10° K/minute, held at 400° C. for 10 minutes, then, the temperature was lowered at the temperature lowering rate of 10° K/minute. The preliminary firing was performed under a temperature condition of not crystallizing the coating film. Next, to perform main firing on the preliminarily fired film, each substrate was placed in a ring furnace. In the ring furnace, oxygen was flowing at 5 milliliter/minute, the temperature was raised to 850° C. at the temperature rising rate of 80° K/minute, held at 850° C. for 30 minutes, then, the temperature was lowered at the temperature lowering rate of 80° K/minute, so that the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8b was obtained. The second bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8b after the main firing was made to have some kinds of film thicknesses as shown in Table 1 below. After that, on the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8b after the main firing, the first bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8a was formed by repeating coating, drying, preliminary firing and main firing again under the same condition as that of the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8b explained above except that bismuth is not excessive. A film thickness of the first bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8a after main firing was 300 nm. When X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurement was made on the crystal structure of the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8b and the first bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8a, it was confirmed to be oriented in the [001] direction, that is c-axis oriented being vertically with respect to the surface of the silicon single crystal substrate 4. Also, a c-axis orientation degree F. (%) of each compound layer was obtained. The c-axis orientation degree (%) was obtained from the measured XRD pattern by using the Lottgering method in a range of 10 to 35 degrees. The results are shown in Table 1. Next, on a surface of each of the dielectric thin films 8 composed of the first bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8a and the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8b, as shown in FIG. 1B, a Pt upper portion electrode 10 having 0.1 mmø was formed by the sputtering method, so that a plurality of kinds of thin film capacitor samples were produced. Electric characteristics (a permittivity, tan δ, loss Q value, leakage current and short-circuiting rate) and temperature characteristics of permittivity of the obtained capacitor samples were evaluated. The permittivity (no unit) was calculated for each capacitor sample from a capacitance measured under a condition at the room temperature (25° C.) and a measurement frequency of 100 kHz (AC 20 mV) by using an impedance analyzer (HP4194A), and an electrode size and distance between electrodes of the capacitor sample. The leakage current resistant property (unit: A/cm2) was measured at an electric field intensity of 50 kV/cm. The results are shown in Table 1. Note that the first bismuth layer-structured compound layer is abbreviated to a first layer, the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer is abbreviated to a second layer, and the main firing temperature is abbreviated to T2 in Table 1. TABLE 1 m = 3 Excessive Bi Second Second Layer Second Layer First First Layer First Layer Leakage Quantity (mole Layer Film Thickness Orientation Layer Film Thickness Orientation Current folds) α Composition T2(° C.) (nm) Degree (%) Composition (nm) Degree (%) Permittivity (A/cm2) 0 0 Bi4Ti3O12 850 20 30 Bi4Ti3O12 300 10 150 1 * 10−6 0.1 0.4 Bi4.4Ti3O12 850 5 80 ↑ 300 80 140 1 * 10−7 850 20 95 ↑ 300 95 135 1 * 10−8 850 100 80 ↑ 300 80 135 1 * 10−8 850 300 60 ↑ 300 50 125 5 * 10−6 0.2 0.8 Bi4.8Ti3O12 850 20 100 ↑ 300 96 135 1 * 10−8 850 100 100 ↑ 300 95 135 1 * 10−8 0.3 1.2 Bi5.2Ti3O12 850 20 100 ↑ 300 98 130 1 * 10−8 850 100 100 ↑ 300 96 130 1 * 10−8 0.4 1.6 Bi5.6Ti3O12 850 20 90 ↑ 300 98 125 1 * 10−8 850 100 90 ↑ 300 96 125 1 * 10−8 850 300 65 ↑ 300 65 125 5 * 10−6 0.5 2.0 Bi6Ti3O12 850 20 70 ↑ 300 70 100 1 * 10−6 850 100 70 ↑ 300 70 100 1 * 10−6 As shown in Table 1, it was confirmed that when the Bi excessive content in the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8b was larger than 0, preferably 0.1 mole folds or larger but not larger than 0.5 mole folds, and more preferably 0.1 to 0.4 mole folds, the c-axis orientation degree was improved, the leakage current was a little, and the leakage resistant property was excellent, while the permittivity was not deteriorated. Also, as shown in Table 1, it was confirmed that when the thickness of the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer was thinner than the thickness of the first bismuth layer-structured compound layer and the thickness of the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer was 1 nm or thicker but thinner than 300 nm, more preferably 5 to 200 nm, and particularly preferably 20 to 200 nm, the c-axis orientation degree was improved, the leakage current was a little, and the leakage resistant property was excellent, while the permittivity was not deteriorated. Example 2 In the present example, except that the first bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8a was composed of a bismuth layer-structured compound expressed by a stoichiometric composition formula of SrBi4Ti4O15 (SBTi) and a composition formula of Bi2Am−1BmO3m+3, wherein m=4, A3=Sr+Bi2 and B4=Ti4, and the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8b was composed of a bismuth layer-structured compound expressed by a composition formula of SrBi4+αTi4O15 including excessive bismuth, capacitor samples were produced in the -same way as in the example 1, and the same tests as those in the example 1 were conducted. The results are shown in Table 2. TABLE 2 m = 4 Excessive Bi Second Second Layer Second Layer First Layer First Layer Leakage Quantity (mole Layer Film Thickness Orientation First Layer Film Orientation Permit- Current folds) α Composition T2(° C.) (nm) Degree (%) Composition Thickness (nm) Degree (%) tivity (A/cm2) 0 0 SrBi4Ti4O15 850 20 30 SrBi4Ti4O15 300 25 225 5 * 10−6 0.1 0.4 SrBi4.4Ti4O15 850 20 84 ↑ 300 80 200 1 * 10−8 850 100 91 ↑ 300 84 225 1 * 10−8 850 300 64 ↑ 300 55 210 8 * 10−6 0.2 0.8 SrBi4.8Ti4O15 850 20 85 ↑ 300 80 206 1 * 10−8 850 100 95 ↑ 300 92 210 1 * 10−8 850 300 75 ↑ 300 60 205 8 * 10−6 0.3 1.2 SrBi5.2Ti4O15 850 100 97 ↑ 300 95 200 1 * 10−8 0.4 1.6 SrBi5.6Ti4O15 850 100 98 ↑ 300 95 190 1 * 10−8 0.5 2.0 SrBi6.0Ti4O15 850 100 70 ↑ 300 50 178 5 * 10−6 As shown in Table 2, it was confirmed that when the Bi excessive content in the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8b was larger than 0, preferably 0.1 mole folds or larger but not larger than 0.5 mole folds, and more preferably 0.1 to 0.4 mole folds, the c-axis orientation degree was improved, the leakage current was a little, and the leakage resistant property was excellent, while the permittivity was not deteriorated. Also, as shown in Table 2, it was confirmed-that when the thickness of the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer was thinner than the thickness of the first bismuth layer-structured compound layer and the thickness of the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer was 1 nm or thicker but thinner than 300 nm, more preferably 5 to 200 nm, and particularly preferably 20 to 200 nm, the c-axis orientation degree was improved, the leakage current was a little, and the leakage resistant property was excellent, while the permittivity was not deteriorated. Example 3 In the present example, except that the first bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8a was composed of a bismuth layer-structured compound expressed by a stoichiometric composition formula of Sr2Bi4Ti5O18 and a composition formula of Bi2Am−1BmO3m+3, wherein m=5, A4=Sr2+Bi2 and B5=Ti5, and the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8b was composed of a bismuth layer-structured compound expressed by a composition formula of Sr2Bi4+αTi5O18 including excessive bismuth, capacitor samples were produced in the same way as in the example 1, and the same tests as those in the example 1 were conducted. The results are shown in Table 3. TABLE 3 m = 5 Excessive Bi Second Second Layer Second Layer First Layer First Layer Per- Leakage Quantity (mole Layer Film Thickness Orientation First Layer Film Thickness Orientation mit- Current folds) α Composition T2(° C.) (nm) Degree (%) Composition (nm) Degree (%) tivity (A/cm2) 0 0 Sr2Bi4Ti5O18 850 20 20 Sr2Bi4Ti5O18 300 15 320 5 * 10−6 0.1 0.4 Sr2Bi4.4Ti5O18 850 5 90 ↑ 300 90 320 1 * 10−8 850 20 85 ↑ 300 85 315 1 * 10−8 850 100 85 ↑ 300 83 315 1 * 10−8 850 200 82 ↑ 300 80 300 1 * 10−8 850 300 50 ↑ 300 40 300 7 * 10−6 0.2 0.8 Sr2Bi4.8Ti5O18 850 5 90 ↑ 300 90 310 1 * 10−8 850 20 90 ↑ 300 90 310 1 * 10−8 850 100 85 ↑ 300 85 312 1 * 10−8 850 300 60 ↑ 300 40 300 7 * 10−6 0.3 1.2 Sr2Bi5.2Ti5O18 850 20 95 ↑ 300 93 290 1 * 10−8 850 100 94 ↑ 300 93 295 1 * 10−8 850 300 60 ↑ 300 45 285 5 * 10−6 0.4 1.6 Sr2Bi5.6Ti5O18 850 20 97 ↑ 300 95 280 1 * 10−8 850 100 95 ↑ 300 95 280 1 * 10−8 850 300 60 ↑ 300 40 250 7 * 10−6 0.5 2.0 Sr2Bi6.0Ti5O18 850 100 65 ↑ 300 50 260 1 * 10−6 850 300 60 ↑ 300 45 240 5 * 10−6 As shown in Table 3, it was confirmed that when the Bi excessive content in the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer 8b was larger than 0, preferably 0.1 mole folds or larger but not larger than 0.5 mole folds, and more preferably 0.1 to 0.4 mole folds, the c-axis orientation degree was improved, the leakage current was a little, and the leakage resistant property was excellent, while the permittivity was not deteriorated. Also, as shown in Table 3, it was confirmed that when the thickness of the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer was thinner than the thickness of the first bismuth layer-structured compound layer and the thickness of the second bismuth layer-structured compound layer was 1 nm or thicker but thinner than 300 nm, more preferably 5 to 200 nm, and particularly preferably 10 to 100 nm, the c-axis orientation degree was improved, the leakage current was a little, and the leakage resistant property was excellent, while the permittivity was not deteriorated. As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a high-permittivity insulation film, a thin film capacity element, a thin film multilayer capacitor and a production method of the thin film capacitor element, wherein a c-axis orientation is high, leakage current resistant property is particularly excellent, and the permittivity as a whole can be improved.

<SOH> TECHNICAL FIELD <EOH>The present invention relates to a high-permittivity insulation film, a thin film capacity element, a thin film multilayer capacitor and a production method of the thin film multilayer capacitor.

<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS <EOH>FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are schematic sectional views showing production steps of a thin film capacitor according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the production steps of the thin film capacitor shown in FIG. 1 . FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a thin film capacitor according to another embodiment of the present invention. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"?

20050825

20071225

20060504

96598.0

H01L2900

ANDUJAR, LEONARDO

HIGH-PERMITTIVITY INSULATION FILM, THIN FILM CAPACITY ELEMENT, THIN FILM MULTILAYER CAPACITOR, AND PRODUCTION METHOD OF THIN FILM CAPACITY ELEMENT

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

H01L

ACCEPTED

Watch wristband with links

The invention concerns a watch wristband of the type including at least one row of central links (10) of longitudinal axis AA, two rows of pairs of lateral links (11) facing each other symmetrically with respect to the axis in order to connect the central links (10) to each other and a plurality of lugs (24) assembling the central links with the lateral links in an articulated manner. This wristband is characterized in that each central link (10) includes a core (12), a layer of carbon fiber fabric (13) covering the core and two flanges (15) respectively secured to the faces of the core connection to the lateral links.

1. Watch wristband including at least one row of central links of longitudinal axis AA, two rows of pairs of lateral links facing each other symmetrically with respect to said axis in order to connect the central links to each other and a plurality of lugs assembling the central links to the lateral links in an articulated manner, characterized in that each central link comprises, at least, an external portion including solid carbon and two flanges respectively secured to the faces of the core connected to the lateral links. 2. Watch wristband according to claim 1, characterized in that each central link comprises a core and a layer of carbon fibre fabric covering said core. 3. Wristband according to claim 2, characterized in that said core is made of carbon fibre. 4. Wristband according to claim 3, characterized in that said flanges are made of metal. 5. Wristband according to claim 1, characterized in that the central links have the shape of a rectangular plate of transverse section DD perpendicular to said longitudinal axis AA. 6. Wristband according to claim 5, characterized in that three passages pass through each central link parallel to its median plane CC and to its transverse axis DD. 7. Wristband according to claim 6, characterized in that the lateral links have, overall, the shape of a plate of transverse axis GG parallel to the transverse axis DD of the central links. 8. Wristband according to claim 7, characterized in that each lateral link (11) is pierced with three holes (21, 22, 23) parallel to its median plane FF and to its transverse axis GG. 9. Wristband according to claim 8, these holes being arranged such that: the first passage of a central link is aligned with the third holes of a pair of lateral links whose second and first holes are respectively aligned with the second and third passages of the adjacent central link. 10. Wristband according to claim 9, wherein the second and third passages of the same central link are respectively aligned with the second and third holes of a pair of lateral links whose third holes are aligned with the first passage of the other adjacent central link. 11. Wristband according to claim 8, characterized in that said lugs are arranged in the three passages of the central links and driven into the holes of the corresponding lateral links. 12. Wristband according to claim 6, characterized in that the second passage of a central link has a constant diameter whereas the first and third passages have a slightly greater diameter where they pass through the core. 13. Wristband according to claim 6, characterized in that the central links and lateral links have an oval cross-section. 14. Wristband according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes two rows of central links and a third row of lateral links inserted between the central links and fulfilling, on either side, the same connecting function as the other two.

The present invention relates to the watchmaking field and concerns, more particularly, a watch wristband or bracelet with articulated links. Numerous wristbands of this type are available on the market, most often made of steel or another metal. For example, Swiss Patent No. CH 692 234 discloses a wristband having two rows of lateral links and at least one row of central links, connected in an articulated manner by pins. The central links include cores made of plastic material intended to reduce friction between the various mobile parts of the wristband. This solution is certainly advantageous. Nonetheless, since certain watches now have a dial with a carbon fibre appearance, combining such a dial with a totally metal wristband does not give a very satisfactory aesthetic result. Moreover, most articulated wristband systems devised for metal links are not ideally suited to solid carbon elements since the latter are liable to erode due to friction with the metal elements. The object of the present invention is to provide a wristband formed of metal parts and solid carbon parts avoiding the problems of friction between the two materials while maintaining an excellent aesthetic appearance. More precisely, the invention concerns a watch wristband of the type comprising at least one row of central links, two rows of pairs of lateral links facing each other symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the wristband in order to, connect the central links to each other and a plurality of lugs assembling the central links to the lateral links in an articulated manner. This wristband is mainly characterized in that each central link comprises, at least, an external portion including solid carbon and two flanges respectively secured to the faces of the core connected to the lateral links The wristband according to the invention also includes the following features: each central link comprises a core and a layer of carbon fibre fabric covering said core; the core of the central links is made of carbon fibre whereas the flanges are made of metal; the central links have the shape of a rectangular plate whose transverse axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the wristband; three passages pass through each central link, parallel to its median plane and its transverse axis; the lateral links have, overall, the shape of a plate whose transverse axis is parallel to the transverse axis of the central links; each lateral link is pierced with three holes parallel to its median plane and to its transverse axis, these holes being arranged such that: the first passage of a central link is aligned with the third holes of a pair of lateral links whose second and first holes are respectively aligned with the second and third passages of the adjacent central link; and the second and third passages of the same central link are respectively aligned with the second and third holes of a pair of lateral links whose third holes are aligned with the first passage of the other adjacent central link; the lugs are arranged in the three passages of the central links and driven into the holes of the corresponding lateral links; the second passage of a central link has a constant diameter, whereas the first and third passages have a slightly greater diameter where they pass through the core; the central and lateral links have an oval cross-section; the wristband includes two rows of central links and a third row of lateral links inserted between the central links fulfilling, on either side, the same connecting function as the two others. Other features of the invention will become clear from the following description, made with reference to the annexed drawing, in which: FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 illustrate a first embodiment of a wristband according to the invention, respectively in a top, side and exploded view; and FIG. 4 is a top view of a second embodiment of said wristband. In a first embodiment, shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the wristband according to the invention includes a row of central links 10 and two rows of lateral links 11 connecting central links 10 to each other in an articulated manner. Central links 10 have, overall, the shape of a rectangular plate of oval cross-section. Typically, they have a dimension of approximately 10 mm along longitudinal axis M of the wristband, a dimension of approximately 14 mm widthwise and a thickness of approximately 4 mm. Links 10 are formed of a core 12, preferably made of carbon fibre, covered with a layer 13 of carbon fibre fabric, for example of the Toron type. Their oval faces 14, parallel to axis M, are respectively coupled, advantageously by bonding, to a metal flange 15, for example made of steel. The shape of these flanges is identical to that of faces 14 and their thickness is approximately 0.7 mm. These elements are mainly used to isolate lateral links 11 from central links 10, in order to protect the latter. Moreover, they contribute to improving the aesthetic appearance of the wristband. Three passages 16, 17 and 18 pass through each central link 10, parallel to its transverse axis DD, in a plane BB parallel to its median plane CC, but slightly offset towards its internal face (i.e. the face applied to the wrist). Passages 16 and 18 are, respectively, in proximity to front and back edges 19 and 20 of the link parallel to its axis DD, whereas intermediate passage 17 is offset on the side of passage 18. It is clear that the front edge of a link is that located closest to the upstream side of the wristband, i.e. the end thereof secured to the watch. Conversely, the back edge of a link is that located closest to the downstream side of the wristband, i.e. the end thereof furthest from the watch. Typically, for a link of 10.2 mm, passage 16 is at 2.5 mm from front edge 19, passage 17 is at 3.95 mm from passage 16 and passage 18 is at 2.20 mm from passage 17. For reasons that will appear hereinafter, passage 17 has a constant diameter over its entire passage through link 10, typically 1.25 mm, whereas passages 16 and 18 have a slightly greater diameter where they pass through core 12, typically 1.30 mm, but this is reduced where they pass through flanges 15, typically to 1.25 mm. The articulated connection of two adjacent central links 10 is ensured, around an axis EE corresponding to that of passage 16, by a pair of lateral links 11 facing each other symmetrically with respect to axis AA. Lateral links 11 are made of metal, for example steel and have, overall, the shape of a plate of oval cross-section having slight concavity towards the wrist. Along longitudinal axis AA of the wristband, they have substantially the same dimension as central links 10 but, widthwise and in the direction of its thickness, they have smaller dimensions, namely, typically, 5.1 mm for the width and 3.7 mm for the thickness. Each lateral link 11 is pierced, in its median plane FF, by three blind holes 21, 22 and 23 parallel to its transverse axis GG and to transverse axis DD of links 10. These holes are arranged in the following manner: the gap between holes 21 and 22 is the same as the gap between passages 17 and 18 of links 10; and the gap between holes 22 and 23 is the same as the gap provided between passage 18 of a link 10 and passage 16 of its neighbour. All three of holes 21, 22 and 23 have the same diameter. It is less than the minimum diameter of the passages of link 10 and typically measures 1.15 mm. The links of the wristband according to the invention are assembled in the following manner: passage 16 of a central link 10 is aligned with holes 23 of a pair of lateral links 11 whose holes 21 and 22 are respectively aligned with passages 17 and 18 of the adjacent upstream central link 10; and passages 17 and 18 of the same central link 10 are respectively aligned with holes 21 and 22 of a pair of lateral links 11 whose holes 23 are aligned with passage 16 of the adjacent downstream central link 10. The articulated connection of the links is ensured by lugs 24 inserted into passages 16, 17 and 18 of links 10 and driven into holes 21, 22 and 23 of links 11. The diameter of these lugs is slightly less than that of passages 16, 17 and 18, namely typically 1.20 mm. Although, because of their small diameter, lugs 24 rotate freely inside passages 16, 17 and 18, it will be noted that the lugs of passages 17 and 18, arranged in the same central link 10 and driven into holes 21 and 22 of the same pair of lateral links 11, prevent any relative movement between links. The only possible movement is thus that of lugs 24 in passages 16 which thus form the articulation pins between the links of the wristband. It will also be noted that the larger diameter given to the end passages 16 and 18 of central links 10 allows any dimension and positioning tolerances between cores 12 and flanges 15 to be compensated for. It will further be noted that the difference in thickness between central links 10 and lateral links 11 and the relative offset between the planes in which their passages and holes are inscribed, cause lateral links 11 to be lowered towards the inside of the wristband, i.e. towards the arm of the person wearing it. Since it is links 10 that pivot with respect to links 11, by pressing on the arm, this movement is thus not completely impeded when the wristband is worn, which contributes to making it pleasant for the person wearing it. In a second embodiment shown in FIG. 4, where the elements common to FIGS. 1 to 3 are designated by the same reference numbers, the wristband according to the invention differs to that previously described in that it includes two rows of central links 25 separated by a third row of lateral links 26, placed in longitudinal axis AA of the wristband. Along their transverse axis DD, central links 25 have a smaller dimension than links 10, but, otherwise, they are identical to them. Lateral links 26 of the third row are identical to links 11 with which they collaborate, in threes, in order to ensure the articulated connection of the two rows of central links 25. Whichever embodiment is used, it may be advantageous to coat the carbon fibre fabric covering the central links with a layer of varnish. This layer protects the fabric and reinforces the aesthetic appearance of the wristband. The present description was made with reference to links of constant width whereas, generally, the wristband becomes wider upstream in order to fit the watchcase. It goes without saying that, in order to achieve this fit, one need only gradually increase the width of the lateral links. Thus, there is obtained an articulated wristband provided with carbon links aesthetically matching a carbon dial and not suffering from the close presence of metal links.

20050823

20071204

20060921

79334.0

A44C500

GOODWIN, JEANNE M

WATCH WRISTBAND WITH LINKS

SMALL

ACCEPTED

A44C

ACCEPTED

Infectious bronchitis virus with an altered spike gene

The present invention provides a vaccine for use in the protection of poultry against infectious bronchitis comprising an attenuated infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) and a pharmaceutical acceptable carrier or diluent, characterized in that the attenuated IBV comprises a heterologous spike gene. Such a vaccine is based on IBV strain Beaudette that is able to express a spike gone derived from a different IBV strain. The vaccines provided by the present invention also allow the administration via the in ovo route.

1. A vaccine for protecting poultry against infectious bronchitis, comprising an attenuated infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) and a pharmaceutical acceptable carrier or diluent, wherein the attenuated IBV is IBV strain Beaudette that comprises a heterologous IBV spike gene. 2. The vaccine according to claim 1, wherein the heterologous spike gene encodes a spike protein of an IBV of Massachusetts serotype. 3. The vaccine according to claim 2, wherein the heterologous spike gene encodes a spike protein of IBV strain M41. 4. The vaccine according to claim 1, wherein the heterologous spike gene encodes a spike protein of an IBV 793B serotype. 5. The vaccine according to claim 1, wherein the heterologous spike gene replaces the original spike gene. 6. The vaccine according to claim 1, wherein the IBV is in a live form. 7. The vaccine according to claim 1, wherein the vaccine further comprises at least one vaccine strain of another pathogen infectious to poultry. 8. The vaccine according to claim 1, wherein the vaccine comprises an adjuvant. 9. A method for the preparation of a vaccine according to claim 1, comprising mixing the attenuated IBV with a pharmaceutical acceptable carrier or a diluent. 10. Use of IBV Beaudette strain BeauR that comprises a heterologous IBV spike gene for the manufacture of a vaccine for the protection of poultry against infectious bronchitis for in ovo administration. 11. A method for the protection of poultry against infectious bronchitis, comprising administering a vaccine comprising IBV Beaudette strain BeauR that comprises a heterologous IBV spike gene to the poultry via the in ovo route.

The present invention is concerned with a vaccine for use in the protection of poultry against infectious bronchitis (IB) comprising an attenuated infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) and a pharmaceutical acceptable carrier or diluent, a method for the preparation of such a vaccine and the use of an attenuated IBV for the manufacture of a vaccine for the protection of poultry against IB for in ovo administration. IBV is a member of the genus Coronavirus, family Coronaviridae. It has a positive sense, single-stranded RNA genome of approximately 28 000 nucleotides associated with a nucleocapsid protein, N, surrounded by a lipid membrane/envelope. Three other viral proteins are associated with the envelope: the large spike glycoprotein, S; a smaller integral membrane protein, M; and the E protein, the smallest of the envelope associated proteins. The coronavirus S protein is a type I glycoprotein which oligomerises in the endoplasmic reticulum to form trimers which constitute the coronavirus virion spikes observable by electron microscopy. The S protein is assembled into virion membranes, possibly through noncovalent interactions with the M protein, but is not required for formation of coronavirus virus-like particles. Following incorporation into coronavirus particles, determined by the carboxy-terminal domain, the S glycoprotein is responsible for binding to the target cell receptor and fusion of the viral and cellular membranes, fulfilling a major role in the infection of susceptible cells. Furthermore, the IBV spike protein is involved in the induction of a protective immune response when inoculated into chickens (for a review see Cavanagh, in: The Coronaviridae; ed: S. G. Siddell, Plenum Press, 73-113, 1995). All coronavirus S glycoproteins, consist of four domains; a signal sequence, that is cleaved during synthesis, the ectodomain which is present on the outside of the virion particle, the transmembrane region responsible for anchoring the S protein into the lipid bilayer of the virion particle, and the cytoplasmic tail that might interact with other IBV proteins, such as the membrane protein (E) and integral membrane protein (M). The IBV S glycoprotein (1162 amino acids) is cleaved into two subunits, S1 (535 amino acids 90 kDa) and S2 (627 amino acids 84-kDa). The C-terminal S2 subunit associates noncovalently with the N-terminal S1 subunit and contains the transmembrane and C-terminal cytoplasmic tag domains. The S1 subunit contains the receptor-binding activity of the S protein. In previous studies with other coronaviruses, murine hepatitis virus (MHV) and transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV), a spike gene of a (virulent) donor virus strain was used to replace the spike gene of a receiver virus strain to investigate the determinants of pathogenesis and cell tropism. These studies showed that both the in vitro properties (cell tropism) and in vivo properties (virulence) of the donor virus strain were acquired by the receiver virus strain. It was concluded that the spike gene is a determinant of cell tropism and virulence (Phillips et al., J. Virol. 73, 7752-7760, 1999; Sanchez et al., J. Virol. 73, 7607-7618, 1999; Des Sarma et al., J. Virol. 74, 9206-9213, 2000; Navas et al., J. Virol. 75, 2452-2457, 2001 and Kuo et al., J. Virol. 74, 1393-1406, 2000; international patent application WO 01/39797). International patent application WO 98/49195 discloses a coronavirus (e.g. MHV) in which a part of the spike protein gene has been replaced by the corresponding part of the spike protein gene of an unrelated coronavirus (e.g. FIPV), thereby acquiring another cell substrate specificity allowing the recombinant virus to target other cell types. Infectious bronchitis is an acute, highly contagious respiratory disease of the domestic fowl (chicken), caused by IB virus. Clinical signs of IB include sneezing/snicking, tracheal rates, nasal discharge and wheezing. Clinical signs are more obvious in chicks than in adult birds. The birds may appear depressed and consume less food. Meat-type birds have reduced weight-gain, whilst egg-laying birds lay fewer eggs. The respiratory infection predisposes chickens to secondary bacterial infections, which can be fatal in chicks. The virus can also cause permanent damage to the oviduct, especially in chicks, leading to reduced egg production and quality, and kidney, sometimes leading to kidney disease, which can be fatal. Both live and inactivated virus vaccines are used in IB vaccination. To date, the most efficacious vaccines are live attenuated viruses empirically produced following blind repeated passages through embryonated eggs until a desired balanced degree of attenuation and immunogenicity has been achieved. Such vaccines are ill-defined genetically and the molecular basis of the attenuation is unknown. Disadvantageously, upon serial passaging the immunogenicity of the virus decreases which often results in safe but less efficacious vaccine viruses. Achieving a ‘balanced’ degree of attenuation—sufficient so as not to be pathogenic but not excessive to the point that it would fail to induce strong immune responses—is a trial and error approach that renders the outcome of this conventional attenuation approach uncertain. As indicated above, one of the biologic properties of IBV is that it becomes avirulent and less immunogenic with successive passages of the virus in embryos. The Beaudette strain of IBV is one such high embryo passage, (over-)attenuated, virus that is not considered to be immunogenic (Geilhausen et al., Arch Gesamte Virusforsch 40, 285-290, 1973). In a recently published patent application (WO 02/092827) the development of live, attenuated coronaviruses by means of recombinant DNA techniques is disclosed. It is suggested therein that the introduction of deletions in non-essential genes on coronavirus genomes results in the attenuation of these viruses. IBV exhibits great antigenic variation, initially recognized as different serotypes. Serotypic strain classification of IBV strains is based on the ability of one strain to induce virus neutralizing antibodies effective against another strain (Cook et al. Avian Pathol. 13, 733-741, 1984). The most variable protein of IBV is the spike protein. It defines the serotype and is the major inducer of protective immune responses. An IBV vaccine virus of one serotype induces immune responses that often protect poorly against IBV of other serotypes, bemuse of the differences in the S proteins. Consequently IB vaccines have been developed against many serotypes. However, previously unknown serotypes are continually emerging, creating a requirement for new, homologous vaccine viruses. Live IBV vaccines are usually administered to hatched chickens. Administration can be individually by eye drop or intranasally, but these routes are expensive because of the labour needed for their administration, in particular in large broiler flocks. Mass application methods, including spray and drinking water, are also frequently used, but problems in attaining a uniform vaccine application and inactivation of the vaccine virus have been observed. The use of vaccines as embryo vaccines (so-called in ova vaccines) has been suggested previously (Sharma et al; Avian diseases 29, 1155-1169, 1985). In ovo vaccination, in principle, could be advantageous due to the early age of resistance to the specific disease and the administration of a uniform dose of vaccine into each egg using semiautomatic machines with multiple injection heads. Usually conventional vaccines for post-hatch vaccination of birds cannot be used for in ovo vaccination, because late stage embryos are highly susceptible to infection with most vaccine viruses examined. For instance, vaccine strains of IBV and Newcastle disease virus (NDV) that are used routinely as vaccines in newly hatched chicks are lethal for embryos following in ovo inoculation. Examples of commercially available post-hatch vaccines that cannot be used for in ova vaccination due to their adverse effect on hatchability of the embryonated eggs are Poulvac© IB Nobilis IB Mao© and Nobilis IB 4/91©. International patent application WO 01/64244 discloses that the Poulvac© IB vaccine can be used for in ovo administration provided it is applied at a very low dose (101.0-102.0 EID50/egg). Wakenell et al., (J. Vet. Res., 47, 933-938, 1986) discloses that passaging an IB vaccine virus in tissue culture rendered the virus apathogenic for embryos. However, challenge virus could still be isolated from vaccinated commercial chicks. In view of the above it is clear that there exists a need for IBV vaccines that are both safe and afford adequate protection against virulent field strains, in particular of emerging serotypes, and that can be made without using the conventional empirical approach for IBV vaccine preparation. Furthermore, there is a need for a safe and efficacious IBV vaccine that can be administered via the in ovo mute without having a negative impact on the hatchability of the vaccinated embryonated egg. The invention described herein meets one or more of these needs by providing an IBV vaccine that is based on an attenuated IBV strain Beaudette that is able to express a spike protein derived from an IBV strain, for example a field strain, that is different from the spike protein of the Beaudette strain. This new attenuated IBV vaccine strain is better equipped for combating IBV infections than an attenuated IBV strain obtained by conventional methods, because it can express a spike protein that is homologous to that of a (virulent) field virus. Therefore, the present invention provides a vaccine for use in the protection of poultry against infectious bronchitis comprising an attenuated infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) and a pharmaceutical acceptable carrier or diluent, characterized in that the attenuated IBV is IBV strain Beaudette that comprises a heterologous IBV spike gene. It is demonstrated in the Examples that IBV strain Beaudette that is known to be attenuated, but poorly protective, is rendered highly protective by the insertion of a spike gene of a virulent virus (IBV M41), whereas the level of attenuation of the attenuated IBV strain was not affected (Examples 3 and 4). In particular, the latter property of the recombinant IBV was unexpected as it has been demonstrated for other coronaviruses that the S gene is a determinant of virulence and that replacing the S gene in mild coronaviruses by a S gene of a virulent coronavirus rendered the recombinant coronaviruses virulent the absence of an increase of virulence of the recombinant IBV after replacement of the S genes is the more surprising if it is taken into account that the recombinant attenuated IBV does acquire the cell tropism of the virulent IBV in vitro (Example 2). IBV strain Beaudette was originally isolated by Beaudette and Hudson (J. Am. Vet. Med. A. 90, 51-60, 1937) and passaged several hundred times in chicken embryos, it is commonly refereed to as a “chicken embryo adapted” or “egg adapted” strain. The highly egg-adapted Beaudette strain is a-pathogenic for post-hatch administration, causes little detectable damage to cillated epithelium of trachea and replicates predominantly in the subepithellal cells, but is known to be extremely pathogenic for 9-12-day-old embryos. Furthermore, IBV Beaudette is known to be a strain with a poor immunogenicity (Arch Gesamte Virusforsch 40, 285-290, 1973). IBV strain Beaudette is obtainable from the ATCC (accession no. VR-22), and is commonly used in laboratories throughout the world although these viruses may have slight sequence differences due to their individual passage histories. For example, the nucleotide sequences of the spike genes of different IBV Beaudette isolates display an identity of 99% or more. A region on the genome of IBV strain Beaudette that distinguishes this IBV strain from other IBV strains is a region (nucleotides 26500-27499; numbering according to Casais et al., 2001, supra, accession No. AJ311317) located at the 3′-terminal end of the genome that starts within the nucleoprotein gene and ends within the 3′ untranslated region (UTR). An IBV strain Beaudette to be used in the present invention is an IBV that display a nucleotide sequence identity of 99% or more in this region with the corresponding region in the IBV strain Beaudette specifically used herein (BeauR, accession No. AJ311317). The nucleotide sequences of the corresponding region in other IBV strains differ significantly (63-95%) from those in IBV strain Beaudette. The nucleotide sequence identities referred to herein are determined by the alignment program ClustalX using the multiple alignment mode, Thomson et al., NAR 24, 4876-4882, 1997, and analysed by Genedoc, version 2.6.002, accessible from www.psc.edu/biomed/genedoc. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention a vaccine is provided that is further characterized in that the attenuated IBV is the Beaudette strain Beau-CK or BeauR (deposited at the CNCM of the institute Pasteur, Paris, France on 27.02.2004 under accession no. I-3167). BeauR is a recombinant IBV produced from an infectious RNA transcribed from a full length cDNA of Beau-CK. The complete genomic sequence analyses for Beau-CK (Boursnell at al., J. Gen. Virol. A, 68, 57-77, 1987, accession No. M95169) and BeauR have been determined (Casais et al., 2001, supra; accession No. AJ311317). A recombinant attenuated IBV comprising a heterologous spike gene to be used in a vaccine according to the invention can be prepared by means of the reverse genetics system described in Casais et al., (2001, supra). This system allows the preparation of recombinant IBV (rIBV) by assembling (mutated) IBV full-length cDNA in vitro, followed by direct cloning into a vaccinia virus genome, and recovering rIBV after in situ synthesis of infectious IBV RNA by using bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase expressed from a recombinant fowlpox virus. By “an heterologous spike (S) gene” is meant a S gene derived from an IBV strain (the donor strain) that is different from the specific attenuated IBV strain Beaudette that receives that S gene (the receiver strain) and that encodes a S protein having an amino acid sequence that is different compared to the S protein encoded by the S gene of the IBV strain Beaudette. The donor—and receiver strain may be of the same or different IBV serotypes). Such a recombinant IBV is based on the genome of a single IBV (receiver) strain, the only difference, in essence, being the S gene that is derived from a different IBV (donor) stain. Furthermore, in the context of the present invention it is not required that the complete spike gene has to be transferred from the donor- to the receiver IBV strain. A spike gene is considered to be heterologous in case the fragment of the spike gene that encodes the ectodomain of the spike protein, or a functional part thereof that is able to induce a protective immune response, is derived from the donor IBV strain. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the vaccine is based on an IBV strain Beaudette that comprises a spike gene of which the fragment encoding the ectodomain or a functional part thereof, in particular the S1 polypeptide, is derived from a different donor IBV, whereas the fragment encoding the cytoplasmic tail is derived from the receiver IBV strain Beaudette. The advantage of such a “chimaeric” spike gene is that any potential problems between the interaction of the cytoplasmic tail domain of the spike protein with the other IBV proteins are avoided as both are native to the receiver IBV. In general, the signal sequence, the ectodomain, the transmembrane region and the cytoplasmic tag domain of IBV spike proteins cover the amino acid fragments 1-18, 19-1091, 1092-1119 and 1120-1162, respectively (numbers refer to Beaudette-CK, Casais at al., J. Virol. 75, 12359-12369, 2001; S proteins from other strains of IBV can differ in the number of amino acids due to small deletions and insertions). In addition, also the amino acid sequence at the S1/S2 cleavage site of IBV is well known. For Beaudette the S1 and S2 polypeptides span amino acid 1 (19)-535 and 536-1162, respectively. Preferably, a spike gene to be used in the present invention is derived from a (virulent) IBV from the field. Spike genes can be isolated from any available IBV strain irrespective of its serotype by standard techniques commonly used in the art for this purpose. The nucleotide sequences of the spike genes derived from IBV strains of the same serotype are relatively conserved. The maximum nucleotide sequence difference between the spike genes within the same serotype is 10% in the S1 part. Therefore, with a spike gene of an IBV of a certain serotype is meant a spike gene derived from a strain having the immunological characteristics of that serotype and having a nucleotide sequence that exhibits a maximum of 10% nucleotide sequence difference (in the S1 part) with that of a reference strain of the serotype. Examples of typical reference strains and the nucleotide sequence database accession numbers of their spike gene sequences are M41 (Massachusetts serotype; X04722), NL/D274178 (D274 serotype; X15832), USA/Arkansas 99 (Ark 99 serotype; L10384), Belgium/B1648 (B1648 serotype; X87238), USA(DE)/072/92 (DE072 serotype; U77298), US(GA)Y0470198 (Georgia 98 serotype; AF274437), UJ4/91 (793B1 serotype; AF093794), USA/Connecticut (Connecticut serotype; L8990) and NL/D1466 (D1466 serotype; M21971). The cloning of various IBV spike genes is described in Adzhar et al., Avian Path. 26, 625-640, 1997; Shaw et al., Avian Pathol. 25, 607-611, 1996; Binns et al., J. Gen. Viol. 67, 2825-2831, 1986 and Binns et al., J. Gen Virol. 66, 719-726, 1985). A preferred embodiment of the present invention concerns a vaccine as described above that is based on an attenuated IBV that comprises a spike gene that encodes a spike protein of an IBV Massachusetts serotype, in particular of IBV strain M41. In a further preferred embodiment the vaccine is based on an attenuated IBV that comprises a spike gene that encodes a spike protein of an IBV 793B serotype, in particular of IBV strain 4/91. In principle, the IBV strain Beaudette comprising the heterologous spike gene may have this gene inserted in its genome in addition to the spike gene naturally present in the genome. However, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention the vaccine comprises an IBV strain Beaudette in which the heterologous spike gene replaces the original spike gene at its natural position between the replicase gene and gene 3 (FIG. 5). Until today no IBV vaccine that is both safe and efficacious for in ovo administration is commercially available. The present invention, in particular, demonstrates that a vaccine according to the present invention based on IBV strain BeaudetteR (BeauR) can safely be administered via the in ova route as well as to hatched chicks and that it at the same time induces a protective immune response. In Example 4 it is shown that this IBV strain BeauR is not lethal for 18 day-old (SPF) embryos and that the hatchability of the inoculated eggs is very high. This property makes IBV strain BeauR suited for receiving a heterologous spike gene and for administering a vaccine according to the invention based on this recombinant IBV strain to a chicken via the in ovo route. A vaccine according to the present invention can comprise the attenuated IBV in a live or inactivated form, the live form being preferred, i.e. because it does not require adjuvant. The present invention also provides a solution for the problem of interference that frequently occurs when administering combinations of different live vaccine viruses. The combined administration of two or more vaccine viruses that are the same in essence, but express spike proteins from different (sero)types of IBV, is possible now without the interference of replication of one vaccine virus by the other vaccine virus. Therefore, the present invention also provides a vaccine as defined above that comprises two or more IBV Beaudette strains that comprise heterologous spike genes of different IBV strains, preferably of IBV strains of different serotypes. A vaccine according to the invention can be prepared by conventional methods such as those commonly used for the commercially available live and inactivated IBV vaccines. Briefly, a susceptible substrate is inoculated with the attenuated IBV and propagated until the virus replicated to a desired more after which IBV containing material is harvested. Subsequently, the harvested material is formulated into a pharmaceutical preparation with immunising properties. Every substrate which is able to support the replication of IBV can be used in the present invention, including primary (avian) cell cultures, such as chicken embryo fibroblast cells (CEF), chicken kidney cells (CK), tracheal organ cultures, or mammalian cell lines such as the VERO cell line. Particularly suitable substrates on which the attenuated IBV can be propagated are SPF embryonated eggs. 9-12 day-old embryonated eggs can be inoculated with, for example 0.1 ml IBV containing allantoic fluid comprising at least 102.0 EID50 per egg. Preferably, 9- to 12-day-old embryonated eggs are inoculated with about 105.0 EID50 and subsequently incubated at 37° C. for 12-72 hours. The IBV can be harvested preferably by collecting the allantoic fluid. The vaccine according to the invention comprises the attenuated IBV together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent custom used for such compositions. The vaccine containing the live virus can be prepared and marketed in the form of a suspension or in a lyophilised form. Carriers include stabilisers, preservatives and buffers. Diluents include water, aqueous buffer and polyols. If desired, the live vaccine according to the invention may contain an adjuvant Examples of suitable compounds and compositions with adjuvant activity are the same as those mentioned below for the inactivated IBV vaccine. Although administration by injection, e.g. intramuscular, subcutaneous of the live vaccine according to the present invention is possible, the vaccine is preferably administered by the inexpensive mass application techniques commonly used for IBV vaccination. For IBV vaccination these techniques include drinking water, aerosol and spray vaccination. Alternatively, administration of the live vaccine can also be individually by eye drop, intratracheal or intranasal. As outlined above, the present invention also provides an IBV vaccine that can be safely administered via the in ovo route and at the same time is able to induce a protective immune response. The in ovo administration of the vaccine involves the administration of the vaccine to an avian embryo while contained in the egg (for a review on in ovo vaccination see: Ricks et al., Advances in Vet. Med. 41, 495-515, 1999). The vaccine may be administered to any suitable compartment of the egg (e.g. allantois fluid, yolk sac, amnion, air cell or into the embryo) as described in the art (Sharma; Am. J. Vet. Res. 45, 1619-1623, 1984). Preferably the vaccine is administered below the shell (aircell) membrane and chorioallantoic membrane. Usually the vaccine is injected into embryonated eggs during late stages of the embryonation, generally during the final quarter of the incubation period, preferably 3-4 days prior to hatch. In chickens the vaccine is preferably administered between day 15-19 of the 21 day incubation period, in particular at day 17 or 18, most preferably at day 18 of the incubation period. Subsequently, the vaccinated embryonated eggs are transferred to an incubator to hatch (U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,630, WO 98/56413 and WO 95/35121). Preferably, the whole embryo vaccination process is carried out using high-speed automated vaccination systems, such as the commercially available INOVOJECT®. Such devices are also disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,681,063 and 4,903,635, 4,040,368, 4,469,047 and 4,593,646. In another aspect of the present invention a vaccine is provided comprising the attenuated IBV in an inactivated form. The advantages of an inactivated vaccine are its safety and the high levels of protective antibodies of long duration that can be induced. The aim of inactivation of the viruses harvested after the propagation step is to eliminate reproduction of the viruses. In general, this can be achieved by well-known chemical or physical means. An inactivated vaccine according to the invention can, for example, comprise one or more of the above-mentioned pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or diluents suited for this purpose. Preferably, an inactivated vaccine according to the invention comprises one or more compounds with adjuvant activity. Suitable compounds or compositions for this purpose include aluminium hydroxide, -phosphate or -oxide, oil-in-water or water-in-oil emulsion based on, for example a mineral oil, such as Bayol F® or Marcol 52® or a vegetable oil such as vitamin E acetate, and saponins. Inactivated vaccines are usually administered by injection, e.g. intramuscularly or subcutaneously. The vaccine according to the invention comprises an effective dosage of the attenuated IBV as the active component, i.e. an amount of immunising IBV that will induce immunity in the vaccinated birds against challenge by a virulent virus. Immunity is defined herein as the induction of a significantly higher level of protection in a population of birds against mortality and clinical symptoms after vaccination compared to an unvaccinated group. Typically, the live vaccine for post-hatch administration comprises the attenuated IBV in a concentration of 102.0-108.0 embryo infectious dose (EID50) per unit dose, preferably in a concentration of 103.0-107.0 EID50 per unit dose. The dose volume per bird depends on the route of vaccination and the age of the bird. Typically, eye drop vaccines are administered in a volume of 20-100 μl per dose at any age. Spray vaccines may contain the dose in a volume of 100-1000 μl for day-old birds and one dose of a drinking water vaccine usually is diluted in a volume of about 1 ml for each day of age. Inactivated vaccines may contain the antigenic equivalent of 104.0-109.0 EID50 per unit dose. The live vaccine for in ovo administration typically comprises an amount of the attenuated IBV of 102.0-108.0 EID50, preferably 103.0-107.0 EID50 in a volume of 50-100 μl, preferably 50 μl. Although, the IBV vaccine according to the present invention may be used effectively in chickens, also other poultry such as turkeys, pigeons, quail, pheasants, guinea fowl and partridges may be successfully vaccinated with the vaccine. Chickens include broilers, reproduction stock and laying stock. The age of the birds receiving a live or inactivated vaccine according to the invention post-hatch is the same as that of the birds receiving the conventional commercially available live- or inactivated IBV vaccines. For example, broilers may be vaccinated at one-day old or at 1-3 weeks of age, particularly for broilers with high levels of MDA. Laying stock or reproduction stock may be vaccinated initially at 1-10 days of age and boosted with a live or inactivated vaccine at 7-12 or 16-18 weeks of age. The invention also includes combination vaccines comprising, in addition to the attenuated IBV, a vaccine strain capable of inducing protection against another IBV serotype strain or against another avian pathogen. Preferably, the combination vaccine additionally comprises one or more vaccine strains of Marek's Disease virus (MDV), Newcastle disease virus (NDV), infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), egg drop syndrome (EDS) virus, turkey rhinotracheitis virus (TRTV) or reovirus. EXAMPLES Example 1 Preparation of Recombinant IBV Beaudette with Heterologous Spike Genes Recombinant DNA Techniques. Recombinant DNA techniques used herein were according to standard procedures (Ausubel et al., in: Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Wiley and Sons Inc, NY, 1987; Sambrook et al., in: Molecular Cloning: A laboratory Manual 2nd edition, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, NY, 1989) or were used according to the manufacturers' Instructions. All nucleotide and amino acid residue numbers refer to the positions in IBV Beau-R (Casais. 2001, supra, accession No. AJ311317). Cells, viruses, plasmids and bacterial strains used for the preparation of the chimaeric S gene, assembly of full-length IBV cDNA in vaccinia virus, generation of recombinant vaccinia virus and generation of infectious recombinant IBV were as described in Casais et al. (2001, supra). Construction of Chimeric S Gene, Assembly/Modification of a Full-Length IBV cDNA in Vaccinia Virus and Generation of Recombinant Vaccinia Virus. Recombinant IBV Beaudette-M41 Spike Gene Sequence analysis of the M41-CK S gene identified 72 nt differences when compared to the BeauR S gene sequence of which 50 represented non-synonymous and 22 synonymous substitutions resulting in a total of 47 amino acid differences between the two S glycoproteins. The last non-synonymous substitution results in a premature stop codon within the M41 S gene, so that the M41-CK S glycoprotein is nine amino acids shorter than the Beaudette protein. Apart from the loss of the nine amino acids there were no other amino acid differences between the cytoplasmic domains of the two viruses. Overall, the primary translation products of the two S genes are 1153 and 1162 amino acids for M41-CK and BeauR, respectively, representing an identity of 95.2% between the two S proteins. Comparison of the replicase sequence that overlaps the S gene sequence showed there is only one synonymous mutation with no mutations between the S gene transcription associated sequence (TAS) and the initiation codon of the S gene (FIG. 1). Therefore, the region of the S gene containing the overlapping region of the replicase gene was acquired from M41-CK for generation of the rIBV S gene sequence. However, because the C-terminal ends of the Beaudette and M41 S genes varied, and are potentially involved in interacting with other virion proteins, we retained the last 137 nt of the Beaudette S gene sequence for the rIBV. This would maintain any interaction of the S protein C-terminal domain with the other Beaudette-derived proteins. Plasmid pACNR-NheI-NotI-IBV (FIG. 2) was digested with Pad and SalI and the vector-containing fragment purified and retained. Plasmid pACNR-NheI-NotI-IBV was also digested with BspHI and SalI and the BspHI-SalI fragment purified and retained. Plasmid pM41Struct contained an IBV-derived cDNA sequence, corresponding from within the replicase gene to the poly (A) tail, derived from M41-CK gRNA, in pBluescript SK(+). pM41Struct was digested with Pad and BspHI and the Pad-BspHI fragment was purified and retained (FIG. 3). A Beaudette-CK/M41-CK chimaeric S gene, consisting of the signal sequence, ectodomain and transmembrane regions derived from M41-CK and the cytoplasmic tail domain from Beau-R, was generated. The M41-CK-derived Pad-BspHI fragment from pM41Struct was used to replace the corresponding Beaudette-CK-derived cDNA PacI-BspHI sequence in pFRAG-3. A three way ligation reaction between the Pad-SalI vector-containing fragment (from pFRAG-3), the M41-CK-derived Pad-BspHI S gene fragment and the BspHI-Sail fragment corresponding to the rest of the Beaudette genome downstream of the S gene, was performed resulting in pACNR-NheI-NotI-IBV-M41-S (FIG. 4 and summarised in FIG. 5A). Sequence analysis of pFRAG3-M41 S confirmed the presence of a contiguous chimaeric S gene sequence, along with the presence of the two marker mutations, U19666 and G27087, originally present in pFRAG3. IBV-derived cDNA fragments from pFRAG-3-M41S, containing the chimeric S gene sequence, and pFRAG-1 and pFRAG-2 were used to generate a full-length IBV cDNA using in vitro ligation. The full-length cDNA was generated using a two-step in vitro ligation procedure as described by Casais et al. (2001, supra). In the first step, the Sad-NheI cDNA (FRAG-2) from pFRAG-2 and the NheI-BspHI cDNA (FRAG-3-M41S) from p FRAG-3-M41S were ligated to give a 21.5 kb Sad-Bsp1201 fragment that was gel purified. In the second step, the 21.5 kb SacI-Bsp1201 fragment was ligated to BspHI-SacI cDNA (FRAG-1) from pFRAG-1 to produce a 27.9 kb full-length IBV cDNA (FIG. 5B). This full-length cDNA, containing the chimaeric S gene, was under the control of a T7 RNA polymerase promoter and terminated by a HδR-T7 termination sequence distal to poly (A). The T7 promoter and HδR-T7 termination sequence were required for the in situ generation of infectious IBV RNA by T7 RNA polymerase. The products from the second in vitro ligation, containing the full-length IBV cDNA with dephosphorylated Bsp120I ends, were directly ligated to vNotI/tk NotI-derived arms in the presence of NotI. The ligation products were used without further purification to recover recombinant vaccinia viruses using fowlpox virus helper vines, FP9, in CV-1 cells. We obtained 22 recombinant vaccinia viruses and restriction analysis of the DNA isolated from infected cells indicated that eight of them contained an insert of the expected size of which vNotI/IBVFL-M41S, was selected for further analysis Recombinant IBV Beaudette-4/91 Spike Gene Sequence analysis of the 4/91 S gene identified 562 nt differences when compared to the BeauR S gene sequence of which 245 represented non-synonymous and 317 synonymous substitutions resulting in a total of 201 amino acid differences between the two S glycoproteins of which two resulted from a six nucleotide insertion within the 4/91 S gene sequence. There are two amino acid differences between the cytoplasmic domains of the two viruses. Overall, the primary translation products of the two S genes are 1162 and 1164 amino acids for Beau-R and 4-91, respectively, with an identity of 83% between the two S proteins. The region of the S gene containing the overlapping region of the replicase gene was acquired from 4/91 for generation of the rIBV S gene sequence. In addition, because the C-terminal ends of the Beaudette and 4/91 S genes are similar, we retained the last 137 nt of the Beaudette S gene, identical to the 4/91 sequence for assembly of the chimaeric S gene. The resulting S protein from the chimaeric S gene sequences consists of the ectodomain from 4/91, the transmembrane domain from 4/91 and the cytoplasmic tail domain from Beaudette-CK and is analogous to the chimaeric M41 S protein described above. The 4/91 S gene sequence was obtained from virus-derived RNA isolated form the virulent 4/91 IBV strain using two PCRs. The two PCR products, 2042 bp and 2300 bp, were generated using two sets of oligonucleotides (FIG. 6). The 2042 bp product was generated using oligonucleotide BG42 (corresponding to nucleotides 19941-19958 on the Beau-R genome) and a specific 4/91 oligonucleotide, 4/91d (the reverse complement to the equivalent nucleotides 21957-21976 on the Beau-R genome). The 2300 bp product was generated using a specific 4/91 oligonucleotide 4/91c (corresponding to the equivalent nucleotides 21600-21619 on the Beau-R genome) and oligonucleotide BG141 (the reverse complement of nucleotides 23879-23898 on the Beau-R genome). Both fragments were inserted into pGEM-T and the resulting plasmids were used as the source of the 4/91 S gene sequence (FIG. 6). The chimaeric 4/91 S gene sequence was constructed by modifying pGPT-M41S (FIG. 7A) using the two 4/91-derived PCR products. The 2042 bp 4/91-derived product in pGEM-T was excised as a 1580 bp fragment, representing the 5′ half of the 4/91 S gene, using Pad and AlwNI which was purified and retained (FIG. 6). The 2300 bp 4/91-derived product In pGEM-T was excised as a 1804 bp fragment, representing the 3′ half of the 4/91 S gene, using AlwNI and BspHI which was purified and retained (FIG. 6). Plasmid pGPT-M41S was digested with PacI and BamHI and the 5018 bp fragment representing the plasmid sequence was purified and retained (FIG. 7A). In addition, pGPT-M41S was digested with BspHI and BamHI and a BeauR-derived 1080 bp fragment was purified and retained (FIG. 3A). A four-way ligation reaction between the 5018 bp PacI-BamHI plasmid-containing fragment, the 1080 bp BspHI-BamHI Beau-R-derived fragment, the 1580 bp Pad-AlwNI 4/91-derived fragment and the 1804 bp AlwNI-BspHI 4/91-derived fragment was performed resulting in pGPT-4/91S (FIG. 7B). This resulted in the construction of a 4/91-Beau-CK chimaeric S gene sequence, consisting of the signal sequence, ectodomain and transmembrane regions derived from 4/91 and the cytoplasmic tail domain from Beau-R (FIG. 7B). Sequence analysis of pGPT-4/91S confirmed the presence of a contiguous chimaeric S gene sequence. In order to modify the Beaudette CK-derived full length cDNA in recombinant vaccinia virus vNotI/IBVFL we used the transient dominant selection (TDS) method (Falkner and Moss, Journal of Virology 64, 3108-3111, 1990) to replace the Beaudette S gene sequence with the 4/91-Beau-CK chimaeric S gene sequence. The TDS system consisted of a two step process (FIGS. 8 and 9). In the first step the TDS method was used to remove the Beaudette S gene sequence from the full length cDNA in recombinant vaccinia virus vNotI/IBVFL. Plasmid pGPT-IBV-ΔS, containing Beau-CK sequence corresponding to the replicase and gene 3 with part of the M gene, but lacking the S gene sequence was transfected into cells infected with vNotI/IBVFL. Following homologous recombination between IBV-derived sequence in pGPT-IBV-ΔS and the IBV sequence within vNotI/IBVFL a recombinant vaccinia virus, vNotI/IBV-ΔSFL , containing the IBV cDNA lacking the S gene sequence “spikeless” recombinant) was isolated and identified (FIG. 8). In the second step the TDS method was used to insert the 4/91-Beau-CK chimaeric S gene sequence into the “spikeless” recombinant vaccinia virus vNotI/IBV-ΔSFL. Plasmid pGPT-4/91S was transfected into cells infected with vNotI/IBV-ΔSFL and following recombination IBV-derived sequence in pGPT-4/91S and the IBV sequence within vNotI/IBV-ΔSFL a recombinant vaccinia virus, vNotI/IBVFL-4/91S containing the full-length IBV cDNA with the 4/91-Beau-CK chimaeric S gene sequence inserted was isolated and identified (FIG. 9). Recovery of Infectious IBVs Expressing the Beaudette-M41 and Beaudette-4/91 chimaeric spike protein. Infectious rIBV was recovered from vNotI/IBVFL-M4/19S or vNotI/IBVFL-4/91S using CK cells, previously infected with rFPV/T7 (Briton et al., J. Gen. Virol. 77, 963-967, 1996), to provide T7 RNA polymerase, and co-transfected with Asci-restricted vNotI/IBVFL-M41S DNA or vNotI/IBVFL-4/91S and pCi-Nuc (Hiscox et al., J. Virol. 75, 506-512, 2001). The vNotI/BVFL-M41S or vNotI/BVFL-4/91S DNA was prepared from semi-purified vaccinia virus and pCI-Nuc, a plasmid expressing the IBV N protein under control of both the T7 and CMV promoters was required for the successful recovery of rIBV. The transfected CK cells (P0) were incubated until they showed a cytopathic effect (CPE), the medium was filtered to removed any rFPV/T7 and any potential IBV passaged on fresh CK cells (P1). A rIBV, BeauR-M41(S), was isolated from the P1 cells and the genotype of the rIBV determined by sequence analysis. Which confirmed the presence of the two marker mutations and that the ectodomain of the chimaeric S protein gene was derived from the M41-CK S gene sequence. BeauR-M41(S), derived from P5 CK cells, was used for further characterisation. Example 2 Biological characterization of Recombinant BeaudetteR-M41 Spike IBV In-Vitro Viral Growth Curves. Confluent monolayers of CK, Vero, CEF and BHK-21 cells in 60 mm dishes were infected with 1.5×106 PFU of IBV. Following adsorption, for 1 h at 37° C., the cells were washed three times with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) to remove residual virus and incubated at 37° C. in 5 ml of the appropriate media. Samples of media were, at selected times over a 96 h period, analyzed in triplicate for progeny virus by plaque assay. Replication of BeauR-M41(S) in Different Cell Lines. IBV strains Beau-CK and M41-CK have differing cell tropism. It is known that both viruses replicate to similar titres in CK cells but only Beau-CK produces infectious virus on Vero cells. Therefore by using the recombinant isogenic viruses, BeauR and BeauR-M41 (S), that differ only in the ectodomain of the S protein, we sought to determine whether the IBV S glycoprotein was responsible for the observed differences in the ability of distinct IBV strains to infect and replicate in different cell lines. BeauR, M41-CK and BeauR-M41(S), displayed similar growth profiles on CK cells (FIG. 10 A). In addition, all three viruses caused CPE within 24 h. Analysis of the growth profiles of the three viruses in Vero, CEF and BHK-21 (FIG. 10 B-D) showed that only Beau-R replicated to any significant extent in the different cells, usually with maximum titre by 24 h postinfection. These results showed that BeauR-M41(S) had the same tropism as M41-CK on all four cell types, indicating that replacement of the ectodomain of the Beaudette S glycoprotein with the corresponding sequence from the M41-CK S glycoprotein resulted in a rIBV with an altered cell tropism when compared to BeauR. Results from analyses of RT-PCR products from RNA isolated from cells infected with these viruses and indirect immunofluorescence analysis of IBV infected cells corroborated with the growth experiment results. Example 3 Biological Characterization of Recombinant BeaudetteR-M41 Spike IBV In-Vivo (Post-Hatch Administration) A Safety of Recombinant IBVs (rIBVs) BeauR and BeauR-M41(S) Materials and Methods Viruses and Cells The Massachusetts M41-CK strain of IBV, virulent for hatched chickens, was used after 11 passages in primary chick kidney (CK) cells and three passages in 10-day-old embryos of specified pathogen free (SPF) Rhode Island Red (RIR) chickens. The rIBVs BeauR and BeauR-M41(S) were propagated in CK cells. The viruses were titrated in chick embryo tracheal organ cultures. Titres were expressed in log10 ciliostatic dose 50. Chickens Eight-day-old RIR chickens were inoculated by eye-drop and in the nose with 0.1 ml of phosphate buffered saline containing 3.0 log10 ciliostatic dose 50 of virus, or with PBS alone (mock-inoculated group). The birds were housed in groups. Animal Study To determine if either of the two rIBVs were pathogenic in hatched chickens, three clinical signs were recorded: snicking, nasal discharge and rates. Snicking was recorded for groups of birds during a two-minute period and is presented as snicks/bird/minute. Nasal discharge (clear or turbid) and rates (moderate and severe) were recorded for birds individually, the incidence being presented below as a percentage of the group. Ciliary activity was determined by killing the birds, removing the trachea, slicing the trachea transversely into rings approximately 1 mm deep and observing them by low power microscopy. 10 rings were examined for each trachea. Ciliary activity was recorded as being approximately 100%, 75%, 50%, 25% or 0%. Groups comprised not less than 20 birds on the days when the data below was recorded. Results Snicking was maximal on day 6 p.i. There was no significant difference in the rate of snicking of BeauR- and BeauR-M41(S)-infected birds and the mock-infected birds. The M41-CK strain induced an order of magnitude more snicking (table 1). TABLE 1 Inoculum Snicks/bird/minute on day 6 p.i. Mock 0.07 BeauR 0.14 BeauR-M41(S) 0.24 M41-CK 2,51 Nasal discharge was maximal on day 0.5 p.i. The M41-CK-infected birds exhibited nasal discharge in a majority of birds whereas the two recombinant viruses did so in only a few birds. There was no statistically significant difference between the numbers of birds exhibiting nasal discharge in the mock-infected and rIBV-infected groups (table 2). TABLE 2 Birds with nasal discharge on Inoculum day 5 p.i. (%) Mock 0 BeauR 4 BeauR-M41(S) 12 M41-CK 75 Rales were maximal on day 4 p.i. In the M41-CK-infected group. BeauR-M41(S) and BeauR did not cause any moderate or severe rales (table 3) TABLE 3 Birds exhibiting moderate or severe Inoculum rales on day 4 p.i. (%) Mock 0 BeauR 0 BeauR-M41(S) 0 M41-CK 41 Neither of the rIBVs diminished ciliary activity, whereas the virulent M41-CK caused complete ciliostasis (table 4). TABLE 4 Mean ciliary activity of tracheal Inoculum rings on day 5 p.i. (%) Mock >90 BeauR >90 BeauR-M41(S) >90 M41-CK 0 The results depicted in the Tables above demonstrate that both the parent IBV BeauR and the swap mutant BeauR-M41 (S) were not pathogenic for newly hatched chickens. B Efficacy of Induction of Protective Immunity by BeauR and BeauR-M41(S) Materials and Methods Animal Study The birds in this Experiment which had been vaccinated with BeauR, BeauR-M41(S), M41-CK or no virus at eight days of age, were challenged 21 days later with 3 log10 ciliostatic does 50 of virulent IBV M41-K A fifth group of birds had been mock-infected. This was retained as a non-challenged group. Four days after challenge of the chicks, tracheas were removed, the epithelium was scraped off and resuspended in 1 ml of medium. This was titrated in tracheal organ cultures, and the titre expressed as log 10 cillostatic dose 50 (CD50). Results Challenge, with virulent M41-CK, of birds that had been vaccinated with BeauR-M41(S) resulted in snicking at a low level, similar to that of the birds that had been both vaccinated and challenged with M41-CK. In contrast BeauR-vaccinated birds exhibited a high rate of snicking, although less than the non-vaccinated birds that were challenged (table 5). TABLE 5 First inoculum Snicks/bird/minute on day 5 after (vaccination) challenge with virulent IBV M41-CK Mock 0.96 BeauR 0.60 BeauR-M41(S) 0.18 M41-CK 0.11 Mock (not challenged) 0.06 Challenge with M41-CK caused nasal discharge in 56% of the mock-vaccinated birds and no nasal discharge in birds that had been vaccinated with BeauR-M41(S) or M41-CK (table 6). TABLE 6 First inoculum Birds with nasal discharge on day 5 after (vaccination) challenge with virulent IBV M41-CK (%) Mock 56 BeauR 6 BeauR-M41(S) 0 M41-CK 0 Mock (not challenged) 0 Challenge with M41-CK caused moderate or severe rales in 23% of mock-vaccinated bids on day 6 p.i. and in none of the birds that had been vaccinated with the rIBVs (table 7) TABLE 7 Birds exhibiting moderate or severe First inoculum rales on day 6 after challenge with (vaccination) virulent IBV M41-CK (%) Mock 23 BeauR 0 BeauR-M41(S) 0 M41-CK 0 Mock (not challenged) 0 Birds that had been vaccinated with M41-CK were fully protected against challenge with M41-CK; ciliary activity was 100%, in contrast to non-vaccinated birds, where them was no ciliary activity. Most (719) of the birds that had been vaccinated with BeauR-M41(S) had high ciliary activity (>50%) after challenge i.e. they had resisted the challenge. The remaining two birds had almost 50% activity (table 8). TABLE 8 Birds with ≧50% tracheal ciliary activity on days 4, First inoculum 5 and 6 after challenge with virulent IBV M41-CK (vaccination) number/total number % Mock 0/6 0 BeauR 11/9 11 BeauR-M41(S) 27/9 77 M41-CK 6/6 100 Mock (not challenged) 100 6/6 1The other 8 birds in this group had <25% ciliary activity. 2The other 2 birds in this group had 48% and 45% ciliary activity. No challenge virus could be detected in the various groups of vaccinated birds (table 9). TABLE 9 First inoculum Detection of challenge virus (IBV M41-CK) in (vaccination) the trachea at 4 days after challenge Mock +a BeauR −b BeauR-M41(S) −b M41-CK −b aMean titre of recovered challenge virus was 2.9 log1050/ml. bNo challenge virus recovered. These challenge experiments demonstrate that BeauR-M41 (S) is able to induce protection against challenge to an extent similar to M41-CK, whereas the parent IBV BeauR only induces a poor protection. Example 4 Biological Characterization of Recombinant Beaudette—M41 Spike IBV In-Vivo (In Ovo Administration) Trial 1 Safety and Efficacy Study for In-Ovo Vaccination with IBV Hatchability Groups of specific pathogen free (SPF) eggs were incubated until 18 days of embryonation. The in-ovo vaccinations given are summarized in table 10. One dose of Ma5, a Massachusetts serotype IBV vaccine (intervet international BV), was given to group 1, group 2 was not vaccinated, group 3 received the IBV swap mutant Beau-R-M41(S) and group 4 the recombinant Beau-R The viruses were diluted in Modified Eagles medium (MEM). A small hole was drilled in the egg above the air-space and an inch long, 20 gauge needle used to release 0.1 ml of the virus into the amniotic fluid. The eggs were placed in separate incubators and hatchability was assessed on day 21 of incubation TABLE 10 Dose (EID50) by back- Number of Hatchability Group Inoculation titration eggs % 1 1 dose Ma5 4.4 33 18 2 none — 33 65 3 Beau-R-M41(S) ≧6.2 33 82 4 Beau-R ≧5.9 33 73 Assessment of Clinical Signs Post Hatch On day 6 post hatch the birds were assessed for nasal exudate (NE), a clinical sign associated with IBV infection. NE was not detected in birds vaccinated I with Beau-R or BeauR-M41(S). However, NE was detected in a proportion of the Ma5 in-ovo vaccinates that had hatched (Table 11). TABLE 11 Dose Signs/no of Group number Treatment (EID50) birds Percentage 1 1 dose Ma5 4.4 4/6 67 2 Control — 0/25 0 3 Beau-R-M41 ≧6.2 0/26 0 4 Beau-R ≧5.9 0/23 0 To further assess the effect of the IBV vaccinations in-ovo a small number of birds were euthanased on day 7 so that an assessment of the tracheal ciliary activity could be made. Ciliary activity is used as a measure of the attenuation of the inoculated IBV. Tracheas from inoculated birds/embryos are cut into 10 sections, 3 from the top and bottom, and four from the middle. A microscopic assessment of ciliary activity is made and the mean percentage cilia that have stopped beating for the 10 rings is calculated. The higher the score the more the IBV-induced damage. Ma5 inoculated in-ova, although only assessed in 1 bird, gave very high ciliostasis scores in each bird (table 12). Both of the recombinant IBV Beaudette gave low scores that are acceptable on the grounds of safety. TABLE 12 Mean Dose percentage Group number Treatment (EID50) ciliostasis 1 1 dose Ma5 4.4 90 2 Control — 2.5 3 Beau-R-M41(S) ≧6.2 24 4 Beau-R ≧5.9 29.5 Virulent IBV Challenge, To determine the efficacy of in-ovo vaccination with the infectious clones 4 weeks post hatch, a selection of birds were challenged with 2.9 log 10 EID50 of virulent Massachusetts serotype IBV M41 by the ocular-nasal route. On days 5 and 7 post challenge ciliostasis tests were performed on tracheal rings of euthanased birds. Based on an individual ciliostasis score of 50% or less being protected, 100% of the Ma5 vaccinated birds were protected, 90% of the BeauR-M41(S) birds were protected and 30% of the Beau-R vaccinated birds were protected. The individual and mean ciliostasis scores are shown in table 13. TABLE 13 Individual percentage Individual percentage ciliostasis scores day 5 ciliostasis scores day 7 Group number Treatment post challenge Group Mean post challenge Group Mean % protection 1 (n = 4), 1 dose Ma5 15, 15 15 42.5, 32.5 37.5 100 2 (n = 10) Control 97.5, 100, 100, 100, 100 99.5 100, 97.5, 97.5, 95, 97.5 97.5 0 3 (n = 10) Beau-R-M41 7.5, 80, 12.5, 10, 17.5 25.5 22.5, 32.5, 27.5, 20, 30 26.5 90 4 (n = 10) Beau-R 100, 95, 95, 97.5, 95 96.5 67.5, 40, 27.5, 62.5, 40 47.5 30 Trial 2 Safety Study for In-Ovo Vaccination with IBV In a second trial the hatchability following in-ovo vaccination was reassessed. As described for trial 1 the eggs (40/group) were vaccinated at 18 days of embryonation with either of the infectious clones or with a placebo (MEM). The ciliostasis test was performed on days 2, 5, 8 and 12 days post hatch to confirm the safety of the vaccination. It is shown that vaccination with BeauR-M41(S) has a minimal effect on hatchability and causes minimal tracheal damage. TABLE 14 Virus at 18 day % Group embryonation hatch 1 Beau-R 67 2 Beau-R-M41(S) 75 3 Placebo 82 TABLE 15 Mean % Mean % Mean % Mean % ciliostasis ciliostasis ciliostasis ciliostasis score 2 score 5 score 8 score 12 Group Inoculum days old days old days old days old 1 Beau-R 32 42 24 23 2 Beau-R- 33.5 37.5 36 24 M41(S) 3 Placebo 19.5 10.5 14.5 12 LEGENDS TO THE FIGURES FIG. 1. Schematic diagram of the IBV S gene. The 5 end of the S gene overlaps the 3′ end of the replicase gene. The four domains of the S protein, the position of the S1/S2 cleavage point and the positions of the PacI and BspHI restriction sites, the S gene TAS, the gene 3 TAS and the start of gone 3 are shown. The numbers refer to the positions of the amino acid differences between IBV Beaudette-CK and M41-CK-S protein sequences within the chimaeric S gene sequences, resulting from non-synonymous substitutions following exchange of the two S gene sequences. FIG. 2. Schematic structure of plasmid pACNR-NheI-NotI-IBV used as a source of FRAG-3 for the generation of full-length Beaudette-CK derived full-length cDNAs. The plasmid was used for removal of the region of the Beaudette-CK gene encoding the signal sequence, ectodomain and transmembrane domain. Restriction sites are indicated. FIG. 3. Schematic structure of the 3383 bp PacI-BspHI cDNA fragment comprising the signal sequence, ectodomain and transmembrane domain of the M41 spike gene. Restriction sites are indicated. FIG. 4. Schematic structure of plasmid pACNR-NheI-NotI-IBV-M41-S comprising the chimaeric S gene and used as the source of FRAG-3-M41S for generation of an IBV full-length cDNA containing the chimaeric S gene sequences. Restriction sites are indicated. FIG. 5. Schematic diagram for the construction of the chimaeric S gene and production of a full-length IBV cDNA. (A) Replacement of the signal sequences, ectodomain and transmembrane regions of the Beaudette-CK S gene with the corresponding sequence from IBV M41-CK for construction of FRAG-3-M41S. (B) Schematic diagram of the BeauR-M41 (S) full-length cDNA composed of FRAG-1, FRAG-2 and FRAG-3-M41S. FIG. 6. Schematic diagram for the isolation of PCR products representing the 4/91 S gene sequence. FIG. 7. Schematic diagram showing assembly of the chimaeric 4/91 S gene in pGPT-4/91S. (A) Two fragments were generated from pGPT-M41S for use in the assembly process. A fragment representing the chimaeric M41 S gene was discarded. (B) Assembly of the chimaeric 4/91 S gene in pGPT-4/91S, by a four-way ligation reaction, using the two fragments isolated from pGPT-M41 S in conjunction with the two digestion products representing the 4/91 S gene sequence. The relevant fragments and restriction sites are indicated. FIG. 8. Schematic representation of the first TDS step for generating the ‘spikeless’ IBV cDNA within recombinant vaccinia virus vNotI-IBV-ΔSFL. FIG. 9. Schematic representation of the second TDS step for insertion of the 4/91-Beau-R chimaeric S gene into the full-length IBV cDNA within the recombinant vaccinia virus vNot-IBVFL-4/91S. FIG. 10. Growth profiles of the three IBVs on four cell types. The panels show the growth pattern of Beau-R (solid line with triangle), M41-CK (dashed line with diamond) and BeauR-M41 (S) (dotted line with square) on (A) CK cells, (B) Vero cells, (C) CEF cells and (D) BHK-21 cells.

20070111

20081104

20070705

59469.0

A61K3912

SNYDER, STUART

INFECTIOUS BRONCHITIS VIRUS WITH AN ALTERED SPIKE GENE

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

A61K

ACCEPTED

Mobile robot with 360 degrees endless rotation type decoupled turret

The object of this invention is to provide a mobile robot base with a decoupled turret mechanism, including a turret (80), a turret motor (1) provided on the turret (80), an actuating motor unit provided on the turret (80) to actuate a plurality of wheels (90), an actuating gear train unit to transmit an actuating force generated from train (10) coupled between the turret (80) and the turret motor (1), and a differential gear train unit coupled to both the turret gear train and the actuating motor unit, so that the differential gear train unit subtracts the rotation of the turret (80) from the rotation of the actuating motor unit, thus transmitting a subtracted rotation to the plurality of wheels (90), and thus, only the rotation of the actuating motor unit is transmitted to the plurality of wheels (90). the actuating motor unit to the wheels (90)

1. A mobile robot base with a decoupled turret mechanism, comprising: a turret rotatably placed on a support frame; a turret motor provided on the turret; an actuating motor unit provided on the turret to actuate a plurality of wheels; an actuating gear train unit coupled between the actuating motor unit and the plurality of wheels to transmit an actuating force generated from the actuating motor unit to a lower portion of the turret through a triple shaft mechanism; a turret gear train coupled between the turret and the turret motor, and comprising a first turret gear and a turret center gear, so that the turret motor rotates the turret on the support frame through the turret gear train; and a differential gear train unit coupled to both the turret gear train and the actuating motor unit to receive rotations of both the turret and the actuating motor unit, so that the differential gear train unit subtracts the rotation of the turret from the rotation of the actuating motor unit, thus transmitting a subtracted rotation to the plurality of wheels, and thus, only the rotation of the actuating motor unit is transmitted to the plurality of wheels. 2. The robot base according to claim 1, wherein the differential gear train unit comprises: an input gear to engage with the turret center gear of the turret gear train; a differential gear box comprising: a first gear coupled to the actuating motor unit; a second gear coupled to the input gear; and a third gear interposed between the first and second gears; and an output gear provided at an outside of the differential gear box to be coupled to the actuating gear train unit. 3. The robot base according to claim 2, wherein a gear ratio between the output gear of the differential gear train unit and a predetermined gear of the actuating gear train unit, which engages with the output gear, is ½ times a gear ratio between the turret center gear and the input gear of the different gear train unit. 4. The robot base according to claim 1, wherein the actuating motor unit comprises: a drive motor to rotate the plurality of wheels; and a steering motor to control a plurality of wheel cases which hold the plurality of wheels, so that a direction of movement of the robot base is determined by an operation of the steering motor, and the actuating gear train unit comprises: a drive gear train comprising first, second and third drive gears and first and second bevel gears to transmit a rotational force generated from the drive motor to the plurality of wheels; and a steering gear train comprising first, second and third steering gears to transmit a rotational force generated from the steering motor to the plurality of wheel cases, and the differential gear train unit comprises: a first differential gear train coupled to both the turret center gear and the drive motor to receive the rotations of both the turret and the drive motor, so that the first differential gear train subtracts the rotation of the turret from the rotation of the drive motor, thus transmitting a subtracted rotation to the drive gear train; and a second differential gear train coupled to both the turret center gear and the steering motor to receive the rotations of both the turret and the steering motor, so that the second differential gear train subtracts the rotation of the turret from the rotation of the steering motor, thus transmitting a subtracted rotation to the steering gear train. 5. The robot base according to claim 4, further comprising: a steering absolute encoder, comprising: a first detection gear provided on an output shaft of the steering motor to detect attitudes of the wheel cases; and a first reduction gear to engage with the first detection gear; and a turret absolute encoder, comprising: a second detection gear provided on an output shaft of the turret motor to detect attitudes of the turret; and a second reduction gear to engage with the second detection gear. 6. The robot base according to claim 5, wherein a reduction ratio of the steering gear train is set such that a rotation angle of the first reduction gear of the steering absolute encoder is equal to a rotation angle of each of the wheel cases holding the wheels, and a reduction ratio of the turret gear train is set such that a rotation angle of the second reduction gear of the turret absolute encoder is equal to a rotation angle of the turret. 7. The robot base according to 1, wherein the actuating motor unit comprises: first and second drive motors to respectively drive two wheel units, independently, and the actuating gear train unit comprises: a first drive gear train comprising a first drive gear, first and second bevel gears to transmit a rotational force generated from the first drive motor to one of the two wheel units; and a second drive gear train comprising a second drive gear, third and fourth bevel gears to transmit a rotational force generated from the second drive motor to remaining one of the two wheel units, and the differential gear train unit comprises: a first differential gear train coupled to both the turret center gear of the turret gear train and the first drive motor to receive rotations of both the turret and the first drive motor, so that the first differential gear train subtracts the rotation of the turret from the rotation of the first drive motor, thus transmitting a subtracted rotation to the first drive gear train; and a second differential gear train coupled to both the turret center gear and the second drive motor to receive rotations of both the turret and the second drive motor, so that the second differential gear train subtracts the rotation of the turret from the rotation of the second drive motor, thus transmitting a subtracted rotation to the second drive gear train.

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates, in general, to mobile robot bases with decoupled turret mechanisms and, more particularly, to a mobile robot base with a decoupled turret mechanism, in which only a rotation of an actuating motor unit, which is provided on a turret and comprises a plurality of motors, is transmitted to a plurality of wheels regardless of a rotation of the turret. BACKGROUND ART Generally, robots have been used in various places of works of persons that are not safe, impossible or inefficient. In addition, conventional robots have been used in repetitive works, or works that require high-level accuracy to increase productivity and quality of products. The conventional robots have been developed for a variety of fields, such as for research, home use and crime prevention as well as various industrial fields. Therefore, recently, it is required that each of actuating units of the robots is operated within a wider range. Mobile robots are representative examples of the conventional robots. In the conventional mobile robots, a plurality of devices, which really execute desired works, are provided on a turret which is placed on a support frame. By a rotation of the turret on the support frame, directions of the plurality of devices for works are determined. For example, a mobile robot with a turret is disclosed in Korean Patent Registration NO. 322316 which was filed by the inventor of the present invention and has been registered. As shown in FIG. 4, in the conventional mobile robot disclosed in Korean Patent Registration NO. 322316, a plurality of wheels 206 are provided under a support frame of the robot to move the mobile robot. The plurality of wheels 206 are connected by first and second belts 201 and 202 to each other. The first belt 201 is wound around both a drive motor 204 and the wheels 206, so that the drive motor 204 rotates the wheels 206 through the first belt 201 to move the mobile robot. Both wheel cases which hold the wheels 206 and a turret shaft 205 are rotated by a steering motor 203 through the second belt 202 to determine a direction of the movement of the mobile robot. At this time, a direction of the turret is equal to the direction of the movement of the mobile robot. However, in the conventional mobile robot disclosed in NO. 322316, to change the direction of the movement of the turret, the robot must be rotated while the second belt 202 is rotated by the operation of the steering motor 203. The above-mentioned movement of the robot requires excessive power consumption and limits the workspace of the robot. Furthermore, when the turret is rotated at angles higher than a predetermined reference angle, the first and second belts, which connect the plurality of wheels to each other, and a plurality of wires, coupled between the support frame and the turret, may be undesirably entangled to each other. Thus, the conventional mobile robot disclosed in NO. 322316 is problematic in that the turret must be rotated within a limited angular range. In an effort to prevent the plurality of wires of the conventional mobile robot from being undesirably entangled to each other while the turret is rotated, robot bases using slip rings were proposed in Korean Patent registration NO. 299622 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,657,104. The slip rings communicate powers and sensor signals between turrets and support frames, so that the robot bases have structures possible to endlessly rotate the turrets. However, the slip ring used in each of the conventional robot bases proposed in NO. 299622 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,657,104 causes undesired electric noise. Furthermore, it is very difficult to send high currents through the slip rings of the conventional robot bases. In addition, in case of using the slip rings for long periods, the slip rings must be worn. Because the slip rings are expensive, the conventional robot bases using the slip rings are problematic in that the production costs of the robot bases are increased. In the meantime, a robot base having a structure possible to endlessly rotate a turret without any entanglement of wires is proposed in Korean Patent Application NO. 2002-0025612 which was filed by the inventor of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the robot base disclosed in NO. 2002-0025612 includes a turret 308 and an electric part. The electric part is provided above the turret 308 and has a turret motor 301, a drive motor 303 and a steering motor 302. The robot base further includes a turret gear train 304 through which the turret 308 is rotated by an operation of the turret motor 301, and a drive gear train 306 through which wheels 307, provided under a support frame 309, are driven by an operation of the drive motor 303. The robot base further includes a steering gear train 305 to determine a direction of a movement of the robot base during an operation of the steering motor 302. The turret gear train 304, the drive gear train 306 and the steering gear train 305 are arranged to form a triple shaft mechanism in that a drive shaft 311 of the drive gear train 306 is provided around a steering shaft 310 of the steering gear train 305. A turret rotating shaft 312 of the turret gear train 304 is provided around the drive shaft 311. The turret gear train 304 transmits a rotational force generated from the turret motor 301 to the turret 308. The drive gear train 306 and the steering gear train 305 transmit rotational forces generated from the drive motor 303 and the steering motor 302 to the wheels 307, respectively. As described above, the conventional robot base disclosed in NO. 2002-0025612 comprising the electric part at an upper portion of the turret 308 and a mechanical part at a lower portion of the turret 308 has a structure possible to endlessly rotate the turret 308 through the triple shaft mechanism. However, in the conventional robot base disclosed in NO. 2002-0025612, the drive motor 303 and the steering motor 302 are rotated along with the turret 308 while the turret 308 is rotated by the operation of the turret motor 301. At this time, the drive motor 303 and the steering motor 302 are connected to the wheels 307 through the drive gear train 306 and the steering gear train 305, respectively. To prevent the above-mentioned changes in the locations of the drive motor 303 and the steering motor 302 from undesirably causing movements of the wheels 307, the drive motor 303 and the steering motor 302 must be appropriately operated in response to the rotation of the turret 308. Therefore, the conventional robot base disclosed in NO. 2002-0025612 is problematic in that its control algorithm is very complicated, and power consumption is undesirably increased. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a mobile robot base with a decoupled turret mechanism, which has a structure possible to transmit a rotational force generated from a drive motor unit, provided on a turret with 360° endless rotation capability, to a plurality of wheels regardless of the rotation of the turret, so that the drive motor unit is precisely controlled to increase work efficiency of a robot, and reduce power consumption of the robot base. In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a mobile robot base with a decoupled turret mechanism, including a turret rotatably placed on a support frame, a turret motor provided on the turret, an actuating motor unit provided on the turret to actuate a plurality of wheels, an actuating gear train unit coupled between the actuating motor unit and the plurality of wheels to transmit an actuating force generated from the actuating motor unit to a lower portion of the turret through a triple shaft mechanism, a turret gear train coupled between the turret and the turret motor, and comprising a first turret gear and a turret center gear, so that the turret motor rotates the turret on the support frame through the turret gear train, and a differential gear train unit coupled to both the turret gear train and the actuating motor unit to receive rotations of both the turret and the actuating motor unit, so that the differential gear train unit subtracts a rotation of the turret from a rotation of the actuating motor unit, thus transmitting a subtracted rotation to the plurality of wheels, and thus, only the rotation of the actuating motor unit is transmitted to the plurality of wheels. The differential gear train unit may include an input gear to engage with the turret center gear of the turret gear train; a differential gear box, having a first gear coupled to the actuating motor unit, a second gear coupled to the input gear, and a third gear interposed between the first and second gears; and an output gear provided at an outside of the differential gear box to be coupled to the actuating gear train unit. A gear ratio between the output gear of the differential gear train unit and a predetermined gear of the actuating gear train unit, which engages with the output gear, may be ½ times a gear ratio between the turret center gear and the input gear of the different gear train unit. The mobile robot base may further include an encoder unit provided on an output shaft of the actuating motor unit to detect attitudes of the plurality of wheels regardless of the rotation of the turret BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a view of a synchronous mobile robot base with a decoupled turret mechanism, according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a construction of the synchronous mobile robot base of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a view of a differential mobile robot base with a decoupled turret mechanism, according to a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a view showing a construction of wheels of a conventional mobile robot base using a belt mechanism; and FIG. 5 is a view of another conventional mobile robot base using a gear mechanism. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Reference should now be made to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals are used throughout the different drawings to designate the same or similar components. FIG. 1 is a view of a synchronous mobile robot base with a decoupled turret mechanism, according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a construction of the synchronous mobile robot base of FIG. 1. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the synchronous mobile robot base according to the first embodiment of the present invention is a system in which a plurality of wheels 90 are simultaneously moved in the same direction and to the same distance. The mobile robot base according to the first embodiment includes a turret 80 which is rotatably placed on a support frame 81. The mobile robot base further includes a turret motor 1 and an actuating motor unit which are respectively supported on a plurality of support brackets 82 on the turret 80. The actuating motor unit comprises a drive motor 2 and a steering motor 3. The mobile robot base further includes an actuating gear train unit which will be described later herein, and a plurality of wheels 90 which is provided under the support frame 81 to move the mobile robot base. The actuating gear train unit comprises a drive gear train 20 to connect the plurality of wheels 90 to the drive motor 2, and a steering gear train 30 to connect a plurality of wheel cases 91 to the steering motor 3. The mobile robot base further includes a turret gear train 10 which is coupled between the turret 80 and the turret motor 1 to transmit a rotational force generated from the turret motor 1 to the turret 80. The turret gear train 10 has a first turret gear 11 which is coupled to the turret motor 1, and a turret center gear 12 which is fastened on the support frame 81 to engage with the first turret gear 11. The mobile robot base further includes a first differential gear train 40 which is coupled to both the turret center gear 12 and the drive motor 2. The drive motor 2, supported on one of the plurality of support brackets 82 on the turret 80, rotates the plurality of wheels 90 through the first differential gear train 40 and the drive gear train 20. The first differential gear train 40 includes a first input gear 42 which engages with the turret center gear 12, and a first differential gear box 41. The first differential gear box 41 comprises a first gear 44 which is coupled to the drive motor 2, a second gear 45 which is coupled to the first input gear 42, and a third gear 46 which is interposed between the first and second gears 44 and 45. The first differential gear train 40 further includes a first output gear 43 which is provided at an outside of the first differential gear box 41 to be coupled to the drive gear train 20. The drive gear train 20 connects the plurality of wheels 90 to the first differential gear train 40. The drive gear train 20 includes a first drive gear 21 which is provided on an upper end of a drive shaft 26 to engage with the first output gear 43 of the first differential gear train 40, and a second drive gear 22 which is provided on a lower end of the drive shaft 26 so that the second drive gear 22 is connected to the first drive gear 21 through the drive shaft 26. The drive gear train 20 further includes a third drive gear 23 which is associated with each of the plurality of wheel cases 91 and engages with the second drive gear 22. The drive gear train 20 further includes a first bevel gear 24 which is provided in each of the plurality of wheel cases 91 and is rotatably coupled to each of the plurality of third drive gears 23, and a second bevel gear 25 which engages with the first bevel gear 24 to rotate the wheel 90. The mobile robot base further includes a second differential gear train 50 which is coupled to both the turret center gear 12 and the steering motor 3. The steering motor 3, supported on another one of the plurality of support brackets 82 on the turret 80, controls the plurality of wheel cases 91 through both the second differential gear train 50 and the steering gear train 30, so that a direction of a movement of the robot base is determined by an operation of the steering motor 3. The second differential gear train 50 includes a second input gear 52 which engages with the turret center gear 12, and a second differential gear box 51. The second differential gear box 51 comprises a first gear 54 which is coupled to the steering motor 3, a second gear 55 which is coupled to the second input gear 52, and a third gear 56 which is interposed between the first and second gears 54 and 55. The second differential gear train 50 further includes a second output gear 53 which is provided at an outside of the second differential gear box 51 to be coupled to the steering gear train 30. The steering gear train 30 connects the plurality of wheel cases 91 to the second differential gear train 50. The steering gear train 30 includes a first steering gear 31 which is provided on an upper end of a steering shaft 34 to engage with the second output gear 53 of the second differential gear train 50, and a second steering gear 32 which is provided on a lower end of the steering shaft 34 so that the second steering gear 32 is connected to the first steering gear 31 through the steering shaft 34. The steering gear train 30 further includes a third steering gear 33 which is provided on each of the plurality of wheel cases 91 to engage with the second steering gear 32, so that each of the wheel cases 91 is rotated along with the third steering gear 33 during a rotation of the second steering gear 32. In the meantime, the drive shaft 26 passes through a the turret center gear 12 along a rotating axis of the turret center gear 12, so that the drive shaft 26 is coupled at an upper end thereof to the first drive gear 21, which is placed above the turret 80, and at a lower end thereof to the second drive gear 22, placed under the turret 80. The steering shaft 34 is arranged in the drive shaft 26 along a rotating axis of the drive shaft 26. Thus, the steering shaft 34 connects the first steering gear 31, placed above the turret 80, to the second steering gear 32 which is placed under the turret 80. The output rotating speed of the first or second differential gear train 40 or 50 relative to the rotating speed of the drive motor 2 or the steering motor 3 and the rotating speed of the turret 80 has the following relation. WOutput=(WMotor−WTurret)/2 In the above-mentioned equation, the output rotating speed of the first or second differential gear train 40 or 50 is ½ times a subtracted rotating speed that is resulted from a subtraction of the rotating speed of the turret 80 from the rotating speed of the drive motor 2 or the steering motor 3. At this time, to prevent the rotation of the turret 80 from being transmitted to the plurality of wheels 90, the first or second output gear 43 or 53 of the first or second differential gear train 40 or 50 must be rotated at the same time as the rotation of the turret 80. To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, a gear ratio between the first output gear 43 of the first differential gear train 40 and the first drive gear 21 of the drive gear train 20 is ½ times a gear ratio between the turret center gear 12 and the first input gear 42 of the first different gear train 40. In the same manner, a gear ratio between the second output gear 53 of the second differential gear train 50 and the first steering gear 31 of the steering gear train 30 is ½ times a gear ratio between the turret center gear 12 and the second input gear 52 of the second different gear train 50. In the meantime, to obtain precise information of attitudes of the wheel cases 91, the mobile robot base of the present invention further includes a steering absolute encoder 60 which is coupled to an output shaft of the steering motor 3. The steering absolute encoder 60 independently detects the attitude of the wheel cases 91 regardless of the rotation of the turret 80. To achieve the above-mentioned operational function of the steering absolute encoder 60, the steering absolute encoder 60 has a first detection gear 62 which is provided on the output shaft of the steering motor 3, and a first reduction gear 61 which is provided on the steering absolute encoder 60 to engage with the first detection gear 62. Therefore, the steering absolute encoder 60 obtains the information of a rotation transmitted from the steering motor 3 to the wheel cases 91, regardless of the rotation of the turret 80. At this time, a gear ratio of the steering gear train 30 is set such that a rotation angle of the first reduction gear 61 of the steering absolute encoder 60 is equal to a rotation angle of each of the wheel cases 91, thus preventing operational errors and cumulative errors of the steering absolute encoder 60 from being undesirably caused. For example, the gear ratio of the steering gear train 30 will be explained herein below on the supposition that the first reduction gear 61 (Z=54, the reference character Z denotes the number of teeth) has 54 teeth and the first detection gear 62 (Z=27) has 27 teeth. When the steering motor 3 rotates one turn, the first reduction gear 61 rotates ½ turn. While the steering motor 3 rotates one turn, the second output gear 53 (Z=51) also rotates ½ turn through the second differential gear box 51. Thereafter, the first steering gear 31 (Z=51) which engages with the second output gear 53 rotates ½ turn. The second steering gear 32 (Z=128), which is coaxially connected to the first steering gear 31 through the steering shaft 34, also rotates ½ turn in the same manner as the first steering gear 31. Because the number of teeth of the third steering gear 33 (Z=128) which engages with the second steering gear 32 is equal to that of the second steering gear 32 (Z=128), the third steering gear 33 rotates ½ turn in the same manner as the first reduction gear 61. As described above, the reduction ratio of the steering gear train 30 is appropriately set according to the gear ratio between the first reduction gear 61 and the first detection gear 62, so that the rotation angle of the first reduction gear 61 can be equal to the rotation angle of each of the wheel cases 91. In the same manner as that described for the steering absolute encoder 61, to obtain precise information of attitudes of the turret 80, the mobile robot base of the present invention further includes a turret absolute encoder 70. The turret absolute encoder 70 includes a second detection gear 72 which is provided on an output shaft of the turret motor 1 to detect attitudes of the turret, and a second reduction gear 71 which is provided on the turret absolute encoder 70 to engage with the second detection gear 72. Thus, the turret absolute encoder 70 detects only the rotation of the turret 80. A gear ratio between the second detection gear 72 and the second reduction gear 71 is equal to a gear ratio between the first turret gear 11 and the turret center gear 12, so that a rotation angle of the turret 80 is equal to that of the second reduction gear 71 of the turret absolute encoder 70. The operation and effect of the mobile robot base according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described herein below. When the operation of the turret motor 1 starts, the first turret gear 11, coupled to the turret motor 1, is rotated while engaging with the turret center gear 12 fastened on the support frame 81. Thus, the turret 80 is rotated by the operation of the turret motor 1. At this time, the turret absolute encoder 70 detects the attitude of the turret 80 through both the second reduction gear 71 and the second detection gear 72. When the turret 80 is rotated by the turret motor 1, both the drive motor 2 and the steering motor 3, which are provided on the turret 80, are rotated along with the turret 80 around a rotating axis of the turret 80. In above state, in case that both the drive motor 2 and the steering motor 3 are not operated, both the first input gear 42 of the first differential gear train 40 and the second input gear 52 of the second differential gear train 40, which engage with the turret center gear 12, are rotated around the turret center gear 12. By the rotations of the first and second input gears 42 and 52, the second gear 45 of first differential gear box 41 and the second gear 55 of the second differential gear box 51 are rotated, respectively. While the two second gears 45 and 55 are rotated, the third gear 46, which is interposed between the first gear 44 and the second gear 45 in the first differential gear box 41, and the other third gear 56, which is interposed between the first gear 54 and the second gear 55 in the second differential gear box 51, are rotated. Simultaneously, the first and second differential gear box 41 and 51 are rotated by the rotations of the two third gears 46 and 56, so that the first and second output gears 43 and 53, which are provided at the outside of the first and second differential gear boxes 41 and 51, are rotated, respectively. At this time, the first and second output gears 43 and 53 are rotated around the first drive gear 21 and the first steering gear 31 while engaging with the first drive gear 21 and the first steering gear 31, respectively. Therefore, the rotation of the turret 80 is not transmitted to the plurality of wheels 90 or the wheel cases 91. In the meantime, when the drive motor 2 starts to move the robot base, the first gear 44 of the first differential gear train 40 is rotated. Thus, the third gear 46 which engages with the first gear 44 is rotated to rotate the first differential gear box 41. By the rotation of the first differential gear box 41, the first output gear 43 of the first differential gear train 40 is rotated. Therefore, the first drive gear 21, which engages with the first output gear 43, is rotated. Thereafter, a rotational force of the drive motor 2, transmitted to the first drive gear 21, is transmitted to the plurality of wheels 90 through the second drive gear 22, the plurality of third drive gears 23, the plurality of first bevel gears 24 and the plurality of second bevel gears 25. To change the direction of the movement of the robot base, the steering motor 3 is operated. By the operation of the steering motor 3, the first gear 54 of the second differential gear train 50 is rotated. Thus, the third gear 56 which engages with the first gear 54 is rotated to rotate the second differential gear box 51. During the rotation of the second differential gear box 51, the second output gear 53 of the second differential gear train 50 is rotated. Therefore, the first steering gear 31, which engages with the second output gear 53, is rotated, so that the second steering gear 32 is rotated to rotate the third steering gear 33, which is provided at the outside of each of the plurality of the wheel cases 91. Thus, the direction of the movement of the robot base is changed by the steering motor 3. At this time, the steering absolute encoder 60 to detect the attitude of the wheels 90 obtains the information of the rotation of the wheel cases 91 through both the first reduction gear 61 and the first detection gear 62. In the meantime, in case that the drive motor 2 and turret motor 1, or the steering motor 3 and the turret motor 1 are simultaneously operated, the first or second differential gear train 40 or 50 receives both the rotation of the turret motor 1 through the turret center gear 12 and the first or second input gear 42 or 52 and the rotation of the drive motor 2 or the steering motor 3 through the first gear 44 or 54 of the first or second differential gear train 40 or 50. Thereafter, the first or second differential gear train 40 or 50 subtracts the rotation of the turret motor 1 from the rotation of the drive or steering motor 2 or 3, thus transmitting a subtracted rotation to the plurality of wheels 90. That is, the mobile robot base of the present invention transmits only the rotation of the actuating motor unit comprising the drive motor 2 and the steering motor 3 to the plurality of wheels 90. As described above, in the synchronous mobile robot base according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the actuating motor unit comprises the drive motor 2 which rotates the plurality of wheels 90 to move the robot base, and the steering motor 3 which controls the plurality of wheel cases 91 to determine the direction of the movement of the robot base. The actuating gear train unit to transmit the rotation from the actuating motor unit to the plurality of wheels 90 comprises the drive gear train 20 and the steering gear train 30. The drive motor 2 is coupled to the drive gear train 20 through the first differential gear train 40. The steering motor 3 is coupled to the steering gear train 30 through the second differential gear train 50. Therefore, the turret 80 and the actuating motor unit or the turret 80 and the actuating gear train unit are decoupled from each other. The above-mentioned first or second differential gear train 40 or 50 to transmit the rotation of the actuating motor unit placed on the turret 80 to the plurality of wheels 90 regardless of the rotation of the turret 80 may be used in any robot base having a turret mechanism, such as differential mobile robot bases and omnidirectional mobile robot bases, as well as the synchronous mobile robot base according to the first embodiment. A differential mobile robot base according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a view of the differential mobile robot base with a decoupled turret mechanism, according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the differential mobile robot base according to the second embodiment has a structure in that first and second wheel units 170 and 170′ are independently controlled to determine a direction of movement of the robot base according to a difference between rotating speeds of the first and second wheel units 170 and 170′. The mobile robot base according to the second embodiment includes a turret 160 which is rotatably placed on a support frame. The mobile robot base further includes a turret motor 101 and an actuating motor unit which are respectively placed on the turret 160. The actuating motor unit comprises a first drive motor 102 and a second drive motor 103. The mobile robot base further includes the first and second wheel units 170 and 170′ which are provided under the support frame to move the robot base. The mobile robot base further includes first and second drive gear trains 120 and 130. The first drive gear train 120 is coupled between the first drive motor 102 and the first wheel unit 170 to transmit a rotation from the first drive motor 102 to the first wheel unit 170. The second drive gear train 120 is coupled between the second drive motor 103 and the second wheel unit 170′ to transmit a rotation from the second drive motor 103 to the second wheel unit 170′. The turret motor 101 rotates the turret 160 around a rotating axis of the turret 160 through a turret gear train 110. The turret gear train 110 comprises a first turret gear 111 and a turret center gear 112 in the same manner as that described for the synchronous mobile robot base according to the first embodiment. The mobile robot base according to the second embodiment further includes a first differential gear train 140 which is coupled between the first drive motor 102 and the first drive gear train 120. Thus, the first drive motor 102 is connected to the first wheel unit 170 through both the first differential gear train 140 and the first drive gear train 120 to rotate the first wheel unit 170. The first differential gear train 140 includes a first input gear 142 to engage with the turret center gear 112, and a first differential gear box 141. The first differential gear box 141 has a first gear 144 which is coupled to the first drive motor 102, a second gear 145 which is coupled to the first input gear 142, and a third gear 146 which is interposed between the first and second gears 144 and 145. The first differential gear train 140 further includes a first output gear 143 which is provided at an outside of the first differential gear box 141 to be coupled to the first drive gear train 120. The first drive gear train 120 has a first drive gear 121 which is provided on an upper end of a first rotating shaft 180 to engage with the first output gear 143 of the first differential gear train 140. The first drive gear train 120 further has a first bevel gear 122 which is provided on a lower end of the first rotating shaft 180 to be rotated on the first rotating shaft 180 along with the first drive gear 121, and a second bevel gear 123 which engages with the first bevel gear 122 to rotate the first wheel unit 170. The mobile robot base according to the second embodiment further includes a second differential gear train 150 which is coupled between the second drive motor 103 and the second drive gear train 130. Therefore, the second drive motor 103 is connected to the second wheel unit 170′ through the second differential gear train 150 and the second drive gear train 130 to rotate the second wheel unit 170′. The second differential gear train 150 includes a second input gear 152 to engage with the turret center gear 112, and a second differential gear box 151. The second differential gear box 151 has a first gear 154 which is coupled to the second drive motor 103, a second gear 155 which is coupled to the second input gear 152, and a third gear 156 which is interposed between the first and second gears 154 and 155. The second differential gear train 150 further includes a second output gear 153 which is provided at an outside of the second differential gear box 151 to be coupled to the second drive gear train 130. The second drive gear train 130 has a second drive gear 131 which is provided on an upper end of a second rotating shaft 190 to engage with the second output gear 153 of the second differential gear train 150. The second drive gear train 130 further has a third bevel gear 132 which is provided on a lower end of the second rotating shaft 190 to be rotated on the second rotating shaft 190 along with the second drive gear 131, and a fourth bevel gear 133 which engages with the second bevel gear 132 to rotate the second wheel unit 170′. At this time, the first and second rotating shafts 180 and 190 and the turret center gear 112 are arranged to form a triple shaft mechanism in the same manner as that described for the synchronous mobile robot base according to the first embodiment. Thus, the rotational forces of the first and second motors 102 and 103 are respectively transmitted to the first and second wheel units 170 and 170′ through the triple shaft mechanism, and, simultaneously, the triple shaft mechanism allows the turret 160 to endlessly rotate. In the meantime, the first and second wheel units 170 and 170′ of the second embodiment are independently rotated by the first and second drive motors 102 and 103, respectively, different from the first embodiment. However, the operation of the first and second differential gear trains 140 and 150 to decouple the turret 160, the first and second drive gear trains 120 and 130 and the first and second drive motors 102 and 103 remains the same as the first embodiment, and further explanation is thus not deemed necessary. As described above, the mobile robot base of the present invention includes the turret 80, 160, the plurality of motors 1, 2 and 3, 101, 102 and 103, the triple shaft mechanism, and the actuating gear train unit. Therefore, the rotational forces of the plurality of motors 1, 2 and 3, 101, 102 and 103 are transmitted to the plurality of wheels 90, 170 and 170′ through the triple shaft mechanism and the actuating gear train unit, and, simultaneously, endlessly rotates the turret 80, 160. Furthermore, in the mobile robot base of the present invention with the differential gear train unit, only the actuating force of the actuating motor unit is transmitted to the plurality of wheels 90, 170 and 170′ while the turret 80, 160 and the actuating gear train unit are decoupled. Therefore, the mobile robot base of the present invention is applied to any robot bases with turrets, such as synchronous mobile robot bases, differential mobile robot bases and omnidirectional robot bases. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY As described above, the present invention provides a mobile robot base with a decoupled turret mechanism, which has a structure possible to transmit only a rotation of an actuating motor unit to a plurality of wheels through a differential gear train unit, regardless of a rotation of a turret, so that a control algorithm of the actuating motor is simplified. Accordingly, the actuating motor unit is precisely controlled. Furthermore, because the actuating motor unit is independently operated regardless of the rotation of the turret, the mobile robot base of the present invention reduces power consumption. Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>Generally, robots have been used in various places of works of persons that are not safe, impossible or inefficient. In addition, conventional robots have been used in repetitive works, or works that require high-level accuracy to increase productivity and quality of products. The conventional robots have been developed for a variety of fields, such as for research, home use and crime prevention as well as various industrial fields. Therefore, recently, it is required that each of actuating units of the robots is operated within a wider range. Mobile robots are representative examples of the conventional robots. In the conventional mobile robots, a plurality of devices, which really execute desired works, are provided on a turret which is placed on a support frame. By a rotation of the turret on the support frame, directions of the plurality of devices for works are determined. For example, a mobile robot with a turret is disclosed in Korean Patent Registration NO. 322316 which was filed by the inventor of the present invention and has been registered. As shown in FIG. 4 , in the conventional mobile robot disclosed in Korean Patent Registration NO. 322316, a plurality of wheels 206 are provided under a support frame of the robot to move the mobile robot. The plurality of wheels 206 are connected by first and second belts 201 and 202 to each other. The first belt 201 is wound around both a drive motor 204 and the wheels 206 , so that the drive motor 204 rotates the wheels 206 through the first belt 201 to move the mobile robot. Both wheel cases which hold the wheels 206 and a turret shaft 205 are rotated by a steering motor 203 through the second belt 202 to determine a direction of the movement of the mobile robot. At this time, a direction of the turret is equal to the direction of the movement of the mobile robot. However, in the conventional mobile robot disclosed in NO. 322316, to change the direction of the movement of the turret, the robot must be rotated while the second belt 202 is rotated by the operation of the steering motor 203 . The above-mentioned movement of the robot requires excessive power consumption and limits the workspace of the robot. Furthermore, when the turret is rotated at angles higher than a predetermined reference angle, the first and second belts, which connect the plurality of wheels to each other, and a plurality of wires, coupled between the support frame and the turret, may be undesirably entangled to each other. Thus, the conventional mobile robot disclosed in NO. 322316 is problematic in that the turret must be rotated within a limited angular range. In an effort to prevent the plurality of wires of the conventional mobile robot from being undesirably entangled to each other while the turret is rotated, robot bases using slip rings were proposed in Korean Patent registration NO. 299622 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,657,104. The slip rings communicate powers and sensor signals between turrets and support frames, so that the robot bases have structures possible to endlessly rotate the turrets. However, the slip ring used in each of the conventional robot bases proposed in NO. 299622 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,657,104 causes undesired electric noise. Furthermore, it is very difficult to send high currents through the slip rings of the conventional robot bases. In addition, in case of using the slip rings for long periods, the slip rings must be worn. Because the slip rings are expensive, the conventional robot bases using the slip rings are problematic in that the production costs of the robot bases are increased. In the meantime, a robot base having a structure possible to endlessly rotate a turret without any entanglement of wires is proposed in Korean Patent Application NO. 2002-0025612 which was filed by the inventor of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5 , the robot base disclosed in NO. 2002-0025612 includes a turret 308 and an electric part. The electric part is provided above the turret 308 and has a turret motor 301 , a drive motor 303 and a steering motor 302 . The robot base further includes a turret gear train 304 through which the turret 308 is rotated by an operation of the turret motor 301 , and a drive gear train 306 through which wheels 307 , provided under a support frame 309 , are driven by an operation of the drive motor 303 . The robot base further includes a steering gear train 305 to determine a direction of a movement of the robot base during an operation of the steering motor 302 . The turret gear train 304 , the drive gear train 306 and the steering gear train 305 are arranged to form a triple shaft mechanism in that a drive shaft 311 of the drive gear train 306 is provided around a steering shaft 310 of the steering gear train 305 . A turret rotating shaft 312 of the turret gear train 304 is provided around the drive shaft 311 . The turret gear train 304 transmits a rotational force generated from the turret motor 301 to the turret 308 . The drive gear train 306 and the steering gear train 305 transmit rotational forces generated from the drive motor 303 and the steering motor 302 to the wheels 307 , respectively. As described above, the conventional robot base disclosed in NO. 2002-0025612 comprising the electric part at an upper portion of the turret 308 and a mechanical part at a lower portion of the turret 308 has a structure possible to endlessly rotate the turret 308 through the triple shaft mechanism. However, in the conventional robot base disclosed in NO. 2002-0025612, the drive motor 303 and the steering motor 302 are rotated along with the turret 308 while the turret 308 is rotated by the operation of the turret motor 301 . At this time, the drive motor 303 and the steering motor 302 are connected to the wheels 307 through the drive gear train 306 and the steering gear train 305 , respectively. To prevent the above-mentioned changes in the locations of the drive motor 303 and the steering motor 302 from undesirably causing movements of the wheels 307 , the drive motor 303 and the steering motor 302 must be appropriately operated in response to the rotation of the turret 308 . Therefore, the conventional robot base disclosed in NO. 2002-0025612 is problematic in that its control algorithm is very complicated, and power consumption is undesirably increased.

<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a view of a synchronous mobile robot base with a decoupled turret mechanism, according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a construction of the synchronous mobile robot base of FIG. 1 ; FIG. 3 is a view of a differential mobile robot base with a decoupled turret mechanism, according to a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a view showing a construction of wheels of a conventional mobile robot base using a belt mechanism; and FIG. 5 is a view of another conventional mobile robot base using a gear mechanism. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"?

20050830

20080212

20060810

59767.0

B62D1102

SCHARICH, MARC A

MOBILE ROBOT WITH 360 DEGREES ENDLESS ROTATION TYPE DECOUPLED TURRET

SMALL

ACCEPTED

B62D

ACCEPTED

Gm-95-containing antitumor effect potentiator, combined antitumor preparation and antitumor agent

An antitumor effect enhancer for enhancing the antitumor effects of an antitumor substance, which comprises a compound represented by the following formula (1): wherein each R independently represents a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group, an aryl group, an allyl group, an aralkyl group, a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an amino group, R′O—, R′(C═O)—, R′(C═O)O—, or R′O(C═O)—, wherein R′ is an alkyl group containing 1 to 5 carbon atoms, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

1. An antitumor effect enhancer, which comprises a compound represented by the following formula (1): wherein each R independently represents a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group, an aryl group, an allyl group, an aralkyl group, a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an amino group, R′O—, R′(C═O)—, R′(C═O)O—, or R′O(C═O)—, wherein R′ is an alkyl group containing 1 to 5 carbon atoms, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 2. The antitumor effect enhancer according to claim 1, wherein the antitumor substance is selected from the group consisting of an alkylating agent, an antimetabolite, an antitumor antibiotic, a microtubule inhibitor, a hormone agent, a platinum complex, a topoisomerase inhibitor, a biologic, and a molecule-targeting therapeutic agent. 3. The antitumor effect enhancer according to claim 1, wherein the antitumor substance is selected from the group consisting of a mustard agent, a nitrosourea compound, a folic acid compound, a pyrimidine compound, a purine compound, an anthracycline compound, vinca alkaloid, taxane, an antiestrogen agent, an LH-RH agonist, a topoisomerase type I inhibitor, a topoisomerase type II inhibitor, interferon, interleukin, a molecule-targeting therapeutic agent, Cisplatin, Carboplatin, and Nedaplatin. 4. The antitumor effect enhancer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is used for treatment of a disease selected from the group consisting of head and/or neck cancer, esophageal cancer, stomach cancer, colon cancer, rectal cancer, liver cancer, gallbladder and/or bile duct cancer, pancreatic cancer, kidney cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, bladder cancer, prostatic cancer, orchioncus, osteosarcoma and/or soft part sarcoma, cervix cancer, skin cancer, encephaloma, malignant lymphoma, and leukemia. 5. A combined antitumor preparation, which uses a compound represented by the following formula (1): wherein each R independently represents a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group, an aryl group, an allyl group, an aralkyl group, a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an amino group, R′O—, R′(C═O)—, R′(C═O)O—, or R′O(C═O)—, wherein R′ is an alkyl group containing 1 to 5 carbon atoms, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in combination with another antitumor substance, for simultaneously, separately, or successively administering the compound represented by the formula (1) and the other antitumor substance. 6. The combined antitumor preparation according to claim 5, wherein the antitumor substance is selected from the group consisting of an alkylating agent, an antimetabolite, an antitumor antibiotic, a microtubule inhibitor, a hormone agent, a platinum complex, a topoisomerase inhibitor, a biologic, and a molecule-targeting therapeutic agent. 7. The combined antitumor preparation according to claim 5, wherein the antitumor substance is selected from the group consisting of a mustard agent, a nitrosourea compound, a folic acid compound, a pyrimidine compound, a purine compound, an anthracycline compound, vinca alkaloid, taxane, an antiestrogen agent, an LH-RH agonist, a topoisomerase type I inhibitor, a topoisomerase type II inhibitor, interferon, interleukin, a molecule-targeting therapeutic agent, Cisplatin, Carboplatin, and Nedaplatin. 8. The combined antitumor preparation according to any one of claims 5 to 7, which is used for treatment of a disease selected from the group consisting of head and/or neck cancer, esophageal cancer, stomach cancer, colon cancer, rectal cancer, liver cancer, gallbladder and/or bile duct cancer, pancreatic cancer, kidney cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, bladder cancer, prostatic cancer, orchioncus, osteosarcoma and/or soft part sarcoma, cervix cancer, skin cancer, encephaloma, malignant lymphoma, and leukemia. 9. An antitumor agent, which uses a compound represented by the following formula (1): wherein each R independently represents a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group, an aryl group, an allyl group, an aralkyl group, a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an amino group, R′O—, R′(C═O)—, R′(C═O)O—, or R′O(C═O)—, wherein R′ is an alkyl group containing 1 to 5 carbon atoms, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in combination with another antitumor substance. 10. The antitumor agent according to claim 9, wherein the antitumor substance is selected from the group consisting of an alkylating agent, an antimetabolite, an antitumor antibiotic, a microtubule inhibitor, a hormone agent, a platinum complex, a topoisomerase inhibitor, a biologic, and a molecule-targeting therapeutic agent. 11. The antitumor agent according to claim 9, wherein the antitumor substance is selected from the group consisting of a mustard agent, a nitrosourea compound, a folic acid compound, a pyrimidine compound, a purine compound, an anthracycline compound, vinca alkaloid, taxane, an antiestrogen agent, an LH-RH agonist, a topoisomerase type I inhibitor, a topoisomerase type II inhibitor, interferon, interleukin, a molecule-targeting therapeutic agent, Cisplatin, Carboplatin, and Nedaplatin. 12. The antitumor agent according to any one of claims 9 to 11, which is used for treatment of a disease selected from the group consisting of head and/or neck cancer, esophageal cancer, stomach cancer, colon cancer, rectal cancer, liver cancer, gallbladder and/or bile duct cancer, pancreatic cancer, kidney cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, bladder cancer, prostatic cancer, orchioncus, osteosarcoma and/or soft part sarcoma, cervix cancer, skin cancer, encephaloma, malignant lymphoma, and leukemia. 13. A telomerase inhibitor, which comprises a compound represented by the following formula (1): wherein each R independently represents a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group, an aryl group, an allyl group, an aralkyl group, a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an amino group, R′O—, R′(C═O)—, R′(C═O)O—, or R′O(C═O)—, wherein R′ is an alkyl group containing 1 to 5 carbon atoms, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and another antitumor substance.

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an antitumor preparation in which two or more compounds having antitumor action are used in combination. More specifically, the present invention relates to an antitumor preparation in which an antitumor compound having multiple oxazole rings and another antitumor substance are used in combination. BACKGROUND ART Tumor cells (cancer cells) have a higher proliferation rate than that of normal cells. When the effect of killing tumor cells is equivalent to or lower than the proliferation rate of the tumor cells, it can only suppress progression of the cancer, and thus it cannot constitute a radical cancer treatment. In addition, each antitumor agent has its own optimal dosage. Even if an antitumor agent is administered at an amount larger than such optimal dosage, the effect of killing tumor cells does not proportionally increase, but in general, the effect increases by only a slight extent. Moreover, when a large amount of antitumor agent is administered, adverse effects such as damage to normal cells appear rather strongly in many cases. Thus, it is hardly anticipated that a great therapeutic effect can be obtained by administration of a single type of antitumor agent in large amounts. Under the aforementioned circumstances, in order to improve antitumor effects and reduce side effects, or in order to prevent tumor cells from obtaining resistance to drugs, multi-drug combination therapy in which two or more types of agents are used in combination is often conducted. In recent years, telomerase has become a focus of attention as a cancer molecule target. Telomerase is not expressed in normal cells except for several tissues, but it is reexpressed at a high frequency in 90% or more of cancer cells. The length of telomerase is closely associated with the aging of cells. Accordingly, it is anticipated that such aging of cancer cells is artificially caused by treating them with a telomerase inhibitor. 40% of the agents that are currently used in clinical sites are compounds derived from nature, such as microbial metabolites. Such compounds derived from nature are still widely used as sources for the development of agents. The present inventors have found that Actinomyces isolated from the soil (the 3533-SV4 strain, belonging to the genus Streptomyces) produces an antitumor compound having multiple oxazole rings (hereinafter referred to as “the GM-95 substance” at times). The inventors have already reported the details thereof (refer to International Publication WO00/24747, for example). The GM-95 substance is the strongest telomerase inhibitor among telomerase inhibitors including synthetic compounds that have been reported to date. The action of the GM-95 substance on several types of cancer cells was analyzed. As a result, it was found that the GM-95 substance induces the aging of cells, which is attended with telomere shorting. In addition, the aged cells had lost their tumorigenicity. These results suggested the possible use of the GM-95 substance as an antitumor agent. However, nothing has been known regarding an antitumor pharmaceutical in which a telomerase inhibitor such as the GM-95 substance and another antitumor substance are used in combination, or regarding the effects obtained from such combined use. (Patent Document 1) International Publication WO00/24747 DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to synergistically enhance antitumor action by the combined use of two or more types of antitumor substances and to provide a combined antitumor agent, the antitumor action of which has been enhanced synergistically. As a result of intensive studies directed towards achieving the aforementioned object, the present inventors have found that when a GM-95 substance or a derivative thereof is used in combination with another antitumor substance, the obtained antitumor activity becomes significantly higher than that obtained when such substances are used singly, thereby completing the present invention. That is to say, the present invention includes the following features. (1) An antitumor effect enhancer, which comprises a compound represented by the following formula (1): wherein each R independently represents a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group, an aryl group, an allyl group, an aralkyl group, a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an amino group, R′O—, R′(C═O)—, R′(C═O)O—, or R′O(C═O)—, wherein R′ is an alkyl group containing 1 to 5 carbon atoms, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. (2) The antitumor effect enhancer according to (1) above, wherein the antitumor substance is selected from the group consisting of an alkylating agent, an antimetabolite, an antitumor antibiotic, a microtubule inhibitor, a hormone agent, a platinum complex, a topoisomerase inhibitor, a biologic, and a molecule-targeting therapeutic agent. (3) The antitumor effect enhancer according to (1) above, wherein the antitumor substance is selected from the group consisting of a mustard agent, a nitrosourea compound, a folic acid compound, a pyrimidine compound, a purine compound, an anthracycline compound, vinca alkaloid, taxane, an antiestrogen agent, an LH-RH agonist, a topoisomerase type I inhibitor, a topoisomerase type II inhibitor, interferon, interleukin, a molecule-targeting therapeutic agent, Cisplatin, Carboplatin, and Nedaplatin. (4) The antitumor effect enhancer according to any one of (1) to (3) above, which is used for treatment of a disease selected from the group consisting of head and/or neck cancer, esophageal cancer, stomach cancer, colon cancer, rectal cancer, liver cancer, gallbladder and/or bile duct cancer, pancreatic cancer, kidney cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, bladder cancer, prostatic cancer, orchioncus, osteosarcoma and/or soft part sarcoma, cervix cancer, skin cancer, encephaloma, malignant lymphoma, and leukemia. (5) A combined antitumor preparation, which uses a compound represented by the following formula (1): wherein each R independently represents a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group, an aryl group, an allyl group, an aralkyl group, a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an amino group, R′O—, R′(C═O)—, R′(C═O)O—, or R′O(C═O)—, wherein R′ is an alkyl group containing 1 to 5 carbon atoms, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in combination with another antitumor substance, for simultaneously, separately, or successively administering the compound represented by the formula (1) and the other antitumor substance. (6) The combined antitumor preparation according to (5) above, wherein the antitumor substance is selected from the group consisting of an alkylating agent, an antimetabolite, an antitumor antibiotic, a microtubule inhibitor, a hormone agent, a platinum complex, a topoisomerase inhibitor, a biologic, and a molecule-targeting therapeutic agent. (7) The combined antitumor preparation according to (5) above, wherein the antitumor substance is selected from the group consisting of a mustard agent, a nitrosourea compound, a folic acid compound, a pyrimidine compound, a purine compound, an anthracycline compound, vinca alkaloid, taxane, an antiestrogen agent, an LH-RH agonist, a topoisomerase type I inhibitor, a topoisomerase type II inhibitor, interferon, interleukin, a molecule-targeting therapeutic agent, Cisplatin, Carboplatin, and Nedaplatin. (8) The combined antitumor preparation according to any one of (5) to (7) above, which is used for treatment of a disease selected from the group consisting of head and/or neck cancer, esophageal cancer, stomach cancer, colon cancer, rectal cancer, liver cancer, gallbladder and/or bile duct cancer, pancreatic cancer, kidney cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, bladder cancer, prostatic cancer, orchioncus, osteosarcoma and/or soft part sarcoma, cervix cancer, skin cancer, encephaloma, malignant lymphoma, and leukemia. (9) An antitumor agent, which uses a compound represented by the following formula (1): wherein each R independently represents a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group, an aryl group, an allyl group, an aralkyl group, a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an amino group, R′O—, R′(C═O)—, R′(C═O)O—, or R′O(C═O)—, wherein R′ is an alkyl group containing 1 to 5 carbon atoms, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in combination with another antitumor substance. (10) The antitumor agent according to (9) above, wherein the antitumor substance is selected from the group consisting of an alkylating agent, an antimetabolite, an antitumor antibiotic, a microtubule inhibitor, a hormone agent, a platinum complex, a topoisomerase inhibitor, a biologic, and a molecule-targeting therapeutic agent. (11) The antitumor agent according to (9) above, wherein the antitumor substance is selected from the group consisting of a mustard agent, a nitrosourea compound, a folic acid compound, a pyrimidine compound, a purine compound, an anthracycline compound, vinca alkaloid, taxane, an antiestrogen agent, an LH-RH agonist, a topoisomerase type I inhibitor, a topoisomerase type II inhibitor, interferon, interleukin, a molecule-targeting therapeutic agent, Cisplatin, Carboplatin, and Nedaplatin. (12) The antitumor agent according to any one of (9) to (11) above, which is used for treatment of a disease selected from the group consisting of head and/or neck cancer, esophageal cancer, stomach cancer, colon cancer, rectal cancer, liver cancer, gallbladder and/or bile duct cancer, pancreatic cancer, kidney cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, bladder cancer, prostatic cancer, orchioncus, osteosarcoma and/or soft part sarcoma, cervix cancer, skin cancer, encephaloma, malignant lymphoma, and leukemia. (13) A telomerase inhibitor, which comprises a compound represented by the following formula (1): wherein each R independently represents a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group, an aryl group, an allyl group, an aralkyl group, a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an amino group, R′O—, R′(C═O)—, R′(C═O)O—, or R′O(C═O)—, wherein R′ is an alkyl group containing 1 to 5 carbon atoms, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and another antitumor substance. A compound used in the present invention is represented by the following formula (1): wherein each R independently represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group containing 1 to 5 carbon atoms, an aryl group, an aralkyl group, a heteroaryl group, a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an amino group, R′O—, R′(C═O)—, R′(C═O)O—, or R′O(C═O)—, wherein R′ is an alkyl group containing 1 to 5 carbon atoms. The term “alkyl group containing 1 to 5 carbon atoms” is used in the present specification to mean lower alkyl such as a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, an isopropyl group, an n-butyl group, a sec-butyl group, a tert-butyl group, or an isobutyl group. More specifically, the following groups are exemplified as substituent R. Examples of an aryl group may include a phenyl group and a naphthyl group. An example of an aralkyl group may be a benzyl group. Examples of a heteroaryl group may include: nitrogen-containing aromatic groups such as an imidazolyl group or a pyridinyl group; sulfur-containing aromatic groups such as thiophene or thiazole; and oxygen-containing aromatic groups such as furan or oxazole. Examples of a halogen atom may include a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, and an iodine atom. Examples of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound represented by formula (1) may include acid-added salts including inorganic acid salts such as hydrochloride, sulfate, or phosphate, and organic acid salts such as acetate, maleate, fumarate, tartrate, citrate, or lactate. Hereinafter, the compound represented by formula (1) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof may be referred to as “Telomestatin” at times in the present specification. A compound wherein, in the above formula (1), all the Rs are hydrogen atoms is called the “GM-95 substance” or “Telomestatin (TMS).” The physicochemical properties of the GM-95 substance are described below. 1) Molecular formula: The measurement value (M+H) was 583.0790 in the measurement by high-resolution fast atomic bombardment mass spectrometry. The molecular formula corresponding to this measurement value is C26H15N8O7S. 2) Molecular weight: The molecular weight was 582.0712 in the measurement by fast atomic bombardment mass spectrometry. 3) Melting point: 138° C. to 143° C. (decomposition) 4) Specific rotation: The specific rotation was measured at a concentration of C=0.129 g/100 ml (methanol) in methanol. [α]D20=−9.38° 5) Ultraviolet absorption spectrum: as shown in FIG. 1 The measurement was carried out in methanol (7.39 μM solution). The maximum absorption was obtained at 259.5 nm, and the absorbance was 0.288 at that time. The molar absorption coefficient (ε) was 38982. 6) Infrared absorption spectrum (FT-IR): as shown in FIG. 2 νmax (cm−1): 3421, 3147, 2958, 2923, 2854, 1733, 1670, 1650, 1544, 1496, 1438, 1392, 1351, 1315, 1267, 1199, 1174, 1118, 1087, 1058, 1033, 975, 943, 929, 914, 883, 798 7) Solubility in solvents: The GM-95 substance is insoluble in water and acetone. It is soluble in a mixture consisting of chloroform and methanol (1:1). 8) Color of the substance: White yellowish powders 9) Nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum The chemical shift of the 500 MHz 1H-NMR spectrum (shown in FIG. 3) and that of the 125 MHz 13C-NMR spectrum (shown in FIG. 4), which were measured at 25° C. in a solution consisting of heavy chloroform and heavy methanol (1:1), are shown below. TABLE 1 (1) Carbon position 13C-NMR 1H-NMR 1 162.5 2 150.5 3 125.1 4 155.4 5 149.6 6 126.0 7 157.3 8 137.8 8.17 (s, 1H) 9 130.4 10 156.8 11 138.8 8.24 (s, 1H) 12 130.7 13 156.2 14 141.2. 8.00 (s, 1H) 15 136.7 16 156.6 17 139.4 8.28 (s, 1H) 18 130.9 19 156.6 20 138.1 8.18 (s, 1H) 21 130.4 22 160.0 23 38.7 3.8 (m, 1H), 3.46 (m, 1H) 24 73.2 6.19 (br s, 1H) 25 11.5 2.47 (s, 3H) 26 11.5 2.64 (s, 3H) 10) Retention time (Rt) in high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) A peak was detected at 6.1 minutes under the following analytical conditions. Column: PEGASIL ODS (inside diameter 4.6 mm×250 mm, manufactured by Senshu Scientific Co., Ltd.). Mobile phase: acetonitrile/trifluoroacetic acid/water (70:0.1:30 V/VN) Flow rate: 1 ml/min. Detection: 254 nm The GM-95 substance can be produced by culturing a strain having ability to produce the above substance (hereinafter referred to as “GM-95 substance-producing strain”) under the following suitable conditions, for example. Examples of such a GM-95 substance-producing strain may include strains belonging to the genus Streptomyces. Examples of such a strain belonging to the genus Streptomyces may include the Streptomyces anulatus 3533-SV4 strain and a mutant strain thereof. The Streptomyces anulatus 3533-SV4 strain is a strain belonging to the genus Streptomyces, which the present inventors have newly isolated from the soil at Tensui-machi, Tamana-gun, Kumamoto prefecture. This strain was deposited with the National Institute of Bioscience and Human-Technology, Agency of Industrial Science and Technology, at Higashi 1-1-3, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan (the current National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, an Independent Administrative Institution under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry), as indication of microorganism (indication made by the depositor for identification): Streptomyces anulatus 3533-SV4 (GM95), under accession No. FERM BP-6460, on Aug. 12, 1998. Identification of Streptomyces anulatus 3533-SV4 and determination of the mycological properties thereof were carried out in accordance with the method of ISP (International Streptomyces Project). The Streptomyces anulatus 3533-SV4 strain has the following mycological properties. a) Form The present strain was cultured on mediums of ISP No. 2, 3, 4, and 5, at 27° C. for 14 days. The results are shown below. 1) Ramification in sporogenesis: Simple ramification 2) Form of sporogenesis: Spiral, the form of spores is tubular 3) Number of spores: 10 to 50 or more 4) Surface structure of spore: Smooth 5) Size of spore: 0.3 to 0.5×0.7 to 1.0 μm 6) Presence or absence of flagellar spores: Non 7) Presence or absence of sporangia: Non 8) Position to which sporophore adheres: Aerial hypha 9) Presence or absence of sclerotium formation: Non B) Growing Conditions on Various Types of Mediums The Growing conditions of the present strain on various types of mediums are shown in Table 2. In the table, the color tones of mediums are expressed in accordance with “The Color Harmony Manual (1958)” published by Container Corporation of America. Table 2 TABLE 2 Color tone of Color tone of Diffusible Medium aerial hypha substrate hypha pigment Sucrose- Yellow line White yellow Non nitrate agar Glucose- Yellow line White yellowish Non asparagine agar brown/bright yellow Glycerin- Yellow line White yellow Non asparagine agar Inorganic salt- Yellow line Bright yellowish Non starch agar brown/white yellowish brown Tyrosine agar Yellow line Bright yellowish White brown brown Nutrient agar Yellow line White yellow Non Yeast-malt agar Yellow line White yellowish Non brown Oatmeal agar Yellow line White yellow/ Non bright yellowish brown c) Physiological Properties 1) Growth temperature range: 20° C. to 32° C.; Optimal temperature: 20° C. to 30° C. 2) Liquefaction of gelatin: + 3) Hydrolysis of starch: + 4) Coagulation or peptonization of dried skim milk: + 5) Generation of melanin-like pigments Tyrosine agar medium: − Peptone-yeast iron agar medium: − Tryptone-yeast-broth medium: + 6) Reduction of nitrate: + 7) Assimilation of carbon source (Pridham-Gottlieb agar medium (ISP No. 9)) L-arabinose +; D-xylose +; D-glucose +; D-fructose +; sucrose +; inositol +; L-rhamnose +; raffinose +; D-mannite + d) Composition of Strain The acid hydrolysate of the entire strain was analyzed by the thin-layer chromatography described in “Hosenkin no dotei jikken ho-6-2-70, 1985 (Methods for identification of Actinomycetes-6-2-70, 1985)” edited by the Society for Actinomycetes Japan. As a result, LL-diaminopimelic acid was detected. The substrate hypha of the present strain does not branch off. The aerial hypha thereof forms a long main axis. A 4- to 9-times-rotated spiral spore chain consisting of 10 to 50 or more spores is formed at the tip of a branch that is irregularly branched from the main axis. Such a spore is nonmotile and has a cylindrical or elliptic form. It has a width between 0.3 and 0.5 μm and a length between 0.7 and 1.0 μm. Its surface is smooth. No particular items such as sclerotium or sporangium are observed. The chemotype of the cell wall is type (1). Culture properties thereof are shown in Table 2. The color tone of aerial hypha is a yellow line. The color tone of substrate hypha is unclear, and it does not change depending on pH. No diffusible pigments are observed in the strain as a whole. Physiological properties thereof are described in c) above. The present strain is mesophilic. Taking into consideration the morphological properties of the present strain and the chemotype of the cell wall thereof, the present strain is considered to belong to the genus Streptomyces (hereinafter abbreviated as “S.”). Based on the aforementioned properties, the species belonging to the genus S. described in “Approval list of nomenclature of bacteria, 1980” and the following valid name lists have been searched, so as to select related species. When the diagnostic properties of S. spheroides are compared with those of the present strain, it is found that the properties of the present strain are very similar to those of S. spheroides, but that they are different in terms of only assimilation of carbon source. Accordingly, the present strain is a new strain that is the most similar to S. spheroides. However, Williams et al. have described in Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology, Vol. 4 that S. spheroides is a synonym of S. anulatus. Accordingly, the present 3533-SV4 strain is identified as a strain included in S. anulatus, and it is referred to as the Streptomyces anulatus 3533-SV4 strain. A comparison between the present strain and the related species is shown below. Table 3 TABLE 3 The present strain 3533- Streptomyces SV4 spheroids Spore chain form Spiral + + Spore surface Smooth + + Color tone of aerial hypha Yellow + + Color tone of substrate hypha Unclear + + pH sensitivity − − Diffusible pigment generation − − Melanin pigment generation − − Starch hydrolysis + + Nitrate reduction + + Growth temperature 10° C. − − 45° C. − − Carbon assimilation Arabinose + − Xylose + + Inositol + − Mannitol + + Rhamnose + + Raffinose + − Sucrose + + Fructose + + The GM-95 substance can be produced, for example, by culturing various types of GM-95 substance-producing strains belonging to the genus Streptomyces, such as the aforementioned 3533-SV4 strain or a mutant strain thereof having the aforementioned mycological properties, in a suitable medium, and then separating a crude extract containing the substance of the present invention from the culture solution, followed by isolation and purification of the GM-95 substance from the obtained crude extract. The culture solution contains a culture filtrate and strain solids. In principle, the culture of the aforementioned microorganisms is carried out in accordance with a common culture of microorganisms. In general, such culture is preferably carried out under aerobic conditions according to the shaking culture method involving liquid culture or the aeration-agitation culture method. Any type of medium can be used for the culture, as long as it contains a source of nutrient that can be used by GM-95 substance-producing strains. Various types of synthetic mediums and natural mediums can be used. Examples of a carbon source for medium may include glucose, sucrose, fructose, glycerin, dextrin, starch, molasses, corn steep liquor, and organic acid. These carbon sources can be used singly or in combination with two or more types. Examples of a nitrogen source may include: organic nitrogen sources such as pharma media, peptone, meat extract, yeast extract, soy flour, casein, amino acid, or urea; and inorganic nitrogen sources such as sodium nitrate or ammonium sulfate. These nitrogen sources can be used singly or in combination with two or more types. In addition, sodium salts, potassium salts, magnesium salts, phosphate, other heavy metal salts, or the like, are appropriately added to the medium, as necessary. When significant foaming is observed during the culture, antifoaming agents including vegetable oils such as soybean oil or linseed oil, higher alcohols such as octadecanol, tetradecanol, or heptadecanol, or various types of silicon compounds may appropriately be added to the medium. The pH of the medium is preferably around neutral. The culture temperature may be maintained at a temperature at which the GM-95 substance-producing strains grow favorably. Thus, the culture temperature is maintained generally between 20° C. and 32° C., and particularly preferably between 25° C. and 30° C. The culture time is preferably approximately between 2 and 6 days in both cases of liquid shaking culture and aeration-agitation culture. The aforementioned various culture conditions can appropriately be changed depending on the type of microorganisms used, the properties thereof, external conditions, and so on. In addition, the optimal culture conditions can appropriately be selected from the aforementioned range and adjusted, depending on the aforementioned conditions. A crude extract containing the GM-95 substance can be separated from the culture solution according to a common method of collecting fermented products. For example, common means such as solvent extraction, chromatography, or crystallization can be used singly or in combination with two or more types in any given order. More specifically, the following method can be used. That is to say, since the GM-95 substance produced by the aforementioned culture mainly exists in a culture filtrate and strain solids, the culture solution is first subjected to filtration, centrifugation, or the like, according to common methods, so as to separate the strain solids from the culture filtrate. Thereafter, the GM-95 substance is eluted from the obtained strain solids containing the GM-95 substance, using solvents such as methanol or acetone. Subsequently, the solvent is distilled away under a reduced pressure, so as to obtain a crude concentrate containing the GM-95 substance. An organic solvent that does not mix with water, such as ethyl acetate, chloroform, or butanol, was added to the crude concentrate, so as to dissolve the GM-95 substance in the organic solvent layer. Thereafter, salt cake was added to the obtained solvent layer and dehydrated. The solvent is then distilled away under a reduced pressure, so as to obtain a crude extract containing the GM-95 substance. In the case of a culture filtrate also, the same above operation to dissolve the GM-95 substance in an organic solvent layer is carried out, so as to obtain a crude extract. Moreover, by adjusting pH by addition of sodium hydroxide or hydrochloric acid, or by adding industrial salts to the reaction product, extraction efficiency can be increased, or generation of emulsion can be prevented, as necessary. Furthermore, in order to isolate and purify the GM-95 substance from a crude extract, common means for isolating and purifying fat-soluble low molecular weight substances can be applied. Examples of such means may include: various types of adsorption chromatography using adsorbents such as activated carbon, silica gel, alumina, or macroporous nonionic adsorption resin; and reverse phase chromatography using ODS bonded silica gel or the like. Of these, silica gel chromatography using, as an elution solvent, chloroform, or a mixed solvent consisting of chloroform/ethyl acetate, chloroform/methanol, chloroform/acetone, benzene/acetone, or the like, and reverse phase chromatography using a mixed solvent consisting of acetonitrile or methanol/0.05% trifluoroacetic acid or 10 mM monopotassium phosphate for elution, are particularly preferable. In addition, when further purification is required, the aforementioned chromatography is carried out repeatedly, or column chromatography using Sephadex LH-20 (manufactured by Pharmacia), in which chloroform or methanol is used as an elution solvent, is appropriately performed in combination of the aforementioned chromatography, so as to obtain a high-purity GM-95 substance. In order to confirm the presence of the GM-95 substance during the purification process, a detection method involving thin-layer chromatography may be applied in combination with a detection method involving high performance liquid chromatography. Moreover, applying a known chemical synthesis technique or the like, other Telomestatins (for example, a compound wherein, in formula (1), each R represents a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group, an aryl group, an allyl group, an aralkyl group, a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an amino group, R′O—, R′(C═O)—, R′(C═O)O—, or R′O(C═O)—, wherein R′ is an alkyl group containing 1 to 5 carbon atoms) can easily be obtained from the aforementioned GM-95 substance. It has been found that Telomestatin used in the present invention has extremely strong telomerase inhibitory activity. Such Telomestatin is useful as an antitumor agent having a wide spectrum regarding inhibition of the activity of the above enzyme. For example, according to a common method, the GM-95 substance was subjected to a telomerase inhibitory activity test, in which a cell extract containing telomerase was used. The concentration necessary for inhibiting 50% of telomerase activity in the cell extract (IC50) was obtained. As a result, IC50 was found to be 50 nM. Telomerase hardly exists in normal cells, but it exists in a wide range of malignant tumors. (Telomerase was observed in 85% or more of all the malignant tumors including tumor cell lines found in the skin, breast, lung, stomach, pancreas, ovary, neck, uterus, kidney, bladder, colon, prostate, central nerve system (CNS), retina, and blood.) As a result of the studies of the present inventors, it was found that when such Telomestatin is used in combination with another antitumor substance, the obtained antitumor activity becomes significantly higher than that obtained when such substances are used singly. That is to say, when such Telomestatin represented by formula (1) is used in combination with another antitumor substance, it becomes useful for synergistically enhancing their antitumor effects. The antitumor effect enhancer of the present invention containing Telomestatin can be administered, before or after administration of another antitumor substance, or simultaneously. When the above enhancer and another antitumor substance are simultaneously administered, a mixed preparation comprising another antitumor substance as well as the antitumor effect enhancer of the present invention may be produced, for example. Moreover, Telomestatin represented by formula (1) may also be administered in the form of a combined antitumor preparation or a combined agent used together with an antitumor agent, which uses Telomestatins represented by formula (1) and another antitumor substance in combination. The term “combined agent” is used in the present specification to mean not only a homogeneous mixture consisting of the Telomestatin represented by formula (1) and another antitumor substance, but also a combined use of each independent preparations for administration of the Telomestatin represented by formula (1) and another antitumor substance, simultaneously, separately, or successively (use and/or administration). Accordingly, the combined antitumor preparation and antitumor agent of the present invention may be used, either in the form of a homogeneously mixed preparation consisting of Telomestatin and another antitumor substance, or in the form of a combined preparation, in which each different preparations have been prepared in order to be administered separately. The type of another antitumor substance that can be used in the present invention is not particularly limited, and any type of substance can be used as long as it generally has antitumor activity. Antitumor substances are classified into various types, depending on chemical structure, action mechanism, origin, or the like. They are broadly classified into alkylating agent-type compounds, antimetabolite-type compounds, plant alkaloid-type compounds, antitumor antibiotic-type compounds, platinum complex-type compounds, hormone agent-type compounds, and antitumor compounds other than the aforementioned compounds. Specific examples may include the below-mentioned compounds and salts thereof (acid-added salts such as hydrochloride or sulfate, or metal salts such as alkali metal salts). Examples of an alkylating agent-type antitumor compound may include Cyclophosphamide, Ifosfamide, Melphalan, Busulfan, and Carboquone. Examples of an antimetabolite-type antitumor compound may include a folate metabolism antagonist, a purine metabolism antagonist, and a pyrimidine metabolism antagonist. More specific examples may include 6-Mercaptopurine, Methotrexate, 5-Fluorouracil, Tegafur, Enocitabine, and Cytarabine. Examples of a microtubule inhibitor-type antitumor compound may include vinca alkaloids, podophyllins, and taxanes. More specific examples may include Vincristine, Vindesine, and Vinblastine. Examples of an antibiotic-type antitumor compound may include Actinomycin D, Daunorubicin, Bleomycin, Peplomycin, Mitomycin C, Aclarubicin, Neocarzinostatin, Doxorubicin, and Epirubicin. Examples of a platinum complex-type antitumor compound may include Cisplatin, Carboplatin, and Nedaplatin. Examples of a topoisomerase inhibitor may include a topoisomerase type I inhibitor, a topoisomerase type II inhibitor, Irinotecan, Nogitecan, Etoposide, and Daunorubicin. Examples of antitumor substances other than those as described above may include Nimustine, L-Asparaginase, Procarbazine, a hormone agent, a biologic, a molecule-targeting therapeutic agent, a mustard agent, a nitrosourea compound, an anthracycline compound, vinca alkaloid, an antiestrogen agent, an LH-RH agonist, interferon, and interleukin. In the present invention, platinum complex-type antitumor compounds, topoisomerase inhibitors, and antibiotic-type antitumor compounds are preferable as antitumor substances that are used in combination with the compound represented by formula (1). Of these, an anthracycline antitumor compound, a topoisomerase type I inhibitor, a topoisomerase type II inhibitor, and a platinum complex-type antitumor compound are particularly preferable. The weight ratio between the compound represented by formula (1) and another antitumor substance depends on the type of the antitumor substance used in combination, or the symptoms of a patient. It is generally between 1:1 and 1:100, and preferably between 1:1 and 1:10. As a pharmaceutical dosage form of the preparation of the present invention such as an antitumor effect enhancer, a combined antitumor preparation, or an antitumor agent, various types of pharmacological dosage forms can be adopted depending on purpose. Examples of such a dosage form may include: oral agents such as a tablet, a capsule, a powder, a granule, a parvule, a solution, a pill, or an emulsion; and parenteral agents such as an injection, a suppository, an ointment, a plaster, an adhesive preparation, an aerosol, and an eye drop. The preparation of the present invention can be processed into these dosage forms by production methods that have been well known to persons skilled in the art. When an oral solid preparation is produced, an excipient, and as necessary, a binder, a disintegrator, a lubricant, a coloring agent, a flavoring agent, a corrective, or the like are added to an active ingredient (that is, Telomestatin and/or the aforementioned another antitumor substance), and thereafter, a tablet, a capsule, a powder, a granule, a parvule, or the like can be produced from the obtained mixture according to common methods. Examples of an excipient used herein may include lactose, sucrose, starch, talc, magnesium stearate, crystalline cellulose, methylcellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, glycerin, sodium alginate, and gum Arabic. Examples of a binder used herein may include polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl ether, ethylcellulose, gum Arabic, shellac, and saccharose. Examples of a disintegrator used herein may include dried starch, sodium alginate, agar powder, sodium bicarbonate, calcium carbonate, sodium lauryl sulfate, monoglyceride stearate, and lactose. Examples of a lubricant used herein may include magnesium stearate and talc. Examples of a flavoring agent may include saccharose, orange peel, citric acid, and tartaric acid. As other coloring agents or correctives, generally known products can be used. In addition, a tablet can be coated with a common coating agent according to known methods, as necessary. Examples of such a coated tablet may include a sugar-coated tablet, a gelatin-coated tablet, an enteric coated tablet, a film-coated tablet, a double-coated tablet, and a multiple layer tablet. When an oral liquid preparation is produced, a flavoring agent, a buffer, a stabilizer, a corrective, or the like is added to an active ingredient, and thereafter, an oral liquid medicine, a syrup, an elixir, or the like can be produced from the obtained mixture. In this case, the aforementioned products can be used as flavoring agents. Sodium citrate or the like can be used as a buffer, and Tragacanth, gum Arabic, gelatin, or the like can be used as a stabilizer. When an injection is produced, a diluent, a pH adjuster, a buffer, a stabilizer, an isotonizing agent, a local anesthetic, or the like is added to an active ingredient, and thereafter, intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, intracutaneous, and intraperitoneal injections can be produced according to common methods. Examples of a diluent used herein may include water, ethyl alcohol, macrogol, propylene glycol, ethoxylated isostearyl alcohol, polyoxylated isostearyl alcohol, and polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters. Examples of a pH adjuster and a buffer that can be used herein may include sodium citrate, sodium acetate, and sodium phosphate. Examples of a stabilizer used herein may include sodium pyrosulfite, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, thioglycolic acid, and thiolactic acid. Examples of an isotonizing agent used herein may include sodium chloride and glucose. Examples of a local anesthetic used herein may include procaine hydrochloride and lidocaine hydrochloride. When a suppository is produced, a base material, and as necessary, a surfactant or the like, are added to an active ingredient, and thereafter, a suppository can be produced from the obtained mixture according to a common method. Examples of a base material used herein may include oil base materials such as macrogol, lanolin, cocoa butter, triglyceride-fatty acid, or Witepsol (manufactured by Dynamite Nobels). When an ointment is produced, a commonly used base material, stabilizer, wetting agent, preservative, or the like are mixed with an active ingredient, as necessary, and these materials are blended according to a common method, so as to obtain a product. Examples of a base material used herein may include liquid paraffin, white petrolatum, white beeswax, octyldodecyl alcohol, and paraffin. Examples of a preservative used herein may include methyl parahydroxybenzoate, ethyl parahydroxybenzoate, and propyl parahydroxybenzoate. When an adhesive preparation is produced, an active ingredient as well as the aforementioned ointment, cream, gel, paste, or the like may be applied to a common supporting medium according to a common method. Examples of a supporting medium used herein may include woven fabrics or nonwoven fabrics consisting of cotton, staple fibers, or chemical fibers, and films or a foam sheets that are made from soft vinyl chloride, polyethylene, polyurethane, or the like. Furthermore, each of the aforementioned pharmaceutical preparations may comprise a coloring agent, a preservative, a perfume, a flavor, a sweetening agent, or the like, as necessary. The amount of an active ingredient (that is, Telomestatin and/or the aforementioned another antitumor substance) contained in the preparation of the present invention is not particularly limited, and it is appropriately selected from a wide range. However, in general, such an active ingredient may be contained in such a preparation at a weight ratio between 1% and 70% by weight. The administration method of the thus obtained preparation of the present invention is not particularly limited. It is appropriately determined depending on the forms of various types of preparations, the age, sex, or the like of a patient, the degree of the symptoms, and so. on. For example, when a pharmaceutical preparation is administered in the form of an injection, it can be administered via intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, intracutaneous, or intraperitoneal administration route. Such an injection may be mixed with a common complement fluid such as glucose or amino acid, and the mixed solution may be then administered intravenously. When the antitumor agent of the present invention has a solid form such as a tablet, a pill, a granule, or a capsule, or a liquid form for oral administration, it can be administered orally or enterally. A suppository can be administered into the rectum. The amount of an active ingredient to be mixed into each of the above dosage forms can appropriately be determined depending on the symptoms of a patient to which the active ingredient is to be applied, or the dosage form. In general, in the case of an oral agent, the amount of an active ingredient is preferably approximately between 1 and 1,000 mg. In the case of an injection, it is preferably approximately between 0.1 and 500 mg, and in the case of a suppository, it is preferably approximately between 5 and 1,000 mg. Moreover, the dosage per day of an agent having each of the above dosage forms is appropriately selected depending on the symptoms, body weight, age, or the like of a patient. The dosage of the agent per adult per day is generally approximately between 0.1 and 1,000 mg/kg, and preferably approximately between 1 and 100 mg/kg. Such dosage can be applied once or divided over 2 to 4 administrations per day. The type of a tumor that can be treated by administration of the preparation of the present invention is not particularly limited. Examples of such a tumor may include: malignant solid tumors such as head and/or neck cancer, esophageal cancer, stomach cancer, colon cancer, rectal cancer, liver cancer, gallbladder and/or bile duct cancer, pancreatic cancer, kidney cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, bladder cancer, prostatic cancer, orchioncus, osteosarcoma and/or soft part sarcoma, cervix cancer, skin cancer, or encephaloma; malignant lymphoma; and leukemia. Preferred examples are malignant solid tumors. This specification includes part or all of the contents as disclosed in the specification and/or drawings of Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-057632, which is a priority document of the present application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows an ultraviolet absorption spectrum of the GM-95 substance; FIG. 2 shows an infrared absorption spectrum of the GM-95 substance; FIG. 3 shows a 500 MHz 1H-NMR spectrum of the GM-95 substance; FIG. 4 shows a 125 MHz 13C-NMR spectrum of the GM-95 substance; FIG. 5 shows a growth curve (PDL) of MCF-7 cells and that of HT-29 cells, which were measured in Example 3; FIG. 6 includes graphs showing the results obtained by measuring the number of surviving cells according to the MTT method, after MCF-7 cells were cultured for 48 hours in the presence of the GM-95 substance and Etoposide or Cisplatin; FIG. 7 includes graphs showing the results obtained by measuring the number of surviving cells according to the MTT method, after MCF-7 cells were cultured for 72 hours in the presence of the GM-95 substance and Etoposide or Cisplatin; FIG. 8 includes graphs showing the results obtained by measuring the number of surviving cells according to the MTT method, after HT-29 cells were cultured for 24 hours in the presence of the GM-95 substance and Etoposide, Cisplatin, Camptothecin, or Adriamycin; FIG. 9 includes graphs showing the results obtained by measuring the number of surviving cells, after SKOV-3 cells were cultured for 24 hours in the presence of the GM-95 substance and Etoposide or Cisplatin; FIG. 10 includes graphs showing the results obtained by measuring the number of surviving cells, after SKOV-3 cells were cultured for 24 hours in the presence of the GM-95 substance and Camptothecin or Adriamycin; FIG. 11 includes graphs showing the results obtained by measuring the number of surviving cells, after SKOV-3 cells were cultured for 48 hours in the presence of the GM-95 substance and Etoposide or Cisplatin; FIG. 12 includes graphs showing the results obtained by measuring the number of surviving cells, after SKOV-3 cells were cultured for 48 hours in the presence of the GM-95 substance and Camptothecin or Adriamycin; FIG. 13 includes graphs showing the results obtained by measuring the number of surviving cells, after HT1080 cells were cultured for 24 hours in the presence of the GM-95 substance and Etoposide or Cisplatin; FIG. 14 includes graphs showing the results obtained by measuring the number of surviving cells, after HT1080 cells were cultured for 24 hours in the presence of the GM-95 substance and Adriamycin; FIG. 15 is a graph showing the measurement results of apoptosis induction into K562 cells by the combined use of the GM-95 substance and Imanitib; FIG. 16 is a graph showing the measurement results of apoptosis induction into K562 cells by the combined use of the GM-95 substance and Daunorubicin (DNR); FIG. 17 is a graph showing the measurement results of apoptosis induction into K562 cells by the combined use of the GM-95 substance and Mitoxantrone (MIT); FIG. 18 is a graph showing the measurement results of apoptosis induction into K562 cells by the combined use of the GM-95 substance and Vincristine (VCR); FIG. 19 includes graphs showing the results of Example 5(A); FIG. 20 includes graphs showing the results of Example 5(B); FIG. 21 includes graphs showing the results of Example 5(C); and FIG. 22 includes graphs showing the results of Example 6(D). BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be more specifically described below in the following examples. However, these examples are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. EXAMPLE 1 Production of GM-95 Substance (a) Culture Process 15 ml of a medium (pre-culture medium; pH 7.2) consisting of 1.0% soluble starch, 1.0% polypeptone, 1.0% molasses, and 1.0% beef extract was added to a test tube (50 ml), and it was then sterilized. After completion of the sterilization, a Streptomyces anulatus 3533-SV4 strain (FERM BP-6460) was inoculated into the medium at an amount of an inoculating loop, and the obtained mixture was subjected to shaking culture at 27° C. for 2 days on a reciprocal shaker. Subsequently, 100 ml each of a medium (production medium; pH 7.2) consisting of 2.0% glycerin, 1.0% molasses, 0.5% casein, 0.1% polypeptone, and 0.4% calcium carbonate was dispensed into a 500-ml Erlenmeyer flask, and it was then sterilized (121° C., 15 minutes). Thereafter, the above strain was added to the sterilized medium at a ratio of 2% (v/v). The obtained mixture was subjected to rotary shaking culture at 27° C. for 3 days (220 rotations/min.; amplitude: 7 cm). Subsequently, 30,000 ml each of the above medium was dispensed into three 50-L jar fermenters (Marubishi Physical and Chemical Research Institute). Thereafter, 15 ml of an antifoaming agent (Disfoam (CC-118); NOF Corporation), 15 ml of Shinetsu silicon (KM-68-2F; Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.), and 15 ml of salad oil (Ajinomoto Co., Inc.) were added thereto, and the obtained mixture was then sterilized (120° C., 20 minutes). The aforementioned strain was added to the resultant product at a ratio of 2% (v/v), and the obtained mixture was cultured at 27° C. for 3 days (aeration-agitation: 400 rpm (agitation); 30 L/min. (aeration)). (b) Separation Process 84.0 L of the culture solution obtained by the aforementioned procedures was collected, and cultured cells were then separated therefrom by centrifugation. The supernatant was discarded, and the cultured cells were extracted with 10.0 L of acetone for 2 hours, while being agitated sometimes. The extract was filtrated, and the filtrate was separated by repeatedly performing extraction with 5.0 L of acetone. Acetone extracts were gathered, and the gathered extract was concentrated to a final volume of 2 L by distillation. The solvent was distilled away under a reduced pressure, until acetone and water completely disappeared. The obtained oily residue was dissolved in 450 ml of methanol, and the solution was then filtrated. The obtained filtrate was evaporated to dryness under a reduced pressure. (c) Isolation and Purification Process The obtained oily residue was dissolved in 400 ml of a mixed solvent consisting of chloroform and methanol (20:1) (v/v). The obtained solution was subjected to a silica gel column (Wagogel C-200 (grain diameter: 75 to 150 μm), inside diameter: 6 cm×45 cm), and it was then eluted with 5 L of the same above chloroform-methanol mixed solvent. Fractions containing active substances were eluted with chloroform:methanol (10:1 v/v). Such fractions containing active substances were gathered, followed by evaporation to dryness under a reduced pressure. Subsequently, the roughly purified product was subjected to a silica gel column (grain diameter: 75 to 150 μm; inside diameter: 3.6 cm×30 cm), and it was then eluted with a mixed solvent consisting of chloroform, methanol, and 29% aqueous ammonia solution (700:100:1 v/v/v). An eluant containing active substances was collected and then evaporated to dryness. The residue was dissolved in 10 ml of the aforementioned mobile phase, and the obtained solution was subjected to high performance liquid chromatography using a PEGASIL ODS column (Senshu Scientific Co., Ltd.; inside diameter: 20 mm×250 mm) (a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile, trifluoroacetic acid, and water (70:0.1:30 v/v/v); flow rate: 10.0 ml/min.; 254 nm (detection with 0.5 mm UV cell)). 0.8 ml of the extract was injected per once. Fractions containing the GM-95 substance were collected and then evaporated to dryness under a reduced pressure. The residue was suspended in a 10% aqueous methanol solution, and the suspension was then subjected to a PEGASIL ODS column (Senshu Scientific Co., Ltd.; inside diameter: 1.0 cm×3 cm). It was washed with a 10% aqueous methanol solution, and then eluted with a 70% aqueous methanol solution. The obtained eluant was distilled away under a reduced pressure, so as to obtain 3.2 mg of the GM-95 substance. Detection of a fraction containing the GM-95 substance was carried out at each stage of purification by high performance liquid chromatography using a PEGASIL ODS column (Senshu Scientific Co., Ltd.; inside diameter: 4.6 mm×250 mm) (a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile, trifluoroacetic acid, and water (70:0.1:30 v/v/v/); flow rate: 1.0 ml/min.). The physicochemical properties of the GM-95 substance are described below. 1) Molecular formula: The measurement value (M+H) was 583.0790 in the measurement by high-resolution fast atomic bombardoment mass spectrometry. The molecular formula corresponding to this measurement value is C26H15N8O7S. 2) Molecular weight: The molecular weight was 582.0712 in the measurement by fast atomic bombardoment mass spectrometry. 3) Melting point: 138° C. to 143° C. (decomposition) 4) Specific rotation: The specific rotation was measured at a concentration of C=0.129 g/100 ml (methanol) in methanol. [α]D20=−9.38° 5) Ultraviolet absorption spectrum: as shown in FIG. 1 The measurement was carried out in methanol (7.39 μM solution). The maximum absorption was obtained at 259.5 nm, and the absorbance was 0.288 at that time. The molar absorption coefficient (ε) was 38982. 6) Infrared absorption spectrum (FT-IR): as shown in FIG. 2 νmax (cm−1): 3421, 3147, 2958, 2923, 2854, 1733, 1670, 1650, 1544, 1496, 1438, 1392, 1351, 1315, 1267, 1199, 1174, 1118, 1087, 1058, 1033, 975, 943, 929, 914, 883, 798 7) Solubility in solvents: The GM-95 substance is insoluble in water and acetone. It is soluble in a mixture consisting of chloroform and methanol (1:1). 8) Color of the substance: White yellowish powders 9) Nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum The chemical shift of the 500 MHz 1H-NMR spectrum (shown in FIG. 3) and that of the 125 MHz 13C-NMR spectrum (shown in FIG. 4), which were measured at 25° C. in a solution consisting of heavy chloroform and heavy methanol (1:1), are shown below. Table 4 TABLE 4 Carbon position 13C-NMR 1H-NMR 1 162.5 2 150.5 3 125.1 4 155.4 5 149.6 6 126.0 7 157.3 8 137.8 8.17(s, 1H) 9 130.4 10 156.8 11 138.8 8.24(s, 1H) 12 130.7 13 156.2 14 141.2 8.00(s, 1H) 15 136.7 16 156.6 17 139.4 8.28(s, 1H) 18 130.9 19 156.6 20 138.1 8.18(s, 1H) 21 130.4 22 160.0 23 38.7 3.8(m, 1H), 3.46(m, 1H) 24 73.2 6.19(br s, 1H) 25 11.5 2.47(s, 3H) 26 11.5 2.64(s, 3H) 10) Retention time (RT) in high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) A peak was detected at 6.1 minutes under the following analytical conditions. Column: PEGASIL ODS (inside diameter 4.6 mm×250 mm, manufactured by Senshu Scientific Co. Ltd.). Mobile phase: acetonitrile/trifluoroacetic acid/water (70:0.1:30 V/V/V) Flow rate: 1 ml/min. Detection: 254 nm Based in the above-described physicochemical data, the GM-95 substance was identified as having the following chemical structure. EXAMPLE 2 Pharmacological Test (Antitumor Actions of GM-95 Substance and 5-Fluorouracil) The tumor cells described in Table 5 were suspended in 10% fetal bovine serum-added RPMI1640 medium, and the medium containing the cells were then inoculated into a culture plate (38 mm) at a concentration of 2×103 cells. Thereafter, the cells were cultured overnight in a CO2 incubator under conditions consisting of 37° C. and 15% CO2. Thereafter, test agents (GM-95 substance and 5-fluorouracil) that had been diluted to various concentrations were added to the 10% fetal bovine serum-added RPMI1640 medium, and the obtained mixtures were further cultured for 72 hours. After completion of the culture, the cells were fixed with 25% glutaraldehyde for 15 minutes, and they were then washed with water 3 times. Subsequently, the cells were stained with 0.05% crystal violet that had been diluted with a 20% aqueous methanol solution, and they were then washed with water 3 times and then dried. The crystal violet was extracted with 100 μl of 0.05 M sodium dihydrogen phosphate/ethanol (1/1 (v/v)), and the absorbance at 540 nm was measured with an automatic spectroscope. IC50 was defined as a concentration necessary for reducing 50% of the absorbance of a control. The results are shown below. Table 5 TABLE 5 Concentration necessary for inhibiting 50% of growth of various types of tumor cells (IC50 μM) Cell strain (Origin) GM-95 5-Fluorouracil OVCAR-3 (Human ovarian cancer) 3.41 0.37 PC-3 (Human prostatic cancer) 8.82 5.7 SKOV-3 (Human ovarian cancer) 3.73 7.84 MCF-7 ((Human breast cancer) 7.73 1.12 ZR75-1 (Human breast cancer) 4.04 3.63 PAN-3 (Human pancreatic cancer) 7.09 8.82 KM12C-SM (Human colon cancer) 3.74 1.32 A375SM (Human melanoma) 7.04 2.89 TMK-1 (Human stomach cancer) 3.75 0.33 HT-29 (Human colon cancer) 7.1 2.1 DLD-1 (Human colon cancer) 6.2 5.5 Renca (Mouse kidney cancer) 0.97 0.58 The compound of the present invention was able to inhibit the growth of various types of tumor cells in vitro. EXAMPLE 3 Effects of Combined Use of GM-95 Substance (Telomestatin) and Another Antitumor Substance Antitumor Substances As antitumor substances that were used in combination with the GM-95 substance, Etoposide (ETP; manufactured by Bristol-Myers Squibb), Cisplatin (cDDP; manufactured by Bristol-Myers Squibb), Adriamycin (ADM; manufactured by SIGMA), and Camptothecin (CTP; manufactured by SIGMA) were used. Tumor Cells As tumor cells, MCF-7 cells (breast cancer; ATCC HTB-22), SKOV-3 cells (ovarian cancer), HT-29 cells (colon cancer), and HT1080 cells (sarcoma; ATCC CRL-12012) were used. Each type of cells had been furnished from Tsuruo Laboratory, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, the University of Tokyo. MCF-7 cells were cultured in a medium formed by adding 10% FCS, 200,000 U/L penicillin, and 100 mg/L streptomycin to a DMEM medium (manufactured by SIGMA). SKOV-3 cells, HT1080 cells, and HT-29 cells were cultured in a medium formed by adding 10% FCS, 200,000 U/L penicillin, and 100 mg/L streptomycin to an RPMI1640 medium (manufactured by SIGMA). Long-Term Culture of Tumor Cells in the Presence of GM-95 Substance and Another Antitumor Substance The aforementioned cells were prepared to a concentration of 5×104 cells/ml. They were then added to a 12-well plate or a 6-well plate (both of which are manufactured by Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd.) in amounts of 500 μl and 1 ml, respectively. The GM-95 substance was added to the above cells to final concentrations of 2.0 μM, 1.0 μM, and 0.5 μM, and they were then cultured until they became confluent. When the cells were subjected to subculture, the number of cells in each treated group was counted, and the growth curves (PDL) were prepared (FIG. 5). Since each type of cells has different sensitivity to the GM-95 substance, the cells were recovered every week, the length of a telomere was measured, and the effects obtained by the combined use of the GM-95 substance with another antitumor substance were studied. In order to examine the effects of such combined use, the treated cells were prepared to a concentration of 5×104 cells/ml, and 100 μl each of the cells was dispersed in a 96-well plate (manufactured by Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd.), followed by incubation for 12 to 15 hours. Thereafter, an antitumor agent comprising the GM-95 substance and each of the aforementioned antitumor substances was added to the cells. A change in the number of surviving cells over time was monitored every 24 hours. Every 24 hours, surviving cells were quantified according to the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) method. The MTT method was carried out as follows. MTT (manufactured by SIGMA) was adjusted to be 5 g/100 ml by addition of PBS. Thereafter, 10 μl each of MTT was added to each well. The generated formazan was observed with a speculum, and when a sufficient amount of formazan was generated, the medium was aspirated. 100 μl of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was added to each well, and the mixture was then stirred, followed by colorimetry. Such colorimetry was carried out by measuring the absorbance at 570 nm using ARVO SX (manufactured by Perkin Elmer). The results regarding the effects of the combined use of the GM-95 substance with each of the aforementioned antitumor substances are shown in FIGS. 6 to 14. In the figures, “TMS” represents the GM-95 substance (Telomestatin), and “control” indicates a control substance. EXAMPLE 4 Apoptosis Induction into K562 Cells by Combined Use of GM-95 Substance with Another Antitumor Substance K562 cells (available from ATCC (Rockville, Md.)) were cultured for 10 days in the presence of 2 μM Telomestatin (GM-95 substance). Subsequently, the Telomestatin-treated K562 cells were incubated for 72 hours together with Imanitib, Daunorubicin (DNR), Mitoxantrone (MIT), or Vincristine (VCR). The expression of apoptosis was measured by flow cytometric analysis using an FITC conjugate APO 2.7 monoclonal antibody (which is generated to a mitochondrial membrane protein (7A6 antigen) and is expressed in cells wherein apoptosis takes place). The results are shown in FIGS. 15 to 18. In the figures, the terms “control,” “TMS,” “Imanitib,” “DNR,” “MIT,” and “VCR” represent a control substance, the GM-95 substance (Telomestatin), Imanitib, Daunorubicin, Mitoxantrone, and Vincristine, respectively. Imanitib, Daunorubicin, Mitoxantrone, and Vincristine are antitumor substances, the action mechanisms of which are different from one another. As is clear from the results shown in FIGS. 15 to 18, it is found that when Telomestatin is used in combination of each of these antitumor substances, both substances act synergistically, so that their effects of inducing apoptosis in tumor cells are significantly improved. EXAMPLE 5 Effects of Combined Use of GM-95 Substance with Another Antitumor Substance (HT1080 Cells) Tumor cells were cultured under the conditions described below using the GM-95 substance and another antitumor substance in the same manner as in Example 3. After a certain period of time had passed, the survival rate of the tumor cells was measured. Antitumor Substances The following antitumor substances were used in combination with the GM-95 substance: Doxorubicin hydrochloride (DDP) (Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd., No. 040-21521); 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) (Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd., No. 064-01403); Cis-diammine-dichloro platinum (III) (CTP) (Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd., No. 047-22511); and Etoposide phosphate (ETP) (Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd., No. 058-06341). Tumor Cells HT1080 cells were used as tumor cells. In the following experiments, the tumor cells were cultured in a medium formed by adding 10% FBS to RPMI1640 (SIGMA, R8758) using a CO2 incubator (temperature: 37° C.; humidity: 100%; CO2 concentration: 5%). Experimental Methods HT1080 cells were cultured under conditions described in the following (A) to (C). After completion of the culture, the survival rate of the tumor cells was measured by the MTT method. (A): 0.5 μM GM-95 substance and each of the aforementioned antitumor substances with a certain concentration were simultaneously added to the HT1080 cells, and the tumor cells were then cultured for 2 days. After completion of the culture, the survival rate of the tumor cells was measured. (B): The tumor cells were previously cultured for 7 days together with 0.5 μM or 1 μM GM-95 substance. Thereafter, each of the aforementioned antitumor substances with a certain concentration was added to the cells in the absence of the GM-95 substance, followed by culture for 2 days. After completion of the culture, the survival rate of the tumor cells was measured. (C): The tumor cells were previously cultured for 7 or 14 days together with 0.5 μM or 1 μM GM-95 substance. Thereafter, each of the aforementioned antitumor substances with a certain concentration was added to the cells in the presence of the GM-95 substance, followed by culture for 2 days. After completion of the culture, the survival rate of the tumor cells was measured. (It is to be noted that the survival rate of the tumor cell group that had been cultured for 14 days in the presence of 1 μM GM-95 substance could not be measured because the number of surviving cells was very small.) Results The results of the aforementioned experiments (A) to (C) are shown in FIGS. 19 to 21, respectively. As shown in FIGS. 19 to 21, it is found that the antitumor action is enhanced by the combined use of the GM-95 substance with another antitumor substance (in both cases of the simultaneous combined use and the successive combined use). In particular, as in the case of (B) and (C), when the tumor cells had previously been treated with the GM-95 substance (0.5 μM or 1 μM) for 7 or 14 days, the effects obtained by the combined use of the GM-95 substance with various types of antitumor substances was significant either in the presence or absence of the GM-95 substance. In addition, even though the concentration of the antitumor substance used in combination with the GM-95 substance was extremely low, excellent effects were exhibited by such combined use (FIGS. 20 and 21). In FIGS. 19 to 21, ∘ represents the results obtained when the aforementioned antitumor substance was used singly. EXAMPLE 6 Effects of Combined Use of Gm-95 Substance with Another Antitumor Substance (MCF-7 Cells) Tumor cells were cultured under the conditions described below using the GM-95 substance and another antitumor substance in the same manner as in Example 5. After a certain period of time had passed, the survival rate of the tumor cells was measured. Antitumor Substances The following antitumor substances were used in combination with the GM-95 substance: Doxorubicin hydrochloride (DDP) (Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd., No. 040-21521); 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) (Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd., No. 064-01403); Cis-diammine-dichloro platinum (III) (CTP) (Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd., No. 047-22511); and Etoposide phosphate (ETP) (Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd., No. 058-06341). Tumor Cells MCF-7 cells were used as tumor cells. In the following experiments, the tumor cells were cultured in a medium formed by adding 10% FBS to DMEM (SIGMA, D6046) using a CO2 incubator (temperature: 37° C.; humidity: 100%; CO2 concentration: 5%). Experimental Methods MCF-7 cells were cultured under conditions described in the following (D) and (E). After completion of the culture, the survival rate of the tumor cells was measured by the MTT method. (D): The tumor cells were previously cultured for 7 days together with 1 μM or 2 μM GM-95 substance. Thereafter, each of the aforementioned antitumor substances with a certain concentration was added to the cells in the absence of the GM-95 substance, followed by culture for 2 days. After completion of the culture, the survival rate of the tumor cells was measured. (E): The tumor cells were previously cultured for 14 days together with 1 μM or 2 μM GM-95 substance. Thereafter, each of the aforementioned antitumor substances with a certain concentration was added to the cells in the absence of the GM-95 substance, followed by culture for 2 days. After completion of the culture, the survival rate of the tumor cells was measured. Results The results of the aforementioned experiments (D) and (E) are shown in FIG. 22. As shown in FIG. 22, in the case of MCF-7 cells also, it was shown that the antitumor action is enhanced, when the tumor cells were treated with the GM-95 substance (1 μM or 2 μM) for 7 or 14 days and the aforementioned antitumor substance is then used for the cells in the presence or absence of the GM-95 substance. In FIG. 22, ∘ represents the results obtained when the aforementioned antitumor substance was used singly. PREPARATION EXAMPLE 1 Injection An injection can be prepared at the following mixing ratio according to a common method: GM-95 substance 5 mg Cisplatin 5 mg Distilled water used for injection 5 ml All publications, patents and patent applications cited herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The combined preparation of the present invention using GM-95 (Telomestatin) is particularly useful as an antitumor agent. In the antitumor effect enhancer, combined antitumor preparation, or antitumor agent of the present invention, by using the GM-95 substance in combination with another antitumor substance, the antitumor effects of the above antitumor substance is enhanced, or both their antitumor effects act synergistically. Thus, the obtained antitumor activity becomes significantly higher than that obtained when such substances are used singly. In addition, it becomes also possible to administer the agent at a low dosage, and thus it is excellent in terms of safety.

<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>Tumor cells (cancer cells) have a higher proliferation rate than that of normal cells. When the effect of killing tumor cells is equivalent to or lower than the proliferation rate of the tumor cells, it can only suppress progression of the cancer, and thus it cannot constitute a radical cancer treatment. In addition, each antitumor agent has its own optimal dosage. Even if an antitumor agent is administered at an amount larger than such optimal dosage, the effect of killing tumor cells does not proportionally increase, but in general, the effect increases by only a slight extent. Moreover, when a large amount of antitumor agent is administered, adverse effects such as damage to normal cells appear rather strongly in many cases. Thus, it is hardly anticipated that a great therapeutic effect can be obtained by administration of a single type of antitumor agent in large amounts. Under the aforementioned circumstances, in order to improve antitumor effects and reduce side effects, or in order to prevent tumor cells from obtaining resistance to drugs, multi-drug combination therapy in which two or more types of agents are used in combination is often conducted. In recent years, telomerase has become a focus of attention as a cancer molecule target. Telomerase is not expressed in normal cells except for several tissues, but it is reexpressed at a high frequency in 90% or more of cancer cells. The length of telomerase is closely associated with the aging of cells. Accordingly, it is anticipated that such aging of cancer cells is artificially caused by treating them with a telomerase inhibitor. 40% of the agents that are currently used in clinical sites are compounds derived from nature, such as microbial metabolites. Such compounds derived from nature are still widely used as sources for the development of agents. The present inventors have found that Actinomyces isolated from the soil (the 3533-SV4 strain, belonging to the genus Streptomyces ) produces an antitumor compound having multiple oxazole rings (hereinafter referred to as “the GM-95 substance” at times). The inventors have already reported the details thereof (refer to International Publication WO00/24747, for example). The GM-95 substance is the strongest telomerase inhibitor among telomerase inhibitors including synthetic compounds that have been reported to date. The action of the GM-95 substance on several types of cancer cells was analyzed. As a result, it was found that the GM-95 substance induces the aging of cells, which is attended with telomere shorting. In addition, the aged cells had lost their tumorigenicity. These results suggested the possible use of the GM-95 substance as an antitumor agent. However, nothing has been known regarding an antitumor pharmaceutical in which a telomerase inhibitor such as the GM-95 substance and another antitumor substance are used in combination, or regarding the effects obtained from such combined use. (Patent Document 1) International Publication WO00/24747

<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>FIG. 1 shows an ultraviolet absorption spectrum of the GM-95 substance; FIG. 2 shows an infrared absorption spectrum of the GM-95 substance; FIG. 3 shows a 500 MHz 1 H-NMR spectrum of the GM-95 substance; FIG. 4 shows a 125 MHz 13 C-NMR spectrum of the GM-95 substance; FIG. 5 shows a growth curve (PDL) of MCF-7 cells and that of HT-29 cells, which were measured in Example 3; FIG. 6 includes graphs showing the results obtained by measuring the number of surviving cells according to the MTT method, after MCF-7 cells were cultured for 48 hours in the presence of the GM-95 substance and Etoposide or Cisplatin; FIG. 7 includes graphs showing the results obtained by measuring the number of surviving cells according to the MTT method, after MCF-7 cells were cultured for 72 hours in the presence of the GM-95 substance and Etoposide or Cisplatin; FIG. 8 includes graphs showing the results obtained by measuring the number of surviving cells according to the MTT method, after HT-29 cells were cultured for 24 hours in the presence of the GM-95 substance and Etoposide, Cisplatin, Camptothecin, or Adriamycin; FIG. 9 includes graphs showing the results obtained by measuring the number of surviving cells, after SKOV-3 cells were cultured for 24 hours in the presence of the GM-95 substance and Etoposide or Cisplatin; FIG. 10 includes graphs showing the results obtained by measuring the number of surviving cells, after SKOV-3 cells were cultured for 24 hours in the presence of the GM-95 substance and Camptothecin or Adriamycin; FIG. 11 includes graphs showing the results obtained by measuring the number of surviving cells, after SKOV-3 cells were cultured for 48 hours in the presence of the GM-95 substance and Etoposide or Cisplatin; FIG. 12 includes graphs showing the results obtained by measuring the number of surviving cells, after SKOV-3 cells were cultured for 48 hours in the presence of the GM-95 substance and Camptothecin or Adriamycin; FIG. 13 includes graphs showing the results obtained by measuring the number of surviving cells, after HT1080 cells were cultured for 24 hours in the presence of the GM-95 substance and Etoposide or Cisplatin; FIG. 14 includes graphs showing the results obtained by measuring the number of surviving cells, after HT1080 cells were cultured for 24 hours in the presence of the GM-95 substance and Adriamycin; FIG. 15 is a graph showing the measurement results of apoptosis induction into K562 cells by the combined use of the GM-95 substance and Imanitib; FIG. 16 is a graph showing the measurement results of apoptosis induction into K562 cells by the combined use of the GM-95 substance and Daunorubicin (DNR); FIG. 17 is a graph showing the measurement results of apoptosis induction into K562 cells by the combined use of the GM-95 substance and Mitoxantrone (MIT); FIG. 18 is a graph showing the measurement results of apoptosis induction into K562 cells by the combined use of the GM-95 substance and Vincristine (VCR); FIG. 19 includes graphs showing the results of Example 5(A); FIG. 20 includes graphs showing the results of Example 5(B); FIG. 21 includes graphs showing the results of Example 5(C); and FIG. 22 includes graphs showing the results of Example 6(D). detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"?

20050901

20081230

20060727

93547.0

A61K3143

MURRAY, JEFFREY H

GM-95-CONTAINING ANTITUMOR EFFECT POTENTIATOR, COMBINED ANTITUMOR PREPARATION AND ANTITUMOR AGENT

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

A61K

ACCEPTED

Pistol with a firing pin safety and an ejector

A pistol with a firing pin includes a firing pin safety provided in the breech part. To afford a firing pin safety that is as simple and operationally safe as possible, a resilient tongue attached on an external side face of the breech part is provided, which resilient tongue forms a hook extending into the interior of the breech part, which hook comes to lie in front of a shoulder provided on the striker when the latter is in its cocked position, and the resilient tongue has a downwardly projecting web which cooperates with the trigger arm. The resilient tongue is integrally formed with an ejector spring.

1. A pistol with a shiftable breech part that contains a spring-actuated striker, with a lug cooperating with a trigger arm, a firing pin safety provided in the breech part acting upon said striker, comprising: a resilient tongue attached on an external side face of the breech part is provided as the firing pin safety, which resilient tongue forms a hook extending into the interior of the breech part, which hook comes to lie in front of a shoulder provided on the striker when the latter is in its cocked position, and in that the resilient tongue has a downwardly projecting web which cooperates with the trigger arm. 2. A pistol according to claim 1, wherein the trigger arm has a finger which cooperates with the coulisse of the web when the trigger arm moves in longitudinal direction. 3. A pistol according to claim 1, wherein the resilient tongue is a metal sheet member which consists of a foot portion fastened to the breech part, and a spring portion projecting forwardly from the latter in shooting direction, whose end forms the hook and whose web is in the vicinity of the hook, and in that on the striker, the lug is rearwardly arranged and the shoulder for the engagement of the hook is arranged in front thereof. 4. A pistol according to claim 3, wherein the trigger arm is a metal sheet member which, on its forward end, is connected to the trigger lever and then extends approximately horizontally reardwardly, and which, on its rear end, forms the element which cooperates with the lug of the striker, the coulisse that cooperates with the web being arranged in front thereof. 5. A pistol according to claim 3, wherein the resilient tongue is integrally formed with an ejector spring which acts on an ejector claw that is formed as a two-armed lever. 6. A pistol according to claim 5, wherein the ejector spring and the resilient tongue share the foot portion of the resilient tongue, and the ejector spring is provided above the resilient tongue.

The invention relates to a pistol having a longitudinally displaceable breech part containing a spring-actuated striker, with a lug cooperating with a trigger arm, firing pin safety provided in the breech part acting upon said striker, i.e. a pistol with firing pin firing, as opposed to pistols with hammer firing. Besides their traditional safety which acts on the trigger mechanism, pistols also must have a firing pin safety which, for effectively increasing the safety, possibly should act at the final part of the chain of movement. In prior art pistols, for this purpose a spring-actuated rotating part is inserted in the slide, or in the breech part, respectively, which, for releasing the firing pin .from the trigger arm, is pushed into an upper position by means of a vertically moved intermediate element. What is disadvantageous is that the rotating part must be guided in the slide with narrow tolerance, which makes production more expensive, that the rotating part cannot act on a large area of the firing pin (little coverage), and that it has an unfavorable effect on the construction height of the slide. From DE 197 02 374, a firing pin safety using a resilient tongue which cooperates with a shoulder of the striker is known. However, since this is a pistol with hammer firing, it is not comparable. First of all, the striker spring acts in the direction opposite to the firing pin spring of a pistol with striker firing. The resilient tongue does not cooperate with the trigger arm, and it engages on the rear end of the striker. Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a firing pin safety that is as simple, inexpensive, and operationally safe as possible for a pistol with firing pin firing, i.e. which has few and inexpensive parts that are easy to produce, and a large coverage for increasing the safety thereof. According to the invention, this is achieved in that a resilient tongue attached on an external side face of the breech part is provided as the firing pin safety, which resilient tongue forms a hook extending into the interior of the breech part, which hook comes to lie in front of a shoulder provided on the striker when the latter is in its cocked position, and in that the resilient tongue has a downwardly projecting web which cooperates with the trigger arm. The resilient tongue is a simple member which is easy to mount from the outside, wherein no high requirements must be met with regard to tolerances. This member is a spring which in fact is fixedly connected to the breech part, thereby not requiring a tolerance-relevant guide. This also saves construction space which is beneficial to the dimensioning of the slide. Moreover, both the hook and the shoulder on the striker can be designed comparatively wide, resulting in a large coverage and, thus, a secure hold in the safe position. As a further development of the invention, the trigger arm has a coulisse for cooperating with the web, which coulisse—when the trigger arm is moved in longitudinal direction—imparts a horizontal movement to the web and, thus, to the resilient tongue. Thus, the actuation of the firing pin safety is effected without a kinematic intermediate member. The coulisse on the firing arm and the lateral movement of the web allow for generous tolerances, thereby making the production considerably less expensive. In a preferred embodiment, the resilient tongue is is a metal sheet member consisting of a foot portion fastened to the breech part, and a spring portion forwardly projecting therefrom in shooting direction, whose end forms the hook and whose web is in the vicinity of the hook, and on the striker, the lug is rearwardly arranged and the shoulder for engagement of the hook is arranged in front thereof. Thus, the resilient tongue can quite easily be produced as a punched member made of spring plate (that is, without requiring reworking by machine-finishing). This arrangement allows for a particularly favorable mode of construction of the entire pistol and also has functional advantages. First of all, the safety acts on the very front on the striker, i.e. in fact at the end of the chain of movement. By the fact that the web and the coulisse are arranged as far forwardly as the hook, the middle part of the resilient tongue can be restricted to its function as a bending spring; it is not subject to any other loads. In a further development of the invention, also the trigger arm is a metal sheet member which, at its front end, is connected to the trigger lever and then extends approximately horizontally reardwardly, and which, at its rear end, forms the element which cooperates with the lug of the striker, the coulisse which cooperates with the web being located in front thereof. Thus, the trigger arm requires very little construction space, and the coulisse remains unaffected by the mostly also vertical movement of the rear end of the trigger arm that cooperates with the lug of the striker. The invention also allows for a particularly attractive further development. It consists in that the resilient tongue is integrally formed with an ejector spring that acts on an ejector claw designed as a two-armed lever. The advantage which is achieved by uniting two construction elements into one is quite obvious. Add thereto that this not only does not entail any disadvantages, but that the inventive advantages benefit both elements. In a particularly smart realization, the ejector spring and the resilient tongue share the foot portion of the resilient tongue, and the ejector spring is formed above the resilient tongue. Thus, the combined spring is a completely simple punched member, so-to-speak one foot with two movable toes. In the following, the invention will be described and explained by way of illustrations of a preferred exemplary embodiment of a pistol according to the invention. Therein, FIG. 1 is a side view in a first position, FIG. 2 is a horizontal section according to AB, FIG. 3 is a horizontal section according to CD, FIG. 4 is an axonometric view regarding FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is a side view in a second position, FIG. 6 is a horizontal section according to AB′ of FIG. 5. In FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the pistol body 1 with slide 2 are merely schematically shown and therefore shown in broken lines. In the slide 2, there is a barrel 3 and a breech part 4 which is fixedly connected to the slide 2, such as by means of pins not illustrated, one of which passes through a bore 5 of the breech part 4. A round ready for firing is denoted by 6. A trigger 7 acts on a lug 10 of a striker 9 via a trigger arm 8, said striker being braced by a pressure spring not illustrated within the interior of the breech part 4, said pressure spring acting in shooting direction. Locking and guiding of the barrel and further features are not described as they are not essential to the invention. The breech part 4 is approximately parallelepiped-shaped, having an upwardly open inner space 13 in which the striker 9 which also is approximately parallelepiped-shaped is located with its lug 10 that protrudes downwards from the breech part 4. The most forward part of the striker 9 is the firing pin 14 proper which acts on the round 6 through a bore in the front face 15. At the front of the striker where it merges into the firing pin 14, a shoulder 16 extending over the entire height of the striker 9 is provided. This shoulder 16 is engaged by the firing pin safety. It is formed by a spring tongue 20 which consists of a foot portion 21 externally fastened to the breech part 4, a spring portion 22, a downwardly projecting web 24 and a hook portion 23, the latter projecting into the inner space 13 through a lateral opening in front of the shoulder 16 of the striker 9. The foot portion 21 is located very far rearwardly on the breech part 4, the hook portion 23 and the web 24 are located far forwardly. The spring portion 22 is therebetween. As a whole, the spring tongue 20 is a punched member made of spring plate material. The web 24 forms a coulisse 28 of ramp shape seen in horizontal section; in its front region, the trigger arm 8 has an upwardly projecting finger 29. The trigger arm may be a punched member made of metal sheet. In the position illustrated in FIG. 1, the trigger is just being pulled, the trigger edge 30 is just releasing the lug 10 of the striker 9, the finger 29 is starting to cooperate with the coulisse 28, it is pushing aside the web 24 and, together therewith, the hook portion 23 of the spring tongue 20, and the hook portion 23 is releasing the shoulder 16. The striker 9 can be rapidly driven forwards by the force of the pressure spring not illustrated. In FIG. 2, and partly also in FIG. 4, the ejector claw 35 which is pivotable about an axis 36 is visible. It is a two-armed lever whose first arm, the head part 37, acts inwardly on the round 6, and whose second arm, the tail part 38, therefore must be pressed outwards by an ejector spring 40. The ejector spring 40 also is a punched member made of spring plate and shares the foot portion 21 with the resilient tongue 20. In other words, and visible in FIG. 4: the two springs 20 and 40 are one single punched member. From its foot portion 21 screwed or otherwise fastened to the breech part 4, two resilient fingers extend forwardly: at the bottom, the resilient tongue 20 which acts inwards with its hook portion, and thereabove the ejection spring 40 which acts outwards and on the tail portion 38 of the ejector claw. In FIGS. 5 and 6, the released firing pin is just about to impinge on the round 6 and to trigger the shot thereby. Subsequently, the breech part 4 will move back with the slide 2. The finger 29 of the trigger arm 8 is entirely ridden on the coulisse 28, and the web 24 has been pressed outwards. Thus, also the hook portion 23 has been completely retracted into the opening 25, and the shoulder 16 of the striker 9 is clear.

20050901

20080520

20061130

59333.0

F41A1500

KLEIN, GABRIEL J

PISTOL WITH A FIRING PIN SAFETY AND AN EJECTOR

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

F41A

ACCEPTED

Method for thermal stabilization of highly concentrated formaldehyde solutions

Method of stabilizing high-concentration formaldehyde solutions having a CH2O content of >70% by weight against precipitation of solids, which comprises heating the high-concentration formaldehyde solution at a heating rate of at least 5° C./min to a temperature of from 80° C. to 200° C. immediately after it has been prepared and storing it at a temperature in this range.

1-10. (canceled) 11. A method of stabilizing high-concentration formaldehyde solutions having a CH2O content of >70% by weight against precipitation of solids, which comprises heating the high-concentration formaldehyde solution at a heating rate of at least 5° C./min to a temperature of from 100° C. to 200° C. immediately after it has been prepared and storing it at a temperature in this range. 12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the heating rate is at least 10° C./min. 13. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the solution is heated to not more than 150° C. 14. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the pH of the high-concentration formaldehyde solution is from 1 to 10. 15. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the pH of the high-concentration formaldehyde solution is from 2 to 9. 16. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the pH of the high-concentration formaldehyde solution is from 3 to 6. 17. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the high-concentration formaldehyde solution is obtained from a formaldehyde solution having a lower concentration in a film evaporator. 18. A high-concentration formaldehyde solution having a CH2O content of >70% by weight and a temperature of from 100° C. to 200° C., obtainable by the method as claimed in claim 11. 19. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the solution is heated to not more than 150° C. 20. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the pH of the high-concentration formaldehyde solution is from 3 to 6. 21. A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the high-concentration formaldehyde solution is obtained from a formaldehyde solution having a lower concentration in a film evaporator.

The present invention relates to a method of stabilizing high-concentration formaldehyde solutions against precipitation of solids. Formaldehyde is an important industrial chemical and is used to produce numerous industrial products and consumer articles. Over 50 branches of industry at present make use of formaldehyde, essentially in the form of aqueous solutions or formaldehyde-containing synthetic resins. Commercially available aqueous formaldehyde solutions have total concentrations of from 20 to 55% by weight of formaldehyde in the form of monomeric formaldehyde, methylene glycol and oligomeric polyoxymethylene glycols. Water, monomeric (free) formaldehyde, methylene glycol and oligomeric polyoxymethylene glycols having various chain lengths are present together in aqueous solutions in a thermodynamic equilibrium which is characterized by a particular distribution of polyoxymethylene glycols of differing lengths. The term “aqueous formaldehyde solution” also refers to formaldehyde solutions in which virtually no free water is present and water is present essentially only in chemically bound form as methylene glycol or in the terminal OH groups of the polyoxymethylene glycols. This is particularly true of concentrated formaldehyde solutions. Polyoxymethylene glycols can have, for example, from 2 to 9 oxymethylene units. Thus, dioxymethylene glycol, trioxymethylene glycol, tetraoxymethylene glycol, pentaoxymethylene glycol, hexaoxymethylene glycol, heptaoxymethylene glycol, octaoxymethylene glycol and nonaoxymethylene glycol can be present together in aqueous formaldehyde solutions. The distribution is concentration-dependent. Thus, the maximum of the distribution in dilute formaldehyde solutions corresponds to homologues having a short chain length, while in more concentrated formaldehyde solutions it corresponds to homologues having a greater chain length. A shift in the equilibrium toward longer-chain (higher molecular weight) polyoxymethylene glycols can be brought about by removal of water, for example by distillation with a superimposed condensation reaction in a film evaporator. The establishment of equilibrium in this case occurs at a finite rate by intermolecular condensation of methylene glycol and low molecular weight polyoxymethylene glycols with elimination of water to form higher molecular weight polyoxymethylene glycols. However, the high-concentration formaldehyde solutions obtained by removal of water are unstable in the sense that precipitation of solids occurs after a certain time. The precipitated solids are essentially the above-described longer-chain formaldehyde oligomers or polyoxymethylene glycols. Stabilization of the high-concentration formaldehyde solutions so as to prevent precipitation of solids can be achieved by addition of stabilizers, for example methanol. However, the presence of stabilizers is frequently undesirable in the further use of the high-concentration formaldehyde solutions. It is known that moderately concentrated formaldehyde solutions having CH2O contents of up to about 50% by weight can be mixed with about 0.2-2% by weight of methanol as stabilizer and be stored at about 55° C. to avoid precipitation of solids. More highly concentrated formaldehyde solutions having a CH2O content of >70% by weight, for example about 80% by weight, initially consist of a single phase after their preparation at low temperatures of about 20-50° C. However, precipitation of solids occurs after a certain time. The cause appears to be the slow growth of the polyoxymethylene glycol chains in the formaldehyde solution until the solubility limit is exceeded. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of stabilizing high-concentration formaldehyde solutions against precipitation of solids. We have found that this object is achieved by a method of stabilizing high-concentration formaldehyde solutions having a CH2O content of >70% by weight against precipitation of solids, which comprises heating the high-concentration formaldehyde solution at a heating rate of at least 5° C./min to a temperature of from 80° C. to 200° C. immediately after it has been prepared and storing it at a temperature in this range. Although it is known that the solubility of formaldehyde increases in water at higher temperatures, heating such high-concentration formaldehyde solutions for the purpose of stabilization has hitherto been ruled out. This is because of the prevailing opinion that the rate of the condensation reaction and thus the rate of growth of the polyoxymethylene glycols increases at higher temperatures and premature precipitation of solids will occur as a result. It is therefore especially surprising that high-concentration formaldehyde solutions can nevertheless be thermally stabilized. The high-concentration formaldehyde solution is heated at a heating rate of at least 5° C./min to a temperature of from 80° C. to 200° C. immediately after it has been prepared and is stored at a temperature in this range. When a temperature of at least 80° C. has been reached, heating can be continued at a lower heating rate or else the formaldehyde solution can be left at the temperature reached. It can also be cooled from a higher temperature which has been reached to a lower temperature, as long as the temperature does not drop below 80° C. for a prolonged period. Furthermore, it is important that a temperature of 200° C. is not significantly exceeded. This is because degradation reactions can occur in the high-concentration formaldehyde solution, for example by means of Cannizzaro disproportionation or decomposition to CO and H2, at higher temperatures. “Immediately after it has been prepared” means that the high-concentration formaldehyde solution obtained at, for example, from 20 to 60° C. is heated at the specified heating rate after not more than 60 minutes, preferably after not more than 5 minutes. The concentration of the formaldehyde solution can be >70% by weight, >75% by weight or even >80% by weight, of CH2O. Formaldehyde solutions of this concentration can be obtained by any methods, but they are preferably obtained by distillation. Particular preference is given to using processes as described in EP-A 1 063 221 and in the German patent application DE 101 54 187.2, which is not a prior publication. The heating rate is preferably at least 10° C./min. A heating rate of at least 10° C./min is preferred particularly when the pH of the solution is less than 3 or greater than 6. The solution is preferably heated at the specified heating rate to at least 90° C., particularly preferably at least 100° C., and the temperature subsequently does not go below this value. The final temperature is preferably not more than 150° C., particularly preferably not more than 135° C. The pH of the high-concentration formaldehyde solution is usually in the range from 1 to 10, preferably from 2 to 9, particularly preferably from 3 to 6. The pH can be brought into the desired range by addition of buffer substances, for example a formate buffer. The rapid heating according to the present invention of the high-concentration formaldehyde solutions can be carried out in any open or closed systems. Examples of suitable apparatuses are stirred vessels which can be heated by means of jackets or coiled tubes (internal or external). Apparatuses having heat exchanger characteristics, e.g. shell-and-tube heat exchangers, plate apparatuses or helically bound tubes, are particularly preferred. These can be operated in cocurrent, countercurrent or cross-current. Heating can be carried out by means of any media, for example using condensing steam or by means of single-phase liquids or gases. The abovementioned apparatuses can be readily designed and operated so that the required heating rate is obtained. After heating, the high-concentration formaldehyde solution can be stored in any open or closed systems. For the purposes of the present invention, “storage” constitutes leaving the high-concentration formaldehyde solution in the temperature window from 80 to 200° C. for a certain period of time. This period of time can be very short, for example only a few minutes may elapse until the high-concentration formaldehyde solution is used in a chemical reaction. However, the period of time can also be very long, for example days, weeks or months. The solution is preferably stored in a simple vessel having an internal heat exchanger. The solution can also be dispensed into drums, containers or tank cars and dispatched, with the temperature having to be maintained at ≧80° C. during transport. The high-concentration formaldehyde solutions are preferably prepared in a film evaporator or a helical tube evaporator. One suitable film evaporator is shown in FIG. 1. This is a thin film evaporator. The feed 1, consisting of raw solution (starting material mixture) and, if desired, a recycle stream, is firstly fed to a liquid distributor 2. This distributes the raw solution over an evaporation surface 3. The evaporation surface 3 (heat-exchange surface) usually has a cylindrical shape, but can also be at least partly conical. It is in thermal contact with the inside of a heating jacket 4 which supplies heat to the evaporation surface 3. The liquid distributor 2 contributes to the feed solution being uniformly distributed over the circumference of the evaporation surface 3. Rotating wiper blades 5 then distribute the solution further over the evaporation surface 3, ensure maintenance and transport of a liquid film on the evaporation surface 3 and contribute to intensification of heat and mass transfer in the liquid. These wiper blades 5 are driven by a drive device 6. Depending on the configuration and positioning of the wiper blades 5, the liquid film can be kept thin or can be banked up. It is in this way possible to alter the residence time or the residence time distribution of the solution in the film evaporator. The typical residence time of the solution in the film evaporator is from 1 s to 10 min, preferably from 2 s to 2 min. A heating medium, e.g. steam, is fed into the heating jacket through a heating medium inlet 7. This heating medium heats the evaporation surface. Cooled heating medium, e.g. condensed water in the case of steam as heating medium, is discharged via the heating medium outlet 8. As a result of the supply of heat to the evaporation surface 3, part of the solution fed to the film evaporator is vaporized, as a result of which the composition of the part of the solution which has not been vaporized is altered. The vapor formed (i.e. vaporized liquid or gases) goes into a phase separation space 9 and from there into a droplet precipitator 10. Here, liquid droplets entrained in the vapor are removed from the gas phase and returned to the liquid (solution). The concentrate 13 is discharged in a suitable way from the phase separation space 9, while the vapor 12 is taken off from the droplet precipitator 10. The vapor is introduced into a condenser (not shown) where it is at least partly condensed to give a condensate. If an aqueous formaldehyde solution is introduced into the film evaporator described, the liquid 13 becomes enriched in the polyoxymethylene glycols, while the condensate from the vapor 12 is low in polyoxymethylene glycols and rich in formaldehyde and methylene glycol. In this way, two fractions, viz. concentrate 13 and (partial) condensate from the vapor 12, which are selectively enriched in particular components of the raw solution 1 originally fed in are obtained. In a particular embodiment, the condenser can be integrated into the body of the evaporator, which results in a shorter residence time of the vaporized components in the vapor phase and also a more compact construction. Suitable operating conditions for the film evaporator are generally a temperature of from 10° C. to 200° C., preferably from 50° C. to 150° C., at an absolute pressure of from 0.5 mbar to 2 bar, preferably from 30 mbar to 1.5 bar, particularly preferably from 60 mbar to 1.0 bar. The temperature of the high-concentration formaldehyde solution leaving the film evaporator as bottom product is usually from 20 to 60° C. Apart from the embodiment of a film evaporator shown in FIG. 1, it is also possible to use an apparatus without any mechanical influence on the liquid film present on the evaporation surface. The heat-transfer surface of such a falling film evaporator or falling stream evaporator can be configured as tubes or plates. Depending on the specific process requirements, a film evaporator can be operated in various ways. FIG. 2 schematically shows the possible modes of operation. Here, the actual film evaporator is labeled 15 and a vapor separator (i.e. phase separation space with droplet precipitator) is labeled 16. Both the film evaporator 15 and the vapor separator 16 can be different from the specific type of construction shown in FIG. 1 and can have further inlets and outlets in addition to those shown in FIG. 1. V1, V2 and V3 denote vapor streams; all other streams are usually liquid. The film evaporator 15 can be operated in a single pass in respect of the unvaporized liquid leaving the evaporator or can be operated in the circulation mode. The liquid circuit U is technically necessary for operation in the circulation mode. The following table shows the active streams for each of the possible modes of operation. F1 F2 B1 B2 V1 V2 V3 U Single pass, vapor and liquid X X X in countercurrent Single pass, vapor and liquid X X X in cocurrent Circulation mode, feed into X X X X liquid circuit, vapor and liquid in cocurrent Circulation mode, feed into X X X X liquid circuit, vapor and liquid in countercurrent Circulation mode, feed into X (X) X X (X) X vapor separator, vapor and liquid in cocurrent Circulation mode, feed into X X X (X) X vapor separator, vapor and liquid in counter current The film evaporator can have side offtakes at suitable points, so that liquid fractions having a particular degree of enrichment can be taken off via these side offtakes. It is also possible for a plurality of evaporators to be connected in series to form an evaporator cascade in which the liquid, concentrated outflow from one evaporator forms, if desired after a side stream has been taken off, the feed to the next evaporator of the evaporator cascade. The high-concentration formaldehyde solutions obtained are stabilized according to the present invention, for example in one of the abovementioned apparatuses, and can, after storage, be used for a large number of chemical reactions. Examples of such reactions are: propynol, and the reaction of acetylene with formaldehyde solution in a Reppe reaction to form butynediol which can be hydrogenated to give butanediol; aldolization reactions of formaldehyde with itself or with higher aldehydes to form polyhydric alcohols and sugars, pentaerythritol, trimethylolpropane and neopentyl glycol; the reaction of formaldehyde and CO to give glycolic acid; the preparation of chelating substances such as glycol nitriles from solutions of formaldehyde; the reaction of formaldehyde with olefins in a Prins reaction to give alpha-hydroxymethyl compounds; condensation reactions of formaldehyde with amines such as aniline or toluidine to form Schiff bases which can react further to give diphenylmethane derivatives such as diphenylmethanediamine; reaction of hydroxylamine with formaldehyde to form oximes; reaction of formaldehyde with diols to form cyclic ethers, for example of glycol and formaldehyde to form dioxolane; conversion into oxymethylene homopolymers or copolymers, for example as described in the German patent application DE 101 58 813.5, which is not a prior publication; reaction of formaldehyde solutions with alcohols to form ethers such as polyoxymethylene dialkyl ethers, preferably polyoxymethylene dimethyl ethers. This listing is not exhaustive. Textbooks on organic chemistry and industrial chemistry give further examples of reactions. However, the listing is intended to illustrate, by way of example, the industrial importance of formaldehyde as a synthetic building block in the overall field of organic chemistry. The products obtained include both small tonnage intermediates in the pharmaceuticals or crop protection sectors, e.g. oximes, and large tonnage products such as diphenylmethane derivatives. The invention is illustrated by the following example. EXAMPLE An aqueous formaldehyde solution consisting of 30% by weight of formaldehyde, 69% by weight of water and 1% by weight of methanol is introduced at the top of a liquid-heated laboratory thin film evaporator having an internal diameter of 50 mm and a wiped length of 300 mm. The feed flow is 1 l/h. The heating jacket temperature of the thin film evaporator is set to 120° C. and the pressure in the interior space is set to 100 mbar. The evaporation rate of the apparatus is about mD/mL=3/1. Under these conditions, an aqueous formaldehyde solution consisting of about 80% by weight of formaldehyde and 20% by weight of water and less than 0.2% by weight of methanol is obtained at the bottom of the thin film evaporator at about 55° C. The solution produced would be stable for only a few minutes at this temperature. To stabilize this high-concentration solution, it is transferred to a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger used is a coil heat exchanger made of glass and having a jacket length of 400 mm. The length of the coiled tube is 3.2 m, and its internal diameter is 6 mm. The formaldehyde solution is passed through the heat exchanger. The jacket of the apparatus is heated by means of a large stream of triethylene glycol at 130° C. The solution leaves the heat exchanger at 120° C. The heating rate of the tube-side medium achieved under these conditions is about 13° C./min, which is above the required minimum rate of 5° C./min. Under the process conditions described, no precipitation of solids occurs at any point in the apparatus. The formaldehyde solution leaving the heat exchanger is clear and colorless and liquid and can be maintained in a stable condition without precipitation of solids at 120° C. for a prolonged period.

20050902

20070925

20060420

57522.0

C07C47058

WITHERSPOON, SIKARL A

METHOD FOR THERMAL STABILIZATION OF HIGHLY CONCENTRATED FORMALDEHYDE SOLUTIONS

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

C07C

ACCEPTED

Fluid-assisted medical devices, systems and methods

Adaptors for electrically coupling between an electrosurgical generator and a bipolar electrosurgical device are provided. In one preferred embodiment, the adaptor comprises a power input connector for coupling the adaptor with a monopolar mode power output connector of the electrosurgical generator, a ground connector for coupling the adaptor with a ground connector of the electrosurgical generator, a first and a second power output connector, each for coupling the adaptor with a first and a second bipolar mode power input connector of the bipolar electrosurgical device, respectively, a monopolar hand switch connector for coupling the adaptor with a monopolar mode hand switch connector of the electrosurgical generator, and at least one bipolar mode hand switch connector for coupling the adaptor with a bipolar mode hand switch connector of the electrosurgical device.

1. An adaptor for electrically coupling between an electrosurgical generator and a bipolar electrosurgical device, the adaptor comprising: a power input connector for coupling the adaptor with a monopolar mode power output connector of the electrosurgical generator; a ground connector for coupling the adaptor with a ground connector of the electrosurgical generator; a first and a second power output connector, each for coupling the adaptor with a first and a second bipolar mode power input connector of the bipolar electrosurgical device, respectively; a transformer coupled between the power input connector and the first and second power output connectors; a monopolar hand switch connector for coupling the adaptor with a monopolar mode hand switch connector of the electrosurgical generator; and at least one bipolar mode hand switch connector for coupling the adaptor with a bipolar mode hand switch connector of the electrosurgical device. 2. The adaptor according to claim 1 wherein: the transformer comprises a first coil and a second coil; the first coil adapted to be coupled to the generator; and the second coil adapted to be coupled to the bipolar electrosurgical device. 3. The adaptor according to claim 2 wherein: the first coil comprises a plurality of windings; the second coil comprises a plurality of windings; and the number of first coil windings is greater then the number of second coil windings. 4. The adaptor according to claim 1 wherein: the transformer comprises a first coil and a second coil; the first coil is coupled at a first end to the power input connector of the adaptor; the first coil is coupled at a second end to the ground connector of the adaptor; the second coil is coupled at a first end to the first power output connector of the adaptor; and the second coil is coupled at a second end to the second power output connector of the adaptor. 5. The adaptor according to claim 1 further comprising: a first and a second bipolar mode hand switch connector for coupling the adaptor with a first and a second bipolar mode hand switch connector of the electrosurgical device, respectively. 6. The adaptor according to claim 5 wherein: the first bipolar mode hand switch connector of the adaptor is coupled to the monopolar hand switch connector of the adaptor; and the second bipolar mode hand switch connector of the adaptor is coupled to the power input connector of the adaptor in parallel with the transformer. 7. The adaptor according to claim 1 wherein: the bipolar mode hand switch connector of the adaptor is coupled to the power input connector of the adaptor in parallel with the transformer; and the first power output connector of the adaptor is coupled to the monopolar hand switch connector of the adaptor. 8. The adaptor according to claim 1 wherein: the transformer comprises a first coil and a second coil; and the first coil and the second coil are arranged to have a primary voltage and a secondary voltage, respectively; in phase in the presence of an alternating electrical current. 9. An adaptor for electrically coupling between an electrosurgical generator and a bipolar electrosurgical device, the adaptor comprising: a power input connector for coupling the adaptor with a monopolar mode power output connector of the electrosurgical generator; a ground connector for coupling the adaptor with a ground connector of the electrosurgical generator; a first and a second power output connector, each for coupling the adaptor with a first and a second bipolar mode power input connector of the bipolar electrosurgical device, respectively; a monopolar hand switch connector for coupling the adaptor with a monopolar mode hand switch connector of the electrosurgical generator; and at least one bipolar mode hand switch connector for coupling the adaptor with a bipolar mode hand switch connector of the electrosurgical device. 10. The adaptor according to claim 1 further comprising: a transformer coupled between the power input connector and the first and second power output connectors. 11. The adaptor according to claim 10 wherein: the transformer comprises a first coil and a second coil; the first coil adapted to be coupled to the generator; and the second coil adapted to be coupled to the bipolar electrosurgical device.

This application is being filed on 3 Mar. 2004, as a PCT international patent application in the name of TissueLink Medical, Inc. (a U.S. national corporation), and David E. Lipson and David J. Flanagan (both U.S. citizens. FIELD This invention relates generally to the field of medical devices and methods for use upon a body during surgery. More particularly, the invention relates to electrosurgical devices, systems and methods for use upon tissues of a human body during surgery, particularly open surgery and minimally invasive surgery such as laparoscopic surgery. BACKGROUND Electrosurgical devices configured for use with a dry tip use electrical energy, often radio frequency (RF) energy, to cut tissue or to cauterize blood vessels. During use, a voltage gradient is created at the tip of the device, thereby inducing current flow and related heat generation in the tissue. With sufficiently high levels of electrical power, the heat generated is sufficient to cut the tissue and, advantageously, to stop the bleeding from severed blood vessels. Current dry tip electrosurgical devices can cause the temperature of tissue being treated to rise significantly higher than 100° C., resulting in tissue desiccation, tissue sticking to the electrodes, tissue perforation, char formation and smoke generation. Desiccation occurs when tissue temperature exceeds 100° C. and all of the intracellular water boils away, leaving the tissue extremely dry and much less electrically conductive. Peak temperatures of target tissue as a result of dry RF treatment can be as high as 320° C., and such high temperatures can be transmitted to adjacent tissue via thermal diffusion. Consequently, this may result in undesirable desiccation and thermal damage to the adjacent tissue. The use of saline inhibits undesirable effects such as tissue desiccation, electrode sticking, smoke production and char formation. However, an uncontrolled or abundant flow rate of saline can provide too much electrical dispersion and cooling at the electrode/tissue interface. This reduces the temperature of the target tissue being treated, and, in turn, can result in longer treatment time to achieve the desired tissue temperature for treatment of the tissue. Long treatment times are undesirable for surgeons since it is in the best interest of the patient, physician and hospital, to perform surgical procedures as quickly as possible. RF power delivered to tissue can be less than optimal when using general-purpose generators. Most general-purpose RE generators have modes for different waveforms (e.g., cut, coagulation, or blend) and device types (e.g., monopolar, bipolar), as well as power levels that can be set in watts. However, once these settings are chosen, the actual power delivered to tissue and associated heat generated can vary dramatically over time as tissue impedance changes during the course of RF treatment. This is because the power delivered by most generators is a function of tissue impedance, with the power ramping down as impedance either decreases toward zero or increases significantly to several thousand ohms. Current dry tip electrosurgical devices are not configured to address a change in power provided by the generator as tissue impedance changes or the associated effect on tissue, and rely on the surgeon's expertise to overcome this limitation. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention is directed to various embodiments of electrosurgical devices, systems and methods. In one preferred embodiment, an electrosurgical device has a handle, a shaft extending from the handle having a distal end, and an electrode tip having an electrode surface with at least a portion of the electrode tip extending distally beyond the distal end of the shaft. In one embodiment, preferably the portion of the electrode tip extending distally beyond the distal end of the shaft comprises a cone shaped portion. The device also has a fluid passage being connectable to a fluid source and at least one fluid outlet opening in fluid communication with the fluid passage. In another preferred embodiment, the electrode tip extending distally beyond the distal end of the shaft has a neck portion and an enlarged end portion with the enlarged end portion located distal to the neck portion and comprising the cone shaped portion. In another preferred embodiment, the fluid outlet opening is arranged to provide a fluid from the fluid source to the neck portion of the electrode tip. In yet another preferred embodiment, the fluid outlet opening is arranged to provide a fluid from the fluid source towards the enlarged end portion of the electrode tip. In another preferred embodiment, an electrosurgical device has a handle, and an electrode tip having an electrode surface with the electrode surface and comprising a cone shaped portion. The device also has a fluid passage being connectable to a fluid source and at least one fluid outlet opening in fluid communication with the fluid passage and arranged to provide a fluid from the fluid source to the cone shaped portion of the electrode tip. The invention is also directed to a surgical method for treating tissue. The method includes providing tissue having a tissue surface, providing radio frequency power at a power level, providing an electrically conductive fluid at a fluid flow rate, providing an surgical device configured to simultaneously provide the radio frequency electrical power and the electrically conductive fluid to tissue, providing the electrically conductive fluid to the tissue at the tissue surface, forming a fluid coupling comprising the electrically conductive fluid which couples the tissue and the surgical device, providing the radio frequency power to the tissue at the tissue surface and below the tissue surface into the tissue through the fluid coupling, coagulating the tissue without cutting the tissue, and dissecting the tissue after coagulating the tissue. Preferably, the device comprises an electrode tip having an electrode surface, and comprising a cone shaped portion and a distal end. Also preferably, coagulating the tissue is performed with the cone shaped portion and dissecting is performed with the distal end of the device. In various embodiments, the dissection may be blunt as where the distal end of the device is blunt, or sharp as where the distal end of the device is pointed. The invention is also directed to various embodiments of an adaptor for electrically coupling between an electrosurgical generator and a bipolar electrosurgical device. In one preferred embodiment, the adaptor comprises a power input connector for coupling the adaptor with a monopolar mode power output connector of the electrosurgical generator, a ground connector for coupling the adaptor with a ground connector of the electrosurgical generator, a first and a second power output connector, each for coupling the adaptor with a first and a second bipolar mode power input connector of the bipolar electrosurgical device, respectively, a transformer coupled between the power input connector and the first and second power output connectors, a monopolar hand switch connector for coupling the adaptor with a monopolar mode hand switch connector of the electrosurgical generator, and at least one bipolar mode hand switch connector for coupling the adaptor with a bipolar mode hand switch connector of the electrosurgical device. The invention is also directed to various embodiments of a bipolar electrosurgical device. In one preferred embodiment, the device comprises a first electrode tip and a second electrode tip with the electrode tips coupled to an impedance transformer provided with the electrosurgical device, at least one fluid delivery passage being connectable to a fluid source, at least one fluid outlet opening in fluid communication with the at least one fluid delivery passage, the electrode tips configured to paint along a tissue surface in the presence of fluid from the fluid outlet opening as the tips are moved along the tissue surface whereby the tissue surface can be coagulated without cutting upon the application of radio frequency energy from the electrodes simultaneously with fluid from the fluid outlet opening while the tips are coupled with the fluid adjacent the tissue surface and moved along the tissue surface. The invention is also directed to various embodiments of medical kits. In one preferred embodiment, the kit has an electrosurgical device configured to provide radio frequency power and a fluid to a tissue treatment site, and a transformer. In various embodiments, the electrosurgical device and transformer may be provided as separate connectable components, or integrally as a single piece. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a control system of the invention, and an electrosurgical device; FIG. 2 is a schematic graph that describes a relationship between RF power to tissue (P, in watts), flow rate of saline (Q, in cc/sec.), and tissue temperature (T, in ° C.) when heat conduction to adjacent tissue is considered; FIG. 3 is schematic graph that describes a relationship between RF power to tissue (P, in watts), flow rate of saline (Q, in cc/sec.), and tissue temperature (T, in ° C.) when heat conduction to adjacent tissue is neglected; FIG. 4 is a schematic graph that describes a relationship between RF power to tissue (P, in watts), flow rate of saline (Q, in cc/sec.), and tissue temperature (T, in ° C.) when the heat required to warm the tissue to the peak temperature (T) is considered; FIG. 5 is a graph that describes a relationship between percentage saline boiling (%) and saline flow rate (Q, in cc/min) for an exemplary RF generator output setting of 75 watts; FIG. 6 is a schematic graph that describes a relationship between load impedance (Z, in ohms) and generator output power (P, in watts), for an exemplary RF generator output setting of 75 watts in a bipolar mode; FIG. 7 is a schematic graph that describes a relationship between time (t, in seconds) and tissue impedance (Z, in ohms) after RF activation; FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of a cannula which may be used with an electrosurgical device according to the present invention; FIG. 9 is a schematic exploded perspective view of an assembly of an electrosurgical device according to the present invention; FIG. 10 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional side view of the tip and shaft of the device of FIG. 9 taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 12; FIG. 11 is a schematic close-up longitudinal cross-sectional side view of the tip portion of the device bounded by circle 45 shown in FIG. 10 taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 12; FIG. 12 is a schematic distal end view of the tip portion of the device bounded by circle 45 shown in FIG. 10; FIG. 13 is a schematic side view of the of the tip and shaft of the device of FIG. 9 with a fluid coupling to a tissue surface of tissue; FIG. 14 is a schematic close-up side view of an alternative tip portion; FIG. 15 is a schematic close-up cross-sectional side view of the tip portion of FIG. 14 taken along line 15-15 of FIG. 14; FIG. 16 is a schematic close-up cross-sectional side view of the tip portion of FIG. 14 disposed in a tissue crevice; FIG. 17 is a schematic graph that describes a relationship between time (t, in seconds) and changes in impedance (Z, in ohms) represented by impedance spikes; FIG. 18 is a schematic graph that describes a relationship between percentage saline boiling (%) and impedance (Z, in ohms); FIG. 19 is schematic close-up cross-sectional view of a sleeve taken along line 19-19 of FIG. 15; FIG. 20 is a schematic close-up perspective view of an alternative tip portion; FIG. 21 is a schematic close-up cross-sectional side view of the tip portion of FIG. 20 taken along line 21-21 of FIG. 20; FIG. 22 is a schematic close-up cross-sectional side view of the tip portion of FIG. 20 disposed in a tissue crevice; FIG. 23 is a schematic close-up front perspective view of the electrode for the tip portion of FIG. 20; FIG. 24 is a schematic close-up rear perspective view of the electrode for the tip portion of FIG. 20; FIG. 25 is a schematic close up cross-sectional view of a porous electrode with recesses; FIG. 26 is schematic close up cross-sectional view of an electrode with semi-circular recesses; FIG. 27 is schematic close up cross-sectional view of an electrode with V-shaped recesses; FIG. 28 is schematic close up cross-sectional view of an electrode with U-shaped recesses; FIG. 29 is a schematic close-up perspective view of an alternative tip portion; FIG. 30 is a schematic close-up cross-sectional side view of the tip portion of FIG. 29 taken along line 30-30 of FIG. 29; FIG. 31 is a schematic close-up perspective view of an alternative tip portion; FIG. 32 is a schematic close-up cross-sectional side view of the tip portion of FIG. 31 taken along line 32-32 of FIG. 31; FIG. 33 is a schematic close-up perspective view of an alternative tip portion; FIG. 34 is a schematic close-up cross-sectional side view of the tip portion of FIG. 33 taken along line 34-34 of FIG. 33; FIG. 35 is a schematic close-up perspective view of an alternative tip portion; FIG. 36 is a schematic close-up cross-sectional side view of the tip portion of FIG. 35 taken along line 36-36 of FIG. 35; FIG. 37 is a schematic close up side view of an alternative cone shape portion of an electrode; FIG. 38 is a schematic close up side view of an alternative cone shape portion of an electrode; FIG. 39 is a schematic close up side view of an alternative cone shape portion of an electrode; FIG. 40 is a schematic close up side view of an alternative cone shape portion of an electrode; FIG. 41 is a schematic exploded perspective view of an assembly of an alternative electrosurgical device according to the present invention; FIG. 42 is a schematic close-up cross-sectional side view of the tip portions of FIG. 41 assembled with a fluid coupling to a tissue surface of tissue; FIG. 43 is a schematic close-up cross-sectional side view of the tip portions of FIG. 41 assembled with an alternative fluid coupling to a tissue surface of tissue; FIG. 44 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of a control system of the invention, and an electrosurgical device; FIG. 45 is a block diagram of an electrical configuration for a generator and a bipolar device without a hand switch; FIG. 46 is a block diagram of an electrical configuration for a generator and a monopolar device with a hand switch; FIG. 47 is a block diagram of an electrical configuration for a generator and a bipolar device with a hand switch and a transformer; FIG. 48 is a block diagram of an electrical configuration for a generator and a bipolar device without a handswitch and with a transformer; FIG. 49 is a block diagram of an electrical configuration for a generator, a bipolar device without a hand switch, and an adaptor with a transformer therebetween; FIG. 50 is a block diagram of an electrical configuration for a generator and a bipolar device with a hand switch; FIG. 51A is a block diagram of an electrical configuration for a generator, a bipolar device with a hand switch, and an adaptor with a transformer therebetween; FIG. 51B is a block diagram of an electrical configuration for a generator, a bipolar device with a hand switch, and an adaptor with a transformer therebetween; FIG. 52 is a schematic perspective view of an alternative electrosurgical device according to the present invention; FIG. 53 is a schematic perspective view of a handle portion of the device of FIG. 52 assembled with various components; FIG. 54 is a schematic side view of a handle portion of the device of FIG. 52 assembled with various components; FIG. 55 is a schematic side view of a handle portion of the device of FIG. 52 assembled with various components; FIG. 56 is a schematic side view of a handle portion of the device of FIG. 52 assembled with various components; FIG. 57 is a schematic perspective view of an alternative electrosurgical device according to the present invention; FIG. 58 is a schematic perspective view of a handle portion of the device of FIG. 57 assembled with various components; and FIG. 59 is a schematic side view of a handle portion of the device of FIG. 52 assembled with various components. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Throughout the description, like reference numerals and letters indicate corresponding structure throughout the several views, and such corresponding structure need not be separately discussed. Furthermore, any particular feature(s) of a particular exemplary embodiment may be equally applied to any other exemplary embodiment(s) of this specification as suitable. In other words, features between the various exemplary embodiments described herein are interchangeable as suitable, and not exclusive. The invention provides devices, systems and methods that control tissue temperature at a tissue treatment site during a medical procedure. This is particularly useful during surgical procedures upon tissues of the body, where it is desirable to seal, coagulate and shrink tissue, to occlude lumens of blood vessels (e.g., arteries, veins), airways (e.g., bronchi, bronchioles), bile ducts and lymphatic ducts. The invention includes electrosurgical procedures, which preferably utilize RF power and electrically conductive fluid, to treat tissue. Preferably, a desired tissue temperature range is achieved by adjusting parameters, such as fluid flow rate, to affect the temperature at the tissue/electrode interface. In one embodiment, the invention provides a control device, the device comprising a flow rate controller that receives a signal indicating power applied to the system, and adjusts the flow rate of fluid from a fluid source to the electrosurgical device. The invention also provides a control system comprising a flow rate controller, a measurement device that measures power applied to the system, and a pump that provides fluid at a selected flow rate. The invention will be discussed generally with reference to FIG. 1, which shows a block diagram of one exemplary embodiment of a system of the invention. Preferably, an electrically conductive fluid 24 is provided from a fluid source 1 through a fluid line 2 to a pump 3, which has an outlet fluid line 4a that is connected as an input fluid line 4b to electrosurgical device 5. In a preferred embodiment, outlet fluid line 4a and input fluid line 4b are flexible and are made from a polymeric material, such as polyvinylchloride (PVC) or polyolefin (e.g., polypropylene, polyethylene) and the conductive fluid comprises a saline solution. More preferably, the saline comprises sterile, and even more preferably, normal saline. Although the description herein will specifically describe the use of saline as the fluid 24, other electrically conductive fluids, as well as non-conductive fluids, can be used in accordance with the invention. For example, in addition to the conductive fluid comprising physiologic saline (also known as “normal” saline, isotonic saline or 0.9% sodium chloride (NaCl) solution), the conductive fluid may comprise hypertonic saline solution, hypotonic saline solution, Ringers solution (a physiologic solution of distilled water containing specified amounts of sodium chloride, calcium chloride, and potassium chloride), lactated Ringer's solution (a crystalloid electrolyte sterile solution of distilled water containing specified amounts of calcium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, and sodium lactate), Locke-Ringer's solution (a buffered isotonic solution of distilled water containing specified amounts of sodium chloride, potassium chloride, calcium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, magnesium chloride, and dextrose), or any other electrolyte solution. While a conductive fluid is preferred, as will become more apparent with further reading of this specification, fluid 24 may also comprise an electrically non-conductive fluid. The use of a non-conductive fluid is less preferred than a conductive fluid, however, the use of a non-conductive fluid still provides certain advantages over the use of a dry electrode including, for example, reduced occurrence of tissue sticking to the electrode of device 5 and cooling of the electrode and/or tissue. Therefore, it is also within the scope of the invention to include the use of a non-conducting fluid, such as, for example, deionized water. Returning to FIG. 1, energy to heat tissue is provided from an energy source, such as an electrical generator 6 which preferably provides RF alternating current via a cable 7 to an energy source output measurement device, such as a power measurement device 8 that measures the RF alternating current electrical power. In one exemplary embodiment, preferably the power measurement device 8 does not turn the power off or on, or alter the power in any way. A power switch 15 connected to generator 6 is preferably provided by the generator manufacturer and is used to turn generator 6 on and off. The power switch 15 can comprise any switch to turn the power on and off, and is commonly provided in the form of a footswitch or other easily operated switch, such as a switch 15a mounted on electrosurgical device 5. The power switch 15 or 15a may also function as a manually activated device for increasing or decreasing the power provided from device 5. Alternatively, internal circuitry and other components of generator 6 may be used for automatically increasing or decreasing the power provided from device 5. A cable 9 preferably provides RF power from power measurement device 8 to electrosurgical device 5. Power, or any other energy source output, is preferably measured before it reaches electrosurgical device 5. When capacitation and induction effects are negligibly small, from Ohm's law, power P, or the rate of energy delivery (e.g., joules/sec), may be expressed by the product of current times voltage (i.e., I×V), the current squared times resistance (i.e., I2×R), or the voltage squared divided by the resistance (i.e., V2/R); where the current I may be measured in amperes, the voltage V may be measured in volts, the electrical resistance R may be measured in ohms, and the power P may be measured in watts (joules/sec). Given that power P is a function of current I, voltage V, and resistance R as indicated above, it should be understood, that a change in power P is reflective of a change in at least one of the input variables. Thus, one may alternatively measure changes in such input variables themselves, rather than power P directly, with such changes in the input variables mathematically corresponding to a changes in power P as indicated above. Heating of the tissue is preferably performed by electrical resistance heating. That is, the temperature of the tissue increases as a result of electric current flow through the tissue, with the electrical energy being absorbed from the voltage and transformed into thermal energy (i.e., heat) via accelerated movement of ions as a function of the tissue's electrical resistance. Referring again to FIG. 1, a flow rate controller 11 preferably includes a selection switch 12 that can be set to achieve desired levels of percentage fluid boiling (for example, 100%, 98%, 80% boiling). Preferably, flow rate controller 11 receives an input signal 10 from power measurement device 3 and calculates an appropriate mathematically predetermined fluid flow rate based on percentage boiling indicated by the selection switch 12. In a preferred embodiment, a fluid switch 13 is provided so that the fluid system can be primed (e.g., air eliminated) before turning on generator 6. The output signal 16 of flow rate controller 11 is preferably sent to pump 3 motor to regulate the flow rate of fluid, and thereby provide an appropriate fluid flow rate which corresponds to the amount of power being delivered. In one embodiment, flow rate controller 11 is configured and arranged to be connected to a source of RF power (e.g., generator 6), and a source of fluid (e.g., fluid source 1), for example, a source of conductive fluid. The device of the invention receives information about the level of RF power applied to electrosurgical device 5, and adjusts the flow rate of fluid 24 to electrosurgical device 5, thereby controlling temperature at the tissue treatment site. In another embodiment, elements of the system are physically included together in one electronic enclosure. One such embodiment is shown by enclosure within the outline box 14 of FIG. 1. In the illustrated embodiment, pump 3, flow rate controller 11, and power measurement device 8 are enclosed within an enclosure, and these elements are connected through electrical connections to allow signal 10 to pass from power measurement device 8 to flow rate controller 11, and signal 16 to pass from flow rate controller 11 to pump 3. Other elements of a system can also be included within one enclosure, depending upon such factors as the desired application of the system, and the requirements of the user. Pump 3 can be any suitable pump to provide saline or other fluid at a desired flow rate. Preferably, pump 3 is a peristaltic pump. With a rotary peristaltic pump, typically a fluid 24 is conveyed within the confines of a flexible tube (e.g., 4a) by waves of contraction placed externally on the tube which are produced mechanically, typically by rotating rollers which intermittently squeeze the flexible tubing against a support with a linear peristaltic pump, typically a fluid 24 is conveyed within the confines of a flexible tube by waves of contraction placed externally on the tube which are produced mechanically, typically by a series of compression fingers or pads which sequentially squeeze the flexible tubing against a support. Peristaltic pumps are generally preferred, as the electromechanical force mechanism (e.g., rollers driven by electric motor) does not make contact the fluid 24, thus reducing the likelihood of inadvertent contamination. Similar pumps can be used in connection with the invention, and the illustrated embodiments are exemplary only. The precise configuration of pump 3 is not critical to the invention. For example, pump 3 may include other types of infusion and withdrawal pumps. Furthermore, pump 3 may comprise pumps which may be categorized as syringe pumps, piston pumps, rotary vane pumps (e.g., axial impeller, centrifugal impeller), cartridge pumps and diaphragm pumps. In some embodiments, pump 3 can be substituted with any type of flow controller, such as a manual roller clamp used in conjunction with an IV bag, or combined with the flow controller to allow the user to control the flow rate of conductive fluid to the device. Alternatively, a valve configuration can be substituted for pump 3. Fluid 24, such as conductive fluid, is preferably provided from an intravenous (IV) bag full of saline (e.g., fluid source 1) that flows by gravity. Fluid 24 may flow directly to electrosurgical device 5, or first to pump 3 located there between. Alternatively, fluid 24 from a fluid source 1 such as an IV bag can be provided through an IV flow controller that may provide a desired flow rate by adjusting the cross sectional area of a flow orifice (e.g., lumen of the connective tubing with the electrosurgical device 5) while sensing the flow rate with a sensor such as an optical drop counter. Furthermore, fluid 24 from a fluid source 1 such as an IV bag can be provided through a manually or automatically activated device such as a flow controller, such as a roller clamp, which also adjusts the cross sectional area of a flow orifice and may be adjusted manually by, for example, the user of the device in response to their visual observation (e.g., fluid boiling) at the tissue treatment site or a pump. Similar configurations of the system can be used in connection with the invention, and the illustrated embodiments are exemplary only. For example, the fluid source 1, pump 3, generator 6, power measurement device 8 or flow rate controller 11, or any other components of the system not expressly recited above, may be present as a part of the electrosurgical device 5. For example, fluid source 1 may be a compartment of the electrosurgical device 5 which contains fluid 24, as indicated at reference character 1a . In another exemplary embodiment, the compartment may be detachably connected to electrosurgical device 5, such as a canister which may be attached via threaded engagement with device 5. In yet another embodiment, the compartment may be configured to hold a pre-filled cartridge of fluid 24, rather than the fluid directly. Also for example, with regards to alternatives for the generator 6, an energy source, such as a direct current (DC) battery used in conjunction with inverter circuitry and a transformer to produce alternating current at a particular frequency, may comprise a portion of the electrosurgical device 5, as indicated at reference character 6a. In one embodiment the battery element of the energy source may comprise a rechargeable battery. In yet another exemplary embodiment, the battery element may be detachably connected to the electrosurgical device 5, such as for recharging. Use of the components of the system will now be described in further detail. From the specification, it should be clear that any use of the terms “distal” and “proximal” are made in reference from the user of the device, and not the patient. Flow rate controller 11 controls the rate of flow from the fluid source 1. Preferably, the rate of fluid flow from fluid source 1 is based upon the amount of RF power provided from generator 6 to electrosurgical device 5. Referring to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a relationship between the rate of fluid flow Q and the RF power P. More precisely, as shown in FIG. 2, the relationship between the rate of fluid flow Q and RF power P may be expressed as a direct, linear relationship. The flow rate Q of conductive fluid 24, such as saline, interacts with the RF power P and various modes of heat transfer to transfer heat away from the target tissue, as described herein. Throughout this disclosure, when the terms “boiling point of saline”, “vaporization point of saline”, and variations thereof are used, what is actually referenced for explanation purposes, is the boiling point of the water (i.e., 100° C.) in the saline solution given that the difference between the boiling point of normal saline (about 100.16° C.) and the boiling point of water is negligible. FIG. 2 shows the relationship between the flow rate of saline, RF power to tissue, and regimes of boiling as detailed below. Based on a simple, one-dimensional, lumped parameter model of the heat transfer, the peak tissue temperature can be estimated, and once tissue temperature is estimated, it follows directly whether it is hot enough to boil saline. The total RF electrical power P that is converted into heat can be defined as: P=ΔT/R+ρcpQ1ΔT+ρQbhv (1) where P=the total RF electrical power that is converted into heat. Conduction. The first term [ΔT/R] in equation (1) is heat conducted to adjacent tissue, represented as 70 in FIG. 2, where: ΔT=(T−T∞) the difference in temperature (° C.) between the peak tissue temperature (T) and the normal temperature (T∞) of the body tissue; normal temperature of the body tissue is generally 37° C.; and R=Thermal resistance of surrounding tissue, the ratio of the temperature difference to the heat flow (° C./watt). This thermal resistance can be estimated from published data gathered in experiments on human tissue (see for example, Phipps, J. H., “Thermometry studies with bipolar diathermy during hysterectomy,” Gynaecological Endoscopy, 3:5-7 (1994)). As described by Phipps, Kleppinger bipolar forceps were used with an RF power of 50 watts, and the peak tissue temperature reached 320° C. For example, using the energy balance of equation (1), and assuming all the RF heat put into tissue is conducted away, then R can be estimated: R=ΔT/P=(320-37)/50=5.7≈6° C./watt However, it is undesirable to allow the tissue temperature to reach 320° C., since tissue will become desiccated. At a temperature of 320° C., the fluid contained in the tissue is typically boiled away, resulting in the undesirable tissue effects described herein. Rather, it is preferred to keep the peak tissue temperature at no more than about 100° C. to inhibit desiccation of the tissue. Assuming that saline boils at about 100° C., the first term in equation (1) (ΔT/R) is equal to (100−37)/6=10.5 watts. Thus, based on this example, the maximum amount of heat conducted to adjacent tissue without any significant risk of tissue desiccation is 10.5 watts. Referring again to FIG. 2, RF power to tissue is represented on the X-axis as P (watts) and flow rate of saline (cc/min) is represented on the Y-axis as Q. When the flow rate of saline equals zero (Q=0), there is an “offset” RF power that shifts the origin of the sloped lines 76, 78, and 80 to the right. This offset is the heat conducted to adjacent tissue. For example, using the calculation above for bipolar forceps, this offset RF power is about 10.5 watts. If the power is increased above this level with no saline flow, the peak tissue temperature can rise well above 100° C., resulting in tissue desiccation from the boiling off of water in the cells of the tissue. Convection. The second term [ρcρQ1ΔT] in equation (1) is heat used to warm up the saline without boiling the saline, represented as 72 in FIG. 2, where: ρ=Density of the saline fluid that gets hot but does not boil (approximately 1.0 gm/cm3); cρ=Specific heat of the saline (approximately 4.1 watt-sec/gm-° C.); Q1=Flow rate of the saline that is heated (cm3/sec); and ΔT=Temperature rise of the saline. Assuming that the saline is heated to body temperature before it reaches the electrode, and that the peak saline temperature is similar to the peak tissue temperature, this is the same ΔT as for the conduction calculation above. The onset of boiling can be predicted using equation (1) with the last term on the right set to zero (no boiling), i.e. ρQbhv=0, and solving equation (1) for Q1 leads to: Q1=[P−ΔT/R]/ρcρΔT (2) This equation defines the line shown in FIG. 2 as the line of onset of boiling 76. Boiling. The third term [ρQbhv] in equation (1) relates to heat that goes into converting the water in liquid saline to water vapor, and is represented as 74 in FIG. 2, where: Qb=Flow rate of saline that boils (cm3/sec); and hv=Heat of vaporization of saline (approximately 2,000 watt-sec/gm). A flow rate of only 1 cc/min will absorb a significant amount of heat if it is completely boiled, or about ρQbhv=(1) (1/60) (2,000)=33.3 watts. The heat needed to warm this flow rate from body temperature to 100° C. is much less, or ρcpQ1ΔT=(1) (4.1) (1/60) (100−37)=4.3 watts. In other words, the most significant factor contributing to heat transfer from a wet electrode device can be fractional boiling. The present invention recognizes this fact and exploits it. Fractional boiling can be described by equation (3) below: Q 1 = { P - Δ ⁢ ⁢ T / R } { ρ ⁢ ⁢ c p ⁢ Δ ⁢ ⁢ T + ρ ⁢ ⁢ h v ⁢ Q b / Q l } ( 3 ) If the ratio of Qb/Q1 is 0.50 this is the 50% boiling line 78 shown in FIG. 2. If the ratio is 1.0 this is the 100% boiling line 80 shown in FIG. 2. As indicated previously in the specification, use of a fluid to couple energy to tissue inhibits undesirable effects such as tissue desiccation, electrode sticking, char formation and smoke production. Tissue desiccation, which occurs if the tissue temperature exceeds 100° C. and all the intracellular water boils away, is particularly undesirable as it leaves the tissue extremely dry and much less electrically conductive. As shown in FIG. 2, one control strategy or mechanism which can be employed for the electrosurgical device 5 is to adjust the power P and flow rate Q such that the power P used at a corresponding flow rate Q is equal to or less than the power P required to boil 100% of the fluid, and does not exceed the power P required to boil 100% of the fluid. This control strategy targets using the electrosurgical device 5 in the regions of FIG. 2 identified as T<100° C. and T=100° C., and includes the 100% boiling line 80. That is, this control strategy targets not using the electrosurgical device 5 only in the region of FIG. 2 identified as T>>100° C. Another control strategy that can be used for the electrosurgical device 5 is to operate device 5 in the region T<100° C., but at high enough temperature to shrink tissue containing Type I collagen (e.g., walls of blood vessels, bronchi, bile ducts, etc.), which shrinks when exposed to about 85° C. for an exposure time of 0.01 seconds, or when exposed to about 65° C. for an exposure time of 15 minutes. An exemplary target temperature/time for tissue shrinkage is about 75° C. with an exposure time of about 1 second. A determination of the high end of the scale (i.e., when the fluid reaches 100° C.) can be made by the phase change in the fluid from liquid to vapor. However, a determination at the low end of the scale (e.g., when the fluid reaches, for example, 75° C. for 1 second) requires a different mechanism as the temperature of the fluid is below the boiling temperature and no such phase change is apparent. In order to determine when the fluid reaches a temperature that will facilitate tissue shrinkage, for example 75° C., a thermochromic material, such as a thermochromic dye (e.g., leuco dye), may be added to the fluid. The dye can be formulated to provide a first predetermined color to the fluid at temperatures below a threshold temperature, such as 75° C., then, upon heating above 75° C., the dye provides a second color, such as clear, thus turning the fluid clear (i.e., no color or reduction in color). This color change may be gradual, incremental, or instant. Thus, a change in the color of the fluid, from a first color to a second color (or lack thereof) provides a visual indication to the user of the electrosurgical device 5 as to when a threshold fluid temperature below boiling has been achieved. Thermochromic dyes are available, for example, from Color Change Corporation, 1740 Cortland Court, Unit A, Addison, Ill. 60101. It is also noted that the above mechanism (i.e., a change in the color of the fluid due to a dye) may also be used to detect when the fluid reaches a temperature which will facilitate tissue necrosis; this generally varies from about 60° C. for an exposure time of 0.01 seconds and decreasing to about 45° C. for an exposure time of 15 minutes. An exemplary target temperature/time for tissue necrosis is about 55° C. for an exposure time of about 1 second. In order to reduce time, use of the electrosurgical device 5 in the region T=100° C. of FIG. 2 is preferable to use of the electrosurgical device 5 in the region T<100° C. Consequently, as shown in FIG. 2, another control strategy which may be employed for the electrosurgical device 5 is to adjust the power P and flow rate Q such that the power P used at a corresponding flow rate Q is equal to or more than the power P required to initiate boiling of the fluid, but still less than the power P required to boil 100% of the fluid. This control strategy targets using the electrosurgical device 5 in the region of FIG. 2 identified as T=100° C., and includes the lines of the onset of boiling 76 and 100% boiling line 80. That is, this control strategy targets using the electrosurgical device 5 on or between the lines of the onset of boiling 76 and 100% boiling line 80, and not using the electrosurgical device 5 in the regions of FIG. 2 identified as T<100° C. and T>>100° C. For consistent tissue effect, it is desirable to control the saline flow rate so that it is always on a “line of constant % boiling” as, for example, the line of the onset of boiling 76 or the 100% boiling line 80 or any line of constant % boiling located in between (e.g., 50% boiling line 78) as shown in FIG. 2. Consequently, another control strategy that can be used for the electrosurgical device 5 is to adjust power P and flow rate Q such that the power P used at a corresponding flow rate Q targets a line of constant % boiling. It should be noted, from the preceding equations, that the slope of any line of constant % boiling is known. For example, for the line of the onset of boiling 76, the slope of the line is given by (ρcρΔT), while the slope of the 100% boiling line 80 is given by 1/(ρcρΔT+ρρhv). As for the 50% boiling line 78, for example, the slope is given by 1/(ρcρΔT+ρhv0.5). If, upon application of the electrosurgical device 5 to the tissue, boiling of the fluid is not detected, such indicates that the temperature is less than 100° C. as shown by the area T<100° C. of FIG. 2, and the flow rate Q must be decreased to initiate boiling if the power remains unchanged. The flow rate Q may be decreased until boiling of the fluid is first detected, at which time the line of the onset of boiling 76 is transgressed and the point of transgression on the line 76 is determined. From the determination of a point on the line of the onset of boiling 76 for a particular power P and flow rate Q, and the known slope of the line 76 as outlined above (i.e., 1/ρcρΔT), it is also possible to determine the heat conducted to adjacent tissue 70. Conversely, if upon application of the electrosurgical device 5 to the tissue, boiling of the fluid is detected, such indicates that the temperature is approximately equal to 100° C. as shown by the area T=100° C. of FIG. 2, and the flow rate Q must be increased to reduce boiling until boiling stops, at which time the line of the onset of boiling 76 is transgressed and the point of transgression on the line 76 determined. As with above, from the determination of a point on the line of the onset of boiling 76 for a particular power P and flow rate Q, and the known slope of the line 76, it is also possible to determine the heat conducted to adjacent tissue 70. With regards to the detection of boiling of the fluid, preferably such is physically detected by the user (e.g., visually by the naked eye) in the form of either bubbles or steam evolving from the fluid coupling at the electrode/tissue interface. Alternatively, such a phase change (i.e., from liquid to vapor or vice-versa) may be measured by a sensor which preferably senses either an absolute change (e.g., existence or non-existence of boiling with binary response such as yes or no) or a change in a physical quantity or intensity and converts the change into a useful input signal for an information-gathering system. For example, the phase change associated with the onset of boiling may be detected by a pressure sensor, such as a pressure transducer, located on the electrosurgical device 5. Alternatively, the phase change associated with the onset of boiling may be detected by a temperature sensor, such as a thermistor or thermocouple, located on the electrosurgical device 5, such as adjacent to the electrode. Also alternatively, the phase change associated with the onset of boiling may be detected by a change in the electric properties of the fluid itself. For example, a change in the electrical resistance of the fluid may be detected by an ohm meter; a change in the amperage may be measured by an amp meter; a change in the voltage may be detected by a volt meter; and a change in the power may be determined by a power meter. Yet another control strategy which may be employed for the electrosurgical device 5 is to eliminate the heat conduction term 70 of equation (1) (i.e., ΔT/R). Since the amount of heat conducted away to adjacent tissue can be difficult to precisely predict, as it may vary, for example, by tissue type, it may be preferable, from a control point of view, to assume the worst case situation of zero heat conduction, and provide enough saline so that if necessary, all the RF power could be used to heat up and boil the saline, thus providing that the peak tissue temperature will not go over 100° C. significantly. This is shown in the schematic graph of FIG. 3. Stated another way, if the heat conducted to adjacent tissue 70 is overestimated, the power P required to intersect the 100% boiling line 80 will, in turn, be overestimated and the 100% boiling line 80 will be transgressed into the T>>100° C. region of FIG. 2, which is undesirable as established above. Thus, assuming the worse case situation of zero heat conduction provides a “safety factor” to avoid transgressing the 100% boiling line 80. Assuming heat conduction to adjacent tissue 70 to be zero also provides the advantage of eliminating the only term from equation (1) which is tissue dependent, i.e., depends on tissue type. Thus, provided ρ, cp, ΔT, and hv are known as indicated above, the equation of the line for any line of constant % boiling is known. Thus, for example, the 98% boiling line, 80% boiling line, etc. can be determined in response to a corresponding input from selection switch 12. In order to promote flexibility, it should be understood that the input from the selection switch preferably may comprise any percentage of boiling. Preferably the percentage of boiling can be selected in single percent increments (i.e., 100%, 99%, 98%, etc.). Upon determination of the line of the onset of boiling 76, the 100% boiling line 80 or any line of constant % boiling there between, it is generally desirable to control the flow rate Q so that it is always on a particular line of constant % boiling for consistent tissue effect. In such a situation, flow rate controller 11 will adjust the flow rate Q of the fluid 24 to reflect changes in power P provided by the generator 6, as discussed in greater detail below. For such a use flow rate controller 11 may be set in a line of constant boiling mode, upon which the % boiling is then correspondingly selected. As indicated above, it is desirable to control the saline flow rate Q so that it is always on a line of constant % boiling for consistent tissue effect. However, the preferred line of constant % boiling may vary based on the type of electrosurgical device 5. For example, if with use of the device 5, shunting through saline is not an issue, then it can be preferable to operate close to or directly on, but not over the line of the onset of boiling, such as 76a in FIG. 3. This preferably keeps tissue as hot as possible without causing desiccation. Alternatively, if with use of the device 5 shunting of electrical energy through excess saline is an issue, then it can be preferable to operate along a line of constant boiling, such as line 78a in FIG. 3, the 50% line. This simple proportional control will have the flow rate determined by equation (4), where K is the proportionality constant: Q1=K×P (4) In essence, when power P goes up, the flow rate Q will be proportionately increased. Conversely, when power P goes down, the flow rate Q will be proportionately decreased. The proportionality constant K is primarily dependent on the fraction of saline that boils, as shown in equation (5), which is equation (3) solved for K after eliminating P using equation (4), and neglecting the conduction term (ΔT/R): K = 1 { ρ ⁢ ⁢ c p ⁢ Δ ⁢ ⁢ T + ρ ⁢ ⁢ h v ⁢ Q b / Q l } ( 5 ) Thus, the present invention provides a method of controlling boiling of fluid, such as a conductive fluid, at the tissue/electrode interface. In a preferred embodiment, this provides a method of treating tissue without use of tissue sensors, such as temperature or impedance sensors. Preferably, the invention can control boiling of conductive fluid at the tissue/electrode interface and thereby control tissue temperature without the use of feedback loops. In describing the control strategy of the present invention described thus far, focus has been drawn to a steady state condition. However, the heat required to warm the tissue to the peak temperature (T) may be incorporated into equation (1) as follows: P=ΔT/R+ρcρQ1ΔT+ρQbhv+ρcρVΔT/Δt (6) where ρcρVΔT/Δt represents the heat required to warm the tissue to the peak temperature (T) 68 and where: ρ=Density of the saline fluid that gets hot but does not boil (approximately 1.0 gm/cm3); cρ=Specific heat of the saline (approximately 4.1 watt-sec/gm-° C.); V=Volume of treated tissue; ΔT=(T−T∞) the difference in temperature (° C.) between the peak tissue temperature (T) and the normal temperature (T∞) of the body tissue; normal temperature of the body tissue is generally 37° C.; and Δt=(t−t∞) the difference in time to achieve peak tissue temperature (T) and the normal temperature (T∞) of the body tissue (° C.). The inclusion of the heat required to warm the tissue to the peak temperature (T) in the control strategy is graphically represented at 68 in FIG. 4. With respect to the control strategy, the effects of the heat required to warm the tissue to the peak temperature (T) 68 should be taken into account before flow rate Q adjustment being undertaken to detect the location of the line of onset of boiling 76. In other words, the flow rate Q should not be decreased in response to a lack of boiling before at least a quasi-steady state has been achieved as the location of the line of onset of boiling 76 will continue to move during the transitory period. Otherwise, if the flow rate Q is decreased during the transitory period, it may be possible to decrease the flow Q to a point past the line of onset of boiling 76 and continue past the 100% boiling line 80 which is undesirable. In other words, as temperature (T) is approached the heat 68 diminishes towards zero such that the lines of constant boiling shift to the left towards the Y-axis. FIG. 5 is an exemplary graph of flow rate Q versus % boiling for a situation where the RF power P is 75 watts. The percent boiling % is represented on the X-axis, and the saline flow rate Q (cc/min) is represented on the Y-axis. According to this example, at 100 % boiling the most desirable predetermined saline flow rate Q is 2 cc/min. Also according to this example, flow rate Q versus % boiling at the remaining points of the graft illustrates a non-linear relationship as follows: TABLE 1 % Boiling and Flow Rate Q (cc/min) at RF Power P of 75 watts 0% 17.4 10% 9.8 20% 6.8 30% 5.2 40% 4.3 50% 3.6 60% 3.1 70% 2.7 80% 2.4 90% 2.2 100% 2.0 Typical RF generators used in the field have a monopolar power selector switch to 300 watts of power, and on occasion some have been found to be selectable up to 400 watts of power. In conformance with the above methodology, at 0% boiling with a corresponding power of 300 watts, the calculated flow rate Q is 69.7 cc/min and with a corresponding power of 400 watts the calculated flow rate Q is 92.9 cc/min. Thus, when used with typical RF generators in the field, a fluid flow rate Q of about 100 cc/min or less with the present invention is expected to suffice for the vast majority of applications. As discussed herein, RF power delivery to tissue can be unpredictable and vary with time, even though the generator has been “set” to a fixed wattage. The schematic graph of FIG. 6 shows the general trends of the output curve of a typical general-purpose generator, with the output power changing as load impedance Z changes. Load impedance Z (in ohms) is represented on the X-axis, and generator output power P (in watts) is represented on the Y-axis. In the illustrated embodiment, the electrosurgical power (RF) is set to 75 watts in a bipolar mode. As shown in the figure, the power will remain constant as it was set as long as the impedance Z stays between two cut-offs, low and high, of impedance, that is, for example, between 50 ohms and 300 ohms in the illustrated embodiment. Below load impedance Z of 50 ohms, the power P will decrease, as shown by the low impedance ramp 28a. Above load impedance Z of 300 ohms, the power P will decrease, as shown by the high impedance ramp 28b. This change in output is invisible to the user of the generator and not evident when the generator is in use, such as in an operating room. FIG. 7 shows the general trend of how tissue impedance generally changes with time for saline-enhanced electrosurgery. As tissue heats up, the temperature coefficient of the tissue and saline in the cells is such that the tissue impedance decreases until a steady-state temperature is reached upon which time the impedance remains constant. Thus, as tissue heats up, the load impedance Z decreases, potentially approaching the impedance Z cut-off of 50 ohms. If tissue is sufficiently heated, such that the low impedance cut-off is passed, the power P decreases along the lines of the low impedance ramp 28a of FIG. 6. Combining the effects shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, it becomes clear that when using a general-purpose generator set to a “fixed” power, the actual power delivered can change dramatically over time as tissue heats up and impedance drops. Looking at FIG. 6, if the impedance Z drops from 100 to 75 ohms over time, the power output would not change because the curve is “flat” in that region of impedances. If, however, the impedance Z drops from 75 to 30 ohms one would transgress the low impedance cut-off and “turn the corner” onto the low impedance ramp 28a portion of the curve and the power output would decrease dramatically. According to one exemplary embodiment of the invention, the control device, such as flow rate controller 11, receives a signal indicating the drop in actual power delivered to the tissue and adjusts the flow rate Q of saline to maintain the tissue/electrode interface at a desired temperature. In a preferred embodiment, the drop in actual power P delivered is sensed by the power measurement device 8 (shown in FIG. 1), and the flow rate Q of saline is decreased by flow rate controller 11 (also shown in FIG. 1). Preferably, this reduction in saline flow rate Q allows the tissue temperature to stay as hot as possible without desiccation. If the control device was not in operation and the flow rate Q allowed to remain higher, the tissue would be over-cooled at the lower power input. This would result in decreasing the temperature of the tissue at the treatment site and lead to longer treatment time. Flow rate controller 11 of FIG. 1 can include a delay mechanism, such as a timer, to automatically keep the saline flow on for several seconds after the RF is turned off to provide a post-coagulation cooling of the tissue or “quench,” which can increase the strength of the tissue seal. Flow rate controller 11 can also include a delay mechanism, such as a timer, to automatically turn on the saline flow several seconds before the RF is turned on to inhibit the possibility of undesirable effects as tissue desiccation, electrode sticking, char formation and smoke production. Optionally, flow rate controller 11 can include a low level flow standby mechanism, such as a valve, which continues the saline flow at a standby flow level (which prevents the flow rate from going to zero when the RF power is turned off) below the surgical flow level ordinarily encountered during use of the electrosurgical device 5. An exemplary electrosurgical device of the present invention which may be used in conjunction with the system of the present invention is shown at reference character 5a in FIG. 9, and more particularly in FIGS. 9-13. While various electrosurgical devices of the present invention are described with reference to use with the remainder of the system of the invention, it should be understood that the description of the combination is for purposes of illustrating the remainder of the system of the invention only. Consequently, it should be understood that the electrosurgical devices of the present invention can be used alone, or in conjunction with the remainder of the system of the invention, or that a wide variety of electrosurgical devices can be used in connection with the remainder of the system of the invention. The electrosurgical devices disclosed herein are preferably further configured for both open and minimally invasive surgery, such as laparoscopic surgery. For laparoscopic surgery, the devices are preferably configured to fit through either a 5 mm or 12 mm trocar cannula. As shown in FIG. 8, electrosurgical device 5a may be used in conjunction with a cannula as illustrated at reference character 19, during laparoscopic surgery such as, for example, a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Cannula 19 comprises a proximal portion 19a separated from a distal portion 19b by an elongated rigid shaft portion 19c. Proximal portion 19a of cannula 19 preferably comprises a head portion 19d connected to rigid shaft portion 19c, preferably by threaded engagement. Most importantly, cannula 19 has a working channel 19e which extends through head portion 19d and shaft portion 19c from proximal portion 19a to distal portion 19b of cannula 19. In one particular embodiment, during insertion into cannula 19, electrosurgical device 5a is configured to enter the proximal end of working channel 19e, move along the channel 19e distally, and then be extended from the distal end of the working channel 19e. In the same embodiment, during retraction from cannula 19, electrosurgical device 5a is configured to enter the distal end of working channel 19e, move along the channel 19e proximally, and then be removed from the proximal end of working channel 19e. Referring back to FIG. 9, as shown electrosurgical device 5a is a monopolar electrosurgical device. Electrosurgical device 5a preferably includes a rigid, self-supporting, hollow shaft 17, a proximal handle comprising mating handle portions 20a, 20b and a tip portion as shown by circle 45. Handle 20a, 20b is preferably made of a sterilizable, rigid, non-conductive material, such as a polymer (e.g., polycarbonate). As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, tip portion 45 includes a contact element preferably comprising an electrode 25 which, as shown, comprises a solid ball having a smooth, uninterrupted surface. Tip portion 45 also comprises a sleeve 82 having a uniform diameter along its longitudinal length, a spring 88 and a distal portion of shaft 17. As shown in FIG. 10, the longitudinal axis 31 of the tip portion 45 may be configured at an angle A relative to the longitudinal axis 29 of the proximal remainder of shaft 17. Preferably, angle A is about 5 degrees to 90 degrees, and more preferably, angle A is about 8 degrees to 45 degrees. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, for electrosurgical device 5a, electrode 25 generally has a spherical shape with a corresponding spherical surface, a portion 42 of which is exposed to tissue 32 at the distal end of device 5a. When electrode 25 is in the form of a sphere, the sphere may have any suitable diameter. Typically, the sphere has a diameter in the range between and including about 1 mm to about 7 mm, although it has been found that when a sphere is larger than about 4 mm or less than about 2 mm tissue treatment can be adversely effected (particularly tissue treatment time) due to an electrode surface that is respectively either to large or to small. Thus, preferably the sphere has a diameter in the range between and including about 2.5 mm to about 3.5 mm, more preferably, about 3 mm. It is understood that shapes other than a sphere can be used for the contact element. Examples of such shapes include oblong or elongated shapes. However, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, preferably a distal end surface of electrosurgical device 5a provides a blunt, rounded surface which is non-pointed and non-sharp as shown by electrode 25. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, electrode 25, is preferably located in a cavity 81 of a cylindrical sleeve 82 providing a receptacle for electrode 25. Among other things, sleeve 82 guides movement of electrode 25. Among other things, sleeve 82 also functions as a housing for retaining electrode 25. Also as shown in FIG. 11, a portion 44 of electrode 25, is retained within cavity 81 while another portion 43 extends distally through the fluid outlet opening provided by circular fluid exit hole 26. Also as shown, sleeve 82 is connected, preferably via welding with silver solder, to the distal end 53 of shaft 17. For device 5a, electrode 25, sleeve 82 and shaft 17 preferably include, and more preferably are made at least almost essentially of, an electrically conductive metal, which is also preferably non-corrosive. A preferred material is stainless steel. Other suitable metals include titanium, gold, silver and platinum. Shaft 17 preferably is stainless steel hypo-tubing. As for cavity 81, the internal diameter of cavity 81 surrounding electrode 25 is preferably slightly larger than the diameter of the sphere, typically by about 0.25 mm. This permits the sphere to freely rotate within cavity 81. Consequently, cavity 81 of sleeve 82 also preferably has a diameter in the range of about 1 mm to about 7 mm. As best shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, in order to retain electrode 25, within the cavity 81 of sleeve 82, preferably the fluid exit hole 26, which ultimately provides a fluid outlet opening, of cavity 81 at its distal end 83 comprises a distal pinched region 86 which is reduced to a size smaller than the diameter of electrode 25, to inhibit escape of electrode 25 from sleeve 82. More preferably, the fluid exit hole 26 has a diameter smaller than the diameter of electrode 25. As best shown in FIG. 12, fluid exit hole 26 preferably has a diameter smaller than the diameter of electrode 25, which can be accomplished by at least one crimp 84 located at the distal end 83 of sleeve 82 which is directed towards the interior of sleeve 82 and distal to the portion 44 of electrode 25 confined in cavity 81. Where one crimp 84 is employed, crimp 84 may comprise a single continuous circular rim pattern. In this manner, the contact element portion extending distally through the fluid outlet opening (i.e., electrode portion 43) provided by fluid exit hole 26 has a complementary shape to the fluid outlet opening provided by fluid exit hole 26, here both circular. As shown in FIG. 12, crimp 84 may have a discontinuous circular rim pattern where crimp 84 is interrupted by at least one rectangular hole slot 85 formed at the distal end 83 of sleeve 82. Thus, the fluid outlet opening located at the distal end of the device 5a may comprise a first portion (e.g., the circular fluid exit hole portion 26) and a second portion (e.g., the slot fluid exit hole portion 85). As shown in FIG. 12, preferably, crimp 84 comprises at least four crimp sections forming a circular rim pattern separated by four discrete slots 85 radially located there between at 90 degrees relative to one another and equally positioned around the fluid outlet opening first portion. Slots 85 are preferably used to provide a fluid outlet opening or exit adjacent electrode 25, when electrode 25 is fully seated (as discussed below) and/or when electrode 25 is not in use (i.e., not electrically charged) to keep surface portion 42 of the electrode surface of electrode 25 wet. Preferably, slots 85 have a width in the range between and including about 0.1 mm to 1 mm, and more preferably about 0.2 mm to 0.3 mm. As for length, slots 85 preferably have a length in the range between and including about 0.1 mm to 1 mm, and more preferably bout 0.4 mm to 0.6 mm. As shown in FIG. 12, the contact element portion extending distally through the fluid outlet opening (i.e., electrode portion 43) extends distally through the fluid outlet opening first portion (e.g., the circular fluid exit hole portion 26) and does not extend distally through the fluid outlet opening second portion (e.g., the slot fluid exit hole portion 85). In this manner an edge 91 of slot 85 remains exposed to tissue 32 to provide a tissue separating edge as discussed below. It should be understood that the particular geometry of fluid outlet opening provided by the fluid exit hole located at the distal end of device 5a to the electrode is not critical to the invention, and all that is required is the presence of a fluid exit hole which provides fluid 24 as required. For example, fluid exit hole 26 may have an oval shape while electrode 25 has a different shape, such as a round shape. As shown in FIG. 12, in addition to slot 85 providing a fluid exit, at least one edge 91 of slot 85 may provide a tissue separating edge adjacent a blunt surface (e.g., surface portion 42 of electrode 25) which may be used for blunt dissection when the electrosurgical device 5a is manipulated, particularly by rotating (e.g., twirling), abrading or impacting. When edge 91 is used in such regard, it is preferred that the edge comprise a sharp edge with a sharp angle which has not been rounded by, for example, a fillet. Turning to the proximal end of the tip (comprising electrode 25, spring 88 and sleeve 82) of the device 5a, as shown in FIG. 11, preferably the portion of sleeve 82 proximal to electrode 25, also has a proximal pinched region 87 which retains electrode 25 in the cavity 81 of sleeve 82 and inhibits escape of electrode 25 from the cavity 81 of sleeve 82, such as a diameter smaller than the diameter of electrode 25. While distal pinched region 86 and proximal pinched region 87 may be used solely to support electrode 25, in its position of use, the electrode may be further supported by a compression spring 88 as shown in FIG. 11. The use of spring 88 is preferred to provide a variable length support within the working length of the spring 88 for overcoming manufacturing tolerances (e.g., length) between the fixed supports (i.e., pinched regions 86 and 87) of sleeve 82. As for maintaining proper location of the spring 88, sleeve 82 also comprises a lumen 89 as shown in FIG. 11, which, in addition to providing a direct passage for fluid, provides a guide tube for spring 88. Furthermore, the surface portion 60 of electrode 25, which contacts spring 88 may have a flat surface rather than a curvilinear surface to better seat the spring against electrode 25. In addition to the above, spring 88 provides a multitude of functions and advantages. For example, the configuration of the distal pinched region 86, proximal pinched region 87 and spring 88 offers the ability to move electrode 25 distally and proximally within sleeve 82. As shown in FIG. 11, spring 88 is located proximal to electrode 25 between a first load bearing surface comprising the electrode surface 60 and a second load bearing surface comprising the distal end 53 of shaft 17. In this manner, spring 88 can be configured to provide a decompression force to seat electrode 25 against the distal pinched region 86, in this case the perimeter edge 92 of crimp 84, prior to use of electrosurgical device 5a. Conversely, upon application of electrode 25 against surface 22 of tissue 32 with sufficient force to overcome the compression force of the spring 88, spring 88 compresses and electrode 25 retracts proximally away from distal pinched region 86, in this case perimeter edge 92 of crimp 84, changing the position thereof. In the above manner, the contact element comprising electrode 25 is retractable into the cavity 81 of the housing provided by sleeve 82 upon the application of a proximally directed force against surface 42 of the portion 43 of electrode 25 extending distally beyond the distal opening 26 located at the distal end 83 of the housing and spring 88 functions as a retraction biasing member. By making electrode 25 positionable in the above manner via spring 88, electrosurgical device 5a can be provided with a damper mechanism which dampens the force of electrode 25 on tissue 32 being treated. Furthermore, electrode 25 which can be positioned as outlined above can comprise a fluid flow rate adjustment mechanism which incrementally increases the area of fluid exit hole 26 and the corresponding fluid flow rate in response to the incremental proximal retraction of electrode 25. In such an instance, electrode 25 functions as a valve by regulating flow of fluid 24 through fluid exit hole 26. In various embodiments, spring 88 may be used in conjunction with the distal pinched region 86 (e.g., crimp 84 comprising a single continuous circular pattern) to provide a fluid seal between electrode 25 and the distal pinched region 86 which stops fluid flow from the electrosurgical device 5a. In this manner, the electrosurgical device 5a may be used to provide both a wet electrode and dry electrode (i.e., when the fluid flow is on and off, respectively) with the energy and fluid provided sequentially as opposed to simultaneously. Furthermore, in various embodiments of electrosurgical device 5a, an electrode 25 which can be positioned as outlined above can include a declogging mechanism. Such a mechanism can retract to provide access for unclogging fluid exit holes (e.g., 26 and 85), which may become flow restricted as a result of loose debris (e.g., tissue, blood, coagula) becoming lodged therein. For example, when a biasing force, such as from a handheld cleaning device (e.g., brush) or from pushing the distal tip against a hard surface such as a retractor, is applied to surface 42 of electrode 25 which overcomes the compression force of the spring 88 causing the spring 88 to compress and electrode 25 to retract, the tip of the handheld cleaning device may by extended into the fluid exit hole 26 for cleaning the fluid exit hole 26, perimeter edge 92, slot 85 and edge 91. Stated another way, electrode 25, which can be positioned as outlined, provides a methodology for declogging a fluid exit hole by increasing the cross-sectional area of the fluid exit hole to provide access thereto. Additionally, in various embodiments of device 5a, spring 88 comprises an electrical conductor, particularly when electrode 25, is retracted to a non-contact position (i.e., not in contact) with sleeve 82. In other embodiments, proximal pinched region 87 may comprise one or more crimps similar to distal pinched region 86, such that electrode 25 is retained in sleeve 82 both distally and proximally by the crimps. Also, in other embodiments, sleeve 82 may be disposed within shaft 17 rather than being connected to the distal end 53 of shaft 17. Also, in still other embodiments, sleeve 82 may be formed unitarily (i.e., as a single piece or unit) with shaft 17 as a unitary piece. As best shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, electrode 25 is retained in sleeve 82 with a portion 43 of electrode 25 extending distally beyond distal end 83 of sleeve 82. As shown, preferably the surface 42 of this exposed portion 43 of electrode 25 is blunt and does not have any sharp corners. Also, the portion 43 of electrode 25 which extends distally beyond the distal end 83 of sleeve 82 is controlled by the shape of the fluid exit hole 26 in sleeve 82 in relation to the shape of electrode 25. In other words, the portion 43 of electrode 25 that extends distally beyond distal end 83 of sleeve 82 is controlled by the contact of the electrode surface with the edge 92. In locations where shaft 17 and sleeve 82 are electrically conductive (for device 5a, preferably shaft 17 and sleeve 82 are completely electrically conductive and do not comprise non-conductive portions) an electrical insulator 90 (i.e., comprising non-conductive or insulating material) preferably surrounds shaft 17 and sleeve 82 along substantially its entire exposed length (e.g., the portion outside the confines of the handle 20), terminating a short distance (e.g., at the proximal onset of crimp 84 or less than about 3 mm) from distal end 83 of sleeve 82. Insulator 90 preferably comprises a shrink wrap polymer tubing. As with the other electrosurgical devices described within, a input fluid line 4b and a power source, preferably comprising generator 6 preferably providing RF power via cable 9, are preferably fluidly and electrically coupled, respectively, to the tip portion 45 of the electrosurgical device 5a. As indicated above, device 5a comprises a monopolar device. For electrosurgical device 5a, electrode 25 provides an active electrode, while a ground pad dispersive electrode 125 (shown in FIG. 45) located on the patient, typically on the back or other suitable anatomical location, provides a return electrode. Preferably, both electrodes are electrically coupled to generator 6 to form an isolated electrical circuit. Preferably the active electrode is coupled to generator 6 via a wire conductor from insulated wire cable 9 to the outer surface 18 of shaft 17 within the confines of handle 20a, 20b, typically through a switch such as 15a. Switch 15a preferably comprises a dome switch having two electrical contacts. The contacts preferably comprise upper and lower contacts disposed on a platform in overlying relationship. Preferably the upper contact comprises a dome shaped configuration overlying and spaced from the lower contact which is flat. Preferably the contacts are spaced from one another by virtue of the domed configuration of the upper contact when the switch 15a is in an undepressed position, thus creating an open control circuit relative to switch 15a. However, when the upper contact is pressed into a depressed position, the upper contact comes into contact with the lower contact thus closing the hand switch control circuit. The presence of the closed control circuit is then sensed by generator 6 which then provides power to the electrode 25. When a depression force is removed from the upper contact, the contact returns to its undepressed domed position as a result of its resiliency or elastic memory, thus returning switch 15a to its undepressed position and reopening the hand control circuit. The presence of the open control circuit is then sensed by the generator which then stops providing power to electrode 25. In some embodiments, shaft 17 may be made of an electrical non-conducting material except for a portion at its distal end 53 that comes in contact with sleeve 82. This portion of shaft 17 that contacts sleeve 82 should be electrically conducting. In this embodiment, the wire conductor from insulated wire cable 9 extends to this electrically conducting portion of shaft 17. In still other embodiments, shaft 17 may completely comprise a non-conducting material as where the wire conductor from insulated wire cable 9 extends directly to sleeve 32. With respect to the fluid coupling, fluid 24 from the fluid source 1 preferably is communicated from fluid source 1 through a flexible, polyvinylchloride (PVC) outlet fluid line 4a to a flexible, polyvinylchloride (PVC) inlet fluid line 4b connected to electrosurgical device 5a. Outlet fluid line 4a and inlet fluid line 4b are preferably connected via a male and female mechanical fastener configuration; a preferred such connection is a Luer-Lok® connection from Becton, Dickinson and Company. The lumen of the inlet line is then preferably interference fit over the outside diameter of shaft 17 to provide a press fit seal there between. An adhesive may be used there between to strengthen the seal. Fluid 24 is then communicated down lumen 23 of shaft 17 through lumen 89 and cavity 81 of sleeve 82 where it is expelled from around and on the exposed surface 42 of electrode 25. This provides a wet electrode for performing electrosurgery. As shown in FIG. 13, during use of electrosurgical device 5a, typically a fluid coupling 30 preferably comprising a discrete, localized web and more preferably comprising a triangular shaped web or bead portion providing a film of fluid 24 is provided between surface 22 of tissue 32 and electrode 25. When the user of electrosurgical device 5a places electrode 25 at a tissue treatment site and moves electrode 25 across the surface 22 of the tissue 32, fluid 24 is expelled around and on surface 42 of electrode 25 at the distal end 83 of sleeve 82 and onto the surface 22 of the tissue 32 via coupling 30. The fluid 24, in addition to providing an electrical coupling between electrosurgical device 5a and tissue 32, lubricates surface 22 of tissue 32 and facilitates the movement of electrode 25 across surface 22 of tissue 32. During movement of electrode 25, electrode 25 typically slides across surface 22 of tissue 32, but also may rotate as electrode 25 moves across surface 22 of tissue 32. Typically the user of the electrosurgical device 5a slides the electrode across surface 22 of tissue 32 back and forth with a painting motion while using fluid 24 as, among other things, a lubricating coating. Preferably the thickness of the fluid 24 between the distal end surface of electrode 25 and surface 22 of tissue 32 at the outer edge of the coupling 30 is in the range between and including about 0.05 mm to 1.5 mm, more preferably in the range between and including about 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm. Also preferably, in certain embodiments, the distal end tip of electrode 25 contacts surface 22 of tissue 32 without any fluid 24 in between. Another exemplary electrosurgical device is shown at reference character 5b in FIGS. 14-16. In this embodiment, electrical insulator 90 preferably terminates proximally to sleeve 82 where sleeve 82 is connected to the distal end 53 of shaft 17. In certain embodiments where sleeve 82 is formed unitary shaft 17, electrical insulator 90 preferably terminates proximally to proximal pinched region 87. In this manner, in addition to the spherical surface portion 42 of electrode 25 and the narrowing surface portion 41, here conical, of sleeve 82 being used for treating tissue 32 when exposed thereto, a cylindrical surface 40 of a cylindrical portion 39 of sleeve 82 and a broadening surface portion 47 of broadening portion 54, here both conical, of sleeve 82 also function as electrode surfaces for treating tissue. Thus, the electrode exposed to tissue 32 now comprises a cylindrical surface portion 40 and a broadening surface portion 47 in addition to the spherical surface portion 42 and the narrowing surface portion 41, with the cylindrical surface portion 40 substantially increasing the surface area of the electrode. As a result, electrode 25 has surfaces which are parallel and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 31 of tip portion 45, and more particularly, sleeve 82 of electrosurgical device 5b. In the above manner, front end use (e.g., surfaces 41 and 42), sideways use (e.g., surface 40 and 47), or oblique use (e.g., surfaces 40, 41 and 42) of electrosurgical device 5b is facilitated. In the above manner, tip portion 45 now includes a first tissue treating surface (e.g., distal end spherical surface 42) and a second tissue treating surface (e.g., side surface 40). As discussed above, preferably the first tissue treating surface is configured for blunt dissection while the second tissue treating surface is configured for coagulation. Additionally, tip portion 45 also has a third tissue treating surface (e.g., surface 41) located between the first tissue treating surface (e.g., surface 42) and a second tissue treating surface (e.g., surface 40). Furthermore, tip portion 45 also has a fourth tissue treating surface (e.g., surface 47) located proximal and adjacent to surface 40. With device 5a, when electrode 25 is placed directly in contact with surface 22 of tissue 32, tissue 32 may occlude fluid flow from fluid exit holes 26, 85 located at the distal end of device 5a. Consequently, for device 5b fluid exit holes 93, 94 may be located in the cylindrical side portion 39 of sleeve 82, either proximal or adjacent to electrode 25, and either in addition to or as an alternative to fluid exit holes 26, 85. As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, at least one fluid exit hole 93 is preferably formed in the cylindrical longitudinal side surface 40 and through the wall of side portion 39 of sleeve 82 adjacent to electrode 25 when electrode 25 is fully seated. Furthermore, preferably at least one fluid exit hole 94 is formed in the cylindrical side portion 39 of sleeve 82 proximal to electrode 25 when electrode 25 is fully seated. Preferably, holes 93, 94 each has more than one hole which are equally spaced radially in a circular pattern around the longitudinal axis 31 of tip portion 45, and more particularly sleeve 82. More preferably, holes 93, 94 each comprise four discrete holes equally spaced 90 degrees around the cylindrical side portion 39 of sleeve 82. Preferably holes 93, 94 have a diameter in the range between and including about 0.1 mm to 1.0 mm, and more preferably have a length in the range between and including about 0.2 mm to 0.6 mm. Electrode 25, which can be positioned as outlined above, can comprise not only a valve for regulating fluid flow from the fluid exit holes, such as fluid exit hole 26, but also comprise a valve which, while opening one fluid flow exit, simultaneously closes another fluid flow exit. For example, as electrode 25 retracts proximally, fluid exit hole 26 is opened while fluid exit hole 93 is closed. Stated another way, an electrode 25 which can be positioned as outlined above can provide a mechanism for altering the size and/or location of the fluid exit holes during use of electrosurgical device 5b which may be necessary, for example, to direct fluid to a particular tissue location or balance fluid flow among the fluid exit outlets. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, surfaces 40, 41 and 47 of sleeve 82, and surface 42 of electrode 25 are all active electrode surfaces and can provide electrical energy to tissue 32. Portions of this combined electrode surface can be wet by fluid flow from holes 26, 94 or 93, as well as from the hole slots 85 in crimp 84 adjacent electrode 25. The holes 94, 93 in the cylindrical sleeve 82 of the overall electrode surface are intended to assure that fluid 24 is provided to the smooth, less rough, atraumatic sides of the electrode that may be predominately used for tissue coagulation and hemostasis (e.g., surfaces 40 and 47) rather than blunt dissection (e.g., surfaces 41 and 42). The most distal portion of the device may have a more rough, but also wetted, electrode surface that can blunt dissect as well as coagulate tissue. The electrode configuration shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 is particularly useful to a surgeon performing a liver resection. Once the outer capsule of the liver is scored with a dry bovie blade along the planned line of resection the distal tip of tip portion 45 is painted back and forth along the line, resulting in coagulation of the liver parenchyma beneath the scored capsule. As the tissue is coagulated under and around the electrode surfaces 40, 41 and 42, the electrode is used to blunt dissect into the coagulated parenchyma, with edge 91 of slots 85 around crimp 84 providing roughness elements that aid in disrupting the tissue 32 and enabling the parting of tissue 32. As shown in FIG. 16, the device 5b can be used in a crevice 97 of tissue 32 to blunt dissect tissue 32 and coagulate it at the same time. Blunt dissection is preferred over sharp dissection, such as with a blade or scissors, since blunt dissection is less likely to tear or damage the larger blood vessels or other vessels. Once identified by blunt dissection, very large vessels can be safely clipped, tied with suture or sealed with some other device. If the larger vessels are not thus first “skeletonized” without being damaged by blunt dissection, they may bleed profusely and require much more time to stop the bleeding. The device can also be used to coagulate first without simultaneous blunt dissection, and then blunt dissect in a separate step. This technique can also be used on other parenchymal organs such as the pancreas, the kidney, and the lung. In addition, it may also be useful on muscle tissue and subcutaneous fat. Its use can also extend to benign tumors, cysts or other tissue masses found in the urological or gynecological areas. It would also enable the removal of highly vascularized tumors such as hemangiomas. In FIG. 16 the zone 99 identifies the part of the electrode that has the ability to blunt dissect and coagulate, and the zone 98 identifies the part that is intended primarily for coagulation and hemostasis. The line 100 indicates the depth of the zone of tissue that is coagulated, typically from 3 mm to 5 mm deep. For the devices disclosed herein, the presence of various fractions of boiling can be visually estimated by the naked eye, or by detecting changes in electrical impedance. FIG. 17 shows a graph of electrical impedance Z versus time t. The impedance spikes 101 shown in FIG. 17 occur at a frequency of about 1 cycle per second and with an amplitude that is on the same order as the baseline impedance. This frequency is shown in FIG. 17 as the interval 102 between successive impedance spikes. Impedance is directly measurable by dividing the voltage by the current as previously described. The use of electrical impedance to detect the onset of tissue dessication when impedance rises dramatically as a result of being heated to the point of smoking and charring, but not to detect the presence of boiling, is described above. Shown in FIG. 18 is the qualitative nature of the boiling as the % boiling increases, indicated by the small figures for each of five exemplary “regimes” of boiling. In each small figure a portion of the tip of the tip portion 45 of device 5a is shown in close proximity to tissue 32. As boiling begins in regime 104, there are few small bubbles 37 of vapor in the conductive fluid 24, here saline, of coupling 30. As the percentage of boiling increases at regime 106 there are a larger number of small bubbles 37. As the percentage boiling increases further at regime 107, the bubbles 37 become much larger. At even higher percentage boiling at regime 108 intermittent threads of saline form and are quickly boiled off. Finally, at the highest level of regime 109, drops 36 of saline are instantly boiled upon contacting the hot surface 22 of tissue 32 and arcing occurs from the metal to tissue 32. Returning to FIGS. 14 and 15, fluid outlet openings are provided by substantially linear through holes 93, 94 which provide conductive fluid 24 to the treatment site. However, in an alternative embodiment, as shown in FIG. 19, fluid outlet openings in sleeve 82 may be provided by holes in the form of tortuous and interconnected pathways 59, which are formed in a material pervious to the passage of fluid 24, therethrough, such as a porous material. The discrete, linear through holes 93, 94 may be either supplemented with or replaced by a plurality of tortuous, interconnected pathways 59 formed in the porous material which, among other things, provides porous surfaces 40, 41 and 47 to more evenly distribute fluid flow and provide the conductive fluid 24 to tissue 32 at the treatment site. According to the invention, all or a portion of sleeve 82 may comprise a material pervious to the passage of fluid 24 therethrough as disclosed herein. In certain embodiments, the contact element, here electrode 25 may also comprise a material pervious to the passage of fluid 24, therethrough, such as a porous material (e.g., metal, polymer or ceramic) to provide the tortuous pathways 59. In these embodiments, the porous structure of electrode 25 allows fluid 24 to not only pass around electrode 25 on the outer porous surface 42 to be expelled, but also allows fluid 24 to pass through electrode 25, to be expelled. According to the invention, all or a portion of the electrodes or any particular electrodes for treating tissue 32 may comprise a material pervious to the passage of fluid 24 therethrough as disclosed herein. Where the contact element and sleeve provide electrodes for treating tissue and compromise a porous material, preferably the porous material further comprises porous metal. Porous sintered metal is available in many materials (such as, for example, 316L stainless steel, titanium, Ni-Chrome) and shapes (such as cylinders, discs, plugs) from companies such as Porvair, located in Henderson, N.C. While the electrode provided by contact element and/or sleeve preferably comprises an electrically conductive material such as metal, a non-electrically conductive porous contact element and/or sleeve, such as porous polymers and ceramics, can be used to replace an electrically conductive contact element and/or sleeve. While the porous polymers and ceramics are generally non-conductive, they may also be used to conduct the RF energy through the porous polymer and ceramic thickness and porous surface to the tissue to be treated by virtue of conductive fluid 24 contained within the plurality of interconnected tortuous pathways 59. Preferably the porous material provides for the wicking (i.e., drawing in of fluid by capillary action or capillarity) of the fluid 24 into the pores of the porous material. In order to promote wicking of the fluid 24 into the pores of the porous material, preferably the porous material, and in particular the surface of the tortuous pathways, is hydrophilic. The porous material may be hydrophilic with or without post treating (e.g., plasma surface treatment such as hypercleaning, etching or micro-roughening, plasma surface modification of the molecular structure, surface chemical activation or crosslinking), or made hydrophilic by a coating provided thereto, such as a surfactant. Though not preferable, it is not necessary that fluid coupling 30 of fluid 24 be present in between the metal electrode surfaces (e.g., 40, 41, 42) and tissue 32 at all locations of tissue treatment and there may be points of direct tissue contact by the electrode surfaces without any fluid coupling 30 therebetween. In such an instance, the convective cooling of the metal electrode by flowing saline is often sufficient to keep the metal electrode and tissue contacting the metal electrode at or below a temperature of 100° C. In other words, heat may be also first dissipated from tissue 32 to the electrodes by conduction, then dissipated from the electrodes to the fluid 24 by convection. Preferably the relationship between the material for electrodes particularly their surfaces (e.g., 40, 41, 42, 47), and fluid 24 throughout the various embodiments should be such that the fluid 24 wets the surface of the electrodes to form a continuous thin film coating thereon (for example, see FIG. 21) and does not form isolated rivulets or circular beads (e.g., with a contact angle, θ greater than 90 degrees) which freely run off the surface of the electrode. Contact angle, θ, is a quantitative measure of the wetting of a solid by a liquid. It is defined geometrically as the angle formed by a liquid at the three phase boundary where a liquid, gas and solid intersect. In terms of the thermodynamics of the materials involved, contact angle θ involves the interfacial free energies between the three phases given by the equation γLV cos θ=γSV−γSL where γLV, γSV and γSL refer to the interfacial energies of the liquid/vapor, solid/vapor and solid/liquid interfaces, respectively. If the contact angle θ is less than 90 degrees the liquid is said to wet the solid. If the contact angle is greater than 90 degrees the liquid is non-wetting. A zero contact angle θ represents complete wetting. Thus, preferably the contact angle is less than 90 degrees. For clarification, while it is known that the contact angle θ may be defined by the preceding equation, in reality, contact angle θ is determined by various models, to an approximation. According to the publication entitled “Surface Energy Calculations” (dated Sep. 13, 2001) from First Ten Angstroms (465 Dinwiddie Street, Portsmouth, Va. 23704), there are five models which are widely used to approximate contact angle θ and a number of others which have small followings. The five predominate models and their synonyms are: (1) Zisman critical wetting tension; (2) Girifalco, Good, Fowkes, Young combining rule; (3) Owens, Wendt geometric mean; (4) Wu harmonic mean; and (5) Lewis acid/base theory. Also according to the First Ten Angstroms publication, for well-known, well characterized surfaces, there can be a 25% difference in the answers provided for the contact angle θ by the models. Also for clarification, any one of the five predominate models above which calculates a contact angle θ within a particular range of contact angles θ or the contact angle 74 required of a particular embodiment of the invention should be considered as fulfilling the requirements of the embodiment, even if the remaining four models calculate a contact angle θ which does not fulfill the requirements of the embodiment. The effects of gravity and surface tension tend to wick the fluid 24, here saline, around the circumference of the cylindrical sleeve 82 to preferably cover the entire active electrode surface. More specifically, the effects of gravity and surface tension on fluid 24 which is located on the electrode surfaces may be modeled by the Bond number NBO. Bond number NBO measures the relationship of gravitational forces to surface tension forces and may be expressed as: NBO=ρL2g/σ (7) where: ρ=Density of the saline fluid (approximately 1.0 gm/cm3); L=Droplet diameter (cm); g=Gravitational acceleration (980 cm/s2); and ν=Surface tension (approximately 72.8 dynes/cm @20° C.) For a Bond number NBO=1, the droplet diameter is equal to about 0.273 cm or about 2.7 mm, which is in the same order of magnitude as the preferred size of the electrode. For the purposes of the present invention, preferably Bond number NBO for a droplet of fluid 24 on a surface of electrode 25 is preferably less than 1. Another tip portion of an exemplary electrosurgical device 5c of the present invention which may be used in conjunction with the system of the present invention is shown at reference character 45 in FIGS. 20-24. As best shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, the separate sleeve 82 of embodiments 5a and 5b has been eliminated from tip portion 45 of device 5e. Consequently, the contact element, still preferably comprising an electrode 25, is assembled directly with the shaft 17. Electrode 25 is preferably assembled (e.g., mechanically connected via press fit, mechanical connector, threaded, welded, adhesively bonded) adjacent the distal end 53 of shaft 17. In certain embodiments, electrode 25 preferably is detachably assembled to the shaft 17 such that it may be removed from the shaft 17, preferably manually by human hand, so that the shaft 17 may be used with multiple different contact elements/electrodes, or the shaft 17 may be reuseable and used with disposable contact elements/electrodes. As shown in FIGS. 20-24, electrode 25 preferably comprises an enlarged head portion comprising a spherical portion 43 and a corresponding spherical surface portion 42 located at the distal end of the device 5c which provide a smooth, blunt contour outer surface. More specifically, as shown, the spherical portion 43 and spherical surface portion 42 further provide a domed, hemisphere (i.e., less than a full sphere) and hemispherical surface portion comprising preferably about 180 degrees. Also as shown in FIGS. 20-24, the enlarged head portion of electrode 25 preferably also comprises a cylindrical portion 39 and a corresponding cylindrical surface portion 40 located proximal and adjacent to the spherical portion 43 and spherical surface portion 42, respectively. Further continuing with FIGS. 20-24, electrode 25 preferably comprises a connector portion, preferably comprising a shank 46, which connects the remainder of electrode 25 to the shaft 17. Among other things, the connector portion of electrode 25 is preferably configured to form a connection with a mating connector portion of the shaft 17. As shown, preferably the shank portion 46 is configured to extend into cavity 50 of shaft 17 which comprises a cylindrical receptacle and provides the mating connector portion for shank 46. More preferably, surface 48 of the shank portion 46 is configured to mate against and form an interference fit with surface 52 of cavity 50 to provide the connection. Continuing with FIGS. 20-24, shank portion 46 is preferably cylindrical and located proximal and adjacent to a neck portion 56. As shown, neck portion 56 comprises a cylindrical portion 57 (having a corresponding cylindrical surface portion 58) and a broadening portion 54 (having a corresponding broadening surface portion 47). Here broadening portion 54 and corresponding broadening surface portion 47 are both spherical, and more specifically comprise a domed, hemisphere and hemispherical surface portion comprising preferably about 180 degrees, located proximal and adjacent to the cylindrical portion 39 and cylindrical surface portion 40. Preferably, cylindrical portion 39 has a diameter in the range between and including about 1 mm to about 7 mm, although it has been found that when cylindrical portion 39 is larger than about 4 mm or less than about 2 mm, tissue treatment can be adversely effected (particularly tissue treatment time) due to an electrode surface that is respectively either to large or to small. Thus, preferably the cylindrical portion 39 has a diameter in the range between and including about 2.5 mm to about 3.5 mm, and more preferably, about 3 mm. With respect to length, preferably cylindrical portion 39 has a length in the range between and including about 2 mm to about 8 mm, and more preferably has a length in the range between and including about 3 mm to about 5 mm. Even more preferably, cylindrical portion 39 has a length of about 4.5 mm. As shown in FIGS. 20-24, the cylindrical portion 57 of neck portion 56 preferably has a cross-sectional dimension, here diameter, greater than the cross-sectional dimension, here also diameter, of the shank 46. In this manner, in certain embodiments, the proximal end of the neck portion 56 may be located adjacent and in contact with the distal end 53 of shaft 17. Preferably, cylindrical portion 57 has a diameter in the range between and including about 2 mm to about 2.5 mm and the shank 46 has a diameter in the range between and including about 1.4 mm to about 1.9 mm. More preferably, cylindrical portion 57 has a diameter of about 2.2 mm and the shank 46 has a diameter of about 1.6 mm. With respect to length, preferably cylindrical portion 57 has a length in the range between and including about 1 mm to about 8 mm, and more preferably has a length in the range between and including about 3 mm to about 5 mm. Even more preferably, cylindrical portion 57 has a length of about 4 mm. Shank 46 preferably has a length in the range between and including about 2 mm to about 6 mm, and more preferably has a length in the range between and including about 2.5 mm to about 5 mm. Even more preferably, shank 46 has a length of about 3 mm. Also as shown in FIGS. 20-24, electrode 25 comprises at least one recess 64 which provides an elongated fluid flow channel for the distribution of fluid 24. The use of device 5c, and in particular recesses 64, for the distribution of fluid 24 is generally preferred to the fluid exit holes 93, 94 of device 5b in particularly deep tissue crevices 97. As shown, electrode 25 preferably comprises a plurality of longitudinally directed recesses 64 and, more specifically, four recesses 64 equally spaced 90 degrees around the shank 46 and/or neck portion 56, both proximal of cylindrical portion 39. As best shown in FIG. 24, in certain embodiments, the recess 64 may comprise a first side wall 64a, a second opposing side wall 64b, and a bottom wall 64c. Preferably, recess 64 has a width in the range between and including about 0.1 mm to about 0.6 mm, and more preferably has a width of about 0.4 mm. In use, when tissue 32 overlies and occludes the fluid outlet opening 55 of recess 64 for a portion of its longitudinal length, thus inhibiting fluid 24 from exiting therefrom, fluid 24 from recess 64 may still be expelled from the electrosurgical device 5c after flowing longitudinally in the channel 64 to a remote location where the channel 64 is unoccluded and uninhibited to fluid flow exiting therefrom. On very rare occasion, it may be possible that the recess 64 may be occluded by tissue 32 completely along its longitudinal length, thus completely inhibiting fluid flow from exiting through opening 55. In order to overcome this problem, at least a portion of electrode 25 may comprise a material pervious to the passage of fluid 24, therethrough, such as a porous material described above. Of the monopolar devices disclosed herein, device 5c has been found to be particularly useful to a surgeon performing a liver resection. Once the outer capsule of the liver is scored with a dry bovie blade along the planned line of resection, the distal tip of tip portion 45 is painted back and forth along the line, with radio frequency power and the flow of fluid 24 on, resulting in coagulation of the liver parenchyma. Once the tissue is coagulated under and around the electrode surface 42 and, as the device 5c enters crevice 97 as shown in FIG. 22, surfaces 40 and 42 of electrode 25 are used to blunt dissect the coagulated parenchyma. Blunt dissection of the coagulated parenchyma is performed by continuous abrading or splitting apart of the parenchyma with the substantially the same back and forth motion as coagulation and with the device 5c being held substantially in the same orientation as for coagulation of the liver parenchyma. However, with blunt dissection, the surgeon typically applies more force to the tissue. In various embodiments, once the liver parenchyma is coagulated, blunt dissection may be performed with or without the radio frequency power (i.e., on or off) and/or with or without the presence of fluid 24. As shown in FIG. 25, in another embodiment of the electrosurgical device of the present invention, as shown at reference character 5d in FIG. 25, the walls 64a, 64b of recess 64, surface 48 of the shank portion 46, and/or the surfaces of the neck portion 56 of electrode 25 may be porous and connected by a plurality of tortuous pathways 59 in the porous material. Consequently, rather than flowing out of recess 64 from a direct fluid outlet opening 55, which may be occluded by tissue 32, the fluid 24 may exit indirectly from recess 64 by first flowing through tortuous pathways 59 of electrode 25 from side walls 64a, 64b of the recess 64 and then exit electrode 25 from surface 58, which may be in unoccluded by tissue 32. Alternatively, if adjacent surface 58 of electrode 25 is also occluded by tissue 32, the fluid 24 may continue to flow through tortuous pathways 59 of electrode 25 and exit electrode 25 from a surface 64a, 64b of a recess 64 or surface such as 40, 42, 47 or 58 which may be in unoccluded by tissue 32. Where electrode 25 comprises a porous material, recess 64 may be either supplemented with or replaced by the plurality of tortuous, interconnected passages 59 formed in the porous material as shown in FIG. 25. All or a portion of the electrodes can be porous according to the invention. In other embodiments of the invention, recess 64 may comprise cross-sectional shapes other than rectangular shapes. For example, as shown in FIGS. 26-28 recess 64 comprises a semi-circular shape, a V-shape, or a U-shape respectively, or any combination thereof. Returning to FIG. 21, in order to facilitate direct fluid communication of recess 64 with lumen 23 of shaft 17, preferably recesses 64 of device 5c are initiated within the confines of shaft 17. In other words, within the cavity 50 of shaft 17 proximal to distal end 53. As indicated above, the use of device 5c, and in particular recesses 64, for the distribution of fluid 24 is generally preferred to the fluid exit holes 93, 94 of device 5b in deep tissue crevices 97 where tissue 32 can occlude fluid flow from the fluid exit holes 93, 94 located in the cylindrical portion 39 of electrode 25. Also, since holes 93, 94 are not presented with a declogging mechanism, such as provided for such as fluid exit holes 26 and 85, holes such as 93, 94 that can be simply occluded by ordinary tissue/electrode contact will sooner or later become irreversibly clogged. As shown in FIG. 21, with device 5c fluid outlet openings 73 are provided by the structure of electrode 25 (i.e., recesses 64) at the distal end 53 of the shaft 17 which are protected and sheltered from contact and occlusion from surface 22 of tissue 32. Fluid outlet openings 73 of device 5c are protected from occlusion from surface 22 of tissue 32 as the structure of device 5c defining the openings 26 is at least partially configured for non-contact with surface 22 of tissue 32. More specifically, here the structure of the device defining the openings 73 is completely configured for non-contact with surface 22 of tissue 32. Stated another way, the openings 73 are provided on the device 5c at a location removed from the tissue surface 22. Also, as shown, openings 26 are particularly sheltered from occlusion from surface by 22 of tissue 32 by a portion of the shaft 17. Also as shown, openings 73 are formed substantially perpendicular to the surface 22 of tissue 32 and thus turned away from direct contact with surface 22 of tissue 32. Another tip portion of an exemplary electrosurgical device 5e of the present invention which may be used in conjunction with the system of the present invention is shown at reference character 45 in FIGS. 29-30. As shown, the broadening portion 54 has been eliminated and the cylindrical portion 39 has an equal cross-sectional dimension, here diameter, with the neck portion 56. Conversely, for device 5c, the cylindrical portion 39 has a cross-sectional dimension, there also diameter, greater than the cross-sectional dimension, there also diameter, of the neck portion 56. Also as shown, the cylindrical portion 39 further comprises a rectilinear cylindrical portion 39a having a rectilinear cylindrical surface portion 40a and a curvilinear cylindrical portion 39b having a curvilinear cylindrical surface portion 40b. As shown, device 5e comprises the shape of a hockey stick. The cylindrical portion 39 for device 5c may be similarly arranged. Another tip portion of an exemplary electrosurgical device 5f of the present invention which may be used in conjunction with the system of the present invention is shown at reference character 45 in FIGS. 31-32. As shown, the cylindrical portion 39 has a cross-sectional dimension, here diameter, less than the cross-sectional dimension, here also diameter, of the neck portion 56. As shown the neck portion 56 includes a narrowing portion 49 with a corresponding narrowing surface portion 51, here both conical. Also as shown, the cylindrical portion 39 further comprises a rectilinear cylindrical portion 39a having a rectilinear cylindrical surface portion 40a and a curvilinear cylindrical portion 39b having a curvilinear cylindrical surface portion 40b. Furthermore, as shown, the cylindrical portion 39, and more specifically at least one of the rectilinear cylindrical portion 39a and the curvilinear cylindrical portion 39b, comprises a portion of a hook. Preferably, as shown both the rectilinear cylindrical portion 39a and the curvilinear cylindrical portion 39b comprise portions of a hook. As shown, the hook further comprises an L-hook. Another tip portion of an exemplary electrosurgical device 5g of the present invention which may be used in conjunction with the system of the present invention is shown at reference character 45 in FIGS. 33-34. Similar to devices 5c-5f, the separate sleeve 82 of embodiments 5a and 5b has been eliminated from tip portion 45 of device 5g. Consequently, the contact element, still preferably comprising an electrode 25, is assembled directly with the shaft 17. Electrode 25 is preferably assembled (e.g., mechanically connected via a press fit, or interference fit, adjacent the distal end 53 of shaft 17. As shown in FIGS. 33-34, electrode 25 preferably comprises a spherical portion 43 and a corresponding spherical surface portion 42 located at the distal end of the device 5g, which provided a smooth, blunt contour outer surface. More specifically, as shown, the spherical portion 43 and spherical surface portion 42 further provide a domed, hemisphere (i.e., less than a full sphere) and hemispherical surface portion comprising preferably about 180 degrees. Also as shown in FIGS. 33-34, electrode 25 preferably also comprises a narrowing portion 49 and a corresponding narrowing surface portion 51, here both conical, located proximal and adjacent to the spherical portion 43 and spherical surface portion 42, respectively. More preferably, as shown narrowing portion 49 and corresponding narrowing surface portion 51 comprise a conical portion in the form of a concentric cone shape, as opposed to device 5f where the conical portion provided by narrowing portion 49 and a corresponding narrowing surface portion 51 comprises an eccentric cone shape. Thus, in the above manner, spherical portion 43 and spherical surface portion 42 may provide a blunt apex to narrowing portion 49 and a corresponding narrowing surface portion 51, respectively. Continuing with FIGS. 33-34, electrode 25 preferably also comprises a cylindrical portion 39 and a corresponding cylindrical surface portion 40 located proximal and adjacent to the narrowing portion 49 and narrowing surface portion 51, respectively. Similar to devices 5c-5f, electrode 25 preferably comprises a connector portion, preferably comprising a shank 46, which connects the remainder of electrode 25 to the shaft 17. Among other things, the connector portion of electrode 25 is preferably configured to form a connection with a mating connector portion of the shaft 17. As shown, preferably the shank portion 46 is configured to extend into cavity 50 of shaft 17 which comprises a cylindrical receptacle and provides the mating connector portion for shank 46. More preferably, surface 48 of the shank portion 46 is configured to mate against and form an interference fit with surface 52 of cavity 50 to provide the connection. Also similar to devices 5c-5f, shank portion 46 is preferably cylindrical and located proximal and adjacent to a neck portion 56. As shown, similar to device 5c, neck portion 56 comprises a cylindrical portion 57 (having a corresponding cylindrical surface portion 58) and a broadening portion 54 (having a corresponding broadening surface portion 47). Here broadening portion 54 and corresponding broadening surface portion 47 are both spherical, and more specifically comprise a domed, hemisphere and hemispherical surface portion comprising preferably about 180 degrees, located proximal and adjacent to the cylindrical portion 39 and cylindrical surface portion 40. Similar to devices 5c-5f, the cylindrical portion 57 of neck portion 56 of device 5g preferably has a cross-sectional dimension, here diameter, greater than the cross-sectional dimension, here also diameter, of the shank 46. In this manner, in certain embodiments, the proximal end of the neck portion 56 may be located adjacent and in contact with the distal end 53 of shaft 17. Also similar to devices 5c-5f, preferably electrode 25 comprises at least one recess 64 which provides an elongated fluid flow channel for the distribution of fluid 24. As shown, electrode 25 preferably comprises a plurality of longitudinally directed recesses 64 and, more specifically, four recesses 64 equally spaced 90 degrees around the shank 46 and/or neck portion 56, both proximal of cylindrical portion 39. Another tip portion of an exemplary electrosurgical device 5h of the present invention which may be used in conjunction with the system of the present invention is shown at reference character 45 in FIGS. 35-36. Device 5h is similar to device 5g in all respects except that spherical portion 43 and spherical surface portion 42 have been eliminated and replaced with a distal end sharp point 71. As shown in FIG. 36, the electrode 25 of device 5h comprises a simple cone. In other embodiments, electrode 25 may comprise other cone shapes. For example, as shown in FIGS. 37-40, the cone shape may comprise an give cone shape, an elliptical (prolate hemispheroid) cone shape, a bi-conic cone shape and parabolic series cone shapes, respectively, which all may be defined by mathematical equations as known in the art. Still other cone shapes may include power series cone shapes, Haake series cone shapes, Sears-Haake and Von Karman, which all may be defined by mathematical equations as known in the art. Certain embodiments of the invention may be particularly configured for bipolar devices. For example, an exemplary bipolar electrosurgical device of the present invention which may be used in conjunction with the system of the present invention is shown at reference character 5i in FIGS. 41-43. With a bipolar device, the ground pad electrode located on the patient is eliminated and replaced with a second electrical pole as part of the device. An alternating current electrical circuit is then created between the first and second electrical poles of the device. Consequently, alternating current no longer flows through the patient's body to the ground pad electrode, but rather through a localized portion of tissue preferably between the poles of the bipolar device. In certain embodiments, an exemplary bipolar surgical device of the present invention may comprise, among other things, multiple, substantially parallel, arms. As shown in FIG. 41, electrosurgical device 5i preferably includes two arms comprising rigid, self-supporting, hollow shafts 17a, 17b, a proximal handle comprising mating handle portions 20a, 20b and arm tip portions as shown by circles 45a, 45b. In this embodiment, shafts 17a, 17b preferably comprise thick walled hypo-tubing. In this manner, the shafts 17a, 17b have sufficient rigidity to maintain their form during use of the device without kinking or significant bending. Preferably the arms of device 5i (comprising shafts 17a, 17b) are retained in position relative to each other by a mechanical coupling device comprising a collar 95 and inhibited from separating relative to each other. Collar 95 preferably comprises a polymer (e.g., acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene or polycarbonate) and is preferably located on the distal portion of the arms. More preferably, the collar 95 is located proximal the distal ends 53a, 53b of the shafts 17a, 17b. Preferably the collar 95 comprises two apertures 96a, 96b, preferably comprising opposing C-shapes, configured to receive a portion of the shafts 17a, 17b which are preferably snap-fit therein. Once the collar 95 is connected to the shafts 17a, 17b, preferably by a snap-fit connection, the collar 95 may be configured to slide along the length of the shafts 17a, 17b as to adjust or vary the location of the collar 95 on the shafts 17a, 17b. Alternatively, the location of the collar 95 may be fixed relative to the shafts 17a, 17b by welding, for example. Device 5i comprises a first arm tip portion 45a and a second arm tip portion 45b. As shown, preferably both first arm tip portion 45a and second arm tip portion 45b are each individually configured identical to tip portion 45 of device 5a. As a result, device 5i has two separate, spatially separated (by empty space) contact elements preferably comprising electrodes 25a, 25b. As shown in FIG. 42, when device 5i is in use electrodes 25a, 25b are laterally spaced adjacent tissue surface 22 of tissue 32. Electrodes 25a, 25b are connected to a source of alternating electrical current and alternating current electrical field is created between electrodes 25a and 25b. In the presence of alternating current, the electrodes alternate polarity between positive and negative charges with current flow from the positive to negative charge. Similar to device 5a, for device 5i fluid 24 is communicated from a fluid source 1 within the lumens 23a, 23b of the shafts 17a, 17b through the lumens 89a, 89b and cavities 81a, 81b of the sleeves 82a, 82b where it is expelled from around and on the surface 42a, 42b of the electrodes 25a, 25b. As with use of device 5a, with use of device 5i fluid couplings 30a, 30b preferably comprising discrete, localized webs and more preferably comprising a triangular shaped web or bead portion providing a film of fluid 24 between surface 22 of tissue 32 and electrodes 25a, 25a. When the user of electrosurgical device 5i places electrodes 25a, 25b at a tissue treatment site and moves electrodes 25a, 25b across surface 22 of tissue 32, fluid 24 is expelled around and on surfaces 42a, 42b of electrodes 25a, 25b at the distal ends 83a, 83b of sleeves 82a, 82b and onto surface 22 of tissue 32 via couplings 30a, 30b. At the same time, RF electrical energy, shown by electrical field lines 130, is provided to tissue 32 at tissue surface 22 and below tissue surface 22 into tissue 32 through fluid couplings 25a, 25b. As with device 5a, the fluid 24, in addition to providing an electrical coupling between the electrosurgical device 5i and tissue 32, lubricates surface 22 of tissue 32 and facilitates the movement of electrodes 25a, 25b across surface 22 of tissue 32. During movement of electrodes 25a, 25b, electrodes 25a, 25b typically slide across the surface 22 of tissue 32, but also may rotate as electrodes 25a, 25b move across surface 22 of the tissue 32. Typically the user of electrosurgical device 5i slides electrodes 25a, 25b across surface 22 of tissue 32 back and forth with a painting motion while using fluid 24 as, among other things, a lubricating coating. Preferably the thickness of the fluid 24 between the distal end surface of electrodes 25a, 25b and surface 22 of tissue 32 at the outer edge of couplings 30a, 30b is in the range between and including about 0.05 mm to 1.5 mm. More preferably, fluid 24 between the distal end surface of electrodes 25a, 25b and surface 22 of tissue 32 at the outer edge of coupling 30a, 30b is in the range between and including about 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm. Also preferably, in certain embodiments, the distal end tip of electrode 25 contacts surface 22 of tissue 32 without any fluid 24 in between. As shown in FIG. 43, the fluid coupling for device 5i may comprise a conductive fluid bridge 27 between electrodes 25a, 25b which rests on surface 22 of tissue 32 and forms a shunt between electrodes 25a, 25b. Given this scenario, a certain amount of RF energy may be diverted from going into tissue 32 and actually pass between electrodes 25a, 25b via the conductive fluid bridge 27. This loss of RF energy may slow down the process of coagulating tissue and producing the desired hemostasis or aerostasis of the tissue. In order to counteract the loss of energy through bridge 27, once enough energy has entered bridge 27 to boil fluid 24 of bridge 27, the loss of RF energy correspondingly decreases with the loss of bridge 27. Preferably energy is provided into fluid 24 of bridge 27 by means of heat dissipating from tissue 32. Thus, where a high % boiling of conductive fluid 24 of bridge 24 is created, the loss of RF energy through bridge 27 may either be reduced or eliminated because all the fluid 24 of bridge 27 boils off or a large fraction of boiling creates enough disruption in the continuity of bridge 27 to disrupt the electrical circuit through bridge 27. Thus, one control strategy of the present invention is to reduce the presence of a conductive fluid shunt by increasing the % boiling of the conductive fluid. Bipolar device 5i is particularly useful as non-coaptive tissue sealer and coagulator given it does not grasp tissue. Device 5i is particularly useful to surgeons to achieve hemostasis after dissecting through soft tissue as part of hip or knee arthroplasty. The tissue treating portions can be painted over the raw, oozing surface 22 of tissue 32 to seal the tissue 32 against bleeding, or focused on individual larger bleeding vessels to stop vessel bleeding. Bipolar device 5i is also useful to stop bleeding from the surface of cut bone tissue as part of any orthopaedic procedure that requires bone to be cut. Device 5i is particularly useful for these applications over monopolar device 5a as a much greater surface area 22 of tissue 32 may be treated in an equivalent period of time and with better controlled depth of the treatment. As is well known, bone, or osseous tissue, is a particular form of dense connective tissue consisting of bone cells (osteocytes) embedded in a matrix of calcified intercellular substance. Bone matrix mainly contains collagen fibers and the minerals calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate and hydroxyapatite. Among the many types of bone within the human body are compact bone and cancellous bone. Compact bone is hard, dense bone that forms the surface layers of bones and also the shafts of long bones. It is primarily made of haversian systems which are covered by the periosteum. Compact bone contains discrete nutrient canals through which blood vessels gain access to the haversian systems and the marrow cavity of long bones. For example, Volkmann's canals which are small canals found in compact bone through which blood vessels pass from the periosteum and connect with the blood vessels of haversian canals or the marrow cavity. Bipolar device 5i disclosed herein may be particularly useful to treat compact bone and to provide hemostasis and seal bleeding vessels (e.g. by shrinking to complete close) and other structures associated with Volkmann's canals and Haversian systems. In contrast to compact bone, cancellous bone is spongy bone and forms the bulk of the short, flat, and irregular bones and the ends of long bones. The network of osseous tissue that makes up the cancellous bone structure comprises many small trabeculae, partially enclosing many intercommunicating spaces filled with bone marrow. Consequently, due to their trabecular structure, cancellous bones are more amorphous than compact bones, and have many more channels with various blood cell precursors mixed with capillaries, venules and arterioles. Bipolar device 5i disclosed herein may be particularly useful to treat cancellous bone and to provide hemostasis and seal bleeding structures such as the above micro-vessels (i.e. capillaries, venules and arterioles) in addition to veins and arteries. Device 5i may be particularly useful for use during orthopedic knee, hip, shoulder and spine procedures (e.g. arthroplasty). During a knee replacement procedure, the condyle at the distal epiphysis of the femur and the tibial plateau at the proximal epiphysis of the tibia are often cut and made more planer with saw devices to ultimately provide a more suitable support structure for the femoral condylar prosthesis and tibial prosthesis attached thereto, respectively. The cutting of these long bones results in bleeding from the cancellous bone at each location. In order to seal and arrest the bleeding from the cancellous bone which has been exposed with the cutting of epiphysis of each long bone, bipolar device 5i may be utilized. Thereafter, the respective prostheses may be attached. Turning to a hip replacement procedure, the head and neck of the femur at the proximal epiphysis of the femur is removed, typically by cutting with a saw device, and the intertrochantic region of the femur is made more planer to provide a more suitable support structure for the femoral stem prosthesis subsequently attached thereto. With respect to the hip, a ball reamer is often used to ream and enlarge the acetabulum of the innominate (hip) bone to accommodate the insertion of an acetabular cup prosthesis therein, which will provide the socket into which the head of the femoral stem prosthesis fits. The cutting of the femur and reaming of the hip bone results in bleeding from the cancellous bone at each location. In order to seal and arrest the bleeding from the cancellous bone which has been cut and exposed, bipolar device 5i may be utilized. Thereafter, as with the knee replacement, the respective prostheses may be attached. Bipolar device 5i may be utilized for treatment of connective tissues, such as for shrinking intervertebral discs during spine surgery. Intervertebral discs are flexible pads of fibrocartilaginous tissue tightly fixed between the vertebrae of the spine. The discs comprise a flat, circular capsule roughly an inch in diameter and about 0.25 inch thick, made of a tough, fibrous outer membrane called the annulus fibrosus, surrounding an elastic core called the nucleus pulposus. Under stress, it is possible for the nucleus pulposus to swell and herniate, pushing through a weak spot in the annulus fibrosus membrane of the disc and into the spinal canal. Consequently, all or part of the nucleus pulposus material may protrude through the weak spot, causing pressure against surrounding nerves which results in pain and immobility. Bipolar device 5i may be utilized to shrink protruding and herniated intervertebral discs which, upon shrinking towards normal size, reduces the pressure on the surrounding nerves and relieves the pain and immobility. Device 5i may be applied via posterior spinal access under surgeon control for either focal shrinking of the annulus fibrosus membrane. Where a intervertebral disc cannot be repaired and must be removed as part of a discectomy, device 5i may be particularly useful to seal and arrest bleeding from the cancellous bone of opposing upper and lower vertebra surfaces (e.g. the cephalad surface of the vertebral body of a superior vertebra and the caudad surface of an inferior vertebra). Where the disc is removed from the front of the patient, for example, as part of an anterior, thoracic spine procedure, device 5i may also be particularly useful to seal and arrest bleeding from segmental vessels over the vertebral body. Bipolar device 5i may be utilized to seal and arrest bleeding of epidural veins, which bleed as a result of the removal of tissue around the dural membrane during, for example, a laminectomy or other neurosurgical surgery. The epidural veins may start bleeding when the dura is retracted off of them as part of a decompression. Also during a laminectomy, device 5i may be used to seal and arrest bleeding from the vertebral arch and, in particular the lamina of the vertebral arch. As already discuss with respect to FIG. 6, even when general-purpose generator 6 is set to a predetermined “fixed” power output, the actual power delivered from generator 6 may be significantly different if the impedance is outside the range defined by of the generator's low and high impedance cut-off limits. Also with respect to FIG. 6, the output power is identified as being set to 75 watts in the generator's bipolar mode of operation. With respect to general-purpose generators 6 currently used in the electrosurgical industry, it has been found that a significant portion of the generators only provide an output power of 50 watts in their bipolar mode, with only a few providing an output power of 70-75 watts in bipolar mode. Above 75 watts, a very small number of generators may provide power in their bipolar mode of 100 watts. As is well known, the maximum output power of a general-purpose generator 6 in its bipolar mode of operation is lower than the maximum output power of the generator in its monopolar mode of operation. One reason for this is that the electrodes commonly associated with a bipolar device are generally in much closer in proximity as compared to the active and return electrodes of a monopolar device, thus reducing the need for greater power. Furthermore, with additional power, use of many prior art dry tip electrosurgical devices only leads to more tissue desiccation, electrode sticking, char formation and smoke generation, thus further obviating the need for additional power. However, as established above, bipolar device 5i of the present invention inhibits such undesirable effects of tissue desiccation, electrode sticking, char formation and smoke generation, and thus do not suffer from the same drawbacks as prior art dry tip electrosurgical devices. It has been found that bipolar device 5i is, in certain instances, able to use significantly greater power than the output power current general-purpose generators offer in their accorded bipolar modes. For example, bipolar device 5i may use greater power to treat bone in knee, hip, shoulder and spine surgeries where blood loss would traditionally be particularly high thus necessitating a blood transfusion. General-purpose generators may offer significantly greater output power than 75 watts when set in their monopolar modes. For example, in monopolar “cut mode”, the maximum power output of the generator is typically in the range of 300 watts. However, in monopolar cut mode the voltage and preferred impedance ranges are much greater than in bipolar mode. For example, with respect to impedance, an exemplary low impedance cut-off for a monopolar cut mode is about 200 ohms while an exemplary low impedance cut-off for bipolar mode is about 25-50 ohms. In order to reduce monopolar voltage and impedance ranges to desirable levels for bipolar use, a transformer may be placed in series circuit configuration between the electrodes of bipolar device 5i and the monopolar mode power output of the generator 6. As shown in FIG. 41, without a transformer, cable 9 of bipolar device 5i may ordinarily comprise two insulated wires 21a, 21b connectable to generator 6 via two banana (male) plug connectors 77a, 77b connecting directly to (female) plug receptacles 79a, 79b of the generator 6 (shown in FIG. 45). As shown in FIG. 41, the banana plug connectors 77a, 77b are each assembled with wires 21a, 21b within individual housings 129a, 129b which are not connected relative to one another and may be referred to as “loose leads”. Consequently, in this embodiment, the banana plug connectors 77a, 77b are independently movable relative to one another. An exemplary electrical configuration established between banana plug connectors 77a, 77b of device 5i and banana plug receptacle connectors 79a, 79b of generator 6 is further illustrated in FIG. 45. From the above, it should be understood that the use of plug connectors and receptacle connectors, is merely exemplary, and that other types of mating connector configurations may be employed. However, with the introduction of a transformer 310 to convert monopolar output power to voltage and impedance ranges associated with bipolar output power, preferably the wires 21a, 21b, plug connectors 77a, 77b and transformer 310 are all assembled and provided in a single, common housing similar to housing 129 shown in FIG. 9, and better shown in FIG. 57. In contrast to the previous embodiment, in this embodiment the plug connectors are held in a fixed, predetermined position relative to one another. In this manner, the plug connectors can be tailored to fit only those generators 6 with receptacle connectors positioned to coincide or match up with the predetermined positions of the plug connectors. To further illustrate the above, FIG. 46 illustrates an exemplary electrical configuration which may be associated between monopolar device 5a and generator 6. As shown in FIG. 46, in this embodiment the wiring within plug housing 129 of device 5a is configured such that hand switch 15a may be electrically coupled to the “coagulation mode” hand switching circuitry of generator 6. More specifically, as shown hand switch 15a is electrically coupled to generator 6 upon the insertion of hand switch plug connector 77d of device 5a into hand switch receptacle connector 79d of generator 6. In addition to plug connector 77d, plug housing 129 also contains power plug connector 77c which may be electrically coupled to the monopolar power receptacle connector 79c of generator 6. As shown, upon insertion of power plug connector 77c into power receptacle connector 79c, electrode 25 is now coupled to the power output of generator 6. As shown, the finally connection of device 5a to generator 6 comprises ground pad receptacle connector 177 of ground pad 125 being inserted over ground pad plug connector 179 of generator 6. Plug connectors 77c, 77d are provided in a single common housing 129 to better and more easily direct the plug connectors 77c, 77d to their predetermined targeted plug receptacle connectors 79c, 79d by virtue of being held in a fixed, predetermined position relative to one another by plug housing 129 such that they can only coincide with receptacle connectors 79c, 79d, respectively. In other embodiments, as indicated by the dotted lines, the wiring within plug housing 129 of device 5a may be configured such that hand switch 15a is coupled to plug connector 77e and plug receptacle 79e, in which case hand switch 15a is now electrically coupled to the monopolar “cut mode” of generator 6 rather than the coagulation mode. Now, with use of a bipolar device 5i, as shown in FIG. 47, housing 129 now includes transformer 310 and monopolar device 5a has been replaced with bipolar device 5i, now also including hand switch 15a. Furthermore, as shown, hand switch 15a is coupled to the monopolar cut mode of generator 6 by use of plug connector 77e and plug receptacle 79e. In other embodiments, the hand switch 15a may be eliminated as shown in FIG. 48 and foot switch 15 may be used alone. The option between monoploar “coagulation mode” hand switching and monopolar “cut mode” hand switching is driven by a number of factors. However, an overriding consideration is often output power. In monopolar coagulation mode, the maximum output power of a general purpose generator is typically about 120 watts, while in monopolar cut mode the maximum output power of the same general purpose generator is typically about 300 watts. For use of the monopolar devices disclosed herein (e.g. 5a, 5c), 120 watts maximum output power associated with coagulation mode has been found to be generally sufficient, thus precluding the need for higher powers associated with cut mode. However, for the bipolar device 5i, when using power provided from the generator's monopolar output, the higher power associated with monopolar cut mode is generally more desirable than the lower power associated with monopolar coagulation mode. In other embodiments, the transformer 310 may be provided as part of an in-line adaptor 312, as shown in FIGS. 44 and 49. In this embodiment, preferably the adapter 312 includes its own receptacle connectors 314a, 314b on one side which are configured to receive plug connectors 77a, 77b of device 5i, and on the opposing side has its own plug connector 316c and ground pad receptacle connector 177 which are configured to connect to receptacle connector 79c and ground pad plug connector 179 of generator 6, respectively. To further illustrate the above, FIG. 49 illustrates an exemplary electrical configuration which may be associated between bipolar device 5i, adapter 312 and generator 6. The adaptor 312 may also be configured to accommodate a bipolar device with a hand switch. Without adaptor 312, FIG. 50 shows an exemplary electrical configuration established between plug connectors 77a, 77b of device 5i and receptacle connectors 79a, 79b of generator 6. In addition, FIG. 50 shows hand switch 15a coupled to the hand switching circuitry of generator 6. More specifically, as shown hand switch 15a is electrically coupled to generator 6 upon the insertion of bipolar hand switch plug connector 77f of device 5i into bipolar hand switch receptacle connector 79f of generator 6. With adaptor 312, as shown in FIG. 51A and as with the earlier embodiment, preferably the adaptor 312 includes its own receptacle connectors 314a, 314b on one side which are configured to receive plug connectors 77a, 77b of device 5i, and on the opposing side has its own plug connector 316c and ground pad receptacle connector 177 which are configured to connect to receptacle connector 79a and ground pad plug connector 179 of generator 6, respectively. Furthermore, adaptor 312 has its own bipolar hand switch receptacle connector 314f on one side configured to mate with the bipolar hand switch plug connector 77f of device 5i, and on the opposing side has its own monopolar hand switch plug connector 316e configured to connect to monopolar “cut mode” hand switch receptacle connector 79e of generator 6. Finally, in order to establish the remaining link between the hand switch circuitry and the monopolar power output, the adaptor 312 has a hand switch plug connector 314g configured to mate with hand switch receptacle connector 77g of device 5i. As shown in FIG. 51A, bipolar device 5i now includes four connectors (i.e. 77a, 77b, 77f, 77g) when adaptor 312 is used rather than just the three connectors (i.e. 77a, 77b, 77f) associated with FIG. 50. Connector 77g is added to provide a connection, when mated with connector 314g of adaptor 312, to plug connector 316c which bypasses transformer 310. This is required as the hand switch circuitry of generator 6 typically utilizes direct current (DC) rather than the alternating current (AC) associated with the power circuitry. Consequently, since continuous DC will not cross between the primary coil 318 and secondary coil 320 of transformer 310, this fourth connection is required. In other embodiments, bipolar device 5i may return to the use of only three connectors with a modification of the electrical wiring within adaptor 312. As shown in FIG. 51B, rather than bipolar hand switch receptacle connector 314f being electrically wired to connect to monopolar hand switch plug connector 316e as in FIG. 51A, bipolar hand switch receptacle connector 314f is electrically wired to connect to monopolar power plug connector 316c, which ultimately connects to monopolar power receptacle connector 79c of generator 6. Furthermore, in addition to bipolar power receptacle connector 314a being electrically wired to connect to the secondary coil 320 of transformer 310, it is also electrically wired to connect to monopolar hand switch plug connector 316e, which ultimately connects to monopolar “cut mode” hand switch receptacle connector 79e of generator 6. In this manner, where direct current is utilized as part of the hand switch circuitry of generator 6, the direct current is still provided a return electrical path to the generator 6. For the embodiment shown in FIG. 51B, the primary and secondary coils 318, 320 are wound and/or wired (preferably both) such that the secondary voltage Vs is electrically in-phase with the primary voltage Vp. In other words, the secondary voltage Vs associated with secondary coil 320 rises and falls simultaneously with the primary voltage Vp associated with the primary coil 318. The black “dots” accompanying the primary and secondary coils 318, 320 are commonly used to indicate points on a transformer schematic that have the same instantaneous polarity and are in-phase. On an oscilloscope, an “in-phase” relationship between the primary voltage Vp and the secondary voltage Vs may be shown by the corresponding sine waves having the same frequency and their positive and negative peaks occurring at the same time. Turning to the specifics of transformer 310, preferably the transformer 310 comprises primary and secondary coils 318, 320 comprising #18 magnet wire wound on a toroidal shaped, magnetic core 322. More preferably the core 322 comprises a ferromagnetic core and even more preferably a ferrite core. Preferably the ferrite has an amplitude permeability in the range of 500μ to 5,000μ and more preferably of about 2,000μ. More preferably, the ferrite comprises ferrite material no. 77. Preferably the core has a 1.4 inch outside diameter, a 0.9 inch inside diameter and a 0.5 inch thickness which is available from Coil Winding Specialists. For a perfect transformer, that is, a transformer with a coefficient of coupling (k) equal to 1, the impedances can be described as follows: Zp=Zs(Np/Ns)2 (8) where: Zp=Impedance looking into the primary terminals from the power source; Zs=Impedance of load connected to secondary; Np=Number of turns (windings) for primary coil; and Ns=Number of turns (windings) for secondary coil Based a primary impedance Zp=200 ohms and a secondary impedance of 25-50 ohms, the transformer 310 should be a step-down transformer with a turns ratio, Np/Ns, in the range between and including about 3:1-2:1, respectively, and preferably about 2.5:1. This will result in power being provided to the tissue in monopolar mode at much lower impedances (i.e. 25-50 ohms) than typically required for use of the generator's monopolar mode (i.e. 200 ohms). Turning to voltage, the high impedance cut-off for bipolar mode at 75 watts occurs at about 300 ohms, with the power remaining substantially unchanged between 25 ohms and 300 ohms. Thus, based on Ohm's law, for 75 watts ohms and 300 ohms, the voltage before power begins to drop in bipolar mode is about 150 RMS volts. This now becomes the targeted voltage from the monopolar mode with use of the transformer 310. The high impedance cut-off for monopolar mode at 150 watts occurs at about 1000 ohms. At 150 watts and 1000 ohms, the voltage in monopolar mode is about 387 RMS volts. With the transformer above, secondary voltage may be described as follows: Vs=Vp(Ns/Np) (9) where: Vs=Secondary voltage; Vp=Primary voltage; Np=Number of turns (windings) for primary coil; and Ns=Number of turns (windings) for secondary coil Based on a primary voltage of 387 RMS volts, and a turns ratio Np/Ns of 2.5:1, the secondary voltage is 155 RMS volts, which is only slightly greater than the targeted 150 RMS volts. With respect to the number of windings, in one embodiment preferably, the primary coil 318 comprises 40 windings while the secondary coil 320 comprises 16 windings resulting in the turns ratio of 2.5. In yet another embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 52-56, electrosurgical device 5i may include a fluid flow control mechanism for turning fluid flow on and off to the tissue treating portion of the device, such as a roller pinch clamp assembly. As best shown in FIGS. 54-56, device 5i includes a roller pinch clamp assembly 242 and, more specifically, an inclined ramp roller pinch clamp assembly (as opposed to a parallel acting clamp). As best shown in FIGS. 54-55, the clamp assembly 242 includes a housing provided by handles 20a, 20b, a roller wheel 244 having a wheel center axis 246 and a guide pin hub. As shown, the guide pin hub is provided by pair of opposing, integrally formed, cylindrical trunnions 248a, 248b, but may also be provided by a separately formed pin. Trunnions 248a, 248b are contained within and move along a track 250 preferably provided and defined by opposing trunnion channels 252a, 252b formed between wheel upper guide surfaces 254a, 254b and wheel lower guide surfaces 256a, 256b extending longitudinally and parallel inward from the side wall portions of the handles 20a, 20b. As shown, wheel upper guide surfaces 254a, 254b are provided by a lip portion of the handles 20a, 20b which partially define aperture 258 through which roller wheel partially extends while wheel lower guide surfaces 256a, 256b are provided by ribs 260a, 260b. Handles 20a, 20b also preferably provide tubing guide surfaces 272a, 272b which at least a portion of which provide a clamping surface against which plastic tubing 4b is clamped by roller 244. As best shown in FIGS. 54-55, tubing guide surfaces 272a, 272b are provided by ribs 270a, 270b. In use, fluid line 4b is externally squeezed and compressed between the outer perimeter surface 262 of roller wheel 244 and at least a portion of tubing guide surfaces 272a, 272b. In this embodiment, preferably surface 262 is serrated. Trunnions 248a, 248b support the movement of roller wheel 244 in two opposing directions, here proximally and distally, along track 250. As best shown in FIGS. 55-56, the separation distance between the outer perimeter surface 262 of roller wheel 244 and tubing guide surfaces 272a, 272b changes throughout the proximal and distal travel of roller wheel 244 along track 250. More specifically, the separation distance between the outer perimeter surface 262 of roller wheel 244 and tubing guide surfaces 272a, 272b is greater between the outer perimeter surface 262 of roller wheel 244 and distal end portions 274a, 274b of tubing guide surfaces 272a, 272b provided by distal end portions 264a, 264b of ribs 270a, 270b than between the outer perimeter surface 262 of roller wheel 244 and proximal end portions 276a, 276b of tubing guide surfaces 272a, 272b provided by proximal end portions 266a, 266b of ribs 270a, 270b. As shown in FIGS. 54-55, when axis 246 of roller wheel 244 is opposing distal end portions 274a, 274b of tubing guide surfaces 272a, 272b, preferably the separation distance is configured such that the tubing 4b may be uncompressed and the lumen of tubing 4b completely open for full flow therethrough. Conversely, as shown in FIG. 56, when axis 246 of roller wheel 244 is opposing proximal end portions 276a, 276b of tubing guide surfaces 272a, 272b preferably the separation distance is configured such that the tubing 4b is compressed and the lumen of tubing 4b is completely blocked so that the flow of fluid through tubing 4b is prevented. Distal end portions 274a, 274b of tubing guide surfaces 272a, 272b are separated from proximal end portions 276a, 276b of tubing guide surfaces 272a, 272b by transition surfaces 278a, 278b which are provided by transition rib portion 268a, 268b of ribs 270a, 270b. Preferably compression of tubing initially begins between transition surfaces 278a, 278b and the outer perimeter surface 262 of roller wheel 244 and increases as wheel 244 moves proximally along proximal end portions 276a, 276b of tubing guide surfaces 272a, 272b. With this configuration, consideration may be given to eliminating at least that portion of distal end portions 274a, 274b of tubing guide surfaces 272a, 272b that do not contribute to compression of the tubing 4b. However, given that of distal end portions 274a, 274b of tubing guide surfaces 272a, 272b guide tubing 4b to splitter 240, such may not be desirable. As shown in FIGS. 54-56, both transition surfaces 278a, 278b and proximal end portions 276a, 276b of tubing guide surfaces 272a, 272b provide sloped inclining surfaces proximally along their respective lengths which decreases the separation distance between the outer perimeter surface 262 of roller wheel 244 and the tubing guide surfaces 272a, 272b as the wheel 244 moves proximally. As shown, preferably the transition surfaces 278a, 278b and proximal end portions 276a, 276b of tubing guide surfaces 272a, 272b have different slopes such that the separation distance decreases at a faster rate along transition surfaces 278a, 278b as compared to proximal end portions 276a, 276b of tubing guide surfaces 272a, 272b. In this manner, compression of tubing 4b is non-linear along the length of travel of wheel 244 with a majority of the compression occurring between roller wheel 244 and transition surfaces 278a, 278b. More preferably, the lumen of tubing 4b is completely blocked when roller wheel 244 is compressing the tubing 4b against the proximal portion of transition surfaces 278a, 278b, and the added compression of the tubing 4b along proximal end portions 276a, 276b of tubing guide surfaces 272a, 272b provides an additional safety to assure complete blocking of the lumen even where there are variations in the tubing, such as the size of the lumen. It should be realized that, due to the slope of the transition rib portion 268a, 268b, as the roller wheel 244 moves proximally relative to transition surfaces 278a, 278b the lumen of tubing 4b is blocked incrementally. Thus, in addition to providing an on/off mechanism, the roller pinch clamp assembly 242 can also be used to regulate the fluid flow rate between two non-zero flow values. It should also be realized that the roller pinch clamp assembly 242 of the device may be used in series conjunction with another roller pinch clamp assembly which is typically provided as part of an IV set (i.e. IV bag, IV bag spike, drip chamber, connecting tubing, roller clamp, slide clamp, luer connector). When used in this manner, the roller pinch clamp assembly of the IV set may be used to achieve a primary (major) adjustment for fluid flow rate, while the roller pinch clamp assembly 242 of the device may be used to achieve a secondary (more precise minor) adjustment for the fluid flow rate. In another embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 57-59 for device 5i, roller wheel 244 of roller pinch clamp assembly 242 may be concealed from view to reduce the possibility of foreign objects (e.g. practitioner's rubber gloves) from entering into the confines of handle 20a, 20b through aperture 258 and getting snagged, for example, between the trunnions 248a, 248b and track 250. As shown in FIG. 57, roller wheel 244 is concealed from view by handle portions 20a, 20b. As shown, switch button 192 protrudes through an aperture 194 formed in handle portions 20a, 20b. Button 192 is preferably integrally connected via a single piece polymer molding to a proximally extending switch arm 196 which provides a receptacle 306 which contains and holds roller wheel 244. With use of the fluid flow control mechanism of FIGS. 57-59, in response to button 192 being moved proximally and distally in switch button aperture 194, switch arm 196 moves proximally and distally along track 250, which correspondingly moves roller wheel 244 to compress tubing 4b as discussed above. As best shown in FIG. 59, preferably the fluid flow control mechanism further comprises a mechanism which may hold the arm 196 in a fixed position while compressing and occluding fluid line 4b. As shown, preferably the locking mechanism comprises detents 308a, 308b (308b not shown) formed in handle portions 20a, 20b which partially receive trunnions 248a, 248b therein to hold arm 196 in a fixed position. The devices of the present invention may provide treatment of tissue without using a temperature sensor built into the device or a custom special-purpose generator. In a preferred embodiment, there is no built-in temperature sensor or other type of tissue sensor, nor is there any custom generator. Preferably, the invention provides a means for controlling the flow rate to the device such that the device and flow rate controller can be used with a wide variety of general-purpose generators. Any general-purpose generator is useable in connection with the fluid delivery system and flow rate controller to provide the desired power; the flow rate controller will accept the power and constantly adjust the saline flow rate according to the control strategy. Preferably, the generator is not actively controlled by the invention, so that standard generators are useable according to the invention. Preferably, there is no active feedback from the device and the control of the saline flow rate is “open loop.” Thus, in this embodiment, the control of saline flow rate is not dependent on feedback, but rather the measurement of the RF power going out to the device. The use of the disclosed devices can result in significantly lower blood loss during surgical procedures such as liver resections. Typical blood loss for a right hepatectomy can be in the range of 500-1,000 cubic centimeters. Use of the devices disclosed herein to perform pre-transection coagulation of the liver can result in blood loss in the range of 50-300 cubic centimeters. Such a reduction in blood loss can reduce or eliminate the need for blood transfusions, and thus the cost and negative clinical consequences associated with blood transfusions, such as prolonged hospitalization and a greater likelihood of cancer recurrence. Use of the device can also provide improved sealing of bile ducts, and reduce the incidence of post-operative bile leakage, which is considered a major surgical complication. For purposes of the appended claims, the term “tissue” includes, but is not limited to, organs (e.g. liver, lung, spleen, gallbladder), highly vascular tissues (e.g. liver, spleen), soft and hard tissues (connective, bone, cancellous) and tissue masses (e.g. tumors). While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described, it should be understood that various changes, adaptations and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined not with reference to the above description, but instead should be determined with reference to the appended claims along with their fall scope of equivalents. Furthermore, it should be understood that the appended claims do not necessarily comprise the broadest scope of the invention which the Applicant is entitled to claim, or the only manner(s) in which the invention may be claimed, or that all recited features are necessary.

<SOH> BACKGROUND <EOH>Electrosurgical devices configured for use with a dry tip use electrical energy, often radio frequency (RF) energy, to cut tissue or to cauterize blood vessels. During use, a voltage gradient is created at the tip of the device, thereby inducing current flow and related heat generation in the tissue. With sufficiently high levels of electrical power, the heat generated is sufficient to cut the tissue and, advantageously, to stop the bleeding from severed blood vessels. Current dry tip electrosurgical devices can cause the temperature of tissue being treated to rise significantly higher than 100° C., resulting in tissue desiccation, tissue sticking to the electrodes, tissue perforation, char formation and smoke generation. Desiccation occurs when tissue temperature exceeds 100° C. and all of the intracellular water boils away, leaving the tissue extremely dry and much less electrically conductive. Peak temperatures of target tissue as a result of dry RF treatment can be as high as 320° C., and such high temperatures can be transmitted to adjacent tissue via thermal diffusion. Consequently, this may result in undesirable desiccation and thermal damage to the adjacent tissue. The use of saline inhibits undesirable effects such as tissue desiccation, electrode sticking, smoke production and char formation. However, an uncontrolled or abundant flow rate of saline can provide too much electrical dispersion and cooling at the electrode/tissue interface. This reduces the temperature of the target tissue being treated, and, in turn, can result in longer treatment time to achieve the desired tissue temperature for treatment of the tissue. Long treatment times are undesirable for surgeons since it is in the best interest of the patient, physician and hospital, to perform surgical procedures as quickly as possible. RF power delivered to tissue can be less than optimal when using general-purpose generators. Most general-purpose RE generators have modes for different waveforms (e.g., cut, coagulation, or blend) and device types (e.g., monopolar, bipolar), as well as power levels that can be set in watts. However, once these settings are chosen, the actual power delivered to tissue and associated heat generated can vary dramatically over time as tissue impedance changes during the course of RF treatment. This is because the power delivered by most generators is a function of tissue impedance, with the power ramping down as impedance either decreases toward zero or increases significantly to several thousand ohms. Current dry tip electrosurgical devices are not configured to address a change in power provided by the generator as tissue impedance changes or the associated effect on tissue, and rely on the surgeon's expertise to overcome this limitation.

<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The invention is directed to various embodiments of electrosurgical devices, systems and methods. In one preferred embodiment, an electrosurgical device has a handle, a shaft extending from the handle having a distal end, and an electrode tip having an electrode surface with at least a portion of the electrode tip extending distally beyond the distal end of the shaft. In one embodiment, preferably the portion of the electrode tip extending distally beyond the distal end of the shaft comprises a cone shaped portion. The device also has a fluid passage being connectable to a fluid source and at least one fluid outlet opening in fluid communication with the fluid passage. In another preferred embodiment, the electrode tip extending distally beyond the distal end of the shaft has a neck portion and an enlarged end portion with the enlarged end portion located distal to the neck portion and comprising the cone shaped portion. In another preferred embodiment, the fluid outlet opening is arranged to provide a fluid from the fluid source to the neck portion of the electrode tip. In yet another preferred embodiment, the fluid outlet opening is arranged to provide a fluid from the fluid source towards the enlarged end portion of the electrode tip. In another preferred embodiment, an electrosurgical device has a handle, and an electrode tip having an electrode surface with the electrode surface and comprising a cone shaped portion. The device also has a fluid passage being connectable to a fluid source and at least one fluid outlet opening in fluid communication with the fluid passage and arranged to provide a fluid from the fluid source to the cone shaped portion of the electrode tip. The invention is also directed to a surgical method for treating tissue. The method includes providing tissue having a tissue surface, providing radio frequency power at a power level, providing an electrically conductive fluid at a fluid flow rate, providing an surgical device configured to simultaneously provide the radio frequency electrical power and the electrically conductive fluid to tissue, providing the electrically conductive fluid to the tissue at the tissue surface, forming a fluid coupling comprising the electrically conductive fluid which couples the tissue and the surgical device, providing the radio frequency power to the tissue at the tissue surface and below the tissue surface into the tissue through the fluid coupling, coagulating the tissue without cutting the tissue, and dissecting the tissue after coagulating the tissue. Preferably, the device comprises an electrode tip having an electrode surface, and comprising a cone shaped portion and a distal end. Also preferably, coagulating the tissue is performed with the cone shaped portion and dissecting is performed with the distal end of the device. In various embodiments, the dissection may be blunt as where the distal end of the device is blunt, or sharp as where the distal end of the device is pointed. The invention is also directed to various embodiments of an adaptor for electrically coupling between an electrosurgical generator and a bipolar electrosurgical device. In one preferred embodiment, the adaptor comprises a power input connector for coupling the adaptor with a monopolar mode power output connector of the electrosurgical generator, a ground connector for coupling the adaptor with a ground connector of the electrosurgical generator, a first and a second power output connector, each for coupling the adaptor with a first and a second bipolar mode power input connector of the bipolar electrosurgical device, respectively, a transformer coupled between the power input connector and the first and second power output connectors, a monopolar hand switch connector for coupling the adaptor with a monopolar mode hand switch connector of the electrosurgical generator, and at least one bipolar mode hand switch connector for coupling the adaptor with a bipolar mode hand switch connector of the electrosurgical device. The invention is also directed to various embodiments of a bipolar electrosurgical device. In one preferred embodiment, the device comprises a first electrode tip and a second electrode tip with the electrode tips coupled to an impedance transformer provided with the electrosurgical device, at least one fluid delivery passage being connectable to a fluid source, at least one fluid outlet opening in fluid communication with the at least one fluid delivery passage, the electrode tips configured to paint along a tissue surface in the presence of fluid from the fluid outlet opening as the tips are moved along the tissue surface whereby the tissue surface can be coagulated without cutting upon the application of radio frequency energy from the electrodes simultaneously with fluid from the fluid outlet opening while the tips are coupled with the fluid adjacent the tissue surface and moved along the tissue surface. The invention is also directed to various embodiments of medical kits. In one preferred embodiment, the kit has an electrosurgical device configured to provide radio frequency power and a fluid to a tissue treatment site, and a transformer. In various embodiments, the electrosurgical device and transformer may be provided as separate connectable components, or integrally as a single piece.

20060804

20110322

20070118

79644.0

A61B1818

HUPCZEY, JR, RONALD JAMES

ELECTROSURGICAL GENERATOR AND BIPOLAR ELECTROSURGICAL DEVICE ADAPTORS

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

A61B

ACCEPTED

Adaptive compliant wing and rotor system

Variation in the contours of first and second compliant surfaces is produced by a compliant frame having a first resiliently variable frame element (120) having a corresponding first outer surface (122) and a first inner surface (124), and a second resiliently variable frame element (130) having a corresponding second outer surface (132) and a second inner surface (134). The first and second outer surfaces (122, 132) communicate with respective ones of the first and second compliant surfaces. A linkage element (141-144) having a predetermined resilience characteristic is coupled at a first end thereof to the first inner surface (124) and at a second end thereof to the second inner surface (134). A frame coupler (151) couples the first resiliently variable frame element (120) to a support element (150). An actuator (106) applies a force to the second resiliently variable frame element (130) with respect to the support element (150), resulting in a corresponding variation in the contour of the first and second compliant surfaces.

1. An arrangement for producing a variation in the contour of a compliant surface, the arrangement comprising: a compliant frame having, a first resiliently variable frame element having a corresponding first outer surface and a first inner surface, and a second resiliently variable frame element having a corresponding second outer surface and a second inner surface, the first outer surface being arranged in substantially distal opposition to the second outer surface and in communication with the compliant surface, wherein the variation in the contour of the compliant surface is responsive to variation in the contour of the first outer surface of said compliant frame; a linkage element having a predetermined resilience characteristic and being coupled at a first end thereof to the first inner surface and at a second end thereof to the second inner surface; and an actuator for applying a force to the second resiliently variable frame element with respect to a support element, whereby application of the force by said actuator results in a corresponding variation in the contour of the compliant surface. 2. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein there is further provided a frame coupler for coupling the first resiliently variable frame element to a support element. 3. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein there is further provided a second linkage element formed of a first material having a second predetermined resilience characteristic and being coupled at a first end thereof to the first inner surface and at a second end thereof to the second inner surface. 4. The arrangement of claim 3, wherein said first and second linkage elements are formed of materials that have substantially identical resilience characteristics. 5. The arrangement of claim 3, wherein said first and second linkage elements are longitudinal in configuration and arranged substantially parallel to each other. 6. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said first and second resiliently variable frame elements are coupled to each other at a portion thereof distal from the support element. 7. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the support element is a spar of a wing of an aircraft. 8. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said first and second resiliently variable frame elements have respective first and second resilience characteristics. 9. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said actuator is arranged to exert a substantially longitudinal force. 10. The arrangement of claim 9, wherein said actuator is arranged to exert a torque. 11. The arrangement of claim 10, wherein said actuator is arranged to convert the torque to a substantially longitudinal force. 12. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the compliant surfaces is a surface of a wing of a fixed wing aircraft. 13. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the compliant surface is a surface of a rotatory wing of a helicopter. 14. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the compliant surface is a surface of an impeller of a water craft. 15. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the compliant surface is a surface of a keel of a water craft. 16. An arrangement for producing a variation in the contours of a first compliant surface, the arrangement comprising: a first compliant frame having, a respective first resiliently variable frame element having a corresponding first outer surface and a first inner surface, and a respective second resiliently variable frame element having a corresponding second outer surface and a second inner surface, the respective first and second outer surfaces being arranged in substantially distal opposition to one another and in communication with respectively associated ones of the first and second compliant surfaces, wherein the variation in the contours of the first and second compliant surfaces are responsive to variation in the contours of the first and second outer surfaces of said first compliant frame; a second compliant frame having, a respective first resiliently variable frame element having a corresponding first outer surface and a first inner surface, and a respective second resiliently variable frame element having a corresponding second outer surface and a second inner surface, the respective first and second outer surfaces being arranged in substantially distal opposition to one another and in communication with respectively associated ones of the first and second compliant surfaces, wherein the variation in the contours of the first and second compliant surfaces are responsive to variation in the contours of the first and second outer surfaces of said second compliant frame; a first linkage element having a predetermined resilience characteristic and being coupled at a first end thereof to the first inner surface and at a second end thereof to the second inner surface, of said first compliant frame; a second linkage element having a predetermined resilience characteristic and being coupled at a first end thereof to the first inner surface and at a second end thereof to the second inner surface, of said second compliant frame; a first frame coupler for coupling the first resiliently variable frame element of the first compliant frame to a support element; a second frame coupler for coupling the first resiliently variable frame element of the second compliant frame to a support element; a drive element coupled to the second resiliently variable frame element of each of the first and second compliant frames; and an actuator for applying a force to said drive element with respect to the support element, whereby application of the force by said actuator results in a corresponding variation in the contour of the first compliant surfaces of the first and second compliant frames. 17. The arrangement of claim 16, wherein said actuator comprises a power take off arrangement associated with a rotary wing of a rotary wing aircraft that provides a force that varies in response to the angular position of the rotary wing. 18. The arrangement of claim 16, wherein said actuator is arranged to convert a torque to a linear force. 19. The arrangement of claim 16, wherein said first and second compliant frames are arranged in side-by-side relation to each other, and the first compliant surface is arranged to overlie the first outer surface of each of said first and second compliant frames. 20. The arrangement of claim 19, wherein there is further provided a resilient filler material disposed intermediate of said first and second compliant frames. 21. The arrangement of claim 19, wherein there is provided a second compliant surface arranged to overlie the second outer surface of each of said first and second compliant frames. 22. The arrangement of claim 16, wherein said first and second compliant frames are arranged in mirror image relation to each other whereby the respective second resiliently variable frame elements of said first and second compliant frames communicate with each other. 23. An arrangement for producing a variation in the contours of first and second compliant surfaces, the arrangement comprising: a compliant frame having, a first resiliently variable frame element having a corresponding first outer surface and a first inner surface, and a second resiliently variable frame element having a corresponding second outer surface and a second inner surface, the first and second outer surfaces being arranged in substantially distal opposition to one another and in communication with respectively associated ones of the first and second compliant surfaces, wherein the variation in the contours of the first and second compliant surfaces are responsive to variation in the contours of the first and second outer surfaces of said compliant frame; a linkage element having a predetermined resilience characteristic and being coupled at a first end thereof to the first inner surface and at a second end thereof to the second inner surface; a frame coupler for coupling the first resiliently variable frame element to a support element; and an actuator for applying a force to the second resiliently variable frame element with respect to the support element, whereby application of the force by said actuator results in a corresponding variation in the contour of the first and second compliant surfaces.

RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER APPLICATION This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/451,812 filed Mar. 3, 2003, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 10/316,661 filed Dec. 10, 2002, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/600,822 filed Sep. 21, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,491,262 issued Dec. 10, 2002; U.S. Ser. No. 09/600,822 being a §371 or United States National Stage of PCT/US99/00901 filed on Jan. 15, 1999 which also claims the benefit of U.S. Ser. No. 09/007,309 filed Jan. 15, 1998, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,328 on Oct. 26, 1999, the disclosures of all of which are incorporated herein by reference. GOVERNMENT RIGHTS This invention was made in part under contract, awarded under SBIR Contract No. F33615-01-C-3100 Air Force Research Lab, Air Vehicles Directorate. The government has certain rights in the invention. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to systems for producing adaptive compliant surface contours, such as for wings, rotor blades, and control and other surfaces for aircraft, surface and submersible water craft, and the like, and more particularly, to a system that produces a variable surface contour of fixed and rotary control surfaces. 2. Description of the Related Art A need for surfaces having an adjustable or variable contour is present in a wide variety of applications, ranging from aircraft and water craft control surfaces to specialized furniture. Absent the ability to vary the surface contour in any such application results in the creation of products and systems that are not optimally designed, but instead are configured as compromises between conflicting design goals. In the case of airfoils for aircraft, it is known that overall drag results from the combination of friction between the airfoil and the air flowing therearound, and the lift component of force supplied to an aircraft wing. In such an application, innumerable variations can be effected between airfoil thickness, airfoil camber, airfoil length and width, and the like. The conventional airfoil, therefore, is but the implementation of an engineering compromise to effect an acceptable lift:drag ratio, which is a primary flight control parameter. There is a need, therefore, for an arrangement that enables advantageous variation in the shape of an airfoil and the contour of the associated control surfaces. There is a need for an arrangement for varying the dimensions and contours of airfoils, such as aircraft wings, so as to optimize same for different flight conditions Thus, for example, the wing configuration that would be optimum for stable, undisturbed flight, would be different from the wing configuration that would be optimized during take-off and landing. It would additionally be advantageous if the contour of the airfoil is adjusted in a manner that is not constant throughout the length of the airfoil, but which varies, illustratively to form a twist along the control surface of the wing. There is a need for optimizing the configuration and contour of such surfaces in other applications, such as in hydrofoils for water craft and spoilers for high speed land vehicles. In addition to the foregoing, there is a need for a system that affords advantageous variation of a surface contour for applications unrelated to airfoils, hydrofoils, spoilers, and the like. Such other applications may include, for example, adjustable seating surfaces, including back supports as well as fluid passageways, the dimensions of which are desired to be varied, such as an air intake passageway for an engine of a vehicle. It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a simple and economical arrangement for varying a contour of a surface. It is another object of this invention to provide an adjustable control surface for a fixed wing of an aircraft. It is another object of this invention to provide an adjustable control surface for a rotary wing of an aircraft or the propeller of a submarine. It is also an object of this invention to provide an airfoil having an adjustable configuration. It is a further object of this invention to provide an aircraft wing arrangement that can be optimized for various flight conditions. It is additionally an object of this invention to provide a hydrofoil having an adjustable surface contour for a control surface. It is also another object of this invention to provide a variable control surface for a spoiler for use in a land vehicle. It is also another object of this invention to provide a fluid passageway having a variable contour. It is yet an additional object of this invention to provide a variable surface for a seating arrangement. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The foregoing and other objects are achieved by this invention which provides compliant mechanisms and actuation arrangements for achieving advantageous variations in surface contours that control and propel aircraft and water craft. In accordance with the invention, there is provided an arrangement for producing a variation in the contour of a compliant surface. The arrangement is provided with a compliant frame having a first resiliently variable frame element having a corresponding first outer surface and a first inner surface, and a second resiliently variable frame element having a corresponding second outer surface and a second inner surface. The first outer surface is arranged in substantially distal opposition to the second outer surface and in communication with the compliant surface. Thus, the variation in the contour of the compliant surface is responsive to variation in the contour of the first outer surface of the compliant frame in addition, there is provided a linkage element having a predetermined resilience characteristic. The linkage arrangement is coupled at a first end thereof to the first inner surface and at a second end thereof to the second inner surface. An actuator applies a force to the second resiliently variable frame element with respect to a support element, resulting in a corresponding variation in the contour of the compliant surface. In one embodiment of the invention, there is further provided a frame coupler for coupling the first resiliently variable frame element to a support element. In other embodiments, there is further provided a second linkage element formed of a first material having a second predetermined resilience characteristic. The second linkage element is coupled at a first end thereof to the first inner surface and at a second end thereof to the second inner surface. The first and second linkage elements are formed of materials that have substantially identical resilience characteristics. In a practical embodiment, the first and second linkage elements are longitudinal in configuration and are arranged substantially parallel to each other. In further embodiments, the first and second resiliently variable frame elements are coupled to each other at a portion thereof distal from the support element. The support element is, in some embodiments, a spar of a wing of an aircraft. The resiliently variable frame elements have respective first and second resilience characteristics. The actuator is arranged, in some embodiments, to exert a substantially longitudinal force. In other embodiments, the actuator is arranged to exert a torque, and is arranged to convert the torque to a substantially longitudinal force. Some of the potential uses of the invention include arrangements wherein: the compliant surfaces is a surface of a wing of a fixed wing aircraft; the compliant surface is a surface of a rotatory wing of a helicopter; the compliant surface is a surface of an impeller of a water craft; and the compliant surface is a surface of a keel of a water craft. In accordance with a further apparatus aspect of the invention, there is provided an arrangement for producing a variation in the contours of a first compliant surface. The arrangement is provided with a first compliant frame having a respective first resiliently variable frame element having a corresponding first outer surface and a first inner surface, and a respective second resiliently variable frame element having a corresponding second outer surface and a second inner surface. The respective first and second outer surfaces are arranged in substantially distal opposition to one another and in communication with respectively associated ones of the first and second compliant surfaces. In this manner, the variation in the contours of the first and second compliant surfaces are responsive to variation in the contours of the first and second outer surfaces of the first compliant frame. There is additionally provided a second compliant frame having a respective first resiliently variable frame element having a corresponding first outer surface and a first inner surface, and a respective second resiliently variable frame element having a corresponding second outer surface and a second inner surface. The respective first and second outer surfaces are arranged in substantially distal opposition to one another and in communication with respectively associated ones of the first and second compliant surfaces. Thus, the variation in the contours of the first and second compliant surfaces are responsive to variation in the contours of the first and second outer surfaces of the second compliant frame. There is additionally provided a first linkage element having a predetermined resilience characteristic. The first linkage element is coupled at a first end thereof to the first inner surface and at a second end thereof to the second inner surface, of the first compliant frame. A second linkage element having a predetermined resilience characteristic is coupled at a first end thereof to the first inner surface and at a second end thereof to the second inner surface, of the second compliant frame. Also, a first frame coupler is provided for coupling the first resiliently variable frame element of the first compliant frame to a support element, and a second frame coupler couples the first resiliently variable frame element of the second compliant frame to a support element. A drive element is coupled to the second resiliently variable frame element of each of the first and second compliant frames. Additionally, an actuator is employed to apply a force to the drive element with respect to the support element. Upon the application of the force by the actuator, a corresponding variation in the contour of the first compliant surfaces of the first and second compliant frames is effected. In one embodiment of this further apparatus aspect of the invention, the actuator includes a power take off arrangement associated with a rotary wing of a rotary wing aircraft. The power take off arrangement provides a force that varies in response to the angular position of the rotary wing. In embodiments of the invention where the actuator is of a rotary type, the actuator converts the torque to a linear force. This is achieved in certain embodiments of the invention with the use of linkages. The first and second compliant frames are arranged, in some embodiments, in side-by-side relation to each other. The first compliant surface is arranged to overlie the first outer surface of each of the first and second compliant frames. A resilient filler material is disposed intermediate of the first and second compliant frames. In further embodiments, there is provided a second compliant surface arranged to overlie the second outer surface of each of the first and second compliant frames. Some embodiments of the invention orient the first and second compliant frames in mirror image relation to each other whereby the respective second resiliently variable frame elements of the first and second compliant frames communicate with each other. In accordance with a still further aspect of the invention, there is provided an arrangement for producing a variation in the contours of first and second compliant surfaces. The arrangement is provided with a compliant frame having a first resiliently variable frame element having a corresponding first outer surface and a first inner surface, and a second resiliently variable frame element having a corresponding second outer surface and a second inner surface. The first and second outer surfaces are arranged in substantially distal opposition to one another and in communication with respectively associated ones of the first and second compliant surfaces. In this manner, the variation in the contours of the first and second compliant surfaces are responsive to variation in the contours of the first and second outer surfaces of the compliant frame. There is additionally provided a linkage element having a predetermined resilience characteristic and being coupled at a first end thereof to the first inner surface and at a second end thereof to the second inner surface. A frame coupler couples the first resiliently variable frame element to a support element. Additionally, an actuator applies a force to the second resiliently variable frame element with respect to the support element. The application of the force by the actuator results in a corresponding variation in the contour of the first and second compliant surfaces. In certain embodiments of the invention, elastomeric or polymeric materials are used to accommodate displacement of surface elements that result from the relative motion that occurs as the contour is varied. In other embodiments, surface elements are configured to slide along one another. In still further embodiments, complementary compliant arrangements are provided, thereby precluding such displacement of surface elements. In embodiments of the invention that have a longitudinal aspect, such as the leading or trailing edges of wings or rotors, a plurality of compliant mechanisms are sequentially arranged therealong. The space therebetween is, in certain embodiments, filled with material that is softer than the material from which the compliant mechanism is formed. For example, in certain embodiments the compliant mechanisms are formed of aerospace grade titanium alloy or aluminum 2024 or composites. Such compliant mechanisms are cut from stock material using electro discharge machining (EDM) technique or laser cutting. The softer material that is interposed between the compliant mechanisms may be, for example, an aluminum polycarbonate that is adapted to bond to the compliant mechanisms. It is an aspect of the present invention that rotating wings, such as for helicopters, vary their contour throughout each cycle of rotation. Thus, in the case of a helicopter, the rotor blade will assume a first contour during the advancing portion of the cycle, and a second contour during the retreating portion of the cycle. In embodiments of the invention that are used, for example, in connection with submarine propellers, the propeller blades can assume different contours during respective portions of the cycle of rotation. Thus, for example, if it is desired to turn the submarine toward starboard, the starboard half of the cycle of rotation is configured to provide less thrust than the port half of the cycle of rotation. Similarly, if it is desired to achieve a rapid descent, the top half of the cycle of rotation is configured to provide greater thrust than the lower half. The use of the present invention in connection with the maneuvering of a submarine therefore requires that the predetermined segment of the cycle of rotation throughout which the contour change is desired itself be angularly variable to enable multidimensional maneuverability. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Comprehension of the invention is facilitated by reading the following detailed description, in conjunction with the annexed drawing, in which: FIG. 1a is a simplified schematic representation of a compliant structure having a shape characteristic that is varied in response to a moving fluid, such as air or water, the compliant structure being shown in positive flap deflection and downwardly deformed conditions; FIG. 1b is a simplified schematic representation of the compliant structure of FIG. 1a, the compliant structure being shown in negative flap deflection and nominal conditions; FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic representation of a further compliant structure that is formed of a plurality of materials and particular illustrative forms of materials that are combined to achieve advantageous functional and structural characteristics of the compliant structure; FIG. 3a is a simplified schematic representation of a further embodiment of a compliant structure that is constructed to employ an actuator that is coupled to the compliant structure via linkages, shown in positive flap deflection and downwardly deformed conditions; FIG. 3b is a simplified schematic representation of the further embodiment of FIG. 3a, the actuator not being shown herein, illustrated in positive flap deflection and downwardly deformed conditions; FIG. 4 is a simplified schematic representation of a further embodiment of a compliant structure that is constructed to employ a dual flap arrangement that avoids the need to use elastomeric sealing arrangements or sliding surfaces, the compliant structure being illustrated in nominal and downwardly deformed conditions; FIG. 5a is a simplified schematic representation of a composite 3-dimensional arrangement of material that is useful in a further embodiment of a compliant structure; FIG. 5b is a simplified schematic representation of a specific illustrative embodiment of the invention that is constructed to employ the composite 3-dimensional arrangement shown in FIG. 5a of stiffer compliant ribs and softer polymeric materials to achieve a predetermined blend of stiffness and flexibility; FIGS. 6a and 6b are simplified schematic representations that illustrate a wing in a nominal condition (FIG. 6a) and the same wing being flexed and with twisted control surfaces (FIG. 6b); FIG. 7 is a simplified schematic representation of the use of compliant structures to effect specialized characteristics of fluid flow; FIG. 8 is a simplified schematic representation of an illustrative compliant structure that may be used to effect specialized characteristics of fluid flow of FIG. 7; FIG. 9 is a simplified schematic representation of an illustrative manner by which mechanical energy is drawn from the rotation of a helicopter rotary wing arrangement to effect a shape change in the rotor blade; FIG. 10 is a simplified schematic representation of the rotor blade arrangement of FIG. 9 showing an illustrative arrangement by which leader edge camber change is effected; FIG. 11 is a perspective representation of certain fins and a propeller of a submarine that are configurable in accordance with the principles of the present invention; FIG. 12 is a perspective representation of a prototypical wing portion constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention, and shown to be under test conditions; FIG. 13 is a simplified schematic representation that illustrates the operation of a prototype that produces the noted 6° camber change; FIG. 14 is a simplified schematic representation that illustrates a plurality of the prototype compliant systems of FIG. 13 arranged in sequence along the forward portion of an airfoil; FIG. 15 is a perspective representation of an adaptive compliant wing constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention, the camber thereof being at 0°; FIG. 16 is a perspective representation of the adaptive compliant wing of FIG. 15, the camber thereof being at 6°; FIG. 17 is a simplified schematic representation of a compliant mechanism that is suitable for use as a trailing edge flap for an airfoil, and that exhibits an angular translation of 21°, corresponding to a distance of 3.8 inches, in response to an input of +0.2 inches at an upper input point, and an input of −0.2 inches at a lower input point; FIG. 18 is a simplified schematic representation of a compliant mechanism that is suitable for use as a leading edge flap for an airfoil useful in a high performance aircraft, such as a jet fighter; FIGS. 19a and 19b are simplified schematic representations of the compliant structure of the present invention presented to describe measures of performance, e.g., stiffness-to-compliance ratio; FIG. 20 is a simplified schematic representation that depicts an illustrative linkage that may, in certain embodiments, be used in conjunction with a rotary actuator; FIG. 21 is a graphical illustration that correlates vertical deflection of a leading edge against wingspan for the compliant structure and a conventional flap; FIGS. 22a, 22b, and 22c constitute a sequence of three representations of a leading edge compliant structure in various degrees of camber, from 0° to 15°; FIG. 23 illustrates a compliant structure actuated by a lever arm; FIG. 24 illustrates a compliant structure actuated by a torque tube; FIG. 25 is an isometric representation of a compliant structure formed of Titanium Ti-6Al-4V; and FIGS. 26 and 27 are simplified schematic representations of a helicopter rotor employing the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1a is a simplified schematic representation of a compliant structure 100 having a shape characteristic that is varied in response to a moving fluid, such as air or water (not shown). in the figure, the compliant structure being shown in a positive flap deflection condition at position 102 and in downwardly deformed condition at position 104. The positions are determined by operation of an actuator 106 that applies a linear force, in this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention, to a drive tube 108 in the direction of arrow 110. Drive tube 108 is shown cross-sectionally and arranged to extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the figure. FIG. 1b is a simplified schematic representation of compliant structure 100 of FIG. 1a, the compliant structure being shown in a negative flap deflection condition at position 114 and in a nominal condition at position 116. Elements of structure that bear analogous correspondence to those discussed in relation to other figures are similarly designated. The embodiment of FIGS. 1a and 1b is a primary embodiment of a compliant structure that works to impart a sophisticated and continuous change of shape under the influence of one or more (continuous and/or discrete) actuators 106, and may include additional features such as an elastomeric panel 118 that accommodates expansion or contraction of surfaces while still providing rigidity to aero-hydro loads. Alternatively a sliding surface (not shown in this figure) may be applied in place of the elastomeric surface. In embodiments where discrete actuators are used for motion/force transfer to the compliant structure, drive tube 108 is utilized to apply continuous force/motion to the compliant structure along the length of the structure (span). This compliant surface may be activated when necessary to cause changes in the shape of an airfoil or hydrofoil. The changes are, in certain embodiment, subject to a control algorithm designed to affect lift, drag, pitch, stability, or some other characteristic of the device. In the specific illustrative embodiment of FIGS. 1a and 1b, compliant structure 100 is in the form of a compliant frame having a first resiliently variable frame element 120 having a corresponding first outer surface 122 and a first inner surface 124. A second resiliently variable frame element 130 has a corresponding second outer surface 132 and a second inner surface 134. As shown, the first and second outer surfaces (122 and 132) being arranged in substantially distal opposition to one another and in communication with respectively associated ones of the first and second compliant surfaces. In this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention, the first and second outer surfaces also serve as the corresponding compliant surfaces. In other embodiments, however, the compliant surfaces constitute further structure that overlies the first and second outer surfaces. See, for example, FIG. 12. The contours of the first and second compliant surfaces are responsive to variation in the contours of the first and second outer surfaces of the compliant frame (i.e., compliant structure 100). Compliant structure 100 is further shown in this figure to be provided with a plurality of linkage elements 141, 142, 143, and 144, which may be formed integrally with frame elements 120 and 130. The linkage elements couple frame elements 120 and 130 at their respective first and second inner surfaces 124 and 134. The linkage elements may be provided with respective resilience characteristics that are determined by the materials of which they are formed and their physical configurations, sizes, and orientations within compliant structure 100. In the present specific illustrative embodiment of the invention, the various linkage elements are shown to have generally elongated configurations, and are, but not necessarily, arranged substantially parallel to each another. First resiliently variable frame element 120 is coupled by a frame coupler 151 to a support element 150, which in this embodiment is a rear wing spar of an aircraft (not shown). First resiliently variable frame element 120 is juxtaposed to the wing skin 152 to produce a smooth, uninterrupted interface at juncture 154. Similarly, elastomeric panel 118 is juxtaposed to the wing skin 156, to produce a smooth, uninterrupted interface at juncture 158. The second resiliently variable frame element 130 is coupled, in this embodiment, to drive tube 108 and receives a force via actuator 106, the force being applied relative to support element 150 (i.e., the wing spar). FIG. 2 is a is a simplified schematic representation of a further compliant structure 200 that is formed of a plurality of materials and particular illustrative forms of materials that are combined to achieve advantageous functional and structural characteristics of the compliant structure. As shown in this figure, resiliently variable frame elements 202 and 204 have bonded thereto linkage elements 210, 211, 212, and 213. The bonds are effected at the respective ends of the linkage elements to respective inner surfaces 220 and 222 of resiliently variable frame elements 202 and 204. As previously noted, the response of compliant structure 200 can be customized by the selection of material and configuration of the linkage elements. The materials of which the linkage elements are formed, and the resilience characteristic of the materials, can differ from the material and resilience characteristic of the resiliently variable frame elements. In addition, a third material may advantageously be inserted between the linkage elements, such as a damping foam 225 which in this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention is inserted between linkage elements 212 and 213. For present purposes, the term “material” refers to all homogeneous, nonhomogeneous, porous, honeycomb, and fiber composite construction materials. Each material may have differing characteristics such as modulus, strength, damping, etc., such that it is desirable to have specific sections of the compliant structure made from specific materials. These different materials combine to further improve the functionality stiffness, strength, dynamics, thermal capacity, etc. of the rib over a single-material configuration of the rib alone. In a highly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the resiliently variable frame elements 202 and 204, and the linkage elements, are formed of aerospace grade aluminum. The damping foam 225 may be a polymer and that is softer than the aerospace grade aluminum and is bonded to the aerospace grade aluminum. In yet further embodiments of the invention, the linkage elements are formed of a polymer that, in some embodiments, is harder than the damping foam and softer than the aerospace grade aluminum. FIG. 3a is a simplified schematic representation of a further embodiment of the invention in the form of a compliant structure 300 that is constructed to employ a rotary actuator 302 that is coupled to the compliant structure via links 304, 305, and 306. Compliant structure 300 is shown in positive flap deflection condition at position 310 and in a downwardly deformed condition at position 311. In this embodiment, a lower resiliently variable frame element 315 interfaces with an elastomeric panel 317 to form a smooth continuous surface with wing skin 319. The elastomeric panel functions to accommodate expansion or contraction of the surfaces while still providing rigidity to aero-hydro loads. FIG. 3b is a simplified schematic representation of the further embodiment of FIG. 3a, the actuator not being shown herein. In this figure, compliant structure 300 is shown in positive flap deflection condition at position 310 and in a downwardly deformed condition at position 311, as was the case in the representation of FIG. 3a. However, the surface between lower resiliently variable frame element 315 and wing skin 319 is occupied in this embodiment by a smart media panel 321 that distributes the effect of actuation. When necessary to enhance performance, linkages, gear trains, cams, or other mechanical devices including smart materials may be employed to generate a combination of linear and rotational forces/motions (with linear and nonlinear relationships) to generate proper motion input for the compliant structure. These actuation methods may be applied discretely, at specific locations, or continuously across the span of the compliant structure. For discrete methods, the presence of a coupling member termed a drive tube (not shown in this figure), as previously described, is desirable to transfer the forces and motions of one or more actuators to the plurality of compliant ribs across the span. FIG. 4 is a simplified schematic representation of a compliant structure 400 that is constructed to employ a dual flap arrangement, having compliant structures 402 and 404, that avoids the need to use elastomeric sealing arrangements or sliding surfaces. The compliant structure is illustrated in a nominal condition at position 406 and in a downwardly deformed condition at position 408. The dual flap configuration is utilized to avoid the use of an elastomeric seal or sliding surfaces along the mid chord of an airfoil/hydrofoil at transonic, supersonic, or hypersonic speeds. Here the two compliant structures 402 and 404 operate in unison in a push pull configuration actuated by actuators 410 and 411 that apply force to respective ones of drive tubes 414 and 415 to produce deflection of the control surface as a whole. Alternatively, the one of the surfaces could be deflected while the other remains fixed in a static position in a split flap arrangement. This configuration would primarily be used on a trailing edge flap or control surface where the split (sliding) surface would minimally effect the flow characteristics. FIG. 5a is a simplified schematic representation of a composite 3-dimensional arrangement of material 510 that is useful in the embodiment of FIG. 5b. FIG. 5b is a simplified schematic representation of a specific illustrative embodiment of the invention in the form of foil 500 that is constructed to employ the composite 3-dimensional arrangement of material 510 shown in FIG. 5a having stiffer compliant ribs and softer polymeric materials to achieve a predetermined blend of stiffness and flexibility to change shape, bend, and move with the wing under aerodynamic loading (i.e., wing flex). For discrete actuator arrangements, a drive tube 515 is utilized, as previously discussed, to provide a continuous actuator motion from discrete actuation sources, such as actuator 517. Actuator 517 applied a force to drive tube 515 against a wing box 520. Material 510 is arranged to overlie compliant structure 522 and wing box 520. In some embodiments of the invention, the regions 525 of material 510 are filled with relatively soft polymeric material (not specifically designated). Not all of the regions 525 need to be filled with the same relatively soft polymeric material, as it may in certain embodiments be desirable to achieve a gradient of resilience characteristic. In this embodiment, and elastomeric surface 527 bridges the spacing between the lower surface 529 of compliant structure 522 and wing skin 530, as previously discussed. FIGS. 6a and 6b are simplified schematic representations that illustrate a wing 600 in a nominal condition (FIG. 6a) and the same wing being flexed and with twisted control surfaces (FIG. 6b). Wing flex along with twist of the control surface creates both shear and bending strains (against the major axis of the flap). These strains reduce the service life and load capacity of the compliant structure, and can be alleviated by utilizing a relatively soft polymeric or elastomeric material between the compliant ribs, as discussed above in connection with FIGS. 5a and 5b. This softer material serves to create a sealed aerodynamic surface while accommodating bending and shear strains due to twist of the control surface and flex of the wing. In an embodiment of the invention where wing 600 constitutes a trailing edge flap, the twist along the span of the trailing edge seen in FIG. 6b will range ±10° thereacross, with resulting expansion between ribs. FIG. 7 is a simplified schematic representation of an airfoil 700 that uses compliant structures as described herein to effect specialized characteristics of fluid flow. In this embodiment, surface bumps 702 and 704 are formed by actuation of resilient elements. The bumps, particularly bump 704, serve to attenuate or to dampen a shock wave 710, or to effect advantageous placement of the shock wave on the airfoil. FIG. 8 is a simplified schematic representation of an illustrative compliant structure that may be used to effect the specialized characteristics of fluid flow discussed in connection with FIG. 7. As shown in FIG. 8, the application of an input force by actuator 801 in the direction of arrow 803 results in a shape change in the form of a bump at position 805. In this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention, the lower skin 807 of the airfoil is not significantly affected. In addition to camber control and nose blunting, compliant structures can be utilized to effect additional characteristics of fluid flow including super sonic and hypersonio phenomenon such as the formation of shockwaves, laminar, turbulent and/or separated flow, compressibility effects, and other aerodynamic and aero-acoustic phenomenon. FIG. 9 is a simplified schematic representation of an illustrative manner by which mechanical energy is drawn from the rotation of a helicopter rotary wing arrangement 900 to effect a shape change in the advancing rotor blade 902 and in the retreating rotor blade 904, employed in a rotary wing aircraft (not shown) traveling in the direction of arrow 906. The rotary blades extend from a hub 907 that contains a swash plate mechanism (not shown), and a fixed ring gear 908. Each of the rotor blades has an associated one of compliant leading edges 910 and 912. As will be discussed in greater detail below, each of the compliant leading edges 910 and 912 has associated therewith a corresponding one of drive shafts 916 and 918, each of which is coupled to an associated rotating gear/eccentric cam arrangement 920 and 922. FIG. 10 is a simplified schematic representation of a portion of the helicopter rotary wing arrangement 900 of FIG. 9 showing an illustrative arrangement by which leader edge camber change is effected. Elements of structure that have previously been discussed are similarly designated. As shown in FIG. 10, rotating gear/eccentric cam arrangement 920 causes drive shaft 916 to be urged in the directions of two-headed arrow 929 by operation of eccentric cam 930 that is rotated by the engagement of gear 932 with fixed ring gear 908. Thus, the variation in the contour of advancing rotor blade 902, to achieve, for example, the change in camber contour at position 934, is a function of the angular position of the advancing rotor blade with respect to the fixed ring gear. In other embodiments of the invention, drive shaft 916 is caused to be rotated cyclically in the direction of two headed arrow 935. These drawings depict the process of tapping power from the relativistic motion of the rotating rotor-blade shaft to the non-rotating helicopter body. In this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention, this is accomplished by utilizing a cam, gearing, linkage, or other mechanized assembly. The output of this mechanism would be a linear or rotary motion (timing might correspond to a fixed event). This motion (input power) is, in a specific illustrative embodiment of the invention, transmitted by a shaft running along the interior of the rotor-blade to a compliant mechanism (leading, trailing edge, etc.). Upon the application of input motion, the compliant mechanism would undergo a prescribed shape change to enhance the performance characteristics of the rotating blade aircraft. Specifically, in this embodiment, leading edge camber change (retreating blade) could delay the onset of wing stall and could increase lift capacity and maximum vehicle speed. FIG. 11 is a perspective representation of certain fins 1101 and a propeller 1105 of a submarine 1100 that are configurable in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Moreover, the main body 1107 of submarine 1100 can be configured in accordance with the principles of the invention to achieve optimized or otherwise desired hydrodynamic characteristics. The design tools and compliant structures fabrication techniques that are currently being applied on cutting edge aircraft projects are directly applicable to hydrodynamic surfaces. Reshaping the leading edge on a hydroplane can produce similar drag reduction results, as a function of speed, as has been demonstrated on air vehicles. Also, hydro-surface camber changing, using variable geometry leading and trailing edge compliant surfaces, can produce lifting/control forces, in the appropriate direction, without the separated flow (high drag) regions produced with a conventional hinged flap. In addition, submarine propeller contours can be varied between high performance and stealth modes of operation. It is additionally to be noted, as will further be discussed in regard of FIGS. 9, 10, 26, and 26 (helicopter rotor), that the contour of propeller 1105 can be varied so as not to be uniform throughout the 360° rotation, to promote improved the vessel's turning radius, rates of dive and ascent, and overall maneuverability. In such an embodiment, the angular region of camber displacement throughout the rotation of the propeller would itself be angularly varied depending upon the desired maneuver to be performed (i.e., turn left, turn right, dive, surface, etc.). With respect to surface water craft (not shown), for example, it a high performance sailboat keel, employing camber changing variable geometry compliant structures, can sail more directly into the wind (beating) at a higher forward velocity, without the performance robbing heeling that is present with a conventional keel. The underwater surfaces on a high performance sailboat are much smaller than the aerodynamic surfaces (sails). However, because of the density difference between water and air, the force generation leverage of a variable camber hydrodynamic surface is much greater. Therefore, small changes in hydrodynamic surface camber generate large restoring moments to counteract the sail side force component preventing sideways movement or leeway. FIG. 12 is a perspective representation of a prototypical wing portion 1200 constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention, and shown to be under wind tunnel test conditions. The wing portion shown in this figure achieves a 6° leading edge camber, which corresponds to a 25% increase in lift coefficient. As noted, the airfoil of the present invention yields high lift for rotor craft. The invention is applicable to effect variation in camber and/or shape of an airfoil. FIG. 13 is a simplified schematic representation that illustrates the operation of a compliant system 1300 that produces the noted 6° camber change. There is represented in the figure a compliant mechanism 1302 that is acted upon, in this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention, by a pair of actuators 1304 and 1306 that will urge the arrangement between the nominal position and the contour indicated as the resulting shape change 1310. Compliant system 1300 achieves resulting shape change 1310 by actuation of actuators 1304 and 1306 in the directions of arrows 1314 and 1316. In this embodiment, compliant mechanism 1302 is covered by a wing skin 1320 that adapts to the contour of the compliant mechanism. In this embodiment, compliant system 1300 is coupled to a main spar 1325 by operation of compliant mounts 1327 and 1329. FIG. 14 is a simplified schematic representation that illustrates a plurality of the prototype compliant systems of FIG. 13 arranged in sequence along the forward portion of an airfoil 1400. Compliant mechanisms 1302a through 1302n are shown to be coupled to a common drive tube 1402, such that all of them are subjected to a substantially identical input force. FIG. 15 is a perspective representation of an adaptive compliant wing 1500 constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention, the camber thereof being at 0°. FIG. 16 is a perspective representation of the adaptive compliant wing 1500 of FIG. 15, the camber thereof being at 6°. FIG. 17 is a simplified schematic representation of a compliant trailing edge mechanism 1700 that is suitable for use as a trailing edge flap for an airfoil (not shown in this figure), and that exhibits an angular translation of 21°, corresponding to a distance of 3.8 inches, in response to an input of +0.2 inches at an upper input point, and an input of −0.2 inches at a lower input point. The compliant mechanism in this embodiment is approximately 10 inches in length and has a thickness of about 2 inches. Of course, a similar arrangement can be configured for use by water craft as a fin, a trim tab, or the like. FIG. 18 is a simplified schematic representation of a compliant mechanism 1800 that is suitable for use as a leading edge flap for an airfoil (not shown in this figure) useful in a high performance aircraft, such as a jet fighter (not shown). Compliant mechanism 1800 is shown to be formed of a main spar 1802 with an actuation mechanism 1805 that operates on compliant ribs (linkage elements) 1807. The compliant ribs are coupled on their respective ends to main spar 1802 and a leading edge spar 1810. In this embodiment, a composite material 1812 is inserted between certain ones of the compliant ribs. In accordance with this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention, the compliant structure design is configured to achieve the following performance specifications: Flap range of motion 0 degrees to +15 degrees (stream wise) Compliant structures target shapes error <1-2% (DV/V) Space requirement Same as F16 system Max torque of inboard hydraulic <100,000 in-lb rotary actuator Operational temperature range 275 degrees F. Minimum factor of safety 1.5 times ultimate loading HP of actuation system minimize power required Approximate weight of flap + minimize weight rotary drive system FIGS. 19a and 19b are simplified schematic representations of the compliant structure of the present invention presented to describe measures of performance, e.g., stiffness-to-compliance ratio. In this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention, the stiffness-to-compliance ratio is determined by comparing a measurement of applied pressure load while the actuator is fixed against a reaction force produced when the actuator is permitted to move. In this case, the stiffness-to-compliance ratio is 400.8. K fixed K flex = 5.11 ⁢ ⁢ E ⁢ ⁢ 6 ⁢ ⁢ in ⁢ - ⁢ lb ⁢ / ⁢ rad 1.24 ⁢ ⁢ E ⁢ ⁢ 4 ⁢ ⁢ in ⁢ - ⁢ lb ⁢ / ⁢ rad = 400.8 FIG. 20 is a simplified schematic representation that depicts an illustrative linkage that may, in certain embodiments, be used in conjunction with a rotary actuator 2002. The rotary actuator is coupled at one end thereof to a main spar 2004 and to compliant structure 2006 by a drive linkage arrangement that is formed of links 2010 and 2012. In operation, rotary actuator 2002 urges ling 2012 to move in the direction of the two-headed arrow thereon. There is additionally provided a sliding/stretching joint 2015 that accommodates the movement of the wing skin (not specifically designated) in the direction of two-headed arrow 2017. FIG. 21 is a graphical illustration that correlates vertical deflection of a leading edge against wingspan for the compliant structure of the present invention and a conventional flap. FIGS. 22a, 22b, and 22c constitute a sequence of three representations of a mock up leading edge compliant structure 2200 in various degrees of camber, from 0° to 15°. Leading edge compliant structure 2200 is formed of metal, as previously discussed, and is provided with a manual actuation arrangement to show the relationship between the actuation and the resulting angular (camber) change of the leading edge compliant structure. FIG. 23 illustrates a compliant structure arrangement 2300 actuated by a lever arm 2302. The location of actuation 2305 is at the terminus of lever arm 2302, and the application of a torque by torque tube 2310 causes compliant portion 2312 to be deflected in the direction of two-headed arrow 2314. FIG. 24 illustrates a compliant structure 2400 that is actuated by a torque tube 2410. The forces applied in the directions of arrows 2402 and 2404 cause compliant portion 2412 be deflected in the direction of two-headed arrow 2414. FIG. 25 is an isometric representation of a compliant structure 2500 formed of Titanium Ti-6Al-4V. Selection of the material is determined by maximization of the elastic energy stored per unit weight. Thus, it is desired to maximize Sy2/ρE, where Sy is the yield strength, ρ is the density, and E is the elastic modulus. Consideration is also to be given to fatigue strength. The characteristics of some of the materials that are useful in the practice of the invention are as follows: Sy ρ E Sy/ρE Material Mpa g/cc Gpa × 10−3 Sy2/ρE Aluminum 7075-T6 505 2.81 72 2.5 1260 Al-Lithium 1460 620 2.59 72 3.3 2060 Titanium Ti—6Al—4V 880 4.43 114 1.74 1533 Titanium 8Al—1Mo—1V 1070 4.37 120 2.0 2183 Maraging Steel (18Ni) 2135 8 190 1.4 3000 Not available in plate form MMC Al alloy 1300 3.5 300 1.2 1609 FIGS. 26 and 27 are simplified schematic representations of helicopter rotors employing the present invention. As previously noted, a contour that is varied over the angular displacement of the rotor is applicable to aquatic vehicles, such as submarine propellers, where variation in the thrust exerted over respective portions of the path of angular displacement can provide desirable diminution in turning radius, as well as descent and ascent characteristics. In FIG. 26, a rotor blade 2600 is shown schematically and cross-sectionally to have a honeycomb trailing edge 2602 coupled to a D-spar 2604. Forward of the D-spar is a compliant structure 2606 that is coupled to the D-spar and is sealed thereto by an elastomeric seal 2608. there is additionally shown a wear strip 2611 that will accommodate wear, particularly when the helicopter is used in an abrasive environment. FIG. 27 shows a forward portion 2700 of a helicopter rotor (not shown in this figure) and illustrates that actuation of compliant structure 2606 results in a leading edge deformation illustrated by position 2710. Although the invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments and applications, persons skilled in the art can, in light of this teaching, generate additional embodiments without exceeding the scope or departing from the spirit of the invention claimed herein. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the drawing and description in this disclosure are proffered to facilitate comprehension of the invention, and should not be construed to limit the scope thereof.

<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to systems for producing adaptive compliant surface contours, such as for wings, rotor blades, and control and other surfaces for aircraft, surface and submersible water craft, and the like, and more particularly, to a system that produces a variable surface contour of fixed and rotary control surfaces. 2. Description of the Related Art A need for surfaces having an adjustable or variable contour is present in a wide variety of applications, ranging from aircraft and water craft control surfaces to specialized furniture. Absent the ability to vary the surface contour in any such application results in the creation of products and systems that are not optimally designed, but instead are configured as compromises between conflicting design goals. In the case of airfoils for aircraft, it is known that overall drag results from the combination of friction between the airfoil and the air flowing therearound, and the lift component of force supplied to an aircraft wing. In such an application, innumerable variations can be effected between airfoil thickness, airfoil camber, airfoil length and width, and the like. The conventional airfoil, therefore, is but the implementation of an engineering compromise to effect an acceptable lift:drag ratio, which is a primary flight control parameter. There is a need, therefore, for an arrangement that enables advantageous variation in the shape of an airfoil and the contour of the associated control surfaces. There is a need for an arrangement for varying the dimensions and contours of airfoils, such as aircraft wings, so as to optimize same for different flight conditions Thus, for example, the wing configuration that would be optimum for stable, undisturbed flight, would be different from the wing configuration that would be optimized during take-off and landing. It would additionally be advantageous if the contour of the airfoil is adjusted in a manner that is not constant throughout the length of the airfoil, but which varies, illustratively to form a twist along the control surface of the wing. There is a need for optimizing the configuration and contour of such surfaces in other applications, such as in hydrofoils for water craft and spoilers for high speed land vehicles. In addition to the foregoing, there is a need for a system that affords advantageous variation of a surface contour for applications unrelated to airfoils, hydrofoils, spoilers, and the like. Such other applications may include, for example, adjustable seating surfaces, including back supports as well as fluid passageways, the dimensions of which are desired to be varied, such as an air intake passageway for an engine of a vehicle. It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a simple and economical arrangement for varying a contour of a surface. It is another object of this invention to provide an adjustable control surface for a fixed wing of an aircraft. It is another object of this invention to provide an adjustable control surface for a rotary wing of an aircraft or the propeller of a submarine. It is also an object of this invention to provide an airfoil having an adjustable configuration. It is a further object of this invention to provide an aircraft wing arrangement that can be optimized for various flight conditions. It is additionally an object of this invention to provide a hydrofoil having an adjustable surface contour for a control surface. It is also another object of this invention to provide a variable control surface for a spoiler for use in a land vehicle. It is also another object of this invention to provide a fluid passageway having a variable contour. It is yet an additional object of this invention to provide a variable surface for a seating arrangement.

<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The foregoing and other objects are achieved by this invention which provides compliant mechanisms and actuation arrangements for achieving advantageous variations in surface contours that control and propel aircraft and water craft. In accordance with the invention, there is provided an arrangement for producing a variation in the contour of a compliant surface. The arrangement is provided with a compliant frame having a first resiliently variable frame element having a corresponding first outer surface and a first inner surface, and a second resiliently variable frame element having a corresponding second outer surface and a second inner surface. The first outer surface is arranged in substantially distal opposition to the second outer surface and in communication with the compliant surface. Thus, the variation in the contour of the compliant surface is responsive to variation in the contour of the first outer surface of the compliant frame in addition, there is provided a linkage element having a predetermined resilience characteristic. The linkage arrangement is coupled at a first end thereof to the first inner surface and at a second end thereof to the second inner surface. An actuator applies a force to the second resiliently variable frame element with respect to a support element, resulting in a corresponding variation in the contour of the compliant surface. In one embodiment of the invention, there is further provided a frame coupler for coupling the first resiliently variable frame element to a support element. In other embodiments, there is further provided a second linkage element formed of a first material having a second predetermined resilience characteristic. The second linkage element is coupled at a first end thereof to the first inner surface and at a second end thereof to the second inner surface. The first and second linkage elements are formed of materials that have substantially identical resilience characteristics. In a practical embodiment, the first and second linkage elements are longitudinal in configuration and are arranged substantially parallel to each other. In further embodiments, the first and second resiliently variable frame elements are coupled to each other at a portion thereof distal from the support element. The support element is, in some embodiments, a spar of a wing of an aircraft. The resiliently variable frame elements have respective first and second resilience characteristics. The actuator is arranged, in some embodiments, to exert a substantially longitudinal force. In other embodiments, the actuator is arranged to exert a torque, and is arranged to convert the torque to a substantially longitudinal force. Some of the potential uses of the invention include arrangements wherein: the compliant surfaces is a surface of a wing of a fixed wing aircraft; the compliant surface is a surface of a rotatory wing of a helicopter; the compliant surface is a surface of an impeller of a water craft; and the compliant surface is a surface of a keel of a water craft. In accordance with a further apparatus aspect of the invention, there is provided an arrangement for producing a variation in the contours of a first compliant surface. The arrangement is provided with a first compliant frame having a respective first resiliently variable frame element having a corresponding first outer surface and a first inner surface, and a respective second resiliently variable frame element having a corresponding second outer surface and a second inner surface. The respective first and second outer surfaces are arranged in substantially distal opposition to one another and in communication with respectively associated ones of the first and second compliant surfaces. In this manner, the variation in the contours of the first and second compliant surfaces are responsive to variation in the contours of the first and second outer surfaces of the first compliant frame. There is additionally provided a second compliant frame having a respective first resiliently variable frame element having a corresponding first outer surface and a first inner surface, and a respective second resiliently variable frame element having a corresponding second outer surface and a second inner surface. The respective first and second outer surfaces are arranged in substantially distal opposition to one another and in communication with respectively associated ones of the first and second compliant surfaces. Thus, the variation in the contours of the first and second compliant surfaces are responsive to variation in the contours of the first and second outer surfaces of the second compliant frame. There is additionally provided a first linkage element having a predetermined resilience characteristic. The first linkage element is coupled at a first end thereof to the first inner surface and at a second end thereof to the second inner surface, of the first compliant frame. A second linkage element having a predetermined resilience characteristic is coupled at a first end thereof to the first inner surface and at a second end thereof to the second inner surface, of the second compliant frame. Also, a first frame coupler is provided for coupling the first resiliently variable frame element of the first compliant frame to a support element, and a second frame coupler couples the first resiliently variable frame element of the second compliant frame to a support element. A drive element is coupled to the second resiliently variable frame element of each of the first and second compliant frames. Additionally, an actuator is employed to apply a force to the drive element with respect to the support element. Upon the application of the force by the actuator, a corresponding variation in the contour of the first compliant surfaces of the first and second compliant frames is effected. In one embodiment of this further apparatus aspect of the invention, the actuator includes a power take off arrangement associated with a rotary wing of a rotary wing aircraft. The power take off arrangement provides a force that varies in response to the angular position of the rotary wing. In embodiments of the invention where the actuator is of a rotary type, the actuator converts the torque to a linear force. This is achieved in certain embodiments of the invention with the use of linkages. The first and second compliant frames are arranged, in some embodiments, in side-by-side relation to each other. The first compliant surface is arranged to overlie the first outer surface of each of the first and second compliant frames. A resilient filler material is disposed intermediate of the first and second compliant frames. In further embodiments, there is provided a second compliant surface arranged to overlie the second outer surface of each of the first and second compliant frames. Some embodiments of the invention orient the first and second compliant frames in mirror image relation to each other whereby the respective second resiliently variable frame elements of the first and second compliant frames communicate with each other. In accordance with a still further aspect of the invention, there is provided an arrangement for producing a variation in the contours of first and second compliant surfaces. The arrangement is provided with a compliant frame having a first resiliently variable frame element having a corresponding first outer surface and a first inner surface, and a second resiliently variable frame element having a corresponding second outer surface and a second inner surface. The first and second outer surfaces are arranged in substantially distal opposition to one another and in communication with respectively associated ones of the first and second compliant surfaces. In this manner, the variation in the contours of the first and second compliant surfaces are responsive to variation in the contours of the first and second outer surfaces of the compliant frame. There is additionally provided a linkage element having a predetermined resilience characteristic and being coupled at a first end thereof to the first inner surface and at a second end thereof to the second inner surface. A frame coupler couples the first resiliently variable frame element to a support element. Additionally, an actuator applies a force to the second resiliently variable frame element with respect to the support element. The application of the force by the actuator results in a corresponding variation in the contour of the first and second compliant surfaces. In certain embodiments of the invention, elastomeric or polymeric materials are used to accommodate displacement of surface elements that result from the relative motion that occurs as the contour is varied. In other embodiments, surface elements are configured to slide along one another. In still further embodiments, complementary compliant arrangements are provided, thereby precluding such displacement of surface elements. In embodiments of the invention that have a longitudinal aspect, such as the leading or trailing edges of wings or rotors, a plurality of compliant mechanisms are sequentially arranged therealong. The space therebetween is, in certain embodiments, filled with material that is softer than the material from which the compliant mechanism is formed. For example, in certain embodiments the compliant mechanisms are formed of aerospace grade titanium alloy or aluminum 2024 or composites. Such compliant mechanisms are cut from stock material using electro discharge machining (EDM) technique or laser cutting. The softer material that is interposed between the compliant mechanisms may be, for example, an aluminum polycarbonate that is adapted to bond to the compliant mechanisms. It is an aspect of the present invention that rotating wings, such as for helicopters, vary their contour throughout each cycle of rotation. Thus, in the case of a helicopter, the rotor blade will assume a first contour during the advancing portion of the cycle, and a second contour during the retreating portion of the cycle. In embodiments of the invention that are used, for example, in connection with submarine propellers, the propeller blades can assume different contours during respective portions of the cycle of rotation. Thus, for example, if it is desired to turn the submarine toward starboard, the starboard half of the cycle of rotation is configured to provide less thrust than the port half of the cycle of rotation. Similarly, if it is desired to achieve a rapid descent, the top half of the cycle of rotation is configured to provide greater thrust than the lower half. The use of the present invention in connection with the maneuvering of a submarine therefore requires that the predetermined segment of the cycle of rotation throughout which the contour change is desired itself be angularly variable to enable multidimensional maneuverability.

20050902

20080610

20060824

60177.0

B64C300

COLLINS, TIMOTHY D

ADAPTIVE COMPLIANT WING AND ROTOR SYSTEM

SMALL

ACCEPTED

B64C

ACCEPTED

Modular processing system for personalization elements

Modular processing system (1) for processing personalization elements, in particular chip cards, smart cards and/or magnetic strip cards, comprising a large number of processing modules, wherein the processing modules each comprise at least one first and at least one second sub-module (3-7; 12-20) and are arranged in a linear manner one behind the other in such a way that in each case the first sub-module (3-7) as the process module is arranged in a processing area (10) above a common table top plane (21) of a system base frame (2) and the second sub-module (12-20) as the electronics and process component module is arranged in a control and evaluation area (11) below the table top plane (21).

1. A modular processing system for processing personalization elements, in particular chip cards, smart cards and/or magnetic strip cards, comprising a large number of processing modules, characterized in that the processing modules each comprise at least one first and at least one second sub-module and are arranged in a linear manner one behind the other in such a way that in each case the first sub-module as the process module is arranged in a processing area above a common table top plane of a system base frame and the second sub-module as the electronics and process component module is arranged in a control and evaluation area below the table top plane. 2. The modular processing system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a large number of table tops which are respectively assigned to the processing modules and are designed to support the process modules are arranged in the table top plane, wherein the depth dimensions of the table tops are smaller than the depth dimensions of the system base frame extending therebelow. 3. The modular processing system as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that in each case at least one cable duct which runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the system and is designed to receive cables connecting the modules is arranged on either side of the linearly arranged process modules and table tops. 4. The modular processing system as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the cable ducts are provided with covers. 5. The modular processing system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the control and evaluation area can be covered by means of base frame panels. 6. The modular processing system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the system base frame can be moved by means of roller-like elements.

The invention relates to a modular processing system for processing personalization elements, in particular chip cards, smart cards and/or magnetic strip cards, comprising a large number of processing modules, according to the preamble of claim 1. Personalization elements such as chip cards, smart cards and/or magnetic strip cards are personalized by means of a processing system. Such personalization systems are known in a large number of different compositions and configurations which are adapted to their respective applications. For example, there is known a processing system for personalizing chip cards in which individual processing modules can be configured as independent units to form an overall system, wherein the order of the individual processing modules can be configured almost at will. Such a processing system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,266,781. The individual card processing modules described in said document are intended for the personalization of credit cards, comprising the processing steps of magnetic strip encoding, card embossing and exertion of thermal pressure to form images on the credit cards. Such processing systems can also be configured as compact systems for office use. However, compact constructions of processing systems in which use is made of processing processes which require a much higher outlay in terms of device technology, such as the inscription of cards by means of a laser device for example, are currently not possible. This is because the individual processing modules are too large and thus too awkward. Accordingly, the processing modules and components of a personalization system or processing system in which personalization takes place by means of a laser device are connected to the actual system from outside. A modular design in the above sense is thus not possible. Rather, there is a desire for alternative arrangements of the modules, as described for example in DE 101 10 414 A1. In such a personalization system, use is made of a rotary table system design which makes it possible to arrange at least two laser systems on a common rotary table by means of rotary table handling. All the processing modules are arranged around this rotary table so that the accessibility to the corresponding components, for example in order to carry out repairs, becomes more difficult and thus the system is difficult to maintain. The personalization systems described in DE 101 10 414 A1 have a multi-job capability, that is to say they can process more than one processing job at the same time. This is advantageous when using the systems to personalize bank cards, in which often a high number of relatively small quantities, that is to say so-called post-productions, have to be moved through the system. In order not to always have to start a new processing job in the system, the system can automatically process different jobs depending on the composition of the orders sent to the system. DE 197 09 561 C2 relates to a personalization system which carries out a parallelization of individual processing steps or processes in order to increase the throughput of the system. In addition, use is made of direct card transfer from module to module as a handling module, in order thus to keep the system compact and small. This system is also able to carry out multiple jobs. Such parallel arrangements of individual modules have reduced accessibility when carrying out maintenance and also reduced reliability of the system as a whole in terms of its processing steps, on account of the complex overall construction. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a modular processing system for processing personalization elements, which in terms of its overall construction is accessible and easy to maintain and in terms of its operation is reliable and efficient. This object is achieved by a processing system which is characterized by a linear arrangement of individual processing modules, wherein the processing modules are each arranged in sub-modules above and below at least one table top plane of a system base frame. The sub-modules arranged above the table top plane are designed as actual process modules, which contain all the essential components for directly processing or personalizing the personalization elements, such as cards. By contrast, the sub-modules arranged below the table top plane contain electronic components and/or process components which belong to the actual process modules arranged above the table top plane. By virtue of such a splitting of the modular processing system into an upper processing area and a lower control and evaluation area, the electronic components and/or process components belonging to the actual process modules can be accommodated below the processing plane in a space-saving manner, wherein this control and evaluation area can be covered by covering base frame panels. Visibility of the overall system and easy accessibility from outside and also easy maintenance of the system are improved as a result. According to one preferred embodiment, a large number of table tops which are respectively assigned to the processing modules and are designed to support the process modules are arranged in the table top plane, wherein the depth dimensions of the table tops are smaller than the depth dimensions of the system base frame extending therebelow. The result of this is that advantageously in each case at least one cable duct which runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the system and is designed to receive cables connecting the modules can be arranged on either side of the linearly arranged process modules and table tops. Such an arrangement of the cable ducts allows the greatest possible accessibility and ease of maintenance of the cable connections which are necessary for connecting the electronics and process component modules in the lower control and evaluation area to the process modules in the upper processing area. Moreover, simple replacement of individual electronic components is possible in this way by removing the associated cable connection, without having to remove from the upper area the process module belonging to this electronic component. If the overall modular processing system is disrupted, this permits rapid replacement of individual modules and therefore short repair times. In order to prevent soiling of the cables arranged in the cable ducts and obstruction caused by hanging cables, the cable ducts advantageously have covers which, by means of clamp connections, hinge connections or the like, allow rapid opening and closing of the cable ducts. Preferably, the control and evaluation area can be covered by means of base frame panels in such a way that soiling of the electronics and process component modules is prevented. This has an advantageous effect on the durability of the system. In order to configure the modular processing system as a compact unit in as flexible a manner as possible, including for use thereof for the decentralized personalization of cards in an office, in particular for the personalization of chip cards in a small or medium quantity, the bottom of the system base frame is provided with roller-like elements which allow rapid displacement of the compact system as a whole. Advantageously, such systems can be used both for ID use, in which use is made of an encoding module, a printing module, a laser module and a CS module and also a base module for introducing and removing the cards, and also for an EMC application with a base module, a magnetic module, an encoding module and an embossing module or for a GSM application with a base module, an encoding module and a laser module. Further applications which require a plurality of modules are also conceivable. Further embodiments emerge from the dependent claims. Advantages and expedient features can be found in the following description in conjunction with the drawing. In the drawing: FIG. 1 shows a schematic plan view of a modular processing system according to one embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of the modular processing system according to the embodiment of the invention. FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a modular processing system according to one embodiment of the invention. As can be seen from the figure, the modular processing system 1 has a system base frame 2 with table top supports 2a made of aluminum profiled bars, which are provided for placing thereon individual table tops (not shown here) in order to support process modules 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 fixed thereon and to connect them to the system base frame 2. The process modules 3-7 can preferably be displaced on the table top supports 2a arranged on either side, in the longitudinal direction of the system, that is to say to the left or to the right. Both the process modules and the table tops arranged therebelow each have a depth dimension which is smaller than the overall depth dimension of the system base frame 2. Here, the term “depth dimension” means the external dimension of the table top or base frame which runs from the bottom to the top in the drawing. In this way, cable ducts 8 and 9 for receiving cables can be arranged on either side of the process modules 3-7 and table tops. Such cables serve to connect the process modules 3-7 arranged on top to individual electronic racks arranged below. Thus, electronic wiring for connecting the individual process modules to the electronic racks arranged therebelow is provided on either side of the process modules in the cable ducts 8 and 9. By arranging the process modules on individual table tops, which in turn are arranged on table top supports 2a, a cost-effective and compact construction of the modular processing system can be achieved. All the mechanical and electronic components and also the process components are accommodated in such a system 1. FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of the modular processing system according to the embodiment of the invention. As can be seen from the figure, the process modules 3-7 are arranged above a table top plane 21 in a processing area 10 of the system 1. The electronics component and process component modules, that is to say the electronic racks 12-20, are arranged below the table top plane 21 in a control and evaluation area 11. The arrangement of the electronic racks 12-20 is advantageously configured in such a way that the electronic racks belonging to a selected process module are arranged below this process module. On account of the fact that the individual processing modules are split into upper and lower modules, the system has greater modularity than the previously known systems. To this end, the process modules 1-7 are mounted on small table tops (not shown) assigned thereto which are located in the table top plane 21. Such table tops are in turn arranged on the table top supports 2a. The system 1 itself is mounted on movable elements, preferably roller-like elements 22, so that it can be moved rapidly and simply from one room to another as a compact system. The electronic racks may preferably be covered with covering base frame panels (not shown here) in such a way that soiling of said racks from outside is prevented. The system according to the invention has a linear arrangement of individual process modules in conjunction with rapid processing processes which lead to an accessible and efficient system. The accessibility and reliability of the components and simple access to the cards located in the system are basic prerequisites for acceptance of a card personalization system by users. All the components and parts described in the application are to be regarded as essential to the invention both individually and in combination. Variations thereof are known to the person skilled in the art. LIST OF REFERENCES 1 modular processing system 2 system base frame 2a table top supports 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 process modules 8, 9 cable ducts 10 processing area 11 control and evaluation area 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 electronic racks 21 table top plane 22 roller-like elements

20061204

20090113

20070412

85698.0

G06K500

VO, TUYEN KIM

MODULAR PROCESSING SYSTEM FOR PERSONALIZATION ELEMENTS

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

G06K

ACCEPTED

Radar apparatus

A transmitter emits into an intended search space a radar wave having a predetermined frequency pulse-modulated by a trigger pulse of a predetermined width. A receiver receives a reflected wave of the radar wave and outputs a receive signal. A local pulse generator outputs a local pulse signal having the predetermined frequency pulse-modulated by the trigger pulse delayed by the delay unit. A correlation value detector detects a strength correlation value between the receive signal and the local pulse signal. A delay time changing unit changes the delay time sequentially within a range of a predetermined period representing a generation period of the trigger pulse. A correlation value storage unit stores the strength correlation value detected for each delay time changed. A frequency distribution generator generates a frequency distribution of a stored correlation value against the delay time. A search control unit executes an analyzation for the intended search space based on a generated frequency distribution.

1. A radar device comprising: a trigger pulse generator which generates a trigger pulse of a predetermined width at a predetermined period; a transmitter which emits into an intended search space a radar wave having a predetermined frequency pulse-modulated by the trigger pulse from the trigger pulse generator; a receiver which receives a reflected wave of the radar wave emitted by the transmitter and outputs a receive signal; a delay unit which delays the trigger pulse from the trigger pulse generator by a predetermined delay time; a local pulse generator which outputs a local pulse signal having the predetermined frequency pulse-modulated by the trigger pulse delayed by the predetermined delay time by the delay unit; a correlation value detector which determines a strength correlation value between the receive signal output from the receiver and the local pulse signal output from the local pulse generator; a delay time changing unit which sequentially changes the predetermined delay time of the delay unit within a range of the predetermined period representing a generation period of the trigger pulse generated by the trigger pulse generator; a correlation value storage unit which stores the strength correlation value detected by the correlation value detector for each delay time changed by the delay time changing unit; a frequency distribution generator which generates a frequency distribution of the strength correlation value stored in the correlation value storage unit with respect to the delay time; and a search control unit which executes an analyzation for the intended search space based on the frequency distribution generated by the frequency distribution generator. 2. A radar device according to claim 1, wherein the receiver is configured to change a receiving gain against the reflected wave, the radar device further comprising a gain changing unit which variably controls the receiving gain of the receiver in accordance with the delay time changed by the delay time changing unit and suppresses a change in an output level of the receive signal due to a difference in the delay time. 3. A radar device according to claim 1, wherein the correction value detector comprises: a multiplication circuit which multiplies the receive signal output from the receiver by the local pulse signal output from the local pulse generator, and an integration circuit which integrates a multiplication output from the multiplication circuit. 4. A radar device according to claim 3, further comprising an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter which converts an integration output from the integration circuit from an analog to a digital signal, wherein the correlation value storage unit stores the digital signal converted by the A/D converter as the strength correlation value. 5. A radar device according to claim 3, wherein the integration circuit comprises a Miller integrator. 6. A radar device according to claim 1, wherein the correlation value detector comprises: a 90-degree phase shifter which divides the local pulse signal output from the local pulse generator into two signals having 90 degrees of phase difference each other, a 0-degree distributor which divides the receive signal output from the receiver into two signals in phase with each other, first and second multiplication circuits which each multiplys the local pulse signal divided into the two signals having 90 degrees of phase difference each other by the 90-degree phase shifter, respectively, with the receive signal divided into the two signals in phase with each other by the 0-degree distributor, first and second integration circuits which each integrates the multiplication outputs from the first and second multiplication circuits, respectively, first and second A/D converters which each converts integration outputs from the first and second integration circuits, respectively, from an analog to a digital signal, first and second square operators which each squares digital signals converted by the first and second A/D converters, respectively, and an adder which adds square operation results from the first and second square operators and outputs a result of addition as the strength correlation value, and the correlation value storage unit stores the result of addition output as the strength correlation value from the adder. 7. A radar device according to claim 6, wherein the correlation value detector further comprises a square rooter which determines a square root of the result of addition from the adder and outputs the square root as the strength correlation value, and the correlation value storage unit stores the square root output as the strength correlation value from the square rooter. 8. A radar device according to claim 1, wherein the trigger pulse generator generates a trigger pulse Pt having the predetermined width W of about 1 nsec for about 100 nsec at the predetermined period T and outputs the trigger pulse Pt to the transmitter and the delay unit. 9. A radar device according to claim 8, wherein the transmitter generates a radar wave of UWB (Ultra Wide Band) of 6 to 7 GHz in the frequency range of 23 to 29 GHz as a radar wave having the predetermined frequency pulse-modulated by the trigger pulse. 10. A radar device according to claim 1, wherein the receiver comprises: a variable-gain amplifier which receives and amplifies a reflected wave from an object which is received the radar wave emitted by the transmitter into the intended search space, and a bandpass filter (BPF) which limits the band of an amplified output from the variable-gain amplifier and outputs as the receive signal to the correlation value detector. 11. A radar device according to claim 1, wherein the delay unit is configured as a combination of delay means for coarse adjustment capable of changing the predetermined delay time in a large step based on a change instruction of the delay time changing unit and delay means for fine adjustment capable of changing the delay time finely in the large step. 12. A radar device according to claim 11, wherein the delay means for coarse adjustment changes the predetermined delay time in steps of about 10 nsec, and the delay means for fine adjustment changes the predetermined delay time in steps of about 0.1 nsec. 13. A radar device according to claim 1, used as a short-range radar device for on-vehicle application. 14. A radar device according to claim 1, used as a short-range radar device for blind persons. 15. A radar device according to claim 1, used as a short-range radar device for medical purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a radar device, and in particular to a short-range radar device for on-vehicle application, blind persons and medical purposes employing a technique capable of searching the surrounding environment with a high resolution. BACKGROUND ART In the prior art, a pulse radar device is used to search for the position (distance to and direction of the object), size and motion of an object existing around the user as a short-range radar device for on-vehicle application, blind persons and medical purposes. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the essential parts of a conventional pulse radar device 10. Specifically, in the pulse radar device 10, a trigger pulse generator 11 generates a trigger pulse Pt of a predetermined width periodically and outputs it to a transmitter 12. The transmitter 12 emits a radar wave P pulse-modulated by the trigger pulse Pt to an intended search space through a transmission antenna 12a. A receiver 13 receives, through a receiving antenna 13a, the wave R reflected from an object 1 receiving the radar wave P. The receive signal Rr is detected by a detector 14 including a diode detection circuit and a detection signal D is output to a search control unit 15. The search control unit 15, based on the detection signal D output from the detector 14 during a predetermined length of time from the timing of emission of the radar wave P, checks the presence or absence of an object in the intended search space and the distance thereof and outputs the result visually or aurally in a form that can be grasped by the observer. In this case, though not shown, the gain of the receiver 13 is controlled by feeding back the detection signal D to the receiver 13. The above-mentioned radar device for making the search with the trigger pulse Pt generated at predetermined time intervals T is disclosed in, for example, the non-patent document 1 described below. Non-patent document 1: Merrill I. Skolnik “RADAR HANDBOOK” 2nd ed. 1990, pp. 1.2 to 1.6. Also, a short-range radar device for medical purposes is disclosed, for example, in the following non-patent document 2. Non-patent document 2: http://www.hrvcongress.org/second/first/placed—3/Standerini_Art_Eng.pdf. The pulse radar device 10 described above and known for a long time includes a long-range radar device large in size and output which can search for a large object such as an airplane or a ship located at a remote place. In recent years, however, a short-range radar device for personal use has been proposed to support the safe driving of automotive vehicles, protect visually-handicapped persons walking on the road or help monitor in-patients during the nighttime. As a frequency band dedicated to such a radar device, the assignment of a wide band (6 to 7 GHz) of 23 to 29 GHz called UWB (Ultra Wide Band) is being studied. It is basically unavoidable that the personal short-range radar device interferes with other radar devices. The assignment of a wide band (6 to 7 GHz) as described above, however, can take advantage of the difference in transmission timing due to both the separation by frequency and a narrow pulse (1 nsec or less, for example), and thus can reduce the effect of interference to a level posing practically no problem. The response rate of the diode detection circuit comprising the detector 14 described above, however, is at most about 100 nsec, and cannot correctly reflect the strength of the reflected wave R having a pulse as narrow as not more than 1 nsec as described above, thereby posing the problem that a high-resolution search with a radar wave having a narrow pulse width is impossible. The strength of the reflected wave Rr which the radar device receives from the object 1 is inversely proportional to the fourth power of the distance to the object 1. In the case of a short-range radar device, therefore, a slight distance change-causes a sharp, large change of the input level of the reflected wave Rr. The conventional gain control method of the feedback type cannot follow this sharp change and may be unable to recognize the level of the reflected wave correctly. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to solve the aforementioned problems and provide a radar device capable of correctly searching the surrounding environment with a high resolution. In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a radar device comprising: a trigger pulse generator (21) which generates a trigger pulse of a predetermined width at a predetermined period; a transmitter (22) which emits into an intended search space a radar wave having a predetermined frequency pulse-modulated by the trigger pulse from the trigger pulse generator (21); a receiver (23) which receives a reflected wave of the radar wave emitted by the transmitter (22) and outputs a receive signal; a delay unit (24) which delays the trigger pulse from the trigger pulse generator (21) by a predetermined delay time; a local pulse generator (25) which outputs a local pulse signal having the predetermined frequency pulse-modulated by the trigger pulse delayed by the predetermined delay time by the delay unit (24); a correlation value detector (26) which determines a strength correlation value between the receive signal output from the receiver (23) and the local pulse signal output from the local pulse generator (25); a delay time changing unit (30) which sequentially changes the predetermined delay time of the delay unit (24) within a range of the predetermined period representing a generation period of the trigger pulse generated by the trigger pulse generator (21); a correlation value storage unit (31) which stores the strength correlation value detected by the correlation value detector (26) for each delay time changed by the delay time changing unit (30); a frequency distribution generator (32) which generates a frequency distribution of the strength correlation value stored in the correlation value storage unit (31) with respect to the delay time; and a search control unit (35) which executes an analyzation for the intended search space based on the frequency distribution generated by the frequency distribution generator (32). In order to achieve the above object, according to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a radar device according to the first aspect, wherein the receiver is configured to change a receiving gain against the reflected wave, the radar device further comprising a gain changing unit which variably controls the receiving gain of the receiver in accordance with the delay time changed by the delay time changing unit and suppresses a change in an output level of the receive signal due to a difference in the delay time. In order to achieve the above object, according to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a radar device according to the first aspect, wherein the correction value detector (26) comprises: a multiplication circuit (27) which multiplies the receive signal output from the receiver by the local pulse signal output from the local pulse generator, and an integration circuit (28) which integrates a multiplication output from the multiplication circuit (27). In order to achieve the above object, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a radar device according to the third aspect, further comprising an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter (29) which converts an integration output from the integration circuit (28) from an analog to a digital signal, wherein the correlation value storage unit (31) stores the digital signal converted by the A/D converter (29) as the strength correlation value. In order to achieve the above object, according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a radar device according to the third aspect, wherein the integration circuit (28) is comprised of a Miller integrator. In order to achieve the above object, according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a radar device according to the first aspect, wherein the correlation value detector (26) comprises: a 90-degree phase shifter (41) which divides the local pulse signal output from the local pulse generator (25) into two signals having 90 degrees of phase difference each other, a 0-degree distributor (42) which divides the receive signal output from the receiver (23) into two signals in phase with each other, first and second multiplication circuits (27A, 27B) which each multiplys the local pulse signal divided into the two signals having 90 degrees of phase difference each other by the 90-degree phase shifter (41), respectively, with the receive signal divided into the two signals in phase with each other by the 0-degree distributor (42), first and second integration circuits (28A, 28B) which each integrates multiplication outputs from the first and second multiplication circuits (27A, 27B), respectively, first and second A/D converters (29A, 29B) which each converts integration outputs form the first and second integration circuits (28A, 28B), respectively, from an analog to a digital signal, first and second square operators (43A, 43B) which each squares digital signals converted by the first and second A/D converters (29A, 29B), respectively, and an adder (44) which adds square operation results from the first and second square operators (43A, 43B) and outputs a result of addition as the strength correlation value, and the correlation value storage unit (31) stores the result of addition output as the strength correlation value from the adder (44). In order to achieve the above object, according to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a radar device according to the sixth aspect, wherein the correlation value detector (26) further comprises a square rooter (45) which determines a square root of the result of addition from the adder (44) and outputs the square root as the strength correlation value, and the correlation value storage unit (31) stores the square root output as the strength correlation value from the square rooter (45). In order to achieve the above object, according to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a radar device according to the first aspect, wherein the trigger pulse generator (21) generates a trigger pulse Pt having the predetermined width W of about 1 nsec for about 100 nsec at the predetermined period T and outputs the trigger pulse Pt to the transmitter (22) and the delay unit (24). In order to achieve the above object, according to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a radar device according to the eighth aspect, wherein the transmitter (22) generates a radar wave of UWB (Ultra Wide Band) of 6 to 7 GHz in the frequency range of 23 to 29 GHz as a radar wave having the predetermined frequency pulse-modulated by the trigger pulse. In order to achieve the above object, according to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a radar device according to the first aspect, wherein the receiver (23) comprises: a variable-gain amplifier (23b) which receives and amplifies a reflected wave from an object (1) which is received the radar wave emitted by the transmitter (22) into the intended search space, and a bandpass filter (BPF) (23c) which limits a band of an amplified output from the variable-gain amplifier (23b) and outputs as the receive signal to the correlation value detector (26). In order to achieve the above object, according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a radar device according to the first aspect, wherein the delay unit (24) is configured as a combination of delay means for coarse adjustment capable of changing the predetermined delay time in a large step based on a change instruction of the delay time changing unit (30) and delay means for fine adjustment capable of changing the delay time finely in the large step. In order to achieve the above object, according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a radar device according to the eleventh aspect, wherein the delay means for coarse adjustment changes the predetermined delay time in steps of about 10 nsec, and the delay means for fine adjustment changes the predetermined delay time in steps of about 0.1 nsec. In order to achieve the above object, according to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a radar device according to the first aspect, used as a short-range radar device for on-vehicle application. In order to achieve the above object, according to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a radar device according to the first aspect, used as a short-range radar device for blind persons. In order to achieve the above object, according to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a radar device according to the first aspect, used as a short-range radar device for medical purposes. In the radar device according to the aforementioned aspects of the invention, the receive signal is multiplied with the local pulse signal pulse-modulated by a delayed trigger pulse and the multiplication output thereof is integrated to detect the strength correlation value of the two signals. At the same time, the delay time of the trigger pulse is sequentially changed to determine the strength correlation value for each delay time, and the frequency distribution of the strength correlation value against the delay time is generated. Based on this frequency distribution, the intended search space is analyzed. Specifically, in the radar device according to the aforementioned aspects of the invention, unlike in the conventional radar device, the receive signal is not detected by a diode. Even a short-range radar device using a radar wave of a narrow pulse width, therefore, can grasp the strength of the reflected wave correctly from the frequency distribution of the strength correlation value against the delay time, thereby making a high-resolution search possible. Also, in the radar device according to the aforementioned aspects of the invention, the receiving gain of the receiver against the reflected wave is variably controlled in accordance with the variable delay time thereby to suppress the level change of the receive signal with the difference in delay time. As a result, the radar device according to the aforementioned aspects of the invention can prevent a signal of an excessively large level from being input to the correlation detection section and thus can detect the correlation value correctly within the proper operation range. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the radar device according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the essential parts shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3A is a signal waveform diagram showing the trigger pulses Pt generated by a trigger pulse generator to explain the operation of the radar device of FIG. 1. FIG. 3B is a signal waveform diagram showing a radar wave P output by a transmitter to explain the operation of the radar device of FIG. 1. FIG. 3C is a signal waveform diagram showing the trigger pulses Pt′ delayed by a delay unit to explain the operation of the radar device of FIG. 1. FIG. 3D is a waveform diagram showing a local pulse signal L generated by a local pulse generator to explain the operation of the radar device of FIG. 1. FIG. 3E is a waveform diagram showing a reflected wave R from an object to explain the operation of the radar device of FIG. 1. FIG. 3F is a waveform diagram showing a receive signal Rr from the receiver to explain the operation of the radar device of FIG. 1. FIG. 3G is a diagram showing a strength correlation value H output by a correlation value detector to explain the operation of the radar device of FIG. 1. FIG. 4A is a waveform diagram showing the kth local pulse signal L generated by the local pulse generator to explain the operation of the correlation value detector of the radar device of FIG. 1. FIG. 4B is a waveform diagram showing a receive signal Rr from the receiver corresponding to the kth local pulse signal L generated by the local pulse generator to explain the operation of the correlation value detector of the radar device of FIG. 1. FIG. 4C is a waveform diagram showing a multiplication signal B output by a multiplication circuit corresponding to the kth local pulse signal L generated by the local pulse generator to explain the operation of the correlation value detector of the radar device of FIG. 1. FIG. 4D is a waveform diagram showing a strength correlation value H based on the result of integration by an integration circuit corresponding to the kth local pulse signal L generated by the local pulse generator to explain the operation of the correlation value detector of the radar device of FIG. 1. FIG. 5A is a waveform diagram showing the (k+a)-th local pulse signal L generated by the local pulse generator to explain the operation of the correlation value detector of the radar device of FIG. 1. FIG. 5B is a waveform diagram showing the receive signal Rr from the receiver corresponding to the (k+a)-th local pulse signal L generated by the local pulse generator to explain the operation of the correlation value detector of the radar device of FIG. 1. FIG. 5C is a waveform diagram showing a multiplication signal B output by the multiplication circuit corresponding to the (k+a)-th local pulse signal L generated by the local pulse generator to explain the operation of the correlation value detector of the radar device of FIG. 1. FIG. 5D is a waveform diagram showing a strength correlation value H based on the result of integration by an integration circuit corresponding to the (k+a)-th local pulse signal L generated by the local pulse generator to explain the operation of the correlation value detector of the radar device of FIG. 1. FIG. 6A is a waveform diagram showing the (k+b)-th (b>a) local pulse signal L generated by the local pulse generator to explain the operation of the correlation value detector of the radar device of FIG. 1. FIG. 6B is a waveform diagram showing the receive signal Rr from the receiver corresponding to the (k+b)-th local pulse signal L generated by the local pulse generator to explain the operation of the correlation value detector of the radar device of FIG. 1. FIG. 6C is a waveform diagram showing a multiplication signal B output by the multiplication circuit corresponding to the (k+b)-th local pulse signal L generated by the local pulse generator to explain the operation of the correlation value detector of the radar device of FIG. 1. FIG. 6D is a waveform diagram showing a strength correlation value H based on the result of integration by an integration circuit corresponding to the (k+b)-th local pulse signal L generated by the local pulse generator to explain the operation of the correlation value detector of the radar device of FIG. 1. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the frequency distribution generated by a frequency distribution generator to explain the operation of the radar device of FIG. 1. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the correlation value detector as a configuration of the essential parts of the radar device according to another embodiment of the invention. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the conventional radar device. FIG. 10 is a block diagram for explaining a specific example of the correlation value storage unit and the frequency distribution generator of the radar device shown in FIG. 1. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a radar device 20 according to an embodiment of the invention used as a short-range radar device for on-vehicle application, blind persons and medical purposes. The basic configuration of the radar device according to this invention, as shown in FIG. 1, comprises a trigger pulse generator 21 for generating trigger pulses of a predetermined width at predetermined time intervals, a transmitter 22 for emitting, into the intended search space, a radar wave having a predetermined frequency pulse-modulated by the trigger pulse from the trigger pulse generator 21, a receiver 23 for receiving a reflected wave of the radar wave emitted by the transmitter 22 and reflected and outputting a receive signal, a delay unit 24 for delaying the trigger pulse from the trigger pulse generator 21 for a predetermined delay time, a local pulse generator 25 for outputting a local pulse signal having the predetermined frequency pulse-modulated by the trigger pulse delayed for the predetermined delay time by the delay unit 24, a correlation value detector 26 for determining a strength correlation value between the receive signal output from the receiver 23 and the local pulse signal output from the local pulse generator 25, a delay time changing unit 30 for sequentially changing the predetermined delay time of the delay unit 24 within a range of the predetermined period representing a generation period of the trigger pulse generated by the trigger pulse generator 21, a correlation value storage unit 31 for storing the strength correlation value detected by the correlation value detector 26 for each delay time changed by the delay time changing unit 30, a frequency distribution generator 32 for generating a frequency distribution of the strength correlation value stored in the correlation value storage unit 31 with respect to the delay time, and a search control unit 35 for executing an analyzation for the intended search space, based on the frequency distribution generated by the frequency distribution generator 32. Specifically, in FIG. 1, the trigger pulse generator 21 generates the trigger pulses Pt having a predetermined width W (1 nsec, for example) with a predetermined period T (100 nsec, for example) and outputs them to the transmitter 22 and the delay unit 24. The transmitter 22 generates a search radar wave P having a wide band width of 6 to 7 GHz of UWB (Ultra Wide Band) in the frequency of 23 to 29 GHz, for example, as a predetermined frequency (carrier frequency) pulse-modulated by the trigger pulses Pt from the trigger pulse generator 21, and emits the radar wave P into the intended search space through a transmission antenna 22a. The receiver 23 receives, through a receiving antenna 23a, a reflected wave R from an object 1 which has received the radar wave P emitted into the intended search space from the transmitter 22. In the receiver 23, the reflected wave R is amplified by a gain-variable amplifier 23b, and the band width of the amplified output thereof is limited by a BPF (bandpass filter) 23c. In this way, the interference wave from other communication systems is removed and a receive signal Rr is output to the correlation value detector 26 described later. Incidentally, an attenuator with the attenuation amount thereof variable can alternatively be used to change the gain in the receiver 23. Also, the transmission antenna 22a and the receiving antenna 23a may be used for common. On the other hand, the delay unit 24 receives the trigger pulses Pt output from the trigger pulse generator 21. Each trigger pulse Pt, after being delayed for a predetermined delay time T designated variably, is output to the local pulse generator 25 from the delay time changing unit 30 described later. On the other hand, the delay unit 24 receives the trigger pulses Pt output from the trigger pulse generator 21. Each trigger pulse Pt, after being delayed for a designated delay time T, is output to the local pulse generator 25 from the delay time changing unit 30 described later. This delay unit 24 can be configured by combining delay means 24a for coarse adjustment capable of changing the delay time in large steps (10 nsec, for example) and delay means 24b for fine adjustment capable of changing the delay time finely (0.1 nsec, for example) in each of the large steps. The local pulse generator 25 generates a local pulse signal L having a predetermined frequency pulse-modulated by the trigger pulses Pt′ delayed by the delay unit 24 and outputs the local pulse signal L to the correlation value detector 26. In this case, the predetermined frequency (carrier frequency) of the local pulse signal L is assumed to be equal to the carrier frequency of the radar wave P emitted by the transmitter 22. The correlation value detector 26 is for determining the strength correlation value H between the receive signal Rr output from the receiver 23 and the local pulse signal L output from the local pulse generator 25, and in FIG. 1, configured of a multiplication circuit 27 and an integration circuit 28. The multiplication circuit 27, which is configured of a double-balanced mixer, multiplies the receive signal Rr and the local pulse signal L with each other and outputs a resulting product signal B to the integration circuit 28. The integration circuit 28 integrates the product signal B input from the multiplication circuit 27 for the period of time (1 nsec, for example) during which the trigger pulse Pt′ is output from the delay unit 24. As shown in FIG. 2, for example, this integration circuit 28 comprises a Miller integration circuit configured of a resistor 28a, a capacitor 28b, an inverting amplifier 28c, a charging switch 28d, a discharging switch 28e and an inverting amplifier 28f for inverting the output polarity. In the integration circuit 28 having this configuration, the charging switch 28d is closed to integrate the product signal B only during the time when the trigger pulse Pt′ is input from the delay unit 24. After complete input of the trigger pulse Pt′, the charging switch 28d is opened to hold the result of integration and the value thus held with the polarity thereof inverted is output as a strength correlation value H. At an arbitrary timing before the next trigger pulse Pt′ is input, the integration circuit 28 temporarily closes the discharging switch 28e and thus discharges the capacitor 28b in preparation for the integration of the next trigger pulse Pt′. This integration circuit 28 is not limited to the configuration described above, but by omitting the charging switch 28d, for example, may alternatively be so configured that the result of integration is held by sampling in the analog/digital (A/D) converter 29 described later immediately before the end of the input period of the trigger pulse Pt′. In the process, the discharging switch 28e of the integration circuit 28 may be kept closed before the trigger pulse Pt′ is input. The strength correlation value H held by the correlation value detector 26 is converted to a digital value by the A/D converter 29 before discharge, and stored with a corresponding delay time T in the correlation value storage unit 31 described later. The delay time changing unit 30, on the other hand, sequentially changes the predetermined delay time T of the delay unit 24 each time the trigger pulse is generated during the period T when the trigger pulses Pt are generated. The changing mode of this delay time τ is designated by the search control unit 35 described later. In the case where the coarse search mode is designated, for example, the timing of the trigger pulse Pr delayed by the width W thereof, i.e. τ=W is set as an initial value, from which the delay time τ is increased by Δτ each time the trigger pulse Pt is output. After changing the delay time τ to T−Δτ in this way, the delay time is returned to τ=W. This process is repeated. The change width Δτ for the coarse search mode is set to about a value which is not less than the minimum changing step of the delay time in the delay unit 24 and at which the presence or absence of an object in the intended search space is recognizable (0.4 nsec, for example). In the case where the fine search mode within a predetermined delay time range is designated by the search control unit 35, on the other hand, the delay time is changed with a smaller change width Δτ (0.1 nsec, for example) within the particular range. The strength correlation value H converted into a digital value by the A/D converter 29 is stored in the correlation value storage unit 31 with a corresponding delay time T associated with the time when a particular strength correlation value H is obtained. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, the strength correlation value H is stored in a memory (RAM) 100 of the correlation value storage unit 31, for example, in such a manner that on the assumption that the memory (RAM) 100 has an address space corresponding to the variable width (a delay amount expressed in 8 bits, for example) of the delay time τ and the strength correlation value H (an input value expressed in 8 bits, for example) converted into a digital value, an address corresponding to the delay time τ and the digital strength correlation value H is designated in the memory (RAM) so that the strength correlation value H is stored at the particular address. The frequency distribution generator 32 generates a frequency distribution of the strength correlation value H with respect to the delay time τ based on the strength correlation value H stored in the correlation value storage unit 31. In this case, the frequency distribution generator 32 and the correlation value storage unit 31 are configured in a manner correlated to each other as shown in the specific example of FIG. 10 described later, and the frequency distribution of the strength correlation value H can be generated using, for example, the cross-over value distribution measuring technique as disclosed in Patent Document 1, the amplitude probability distribution measuring technique as disclosed in Patent Document 2 or the time width distribution measuring technique as disclosed in Patent Document 2. Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 2899879 Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent No. 3156152 Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent No. 2920828 The distribution measuring techniques disclosed in these Patent Documents 1 to 3 are developed by the present inventor and others. More specifically, the frequency distribution generator 32 can generate the frequency distribution of the strength correlation value H against the delay time τ based on the correlation value H stored in the memory (RAM) 100 of the correlation value storage unit 31 in such a manner that a +1 adder 101 connected to the memory (RAM) 100 of the correlation value storage unit 31 as shown in FIG. 10, for example, adds 1 to the strength correlation value H stored in the memory (RAM) 100, and the result of addition is stored again in the memory (RAM) 100 while at the same time updating the strength correlation value H upward by unity. Incidentally, in the case where the gain of the receiver 23 is variably controlled by being changed in accordance with the delay time τ as described later, the strength correlation value H detected by the correlation value detector 26 changes with the gain of the receiver 23. Therefore, the gain change of the receiver 23 with respect to the detected strength correlation value H is corrected so that the correlation value corresponding to the strength of the reflected wave R is determined thereby to generate the frequency distribution. Also, the gain changing unit 33 controls by changing the receiving gain of the receiver 23 with respect to the receive signal Rr, i.e. the gain of the amplifier 23b in accordance with the delay time τ changed by the delay time changing unit 30. This gain change operation is performed in such a manner that the gain of the amplifier 23b is reduced more, the smaller the delay time τ thereby to stabilize the level of the receive signal Rr output from the receiver 23. The delay time τ is proportional to the distance, and the input strength of the receive signal Rr is inversely proportional to the fourth power of the distance. In the case where the delay time τ is changed downward to ½, for example, the gain of the amplifier 23b is reduced to 1/16 in advance. By doing so, a sharp and large level change of the receive signal Rr can be positively suppressed, and a signal of an excessively large level is prevented from being input to the correlation value detector 26. The search control unit 35, based on the frequency distribution generated by the frequency distribution generator 32, analyzes the intended search space by determining whether the object 1 is present or absent in the intended search space, detecting the distance to the object 1 and the direction in which the object 1 moves and giving an instruction to change the mode of the delay time changing unit 30, while at the same time aurally announcing the information obtained by the analysis. Next, the operation of the radar device 20 having the above-mentioned configuration is explained. After the trigger pulse Pt having a width W is output at the period T as shown in FIG. 3A from the trigger pulse generator 21 to the transmitter 22 and the delay unit 24, the radar wave P pulse-modulated by the trigger pulse Pt is emitted from the transmitter 22 into the intended search space as shown in FIG. 3B. Also, from the delay unit 24, the trigger pulses Pt′ each delayed by a predetermined step Δτ, i.e. τ=W, W+Δτ, W+2·Δτ, W+3·Δτ and so forth are output as shown in FIG. 3C. From the local pulse generator 25 that has received the trigger pulse Pt′, as shown in FIG. 3D, the local pulse signal L having a predetermined frequency pulse-modulated by the trigger pulse Pt′ as described above is output. The radar wave P emitted by the transmitter 22, on the other hand, is reflected on the object 1 in the intended search space, and a part thereof enters the receiver 23 as a reflected wave R as shown in FIG. 3E, while the receive signal Rr corresponding to the reflected wave R is output as shown in FIG. 3F. In the initial stages where the delay time τ is small, the gain of the receiver 23 is set to a very low value, and therefore the level of the receive signal Rr output from the receiver 23 is low. The receive signal Rr and the local pulse signal L are input to the correlation value detector 26 and the strength correlation value H thereof is detected. In the initial stages where the object 1 in the intended search space is located at a comparatively distant position, as shown in FIGS. 3A to 3G, the input period of the receive signal Rr fails to coincide with the input period of the local pulse signal L, and the product thereof is zero. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3G, the strength correlation value H(i, j) is zero (in this case, assuming that the system is not affected by noise or the like). Incidentally, the suffix i of the strength correlation value H(i, j) indicates the number of times the search is conducted as expressed in units each representing the sequential change of the delay time τ from the initial value W to the final value (T−Δτ), while the suffix j indicates the number of times the radar wave P is output during one search session. In the case where the delay time τ increases with respect to the trigger pulse Pt to such an extent that as shown in FIG. 4B, the front portion of the input period of the receive signal Rr is superposed on the input period of the kth local pulse signal L shown in FIG. 4A and both signals are in phase with each other, then the product signal B output from the multiplication circuit 27 of the correlation value detector 26 assumes a positive fully rectified waveform as shown in FIG. 4C. The result of integration by the integration circuit 28 of the correlation value detector 26, as shown in FIG. 4D, monotonically increases in steps until the end of the superposed period, and the integration result as of the end of the superposed period is held. The value thus held is stored as a strength correlation value H(1, k) through the A/D converter 29 in the correlation value storage unit 31 with a corresponding delay time τ=W+(k−1)Δτ. In this case, the strength correlation value H(1, k) is proportional to the ratio of superposition of the input periods between the local pulse signal L and the receive signal Rr. In the case where the delay time X with respect to the trigger pulse Pt further increases to such an extent that as shown in FIG. 5B, the input period of the receive signal Rr is superposed substantially entirely on the input period of the (k+a)-th local pulse signal L shown in FIG. 5A and both signals are in phase with each other, then the product signal B output from the multiplication circuit 27 of the correlation value detector 26 assumes a positive full rectified waveform as shown in FIG. 5C. The result of integration by the integration circuit 28 of the correlation value detector 26, as shown in FIG. 5D, monotonically increases in steps until the end of the superposed period, and the integration result as of the end of the superposed period is held. The value thus held is stored with a corresponding delay time τ=W+(k+a−1)Δτ. This strength correlation value H(1, k+a) assumes a still larger value (maximum value) than the strength correlation value H(1, k) described above since the superposed period of the two signals is longer. In the case where the delay time τ with respect to the trigger pulse Pt further increases to such an extent that as shown in FIG. 6B, the rear portion of the input period of the receive signal Rr is superposed on the input period of the (k+b)-th (b>a) local pulse signal L shown in FIG. 6A and both signals are in phase with each other, then the product signal B output from the multiplication circuit 27 of the correlation value detector 26 assumes a positive fully rectified waveform as shown in FIG. 6C. The result of integration by the integration circuit 28 of the correlation value detector 26, as shown in FIG. 6D, monotonically increases in steps until the end of the superposed period, and the integration result as of the end of the superposed period is held. The value thus held is converted into a strength correlation value H(1, k+b) through the A/D converter 29, and stored with a corresponding delay time τ=W+(k+b−1)Δτ (b>a) in the correlation storage unit 31. This strength correlation value H(1, k+b) assumes a smaller value than the correlation value H(1, k+a) described above since the superposed period of the two signals is shorter. Incidentally, in the case where the phase of the receive signal Rr is inverted to that of the local pulse signal L as shown by dotted line in FIGS. 4B, 5B and 6B, the result of multiplication in the correlation value detector 26 assumes a negative fully rectified waveform as shown by dotted line in FIGS. 4C, 5C and 6C. The result of integration in the correlation value detector 26 monotonically decreases until the end of the superposed period as shown by dotted line in FIGS. 4D, 5D and 6D, although the relation between the superposed period and the strength correlation value H in terms of absolute value remains the same as in the case where the local pulse signal L and the receive signal Rr are in phase with each other. In the case where the receive signal Rr is 90 degrees out of phase with the local pulse signal L, on the other hand, the multiplication result is oscillated sinusoidally around zero and the integration value alternates between increase and decrease. Thus, the strength correlation value H(i, j) assumes a very small value. In this way, the delay time τ changes sequentially from the initial value W to the final value (T−Δτ), so that the strength correlation values H(1, 1), H(1, 2), . . . , H(1, M) are obtained for each delay time. Thereafter, the delay time changing unit 30 changes the delay time τ again sequentially from the initial value W to the final value (T−Δτ) for the second search session, and the resulting strength correlation values H(2, 1), H(2, 2), . . . , H(2, M) are stored with the corresponding delay time τ (where M is the quotient of dividing (T−τ) by the width W of the trigger pulse Pt). The phase relation between the two signals during the superposed period changes considerably with a slight change of the distance between the person or the vehicle carrying the radar device 20 and the object in the intended search space. Among the strength correlation values H(2, 1), H(2, 2), . . . , H(2, M) obtained in the second search session, therefore, the strength correlation value H during and in the neighborhood of the superposed period is inverted to the positive or negative side or changes considerably in absolute value as compared with the first search session. A similar search operation is repeated a predetermined number of times Q (100 times, for example) to obtain M·Q pieces of the strength correlation values H(1, M), H(2, M), . . . , H(Q, M). Then, the frequency distribution generator 32 executes the process of generating the frequency distribution. In this frequency distribution generating process executed by the frequency distribution generator 32, each strength correlation value H(i, j) is classified, for example, into a total of 11 stages including five positive stages, five negative stages, and zero. Thus, the frequency distribution indicating the frequency of occurrence of each stage is generated for each delay time τ as shown in FIG. 7. In the frequency distribution shown in FIG. 7, the frequency of occurrence varies from one stage to another during and in the neighborhood (neighborhood of j=k+3) of the time zone during which the input period of the local pulse signal L in phase with the delayed trigger pulse Pt′ and the input period of the receive signal Rr are superposed one on the other. It can then be determined stochastically that this variation width reaches the maximum when the input period of the local pulse signal L and the input period of the receive signal Rr are substantially completely superposed one on the other. The search control unit 35, based on this frequency distribution, checks the presence or absence of an object and the distance thereof in the intended search space, and announces the result thereof. At the same time, in order to make a more detailed search for objects in the search space, as required, the change mode of the delay time τ of the delay time changing unit 30 is switched to the fine search mode, and the frequency distribution obtained by this search is further analyzed. For example, the search control unit 35 conducts the sum-of-products operation of the positive stage value of the frequency distribution and the number of times of occurrence thereof for each delay time, and from the delay time τ′ associated with the maximum value of the sum-of-products operation, the distance to the object in the intended search space is determined. Specifically, let v be the velocity of the radio wave and D the distance to the object in the intended search space. The distance D can be determined as D=v·τ′/2 Also, as described above, the gain of the receiver 22 is changed in accordance with the delay time τ to suppress a large level change of the receive signal with the difference in the distance to the object in the intended search space. The level difference of the receive signal Rr, therefore, is dependent mainly on the reflectivity (material, size and shape) of the object 1 against the radar wave P in the intended search space. The level change of the receive signal Rr with the difference in reflectivity presents itself as the magnitude of the variation of the strength correlation value H. From this magnitude of the variation, therefore, the search control unit 35 can roughly determine whether the object in the intended search space is composed of a material such as a metal high in reflectivity (high in hazard degree) or a person, an animal or a tree low in reflectivity (low in hazard degree). In this way, the type of alarm can be changed in accordance with the result of determination. As explained above, in the radar device 20 according to an embodiment of the invention, the local pulse signal L modulated by the trigger pulse Pt′ delayed by the delay unit 24 is multiplied by the receive signal Rr obtained by receiving the reflected wave R, and the result of multiplication is integrated to determine the strength correlation value H between the two signals. At the same time, by changing the delay time of the delay unit 24 sequentially, the strength correlation value is determined for each delay time. Further, the frequency distribution of the strength correlation value against the delay time is determined, and based on this frequency distribution, the intended search space is analyzed. As a result, the radar device 20 according to the embodiment of the invention is capable of detecting the strength of the reflected radar wave having a narrow width that cannot be detected by the diode detection circuit of the conventional radar device. Thus, the short-range search can be conducted with a high resolution, thereby making it possible to implement a short-range radar device for on-vehicle application or blind persons. Also, the radar device 20 according to the embodiment of the invention controls the gain of the receiver 22 in accordance with the delay time in advance. Even in the case where the search range is short in distance, therefore, the level change of the receive signal due to a sharp and large change of the reflected wave which otherwise might occur can be positively suppressed, and the strength correlation value can be detected accurately within an appropriate operation range. According to the embodiment described above, the frequency distribution is generated for the strength correlation value H of both positive and negative polarities detected by the correlation value detector 26. The frequency distribution may alternatively be generated, however, by converting the result of integration into an absolute value and determining the converted absolute value as a correlation value. In the case where the mixer making up the multiplication circuit 27 involves a DC offset, however, the aforementioned simple process of conversion to an absolute value might make impossible accurate detection of the correlation value under the direct effect of the DC offset. In the case where the effect of the DC offset is a problem, the correlation value detector 26 of orthogonal detection type is employed as shown in FIG. 8. Specifically, the correlation value detector 26 of orthogonal detection type includes a 90-degree phase shifter 41 to divide the local pulse signal output from the local pulse generator 25 into two signals having 90 degrees of phase difference with each other, a 0-degree distributor 42 to divide the receive signal output from the receiver 23 into two signals in phase, first and second multiplication circuits 27A, 27B in which the local pulse signal divided into two signals having 90 degrees of phase difference each other by the phase 90-degree shifter 41 are multiplied with the receive signal divided into two signals of equal phase by the 0-degree distributor 42, respectively, first and second integration circuits 28A, 28B to integrate the multiplication outputs from the first and second multiplication circuits 27A, 27B, respectively, first and second A/D converters 29A, 29B to convert the integration outputs from the first and second integration circuits 28A, 28B, respectively, from analog to digital signal (A/D conversion), first and second square operators 43A, 43B to square digital signals converted by the first and second A/D converters 29A, 29B, respectively, and an adder 44 to add square operation results from the first and second square operators 43A, 43B and output a result of addition as the strength correlation value. In this case, the correlation value storage unit 31 stores the result of addition output as the strength correlation value from the adder 44. Specifically, in the correlation value detector 26 shown in FIG. 8, after the local pulse signal L is divided into two signals having 90 degrees of phase difference each other by the 90-degree phase shifter 41, as in the case of FIG. 1, the two signals are input to the multiplication circuits 27A, 27B, respectively, each configured of a double-balanced mixer. Also, the receive signal Rr, after being divided into two signals in phase by the 0-degree distributor 42, is input to the multiplication circuits 27A, 28B, respectively. As in the case of FIG. 1, a multiplication output Bi from the multiplication circuit 27A is integrated by the integration circuit 28A and the integration output thereof is held. Next, the value I thus held, after being converted into a digital value by the A/D converter 29A, is squared by the square operator 43A. Also, a multiplication output B2 from the multiplication circuit 27B is integrated by the integration circuit 28B, and the integration output thereof is held. Next, the value Q thus held, after being converted into a digital value by the A/D converter 29B, is squared by the square operator 43B. The square operation results of the held values I and Q are added to each other by the adder 44, after which the square root of the sum is determined by a square rooter 45 and output as a strength correlation value H. The correlation value detector 26 of orthogonal detection type determines, as a strength correlation value H, the effective power of the signal having the held values I, Q as orthogonal components. Thus, though detailed arithmetic operation is not described, an accurate strength correlation value H having positive polarity which is canceled the DC offset of each multiplication circuit can be obtained. Incidentally, the square rooter 45 of the correlation value detector 26 shown in FIG. 8 may be omitted, and the output of the adder 44 may be employed as a strength correlation value H. Although the trigger pulse Pt has a predetermined width W in the embodiment described above, the system can alternatively be configured in such a manner that the larger the delay time τ, the larger the width W of the trigger pulse Pt output from the trigger pulse generator 21. By doing so, a large strength correlation value can be obtained against the reflected wave from a far end and the search with a high S/N is made possible. In this case, in accordance with the delay time τ designated by the delay time changing unit 30, the trigger pulse generating unit 21 changes the width W of the trigger pulse Pt continuously or in steps. The strength correlation value thus obtained is corrected by the frequency distribution generating unit 32 allowing for the change in pulse width. In this way, the strength correlation value is determined based on the assumption that the pulse of the same width is used, thereby generating a frequency distribution. According to this invention, therefore, the problem of the prior art is solved, and a radar device capable of correctly searching the surrounding environment with a high resolution is provided. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The radar device according to the invention, having the technical effect that the surrounding environment can be correctly searched with a high resolution, can find various applications for on-vehicle use, blind persons and medical purposes.

<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>In the prior art, a pulse radar device is used to search for the position (distance to and direction of the object), size and motion of an object existing around the user as a short-range radar device for on-vehicle application, blind persons and medical purposes. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the essential parts of a conventional pulse radar device 10 . Specifically, in the pulse radar device 10 , a trigger pulse generator 11 generates a trigger pulse Pt of a predetermined width periodically and outputs it to a transmitter 12 . The transmitter 12 emits a radar wave P pulse-modulated by the trigger pulse Pt to an intended search space through a transmission antenna 12 a. A receiver 13 receives, through a receiving antenna 13 a, the wave R reflected from an object 1 receiving the radar wave P. The receive signal Rr is detected by a detector 14 including a diode detection circuit and a detection signal D is output to a search control unit 15 . The search control unit 15 , based on the detection signal D output from the detector 14 during a predetermined length of time from the timing of emission of the radar wave P, checks the presence or absence of an object in the intended search space and the distance thereof and outputs the result visually or aurally in a form that can be grasped by the observer. In this case, though not shown, the gain of the receiver 13 is controlled by feeding back the detection signal D to the receiver 13 . The above-mentioned radar device for making the search with the trigger pulse Pt generated at predetermined time intervals T is disclosed in, for example, the non-patent document 1 described below. Non-patent document 1: Merrill I. Skolnik “RADAR HANDBOOK” 2nd ed. 1990, pp. 1.2 to 1.6. Also, a short-range radar device for medical purposes is disclosed, for example, in the following non-patent document 2. Non-patent document 2: http://www.hrvcongress.org/second/first/placed — 3/Standerini_Art_Eng.pdf. The pulse radar device 10 described above and known for a long time includes a long-range radar device large in size and output which can search for a large object such as an airplane or a ship located at a remote place. In recent years, however, a short-range radar device for personal use has been proposed to support the safe driving of automotive vehicles, protect visually-handicapped persons walking on the road or help monitor in-patients during the nighttime. As a frequency band dedicated to such a radar device, the assignment of a wide band (6 to 7 GHz) of 23 to 29 GHz called UWB (Ultra Wide Band) is being studied. It is basically unavoidable that the personal short-range radar device interferes with other radar devices. The assignment of a wide band (6 to 7 GHz) as described above, however, can take advantage of the difference in transmission timing due to both the separation by frequency and a narrow pulse (1 nsec or less, for example), and thus can reduce the effect of interference to a level posing practically no problem. The response rate of the diode detection circuit comprising the detector 14 described above, however, is at most about 100 nsec, and cannot correctly reflect the strength of the reflected wave R having a pulse as narrow as not more than 1 nsec as described above, thereby posing the problem that a high-resolution search with a radar wave having a narrow pulse width is impossible. The strength of the reflected wave Rr which the radar device receives from the object 1 is inversely proportional to the fourth power of the distance to the object 1 . In the case of a short-range radar device, therefore, a slight distance change-causes a sharp, large change of the input level of the reflected wave Rr. The conventional gain control method of the feedback type cannot follow this sharp change and may be unable to recognize the level of the reflected wave correctly.

<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS <EOH>FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the radar device according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the essential parts shown in FIG. 1 . FIG. 3A is a signal waveform diagram showing the trigger pulses Pt generated by a trigger pulse generator to explain the operation of the radar device of FIG. 1 . FIG. 3B is a signal waveform diagram showing a radar wave P output by a transmitter to explain the operation of the radar device of FIG. 1 . FIG. 3C is a signal waveform diagram showing the trigger pulses Pt′ delayed by a delay unit to explain the operation of the radar device of FIG. 1 . FIG. 3D is a waveform diagram showing a local pulse signal L generated by a local pulse generator to explain the operation of the radar device of FIG. 1 . FIG. 3E is a waveform diagram showing a reflected wave R from an object to explain the operation of the radar device of FIG. 1 . FIG. 3F is a waveform diagram showing a receive signal Rr from the receiver to explain the operation of the radar device of FIG. 1 . FIG. 3G is a diagram showing a strength correlation value H output by a correlation value detector to explain the operation of the radar device of FIG. 1 . FIG. 4A is a waveform diagram showing the kth local pulse signal L generated by the local pulse generator to explain the operation of the correlation value detector of the radar device of FIG. 1 . FIG. 4B is a waveform diagram showing a receive signal Rr from the receiver corresponding to the kth local pulse signal L generated by the local pulse generator to explain the operation of the correlation value detector of the radar device of FIG. 1 . FIG. 4C is a waveform diagram showing a multiplication signal B output by a multiplication circuit corresponding to the kth local pulse signal L generated by the local pulse generator to explain the operation of the correlation value detector of the radar device of FIG. 1 . FIG. 4D is a waveform diagram showing a strength correlation value H based on the result of integration by an integration circuit corresponding to the kth local pulse signal L generated by the local pulse generator to explain the operation of the correlation value detector of the radar device of FIG. 1 . FIG. 5A is a waveform diagram showing the (k+a)-th local pulse signal L generated by the local pulse generator to explain the operation of the correlation value detector of the radar device of FIG. 1 . FIG. 5B is a waveform diagram showing the receive signal Rr from the receiver corresponding to the (k+a)-th local pulse signal L generated by the local pulse generator to explain the operation of the correlation value detector of the radar device of FIG. 1 . FIG. 5C is a waveform diagram showing a multiplication signal B output by the multiplication circuit corresponding to the (k+a)-th local pulse signal L generated by the local pulse generator to explain the operation of the correlation value detector of the radar device of FIG. 1 . FIG. 5D is a waveform diagram showing a strength correlation value H based on the result of integration by an integration circuit corresponding to the (k+a)-th local pulse signal L generated by the local pulse generator to explain the operation of the correlation value detector of the radar device of FIG. 1 . FIG. 6A is a waveform diagram showing the (k+b)-th (b>a) local pulse signal L generated by the local pulse generator to explain the operation of the correlation value detector of the radar device of FIG. 1 . FIG. 6B is a waveform diagram showing the receive signal Rr from the receiver corresponding to the (k+b)-th local pulse signal L generated by the local pulse generator to explain the operation of the correlation value detector of the radar device of FIG. 1 . FIG. 6C is a waveform diagram showing a multiplication signal B output by the multiplication circuit corresponding to the (k+b)-th local pulse signal L generated by the local pulse generator to explain the operation of the correlation value detector of the radar device of FIG. 1 . FIG. 6D is a waveform diagram showing a strength correlation value H based on the result of integration by an integration circuit corresponding to the (k+b)-th local pulse signal L generated by the local pulse generator to explain the operation of the correlation value detector of the radar device of FIG. 1 . FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the frequency distribution generated by a frequency distribution generator to explain the operation of the radar device of FIG. 1 . FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the correlation value detector as a configuration of the essential parts of the radar device according to another embodiment of the invention. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the conventional radar device. FIG. 10 is a block diagram for explaining a specific example of the correlation value storage unit and the frequency distribution generator of the radar device shown in FIG. 1 . detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"?

20050908

20070724

20060824

58376.0

G01S1310

SOTOMAYOR, JOHN B

RADAR APPARATUS

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

G01S

ACCEPTED

Content distribution system and distribution method, and content processing device and processing method

In a content delivery system including a server and content processing apparatus connected to each other across a network, a content delivered by the system is encrypted with a content key Kc, and supplied along with a sublicense encrypted with a work key Kw to a DTV. The sublicense includes a second use condition under which a content is used and a content key Kc for decrypting an encrypted content. The work key Kw for decrypting an encrypted content is included in a main license. The main license is supplied to the DTV separately from the content. The main license includes, in addition to the work key Kw, a first use condition under which a content under a subscription contract is used.

1. A content delivery system including a server and content processing apparatus, connected to each other across a network, wherein: the server comprises: a first license supplying means for supplying the content processing apparatus with a first license necessary for processing a content in the content processing apparatus; a content supplying means for supplying the content processing apparatus with a series of data included in the content and which includes license identification information indicative of whether there exists a second license for processing the content, that is different from the first license; and a second license supplying means for supplying the content processing apparatus with a second license for processing the content, that is different from the first license, and the content processing apparatus includes: a judging means for judging, based on the license identification information included in the series of data supplied from the server, whether there exists a second license for processing the content, that is different from the first license; a license acquiring means for acquiring the second license supplied from the server correspondingly to the result of judgment from the judging means; and a data reproducing means for reproducing content resource data included in the series of data supplied from the content supplying means under at least one of the first and second licenses correspondingly to the result of judgment from the judging means. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the second license is a sublicense in a two-step license. 3. A content delivery method for a content delivery system including a server and content processing apparatus connected to each other across a network, the method comprising: a first license supplying step to be made in the server to supply the content processing apparatus with a first license necessary for processing a content in the content processing apparatus; a content supplying step to be made in the server to supply the content processing apparatus with a series of data included in the content and including license identification information indicative of whether there exists a second license for processing the content, that is different from the first license; a second license supplying step to be made in the server to supply a content processing apparatus with a second license for processing the content, that is different from the first license, a judging step to be made in the content processing apparatus to judge, based on the license identification information included in the series of data supplied from the server, whether there exists a second license for processing the content, that is different from the first license; a license acquiring step to be made in the content processing apparatus to acquire the second license supplied from the server correspondingly to the result of judgment from the judging step; and a data reproducing step to be made in the content processing apparatus to reproduce content resource data included in the series of data supplied from the content supplying step using at least one of the first and second licenses correspondingly to the result of judgment from the judging step. 4. A content processing apparatus to process a content delivered from a server across a network, the apparatus comprising: a first license acquiring means for acquiring a first license necessary for processing a content; a content acquiring means for acquiring a series of data included in the content; a judging means for judging, based on license identification information included in the series of data acquired by the content acquiring means, whether there exists a second license for processing the content, that is different from the first license; a second license acquiring means for acquiring the second license supplied from a server correspondingly to the result of judgment from the judging means; and a data reproducing means for reproducing content resource data included in the series of data supplied from the content acquiring means using at least one of the first and second licenses correspondingly to the result of judgment from the judging means. 5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second license is a sublicense in a two-step license. 6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein when the judging means has determined that there is a second license for processing a content, that is different from the first license, the second license acquiring means acquires a second license from the series of data supplied from the server; and the reproducing means decrypts the encrypted second license on the basis of the first license and reproduce content resource data included in the series of data supplied by the content acquiring means on the basis of the decrypted second license. 7. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein when the judging means has determined that there is not any second license for processing the content, that is different from the first license, the reproducing means reproduces content resource data included in the series of data acquired by the content acquiring means on the basis of the first license. 8. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the content acquiring means acquires first data included in a content correspondingly to a reproduction starting operation made by the user, acquires second data including license identification information on the basis of the first data, and acquires content resource data on the basis of the first data. 9. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a storage means for storing return-destination specifying information indicative of a destination specified by the server and to which the apparatus is to be connected after completion of content reproduction. 10. A content processing method of processing a content delivered from a server across a network, the method comprising: a first license acquiring step of acquiring a first license necessary for processing a content; a content acquiring step of acquiring a series of data included in the content; a judging step of judging, based on license identification information included in the series of data acquired in the content acquiring step, whether there exists a second license for processing the content, that is different from the first license; a second license acquiring step of acquiring the second license supplied from a server correspondingly to the result of judgment from the judging step; and a data reproducing step of reproducing content resource data included in the series of data acquired in the content acquiring step using at least one of the first and second licenses correspondingly to the result of judgment from the judging step. 11. A recording medium having recorded therein a computer-readable program for processing a content delivered from a server across a network, the program comprising: a first license acquiring step of acquiring a first license necessary for processing a content; a content acquiring step of acquiring a series of data included in the content; a judging step of judging, based on license identification information included in the series of data acquired in the content acquiring step, whether there exists a second license for processing the content, that is different from the first license; a second license acquiring step of acquiring the second license supplied from a server correspondingly to the result of judgment from the judging step; and a data reproducing step of reproducing content resource data included in the series of data acquired in the content acquiring step using at least one of the first and second licenses correspondingly to the result of judgment from the judging step. 12. A program for processing a content delivered from a server across a network, the program comprising: a first license acquiring step of acquiring a first license necessary for processing a content; a content acquiring step of acquiring a series of data included in the content; a judging step of judging, based on license identification information included in the series of data acquired in the content acquiring step, whether there exists a second license for processing the content, that is different from the first license; a second license acquiring step of acquiring the second license supplied from a server correspondingly to the result of judgment from the judging step; and a data reproducing step of reproducing content resource data included in the series of data acquired in the content acquiring step using at least one of the first and second licenses correspondingly to the result of judgment from the judging step. 13. A content supplying apparatus for supplying a content to a content processing apparatus across a network, the apparatus comprising: a first license supplying means for supplying a content processing apparatus with a first license necessary for processing a content in the content processing apparatus; a content supplying means for supplying the content processing apparatus with a series of data included in the content and which includes license identification information indicative of whether there exists a second license for processing the content, that is different from the first license; and a second license supplying means for supplying the content processing apparatus with a second license for processing the content, that is different from the first license. 14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the content requiring the first and second licenses for processing by the content processing apparatus is a content complying a subscription contract, and the content requiring the first license, but not the second license, is a content complying to a pay-per-content contract. 15. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the second license is a sublicense in a two-step license. 16. A content supplying method of supplying a content to a content processing apparatus across a network, the method comprising: a first license supplying step of supplying a content processing apparatus with a first license necessary for processing a content in the content processing apparatus; a content supplying step of supplying the content processing apparatus with a series of data included in the content and which includes license identification information indicative, of whether there exists a second license for processing the content, that is different from the first license; and a second license supplying step of supplying the content processing apparatus with a second license for processing the content, that is different from the first license. 17. A recording medium having recorded therein a computer-readable program which is intended for use to process a content to be delivered from a server across a network, the program comprising: a first license supplying step of supplying a content processing apparatus with a first license necessary for processing a content in the content processing apparatus; a content supplying step of supplying the content processing apparatus with a series of data included in the content and which includes license identification information indicative of whether there exists a second license for processing the content, that is different from the first license; and a second license supplying step of supplying the content processing apparatus with a second license for processing the content, that is different from the first license. 18. A program for supplying a content to a content processing apparatus across a network, the program comprising: a first license supplying step of supplying a content processing apparatus with a first license necessary for processing a content in the content processing apparatus; a content supplying step of supplying the content processing apparatus with a series of data included in the content and which includes license identification information indicative of whether there exists a second license for processing the content, that is different from the first license; and a second license supplying step of supplying the content processing apparatus with a second license for processing the content, that is different from the first license.

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention generally relates to a content delivery system and method and a content processing apparatus and method, and more particularly to a content delivery system and method, content processing apparatus and method, content supplying apparatus and method, a program for use to operate these systems and apparatuses and a recording medium having the program recorded therein. This application claims the priority of the Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-407455 filed on Dec. 5, 2003, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. BACKGROUND ART The Internet infrastructure has heretofore been upgraded, and there have been implemented businesses for delivering various contents such as audio data, audio/visual (AV) data, program data, etc. over the Internet. The types of contract for content delivery over the Internet include a “pay-per-content” contract and “subscription” contract. Under the “pay-per-content” contract, a specified content or a specified group of contents is sold or bought. Under the “subscription contract”, a right to use a plurality of unspecified contents is sold and bought as is under a monthly contract for a pay channel of television broadcast, for example. Under any of the pay-per-content and subscription contracts, a content is delivered in an encrypted form and a license including a key for decryption of the encrypted form is also delivered along with the encrypted content. For example, the Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 2002-116856 discloses a method of delivering a license for an encrypted content separately from the encrypted content. Since the license delivery method disclosed in this Japanese Patent Application has to deliver a license for each content, it is suitable for the content delivery under the pay-per-content contract but not for the content delivery under the subscription contract. A content delivery service under both the pay-per-content and subscription contracts is under development, but a method of delivering a license in that service has not yet been established. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention has an object to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks of the related art by providing a method of delivering a license in a service to be operated under both the payer-per-content and subscription contracts. The above object can be attained by providing a content delivery system in which a server includes a first license supplying means for supplying a content processing apparatus with a first license necessary for processing a content in the content processing apparatus; a content supplying means for supplying the content processing apparatus with a series of data included in the content and which includes license identification information indicative of whether there exists a second license for processing the content, that is different from the first license; and a second license supplying means for supplying the content processing apparatus with a second license for processing the content, that is different from the first license, the content processing apparatus including a judging means for judging, based on the license identification information included in the series of data supplied from the server, whether there exists a second license for processing the content, that is different from the first license; a license acquiring means for acquiring the second license supplied from the server correspondingly to the result of judgment from the judging means; and a data reproducing means for reproducing content resource data included in the series of data supplied from the content supplying means under at least one of the first and second licenses correspondingly to the result of judgment from the judging means. According to the present invention, the second license may be a sublicense in a two-step license. Also the above object can be attained by providing a content delivery method including, according to the present invention a first license supplying step to be made in a server to supply a content processing apparatus with a first license necessary for processing a content in the content processing apparatus; a content supplying step to be made in the server to supply the content processing apparatus with a series of data included in the content and including license identification information indicative of whether there exists a second license for processing the content, that is different from the first license; a second license supplying step to be made in the server to supply a content processing apparatus with a second license for processing the content, that is different from the first license, a judging step to be made in the content processing apparatus to judge, based on the license identification information included in the series of data supplied from the server, whether there exists a second license for processing the content, that is different from the first license; a license acquiring step to be made in the content processing apparatus to acquire the second license supplied from the server correspondingly to the result of judgment from the judging step; and a data reproducing step to be made in the content processing apparatus to reproduce content resource data included in the series of data supplied from the content supplying step using at least one of the first and second licenses correspondingly to the result of judgment from the judging step. Also the above object can be attained by providing a content processing apparatus including according to the present invention a first license acquiring means for acquiring a first license necessary for processing a content; a content acquiring means for acquiring a series of data included in the content; a judging means for judging, based on license identification information included in the series of data acquired by the content acquiring means, whether there exists a second license for processing the content, that is different from the first license; a second license acquiring means for acquiring the second license supplied from a server correspondingly to the result of judgment from the judging means; and a data reproducing means for reproducing content resource data included in the series of data supplied from the content acquiring means using at least one of the first and second licenses correspondingly to the result of judgment from the judging means. According to the present invention, when the judging means has determined that there is a second license for processing a content, that is different from the first license, the second license acquiring means may be adapted to acquire a second license from the series of data supplied from the server, and the reproducing means be adapted to decrypt the encrypted second license on the basis of the first license and reproduce content resource data included in the series of data supplied by the content acquiring means on the basis of the decrypted second license. Also the reproducing means may be adapted to reproduce content resource data included in the series of data acquired by the content acquiring means on the basis of the first license when the judging means has determined that there is not any second license for processing the content, that is different from the first license. Also, the content acquiring means may be adapted to acquire first data included in a content correspondingly to a reproduction starting operation made by the user, acquire second data including license identification information on the basis of the first data, and acquire content resource data on the basis of the first data. The content processing apparatus according to the present invention may further include a storage means for storing return-destination specifying information indicative of a destination specified by the server and to which the apparatus is to be connected after completion of content reproduction. Also the above object can be attained by providing a content processing method including according to the present invention a first license acquiring step of acquiring a first license necessary for processing a content; a content acquiring step of acquiring a series of data included in the content; a judging step of judging, based on license identification information included in the series of data acquired in the content acquiring step, whether there exists a second license for processing the content, that is different from the first license; a second license acquiring step of acquiring the second license supplied from a server correspondingly to the result of judgment from the judging step; and a data reproducing step of reproducing content resource data included in the series of data acquired in the content acquiring step using at least one of the first and second licenses correspondingly to the result of judgment from the judging step. Also the above object can be attained by providing a first recording medium having recorded therein a computer-readable program which is intended for use to supply a content to a content processing apparatus across a network, the program including according to the present invention a first license acquiring step of acquiring a first license necessary for processing a content; a content acquiring step of acquiring a series of data included in the content; a judging step of judging, based on license identification information included in the series of data acquired in the content acquiring step, whether there exists a second license for processing the content, that is different from the first license; a second license acquiring step of acquiring the second license supplied from a server correspondingly to the result of judgment from the judging step; and a data reproducing step of reproducing content resource data included in the series of data acquired in the content acquiring step using at least one of the first and second licenses correspondingly to the result of judgment from the judging step. Also the above object can be attained by providing a first program for having a computer execute a processing including according to the present invention a first license acquiring step of acquiring a first license necessary for processing a content; a content acquiring step of acquiring a series of data included in the content; a judging step of judging, based on license identification information included in the series of data acquired in the content acquiring step, whether there exists a second license for processing the content, that is different from the first license; a second license acquiring step of acquiring the second license supplied from a server correspondingly to the result of judgment from the judging step; and a data reproducing step of reproducing content resource data included in the series of data acquired in the content acquiring step using at least one of the first and second licenses correspondingly to the result of judgment from the judging step. Also the above object can be attained by providing a content supplying apparatus including according to the present invention a first license supplying means for supplying a content processing apparatus with a first license necessary for processing a content in the content processing apparatus; a content supplying means for supplying the content processing apparatus with a series of data included in the content and which includes license identification information indicative of whether there exists a second license for processing the content, that is different from the first license; and a second license supplying means for supplying the content processing apparatus with a second license for processing the content, that is different from the first license. The content requiring the first and second licenses for processing by the content processing apparatus according to the present invention may be a content complying a subscription contract, and the content requiring the first license, but not the second license, may be a content complying to a pay-per-content contract. Also the above object can be attained by providing a content supplying method including according to the present invention a first license supplying step of supplying a content processing apparatus with a first license necessary for processing a content in the content processing apparatus; a content supplying step of supplying the content processing apparatus with a series of data included in the content and which includes license identification information indicative of whether there exists a second license for processing the content, that is different from the first license; and a second license supplying step of supplying the content processing apparatus with a second license for processing the content, that is different from the first license. Also the above object can be attained by providing a second recording medium having recorded therein a computer-readable program which is intended for use to process a content to be delivered from a server across a network, the program including according to the present invention a first license supplying step of supplying a content processing apparatus with a first license necessary for processing a content in the content processing apparatus; a content supplying step of supplying the content processing apparatus with a series of data included in the content and which includes license identification information indicative of whether there exists a second license for processing the content, that is different from the first license; and a second license supplying step of supplying the content processing apparatus with a second license for processing the content, that is different from the first license. Also the above object can be attained by providing a second program including according to the present invention a first license supplying step of supplying a content processing apparatus with a first license necessary for processing a content in the content processing apparatus; a content supplying step of supplying the content processing apparatus with a series of data included in the content and which includes license identification information indicative of whether there exists a second license for processing the content, that is different from the first license; and a second license supplying step of supplying the content processing apparatus with a second license for processing the content, that is different from the first license. In the above content delivery apparatuses and methods according to the present invention, the server supplies the content processing apparatus with a first license necessary for processing a content in the content processing apparatus, and the content processing apparatus is supplied with a series of data included in the content and which includes license identification information indicative of whether there exists a second license for processing the content, that is different from the first license. Further, the second license for processing the content, that is different from the first license is supplied to the content processing apparatus. Also, the content processing apparatus judges, based on license identification information included in the series of data supplied from the server, whether there exists the second license for processing the content, that is different from the first license, and calls for the second license supplied from the server. Then, the content processing apparatus reproduces the content resource data included in the supplied series of data under at least one of the first and second licenses. In the above content processing apparatuses and methods and the programs, a first license necessary for processing a content is acquired, a series of data included in the content is acquired, and it is judged, based on license identification information included in the acquired series of data, whether there exists a second license for processing the content, that is different from the first license. The second license supplied from the server is acquired correspondingly to the result of judgment, and content resource data included in the acquired series of data is reproduced under at least one of the first and second licenses correspondingly to the result of judgment. In the content supplying apparatuses and methods and the programs, the content processing apparatus is supplied with a first license necessary for processing a content in the content processing apparatus, and also supplied with a series of data included in the content and which includes license identification information indicative of whether there exists a second license for processing the content, that is different from the first license. Further, the content processing apparatus is supplied with the second license for processing the content, that is different from the first license. According to the present invention, a method of delivering a license in a service to be provided under the payer-per-content content can be established. These objects and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the best mode for carrying out the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example of the configuration of the content delivery system according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is also a block diagram of an example of the configuration of the DTV and server shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 schematically illustrates delivering a content and license when a one-step licensing is applied FIG. 4 schematically illustrates delivering a content and license when a two-step licensing is applied FIG. 5 shows an example of the content configuration. FIG. 6 is a timing diagram showing a sequence of operations made in delivering a content to be sold under PPC contract and a one-step license corresponding to the PPC contract. FIG. 7 shows an example of information included in a package information file. FIG. 8 is a timing diagram showing a series of operations made in delivering a content to be sold under a subscription contract and two-step license (main and sub licenses). FIG. 9 shows an example of the configuration of an ECM section of MPEG2-TS. FIG. 10 is a timing drawing showing a sequence of operations made in multicasting delivery of a content which is sold under a license for a pay-per-view (PPV) with preview. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described in detail below concerning embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of the content delivery system according to the present invention. As shown, the content delivery system, generally indicated with a reference numeral 11, includes digital television (DTV) sets 2-1 and 2-2 and a server 3, connected to each other by the Internet 1 as a typical network. A broadcast station 4 is also connected to the Internet 1. Each of the digital TV sets 2-1 and 2-2 is used in a home, workplace or the like, for example. It can receive TV broadcast wave from the broadcast station 4 for presenting a TV program, and also can reproduce a content received from the server 3 by downloading or streaming via the Internet 1. It should be noted that the streaming delivery methods referred to herein include multicasting and on-demand delivery methods. The server 3 receives a program broadcast from the broadcast station 4 and holds AV data in the program as a content. Alternatively, the server 3 receives AV data included in the program from the broadcast station 4 across the Internet 1, and holds it as a content. Of course, the server 3 can also hold a content created uniquely or acquired from others. Note that FIG. 1 shows only the two digital TV sets 2-1 and 2-2 and one server 3 but the actual content delivery system includes more than two digital TV sets 2-1 and 2-2 and a plurality of servers 3. Also note that in the following description, the digital TV sets 2-1 and 2-2 will be referred to simply as “DTV 2 ” hereunder wherever they should not be referred to individually. FIG. 2 shows an example of the configuration of the DTV 2 and server 3, respectively. As shown, the DTV 2 includes an input unit 21, presentation unit 22, browser 23, content reproduction unit 24, DRM agent 25, DRM client 26, content storage unit 27, client application 28, client metadata data base (will be referred to as “client metadata DB” hereunder) 29, downloading (DL) agent 30, and a package information processing agent 31. The input unit 21 is supplied with various commands from the user. The presentation unit 22 presents an image and sound resulted from reproduction of a content. Also, the presentation unit 22 provides, to the user, a screen for operating the browser 23 and other various kinds of information. The browser 23 analyses navigation information including an HTML (hyper text markup language) document (including CSS (cascading style sheets)), supplied from a shop server 71 included in the server 3 for use to display a screen for acquisition of a content, presents it on the presentation unit 22, and executes a script included in the HTML. Similarly, the browser 23 analyses navigation information including a BML (broadcast markup language) document (including CSS), presents it on the presentation unit 22, and executes a script included in the BML. Also, the browser 23 can deal with XrML (extensible rights markup language; by the Content Guard). Also, the browser 23 communicates with a payment server 72 included in the server 3 to make a payment concerned with purchase of a content. The content reproduction unit 24 operates in response to a reproduction command from the browser 23 or client application 28 to reproduce a content delivered, by streaming, from a content server 75 included in the server 3, and a content downloaded from the content server 75 and stored in the content storage unit 27. The DRM agent 25 has the DRM client 26 make a DRM operation in response to a request from the browser 23 or client application 28. The DRM operations include acquisition of a license necessary for reproducing a content, authentication of whether the user is an appropriate user having the license, acquisition and granting of a key necessary for decryption of encrypted data, and other operation necessary for management of the license. The DRM agent 25 acquires a sublicense (will be described in detail later) included in a content and transfers it to the DRM client 26. The DRM client 26 is given an instruction from the DRM agent 25 to communicate with a DRM server 74 included in the server 3 for making a DRM operation. The content storage unit 27 includes a hard disk or the like, for example, and stores a content acquired by normal downloading or push downloading from the content server 75 in the server 3. The client application 28 includes various kinds of software, and provides the user with various function menus each as an user interface, and controls operations of the DTV 2. For example, the client application 28 starts up the browser 23, gives a reproduction command to the content reproduction unit 24, acquires metadata from a metadata DB 73 included in the server 3, searches metadata held in the client metadata DB 29 and makes other operations. The client metadata DB 29 holds metadata supplied from the metadata DB 73 in the server 3. The downloading agent (will also be referred to as “DL agent” hereunder wherever appropriate) 30 downloads a content from the content server 75 in the server 3, and stores it in the content storage unit 27 according to an instruction supplied from the browser 23 or client application 28. Also, the downloading agent 30 acquires metadata on a downloaded content from the metadata DB 73, and has the client metadata DB 29 hold it. The package information processing agent 31 requests the DRM agent 25 to acquire a license for a package which is a helper application for the browser 23 and also a unit in which a contents is sold. As shown, the server 3 includes the shop server 71, payment server 72, metadata DB 73, DRM server 74, content server 75 and domain server 76. When accessed by the browser 23 across the Internet 1, the shop server 71 provides the browser 23 with navigation information including HTML or BML documents. The payment server 72 communicates with the browser 23 to make a payment. Also, the payment server 72 makes a payment on the basis of a payment request from the shop server 71, and reports the result of payment to the shop server 71. In response to a request for acquisition of metadata from the client application 28, the metadata DB 73 reads pre-supplied and stored metadata, and supplies it to the client metadata DB 29 in the DTV 2. Also, the metadata DB 73 supplies the shop server 71 with metadata searched and acquired based on a request for search for metadata from the shop server 71. Note that metadata include package metadata, license metadata, sublicense metadata, instance metadata, content metadata, etc. The package metadata is attribute information on a package which is a unit of buying a content, and it is used mainly as navigation information for buying a package. The license metadata is used mainly for presenting use condition in units of a license, and acquiring a license. The sublicense metadata is used mainly for presenting a use condition corresponding to a sublicense, and identifying a sublicense. The instance metadata is used for guidance to acquisition and reproduction of a content. The content metadata is attribute information on a content, and used for search for a content or for a similar purpose. In response to a request for permission of license issue from the shop server 71, the DRM server 74 communicates with the DRM client 26 in the DTV 2, and makes a DRM operation. The DRM server 74 supplies the content server 75 with a content key Kc for encryption of a content. Also, when the DRM server 74 has successfully made the DRM operation, it supplies a corresponding license (will be described in detail later) to the DRM client 26 in the DTV 2. The content server 75 holds a content to be supplied to the DTV 2, encrypts a content requested by the DTV 2 with the content key Kc supplied from the DRM server 74, delivers the content to the content reproduction unit 24 by streaming or to the content storage unit 27 as a downloading file for storage. The domain server 76 issues a domain ID to the user of the DTV 2 in response to a registration request from the shop server 71, and manages it. Also, based on a request to search a domain ID from the shop server 71, the domain server 76 supplies the result of search to the shop server 71. Note that in the example shown in FIG. 2, the server 3 includes the plurality of servers 3 but it may of course include only one server. Next, a license for a content supplied from the server 3 to the DTV 2 across the Internet 1 will be explained. Depending upon which the type of the contract for content delivery is, pay-per-content contract or subscription contract, for example, either the one-step license or two-step license will be applied to the content delivery system 11. Under the “pay-per-content contract (will be referred to as “PPC contract” hereunder)”, a specified content (or a specified group of contents) is sold and bought per package. Under the “subscription contract”, a right to use a plurality of unspecified contents is sold and bought as is under a monthly contract for a pay channel of television broadcast, for example. The one-step licensing is applied to a content to be delivered under the PPC contract. On the other hand, the two-step licensing is applied to a content to be delivered under the subscription contract. FIG. 3 schematically illustrates the delivery of a content and a license in which the one-step licensing is applied to the content. In the server 3, a content resource file (as in FIG. 5) as a main element of the content is encrypted with the content key Kc by the content server 75, and the encrypted content resource file is supplied to the DTV 2. The content key Kc is supplied as a license for a corresponding content along with the use condition for the corresponding content to the DTV 2 from the DRM server 74 separately from the encrypted content. In the DTV 2, the encrypted content is decrypted for reproduction with the content key Kc included in the license. It should be noted that delivering a content and license in case the one-step licensing is applied will be described in detail later with reference to FIG. 6. FIG. 4 schematically illustrates the delivery of a content and license in case the two-step licensing is applied. The content resource file as the main element of the content is encrypted with the content key Kc by the content server 75, and supplied along with sublicense encrypted with the work key Kw to the DTV 2. It should be noted here that the sublicense includes a second use condition under which a corresponding content is used and a content key Kc for decrypting a corresponding encrypted content. The work key Kw for decryption of the encrypted sublicense is included in a main license which is in one-to-one correspondence with the subscription contract. The main license is supplied from the DRM server 74 to the DTV 2 separately from the content. The main license includes, in addition to the work key Kw, a first use condition under which a content corresponding to the subscription contract is used. In the DTV 2, the encrypted sublicense is decrypted with the work key Kw included in the main license, and the encrypted content is decrypted for reproduction with the content key Kc. It should be noted that delivering a content and license in case the two-step licensing is applied will be described in detail later with reference to FIG. 8. FIG. 5 shows an element included in one content. As shown, one content includes a content resource file 101 including more than one file, content start-up document 102, downloading control file 103, DRM information reference file 104, and a sublicense file 107. It should be noted that for delivering the content only under the PPC contract, the sublicense file 107 may not be included as an element of the content. The content resource file 101 is a main element of the content. It is AV data conforming to a format such as the MPEG-2 or the like, and has been encrypted with the content key Kc. The content start-up document 102 is used for transition to the reproduction of the content resource file 101, and it is first executed for starting up the content. The corresponding DRM information reference file 104 is specified in the corresponding content start-up document 102. The downloading control file 103 is referred to for downloading the content. It includes information for downloading, such as “content ID” which is information for identification of a content, “license Query URL(uniform resource locator)” which is information indicative of a destination of which an inquiry is to be made for the license, “license URL” which is information indicative of a destination from which the main license is to be acquired, and “Resources” which is information including a resource and resource ID for identification of a content resource file included in the content. The DRM information reference file 104 includes a list of licenses necessary for DRM operations related with the content such as decryption of an encrypted content resource file and the like in addition to “content ID”, “license Query URL”, “license URL”, “resource” and “resource ID”. The information on each of the licenses includes “license ID” which is information for identification of a license, type information indicative of whether there exists a sublicense, and “sublicense” indicative of the name of a sublicense which exists as indicated by the type information. In case “type 1” is stated in the type information indicative of whether there exists the sublicense, it means that the one-step licensing is applied to the license, there exists no sublicense and a corresponding content resource file can be decrypted only under that license. In case “type 2” is stated in the type information indicative of whether there exists the sublicense, it means that the two-step licensing is applied to the license and there exists a sublicense. A sublicense includes “license ID” which is information for identification of a license, “content ID” which is information for identification of a content, second use condition for using the content, and content key Kc used for decryption of an encrypted content resource file. It is encrypted with a work key Kw. The work key Kw is included in a main license managed by the DRM server 74 separately from a content including the content resource file 101 to sublicense file 107. Note that in case a content is to be delivered as MPEG2-TS by multicasting, the sublicense 107 is stored in the ECM section of the MPEG2-TS (will be described in detail later). Next, a series of operations for delivering a content to be sold under the PPC contract and a one-step license corresponding to the content will be explained with reference to the timing diagram in FIG. 6. It should be noted that it is assumed here that the user of the DTV 2 has made basic user registration to the server 3, is issued with a user ID and domain ID and has already informed payment information such as his or her credit card number, depositor account number or the like. In step S1, the browser 23 in the DTV 2 accesses, in response to a user's operation, the shop server 71 for buying a content under the PCC contract, and presents, on the presentation unit 22, a list of contents the user can buy on the basis of navigation information supplied from the shop server 71. When the user selects a desired content (will also be referred to as “package” as a unit of buying hereunder) from the list of contents being presented, the browser 23 will send, to the shop server 71, registration information for buying the package under the PPC contract (information for identifying the user (user ID), information for identifying the package the user is going to buy (package ID), etc. Correspondingly, the shop server 71 connects to the payment server 72, and informs the latter of the user ID and package ID sent from the browser 23 for requesting the payment server 72 to make a payment under the PPC contract in step S11. After having received, from the payment server 72, the information that the payment has normally be done, the shop server 71 informs the domain server 76 of the user ID, and acquires the domain ID the domain server 76 has pre-issued correspondingly to the user ID, in step S12. That is, the shop server 71 acquires identification information which is to be supplied to a set of terminal units such as DTV 2 between which a license given to the user is allowed to transfer. In step S13, the shop server 71 connects to the metadata DB 73, informs the latter of the package ID informed from the browser 23, and acquires a list of license IDs corresponding to a packet identified with the package ID (list of license IDs for necessary licenses for using a content of the package in question). In this case, the license IDs list includes license IDs for the one-step licenses. In step S14, the shop server 71 transfers the acquired domain ID and list of license IDs to the DRM server 74. Correspondingly, the DRM server 47 stores the received domain ID and license IDs list in such a manner that they are in correspondence with each other. In step S15, the shop server 71 informs the browser 23 of information including necessary information for the browser 23 of the DTV 2 to acquire a package information file and which indicates that registration of the PPC contract has been completed. In response to this information, the browser 23 will inform the user that the PPC contract registration and payment are complete while connecting to the shop server 71 for acquiring a package information file. FIG. 7 shows the configuration of the package information file the browser 23 has acquired from the shop server 71. The package information file 111 includes a license IDs list corresponding to the package under the PPC contract, URL in the DRM server 74 as a destination from which the license is to be acquired, and URL in the metadata DB 73 as a destination from which the metadata is to be acquired. The description will be continued again with reference to FIG. 6. In step S2, the browser 23 having acquired the package information file starts up the package information processing agent 31 as a helper application. The package information processing agent 31 informs the DRM client 26 of the list of license IDs and URL in the DRM server 74 included in the acquired package information file, and a domain ID corresponding to the user via the DRM agent 25, and requests the DRM client 26 to acquire a license. In response to this request, the DRM client 26 will connect to the DRM server 74, send the license IDs list and domain ID to the DRM server 74, and request the DRM server 74 to acquire a license included in the license IDs list. In step S21, the DRM server 74 judges, in response to the request, whether the supplied domain ID has normally been issued to the DTV 2 which is the sender and the licenses included in the supplied license IDs list are allowed to be supplied for the supplied domain ID. In case both these conditions are met, the DRM server 74 determines that the request from the DRM client 26 is appropriate, and supplies a license included in the license IDs list to the DRM client 26. The DRM client 26 stores the supplied license securely, and informs the DRM agent 25 that the acquirement of the license is complete. At this stage, the license for the content bought under the PPC contract will have been acquired. Thereafter, to reproduce the content bought under the PPC contract in response to a user's operation, the browser 23 accesses, in step S3, the shop server 71 for reproduction of the content already bought under the PPC contract, and presents, on the presentation unit 22, a list of contents already bought under the PPC contract and which are reproducible on the basis of navigation information supplied from the shop server 71. In case the user has selected a desired content from the list presented on the presentation unit 22, the browser 23 accesses, in step S4, the content server 75 to acquire the content start-up document 102 included in the selected content, and has a plug-in execute the content start-up document 102. Also, the browser 23 stores, along with the content start-up document 102, URL in the shop server 71 to which access has been designated upon completion of the content reproduction. In step S5, the plug-in of the browser 23 acquires a DRM information reference file 104 specified with the content start-up document 102 from the content server 75. In step S6, the browser 23 starts up the DRM agent 25 as a helper application and has the latter analyze the acquired DRM information reference file 104. The DRM agent 25 informs the DRM client 26 of content IDs stated in the DRM information reference file 104, and checks that the DRM client 26 holds licenses corresponding to the content IDs. In case the DRM client 26 holds only one corresponding license, the license will be used. In case the DRM client 26 holds a plurality of corresponding licenses, the licenses will be presented to the user who will select a desired one of the licenses. After a desired license is selected, the DRM client 26 will read information on the license from the DRM information reference file 104, and then reads type information from the read information. In case the type information indicates “type 1”, the license having been confirmed to be held in the DRM client 26 is a one-step license type one, and so the encrypted content resource file 101 will be decrypted with only the license having been confirmed to be held in the DRM client 26. In case the type information indicates “type 2”, the license having been confirmed to be held in the DRM client 26 is a two-step license type one, and so a corresponding sublicense will be acquired to decrypt the encrypted content resource file 101. In this example, since the type information indicates “type 1”, no sublicense will be acquired. The DRM client 26 sends the license ID for the corresponding license back to the DRM agent 25. The DRM agent 25 will exit its own operation with storage of the sent-back license ID. In response to the fact that the stream-type content resource file 101 is stated in the DRM information reference file 104, the browser 23 starts up, instep S7, the content reproduction unit 24 without waiting for the operation of the DRM agent 25. In step S31, the content reproduction unit 24 recognizes, based on the extension of the content name in the stream-type content resource file to be reproduced, that the content resource is encrypted, and confirms that the DRM agent 25 has already acquired a license. When the content reproduction unit 24 has confirmed that the DRM agent 25 has acquired the license, it will acquire a corresponding license ID and domain ID. It should be noted that if the content reproduction unit 24 has not yet confirmed at this stage whether the DRM agent 25 has acquired a license, it will wait until it confirms that the DRM agent 25 has acquired the license. In step S32, the content reproduction unit 24 informs the DRM client 26 of the license ID and domain ID, and requests the DRM client 26 to supply a license. If the use condition included in the license is met at this time point, the DRM client 26 securely transfers the content key Kc and use condition included in the license to the content reproduction unit 24. The content reproduction unit 24 sets the content key Kc in its internal decryption unit (not shown) and starts applying the use condition. In step S33, the content reproduction unit 24 acquires a stream information file from the content server 75, then decrypts encrypted content resources acquired one after another by streaming delivery to decode the stream information file, and presents an image and sound on the presentation unit 22. Then, when the content has been reproduced to the end, the reproduction has been aborted in response to a command from the user or when the use condition has become not met in the course of the reproduction, the content reproduction unit 24 informs the DRM client 26 of the use state and end of the reproduction at such a time in step S34. Thereafter, the content reproduction unit 24 exits its own operation. The browser 23 will access URL (uniform resource locator) of the shop server 71, held in the operation in step S4 and which it has been instructed to access at the end of content reproduction, and presents information obtained from the URL in the presentation unit 22. Thus, the server 3 can present, to the user having made test-listen to a content under the PPC contract, intended information such as advertisement or the like of a sequel of the content to which the user has made the test-listen. The series of operations for delivering a content sold under the PCC contract and a one-step license for the content has been described. Next, a series of operations for the delivering a content to be sold under the subscription contract and a two-step license for the content will be explained with reference to the timing diagram in FIG. 8. It should be noted that it is assumed here that the user of the DTV 2 has made basic user registration to the server 3, is issued with a user ID and domain ID and has already informed payment information such as his or her credit card number, depositor account number or the like. In step S101, the browser 23 in the DTV 2 accesses, in response to a user's operation, the shop server 71 for making a subscription contract on a channel or the like on which a content such as a drama series which is broadcast in every morning, and presents, on the presentation unit 22, a list of channels or the like on which the user can make a subscription contract on the basis of navigation information supplied from the shop server 71. When the user selects a desired channel (will also be referred to as “package” as a unit of buying hereunder) for which he or she is going to make a subscription contract, the browser 23 will send registration information for making a subscription contract for the selected channel to the shop server 71. It should be noted that the registration information includes information for identifying the user (user ID), information for identifying a package for which a subscription contract is to be made (package ID), etc. Correspondingly, the shop server 71 connects to the payment server 72, and informs the latter of the user ID and package ID sent from the browser 23 for requesting the payment server 72 to make a payment under the subscription contract in step S111. After having received, from the payment server 72, the information that the payment has normally be done, the shop server 71 informs the domain server 76 of the user ID, and acquires the domain ID the domain server 76 has pre-issued in response to the user ID, in step S112. In step S113, the shop server 71 connects to the metadata DB 73, informs the latter of the package ID informed from the browser 23, and acquires a list of license IDs corresponding to a packet identified with the package ID. In this case, the license IDs list includes license IDs for the two-step licenses. In step S114, the shop server 71 transfers the acquired domain ID and list of license IDs to the DRM server 74. Correspondingly, the DRM server 74 stores the received domain ID and license IDs list in such a manner that they are in correspondence with each other. In step S115, the shop server 71 informs the browser 23 of information including necessary information for the browser 23 of the DTV 2 to acquire a package information file and which indicates that registration of the subscription contract is over. In response to this information, the browser 23 will inform the user that the subscription contract registration and payment are over while connecting to the shop server 71 for acquiring a package information file. The package information file the browser 23 acquired from the shop server 71 is configured similarly to that shown in FIG. 7, and includes a license IDs list corresponding to the package under the subscription contract, URL in the DRM server 74 as a destination from which the license is to be acquired, and URL in the metadata DB 73 as a destination from which the metadata is to be acquired. In step S102, the browser 23 having acquired the package information file starts up the package information processing agent 31 as a helper application. The package information processing agent 31 informs the DRM client 26 of the list of license IDs and URL in the DRM server 74 included in the acquired package information file, and a domain ID corresponding to the user via the DRM agent 25, and requests the DRM client 26 to acquire a license. In response to this request, the DRM client 26 will connect to the DRM server 74, send the license IDs list and domain ID to the DRM server 74, and request the DRM server 74 to acquire a license included in the license IDs list. In step S121, the DRM server 74 judges, in response to the request, whether the supplied domain ID has normally been issued to the DTV 2 which is the sender and the license included in the supplied license IDs list is allowed to be supplied for the supplied domain ID. In case both these conditions are met, the DRM server 74 determines that the request from the DRM client 26 is appropriate, and supplies a license included in the license IDs list to the DRM client 26. The DRM client 26 stores the supplied license securely, and informs the DRM agent 25 that the acquirement of the license is over. At this stage, acquisition of the main license of the necessary main license and sublicense for use of the content bought under the subscription contract will be complete. Thereafter, to reproduce the content bought under the subscription contract in response to a user's operation, the browser 23 accesses, in step S103, the shop server 71 for reproduction of the content already bought under the subscription contract, and presents, on the presentation unit 22, a list of contents already bought under the subscription contract and which are reproducible on the basis of navigation information supplied from the shop server 71. In case the user has selected a desired content from the list presented on the presentation unit 22, the browser 23 accesses, in step S104, the content server 75 to acquire the content start-up document 102 included in the selected content, and has a plug-in execute the content start-up document 102. Also, the browser 23 stores, along with the content startup document 102, URL in the shop server 71 to which access has been designed upon completion of the content reproduction. In step S105, the plug-in of the browser 23 acquires a DRM information reference file 104 specified with the content start-up document 102 from the content server 75. In step S106, the browser 23 starts up the DRM agent 25 as a helper application and has the latter analyze the acquired DRM information reference file 104. The DRM agent 25 informs the DRM client 26 of content IDs included in the DRM information reference file 104 one by one, and checks whether the DRM client 26 holds licenses corresponding to the content IDs. In case the DRM client 26 holds only one of corresponding licenses, the license will be used. In case the DRM client 26 holds a plurality of corresponding licenses, the licenses will be presented to the user who will select a desired one of the licenses. After the user selects the desired license, the DRM client 26 will read information on the license from the DRM information reference file 104, and read type information from that license information. In the above case, explanation will be continued on the assumption that the type information indicates “type 2”. In step S131, the DRM agent 25 knows the name of a corresponding sublicense by referring to the DRM information reference file 104, and accesses the content server 75 to acquire the sublicense having the sublicense name. In step S132, the DRM agent 25 injects the acquired sublicense into the DRM client 26. The DRM client 26 stores the injected sublicense in correspondence with the already acquired main license. The DRM agent 25 will exit its own operation with holding the license ID and content ID. In response to the fact that the stream-type content resource file 101 is stated in the DRM information reference file 104, the browser 23 starts up, in step S107, the content reproduction unit 24 without waiting until the license ID from the DRM client 26 is held in the DRM agent 25. In step S141, the content reproduction unit 24 recognizes, based on the extension of the content name in the stream-type content resource file to be reproduced, that the content resource is encrypted, and confirms that the DRM agent 25 has already acquired a license. When the content reproduction unit 24 has confirmed that the DRM agent 25 has acquired the license, it acquires a corresponding license ID and domain ID. It should be noted that if the content reproduction unit 24 has not yet confirmed at this stage whether the DRM agent 25 has acquired a license, it will wait until it confirms that the DRM agent 25 has acquired the license. In step S142, the content reproduction unit 24 informs the DRM client 26 of the license ID and domain ID, and requests the DRM client 26 to supply a content key Kc. The DRM client 26 decrypts the encrypted sublicense using the work key Kw included in the main license, and if the use condition included in the license is found met at this time point, the DRM client 26 securely transfers the content key Kc and use condition included in the license to the content reproduction unit 24. The content reproduction unit 24 sets the content key Kc in its internal decryption unit, and starts applying the use condition. In step S143, the content reproduction unit 24 acquires a stream information file from the content server 75, then decrypts encrypted content resources acquired one after another by streaming delivery, and starts presentation of an image and sound on the presentation unit 22. Then, when the content has been reproduced to the end, the reproduction has been aborted in response to a command from the user or when the use condition has become not met in the course of the reproduction, the content reproduction unit 24 informs the DRM client 26 of the use state and end of the reproduction at such a time in step S144. Thereafter, the content reproduction unit 24 exits its own operation. The browser 23 will access URL in the shop server 71, held in the operation in step S104 and which it has been instructed to access at the end of content reproduction, and presents information obtained from the URL in the presentation unit 22. Thus, the server 3 can present, to the user having made test-listen to a content under the subscription contract, intended information such as advertisement or the like of a sequel of the content to which the user has made the test-listen. Delivering the content sold under the subscription contract and two-step license for the content have been described. As having been described above, since the server 3 sends the DRM information reference file 104 including type information indicating which of the one-step land two-step licenses is adopted for licensing a content in consideration, and the DTV 2 makes different operations for different types, respectively, indicated by the type information, it is possible to efficiently implement a content delivery service in which both the PPC and subscription contracts are used. Note that the type information indicating which of the one-step and two-step license is adopted for licensing a content may be included in metadata corresponding to each package, for example, in license metadata, for sending and the DTV 2 may be adapted to make an operation corresponding to the type of licensing by referring to the type information when it is given a command for reproduction of the content. Next, there will explained implementation of a pay-per-view with preview (will be referred to as “PPV/preview” hereunder) of a content delivered, by streaming, from the server 3 to a plurality of DTV 2. Note that a content delivered under a license for PPV/preview (PPV/preview license) will be referred to as “PPV/preview content” hereunder. A content broadcast from the server 3 conforms to the MPEG2-TS format. The two-step licensing is applied to the license for reproduction of the content having the MPEG2-TS format, and a sublicense for preview (test listen/-view before buying of a content is decided) permitted for a predetermined time of the total time of reproduction of a content, for example, for a few minutes from the top of the content, and a sublicense for full-scale listen/view, permitted after the buying of the content is decided, of the content for the total time of reproduction, are included in the contents having the MPEG2-TS format before being delivered. In the DTV 2, a main license for a PPV/preview channel or the like is acquired in advance. When the content is delivered by multicasting, the sublicense for the preview is first used. After deciding to buy the content, the sublicense for the full-scale listen/view is to be used. The preview license and full-scale listen/view license are stored in an ECM (entitlement control message) section of the MPEG2-TS for delivery. FIG. 9 shows an example of the ECM section in which there are stored the preview sublicense and full-scale listen/view sublicense. The ECM section includes an ECM section header having stored therein identification information indicating that the packet is an ECM section, ECM body and an error-correction CRC (cyclic redundancy check) section. The ECM body includes a header having various kinds of information stored therein, and a license section having sublicenses stored therein. The ECM body includes protocol number information for identification of a protocol, business entity identification information for identification of a business entity one from another, work key identification information for identification of a work key Kw included in a main license, content ID for identification of a content corresponding to the ECM section, odd/even information on a content to be listened to and viewed, indicating with which one of the odd and even content keys a current content being listened to and viewed can be decrypted, information on the number of sublicenses (for a program being delivered) indicative of the number (=n) set in a content being currently delivered, information on the n sublicenses corresponding to the content being currently delivered, information on the number of sublicenses (for a next program to be delivered) indicative of the number (=n) of sublicenses set in the next content to be delivered, and information on the n sublicenses corresponding to the next content to be delivered. The information on each of the sublicenses includes a license ID as sublicense identification information and a location where the sublicense is stored in the license section (number of bytes counted from the top of the ECM body). In the above sublicense information, the sublicense for preview, and sublicense for full-scale listen/view, with respect to the same content are assigned the same license ID and different in type information and location from each other. Note that in case the preview and full-scale listen/view sublicenses are stored in the ECM section, the packet ID for ECM session will be included in a limited-reception extension (CA extension) in PMT (program map table) in the MPEG2-TS. The preview sublicense includes a use condition for preview (such as length of previewing time etc.) and content key Kc. The full-scale listen/view sublicense includes use conditions for the full-scale listen/view and content key Kc. Note that by changing the use condition for preview, temporal location of preview and length of previewing time in the total length of content reproduction time can be set to a few minutes from the top of the content and also can freely be set. Also, since a different preview sublicense can be stored in the ECM section, the server 3 can provide a plurality of chances of preview in the total length of content reproduction time. Further, the preview sublicense may be delivered for only a period of the total length of content reproduction for which the preview is permitted. Next, a series of operations for multicasting delivery of a PPV/preview content from the server 3 to more than one DTV 2, will be explained with reference to the timing diagram in FIG. 10. It should be noted that it is assumed here that the user of the DTV 2 has made basic user registration to the server 3, is issued with a user ID and domain ID and has already informed payment information such as his or her credit card number, depositor account number or the like. In step S201, the browser 23 in the DTV 2 accesses, in response to a user's operation, the shop server 71 for making a subscription contract for reception of channels on which a PPV/preview content is broadcast, and presents, on the presentation unit 22, a list of channels the user can get on the basis of navigation information supplied from the shop server 71. When the user selects a desired content (will also be referred to as “package” as a unit of buying hereunder) from the list of channels thus presented, the browser 23 will send registration information for the subscription contract for the channels back to the shop server 71. It should be noted that the registration information includes information for identification of the user (user ID) and information for identification of the package the user is going to buy (package ID). In step S211, the shop server 71 informs the domain server 76 of the user ID, and acquires the domain ID the domain server 76 has pre-issued in response to the user ID. In step S212, the shop server 71 connects to the metadata DB 73, informs the latter of the package ID informed from the browser 23, and acquires a list of license IDs corresponding to a package identified with the package ID. In this case, the license IDs list includes license IDs for the two-step licenses for channels on which a PPV/preview content can be delivered. In step S213, the shop server 71 transfers the acquired domain ID and license IDs list to the DRM server 74. Correspondingly, the DRM server 74 stores the received domain ID and license IDs list in correspondence with each other. In step S214, the shop server 71 informs the browser 23 of information including necessary information for the browser 23 of the DTV 2 to acquire a package information file and that indicates that registration of the subscription contract is over. In response to this information, the browser 23 will present the user that the registration of subscription contract and payment are complete, and connects to the shop server 71 to acquire a package information file. The package information file the browser 23 acquired from the ship server 71 includes a license IDs list corresponding to the package under the subscription contract, URL in the DRM server 74 as a destination from which the license is to be acquired, and URL in the metadata DB 73 as a destination from which the metadata is to be acquired. In step S202, the browser 23 having acquired the package information file starts up the package information processing agent 31 as a helper application. The package information processing agent 31 informs the DRM client 26 of the license IDs list and URL in the DRM server 74, included in the acquired package information file, and a domain ID corresponding to the user via the DRM agent 25, and requests the DRM client 26 to acquire a main license for channels on which a PPV/preview content can be delivered (will be referred to as “PPV license” hereunder). In response to this request, the DRM client 26 will connect to the DRM server 74, send the license IDs list and domain ID to the DRM server 74, and request the DRM server 74 to acquire the PPV license corresponding to the license ID. In step S221, the DRM server 74 judges, in response to the request, whether the supplied domain ID has normally been issued to the DTV 2 which is the sender and the PPV license corresponding to the supplied license IDs list is allowed to be supplied for the supplied domain ID. In case both these conditions are met, the DRM server 74 determines that the request from the DRM client 26 is appropriate, and supplies a PPV license corresponding to the license ID to the DRM client 26. The DRM client 26 stores the supplied PPV license securely, and informs the DRM agent 25 that the acquirement of the PPV license is complete. At this stage, of the necessary PPV license and sublicense for use of the content broadcast on the channels which can deliver PPV/preview content and bought under the subscription contract, the PPV license will be completely acquired. In step S203, the package information processing agent 31 connects to the metadata DB 73 on the basis of URL in the metadata DB 73 included in the acquired package information file, and requests the metadata DB 73 to acquisition of package metadata corresponding to the bought package. It should be noted that the package includes the right to receive a channel on which a PPV/preview content can be broadcast. In step S231, the metadata DB 73 supplies, in response to the request, requested package metadata to the client metadata DB 29 in which the metadata will be held. After completion of the above operations, the package information processing agent 31 exits its own operation. Thereafter, the client application 28 periodically acquires, from the metadata DB 73, content metadata corresponding to the content broadcast on the channels corresponding to the bought package, and the content metadata is held in the client metadata DB 29. Thereafter, for listening to and viewing a content broadcast on a channel under the subscription contract, the user starts up the client application 28. In step S241, the client application 28 will present the user a list of contents which can be listened to and viewed and are broadcast at this time by referring to the metadata held in the client metadata DB 29. When the user selects a content and gives a command for starting the listen/view of the content, the client application 28 goes to step S242 where it will refer to the metadata, inform the DRM client 26 of a license ID for the PPV license, URL in the DRM server 74 and domain ID via the DRM agent 25, and confirm that the PPV license has already been acquired, in step S242. After confirming the acquisition of the PPV license, the client application 28 goes to step S243 where it will refer to the already acquired metadata corresponding to a user-selected content, acquire broadcasting URL in the content serer 75 (multicast address), specify a multicast address in the content server 75, and request the content reproduction unit 24 to reproduce the content. In response to this request, the content reproduction unit 24 connects to the specified multicast address where it will start reception of MPEG2-TS being broadcast. In step S251, the content reproduction unit 24 extracts PATs (program association table) and PMTs one after another from the received MPEG2-TS, detects, based on the CA descriptor of the PMT, whether there exists an ECM session, and extracts the ECM session. The content reproduction unit 24 searches and extracts a preview sublicense by referring to type information among information on sublicense included in the header in the ECM body of the ECM session, and transfers the extracted preview sublicense to the DRM client 26 via the DRM agent 25. The DRM client 26 stores the supplied preview sublicense in correspondence with the already acquired PPV license. In step 252, the content reproduction unit 24 informs the DRM client 26 of the license ID and domain ID for the preview sublicense, and requests the DRM client 26 to supply a correspondingly content key Kc. The DRM client 26 decrypts the encrypted preview sublicense with the work key Kw included in the PPV license. When the acquired use condition is met at this time, the DRM client 26 transfers the content key Kc and preview use condition included in the license securely to the content reproduction unit 24. The content reproduction unit 24 sets the content key Kc in its internal decryption unit, and starts application of the preview use condition. The preview user condition includes a period for which the preview is permitted, for example a time of X to Y minutes from the top of a content. The content reproduction unit 24 decrypts the MPEG2-TS to have the presentation unit 22 start presenting an image and sound. Thus, the content starts being previewed. In step S253, the content reproduction unit 24 informs the client application 28 of the start of the preview. In response to this preview start, the client application 28 prompts the user to buy the previewed content for full-scale listen/view. In case the user buys the content in response to the prompt, the client application 28 instructs, in step S244, the content reproduction unit 24 to reproduce the content for full-scale listen/view. In step S254, the content reproduction unit 24 searches and extracts a sublicense for the full-scale listen/view by referring to type information in sublicense information included in the header of the ECM body of the ECM session in the received MPEG2-TS, and transfers the extracted full-scale listen/view sublicense to the DRM client 26 via the DRM agent 25. The DRM client 26 stores the transferred full-scale listen/view sublicense in correspondence with the already acquired PPV license. In step S255, the content reproduction unit 24 informs the DRM client 26 of the license ID and domain ID for the full-scale listen/view license, and requests the DRM client 26 to supply a corresponding content key Kc. The DRM client 26 decrypts the encrypted full-scale listen/view sublicense with a work key Kw included in the PPV license. If the acquired use condition is met at this stage, the DRM client 26 will securely transfer a content key Kc and full-scale listen/view use condition included in the license to the content reproduction unit 24. The content reproduction unit 24 sets the content key Kc in its internal decryption unit. The content reproduction unit 24 will continue content reproduction seamlessly without any delay unless the length of previewing time prescribed in the preview use condition has elapsed. On the contrary, if the length of previewing time prescribed in the preview use condition has elapsed, the content reproduction unit 24 will resume the content reproduction once stopped. When the reproduction is continued or resumed, the full-scale listen/view use condition starts being applied. Note that the content key Kc used for preview may be the same as the content key Kc used for the full-scale listen/view and it may be used in common for the full-scale listen/view. Thereafter, when the content has been reproduced to the end or when the user gives a command for stopping the reproduction, the content reproduction unit 24 stops the reception from a multicast address in the content server 75 in step S256. In step S257, the content reproduction unit 24 informs the DMR client 26 of the termination of the reproduction and use state of the present PPV. The DRM client 26 connects to the DRM server 74 and uploads the use state of the PPV to the DRM server 74. In response to this uploading, the DRM server 74 calculates an amount charged on the user for the service having been made on the basis of the state of PPV use, and requests the payment server 72 to pay the charged amount, in step S261. Note that the payment may not be done at this stage but it may be done using the full-scale listen/view sublicense when the full-scale listen/view is started, for example. Thereafter, the content reproduction unit 24 exits its own operation. The client application 28 will refer to metadata held in the client data DB 29 again, and present the user a list of contents which can be listened to and viewed at this stage and are to be broadcast. Here, the series of operations for multicasting delivery of PPV/preview content is complete. As having been described above, the content delivery system according to the present invention can deliver a content by multicasting over the Internet with both the copyright protection and PPV with preview. It should be noted that the above-mentioned series of operations can be applied when a content is delivered on demand. For example, a portion of a content ranging from the top to a few minutes can be used for the purpose of promotion or the like. In the foregoing, the application of the present invention to DTV has been explained. However, the present invention is also applicable to various types of content processing apparatuses including a video cassette recorder, TV tuner, hard disk recorder, DVD (digital versatile disk) recorder and others. Also, the content delivery system according to the present invention can deliver TV broadcast programs as well as various other types of contents. Note here that the aforementioned series of operations can be effected by hardware as well as software. In case the operations are to be done by software, a computer having a CPU (central processing unit) or the like installed in the DTV, for example, will carry out the software. Also note that although the steps forming a program recorded in a recording medium according to the present invention can sequentially be performed time-serially as having been described in the foregoing, they may be performed in parallel or individually. Also note that the content delivery system according to the present invention is a system including a plurality of devices. In the foregoing, the present invention has been described in detail concerning certain preferred embodiments thereof as examples with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood by those ordinarily skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments but can be modified in various manners, constructed alternatively or embodied in various other forms without departing from the scope and spirit thereof as set forth and defined in the appended claims.

<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>The Internet infrastructure has heretofore been upgraded, and there have been implemented businesses for delivering various contents such as audio data, audio/visual (AV) data, program data, etc. over the Internet. The types of contract for content delivery over the Internet include a “pay-per-content” contract and “subscription” contract. Under the “pay-per-content” contract, a specified content or a specified group of contents is sold or bought. Under the “subscription contract”, a right to use a plurality of unspecified contents is sold and bought as is under a monthly contract for a pay channel of television broadcast, for example. Under any of the pay-per-content and subscription contracts, a content is delivered in an encrypted form and a license including a key for decryption of the encrypted form is also delivered along with the encrypted content. For example, the Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 2002-116856 discloses a method of delivering a license for an encrypted content separately from the encrypted content. Since the license delivery method disclosed in this Japanese Patent Application has to deliver a license for each content, it is suitable for the content delivery under the pay-per-content contract but not for the content delivery under the subscription contract. A content delivery service under both the pay-per-content and subscription contracts is under development, but a method of delivering a license in that service has not yet been established.

<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example of the configuration of the content delivery system according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is also a block diagram of an example of the configuration of the DTV and server shown in FIG. 1 . FIG. 3 schematically illustrates delivering a content and license when a one-step licensing is applied FIG. 4 schematically illustrates delivering a content and license when a two-step licensing is applied FIG. 5 shows an example of the content configuration. FIG. 6 is a timing diagram showing a sequence of operations made in delivering a content to be sold under PPC contract and a one-step license corresponding to the PPC contract. FIG. 7 shows an example of information included in a package information file. FIG. 8 is a timing diagram showing a series of operations made in delivering a content to be sold under a subscription contract and two-step license (main and sub licenses). FIG. 9 shows an example of the configuration of an ECM section of MPEG2-TS. FIG. 10 is a timing drawing showing a sequence of operations made in multicasting delivery of a content which is sold under a license for a pay-per-view (PPV) with preview. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"?

20050912

20110118

20060921

94378.0

H04N716

ABRISHAMKAR, KAVEH

CONTENT DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND DISTRIBUTION METHOD, AND CONTENT PROCESSING DEVICE AND PROCESSING METHOD

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

H04N

ACCEPTED

Air exhausting device, in particular for a vehicle and corresponding method for exhausting air

The invention relates to an air extracting device (1) and a corresponding method for extracting air which is used, in particular for a vehicle and comprises at least one supplied air stream (8). The out-flowing characteristic of the inventive device (1) varies between a scattering characteristic (12) and a spot characteristic (13) and can be modified by the adjustable rotation of at least one out-flowing air stream (20).

1. An air outflow device, in particular for a motor vehicle, having at least one fed-in air stream (8), characterized in that an outflow characteristic of the air outflow device (5) can be changed between a dispersal characteristic (12) and a spot characteristic, with the outflow characteristic being changed by an adjustable swirl on at least one outflowing air stream (20). 2. The air outflow device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the swirl of the at least one air stream (20) can be adjusted between a maximum value for the dispersal characteristic (12) and a minimum value for the spot characteristic (13). 3. The air outflow device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the swirl can be adjusted by changing the directing of the air and/or a quantity of air and/or an air speed and/or an outflow direction of the at least one outflowing air stream (20). 4. The air outflow device as claimed in claim 3, characterized by at least one metering device (3, 17) and/or at least one air directing device (5, 17) with which the directing of the air and/or the quantity of air and/or the air speed and/or the outflow direction of the outflowing air stream (20) can be changed in order to generate the swirl. 5. The air outflow device as claimed claim 1, characterized in that the fed-in air stream (8) is divided into at least two partial air streams (9, 10) in order to adjust the swirl. 6. The air outflow device as claimed in claims 5, characterized in that a first partial air stream (10) is a swirl-free core air stream (10) and a second partial air stream (9) is an outer air stream (11) to which an adjustable swirl is applied. 7. The air outflow device as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the core air stream (10) can be influenced by the outer air stream (11) or the outer air stream (11) can be influenced by the core air stream (10). 8. The air outflow device as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the first and/or second partial air streams (9, 10) are formed from a plurality of sub air streams. 9. The air outflow device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that only the second partial air stream (9) is activated for the dispersal characteristic (12). 10. The air outflow device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that only the first partial air stream (10) is activated for the spot characteristic (13). 11. The air outflow device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the second partial air stream (11) is impressed on the first partial air stream (10) with a variable swirl, as a result of which the first partial air stream (10) is destabilized and fanned out. 12. The air outflow device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the air directing device (5) is embodied in such a way that a central region (5.4) and an outer region (5.5) are provided in the outflow region of the air directing device (5), with the central region (5.4) generating the first partial air stream (9, 11), and with the outer region (5.5) generating the second partial air stream (10). 13. The air outflow device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the air directing device (5) has a helical or spiral region of extended length for generating the second air stream (11). 14. The air outflow device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the metering device (3) is embodied in such a way that the individual partial air flow quantities and a mass flow rate ratio of the first partial air stream (9) to the second partial air stream (10) can be controlled. 15. The air outflow device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the metering device (3, 17) controls both the splitting up of the at least one fed-in air stream (9) among the individual component ducts (5.4, 5.5) and their metering. 16. The air outflow device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that an actuating device (17) which has a double flap (17.1, 17.2) which is controlled by means of a cam (16) or kinematics is provided as a metering device (3). 17. The air outflow device as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that the actuating device (17) is connected directly to an activation element via a shaft. 18. The air outflow device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that means for adjusting (3, 17) the at least one outflowing air stream (20) and/or at least one partial air stream (9, 10) are arranged in the air conditioning unit (21). 19. An air outflow method, in particular for an air outflow device (1) in a motor vehicle, having at least one fed-in air stream (8), characterized in that an outflow characteristic of the air outflow device (1) is changed by an adjustable swirl for at least one outflowing air stream (20), with the outflow characteristic being capable of being changed between a dispersal characteristic (12) and a spot characteristic (13). 20. The air outflow method as claimed in claim 19, characterized in that the swirl of the at least one air stream (20) is set between a maximum value for the dispersal characteristic (12) and a minimum value for the spot characteristic (13). 21. The air outflow method as claimed in claim 19, characterized in that the swirl is adjusted by changing the directing of the air and/or a quantity of air and/or an air speed and/or an outflow direction of the at least one outflowing air stream (20). 22. The air outflow method as claimed in claim 21, characterized in that the at least one fed-in air stream (8) is adjusted by means of at least one metering device (3, 17) and/or at least one air directing device (5, 17) with which the directing of the air and/or the quantity of air and/or the air speed and/or the outflow direction of the outflowing air stream (20) are changed in order to generate the swirl. 23. The air outflow method as claimed in claim 19, characterized in that the fed-in air stream (8) is divided into at least two partial air streams (9, 10) in order to adjust the swirl. 24. The air outflow method as claimed in claims 23, characterized in that a first partial air stream (10) is a swirl-free core air stream (10), and a second partial air stream (9) is an outer air stream (11) to which an adjustable swirl is applied. 25. The air outflow method as claimed in claim 24, characterized in that the core air stream (10) is influenced by the outer air stream (11) or the outer air stream (11) is influenced by the core air stream (10). 26. The air outflow method as claimed in claim 24, characterized in that the first and/or the second partial air streams (9, 10) are formed from a plurality of sub air streams. 27. The air outflow method as claimed in claim 24, characterized in that only the second partial air stream (11) is activated in order to set the pure dispersal characteristic (12). 28. The air outflow method as claimed in claim 24, characterized in that only the first partial air stream (10) is activated in order to set the pure spot characteristic (13). 29. The air outflow method as claimed in claim 24, characterized in that the second partial air stream (9) is impressed on the first partial air stream (10) with a variable swirl, as a result of which the first partial air stream (10) is destabilized and fanned out. 30. The air outflow method as claimed in claim 24, characterized in that the individual partial air stream quantities and a mass flow rate ratio of the first partial air stream with respect to the second partial air stream is controlled with a metering device (3). 31. The air outflow method as claimed in claim 24, characterized in that a distribution of the at least one fed-in air stream (8) among the individual component ducts (5.4, 5.5) as well as their metering are controlled with the metering device (3). 32. An air conditioning system for a motor vehicle having at least one air outflow device as claimed in claim 1.

The invention relates to an air outflow device, in particular for a motor vehicle, according to the preamble of claim 1. From EP 1 223 061 A2 an air outflow device, in particular for conditioning the air of a vehicle, having a frame, a plurality of lamellas which are arranged so as to be capable of pivoting about a first axis, and at least one coupling element to which each of the lamellas is coupled, with the coupling element being capable of being adjusted relative to the first axis between a neutral position in which the lamellas are parallel to one another and a comfort position in which at least some of the lamellas can be pivoted in opposite directions from one another. The air outflow device is arranged in front of an air duct from which an air stream exits, the direction of which air stream can be adjusted using the air outflow device. In this context, the air stream can be fanned out using the lamellas which are pivoted in opposite directions to one another so that a diverging air stream is generated in which there are lower flow speeds than with an air stream with a constant cross section so that even with a high air throughput rate it is possible to prevent the emerging air stream from striking an occupant of a vehicle at high speeds. However, such an air outflow device does not fulfill all requirements. An object of the invention is to make available an improved air outflow device and an associated air outflow method. The object is achieved by means of an air outflow device having the features of patent claim 1 and by means of an air outflow method having the features of patent claim 19. The dependent patent claims relate to advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention. The main idea of the invention is to change an outflow characteristic of an air outflow device by means of an adjustable swirl for at least one outflowing air stream. The outflow characteristic can preferably be changed between a dispersal characteristic and a spot characteristic. The adjustable swirl can be adjusted here between a maximum value for the dispersal characteristic and a minimum value for the spot characteristic. Depending on an implemented embodiment of the invention, the swirl can be adjusted by changing the directing of the air and/or a quantity of air and/or an air speed and/or an outflow direction of the at least one outflowing air stream. In one advantageous embodiment of the air outflow device according to the invention, at least one metering device and/or at least one air directing device are provided and used to change the directing of the air and/or the quantity of air and/or the air speed and/or the outflow direction of the at least one outflowing air stream in order to generate the swirl. In another embodiment of the invention, the fed-in air stream is divided into at least two partial air streams in order to adjust the swirl, where a first partial air stream can be a swirl-free core air stream and a second partial air stream can be an outer air stream to which an adjustable swirl is applied, with the core air stream being capable of being influenced by the outer air stream or the outer air stream being capable of being influenced by the core air stream. In a further development of the invention, the first and/or the second partial air stream can be formed from a plurality of sub air streams. In one advantageous embodiment of the invention, only the second partial air stream is activated for a pure dispersal characteristic and only the first partial air stream is activated for a pure spot characteristic. In order to achieve the various outflow characteristics, the outer air stream with the variable swirl is impressed on the core air stream, as a result of which the core air stream is advantageously destabilized and fanned out. In one particularly advantageous embodiment of the air outflow device according to the invention, the air directing device is embodied in such a way that there is a central region and an outer region in the outflow region of the air directing device, with the central region generating the first partial air stream (core air stream) and the outer region generating the second partial air stream (outer air stream). For this purpose, the air directing device can have a helical or spiral region of extended length in order to generate the second partial air stream (outer air stream). In one development of this particularly advantageous embodiment, the metering device is embodied in such a way that the individual partial air stream quantities and a mass flow air rate ratio of the first partial air stream to the second partial air stream can be controlled, with the metering device being able to control both the distribution of the at least one fed-in air stream among the individual component ducts and their metering. In one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the metering device is arranged in the region of the air directing device, with the metering device comprising, for example, an actuating device which comprises a double flap which is controlled by means of a cam or kinematics, with the actuating device being able to be connected directly to an activation element via a shaft. In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the metering device is embodied as part of an air conditioning unit so that the metered individual partial air flow quantities are directed to the air directing device via corresponding air ducts. The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing, in which: FIG. 1 is an illustration of possible outflow characteristics of a first embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 is an illustration of possible outflow characteristics of a second embodiment of the invention; FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of the directing of the air with an air outflow device for a motor vehicle; FIG. 4a is a schematic illustration of a first exemplary embodiment of the invention with outflow characteristics; FIG. 4b is a schematic illustration of individual components of the first exemplary embodiment of the invention; FIGS. 5a to 5d are illustrations of a metering device and of an air directing device of the first exemplary embodiment for different set outflow characteristics; FIG. 6a is a schematic illustration of a second exemplary embodiment of the invention with outflow characteristics; FIG. 6b is a schematic illustration of the directing of the air within the air directing device of the second exemplary embodiment; FIG. 6c is a schematic illustration of individual components of the second exemplary embodiment of the invention; FIG. 7a is a schematic illustration of the air directing device of the second exemplary embodiment; FIG. 7b shows a schematic illustration of the metering device of the second exemplary embodiment; FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of a further exemplary embodiment of an air directing device; and FIG. 9 is an illustration of a passenger compartment of a vehicle with the air outflow devices according to the invention. FIG. 1 comprises illustrations of possible outflow characteristics of a first embodiment of the invention in which an adjustable swirl is applied to a single fed-in air stream in order to change the outflow characteristics of an air outflow device 1. FIG. 1a thus shows an air outflow device 1 for a motor vehicle in which the axially emerging air stream 20 has a strong swirl applied to it. For this reason, an outflow region 12 with a dispersal characteristic is formed in front of an outlet opening 2.1 of the air outflow device 1, that is to say the air stream 20 which emerges from the air outflow device 1 is fanned out to a great extent and there is only a small degree of distribution in the X direction. FIG. 1b shows an air outflow device 1 for a motor vehicle in which a swirl is applied to the axially emerging air stream 20. For this reason, an outflow region 14 with a mixed characteristic 12 is formed in front of the outlet opening 2.1 of the air outflow device 1, i.e. the air stream 20 which emerges from the air outflow device is fanned out to a lesser degree than for the dispersal characteristic and there is a moderate degree of distribution in the X direction. FIG. 1c shows an air outflow device 1 for a motor vehicle in which a swirl is not applied to the axially emerging air stream 20. For this reason, an outflow region 13 with a spot characteristic is formed in front of the outlet opening 2.1 of the air outflow device 1, i.e. the air stream 20 which emerges from the air outflow device is hardly fanned out at all and there is a high degree of distribution in the X direction. FIG. 2 comprises illustrations of possible outflow characteristics of a second embodiment of the invention in which a single fed-in air stream is divided into at least two partial air streams 9, 10, with a first partial air stream 10, in the illustrated exemplary embodiment what is referred to as a core air stream 10 without swirl, being directed to the air outlet 2.1 and a second partial air stream 9 being fed to the outlet opening 2.1, as what is referred to in the illustrated exemplary embodiment as an outer air stream 11 to which an adjustable swirl is applied. The core air stream 10 is directed in a core duct 5.5 and the outer air stream 11 is directed in an outer duct 5.4 of the air outflow device 1. 10. As a result of the splitting of the fed-in air stream 8 into a plurality of partial air streams, the described outflow characteristics can be defined and controlled better, and splitting, in particular into two partial air streams, can be implemented easily. Thus, FIG. 2a shows the air outflow device 1 in which only the outer air stream 11 to which a swirl is applied is directed to the outlet opening 2.1. For this reason, the outflow region 12 is formed with a dispersal characteristic in front of the outlet opening 2.1 of the air outflow device 1, i.e. the air stream 20 which emerges from the air outflow device 1 is fanned out to a great degree and there is only a small degree of distribution in the X direction. This outflow region is also referred to as a dispersal region or as a diffuse region. FIG. 2c shows the air outflow device 1 for a motor vehicle in which only the core air stream 10 is directed to the outlet opening 2.1. For this reason, an outflow region 13 with a spot characteristic is formed in front of the outlet opening 2.1 of the air outflow device 1, i.e. the air stream 20 emerging from the air outflow device 1 is hardly fanned out and there is a high degree of distribution in the X direction. The outflow region 13 is also referred to as a spot region. FIG. 2b shows the air outflow device 1 for a motor vehicle in which both the core air stream 10 and the outer air stream to which a swirl is applied is directed to the outlet opening 2.1. The two air streams 10, 11 influence one another and a third region 14 in which the two air streams 10, 11 are distributed is produced, with the shape of the third region 14 being dependent on the proportion of the two air streams involved in the distribution of air at a particular time. In other words, the core air stream 10 is destabilized as a function of the splitting up of the mass flow between the core air stream 10 and the outer air stream 11 by the swirl which is impressed by the outer air stream 11, and is correspondingly fanned out or the outer air stream 11 to which the swirl is applied is conveyed further in the X direction as a function of the splitting up of the mass flow by the core air stream 10, as a result of which the fanning out by the swirl only becomes effective at a relative large distance from the outflow opening 2.1. As a result, any possible distribution of air or outflow of characteristic can be implemented between the two extreme values of only outer air stream 11 and dispersal characteristic or only core air stream 10 and spot characteristic as a function of the splitting up of the mass air flow. FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of the directing of the air with an air outflow device 1 according to the invention in a motor vehicle. The air outflow device corresponds here to the second embodiment described above, i.e. a first partial air stream 10 is directed via the core duct 5.5 to the outlet opening 2.1, and a second partial air stream 9 has a swirl applied to it in the outer duct 5.4 by corresponding air directing elements 5.1 and is directed to the outlet opening 2.1 as an outer air stream 11 to which a swirl is applied. The splitting up of the air of the fed-in air stream 8 is adjusted here by means of a metering device which is arranged in an air conditioning unit 21 and is implemented in the illustrated exemplary embodiment by two flaps with associated actuation means. FIG. 4 shows a possible embodiment of the first exemplary embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4a shows a schematic illustration of the first exemplary embodiment of the invention with various outflow characteristics and FIG. 4b shows a schematic illustration of individual components of the first exemplary embodiment. As is apparent from FIGS. 4a and 4b, the air outflow device 1 in the first exemplary embodiment is adjoined by an air duct 4 which feeds in an air stream 8. The air outflow device 1 comprises a metering/air distribution device 17 which is arranged in the air duct 4. The metering/air distribution device 17 comprises a two-component air directing blade 17.1, 17.2 and a cam 16 with associated drive 20, with the air directing blade comprising an upper blade 17.1 and a lower blade 17.2. The metering/air distribution device 17 is adjoined by a swivel ring 7 and a swivelable shutter 2 with the outlet opening 2.1 for adjusting the outflow direction within the swivel region 15. The first, second and third regions 12, 13, 14 of the air distribution, already described, in front of the outflow opening 2.1 and the associated outflow characteristics are obtained with the air outflow device 1 as explained below with reference to FIGS. 5a to 5d. FIG. 5 shows the air duct 5 with removed air duct upper part 4.1 and the metering/air distribution device 17 which is arranged therein, with different positions of the two blades 17.1, 17.2 for achieving the different outflow characteristics. FIG. 5a shows the two blades 17.1, 17.2 in a center position in order to achieve the outflow characteristics of the third region 14 which is illustrated in FIG. 1b and in which the axially emerging air stream has a swirl applied to it, with the spot characteristic being enlarged in the direction of the lower air duct wall by lowering the lower blade 17.2, and with the dispersal characteristic being increased in the direction of the upper air duct wall by raising the upper blade 17.1. FIG. 5b shows the position of the two blades 17.1, 17.2 in a closed position of the air outflow device 1 in which no air stream emerges at the outflow opening 2.1, i.e. the two blades 17.1, 17.2 shut off the entire cross-sectional area of the air duct 4, with the upper blade 17.1 resting in a seal-forming fashion against an upper wall, and the lower blade 17.2 resting in a seal-forming fashion against a lower wall of the air duct 4. FIG. 5c shows a position of the blades 17.1, 17.2 with which the spot outflow characteristic of the second region 13 which is illustrated in FIG. 1c is obtained. The upper blade 17.1 is located here in a virtually horizontal position, while the lower blade 17.2 closes the lower region of the air duct 4 so that the air stream at the upper side of the blades 17.1, 17.2 is directed to the outflow opening 2.1 virtually without swirl. FIG. 5d shows a position of the blades 17.1, 17.2 with which the dispersal outflow characteristic of the first region 12 which is illustrated in FIG. 1a is obtained. The lower blade 17.2 is located here in a virtually horizontal position, while the upper blade 17.1 closes the upper region of the air duct 4 in a seal-forming fashion so that the air stream is directed along the underside of the blades 17.1, 17.2 into an edge region of the air duct 4, as a result of which a swirl is impressed on the air stream and the air stream is then directed to the outflow opening 2.1 with said swirl. As is apparent from FIG. 6c, the second exemplary embodiment of the air outflow device 1 according to the invention comprises a shutter 2 with outflow opening 2.1, a metering device 3, an air directing device 5, an activation ring 6 and a swivel ring 7, with the air outflow device 1 adjoining an air duct 4. Thus, FIG. 6a shows a completely assembled air outflow device 1 in which the air directing device 5 is inserted into the air duct 4, with the metering device 3 being arranged in the region of the air directing device 5 (see FIG. 6b ), in which, in order to adjust the metering device 4, the activation ring 6 is pushed over a front region 5.3 of the air directing device 5 until the activation ring 6 engages in the metering device 3. The air directing device 5 divides an air stream 8, fed to the air outflow device 1 via the air duct, into two partial air streams 9 and 10 by means of air directing elements 5.1, 5.2, as is apparent from FIG. 6b , with the metering device 3 comprising means 3.2 for metering the first partial air stream 10, and means 3.1 for metering the second partial air stream 9, and the means for metering 3.1, 3.2 preferably comprising individual flaps or air directing elements which can be adjusted by the activation ring 6 by means of corresponding engagement means 3.3 which are arranged on the metering device 3. A swirl is impressed on the second partial air stream 9 by means of the directing elements 5.1 or by means of the metering device 3 so that the second partial air stream 9 leaves the air directing device as a second partial air stream 11 to which a swirl is applied. The air directing element 5.2 feeds the first partial air stream 10 to the shutter 2 through the air directing device without impressing a swirl on it, and said shutter 2 forms, with the swivel ring 7, a device for adjusting a swivel region 15 of the air outflow device 1 with which the direction of the air stream in the region of an outflow opening 2.1 can be adjusted. The outflow opening 2.1, and thus also the device 2, 7 for adjusting the direction of the air stream, are installed in a dashboard 19 (see FIG. 9) of a motor vehicle and the vehicle occupant can thus directly set a desired direction of the air stream and also vary the outflow regions 18 which are associated with the individual air outflow devices 1. FIGS. 7a and 7b show the air directing device 5 with the metering device 3 and the metering device 3 in detail. As is apparent from FIG. 7b , the metering device 3 comprises first flaps 3.1 for metering the second air stream 9 or the outer air stream 11, and a second flap 3.2 for metering the first air stream 10 or the core stream. In addition, means 3.3 are provided which engage in the activation ring 6 (illustrated in FIG. 6) so that the flaps 3.1, 3.2 can be adjusted by means of the activation ring 6 in order to meter the partial air streams 9, 10. The directing of air and/or the quantity of air and/or the air speed and thus the outflow characteristic of the fed-in air stream 8 can be varied with the metering device 3 and/or the air directing device 5 in order to generate the swirl. As is apparent from FIG. 7a, the air directing device 5 divides the fed-in air stream 8 in the illustrated exemplary embodiment into two partial air streams. The division is carried out in the radial direction so that in a central region 5.4 of the air directing device 5 the core air stream is directed in an axial direction in a core duct 5.4 to the outflow opening 2.1, and in an external region 5.5 the outer air stream 11 to which a swirl is applied is directed into an outer duct 5.5 to the outflow opening 2.1. The second partial air stream 9 is directed around the central core duct 5.4 by the air directing elements 5.1 in the shape of a helix and is provided with a swirl in the clockwise direction or counterclockwise direction depending on the orientation of the air directing elements 5.1, as is indicated in the figures by corresponding arrows in the region of the air outlet. In contrast to the illustrated exemplary embodiment, it is however also conceivable to apply a swirl to the core air stream 10, directed in the central region 5.4, by means of suitable air directing elements and to direct it to the outflow opening 2.1 and to direct the outer air stream 11, guided in the outer region, to the outflow opening 2.1 essentially without swirl. As is apparent from FIGS. 6b and 7a, the partial air streams can be divided further into sub air streams, which is the case for the second partial air stream 9 in the illustrated first exemplary embodiment. Here, the individual air directing elements 5.1 form a plurality of component outer ducts whose flow cross sections can be changed individually or together by means of corresponding flaps 3.1 in the metering device 3. The individual component ducts are combined again to form an outer duct 5.5 in the front region of the air directing device 5.3, in which outer duct 5.5 the outer air stream 11 to which swirl is applied is directed to the outflow opening 2.1. The metering device 3 is adjusted directly by means of the vehicle occupant using an activation element which is arranged on the dashboard 19, or automatically by an open-loop/closed-loop control unit in accordance with a ventilation and/or air-conditioning program which is selected by the user. FIG. 8 is a detailed view of the air directing device 5 illustrated in FIG. 3. As already stated, the metering and the splitting of the air stream 8 already take place in the air conditioning unit 21. As in FIG. 8a, the first partial air stream 10 and the second partial air stream 9 are fed to the air directing device 5 via corresponding air ducts. The first partial air stream 10 enters the air directing device 5 in a lower region 5.7 and leaves the outflow opening 2.1 in a core duct 5.4 as a core air stream. The second partial air stream 9 enters the air directing device 5 in an upper region 5.6, a swirl is applied to it by an air directing element 5.1 and leaves the outflow opening 2.1 in an outer duct 5.5 as an outer air stream 11. The second partial air stream 9 is directed around the central core duct 5.5 in a helical shape by the air directing elements 5.1 and is provided with a swirl in the clockwise direction or in the counterclockwise direction depending on the orientation of the air directing elements 5.1, as is indicated in the figures by corresponding arrows in the region of the air outlet. In contrast to the illustrated exemplary embodiment, it is however also conceivable to apply a swirl to the core air stream 10 by means of suitable air directing elements and to direct it to the outflow opening 2.1 and to direct the outer air stream 11 to the outflow opening 2.1 essentially without swirl.

20061010

20160329

20070315

82091.0

B60H134

TOWNS, BRITTANY E

Air exhausting device, in particular for a vehicle and corresponding method for exhausting air

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

B60H

ACCEPTED

Method for Inspection of Metal Tubular Goods

A method for inspection of tubular goods includes using ultrasonic detection means to obtain wall thickness measurement of discrete sections of a tubular good and recording each measurement. In association with both the longitudinal and circumferential position at which each measurement was obtained. Accordingly each measurement of wall thickness represents a small portion of the wall thickness of said tubular in three dimensional space. A plurality of said measurements may thereby be displayed by computer means in virtual three dimensional formal. Differing wall thickness readings made he represented by different shading or color display, so that anomalies of interest may be readily detected. Alternatively the recorded information may be readily processed by computer means to calculate the effect of stressors on the wall of said tubular good.

1. Method for collection and storage of information representing wall thickness of tubular goods, comprising: a. positioning an ultrasonic detection means which is capable of measuring the thickness of a discrete section of the wall of a tubular good in a first position along the wall of a tubular good; b. at said first position, determining the longitudinal position of said ultrasonic detection means along the axis of said tubular good; c. at said first position, determining the circumferential position of said ultrasonic detection means about the circumference of said tubular good; d. at said first position, causing said ultrasonic detection means to determine the thickness of a discrete portion of the wall of said tubular good; e. recording wall thickness, longitudinal position and circumferential position of the tubular good at said first position in an associated relationship; f. positioning said ultrasonic detection means in at least a second position along the wall of said tubular good; h. recording wall thickness, longitudinal position and circumferential position of the tubular good at said second position in an associated relationship; and, g. associating the recording at said first position and the recording at said second position in an associated relationship. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said recordings are made in digital format which is readable by computer means. 3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of using a computer means to display the wall of said tubular good in virtual three-dimensional form. 4. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of using a computer means to compute the effect of stresses on the wall of said tubular good.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to the Provisional Patent Application No. 60/462,907 filed Mar. 7, 2003. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention disclosed herein relates to non-destructive inspection of tubular metal goods. More particularly the invention herein disclosed relates to a non-destructive means for determination of wall conditions, in particular wall thickness data, of tubular metal goods by use of ultrasonic detection apparatus. With additional specificity the invention disclosed herein relates to an improved method of collecting, storing, displaying and otherwise utilizing information resulting from ultrasonic detection of the wall of metal tubulars. With even more specificity the invention herein disclosed relates to the use of ultrasonic means to acquire incremental data representing small, discrete sections of a tubular wall in association with three-dimensional positional data pertaining to each small, discrete section, so that the wall of a metal tubular (or portions thereof) can be displayed, imaged, examined and utilized in simulative/comparative programs as a three-dimensional object. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In many applications inspection of metal tubular goods for the presence of possible defects is highly desirable and/or required. Inspection of metal tubulars is common in, for instance, the oil and gas exploration and production industry, in refineries and/or in chemical and other plants, where the failure of such tubulars may result in serious consequences. The art of inspecting metal tubulars for possible defects has experienced various improvements over the course of time. Early testing was rudimentary. It sometimes consisted of no more than visual inspection of the exterior of the tubular for such defects as might be seen. This method was obviously limited. Sometimes inspection might include an attempt to “ring” or “sound” the tubular. This generally involved striking the tubular with a hard object, such as a hammer, and listening to the sound the tubular produced. An abnormally “flat” tone may indicate that the tubular was cracked. This method was highly subjective and even if employed by skilled personnel was unable to detect small defects. The need to improve inspection of metal tubulars led to other developments, such as magnetic testing. One method of magnetic testing involved magnetizing the tubular (or a portion thereof), “dusting” same with ferromagnetic powder and then visually inspecting for abnormal distribution of the powder. In another method of magnetic testing an electromagnetic coil was passed close to the surface of the tubular and various means used to determine disturbance of the induced eddy current possibly being caused by discontinuities in the tubular. Neither method was well suited for detection of small defects and/or those below the surface of the tubular, were time consuming, were largely dependent on the skill of the operator and did not produce precise data from which the effect of a condition found might be mathematically calculated. Another attempt to improve inspection of metal tubulars was the dye penetrant method. In such method the tubular was cleaned, coated with a penetrating fluid containing dye (typically of a type which would fluoresce under certain lighting conditions), wiped and then visually Inspected for surface discontinuities still containing dye. This method was not useful for detection of sub-surface defects and did not produce precise data from which the effect of a condition found might be mathematically calculated. Another means to inspect metal tubulars is by utilization of X-rays. While x-ray represents a way to determine some defects below the surface of the tubular wall, certain defects such as thin cracks and delaminations are difficult to find by X-ray. Moreover this method of inspection does not produce precise data from which the effect of a condition found might be mathematically calculated. Because of the danger, shielding requirements, expense and limitations of this technology, its use has been limited. An attempt to Inspect metal tubular goods for wall thickness defects was represented by utilization of gamma radiation. In one method the gamma source is placed on one side of the tubular and a radiation sensor on the other side of the tubular. By measuring the decrease in radiation as it passes through the tubular an estimation of the collective wall thickness of both sides of the tubular can be made. This method has certain disadvantages, including but not necessarily limited to relative insensitivity of the sensor to small thickness changes, its inability to detect if one side of the tubular is thick and the other thin (which is not an uncommon defect, particularly in extruded tubulars) and the safety, security and administrative issues relating to utilization of radioactive sources. Moreover such inspection does not produce data from which the effect of a condition found might be calculated with mathematical precision. In attempt to avoid the limitations of the above technology, ultrasonic technology was developed for inspection of tubular goods. In general, this technology is based on the speed of sound in metal and the fact that a sound wave will reflect (“echo”) from medium interfaces. Thus by propagating a sonic wave in said metal and by measuring the time it takes for echos of that wave to return from an interface, it is possible to determine the precise distance to said interface. Such interface may, of course, be the opposite wall of the tubular. Accordingly by use of ultrasonic means precise wall thickness of a tubular at an area may be determined. In order to determine the wall thickness of a tubular about the whole area of the tubular, the tubular is typically rotated about its axis and advanced longitudinally in relation to an ultrasonic head which periodically “fires” and effectively samples wall thickness under the head at the time. As the tubular advances a stream of data points, each one representing a wall thickness measurement is generated. Typically the data resulting from such testing is displayed in two-dimensional form, as a numeric table or as a line on a graph (representing wall thickness at a position on the length of the tubular). Out-of-range values can be detected either by human reading the table or graph, or by machine (computer) detection of out of range values. From such data the general location of a suspected defect along the length of tubular, its magnitude and direction (whether too thin or too thick) can be determined and the tubular joint marked for acceptance, rejection or repair, but said data was not useful for substantial purposes therebeyond. Namely, without three-dimensional data as to both the defect and the remainder of the tubular, the effect that defect might have concerning performance of the tubular could not be calculated with mathematical precision. The invention disclosed herein relates to improved method to acquire, collect, assemble, store, display and/or utilize data stemming from ultrasonic inspection of tubular goods, not only for a determination for the presence or absence of defects, but so that data from the inspection may be used to calculate projected performance of the tubular with a mathematical precision not previously available by non-destructive evaluation of the tubular. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The general object of the invention disclosed herein is to provide an improved means for collection, assembly, storage, display, analyze and other utilization of information derived from ultrasonic inspection of tubular goods. A particular object of the invention is associate data representing incremental ultrasonic measurements of wall of discrete, small sections of a tubular with three-dimensional positional information identifying each discrete section of the tubular at which each wall measurement was obtained, so that the data may be displayed, presented, analyzed and otherwise used (either by visual means or mathematically) as a three-dimensional object. Another object of the invention is to collect, assemble and/or store wall thickness data of metal tubulars in a form which is susceptible to display, presentation, analysis or other use as a three-dimensional object, including but not limited to display, presentation and analysis as a three-dimensional image which my be viewed from any perspective, zoomed, rotated, each data point individually examined, used in mathematical calculations predicting performance of the tubular under certain conditions, compared with previous or subsequent data and thereby used to project future changes, used in engineering calculations and/or programs which predict response of the tubular to various stressors and otherwise have increased utility. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION While the present invention will be described with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. It is therefore intended that the present invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed herein, but that the invention will include all embodiments (and legal equivalents thereof) falling within the scope of the appended claims. In order to practice the invention herein disclosed an ultrasonic means is provided for measuring the wall of small areas of a metal tubular. In preference this will be accomplished by positioning an ultrasonic head in close proximity to the exterior of the tubular and substantially perpendicular to both the longitude and a tangent of the tubular. In preference said head will include an ultrasonic transducer for propagating an ultrasonic wave radially inward (towards the longitudinal axis of the tubular) and for receiving ultrasonic reflections (“echos”) returning from the opposite direction. In preference said head will be coupled to the tubular by a medium which effectively transmits ultrasonic waves across the interface between the medium and the tubular, for example by water coupling, or by other means well known in the field of art As is well known, by accurately measuring the length of time it takes for the ultrasonic wave to travel from the outer wall of the tubular to the interior wall, reflect from the interior wall and return to the outer wall (known as “time-of-flight” or “TOF”), the distance (“D”) the wave has traveled may be readily calculated [from the formula D (distance)=S (speed)×TOF, the speed of sound in various metals being well known]. Wall thickness of the tubular at the area so sampled is one-half of “D”. While those skilled in the art will realize that there are many other practical considerations to obtaining accurate measurement of the wall thickness of a tubular at a particular location by ultrasonic means, including but not limited to, issues relating to ultrasonically coupling the transducer and tubular, issues relating to excluding the effects of coupling from the calculations, issues relating to excluding subsequent reflections from the surfaces, issues relating to accurately “starting” and “stopping” timing measurements in a precise and consistent manner, and, other such issues. As these considerations, and various solutions, are well known to those skilled in the art, they will not be further discussed herein. As it relates to the invention disclosed, it is only necessary that some ultrasonic means be provided to obtain incremental measurements of small, discrete selectable sections of the tubular by ultrasonic means. In order to practice the invention, a means must also be provided to obtain incremental measurements of small, discrete wall segments throughout the entire area of the tubular of interest (which in most cases will be the entirety of the tubular). In the preferred embodiment this is accomplished by rotating the tubular about its longitudinal axis as the ultrasonic head advances longitudinally along the length of the tubular, and periodically triggering (“firing”) the ultrasonic head to make a wall measurement (a “snapshot”) of the area of the tubular adjacent thereto at the time. In preference the rate of rotation, longitudinal advance, rate of triggering the ultrasonic head, and size of the ultrasonic head will be such that each snapshot of the wall partially overlaps, both circumferentially and longitudinally with adjacent snapshots, so that complete coverage of the entire area of the tubular to be inspected (which will in most cases be the entire tubular) is obtained. In the preferred embodiment of the invention this is accomplished by disposing the tubular horizontally on a roller system where it may be rotated about its longitudinal axis. In preference the ultrasonic head will be above and adjacent to the upper surface of the horizontally tubular and pointed so as to propagate waves perpendicularly downward toward the tubular. In preference the tubular will be rotated at constant speed, and as it is so rotated, the ultrasonic head advances longitudinally at constant speed, so that the relative movement between the head and the tubular substantially follows a spiral path along the outer surface of the tubular. As the tubular is so advanced the ultrasonic head is periodically fired to take a snapshot of the wall of the tubular. Each of these, snapshots is a mathematical representation, a “number”, which represents wall thickness of the tubular under the ultrasonic head at the time it is fired. Each of these snapshots will be recorded. Accordingly, at the end of the process a plurality of incremental wall thickness snapshots will have been recorded which represents at least partially overlapping coverage of the entire area of the tubular to be inspected (which will in most cases be the entirety of the tubular). it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a similar result might be obtained by “sampling” (incrementally obtaining data representing small, discrete sections of the wall of a tubular) in a different manner or order. It will be appreciated that the tubular could be disposed other than horizontally during sampling or even disposed in varying positions during sampling. It will be appreciated that sampling might be done by incremental rotation and/or longitudinal advancement and stopping of the tubular, rather than continuous rotation and longitudinal advancement of the tubular (or ultrasonic head) during sampling. It will be appreciated that sampling might be accomplished along a plurality of longitudinal lines about different circumferences of the tubular, or by a plurality of circular lines about different longitudes of the tubular, rather than by sampling along a spiral path. It will be appreciated that the ultrasonic head may be rotated about the tubular rather than the reverse. It will be appreciated that the tubular may be advanced longitudinally with respect to the ultrasonic head rather than the reverse. It will be appreciated that multiple ultrasonic heads may be used. It will be appreciated that sampling may even be accomplished in a random manner. All of these permutations are intended to be comprehended by the invention disclosed herein, the thrust of which does not relate to the particular order in which discrete snapshots of small wall segments of the tubular are obtained and recorded for the entirety of the area of the tubular to be inspected, but that such result is obtained. Namely at the end of the sampling it is desired to have obtained and recorded, with mathematical precision, a plurality of snapshots of the wall of the tubular, each of which represents a wall thickness of a small discrete section of the tubular, in combination with all of the snapshots covering the entire area of the tubular of interest. In addition to recording discrete snapshots of small sections of the tubular wall over the entire area of the tubular of which is of interest (which in most cases will be the entire tubular), in the invention disclosed herein positional information will also be obtained and recorded as to the location on the surface of the pipe at which each snapshot was taken. In addition thereto, each particular snapshot will be associated with the particular positional information unique to that snapshot. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the position of each snapshot of the wall of the tubular is obtained by marking the exterior of the tubular with a longitudinal line which is detectable by photoelectric cell. This line forms a circumferential reference which in the preferred embodiment is treated as a “zero degree” reference. Those skilled in the art will know the reference need not necessarily be considered a zero degree reference, but could in fact be given any other mathematical value (all of which are comprehended by the invention). Each time the tubular is rotated the photoelectric cell is triggered by the reference line. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, each time the cell is triggered the stream of data (representing a stream of discrete wall thickness measurements) is “marked” with an indication that one rotation of the tubular has occurred. In the preferred embodiment of the invention within each rotation each is assigned a numerical value representing the order within that rotation which that particular snapshot was taken (i.e., the first snapshot following triggering of the photoelectric cell will be assigned a value representing 1, the second snapshot assigned a value representing 2, etc.). Those skilled in the art will recognize that any mathematical value could be assigned so long as the assigned value could be subsequently correlated to a circumferential position at which each snapshot could be taken, therefore is comprehended by the invention disclosed herein. Within each rotation of the pipe the numerical value representing the order in which each snapshot within that revolution of the pipe may of course be converted to a value which represents the angle, from the reference line, at which that snapshot was taken or, in conjunction with knowing the position along the longitude of the tubular at which that rotation occurred, may be converted to some other form (for example, traditional “X, Y, Z” coordinates) which represents the position on the tubular at which each snapshot was taken. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the data representing one rotation of the pipe is longitudinally synchronized with snapshots of another revolution of the tubular, so that accurate alignment of data along a longitude is maintained, even if speed of rotation of the tubular was not exactly the same in one rotation as another rotation, or other conditions have occurred where the number of snapshots in one revolution of the tubular is not exactly the same as the number of snapshots in other revolutions. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, synchronizing the circumferential data once each revolution of the tubular has been found adequate. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, synchronization is accomplished by computer means which converts the value which represents the order in a particular revolution pertaining to each snapshot to a value which represents angular position of each snapshot about the circumference of the tubular. Thus, if in one revolution there were 400 data points (each of which represented a wall thickness reading, or “snapshot”), the 100th data point will be converted to a value which will interpreted to be 90° from the reference marking, the 200th data point converted to a value representing 180° from the reference marking, etc. Whereas if in a different revolution there are 500 data points, then the 125th data point will be converted to a value which will be interpreted to be 90° from the reference marking, the 250th data point converted to a value representing 180° from the reference marking, etc. In this way all the data points in one rotation of the tubular are longitudinally synchronized with all data points corresponding longitudinally in other revolutions of the tubular. It will be appreciated that synchronization of data could be accomplished more frequently or less frequently than once each revolution, or by means other than use of an external reference line detectable by a photoelectric cell. It will be appreciated that instead of converting position of the discrete snapshots about the circumference of the tubular into angular format, said position could be represented as a point in any coordinate system. For purposes of the invention disclosed herein it does not matter how the position about the circumference of the tubular that each of the discrete snapshots of the wall thickness is mathematically represented, but rather that such circumferential information about each snapshot is obtained and recorded with mathematical precision. In the preferred embodiment of the invention not only will circumferential position of each wall thickness measurement (“snapshot”) be obtained, but longitudinal position of each snapshot will also be obtained, recorded and associated, with mathematical precision, to each discrete snapshot. In the preferred embodiment of the invention it is the ultrasonic head which moves along a line parallel to the axis of the tubular during inspection thereof. In the preferred embodiment of the invention a sensor on said head generates a signal as to its position along the longitude of the tubular each time the transducer is fired. Thus in the preferred embodiment this signal is recorded each time the head is fired (to take a wall thickness reading, a “snapshot” of the wall). Those skilled in the art will recognize that longitudinal position of each snapshot might be obtained by other means, including but not limited to measuring the relative speed of longitudinal movement between the tubular and ultrasonic head as a function of time, counting the number of revolutions it takes for a tubular to advance a certain distance in respect to the head and thereby calculating the point along the spiral path which each snapshot was taken, or other means. For purposes of the invention disclosed herein the particular manner of obtaining the longitudinal position at which each wall thickness snapshot is taken is not important, but rather that such data is obtained, recorded and associated with each snapshot, with mathematical precision. Accordingly at the conclusion of the process there will have been obtained and recorded a plurality of overlapping measurements of small discrete sections of the wall of the tubular. Each measurement will include a mathematically precise representation of wall thickness and be associated with a mathematically precise three-dimensional representation the place on the tubular where that measurement of the wall was obtained from. The plurality of such readings will cover the entire area of the wall of interest, which in most case may be the entire tubular. It will however be appreciated that the invention is not so limited. Namely the entire area of the tubular need not necessarily be sampled. Rather by appropriately triggering the ultrasonic head to fire only between certain areas of the rotation of the tubular one might limit inspection to the longitudinal weld line of the pipe. Alternatively the ultrasonic head may be adjusted to fire only at certain longitudinal positions of the pipe, thus, for instance limit inspection to certain areas along the length of the pipe. Alternatively both might be the ultrasonic head may be set to only within certain circumferential or longitudinal limits, defining a relatively small section of the pipe to be inspected according to the invention. Such permutations are fully comprehended by the invention. It will also be appreciated that sampling according to the invention need not necessarily be of contiguous areas of the pipe, or comprise overlapping snapshots. It is comprehended that the invention may be utilized with spaces between snapshots. While leaving spaces between snapshots may fall to reveal a small defect in the space not sampled, the data gathered by the invention will still form that of a virtual three-dimensional object which has utility, for instance in simulative and modeling programs, far above that currently available. So far as synchronization of longitudinal data, such synchronization has not been found necessary if the tubular is rotated according to the preferred embodiment discussed above, because while there are a plurality of rotations of the tubular (which may require synchronization as discussed above), there is only one longitudinal advancement of the tubular. Accordingly there is no plurality of discrete sets of data, each representing a discrete longitude of the tubular, to be synchronized with other data also representing a longitude of the tubular. This would be different if the data were gathered or recorded in a different manner which resulted in different sets of data, each of which said sets represented a longitude of the tubular. In this instance, it would be desirable to convert the number of data points in each set to correspond to the known length of the tubular, so that the discrete sets of longitudinal data would correspond to that length and therefore each other. Accordingly, comprehended by the invention herein is circumferential and/or longitudinal synchronization of data, as may be necessary. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, effective size of the transducer is about one-half inch in diameter. Accordingly, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, to assure full coverage of the area of interest in the preferred embodiment described above, a rate of rotation and triggering of the transducer is selected so that the transducer each triggered as the tubular rotates about ⅜th inch (or less), and each rotation of the tubular results in a longitudinal advancement of the tubular about ⅜th inch (or less). It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that rate of rotation and advancement would vary if a transducer of different size were used, the objective being to assure snapshots which partially overlap. It will be appreciated that the smaller the effective area of the ultrasonic head the finer resolution of wall thickness will be obtained, but at the sacrifice of speed and accumulation of larger amounts of data. It may be appreciated that since in the preferred embodiment of the invention each snapshot (representing measurement of wall thickness of the tubular at a discrete location) at least partially overlaps adjacent snapshots, at least where such overlap occurs there may be two, possibly more, measurements of wall thickness. It may be also appreciated that the measurements may not be exactly the same, since each covers at least a portion of the surface that the adjacent snapshot does not cover. It may be appreciated that where such overlap occurs and is not identical, there is presented an ambiguity as to the value to he assigned the wall thickness where such overlap occurs. In the preferred embodiment of the invention it is the value which represents the smallest (“thinnest”) wall thickness which is assigned this area, because a thin wall condition is believed to represent the greatest risk of failure of the tubular. However, this does not have to be so. The value which represents the thickest wall section could as easily be used, or an average between the multiple reading could be assigned to the area where such overlap occurs. All are comprehended by the invention herein disclosed. Accordingly, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, partially overlapping wall thickness measurements representing discrete, incremental, overlapping measurements of small areas of the tubular as well as positional information of each discrete measurement of wall thickness will be obtained and will be associated with each other. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the requisite association of each discrete measurement of wall thickness with the positional information pertaining to that measurement is accomplished by digital means. That is both measurement of wall thickness and positional information are converted to digital format appended together as one data point. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other forms of association, including but by not limited to use of cross-reference table, would also work. For purpose of the invention the manner that each discrete measurement of wall thickness is associated with respective positional information is not of particular importance, only that such association be made. It is however particularly useful (while the invention is not limited thereby) that such data be associated in a form that is readable by computer means, in order to facilitate computer display, analysis and use of the information. Data contained in such format may be used in ways not previously possible. For instance, the data representing wall thickness may be, by computer means, shade and/or color coded and presented in virtual three-dimensional form, which clearly resembles visual inspection of the tubular, or sections of particular interest, from almost any perspective, from any apparent distance, with or without enlargement, as if the walls of the tubular were color and/or shaded coded (different thicknesses represented different colors and/or shades). Moreover, the precise numerical value of the thickness of any section and its precise location on the tubular, may be obtained from such presentation. While the preferred embodiment of the invention uses “Open GL” computer graphic rendering software to display the tubular data, those skilled in the art will recognize that other computer graphic rendering software could be used as well. Moreover the data contained in digital format which represents wall thickness of each incremental section of a tubular and the location of that section can be used in computations which predict the actual effect on the tubular to various stressors, including tensile, bending, collapse and burst forces, aging, etc. Particularly useful by sequential inspection of a tubular, is the ability to analyze changes which have occurred over a period of time, and thereby be able to accurately predict, prior to failure of the tubular, when failure is likely to occur, thereby avoid same, but at the same time maximize use of the tubular. In addition to the discussion above, the data can be associated with other measurements of the tubular which may be of interest. For instance other means, such as cam following means, ultrasonic means, laser means, and other means for collecting pertaining to ovality of the tubular can also be associated with wall thickness data, positional information or both. Likewise, not only may wall thickness and ovality data be associated with positional information, but data derived from other means (typically ultrasonic means generating “sheer waves”) designed to detect defects within the wall of the tubular, such as inclusions, voids, delaminations, etc. may also be associated with positional data. By so doing this other information would thereby become subject to display, presentation, analysis or other use as three-dimensional data. It is thus to be appreciated that a process established in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present inventive disclosure constitutes an advancement in the field of art to which the invention pertains. While the above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of preferred embodiments thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by such claims as may be allowed and their legal equivalents.

<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>In many applications inspection of metal tubular goods for the presence of possible defects is highly desirable and/or required. Inspection of metal tubulars is common in, for instance, the oil and gas exploration and production industry, in refineries and/or in chemical and other plants, where the failure of such tubulars may result in serious consequences. The art of inspecting metal tubulars for possible defects has experienced various improvements over the course of time. Early testing was rudimentary. It sometimes consisted of no more than visual inspection of the exterior of the tubular for such defects as might be seen. This method was obviously limited. Sometimes inspection might include an attempt to “ring” or “sound” the tubular. This generally involved striking the tubular with a hard object, such as a hammer, and listening to the sound the tubular produced. An abnormally “flat” tone may indicate that the tubular was cracked. This method was highly subjective and even if employed by skilled personnel was unable to detect small defects. The need to improve inspection of metal tubulars led to other developments, such as magnetic testing. One method of magnetic testing involved magnetizing the tubular (or a portion thereof), “dusting” same with ferromagnetic powder and then visually inspecting for abnormal distribution of the powder. In another method of magnetic testing an electromagnetic coil was passed close to the surface of the tubular and various means used to determine disturbance of the induced eddy current possibly being caused by discontinuities in the tubular. Neither method was well suited for detection of small defects and/or those below the surface of the tubular, were time consuming, were largely dependent on the skill of the operator and did not produce precise data from which the effect of a condition found might be mathematically calculated. Another attempt to improve inspection of metal tubulars was the dye penetrant method. In such method the tubular was cleaned, coated with a penetrating fluid containing dye (typically of a type which would fluoresce under certain lighting conditions), wiped and then visually Inspected for surface discontinuities still containing dye. This method was not useful for detection of sub-surface defects and did not produce precise data from which the effect of a condition found might be mathematically calculated. Another means to inspect metal tubulars is by utilization of X-rays. While x-ray represents a way to determine some defects below the surface of the tubular wall, certain defects such as thin cracks and delaminations are difficult to find by X-ray. Moreover this method of inspection does not produce precise data from which the effect of a condition found might be mathematically calculated. Because of the danger, shielding requirements, expense and limitations of this technology, its use has been limited. An attempt to Inspect metal tubular goods for wall thickness defects was represented by utilization of gamma radiation. In one method the gamma source is placed on one side of the tubular and a radiation sensor on the other side of the tubular. By measuring the decrease in radiation as it passes through the tubular an estimation of the collective wall thickness of both sides of the tubular can be made. This method has certain disadvantages, including but not necessarily limited to relative insensitivity of the sensor to small thickness changes, its inability to detect if one side of the tubular is thick and the other thin (which is not an uncommon defect, particularly in extruded tubulars) and the safety, security and administrative issues relating to utilization of radioactive sources. Moreover such inspection does not produce data from which the effect of a condition found might be calculated with mathematical precision. In attempt to avoid the limitations of the above technology, ultrasonic technology was developed for inspection of tubular goods. In general, this technology is based on the speed of sound in metal and the fact that a sound wave will reflect (“echo”) from medium interfaces. Thus by propagating a sonic wave in said metal and by measuring the time it takes for echos of that wave to return from an interface, it is possible to determine the precise distance to said interface. Such interface may, of course, be the opposite wall of the tubular. Accordingly by use of ultrasonic means precise wall thickness of a tubular at an area may be determined. In order to determine the wall thickness of a tubular about the whole area of the tubular, the tubular is typically rotated about its axis and advanced longitudinally in relation to an ultrasonic head which periodically “fires” and effectively samples wall thickness under the head at the time. As the tubular advances a stream of data points, each one representing a wall thickness measurement is generated. Typically the data resulting from such testing is displayed in two-dimensional form, as a numeric table or as a line on a graph (representing wall thickness at a position on the length of the tubular). Out-of-range values can be detected either by human reading the table or graph, or by machine (computer) detection of out of range values. From such data the general location of a suspected defect along the length of tubular, its magnitude and direction (whether too thin or too thick) can be determined and the tubular joint marked for acceptance, rejection or repair, but said data was not useful for substantial purposes therebeyond. Namely, without three-dimensional data as to both the defect and the remainder of the tubular, the effect that defect might have concerning performance of the tubular could not be calculated with mathematical precision. The invention disclosed herein relates to improved method to acquire, collect, assemble, store, display and/or utilize data stemming from ultrasonic inspection of tubular goods, not only for a determination for the presence or absence of defects, but so that data from the inspection may be used to calculate projected performance of the tubular with a mathematical precision not previously available by non-destructive evaluation of the tubular.

20050907

20070904

20061012

98766.0

G01N2904

SAINT SURIN, JACQUES M

METHOD FOR INSPECTION OF METAL TUBULAR GOODS

SMALL

ACCEPTED

G01N

ACCEPTED

Skateboard security rack

An improved skateboard security rack having a pair of support members defining a slot therebetween for receiving the deck of a skateboard. At least one of the support members has a width smaller than the wheelbase of the skateboard received in the slot. Locking structure between the support members and across the top of the slot retains the skateboard within the slot. The locking structure may be separate elements coupled to each of the support members and a lock therebetween. Alternatively, the locking structure may be a lock such as a conventional U-shape lock. If separate elements coupled to each of the support members are used, they may be fixed in place, or movable such as longitudinally slideable along the support members. The support members may be elongated hollow or solid members, or formed in panels. The support members are desirably hollow tubes bent into inverted U-shapes. Bases of the support members may be mounted to a variety of base surfaces such as flat or curvilinear, horizontal or vertical. For instance, the bases may be bolt mounted to or embedded in a horizontal concrete sidewalk. Multiple support members can be mounted in sequence to provide an array of slots. The bases of a number of the support members can be shared or connected to provide modular structures that facilitate installation.

1. A portable skateboard security rack array for securing multiple skateboards each having a deck, a pair of axles mounted thereon with wheels, a wheelbase, a deck thickness, a deck width, and a height from the top of the deck at the wheels to the bottom of the wheels, comprising: a portable mounting base; and an array of at least three spaced apart support members each being attached to the mounting base and extending normally away from the mounting base a height dimension at least as great as the largest deck width, each of the support members having a width dimension and at least one of each two adjacent support members having a width dimension smaller than the skateboard wheelbase, the support members being mounted in parallel to each other on the mounting base a distance apart perpendicular to their width dimensions that is greater than the skateboard deck thickness but less than the skateboard height, an array of slots each sized to receive a skateboard therefore being defined between the support members such that there is always one less slot than the number of support members. 2. The portable skateboard security rack array of claim 1, wherein the support members are formed as elongated, inverted U-shapes each having spaced apart ends attached to the mounting base and an elongated middle portion therebetween. 3. The portable skateboard security rack array of claim 2, wherein the mounting base comprises a pair of spaced apart strips to which the spaced apart ends of the support members attach. 4. The portable skateboard security rack array of claim 2, wherein the mounting base comprises a plate-like structure to which the spaced apart ends of the support members attach. 5. The portable skateboard security rack array of claim 4, further including indicia displayed on the plate-like structure. 6. The portable skateboard security rack array of claim 5, wherein the indicia comprises a skateboard image in its position of suggested placement on the plate-like structure. 7. The portable skateboard security rack array of claim 1, wherein the support members all have a width dimension smaller than the skateboard wheelbase. 8. The portable skateboard security rack array of claim 1, further including: locking structure coupled to at least two of the support members for constraining a skateboard positioned in the slot therebetween and having its wheels on both sides of one of the support members. 9. The skateboard security rack of claim 8, wherein the locking structure includes elements non-removably coupled to both support members. 10. The skateboard security rack of claim 8, wherein the locking structure is a lock coupled to both support members. 11. The portable skateboard security rack array of claim 1, wherein the support members are selected from the group consisting of: elongated hollow members; elongated solid members; hollow panels; and solid panels. 12. A portable skateboard security rack array for securing a skateboard having a deck and a pair of axles mounted thereon with wheels, the skateboard having a wheelbase, a deck thickness, a deck width, and a height from the top of the deck at the wheels to the bottom of the wheels, comprising: a common mounting base; and a plurality of spaced apart inverted U-shaped support members each having spaced apart ends attached to the mounting base and upstanding middle portions extending normally away from the mounting base a height dimension at least as great as the largest deck width, each of the support members having a width dimension smaller than the skateboard wheelbase, the support members being mounted in parallel to each other on the mounting base a distance apart perpendicular to their width dimensions that is greater than the skateboard deck thickness but less than the skateboard height, a slot sized to receive a skateboard therefore being defined between each two adjacent support members such that there is always one less slot than the number of support members. 13. The portable skateboard security rack array of claim 12, wherein the mounting base comprises a pair of spaced apart strips to which the spaced apart ends of the support members attach. 14. The portable skateboard security rack array of claim 12, wherein the mounting base comprises a plate-like structure to which the spaced apart ends of the support members attach. 15. The portable skateboard security rack array of claim 12, wherein the modular assembly of the mounting base and support members is portable and capable of being transported and mounted as a unit. 16. The portable skateboard security rack array of claim 12, further including: locking structure coupled to at least two of the support members for constraining a skateboard positioned in the slot therebetween and having its wheels on both sides of one of the support members. 17. The skateboard security rack of claim 16, wherein the locking structure includes elements non-removably coupled to both support members. 18. The skateboard security rack of claim 12, wherein there are seven support members and six slots. 19. A portable skateboard security rack array for securing multiple skateboards each having a deck, a pair of axles mounted thereon with wheels, a wheelbase, a deck thickness, a deck width, and a height from the top of the deck at the wheels to the bottom of the wheels, comprising: a portable mounting base including pair of spaced apart strips; and an array of at least three spaced apart support members each having a pair of spaced apart ends attached to the mounting base, one spaced apart end to each strip, each support member extending normally away from the mounting base a height dimension at least as great as the largest deck width, each of the support members having a width dimension and at least one of each two adjacent support members having a width dimension smaller than the skateboard wheelbase, the support members being mounted in parallel to each other on the mounting base a distance apart perpendicular to their width dimensions that is greater than the skateboard deck thickness but less than the skateboard height, an array of slots each sized to receive a skateboard therefore being defined between the support members such that there is always one less slot than the number of support members. 20. The portable skateboard security rack array of claim 19, wherein the support members are selected from the group consisting of: elongated hollow members; and elongated solid members.

RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application is a National Stage filing of PCT application No. PCT/US2004/008005, filed Mar. 16, 2004, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/614,140, filed on Jul. 7, 2003, which in turn claims priority under 35 U.S.C §119(e) to provisional application No. 60/456,018, filed on Mar. 19, 2003, all under the same title. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a convenient, simple, readily accessible means to secure “board type” equipment when left unattended in public areas. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Individuals that utilize “board type” equipment (such as skateboards, scooters, snowboards, surfboards, etc.) as a mode of transportation and/or for recreational purposes need a convenient, simple, readily accessible method available to secure their equipment when left unattended in public areas. Riders of skateboard and scooter types of equipment make up the largest population of potential users that will be able to take advantage of the apparatus of the present invention. Literally hundreds of thousands of kids, and some adults, use skateboards as a practical, cost effective, and compact method of transportation daily. Common destinations of skateboard users in this demographic are learning institutions, places of employment, retail areas, and various other public areas including community centers, libraries, and parks. If one rides a bicycle, which in many cases is more expensive and less compact than a skateboard, our society provides many more equipment, structures, and opportunities to secure the bicycle than the skateboard. There is thus a need for a security lock for “board type” equipment, in particular skateboards. Some attempts have been made to address this need, for example U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0010735, filed Jul. 12, 2001, and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0020881, filed Aug. 1, 2003, both to Wuerth, disclose a skateboard storage apparatus. For various reasons this design and others have not been accepted in the marketplace, and there remains a need for a more cost effective, durable, safe, and elegant design. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, a skateboard security rack is provided including a pair of spaced apart support members each having a base adapted to mount to a base surface and a portion that extends normally away from the base to a height dimension at least as great as the largest deck width of any skateboard which the security rack is designed to secure. One of the support members has a maximum width dimension smaller than the smallest wheelbase of any skateboard which the security rack is designed to secure. The support members are adapted to mount in parallel to one another at a distance apart that is greater than the largest deck thickness of any skateboard which the security rack is designed to secure. A slot for receiving a deck of a skateboard is defined between the support members. The security rack may be provided with locking structure coupled to both support members for constraining a skateboard in the slot. The locking structure may include elements coupled to both support members. For example, the elements may comprise loops coupled to both support members wherein a lock may be used to join the loops, and therefore the support members, together. The loops may be movable on at least one of the support members, and may slide freely thereon. Alternatively, the loops may be fixed on each respective support member. Rather than separate elements coupled to both support members and a separate lock, only a lock may be used coupled to both support members. The support members may be formed as elongated hollow or solid members, or hollow or solid panels. In one preferred embodiment, the support members are configured as elongated upside-down U-bends. The base of the support members may be adapted to bolt to the base surface, or the base may be adapted to be embedded in the base surface. Another aspect of the invention is a skateboard security rack comprising a first and second support members each having a base adapted to mount to a base surface and a portion that extends normally away from the base to a height dimension at least as great as the largest deck width of any skateboard which the security rack is designed to secure. The two support members have width dimensions that are different, the first support member has a width dimension that is smaller than the smallest wheelbase of any skateboard which the security rack is designed to secure. The two support members are mounted in parallel to a distance apart that is greater than the largest deck thickness of any skateboard which the security rack is designed to secure, a slot therefore being defined between the first and second support members for receiving the skateboard. A third support member identical to the first support member may be provided which is adapted to mount parallel to the second support member and on the side thereof opposite the first support member. The third support member is mounted a distance from second support member that is greater than the largest thickness of any skateboard which the security rack is designed to secure creating an additional slot between the second and third support members for receiving another skateboard. The bases of the first and third support members may be common, or connected to a common base. In one embodiment, the bases of the first, second, and third support members are common, or connected. In an alternative embodiment, at least one other support member identical to the first and third support members is provided mounted to their common base, and at least one other support member identical to the second support member and mounted to its base is provided. Desirably, the first and second support members are formed as elongated, inverted U-shapes each having spaced apart ends and an elongated middle portion therebetween. A ring slideable on each of the first and second support members may also be provided for locking a skateboard within the slot with the aid of a lock. Alternatively, the first and second support members are selected from the group consisting of: elongated hollow or solid members, and/or hollow or solid panels. Another aspect of the invention is a portable skateboard security rack comprising a portable mount base and a pair of spaced apart support members. Each of the support members are attached to the mount base and extend normally away from the base a height dimension at least as great as the largest deck width of any skateboard which the security rack is designed to secure. At least one of the support members has a width dimension smaller than the smallest wheelbase of any skateboard which the security rack is designed to secure. The support members are mounted in parallel to the mounting base a distance apart that is greater than the largest deck thickness of any skateboard which the security rack is designed to secure, a slot therefore being defined between support members for receiving a skateboard. The support members of the portable skateboard security rack may be formed as elongated, inverted U-shapes each having spaced apart ends and an elongated middle portion therebetween. The base may comprise a pair of spaced apart strips to which opposed ends of the support members attach. In one embodiment, one of the support members has a width dimension larger than the other. Furthermore, more than two support members may be mounted to the base. The security rack of the present invention provides users of “non-conventional” transportation and/or recreational equipment, such as skateboards, scooters, snowboards, surfboards, etc., an apparatus to secure these types of equipment in public areas. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary skateboard security rack of the present invention showing a skateboard secured therein; FIGS. 2A and 2B are end and side elevational views, respectively, of the skateboard security rack of FIG. 1 again showing a skateboard therein; FIGS. 3A and 3B are end and side elevational views, respectively, of the skateboard security rack of FIG. 1 without a skateboard and locking apparatus and indicating several pertinent dimensions; FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a series of alternating long and short spaced apart support members defining slots therebetween and forming an array of skateboard security racks of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an array of the same sized support members defining slots therebetween and mounted on a common base comprising first and second strips joining the opposite ends of the support members to form a portable, modular structure; FIGS. 6A and 6B are top plan views of a pair of cooperating modular structures, one having a series of short support members thereon and the other having a series of long support members thereon; FIG. 6C is a top plan view of the combined modular structures of FIGS. 6A and 6B together forming an array of slots for receiving and securing skateboards therein; FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a further embodiment of the invention wherein a series of alternating long and short spaced apart support members defining slots therebetween and forming an array of skateboard security racks are mounted on a common plate-like base to form a portable, modular structure; and FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the portable, modular structure of FIG. 7 with two skateboards shown secured in place and one exploded above the structure. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention provides an improved security rack for skateboards that is inexpensive to manufacture and simple to install. To secure a skateboard within the security rack, some type of lock is necessary. A “lock” in the present application refers to any device which can bridge and close a gap or space between two support members, either independently or in conjunction with loops, rings, fixed eyelets, etc., non-removably coupled to the security rack. A “lock” typically infers security for the user in that he/she alone has the key or combination. Of course, in some situations of enhanced trust the lock per se could be replaced with a closure of some sort such as a pivoting hook and loop arrangement. Therefore, “lock” also encompasses such generic closures. The term “locking structure” encompasses both a “lock” independently, and in conjunction with these other structures. For example, a skateboard may be secured within the security rack of the present invention using a “U-shape lock” made of a hard material, or may be secured using a standard padlock joining two loops or rings. These variations will become more clear below with reference to the drawings and accompanying description. In its simplest form, a security rack of the present invention comprises a pair of spaced apart support members defining a slot therebetween within which a skateboard can be inserted. A lock or locking structure coupling the two support members across the top of the slot encloses the skateboard therein. The slot has a relatively narrow width that accommodates at least the thickness of the skateboard deck, but is less than the overall height of the skateboard including the wheels. In this manner, the skateboard cannot be pulled laterally from within the slot because of the interference of the skateboard wheels with one of the support members, and cannot be removed by lifting it out of the slot because of the presence of the lock or locking structure across the top of the slot. A unit of two support members defining one skateboard security rack can be repeated any number of times to provide an array of security racks. Each of the support members can be mounted independently, or one or more can be mounted to a common base. The most conventional usage is to bolt or cast the bases of the support members into a horizontal concrete base surface, although many other variations are contemplated. For example, the skateboard racks can be mounted to a vertical surface with the skateboards hanging with one of their set of wheels resting on one of the support members. Additionally, although the base surface is typically flat, the security racks of the present invention could be mounted to curved or other than flat surfaces. One idea is to provide a carousel arrangement with a circular drum-like base surface having a plurality of security racks mounted therearound. The drum can be rotated to present one or more security racks at the top for easy access. With reference now to FIGS. 1-2B, an exemplary skateboard security rack 20 of the present invention is shown with a skateboard 22 secured therein. In the illustrated embodiment, the security rack 20 comprises a first, smaller support member 24, a second, larger support member 26, and a locking structure 28. Although not shown, the security rack 20 mounts to a base surface such as a horizontal concrete sidewalk. FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate the security rack 20 minus the skateboard 22 and locking structure 28. The first support member 24 is shaped as an upside-down U-bend with a pair of spaced apart bases 30a, 30b adapted to mount to the base surface and a middle portion 32 that extends normally away from the bases (and base surface) to a height dimension H. The second support member 26 is also shaped as an upside-down U-bend with a pair of spaced apart bases 34a, 34b and a portion 36 that extends normally away from the bases (and base surface) to a height dimension H. The first support member 24 has a width W1 while the second support member 26 has a greater width W2. The support members 24, 26 each define respective planes and are mounted generally in parallel with respect to one another so as to form a slot 40 therebetween having a dimension S as shown in FIG. 3A. Those of skill in the art will understand that to function properly the support members 24, 26 need not be planar nor need they necessarily be mounted in parallel. In a preferred embodiment, the support members 24, 26 are elongated members formed or cast into their respective shapes as shown. Of course, other constructions may be utilized such as non-circular hollow cross-sections, solid cross-sections, or even hollow or solid panel-like members. For example, the inverted U-shaped space within each of the support members 24,26 may be eliminated if a solid panel having the same exterior periphery is used. Indeed, the support members 24, 26 may even be cast in concrete, in which case the locking structure 28 might include cast in place rings or eyelets. The support members 24, 26 may be made of a variety of materials that are strong enough to withstand intentional vandalism and will withstand the elements. For example, durable materials that may be used include various metals such as lead, steel, stainless-steel, chrome-molybdenum alloys, aluminum, titanium, etc. Cast concrete may also be used, as well as various plastics, carbon fiber materials, Kevlar, etc. a preferred embodiment is to bend round steel tubing into the inverted U shapes shown and attach flat steel plates to the ends for bases. In a particularly preferred configuration, the support members 24, 26 are stainless steel tubes having an OD of 1.5 inches (3.81 cm). The tubing is 304 metal, A554 quality, with a wall thickness of 0.49 inches (1.24 cm). Straight tubing is bent into the shapes as shown. The smaller first support member 24 has its ends spaced apart center-to-center between 9.5-11.5 inches (24.2-29.21 cm), and has a height of approximately 10 inches (25.4 cm). The larger second support member 26 has its ends spaced apart center-to-center between 19.5-21.5 inches (49.5-54.6 cm), and desirably has the same height as the first support member 24, approximately 10 inches (25.4 cm). The bases 30a, 30b and 34a, 34b are desirably 2 inch (5.1 cm) square, ⅛ inch (0.32 cm) thick flat plate of the same material as the support members 24, 26. The tubing is desirably TIG welded to the bases. The bases 30a, 30b and 34a, 34b made be provided with four through holes as shown for mounted vaults, or only two. Depending on the base surface, the mounting bolts are conventional concrete anchors or other such mounting hardware, though the heads should be tamper-proof. In an alternative configuration, the bases are configured to be embedded within wet concrete, thus eliminating the need for bolts. In this embodiment, the bases are typically provided with a serrated or flanged anchor pylon, not shown. Various other mounting arrangements are possible within the scope of present invention, and will not be further described herein. FIGS. 1 and 2a-2b illustrate the skateboard 22 positioned within the slot 40. Per convention, the skateboard 22 includes a generally planar deck 50 having one or both ends 52a, 52b curled upward. So-called trucks 54 having axles therein bolt to the underside of the deck 50 and support wheels 56 for rotation thereon. The wheelbase of the skateboard 22 is defined as the distance between the pair of wheels 56 on the front-end and the pair of wheels on the rear end of the deck 50. The width W1 of the first support member 24 is smaller than the smallest wheelbase of any skateboard which the security rack 20 is designed to secure. In this manner, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2B, the two pairs of wheels are located on both sides of the first support member 24. Additionally, the dimension S of the slot 40 is greater than the thickness of the deck 50 but less than the height dimension of the skateboard 22 from the top of the deck at the wheels 56 to the bottom of the wheels. Desirably, the dimension S of the slot 40 is at least 1.5 inches (3.8 cm), and preferably between approximately 2.25 and 2.75 inches (5.72-6.99 cm). Therefore, as seen in FIG. 2A, the wheels 56 and/or trucks 54 are located on either side of the first support member 24 when a skateboard 22 is position within the slot 40. This arrangement means that the wheels 56 and/or trucks 54 interfere with the first support member 24 if someone attempts to pull the skateboard 22 laterally from within the slot 40. In other words, once the skateboard 22 is within the slot 40, the only way to remove it is by lifting it upward out of the slot, which of course is prevented by the locking structure 28. FIG. 2A illustrates one arrangement of locking structure 28 comprising a pair of loops 60a, 60b coupled to the support members 24,26 and an independent lock 62 joining the loops. The lock 62 is shown as a conventional padlock, but could be any variety of off-the-shelf lock. The loops 60a, 60b freely slide on the elongated upside-bend U-bend support members 24, 26, and are shown as circular rings, but could take other forms, such as oval or square. Furthermore, the loops 60a, 60b could be provided as fixed eyelets or other such loop structure at the midpoint of each support member 24, 26. The free-sliding loops 60a, 60b are preferable to reduce the cost of the security rack 20. Of course, the loops 60a, 60b are made of a high strength material comparable to the material of the lock 62 to prevent theft. It should also be understood, as mentioned above, that a single independent lock 62 that can span the slot 40 may also be used in place of the combined loops 60a, 60b and lock 62. For example, an elongated U-shape lock may be used to extend between the support member 24, 26, spanning the slot 40. The height H of the support members 24, 26 may have to be increased to accommodate such independent locking structure. That is, a U-shape lock could not pass between the uppermost portion of the support members 24, 26 shown because of the presence of the deck 50 of the skateboard 22, as seen best in FIG. 2B. This is another advantage of providing either fixed or freely slideable loops 60a, 60b, as the height H of the support members 24, 26 need only be approximately as great as the largest deck width of any skateboard which the security rack is designed to secure, thus reducing material costs and space requirements. Cable locks could be used, though longer ones would provide too much freedom of movement to the skateboard and would not effectively constrain it within the slot 40. As mentioned above, a single security rack unit includes two support members and locking structure for securing a skateboard therebetween. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-3B, the support members 24, 26 are differently sized. That is, at least one of the support members, in this case the smaller support member 24, has a width smaller than the smallest wheelbase of any skateboard that the security rack 22 is designed to secure. The larger support member 26 may have the same width, or may be sized larger as shown. The main advantage of providing a longer support member 26 is that it protects the opposed ends of the skateboard from damage. That is, without such protection the ends of the skateboard 22 may be kicked or step on. Furthermore, the longer support member 26 provides some additional security in preventing theft of the skateboard. A thief trying to prise the skateboard 22 from within the slot 40 cannot angle it out of the plane of the slot because of the abutting ends of the large support member 26. However, even with two shorter support members, the width of the slot 40 may be made sufficiently small to prevent any such angling. Indeed, in a minimal sense, two linear posts spaced apart and provided with locking structure over the top may function as the support members of the present invention and secure a skateboard therebetween. FIG. 4 illustrates an array 70 of skateboard security racks of the present invention comprising a plurality of alternating short and long support members. More specifically, a plurality of shorter first support members 72 each having bases 74 thereon are mounted in parallel and aligned with one another. In between each two of the first support members 72, a second support member 76 having bases 78 thereon is mounted. Again, the second support members 76 are mounted in parallel and aligned with one another, and in parallel and aligned with the first support members 72. Each of the first support members 72 has a width that is smaller than the smallest wheelbase of the skateboard that the security rack array 70 is designed to secure. Furthermore, a pair of skateboards, such as first and second skateboards 80, 82, may be secured in adjacent slots on either side of one of the first support members 72. In such an arrangement, the width of the first support members 72 must be somewhat smaller than the smallest wheelbase of the skateboards 80, 82 to accommodate the overlapping wheels. By alternating the short and long support members 72, 76 as shown, the number of skateboards that can be secured within the array 70 is almost doubled relative to the number of skateboards that could be secured within the same number of pairs of short and long support members. The dimension A between two of the longer support member 76 is indicated and should be between approximately 6.25 and 6.75 inches (15.88-17.15 cm) to accommodate two skateboards therebetween. FIG. 5 illustrates a security rack array 90 having a plurality of identical support members 92 mounted on a common base. In the illustrated embodiment, the support members 92 are elongated inverted U-shapes having spaced apart ends 94 and upstanding middle portions 96, and a first common base 98a and a second common base 98b are used to couple the ends on either side of the array. In the illustrated embodiment the first and second common bases 98a, 98b comprise parallel, spaced apart identical strips which, when connected to the opposite ends of the support members 92, join the entire assembly in a unit or portable, modular structure. The entire array 90 can therefore be transported and mounted as a unit without necessity of alignment of individual support members. FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate a still further security rack array 100 which takes advantage of the common base concept shown in FIG. 5 as well as having alternating short and long support members. FIG. 6A shows a small support member array 102 having a plurality of small support members 104 with their respective ends mounted to common bases 106. FIG. 6B shows a large support member array 108 having a plurality of large support members 110 with their respective ends mounted to common bases 112. Again, the first and second common bases 106, 112 comprise parallel, spaced apart identical strips which when connected to the opposite ends of the support members 104, 110 form two portable structures. FIG. 6C shows an assembly of the small support member array 102 and large support member array 108 forming the security rack array 100. Of course, the respective bases 106, 112 must be aligned and mounted at the proper spaced apart distance to form the array 100. In the illustrated embodiment, there are four short support members 104 and three long support members 110 together providing slots for securing six skateboards. FIG. 7 is a top plan view of an alternative portable, modular structure 120 created by mounting an array of skateboard security racks, in the form of a series of alternating long and short spaced apart support members 122, 124, on a common plate-like base 126. The portable, modular structure 120 is also seen in perspective view in FIG. 8 with two skateboards 130 secured in place and one skateboard 132 exploded above the structure. The common base 126 functions in a similar manner as the first and second common bases 98a, 98b, 106, 112 seen in FIGS. 5 and 6 in that the entire array of support members 122, 124 can be transported and mounted as a unit without necessity of alignment of individual support members. A further benefit of utilizing a larger platelike common base 126 is that display space is created between the support members 122, 124. The space can be used to display skateboard images 134 in their position of suggested placement, or to display mounting or usage instructions or manufacturer information as seen on the small plates 136. Furthermore, the display space can receive other indicia such as sponsoship, organization logos, or advertising. If the platelike common base 126 is formed of a metal the indicia can be relatively permanently inscribed or welded thereon, or otherwise simply fastened or adhered thereon. While the foregoing describes the preferred embodiments of the invention, various alternatives, modifications, and equivalents may be used. Moreover, it will be obvious that certain other modifications may be practiced within the scope of the appended claims.

<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Individuals that utilize “board type” equipment (such as skateboards, scooters, snowboards, surfboards, etc.) as a mode of transportation and/or for recreational purposes need a convenient, simple, readily accessible method available to secure their equipment when left unattended in public areas. Riders of skateboard and scooter types of equipment make up the largest population of potential users that will be able to take advantage of the apparatus of the present invention. Literally hundreds of thousands of kids, and some adults, use skateboards as a practical, cost effective, and compact method of transportation daily. Common destinations of skateboard users in this demographic are learning institutions, places of employment, retail areas, and various other public areas including community centers, libraries, and parks. If one rides a bicycle, which in many cases is more expensive and less compact than a skateboard, our society provides many more equipment, structures, and opportunities to secure the bicycle than the skateboard. There is thus a need for a security lock for “board type” equipment, in particular skateboards. Some attempts have been made to address this need, for example U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0010735, filed Jul. 12, 2001, and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0020881, filed Aug. 1, 2003, both to Wuerth, disclose a skateboard storage apparatus. For various reasons this design and others have not been accepted in the marketplace, and there remains a need for a more cost effective, durable, safe, and elegant design.

<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>In accordance with the present invention, a skateboard security rack is provided including a pair of spaced apart support members each having a base adapted to mount to a base surface and a portion that extends normally away from the base to a height dimension at least as great as the largest deck width of any skateboard which the security rack is designed to secure. One of the support members has a maximum width dimension smaller than the smallest wheelbase of any skateboard which the security rack is designed to secure. The support members are adapted to mount in parallel to one another at a distance apart that is greater than the largest deck thickness of any skateboard which the security rack is designed to secure. A slot for receiving a deck of a skateboard is defined between the support members. The security rack may be provided with locking structure coupled to both support members for constraining a skateboard in the slot. The locking structure may include elements coupled to both support members. For example, the elements may comprise loops coupled to both support members wherein a lock may be used to join the loops, and therefore the support members, together. The loops may be movable on at least one of the support members, and may slide freely thereon. Alternatively, the loops may be fixed on each respective support member. Rather than separate elements coupled to both support members and a separate lock, only a lock may be used coupled to both support members. The support members may be formed as elongated hollow or solid members, or hollow or solid panels. In one preferred embodiment, the support members are configured as elongated upside-down U-bends. The base of the support members may be adapted to bolt to the base surface, or the base may be adapted to be embedded in the base surface. Another aspect of the invention is a skateboard security rack comprising a first and second support members each having a base adapted to mount to a base surface and a portion that extends normally away from the base to a height dimension at least as great as the largest deck width of any skateboard which the security rack is designed to secure. The two support members have width dimensions that are different, the first support member has a width dimension that is smaller than the smallest wheelbase of any skateboard which the security rack is designed to secure. The two support members are mounted in parallel to a distance apart that is greater than the largest deck thickness of any skateboard which the security rack is designed to secure, a slot therefore being defined between the first and second support members for receiving the skateboard. A third support member identical to the first support member may be provided which is adapted to mount parallel to the second support member and on the side thereof opposite the first support member. The third support member is mounted a distance from second support member that is greater than the largest thickness of any skateboard which the security rack is designed to secure creating an additional slot between the second and third support members for receiving another skateboard. The bases of the first and third support members may be common, or connected to a common base. In one embodiment, the bases of the first, second, and third support members are common, or connected. In an alternative embodiment, at least one other support member identical to the first and third support members is provided mounted to their common base, and at least one other support member identical to the second support member and mounted to its base is provided. Desirably, the first and second support members are formed as elongated, inverted U-shapes each having spaced apart ends and an elongated middle portion therebetween. A ring slideable on each of the first and second support members may also be provided for locking a skateboard within the slot with the aid of a lock. Alternatively, the first and second support members are selected from the group consisting of: elongated hollow or solid members, and/or hollow or solid panels. Another aspect of the invention is a portable skateboard security rack comprising a portable mount base and a pair of spaced apart support members. Each of the support members are attached to the mount base and extend normally away from the base a height dimension at least as great as the largest deck width of any skateboard which the security rack is designed to secure. At least one of the support members has a width dimension smaller than the smallest wheelbase of any skateboard which the security rack is designed to secure. The support members are mounted in parallel to the mounting base a distance apart that is greater than the largest deck thickness of any skateboard which the security rack is designed to secure, a slot therefore being defined between support members for receiving a skateboard. The support members of the portable skateboard security rack may be formed as elongated, inverted U-shapes each having spaced apart ends and an elongated middle portion therebetween. The base may comprise a pair of spaced apart strips to which opposed ends of the support members attach. In one embodiment, one of the support members has a width dimension larger than the other. Furthermore, more than two support members may be mounted to the base. The security rack of the present invention provides users of “non-conventional” transportation and/or recreational equipment, such as skateboards, scooters, snowboards, surfboards, etc., an apparatus to secure these types of equipment in public areas.

20050912

20080115

20060525

73203.0

E05B7300

NOVOSAD, JENNIFER ELEANORE

SKATEBOARD SECURITY RACK

SMALL

CONT-ACCEPTED

E05B

ACCEPTED

Smoking article pack blank(s)

A smoking article pack blank having a lid (2) and a base portion (3), the lid and the base portion being interconnected along a hinge line (27) and the base portion comprising first (24) and second (25) main panels. The main panels of the smoking article pack blank each having side panels (32, 33, 38, 39) depending therefrom and at least one of the side panels having a side flap (35) depending therefrom. When erected the smoking article pack blank may be hinged about a longitudinal axis (34) of a side wall thereof. The invention further provides a smoking article pack assembly, which pack assembly comprises the smoking article pack blank and a plurality of inner blanks. The smoking article pack assembly may be hinged into an open position thereof about a longitudinal hinge line in a side wall of the erected pack assembly.

1. A smoking article pack blank, the blank comprising a lid portion and a base portion, the lid portion and the base portion being interconnected along a hinge line and the base portion comprising a first main panel, a second main panel which face each other when the blank is erected, and a bottom panel, each panel being defined by longitudinal side margins, side panels depending from the longitudinal margins of the first and second main panels, and a side flap which is connected to the longitudinal margin of a side panel of one of the main panels and which connects the first and second main panels when the blank is erected. 2. A smoking article pack blank according to claim 1, wherein the side flap is connected to the adjacent side panel by a hinge line. 3. A smoking article pack blank according to claim 1, wherein each panel has a top margin and a bottom margin. 4. A smoking article pack blank according to claim 1, wherein bottom panel of the smoking article pack blank comprises at least two bottom panel sections. 5. A smoking article pack blank according to claim 4, wherein said bottom panel comprises two bottom panel sections. 6. A smoking article pack blank according to claim 4, wherein said bottom panel sections may be joined along a line of weakening. 7. A smoking article pack blank according to claim 6, wherein said line of weakening extends between the longitudinal margins of the bottom panel. 8. A smoking article pack blank according to claim 7, wherein said line of weakening in said bottom panel extends between the longitudinal margins of said bottom panel in parallel relation to the top margin and/or the bottom margin of said bottom panel. 9. A smoking article pack blank according to claim 6, wherein said line of weakening is a line of perforation. 10. A smoking article pack blank according to claim 4, wherein said bottom panel sections are integral with one another. 11. A smoking article pack blank according to claim 10, wherein said bottom panel sections are separable from one another. 12. A smoking article pack blank according to claim 11, wherein said bottom panel sections are separable from one another along a line of integration. 13. A smoking article pack blank according to claim 12, wherein said line of integration extends between the opposing longitudinal margins of the bottom panel. 14. A smoking article pack blank according to claim 13, wherein said line of integration extends between the opposing longitudinal margins of the bottom panel in parallel relation to the top margin and/or the bottom margin of the bottom panel. 15. A smoking article pack blank according to claim 1, wherein said bottom panel has a depth dimension and said side panels have width dimensions substantially equal to a multiple of the diameter of a smoking article. 16. A smoking article pack blank according to claim 1, wherein the width dimension of each of the side panels depending from a main panel of the smoking article pack blank is substantially equal to the depth dimension of that bottom panel section adjacent to that main panel, which bottom panel section is delimited by the line of weakening or the line of integration in the bottom panel. 17. A smoking article pack blank according to claim 1, wherein said panels have a common longitudinal axis. 18. A smoking article pack blank according to claim 1, wherein the total depth dimension of said bottom panel is equal to the sum of the width of the side panel depending from the longitudinal margin of the first main panel and the width of a side panel depending from the longitudinal margin of said second main panel. 19. A smoking article pack blank according to claim 2, wherein said hinge line connecting the side flap and the side panel is formed from the common longitudinal margin between the side flap and the adjacent side panel. 20. A smoking article pack blank according to claim 1, wherein said side flap depends from the outer longitudinal margin of a side panel of said second main panel of said base portion. 21. A smoking article pack blank according to claim 1, wherein, when said blank is erected, said side flap depends from a longitudinal margin of a side panel of the first or the second main panel and said side flap overlaps a side panel of the other main panel of the blank. 22. A smoking article pack blank according to claim 21, wherein said side panel and said overlapping side flap are of substantially equal width dimensions. 23. A smoking article pack blank according to claim 1, wherein, when the blank is erected, the longitudinal margin of the side panel from which the side flap depends forms a longitudinally extending hinge line in a side wall of the erected blank. 24. A smoking article pack blank according to claim 1, wherein said blank is an outer blank. 25. A smoking article pack blank according to claim 7, wherein said base portion comprises two side flaps, which side flaps depend respectively from the longitudinal margins of the first and second side panels of one of the main panels. 26. A smoking article pack blank according to claim 25, wherein said side flaps depend from the outer longitudinal margins of the first and second side panels of said second main panel. 27. A smoking article pack blank according to claim 25, wherein said blank further comprises a second line of weakening, which second line of weakening extends longitudinally from the top margin of said second main panel to the bottom margin of said second main panel. 28. A smoking article pack blank according to claim 27, wherein said second line of weakening extends longitudinally in substantially parallel relation to the longitudinal side margins of said second main panel. 29. A smoking article pack blank according to claim 27, wherein said second line of weakening further extends across the bottom margin of said second main panel into said bottom panel. 30. A smoking article pack blank according to claim 27, wherein said second line of weakening is a line of perforation. 31. A smoking article pack blank according to in combination with a plurality of inner blanks, which inner blanks, when erected, are capable of enwrapping a bundle of smoking articles. 32. A smoking article pack assembly comprises a smoking article pack blank according to claim 1 and a plurality of inner blanks, said smoking article pack blank being erectable about said plurality of inner blanks. 33. A smoking article pack assembly according to claim 32, wherein said inner blanks each have at least one main panel. 34. A smoking article pack assembly according to claim 33, wherein each of said inner blanks comprises two main panels. 35. A smoking article pack assembly according to claim 32, wherein when said smoking article pack blank is erected about said plurality of inner blanks, said smoking article pack assembly is maintained in a closed position by means of the lid portion of said pack assembly. 36. A method of assembly of a smoking article pack, which smoking article pack is assembled from the smoking article pack assembly according to claim 31, said method comprising the steps of wrapping a bundle of smoking articles in a wrapper, feeding an inner blank to a pack assembly machine, partially erecting said inner blank, plunging said wrapped bundle of smoking articles into the partially erected blank, completely erecting said partially erected inner blank about said wrapped bundle of smoking articles, feeding a smoking article pack blank to the pack assembly machine, said smoking article pack blank being partially erected before two or more inner blanks are plunged into said smoking article pack blank, and completely erecting said partially erected smoking article pack blank about said inner blanks. 37. (canceled) 38. (canceled) 39. A smoking article pack assembly substantially as hereinbefore described.

The present invention relates to a smoking article pack blank(s), particularly but not exclusively for cigarettes. Multi-compartment packs for cigarettes are already known in the art. For example, FR2614720 discloses a pack comprising a plurality of articulated compartments, which compartments are closed by means of a single interlocking lid. The patent does not disclose a blank from which the pack may be assembled, however, it is clear from the specification of FR2614720 that the pack is not of a form that could readily be assembled using conventional, or little modified, pack assembly machinery. The present invention has as an aim the provision of smoking article pack blank(s) which blank is easy to assemble at the high manufacturing speeds required in the tobacco industry. A further aim of the present invention is to provide a blank(s) which may be assembled using conventional pack assembly machinery, or at least a blank which may be assembled on machinery requiring little modification from conventional pack assembly machinery. The present invention provides a smoking article pack blank, the blank comprising a lid portion and a base portion, the lid portion and the base portion being interconnected along a hinge line and the base portion comprising a first main panel, a second main panel and a bottom panel, each panel being defined by longitudinal side margins, the first and the second main panels each having side panels, which side panels depend from the longitudinal margins of the first and second main panels, at least one of the side panels having a side flap depending from a longitudinal margin thereof. Preferably the side flap is connected to the adjacent side panel by a hinge line. Preferably each panel has a top margin and a bottom margin. It is much by preference that the bottom panel of the smoking article pack blank comprises at least two bottom panel sections. Advantageously the bottom panel comprises two bottom panel sections. Preferably the bottom panel sections may be joined along a line of weakening. In an alternative arrangement the bottom panel sections may be integral with one another. When the bottom panel sections are joined along a line of weakening, the line of weakening preferably extends between the longitudinal margins of the bottom panel. Advantageously the line of weakening extends between the opposing longitudinal margins of the bottom wall, the line of weakening extending up to but not through the longitudinal margins of the bottom wall. It is much by preference that the line of weakening in the bottom panel extends between the longitudinal margins of the bottom panel in parallel relation to the top margin and/or the bottom margin of the bottom panel. Advantageously the line of weakening is a line of perforation. In the alternative arrangement, wherein the bottom panel sections are integral with one another, it is much by preference that the bottom panel sections are separable from one another. Suitably the bottom panel sections are separable from one another by cutting along a line of integration between the two bottom panel sections. It is much by preference that the line of integration extends between the opposing longitudinal margins of the bottom panel. Even more preferably the line of integration extends between the opposing longitudinal margins of the bottom panel in parallel relation to the top margin and/or the bottom margin of the bottom panel. Advantageously the bottom panel has a depth dimension and the side panels have width dimensions substantially equal to a multiple of the diameter of a smoking article. If the smoking articles are in nested arrangement within an erected pack, the depth dimension of the bottom panel and the width dimensions of the side panels of the smoking article pack blank may be slightly less than a multiple of the diameter of a smoking article. When referred to herein, multiple shall be taken as including one. Preferably the width dimension of each of the side panels depending from a main panel of the smoking article pack blank is substantially equal to the depth dimension of that bottom panel section adjacent to that main panel, which bottom panel section is delimited by the line of weakening or the line of integration in the bottom panel. Suitably the panels of the smoking article pack blank have a common longitudinal axis. Advantageously the total depth dimension of the bottom panel is equal to the sum of the width of a side panel depending from a longitudinal margin of the first main panel and the width of a side panel depending from the longitudinal margin of the second main panel. Preferably the hinge line connecting the side flap and the side panel is formed from the common longitudinal margin between the side flap and the side panel adjacent thereto. Preferably the side flap depends from the outer longitudinal margin of the adjacent side panel. Advantageously the side flap depends from the outer longitudinal margin of a side panel of the second main panel of the base portion of the smoking article pack blank. When the smoking article pack blank is erected, the side flap overlaps a side panel of the other main panel of the blank. Alternatively, the side panel of the other main panel may overlap the side flap when the blank is erected. It is much by preference that the side flap overlaps a side panel of the first main panel of the base portion of the smoking article pack blank. Advantageously, the side panel and the overlapping side flap are of substantially equal width dimensions. When the smoking article pack blank is erected it is much by preference that the longitudinal margin of the side panel from which margin the side flap depends forms a longitudinally extending hinge line in a side wall of the erected blank. The longitudinal margin of the overlapping side panel adjacent the longitudinally extending hinge line allows the erected blank to-hinge thereabout. Preferably the smoking article pack blank is an outer blank. As referred to herein an ‘outer blank’ is a blank which may be assembled about an erected inner blank or a plurality of inner blanks or, alternatively may be assembled about an assemblage of smoking articles which assemblage is wrapped in a wrapping material. In a second embodiment of the present invention, the smoking article pack blank base portion comprises two side flaps, which side flaps depend respectively from the longitudinal margins of the first and second side panels of one of the main panels of the blank. Preferably the side flaps depend from the outer longitudinal margins of the first and second side panels of the second main panel of the blank. When the smoking article pack blank is erected it is much by preference that the longitudinal margins of the side panels from which margins the side flaps depend form longitudinally extending hinge lines in each of the side walls of the erected blank. The longitudinal margins of the overlapping side panels adjacent the longitudinally extending hinge lines allow the erected blank to hinge thereabout. In the second embodiment of the present invention the smoking article pack blank base portion further comprises a second line of weakening, which second line of weakening extends longitudinally from the top margin of the second main panel to the bottom margin of the second main panel. Preferably the second line of weakening extends longitudinally in substantially parallel relation to the longitudinal side margins of the second main panel of the smoking article pack blank. In addition, the second line of weakening extends across the bottom margin of the second main panel, into the bottom panel of the smoking article pack blank. Preferably the bottom margin of the second main panel has a line of weakening thereacross. It is much by preference that the second line of weakening extends up to but does not intersect with, or extend beyond, the line of weakening extending transversely across the bottom panel of the bottom panel. Preferably the second line of weakening is located along the central longitudinal axis of the second main panel and the bottom panel of the blank. Preferably the second line of weakening is a line of perforation. It will be understood that in an alternative arrangement of the second embodiment of the present invention, the second line of weakening could alternatively be a line of integration. It will be apparent to the skilled artisan that the second embodiment of the present invention may equally comprise a line of weakening and a line of integration in combination. For example, the second line of weakening may be replaced by a line of integration whilst there remains a line of weakening in the bottom panel of the smoking article pack blank. Likewise the line of weakening in the bottom panel of the smoking article pack blank may be replaced by a line of integration whilst the pack blank further comprises a second line of weakening. In the alternative arrangement of the second embodiment of the present invention the second line of integration separates the second main panel of the smoking article pack blank into two second main panel sections. Preferably the two second main panel sections are separable from one another line the line of integration. It will be understood the separation of the two second main panel sections along the line of integration may be by cutting, for example, along the line of integration. The present invention may further provide a smoking article pack assembly comprising plurality of inner blanks, which inner blanks may be used in combination with a smoking article pack blank of the present invention. When erected, each inner blank is capable of enwrapping a bundle of smoking articles. Preferably the inner blanks are formed separately from the smoking article pack blank of the present invention. Alternatively, the inner blanks may be formed as an integral part with the smoking article pack blank. It is much by preference that an inner blank comprises at least one main panel. More preferably the inner blank comprises two main panels. Advantageously the two main panels of the inner blank are interconnected by a bottom panel. It is much by preference that at least one of the main panels of the inner blank has a cut-out portion in a top margin thereof. Preferably the cut-out portion is of a depth which allows access to, and easy removal of, smoking articles held within the inner blank when the inner blank is erected. When the smoking article pack blank is assembled about a plurality of inner blanks, one main panel of each of the inner blanks is fixed to a main panel of the smoking article pack blank, the other main panel of each of the inner blanks is exposed when the line(s) of weakening and/or the line of integration of the smoking article pack blank is broken and/or cut and the smoking article pack blank is opened about a hinge line in the side wall thereof. The assembled smoking article pack is retained in a closed position until first opening by the consumer by means of the lid portion and the unbroken line(s) of weakening of the assembled smoking article pack blank. Once the consumer has broken the line(s) of weakening on first opening of the assembled pack, the pack may be re-closed by means of the lid portion of the assembled smoking article pack blank. Alternatively the line of weakening and/or line of integration may be broken or cut before the erected pack has reached the consumer. It will be readily understood by a person skilled in the art that in the second embodiment of the present invention, the erected smoking article pack blank comprises two longitudinally extending hinge lines in the side walls thereof. It will be further understood that the second embodiment of the present invention provides a smoking article pack blank comprising two lines of weakening, one of which lines of weakening extends transversely across the bottom panel of the smoking article pack blank between the longitudinal margins thereof, the other line of weakening extends longitudinally between the top margin of the second main panel of the smoking article pack blank and the first line of weakening in the bottom panel of the smoking article pack blank. The blank of the present invention may be utilised in forming packs of varying dimensions and shapes. The present invention may, for example, provide blanks with square, round or bevelled longitudinal margins. Furthermore the present invention may be utilised, for example, in forming packs having the dimensions known in the art as International, King Size, SuperKing or Jumbo Carton. Preferably the smoking article pack blank of the present invention may be erected to form a hinged-lid pack. The present invention may also be used in combination with the inventive concept disclosed in our co-pending patent application WO 03/078724. A smoking article pack assembled from the outer and inner blanks of the present invention may be overwrapped with,.for example, a cellophane wrapper. It is much by preference that the cellophane wrapper has a tear strip for easy removal thereof by the consumer. Advantageously the tear strip is located such that the consumer must remove the entire cellophane wrapper in order to gain access to the pack and the smoking articles contained therein. The tear strip may, for example, be located about the lid portion of the assembled pack. Alternatively the tear strip may be located in longitudinal orientation about the assembled pack. The present invention further provides a method of assembly of a smoking article pack, which smoking article pack is assembled from an outer smoking article pack blank of the present invention and a plurality of inner blanks, the method of assembly comprising wrapping a bundle of smoking articles in a wrapper, feeding an inner blank to a pack assembly machine, partially erecting the inner blank, plunging the wrapped bundle of smoking articles into the partially erected inner blank, completely erecting the inner blank about the wrapped bundle of smoking articles, feeding an outer blank to the pack assembly machine, which outer blank is partially erected before two or more erected inner blanks are plunged into the outer blank, and completely erecting the outer blank about the inner blanks. Preferably the method of assembly may be performed using one or more pack assembly machines. Most preferably the method of assembly requires one pack assembly machine. Preferably the smoking article pack is assembled from an outer smoking article pack blank of the present invention in combination with inner blanks of the present invention. In order that the present invention be easily understood and readily carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: FIG. 1 shows a smoking article pack outer blank according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 shows an inner blank to be used in combination with the outer blank of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 shows a second inner blank to be used in combination with the outer blank of FIG. 1 and the inner blank of FIG. 2; FIG. 4 shows an outer smoking article pack blank according to a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 shows an inner blank to be used in combination with the outer blank of FIG. 4; FIG. 6 shows a second inner blank to be used in combination with the outer blank of FIG. 4 and the inner blank of FIG. 5; FIG. 7 shows a further inner blank to be used in combination with the outer blank of FIG. 4 and the inner blanks of FIG. 5 and 6; FIG. 8 shows an alternative arrangement of the inner blank of FIG. 2; Features common to more than one Figure will be denoted by the same reference numeral. FIG. 1 shows an outer blank 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Outer blank 1 has a lid portion 2 and a base portion 3. The lid portion 2, comprises a front panel 4, a back panel 5, a top panel 6 and a front inner panel 7. Each of the panels 4, 5, 6 and 7 has a top margin 8, 9, 10, 11 respectively. In the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, top margins 8, 9, and 10 also form the bottom margins of the front inner panel 7, the top panel 6 and the front panel 4 respectively. The lid portion 2 further comprises longitudinal margins 12 and 13 from which margins depend side panels 14 and 15 respectively. Back panel 5 has longitudinal margins 16 and 17. Inner side panels 18 and 19 depend from the back panel longitudinal margins 16 and 17. The inner side panels 18 and 19 have top margins 20 and 21 respectively, which top margins form the bottom margins of inner top panels 22 and 23. Outer blank base portion 3 has a first main panel 24, a second main panel 25 and a bottom panel 26a, 26b. The base first main panel 24 is interconnected with lid back panel 5 along hinge line 27. The first main panel of the base portion is connected to the bottom panel 26a, 26b along margin 28 and the bottom panel 26a, 26b is further connected to the second main panel along margin 29. The outer blank second main panel 25 has longitudinal margins 30 and 31 from which margins depend side panels 32 and 33 respectively. Side flap 35 depends from the outer longitudinal margin 34 of side panel 33. In an alternative arrangement, side flap 35 may depend from the outer longitudinal margin 41 of side panel 32. The first main panel 24 has longitudinal margins 36 and 37. Side panels 38 and 39 depend from longitudinal margins 36 and 37 respectively. Bottom panel 26 has a line of perforation 40 extending between longitudinal margins 42 and 43 thereof. When the outer blank 1 is erected, side flap 35 lies against the inner face of side panel 39. Alternatively, side flap 35 may lie against the outer face of side panel 39. Side flap 35 is then fixed in position, for example by gluing, to side panel 39. Longitudinal margin 34 then forms a hinge line thus allowing the erected outer blank 1 to hinge about that hinge line. The sum of the widths of side panels 32 and 38, including scoring (if present), is equal to the depth of the erected outer blank. The sum of the widths of side panels 32 and 38, including scoring (if present), is equal to the length of each of the bottom panel longitudinal margins 42 and 43. The length of longitudinal margins 42 and 43 is equal to a multiple of the diameter of a smoking article, unless the smoking articles are in nested arrangement when the length of each of the longitudinal margins 42 and 43 will be slightly less than a multiple of the diameter of a smoking article. The width of each of side panels 32 and 33, including scoring (if present), is equal to the length of the longitudinal margin of bottom panel portion 26a. The width of each of side panels 38 and 39, including scoring (if present), is equal to the length of the longitudinal margin of bottom panel portion 26b. FIG. 1 shows an outer blank 1 having round longitudinal margins. Outer blank 1 may alternatively have square or bevelled longitudinal margins. The outer blank 1 shown in FIG. 1 may be used in combination with the inner blanks shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In FIG. 2, inner blank 44 comprises main panels 45 and 46 and a bottom panel 47. Main panel 45 is connected to bottom panel 47 along margin 48. Main panel 46 is connected to bottom panel 47 along margin 49. The inner blank 44 further comprises side panels 50, 51, 52 and 53, the side panels depending from the longitudinal margins 54, 55, 56 and 57 of the main panels 45 and 46 respectively. The inner blank has lugs 58 and 59, which lugs retain the lid portion 2 of outer blank lin a closed position when the pack is fully erected. Inner blank 44 has cut-out sections 60 and 61. Cut-out section 60 allows the consumer access to the smoking articles retained by the erected inner blank. Inner blank 44 is positioned within outer blank 1 such that the main panel 45 of inner blank 44 lies against the inner surface of the second main panel 25 of the outer blank 1. The inner blank 44 may then be fixed in place, for example, by gluing. It is preferable that inner blank 44 should be erected and filled with smoking articles before being fixed to outer blank 1. FIG. 3 shows a second inner blank 62 for use in combination with the outer blank 1 of FIG. 1 and the inner blank 44 of FIG. 2. Second inner blank 62 has main panels 63 and 64, and a bottom panel 65. Main panels 63 and 64 have side panels 66, 67, 68 and 69, which side panels depend from longitudinal margins 70, 71, 72 and 73 respectively. Main panel 64 is connected to bottom panel 65 along margin 74 and main panel 63 is connected to bottom panel 65 along margin 75. Cut-out sections 76 and 77 are provided in the top margins 78 and 79 of main panels 64 and 63. When erected, inner blank 62 enwraps a bundle of smoking articles, inner blank 62 is then placed onto outer blank 1 such that main panel 64 lies against the inner surface of the outer blank first main panel 24. Outer blank 1 is then erected about inner blanks 44 and 62. The smoking article pack formed when the outer and inner blanks are erected may then be wrapped in an outer wrapper, for example cellophane. A tear-strip is then provided to allow the consumer to remove the outer wrapper from the assembled pack. The line of perforation 40 is then broken there along and the lid hinged along hinge line 27, therefore providing access to the outer surfaces of panels 46 and 63. Panels 46 and 63 may be used to provide information to the consumer. Alternatively, panels 46 and 63 may be printed with graphics and/or indicia, the surfaces being visible to the consumer when the erected pack is in an open position. FIG. 4 shows an alternative outer blank 81 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The outer blank 81 of the second embodiment has all the features of the outer blank 1 of FIG. 1. The outer blank 81 of FIG. 4 has an additional side flap 80 depending from longitudinal margin 41 of side panel 32. Thus the outer blank 81 of FIG. 4 has two side flaps depending from the longitudinal margins of side panels 32 and 33. A line of perforation 82 extends longitudinally from the top margin 83 of second main panel 25, across margin 29 into bottom panel 26. The line of perforation 82 extends to, but not beyond, line of perforation 40. When the outer blank 81 is erected, side flaps 80 and 35 lie against the inner surface of side panels 38 and 39 and are fixed thereto, for example by gluing. When lines of perforation 82 and 40 are broken, the outer blank is free to hinge about the two side hinge lines formed along longitudinal margins 34 and 41. In an alternative arrangement, side flaps 80 and 35 may lie against the outer surface of side panels 38 and 39 when outer blank 81 is erected. FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 show inner blanks suitable for use in combination with the outer blank 1 of FIG. 4. FIG. 5 shows an inner blank 84, comprising main panels 85 and 86, and a bottom panel 87. Main panel 85 has side panels 88 and 89, which side panels (88, 89) depend from longitudinal margins 90 and 91 respectively. Main panel 86 has side panels 92 and 93, which side panels (92, 93) depend from longitudinal margins 94 and 95. FIG. 6 shows a further inner blank 96, comprising main panels 97 and 98, and a bottom panel 99. Main panel 97 has side panels 100 and 101 depending from longitudinal margins 102 and 103 respectively. Main panel 98 has side panels 104 and 105, which side panels have longitudinal margins 106 and 107 from which margins side panels 104 and 105 depend. FIG. 7 shows a further inner blank 108, comprising main panels 109 and 110, and bottom panel 111. Main panel 109 has side panels 112 and 113 depending from longitudinal margins 114 and 115. Main panel 110 has side panels 116 and 117, depending from longitudinal margins 118 and 119 respectively. When assembling a smoking article pack from the outer blank 81 of FIG. 4 and the inner blanks of FIG. 5, 6 and 7, main panel 109 of inner blank 108 is fixed, for example by gluing, to first main panel 24 of outer blank 81. Side panels 112 and 113 are secured by gluing to the inner surfaces of side panels 38 and 39 of outer blank 81. Main panel 98 of inner blank 96 is secured to the inner surface of a first portion 25a of the second main panel of outer blank 81. Side panel 104 of inner blank 96 is secured to the inner surface of side panel 32 of outer blank 81. Main panel 86 of inner blank 84, is secured to the inner surface of a second portion 25b of the second main panel of outer blank 81. Side panel 93 of inner blank 84 is secured to the inner surface of side panel 35 of outer blank 81. The outer blank 81 and inner blanks 84, 96 and 108 may then be fully assembled to form a smoking article pack. The smoking article pack may then be overwrapped, for example, by cellophane. It is much by preference that the inner blanks are assembled about bundles of smoking articles before assembly of the outer blank about the inner blanks. FIG. 8 shows an alternative arrangement of the inner blank of FIG. 2. Cut-out portion 60 is of a lesser depth dimension than the corresponding cut-out portion 60 of the inner blank of FIG. 2. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that when the outer blank 1 of FIG. 1 is assembled about the inner blanks shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, access to the smoking articles within the assembled pack is initially restricted until the line of perforation 40 of the outer blank 1 is broken and the pack assembly is hinged open about line 34. The outer and inner blanks represented in the aforegoing Figures may have round, square or bevelled longitudinal margins. The blanks may also be of dimensions suitable for any size of smoking article pack or carton. The outer and inner blanks of the present invention, when used in combination in assembling a smoking article pack, should be suitably dimensioned such that the outer blank may be assembled about a plurality of inner blanks.

20060606

20110301

20061116

97209.0

B65D4316

DEMEREE, CHRISTOPHER R

SMOKING ARTICLE PACK BLANK(S)

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

B65D

ACCEPTED

Device for heating and thermally insulating at least one undersea pipeline

Apparatus for heating and lagging at least one main undersea pipe for conveying a flow of hot effluent. The apparatus includes a covering of thermally insulating material surrounding the main pipe(s), and covered by a leaktight outer protective casing and an internal chamber coaxial with the outer casing. The insulating covering surrounds the internal chamber in an annular space between the outer casing and the internal chamber. The main pipe is contained inside an internal chamber that is preferably cylindrical in shape. A heat-transfer fluid having a maintained temperature surrounds the main pipe contained inside the internal chamber and is circulated inside the internal chamber.

1. Apparatus for heating and lagging at least one undersea main bottom-to-surface connection pipe for carrying a flow of hot effluent, the apparatus comprising: a covering of at least one thermally insulating material surrounding said main pipe(s); said insulating covering being covered by a leaktight outer protective casing that is preferably cylindrical in shape; the apparatus being characterized in that it comprises: a) an internal chamber preferably of cylindrical shape and coaxial inside said outer casing, such that: said insulating covering surrounds said internal chamber and preferably fills the annular space between said outer casing and said internal chamber; and said main pipe is contained inside said internal chamber, that is preferably cylindrical in shape; and b) means suitable for maintaining the temperature of a heat-transfer fluid and for causing it to circulate inside said internal chamber, said heat-transfer fluid surrounding the main pipe contained inside a said internal chamber. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said internal chamber conveys at least one internal gas-injection pipe suitable for enabling gas to be injected into said main pipe, said internal gas-injection pipe being connected to said main pipe at one end in the longitudinal direction of said main pipe inside said internal chamber, and preferably said gas-injection pipe extending outside said internal chamber in the form of an external gas-injection pipe connecting said internal gas-injection pipe to a floating support. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises both fluid-circulation means for circulating a heat-transfer fluid, said fluid-circulation means comprising at least one internal heat-transfer fluid feed pipe extending in the longitudinal direction inside said internal chamber from a first orifice situated at a first end of the internal chambers, preferably as far as the vicinity of the second end of said internal chamber, and a second orifice for outlet of said heat-transfer fluid, preferably level with said first end of the internal chambers, said internal heat-transfer fluid feed pipe being situated beside said main pipe, between it and said outer insulating material. 4. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that said internal gas-injection pipe is a pipe that is spiral-wound around said internal heat-transfer fluid feed pipe inside said internal chamber. 5. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that said internal heat-transfer fluid feed pipe is extended from said first orifice to a floating support by an external flexible pipe for feeding said heat-transfer fluid, and said second orifice for outlet of heat-transfer fluid is connected to a second external flexible pipe for returning said heat-transfer fluid to said floating support. 6. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that said internal heat-transfer fluid feed pipe is connected to heat-transfer fluid circulation means comprising a pump co-operating at said first end of the internal chamber with said first orifice for feeding heat-transfer fluid and with said second orifice for outlet of heat-transfer fluid, said pump enabling the heat-transfer fluid to be circulated successively inside said internal heat-transfer fluid feed pipe, then inside the internal chamber, then out from said internal chamber via said second orifice, and finally recirculating in a loop back into said internal chamber via said first orifice, an external flexible pipe for circulating heat-transfer fluid providing a connection between said floating support and the body of the pump or said first orifice. 7. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that it includes heater means for heating the heat-transfer fluid inside said internal heat-transfer fluid feed pipe, the heater means preferably being in the form of an electrical resistance element. 8. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes at least one transverse end partition at least a said first end, said end transverse partition supporting said main pipe and also said fluid-circulation means, and having said main pipe passing therethrough and, where appropriate, having first and second orifices enabling said heat-transfer fluid to be caused to circulate inside and outside said internal chamber via said orifices. 9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that it has first and second transverse end partitions each at a respective one of the two ends of the internal chamber, said first end partition including, where appropriate, said first and second orifices, and said two transverse end partitions supporting said outer casing and said internal chamber and connecting them together in leaktight manner, while also ensuring, at least at a first end, that the heat-transfer fluid (is confined inside the internal chambers. 10. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that said second end partition includes a large orifice of diameter greater than that of the main pipe, through which orifice said main pipe passes, so that the heat-transfer fluid in contact with sea water at the bottom end of the internal chamber. 11. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that said second end partition includes an orifice surrounding and secured to a tubular sleeve inside which said main pipe (1a) can slide with little clearance, preferably in leaktight manner. 12. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said main pipe is covered in a second insulating covering, at least at said second end of the internal chamber, said heat-transfer fluid circulating in said internal chamber outside said second covering. 13. Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that said second covering is constituted by a thermally insulating material, preferably a solid thermally insulating material, more preferably syntactic foam, said solid material directly surrounding said main pipe, more preferably said second insulating material completely filling the space between said main pipe and a second pipe that is coaxial therewith, having said main pipe inserted therein. 14. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said insulating covering comprises an insulating material that is subject to migration, and at least said outer casing and/or said internal chamber is/are constituted by a solid material that is flexible or semi-rigid and suitable for tracking deformations of the insulating material and for remaining in contact therewith when it deforms. 15. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said insulating material is a phase-change material presenting a liquid/solid melting temperature that preferably lies in the range 20° C. to 80° C., said temperature being greater than the temperature of the sea water environment surrounding the pipe in operation and less than the temperature above which the effluent flowing inside the pipe presents an increase in viscosity that is damaging for flow thereof in said main pipe. 16. Apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that said phase-change insulating material comprises chemical compounds of the alkane family, preferably a paraffin having a hydrocarbon chain of at least 14 carbon atoms, more preferably tetracosane of formula C24H50 presenting a melting temperature of about 50° C. 17. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said insulating material comprises an insulating mixture comprising a first compound consisting in a hydrocarbon compound such as paraffin or gas oil, mixed with a second compound consisting in a gelling compound and/or a compound having a structuring effect, in particular by cross-linking, such as a second compound of the polyurethane type, cross-linked polypropylene, cross-linked polyethylene, or silicone, preferably said first compound is in the form of particles or microcapsules dispersed within a matrix of said second compound, and first compound preferably being selected from alkanes such as paraffins, waxes, bitumens, tar, fatty alcohols, or glycols, more preferably said first compound being a phase-change compound. 18. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes a said insulating covering comprising at least one said viscous solid material that is subject to migration and at least two intermediate transverse partitions that are leaktight, each of said intermediate transverse partitions being constituted by a closed rigid structure having said internal chamber passing therethrough and secured to the walls of said internal chamber and to said outer casings, said intermediate transverse partitions preferably being spaced apart from one another at regular intervals along the longitudinal axis of said internal chamber and outer casing coaxial therewith, more preferably at a distance of 50 m to 200 m. 19. Apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that it includes at least one centralizing template and preferably a plurality of centralizing templates preferably disposed at regular intervals between two of said leaktight intermediate transverse partitions in succession along said longitudinal axis, each centralizing template being constituted by a rigid piece secured to the wall of the internal chamber or of said outer casing, and presenting a shape which allows limited displacement of said outer casing or respectively of said internal chamber in contraction and in expansion facing said centralizing template, at least said outer casing or respectively said internal chamber being made of a material that is flexible or semi-rigid and suitable, where appropriate, for remaining in contact with the insulating covering when it deforms. 20. Apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that it comprises at least one and preferably a plurality of shaping templates each constituted by a rigid structure secured to said internal chamber which passes therethrough and secured to said outer casing at its periphery, being disposed between two of said leaktight intermediate transverse partitions that are disposed in succession, each shaping template presenting openings allowing the material constituting said insulating material that is subject to migration to pass through said shaping template. 21. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said outer casing and said internal chamber are coaxial along a longitudinal axis and define a perimeter presenting, at rest, two axes of symmetry that are mutually perpendicular and perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, and at least one of the walls constituting said outer casing and/or said internal chamber is made of a material that is flexible or semi-rigid, while preferably the other wall is constituted by a material that is rigid, and more preferably of cross-section that is circular in shape. 22. Apparatus according to claim 21, characterized in that the cross-section of the outer casing, which is preferably made of a material that is rigid, is circular in shape, while the cross-section of said internal chamber, which is preferably made of a material that is flexible or semi-rigid, is oval in shape or rectangular in shape with rounded corners. 23. Apparatus according to claim 21, characterized in that the cross-section of the internal chamber, which is preferably made of a material that is rigid, is circular in shape, while the cross-section of the outer casing, which is preferably made of a material that is flexible or semi-rigid, is oval in shape or rectangular in shape with rounded corners. 24. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said main pipe (1a) and, where appropriate, said internal heat-transfer fluid feed pipe, co-operate(s) inside said internal chamber with centralizing elements which hold said pipe(s) substantially parallel to the axis of said internal chamber while allowing said pipes to move due to differential expansion thereof. 25. Apparatus for heating and lagging a bundle of undersea main pipes, the apparatus being characterized in that it comprises apparatus according to claim 1 containing at least two of said main pipes disposed in parallel inside said internal chamber. 26. A bottom-to-surface connection installation between an undersea pipe resting on the sea bottom, in particular at great depth, and a supporting float, the installation comprising: a) at least one vertical riser connected at its bottom end to at least one said undersea pipe resting on the sea bottom, and at its top end to at least one float said vertical riser being included in apparatus according to claim 1, said vertical riser corresponding to said main pipe, and said internal chamber extending over a depth of at least 1000 meters; b) at least one connection pipe preferably a flexible pipe, connecting a floating support with the top end of said vertical riser; and c) where appropriate, said external flexible pipes for circulating the heat-transfer fluid between the floating support and said first and second orifices at the first end of the internal chamber, and, where appropriate, at least one said flexible external pipe for injecting gas. 27. An installation according to claim 26, characterized in that it includes a second outer casing of circular cross-section containing at least one lagging and heating apparatus according to claim 1, said outer casing of said lagging and heating apparatus being secured to said outer second casing, preferably via resilient links, and more preferably said outer second casing having spiral-shaped means, on its outside periphery suitable for preventing vortices forming or turbulence separating under the effect of sea currents. 28. A method of heating and thermally insulating at least one main undersea pipe providing a bottom-to-surface connection for delivering a flow of hot effluent to or from the bottom of the sea and the surface, the method being characterized in that a heating and lagging apparatus according to claim 1 is used, preferably in an installation according to claim 26 or claim 27, and a said heat-transfer fluid is caused to flow inside a said internal chamber. 29. method according to claim 28, characterized in that said heat-transfer fluid is selected from sea water, fresh water, gas oil, and oil. 30. A method according to claim 28, characterized in that said main pipe is heated by said flow of said heat-transfer fluid during a stage of restarting production after a prolonged stoppage.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for heating and lagging at least one undersea pipe at great depth. The invention relates more particularly to bottom-to-surface connection pipes connecting the bottom of the sea to supports floating on the surface. The technical field of the invention is that of manufacturing and assembling lagging and heating systems outside and around pipes conveying hot effluents from which it is desired to limit heat losses. The invention applies more particularly to developing oil fields in deep water, i.e. oil installations installed at sea where the surface equipment is generally situated on floating structures, with the wellheads being on the sea bottom. The pipes concerned by the present invention are more particularly the bottom-to-surface connection pipes known as “risers” because they rise to the surface, however the invention also applies to pipes connecting wellheads to said bottom-to-surface connection pipes. The present invention also relates to a hybrid tower type installation for providing a bottom-to-surface connection for at least one undersea pipe installed at great depth. The main application of the invention is thermally insulating and heating immersed pipes or ducts, undersea or under water, and more particularly at great depth, in excess of 300 meters (m), and conveying hot petroleum substances which would give rise to problems were they to cool excessively, whether during normal production or in the event of production being stopped. At present, developments in deep water are being performed at depths of 1500 m. Future developments are planned for water at depths of 3000 m to 4000 m and even deeper. In applications of this type, numerous problems arise if the temperature of the petroleum substances decreases significantly relative to their normal production temperature which is often greater than 60° C. to 80° C., even though the temperature of the surrounding water, particularly at great depth, can be well below 10° C., and can be as little as 4° C. For example, if the petroleum substances cool to below 30° C. to 60° C. from an initial temperature of 70° C. to 80° C., the following are generally observed: a large increase in viscosity which diminishes flow rate along the pipe; precipitation of dissolved paraffin which not only increases viscosity but is also deposited on the walls and can reduce the effective inside diameter of the pipe; flocculation of asphaltenes leading to the same problems; sudden, compact, and massive formation of gas hydrates which precipitate at high pressure and low temperature, thereby suddenly blocking the pipe. Paraffins and asphaltenes remain stuck to the wall, thus requiring the inside of the pipe to be cleaned by scraping; in contrast, hydrates are even more difficult and sometimes even possible to resorb. In addition, in rising columns, gas mixed with crude oil and water tends to expand as it rises since the hydrostatic pressure decreases. Since this expansion is quasi-adiabatic, heat is taken from the polyphase fluid itself, leading to a significant reduction in its internal temperature, which reduction can be as much as 8° C. to 15° C. for a change in level of 1500 m. The purposing of lagging and heating such pipes is thus to slow down the cooling of the petroleum effluents being conveyed not only under steady production conditions, for example in order to ensure a temperature of not less than 40° C. on reaching the surface starting from a production temperature on entry into the pipe of 70° C. to 80° C., but also, in the event of production decreasing or even stopping, to ensure that the temperature of the effluents does not drop below 30° C., for example, so as to limit the above-mentioned problems, or at least so as to ensure that they remain reversible. When installing single pipes or bundles of pipes, it is generally preferable to prefabricate said pipes on land in unit lengths of 250 m to 500 m, which lengths are subsequently towed off-shore by means of a tug. For a tower type bottom-to-surface connection, the length of the pipe generally represents 50% to 95% the depth of the water, i.e. it can be 2400 m for water at a depth of 2500 m. During construction on land, the first unit length is pulled from the sea and the next length is connected to the end thereof, with the tug keeping the assembly under traction during the end-to-end connection stage which can last for several hours or even several days. Once the entire pipe or bundle of pipes has been put into the water, the assembly is towed to the site, generally with the assembly remaining below the surface in a substantially horizontal position, and it is then “up-ended” i.e. tilted into a vertical position, and once it has reached the vertical position it is put into place in its final position. Apparatus is known for lagging at least one undersea pipe, which may be on its own or associated with other pipes, thereby constituting a bundle for placing on the bottom at great depth, the apparatus comprising an outer insulating covering surrounding the pipe, and an outer protective casing. The lagging around the pipe or the pipes or the bundle of pipes is itself protected by the outer protective casing which performs two functions: firstly, it avoids the damage that can occur during construction or during towing or putting into place, particularly in shallow zones, and where said towing can take place in some circumstances over distances of several hundreds of kilometers. For this purpose the materials used are quite strong, such as steel, thermoplastic or thermosetting compounds, or indeed composite materials; secondly, it creates leaktight confinement around the lagging system. Such confinement is necessary when the insulating outer coverings are made up of materials that are subject to migration, or indeed comprise fluid compounds. In depths of 2000 m, hydrostatic pressure is of the order of 200 bars, i.e. 20 megapascals (MPa), which implies that the assembly of pipes and lagging must not only be capable of withstanding such pressures without damage when the pipe that conveys the hot fluid is pressurized and depressurized, but that it must also be capable of withstanding temperature cycles that lead to changes in the volumes of the various components, and thus to positive or negative pressures that can cause the casing to be destroyed partly or completely, either by exceeding acceptable stresses, or by implosion of the outer casing (internal pressure variation then being negative). Since crude oil is conveyed over long distances, e.g. several kilometers, it is desirable to provide a very high level of insulation, firstly to minimize the increase in viscosity that would lead to a reduction in the hourly production rate of a well, and secondly to prevent flow being blocked by deposits of paraffin or the formation of hydrates whenever the temperature drops to around 30° C.-40° C. These phenomena are particularly critical in West Africa where the temperature of sea water at the bottom is about 4° C. and where the crude oil is of the paraffin type. Numerous thermal insulation systems are known that enable the required level of performance to be achieved and that are capable of withstanding pressure at the bottom of the sea which is of the order of 150 bars at a depth of 1500 m. Mention is made, amongst others, of concepts of the “pipe-in-pipe” type comprising a pipe conveying the hot fluid installed in an outer protective pipe, with the space between the two pipes being either merely filled with lagging, optionally vacuum-confined, or else merely evacuated. Numerous other insulating materials have been developed for providing high performance insulation, some of them also withstanding pressure. Such insulating materials merely surround the hot pipe and are generally confined within an outer casing that is flexible or rigid, at equalized pressure, and that serves mainly to ensure that shape remains substantially constant over time. To varying degrees, all of those devices conveying a hot fluid within an insulated pipe present phenomena of differential expansion. The inner pipe is generally made of steel and is at a temperature which it is desired to keep as high as possible, e.g. 60° C. or 80° C., whereas the outer casing, often also made of steel, is at the temperature of sea water, i.e. at around 4° C. The forces generated on the connection elements between the inner pipe and the outer casing are considerable and can reach several tens or even several hundreds of (metric) tonnes, and the resulting overall elongation is of the order of 1 m to 2 m for insulated pipes that are 1000 m to 1200 m long. Patents WO 00/49263, WO 02/066786, and WO 02/103153 in the name of the Applicant describe various hybrid tower type installations including insulated pipes. A problem posed in the present invention is that of making and installing such bottom-to-surface connections for undersea pipes at great depths, such as depths greater than 1000 m for example, and of the type comprising a vertical tower transporting fluid that must be maintained above some minimum temperature until it reaches the surface, while minimizing the components that are the subject of heat losses, and avoiding the drawbacks created by the intrinsic or differential thermal expansion of the various components of said tower, so as to better withstand the extreme stresses and the fatigue phenomena that accumulate over the lifetime of the structure, which commonly exceeds 20 years. Patent WO 00/40886 describes a lagging material making use of solid-liquid phase change and the latent heat of fusion, capable of delivering heat to the inner pipe, and confined around said inner pipe within a deformable and leakproof casing, thus enabling the casing to track the expansion and contraction of the various components under the influence of all the parameters involved, including internal and external temperatures. More precisely, in WO 00/40886, a solid-liquid phase-change material is used to take advantage of the latent heat of fusion, in which phase change takes place at a temperature T0 that is greater than the temperature T1 at which the oil flowing inside the pipe becomes too viscous, with the temperature T1 generally lying in the range 20° C. to 60° C., and that is less than the temperature T2 of the crude oil on entering the pipe. In the event of production stopping, this phase-change material (PCM) makes it possible to ensure that the fluid which is normally flowing inside the inner pipe is maintained at a high temperature so as to prevent paraffins or hydrates forming in the oil. Other phase-change materials can be envisaged, such as optionally hydrated salts, that store and restore considerable amounts of energy during changes of phase. Thus, during stops in production, the crude oil no longer flows and remains stationary within the pipe, so heat is lost to the outside environment, which is generally at 4° C. in very great depths, with this loss of heat being to the detriment of the PCM, while the oil continues to remain at a temperature that is greater than or substantially equal to the temperature of said PCM. Throughout the stage in which the PCM is solidifying or crystallizing, its temperature remains substantially constant and equal T0, e.g. 36° C., and thus the inner pipe containing the crude oil remains at a temperature greater than or substantially equal to the temperature (T0) of the PCM, i.e. 36° C., thus preventing paraffins or hydrates forming in the crude oil. The previously-described phase-change materials generally present large variation in volume on changing state, which variation can be as great as 20% for paraffin. The outer protective casing must be capable of accommodating such variations in volume without damage. That is why, according to WO 00/40886, the PCM is confined within a leakproof casing that is deformable, thus enabling it to track the expansion and contraction of the various components under the influence of all the parameters involved, including internal and external temperatures. The pipe is thus either confined within a flexible thermoplastic casing, in particular one made of polyethylene or polypropylene, e.g. of circular section, with the increase or reduction of internal volume due to temperature variations and comparable to breathing being absorbed by the flexibility of the casing, e.g. constituted by a thermoplastic material having a high elastic limit. In order to withstand mechanical stresses, it is preferable to use a semi-rigid casing made of a strong material such as steel or a composite material, e.g. a composite made from a binder such as epoxy resin and organic or inorganic fibers such as carbon fibers or glass fibers, in which case the casing is given an oval or flattened shape with or without reverse curvature so as to give it, at constant perimeter, a section that is of smaller area than the corresponding circle. Thus, the “breathing” of the casing in the event of volume increasing or decreasing will lead respectively to the casing being returned to a round shape, or to the flattening of said casing being accentuated. Under such circumstances, the bundle and casing assembly is referred to as a “flat bundle”, as contrasted with a bundle having a circular casing. The problem of the present invention is more particularly that of providing an improved system for thermally insulating an undersea pipe or bundle of pipes, which system includes an insulating material, in particular a PCM, presenting behavior when restarting production that is such as to enable production to be restarted in a length of time that is shorter than in the prior art. In the event of production being stopped for several days or several weeks, it is general practice to take the precaution of purging the line while the PCM remains active, i.e. to cause a substitution substance to flow in a loop so as to keep the assembly safe prior to allowing the temperature of the pipe to drop to around 4° C. The substitution substance may be gas oil, for example. Then, on restarting, the same gas oil is generally used to reheat the pipe by causing it to circulate in a loop from the floating support where it is heated by being passed through boilers or heat exchangers taking heat from gas turbines. Thus, during heating, heat migrates inside the pipe towards the outer ambient medium which is generally at 4° C., and throughout the reheating stage, most of the heat conveyed by the circulating gas oil is absorbed by the PCM, thereby reliquefying it, with this possibly taking several days or several weeks if the pipe is very long, or if the rate at which heat is produced on the floating support is insufficient. It is only after this stage of heating by circulating gas oil that it is possible to reconnect the wellheads and restart production. If production is started prematurely, then the insulating PCM will only be partially liquid and its internal temperature will be less than or equal to T0 (the phase-change temperature), and thus low over the entire length of the undersea pipe, and the following phenomena are then observed. As the oil leaving the well at high temperature, e.g. 75° C., advances towards the floating production storage and off-loading (FPSO) support, it delivers heat to liquefy the PCM, and in so doing the temperature of the crude oil drops quickly since the PCM is then not performing its function as an insulating system but is performing the opposite function of absorbing heat, leading to accelerated cooling of the crude oil. Thus, after traveling a few kilometers, or possibly even only a few hundreds of meters, the temperature of the oil drops to the critical value T1 at which the unwanted phenomena of hydrate or paraffin plugs forming within the oil flowing in the pipe can occur, thereby leading to the flow of crude oil being blocked. In the zone close to the wellhead, the PCM reliquefies progressively and the front of complete reliquefication advances slowly towards the FPSO. In a zone that is further away, the temperature remains stable at around T0 and liquefication can continue only if the crude oil continues to be at a temperature greater than T0, Thus, with very long lines, e.g. 5 kilometers (km) or 6 km, in a zone that is very far from the source of heat, i.e. close to the FPSO, there is no longer enough heat being delivered and the PCM loses heat to the ambient medium at 4° C. In order to supply this heat it is transformed progressively to the solid state. For pipes that are very long, it can thus be seen that on restarting, the PCM in the zone close to the wellheads can be reliquefying while at the other end, close to the FPSO, the PCM is resolidifying, since the rate at which heat is being lost to the ambient medium is greater than the rate at which heat is being delivered by the crude oil flowing in the pipe. The PCM is waiting for a hot front of crude oil which will convert it back into the liquid phase. An object of the present invention is thus to provide a pipe insulation system that enables heating to be performed so as to maintain the effluent flowing in an undersea pipe at a temperature above a fixed value so that after a prolonged stoppage, the duration of the restarting stage is shortened, for example making it possible, where appropriate, merely to heat the pipe partially without needing to wait for all of the PCM, if any, to be completely liquefied. T0 do this, the invention provides apparatus for heating and lagging at least one undersea main pipe for carrying a flow of hot effluent, the apparatus comprising: a covering of at least one thermally insulating material surrounding said main pipe(s); said insulating covering being covered by a leaktight outer protective casing that is preferably cylindrical in shape; the apparatus being characterized in that it comprises: a) an internal chamber preferably of cylindrical shape and coaxial inside said outer casing, such that: said insulating covering surrounds said internal chamber and preferably fills the annular space between said outer casing and said internal chamber; and said main pipe is contained inside said internal chamber, that is preferably cylindrical in shape; and b) means suitable for maintaining the temperature of a heat-transfer fluid and for causing it to circulate inside said internal chamber, said heat-transfer fluid surrounding the main pipe contained inside a said internal chamber. In an advantageous embodiment, said internal chamber conveys at least one internal gas-injection pipe suitable for enabling gas to be injected into said main pipe, said internal gas-injection pipe being connected to said main pipe at one end in the longitudinal direction of said main pipe inside said internal chamber, and preferably said gas-injection pipe extending outside said internal chamber in the form of an external gas-injection pipe connecting said internal gas-injection pipe to a floating support. Injecting gas into the bottom of a riser type bottom-to-surface connection creates bubbles within the upwardly-rising effluent, thereby reducing its density and thus encouraging said effluent to rise. This “gas-lift” technology is well known to the person skilled in the art and is not described in greater detail herein. In a particular embodiment, said internal chamber comprises both fluid-circulation means for circulating a heat-transfer fluid, said fluid-circulation means comprising at least one internal heat-transfer fluid feed pipe extending in the longitudinal direction inside said internal chamber from a first orifice situated at a first end of the internal chamber, preferably as far as the vicinity of the second end of said internal chamber, and a second orifice for outlet of said heat-transfer fluid, preferably level with said first end of the internal chamber, said internal heat-transfer fluid feed pipe being situated beside said main pipe, between it and said outer insulating material. Because the heat-transfer fluid feed pipe runs along practically the entire length of the internal chamber, it can also contribute to heating the inside of the internal chamber. Advantageously, orifices can be placed on said heat-transfer fluid feed pipe at intermediate levels so that some of the hot heat-transfer fluid is transferred directly into the internal chamber at said intermediate levels. In which case, and advantageously, said internal gas-injection pipe is a pipe that is spiral-wound around said internal heat-transfer fluid feed pipe inside said internal chamber, preferably a rigid pipe shaped into a spiral. This embodiment is particularly advantageous since it makes it possible to establish a reserve for possible elongation of said internal gas-injection pipe when said main pipe is subjected to variations in length due to variations in the temperature of the hot effluent flowing inside it. In addition, this configuration for the internal gas-injection pipe spiral-wound around the internal heat-transfer fluid feed pipe also enables the gas to be heated prior to being injected into the main pipe, thereby improving the performance of gas-lift. In a first variant embodiment, said internal heat-transfer fluid feed pipe is extended from said first orifice to a floating support by an external flexible pipe for feeding said heat-transfer fluid, and said second orifice for outlet of heat-transfer fluid is connected to a second external flexible pipe for returning said heat-transfer fluid to said floating support. In this variant embodiment, said heat-transfer fluid can be heated on board said floating support by causing it to pass through boilers or heat exchangers, in particular heat exchangers for recovering heat coming from gas turbines, for example. In a second variant embodiment, said internal heat-transfer fluid feed pipe is connected to heat-transfer fluid circulation means comprising a pump co-operating at said first end of the internal chamber with said first orifice for feeding heat-transfer fluid and with said second orifice for outlet of heat-transfer fluid, said pump enabling the heat-transfer fluid to be circulated successively inside said internal heat-transfer fluid feed pipe, then inside the internal chamber, then out from said internal chamber via said second orifice, then recirculating in a loop back into said internal chamber via said first orifice, an external pipe for conveying heat-transfer fluid between said floating support and the pump body or said first orifice enabling the quantity of heat-transfer fluid in circulation in the chamber and in the various pipes to be adjusted. Preferably, in this second variant embodiment, the apparatus of the invention includes heater means for heating the heat-transfer fluid inside said internal heat-transfer fluid feed pipe, the heater means preferably being in the form of an electrical resistance element. This heater means enables the heat-transfer fluid to be heated very effectively since the electrical resistance element constitutes an element that is very simple and easy to power from the floating support by means of a cable that is of small dimensions, providing a high voltage is used. In addition, the quantity of energy transferred to the heat-transfer fluid can easily be adjusted by varying the voltage or the current or both. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus of the invention includes at least one transverse end partition at at least a said first end, said end transverse partition supporting said main pipe and also said fluid-circulation means, and having said main pipe passing therethrough and, where appropriate, having first and second orifices enabling said heat-transfer fluid to be caused to circulate inside and outside said internal chamber via said orifices. In a more particular embodiment, the apparatus of the invention has first and second transverse end partitions each at a respective one of the two ends of the internal chamber, said first end partition including, where appropriate, said first and second orifices, and said two transverse end partitions supporting said outer casing and said internal chamber and connecting them together in leaktight manner, while also ensuring, at least at a first end, that the heat-transfer fluid is confined inside the internal chamber. Preferably, the apparatus of the invention includes a second end partition including a large orifice of diameter greater than that of the main pipe, through which orifice said main pipe passes, so that the heat-transfer fluid is in contact with sea water at the bottom end of the internal chamber. This embodiment is more particularly suitable when the heat-transfer fluid is a non-polluting fluid such as fresh water, as explained in detail below. This embodiment makes it possible to avoid the difficulties that can arise from differential expansion between the main pipe and the internal chamber. In another embodiment, said second end partition includes an orifice surrounding and secured to a tubular sleeve inside which said main pipe can slide with little clearance, preferably in leaktight manner. This embodiment is more particularly suitable when the heat-transfer fluid is a polluting fluid. In all cases, it is advantageous for said main pipe to be covered in a second insulating covering, at least at said second end of the internal chamber, said heat-transfer fluid circulating in said internal chamber outside said second covering. More particularly, said second covering is constituted by a thermally insulating material, preferably a solid thermally insulating material, more preferably syntactic foam, said solid material directly surrounding said main pipe, more preferably said second insulating material completely filling the space between said main pipe and a second pipe that is coaxial therewith, having said main pipe inserted therein. In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the present invention, said insulating covering comprises an insulating material that is subject to migration, and at least said outer casing and/or said internal chamber is/are constituted by a solid material that is flexible or semi-rigid and suitable for tracking deformations of the insulating material and for remaining in contact therewith when it deforms. As mentioned above, said insulating material is a phase-change material presenting a liquid/solid melting temperature (T0) that preferably lies in the range 20° C. to 80° C., said temperature being greater than the temperature (T2) of the sea water environment surrounding the pipe in operation and less than the temperature (T1) above which the effluent flowing inside the pipe presents an increase in viscosity that is damaging for flow thereof in said pipe. The term “insulating material” is used herein to mean a material that presents thermal conductivity that is preferably less than 0.5 watts per meter per kelvin (W·m−1·K−), and that lies preferably in the range 0.05 W·m−1·K−1 to 0.2 W·m−1·K−1. Said insulating PCM is selected in particular from materials at least 90% constituted by chemical compounds selected from alkanes, in particular having a hydrocarbon chain with at least 10 carbon atoms, or optionally hydrated salts, glycols, bitumens, tars, waxes, and other fatty materials that are solid at ambient temperature such as tallow, margarine, or fatty alcohols and fatty acids, and the material is preferably incompressible and constituted by paraffin having a hydrocarbon chain with at least 14 carbon atoms. More particularly, said insulating phase-change material comprises chemical compounds from the alkane family, preferably a paraffin having a hydrocarbon chain with at least fourteen carbon atoms. Still more particularly, said paraffin is heptacosane of formula C17H36, or preferably tetracosane of formula C24H50, presenting a melting temperature of about 50° C. This makes it possible to use an industrial paraffin cut centered on heptacosane or on tetracosane. In an embodiment, said insulating material comprises an insulating mixture comprising a first compound consisting in a hydrocarbon compound such as paraffin or gas oil, mixed with a second compound consisting in a gelling compound and/or a compound having a structuring effect, in particular by cross-linking, such as a second compound of the polyurethane type, cross-linked polypropylene, cross-linked polyethylene, or silicone, preferably said first compound is in the form of particles or microcapsules dispersed within a matrix of said second compound, and, as first compounds, mention can be made more particularly of chemical compounds from the family of alkanes, such as paraffins or waxes, bitumens, tars, fatty alcohols, glycols, and even more particularly of compounds having material melting temperatures lying between the temperature T1 of the hot effluent flowing in one of the pipes and the temperature T2 of the medium surrounding the pipe in operation, i.e., in general, a melting temperature lying in the range 20° C. to 80° C. These various insulating materials are materials that are “subject to migration”, i.e. materials that are liquid, semiliquid, or of solid consistency such as the consistency of a fat, a paraffin, or a gel, that are capable of being deformed by the stresses that result from differential pressures between two distinct points of the casing, and/or by variations in temperature within said insulating material. That is why, in a preferred embodiment, the apparatus of the present invention includes a said insulating covering comprising at least one said viscous solid material that is subject to migration and at least two intermediate transverse partitions that are leaktight, each of said intermediate transverse partitions being constituted by a closed rigid structure having said internal chamber passing therethrough and secured to the walls of said internal chamber and to said outer casing, said intermediate transverse partitions preferably being spaced apart from one another at regular intervals along the longitudinal axis of said internal chamber and outer casing coaxial therewith, more preferably at a distance of 50 m to 200 m. This rigid structure secured to the casing prevents said casing from moving in register with said partition and relative thereto, thus “freezing” the shape of the cross-section of the casing at said partition. The terms “leaktight” and “closed” are used to mean that said partition does not enable the material constituting said insulating covering to pass through said partition, and in particular the junction between said pipe and the orifices via which said pipe passes through said intermediate transverse partition does not allow said insulating covering material to pass through. Said leaktight intermediate transverse partitions serve to confine said insulating material(s) subject to migration constituting said insulating covering between said casing and said partitions. In a bottom-to-surface connection, e.g. the vertical portion of a tower or even the catenary section connecting the top of the tower to the surface support, or pipes resting on a steep slope at the bottom of the sea, outside pressure varies along the pipe and decreases on rising towards the surface. With insulating materials that are semi-liquid or fluid, the material presenting specific gravity less than that of sea water, generally of the order of 0.8 to 0.85, the differential pressure between the outside and the inside will vary along said pipe, increasing on rising towards the surface. Thus, it follows that deformation is accentuated in portions presenting the greatest pressure differential, thereby leading to large transfers of fluid parallel to the longitudinal axis of said pipe. In addition, the transfers are amplified by the “breathing” phenomena due to temperature variations as described above. A “flat” bundle is relatively insensitive to pressure variations due to changes in level: excess pressure low down, low pressure high up, and the towing stage is critical since length can reach several kilometers, the “bundle” never in fact being accurately horizontal which leads to significant variations in differential pressure during towing, and above all during the up-ending operation. When the bundle is in the vertical position or on the bottom of the sea on a steep slope, the pressure differential created by the low density of the insulating material, associated with the variation in volume created by thermal expansion of the insulating material leads to movements in the insulating material that the outer casing must be capable of accommodating. It is desirable to prevent particles moving parallel to the axis of the bundle, i.e. to prevent insulating material migrating between two zones of the bundle that are far apart, since that runs the risk of destroying the structure proper of the insulating material. This apparatus with leakproof intermediate transverse partitions thus enables a bundle to be constructed at lower cost on land, making it possible to put into place a covering of insulating material of semiliquid or semisolid type, to tow the apparatus while under the surface, and to up-end it into a vertical position for installation purposes, while nevertheless ensuring that the assembly is not damaged prior to being put into production and throughout its production lifetime, which generally exceeds 30 years. This apparatus with leakproof intermediate transverse partitions also makes it possible to insulate at least one undersea pipe that is be laid on the bottom, in particular at great depth, and in particular in steeply sloping zones, using a leakproof casing of the flat bundle type that is capable of providing significant transverse flexibility in order to absorb variations in volume while nevertheless conserving sufficient longitudinal rigidity to make handling possible, such as during construction on land, towing to the site, and conserving the mechanical integrity of said casing throughout the lifetime of the apparatus which can reach or exceed 30 years. In a particular embodiment, said closed structure of said leakproof intermediate transverse partition comprises a cylindrical piece of cross-section whose perimeter presents the same fixed shape as that of said cross-section of the casing. The term “cross-section” is used to mean section in a plane XX′, YY′ perpendicular to the longitudinal axis ZZ′ of said casing, said casing being tubular in shape and presenting a central longitudinal axis ZZ′, and preferably the cross-section of said casing defines a perimeter presenting two axes of symmetry XX′ and YY′ that are perpendicular to each other and to said longitudinal axis ZZ′. In the present description, the term “perimeter of the cross-section” is used to mean the closed curved line that encompasses the plane surface defined by said cross-section. The perimeter of the cross-section of the outer casing at the leakproof partitions is of fixed shape and therefore cannot deform by the casing contracting or expanding at this point. In various embodiments, said cross-section of the outer envelope is circular in shape, or oval in shape, or indeed rectangular in shape, preferably with rounded corners. Said leaktight intermediate transverse partitions create thermal bridges. It is therefore desirable to space them apart as far as possible in order to reduce the thermal bridges. In a particular embodiment, the spacing between two successive ones of said leaktight intermediate transverse partitions along said longitudinal axis ZZ′ of said casing lies in the range 50 m to 200 m, and in particular in the range 100 m to 150 m. In order to reduce the number of leaktight intermediate transverse partitions, according to a preferred characteristic, the apparatus comprises at least one and preferably a plurality of shaping templates each constituted by a rigid structure secured to said internal chamber which passes therethrough and secured to said outer casing at its periphery, being disposed between two of said leaktight intermediate transverse partitions that are disposed in succession, each shaping template presenting openings allowing the material constituting said insulating material that is subject to migration to pass through said shaping template. Like said leaktight intermediate transverse partition, said shaping template freezes the shape of the cross-section of the outer casing and of the internal chamber at the level of said shaping template, while nevertheless minimizing heat bridges. More particularly, said open structure of said shaping template comprises a cylindrical piece of cross-section whose perimeter is inscribed in a geometrical figure identical to the geometrical figure defined by the shape of the perimeter of the cross-section of said leaktight partition. Preferably, an apparatus of the invention includes a plurality of shaping templates disposed along said longitudinal axis ZZ′ of the casing, preferably at regular intervals, two successive shaping templates being preferably spaced apart by a distance lying in the range 5 m to 50 m, and more preferably in the range 5 m to 20 m. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus of the invention further includes at least one centralizing template and preferably a plurality of centralizing templates preferably disposed at regular intervals between two of said leaktight intermediate transverse partitions in succession along said longitudinal axis, each centralizing template being constituted by a rigid piece secured to the wall of the internal chamber or of said outer casing, and presenting a shape which allows limited displacement of said outer casing or respectively of said internal chamber in contraction and in expansion facing said centralizing template, at least said outer casing or respectively said internal chamber being made of a material that is flexible or semi-rigid and suitable, where appropriate, for remaining in contact with the insulating covering when it deforms. More particularly, said centralizing template is preferably constituted by a rigid piece having an outer free surface or respectively an inner free surface that is cylindrical with the perimeter of the cross-section being set back from said outer casing or respectively from said internal chamber, thereby restricting deformation of said outer casing or respectively of said internal chamber by mechanical abutment against said rigid piece at at least two opposite points of the perimeter of the cross-section of said outer casing or respectively of said internal chamber. Said displacement of the outer casing or respectively of said internal chamber in register with said centralizing template may represent variations lying in the range 0.1% to 10%, and preferably in the range 0.1% to 5% of the distance between the two opposite points of the perimeter of the cross-section of said outer casing or respectively of said internal chamber. Thus, said rigid piece constituting said centralizing template presenting a portion of its outer free surface or respectively of its inner free surface that is set back sufficiently from the surface of the outer casing or respectively of the internal chamber, and/or presenting through perforations, serves to create a space that allows the material constituting said insulating covering to pass through said centralizing template. The centralizing template seeks to ensure that there is at least a minimum covering of insulating material around said internal chamber in the event of the casing being deformed by contraction, with said movable material being transferred between said two leaktight partitions. More particularly, said centralizing template presents a cross-section of perimeter that can be inscribed inside a geometrical figure that is substantially geometrically similar to the geometrical figure defined by the perimeter of the cross-section of said leaktight intermediate transverse partition. The distance between two centralizing templates along said longitudinal axis ZZ′ is such as to ensure that a sufficient quantity of said material constituting said insulating covering is maintained to guarantee the minimum covering needed for thermally insulating said internal chamber, given the contraction deformation to which said outer casing and/or said internal chamber might be subjected. Advantageously, the apparatus of the invention includes a plurality of centralizing templates, and two successive centralizing templates are spaced apart along said longitudinal axis ZZ′ of the casing at distances of 2 m to 5 m. These various leaktight intermediate transverse partitions, centralizing templates, and shaping templates are described in FR 2 821 915 in a different configuration since there they are directly secured to the undersea pipe conveying the effluent. As mentioned above, and advantageously, said outer casing and said internal chamber are coaxial along a longitudinal axis ZZ′ and define a perimeter presenting, at rest, two axes of symmetry XX′ and YY′ that are mutually perpendicular and perpendicular to said longitudinal axis ZZ′, and at least one of the walls constituting said outer casing and/or said internal chamber is made of a material that is flexible or semi-rigid (i.e. suitable for tracking the deformations of the insulating material and suitable for remaining in contact therewith when it deforms), while preferably the other wall is constituted by a material that is rigid, and more preferably of cross-section that is circular in shape. In a first variant embodiment, said internal chamber is made of a rigid material and said outer casing is made of a material that is flexible or semi-rigid. In various embodiments, the cross-section of the outer casing and/or of the internal chamber is/are circular in shape, or oval in shape, or indeed rectangular in shape, preferably with rounded corners. When the apparatus includes at least two pipes disposed in the same plane, the cross-section of said outer casing or of said internal chamber is preferably elongate in the same direction as said plane. More particularly, and as described in WO 00/40886, the outer perimeter of the cross-section of said outer protective casing or of said internal chamber is a closed curve for which the ratio of the square of its length over the area it defines is not less than 13. During variations in internal volume, the outer casing or said internal chamber then tends to deform towards a circular section, which mathematically speaking constitutes the shape having the greatest area for constant perimeter. With a circular profile, an increase in volume leads to stresses in the wall which are associated with an increase in pressure that results from said increase in volume. In contrast, if the shape of the cross-section is flattened, then the casing or the internal chamber has greater capacity to absorb expansion due to the expansion of the various components under the effect of temperature, without leading to significant extra pressure since the shape of the casing can become rounder. With a profile of oval shape, variation of internal pressure leads to a combination of bending stresses and pure traction stresses since the varying curvature of the oval then behaves like an architectural vault, except that with the present casing, the stresses are in traction and not in compression. Thus, a shape that is oval or near to oval can be envisaged for small expansion capacities and ovals should be considered that have ratios of major axis ρmax over minor axis ρmin that are as high as possible, for example at least 2/1 or 3/1. The shape of the casing should then be selected as a function of the overall expansion of the volume of the insulating outer covering under the effect of temperature variations. Thus, for an insulation system mainly using materials that are subject to expansion, a rectangular shape, a polygonal shape, or an oval shape enables expansion by bending of the wall while inducing minimum traction stresses in the outer casing. In a first embodiment, the cross-section of the outer casing, which is preferably made of a material that is rigid, is circular in shape, while the cross-section of said internal chamber, which is preferably made of a material that is flexible or semi-rigid, is oval in shape or rectangular in shape with rounded corners. In another embodiment, the cross-section of the internal chamber, which is preferably made of a material that is rigid, is circular in shape, while the cross-section of the outer casing, which is preferably made of a material that is flexible or semi-rigid, is oval in shape or rectangular in shape with rounded corners. Also advantageously, said main pipe and, where appropriate, said internal heat-transfer fluid feed pipe, co-operate(s) inside said internal chamber with centralizing elements which hold said pipe(s) substantially parallel to the axis ZZ′ of said internal chamber while allowing said pipes to move due to differential expansion thereof along said axis ZZ′. The present invention also provides apparatus for heating and thermally insulating a bundle of main undersea pipes, the apparatus being characterized in that it includes lagging and heating apparatus of the invention with at least two of said main pipes disposed in parallel inside said internal chamber. The invention also provides a bottom-to-surface connection installation between an undersea pipe resting on the sea bottom, in particular at great depth, and a supporting float 10, the installation comprising: a) at least one vertical riser connected at its bottom end to at least one said undersea pipe resting on the sea bottom, and at its top end to at least one float, said vertical riser being included in lagging and heating apparatus of the invention, said vertical riser corresponding to said main pipe, and said internal chamber extending over a depth of at least 1000 meters; b) at least one connection pipe, preferably a flexible pipe, connecting a floating support with the top end of said vertical riser; and c) where appropriate, said external flexible pipes for circulating the heat-transfer fluid between the floating support and said first and second orifices at the first end of the internal chamber, and, where appropriate, at least one said flexible external pipe for injecting gas. Preferably, the connection between the bottom end of the vertical riser and a said undersea pipe resting on the sea bottom takes place via an anchor system comprising a base placed on the bottom, said base serving to hold and guide junction elements between the bottom end of the vertical riser and the end of said pipe resting on the sea bottom, said junction elements including a pipe bend element and a pipe coupling element, preferably a single coupling element, and more preferably a single automatic connector, with said vertical riser including in its bottom terminal portion a flexible joint enabling the vertical portion of the riser situated above said flexible joint to move angularly, said junction elements comprising said flexible joint or a portion of vertical riser situated beneath said flexible joint. The term “vertical” riser is used herein to refer to the ideal position for the riser when it is at rest, it being understood that the axis of the riser can be subjected to angular movements relative to the vertical, with the riser moving within a cone of angle a whose apex corresponds to the point where the bottom end of the riser is fixed to said base. Said coupling elements, in particular of the automatic connector type, are known to the person skilled in the art and provide locking between a male portion and a complementary female portion, said locking being designed to be performed very simply at the bottom of the sea by using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) controlled from the surface, without requiring direct manual action by personnel. The installation of the present invention is advantageous since it presents relatively static geometry for said junction elements relative to said base, and more particularly to said moving support, said junction elements being held rigidly on said moving support. The bottom portion of the tower is thus properly stabilized and does not withstand any forces, in particular at the coupling between the vertical riser and the pipe resting on the sea bottom, since movements in longitudinal translation of the moving support lead to flexing of the end of the undersea pipe resting on the sea bottom, said flexing being capable of absorbing deformation in lengthening or retraction of the undersea pipe under the effects of temperature and pressure, thereby avoiding creating considerable thrust forces within the undersea pipe, which forces can be as great as 100 or even 200 tonnes or more, and would otherwise be transmitted to the foundation structure of the riser tower. In a preferred embodiment, said vertical riser has a flexible joint in its bottom terminal portion, which joint is preferably reinforced and enables the portion of said vertical riser situated above said flexible joint to move through an angle α, said junction elements comprising said flexible joint or a portion of vertical riser situated beneath said flexible joint. A flexible joint allows large variation in the angle α between the axis of riser and its ideal vertical position when at rest without leading to significant stresses in the portions of pipe that are situated on either side of the flexible joint: such flexible joints are known to the person skilled in the art and can be constituted by a spherical ball with a sealing gasket, or by a laminated ball made up of sandwiched sheets of elastomer and metal sheet bonded thereto, capable of accommodating large angular movements by deforming the elastomer sheets, while nevertheless maintaining complete leaktightness because of the absence of any rubbing joint surfaces. As a general rule, said angle α lies in the range 10° to 15°. In all cases, said flexible joint is hollow so as to pass fluid, and its inside diameter is preferably the same as the diameter of the adjacent pipes connected thereto, and in particular equal to that of the vertical riser. The term “reinforced flexible joint” is used herein to mean a joint capable of transferring to the moving support the vertical forces created by the tension generated by the under-surface float, and the horizontal forces created by swell, and currents acting on the vertical portion of the riser, on the float, and on the flexible connection to the floating support, and also by displacements of said floating support. When said junction elements include a said flexible joint, said flexible joint is thus held fixed relative to said moving support. Said flexible joint then corresponds to a terminal element of the junction elements, providing the junction with said vertical riser. Because of the presence of the flexible joint, and because of the flexible connection to the floating support situated at the top of the vertical riser, horizontal displacement of the base of the vertical riser which is at a point of substantially fixed altitude does not lead to any significant force in the hinged assembly constituted by said moving support, said flexible joint, said riser, and said connection to the surface support, under the effect of displacements of said moving support within said base platform, which displacements do not in general exceed 5 m. A known method of acting on the inside of pipes is referred to as the “coiled-tubing” method which consists in pushing a rigid tube of small diameter, generally 20 millimeters (mm) to 50 mm along the inside of the pipe. The rigid tube is stored by being wound merely by bending on a drum, and is then untwisted while being unwound. Said tube can be several thousand meters long in a single length. The end of the tube situated on the storage drum is connected via a rotary joint to a pumping device capable of injecting liquid at high pressure and high temperature. Thus, by pushing the fine tube along the pipe and by maintaining pumping and pressure, the pipe can be cleaned by injecting a hot substance capable of dissolving plugs. This method of taking of taking action is commonly used on vertical wells or pipes that have become obstructed by paraffin or hydrates forming, which phenomena occur often and are to be feared in all installations that produce crude oil. The coiled-tubing method is referred to below as coiled-tubing cleaning or CTC. The installation of the invention thus advantageously includes a swanneck-shaped device providing the connection between the top end of said riser and a pipe connecting it to the floating support, so as to make it possible to act on the inside of said vertical riser from the top portion of the float through said swanneck device, so as to access the inside of the riser and clean it by injecting liquid and/or by scraping the inside wall of said riser, and then where appropriate the inside wall of said undersea pipe resting on the sea bottom. Also advantageously, the installation of the invention has an outer second casing of circular cross-section containing at least one lagging and heating apparatus of the invention, said outer casing of said lagging and heating apparatus of the invention being secured to said second outer casing, preferably by resilient connections, and more preferably said second outer casing has spiral-shaped means on its outside periphery suitable for preventing the formation of vortices and the separation of turbulence under the effect of sea currents. This embodiment is particularly advantageous when the lagging and heating apparatus of the invention has an outer casing of cross-section that is not circular or when the installation has at least two of said lagging and heating apparatuses with their two outer casings side by side whether they are circular or non-circular in cross-section. The present invention also provides a method of heating and thermally insulating at least one main undersea pipe for providing a bottom-to-surface connection for conveying a flow of hot effluent to the sea bottom or from the sea bottom to the surface, characterized in that a heating and lagging apparatus of the invention is used, preferably in an installation of the invention, with a said heat-transfer fluid being caused to circulate inside said internal chamber. In a particular embodiment, said heat-transfer fluid is selected from sea water, fresh water, gas oil, and oil. Preferably, the heat-transfer fluid is selected to have specific gravity less than that of water so that it contributes to providing buoyancy for the lagging and heating apparatus of the present invention, in particular it can be constituted by gas oil having specific gravity of about 0.85. It is advantageous to use a heat-transfer fluid of large specific heat per unit mass such as sea water or fresh water, but fresh water is preferable since it remains less aggressive to the metal walls of the internal chamber and when additives are included for avoiding the proliferation of algae and other organisms, said additives will remain for a long time within the circulating fresh water merely because of the difference in density relative to sea water with the interface between the two fluids being located at the bottom of the rising column where it is little disturbed. The heating and thermal insulating method of the invention is particularly advantageous when heating said main pipe by circulating said heat-transfer fluid during a stage of restarting production after a prolonged stop. Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention appear better on reading the following description given by way of non-limiting illustration and with reference to the accompanying drawings, which: FIG. 1 is a side view of a bottom-to-surface connection of the riser tower type connecting an undersea pipe 13 resting on the sea bed 30 to a floating support 10 on the surface 31; FIG. 1A is a section view of a twin pipe for circulating a heat-transfer fluid; FIG. 1B is a view of the bottom end of the apparatus of the invention co-operating with an anchor base 19 on the sea bed 30; FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 are cross-sections through lagging and heating apparatus of the invention having an outer casing 3 respectively in a circular configuration (FIG. 2), of rectangular type (FIG. 3), and of oval type (FIG. 4), the internal chamber 4 containing two production pipes 1a, 1b, a gas-injection pipe 71, and a heating pipe 61; FIGS. 5 and 6 are sections through lagging and heating apparatus of the invention of inverted type, i.e. with an outer casing 3 of circular configuration and an internal chamber 4 of oval type configuration (FIG. 5) and of rectangular configuration (FIG. 6): FIG. 7 is a side view in section through lagging and heating apparatus 1 of the invention containing a production pipe 1a, a heating pipe 61 for delivering heat-transfer fluid, passing along an internal heating chamber 4, itself being surrounded by peripheral thermal insulation with a coating of lagging 2, the bottom portion of the apparatus being in direct communication with sea water; FIG. 8 shows a variant of FIG. 7 in which there can be seen devices 161 for holding the pipes 1a and 61 inside the internal heating chamber 4, and devices 15, 16, and 17 enabling deformation of the outer casing 3 to be controlled, with the bottom portion of the apparatus including an additional lagging system 21 directly around the pipe, the bottom end of the apparatus being completely enclosed at 112; FIGS. 8a to 8d are cross-section views of FIG. 8 level with the leakproof partitions, the centralizing templates, and the shaping templates; FIG. 9 is a side view in section of the top portion of apparatus of the invention as shown in FIGS. 7 or 8, and including apparatus for pumping (9) and for heating (64) the heat-transfer fluid that is circulated around the loop inside the chamber 4 via the heat-transfer fluid feed pipe 61; FIG. 10 is a horizontal cross-section view of a twin lagging and heating apparatus of the invention fitted on its periphery with a circular outer second casing 31; and FIG. 11 is a side view of the FIG. 10 apparatus in which said circular second casing 31 is fitted with a helix seeking to reduce turbulence phenomena under the effect of current. FIG. 1 shows a bottom-to-surface connection installation between an undersea pipe 13 resting on the sea bed, in particular at great depth, and a floating support 10 of the FPSO type, the installation comprising: a) a vertical riser 1a, 1b connected at its bottom end to at least one said undersea pipe 13 resting on the sea bottom, and at its top end to at least one float 14, said vertical riser being included in a lagging and heating apparatus 1 of the invention, said vertical riser corresponding to said main pipe, and said internal chamber 4 extending over a depth of at least 1000 meters; b) a flexible connection pipe 12 providing a connection between a floating support 10 and the top end of said vertical riser 1; c) a twin external flexible pipe 62, 63 for circulating (respectively feeding and returning) the heat-transfer fluid 5 between the floating support 10 and said first and second orifices 81, 82 at the first end 41 of the internal chamber 4, and a said external flexible pipe for injecting gas 72; and d) the connection between the bottom end of the vertical riser 1a, 1b and a said undersea pipe 13 resting on the sea bottom taking place via an anchor system comprising a base 19 placed on the sea bottom, said base 19 serving to hold and guide junction elements between the bottom end of the vertical riser 1a, 1b and the end of said pipe 13 resting on the sea bottom, and said junction elements comprising a curved pipe element 20 and a pipe coupling element 21 together constituting a single automatic connector, and said vertical riser 1a, 1b having in its bottom end portion a flexible joint 22 enabling the vertical riser 1a, 1b situated above said flexible joint 22 to move angularly, and said junction elements comprising said flexible joint 22 or a vertical riser portion situated under said flexible joint 22. The various flexible pipes 62, 63, 72 and 12 are suspected over the side of the FPSO and are connected to the top of the installation, the installation being referred to below as a tower, either at a top plate 111 or via a swanneck device 24. All of the flexible pipes take up a catenary configuration. The installation has a swanneck-shaped device 24 providing connection between the top end of said vertical riser 1a, 1b and a said connection pipe 12 leading to the floating support 10 so as to make it possible to act on the inside of said vertical riser from the top end of said float 14 through said swanneck-shaped device 24 so as to access the inside of said vertical riser 5 and clean it by injection liquid and/or by scraping the inside wall of said vertical riser 5, and then, where appropriate, the inside wall of said undersea pipe 13 resting on the sea bed. Said production flexible pipe 12 is thus connected to the swan-neck 24 having connected to the top thereof a large-capacity float 14. The swan-neck 24 is connected to the float via a flexible pipe, thus making it possible from the surface to undertake cleaning action in the vertical pipe 1a from a ship 101 fitted with coiled-tubing equipment, known to the person skilled in the art. The production pipe 1a passes along the full length of the lagging and heating apparatus 1 of the invention and terminates at its bottom end via a leaktight flexible joint 22 of inside diameter corresponding substantially to the diameter of the main pipe 1a. The base is anchored on the sea bottom 30 and is connected via a pipe bend 20 and an automatic connector 21, the undersea pipe 13 resting on the sea bottom 30. As explained above, said flexible joint 22 allows the lagging and heating apparatus 1 to move angularly under the effects of swell and current, and is also capable of withstanding the vertical tensioning forces created by the float 14, and also by the buoyancy, if any, of the thermally insulating components integrated in the lagging and heating apparatus 1. The twin pipe for circulating heat-transfer fluid 62, 63 and the gas feed pipe 72 extending between the floating support 10 and the top of the lagging apparatus 1 co-operate with respective orifices 81, 82, and 83 provided in the top end transverse partition 111, also referred to herein as the top “plate” 111, at the top 41 of the lagging and heating apparatus 1 of the invention. As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the top plate 111 is secured to the vertical production pipe 1a which passes through it at 85, and it also supports the outer casing 31 and the tubular peripheral wall of the internal chamber 4. Thus, the production pipe 1a supports all of the tension created by the float 14, and in addition supports the top plate 111 together with the elements constituting the lagging and heating apparatus 1 consisting in the outer casing 3 and the internal chamber 4. FIGS. 7 to 9 show the heating and lagging apparatus 1 of the invention, which comprises: the main undersea pipe 1a of vertical riser 1a for conveying a flow of hot oil; an internal chamber 4 of circularly cylindrical shape, with said vertical riser 1a being contained therein; and a said outer casing 3, likewise of cylindrical shape and coaxial about said internal chamber 4. The lagging and heating means are constituted by: a thermally insulating coating 2 occupying the space between the internal chamber 4 and the outer casing 3; and a heat-transfer fluid 5 flowing inside the internal chamber 4 from its bottom end 42 to its top end 41 level with said second orifice 82 passing through the top plate 111. The heat-transfer fluid is taken to the top of the lagging and heating apparatus 1 of the invention by the external flexible pipe 62 which is connected to an internal pipe 61 for conveying a flow of heat-transfer fluid inside the chamber 4, via the first orifice 81 passing through the top plate 111. The internal pipe 61 extends parallel to the main pipe 1a in the longitudinal direction ZZ′ of the internal chamber 4 so that the heat-transfer fluid opens out into the internal chamber 4 at the end 65 of said feed pipe 61 that is close to the bottom end 42 of the lagging and heating apparatus 1. The flow of heat-transfer fluid 5 inside the chamber 4 is driven by suction through the outlet orifice 82 at the top 41 of the lagging and heating apparatus 1 in two variant embodiments. In a first variant as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the second orifice 82 for outlet of the heat-transfer fluid is connected to a second external flexible pipe 63 for returning said heat-transfer fluid to the floating support 10, and it is on board the floating support 10 that there is to be found a system for pumping and heating the fluid. In a second variant embodiment as shown in FIG. 9, a pumping apparatus 9 is installed on the top plate 111 so as to co-operate with said first orifice 81 for heat-transfer fluid 5 and said second orifice 82 for outlet of heat-transfer fluid, thereby enabling the heat-transfer fluid to be caused to circulate in a loop inside the chamber 4. As shown in FIG. 9, the pump 9 may be electrical, hydraulic, or pneumatic, and it is contained inside a container 91 mounted on the top plate 111. The suction orifice of the pump is connected to the orifice 82 for outlet of heat-transfer fluid through the plate 111, and the outlet orifice of the pump is.connected to the feed orifice 81 for feeding fluid into the chamber 4 through the top plate 111. The electrical resistance element 64 dips inside the pipe 61 over a length that is sufficient to enable the heat-transfer fluid 5 to be raised to a suitable temperature prior to continuing its travel down towards the bottom of the chamber 4. T0 clarify the drawing, the orifice 83 for the gas-injection pipe 71 is shown offset to the left relative to the configuration shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The electrical resistance element 64 and the motor of the pump 9 are powered by an electrical cable 66 occupying a catenary configuration leading to the side of the FPSO (not shown). The external flexible pipe 62 for feeding heat-transfer fluid co-operates with the orifice 67 and enables the chamber 5 to be filled with heat-transfer fluid. The pump 9 and the electrical resistance element 64 inside the container 91 can be maintained since the container 91 is independent and is connected to the top plate 111 by means that are not shown. It is thus possible to disconnect the container 91 and hoist it to a tender 101 located vertically along the top plate 111. After being repaired or replaced, the container 91 is lowered back down and the electrical cables are reconnected, with isolating valves (not shown) being opened and the heat-transfer fluid 5 again being capable of being circulated and heated, depending on requirements. This second embodiment with the pump 9 installed at the top of the lagging apparatus 1 is advantageous when the heat needed for heating the heat-transfer fluid 5 is produced by electricity generators. Otherwise, the first variant shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is advantageous when the heat is recovered from the equipment existing on board the floating support, and in particular from its gas turbines, diesel engines, or furnaces for eliminating polluting substances. FIGS. 7 and 8 show that the top plate 111 is secured to the main pipe 1a via reinforcement 114 and is supported thereby. The wall of the internal chamber 4 and the outer casing 3 are secured in leaktight manner to the top plate 111. The internal heat-transfer fluid feed pipe 61 is supported in leaktight manner by the top plate 111 via reinforcement 115, said feed pipe 61 passing along the full height of the internal chamber 4 so as to open out at a point 65 close to the bottom 42. The heat-transfer fluid 5 thus fills all of the space that exists between the various pipes 1a, 61 inside the internal chamber 4, which space is defined at its top end by the top plate 111. The fluid then leaves via the second orifice 82 so as to return to the floating support 10 via the external flexible connection 63 where the heat-transfer fluid is heated and then pumped back towards the feed orifice 81 via the external flexible feed pipe 62 so as to ensure that it circulates continuously, thereby maintaining all of the components at a temperature that prevents pipes becoming blocked by the formation of paraffin or hydrates. The internal gas-injection pipe 71 is secured in leaktight manner to the top plate 111 via reinforcement 116 from which it is suspended. The internal gas-injection pipe 71 is advantageously spiral-wound around the hot heat-transfer fluid feed pipe 61 prior to being finally connected directly at 74 to the main production pipe 1a so as to perform so-called gas-lift. In the production configuration, gas is injected under pressure slightly greater than the internal pressure that exists in the main pipe 1a at the orifice 74, e.g. 0.5 bars to 2 bars greater, thereby producing bubbles 73 within the crude oil, having the effect of modifying its density and thereby accelerating the fluid stream. As the bubbles 73 rise, the hydrostatic pressure within the crude oil decreases, thereby causing the volume of the bubbles to increase and thus decreasing the apparent density of the oil and accelerating the process of transferring crude oil from the bottom of the sea to the FPSO. The spiral disposition of the internal gas-injection pipe 71 presents three particular advantages: firstly, the gas-injection pipe 71 is very close to the internal pipe 61 feeding hot heat-transfer fluid, thereby ensuring that the gas is maintained at a good temperature until it is injected into the base of the main production pipe 1a; secondly, since said pipe 71 is held securely at its top end to the top plate 111 via a rigid connection 115, and at its bottom end to the injection orifice 74, differential expansion between the main production pipe 1a and the gas-injection pipe 71 is accommodated without damage by elastic deformation of the spiral formed by said pipe 71, which is wound in a spiral around the heat-transfer fluid pipe 61, thus making it possible to use ordinary steel pipe; and finally, in the event of the installation stopping, the riser 1a will be full of crude oil, which also penetrates into the gas-injection pipe 71 up to a certain height since there is no check valve at the injection orifice 74; such check valves are avoided since they require maintenance and run the risk of leading to breakdowns in which they no longer operate properly, e.g. by leaking or by becoming blocked in the open or the closed position. Thus, on restarting, it is advantageous to cause the heat-transfer fluid 5 to circulate in the chamber 4, thereby immediately fluidizing the crude oil contained in the gas-injection pipe 71 spiral-wound in direct contact with the hot fluid feed pipe 61, and enabling a high temperature to be maintained while warming the crude oil contained in the main production pipe 1a little by little. By maintaining gas at a sufficiently high pressure, once the oil in the riser 1a becomes sufficiently fluid, the gas-injection pipe 71 vents rapidly and gas-lift comes into action as soon as possible, thereby optimizing restarting the installation. In FIG. 7, the insulating covering 2 is confined in the space that extends between the top plate 111, the internal chamber 4, the outer casing 3, and the transverse partition 112 situated at the bottom end 42 of the lagging and heating apparatus 1. This transverse end partition 112 at the bottom end 42 of the apparatus is open in its center via an orifice 84 so that the inside of the chamber 4 is in direct contact with sea water at the bottom of the apparatus 1. Insofar as the heat-transfer fluid is sufficiently poorly miscible with sea water and is of lower density, an interface zone arises between the hot heat-transfer fluid and the sea water. The heat-transfer fluid may be hot fresh water and any mixing that might occur between the two waters does not present any major drawback other than locally losing a small portion of the heat from the heat-transfer fluid. In addition, in order to improve thermal insulation of the riser 1, it is advantageous to have additional insulation 21, e.g. syntactic foam or a pipe-in-pipe section extending over a height of 30 m to 40 m, for example, centered on the interface zone between the heat-transfer fluid and sea water, in the longitudinal direction ZZ′. Thus, by disposing the bottom end 65 of the heat-transfer fluid feed pipe 61 at 20 m above the bottom point 42 of the internal chamber 4, for example, and more advantageously by fitting the end 65 of the heat-transfer fluid feed pipe 61 with a deflector 66, the interface between hot water and cold water is kept well above the bottom point 42 of the internal chamber 4, thereby minimizing wasted heat losses. In addition, the additional insulation 21 extends well below the deflector 68, thereby guaranteeing both excellent insulation and thoroughly effective heating of the bottom portion of the pipe 1a. This embodiment in which the bottom end 42 of the internal chamber 4 is open via an orifice 84 of diameter greater than the diameter of the main pipe 1a fitted with its additional insulating coating 21 is advantageous since it allows the riser 1a to lengthen and shorten due to temperature variations without leading to mechanical interface difficulties at the bottom end connection between the main pipe 1a and the bottom transverse partition 112 of the lagging apparatus 1 of the invention. FIG. 8 shows a variant embodiment in which the transverse bottom end partition 112 co-operates with a tubular sleeve 113 surrounding the bottom end of the main pipe 1a fitted with its additional insulating coating 21 so as to confine the inside of the chamber 4, preferably in leaktight manner. This minimizes exchanges with the outside, which can be preferable when the heat-transfer fluid is a polluting fluid such as gas oil. In addition, gas oil is advantageous because of its low specific gravity (d=0.85), thereby enabling it to contribute to the buoyancy of the lagging and heating apparatus 1 as a whole. The outside surface of the insulator means 21 surrounding the main pipe 1a at its bottom end slides with small clearance inside the tubular sleeve 113, and in order to eliminate any risk of leakage, it is advantageous to install sealing gaskets (not shown), and at least one of the two ends of the tubular sleeve 113, which sleeve is secured to the bottom end partition 112. FIG. 8 shows the inside of the internal chamber 4 contains centralizing elements 161 which enable the pipes 1a and 61 to be maintained substantially parallel in the longitudinal direction ZZ′ of the chamber, while still allowing them to move due to differential expansion along said axis ZZ′. FIG. 8 also shows a variant embodiment with intermediate leaktight partitions 15, centralizing templates 16, and shaping templates 17 in the space between the internal chamber 4 and the outer casing 3 in the event of the insulating coating 2 being made of a material that might migrate. These intermediate leaktight partitions 15, centralizing templates 16, and shaping templates 17 limit expansion and contraction of the insulating material that is subject to migration, and thus limit deformation of the outer casing 3 as explained above. The leaktight intermediate transverse partitions 15 and the end partitions 111 and 112 are made of a securely-closed rigid structure having the wall of said internal chamber 4 passing therethrough and secured to the wall of the outer casing 3; they are spaced apart at regular intervals preferably of at least 200 m in the direction ZZ′. In the space between two leaktight transverse partitions 111, 112, there is disposed at least one centralizing template 16. Each centralizing template 16 is constituted by a rigid piece secured to the wall of the internal chamber 4 and presenting a shape that allows for limited displacement of the outer casing 3 both in contraction and in expansion. This embodiment is suitable for an internal chamber having a rigid wall, in particular one of circular shape, and for an outer casing 3 made of flexible or semi-rigid material suitable for remaining in contact with the outside surface of the insulating lagging 2 when it deforms. FIG. 8a shows an embodiment in which the perimeter of the cross-section of the cylindrical outside free surface of the rigid piece constituting the centralizing template 16 is set back from the wall of an intermediate leaktight partition 15 and limits deformation of the outer casing 3 by causing it to come into mechanical abutment against the rigid piece 16 at at least two opposite points on the perimeter of the cross-section of said outer casing 3. As described in FR 2 821 915, the rigid piece 16 presents a portion of its cylindrical outside free surface that is set back far enough from the surface of the outer casing 3 and/or that presents perforations passing through it so as to create a space that allows insulating material 2 to be transferred through the centralizing template or around the centralizing template 16. In a variant embodiment (not shown), when the outer casing 3 is made of a rigid material and presents a horizontal cross-section of circular profile, and when it is the internal chamber 4 that is made out of a material that is flexible or semi-rigid, preferably having a transverse horizontal section of oval or elongate and rectangular profile, the rigid piece constituting the centralizing template is secured to the outer casing 3, and it is the cylindrical inside free surface of the rigid piece 16 which is then set back from the wall of the internal chamber 4 so as to allow the wall of the internal chamber 4 facing the centralizing template 16 to expand or contract. It is also advantageous to provide shaping templates 17 between two centralizing templates 16 as shown in the bottom compartment between the bottom end partition 112 and the first leaktight intermediate transverse partition 15 in FIG. 8. The shaping template 17 is constituted by a rigid structure secured to the walls of the outer casing 3 and of the internal chamber 4. In FIG. 8c, the shaping template 17 presents openings 171 enabling matter that is subject to migration in said insulating material 2 to pass through the shaping template 17 so as to obtain the technical effect explained above and described in FR 2 821 915. FIGS. 2 to 6 show various types of geometrical configuration for the horizontal cross-section of the internal chamber 4 and of the outer casing 3, firstly the internal chamber 4 and the outer chamber 3 may both be constituted by rigid material and present a horizontal cross-section of circular configuration. This type of configuration can be suitable when the thermally insulating material 2 is a rigid material such as syntactic foam. Nevertheless, when the thermally insulating material 2 is a material that is subject to migration, in particular a material of the gel type, and more particularly still a phase-change compound such as a paraffin, or indeed a combination of those various systems for insulation and energy storage purposes, it is preferable for the outer casing 3 and/or the internal chamber 4 to be made out of a flexible or semirigid material capable of tracking the deformations of said insulating material. Various configurations can be envisaged. It should be observed that in FIGS. 2 to 6, a lagging and heating apparatus is shown comprising a bundle of pipes 1a, 1b disposed in parallel inside the internal chamber 4 extending along its longitudinal direction ZZ′. In FIGS. 3 and 4, lagging apparatus 1 is shown that is more particularly adapted to an insulating covering 2 of the gel type or of a phase-change material subject to large changes in volume due to changes of temperature and/or to phase-change phenomena. Such apparatuses have the ability to absorb large variations in volume by “rounding” the shape of the outer casing shown in FIG. 3 as having a horizontal cross-section of rectangular type with rounded corners and in FIG. 4 as having a horizontal cross-section of oval configuration. The outer casing 3 expands towards a circular shape without leading to significant stresses in the outer casing 3, whenever the internal volume increases. In this version, the outer casing can be made of a material that is semi-rigid, a steel, or any other metal, or indeed out of a composite material. In the embodiments of FIG. 3, the wall of the internal chamber 4 may also be made of a semi-rigid material, but it is preferably made of a material of rigid type. In FIGS. 5 and 6, there can be seen an inverse configuration for the horizontal cross-section of the internal chamber 4 and the outer casing 3. The shape that is deformable under the effect of the insulating material 2 expanding/contracting is constituted by the wall of the internal chamber 4 whose horizontal cross-section is of elongate shape of the rectangular type having rounded corners (FIG. 6) or of the oval type (FIG. 5), while the outer casing 3 is then of circular configuration and can be made of a rigid material. Thus, when the insulating material 2 shrinks, the wall of the chamber 4 tends to take up a round shape, whereas it flattens when the insulating material 2 expands. FIG. 10 is a horizontal section through an installation having two lagging and heating apparatuses 1 of the invention, each presenting an outer casing 3 of horizontal cross-section that is rectangular in profile with rounded corners. These two apparatuses 1 are installed in the center of a second outer casing 31 that is circular and that acts as a shield. Shielding circular second casings have also been described in the state of the art. Said circular second casing 31 minimizes the hydrodynamic coefficients specific to the assembly and thus the forces due to sea currents. This circular second casing 31 is secured to the apparatuses 1 via resilient studs 35 of elastomer or thermoplastic material, or indeed merely by springs. In FIG. 11, there can be seen fins 32 of spiral shape fitted to the outside of the circular section second casing 31 and serving to prevent vortices or turbulence forming and separating under the effect of sea currents. These dispositions are also known to the person skilled in the art and other equivalent dispositions could be envisaged. The invention is described above in detail for a rising column, however it would remain within the spirit of the invention if the various dispositions of the invention were to be applied to undersea pipes resting on the sea bottom.

20050909

20080506

20060622

91024.0

E21B1701

BEACH, THOMAS A

DEVICE FOR HEATING AND THERMALLY INSULATING AT LEAST ONE UNDERSEA PIPELINE

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

E21B

ACCEPTED

Dynamic damper for use in a drill string

A dynamic damper for installation in a drill string (1), the purpose of which damper is to reduce the risk of jamming the drill bit (5), thereby avoiding damages in the event of unwanted extreme oscillations and rotational speed of the drill string caused by uncontrolled release of torsional energy in the drill string when the drill string suddenly breaks free of the jam. For this purpose, the damper is constructed from an outer and an inner string section (11) and (12), supported concentrically and interconnected through a helical threaded connection (10), so that relative rotation between the sections caused by torque (8) will give an axial movement that lifts and loosens the drill bit from the bottom of the hole in critical jamming situations. The spring (9) maintains the outer string section in an axial position against the shoulder (22). A hydraulic damping effect on the axial movements is achieved by oil volumes (16) and (17) being interconnected through narrow bores (18). Logging of the damping function is carried out by sensor (20), which registers and stores data to be read when the damper is retrieved to the surface.

1. A dynamic damper for use in a drill string (1), preferably of the type used when drilling for oil and gas in sedimentary rocks, wherein the damper (2) is designed to counteract jamming of a drill bit (5) during drilling, and where the damper (2) comprises an outer string section (11) connected to the drill string (1) and a coaxial inner string section (12) that is connected to the drill bit (5), and where said sections (11, 12) are interconnected through a helical thread (10), characterized in that the helical threads (10), if the normal drilling rotation direction is clockwise, are directed so as to cause the drill bit (5) to retract from the drill face when a clockwise rotation of the drill string (1) relative the inner string section (12) occurs. 2. A dynamic damper according to claim 1, characterized in that a spring (9) that extends between the outer string section (11) and the inner string section (12) is designed to biasing the inner string section (12) in the direction towards the drill bit (5) and up to a shoulder (22). 3. A dynamic damper according to claim 1, characterized in that the treads (10) and the spring (9) are designed to cooperate and cause a retraction of the drill bit (5) from the drill face when the torque in the drill string (1) exceeds a specified value. 4. A dynamic damper according to claim 1, characterized in that bores (18) are provided between two oil volumes (16) and (17) for hydraulic damping of relative axial movement between the outer and inner string sections (11) and (12). 5. A dynamic damper according to claim 1, characterized in that a sensor (20) is provided for logging of operational data. 6. A dynamic damper according to claim 2 characterized in that a sensor (20) is provided for logging of operational data.

This invention regards a dynamic damping device for use in a drill string, designed especially for use when drilling for hydrocarbons in sedimentary rocks. Known dynamic dampers are extensively used to dampen oscillations that arise in mechanical constructions subjected to variable loads. In a drill string having a length of several thousand metres, oscillations can arise as a result of variations in the torque along the drill string. Variations in torque may be due to different frictional conditions along the string and drilling through formations of different hardness, causing the moment on the drill bit to vary. Such uncontrollable variations in torque will in turn generate oscillations that exert great forces and vibrations on the drill string, in particular when the oscillations resonate with the natural oscillations of the drill string. The use of more modern and more powerful rotary machines over the last years has resulted in the drill string now being subjected to considerably greater strain, with a consequent increase in the risk of damage caused by uncontrolled oscillations and vibrations. A particular problem arises when the drill bit hits a formation that is difficult to penetrate, and jams. The drill string is turned by torque from the drilling machine on the surface, and the string builds up energy which is released when the drill suddenly breaks loose. All the stored energy is released through uncontrolled rotation, and the lower part of the drill string may reach extreme rotational speeds that can cause damage to the drilling equipment. Today's controlled drilling systems include a lot of electromechanical equipment that is especially susceptible to damage when subjected to this type of strain. In relation to prior art, the object of the invention is to provide a solution that reduces the risk of the drill bit getting jammed, and of accumulated energy stored as torque in the drill string being released in the form of uncontrolled rotation. This is achieved in accordance with the invention, by a dynamic damper being installed in the drill string, above the measuring equipment used for directional control. This damper consists of an inner cylindrical string section with threads that connect this to the upper section of the drill string, which in turn is connected to the rotary machine on the surface. An outer cylindrical string section is supported concentrically in the inner string section and connected to a lower section of the drill string towards the drill bit, through a threaded connection. The outer and inner string sections are engaged through a spiral trapezoidal threaded connection, so that relative rotation between the string sections will cause a relative axial movement between the two parts. A spring is disposed between the outer and inner string sections and pre-tensioned, so that axial movement between the outer and inner string sections occurs only when axial force and moment or a combination of these exceed a predetermined value. Externally of the outer string section there is provided a cylindrical jacket connected to the inner string section through a threaded connection, such that the jacket protects the outer and inner string sections while at the same time constituting a limitation for the axial movement between the outer and inner string sections. Between the outer and inner string sections there are two volumes filled with oil and interconnected in a manner such that axial movement will cause forced displacement of liquid from one volume to the next through narrow passages. This has an intended dynamic damping effect on the movement. When the present invention is installed in a drill string, torque caused by incipient locking of the drill bit will effect relative rotation between the outer and inner string sections when the moment exceeds a selected spring tension. This will result in an axial movement that lifts and loosens the drill bit from the bottom. When the drill bit comes loose, the moment is reduced and the spring will again push the drill bit towards the bottom of the borehole, thus generating torque resistance that prevents the accumulated torque in the drill string from “spinning” out of control. The invention will now be explained in greater detail in connection with the description of an embodiment and with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a system overview with a dynamic damper installed in the drill string; FIG. 2 shows a section through the outer string section; and FIG. 3 shows a section through the outer and inner string sections. In the drawings, reference number 1 denotes a known drill string where the dynamic damper has been installed and is referred to by reference number 2. The instrumentation section for directional control 3 is installed in an extension of the damper, towards the drill bit, while the extension of part 3 holds stabilizers nibs 4 and drill bit 5. The torque and the axial force transferred to the damper are indicated by reference numbers 8 and 9. The end piece 6 attached to the drill string with a threaded connection transfers the forces to an inner string section 12. The inner and outer string sections are engaged through helical threads 10, such that relative rotation of these parts will entail relative axial movement between the parts. A torsional spring 9 stops against the end piece 6 on the inner string section 12 and against the outer string section 11. The spring forces the outer string section 11 to stop against the shoulder 22 of outer jacket 21. Thus the outer string section 11 will be pre-tensioned between the spring 9 and the shoulder 22 in a manner such that the torque 8 combined with axial force 7 must exceed a given value before relative torsion between the outer and inner string sections will occur, causing the intended axial movement between these sections. The cavity formed between the two string sections and the jacket 21 is filled with oil that is kept in place with respect to the surroundings by means of seals 13 and 14. Volume 17 and volume 16 around the spring 9 are interconnected through narrow bores 18, so as to bring about an intended damping effect on the axial movement. A central bore 19 for drill mud passes through the inner and outer string sections. In order to log the performance of the damper, a sensor 20 is provided to register and record data on oil pressure and spring force from the spring 9. These data can then be read when the drill string is retrieved, and will give information about the performance of the damper.

20050912

20090825

20060824

88047.0

E21B1707

HUTCHINS, CATHLEEN R

DYNAMIC DAMPER FOR USE IN A DRILL STRING

SMALL

ACCEPTED

E21B

ACCEPTED

Drying system

In a drying system using a compression refrigeration system, a condenser is divided into a regulating condenser and a heating condenser. The regulating condenser is capable of regulating the amount of exhaust heat discharged to outside the system. The heating condenser produces moist air by feeding heat to an aqueous object to be dried placed in a processing vessel to evaporate the moisture in the object. Heat of condensation of steam is recovered by an evaporator as heat of a refrigerant, and the recovered heat is discharged in the heating condenser to use it for the vaporization of the moisture in the object, and excess heat is discharged by the regulating condenser to outside the system.

1-14. (canceled) 15. A closed drying system of a compression refrigeration cycle section including a compressor, an evaporator, a condenser, and an expansion valve having being connected during a coolant circulating passage, wherein the condenser comprises a heating condenser for supplying heat energy to a moisture-containing object through the bottom of a vessel to generate moisture-laden air, which contains the moisture in water vapor removed from the object, by evaporation of the moisture of the object, and a regulating condenser for exhausting waste heat adjustably out of the system, the evaporator is adapted to remove water vapor from the moisture-laden air by refrigeration, and the coolant circulating passage delivers coolant from the compressor through the heating condenser into the regulating condenser, comprising an air circulator for circulating the air between the object and the evaporator within the vessel whereby the moisture-removed air with no later heat removed will contact with the object, and a sensor for detecting the temperature of the coolant immediately before the expansion valve, from which temperature information the coolant temperature before the expansion valve is controlled in constant level. 16. The drying system according to claim 15, further comprising; a detector for detecting the humidity and the temperature of the moisture-laden air immediately before flowing over the evaporator, and a flow-rate controller for controlling the flow-rate of the moisture-laden air flowing over the evaporator so as to maximize the amount of water to be condensed on the basis of information obtained by the detector on the humidity and the temperature. 17. The drying system according to claim 15, further comprising; another, second coolant supplying passage for supplying the coolant directly to the regulating condenser, the second passage being arranged in parallel with the coolant supplying passage for supplying the coolant from the compressor to the heating condenser, a flow control valve provided in the second coolant supplying passage, and a sensor for detecting the temperature of the coolant flowing out from the compressor, whereby the divergence of the flow control valve is controlled based on the temperature information from the sensor, wherein the expansion valve is disposed just downstream of the regulating condenser. 18. The drying system according to claim 15, further comprising; a heat-amount controller for controlling the amount of heat energy provided by the heating condenser by controlling revolution of the compressor to vary the amount of the coolant to be delivered to the heating condenser. 19. The drying system according to claim 15, further comprising; a stirrer for stirring the object, and an assistor for assisting the heat transfer, with being provided substantially separate from the vessel and the stirrer. 20. The drying system according to claim 15, further comprising; a stirrer for stirring and a pulverizer for pulverizing the object, both being provided within the vessel. 21. The drying system according to claim 15, wherein the object to be charged within the vessel includes a water-containing organic material. 22. The drying system accordingly claim 15, further comprising; a reheater connected directly through the coolant supplying passage to the heating condenser and for reheating the air within the vessel, a detector for detecting the temperature of the coolant within the conduit from the compressor, and a reheat-amount controller for controlling the amount of heat energy provided by the reheating element on the basis of the information obtained by the detector. 23. The drying system according to claim 15, wherein the cooling is effected either through direct cooling mode by flowing the coolant decompressed by the expansion valve into the evaporator, or through indirect refrigeration mode by circulating the first brine between the evaporator and a cooling element provided within the vessel and connected heat exchangeably to the evaporator, and the heating is effected either through direct heating mode by flowing the coolant pressurized by the compressor to the heating condenser provided under the bottom of the vessel to heat the object within the vessel or through indirect heating mode by circulating the second brine between the heating condenser and a heater connected heat exchangeably to the heating condenser and provided under the vessel to heat the object within the vessel. 24. The drying system according to claim 23, wherein the indirect cooling mode and the indirect heating mode are adopted to make it possible to separate the compression refrigeration cycle section of the drying system from the processing section including the vessel. 25. The processing section included in the drying system according to claim 24. 26. The drying system according to claim 23, wherein the direct or indirect cooling mode and the indirect heating mode are adopted, the vessel includes a vessel body and an air-flow passage both ends of which are separately connected with the vessel body, having the evaporator or the cooling element accommodated therein, and the compression refrigeration cycle section and the air-flow passage are assembled separately with the processing section except for the air-flow passage to compose the drying system. 27. The processing section included in the drying system according to claim 26.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a drying system. More particularly, the invention relates to a closed drying system using a compression refrigeration cycle of high energy efficiency to reduce affect on the environment. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Sun-drying or air-drying procedures have previously been done. Such procedures can dry with high quality, provided that rotting is prevented. However, it is difficult to do such procedures industrially, since vast amount of grounds and long time is required therefor. Further, such procedures are also depending on weather. Whereas, heating-type drying equipment and hot-wind drying equipment energy must waste great amount of energy, since hot waste gas including water steam must be drained. Furthermore, vacuum drying equipment, as another drying procedure, is still problematic on its operation, operating cost, and the ease of handling thereof. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Public Disclosure Hei. 11-63818 (1999) (FIG. 1) discloses vacuum drying equipment. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Public Disclosure Hei. 11-197395(1999) (FIG. 1) discloses drying equipment effectively using energy in which water vapor is condensed through an evaporator, and thus obtained low humidity air is reheated (heated again) by a compressor. To their equipment may be added a commercially available, water condenser with reheating properties. In this heating method, heat is transferred to an object to be dried from hot air of low humidity. Therefore, unless the temperature of the object is lower than that of the hot air and the object is contacted with the air sufficiently, the air of warm, light, and low humidity races between the object and the evaporator, thus extremely decreasing water condensing efficiency. In conclusion, although the drying equipment is used preferably for drying clothing or woods, which can forcedly be brought into contact with the air, but not preferably for drying form-variable objects, for example, from paste into powder. Although it can easily be thought by those skilled in the art to utilize heat energy generated through the compression refrigeration cycle as heat for drying object, no the trials for using such heat energy have been succeeded because of the following problems. (1) The capacity of the refrigeration cycle can not be used with practical efficiency due to the lack of control mechanism for optimizing the flow rate. The efficiency for condensing water vapor is highly reduced as the water content of the object is lowered and the relative humidity of the circulating air is reduced. (2) The refrigeration cycle can not be operated constantly or normally, since the heat balance of the system is not controllable. Otherwise, the mechanism required for controlling the heat balance is so complex that it is difficult to produce the mechanism in a practical cost. (3) Objects can not be assumed with high quality, since the amount of heat energy used for heating the objects are not controllable. (4) The capacity of the refrigeration cycle can not be used with practical efficiency due to the lack of the means for enhancing the amount of water vaporized in a unit of time. Although there are thought a variety of means for facilitating the evaporation, the practicability can not be achieved unless the evaporation capacity suitable for the refrigeration cycle is provided through either one or all of the evaporation facilitator. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful drying system for solving the above mentioned problems by substantially reducing amount of energy to be consumed and preventing discharge waste gas from the system. The present invention has succeeded to provide a previously impossible drying system for heating the object through the refrigeration cycle by making a variety of countermeasures against the above mentioned problems. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The first aspect of the invention is a closed drying system of a compression refrigeration cycle section including a compressor, an evaporator, a condenser, and an expansion valve having being connected during a coolant circulating passage, wherein the condenser comprises a heating condenser for supplying heat energy to a moisture-containing object to generate moisture-laden air, which contains the moisture in water vapor removed from the object, by evaporation of the moisture of the object, and a regulating condenser for exhausting waste heat adjustably out of the system, the evaporator is adapted to remove water vapor from the moisture-laden air by refrigeration, and the coolant circulating passage delivers coolant from the compressor through the heating condenser into the regulating condenser. The second aspect of the invention is the drying system according to claim 1, further comprising; an air-circulator for circulating air between the object and the evaporator, a detector for detecting the humidity and the temperature of the moisture-laden air immediately before flowing over the evaporator, and a flow-rate controller for controlling the flow-rate of the moisture-laden air flowing over the evaporator so as to maximize the amount of water to be condensed on the basis of information obtained by the detector on the humidity and the temperature. The third aspect of the invention is the drying system according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising; another, second coolant supplying passage for supplying the coolant directly to the regulating condenser, the second passage being arranged in parallel with the coolant supplying passage for supplying the coolant from the compressor to the heating condenser, a flow control valve provided in the second coolant supplying passage, and wherein the expansion valve is disposed just downstream of the regulating condenser. The fourth aspect of the invention is the drying system according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising; a heat-amount controller for controlling the amount of heat energy provided by the heating condenser by controlling revolution of the compressor to vary the amount of the coolant to be delivered to the heating condenser. The fifth aspect of the invention is the drying system according to in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heat energy is supplied through the bottom of the vessel into the object. The sixth aspect of the invention is the drying system according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising; a stirrer for stirring the object, and an assistor for assisting the heat transfer, with being provided substantially separate from the vessel and the stirrer. The seventh aspect of the invention is the drying system according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising; a stirrer for stirring and a pulverizer for pulverizing the object, both being provided within the vessel. The eighth aspect of the invention is the drying system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the object to be charged within the vessel includes a water-containing organic material. The ninth aspect of the invention is the drying system accordingly to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising; a reheater connected directly through the coolant supplying passage to the heating condenser and for reheating the air within the vessel, a detector for detecting the temperature of the coolant within the conduit from the compressor, and a reheat-amount controller for controlling the amount of heat energy provided by the reheating element on the basis of the information obtained by the detector. The tenth aspect of the invention is the drying system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cooling is effected either through direct cooling mode by flowing the coolant decompressed by the expansion valve into the evaporator, or through indirect refrigeration mode by circulating the first brine between the evaporator and a cooling element provided within the vessel and connected heat exchangeably to the evaporator, and the heating is effected either through direct heating mode by flowing the coolant pressurized by the compressor to the heating condenser provided under the bottom of the vessel to heat the object within the vessel or through indirect heating mode by circulating the second brine between the heating condenser and a heater connected heat exchangeably to the heating condenser and provided under the vessel to heat the object within the vessel. The 11th aspect of the invention is the drying system according to claim 10, wherein the indirect cooling mode and the indirect heating mode are adopted to make it possible to separate the compression refrigeration cycle section of the drying system from the processing section including the vessel. The 12th aspect of the invention is the processing section included in the drying system according to claim 11. The 13th aspect of the invention is the drying system according to claim 10, wherein the direct or indirect cooling mode and the indirect heating mode are adopted, the vessel includes a vessel body and an air-flow passage both ends of which are separately connected with the vessel body, having the evaporator or the cooling element accommodated therein, and the compression refrigeration cycle section and the air-flow passage are assembled separately with the processing section except for the air-flow passage to compose the drying system. The 14th aspect of the invention is the processing section included in the drying system according to claim 13. In accordance with the drying system of the invention, the amount of energy to be consumed would be highly reduced, since the refrigerating side as well as the heating side of the compression refrigeration cycle can be used at the same time. Especially, when the amount of heat energy delivered out at the regulating condenser is little, the amount of heat energy delivered out from the system may also be inhibited substantially. In the compression refrigeration cycle, the refrigerating capacity of 3 can normally be obtained from the electric input of 1, although it might vary depending on the operating condition of the system. In the heating side forming the heat pump of the system, the heating capacity of 4 (1+3=4) can be obtained. In other words, although the coefficient of performance (COP) of the refrigerating capacity is about 3, the heating capacity obtained in the heating side can be 4. In this connection, the present system using the refrigerating side as well as the heating side at the same time can utilize the refrigeration capacity of 3 and the heating capacity of 4 obtained from the electric input of 1, so that the practical COP of 7 can be achieved. Thus it can be expected a high energy saving effect. In the case of prior art rapid high temperature, drying systems such as an electric heater or a gas heater, the surface of the object is hardened or charred, whereas water still remains within the object, and often the ingredient of the object such as proteins or glucide are affected by heat. On the other hand, the drying system of the invention using the condensing temperature of the refrigeration cycle can operate with keeping the temperature of the object and the interior of the vessel in ordinary temperature (0-60° C.). Thus the problems of charring or so are prevented. When the condensation pressure of the refrigeration cycle is 2.0 MPa, the condensation temperature of 50° C. is available on R 22, and the condensation temperature of 45.6-50.3° C. is available on R 407. Further, in accordance with the drying system of the invention, if including the circulator, the stirrer, and pulverizer are additionally provided, relatively short time is required for drying the object in ordinary temperature, since the evaporation rate of the system brought into the maximum due the use of circulators. Additionally, no odor is released from the system. Taking the fact that organic materials often have their particular odors into consideration, the drying system of the invention is especially suitable for organic materials of high water content. In conclusion, the drying system of the invention is referred to as a good system for environment. The features recited from aspect 2 to the final aspect will provide more advantageous effects. These advantages will now be described for each aspect. In the drying system of the second aspect, not only the operating efficiency of the drying system may be enhanced by increasing the total condensation amount, but also obtain an object of lower water content and higher quality by condensing water in the very low temperature near the dew point at the end of the drying operation. In the drying system of the third aspect, the heat balance of the compression refrigeration cycle can be controlled optimally through the provision of the second coolant supplying passage. In the drying system of the fourth aspect, the amount of heat energy provided by the heating condenser i.e. the amount of heat energy supplied to the object can be controlled. In the drying system of the fifth aspect, the heat energy generated by the heating condenser can be efficiently transferred to the object. In the drying system of the sixth aspect, the heat energy can be transferred to the whole of the object (W) certainly, uniformly, and rapidly by adding the stirrer for stirring and the assister for assisting the heat transfer. In the drying system of the seventh aspect, the evaporation rate can be increased by utilizing the stirrer in combination with the pulverizer. Thus the compression refrigeration cycle can be utilized efficiently and the object of lower water content and higher quality can be obtained. In the drying system of the ninth aspect, the water removing efficiency can be enhanced even if the performance of the evaporator is recovered by the reheating element, whereby in the final drying stage, water-removal efficiency is improved. In the drying system of any one of the 11th to 14th aspects, the compression refrigeration cycle section can removably be connected to the drying section, so that any commercially available ones can be used as the compression refrigeration cycle section. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further feature of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates from reading the following specification with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the drying system in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating the cycle of heat transfer of the drying system of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a control system for controlling the drying system of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view generally illustrating the drying system in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention; FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view generally illustrating the drying system in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention; FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view generally illustrating the drying system in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the invention; FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view generally illustrating the drying system in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the invention; FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view generally illustrating the drying system in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the invention; FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view generally illustrating the drying system in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the invention; FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view generally illustrating the drying system in accordance with an eighth embodiment of the invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The first embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1-3. FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the drying system in accordance with the first embodiment, FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating the cycle of heat transfer, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the system for controlling the drying system of the invention. In this embodiment, an object (W) to be dried is tea leaves, which represent moist organic materials. Essential components of the drying system 1 are compression refrigeration cycle section 2 and processing vessel 5. In this drying system 1, the cooling and heating operations are effected on direct modes, respectively. At first, the arrangement and the operation of the compression refrigeration cycle section 2 are described in detail. The section 2 is provided from the upstream side thereof with a compressor 9, a heating condenser 11, a regulating condenser 13, an expansion valve 15, and an evaporator 17 in this sequence. A coolant is circulated within the section through the flow passage 7. Upon operating the system, the coolant of high temperature and high pressure is delivered from the compressor 9, and then flows through the flow passage 7 into the heating condenser 11. The coolant discharges condensation heat in the condenser 11. Thus, the object (W) is heated whereby water vapor is generated. The coolant is liquefied at the heating condenser 11 and delivered into the regulating condenser 13 and facilitated liquefaction further therein. The coolant is then delivered into the expansion valve 15 and decompressed therethrough to make low temperature and low pressure one. Subsequently, the coolant flows into the evaporator 17. The evaporator 17 is provided within a guide way 18. The guide way 18 is arranged to lead a moisture-laden air into the evaporator 17. After the moisture-laden air, or a high humidity air in the vessel 5 flows through the guide way 18, the evaporator 17 condenses the moisture in water vapor contained in the air. That is, when the moisture in the air condensates on the surface of the evaporator 17. The moisture in water liquid drops on the bottom of the guide way 18, and then delivered out from the system 1 through drain port (not shown). The coolant vaporized within the evaporator 17 is delivered back into the compressor 9. The compressor 9 is of a type of variable capacity, so that the capacity of the compressor 9 can be enhanced to increase the flow rate of the coolant delivered into the heating condenser 11 to increase the amount of heat derived therefrom when the temperature of the object (W) is relatively low such as upon commencement of the drying system 1. Thus the efficiency of the system upon commencement can be improved. The heating condenser 11 is made of a tube of a serpentine pattern of heat conductive material such as copper. The tube is provided on the outer surface of the bottom of the vessel 5 so as to contact directly therewith. The regulating condenser 13 (including an air blower fan 14) is arranged outside of the vessel 5. The condenser 13 serves to facilitate liquefaction of the coolant under the effect of outside air temperature when it is difficult to sufficiently cool the coolant due to the increase in the flow rate of coolant and/or the rising of the temperature of the object (W). The liquefaction may be effected to provide the coolant of liquid phase to the expansion valve 15 to stabilize the circulation of the coolant. It is further advantageous to control the temperature of the heating condenser 11 by controlling the condensing pressure of the compression refrigeration cycle. FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating the cycle of heat transfer in the drying system 1. As can be seen therefrom, the heat transfer through the air within the vessel and that through the coolant are illustrated. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the system for controlling the drying system of the invention. The signals coming from a group of sensors are to be input, as shown in FIG. 3, to the processing section 101 (including CPU, memories, and I/O ports). The power circuit 103 is connected to the processing section 101 and the driving circuit 105 for the screw 25 etc. The processing section 101 is adapted to process the signals in accordance with the program stored in the memories to control the driving circuit 105 upon energized by the power circuit 103. The control system comprises the processing section 101, the power circuit 103, and the driving circuit 105. The arrangement and the operation of the processing vessel 5 will now be described. A screw 25 for stirring the object is disposed near the bottom of the vessel 5. The screw 25 includes a motor 26, a shaft 27 connected to the motor 26, and a plurality of blades 29 secured to the shaft 27. The shaft 27 is arranged in parallel with the bottom of the vessel 5. The blades 29 are secured to the shaft 27 in such an angle that the blades 29 scoop from near the bottom of the vessel 5, the object (W), which has been heated and is likely to easily evaporate the moisture in water liquid, and the pulverizing members 31, upwardly. The leading edge of each blade 29 is formed of a soft resinous material and is designed to describe an orbit lapping with the surface of the bottom of the vessel 5. The pulverizing members 31 include ceramic balls of high hardness. The pulverizing members 31 are charged within the vessel 5. The pulverizing members 31 is adapted to be moved in random fashion under movement of the screw 25, since the pulverizing members 31 is not connected with the screw 25. The object (W) is pulverized down by the collision with the pulverizing members 31, thus increasing the surface area of thereof capable of being contacted with the moisture-removed air of low humidity to facilitate the discharge of the water vapor therefrom. Additionally, the pulverizing members 31 also serve to enhance thermal transfer, since they are formed of ceramic material of high coefficient of heat transfer. A blower 33 serves as a circulator for circulating the air within the vessel 5. The blower 33 is arranged to blow downwardly the moisture-removed air from the evaporator 17. Thus, the air circulating circuit shown by the blanked arrows is formed upon operating the blower 33. In other words, the air within the vessel 15 is circulated between the surface of the object (W) and the evaporator 17. The flow rate of the moisture-laden air passing through the evaporator 17 can be adjusted by controlling the operation of the blower 33, i.e. the blower 33 also serves as a controller for controlling the capacity of air. The air derived from the evaporator 17, or the moisture-removed air is of low humidity, which is short of saturation. A shower 35 is provided above the evaporator 17. The shower 35 disperses water against the evaporator 17. The larger the amount of evaporation, the lower the amount of condensate, vice versa, i.e. these are the restriction factors with each other. In other words, the capacity of the drying system 1 can be determined by either lower one. In order to enhance the amount of evaporation, it is advantageous to increase the amount of evaporation for unit area and to enlarge the surface area to be contacted with the air of low humidity. The amount of evaporation for unit area can be increased by (1) reducing moisture, or water vapor amount in the air, (2) increasing the saturation vapor amount by rising the temperature of the air, and/or (3) increasing the vapor pressure of the object (W). The procedures (1) and (2) can be performed by re-heating the air. On the other hand, the procedures (1) and (3) can be performed by the method using the system of the invention. In accordance with the invention, the procedure (1) can be performed by rapidly changing the moisture-laden air to the moisture-removed air by means of the blower 33. The procedure (3) can also be performed in accordance with the invention by heating the object (W) and the pulverizing members 31 to increase the pressure of the water vapor within the object (W) and on the surface of the members 31. Upon rotated the screw 25, the blades 29 are also rotated therewith to stir the object (W) and the pulverizing members 31. Thus, the object (W) placed on the surface of the bottom of the vessel 5 can be scooped out by means of the blades 29 and brought upwardly within the vessel 5, since the orbit described by the leading edge of the blade 29 is designed to be lapped with the surface of the bottom of the vessel 5. The heated object (W) is transferred upwardly to facilitate the contact with the moisture-removed air. On the contrary, another object (W) of relatively low temperature is supplied continuously onto the surface of the bottom of the vessel 5. Heat transfer to another object (W) from the heating condenser 11 is rapidly performed because another object (W) has not yet been heated. The heat energy of the coolant in the heating condenser 11 is transferred to the bottom of the vessel 5 and then transferred directly further into the object (W) without passing through an air layer. The heat energy is transferred from the surface of the bottom into the object (W) steadily, evenly, and rapidly since the screw 25 stirs sufficiently the object (W), and the pulverizing members 31 serves as a heat transfer. Upon operated the screw 25 after the object (W) and the pulverizing members 31 are charged into the vessel 5, the object (W) is mashed by the random rumbling of the members 31 so that the moisture of the object (W) may exude to present on the surface or the vicinity of the material. This is especially useful for increasing the amount of evaporation from the object (W). The pulverizing members 31 are also useful in forming voids between the objects (W). The exudates, obtained by mashing the object (W) may also be transferred on the surface of the members 31. Thus, the moisture of the object (W) is easily evaporated from the surface of the members 31 and incorporated into the moisture-removed air thereby the air is changed to the moisture-laden air within the vessel 5. In other words, the members 31 will also bring the effect which can be obtained by increasing the surface area of the object (W) to be contacted with the moisture-removed air. Driving the screw 25 in relatively high speed will also bring such an advantage that chance for contacting the object (W) and the pulverizing members 31 with the moisture-removed air is enhanced. However, thus obtained advantage will be diminished when the moisture of the object (W) is substantially decreased and the object (W) is going to transform into powder. Incidentally, the screw 25 is controlled to reduce the number of rotation for preventing the powder from scattering around. The moisture-removed air being short of saturation is blown on the object (W) in accordance with the circulation circuit of the air in the vessel. Thus, the moisture-removed air goes on blowing onto the surface of the object (W) in according to the circulation passage, so as to achieve continuous evaporation therefrom. The moisture of the object (W), already having sufficient heat amount, contacts with the moisture-removed air and evaporate. The evaporated moisture or water vapor holds evaporation heat therein as latent heat. When the system 1 is operated under the steady state, the relative humidity of the moisture-laden air is kept substantially 100% or so until the drying operation is progressed to reach the predetermined degree, provided that evaporation of the moisture in water liquid of the object (W) is facilitated through the mashing and the pulverizing effects of the screw 25 and the members 31. The water vapor or the moisture-laden air is transferred to the evaporator 17 in accordance with the circulation passage of the air in the vessel 5, and then the latent heat is used to condensate the water vapor to water condensates. Thus, the water condensates are delivered through the discharge drain outside of the system 1. The moisture-removed, low humidity air is again blown on the object (W). As can be seen From FIG. 1, small circles added on the blanked arrow designate the amount of water vapor. In this connection, the arrow designating the moisture-removed air just leaving from the evaporator 17 has no circles, whereas the following arrows have circles increasing their number in the flowing direction. In other words, the moisture amount of the air flowing over the object (W) increases along the flowing direction. Thus formed moisture-laden air is delivered into the evaporator 17, and the moisture is removed upon condensation from the moisture-laden air. That is, the moisture-laden air changes to a moisture-removed air. The arrangement and the control operation of the detector or sensor system will now be described. The sensor A is adapted to detect the humidity and the temperature of the moisture-laden air just before flowing into the evaporator 17. The air flow of the blower 33 or the flow rate of air passing through the evaporator 17 is adjusted to maximize the amount of condensate based on the relative humidity, the information on the temperature, and the absolute humidity obtained by processing the information from the sensor A. This is the most important function of the sensor A. Since the cooling power is kept constant in the drying system 1, if the flow rate of air through the system is increased gradually, the total amount of condensates will also increase gradually to the peak, and then dropped rapidly. However, the larger the flow rate of air, the larger the amount of condensates, if the relative humidity of the air immediately before condensed is kept 100%. In other words, the amount of condensates depends on the flow rate of air i.e. the amount of condensates is reduced when the flow rate is too large or too small. In this connection, it is necessary to control the flow rate of air so as to maximize the amount of condensate in order to exhaust the capacity of the compression refrigeration cycle. The flow rate of air maximizing the amount of condensate depends on the conditions such as the temperature and/or the humidity of the moisture-laden air, after which will be immediately condensed. The flow rate of air maximizing the amount of condensates is determined by processing these conditions. During the drying operation through which the object (W) is kept in relatively water rich condition, the relative humidity of the moisture-laden air is easily kept around 100%, even if the flow rate of air is high. Therefore, the flow rate determined by working the blower 33 is increased in view of maximizing the total amount of condensates. Then the moisture content of the object (W) is reduced as the drying process goes. This will lead to the reduction of the relative humidity of the moisture-laden air, if the flow rate is still high. In order to lower the dew point of the water vapor and sequentially proceed with the condensation, the flow rate of air in the vessel 5 is reduced gradually. In conclusion, the total amount of condensates is increased. Further, the final stage of the drying operation is performed in extremely low dew point. Thus, the resultant object (W) has high quality with almost no moisture content. The revolution rate of the screw 25 is adapted to be controlled on the basis of the relative humidity and the temperature in the vessel obtained from the sensor A and the absolute humidity calculated by processing these information. When the value of the detected relative humidity is lower than the predetermined one, the revolution of the screw 25 is increased to facilitate evaporation of the moisture content. When the value of the detected relative humidity is further reduced under the predetermined lower limit value, the revolution rate of the screw 25 is rather reduced. This is because the object (W) is transformed into powder as the drying goes, and scattered around if the revolution rate of the screw 25 is still kept high, so that evaporation of the moisture is rather prevented. The final stage of the drying process dries the object (W) with a lot of time, since the process is performed in the capacity-reduced compressor 9. Even if it is intended to reduce the moisture content of the object (W) to an extremely low level, the drying system 1 can still be driven efficiently and economically by adjusting the capacity of the compressor. Upon the object (W) is dried further and the absolute humidity of the air in the vessel reached the lower limit value defined in dependence on the property of the object material, operation of the screw 25 and the blower 33 in the vessel as well as the whole operation of the compression refrigeration cycle section 2 are stopped. Thus the end of the drying process can be determined automatically. The sensor B is adapted to detect the temperature of the object (W). The temperature of the object (W) may be controlled to be the predetermined value by controlling the fan 14 of the regulating condenser 13 in accordance with the information from the sensor B to vary the amount of heat to be transferred from the heating condenser 11 to the object (W). In the first embodiment, the heating condenser 11 and the regulating condenser 13 are connected in series, so that the condensation temperature of the compression refrigeration cycle can be varied by controlling the fan 14 of the regulating condenser 13. The heat transferred from the heating condenser 11 to the object (W) can thus be varied. In the drying system 1, when the operation of the heating condenser 11 is not controlled, the temperature of the object (W) increases higher and higher. Thus, the quality of the finished product can not be assured. When the temperature is too high, only the peripheral portion of the object (W) will be dried rapidly and solidified, and the internal portion thereof left as it is. In the worse case, the object (W) will scorched or charred. Although thus produced object (W) containing moisture inside of the hard scorched surface thereof has a completely dried appearance, it will get moldy and rotted in due course. In other words, thus produced object (W) does not have a long term-preferable quality. Further, if the temperature of the object (W) is beyond that changing its property, the quality of the object (W) is also spoiled. In this connection, it is necessary to control the upper limit of the temperature in accordance with the raw material properties of the object (W) for producing of high quality. The sensor C detects the temperature of the coolant immediately before flowing into the expansion valve 15. The revolution rate of the fan 14 of the regulating condenser 13 is adjusted under PID control on the basis of the temperature information obtained from the sensor C, so that the excess amount of heat energy is delivered out of the system 1 to control the condensation temperature of the compression refrigeration cycle to a constant level. The standard temperature of the coolant before the expansion valve is about 45° C. (for R 22) or 38° C. (for R 407). During the normal drying operation, the amount of moisture, which has been evaporated and removed from the object (W), and the amount of condensates generated in the evaporator 17, upon condensation of the evaporated moisture, or water vapor are balanced, and the amount of latent heat transferred, upon the moisture's condensation, into the coolant is balanced with the amount of heat energy used in evaporation of moisture contained in the object (W) and the pulverizing members 31. Further, although the heat energy generated by the compressor 9 and the screw 25 is incorporated in the system, the heat energy is discharged out by the regulating condenser 13. Upon commencement of the drying system 1, the temperature of the object (W) is relatively low, so that the condensation of the coolant is enhanced, the temperature of the heating condenser is decreased, and the amount of heat energy supplied to the object (W) is decreased. There is no problem in the operation of the compression refrigeration cycle. However, in such a case, it is preferable to increase the revolution rate of the compressor 9 to increase the flow rate of the coolant. If the compressor 9 is adjusted so, the temperature of the heating condenser is also increased so that the temperature rising is improved. Although this can also be performed by controlling the revolution rate of the fan 14 of the regulating condenser 13 to be zero, it is more effective to increase the revolution rate of the compressor 9. The heat energy generated by the screw or so can also contribute the temperature rising speed of the object (W). The sensor D detects the temperature of the coolant at the inflow side of the evaporator 17, and the sensor E detects the temperature of the coolant at the outflow side of the evaporator 17. When the temperature difference between those measured at the sensor E and D is smaller than the predetermined value, the evaporator 17 is regarded to be in the malfunction condition due to icing etc., so that the defrosting operation is effected. The defrosting operation is performed by stopping the operation of the compressor 9 and/or spraying water from the shower 35 onto the evaporator 17 and/or the full power operation of the blower. The drying system 41 in accordance with the second embodiment will now be described with reference to FIG. 4. This figure is a diagrammatic view generally illustrating the drying system 41. The structural components of the drying system 41 illustrated in FIG. 4 are designated by the same reference numeral as those used in FIG. 1, provided that those corresponding components are substantially identical with each other. In this connection, the description is omitted on the corresponding components. The drying system 41 is provided with the first flow passage (coolant circulating passage 7) for delivering coolant from the compressor 9 to the heating condenser 11, and the second flow passage (by-pass passage) 43 in parallel with the first one for delivering coolant directly into the regulating condenser 13. The second flow passage is provided with a flow control valve 45. When it is almost unnecessary to increase the temperature of the object (W), the divergence of the flow control valve 45 is increased to deliver the majority of the coolant from the compressor 9 to the regulating condenser 13, so that the amount of heat energy to be provided by the heating condenser 11 is reduced to suppress the temperature rise of the object (W). The sensor F detects the temperature of the coolant delivered from the compressor 9. The divergence of the flow control valve 45 may be controlled on the basis of the information on the temperature obtained from the sensor F. The drying system 51 of the third embodiment will now be described with reference to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view generally illustrating the drying system 51. The structural components of the drying system 51 illustrated in FIG. 5 are designated by the same reference numeral as those used in FIG. 1, provided that those corresponding components are substantially identical with each other. In this connection, the description is omitted on the corresponding components. The principal aspect of the drying system 51 is a reheating section 52. The coolant of high temperature and high pressure flows from the compressor 9 through the flow passage 7 and into the heating condenser 11 to provide heat energy to the object (W) through liquefying the coolant. The reheating section 52 connected in series with the heating condenser 11 includes a reheating element 55 for heating air immediately after passing through the evaporator 17. The amount of heat energy to be supplied by the reheating element 55 is controlled by the flow control valves 54 and 56 provided on a coolant supplying passage 53. The inflow conduit from the compressor 9 is provided with the temperature sensor F. The reheating element 55 is a fin plate heat exchanger served as a condenser. The method for using this heat exchanger will now be described. At first, the flow control valve 54 is closed completely, whereas the flow control valves 56 is opened. The object (W) in the vessel 5 includes very large amount of moisture at the beginning of the drying process. Upon operating the compression refrigeration cycle, the water liquid is heated by the heating condenser 11 and large amount of water vapor is generated within the vessel 5. The heating temperature of the heating condenser 11 is controlled by adjusting the amount of heat energy delivered out of the system through controlling the operation of the fan 14 of the regulating condenser 13. When it is intended to heat the object (W) rapidly, the fan 14 of the regulating condenser 13 is stopped to provide whole heat energy generated through the operation of the compression refrigeration cycle from the heating condenser 11 to the object (W) within the vessel 5. The object (W) is dried by cooling the air in the vessel 5 including large amount of water vapor at the evaporator 17 to make water liquid. As described above, the system is operated in high efficiency, since whole heat energy of the system is available. Thus the energy efficiency designated by COP will reach to 7. When the object (W) is sufficiently dried and the emission of moisture is decreased, the humidity of the air in the vessel 5 is also reduced. Thus the amount of moisture removed from the moisture-laden air at the evaporator 17 is reduced and the lower pressure of the coolant flowing into the compressor 9 is dropped. This reduction of the lower pressure will bring the lowering of the temperature of the coolant from the compressor 9. The timing of the lowering of the temperature is detected by the information on the temperature from the sensor F. In this situation, the temperature within the vessel 5 is not raised even by providing the heat energy through the heating condenser 11. Then the flow control valve 54 is opened to deliver coolant into the reheating element 55 to rise the temperature of the outflow side of the evaporator 17. Thus the temperature of the vessel 5 is also increased to recover the lower pressure of the compression refrigeration cycle and the performance of the evaporator 17. In this connection, it is expected that the dryness of the object (W) can also be increased further. In the above mentioned third embodiment, the relative humidity sensor A is not necessary be provided, since whether the reheating section 52 is to be operated or not can be determined on the control signal from the sensor F. This is because the operating condition of the compression refrigeration cycle can be detected on the basis of the relative humidity within the vessel 5. The fourth embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view generally illustrating the drying system 61. The structural components of the drying system 61 illustrated in FIG. 6 are designated by the same reference numeral as those used in FIG. 1, provided that those corresponding components are substantially identical with each other. In this connection, the description is omitted on the corresponding. In this drying system, the indirect cooling and heating mode is adopted. The first brine circulating circuit 67 includes a refrigerator 69 and a circulating pump 72. The refrigerator 69 is provided within the vessel 5. The first brine circulating circuit 67 is connected to the evaporator 65 of the compression refrigeration cycle section so as to be able to exchange the heat energy. Thus the indirect refrigerating section 63 is formed. The heat exchanger for the first brine as well as the coolant is preferably of the serviceable compact plate type. Upon being driven the circulating pump 72, the first brine, which has been cooled at the evaporator 65 flows into the refrigerator 69 for cooling and dehumidifying the moisture-laden air which will flow through the guide way 18. The second brine circulating circuit 75 includes a heater 77 and circulating pump 78. The heater 77 is provided on the outer surface of the bottom of the vessel 5. The second brine circulating circuit 75 is connected to the heating condenser 74 of the compression refrigeration cycle section so as to be able to exchange the heat energy. Thus the indirect refrigerating section 73 is formed. The heat exchanger for the second brine as well as the coolant is preferably of the serviceable compact plate type as with the evaporator 65. Upon being driven the circulating pump 78, the second brine, which has been heated at the heating condenser 74, flows into the heater 77 to increase the temperature of the object (W) to change the moisture from water liquid to water vapor form. The first and second brine circuits are independent of each other, so that the first and second brines may be the same or the different materials. The brine utilized herein includes warm water and cold water. The indirect refrigerating section 63 and the indirect heating section 73 forms a processing section together with the vessel 5 and the equipment disposed within the vessel 5. The compression refrigeration cycle section 81 including the compressor 9, the evaporator 65, the heating condenser 74, and the expansion valve 15 connected each other through the coolant circulating passage is detached with the first and second brine circulating circuits 67 and 75. The control unit 107 is provided only on the compression refrigeration cycle section 81. Following advantages can be obtained by detachably connecting the processing section to the compression refrigeration cycle section 81. (1) The manufacture and the maintenance of these sections can be effected separately. When the evaporator 65 is disposed within the vessel, it is difficult to make maintenance thereon, in spite of the corrosive property thereof. However, such disadvantage is avoided in this arrangement; (2) The compression refrigeration cycle section 81 is fitted to apparatus of various designs by standardizing the connecting portions (the evaporator 65 and the heating condenser 74). Thus, the utility of the compression refrigeration cycle section 81 can be enhanced and the cost for manufacturing the same can be reduced. (3) The driving circuit 105 is controlled on the basis of the information detected in the compression refrigeration cycle section 81 so that the confirmation of the operation and the maintenance of the drying system 61 is made easily. The fifth embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view generally illustrating the drying system 83. The structural components of the drying system 83 illustrated in FIG. 7 are designated by the same reference numeral as those used in FIG. 6, provided that those corresponding components are substantially identical with each other. In this connection, the description is omitted on the corresponding components. In this drying system 83, the reheating section 84 is provided. The reference numeral 85 is added to a branch passage. The passage 85 is connected at both ends thereof to the second brine circulating circuit 75 downstream of the heater 77. The reheating element 87 is disposed within the vessel 5. The passage 85 is also provided with a circulating pump 88 for forcing the brine into the reheating element 87. In such an arrangement, the system increases the amount of water to be removed from the object (W), as with the system of the third embodiment. In this connection, the dryness of the object (W) is expectedly increased. The compression refrigeration cycle section 81 has an arrangement which can be detached from the drying system 83 as with the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 6, so that the above mentioned advantages (1), (2), and (3) are also obtained in this embodiment. The sixth embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view generally illustrating the drying system 91. The structural components of the drying system 91 illustrated in FIG. 8 are designated by the same reference numeral as those used in FIG. 1, provided that those corresponding components are substantially identical with each other. In this connection, the description is omitted on the corresponding components. In the drying system 91, the wall 95 of the vessel body 93 is of hollow structure made of the same material as that employed in the heating condenser 11. The vessel body 93 is adapted to be closed by lid 97. The reference numeral 99 is added to the flow passages. The intermediate portion of the passage extends laterally, and both side portions extend downwardly to the lid 97. The evaporator 17 is provided within the passage. Although the screw 25 is of vertical type, the structure thereof is substantially the same as that used in the drying system 1. The reference numeral 100 is added to the blower for circulating the air in the direction designated by blanked arrows. No pulverizing materials 31 are charged into the vessel body 93. The object (W) is heated by coolant delivered into the wall 95 of the vessel body 93 from the compressor 9. The coolant leaving the wall 95 is delivered into regulating condenser 13, and decompressed by means of expansion valve 15, then flows into the evaporator 17. In this drying system 91, the area in which the moisture-laden air is produced (within the vessel body 93) and the area in which the moisture-removed air is generated (near the evaporator 17) are separated from each other by the flow passages 99, so that the transformation from the moisture-laden air to the moisture-removed air vice versa are done efficiently. The seventh embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view generally illustrating the drying system 104 obtained by retrofitting the drying system 91 (FIG. 8) to adopt the indirect cooling and/or heating system of the drying system 61 (FIG. 6). The structural components of the drying system 104 illustrated in FIG. 9 are designated by the same reference numeral as those used in FIGS. 8 and 6, provided that those corresponding components are substantially identical with each other. In this connection, the description is omitted on the corresponding components. A pair of air-flow passages is connected to the lid 97. One end of each passage is connected to the lid, and the other end of the passage is provided with a flange 101. These flanges are adapted to be connected to the flanges 102 provided at the both ends of the flow passage 99. When these flanges 101 and 102 are connected, the flow passage of the system is defined. As can be seen from the above, the air flow passages 98 and 99 can be detached from each other, so that the vessel body 93 is separately assembled from the main structure of the system including the compression refrigeration cycle section 81, the air flow passage 99, and the refrigerator 69. The eighth embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 10. FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view generally illustrating the drying system 105 obtained by retrofitting the drying system 104 (FIG. 9) to adopt the direct cooling system of the drying system 91 (FIG. 8). The structural components of the drying system 105 illustrated in FIG. 10 are designated by the same reference numeral as those used in FIGS. 9 and 8, provided that those corresponding components are substantially identical with each other. In this connection, the description is omitted on the corresponding components. While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it should be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The compressor may for example be of a type of fixed displacement. In such a case, the capacity of the compressor may be adjusted by the intermittent (on/off) operation. This is suitable for the relatively smaller vessel, or for the case in which the final water content of the object is not relatively low. The flow control valve may be an electromagnetic valve of on/off type. In such a case, the amount of heat energy can be adjusted by the intermittent (on/off) operation thereof. The coefficient of heat transfer of the pulverizing assisting materials 31 may preferably be as high as possible. The examples of such material include metal or ceramics. Wooden materials are not preferable. Bamboo is better than the wooden materials. It is a matter of course that the object (W) is not limited to organic materials. The drying system of the present invention can be used under vacuum. In such a case, the vessel is designed to withstand the vacuum within the vessel. The system operates by pumps or blowers of relatively low pressure or ejector. Provided that the vacuum source is connected to the drain port to deliver the condensed water out of the system, the vacuum source must be selected to be able to handle the water without any problem. The design of the drying system of the second embodiment can be changed to control the flow rate of the coolant delivered into the reheating element by means of the electromagnetic valve of on/off type. Further, the reheating element for heating the air in the vessel can be a radiator of on/off type. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY In accordance with the drying system of the invention, the amount of energy to be consumed can be reduced substantially. In other words, the drying system of the invention is good for the natural environment and also is economically advantageous. In the arrangement in which the compression refrigeration cycle section including a control unit can be detached from the vessel, the one refrigeration cycle section can advantageously be used in the variety of vessels. Thus the mass production of the compression refrigeration cycle section can be performed.

<SOH> FIELD OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The present invention relates to a drying system. More particularly, the invention relates to a closed drying system using a compression refrigeration cycle of high energy efficiency to reduce affect on the environment.

<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The first aspect of the invention is a closed drying system of a compression refrigeration cycle section including a compressor, an evaporator, a condenser, and an expansion valve having being connected during a coolant circulating passage, wherein the condenser comprises a heating condenser for supplying heat energy to a moisture-containing object to generate moisture-laden air, which contains the moisture in water vapor removed from the object, by evaporation of the moisture of the object, and a regulating condenser for exhausting waste heat adjustably out of the system, the evaporator is adapted to remove water vapor from the moisture-laden air by refrigeration, and the coolant circulating passage delivers coolant from the compressor through the heating condenser into the regulating condenser. The second aspect of the invention is the drying system according to claim 1 , further comprising; an air-circulator for circulating air between the object and the evaporator, a detector for detecting the humidity and the temperature of the moisture-laden air immediately before flowing over the evaporator, and a flow-rate controller for controlling the flow-rate of the moisture-laden air flowing over the evaporator so as to maximize the amount of water to be condensed on the basis of information obtained by the detector on the humidity and the temperature. The third aspect of the invention is the drying system according to claim 1 or 2 , further comprising; another, second coolant supplying passage for supplying the coolant directly to the regulating condenser, the second passage being arranged in parallel with the coolant supplying passage for supplying the coolant from the compressor to the heating condenser, a flow control valve provided in the second coolant supplying passage, and wherein the expansion valve is disposed just downstream of the regulating condenser. The fourth aspect of the invention is the drying system according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising; a heat-amount controller for controlling the amount of heat energy provided by the heating condenser by controlling revolution of the compressor to vary the amount of the coolant to be delivered to the heating condenser. The fifth aspect of the invention is the drying system according to in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heat energy is supplied through the bottom of the vessel into the object. The sixth aspect of the invention is the drying system according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising; a stirrer for stirring the object, and an assistor for assisting the heat transfer, with being provided substantially separate from the vessel and the stirrer. The seventh aspect of the invention is the drying system according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising; a stirrer for stirring and a pulverizer for pulverizing the object, both being provided within the vessel. The eighth aspect of the invention is the drying system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the object to be charged within the vessel includes a water-containing organic material. The ninth aspect of the invention is the drying system accordingly to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising; a reheater connected directly through the coolant supplying passage to the heating condenser and for reheating the air within the vessel, a detector for detecting the temperature of the coolant within the conduit from the compressor, and a reheat-amount controller for controlling the amount of heat energy provided by the reheating element on the basis of the information obtained by the detector. The tenth aspect of the invention is the drying system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cooling is effected either through direct cooling mode by flowing the coolant decompressed by the expansion valve into the evaporator, or through indirect refrigeration mode by circulating the first brine between the evaporator and a cooling element provided within the vessel and connected heat exchangeably to the evaporator, and the heating is effected either through direct heating mode by flowing the coolant pressurized by the compressor to the heating condenser provided under the bottom of the vessel to heat the object within the vessel or through indirect heating mode by circulating the second brine between the heating condenser and a heater connected heat exchangeably to the heating condenser and provided under the vessel to heat the object within the vessel. The 11 th aspect of the invention is the drying system according to claim 10 , wherein the indirect cooling mode and the indirect heating mode are adopted to make it possible to separate the compression refrigeration cycle section of the drying system from the processing section including the vessel. The 12 th aspect of the invention is the processing section included in the drying system according to claim 11 . The 13 th aspect of the invention is the drying system according to claim 10 , wherein the direct or indirect cooling mode and the indirect heating mode are adopted, the vessel includes a vessel body and an air-flow passage both ends of which are separately connected with the vessel body, having the evaporator or the cooling element accommodated therein, and the compression refrigeration cycle section and the air-flow passage are assembled separately with the processing section except for the air-flow passage to compose the drying system. The 14 th aspect of the invention is the processing section included in the drying system according to claim 13 . In accordance with the drying system of the invention, the amount of energy to be consumed would be highly reduced, since the refrigerating side as well as the heating side of the compression refrigeration cycle can be used at the same time. Especially, when the amount of heat energy delivered out at the regulating condenser is little, the amount of heat energy delivered out from the system may also be inhibited substantially. In the compression refrigeration cycle, the refrigerating capacity of 3 can normally be obtained from the electric input of 1, although it might vary depending on the operating condition of the system. In the heating side forming the heat pump of the system, the heating capacity of 4 (1+3=4) can be obtained. In other words, although the coefficient of performance (COP) of the refrigerating capacity is about 3, the heating capacity obtained in the heating side can be 4. In this connection, the present system using the refrigerating side as well as the heating side at the same time can utilize the refrigeration capacity of 3 and the heating capacity of 4 obtained from the electric input of 1, so that the practical COP of 7 can be achieved. Thus it can be expected a high energy saving effect. In the case of prior art rapid high temperature, drying systems such as an electric heater or a gas heater, the surface of the object is hardened or charred, whereas water still remains within the object, and often the ingredient of the object such as proteins or glucide are affected by heat. On the other hand, the drying system of the invention using the condensing temperature of the refrigeration cycle can operate with keeping the temperature of the object and the interior of the vessel in ordinary temperature (0-60° C.). Thus the problems of charring or so are prevented. When the condensation pressure of the refrigeration cycle is 2.0 MPa, the condensation temperature of 50° C. is available on R 22, and the condensation temperature of 45.6-50.3° C. is available on R 407. Further, in accordance with the drying system of the invention, if including the circulator, the stirrer, and pulverizer are additionally provided, relatively short time is required for drying the object in ordinary temperature, since the evaporation rate of the system brought into the maximum due the use of circulators. Additionally, no odor is released from the system. Taking the fact that organic materials often have their particular odors into consideration, the drying system of the invention is especially suitable for organic materials of high water content. In conclusion, the drying system of the invention is referred to as a good system for environment. The features recited from aspect 2 to the final aspect will provide more advantageous effects. These advantages will now be described for each aspect. In the drying system of the second aspect, not only the operating efficiency of the drying system may be enhanced by increasing the total condensation amount, but also obtain an object of lower water content and higher quality by condensing water in the very low temperature near the dew point at the end of the drying operation. In the drying system of the third aspect, the heat balance of the compression refrigeration cycle can be controlled optimally through the provision of the second coolant supplying passage. In the drying system of the fourth aspect, the amount of heat energy provided by the heating condenser i.e. the amount of heat energy supplied to the object can be controlled. In the drying system of the fifth aspect, the heat energy generated by the heating condenser can be efficiently transferred to the object. In the drying system of the sixth aspect, the heat energy can be transferred to the whole of the object (W) certainly, uniformly, and rapidly by adding the stirrer for stirring and the assister for assisting the heat transfer. In the drying system of the seventh aspect, the evaporation rate can be increased by utilizing the stirrer in combination with the pulverizer. Thus the compression refrigeration cycle can be utilized efficiently and the object of lower water content and higher quality can be obtained. In the drying system of the ninth aspect, the water removing efficiency can be enhanced even if the performance of the evaporator is recovered by the reheating element, whereby in the final drying stage, water-removal efficiency is improved. In the drying system of any one of the 11 th to 14 th aspects, the compression refrigeration cycle section can removably be connected to the drying section, so that any commercially available ones can be used as the compression refrigeration cycle section.

20050915

20091201

20061012

58971.0

F26B2106

GRAVINI, STEPHEN MICHAEL

DRYING SYSTEM

SMALL

ACCEPTED

F26B

ACCEPTED

Method for the production of glass threads coated with a thermofusible size and products resulting therefrom

The present invention relates to a process for producing glass strands coated with a hot-melt size, whereby molten glass streams, flowing out of orifices located in the base of one or more bushings, are drawn in the form of one or more sheets of continuous filaments, the filaments are then assembled into one or more strands that are collected on one or more moving supports, this process consisting in depositing a first composition containing a coupling agent on the glass filaments and then in depositing a second composition comprising a hot-melt polymer in the melt state, at the latest during assembly of the filaments into one or more strands. It also relates to the glass strands obtained according to this process and to the composites containing said strands.

1. A process for producing sized glass strands, whereby molten glass streams, flowing out of orifices located in the base of one or more bushings, are drawn in the form of one or more sheets of continuous filaments, the filaments are then assembled into one or more strands that are collected on one or more moving supports, this process consisting in depositing a first composition containing a coupling agent on the glass filaments and then in depositing a second composition comprising a hot-melt polymer in the melt state on said filaments, at the latest during assembly of the filaments into one or more strands. 2. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first composition is deposited on the glass filaments cooled to a temperature not exceeding 90° C. 3. The process as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cooling of the filaments is speeded up by spraying a fluid, by spraying water or by blowing air. 4. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coupling agent is at least one selected from the group consisting of organofunctional silanes, organofunctional silanes containing one or more hydrolizable groups, titanates and zirconates. 5. The process as claimed in claim 4, wherein the coupling agent is γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane. 6. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second composition is deposited at a temperature of less than or equal to 200° C. 7. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the viscosity of the second composition is around 200 to 600 mPa·s at a temperature between 100 and 200° C. 8. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hot-melt polymer is solid at a temperature below 50° C. 9. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the glass filaments are combined with filaments of a thermoplastic organic material before they are assembled in the form of one or more strands. 10. The process as claimed in claim 9, wherein the thermoplastic organic material is at least one selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, thermoplastic polyesters, polyesters and polyamides. 11. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the compositions deposited on the strand furthermore include at least one additive selected from the group consisting of lubricants, antistatic agents, antioxidants, UV stabilizers, nucleating agents and pigments. 12. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the total amount of the compounds deposited on the glass filaments represents 2 to 15% by weight of the glass. 13. A glass strand coated with a thermoplastic sizing composition as obtained by the process as claimed in claim 1. 14. A composite comprising at least one thermoplastic organic material and sized glass strands, wherein the composite comprises, at least in part, sized glass strands as claimed in claim 13. 15. The composite as claimed in claim 14, wherein the thermoplastic organic material is at least one selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polyvinyl chlorides and polyesters. 16. The composite as claimed in claim 14, wherein the composite has a glass content of between 20 and 80%. 17. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the viscosity of the second composition is around 300 to 500 mPa·s at a temperature between 100 and 200° C.

The present invention relates to the manufacture of reinforcing strands used in the construction of composites. It relates more precisely to a process for producing glass strands coated with a hot-melt size, and also to the strands obtained and to the composites produced from said strands. It is known to manufacture glass reinforcing strands from streams of molten glass that flow out of the numerous orifices of a bushing. These strands are drawn into continuous filaments, they are then possibly combined with filaments of another material, before being assembled into strands that are collected, usually in the form of wound packages. Before they are assembled in the form of strands, the glass filaments pass through a device for coating them with a size or sizing composition. Deposition of the size is essential. Firstly, it allows a strand to be obtained with the filaments protected from abrasion by contact with the various processing members, thereby preventing them from breaking during manufacture and possibly during their use. Secondly, the size allows the strand to be combined with the organic and/or inorganic materials to be reinforced, by making it easier for the strands to be wetted by and impregnated with these materials. As a general rule, the size increases the adhesion between the glass and the materials to be reinforced, resulting in improved mechanical properties. The size also promotes mutual cohesion of the filaments, thereby resulting in better integrity of the strand, this property being especially desirable in textile applications where the strands must withstand high mechanical stresses during weaving. The sizing compositions most commonly used are aqueous compositions (with more than 85% water by weight) containing compounds that are capable of crosslinking subsequent to deposition on the filaments, especially under the effect of a heat treatment carried out after the strands have been collected together. Easy to produce and to deposit, these sizing compositions are also very stable and do not cure prematurely, which would make deposition impossible, whether during storage or beneath the bushing. In order for the strands to be effectively combined with the materials to be reinforced, it is necessary, however, to remove the water, this generally being achieved by drying the wound strand packages in ovens. However, this treatment is not entirely satisfactory because, on the one hand, it is expensive (the investment costs in terms of ovens and the operating costs, in particular those associated with energy consumption, are considerable) and, on the other hand, it causes the components of the size to migrate to the outside of the package, resulting in a strand of variable quality. In the case of composite strands, which combine glass filaments with filaments of a thermoplastic organic material, it may happen that the organic filaments have a change-of-state temperature (for example a glass transition temperature) close to 100° C., which precludes heating these strands to a temperature high enough to remove the water therefrom. One solution that avoids drying consists in using a hot-melt size based on a thermoplastic polymer which has the property of being liquid when it is heated and of solidifying upon cooling. Such a size, applied hot (at a temperature above its solidification temperature), makes it possible for those filaments to be more or less completely sheathed. The choice of the nature of the polymer depends on the matrix to be reinforced and/or on the organic filaments combined in the composite strand; there is a direct influence on the processibility of the strand and on the mechanical performance level of the composite materials produced from these strands. A drawback of hot-melt polymers lies in their insufficient ability to bond correctly to glass. In the case of composite strands, this results in poor cohesion of the filaments, which tend to group together depending on their nature, hence resulting in segregation that may lead to the formation of loops. In some applications, such as weaving, this strand cannot be used because knots form, which cause the weaving machines to stop. To remedy this drawback, it proves necessary to add at least one coupling agent to the size deposited on the glass. The coupling agent must have an affinity both for the glass and for the matrix to be reinforced, and possibly for the filaments other than the glass filaments when the strands are composite strands. The coupling agent must also be compatible with the constituents of the size without, however, prematurely reacting with them, which would cause a substantial increase in the viscosity, or even complete gelling, and would make deposition on the glass impossible. The object of the present invention is to provide a process for producing glass strands sized by compositions that contain at least one coupling agent and a hot-melt polymer, this process preventing premature or inopportune reactions between these constituents and requiring no drying. This object is achieved by the process according to the invention whereby molten glass streams, flowing out of orifices located in the base of one or more bushings, are drawn in the form of one or more sheets of continuous filaments, the filaments are then assembled into one or more strands that are collected on one or more moving supports, this process consisting in depositing a first composition containing a coupling agent on the glass filaments and then in depositing a second composition comprising a hot-melt polymer in the melt state on said filaments, at the latest during assembly of the filaments into one or more strands. The process according to the invention has several advantages. It uses a size involving little or no water, which therefore obviates strand drying treatments, and therefore representing a major saving. It improves the bonding of the coupling agent to the glass. Since the coupling agent is applied first, there is thus enough time for it to react with the glass before coming into contact with the hot-melt polymer. Similarly, since the coupling agent is deposited separately, the final amount on the strand may be precisely adjusted. The process limits the loss of the coupling agent by evaporation since the latter is applied at room temperature (that is to say without supplying additional energy) to cooled filaments, and consequently the risk of inhalation of toxic substances by the operators is kept at a very low level and there is a substantial saving (the coupling agent generally representing a substantial portion of the cost of the size). The process according to the invention, thanks to the advantages that it affords, allows strands to be obtained with a uniform quality over their entire length. In particular, this simply implemented process offers great freedom in choosing the coupling agent and the hot-melt polymer because they are introduced separately onto the filaments. It thus simplifies the preparation of the sizing compositions, this often being tricky owing to the problems of compatibility and/or homogenization of the constituents, which problems may be accentuated during storage and deposition of the size. Moreover, the process applies with the same advantages to the production of various types of glass-based sized strands as indicated below. In the present invention, the term “glass strands” is understood to mean glass-based strands, that is to say not only strands formed solely from glass filaments, but also strands formed from glass filaments and filaments of a thermoplastic organic material. In the latter case, while the glass filaments are being drawn, the formed filaments of organic material are extruded from an extrusion head and simultaneously entrained (or the strands of organic material are fed in at the same time from, for example, packages), the paths followed by the glass filaments and the filaments (or strands) of organic material converging on one another before said filaments are assembled into at least one mechanically entrained composite strand. The glass filaments may be drawn in the form of a sheet from a bushing or in the form of several sheets from one or more bushings and may be assembled into one or more strands. The drawing speed of the glass filaments in the process according to the invention is generally between 6 and 50, preferably 9 and 20, meters per second. According to the invention, the compositions, in particular the composition containing the coupling agent (first composition), are generally deposited on cooled glass filaments, that is to say those having a temperature not exceeding 90° C., preferably 75° C., in order to avoid any risk of selective evaporation and to allow better control of the amount of material deposited on the filaments. Optionally, the cooling of the filaments may be speeded up by spraying an appropriate fluid, for example by spraying water which evaporates naturally before the coupling agent is deposited, and/or by blowing air. The first composition containing the coupling agent is deposited while the glass filaments are being drawn, but before they are assembled into strands, so as to prevent them from breaking on the assembling device. Preferably, the first composition is deposited as soon as the filaments have reached the cooling temperature indicated above so as to have the maximum possible time for contact between the glass and the coupling agent. This increases the bonding of the coupling agent before the second composition, which contains the hot-melt polymer, is applied. The application may take place, for example, using a sizing roller, a lipped device or a sprayer. Preferably, a sizing roller is used. The deposition of the second composition containing the hot-melt polymer takes place after the filaments have been coated with the first composition, and at the latest while the filaments are being assembled into strands. The deposition may be carried out using the same devices as those used for the first composition, these also having to be provided with means for keeping the hot-melt polymer in the melt state. The temperature for applying the hot-melt composition is generally less than or equal to 200° C., is preferably less than or equal to 160° C. and better still is greater than 100° C. The temperature is chosen so that the viscosity of the hot-melt composition is low enough for it to be correctly deposited on the glass filaments and for the residual traces of water to be able to be removed. These requirements are satisfied with a viscosity of around 200 to 600 mPa·s, preferably 300 to 500 mPa·s. The aforementioned temperature conditions furthermore reduce the risk of the polymer undergoing thermal degradation that may impair its properties, while nevertheless maintaining a reasonable energy consumption and satisfactory safety conditions for the operators. The composition applied firstly to the glass filaments comprises one or more coupling agents capable of bonding to the glass and of promoting bonding of the hot-melt polymer deposited subsequently. The coupling agent may be chosen, for example, from organofunctional silanes, especially those containing one or more hydrolysable groups, such as γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, γ-glycidoxy-propyltrimethoxysilane, γ-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane, vinyltrimethoxysilane, titanates and zirconates. The preferred coupling agent is γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane. The first composition may furthermore include a diluent that helps to dissolve the coupling agent or agents. The optional diluents are essentially water and any organic compound having, where appropriate, at least one particular function in the size, such as filament protection, strand flexibility, etc. Preferably, the composition contains no organic solvent for toxicity and volatile organic compound (VOC) emission reasons. More preferably, the composition contains water in an amount as low as possible but nevertheless sufficient for deposition under acceptable conditions and such that the water, once the composition has been deposited, can evaporate naturally, without supplying further energy. The coupling agent concentration in the composition depends on the application conditions, especially the speed at which the glass filaments are drawn and on the device used for the deposition. For example, good results are obtained with an aqueous composition comprising at least 5% by weight of coupling agent deposited on the filaments running at a speed of around 9 to 17 meters per second by means of a sizing roller. The second composition may comprise one or more polymers that can be deposited under the conditions of the process and can resist thermal degradation. The hot-melt polymers may be chosen from polymers that are solid at a temperature below 50° C. and have a viscosity of between 200 and 600 mPa·s, preferably between 300 and 500 mPa·s, at the deposition temperature, which is generally around 100 to 200° C. The choice of polymer essentially depends on the material to be reinforced. In particular, it is important for the polymer to be compatible with said material when it is desirable for the final composite to have good levels of mechanical performance. When the strand is a composite strand, the choice also depends on the nature of the thermoplastic filaments used. In particular, it is necessary to ensure that the hot-melt polymer is compatible with these filaments, thereby preventing repulsion effects leading to the filaments bunching together according to their nature (glass or thermoplastic) and therefore being distributed nonuniformly within the strand. For example, when the thermoplastic filaments essentially consist of one or more polyolefins, such as polyethylene or polypropylene, the hot-melt polymer is a copolymer of ethylene and/or propylene with acrylic acid or maleic anhydride. When these same filaments essentially consist of one or more thermoplastic polyesters, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), the hot-melt polymer may be an epoxy, for example one belonging to the DGEBA (diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A) group. The amount of hot-melt polymer deposited on the glass filaments represents in general 2 to 15%, preferably 3 to 8%, by weight of the glass. Above 15%, the state of solidification of the polymer on the filaments before they are assembled in the form of a strand is not complete, which results in substantial bonding between the filaments. The strand obtained is unusable as it lacks flexibility. The second composition may furthermore include a diluent for adapting the viscosity to the deposition conditions. This is usually a polymer of a similar nature to the hot-melt polymer, but one that is incapable of reacting with the coupling agent, for example a wax, especially a polyolefin wax. The compositions deposited on the glass filaments may furthermore include one or more compounds conferring particular properties on the size. These compounds (denoted hereafter by the term additives) may be provided by one or other of the compositions, preferably by the hot-melt composition. As additives, mention may especially be made of: lubricants, preferably nonionic lubricants; antistatic agents; antioxidants; UV stabilizers; nucleating agents; pigments. Preferably, the content of agents of each of the aforementioned categories is less than or equal to 1% by weight of the size and advantageously the total content of additives is less than 5%. The choice of coupling agent and of hot-melt polymer, and also their amounts, depends in particular on the material to be reinforced by the strands according to the invention and on the intended application. As a general rule, the total amount of the compositions deposited on the glass filaments represents 2 to 15%, preferably 3 to 8%, by weight of the glass. The glass filaments coated with the size may be combined with filaments of a thermoplastic organic material before being assembled to form one or more composite strands. The combining operation is generally carried out by spraying the thermoplastic filaments into the sheet of glass filaments in order to obtain comingling of the filaments. The spraying may be carried out by any known means for fulfilling this role, for example a Venturi device. The constituent thermoplastic material of the filaments may be chosen from materials capable of giving filaments, especially by extrusion in a device such as an extrusion head. As examples, mention may be made of polyolefins, such as polyethylene and polypropylene, thermoplastic polyesters, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyethers and polyamides, such as nylon-11 and nylon-12. The strands are generally collected in the form of packages wound onto rotating supports, for example to form bobbins of continuous strands. They may also be collected on receiving supports moving translationally, allowing a mat of continuous or chopped intermingled strands to be formed. To do this, it is possible to use, for example, a device for spraying the strands toward the collecting surface that is moving transversely to the direction of the sprayed strands, said device also allowing the strands to be drawn and optionally chopped. The strands obtained according to the invention may thus be in various forms after collection: bobbins of continuous strands (rovings or cakes), chopped strands and assemblies (mats or networks). After conversion, they may be in the form of tapes, braids and fabrics. The glass filaments forming these strands have a diameter of between 10 and 30 microns, preferably between 14 and 23 microns, and the glass may be any glass known for producing reinforcing strands, for example E-glass, AR (alkali-resistant)-glass, R-glass or S-glass. E- and AR-glasses are preferred. When the strand consists only of glass, its linear density may vary between 200 and 4000 tex, preferably 640 and 2000 tex. In the case of composite strands, the glass content may vary from 30 to 85%, preferably 53 to 83%, by weight of the strand. At room temperature, the strands obtained are coated with a solidified size, the weight content of which is constant over the entire length of the strand. The strands according to the invention may be combined with various materials to be reinforced, especially with a view to producing composite components having good mechanical properties. The composites are advantageously obtained by combining at least strands according to the present invention with at least one thermoplastic organic material, such as polyolefins, polyvinylchlorides (PVCs) and polyesters. The glass content in the composites is generally between 20 and 80%, preferably 28 and 60%, by weight. The following examples will be used to illustrate the invention without, however, limiting it. EXAMPLE 1 E-glass filaments 18.5 μm in diameter, obtained from streams of glass output by a bushing having 800 orifices, were mechanically drawn at a speed of 14 m/s. Along their path, they were coated with an aqueous solution containing 16.10 wt % γ-amino propyltriethoxysilane (SILQUEST A 1100, sold by Crompton) in contact with a sizing roller. The ambient temperature around the roller was about 40° C. The filaments then passed over a second sizing roller placed approximately 30 cm from the first, and heated to 140° C., which delivered a composition containing 70 wt % of an ethylene/acrylic acid copolymer (AC 540, sold by Honeywell) and 30 wt % of polyethylene (AC 617, sold by Honeywell). Polypropylene filaments extruded from an extrusion head having 600 holes passed through a Venturi device that sprayed them into the sheet of glass filaments after it had passed over the second sizing roller. The intimately mixed glass and polypropylene filaments were then assembled into a single strand, which was wound in the form of a roving. The strand obtained comprised 60 wt % of glass filaments having a loss on ignition of 4%. This strand could be easily handled—it was flexible and integral, and had a uniform coating over its entire length and good distribution of the glass filaments and polypropylene filaments within the strand, that is to say substantial comingling of all the filaments. It could also be woven, and the woven fabric obtained could be used to reinforce thermoplastic organic materials, especially polyolefins (PE and PP). EXAMPLE 2 (COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE) This example was produced under the same conditions as for Example 1, but modified in that the two compositions were premixed in order to form a single composition, which was deposited on the filaments by means of the heated sizing roller. The composition obtained had a very high viscosity, making it impossible to be applied to the filaments using a sizing roller. EXAMPLE 3 E-glass filaments 18.5 μm in diameter, obtained from streams of glass output by a bushing having 800 orifices, were mechanically drawn at a speed of 14 m/s. Along their path, they were coated with an aqueous solution containing 16.10 wt % γ-amino propyltriethoxysilane (SILQUEST A 1100, sold by Crompton) in contact with a sizing roller. The ambient temperature around the roller was about 40° C. The filaments then passed over a second sizing roller placed approximately 30 cm from the first, and heated to 140° C., which delivered a DGEBA-type epoxy polymer (DER 671 sold by Dow Chemical). Polyethylene terephthalate filaments extruded from an extrusion head having 600 holes passed through a Venturi device that sprayed them into the sheet of glass filaments after it had passed over the second sizing roller. The intimately mixed glass and polyethylene terephthalate filaments were then assembled into a single strand, which was wound in the form of a roving. The strand obtained consisted of 65% glass. It was easy to handle and had properties similar to those of the strand of Example 1. This strand could be used as reinforcement in PVC, especially for the production of sections for windows.

20050915

20110215

20061109

76539.0

C03C2524

SZEWCZYK, CYNTHIA

METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF GLASS THREADS COATED WITH A THERMOFUSIBLE SIZE AND PRODUCTS RESULTING THEREFROM

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

C03C

ACCEPTED

Method for the production of a book cover insert and book-type security document and book cover insert and book-type security document

The invention relates to a method for the production of a book cover insert (11) and to a method for the production of a book-type security document (30) and also to a book cover insert and a book-type security document, in which at least one data carrier (22) that can be operated contactlessly is provided in a book cover insert (11). (In this respect FIG. 9)

1. A method for the production of a book cover insert for a book binding, in particular for a book-type security document, characterized in that at least one first layer, at least one second layer and at least one data carrier with microchip are provided, in that an adhesive layer is introduced at least on an inner side of the at least one first layer or a surface of the at least one data carrier with microchip which faces the inner side of the at least one first layer, in that an adhesive layer is introduced at least on an inner side of the at least one second layer or a surface of the at least one data carrier with microchip which faces the inner side of the at least one second layer, and in that the at least one first layer together with the data carrier with microchip and the at least one second layer are connected to one another under slight pressure to form a composite. 2. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that after the production of the composite, the at least two layers are stamped to a final format. 3. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first and at least one further layer are formed from the same material, preferably reinforced paper, paperboard or cardboard, and, prior to the connection to form a composite, the direction of the paper fibers of the first and at least one further layer are oriented in the same sense. 4. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the at least one layer made of reinforced paper, paperboard or cardboard has a smooth surface on one side and a rough surface on the other side, and in that the adhesive layer is applied on the rough surface. 5. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first and at least one further layer are formed from at least one polymeric laminate layer, so that a composite with a circumferential edge around at least the one data carrier is produced. 6. The method as claimed in claim 4 1, characterized in that the first and at least one further layer are produced from at least one thermoplastic film or from a sandwichlike film combination, preferably comprising materials such as PVC, ABS, PET-G, PET, PE, PP, PA or teslin. 7. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a material containing an antenna substrate is used for the first or at least one further layer. 8. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first and at least one further layer are joined together by heating a hot melt adhesive. 9. The method as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the upper limit for the heating temperature is limited to 200° C., preferably less than 160° C. 10. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a cutout or perforation for receiving at least one part of the data carrier is introduced into at least one layer. 11. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the at least one data carrier is positioned with respect to the at least one layer outside a gripper zone of the book cover insert. 12. A book cover insert for a book binding, in particular for a book-type security document, characterized in that at least one data carrier with microchip is provided between at least one first and at least one further layer and is positioned within the at least two layers or in a manner adjoining an outer side of the at least two layers. 13. The book cover insert as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the first or at least one further layer have a layer thickness which are in each case less than or equal to the total layer thickness or the thickness of a composite which is formed from a plurality of layer thicknesses. 14. The book cover insert as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that provision is made of a first and a second layer made of reinforced paper, paperboard or cardboard which have the same wall thickness. 15. The book cover insert as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that at least one first layer is formed from reinforced paper, paperboard, cardboard or the like, which has a cutout or perforation in which the at least one part of the data carrier and the at least one further layer are provided. 16. The book cover insert as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the at least one further layer is formed as an adhesive, a flowable and curable plastic, an embedding composition or the like. 17. The book cover insert as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the at least one first layer comprises further security features. 18. The book cover insert as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the at least one first layer and at least one further layer together with the at least one data carrier with microchip are provided as the rear side of a book binding. 19. The book cover insert as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the at least one data carrier with microchip can be operated contactlessly or in a contact-connectable manner. 20. A method for the production of a book-type security document, in particular as claimed in claim 1, in which at least two book cover inserts are positioned on a binding material, at least one book cover insert comprising at least one data carrier with microchip, in which a book spine insert is supplied, the binding material is folded in on one side and adhesively bonded to at least one layer, a book block is supplied to the book binding and inset in the latter. 21. The method as claimed in claim 20, characterized in that when the book block is inset in the book binding, an endpaper is in each case adhesively bonded onto the inner front and rear sides of the book binding. 22. The method as claimed in claims 20, characterized in that a book cover insert with at least one data carrier is supplied as rear side on the binding material and a book cover insert without a data carrier with microchip is supplied as front side onto the binding material for a book binding. 23. The method as claimed in claim 20, characterized in that a further processing operation, preferably a coating, inscription, embossing or hot embossing, is carried out in a region outside and adjacent to the data carrier with microchip. 24. A book-type security document, having a book binding and a book block, characterized in that at least one data carrier is provided in at least one book cover insert. 25. The book-type security document as claimed in claim 24, characterized in that the book block comprises a pass card and at least personalized data are stored in the at least one data carrier. 26. The book-type security document as claimed in claim 24, characterized in that the book cover insert with at least one data carrier is provided at least on a front or rear side of the book binding. 27. The book-type security document as claimed in claim 24, characterized in that at least one first data carrier comprises one portion of the personal data of the pass card or of the book block, and in that a further portion of the items of information, preferably to a supplementary or corresponding portion of the first items of information, is stored on at least one further data carrier with microchip. 28. The book-type security document as claimed in claim 24, characterized in that at least one further data carrier is provided in the pass card or a side of the book block. 29. The book-type security document as claimed in claim 24, characterized in that the endpaper of the book block is formed from a paper having a weight of more than 80 g/m2. 30. The book-type security document as claimed in claim 24, characterized in that the at least one data carrier with microchip can be operated contactlessly or in a contact-connectable manner. 31. The book-type security document as claimed in claim 30, characterized in that the data carrier with microchip can be operated capacitively or inductively. 32. The book-type security document as claimed in claim 24, characterized in that the data carrier is formed as a transponder. 33. The book-type security document as claimed in claims claim 24, characterized by the use as a passport or pass book.

The invention relates to a method for the production of a book cover insert, to a method for the production of a book-type security document and also to a book cover insert and a book-type security document, in particular a pass book. A book-type security document, such as, for example, a passport or the like, comprises a book block and a pass card, which are connected to one another before they are bound with a book binding to form a pass book. The book block is produced from a paper or paperlike material comprising security features. The pass card has a multiplicity of security features. In the case of a passport, the book block is personalized appropriately with respect to the pass card. There is considerable interest in protecting book-type security documents against forgery and in making the production of forgeries technically impossible or at least not economically viable. Moreover, the intention is to enable straightforward checkability and monitor ability of intermediate products for book-type security documents or for security documents themselves. EP 0 749 620 B1 discloses a method for binding books in which a security facility in the form of a magnetic strip or microchip is adhesively bonded on prior to the binding of the book cover with the book inserts into the spine of the book. This fitting of the security facility on the inner side of the book spine is intended to serve as antitheft protection. Although this fitting on the inner side of the book spine is invisible externally, it is easy to manipulate or remove on account of the adhesively bonded-on arrangement. Moreover, this arrangement does not constitute a realistic protective measure for making forgeries technically impossible or at least not economically viable. DE 196 01 358 C2 furthermore discloses a paper having an integrated circuit which contains predetermined data, can be read contactlessly and is embedded non-releasably in a paper pulp. This integrated circuit serves for increasing the forgeryproofness in the complexity of the production process. The embedding of an integrated circuit in a paper pulp means that a complicated papermaking method is required for embedding said integrated circuit. The mechanical stability of the integrated circuits is very low, so that there is the risk of damage as early as while the integrated circuit is being introduced into the paper pulp and during later processing methods, such as printing. Therefore, the invention is based on the object of providing a method for the production of a book insert and a book-type security document with a book insert and also a book cover insert and a book-type security document in which the forgeryproofness is increased and simple checking of authenticity is made possible. This object is achieved by means of a method for the production of a book cover insert and the production of a book-type security document and also a book cover insert and a book-type security document in accordance with claims 1, 12, 20 and 24. The method according to the invention provides a book cover insert having at least one data carrier with microchip which can be operated contactlessly or is contact-connectable and which is provided within the outer sides of the book cover insert, which comprises at least one first layer and at least one further layer. The at least one data carrier with microchip is not visible by virtue of the layered construction and is also provided in a manner such that it cannot be sensed in the book cover insert. As a result, the position of the at least one data carrier with microchip also cannot be determined or can only be determined with an elevated outlay. Said at least one data carrier introduced in the book cover insert constitutes an additional security feature. At the same time, the at least one data carrier can be connected or coupled to further security features provided in the book cover insert and/or in a book block or book-type security document. The number of security documents produced and in circulation which have the book cover inserts can be ascertained, so that the forgery rate can be detected. The layers and the at least one data carrier are connected to one another under slight pressure to form a composite, so that the at least one data carrier is incorporated securely and functionally. After the introduction of the at least one data carrier with microchip which can be operated contactlessly or is contact-connectable and the application of the at least one further layer covering the at least one data carrier, the production of the book cover inserts advantageously comprises a stamping process by means of which the book cover insert is stamped to a final format for a book-type security document. This makes it possible to define the predetermined position of the at least one data carrier in the book cover insert, thereby ensuring, during the processing of the book cover insert for the production of a book-type security document, that the at least one data carrier is not impaired or damaged in the further processing steps. By way of example, transport gripping elements will engage outside the positioning region of the at least one data carrier. The book cover insert advantageously has through the at least one first layer of the book cover insert made of stronger paper, paperboard or cardboard. This provides for secure accommodation of at least one data carrier, so that the functionality remains ensured even upon relatively lengthy use of the book cover insert in a book-type security document. According to one advantageous refinement of the book cover insert, it is provided that the first and at least one further layer are formed from the same material, such as, for example, reinforced paper, paperboard or cardboard, and, prior to the connection of the at least two layers, the direction of the paper fibers of the first and at least one further layer are oriented in the same sense. This makes it possible to form a book cover insert with at least two plane-parallel layers, with the result that a non-warping arrangement is provided. According to a further advantageous refinement of the invention, it is provided that the adhesive layer is applied on a side having a rough surface of the at least one layer made of reinforced paper, paperboard, cardboard or the like. Owing to the use of reinforced paper, paperboard or cardboard, the at least one layer of one side has a rough surface, and on the other side a smooth surface. For secure positioning of the at least one data carrier and to increase the cohesion of the composite, the rough surface is provided with an adhesive layer on which lies at least in part the data carrier and the at least in part one further layer. In an advantageous manner, an alternative refinement of the invention provides for the first and at least one further layer also to be formed from at least one polymeric laminate layer, so that a composite with a circumferential edge around the at least one data carrier is produced. As a result of the at least one data carrier being completely enclosed or embedded in a pocket or encapsulation, the accessibility to the data carrier is made more difficult. This laminate layer encapsulation makes it possible to provide a flexible pass cover which, moreover, will withstand elevated loads over many years. The first and at least one further layer are preferably produced from at least one thermoplastic film or from a sandwichlike film combination. These films may preferably also be formed in transparent fashion. The individual materials or material combinations and also the sandwichlike construction may be selected in a manner dependent on the desired thickness and the strength or the requirements for fitting security features into the laminate layer. An alternative development of the invention provides for the first or at least one further layer to be produced from a material containing an antenna substrate. This makes it possible to provide for the use of chip modules with an external coil or antenna, which form a transponder unit by means of contact-connection at the contact locations of the antenna substrate. Said antenna substrate may have thicknesses in the range of between 6 and 150 μm, for example, and, depending on the required contact-connecting method, comprise PIT, PI, FR-4, Aramit, PVC, ABS, PE, PA, PP, PE, Teslin or the like. The antenna coils may advantageously be produced from enamel-insulated metal wire, in particular copper wire, by means of, for example, an ultrasonic sonotrode laying technique. Said antenna coils may also be inserted as an air-core coil into a corresponding recess and be laminated. Embodiments produced by means of polymeric and conductive pastes using screen printing technology may likewise be provided. As an alternative, it is also possible to use flexible printed circuit boards using subtractive technology, in the form of etching technology in copper or aluminum or the like. In addition to the advantage for forming a flexible pass cover, the configuration of the first and at least one further layer from at least one laminate layer furthermore exhibits the possibility that further security features that increase the forgeryproofness may be provided into the surface of the laminate layer or between a sandwichlike construction of the film combinations. According to a further advantageous refinement of the invention, it is provided that the first and at least one further layer are joined together by heating a hot melt adhesive. The upper limit for the heating temperature is advantageously limited to a maximum of 200° C., in particular to 160° C., in order to protect the at least one data carrier against adverse effects. According to a further advantageous refinement of the invention, it is provided that there is introduced in at least one first layer a cutout by means of a processing operation, a cavity or perforation introduced during the production of the layer by means of stamping. The concrete extent and dimensions of the cutouts or cavities or of the perforations may be introduced in a manner dependent on the data carrier used. The cutout, cavities and/or perforations are preferably introduced before an adhesive layer is applied. The book cover insert according to the invention, which has at least one data carrier with microchip, comprises a first and at least one further layer that surround the at least one data carrier. The integration or incorporation of the at least one data carrier into a book cover insert makes it possible to enhance the security features in the case of books, security documents, certificates or further jackets or bindings provided for documents, articles or the like. By virtue of the arrangement that is not visible and cannot be sensed, this security feature cannot immediately be ascertained, which already affords an increase in security. Moreover, the information of the at least one data carrier may be combined with further security features. There may be, by way of example, inductive, capacitive, magnetic coding, infrared coding, Wiegand coding, etc., which are situated either separately in the book cover insert or in conjunction with the further component parts to which the book cover insert is assigned. According to one advantageous refinement of the invention, it is provided that the first or at least one further layer comprises a layer thickness which is less than or equal to the total layer thickness or a thickness of a composite which is formed from a plurality of layers. The book cover inserts are traditionally provided with a layer thickness of 550 μm, for example. The layer construction or layer composite is formed identically or smaller and comprises at least one data carrier with microchip. As a result, a book cover insert can be integrated into the previous production methods and the visual appearance can be preserved. According to one advantageous refinement of the book cover insert, it is provided that provision is made of a first and a second layer made of paperboard or cardboard which have an identical wall thickness. This affords a very simple production process since identical materials and material thicknesses are used. The wall thickness of the first and second layers is coordinated with the thickness of the construction of the at least one data carrier and the adhesive layers. According to an alternative refinement of the book cover insert, it is provided that at least one first layer is formed from reinforced paper, paperboard, cardboard or the like, which has a cutout or depression in which the at least one data carrier and the at least one further layer are introduced. The at least one further layer covering the data carrier may be provided from the same material as the first layer or a material that deviates therefrom. By way of example, flowable and curable plastics, casting resins or embedding compositions may be provided. According to one preferred embodiment, the book cover insert has at least one first layer comprising additional security features. Said security features, such as a metal thread for example, may interact with the at least one data carrier in order to form a more complex security feature and to make forgery more difficult. The book cover insert is provided in particular for the production of a book binding provided for a book-type security document. The book-type security document may be for example a passport or some other security document whose specification and construction can be adapted to different security levels and security requirements. The method according to the invention for the production of a book-type security document furthermore has the advantage that a small number of work steps are used to create a book-type security document composed of a plurality of components which are in each case formed with security features and can preferably be combined with one another. The non-sensing and non-seeing of the at least one data carrier already constitutes a security feature. According to a further advantageous refinement of the method, it is provided that when the book block is inset in the book binding, the endpaper is adhesively bonded onto the inner front and rear sides of the book binding. As a result, the book cover is completely surrounded and closed by the binding material and the endpaper, so that the materials used in book binding covers and a positioning of the at least one data carrier cannot be discerned externally. Furthermore, the invention makes it possible that when a perforation, for example, is introduced into the at least one layer, adhesive bonding or concealment by the endpaper suffices to prevent the perforation from being sensed. The endpaper of the book block is advantageously formed from a paper having a weight of more than 80 g/m2. It is advantageously provided that a book cover with at least one data carrier is provided on a rear side of the book binding and the front side is formed by a pass cover without a data carrier. As a result, on the outer side of the book binding, in a further processing operation, by way of example, it is possible to effect hot embossing or further embossing and processing methods in order to apply inscriptions and markings of the security document. The book-type security document according to the invention has the advantage that the introduction of at least one data carrier increases the forgeryproofness. In the event of manipulations, it is not only necessary for at least one data carrier with microchip to be introduced into the book cover insert, but it is likewise necessary to take account of the fact that a further data matching with further security features of the book block is to be performed. There may be stored in the data carrier security data, personal data for example from the pass card and further items of information which can in turn be read in and interrogated only by means of special read-out devices. As a result, the book binding can be combined with the book block. Furthermore, a number of the blank pass may already be stored with/or without a check digit in the data carrier. As a result of this and as a result of, if appropriate, further combinations with security features, it is possible to provide an enhancement of the security with regard to falsification and exchange with respect to the book block or a pass card. Furthermore, biometric data, for example fingerprints or data from the machine-readable lines of a pass card, may be stored in the data carrier that operates contactlessly, so that further person-specific data are stored in the security document. The introduction of the at least one data carrier into the book cover insert may furthermore also be used for position finding. Furthermore, the invention's configuration of a book-type security document with a book cover insert comprising at least one data carrier has the advantage of enabling a linking of the book cover insert to the book block or to the pass card or identification card. Furthermore, it may advantageously be provided that a data carrier is introduced in each case and/or at least in part for example on the front and/or rear side of the book binding. The stored items of information are split, with the result that one portion of the items of information is stored on a first data carrier and a further portion of the items of information is stored on the at least further data carrier, any desired division of the stored data being made possible. This storage of the data together with the interrogation of personalized data on a pass card or identity card or items of information of the book block furthermore increase the forgeryproofness of such a book-type security document. Furthermore, parts of the at least one data carrier may be provided on the rear side, the front side and/or the spine, which may also be combined with one another by means of connecting locations. In this case, the combination or division of one or more data carriers may already constitute a security feature. Further advantageous refinements and developments of the invention are specified in further claims. The invention and also further advantageous embodiments and developments thereof are described and explained in more detail below on the basis of the example illustrated in the drawing. The features that can be gathered from the description and the drawing may be employed according to the invention individually by themselves or as a plurality in any desired combination. In the figures: FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional illustration of a book cover insert according to the invention, FIG. 2 shows a schematic sectional illustration of an alternative embodiment to FIG. 1, FIG. 3 shows a schematic sectional illustration of a further alternative embodiment to FIG. 1, FIG. 4 shows a schematic sectional illustration of an alternative embodiment to FIG. 3, FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of individual method steps for the production of a book cover insert according to the invention in accordance with FIG. 1, FIG. 6 shows a schematic plan view of a book binding with at least one book cover insert according to the invention, FIG. 6a shows a schematic plan view of a data carrier with microchip, FIG. 7 shows a schematic illustration for the production of a book binding with a book cover insert according to the invention, FIG. 8 shows a schematic plan view of a book-type security document according to the invention, FIG. 9 shows a schematic sectional illustration of a rear side of the book-type security document in accordance with FIG. 8, FIG. 10a shows a schematic sectional illustration of a flexible book binding according to the invention, FIG. 10b shows a schematic side view of an alternative embodiment of a book binding to FIG. 10a, and FIG. 11 shows a schematic illustration of the method steps for the production of the book-type security document. Alternative embodiments of a book cover insert 11 according to the invention are illustrated by way of example in FIGS. 1 to 4. Said book cover insert 11 can be used diversely and is not restricted to the use of book-type security documents such as passports, for example. Such book cover inserts 11 can equally be used for safeguarding against forgeries in the case of books, certificates or other articles in which the book cover insert can also be used independently of the function of a book cover, such as, for example, as an underlay, insert or overlay. The book cover insert 11 in accordance with FIG. 1 comprises a first layer 12, which is advantageously formed from reinforced paper, paperboard or cardboard. The first layer 12 has a rough surface and a smooth surface. The rough surface side forms the inner side 13, to which an adhesive layer 14 is applied. The at least one further layer 16 or, in accordance with the exemplary embodiment, or second layer 16 corresponds to the first layer 12 and likewise receives an adhesive layer 14 on the rough side forming the inner side 13. A perforation 17 is introduced into the second layer 16, said perforation serving for receiving a projecting microchip 21 of a data carrier 22. By way of example, the microchip 21 may be arranged in said perforation 17. The total layer thickness of the book cover insert 11 comprises 550 μm, by way of example. The layers 12 and 16 are preferably identical in thickness and formed from the same material and have in each case 250 μm, by way of example. The remaining 50 μm are taken up by the adhesive layer and the data carrier 22. This construction and the dimensions thereof are only by way of example. It is conceivable, as an alternative, that for example the layer 16 is made significantly thicker than the layer 12 or vice versa, the other layers 12, 16 being adapted to the thickness of the first layer. It may equally be provided that one of the two layers 12, 16 is formed from paperboard, reinforced paper or cardboard, the further layer being produced from plastics material. The layers 12, 16 may also be formed by a plurality of laminated layers. It is also possible for different materials to be selected for a layer construction made of at least two layers 12, 16. In principle, there is no limitation imposed on the material selection, but light, nonconductive materials such as paper, textile fabric, plastic or films, preferably made of recyclable material, are advantageously provided. FIG. 2 illustrates a book cover insert 11 with a construction corresponding to that of FIG. 1. In a departure from FIG. 1, this exemplary embodiment has a cutout 24 serving for receiving a projecting microchip 21 of a data carrier 22. Said cutout 24 may be provided by means of a milling operation or an embossing operation. As an alternative, it is also possible to introduce a cavity in the layer even during production in order to position the data carrier 22 therein. The edges of the cutout may also be beveled or rounded. FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment to FIG. 1. A first layer 12 comprises, in the edge region, a total layer thickness for the book cover insert. A milled-out section or cutout 24 adapted to the form of the data carrier 22 to be introduced is provided in a central region. The cutout or depression may also be formed by means of a multilayered construction. The depth of the cutout corresponds at least to the structural height of the data carrier 22 and a layer thickness of a second layer 16. Said second layer 16 may be composed of the same material as the layer 12. It may equally be provided that a casting resin, an embedding composition or the like is provided. It is equally possible for a protective film to be laminated on in order to form a plane surface. By way of example, a cup-shaped depression 26 is introduced in order to receive the microchip 21 of the data carrier 22. The embodiments in accordance with FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 have the common feature that the perforation 17 or the cutout 24, 26 serves for receiving the at least one microchip 21 of the data carrier 22 and defines the further positioning very precisely in order to ensure that the data carrier 22 is received in a positionally precise manner between the layers 12, 16 in the book cover insert 11. FIG. 4 illustrates a further alternative embodiment of the book cover insert 11, in the case of which a u-shaped cutout or milled-out section 24 is introduced on a preferably rough surface side of the layer 12. The construction and the embodiment variants correspond to those in accordance with FIG. 3. The microchip 21 of the data carrier 22 may also be arranged in a manner lying downward in the cutout 24 in accordance with FIG. 4. The book cover inserts 11 in accordance with FIGS. 3 and 4 are preferably positioned in a book binding in such a way that the second layer 16 has an endpaper 46 adhesively bonded over it, as will be explained below. FIG. 5 illustrates a plurality of work steps by means of which a book cover insert 11 is produced. A first layer 16, having external dimensions larger than the final size, is supplied to a stamping machine for the purpose of introducing a perforation 17, the perforation 17 being introduced in a positionally precise manner in said stamping machine. In a subsequent step, an adhesive layer is applied on the inner side 13 of the layer 16 by means of a roller 11, a doctor blade or the like. As an alternative, a so-called transfer adhesive provided on a film may also be involved. The film is stripped away after the adhesive has been applied on the layer 16. Further adhesives may equally be used which, in particular, are adapted to and coordinated with the materials of the layers 12, 16. Furthermore, the adhesive layer may be applied to the data carrier 22, or on the layer and to the data carrier 22. Likewise, the data carrier 22 may be provided with a single- or double-sided adhesive layer which is protected by a protective film and stripped off prior to adhesive bonding. Afterward, the data carrier 22 is applied in a positionally precise manner with respect to the layer 16. Simultaneously or subsequently, the layer 12 is provided with adhesive on the inner side 13. As an alternative, an adhesive may be applied only or additionally on the front and/or rear side of the data carrier 22. In a fifth step, the components are positioned with respect to one another and adhesively bonded under slight pressure. A heating may be effected depending on the adhesive used, said heating being provided at at least less than 2000, advantageously ≦160°. In the case where identical materials are used for the layer 12 and 16, the paper fiber orientation of the first layer 12 and further layer 16 will be effected in the same sense, thereby enabling plane adhesive bonding, in particular with direct contact and preventing subsequent warping or bulging. This adhesively bonded composite 28 is stamped to a final format in a subsequent work step. This directly succeeding work step has the advantage of ensuring an exact positioning of the at least one data carrier 22 in the finished book cover insert 11, since the perforation 17 and introduction of the data carrier 22 are tailored to a reference size to which the stamping to the final format 37 is also geared. The book cover insert 11 stamped to the final format 37 is then made available for the production of a book binding 31 in a magazine. FIG. 6 illustrates a book binding 31. This book binding 31 comprises a binding material 32 usually produced from a stock-like material. On the binding material 32, provision is made of a book cover insert 33 without a data carrier 22 for the front side of a book-type security document. A book cover insert 11 is provided for the rear side. A spine insert 34 is arranged in between. The book spine reinforcement or spine insert 34 usually comprises a paper strip. In an advantageous manner, these three inserts 11, 33 and 34 are not connected to one another. However, it is also possible to provide one- or two-part inserts. The data carrier 22 is preferably arranged in a central region of the book cover insert 11. Gripper zones 36 are illustrated by dashed lines in the edge regions; they are preferably kept free in order to prevent damage to the data carrier 22 by means of gripping elements in automatic production in the course of transporting the book binding 31. The arrangement of the gripper zones 36 is to be adapted to the positioning of the data carrier, so that the gripping zones adjoin the data carrier and are provided outside the data carrier 22. In principle, the positioning of the data carrier 22 is possible arbitrarily with respect to the book cover insert 11. The arrangement of one data carrier 22 in the central region of the book cover insert 11 is only by way of example. One or a plurality of data carriers 22 may in each case be provided in the front and back book cover inserts 11. Likewise, it is possible for at least parts of the data carrier or data carriers 22 to extend from the rear side as far as the spine insert 34 or from the front side as far as the spine insert 34. It is equally possible for one part, for example an antenna, to extend from the front side via the spine insert 34 as far as the rear side of the book cover insert 11. The configuration is application-specific here. It is also possible to provide parts of the data carrier, for example coils for the antenna, in a book cover insert 11 and the storage medium or the chip in the second book cover insert 11. The data carrier 22 illustrated in FIG. 6 is illustrated in enlarged fashion in FIG. 6a. Said data carrier comprises a film as carrier on which a microchip 21 is applied. The microchip 21 is connected via a conductor plane 62 to an antenna 63 formed by a multiplicity of conductor tracks arranged in looped fashion. Said data carrier 22 can be operated contactlessly, the distance for reading out and in being dependent on the transmission and reception power. The number of conductor tracks can be increased or enlarged for this, especially as the conductor tracks can also extend on the front and rear sides. The data carrier is formed as a transponder. Further embodiments that can be operated contactlessly can likewise be used. Integrated circuits can also be introduced. At the present time, data carriers 22 of the ID1 format, having storage capacities of 4 KB, for example, are preferably used. The data carriers 22 that are used may be formed diversely, for example as an RFID version, as a unidirectional integrated circuit, and also have a bidirectional circuit. Chips having a personal code number may equally be provided. Furthermore, it is possible to introduce memories which enable forgeryproof crypto-programming techniques to be adopted. The microchips used for the data carriers 22 are adapted to the security stipulations. The data can be read out capacitively, magnetically or inductively depending on the coding. The capacitive and inductive read-out may be provided by modulation of the AC voltage. Furthermore, so-called Wiegand codings may also be provided. The items of information are formed by the geometrical position of the Wiegand wires. Furthermore, it is also possible to use contact-connectable data carriers, such as, for example, chips or micromodules without an antenna. The contact locations may for example be integrated in motifs and be formed by conductive color pigments. If a plurality of data carriers 22 are provided in a book cover insert 11, the items of information can also be split, so that one portion of the items of information is stored in a first data carrier and a further portion is stored in a second data carrier, etc. If further security features are deliberately made visible, they may also be read out by means of light or an emitted radiation. As an alternative or in addition, infrared codings may also be provided. FIG. 7 illustrates the individual steps for the production process of a book binding 31. The binding material 32 is provided from a magazine 38. One side of the binding material 32 is provided with an adhesive by means of a roller 18, by way of example. Organic glue that sets rapidly is preferably used. In a next step, a book cover insert 33 is applied via a first magazine 38′ and a book cover insert 11 is applied from a second magazine 38″. At the same time or in a subsequent step, the spine insert 34 may be positioned in between. The edge regions 39 of the binding material 32 are folded over and adhesively bonded to the book cover inserts 33 and 11. Afterward, a hot film embossing 40 or an embossing method is effected on the front side of the book binding 31. The position of the data carrier 22 is to be coordinated in a manner dependent on the embossing in order that the embossing is effected outside the region of the at least one data carrier 22 or the data carrier 22 is positioned outside the embossing. FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a book-type security document 30 according to the invention. This book-type security document 30 is constructed from a book binding 31, a book block 41 and a pass card 44 (FIG. 10). The individual pages of the book block 41 and also the pass card 44 are not illustrated in the plan view of FIG. 8. In the case of a passport, the book block 32 usually comprises pages made of a standard paper with security features. The pass card 44, which is preferably stitched with the book block 41, is personalized. The plan view shows that the endpaper 46 of the book block 41 is adhesively bonded on the book binding 31 in accordance with FIG. 9, thus resulting in an overlap region 47 of the endpaper 46 with respect to the folded-over binding material 32. As a result, the book cover insert 11 is completely encapsulated. FIG. 9 illustrates for example a sectional illustration through the rear side of the book-type security document 30 in accordance with FIG. 8. A book cover insert 11 in accordance with FIG. 1 is introduced in this exemplary embodiment. In the case of the configuration of a reinforced endpaper 46, it is not necessary to close the perforation 17. The perforation 17 comprises a diameter of 4 mm, for example, so that its cutout cannot be sensed after application of the endpaper 46. FIG. 10a illustrates a schematic sectional illustration through a book-type security document 30 constituting an alternative embodiment to FIG. 8. In this exemplary embodiment, the first layer 12 and the at least one further layer 16 are formed from a polymeric laminate layer. A data carrier 22 with a microchip 21 is provided between the layer 12 and the layer 16. The laminate layers 12 and 16 have an outer, peripheral, closed edge 66 by means of which the data carrier 22 is completely enclosed and embedded between the layers 12, 16. The data carrier 22 extends as far as the seam 45, thereby enabling the book binding 31 to be opened and closed without impairing the data carrier 22. The laminate layer 12, 16 is preferably produced by means of a roller laminating or an embossing pressing method, the lamination being effected under pressure and/or temperature. After the production of the laminate layer encapsulation 67 by the at least two laminate layers 12, 16, the edges are stamped and/or trimmed in order to encapsulate this laminate layer encapsulation 67 with a binding material 32 at least on the outer side, with the result that a book binding 31 is produced after application of the endpaper 46. The thickness of the layer 16 facing the endpaper 46 can be adapted to the thickness of the data carrier 22 with microchip 21, with the result that the book cover insert 33 is formed with an identical thickness both on the front side and on the rear side. As an alternative, it may be provided that the layers 12 and 16 are formed with different thicknesses or have at least in part stamped-out sections in order to receive the microchip 21 in order likewise to form a uniform thickness of a book cover insert 33. Furthermore, as illustrated in the exemplary embodiment, the front or rear side may have a larger thickness, whereas the rear side or front side may comprise a smaller thickness. The laminate layer encapsulation 67 formed from the polymeric laminate layers 12, 16 may also be provided without binding material 32 or with partly stamped-out binding material 32, so that the outer laminate layer is at least partly visible and, by way of example, an embedded page with items of information is visible. FIG. 10b illustrates an alternative embodiment to FIG. 10a. In the case of this embodiment, the data carrier 22 with a microchip 21 is applied on a polymeric laminate layer 16, the data carrier 22 preferably being formed in such a way that it reaches as far as the seam 45, or it is provided with a boundary shortly before the latter. The binding material 32 surrounds the laminate layer 16, the edges of the binding material being covered by an endpaper 46. In accordance with the exemplary embodiment, it may be provided that the layer 16 is reinforced by the layer 12. Consequently, an inner side with security features or the like may be introduced between the layer 12 and the layer 16 for the purpose of increasing the number of security features. As an alternative to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10b, it may be provided that the data carrier 22 with microchip 12 is provided on the endpaper 46, the endpaper 46 being formed by the laminate layer 16 and the binding material being provided by the laminate layer 12. Furthermore, in the case of this exemplary embodiment, a further overlay film or the like may be applied to the data carrier 22 with microchip 21. These embodiments described with respect to FIG. 10b likewise constitute a flexible book binding 31. As an alternative, it may also be provided that the book binding 31 is formed as a flexible book binding 31 on the front or rear side and the rear or front side is produced as a hard book binding 31. A further arbitrary combination of the embodiments described for receiving at least one data carrier 22 with a microchip 21 is possible. Equally, a layer 12, 16 may be formed from paperboard, cardboard or the like and the at least one further layer 12, 16 may be provided by a polymeric laminate layer in order to position and fix the at least one data carrier 22 between the first layer 12 and the at least one further layer 16. FIG. 11 illustrates the production process of the book-type security document 30. In a first step, individual pages 42 are ordered to form a book block 41 and the pass card 44 and also the endpaper 46 are connected to one another by e.g. the production of a seam 45. The pass card 44 has an edge region 49 projecting beyond the connecting seam 45. In the subsequent work step, the book block 41 is folded up and cut to format at the sides 51, 52 and 53 in order to supply said book block 41 to a book insetting machine. In this case, the front and back endpapers 46 are adhesively bonded on to the book binding 31, around the book-type security document 30 is completed. Between the work step of cutting the book block 31 to format and insetting into the book binding 32, the cut book block 41 is personalized 55 by introduction of a perforation into the pages of the book block 41, which corresponds for example to the personal identification number or other personal data of the pass card 44. The individual method steps in accordance with FIGS. 5, 7 and 11 may also be interlinked in a work line. As an alternative, individual or a plurality of work steps may also be provided in an interchanged sequence in order to optimize automatic production.

20060223

20151006

20060914

71103.0

G05B1900

WALSH, DANIEL I

Method for the production of a book cover insert and book-type security document and book cover insert and book-type security document

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

G05B

ACCEPTED

Ice resurfacing machine as well as system and method for ice maintenance

The invention comprises an ice resurfacing machine (1) as well as a system and method for maintenance of ice (3). According to the invention, location of the ice resurfacing machine, properties of the environment of the ice (3) or the position of a blade (15) of a scraper is monitored and received signals are utilized for controlling the ice resurfacing machine or the position of its blade (15).

1. Ice resurfacing machine which comprises means for monitoring shape of an ice surface, a blade, which is arranged to scrape the ice, and means for controlling position of the blade for achieving desired scraping result, which comprise power means, such as a spindle motor, coupled to the blade for moving the blade, and control means of the power means for forming control data of the power means, electrical means for transferring the control data obtained by the control means to the power means, a sensor coupled to the blade or to the power means, and arranged to be monitoring the position of the blade, wherein the means for controlling the position of the blade further comprise electrical communication transfer means for transferring a signal from the sensor to the control means of the power means, means for adjusting the minimum and maximum scraping depth of the blade. 2. Ice resurfacing machine according to claim 1, wherein the control means of the power means are arranged in a cabin of the ice resurfacing machine. 3. Ice resurfacing machine according to claim 1, wherein the means for adjusting the minimum and maximum scraping depth of the blade are electrical means, for example potentiometers. 4. Ice resurfacing machine according to claim 1, wherein the means for adjusting the minimum and maximum scraping depth of the blade are remote controlled, whereby they are placed in the cabin of the ice resurfacing machine, for example. 5. Ice resurfacing machine according to claim 1, wherein the means for monitoring the shape of the ice surface comprise a receiver for a signal to be transmitted from outside the ice resurfacing machine. 6. Ice resurfacing machine according to claim 5, wherein it comprises electrical communication transfer means for transmitting the signal from the receiver to the control means of the power means. 7. Ice resurfacing machine according to claim 1, wherein it comprises a water container and means for guiding water on the ice. 8. Ice resurfacing machine according to claim 1, wherein the control means of the power means comprise means for processing automatically the data transferred to the control means, and for transmitting thus formed control data automatically to the power means. 9. Ice resurfacing machine according to claim 1, wherein it comprises means for receiving a positioning signal. 10. Method for maintenance of ice, in which method shape of the ice surface is monitored, decisions are made on how much ice is to be scraped ice is scraped at desired depth, in normal ice maintenance situation, decisions on the ice scraping depth are made mechanically, position of the blade is monitored with a sensor coupled to a power means or to a blade, wherein in the method, furthermore, the signal developed by the sensor and indicating position of the blade is transferred to a control means of the power means, in normal ice maintenance situation, decisions on the ice scraping depth are made taking into consideration the signal developed by the sensor and indicating position of the blade. 11. Method according to the claim 10, wherein, further in the method, location of the ice resurfacing machine is monitored with a positioning method location of the ice resurfacing machine is stored in an electrical data base the data on previous actions, such as scraping depth and the amount of water fed, performed by the ice resurfacing machine in specific location, is observed and registered in the electrical database. decisions on the ice scraping depth in each situation are made taking into consideration the previous actions performed in specific location and registered in the electrical database. 12. Ice resurfacing machine that comprises means for receiving and/or sending a positioning signal, wherein it further comprises means for observing properties of the surroundings or the ice it has maintained, such as ice thickness, ice or air temperature or ice structure. 13. Ice resurfacing machine according to the claim 12, wherein it further comprises communication transfer means for transmitting the properties of the ice or the environment observed in different places of the ice for further processing. 14-18. (canceled)

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention is an ice resurfacing machine, a system and a method for maintenance of ice according to the preambles of the independent claims presented below. The invention relates especially to a new manner of controlling an ice resurfacing machine and its operation. PRIOR ART Typical ice resurfacing machine is driven on ice. The machine has a scraper, working depth of which can be controlled, that is the amount of ice to be removed by the scraper. Typically, the removed ice is collected into a tank of the machine. Furthermore, the ice resurfacing machine usually has a water tank and means for feeding desired amount of water on the ice that already has been maintained by the machine. In known ice resurfacing machines the ice scraping depth and the amount of water to be fed are adjusted more or less approximately. The known ice resurfacing machines are conventionally controlled manually for example by a steering wheel. Ice to be maintained, for example that of an ice hockey rink, is usually driven time after time approximately along the same paths. Usually, quality of ice varies in different places of the rink. Different places of the ice require different measures, for example scraping in different depths. Conventionally, working quality depends on the skills and alertness of the user of the ice resurfacing machine. Therefore, also quality of the maintained ice varies sometimes a lot even in different places of the same rink. Patent publication WO 02/097198 discloses an ice resurfing machine whose movement is controlled by means of a positioning signal. It is an aim of the present invention, for instance, to reduce or even eliminate the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. It is an aim of the present invention especially to provide a solution that is more precise, easier to use, more reliable and efficient than previous ice resurfacing machines. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION To attain the above purposes among other things, the ice resurfacing machine as well as the system and the method for ice maintenance according to the invention are characterized in what will be presented in the characterizing parts of the appended independent claims. The exemplary applications and advantages mentioned in this text apply, when applicable, to the ice resurfacing machine as well as to the system and method according to the invention, even though it is not always specifically pointed out. The invention is suitable for use with various ice resurfacing machines. According to some applications of the invention, it is applied to some of the ice resurfacing machines disclosed in the following patent publications: U.S. Pat. No. 652,311, U.S. Pat. No. 2,642,679, U.S. Pat. No. 3,044,193, WO 02/093106, WO 02/097198 In a typical advantageous method for ice maintenance according to the invention, desicions on the ice scraping depth and place are made mechanically. A computer, for example, which is programmed to process signals from different sensors or controllers, can be used for this purpose. Results of the made decisions are transferred as electrical control signals to the scraper or to means controlling its position. In practise, the control signal is thus delivered as an electric current, for example, to a spindle motor that controls position of the scraper, and which then moves the scraper to a desired direction. According to the invention, mechanical decision can be bypassed manually, if desired. Manual control is necessary for example in a so-called unusual ice maintenance situation, for example in highly demanding circumstances, driving over a block or in emergency. Typically, in the invention, position of a blade is monitored with a sensor coupled to power means controlling it or to the blade itself. The signal developed by the sensor and indicating position of the blade is transmitted to the control means of the power means, that is, for example to said computer. In normal ice maintenance situation, decisions on the ice scraping depth are made taking into consideration the signal developed by the sensor and indicating position of the blade. In an application of the invention, the user of the ice resurfacing machine changes adjustments of the machine deciding on controlling. Matters to be changed can be, for example, minimum and maximum permitted scraping depth. Such adjustments are advantageously set from a control panel placed in a cabin of the ice resurfacing machine. Changes can thus be made fast and easily as soon as need for change of the adjustments is noticed. A typical advantageous ice resurfacing machine according to the invention comprises means for monitoring the shape of the ice surface, for example a mechanical sensor monitoring the ice surface, a blade, which is arranged to scrape the ice, and means for controlling position of the blade for achieving desired scraping result. Typical means according to the invention for controlling position of the blade comprise a power means, such as a spindle motor, coupled to the blade for moving the blade, and a sensor coupled to the power means and/or to the blade, and arranged to be monitoring the blade position. Furthermore, typical means for controlling position of the blade comprise control means of the power means for making mechanical controlling decisions and for creating control data of the power means, and electrical communication transfer means for transferring a signal from the sensor monitoring the position of the blade to the control means of the power means, and electrical means for transferring the control data obtained by the control means to the power means. In other words, a typical advantageous ice resurfacing machine according to the invention comprises control means of the power means, such as a computer with its programs that make controlling decisions for the scraper based on the data provided for them. This data can be entered from one or more different sensors, but also manually, from the control panel switches of the ice resurfacing machine, for example. A typical ice resurfacing machine according to the invention comprises a sensor that monitors position of the blade and means for transmitting the data provided by the sensor to the control means of the power means. A typical application of the ice resurfacing machine according to the invention comprises also a water container and means for guiding water on the ice. Preferably also their operation, that is at least the amount of water fed on the ice, is controlled mechanically according to the invention. Control means of the power means according to the invention can be arranged to make mechanical controlling decisions also on other actuators of the ice surfacing machine. Control means of the power means can also take care of sending thus created controlling signals to other actuators of the ice surfacing machine. Such other actuators can be, for example, means for changing travel direction of the ice resurfacing machine or means for adjusting its speed. In a very advantageous ice resurfacing machine according to the invention the control means of the power means comprise means for adjusting the minimum and maximum scraping depth of the blade as desired. These means are for example potentiometers that are reliable and easy to use. Of course, they can also be any other appropriate means. In case the potentiometer has an adjusting device that can be turned manually, it is easy to be placed as one of the switches in the control panel of the ice resurfacing machine cabin. Advantage of the possibility to adjust the minimum and maximum surfacing depth is that by means of them the scraper of the ice resurfacing machine can easily be calibrated to appropriate position for example on the ice resurfacing machine or on the scraper after maintenance. By means of the minimum value, the minimum depth of the layer to be removed from the ice surface is controlled, and by means of the maximum value, scraping off a too thick layer is prevented. Very advantageously, the means coupled to the control means of the power means for adjusting the minimum and maximum scraping depth are remote controlled. More advantageously also other control units of the ice resurfacing machine having effect on the scraping depth of the blade are remote controlled. Thus, they can be placed, for example, in the cabin of the ice resurfacing machine, making thereby the task more comfortable and fast. According to an application, the means for monitoring shape of the ice surface comprises a receiver for a signal to be sent outside the ice resurfacing machine. Said signals to be transmitted from outside are led from the signal receiver to the control means of the power means preferably by electrical communication transfer means. By such system, the machine can be provided with exact data about the height position of the machine, for example. Such advantageous system is disclosed, for example, in the earlier international publication WO 02/093106 by the applicant. Advantageousness of the invention in question is further improved if a laser beam transmitter and/or a laser receiver is connected to it. The transmitter is advantageously placed outside the ice resurfacing machine and the receiver is placed advantageously in the ice resurfacing machine. By means of such laser system, the control means of the power means according to the invention are provided with exact data about each height position of the ice resurfacing machine. Typical ice resurfacing machine according to another point of view of the invention comprises means for receiving or transmitting a positioning signal. One application of the ice resurfacing machine according to the invention further comprises means for observing properties of the environment or the ice it has attended, such as ice thickness, ice or air temperature or ice structure. One application of the ice resurfacing machine according to the invention further comprises communication transfer means for transmitting the properties of the ice or the environment observed in different places of the ice for further processing. Typical system for ice maintenance according to the invention comprises the ice resurfacing machine and, in addition, means for positioning the ice resurfacing machine, means for forming positioning data that reveals location of the ice resurfacing machine, and memory means for storing the formed positioning data. One application of the system for ice maintenance according to the invention further comprises means for observing properties of the environment or the ice it has maintained, such as ice thickness, ice or air temperature or ice structure, and means for storing the observed properties of the ice to electrical memory means. Thus, the properties observed in a certain location are stored according to their observation place. One application of the system for ice maintenance according to the invention further comprises means for forming control data for the ice resurfacing machine on the basis of the properties observed in certain observation places. One application of the system for ice maintenance according to the invention further comprises means for transmitting to the ice resurfacing machine the formed control data for the ice resurfacing machine. In a typical method for maintenance of ice according to the invention the ice is maintained with an ice resurfacing machine, the location of the ice resurfacing machine is monitored with positioning method and the location of the ice resurfacing machine is registered in an electrical data base. Furthermore, in a method according to the invention, properties of the environment or of the ice maintained by the ice resurfacing machine, such as ice thickness, ice or air temperature or ice structure are observed and registered in an electrical memory. In a method according to the invention it is further formed control data for the ice resurfacing machine on the basis of the properties observed in observation places and the positioning data registered in the electrical memory, and the ice resurfacing machine is controlled on the basis of the formed control data. Typical functions of the ice resurfacing machine that are controlled by means of the invention are the travel direction and travel speed of the ice resurfacing machine, the surfacing depth of the ice resurfacing machine blade, and the amount of water fed on the maintained ice by the ice resurfacing machine. The invention can be used for controlling all the above mentioned functions precisely according to the need of each place in the ice. The ice resurfacing machine receives typically a positioning signal transmitted from outside the machine. Therefore, the ice resurfacing machine has to be provided with a receiver for the positioning signal. The positioning can be arranged for example by means of a conventional GPS system or by some other available positioning method. By means of a receiver for the positioning signal the control means of the power means are provided with exact data about each horizontal positioning or, for example, speed of the ice resurfacing machine. Such ice resurfacing machine can easily be arranged to function even with out a driver. The positioning data is preferably stored in a computer or the like, whereby the data can efficiently be processed. Thereby, different data varying according to the location of the ice resurfacing machine, can be added to the positioning data. Information on the ice thickness in different places of the ice stadium can be, for example, stored in the database to be formed. Thus, the computer can automatically design different treatments for the maintenance of the rink. For instance, when the ice resurfacing machine reaches a place in the ice that is in poor condition or where ice is especially thick, for example, the ice resurfacing machine can start to scrape deeper and, for example, to increase gradually the amount of water already before the poorest place. Thus, an even result will be obtained. Such ice resurfacing machine has preferably auxiliary devices for monitoring the environmental conditions, such as devices for sensing air and/or ice temperature, for example a thermal camera. Thereby, conditions in different parts of the ice stadium, that vary due to the irregular lightning or ventilation, could be stored in the memory. Due to the heating effect of the lightning, for example, some part of the ice may need a slightly thicker layer of ice in order to keep the ice of an uniform quality during an ice-hockey match, for example. The better the ice and environmental conditions are known, the better the operation of the ice resurfacing machine can be worked out. The system according to the invention can also be used for compiling useful information on how to change ventilation or lightning of the ice stadium, or the operation of the ice resurfacing machine in the rink, for example. The ice resurfacing machine and the system according to the invention as well as the control means of the power means according to the invention, comprise preferably means for processing automatically the data created by the system and transferred to the control means, and for transmitting thus formed control data automatically to the controllable actuators of the ice resurfacing machine, such as power means. The system and/or the control means can comprise for example a computer, which has memory means and a stored computer program code to be processed to the memory, for example. Thus, the program code comprises program code elements that are arranged to attend to the measures required for making mechanical controlling decisions according to the invention. Such program code can easily be programmed, if a man skilled in the art provides programmer with required information on what basis the ice scraping depth, the amount of water to be fed on the ice, the speed of the ice resurfacing machine or the direction of the ice resurfacing machine, for example, should be controlled. The most important advantages of the invention are the savings attained in maintenance costs and energy. The ice can be kept thin, when desired, whereby its freezing machinery needs less power supply. Ice maintenance becomes faster and ice is more plane and more even in quality in different parts of the field than before. By means of the invention, controlling of the scraper is more precise, because more information is obtained on the environment, for instance on ice, air and also on the state of the ice resurfacing machine, and also in more real time compared with previous solutions. By means of the invention, changes in the controlling parameters of the ice resurfacing machine can be made fast and easily. The ice resurfacing machine according to the invention can easily be arranged to function even with out a driver. In addition to the savings in operating expenses, a further advantage in this would be, among other things, that the ice resurfacing machine could be designed advantageous clearly in view of its operation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES In the following, the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the appended drawing, in which FIG. 1 shows schematically the ice resurfacing machine and system according to the invention FIG. 2 shows schematically the scraper of ice resurfacing machine according to the invention and some devices coupled to it, FIG. 3 shows schematically the control panel of the ice resurfacing machine according to the invention FIG. 4 shows schematically another ice resurfacing machine and system according to the invention, and FIG. 5 shows steps of one method according to the invention in a simplified flow chart. DESCRIPTION OF THE ADVANTAGEOUS EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 shows an ice resurfacing machine 1 according to the invention. The machine 1 of the figure stands on the ice 3 supported by its wheels 2. The ice resurfacing machine 1 comprises a scraper 4 mounted on its rear part, against the ice 3. The scraper 4 has to be moved so that its scraping depth can be adjusted as desired. The ice resurfacing machine has a cabin 5 that is intended for the driver, and that has a driver's seat 6. The cabin 5 has a control panel 7 as well as a steering wheel 8. The ice resurfacing machine comprises a laser receiver 9, by means of which a laser beam 11 transmitted by laser transmitter 10 is received. The laser receiver 9 is supported directly to the ice 3 by a bar 12. The bar 12 can be attached to the ice resurfacing machine 1 for example by sleeve-like joints, which allow the bar mounted inside them to move in vertical direction. This way, also the receiver 9 moves in vertical direction along the shape of the surface of the ice 3. The laser beam 11 hits the receiver 9 in different height according to this movement. The receiver 9 produces different signal when the laser beam 11 hits the receiver 9 in different height. Thus, by means of this signal, variations in the surface of the ice 3 are determined precisely and fast. This technique is described in more detail for example in the publication WO 02/093106. Also control means 13 of the position of the scraper 4 according to the invention is placed in the cabin. A computer or some simple logic circuit, for example, can function as the means 13. It is programmed to process the given data according to each need, such as the signal from the laser receiver 9, and to convert this data into a control signal of the apparatus 14 controlling the position of the scraper 4. Position of the scraper 4 is controlled by a spindle motor 14. It can be seen better in FIG. 2. The blade 15 of the scraper is hinged to turn around a substantially horizontal axis 16. When the spindle motor 14 is elongated, the scraping front edge 17 of the blade 15 moves upwards, whereby the scraping depth decreases. When the spindle motor 14 is shortened, the scraping front edge 17 of the blade 15 respectively moves donwnwards, whereby the scraping depth increases. A sensor 18 that monitors position of the spindle motor, and that continuously transmits signal to the control means 13 along a conductor 19, is mounted on the spindle motor. Thereby, the control means 13 is constantly aware of each scraping depth. This information can thus constantly be utilized in controlling the blade 15 in order to attain precise control. The control means 13 transmits the control signal of the spindle motor along the electric wires 20. Wires 19 and 20 are not shown in FIG. 1 for the sake of clarity. The data transmitted from the laser receiver 9 to the control means 13 is led along the wire 21 schematically drawn in the FIG. 1. Communication transmitted by the wires 19, 20 and 21 can be arranged also wireless with some prior art arrangement. FIG. 3 shows manual adjusters 22 and 23, mounted on the control means 13 and placed in the control panel, for adjusting the minimum and maximum scraping depths. In the example of the figures they are carried out with potentiometers. Screens 24 and 25 are arranged in connection with the potentiometers 22 and 23 for a quick perception of the maximum and minimum scraping depth. In the situation of the figure, 8 mm is chosen as the maximum scraping depth and 2 mm as the minimum scraping depth. Between the potentiometers, there is a bar 26, by turning of which a laser-controlled automatic or manual drive can be chosen. The bar is now turned into intermediate position, that is, the machine is on the laser controlled automatic drive. Thus, the minimum scraping depth of the automatic control is set by the adjuster 23 and the maximum scraping depth by the adjuster 22. If the bar 26 is turned to the right, then it is continuously driven with the depth that is chosen by the adjuster 23, and if the bar 26 is turned to the left, then it is continuously driven with the depth that is chosen by the adjuster 22. When driving the ice resurfacing machine 1 provided with the control panel 7 shown in FIG. 3, the maximum and minimum scraping depth can be easily changed any time during the whole drive according to the need. Adjustment carried out by a potentiometer is stepless. The adjusters 22 and 23 as well as the screens 24 and 25 are easy to arrange very illustrative. The adjusters 22 and 23 as well as the screens 24 and 25 can be arranged in many different ways. The potentiometers can be replaced by press buttons, for example, and the screens by digital screens. FIG. 4 shows an ice resurfacing machine 101 according to the invention. The machine 101 of the figure stands on the ice 103 supported by its wheels 102. The ice resurfacing machine 101 comprises a scraper 104 mounted on its rear part against the ice 103. The scraper 104 has to be moved so that its scraping depth can be adjusted as desired. The ice resurfacing machine has a cabin 105 that is intended for the driver, and that has a driver's seat 106. The cabin 105 has a control panel 107 as well as a steering wheel 108. The ice resurfacing machine comprises a laser receiver 109 of a positioning signal, by means of which positioning signal 111 transmitted by a transmitter 110 can be received. The receiver 109 is supported to the ice resurfacing machine 101 by a bar 112. A sensor 122 is placed against the ice, on the lower part of the ice resurfacing machine. It continuously measures thickness and temperature of the ice 103 as well as air temperature. Also a computer 113 according to the invention is placed in the cabin. The data from the receiver 109 to the computer 113 is led along the wire 121 schematically drawn in the FIG. 4. Measurement data of the sensor 122 are transmitted to the computer 113 via the wire 123. Data transmission can be arranged also wireless with a prior art arrangement. The computer 113 is programmed to process the given data, according to each need, that is the signals transmitted from the positioning signal receiver 109 and the sensor 122, and to convert this data into control commands of different actuators of the ice resurfacing machine 101. The controllable actuators are, for example, the spindle motor 114 controlling the position of the blade 115 of the scraper 104, that is the scraping depth of the scraper, position and rotating speed of the wheels 102, that is the travelling direction and travelling speed of the ice resurfacing machine 101, and the position of a valve (not shown) adjusting the amount of water fed on the ice. It is also possible to control the ice resurfacing machine 101 according to the invention conventionally by manual control. Automatism is switched off from the switch located in the control panel 107, for example. After this, the machine can be controlled by means of the steering wheel 108 or other conventional control devices. FIG. 5 shows the steps of the method for maintenance of the ice according to the invention. At stage 51 the location of the ice resurfacing machine (101) is monitored with a known positioning method. At stage 52 the properties of the environment or the ice (103) maintained by the ice resurfacing machine are observed. Properties to be observed can be, for example, thickness of the ice, ice temperature, air temperature. At stage 53 the state of the actuators (102, 114, 115) of the ice resurfacing machine is observed. These states of the actuators can be, for example, position of the blade 115, that is the scraping depth of the scraper, position and rotating speed of the wheels 102 and the amount of water to be fed on the ice, that is the position of the valve (not shown) adjusting the outcoming water to be fed. One or more functions of the stages 51, 52 and 53 can be in use. It is possible, for example, for the system or the ice resurfacing machine according to the invention not to comprise sensors required by the stage 52 for monitoring the environment, or that they can be switched off, if desired. At stage 54, the information observed in stages 51-53 is registered in an electrical database. The observed information is entered in the database so that it is arranged according to the observation place of the stage 51. In stage 55, control data for the ice resurfacing machine (101) is formed on the basis of the position data and the properties of the ice (103) or the environment observed in observation places, and the states of the actuators (102, 114, 115) registered in the database. In places where the ice is warmer than its surrounding, for example, the ice is likely also softer. The ice is thinner in some places than in others. If desired, these softer or thinner places can be coated with a slightly thicker ice layer than in other places. Also the data stored during previous maintenance can be used in forming control data. During an ice-hockey match, for example, it is typical that the ice worns out and softens more in certain places than in others, usually in front of the goals and the player's bench. In stage 56, a thicker layer of the worn ice can automatically be scraped off in these places, and a bigger amount of water than normally can be fed into these places. In this application, several new solutions are presented for the ice resurfacing machine, such as a sensor monitoring position of the blade, means for adjusting minimum and maximum scraping depth of the blade as desired a receiver for a signal to be transmitted from outside the ice resurfacing machine means for positioning the ice resurfacing machine means for observing properties of the surroundings or the ice it has maintained means for forming positioning data that reveals location of the ice resurfacing machine electrical memory means where observed and formed information can be stored for later processing according to the invention a program code, by means of which the measures according to the invention can be performed. It is obvious, that the presented solutions can be used as different combinations that are not separately mentioned in the application. For example utilizing the positioning data and the properties observed with the sensors connected to them, and adjusting the minimum and maximum scraping depth of the blade as desired can be used simultaneously or separately. Figures show only preferred embodiments according to the invention. Figures do not separately show matters that are irrelevant in view of the main idea of the invention, known as such or obvious for a man skilled in the art. Figures do not show, for example, several typical features for the ice resurfacing machines, such as means for removing the scraped ice from the front of the scraper or means for guiding water on the maintained ice with a scraper. It is obvious, that the system according to the invention can also be used for controlling of feeding water on the ice, for example. It is apparent to the man skilled in the art that the invention is not limited exclusively to the examples described above, but that it can vary within the frames of the claims presented below. The dependent claims present some possible embodiments of the invention, and they are not to be considered to restrict the scope of protection of the invention as such.

<SOH> TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The object of the invention is an ice resurfacing machine, a system and a method for maintenance of ice according to the preambles of the independent claims presented below. The invention relates especially to a new manner of controlling an ice resurfacing machine and its operation.

<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <EOH>To attain the above purposes among other things, the ice resurfacing machine as well as the system and the method for ice maintenance according to the invention are characterized in what will be presented in the characterizing parts of the appended independent claims. The exemplary applications and advantages mentioned in this text apply, when applicable, to the ice resurfacing machine as well as to the system and method according to the invention, even though it is not always specifically pointed out. The invention is suitable for use with various ice resurfacing machines. According to some applications of the invention, it is applied to some of the ice resurfacing machines disclosed in the following patent publications: U.S. Pat. No. 652,311, U.S. Pat. No. 2,642,679, U.S. Pat. No. 3,044,193, WO 02/093106, WO 02/097198 In a typical advantageous method for ice maintenance according to the invention, desicions on the ice scraping depth and place are made mechanically. A computer, for example, which is programmed to process signals from different sensors or controllers, can be used for this purpose. Results of the made decisions are transferred as electrical control signals to the scraper or to means controlling its position. In practise, the control signal is thus delivered as an electric current, for example, to a spindle motor that controls position of the scraper, and which then moves the scraper to a desired direction. According to the invention, mechanical decision can be bypassed manually, if desired. Manual control is necessary for example in a so-called unusual ice maintenance situation, for example in highly demanding circumstances, driving over a block or in emergency. Typically, in the invention, position of a blade is monitored with a sensor coupled to power means controlling it or to the blade itself. The signal developed by the sensor and indicating position of the blade is transmitted to the control means of the power means, that is, for example to said computer. In normal ice maintenance situation, decisions on the ice scraping depth are made taking into consideration the signal developed by the sensor and indicating position of the blade. In an application of the invention, the user of the ice resurfacing machine changes adjustments of the machine deciding on controlling. Matters to be changed can be, for example, minimum and maximum permitted scraping depth. Such adjustments are advantageously set from a control panel placed in a cabin of the ice resurfacing machine. Changes can thus be made fast and easily as soon as need for change of the adjustments is noticed. A typical advantageous ice resurfacing machine according to the invention comprises means for monitoring the shape of the ice surface, for example a mechanical sensor monitoring the ice surface, a blade, which is arranged to scrape the ice, and means for controlling position of the blade for achieving desired scraping result. Typical means according to the invention for controlling position of the blade comprise a power means, such as a spindle motor, coupled to the blade for moving the blade, and a sensor coupled to the power means and/or to the blade, and arranged to be monitoring the blade position. Furthermore, typical means for controlling position of the blade comprise control means of the power means for making mechanical controlling decisions and for creating control data of the power means, and electrical communication transfer means for transferring a signal from the sensor monitoring the position of the blade to the control means of the power means, and electrical means for transferring the control data obtained by the control means to the power means. In other words, a typical advantageous ice resurfacing machine according to the invention comprises control means of the power means, such as a computer with its programs that make controlling decisions for the scraper based on the data provided for them. This data can be entered from one or more different sensors, but also manually, from the control panel switches of the ice resurfacing machine, for example. A typical ice resurfacing machine according to the invention comprises a sensor that monitors position of the blade and means for transmitting the data provided by the sensor to the control means of the power means. A typical application of the ice resurfacing machine according to the invention comprises also a water container and means for guiding water on the ice. Preferably also their operation, that is at least the amount of water fed on the ice, is controlled mechanically according to the invention. Control means of the power means according to the invention can be arranged to make mechanical controlling decisions also on other actuators of the ice surfacing machine. Control means of the power means can also take care of sending thus created controlling signals to other actuators of the ice surfacing machine. Such other actuators can be, for example, means for changing travel direction of the ice resurfacing machine or means for adjusting its speed. In a very advantageous ice resurfacing machine according to the invention the control means of the power means comprise means for adjusting the minimum and maximum scraping depth of the blade as desired. These means are for example potentiometers that are reliable and easy to use. Of course, they can also be any other appropriate means. In case the potentiometer has an adjusting device that can be turned manually, it is easy to be placed as one of the switches in the control panel of the ice resurfacing machine cabin. Advantage of the possibility to adjust the minimum and maximum surfacing depth is that by means of them the scraper of the ice resurfacing machine can easily be calibrated to appropriate position for example on the ice resurfacing machine or on the scraper after maintenance. By means of the minimum value, the minimum depth of the layer to be removed from the ice surface is controlled, and by means of the maximum value, scraping off a too thick layer is prevented. Very advantageously, the means coupled to the control means of the power means for adjusting the minimum and maximum scraping depth are remote controlled. More advantageously also other control units of the ice resurfacing machine having effect on the scraping depth of the blade are remote controlled. Thus, they can be placed, for example, in the cabin of the ice resurfacing machine, making thereby the task more comfortable and fast. According to an application, the means for monitoring shape of the ice surface comprises a receiver for a signal to be sent outside the ice resurfacing machine. Said signals to be transmitted from outside are led from the signal receiver to the control means of the power means preferably by electrical communication transfer means. By such system, the machine can be provided with exact data about the height position of the machine, for example. Such advantageous system is disclosed, for example, in the earlier international publication WO 02/093106 by the applicant. Advantageousness of the invention in question is further improved if a laser beam transmitter and/or a laser receiver is connected to it. The transmitter is advantageously placed outside the ice resurfacing machine and the receiver is placed advantageously in the ice resurfacing machine. By means of such laser system, the control means of the power means according to the invention are provided with exact data about each height position of the ice resurfacing machine. Typical ice resurfacing machine according to another point of view of the invention comprises means for receiving or transmitting a positioning signal. One application of the ice resurfacing machine according to the invention further comprises means for observing properties of the environment or the ice it has attended, such as ice thickness, ice or air temperature or ice structure. One application of the ice resurfacing machine according to the invention further comprises communication transfer means for transmitting the properties of the ice or the environment observed in different places of the ice for further processing. Typical system for ice maintenance according to the invention comprises the ice resurfacing machine and, in addition, means for positioning the ice resurfacing machine, means for forming positioning data that reveals location of the ice resurfacing machine, and memory means for storing the formed positioning data. One application of the system for ice maintenance according to the invention further comprises means for observing properties of the environment or the ice it has maintained, such as ice thickness, ice or air temperature or ice structure, and means for storing the observed properties of the ice to electrical memory means. Thus, the properties observed in a certain location are stored according to their observation place. One application of the system for ice maintenance according to the invention further comprises means for forming control data for the ice resurfacing machine on the basis of the properties observed in certain observation places. One application of the system for ice maintenance according to the invention further comprises means for transmitting to the ice resurfacing machine the formed control data for the ice resurfacing machine. In a typical method for maintenance of ice according to the invention the ice is maintained with an ice resurfacing machine, the location of the ice resurfacing machine is monitored with positioning method and the location of the ice resurfacing machine is registered in an electrical data base. Furthermore, in a method according to the invention, properties of the environment or of the ice maintained by the ice resurfacing machine, such as ice thickness, ice or air temperature or ice structure are observed and registered in an electrical memory. In a method according to the invention it is further formed control data for the ice resurfacing machine on the basis of the properties observed in observation places and the positioning data registered in the electrical memory, and the ice resurfacing machine is controlled on the basis of the formed control data. Typical functions of the ice resurfacing machine that are controlled by means of the invention are the travel direction and travel speed of the ice resurfacing machine, the surfacing depth of the ice resurfacing machine blade, and the amount of water fed on the maintained ice by the ice resurfacing machine. The invention can be used for controlling all the above mentioned functions precisely according to the need of each place in the ice. The ice resurfacing machine receives typically a positioning signal transmitted from outside the machine. Therefore, the ice resurfacing machine has to be provided with a receiver for the positioning signal. The positioning can be arranged for example by means of a conventional GPS system or by some other available positioning method. By means of a receiver for the positioning signal the control means of the power means are provided with exact data about each horizontal positioning or, for example, speed of the ice resurfacing machine. Such ice resurfacing machine can easily be arranged to function even with out a driver. The positioning data is preferably stored in a computer or the like, whereby the data can efficiently be processed. Thereby, different data varying according to the location of the ice resurfacing machine, can be added to the positioning data. Information on the ice thickness in different places of the ice stadium can be, for example, stored in the database to be formed. Thus, the computer can automatically design different treatments for the maintenance of the rink. For instance, when the ice resurfacing machine reaches a place in the ice that is in poor condition or where ice is especially thick, for example, the ice resurfacing machine can start to scrape deeper and, for example, to increase gradually the amount of water already before the poorest place. Thus, an even result will be obtained. Such ice resurfacing machine has preferably auxiliary devices for monitoring the environmental conditions, such as devices for sensing air and/or ice temperature, for example a thermal camera. Thereby, conditions in different parts of the ice stadium, that vary due to the irregular lightning or ventilation, could be stored in the memory. Due to the heating effect of the lightning, for example, some part of the ice may need a slightly thicker layer of ice in order to keep the ice of an uniform quality during an ice-hockey match, for example. The better the ice and environmental conditions are known, the better the operation of the ice resurfacing machine can be worked out. The system according to the invention can also be used for compiling useful information on how to change ventilation or lightning of the ice stadium, or the operation of the ice resurfacing machine in the rink, for example. The ice resurfacing machine and the system according to the invention as well as the control means of the power means according to the invention, comprise preferably means for processing automatically the data created by the system and transferred to the control means, and for transmitting thus formed control data automatically to the controllable actuators of the ice resurfacing machine, such as power means. The system and/or the control means can comprise for example a computer, which has memory means and a stored computer program code to be processed to the memory, for example. Thus, the program code comprises program code elements that are arranged to attend to the measures required for making mechanical controlling decisions according to the invention. Such program code can easily be programmed, if a man skilled in the art provides programmer with required information on what basis the ice scraping depth, the amount of water to be fed on the ice, the speed of the ice resurfacing machine or the direction of the ice resurfacing machine, for example, should be controlled. The most important advantages of the invention are the savings attained in maintenance costs and energy. The ice can be kept thin, when desired, whereby its freezing machinery needs less power supply. Ice maintenance becomes faster and ice is more plane and more even in quality in different parts of the field than before. By means of the invention, controlling of the scraper is more precise, because more information is obtained on the environment, for instance on ice, air and also on the state of the ice resurfacing machine, and also in more real time compared with previous solutions. By means of the invention, changes in the controlling parameters of the ice resurfacing machine can be made fast and easily. The ice resurfacing machine according to the invention can easily be arranged to function even with out a driver. In addition to the savings in operating expenses, a further advantage in this would be, among other things, that the ice resurfacing machine could be designed advantageous clearly in view of its operation.

20060522

20090331

20061012

73974.0

E02B1502

KRECK, JANINE MUIR

ICE RESURFACING MACHINE AS WELL AS SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ICE MAINTENANCE

SMALL

ACCEPTED

E02B

ACCEPTED

Wireless packet communication method and wireless packet communication apparatus

A transmit-side STA transmits a wireless packet using a wireless channel which has been determined to be idle by both a physical carrier sense for determining based on received power whether the wireless channel is busy or idle and a virtual carrier sense for determining the wireless channel to be busy during set transmission inhibition time. At this time, the transmit-side STA sets transmission time used for the virtual carrier sense to a paired wireless channel which is affected by leakage from a transmitting wireless channel. This allows for setting transmission inhibition time to a paired wireless channel even when the paired wireless channel cannot successfully receive due to the effect caused by leakage from the transmitting wireless channel.

1. A wireless packet communication method for transmitting from a transmit-side STA a wireless packet by using a wireless channel determined to be idle by both of physical carrier sense and virtual carrier sense when multiple wireless channels are provided between the transmit-side STA and one or more receive-side STAs, the physical carrier sense determining a wireless channel to be busy or idle from received power, the virtual carrier sense determining a wireless channel to be busy during a set transmission inhibition time, the method characterized by comprising setting transmission inhibition time to a paired wireless channel by said transmit-side STA, the paired wireless channel being a wireless channel affected by leakage from a transmitting wireless channel, the transmission inhibition time being used in the virtual carrier sense. 2. A wireless packet communication method for simultaneously transmitting from a transmit-side STA a plurality of wireless packets by using multiple wireless channels determined to be idle by both of physical carrier sense and virtual carrier sense when multiple wireless channels are provided between the transmit-side STA and one or more receive-side STAs, the physical carrier sense determining a wireless channel to be busy or idle from received power, the virtual carrier sense determining a wireless channel to be busy during a set transmission inhibition time, the method characterized by comprising setting, by said transmit-side STA, time (Tmax+Ts) as transmission inhibition time to a paired wireless channel other than a wireless channel which requires longest transmission time Tmax among wireless channels used for simultaneous transmission, the transmission inhibition time used in the virtual carrier sense, the time (Tmax+Ts) obtained by adding predetermined time Ts to the longest transmission time Tmax. 3. The wireless packet communication method according to claim 2, characterized by further comprising setting, by said transmit-side STA, the time (Tmax+Ts) to the paired wireless channel as a new transmission inhibition time when an existing set transmission inhibition time for said virtual carrier sense is smaller than the time (Tmax+Ts). 4. A wireless packet communication method for simultaneously transmitting from a transmit-side STA a plurality of wireless packets by using multiple wireless channels determined to be idle by both of physical carrier sense and virtual carrier sense when multiple wireless channels are provided between the transmit-side STA and one or more receive-side STAs, the physical carrier sense determining a wireless channel to be busy or idle from received power, the virtual carrier sense determining a wireless channel to be busy during a set transmission inhibition time, the method characterized by comprising: predetermining, by said transmit-side STA, combinations of wireless channels among the multiple wireless channels, the combinations of wireless channels having an effect on each other due to a leakage of transmitted power; and setting, by said transmit-side STA, time (Ti+Ts) as transmission inhibition time to a paired wireless channel other than a wireless channel which requires longest transmission time Ti among among respetive combinations of wireless channels;. the transmission inhibition time being used in the virtual carrier sense, the time (Ti+Ts) obtained by adding a predetermined time Ts to the longest transmission time Ti. 5. The wireless packet communication method according to claim 4, characterized by further comprising setting, by said transmit-side STA, the time (Ti+Ts) to the paired wireless channel as a new transmission inhibition time when an existing set transmission inhibition time for said virtual carrier sense is smaller than the time (Ti+Ts). 6. The wireless packet communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by further comprising detecting, by said transmit-side STA, received power due to a leakage from a transmitting wireless channel in the paired wireless channel, and setting the transmission inhibition time to a paired wireless channel which has received power greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value. 7. The wireless packet communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by further comprising detecting, by said transmit-side STA, an error in a received signal in the paired wireless channel, and setting the transmission inhibition time to a paired wireless channel having the error detected. 8. The wireless packet communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by further comprising: when receiving a wireless packet over the paired wireless channel at said transmit-side STA, performing, by said transmit-side STA, an error detection to the received wireless packet: when a wireless channel having normally received a wireless packet directed to an own STA has the set transmission inhibition time, canceling the transmission inhibition time by said transmit-side STA; and when occupied time is set in a header of the received wireless packet, setting, by said transmit-side STA, a new transmission inhibition time in accordance with the occupied time. 9. The wireless packet communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by further comprising when there is a wireless channel having the set transmission inhibition time at the time of transmission data generation, transmitting, by said transmit-side STA, a wireless packet using said wireless channel determined to be idle after waiting until the transmission inhibition time elapses. 10. The wireless packet communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by further comprising: when there are wireless channels having set transmission time at the time of transmission data generation, transmitting, by said transmit-side STA, a wireless packet using said wireless channel determined to be idle after waiting until the transmission inhibition time elapses when the longest transmission inhibition time is smaller than a predetermined threshold value; or transmitting, by said transmit-side STA, a wireless packet using said wireless channel determined to be idle without waiting until the transmission inhibition time elapses when the longest transmission inhibition time is greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold value. 11. The wireless packet communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by further comprising when there is a wireless channel having the set transmission inhibition time at the time of transmission data generation, transmitting, by said transmit-side STA, a wireless packet using said wireless channel determined to be idle with a predetermined probability without waiting until the transmission inhibition time elapses. 12. The wireless packet communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by further comprising when transmission data is generated, transmitting, by said transmit-side STA, a wireless packet using said wireless channel determined to be idle after waiting until all wireless channels are determined to be idle by said physical carrier sense and said virtual carrier sense. 13. The wireless packet communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by further comprising: when transmission data is generated, transmitting, by said transmit-side STA, wireless packets using said wireless channels determined to be idle after waiting until all wireless channels are determined to be idle by said physical carrier sense and said virtual carrier sense; or transmitting, by said transmit-side STA, wireless packets using said wireless channels determined to be idle without waiting until the transmission inhibition time elapses when the longest transmission inhibition time of the set transmission inhibition time of wireless channels is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value. 14. The wireless packet communication method according to claim 10, characterized by further comprising: when there are wireless channels having the set transmission inhibition time, transmitting, by said transmit-side STA, a wireless packet using said wireless channel determined to be idle after waiting until the transmission inhibition time elapses when there is a wireless channel having set transmission inhibition time smaller than a predetermined threshold value; or transmitting, by said transmit-side STA, a wireless packet using said wireless channel determined to be idle without waiting until the transmission inhibition time elapses when no wireless channel has set transmission inhibition time smaller than the predetermined threshold value. 15. The wireless packet communication method according to claim 14, characterized by further comprising said transmit-side STA's returning to determine whether there is a wireless channel having the set transmission inhibition time or whether all wireless channels are idle, after waiting until the transmission inhibition time elapses when there are wireless channels having the set transmission inhibition time and there is a wireless channel having set transmission inhibition time smaller than a predetermined threshold value. 16. The wireless packet communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by further comprising when transmission data is generated, transmitting, by said transmit-side STA, a wireless packet using said wireless channel determined to be idle after waiting or without waiting with a predetermined probability until all wireless channels are determined to be idle by said physical carrier sense and said virtual carrier sense. 17. The wireless packet communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by further comprising: when receiving a wireless packet having set transmission inhibition time, setting, by said receive-side STA, the transmission inhibition time to a wireless channel having received the wireless packet, and when normally receiving a wireless packet directed to an own STA, transmitting, by said receive-side STA, an ACK packet to said transmit-side STA, the ACK packet including the transmission inhibition time set in the paired wireless channel; and when receiving a corresponding ACK packet within a predetermined period of time after having transmitted said wireless packet, updating, by said transmit-side STA, transmission inhibition time set for the paired wireless channel to transmission inhibition time of the paired wireless channel included in the ACK packet. 18. A wireless packet communication method for assigning, by a transmit-side STA, a plurality of wireless packets, respectively, to a plurality of sub-channels determined to be idle by both physical carrier sense and virtual carrier sense for simultaneous transmission, when sub-channels to be multiplexed into one wireless channel are provided between a transmit-side STA and one or more receive-side STAs, the physical carrier sense in which said transmit-side STA determines each sub-channel to be busy or idle from received power, the virtual carrier sense in which said transmit-side STA determines each sub-channel to be busy during set transmission inhibition time, the method characterized by comprising setting, by said transmit-side STA, time (Tmax+Ts) as transmission inhibition time to sub-channels other than a sub-channel which requires longest transmission/reception time Tmax among sub-channels used for simultaneous transmission, the time (Tmax+Ts) being obtained by adding a predetermined time Ts to the longest transmission/reception time Tmax, the transmission inhibition time being used in the virtual carrier sense. 19. The wireless packet communication method according to claim 18, characterized by further comprising setting the time (Tmax+Ts) as a new transmission inhibition time by said transmit-side STA when an existing set transmission inhibition time for said virtual carrier sense is smaller that the time (Tmax+Ts). 20. A wireless packet communication apparatus provided with multiple wireless channels between a transmit-side STA and one or more receive-side STAs for transmitting from the transmit-side STA a wireless packet by using a wireless channel determined to be idle by both of a physical carrier sense unit and a virtual carrier sense unit, the physical carrier sense unit determining a wireless channel to be busy or idle from received power, the virtual carrier sense unit determining a wireless channel to be busy during set transmission inhibition time, the apparatus characterized by comprising a virtual carrier sense unit of said transmit-side STA setting transmission inhibition time to a paired wireless channel, the transmission inhibition time being used in the virtual carrier sense, the paired wireless channel being a wireless channel affected by leakage from a transmitting wireless channel. 21. A wireless packet communication apparatus provided with multiple wireless channels between a transmit-side STA and one or more receive-side STAs for simultaneously transmitting from the transmit-side STA a plurality of wireless packets by using multiple wireless channels determined to be idle by both of a physical carrier sense unit and a virtual carrier sense unit, the physical carrier sense unit determining a wireless channel to be busy or idle from received power, the virtual carrier sense unit determining a wireless channel to be busy during set transmission inhibition time, the apparatus characterized by comprising a virtual carrier sense unit of said transmit-side STA setting time (Tmax+Ts) as the transmission inhibition time to a paired wireless channel other than a wireless channel which requires longest transmission time Tmax among wireless channels used for simultaneous transmission, the time (Tmax+Ts) obtained by adding the predetermined time Ts to the longest transmission Tmax. 22. The wireless packet communication apparatus according to claim 21, characterized in that when an existing set transmission inhibition time is smaller than the time (Tmax+Ts), the virtual carrier sense unit of said transmit-side STA sets the time (Tmax+Ts) to the paired wireless channel as a new transmission inhibition time. 23. A wireless packet communication apparatus provided with multiple wireless channels between a transmit-side STA and one or more receive-side STAs for simultaneously transmitting from the transmit-side STA a plurality of wireless packets by using multiple wireless channels determined to be idle by both of a physical carrier sense unit and a virtual carrier sense unit, the physical carrier sense unit determining a wireless channel to be busy or idle from received power, the virtual carrier sense unit determining a wireless channel to be busy during set transmission inhibition time, the apparatus characterized by comprising a virtual carrier sense unit of said transmit-side STA predetermining combinations of wireless channels which have an effect of leakage of transmitted power on each other among multiple wireless channels, and setting time (Ti+Ts) as the transmission inhibition time to a paired wireless channel other than a wireless channel which requires longest transmission time Ti among respective combinations of wireless channels, the time (Ti+Ts) obtained by adding a predetermined time Ts to the longest transmission time Ti. 24. The wireless packet communication apparatus according to claim 23, characterized in that when an existing set transmission inhibition time is smaller than the time (Ti+Ts), the virtual carrier sense unit of said transmit-side STA sets the time (Ti+Ts) to the paired wireless channel as a new transmission inhibition time. 25. The wireless packet communication apparatus according to any one of claims 20 to 24, characterized in that said transmit-side STA includes a unit which detects received power in the paired wireless channel caused by leakage from a transmitting wireless channel, and said virtual carrier sense unit sets the transmission inhibition time to a paired wireless channel having the received power greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value. 26. The wireless packet communication apparatus according to any one of claims 20 to 24, characterized in that said transmit-side STA includes a unit which detects an error in a received signal in the paired wireless channel, and said virtual carrier sense unit sets the transmission inhibition time to a paired wireless channel having an error detected. 27. The wireless packet communication apparatus according to any one of claims 20 to 24, characterized in that: said transmit-side STA includes a unit which detects, when receiving a wireless packet over the paired wireless channel, an error in the received wireless packet; when a wireless channel having normally received a wireless packet directed to an own STA has the set transmission inhibition time, said virtual carrier sense unit cancels the transmission inhibition time; and when occupied time is set in a header of the received wireless packet, said virtual carrier sense unit sets a new transmission inhibition time in accordance with the occupied time. 28. The wireless packet communication apparatus according to any one of claims 20 to 24, characterized in that when transmission data is generated, the virtual carrier sense unit of said transmit-side STA transmits a wireless packet using said wireless channel determined to be idle after waiting until the transmission inhibition time elapses when there is a wireless channel having the set transmission inhibition time. 29. The wireless packet communication apparatus according to any one of claims 20 to 24, characterized in that: when transmission data is generated, when the longest transmission inhibition time of the set transmission inhibition time of wireless channels is smaller than a predetermined threshold value, the virtual carrier sense unit of said transmit-side STA transmits a wireless packet using said wireless channel determined to be idle after waiting until the transmission inhibition time elapses; or when the longest transmission inhibition time is greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold value, said virtual carrier sense unit transmits a wireless packet using said wireless channel determined to be idle without waiting until the transmission inhibition time elapses. 30. The wireless packet communication apparatus according to any one of claims 20 to 24, characterized in that when there is a wireless channel having the set transmission inhibition time at the time of transmission data generation, the virtual carrier sense unit of said transmit-side STA transmits a wireless packet using said wireless channel determined to be idle, without waiting with a predetermined probability until the transmission inhibition time elapses. 31. The wireless packet communication apparatus according to any one of claims 20 to 24, characterized in that when transmission data is generated, the physical carrier sense unit and the virtual carrier sense unit of said transmit-side STA transmit a wireless packet using said wireless channel determined to be idle after waiting until all the wireless channels are determined to be idle. 32. The wireless packet communication apparatus according to any one of claims 20 to 24, characterized in that: when transmission data is generated, the physical carrier sense unit and the virtual carrier sense unit of said transmit-side STA transmit a wireless packet using said wireless channel determined to be idle after waiting until all the wireless channels are determined to be idle; or when the longest transmission inhibition time of the set transmission inhibition time of the wireless channels is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, the physical carrier sense unit and the virtual carrier sense unit transmit a wireless packet using said wireless channel determined to be idle without waiting until the transmission inhibition time elapses. 33. The wireless packet communication apparatus according to claim 29, characterized in that: when there are wireless channels having the set transmission inhibition time, when there is a wireless channel having set transmission inhibition time smaller than a predetermined threshold value, the virtual carrier sense unit of said transmit-side STA transmits a wireless packet using said wireless channel determined to be idle after waiting until the transmission inhibition time elapses; or when no wireless channel has set transmission inhibition time smaller than the predetermined threshold value, the virtual carrier sense unit of said transmit-side STA transmits a wireless packet using said wireless channel determined to be idle without waiting until the transmission inhibition time elapses. 34. The wireless packet communication apparatus according to claim 33, characterized in that the virtual carrier sense unit of said transmit-side STA returns to determine whether there is a wireless channel having the set transmission inhibition time or whether all the wireless channels are idle, after waiting until the transmission inhibition time elapses when there are wireless channels having the set transmission inhibition time and there is a wireless channel having set transmission inhibition time smaller than a predetermined threshold value. 35. The wireless packet communication apparatus according to any one of claims 20 to 24, characterized in that when transmission data is generated, the physical carrier sense unit and the virtual carrier sense unit of said transmit-side STA transmit a wireless packet using said wireless channel determined to be idle after waiting or without waiting with a predetermined probability until all the wireless channels are determined to be idle. 36. The wireless packet communication apparatus according to any one of claims 20 to 24, characterized in that: said receive-side STA includes a unit which sets transmission inhibition time to a wireless channel receiving a wireless packet when the received wireless packet has the set transmission inhibition time, and which transmits an ACK packet to said transmit-side STA when a wireless packet directed to the own STA has been normally received, the ACK packet including the transmission inhibition time set in the paired wireless channel; and said transmit-side STA includes a unit which updates the transmission inhibition time set for the paired wireless channel to transmission inhibition time of a paired wireless channel included in a corresponding ACK packet when receiving the ACK packet within a predetermined period of time after having transmitted said wireless packet. 37. A wireless packet communication apparatus comprising: one transceiver which multiplexes a plurality of sub-channels into one wireless channel for transmission and reception; a physical carrier sense unit which determines whether each of said sub-carriers is busy or idle from received power; and a virtual carrier sense unit which determines each of said sub-carriers to be busy during set transmission inhibition time, wherein said transceiver assigns, for simultaneous transmission and reception, a plurality of wireless packets respectively to a plurality of sub-channels determined to be idle by both said physical carrier sense unit and said virtual carrier sense unit, the apparatus characterized in that said virtual carrier sense unit sets time (Tmax+Ts) as transmission inhibition time to sub-channels other than a sub-channel which requires longest transmission time Tmax among sub-channels used for simultaneous transmission and reception, the time (Tmax+Ts) obtained by adding a predetermined time Ts to the longest transmission time Tmax. 38. The wireless packet communication apparatus according to claim 37, characterized in that when an existing set transmission inhibition time is smaller than the time (Tmax+Ts), said virtual carrier sense unit sets the time (Tmax+Ts) to said sub-channel as a new transmission inhibition time. 39. The wireless packet communication method according to claim 13, characterized by further comprising: when there are wireless channels having the set transmission inhibition time, transmitting, by said transmit-side STA, a wireless packet using said wireless channel determined to be idle after waiting until the transmission inhibition time elapses when where there is a wireless channel having set transmission inhibition time smaller than a predetermined threshold value; or transmitting, by said transmit-side STA, a wireless packet using said wireless channel determined to be idle without waiting until the transmission inhibition time elapses when no wireless channel has set transmission inhibition time smaller than the predetermined threshold value. 40. The wireless packet communication method according to claim 39, characterized by further comprising said transmit-side STA's returning to determine whether there is a wireless channel having the set transmission inhibition time or whether all wireless channels are idle, after waiting until the transmission inhibition time elapses when there are wireless channels having the set transmission inhibition time and there is a wireless channel having set transmission inhibition time smaller than a predetermined threshold value. 41. The wireless packet communication apparatus according to claim 32, characterized in that: when there are wireless channels having the set transmission inhibition time, when there is a wireless channel having set transmission inhibition time smaller than a predetermined threshold value, the virtual carrier sense unit of said transmit-side STA transmits a wireless packet using said wireless channel determined to be idle after waiting until the transmission inhibition time elapses; or when no wireless channel has set transmission inhibition time smaller than the predetermined threshold value, the virtual carrier sense unit of said transmit-side STA transmits a wireless packet using said wireless channel determined to be idle without waiting until the transmission inhibition time elapses. 42. The wireless packet communication apparatus according to claim 41, characterized in that the virtual carrier sense unit of said transmit-side STA returns to determine whether there is a wireless channel having the set transmission inhibition time or whether all the wireless channels are idle, after waiting until the transmission inhibition time elapses when there are wireless channels having the set transmission inhibition time and there is a wireless channel having set transmission inhibition time smaller than a predetermined threshold value.

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for wireless packet communication in which multiple wireless channels are used to transmit a wireless packet. The present invention also relates to a method and an apparatus for wireless packet communication in which multiple wireless channels are used to transmit a plurality of wireless packets simultaneously. BACKGROUND ART Conventional wireless packet communication apparatuses are adapted to proactively determine only one wireless channel to be used and detect prior to the transmission of a wireless packet whether or not the wireless channel is idle (or performs carrier sense), then transmitting one wireless packet only when the wireless channel is idle. Such transmission control by carrier sense allowed one wireless channel to be shared among a plurality of stations (hereinafter, STAs) on a time division basis ((1) IEEE 802.11 “MAC and PHY Specification for Metropolitan Area Network”, IEEE 802.11, 1998, (2) “Low-powered Data Communication System/Broadband Mobile Access Communication System (CSMA) Standard”, ARIB SDT-T71 version 1.0, Association of Radio Industries and Businesses, settled in 2000). More specifically, the method of carrier sense used includes the following two types: one is a physical carrier sense method in which the received power of a wireless channel is measured using an RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indication) or the like to detect whether or not another station is using the wireless channel to transmit a wireless packet. The other is a virtual carrier sense method in which the occupied time of a wireless channel to be used in transmission and reception of a wireless packet described in the header of the wireless packet is used to set the wireless channel to a busy status only during the occupied time. This virtual carrier sense method will be now described with reference to an example of a wireless packet communication method which uses two wireless channels as shown in FIG. 49. The STAs have a timer for indicating a so-called NAV (Network Allocation Vector) or the time which a wireless channel takes until it becomes idle. The NAV being “0” indicates that the wireless channel is idle, while the NAV being not “0” indicates that the wireless channel is busy due to a virtual carrier sense. When one STA has received a wireless packet transmitted from the other STA, the one STA reads the occupied time described in the header of the wireless packet. If the value thereof is greater than the current value of the NAV, then the one STA sets the NAV to the value. At this time, the actual transmission time of the wireless packet may be defined as the occupied time described in the header of the wireless packet. In this case, both the physical carrier sense by the RSSI and the virtual carrier sense by the NAV indicate a busy status, and thus the carrier sense according to the aforementioned two methods serves substantially in the same manner. On the other hand, an occupied time greater than the actual transmission time of a wireless packet may be described in the header. In this case, even after the wireless packet has been completely received, the wireless channel is made busy due to a virtual carrier sense, thereby effectively inhibiting the use of the wireless channel for transmission. As used herein, the occupied time in this case is referred to as the “transmission inhibition time”. The STA transmitting a wireless packet determines the wireless channel to be idle only when it is found idle by both of the two carrier senses, and performs transmission. In FIG. 49, at timing t11, a wireless channel #2 has a setting of NAV, and a wireless channel #1 is determined to be idle. Accordingly, a STA 1 transmits a wireless packet to a STA 2 using the wireless channel #1. The STA 2 and other STAs receive the wireless packet transmitted from the STA 1, thereby allowing the wireless channel #1 to have a setting of NAV. This causes the wireless channel #1 to be inhibited from transmission in the STAs other than the STA 2, thereby allowing the STA 2 to transmit an ACK packet to the STA 1 using the wireless channel #1. On the other hand, at timing t2, the STA 1 and the STA 2 receive a wireless packet transmitted from another STA using the wireless channel #2, so that a corresponding NAV is defined (updated). Accordingly, the wireless channel #2 is inhibited from transmission, so that the STA 1 and the STA 2 cannot transmit using the wireless channel #2. In the wireless packet communication utilizing multiple wireless channels assigned consecutively along a frequency axis, it is anticipated that the characteristics of a transmission/reception filter and the non-linearity of an amplifier may cause a signal transmitted in a wireless channel to leak into an adjacent wireless channel. When a received signal stays in the adjacent wireless channel suffering from the leakage, the received signal may not be successfully accepted depending on the difference between the incoming leakage power and the power of the received signal. Typically, power leakage from an adjacent wireless channel upon transmission is much greater than the received power of the wireless packet which has been transmitted from a remote STA, thus making it impossible to receive the wireless packet. When the wireless packet cannot be received, there will occur a problem as shown in FIG. 50. It is assumed that during transmission of a wireless packet using the wireless channel #1 which is idle at timing t1, a wireless packet transmitted from another STA using the wireless channel #2 at timing t2 is scheduled to set the NAV to a longer transmission inhibition time than the transmission time thereof. At this time, an occurrence of leakage from the wireless channel #1 to the wireless channel #2 in the STA 1 would make it impossible to receive the wireless packet in the wireless channel #2 and set (update) the NAV. For this reason, in the wireless channel #2, the primary virtual carrier sense is not properly performed, so that the wireless channel #2 will be determined to be idle at the next timing t3. That is, the STA 1 cannot inhibit transmission over the wireless channel #2. On the other hand, in the STA 2, the wireless channel #2 has a setting of NAV to inhibit transmission. At this time, in the wireless channel #2, it is anticipated that the wireless packet transmitted from the STA 1 at timing t3 may collide against a wireless packet transmitted from another STA, thus resulting in reduction in throughput. Furthermore, it is difficult to live alongside the conventional wireless packet transmission method that utilizes only the wireless channel #2. It is also anticipated that leakage into wireless channels may occur not only into adjacent channels but also into many other wireless channels such as the next adjacent wireless channels, thereby causing the virtual carrier sense not to be properly performed over a wider range. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and device for wireless packet communication which can reduce factors responsible for decreased throughput resulting from leakage into adjacent channels or the like in a wireless packet communication system that uses multiple wireless channels. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION According to the invention of claim 1, a transmit-side STA transmits a wireless packet using a wireless channel which has been determined to be idle by both a physical carrier sense for determining based on received power whether the wireless channel is busy or idle and a virtual carrier sense for determining the wireless channel to be busy during set transmission inhibition time. At this time, the transmit-side STA sets transmission inhibition time used for the virtual carrier sense to a paired wireless channel which is affected by leakage from a transmitting wireless channel. This allows for providing a setting of transmission inhibition time, corresponding to the transmission time of the wireless packet, to the paired wireless channel even when the paired wireless channel cannot successfully receive due to the effect caused by leakage from the transmitting wireless channel. This in turn allows the virtual carrier sense to be properly performed. According to the invention of claim 2, a transmit-side STA transmits a plurality of wireless packets simultaneously using multiple wireless channels which have been determined to be idle by both a physical carrier sense for determining based on received power whether the wireless channels are busy or idle and a virtual carrier sense for determining the wireless channels to be busy during set transmission inhibition time. At this time, the transmit-side STA sets time (Tmax+Ts) obtained by adding the predetermined time Ts to the Tmax as transmission inhibition time used for the virtual carrier sense to a paired wireless channel other than a wireless channel which requires the longest transmission time Tmax among wireless channels used for simultaneous transmission. According to the invention of claim 3, in the transmit-side STA according to the invention of claim 2, if an existing set transmission inhibition time for the virtual carrier sense is smaller than time (Tmax+Ts), then the time (Tmax+Ts) is set to the paired wireless channel as a new transmission inhibition time. According to the invention of claims 2 and 3, even when due to the effect of leakage from a wireless channel having the longest transmission time among wireless channels transmitting simultaneously, another wireless channel cannot successfully receive, it is possible to set transmission inhibition time corresponding to the longest transmission time to another wireless channel. This in turn allows the virtual carrier sense to be properly performed. According to the invention of claim 4, a transmit-side STA predetermines a combination of wireless channels which have an effect of leakage of transmitted power on each other among multiple wireless channels, and sets time (Ti+Ts) obtained by adding the predetermined time Ts to the time Ti as transmission inhibition time used for the virtual carrier sense to a paired wireless channel other than a wireless channel which requires the longest transmission time Ti among each combination of wireless channels. According to the invention of claim 5, in the transmit-side STA according to the invention of claim 4, if an existing set transmission inhibition time for the virtual carrier sense is smaller than (Ti+Ts), then the transmit-side STA sets (Ti+Ts) to the paired wireless channel as a new transmission inhibition time. According to the invention of claims 4 and 5, a transmit-side STA predetermines a combination of wireless channels which have an effect of leakage of transmitted power on each other among multiple wireless channels. Even when due to the effect of leakage from a wireless channel having the longest transmission time in each combination of wireless channels, another wireless channel cannot successfully receive, it is possible to set transmission inhibition time corresponding to the longest transmission time to another wireless channel. This in turn allows the virtual carrier sense to be properly performed. According to the invention of claim 6, the transmit-side STA according to the invention of claims 1 to 5 detects received power caused by leakage from a transmitting wireless channel in the paired wireless channel, and sets transmission inhibition time to a paired wireless channel having the received power greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value. This allows for determining that a wireless channel in which the predetermined received power has not been detected is not affected by leakage, thereby making it possible not to set transmission inhibition time to the wireless channel. Accordingly, while allowing the virtual carrier sense to be properly performed, it is possible to avoid unnecessary setting of transmission inhibition time and thereby provide improved efficiency. According to the invention of claim 7, the transmit-side STA according to the invention of claims 1 to 6 detects an error in a received signal in the paired wireless channel, and set the transmission inhibition time to a paired wireless channel having an error detected. This allows for determining that a wireless channel having no (less) error in a received signal is not affected by leakage, thereby making it possible not to set transmission inhibition time to the wireless channel. Accordingly, while allowing the virtual carrier sense to be properly performed, it is possible to avoid unnecessary setting of transmission inhibition time and thereby provide improved efficiency. According to the invention of claim 8, the transmit-side STA according to the invention of claims 1 to 7 detects an error in a wireless packet received upon having received the wireless packet over the paired wireless channel. In this case, if a wireless channel having successfully received a wireless packet directed to the own STA has set transmission inhibition time, the transmit-side STA cancels the transmission inhibition time. Additionally, if occupied time is set in a header of the received wireless packet, the transmit-side STA the transmission inhibition time in accordance with new set transmission inhibition time. When a wireless packet is successfully received during set transmission inhibition time, it is thus possible to cancel the current transmission inhibition time as well as to update the transmission inhibition time according to the occupied time described in the header. Accordingly, while allowing the virtual carrier sense to be properly performed, it is possible to avoid unnecessarily setting transmission inhibition time and thereby provide improved efficiency. According to the invention of claim 9, in the transmit-side STA according to the invention of claims 1 to 8, if there is a wireless channel having the set transmission inhibition time when transmission data is generated, the transmit-side STA waits until the transmission inhibition time elapses and then transmits a wireless packet using the wireless channel determined to be idle. Thus, if any one of multiple wireless channels has set transmission inhibition time, the transmit-side STA waits until the transmission inhibition time elapses, and then transmits a plurality of wireless packets simultaneously using idle wireless channels with all wireless channels having no set transmission inhibition time. Accordingly, even when set transmission inhibition time is forcedly set in consideration of the effect of leakage from another wireless channel, no set transmission inhibition time will be successively set. It is thus possible to prevent a specific wireless channel from being continually busy. According to the invention of claim 10, in the transmit-side STA according to the invention of claims 1 to 8, when transmission data is generated, if the longest transmission inhibition time of wireless channels having set transmission inhibition time is smaller than a predetermined threshold value, the transmit-side STA waits until the transmission inhibition time elapses and then transmits a wireless packet using the wireless channel determined to be idle. Alternatively, if the longest transmission inhibition time is greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold value, the transmit-side STA transmits a wireless packet, without waiting until the transmission inhibition time elapses, using the wireless channel determined to be idle. Thus, if the longest transmission inhibition time of wireless channels having set transmission inhibition time is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, the transmit-side STA transmits a plurality of wireless packets simultaneously, without waiting until the transmission inhibition time elapses, using idle wireless channels. On the other hand, if the longest transmission inhibition time of wireless channels having set transmission inhibition time is smaller than the predetermined threshold value, the transmit-side STA waits until the transmission inhibition time elapses and then transmits a plurality of wireless packets simultaneously using idle wireless channels with all wireless channels having no set transmission inhibition time. Accordingly, it is possible to set an upper wait time limit as well as to properly avoid successive settings of transmission inhibition time even when the transmission inhibition time is forcedly set. According to the invention of claim 11, in the transmit-side STA according to the invention of claims 1 to 8, if there is a wireless channel having the set transmission inhibition time when transmission data is generated, the transmit-side STA transmits a wireless packet, without waiting with a predetermined probability until the transmission inhibition time elapses, using the wireless channel determined to be idle. Thus, if there is a wireless channel having set transmission inhibition time, the transmit-side STA transmits a plurality of wireless packets simultaneously using idle wireless channels without waiting with a predetermined probability until the transmission inhibition time elapses. On the other hand, the transmit-side STA waits with a predetermined probability until the transmission inhibition time elapses, and then transmits a plurality of wireless packets simultaneously using idle wireless channels with all wireless channels having no set transmission inhibition time. Accordingly, it is possible to set an upper wait time limit as well as to properly avoid successive settings of transmission inhibition time even when the transmission inhibition time is forcedly set. According to the invention of claim 12, in the transmit-side STA according to the invention of claims 1 to 8, when transmission data is generated, the transmit-side STA waits until all wireless channels are determined to be idle by the physical carrier sense and the virtual carrier sense, and then transmits a wireless packet using the wireless channel determined to be idle. Thus, if any one of multiple wireless channels is busy, the transmit-side STA waits until the wireless channel becomes idle, and when all the wireless channels become idle, transmits a plurality of wireless packets simultaneously using the wireless channels. Accordingly, it is possible to set a number of wireless channels to be used for simultaneous transmission. Even when set transmission inhibition time is forcedly set, no transmission inhibition time will be successively set. It is thus possible to prevent a specific wireless channel from being continually busy. According to the invention of claim 13, in the transmit-side STA according to the invention of claims 1 to 8, when transmission data is generated, the transmit-side STA waits until all wireless channels are determined to be idle by the physical carrier sense and the virtual carrier sense, and then transmits wireless packets using the wireless channels that have been determined to be idle. Alternatively, if the longest transmission inhibition time of wireless channels having set transmission inhibition time is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, the transmit-side STA transmits wireless packets, without waiting until the transmission inhibition time elapses, using the wireless channels that have been determined to be idle. Thus, if the longest transmission inhibition time of wireless channels having set transmission inhibition time is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, the transmit-side STA transmits a plurality of wireless packets simultaneously using idle wireless channels without waiting until the transmission inhibition time elapses. On the other hand, if the longest transmission inhibition time of wireless channels having set transmission inhibition time is smaller than the predetermined threshold value, the transmit-side STA waits until all wireless channels become idle, and then transmits a plurality of wireless packets simultaneously using the idle wireless channels. Accordingly, it is possible to set an upper wait time limit as well as to properly avoid successive settings of transmission inhibition time even when the transmission inhibition time is forcedly set as described above. According to the invention of claim 14, in the transmit-side STA according to the invention of claim 10 or 13, when there is a wireless channel having the set transmission inhibition time: if the wireless channel has set transmission inhibition time smaller than a predetermined threshold value, the transmit-side STA waits until the transmission inhibition time elapses and then transmits a wireless packet using the wireless channel determined to be idle. Alternatively, if no wireless channel has set transmission inhibition time smaller than the predetermined threshold value, the transmit-side STA transmits a wireless packet, without waiting until the transmission inhibition time elapses, using the wireless channel determined to be idle. According to the invention of claim 15, in the transmit-side STA according to the invention of claim 14, if there is a wireless channel having the set transmission inhibition time and the wireless channel has set transmission inhibition time smaller than a predetermined threshold value, the transmit-side STA waits until the transmission inhibition time elapses and then returns to determine whether there is a wireless channel having the set transmission inhibition time. According to the invention of claims 14 and 15, if none of wireless channels having set transmission inhibition time has set transmission inhibition time smaller than a predetermined threshold value, the transmit-side STA transmits a plurality of wireless packets simultaneously, without waiting until the transmission inhibition time elapses, using idle wireless channels. On the other hand, if there is a wireless channel having set transmission inhibition time smaller than the predetermined threshold value, the transmit-side STA waits until the transmission inhibition time elapses and then transmits a plurality of wireless packets using idle wireless channels. It is thus possible to set an upper wait time limit as well as to efficiently transmit a wireless packet while making effective use of the wait time. According to the invention of claim 16, in the transmit-side STA according to the invention of claims 1 to 8, when transmission data is generated, the transmit-side STA waits or does not wait with a predetermined probability until all wireless channels are determined to be idle by the physical carrier sense and the virtual carrier sense, and then transmits a wireless packet using the wireless channel determined to be idle. Accordingly, if there is a wireless channel having set transmission inhibition time, the transmit-side STA transmits a plurality of wireless packets simultaneously, without waiting with a predetermined probability until the transmission inhibition time elapses, using idle wireless channels. On the other hand, the transmit-side STA waits with a predetermined probability until all wireless channels become idle, and then transmits a plurality of wireless packets simultaneously using the idle wireless channels. It is thus possible to set an upper wait time limit as well as to properly avoid successively setting transmission inhibition time even when the transmission inhibition time is forcedly set. According to the invention of claim 17, in the invention of claims 1 to 8, if a received wireless packet has set transmission inhibition time, the receive-side STA sets the transmission inhibition time to a receiving wireless channel; if a wireless packet directed to the own STA has been successfully received, the receive-side STA transmits an acknowledgment packet (hereinafter, ACK packet) including the set transmission inhibition time in the paired wireless channel to the transmit-side STA. When the transmit-side STA receives a corresponding ACK packet within a predetermined period of time after having transmitted the wireless packet, the transmit-side STA updates the set transmission inhibition time for the paired wireless channel to transmission inhibition time of a paired wireless channel included in the ACK packet. Accordingly, if a paired wireless channel having set transmission inhibition time is provided with the set transmission inhibition time at the receive-side STA, the receive-side STA appends the transmission inhibition time to the ACK packet for transmission to the transmit-side STA. Accordingly, it is possible for the transmit-side STA updates the transmission inhibition time set at the time of transmission to the transmission inhibition time appended to the ACK packet. It is thus possible to avoid unnecessary setting of transmission inhibition time to provide improved efficiency. According to the invention of claim 18, sub-channels are provided to be multiplexed into one wireless channel between a transmit-side STA and one or more receive-side STAs. The transmit-side STA assigns a plurality of wireless packets to a plurality of sub-channels respectively for simultaneous transmission, in which each of the sub-channels has been determined to be idle by both a physical carrier sense for determining based on received power whether the sub-channel is busy or idle and a virtual carrier sense for determining the sub-channel to be busy during set transmission inhibition time. At this time, the transmit-side STA sets time (Tmax+Ts) obtained by adding the predetermined time Ts to the Tmax as transmission inhibition time used for the virtual carrier sense to sub-channels other than a sub-channel which requires the longest transmission time Tmax among sub-channels used for simultaneous transmission. According to the invention of claim 19, in the transmit-side STA according to the invention of claim 18, if an existing set transmission inhibition time for the virtual carrier sense is smaller than (Tmax+Ts), then the transmit-side STA sets (Tmax+Ts) to the sub-channel as a new transmission inhibition time. According to the invention according to claims 18 and 19, even when a sub-channel not in transmission or reception cannot receive, it is possible to provide set transmission inhibition time corresponding to the longest transmission/reception time to the sub-channel, thereby allowing the virtual carrier sense to be properly performed. According to the invention of claim 20, a transmit-side STA transmits a wireless packet using a wireless channel which has been determined to be idle by both a physical carrier sense unit which determines based on received power whether the wireless channel is busy or idle and a virtual carrier sense unit which determines the wireless channel to be busy during set transmission inhibition time. At this time, the virtual carrier sense unit sets transmission inhibition time to a paired wireless channel which is affected by leakage from a transmitting wireless channel. Accordingly, even when a paired wireless channel cannot successfully receive due to the effect of leakage from the transmitting wireless channel, the transmit-side STA can provide set transmission inhibition time corresponding to the transmission time of the wireless packet to the paired wireless channel. This in turn allows the virtual carrier sense to be properly performed. According to the invention of claim 21, a transmit-side STA transmits a plurality of wireless packets simultaneously using multiple wireless channels which have been determined to be idle by both a physical carrier sense unit which determines based on received power whether the wireless channels are busy or idle and a virtual carrier sense unit which makes the wireless channels busy during set transmission inhibition time. At this time, the virtual carrier sense unit sets time (Tmax+Ts) obtained by adding the predetermined time Ts to the Tmax as the transmission inhibition time to a paired wireless channel other than a wireless channel which requires the longest transmission time Tmax among wireless channels used for simultaneous transmission. According to the invention of claim 22, if an existing set transmission inhibition time is smaller than CFmax+Ts), then the virtual carrier sense unit of the transmit-side STA according to the invention of claim 21 sets (Tmax+Ts) to the paired wireless channel as a new transmission inhibition time. According to the invention of claims 21 and 22, even when due to the effect of leakage from a wireless channel having the longest transmission time among wireless channels transmitting simultaneously, another wireless channel cannot successfully receive, it is possible to provide set transmission inhibition time corresponding to the longest transmission time to the another wireless channel. This in turn allows the virtual carrier sense to be properly performed. According to the invention of claim 23, a virtual carrier sense unit of a transmit-side STA predetermines a combination of wireless channels which have an effect of leakage of transmitted power on each other among multiple wireless channels, and sets time (Ti+Ts) obtained by adding the predetermined time Ts to the Ti as the transmission inhibition time used for the virtual carrier sense to a paired wireless channel other than a wireless channel which requires the longest transmission time Ti among each combination of wireless channels. According to the invention of claim 24, if an existing set transmission inhibition time is smaller than (Ti+Ts), then the virtual carrier sense unit of the transmit-side STA according to the invention of claim 23 sets (Ti+Ts) to the paired wireless channel as a new transmission inhibition time. According to the invention of claims 423 and 24, a combination of wireless channels is predetermined which have an effect of leakage of transmitted power on each other among multiple wireless channels. Even when due to the effect of leakage from a wireless channel having the longest transmission time in each combination of wireless channels, another wireless channel cannot successfully receive, it is possible to provide set transmission inhibition time corresponding to the longest transmission time to the another wireless channel. This in turn allows the virtual carrier sense to be properly performed. According to the invention of claims 25, in the transmit-side STA according to the invention of claims 20 to 24, the transmit-side STA includes a unit which detects received power caused by leakage from a transmitting wireless channel in the paired wireless channel, and the virtual carrier sense unit provides the set transmission inhibition time to a paired wireless channel having the received power greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value. This allows for determining that a wireless channel having the predetermined received power not detected is not affected by leakage, thereby making it possible not to set transmission inhibition time to the wireless channel. Accordingly, while allowing the virtual carrier sense to be properly performed, it is possible to avoid unnecessary setting of transmission inhibition time and thereby provide improved efficiency. According to the invention of claim 26, the transmit-side STA according to the invention of claims 20 to 25 includes a unit which detects an error in a received signal in the paired wireless channel, and the virtual carrier sense unit sets the transmission inhibition time to a paired wireless channel having an error detected. This allows for determining that a wireless channel having no (less) error in a received signal is not affected by leakage, thereby making it possible not to set the transmission inhibition time to the wireless channel. Accordingly, while allowing the virtual carrier sense to be properly performed, it is possible to avoid unnecessary setting of transmission inhibition time and thereby provide improved efficiency. According to the invention of claim 27, the transmit-side STA according to the invention of claims 20 to 26 includes a unit which detects an error in a received wireless packet when having received the wireless packet over the paired wireless channel. If a wireless channel having successfully received a wireless packet directed to the own STA has the set transmission inhibition time, the virtual carrier sense unit cancels the transmission inhibition time. Additionally, if a header of the received wireless packet has a setting of occupied time, the virtual carrier sense unit sets correspondingly new set transmission inhibition time. When a wireless packet is successfully received during set transmission inhibition time, it is thus possible to cancel the current transmission inhibition time as well as to update the transmission inhibition time according to the occupied time described in the header. Accordingly, while allowing the virtual carrier sense to be properly performed, it is possible to avoid unnecessarily setting transmission inhibition time and thereby provide improved efficiency. According to the invention of claim 28, in the transmit-side STA according to the invention of claims 20 to 27, if there is a wireless channel having the set transmission inhibition time when transmission data is generated, the virtual carrier sense unit waits until the transmission inhibition time elapses and then transmits a wireless packet using the wireless channel determined to be idle. Thus, if any one of multiple wireless channels has set transmission inhibition time, the virtual carrier sense unit waits until the transmission inhibition time elapses, and then transmits a plurality of wireless packets simultaneously using idle wireless channels with all wireless channels having no set transmission inhibition time. Accordingly, even when the transmission inhibition time is forcedly set in consideration of the effect of leakage from another wireless channel, there will be no successive setting of transmission inhibition time. It is thus possible to prevent a specific wireless channel from being continually busy. According to the invention of claim 29, in the transmit-side STA according to the invention of claims 20 to 27, when transmission data is generated, if the longest transmission inhibition time of wireless channels having set transmission inhibition time is smaller than a predetermined threshold value, the virtual carrier sense unit waits until the transmission inhibition time elapses and then transmits a wireless packet using the wireless channel determined to be idle. Alternatively, if the longest transmission inhibition time is greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold value, the virtual carrier sense unit transmits a wireless packet, without waiting until the transmission inhibition time elapses, using the wireless channel determined to be idle. Thus, if the longest transmission inhibition time of wireless channels having set transmission inhibition time is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, the virtual carrier sense unit transmits a plurality of wireless packets simultaneously using idle wireless channels without waiting until the transmission inhibition time elapses. On the other hand, if the longest transmission inhibition time of wireless channels a having set transmission inhibition time is smaller than the predetermined threshold value, the virtual carrier sense unit waits until the transmission inhibition time elapses, and then transmits a plurality of wireless packets simultaneously using the idle wireless channels with all wireless channels having no set transmission inhibition time. Accordingly, it is possible to set an upper wait time limit as well as to properly avoid successive settings of transmission inhibition time even when the transmission inhibition time is forcedly set. According to the invention of claim 30, in the transmit-side STA according to the invention of claims 20 to 27, if there is a wireless channel having the set transmission inhibition time when transmission data is generated, the virtual carrier sense unit transmits a wireless packet, without waiting with a predetermined probability until the transmission inhibition time elapses, using the wireless channel determined to be idle. Accordingly, if there is a wireless channel having set transmission inhibition time, the virtual carrier sense unit transmits a plurality of wireless packets simultaneously, without waiting with a predetermined probability until the transmission inhibition time elapses, using idle wireless channels. On the other hand, the virtual carrier sense unit waits with a predetermined probability until the transmission inhibition time elapses, and then transmits a plurality of wireless packets simultaneously using idle wireless channels with all wireless channels having no set transmission inhibition time. It is thus possible to set an upper wait time limit as well as to properly avoid successive settings of transmission inhibition time even when the transmission inhibition time is forcedly set. According to the invention of claim 31, in the transmit-side STA according to the invention of claims 20 to 27, when transmission data is generated, the physical carrier sense unit and the virtual carrier sense unit wait until all wireless channels are determined to be idle, and then transmit a wireless packet using the wireless channel determined to be idle. Thus, if there is any one of multiple wireless channels being busy, the physical carrier sense unit and the virtual carrier sense unit wait until the wireless channel becomes idle, and when all wireless channels become idle, transmit a plurality of wireless packets simultaneously using the wireless channels. Accordingly, it is possible to set a number of wireless channels to be used for simultaneous transmission. Even when the transmission inhibition time is forcedly set, there will be no successive settings of transmission inhibition time. It is thus possible to prevent a specific wireless channel from being continually busy. According to the invention of claim 32, in the transmit-side STA according to the invention of claims 20 to 27, when transmission data is generated, the physical carrier sense unit and the virtual carrier sense unit wait until all wireless channels are determined to be idle, and then transmit a wireless packet using the wireless channel determined to be idle. Alternatively, if the longest transmission inhibition time of wireless channels having set transmission inhibition time is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, the physical carrier sense unit and the virtual carrier sense unit transmit a wireless packet, without waiting until the transmission inhibition time elapses, using the wireless channel determined to be idle. Thus, if the longest transmission inhibition time of wireless channels having set transmission inhibition time is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, the physical carrier sense unit and the virtual carrier sense unit transmit a plurality of wireless packets simultaneously using idle wireless channels without waiting until the transmission inhibition time elapses. On the other hand, if the longest transmission inhibition time of wireless channels having set transmission inhibition time is smaller than the predetermined threshold value, the physical carrier sense unit and the virtual carrier sense unit wait until all wireless channels become idle, and then transmit a plurality of wireless packets simultaneously using the idle wireless channels. Accordingly, it is possible to set an upper wait time limit as well as to properly avoid successive settings of transmission inhibition time even when the transmission inhibition time is forcedly set as described above. According to the invention of claim 33, in the transmit-side STA according to the invention of claim 29 or 32, when there is a wireless channel having the set transmission inhibition time: if the wireless channel has set transmission inhibition time smaller than a predetermined threshold value, the virtual carrier sense unit waits until the transmission inhibition time elapses and then transmits a wireless packet using the wireless channel determined to be idle. Alternatively, if no wireless channel has set transmission inhibition time smaller than the predetermined threshold value, the virtual carrier sense unit transmits a wireless packet, without waiting until the transmission inhibition time elapses, using the wireless channel determined to be idle. According to the invention of claim 34, in the transmit-side STA according to the invention of claim 33, if there is a wireless channel having the set transmission inhibition time and the wireless channel has set transmission inhibition time smaller than a predetermined threshold value, the virtual carrier sense unit waits until the transmission inhibition time elapses and then returns to determine whether there is a wireless channel having the set transmission inhibition time or whether all wireless channels are idle. According to the invention of claims 33 and 34, if none of wireless channels having set transmission inhibition time has set transmission inhibition time smaller than a predetermined threshold value, the virtual carrier sense unit transmits a plurality of wireless packets simultaneously, without waiting until the transmission inhibition time elapses, using idle wireless channels. On the other hand, if there is a wireless channel having set transmission inhibition time smaller than the predetermined threshold value, the virtual carrier sense unit waits until the transmission inhibition time elapses and then transmits a plurality of wireless packets using idle wireless channels. It is thus possible to set an upper wait time limit as well as to efficiently transmit a wireless packet while making effective use of the wait time. According to the invention of claim 35, in the transmit-side STA according to the invention of claims 20 to 27, the physical carrier sense unit and the virtual carrier sense unit wait or do not wait with a predetermined probability until all wireless channels are determined to be idle, and then transmit a wireless packet using the wireless channel determined to be idle. Accordingly, if there is a wireless channel having set transmission inhibition time, the physical carrier sense unit and the virtual carrier sense unit transmit a plurality of wireless packets simultaneously, without waiting with a predetermined probability until the transmission inhibition time elapses, using idle wireless channels. On the other hand, the physical carrier sense unit and the virtual carrier sense unit wait with a predetermined probability until all wireless channels become idle, and then transmit a plurality of wireless packets simultaneously using the idle wireless channels. It is thus possible to set an upper wait time limit as well as to properly avoid successive settings of transmission inhibition time even when the transmission inhibition time is forcedly set. According to the invention of claim 36, in the invention of claims 20 to 27, the receive-side STA includes a unit which sets transmission inhibition time to a receiving wireless channel if a received wireless packet has the set transmission inhibition time, and which transmits to the transmit-side STA an ACK packet including the set transmission inhibition time provided to the paired wireless channel if a wireless packet directed to the own STA has been successfully received. The transmit-side STA includes a unit which updates the set transmission inhibition time for the paired wireless channel to transmission inhibition time of a paired wireless channel included in a corresponding ACK packet when having received the ACK packet within a predetermined period of time after having transmitted the wireless packet. Accordingly, if a paired wireless channel having set transmission inhibition time is provided with the set transmission inhibition time at the receive-side STA, the receive-side STA appends the transmission inhibition time to the ACK packet for transmission to the transmit-side STA. Accordingly, it is possible for the transmit-side STA to update the transmission inhibition time set at the time of transmission to the transmission inhibition time appended to the ACK packet. It is thus possible to avoid an unnecessary setting of transmission inhibition time to provide improved efficiency. According to the invention of claim 37, included are one transceiver which multiplexes a plurality of sub-channels into one wireless channel for transmission and reception; a physical carrier sense unit which determines based on received power whether each of the sub-carriers is busy or idle; and a virtual carrier sense unit which determines each of the sub-carriers to be busy during set transmission inhibition time. The transceiver assigns a plurality of wireless packets to a plurality of sub-channels respectively for simultaneous transmission and reception, the sub-channels having been determined to be idle by both the physical carrier sense and the virtual carrier sense. At this time, the virtual carrier sense unit sets time (Tmax+Ts) obtained by adding the predetermined time Ts to the Tmax as transmission inhibition time to sub-channels other than a sub-channel which requires the longest transmission time Tmax among sub-channels used for simultaneous transmission and reception. According to the invention of claim 38, if an existing set transmission inhibition time for a virtual carrier sense is smaller than (Tmax+Ts), then the virtual carrier sense unit of the transmit-side STA according to the invention of claim 37 sets (Tmax+Ts) to the sub-channel as a new transmission inhibition time. According to the invention of claims 37 and 38, even when a sub-channel not in transmission or reception cannot receive, it is possible to set transmission inhibition time corresponding to the longest transmission/reception time to the sub-channel, thereby allowing the virtual carrier sense to be properly performed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a time chart showing an example of operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a time chart showing an example of operation according to the second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to a third embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 6 is a time chart showing an example of operation according to the third embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 8 is a time chart showing an example of operation according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 10 is a time chart showing an example of operation according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 16 is a time chart showing an example of operation according to the tenth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 17 is a time chart showing an example of operation according to an 11th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 18 is a time chart showing an example of operation according to a 12th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 19 is a time chart showing an example of operation according to a 13th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to a 14th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 21 is a time chart showing an example of operation according to the 14th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to a 15th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 23 is a time chart showing an example of operation according to the 15th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to a 17th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 25 is a time chart showing an example of operation according to the 17th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to an 18th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 27 is a time chart showing the principle of operation according to the 18th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to a modified example of the 18th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 29 is a time chart showing the principle of operation according to a modified example of the 18th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to a 19th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to a 20th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 32 is a time chart showing an example of operation according to the 20th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to a 21st embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 34 is a time chart showing an example of operation according to the 21st embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to a 22nd embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 36 is a time chart showing an example of operation according to the 22nd embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 37 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to a 24th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 38 is a time chart showing a processing procedure on a transmit side according to a 25th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 39 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure on a receive side according to the 25th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 40 is a time chart showing an example of operation according to the 25th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 41 is a time chart showing a processing procedure on a transmit side according to a 26th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 42 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure on a receive side according to the 26th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 43 is a time chart showing an example of operation according to the 26th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 44 is a time chart showing an example of operation according to the 26th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 45 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of a wireless packet communication apparatus corresponding to the first to 26th embodiments of the present invention; FIG. 46 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to a 27th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 47 is a time chart showing an example of operation according to the 27th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 48 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of a wireless packet communication apparatus corresponding to the 27th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 49 is an explanatory view illustrating an exemplary method for wireless packet communication using two wireless channels; and FIG. 50 is an explanatory view illustrating a problem with the method for wireless packet communication using two wireless channels. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION First Embodiment FIG. 1 shows a flowchart according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows an example of operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Here, wireless channels #1 and #2 are prepared between STAs 1 and 2. It is assumed that at timing t1, the wireless channel #2 is busy due to a virtual carrier sense by the NAV defined by a wireless packet received before then. It is also assumed that the wireless channels #1 and #2 are related to each other in that leakage can occur therebetween and would not be able to receive wireless packets if there is any leakage. In FIG. 1, a transmit-side STA searches for an idle wireless channel (S001). Here, a physical carrier sense by RSSI and a virtual carrier sense by NAV are performed to determine that a wireless channel is idle if no carriers are detected in both the detections. Then, the process uses the idle wireless channel to transmit a wireless packet (S002). Then, the process sets the NAV of a “paired wireless channel” which would be affected by leakage from the transmitting wireless channel to a transmission inhibition time obtained by adding a predetermined time to the transmission time of the transmitted wireless packet, and then terminates the transmission processing (S003). More specifically, an explanation is given to an example of operation of the transmit-side STA with reference to FIG. 2. In FIG. 1, the paired wireless channel designates the wireless channel #2 paired with the wireless channel #1 over which the STA 1 transmits a wireless packet to the STA 2. It is also possible to detect the received power caused by leakage from the wireless channel #1 to the wireless channel #2 for recognition. In FIG. 2, at timing t1, the wireless channel #1 is idle, while the wireless channel #2 is busy due to NAV (in a transmission inhibited state). The STA 1 detects the wireless channel #1 which is idle at timing t1, and then transmits a wireless packet directed to the STA 2. At this time, since the NAV of the paired wireless channel #2 is less than the transmission time of the wireless packet, the process sets the NAV of the wireless channel #2 to a transmission inhibition time obtained by adding a predetermined time (which corresponds to the transmission inhibition time that is defined by a received packet during the transmission of a wireless packet) to the transmission time of the wireless packet. This allows the STA 1 to define a NAV equal to that of the wireless channel #2 of the STA 2 even when the wireless packet of the wireless channel #2 cannot be received at timing t2. Second Embodiment FIG. 3 shows a flowchart according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 shows an example of operation according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Here, wireless channels #1, #2, #3, and #4 are prepared. It is assumed that at timing t1, the wireless channels #2 and #4 are busy due to a virtual carrier sense by the NAV defined by a wireless packet received before then. It is also assumed that the wireless channels #1, #2, #3, and #4 are related to each other in that leakage can occur therebetween and would not be able to receive wireless packets if there is any leakage. The embodiments described below can also be applied to a system which combines simultaneous transmission using multiple wireless channels and a known Multiple Input Multiple Output (hereinafter, MIMO) technique (Kurosaki et al., “100 Mbit/s SDM-COFDM over MIMO Channel for Broadband Mobile Communications”, Technical Reports of the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers, A P 2001-96, RCS2001-135(2001-10)). First, the process searches for an idle wireless channel at timing t1 (S101). Here, a physical carrier sense by RSSI and a virtual carrier sense by NAV (a detection of the transmission inhibition time) are performed to determine that the wireless channel is idle if no carriers are detected in both the detections. Then, the process uses the idle wireless channels to transmit a plurality of wireless packets simultaneously which are generated from data packets in a transmission queue (S102). Then, the process detects the longest transmission time Tmax of the transmission times of the wireless packets to be transmitted simultaneously (S103). Here, the wireless channels #1 and #3 are idle, and two (or the sum total of counts of MIMO in each wireless channel) wireless packets are transmitted simultaneously using the wireless channels #1 and #3, in which the process detects the longest transmission time Tmax of them (here, the transmission time T1 of the wireless channel #1). Then, processing is performed from S104 to S109 on each of the wireless channels #1, #2, #3, and #4. First, the process detects the transmission time Ti of the wireless packet to be transmitted from the wireless channel #i (i=1, 2, 3, and 4) (S104). Here, Ti=0 if no wireless packet is transmitted because the wireless channel #i is busy (here, T2=T4=0). Then, the process compares the longest transmission time Tmax with the transmission time Ti of the wireless packet to be transmitted from the wireless channel #i (S105). Here, since the transmission time Ti of the wireless channel #1 is the longest (Tmax=T1), and Tmax>Ti in other than the wireless channel #1, the following processing is directed to other than the wireless channel #1. In this embodiment and the following embodiments, a plurality of wireless packets generated for simultaneous transmission are described as different in packet time length. However, to generate a plurality of wireless packets to be transmitted simultaneously which have the same packet time length, the following processing is directed to other than the wireless channels #1 and #3 (i.e., the wireless channels #2 and #4 that transmit no wireless packets). This also holds true in the other embodiments shown below. The process detects a transmission inhibition time Ts1 at which each NAV is set in the wireless channel #i with Tmax>Ti (S106). Here, the process detects Ts2 and Ts4 for the wireless channels #2 and #4, and Ts3=0 for the wireless channel #3. Then, the process compares the time (Tmax+Ts) obtained by adding a predetermined time Ts to Tmax with the existing set transmission inhibition time Tsi. If Tmax+Ts>Tsi, then the process sets the NAV to Tmax+Ts as a new transmission inhibition time to perform processing on the next wireless channel (S107, S108, and S109). On the other hand, the process performs no processing on the wireless channel #i (here, #1) for which Tmax>Ti is not true or on the wireless channel #i (here, #4) for which Tmax+Ts>Tsi is not true, but performs processing on the next wireless channel (S105, S107, and S109). As a result, the process provides no setting to the NAV of the wireless channel #1 having the longest transmission time Tmax, whereas the process sets the NAV of the wireless channels #2 and #3 to the transmission inhibition time (Tmax+Ts), and allows the NAV of the wireless channel #4 to be held at the current transmission inhibition time (Ts4). Accordingly, at the next timing t2, the process determines that the wireless channels #2, #3, and #4 are busy due to a virtual carrier sense by NAV, and thus allows only the wireless channel #1 to be used for transmission of wireless packets. At the same time, the transmission inhibition time will be also defined in the same manner. Third Embodiment FIG. 5 shows a flowchart according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 shows an example of operation according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Here, wireless channels #1, #2, #3, #4, and #5 are prepared. It is assumed that at timing t1, the wireless channel #2 and #5 are busy due to a virtual carrier sense by the NAV defined by a wireless packet received before then. It is also assumed that the wireless channels #1 to #5 may be suffered from leakage only between the adjacent channels and would not be able to receive wireless packets if there is any leakage. First, the process searches for a wireless channel that is idle at timing t1 (S111). Here, a physical carrier sense by RSSI and a virtual carrier sense by NAV (a detection of the transmission inhibition time) are performed to determine that the wireless channel is idle if no carriers are detected in both the detections. Then, the process uses the idle wireless channels to transmit a plurality of wireless packets simultaneously which are generated from data packets in a transmission queue (S112). Here, the wireless channels #1, #3 and #4 are idle, and three (or the sum total of counts of MIMO in each wireless channel) wireless packets are transmitted using the wireless channels #1, #3 and #4. Then, processing is performed from SI 13 to S120 on each of the wireless channels #i used for transmission (here, #1, #3, and #4). First, the process detects the transmission time Ti of the wireless packet to be transmitted from the wireless channel #i (i=1, 3, and 4) (S113). Then, processing is performed from S114 to S119 on each of the wireless channels #j (here, the adjacent channels) which are affected by the wireless channel #i. First, the process detects a transmission time Tj of the wireless packet to be transmitted from the wireless channel #j (S114). Then, the process compares the transmission time Ti of the wireless channel #i with each transmission time Tj of the adjacent wireless channels #j (S115). Since a wireless channel #j with Ti>Tj terminates transmission during transmission over the wireless channel #i, the process sets the NAV to a transmission inhibition time according to the following procedures (S116 to S118). Here, this is directed to the wireless channel #2 for the wireless channels #1 and #3 and to the wireless channels #3 and #5 for the wireless channel #4. Then, the process detects a transmission inhibition time Tsj at which set is the NAV of the wireless channel #j with Ti>Tj (here, #2, #3, #4, and #5) (SI 16). Then, the process compares the time (Ti+Ts) obtained by adding a predetermined time Ts to Ti with the existing set transmission inhibition time Tsj. If Ti+Ts>Tsj, then the process sets the NAV to Ti+Ts as a new transmission inhibition time Tsj to perform processing on the next wireless channel (S117, S118, and S119). On the other hand, the process performs no processing on the wireless channel #j (here, #4) for which Ti>Tj is not true or the wireless channel #j (here, #5) for which Ti+Ts>Tsj is not true, but performs processing on the next wireless channel (S115, S117, and S119). The foregoing processing is performed on all the wireless channels #i used for transmission (S113 to S120). As a result, the process provides no setting to the NAV of the wireless channels #1, #4, and #5. The NAV of the wireless channel #2 is set to the greater one (T1+Ts) of the transmission inhibition time (T1+Ts) by the wireless channel #1 and the transmission inhibition time (T3+Ts) by the wireless channel #3. The NAV of the wireless channel #3 is set to the transmission inhibition time (T4+Ts) by the wireless channel #4. Accordingly, at the next timing t2, the process determines that the wireless channels #2, #3, and #5 are busy due to a virtual carrier sense by NAV, and thus allows the wireless channels #1 and #4 to be used for transmission of wireless packets. At the same time, the transmission inhibition time will be also defined in the same manner. Fourth Embodiment In the second embodiment, with respect to the wireless channel requiring the longest transmission time Tmax of the wireless packets to be transmitted simultaneously, all the other wireless channels are provided with the setting of the transmission inhibition time (Tmax+Ts). However, the existing set transmission inhibition time Tsi would remain unchanged if greater than Tmax+Ts. Assuming a case where leakage from a wireless channel having the longest transmission time disables reception so that a new transmission inhibition time cannot be defined, this method provides the same set transmission inhibition time to the other wireless channels. The fourth embodiment is characterized by detecting received power to select a wireless channel actually affected by leakage, instead of the method according to the second embodiment which is directed to all the wireless channels other than the wireless channel having the longest transmission time. FIG. 7 shows a flowchart according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 shows an example of operation according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. Here, wireless channels #1, #2, #3, #4, and #5 are prepared. It is assumed that at timing t1, the wireless channel #2 and #5 are busy due to a virtual carrier sense by the NAV defined by a wireless packet received before then. First, the process searches for a wireless channel that is idle at timing t1 (S101). Here, a physical carrier sense by RSSI and a virtual carrier sense by NAV (a detection of the transmission inhibition time) are performed to determine that the wireless channel is idle if no carriers are detected in both the detections. Then, the process uses the idle wireless channels to transmit a plurality of wireless packets simultaneously which are generated from data packets in a transmission queue (S102). Then, the process detects the longest transmission time Tmax of the transmission times for the wireless packets to be transmitted simultaneously (S103). Here, the wireless channel #1 is idle, and three (or the sum total of counts of MIMO in each wireless channel) wireless packets are transmitted using the wireless channels #1, #3, and #4, in which the process detects the longest transmission time Tmax of them (here, the transmission time Ti of the wireless channel #1). Then, processing is performed from S104 to S109 on each of the wireless channels #1 to #5. First, the process detects the transmission time Ti of the wireless packet to be transmitted from the wireless channel #i (i=1 to 5) (S104). Then, the process compares the longest transmission time Tmax with the transmission time Ti of the wireless packet to be transmitted from the wireless channel #i (S105). Here, since the transmission time T1 of the wireless channel #1 is the longest (Tmax=T1), and Tmax>Ti in other than the wireless channel #1, the following processing is directed to other than the wireless channel #1. In the wireless channel #i with Tmax>Ti, the process detects received power Pi, while no transmission is being made, which is in turn compared with a predetermined threshold value Pth (S121 and S122). If the received power Pi is greater than or equal to Pth, then the process determines that the wireless channel #i is affected by leakage, and then sets the NAV to a transmission inhibition time according to the procedures (S106 to S108) shown below. Here, the received power P2 of the wireless channel #2 becomes greater than or equal to Pth due to leakage from the wireless channels #1 and #3, and the received powers P3 and P5 of the wireless channels #3 and #5 become greater than or equal to Pth due to leakage from the wireless channel #4, whereas the received power of the wireless channels #1 and #4 becomes not greater than or equal to Pth. Accordingly, the process provides a set transmission inhibition time to the wireless channels #2, #3, and #5. The process detects the transmission inhibition time Tsi at which set is the NAV of the wireless channel #i (i=2, 3, and 5) (SI 06). Here, Ts2 and Ts5 are detected for the wireless channels #2 and #5. Then, the process compares the time (Tmax+Ts) obtained by adding a predetermined time Ts to Tmax with the existing set transmission inhibition time Tsi. If Tmax+Ts>Tsi, then the process sets the NAV to Tmax+Ts as a new transmission inhibition time, and performs processing on the next wireless channel (S107, S108, and S109). On the other hand, the process performs no processing on the wireless channel #i (here, #1) for which Tmax>Ti is not true, the channel #i (here, #4) for which the received power Pi is less than Pth, or the wireless channel #i (here, #5) for which Tmax+Ts>Tsi is not true, but performs processing on the next wireless channel (S106, S122, S107, and S109). Accordingly, the process provides no setting to the NAV of the wireless channel #1 having the longest transmission time Tmax as well as to the NAV of the wireless channel #4 not being affected by leakage. The process allows the NAV of the wireless channels #2 and #3 to be set to the transmission inhibition time (Tmax+Ts), while allowing the NAV of the wireless channel #5 to be held at the current transmission inhibition time (Ts5). Accordingly, at the next timing t2, the process determines that the wireless channels #2, #3, and #5 are busy due to a virtual carrier sense by NAV, thus allows the wireless channels #1 and #4 to be used for transmission of wireless packets. At the same time, the transmission inhibition time will be also defined in the same manner. Fifth Embodiment In the third embodiment, the wireless channel #j that will be affected by leakage from the wireless channel #i used for transmission is predetermined (e.g., an adjacent channel) to provide a set transmission inhibition time (Ti+Ts) to the wireless channel #j. However, the wireless channel #j that is affected by multiple wireless channels is provided with the longest setting of the respective transmission inhibition times thereof, whereas the existing set transmission inhibition time Tsj greater than Ti+Ts would remain unchanged. This method allows the wireless channel affected by leakage to be predetermined, thereby making it possible to prevent the same setting of transmission inhibition time from being also provided to a wireless channel that is not affected by leakage. The fifth embodiment is characterized by detecting the received power of a predetermined wireless channel to select a wireless channel that is actually affected by leakage, instead of the method according to the third embodiment which is directed to all the wireless channels which have been predetermined to be affected by leakage. FIG. 9 shows a flowchart according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 shows an example of operation according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. Here, wireless channels #1, #2, #3, #4, and #5 are prepared. It is assumed that at timing t1, the wireless channel #2 and #5 are busy due to a virtual carrier sense by the NAV defined by a wireless packet received before then. It is also assumed that the wireless channels #1 to #5 may be suffered from leakage only between the adjacent channels. First, the process searches for a wireless channel that is idle at timing t1 (S111). Here, a physical carrier sense by RSSI and a virtual carrier sense by NAV (a detection of the transmission inhibition time) are performed to determine that the wireless channel is idle if no carriers are detected in both the detections. Then, the process uses the idle wireless channels to transmit a plurality of wireless packets simultaneously which are generated from data packets in a transmission queue (S112). Here, the wireless channels #1, #3 and #4 are idle, and three (or the sum total of counts of MIMO in each wireless channel) wireless packets are transmitted using the wireless channels #1, #3 and #4. Then, processing is performed from S113 to S120 on each of the wireless channels #i used for transmission (here, #1, #3, and #4). First, the process detects the transmission time Ti of the wireless packet to be transmitted from the wireless channel #i (i=1, 3, and 4) (S113). Then, processing is performed from S114 to S119 on each of the wireless channels #j (here, the adjacent channels) which are affected by the wireless channel #i. First, the process detects a transmission time Tj of the wireless packet to be transmitted from the wireless channel #j (S114). Then, the process compares the transmission time Ti of the wireless channel #i with each transmission time Tj of the adjacent wireless channels #j (S15). Since the wireless channel #j with Ti>Tj terminates transmission during transmission over the wireless channel #i, the process sets the NAV to a transmission inhibition time according to the following procedures (S121 to S118). Here, this is directed to the wireless channel #2 for the wireless channels #1 and #3 and to the wireless channels #3 and #5 for the wireless channel #4. Then, in the wireless channel #j with Ti>Tj (here, #2, #3, and #5), the process detects the received power Pi, while no transmission is being made, which is in turn compared with a predetermined threshold value Pth (S121 and S122). If the received power Pi is greater than or equal to Pth, then the process determines that the wireless channel #j is affected by leakage, and then sets the NAV to a transmission inhibition time according to the procedures (S116 to S118) shown below. Here, the received power P2 of the wireless channel #2 becomes greater than or equal to Pth due to leakage from the wireless channels #1 and #3, and the received powers P3 and P5 of the wireless channels #3 and #5 become greater than or equal to Pth due to leakage from the wireless channel #4, whereas the received power of the wireless channels #1 and #4 becomes not greater than or equal to Pth. Accordingly, the process provides a set transmission inhibition time to the wireless channels #2, #3, and #5. The process detects the transmission inhibition time Tsj at which set is the NAV of the wireless channel #i (i=2, 3, and 5) (S116). Then, the process compares the time (Ti+Ts) obtained by adding a predetermined time Ts to Ti with the existing set transmission inhibition time Tsj. If Ti+Ts>Tsj, then the process sets the NAV to Ti+Ts as a new transmission inhibition time Tsj to perform processing on the next wireless channel (S117, S118, and S119). On the other hand, the process performs no processing on the wireless channel #j (here, #4) for which Ti>Tj is not true, the wireless channel #i for which the received power Pi is less than Pth, or the wireless channel #j (here, #5) for which Ti+Ts >Tsj is not true, but performs processing on the next wireless channel (S115, S122, S117, and S119). The foregoing processing is performed on all the wireless channels #i used for transmission (S113 to S120). As a result, the process provides no setting to the NAV of the wireless channels #1, #4, and #5. The NAV of the wireless channel #2 is set to the greater one (T1+Ts) of the transmission inhibition time (T1+Ts) for the wireless channel #1 and the transmission inhibition time (T3+Ts) for the wireless channel #3. After having transmitted, the NAV of the wireless channel #3 is set to the transmission inhibition time (T4+Ts) by the wireless channel #4. Accordingly, at the next timing t2, the process determines that the wireless channels #2, #3, and #5 are busy due to a virtual carrier sense by NAV, and thus allows the wireless channels #1 and #4 to be used for transmission of wireless packets. At the same time, the transmission inhibition time will be also defined in the same manner. Sixth Embodiment The sixth to ninth embodiments shown below include a procedure, in addition to those of the second to fifth embodiments, for detecting an error in a received wireless packet to check for an effect of leakage (S131). FIG. 11 shows a flowchart according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is characterized in that a check is made for an error in a received wireless packet (S131) in the wireless channel #i with Tmax>Ti (S105) in the second embodiment, and if there is an error, the process determines that the wireless channel #i is affected by leakage to set the NAV to a transmission inhibition time according to the procedures (S106 to S108) shown below. In the example of FIG. 4, the process will not immediately start providing a setting of transmission inhibition time to the wireless channel #2, #3, and #4 but proceeds to detecting the transmission inhibition time Tsi at which set is the NAV of the wireless channel with a received wireless packet including an error (S106). The other procedures are the same as those of the second embodiment. Seventh Embodiment FIG. 12 shows a flowchart according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is characterized in that a check is made for an error in a received wireless packet (S131) in the wireless channel #j with Ti>Tj (S115) in the third embodiment, and if there is an error, the process determines that the wireless channel #j is affected by leakage to set the NAV to a transmission inhibition time according to the procedures (S116 to S118) shown below. In the example of FIG. 6, the process will not immediately start providing a setting of transmission inhibition time to the wireless channels #2, #3, and #5 but proceeds to detecting the transmission inhibition time Tsi at which set is the NAV of the wireless channel with a received wireless packet including an error (S116). The other procedures are the same as those of the third embodiment. Eighth Embodiment FIG. 13 shows a flowchart according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is characterized in that a check is made for an error in a received wireless packet (S131) in the wireless channel #i with Tmax>Ti and Pi>Pth (S105, S121, and S122) in the fourth embodiment, and if there is an error, the process determines that the wireless channel #i is affected by leakage to set the NAV to a transmission inhibition time according to the procedures (S106 to S108) shown below. In the example of FIG. 8, the process will not immediately start providing a setting of transmission inhibition time to the wireless channels #2, #3, and #5 but proceeds to detecting the transmission inhibition time Tsi at which set is the NAV of the wireless channel with a received wireless packet including an error (S106). The other procedures are the same as those of the third embodiment. In this embodiment, a wireless channel #i is taken into account which has the transmission time Ti less than Tmax (including Ti=0), the received power Pi greater than or equal to Pth, the received wireless packet including an error, and the transmission inhibition time Tsi less than Tmax+Ts (including Tsi=0). The process determines that the wireless channel #i is affected by leakage from the wireless channel with the transmission time Tmax, and thus provides a set transmission inhibition time Tmax+Ts thereto. Ninth Embodiment FIG. 14 shows a flowchart according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is characterized in that a check is made for an error in a received wireless packet (S131) in the wireless channel #j with Ti>Tj and Pi>Pth (S115, S121, and S122) in the fifth embodiment, and if there is an error, the process determines that the wireless channel #j is affected by leakage to set the NAV to a transmission inhibition time according to the procedures (S116 to S118) shown below. In the example of FIG. 10, the process will not immediately start providing a setting of transmission inhibition time to the wireless channels #2, #3, and #5 but proceeds to detecting the transmission inhibition time Tsi at which set is the NAV of the wireless channel with a received wireless packet including an error (S116). The other procedures are the same as those of the fifth embodiment. In this embodiment, a wireless channel #j affected by the wireless channel #i is taken into account which has the transmission time Tj less than Ti (including Tj=0), the received power Pi greater than or equal to Pth, the received wireless packet including an error, and the transmission inhibition time Tsi less than Ti+Ts (including Tsj=0). The process determines that the wireless channel #j is affected by leakage from the wireless channel #i, thus provides a set transmission inhibition time Ti+Ts thereto. Tenth Embodiment In the second embodiment, the setting of transmission inhibition time (Tmax+Ts) is provided to the NAV of the wireless channels #2 and #3 assuming the presence of leakage from the wireless channel #1, thereby making it possible to prevent the situation where a wireless packet cannot be received and no setting can be provided to the NAV, as shown in FIG. 50. However, it is not always true that a wireless packet cannot be received over the wireless channels #2 and #3 having a setting of NAV and over the wireless channel #4 having an existing set NAV. If a wireless packet is successfully received while the transmission inhibition time is being defined, the current transmission inhibition time may be canceled to update the transmission inhibition time according to the occupied time described in the header. This embodiment is characterized by canceling and updating the transmission inhibition time in a wireless channel over which a wireless packet has been successfully received. FIG. 15 shows a flowchart according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 16 shows an example of operation according to the tenth embodiment of the present invention. Here, it is assumed that the processing according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 3 provides a setting of NAV to the wireless channels #2, #3, and #4 at timet1 as shown in FIG. 4. While a search is being made for idling or idle wireless channels over which no wireless packets are being transmitted, each wireless channel would perform reception processing on a received wireless packet that has been transmitted from another STA (S201 and S202). In the reception processing, a CRC check is made for an error to select the wireless packets which are directed to the own STA that have been received successfully. Here, it is assumed that wireless packets are received over the wireless channels #2 to #4, so that the wireless packets directed to the own STA are successfully received over the wireless channels #2 and #4. The process detects if the wireless channel #i (here, “2 and #4) has a set transmission inhibition time (S203). If so, the process cancels the transmission inhibition time (or resets it to zero) (S204). Subsequently, the process detects if there is a field representing an occupied time in the header of the wireless packet (S205). If the occupied time is defined therein, the process sets the NAV to the value as a transmission inhibition time (S206), and then performs processing on the next wireless channel (S207). Here, although the wireless channels #2 and #4 over which the wireless packets directed to the own STA have been received have their respective settings of transmission inhibition time, the header of the wireless packet in the wireless channel #2 has no setting of occupied time. Accordingly, the process only cancels the transmission inhibition time for the wireless channel #2, while updating the transmission inhibition time for the wireless channel #4. As described above, wireless packets may be successfully received over the wireless channels #2 and #3 having a setting of NAV and over the wireless channel #4 having an existing set NAV. In this case, it is possible to cancel the current transmission inhibition time as well as to update the transmission inhibition time according to the occupied time described in the header. Accordingly, at the next timing t2 shown in FIG. 16, the process determines that the wireless channels #3 and #4 are busy due to a virtual carrier sense by NAV, and then allows the wireless channels #1 and #2 to be used for simultaneous transmission of wireless packets. At the same time, the transmission inhibition time will be also defined in the same manner. 11th Embodiment In the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, wireless packets may also be successfully received over the wireless channels #2 and #3 having a setting of NAV and over the wireless channel #5 having an existing set NAV. In this case, it is also possible to cancel the current transmission inhibition time as well as to update the transmission inhibition time according to the occupied time described in the header. FIG. 17 shows an example of operation based on the procedure for canceling and updating the transmission inhibition time when wireless packets are successfully received in the third embodiment (FIGS. 5 and 6). Here, although the wireless channels #2 and #5 over which the wireless packets directed to the own STA have been received have their respective settings of transmission inhibition time, the header of the wireless packet in the wireless channel #2 has no setting of occupied time. Accordingly, the process only cancels the transmission inhibition time for the wireless channel #2, while updating the transmission inhibition time for the wireless channel #5. Accordingly, at the next timing t2, the process determines that the wireless channels #3 and #5 are busy due to a virtual carrier sense by NAV, and then allows the wireless channels #1, #2, and #4 to be used for simultaneous transmission of wireless packets. 12th Embodiment In the fourth embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, wireless packets may also be successfully received over the wireless channels #2 and #3 having a setting of NAV and over the wireless channel #5 having an existing set NAV. In this case, it is also possible to cancel the current transmission inhibition time as well as to update the transmission inhibition time according to the occupied time described in the header. FIG. 18 shows an example of operation based on the procedure for canceling and updating the transmission inhibition time when wireless packets are successfully received in the fourth embodiment (FIGS. 7 and 8). Here, although the wireless channels #2 and #5 over which the wireless packets directed to the own STA have been received have their respective settings of transmission inhibition time, the header of the wireless packet in the wireless channel #2 has no setting of occupied time. Accordingly, the process only cancels the transmission inhibition time for the wireless channel #2, while updating the transmission inhibition time for the wireless channel #5. Accordingly, at the next timing t2, the process determines that the wireless channels #3 and #5 are busy due to a virtual carrier sense by NAV, and then allows the wireless channels #1, #2, and #4 to be used for simultaneous transmission of wireless packets. 13th Embodiment In the fifth embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, wireless packets may also be successfully received over the wireless channels #2 and #3 having a setting of NAV and over the wireless channel #5 having an existing set NAV. In this case, it is also possible to cancel the current transmission inhibition time as well as to update the transmission inhibition time according to the occupied time described in the header. FIG. 19 shows an example of operation based on the procedure for canceling and updating the transmission inhibition time when wireless packets are successfully received in the fifth embodiment (FIGS. 9 and 10). Here, although the wireless channels #2 and #5 over which the wireless packets directed to the own STA have been received have their respective settings of transmission inhibition time, the header of the wireless packet in the wireless channel #2 has no setting of occupied time. Accordingly, the process only cancels the transmission inhibition time for the wireless channel #2, while updating the transmission inhibition time for the wireless channel #5. Accordingly, at the next timing t2, the process determines that the wireless channels #3 and #5 are busy due to a virtual carrier sense by NAV, and then allows the wireless channels #1, #2, and #4 to be used for simultaneous transmission of wireless packets. 14th Embodiment FIG. 20 shows a flowchart according to a 14th embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 21 shows an example of operation according to the 14th embodiment of the present invention. Here, wireless channels #1, #2, and #3 are prepared. It is assumed that at timing of transmission data generation (1), the wireless channel #2 is busy due to a virtual carrier sense by the NAV defined by a wireless packet received before then. It is also assumed that the wireless channels #1, #2, and #3 are related to each other in that leakage can occur therebetween and would not be able to receive wireless packets if there is any leakage. First, upon arrival of data at a transmission buffer, the process determines whether there is a wireless channel which has a set transmission inhibition time. If there is a wireless channel which has a set transmission inhibition time, the process waits until the transmission inhibition time elapses (S301 and S302). Here, the NAV of the wireless channel #2 has a set transmission inhibition time at the timing of transmission data generation (1), and thus the process waits by timing t1 at which the transmission inhibition time elapses. Then, at timing t1, the process performs a physical carrier sense by RSSI to search for an idle wireless channel (S311). Then, the process uses the idle wireless channels to transmit a plurality of wireless packets simultaneously which are generated from data packets in a transmission queue (S312). Then, the process detects the longest transmission time Tmax of the transmission times of the wireless packets to be transmitted simultaneously (S313). Here, the wireless channels #1 to #3 are idle, and three (or the sum total of counts of MIMO in each wireless channel) wireless packets are transmitted using the wireless channels #1 to #3, in which the process detects the longest transmission time Tmax of them (here, the transmission time Ti of the wireless channel #1). Then, processing is performed from S314 to S317 on each of the wireless channels #1, #2, and #3. First, the process detects the transmission time Ti of the wireless packet to be transmitted from the wireless channel #i (i=1, 2, and 3) (S314). Here, Ti=0 if no wireless packet is transmitted because the wireless channel #i is busy. Then, the process compares the longest transmission time Tmax with the transmission time Ti of the wireless packet to be transmitted from the wireless channel #i (S315). Here, since the transmission time T1 of the wireless channel #1 is the longest (Tmax=T1), and Tmax >Ti in other than the wireless channel #1, the following processing is directed to other than the wireless channel #1. The process sets the NAV of the wireless channel #i with Tmax>Ti to the time (Tmax+Ts) obtained by adding a predetermined time Ts to Tmax, and then performs processing on the next wireless channel (S316 and S317). On the other hand, the process performs no processing on the wireless channel #i (here, #1) for which Tmax>Ti is not true, but performs processing on the next wireless channel (S315 and S317). As a result, the process provides no setting to the NAV of the wireless channel #1 having the longest transmission time Tmax, whereas the process sets the NAV of the wireless channels #2 and #3 to the transmission inhibition time (Tmax+Ts). In this manner, the process sets the NAV of the wireless channels #2 and #3 to the transmission inhibition time (Tmax+Ts) assuming the presence of leakage from the wireless channel #1, thereby making it possible to prevent the situation where a wireless packet cannot be received and no setting can be provided to the NAV, as shown in FIG. 50. Then, the wireless channels #2 and #3 have the transmission inhibition time defined in S316 at timing of transmission data generation (2), and thus the process waits by timing t2 at which it elapses. At timing t2, the process determines that there is a received signal in the wireless channel #1, and the wireless channels #2 and #3 are idle. Subsequently in the same manner, the process transmits simultaneously using the wireless channels #2 and #3, in which the NAV of the wireless channels #1 and #2 is set to a new transmission inhibition time (Tmax+Ts). Meanwhile, the process thus waits for transmission data generation (3). 15th Embodiment FIG. 22 shows a flowchart according to a 15th embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 23 shows an example of operation according to the 15th embodiment of the present invention. Here, wireless channels #1, #2, and #3 are prepared. It is assumed that at timing of transmission data generation (1), the wireless channel #2 is busy due to a virtual carrier sense by the NAV defined by a wireless packet received before then. It is also assumed that the wireless channels #1 to #3 are related to each other in that leakage can occur only between predefined wireless channels (e.g., between adjacent channels) (, which is different from the 14th embodiment in this point), and would not be able to receive wireless packets if there is any leakage. First, upon arrival of data at a transmission buffer, the process determines whether there is a wireless channel which has a set transmission inhibition time. If there is a wireless channel which has a set transmission inhibition time, the process waits until the transmission inhibition time elapses (S301 and S302). Here, the NAV of the wireless channel #2 has a set transmission inhibition time at the timing of transmission data generation (1), and thus the process waits by timing tl at which the transmission inhibition time elapses. Then, at timing t1, the process performs a physical carrier sense by RSSI to search for an idle wireless channel (S321). Then, the process uses the idle wireless channels to transmit a plurality of wireless packets simultaneously which are generated from data packets in a transmission queue (S322). Here, the wireless channels #1 to #3 are idle, and three (or the sum total of counts of MIMO in each wireless channel) wireless packets are transmitted using the wireless channels #1 to #3. Then, processing is performed from S323 to S328 on each of the wireless channels #i used for transmission (here, #1, #2, and #3). First, the process detects the transmission time Ti of the wireless packet to be transmitted from the wireless channel #i (i=1, 2, and 3) (S323). Then, the processing of S324 to S327 is performed on each of the wireless channels #j (here, adjacent channels) that is affected by the wireless channel #i. First, the process detects the transmission time Tj of the wireless packet to be transmitted from the wireless channel #j (S324). Then, the process compares the transmission time Ti of the wireless channel #i with each transmission time Tj of the adjacent wireless channels #j (S325). Since the wireless channel #j with Ti>Tj completes transmission during the transmission over the wireless channel #i, the process sets the NAV to a transmission inhibition time (S326). At timing t1, this is directed to the wireless channel #2 for the wireless channels #1 and #3. That is, the process sets the NAV of the wireless channel #j (here, #2) with Ti>Tj to the transmission inhibition time Ti+Ts, and then performs processing on the next wireless channel (S326 and S327). On the other hand, the process performs no processing on the wireless channel #j for which Ti>Tj is not true, but performs processing on the next wireless channel (S325 and S327). The foregoing processing is performed on all the wireless channels #1 that have been used for transmission (S323 to S328). As a result, the process provides no setting to the NAV of the wireless channels #1 and #3. The NAV of the wireless channel #2 is set to the greater one (T1+Ts) of the transmission inhibition time (T1+Ts) by the wireless channel #1 and the transmission inhibition time (T3+Ts) by the wireless channel #3. Accordingly, the wireless channel #2 has the transmission inhibition time defined in S326 at the next timing of transmission data generation (2), and thus the process waits by timing t2 at which it elapses. At timing t2, the process determines that there is a received signal in the wireless channel #1, and the wireless channels #2 and #3 are idle. Subsequently in the same manner, the process transmits simultaneously using the wireless channels #2 and #3, in which the NAV of the wireless channels #1 and #3 is set to a new transmission inhibition time (T2+Ts). 16th Embodiment In the 14th embodiment, with respect to the wireless channel requiring the longest transmission time. Tmax of the wireless packets to be transmitted simultaneously, all the other wireless channels are provided with the setting of the transmission inhibition time (Tmax+Ts). Assuming a case where leakage from a wireless channel having the longest transmission time disables reception so that a new transmission inhibition time cannot be defined, this method provides the same set transmission inhibition time to all the other wireless channels. Instead of this, received power may be detected to select a wireless channel that is actually affected by leakage, so that a set transmission inhibition time is provided to the wireless channel. That is, in the wireless channel #i with Tmax>Ti in S315 of FIG. 20, the process detects the received power Pi, while no transmission is being made, which is in turn compared with a predetermined threshold value Pth. If the received power Pi is greater than or equal to Pth, then the process determines that the wireless channel #i is affected by leakage, and then sets the NAV of the wireless channel #i to the transmission inhibition time (Tmax+Ts). This makes it possible to provide no setting to the NAV of the wireless channel that is not affected by leakage. In the 15th embodiment, a wireless channel #j that will be affected by leakage from the wireless channel #i used for transmission is predetermined (e.g., adjacent channels), and then the wireless channel #j is provided with a set transmission inhibition time (Ti+Ts). This method allows the wireless channel affected by leakage to be predetermined, thereby making it possible to prevent the same set transmission inhibition time from being also provided to a wireless channel that is not affected by leakage. Instead of this, the received power may be detected in the predetermined wireless channel to select a wireless channel that is actually affected by leakage, so that a set transmission inhibition time is provided to the wireless channel. That is, in the wireless channel #j with Ti>Tj in S325 of FIG. 22, the process detects the received power Pj, while no transmission is being made, which is in turn compared with a predetermined threshold value Pth. If the received power Pj is greater than or equal to Pth, then the process determines that the wireless channel #j is affected by leakage, and then sets the NAV of the wireless channel #j to the transmission inhibition time (Ti+Ts). This makes it possible to provide no setting to the NAV of the wireless channel that is not affected by leakage. On the other hand, in the 14th and 15th embodiments, a detection may be made for an error in the received wireless packet, and if an error is detected, the process may determine that the wireless channel is affected by leakage to set the NAV to a transmission inhibition time according to the procedure shown in each embodiment. 17th Embodiment FIG. 24 shows a flowchart according to a 17th embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 25 shows an example of operation according to the 17th embodiment of the present invention. Here, wireless channels #1, #2, and #3 are prepared. It is assumed that at timing of transmission data generation (1), the wireless channel #2 is busy due to a virtual carrier sense by the NAV defined by a wireless packet received before then. It is also assumed that the wireless channels #1, #2, and #3 are related to each other in that leakage can occur therebetween (, which is the same as the 14th embodiment in this point), and would not be able to receive wireless packets if there is any leakage. First, upon arrival of data at a transmission buffer, the process determines whether there is a wireless channel which has a set transmission inhibition time. If there are wireless channels which have a set transmission inhibition time, the process determines whether the longest transmission inhibition time thereof is greater than or equal to the threshold value Tth. If it is less than the threshold value, then the process waits until the transmission inhibition time of the wireless channel having a set transmission inhibition time elapses (S301, S302, and S303). On the other hand, if the longest transmission inhibition time is greater than or equal to the threshold value Tth among the wireless channels having a set transmission inhibition time, then the process does not wait but proceeds to the next processing (S303). Here, at the timing of transmission data generation (1), the NAV of the wireless channel #2 has a set transmission inhibition time and the transmission inhibition time Ts2 thereof is greater than or equal to the threshold value Tth. Thus, the process does not wait but proceeds to the next processing. At the timing t1, the process performs a physical carrier sense by RSSI and a virtual carrier sense by NAV to search for a wireless channel that is idle in both the detections (S311′). Then, the process uses the idle wireless channels to transmit a plurality of wireless packets simultaneously which are generated from data packets in a transmission queue (S312). Then, the process detects the longest transmission time Tmax of the transmission times of the wireless packets to be transmitted simultaneously (5313). Here, the wireless channels #1 and #3 are idle, and two (or the sum total of counts of MIMO in each wireless channel) wireless packets are transmitted using the wireless channels #1 and #3, in which the process detects the longest transmission time Tmax of them (here, the transmission time T1 of the wireless channel #1). Then, processing is performed from S314 to S317 on each of the wireless channels #1, #2, and #3. First, the process detects the transmission time Ti of the wireless packet to be transmitted from the wireless channel #i (i=1, 2, and 3) (S314). Here, Ti=0 (here, T2=0) if no wireless packet is transmitted because the wireless channel #i is busy. Then, the process compares the longest transmission time Tmax with the transmission time Ti of the wireless packet to be transmitted from the wireless channel #i (S315). Here, since the transmission time Ti of the wireless channel #1 is the longest (Tmax=T1), and Tmax>Ti in other than the wireless channel #1, the following processing is directed to other than the wireless channel #1. The process detects the transmission inhibition time Tsi to which set is the NAV of each of the wireless channels #i with Tmax>Ti (S3 18). Here, the process detects the Ts2 of the wireless channel #2. Then, the process compares the time (Tmax+Ts) obtained by adding a predetermined time Ts to Tmax with the existing set transmission inhibition time Tsi. If Tmax+Ts>Tsi, then the NAV is set to Tmax+Ts as a new transmission inhibition time to perform processing on the next wireless channel (S319, S316, and S317). On the other hand, the process performs no processing on the wireless channel #i (here, #1) for which Tmax>Ti is not true or the wireless channel #i for which Tmax+Ts>Tsi is not true, but performs processing on the next wireless channel (S315, S319, and S317). As a result, the process provides no setting to the NAV of the wireless channel #1 having the longest transmission time Tmax, whereas the process sets the NAV of the wireless channels #2 and #3 to the transmission inhibition time (Tmax+Ts). In this manner, the NAV of the wireless channels #2 and #3 is set to the transmission inhibition time (Tmax+Ts) assuming the presence of leakage from the wireless channel #1, thereby making it possible to prevent the situation where a wireless packet cannot be received and no setting can be provided to the NAV, as shown in FIG. 50. Then, since at timing of transmission data generation (2), the wireless channels #2 and #3 have the transmission inhibition time defined in S31 6 and the transmission inhibition time is less than the threshold value Tth, the process waits by timing t2 at which it elapses. At timing t2, the process determines that there is a received signal in the wireless channel #1, and the wireless channels #2 and #3 are idle. Subsequently in the same manner, the process transmits simultaneously using the wireless channels #2 and #3, in which the NAV of the wireless channels #1 and #2 is set to a new transmission inhibition time (Tmax+Ts). The 17th embodiment has S303, S318, and S139 added to the 14th embodiment shown in FIG. 20. Likewise, it is also possible to add the S303, S318, and S139 to the 15th embodiment shown in FIG. 22. This can also be applied to modified examples of the 14th and 15th embodiments, in which received power is detected to select a wireless channel that is actually affected by leakage or in which a check is made for an error in a received wireless packet, so that if an error is detected, the wireless channel is selected as being affected by leakage. 18th Embodiment In the S303 of the 17th embodiment, if the longest transmission inhibition time is greater than or equal to the threshold value Tth among the wireless channels having a set transmission inhibition time, the process does not wait but transmits using the currently idle channel. If it is less than the threshold value Tth, the process waits until the transmission inhibition time of the wireless channel having a set transmission inhibition time elapses. That is, the process will not wait when at least one set transmission inhibition time is greater than or equal to the threshold value Tth among the wireless channels having a set transmission inhibition time. The 18th embodiment is characterized in that in the presence of wireless channels having a set transmission inhibition time which is greater than or equal to the threshold value Tth or which is less than the threshold value Tth, the process will wait until the transmission inhibition time of a wireless channel being less than the threshold value Tth elapses. FIG. 26 shows a flowchart according to the 18th embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 27 shows the principle of operation according to the 18th embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 28 shows a flowchart of a modified example according to the 18th embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 29 shows the principle of operation of the modified example according to the 18th embodiment of the present invention. Here, only the portion that replaces S303 of FIG. 24 is shown. In FIG. 26, the process determines whether there is a wireless channel having a set transmission inhibition time. If there is a wireless channel having a set transmission inhibition time, the process determines whether the wireless channel has a set transmission inhibition time less than the threshold value Tth (S302 and S303a). For a threshold value Tth1 shown in FIG. 27, both the wireless channels #2 and #3 have a transmission inhibition time greater than or equal to the threshold value Tth1. For a threshold value Tth2, only the wireless channel #2 of the wireless channels #2 and #3 has a set transmission inhibition time greater than or equal to the threshold value Tth2. For a threshold value Tth3, both the wireless channels #2 and #3 have a transmission inhibition time less than the threshold value Tth3. In S303a, if the process determines that no wireless channel has a set transmission inhibition time less than the threshold value Tth (or in the case of the threshold value Tth1 of FIG. 27), the process searches for an idle wireless channel (S311′). In the example of FIG. 27, the process transmits using the wireless channel #1. On the other hand, if the process determines that a wireless channel has a set transmission inhibition time less than the threshold value Tth (or in the case of the threshold values Tth2 and Tth3 of FIG. 27), the process waits until the transmission inhibition time less than the threshold value Tth elapses (S303b). In the example of the threshold value Tth2 of FIG. 27, the process waits until the transmission inhibition time of the wireless channel #3 elapses, whereas in the example of the threshold value Tth3, the process waits until the transmission inhibition time of the wireless channels #2 and #3 elapses. The 17th embodiment and this embodiment are different from each other in than for the threshold value Tth2 in the example of FIG. 27, the former does not allow the process to wait, whereas the latter allows the process to wait until the transmission inhibition time of the wireless channel #3 elapses. For the threshold values Tth1 and Tth3, there is no difference therebetween. In the processing of S303b, the process can wait until the transmission inhibition time of the wireless channel #3 elapses in the case of the threshold value Tth2 in order to transmit simultaneously using the wireless channels #1 and #3. However, in some cases, the process may further wait depending on the transmission inhibition time of the wireless channel #2 to increase the number of wireless channels to be used for simultaneous transmission. In this case, as shown in FIG. 28, the process returns to S302 after having waited in S303b to make the determination of S303a again. The example of FIG. 29 corresponds to the threshold value Tth2 of FIG. 27, in which the transmission inhibition time of the wireless channel #2 is greater than or equal to the threshold value Tth, whereas the transmission inhibition time of the wireless channel #3 is less than the threshold value Tth. At this time, the process waits until the transmission inhibition time of the wireless channel #3 elapses, at the point in time of which as shown in FIG. 29(2), the process determines whether the transmission inhibition time of the wireless channel #2 is greater than or equal to the threshold value Tth or less than the threshold value Tth (S303a). Here, if the transmission inhibition time is greater than or equal to the threshold value Tth, the process will not wait but use the wireless channels #1 and #3 for transmission. If the transmission inhibition time is less than the threshold value Tth, the process waits until all the wireless channels #1, #2, and #3 become idle. 19th Embodiment FIG. 30 shows a flowchart according to a 19th embodiment of the present invention. The 17th embodiment is adapted such that when there are wireless channels having a set transmission inhibition time and the longest transmission inhibition time thereof is greater than or equal to the threshold value Tth, the process proceeds to the processing of searching for an idle wireless channel for transmission without waiting until the transmission inhibition time elapses. This embodiment is characterized in that instead of the comparison processing (S303) of the longest transmission inhibition time with the threshold value Tth, the process proceeds to the processing of searching for an idle wireless channel with a probability p for transmission (S304), and then returns to determine whether there is a wireless channel which has a set transmission inhibition time (S302) after having waited for a certain period of time with a probability (1-p) (S305). This makes it possible to perform the transmission processing with a probability p regardless of the length of transmission inhibition time. The probability p may be constant or alternatively variable depending on the set transmission inhibition time (e.g., a function monotonously decreasing with the transmission inhibition time). 20th Embodiment FIG. 31 shows a flowchart according to a 20th embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 32 shows an example of operation according to the 20th embodiment of the present invention. Here, wireless channels #1, #2, and #3 are prepared. It is assumed that at timing of transmission data generation (1), the wireless channel #2 is busy due to a virtual carrier sense by the NAV defined by a wireless packet received before then. It is also assumed that the wireless channels #1, #2, and #3 are related to each other in that leakage can occur therebetween, and would not be able to receive wireless packets if there is any leakage. First, upon arrival of data at a transmission buffer, the process performs a physical carrier sense by RSSI and a virtual carrier sense by NAV (a detection of transmission inhibition time) to determine whether all the wireless channels are idle (S301 and S306). Here, at timing of transmission data generation (1), the NAV of the wireless channel #2 has a set transmission inhibition time. Thus, the process waits by the timing tl at which the transmission inhibition time elapses and all the wireless channels become idle. Then, at the timing t1, the process uses idle wireless channels to transmit a plurality of wireless packets simultaneously which are generated from data packets in a transmission queue (S312). Then, the process detects the longest transmission time Tmax of the transmission times of the wireless packets to be transmitted simultaneously (S313). Here, the wireless channels #1 to #3 are idle, and three (or the sum total of counts of MIMO in each wireless channel) wireless packets are transmitted using the wireless channels #1 to #3, in which the process detects the longest transmission time Tmax of them (here, the transmission time Ti of the wireless channel #1). Then, processing is performed from S314 to S317 on each of the wireless channels #1, #2, and #3, as in the 14th embodiment. In this manner, the NAV of the wireless channels #2 and #3 is set to the transmission inhibition time (Tmax+Ts) assuming the presence of leakage from the wireless channel #1, thereby making it possible to prevent the situation where a wireless packet cannot be received and no setting can be provided to the NAV, as shown in FIG. 50. Then, at timing of transmission data generation (2), the wireless channels #2 and #3 have the transmission inhibition time defined in S316 and the wireless channel #1 is busy due to a received signal. Thus, the process waits by timing t3 at which all the wireless channels become idle. At the timing t3, the process transmits simultaneously using the wireless channels #1 to #3 in the same manner, in which the process sets the NAV of the wireless channels #1 and #2, excluding the wireless channel #3 having the longest transmission time, to a new transmission inhibition time (Tmax+Ts). 21st Embodiment FIG. 33 shows a flowchart according to a 21st embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 34 shows an example of operation according to the 21st embodiment of the present invention. Here, wireless channels #1, #2, and #3 are prepared. It is assumed that at timing of transmission data generation (1), the wireless channel #2 is busy due to a virtual carrier sense by the NAV defined by a wireless packet received before then. It is also assumed that the wireless channels #1 to #3 are related to each other in that leakage can occur only between predefined wireless channels (e.g., between adjacent channels) (, which is different from the 20th embodiment in this point), and would not be able to receive wireless packets if there is any leakage. First, upon arrival of data at a transmission buffer, the process performs a physical carrier sense by RSSI and a virtual carrier sense by NAV (a detection of transmission inhibition time) to determine whether all the wireless channels are idle (S301 and S306). Here, at timing of transmission data generation (1), the NAV of the wireless channel #2 has a set transmission inhibition time. Thus, the process waits by the timing tl at which the transmission inhibition time elapses and all the wireless channels become idle. Then, at the timing t1, the process uses idle wireless channels to transmit a plurality of wireless packets simultaneously which are generated from data packets in a transmission queue (S322). Here, the wireless channels #1 to #3 are idle, and three (or the sum total of counts of MIMO in each wireless channel) wireless packets are transmitted using the wireless channels #1 to #3. Then, processing is performed from S323 to S328 on each wireless channel #i (here, #1, #2, and #3) that has been used for transmission, as in the 15th embodiment. As a result, no setting is provided to the NAV of the wireless channels #1 and #3. The NAV of the wireless channel #2 is set to the greater one (T1+Ts) of the transmission inhibition time (T1+Ts) by the wireless channel #1 and the transmission inhibition time (T3+Ts) by the wireless channel #3. Then, at timing of transmission data generation (2), the wireless channel #2 has the transmission inhibition time defined in S326 and the wireless channel #1 is busy due to a received signal. Thus, the process waits by the timing t3 at which all the wireless channels become idle. At the timing t3, the process transmits simultaneously using the wireless channels #1 to #3 in the same manner, in which the process sets the NAV of the wireless channels #1 and #3, which are adjacent to the wireless channel #2 having the longest transmission time, to a new transmission inhibition time (T2+Ts). In the 20th and 21st embodiments, the received power may be detected to select a wireless channel that is actually affected by leakage. Alternatively, a check may be made for an error in a received wireless packet, so that if an error is detected, the wireless channel is selected as being affected by leakage. 22nd Embodiment FIG. 35 shows a flowchart according to a 22nd embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 36 shows an example of operation according to the 22nd embodiment of the present invention. Here, wireless channels #1, #2, and #3 are prepared. It is assumed that at timing of transmission data generation (1), the wireless channel #2 is busy due to a virtual carrier sense by the NAV defined by a wireless packet received before then. It is also assumed that the wireless channels #1, #2, and #3 are related to each other in that leakage can occur therebetween (, which is the same as the 20th embodiment in this point), and would not be able to receive wireless packets if there is any leakage. First, upon arrival of data at a transmission buffer, the process performs a physical carrier sense by RSSI and a virtual carrier sense by NAV (a detection of transmission inhibition time) to determine whether all the wireless channels are idle. Then, if there are wireless channels which have a set transmission inhibition time and are thus not idle, the process determines whether the longest transmission inhibition time thereof is greater than or equal to the threshold value Tth. If it is less than the threshold value, then the process waits until the transmission inhibition time elapses and the wireless channel becomes idle (S301, S306, and S303). On the other hand, if the longest transmission inhibition time is greater than or equal to the threshold value Tth among the wireless channels having a set transmission inhibition time, then the process does not wait but proceeds to the next processing (S303). Here, at the timing of transmission data generation (1), the NAV of the wireless channel #2 has a set transmission inhibition time and the transmission inhibition time Ts2 thereof is greater than or equal to the threshold value Tth. Thus, the process does not wait but proceeds to the next processing. At the timing ti, the process performs a physical carrier sense by RSSI and a virtual carrier sense by NAV to search for a wireless channel that is idle in both the detections (S311′). Then, the process uses the idle wireless channels to transmit a plurality of wireless packets simultaneously which are generated from data packets in a transmission queue (S312). Then, the process detects the longest transmission time Tmax of the transmission times of the wireless packets to be transmitted simultaneously (S313). Here, the wireless channels #1 and #3 are idle, and two (or the sum total of counts of MIMO in each wireless channel) wireless packets are transmitted using the wireless channels #1 and #3, in which the process detects the longest transmission time Tmax of them (here, the transmission time Ti of the wireless channel #1). Then, processing is performed from S314 to S319 on each of the wireless channels #1, #2, and #3, as in the 17th embodiment. As a result, the process provides no setting to the NAV of the wireless channel #1 having the longest transmission time Tmax, whereas the process sets the NAV of the wireless channels #2 and #3 to the transmission inhibition time (Tmax+Ts). In this manner, the NAV of the wireless channels #2 and #3 is set to the transmission inhibition time (Tmax+Ts) assuming the presence of leakage from the wireless channel #1, thereby making it possible to prevent the situation where a wireless packet cannot be received and no setting can be provided to the NAV, as shown in FIG. 50. Then, at timing of transmission data generation (2), the wireless channels #2 and #3 have the transmission inhibition time defined in S316 and the transmission inhibition time is less than or equal to the threshold value Tth. Additionally, the wireless channel #1 is busy due to a received signal. The process thus waits by the timing t3 at which all the wireless channels become idle. At the timing t3, the process transmits simultaneously using the wireless channels #1 to #3 in the same manner, in which the process sets the NAV of the wireless channels #1 and #2, excluding the wireless channel #3 having the longest transmission time, to a new transmission inhibition time (Tmax+Ts). In the 22nd embodiment, S303, S311′, S318, and S319 are added to the 20th embodiment shown in FIG. 31. Likewise, S303, S311′, S318, and S319 can also be added to the 21st embodiment shown in FIG. 33. This can also be applied to modified examples of the 20th and 21st embodiments, in which received power is detected to select a wireless channel that is actually affected by leakage or in which a check is made for an error in a received wireless packet, so that if an error is detected, the wireless channel is selected as being affected by leakage. 23rd Embodiment As the 17th embodiment and the 18th embodiment are related to each other, the 22nd embodiment can also be adapted such that if there are wireless channels having a set transmission inhibition time which is greater than or equal to the threshold value Tth or which is less than the threshold value Tth, the process may also wait until the transmission inhibition time of the wireless channel less than the threshold value Tth elapses. 24th Embodiment FIG. 37 shows a flowchart according to a 24th embodiment of the present invention. In the 22nd embodiment, If there are wireless channels which have a transmission inhibition time and are not idle and when the longest transmission inhibition time thereof is greater than or equal to the threshold value Tth, the process will not wait until the transmission inhibition time elapses but proceeds to the processing for searching for an idle wireless channel for transmission. This embodiment is characterized in that instead of the comparison processing (S303) of the longest transmission inhibition time with the threshold value Tth, the process proceeds to the processing of searching for an idle wireless channel with a probability p for transmission (S304), and then returns to determine whether there is a wireless channel which has a set transmission inhibition time (S302) after having waited for a certain period of time with a probability (1-p) (S305). This makes it possible to perform the transmission processing with a probability p regardless of the length of transmission inhibition time. The probability p may be constant or alternatively variable depending on the set transmission inhibition time (e.g., a function monotonously decreasing with the transmission inhibition time). 25th Embodiment FIG. 38 shows a flowchart of a processing procedure on a transmit side according to a 25th embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 39 shows a flowchart of a processing procedure on a receive side according to the 25th embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 40 shows examples of operation (1) and (2) according to the 25th embodiment of the present invention. Here, wireless channels #1 and #2 are prepared between STAs 1 and 2. It is assumed that at timing t1, the wireless channel #2 is busy due to a virtual carrier sense by the NAV defined by a wireless packet received before then. It is also assumed that the wireless channels #1 and #2 are related to each other in that leakage can occur therebetween and would not be able to receive wireless packets if there is any leakage. In FIG. 38, a transmit-side STA searches for an idle wireless channel (S401). Here, the process performs a physical carrier sense by RSSI and a virtual carrier sense by NAV to determine that the wireless channel is idle if no carriers are detected in both the detections. Then, the process uses the idle wireless channel to transmit a wireless packet (S402). Then, the process sets the NAV of a wireless channel (here referred to as a “paired wireless channel”), which would be affected by leakage from the transmitting wireless channel, to a transmission inhibition time obtained by adding a predetermined time to the transmission time of the transmitted wireless packet (S403). The wireless channel #2 is known to be paired with the wireless channel #1 but may also be recognized by actually detecting the received power caused by leakage from the wireless channel #1 into the wireless channel #2. Then, the process starts an ACK timer to receive an ACK packet for a transmitted wireless packet and thus monitors whether or not to receive the ACK packet before an ACK timeout (S404, S405, and S406). Here, the process terminates the transmission processing if the ACK packet is not successfully received and the ACK timeout occurs, and then retransmits the wireless packet as required (S407). On the other hand, if the ACK packet has been received before the ACK timeout occurs, the process stops the ACK timer (S408), and then checks for NAV information on the paired wireless channel in the ACK packet (S409). Here, for an ACK packet to which the NAV information is appended, the process updates the setting of NAV provided to the paired wireless channel according to the NAV information (S410), and then terminates the transmission processing (S411). On the other hand, for an ACK packet in the ordinary frame format without NAV information, the process terminates the transmission processing (S411). The processing in step S409 is directed to a system including a STA that can only transmit ACK packets in the ordinary frame format. For a system in which NAV information is appended to all ACK packets, the decision processing in step S409 is not required. In FIG. 39, the receive-side STA determines the NAV defined in each wireless channel when having successfully received a wireless packet directed to the own STA (S421 and S422). It is assumed that the NAV of each wireless channel is defined in the respective wireless channels by the transmission inhibition time described in the received wireless packet (including those not directed to the own STA). Then, the process generates an ACK packet for the successfully received wireless packet. At this time, the NAV information on the paired wireless channel is appended to the ACK packet (S423). When no wireless packet is received over the paired wireless channel with the NAV equal to “0”, the NAV information appended to the ACK packet is “0”. The process transmits such an ACK packet to which the NAV information on the paired wireless channel is appended (S424), and then terminates the reception processing of the wireless packet. Referring to FIG. 40, a more specific explanation will now be given to an example of operation following the processing procedure in the transmit-side STA 1 and the receive-side STA 2 described above. In FIGS. 38 and 39, the paired wireless channel refers to the wireless channel #2 for the wireless channel #1 over which a wireless packet is transmitted from the STA 1 to the STA 2. In FIG. 40(1), at timing t1, the wireless channel #1 is idle, whereas the wireless channel #2 is busy by NAV (in a transmission inhibited state). The STA 1 detects the wireless channel #1 that is idle at the timing t1 to transmit a wireless packet directed to the STA 2. At this time, since the NAV of the paired wireless channel #2 is less than the transmission time of the wireless packet, the NAV of the wireless channel #2 is set to the transmission inhibition time obtained by adding a predetermined time (corresponding to the transmission inhibition time defined by a received packet during transmission of a wireless packet) to the transmission time of the wireless packet. Thereafter, the STA 1 waits for the reception of an ACK packet to be transmitted from the STA 2. On the other hand, in the STA 2, after having successfully received the wireless packet over the wireless channel #1, the process determines the NAV defined for the paired wireless channel #2. Here, at timing t2, the NAV is defined in the wireless channel #2 by the received wireless packet. The process appends the NAV information to the ACK packet for transmission. Having received the ACK packet for the wireless packet transmitted over the wireless channel #1, the STA 1 updates the NAV defined in the wireless channel #2 according to the NAV information appended to the ACK packet. Here, the process cancels the NAV defined at the timing t1 to shorten the NAV by the redefinition according to the NAV information appended to the ACK packet. In this manner, in the STA 1, even when the wireless packet of the wireless channel #2 cannot be received, a setting can be provided using the NAV of the wireless channel #2 of the STA 2, thus making it possible to update a potential NAV defined at the timing tl and thereby provide an optimized one. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 40(2), an explanation is given as follows to a case where the STA 1 defines a NAV for the wireless channel #2 at the timing t1 but no received signal is present in the wireless channel #2. The NAV information appended to an ACK packet to be transmitted from the STA 2 is “0”, and the STA 1 updates (cancels) the NAV defined for the wireless channel #2 when having received the ACK packet. This allows the potential setting of NAV for the wireless channel #2 to be canceled upon reception of the ACK packet, thereby immediately making the wireless channel #2 available for use. 26th Embodiment The 26th embodiment is directed to multiple wireless channels being used at the same time, e.g., applied to a system which uses multiple wireless channels at the same time to transmit a plurality of wireless packets simultaneously. This embodiment may also be applied to a system which combines simultaneous transmission using multiple wireless channels and a known MIMO technique (Kurosaki et al., “100 Mbit/s SDM-COFDM over MIMO Channel for Broadband Mobile Communications”, Technical Reports of the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers, A P 2001-96, RCS2001-135(2001-10)). FIG. 41 shows a flowchart of a processing procedure on a transmit side according to a 26th embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 42 shows a flowchart of a processing procedure on a receive side according to the 26th embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 43 and 44 show a time chart of examples of operation (1), (2), and (3) according to the 26th embodiment of the present invention. Here, wireless channels #1 and #2 are prepared between STAs 1 and 2. It is assumed that at timing t1, the wireless channels #1 and #2 are idle. It is also assumed that the wireless channels #1 and #2 are related to each other in that leakage can occur therebetween and would not be able to receive wireless packets if there is any leakage. In FIG. 41, a transmit-side STA searches for an idle wireless channel, and then uses a plurality of idle wireless channels to transmit wireless packets (S431 and S432). Then, the process compares the transmission times of the wireless packets to be transmitted at the same time over the multiple wireless channels. Then, the process determines whether there occurs a non-transmission time (an idle state) in the paired wireless channel during transmission over each wireless channel, i.e., whether there is a paired wireless channel that is affected by leakage from a transmitting wireless channel (S433). Here, if there is a paired wireless channel, the process detects the longest transmission time Tmax of the transmission times of the wireless packets that are transmitted at the same time over the multiple wireless channels. Then, the process calculates a transmission inhibition time by adding a predetermined time to the transmission time Tmax. Then, the process provides this set transmission inhibition time to the NAV of the wireless channel paired with the wireless channel over which the wireless packet of the longest transmission time Tmax is transmitted (S434). The processing in S433 and S434 corresponds to the processing S103 to S109 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 3, for example. The following is the same as that of the 25th embodiment. That is, the process starts an ACK timer to receive an ACK packet for the transmitted wireless packet and thus monitors whether or not to receive the ACK packet before an ACK timeout (S404, S405, and S406). Here, the process terminates the transmission processing if the ACK packet is not successfully received and the ACK timeout occurs, and then retransmits the wireless packet as required (S407). On the other hand, if the ACK packet has been received before the ACK timeout occurs, the process stops the ACK timer (S408), and then checks for NAV information on the paired wireless channel in the ACK packet (S409). Here, for an ACK packet to which the NAV information is appended, the process updates the setting of NAV provided to the paired wireless channel according to the NAV information (S410), and then terminates the transmission processing (S411). On the other hand, for an ACK packet in the ordinary frame format without NAV information, the process terminates the transmission processing (S411). In FIG. 42, when having successfully received the wireless packets directed to the own STA which have been transmitted over the multiple wireless channels, the receive-side STA compares their respective reception times. Thus, the process determines whether there occurs a non-reception time in another wireless channel during reception over each wireless channel, i.e., whether a paired wireless channel in the transmit-side STA has a setting of NAV (S441 and S442). If there is a wireless channel in which a non-reception time occurs during reception over each wireless channel, the process follows steps S422, S423, and S424, as in the 25th embodiment, to generate and then transmits an ACK packet to which the NAV information on a paired wireless channel is appended. On the other hand, if there is no wireless channel in which non-reception time occurs, the process generates and then transmits an ACK packet (in an ordinary format) that includes no NAV information (S442, S443, and S424). Referring to FIGS. 43 and 44, a more specific explanation will now be given to an example of operation following the processing procedure of the transmit-side STA 1 and the receive-side STA 2 described above. In FIG. 43(1), at timing t1, the wireless channels #1 and #2 are idle, and each wireless channel transmits their respective wireless packets. Here, it is assumed that the transmission time of a wireless packet in the wireless channel #1 is greater than that of a wireless packet in the wireless channel #2. The STA 1 detects the wireless channels #1 and #2 that are idle at the timing tl to transmit the respective wireless packets directed to the STA 2. At this time, since the transmission time of the wireless packet of the wireless channel #2 is shorter, the process sets the NAV of the wireless channel #2 paired with the wireless channel #1 to the transmission inhibition time obtained by adding a predetermined time to the transmission time of the wireless packet of the wireless channel #1. Thereafter, the STA 1 waits for the reception of an ACK packet to be transmitted from the STA 2. On the other hand, in the STA 2, after having successfully received wireless packets over the wireless channels #1 and #2, the process determines that there occurs a non-reception time in the wireless channel #2 during reception over the wireless channel #1 (or there occurs no non-reception time in the wireless channel #1 during reception over the wireless channel #2). Accordingly, in the wireless channel #2, the process generates and then transmits an ACK packet in an ordinary format (which includes no NAV information) for the received wireless packet. On the other hand, in the wireless channel #1, the process determines the NAV defined for the paired wireless channel #2, and then appends the NAV information to the ACK packet for transmission. Having received the ACK packet for the wireless packet transmitted over the wireless channel #1, the STA 1 updates the NAV defined for the wireless channel #2 according to the NAV information appended to the ACK packet. Here, the process cancels the NAV defined at the timing t1 to shorten the NAV by the redefinition according to the NAV information appended to the ACK packet. As described above, the process compares the reception times of wireless packets over the wireless channels #1 and #2 at the receive-side STA 2. It can be thus seen that the NAV has been defined on the transmit side for the wireless channel #2. Accordingly, the STA 2 can attach NAV information on the wireless channel #2 to the ACK packet for a wireless packet in the wireless channel #1, thereby allowing for updating the NAV defined for the wireless channel #2 at the transmit-side STA 1. That is, in the STA 1, even when the wireless packet of the wireless channel #2 cannot be received, a setting can be provided using the NAV of the wireless channel #2 of the STA 2, thus making it possible to update a potential NAV defined at the timing t1 and thereby provide an optimized one. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 43(2), an explanation is given as follows to a case where the STA 1 defines a NAV for the wireless channel #2 at the timing t1 but no received signal is present in the wireless channel #2. The NAV information appended to an ACK packet to be transmitted from the STA 2 is “0”, and the STA 1 updates (cancels) the NAV defined for the wireless channel #2 when having received the ACK packet. This allows the potential NAV defined for the wireless channel #2 to be canceled upon reception of the ACK packet, thereby making the wireless channel #2 available for use. On the other hand, as in the example of operation (3) according to the 26th embodiment shown in FIG. 44, the wireless packets transmitted over the idle wireless channels #1 and #2 have the same transmission time (or transmitted completely simultaneously). In this case, there will never occur a non-transmission time (idle state) in one wireless channel during transmission over the other wireless channel. Accordingly, in this case, since the transmit-side STA does not need to define a transmission inhibition time for each wireless channel, the receive-side STA has to return only an ACK packet that includes no NAV information. On the other hand, an ACK packet to which NAV information on the paired wireless channel is appended can be communicated from the receive-side STA to the transmit-side STA, e.g., by providing the header with a field for describing the paired wireless channel and its NAV information. When the reception has been successfully acknowledged through the CRC check of the ACK frame, the transmit-side STA refers the field to update the NAV of the paired wireless channel. [Example of Configuration of Wireless Packet Communication Apparatus] FIG. 45 illustrates an exemplary configuration of a wireless packet communication apparatus corresponding to the wireless packet communication method according to the first to 26th embodiments. Here, the configuration of a wireless packet communication apparatus is shown which can transmit and receive three wireless packets simultaneously using three wireless channels #1, #2, and #3; however, the number of simultaneous transmissions can be defined as required. Use of the MIMO for each wireless channel would make it possible to transmit and receive wireless packets simultaneously in the number of simultaneous transmissions which corresponds to the sum total of counts of MIMO in each of multiple wireless channels. However, the MIMO is omitted here. This also applies to a case where multiple wireless channels are individually used independent of each other. Referring to the figure, the wireless packet communication apparatus includes transmission/reception blocks 10-1,10-2, and 10-3, a transmission buffer 21, a data packet generating block 22, a data frame management block 23, an analyzer of channels' occupation status 24, a packet switching block 25, a packet order management block 26, and a data frame extraction block 27. The transmission/reception blocks 10-1,10-2, and 10-3 perform radio transmission over the wireless channels #1, #2, and #3 that are different from each other. These wireless channels are different from each other in radio frequency or the like and thus independent of each other, so that the transmission/reception blocks 10-1,10-2, and 10-3 are configured to be capable to perform radio transmission simultaneously using multiple wireless channels. Each transmission/reception block 10 includes a modulator 11, a transmitter 12, an antenna 13, a receiver 14, a demodulator 15, a frame selection block 16, and a carrier sense block 17. Radio frequency signals that another wireless packet communication apparatus has transmitted via mutually different wireless channels #1, #2, and #3 are received at the receiver 14 via the antenna 13 of the respectively corresponding transmission/reception blocks 10-1,10-2, and 10-3. The receiver 14, which corresponds to each wireless channel, performs on the received radio frequency signal the reception processing which includes frequency translation, filtering, quadrature detection, and AD conversion. Each receiver 14 receives radio frequency signals all the time over the radio propagation path of each wireless channel while the respectively connected antenna 13 is not in use for transmission, so that an RSSI signal indicative of the received electric field strength of each wireless channel is delivered to the carrier sense block 17. On the other hand, when a radio frequency signal is received over the wireless channel corresponding to the receiver 14, a baseband signal having been subjected to the reception processing is delivered to the demodulator 15. The demodulator 15 performs the demodulation processing on each baseband signal delivered from the receiver 14, so that the resulting data packet and ACK packet (or the ACK packet according to the first, 25th, and 26th embodiments) are delivered to the frame selection block 16. The frame selection block 16 performs a CRC check on the received packet, and then delivers those packets with no error detected to the carrier sense block 17 (to define NAV as discussed later). Additionally, when a data packet has been received successfully, the frame selection block 16 identifies whether the data packet has been transmitted to the own STA. That is, the frame selection block 16 checks to see if the destination ID of each data packet corresponds with the own STA. Then, the frame selection block 16 delivers those data packets directed to the own STA to the packet order management block 26 and allows an ACK packet generation block (not shown) to generate an ACK packet, which is in turn delivered to the modulator 11 to perform the acknowledgment processing. On the other hand, those data packets that are not directed to the own STA would be discarded at the frame selection block 16. The packet order management block 26 checks the sequence number appended to each received data packet in order to sort a plurality of received data packets in an appropriate order, i.e., in the order of the sequence number. The result is delivered as a received data packets to the data frame extraction block 27. The data frame extraction block 27 removes the packet header from each data packet contained in the received data packets supplied, and then outputs the resulting data frames as received data frames. Upon reception of an RSSI signal, the carrier sense block 17 compares the value of the received electric field strength represented by the signal with a predefined threshold value. Then, the carrier sense block 17 determines that the assigned wireless channel is idle when the received electric field strength continues to be less than the threshold value continuously during a predetermined period of time. The carrier sense block 17 otherwise determines that the assigned wireless channel is busy. The carrier sense block 17 corresponding to each wireless channel delivers this result of determination as a carrier sense result. When the antenna 13 is transmitting in each transmission/reception block 10, no RSSI signal is supplied to the carrier sense block 17. On the other hand, when the antenna 13 has been already transmitting, it is not possible to simultaneously transmit another data packet as a radio frequency signal using the same antenna 13. Accordingly, when no RSSI signal has been supplied, each carrier sense block 17 outputs a carrier sense result indicating that the assigned wireless channel is busy. Additionally, the carrier sense block 17 sets the NAV to the occupied time described in the packet supplied from the frame selection block 16. Then, the carrier sense block 17 determines whether the corresponding wireless channel is idle or busy according to the NAV value and the PSSI signal supplied from the receiver 14. Carrier sense results cs1 to cs3 delivered from the carrier sense block 17 corresponding to each wireless channel are supplied to the analyzer of channels' occupation status 24. Based on the carrier sense result corresponding to each wireless channel, the analyzer of channels' occupation status 24 manages the idle state of each wireless channel, and informs the data frame management block 23 of information such as the idle wireless channel and the number of idle channels (“a” in FIG. 45). On the other hand, the transmission buffer 21 receives transmitted data frames to be transmitted and buffers the transmitted data frames. The transmitted data frames are made up of one or a plurality of data frames. The transmission buffer 21 informs the data frame management block 23 successively of the number of data frames currently held, ID information on a directed wireless packet communication apparatus, data sizes, address information indicative of the position on the buffer and the like (b). The data frame management block 23 determines how and from which data frame to generate a data packet and which wireless channel to use for transmission. This is based on the information regarding the data frame for each directed STA ID informed from the transmission buffer 21 and the information regarding the wireless channel informed from the analyzer of channels' occupation status 24. The determination results are informed to each of the transmission buffer 21, the data packet generating block 22, and the packet switching block 25(c, d, and e). For example, suppose that the number N of idle wireless channels is less than the number K of data frames in a transmission queue in the transmission buffer 2 1. In this case, the data frame management block 23 determines the number N of idle wireless channels as the number of data packets to be transmitted simultaneously, and then informs the transmission buffer 21 of the address information for designating N data frames among the K data frames (c). The data frame management block 23 also informs the data packet generating block 22 of the information for generating N data packets from the data frame supplied from the transmission buffer 21(d). The data frame management block 23 also instructs the packet switching block 25 on the correspondence between the N data packets generated at the data packet generating block 22 and the idle wireless channels (e). The transmission buffer 21 delivers a data frame, designated for output, to the data packet generating block 22(f). The data packet generating block 22 extracts data fields from each data frame to generate a plurality of data blocks. Then, the data packet generating block 22 generates a data packet by attaching, to the data block, a packet header that contains the ID information on a directed STA serving as the destination of the data packet and the control information such as the sequence number indicative of the order of the data frame, and a CRC code (FCS field) serving as an error detection code. The data packet generating block 22 may generate a plurality of data blocks having the same packet time length or alternatively data blocks each having different packet time lengths. The control information also includes information required to convert a data packet received at the receive-side STA into the original data frame. The packet switching block 25 correlates each data packet supplied from the data packet generating block 22 with each wireless channel. As a result of such a correlation, the data packet correlated with the wireless channel #1 is supplied to the modulator 11 within the transmission/reception block 10-1; the data packet correlated with the wireless channel #2 is supplied to the modulator 11 within the transmission/reception block 10-2; and the data packet correlated with the wireless channel #3 is supplied to the modulator 11 within the transmission/reception block 10-3. Upon reception of a data packet from the packet switching block 25, each modulator 11 performs the predetermined modulation processing on the data packet for output to the transmitter 12. Each transmitter 12 performs the transmission processing, which includes DA conversion, frequency translation, filtering, and power amplification, on the modulated data packet supplied from the modulator 11, and then transmits the resulting data packet as a wireless packet from the antenna 13 via the respectively corresponding wireless channel. The processing shown in the first to 26th embodiments such as the definition, cancellation, and update of transmission inhibition time for each wireless channel is performed from the analyzer of channels' occupation status 24 on the NAV in the carrier sense block 17 under the control of the data frame management block 23. For example, for wireless channels other than one that requires the longest transmission/reception time Tmax among the wireless channels used for simultaneous transmission/reception, the data frame management block 23 calculates the time (Tmax+Ts) obtained by adding a predetermined time Ts to Tmax as the transmission inhibition time used for a virtual carrier sense. Then, the data frame management block 23 sets the NAV corresponding to each wireless channel of the carrier sense block 17 to the time (Tmax+Ts) via the analyzer of channels' occupation status 24. When multiple wireless channels are used, this prevents a situation where a wireless packet cannot be received and no setting can be provided to the NAV due to leakage into adjacent channels. 27th Embodiment FIG. 46 shows a flowchart according to a 27th embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 47 shows an example of operation according to the 27th embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment shows an example which is applied to a case where a plurality of sub-channels are used which are multiplexed in one wireless channel. During transmission and reception over part of sub-channels of one wireless channel, the own STA cannot receive a wireless packet that has been transmitted by the STA at the other end using another sub-channel. Accordingly, the problem shown in FIG. 50 also applies to the case of utilizing a plurality of sub-channels. Here, sub-channels #1, #2, #3, and #4 are prepared. It is assumed that at timing t1, the sub-channels #2 and #4 are busy due to a virtual carrier sense by the NAV defined by a wireless packet received before then. It is also assumed that since there is only one transceiver, part of sub-channels being used for transmission and reception would not allow the sub-channels #1, #2, #3, and #4 to transmit or receive using another sub-channel. First, the process searches for a sub-channel that is idle at timing t1 (S501). Here, a physical carrier sense by RSSI and a virtual carrier sense by NAV (a detection of the transmission inhibition time) are performed to determine that the sub-channel is idle if no carriers are detected in both the detections. Then, the process uses the idle sub-channels to transmit and receive simultaneously according to the number of data packets in a transmission queue (S502). Then, the process detects the longest transmission/reception time Tmax of the transmission times (or reception times) of the wireless packets to be transmitted and received simultaneously (S503). Here, the sub-channels #1 and #3 are idle, and two wireless packets are transmitted and received simultaneously using the sub-channels #1 and #3, in which the process detects the longest transmission/reception time Tmax of them (here, the transmission/reception time T1 of the sub-channel #1). Then, processing is performed from S504 to S509 on each of the sub-channels #1, #2, #3, and #4. First, the process detects the transmission/reception time Ti of the wireless packet to be transmitted and received over the sub-channel #i (i=1, 2, 3, and 4) (S504). Here, Ti=0 if no wireless packet is transmitted or received because the sub-channel #i is busy (here, T2=T4=0). Then, the process compares the longest transmission/reception time Tmax with the transmission/reception time Ti of the wireless packet to be transmitted and received over the sub-channel #i (S505). Here, since the transmission/reception time Ti of the sub-channel #1 is the longest (Tmax=T1), and Tmax >Ti in other than the sub-channel #1, the following processing is directed to other than the sub-channel #1. The process detects a transmission inhibition time Tsi at which each NAV is set for the sub-channel #i with Tmax>Ti (S506). Here, the process detects Ts2 and Ts4 for the sub-channels #2 and #4, and Ts3=0 for the sub-channel #3. Then, the process compares the time (Tmax+Ts) obtained by adding a predetermined time Ts to Tmax with the existing set transmission inhibition time Tsi. If Tmax+Ts>Tsi, then the NAV is set to Tmax+Ts as a new transmission inhibition time to perform processing on the next sub-channel (S507, S508, and S509). On the other hand, the process performs no processing on the sub-channel #i (here, #1) for which Tmax>Ti is not true or on the sub-channel #i (here, #4) for which Tmax+Ts>Tsi is not true, but performs processing on the next sub-channel (S505, S507, and S509). As a result, the process provides no setting to the NAV of the sub-channel #1 having the longest transmission/reception time Tmax, whereas the process sets the NAV of the sub-channels #2 and #3 to the transmission inhibition time (Tmax+Ts), and allows the NAV of the sub-channel #4 to be held at the current transmission inhibition time (Ts4). Accordingly, at the next timing t2, the process determines that the sub-channels #2, #3, and #4 are busy due to a virtual carrier sense by NAV, and thus allows only the sub-channel #1 to be used for transmission of wireless packets. In this manner, the set transmission inhibition time (Tmax+Ts) is provided to the NAV of the sub-channels #2 and #3 that cannot perform the reception processing due to transmission and reception over the sub-channel #1, thereby making it possible to prevent the situation where a wireless packet cannot be received and no setting can be provided to the NAV, as shown in FIG. 50. [Example of Configuration of Wireless Packet Communication Apparatus] FIG. 48 illustrates an exemplary configuration of a wireless packet communication apparatus corresponding to the wireless packet communication method according to the 27th embodiment. Here, the configuration of a wireless packet communication apparatus is shown which can transmit and receive three wireless packets simultaneously using three sub-channels #1, #2, and #3; however, the number of parallels can be defined as required. Referring to the figure, the wireless packet communication apparatus includes a transmission/reception block 10, a transmission buffer 21, a data pattern generation portion 23, a data frame management block 23, an analyzer of channels' occupation status 24, a packet switching block 25, a packet order management block 26, and a data frame extraction block 27. The transmission/reception block 10 is configured to demultiplex a signal in the sub-channels #1, #2, and #3 for wireless transmission using one wireless channel. For example, these sub-channels are different from each other in sub-carrier frequency and can be multiplexed into one wireless channel. The transmission/reception block 10 includes a modulator 11, a transmitter 12, an antenna 13, a receiver 14, a demodulator 15, a frame selection block 16, a carrier sense block 17, a multiplexer 18, and a demultiplexer 19. Radio frequency signals that another wireless packet communication apparatus has transmitted are received at the receiver 14 via the antenna 13 of the transmission/reception block 10. The receiver 14 performs on the received radio frequency signal the reception processing which includes frequency translation, filtering, quadrature detection, and AD conversion, and then delivers to the demodulator 15 the baseband signal that has been subjected to the reception processing. The receiver 14 receives radio frequency signals all the time over the radio propagation path while the antenna 13 is not in use for transmission, so that an RSSI signal indicative of the received electric field strength is delivered to the carrier sense block 17. The demodulator 15 performs the demodulation processing on the baseband signal supplied from the receiver 14, so that the data packet of each sub-channel is delivered to the frame selection block 16 via the demultiplexer 19. The frame selection block 16 performs a CRC check on the data packet of each sub-channel, and then delivers those packets with no error detected to the carrier sense block 17 (to define NAV as discussed later). Additionally, when a data packet has been received successfully, the frame selection block 16 identifies whether the data packet has been transmitted to the own STA. That is, the frame selection block 16 checks to see if the destination ID of each data packet corresponds with the own STA. Then, the frame selection block 16 delivers those data packets directed to the own STA to the packet order management block 26. On the other hand, when the data packet is not directed to the own STA, the frame selection block 16 discards the packet. The packet order management block 26 checks the sequence number appended to each received data packet in order to sort a plurality of received data packets in an appropriate order, i.e., in the order of the sequence number. The result is delivered as a received data packets to the data frame extraction block 27. The data frame extraction block 27 removes the packet header from each data packet contained in the received data packets supplied, and then outputs the resulting data frames as received data frames. The carrier sense block 17 detects an RSSI signal corresponding to each sub-channel to compare the value of the received electric field strength represented by each signal with a predefined threshold value. Then, when the received electric field strength of each sub-channel continues to be less than the threshold value continuously during a predetermined period of time, the carrier sense block 17 determines that the sub-channel is idle. The carrier sense block 17 otherwise determines that the sub-channel is busy. In the transmission/reception block 10, no RSSI signal is supplied to the carrier sense block 17 when the antenna 13 is transmitting. On the other hand, when the antenna 13 has been already transmitting, it is not possible to simultaneously transmit another data packet as a radio frequency signal using the same antenna 13. Accordingly, when no RSSI signal has been supplied, the carrier sense block 17 outputs a carrier sense result indicating that the sub-channel is busy. Additionally, the carrier sense block 17 sets the NAV to the occupied time described in the data packet supplied from the frame selection block 16. Then, the carrier sense block 17 determines whether the corresponding sub-channel is idle or busy according to the NAV value and the RSSI signal supplied from the receiver 14. Carrier sense results cs1 to cs3 supplied from the carrier sense block 17 corresponding to each sub-channel are supplied to the analyzer of channels' occupation status 24. Based on the carrier sense result corresponding to each sub-channel, the analyzer of channels' occupation status 24 manages the idle state of each sub-channel, and informs the data frame management block 23 of information such as the idle sub-channel and the number of idle channels (“a” in FIG. 48). On the other hand, the transmission buffer 21 receives transmitted data frames to be transmitted and buffers the transmitted data frames. The transmitted data frames is made up of one or a plurality of data frames. The transmission buffer 21 informs the data frame management block 23 successively of the number of data frames currently held, ID information on a directed wireless packet communication apparatus, data sizes, address information indicative of the position on the buffer and the like (b). The data frame management block 23 determines how and from which data frame to generate a data packet. This is based on the information regarding the data frame for each directed STA ID informed from the transmission buffer 21 and the information regarding the sub-channel informed from the analyzer of channels' occupation status 24. The determination results are informed to each of the transmission buffer 21, the data packet generating block 22, and the packet switching block 25(c, d, and e). For example, suppose that the number N of idle sub-channels is less than the number K of data frames in a transmission queue in the transmission buffer 21. In this case, the data frame management block 23 determines the number N of idle sub-channels as the number of data packets to be transmitted simultaneously, and then informs the transmission buffer 21 of the address information for designating N data frames among the K data frames (c). The data frame management block 23 also informs the data packet generating block 22 of the information for generating N data packets from the data frame supplied from the transmission buffer 21(d). The data frame management block 23 also instructs the packet switching block 25 on the correspondence between the N data packets generated at the data packet generating block 22 and the idle sub-channels (e). The transmission buffer 21 delivers a data frame, designated for output, to the data packet generating block 22(f). The data packet generating block 22 extracts data fields from each data frame to generate a plurality of data blocks. Then, the data packet generating block 22 generates a data packet by attaching, to the data block, a packet header that contains the ID information on a directed STA serving as the destination of the data packet and the control information such as the sequence number indicative of the order of the data frame, and a CRC code (FCS field) serving as an error detection code. The data packet generating block 22 may generate a plurality of data blocks having the same packet time length or alternatively data blocks each having different packet time lengths. The control information also includes information required to convert a data packet received at the receive-side STA into the original data frame. The packet switching block 25 correlates each data packet supplied from the data packet generating block 22 with each sub-channel. For example, suppose that all the three sub-channels #1, #2, and #3 are idle; the data frame management block 23 selects all the three sub-channels #1, #2, and #3; and three data packets are simultaneously supplied from the data packet generating block 22. In this case, these three data packets should be correlated with the sub-channels #1, #2, and #3 in orderly sequence, respectively. The data packet correlated with each sub-channel is supplied to the modulator 11 via the multiplexer 18. Upon reception of the data packet from the packet switching block 24, the modulator 11 performs the predetermined modulation processing on the data packet for output to the transmitter 12. The transmitter 12 performs the transmission processing, which includes DA conversion, frequency translation, filtering, and power amplification, on the modulated data packet supplied from the modulator 11, and then transmits the resulting data packet as a wireless packet from the antenna 13. The processing shown in the 27th embodiment such as setting of transmission inhibition time for each sub-channel is performed from the analyzer of channels' occupation status 24 on the NAV in the carrier sense block 17 under the control of the data frame management block 23. For example, for sub-channels other than one that requires the longest transmission/reception time Tmax among the sub-channels used for simultaneous transmission and reception, the data frame management block 23 calculates the time (Tmax+Ts) obtained by adding a predetermined time Ts to Tmax as the transmission inhibition time used for a virtual carrier sense. Then, the data frame management block 23 sets the NAV corresponding to each sub-channel of the carrier sense block 17 to the time (Tmax+Ts) via the analyzer of channels' occupation status 24. When a plurality of sub-channels are used, this prevents a situation where a wireless packet cannot be received and no setting can be provided to the NAV due to leakage into adjacent channels. INDUSTRIAL AVAILABILITY The present invention autonomously sets transmission inhibition time corresponding to the transmission time of a wireless packet to a paired wireless channel which is affected by leakage from a transmitting wireless channel and thus incapable of receiving successfully, thereby allowing a virtual carrier sense to be properly performed. Furthermore, where a wireless packet is successfully received or information on transmission inhibition time is informed from the party at the other end over a wireless channel provided autonomously with a set transmission inhibition time, it is possible to cancel or update the current transmission inhibition time to thereby avoid an unnecessary setting of transmission inhibition time and provide improved efficiency. Furthermore, where there is a wireless channel having a setting of transmission inhibition time when transmission data is generated, it is possible to wait until the transmission inhibition time elapses, thereby avoiding continual settings of transmission inhibition time. Still furthermore, when transmission data is generated, depending on the setting of transmission inhibition time, it is possible to selectively wait until the transmission inhibition time elapses or alternatively not to wait but to transmit a wireless packet using an idle wireless channel. This allows for defining an upper wait time limit as well as avoiding continual settings of transmission inhibition time.

<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>Conventional wireless packet communication apparatuses are adapted to proactively determine only one wireless channel to be used and detect prior to the transmission of a wireless packet whether or not the wireless channel is idle (or performs carrier sense), then transmitting one wireless packet only when the wireless channel is idle. Such transmission control by carrier sense allowed one wireless channel to be shared among a plurality of stations (hereinafter, STAs) on a time division basis ((1) IEEE 802.11 “MAC and PHY Specification for Metropolitan Area Network”, IEEE 802.11, 1998, (2) “Low-powered Data Communication System/Broadband Mobile Access Communication System (CSMA) Standard”, ARIB SDT-T71 version 1.0, Association of Radio Industries and Businesses, settled in 2000). More specifically, the method of carrier sense used includes the following two types: one is a physical carrier sense method in which the received power of a wireless channel is measured using an RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indication) or the like to detect whether or not another station is using the wireless channel to transmit a wireless packet. The other is a virtual carrier sense method in which the occupied time of a wireless channel to be used in transmission and reception of a wireless packet described in the header of the wireless packet is used to set the wireless channel to a busy status only during the occupied time. This virtual carrier sense method will be now described with reference to an example of a wireless packet communication method which uses two wireless channels as shown in FIG. 49 . The STAs have a timer for indicating a so-called NAV (Network Allocation Vector) or the time which a wireless channel takes until it becomes idle. The NAV being “0” indicates that the wireless channel is idle, while the NAV being not “0” indicates that the wireless channel is busy due to a virtual carrier sense. When one STA has received a wireless packet transmitted from the other STA, the one STA reads the occupied time described in the header of the wireless packet. If the value thereof is greater than the current value of the NAV, then the one STA sets the NAV to the value. At this time, the actual transmission time of the wireless packet may be defined as the occupied time described in the header of the wireless packet. In this case, both the physical carrier sense by the RSSI and the virtual carrier sense by the NAV indicate a busy status, and thus the carrier sense according to the aforementioned two methods serves substantially in the same manner. On the other hand, an occupied time greater than the actual transmission time of a wireless packet may be described in the header. In this case, even after the wireless packet has been completely received, the wireless channel is made busy due to a virtual carrier sense, thereby effectively inhibiting the use of the wireless channel for transmission. As used herein, the occupied time in this case is referred to as the “transmission inhibition time”. The STA transmitting a wireless packet determines the wireless channel to be idle only when it is found idle by both of the two carrier senses, and performs transmission. In FIG. 49 , at timing t 11 , a wireless channel # 2 has a setting of NAV, and a wireless channel # 1 is determined to be idle. Accordingly, a STA 1 transmits a wireless packet to a STA 2 using the wireless channel # 1 . The STA 2 and other STAs receive the wireless packet transmitted from the STA 1 , thereby allowing the wireless channel # 1 to have a setting of NAV. This causes the wireless channel # 1 to be inhibited from transmission in the STAs other than the STA 2 , thereby allowing the STA 2 to transmit an ACK packet to the STA 1 using the wireless channel # 1 . On the other hand, at timing t 2 , the STA 1 and the STA 2 receive a wireless packet transmitted from another STA using the wireless channel # 2 , so that a corresponding NAV is defined (updated). Accordingly, the wireless channel # 2 is inhibited from transmission, so that the STA 1 and the STA 2 cannot transmit using the wireless channel # 2 . In the wireless packet communication utilizing multiple wireless channels assigned consecutively along a frequency axis, it is anticipated that the characteristics of a transmission/reception filter and the non-linearity of an amplifier may cause a signal transmitted in a wireless channel to leak into an adjacent wireless channel. When a received signal stays in the adjacent wireless channel suffering from the leakage, the received signal may not be successfully accepted depending on the difference between the incoming leakage power and the power of the received signal. Typically, power leakage from an adjacent wireless channel upon transmission is much greater than the received power of the wireless packet which has been transmitted from a remote STA, thus making it impossible to receive the wireless packet. When the wireless packet cannot be received, there will occur a problem as shown in FIG. 50 . It is assumed that during transmission of a wireless packet using the wireless channel # 1 which is idle at timing t 1 , a wireless packet transmitted from another STA using the wireless channel # 2 at timing t 2 is scheduled to set the NAV to a longer transmission inhibition time than the transmission time thereof. At this time, an occurrence of leakage from the wireless channel # 1 to the wireless channel # 2 in the STA 1 would make it impossible to receive the wireless packet in the wireless channel # 2 and set (update) the NAV. For this reason, in the wireless channel # 2 , the primary virtual carrier sense is not properly performed, so that the wireless channel # 2 will be determined to be idle at the next timing t 3 . That is, the STA 1 cannot inhibit transmission over the wireless channel # 2 . On the other hand, in the STA 2 , the wireless channel # 2 has a setting of NAV to inhibit transmission. At this time, in the wireless channel # 2 , it is anticipated that the wireless packet transmitted from the STA 1 at timing t 3 may collide against a wireless packet transmitted from another STA, thus resulting in reduction in throughput. Furthermore, it is difficult to live alongside the conventional wireless packet transmission method that utilizes only the wireless channel # 2 . It is also anticipated that leakage into wireless channels may occur not only into adjacent channels but also into many other wireless channels such as the next adjacent wireless channels, thereby causing the virtual carrier sense not to be properly performed over a wider range. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and device for wireless packet communication which can reduce factors responsible for decreased throughput resulting from leakage into adjacent channels or the like in a wireless packet communication system that uses multiple wireless channels.

<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a time chart showing an example of operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a time chart showing an example of operation according to the second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to a third embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 6 is a time chart showing an example of operation according to the third embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 8 is a time chart showing an example of operation according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 10 is a time chart showing an example of operation according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 16 is a time chart showing an example of operation according to the tenth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 17 is a time chart showing an example of operation according to an 11th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 18 is a time chart showing an example of operation according to a 12th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 19 is a time chart showing an example of operation according to a 13th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to a 14th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 21 is a time chart showing an example of operation according to the 14th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to a 15th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 23 is a time chart showing an example of operation according to the 15th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to a 17th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 25 is a time chart showing an example of operation according to the 17th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to an 18th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 27 is a time chart showing the principle of operation according to the 18th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to a modified example of the 18th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 29 is a time chart showing the principle of operation according to a modified example of the 18th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to a 19th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to a 20th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 32 is a time chart showing an example of operation according to the 20th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to a 21st embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 34 is a time chart showing an example of operation according to the 21st embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to a 22nd embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 36 is a time chart showing an example of operation according to the 22nd embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 37 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to a 24th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 38 is a time chart showing a processing procedure on a transmit side according to a 25th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 39 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure on a receive side according to the 25th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 40 is a time chart showing an example of operation according to the 25th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 41 is a time chart showing a processing procedure on a transmit side according to a 26th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 42 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure on a receive side according to the 26th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 43 is a time chart showing an example of operation according to the 26th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 44 is a time chart showing an example of operation according to the 26th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 45 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of a wireless packet communication apparatus corresponding to the first to 26th embodiments of the present invention; FIG. 46 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to a 27th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 47 is a time chart showing an example of operation according to the 27th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 48 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of a wireless packet communication apparatus corresponding to the 27th embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 49 is an explanatory view illustrating an exemplary method for wireless packet communication using two wireless channels; and FIG. 50 is an explanatory view illustrating a problem with the method for wireless packet communication using two wireless channels. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"?

20050912

20090609

20070125

82386.0

H04Q724

AFSHAR, KAMRAN

WIRELESS PACKET COMMUNICATION METHOD AND WIRELESS PACKET COMMUNICATION APPARATUS

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

H04Q

ACCEPTED

Process for the preparation of chiral beta amino acid derivatives by asymmetric hydrogenation

The present invention relates to a process for the efficient preparation of enantiomerically enriched beta amino acid derivatives which are useful in the asymmetric synthesis of biologically active molecules. The process comprises an enantioselective hydrogenation of a prochiral beta amino acrylic acid derivative substrate in the presence of a transition metal precursor complexed with a chiral ferrocenyl diphosphine ligand.

1. A process for preparing a compound of structural formula I: having the (R)- or (S)-configuration at the stereogenic center marked with an in an enantiomeric excess of at least 70% over the opposite enantiomer, wherein Z is OR2, SR2, or NR2R3; R1 is C1-8 alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aryl-C1-2 alkyl, or heteroaryl-C1-2 alkyl; R2 and R3 are each independently hydrogen, C1-8 alkyl, aryl, or aryl-C1-2 alkyl; or R2 and R3 together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached form a 4- to 7-membered heterocyclic ring system optionally containing an additional heteroatom selected from O, S, NH, and NC1-4 alkyl, said heterocyclic ring being unsubstituted or substituted with one to three substituents independently selected from oxo, hydroxy, halogen, C1-4 alkoxy, and C1-4 alkyl wherein alkyl and alkoxy are unsubstituted or substituted with one to five fluorines; and said heterocyclic ring system being optionally fused with a 5- to 6-membered saturated or aromatic carbocyclic ring system or a 5- to 6-membered saturated or aromatic heterocyclic ring system containing one to two heteroatoms selected from O, S, and NC0-4 alkyl, said fused ring system being unsubstituted or substituted with one to two substituents selected from hydroxy, amino, fluorine, C1-4 alkyl, C1-4 alkoxy, and trifluoromethyl; comprising the step of hydrogenating a prochiral enamine of structural formula II: in a suitable organic solvent in the presence of a transition metal precursor complexed to a chiral ferrocenyl diphosphine ligand of structural formula III: wherein R4 is C1-4 alkyl or aryl; R5 and R6 are each independently C1-6 alkyl, C5-12 cycloalkyl, or aryl; and R7 is C1-4 alkyl or unsubstituted phenyl. 2. The process of claim 1 wherein said ferrocenyl diphosphine ligand is of structural formula IV: wherein the stereogenic center marked with an ** has the (R)-configuration. 3. The process of claim 2 wherein R4 is C1-2 alkyl, R5 and R6 are C1-4 alkyl, and R7 is unsubstituted phenyl. 4. The process of claim 3 wherein R4 is methyl, R5 and R6 are t-butyl, and R7 is unsubstituted phenyl. 5. The process of claim 1 wherein R1 is benzyl wherein the phenyl group of benzyl is unsubstituted or substituted one to three substituents selected from the group consisting of fluorine, trifluoromethyl, and trifluoromethoxy. 6. The process of claim 1 wherein Z is OR2 or NR2R3. 7. The process of claim 6 wherein NR2R3 is a heterocycle of the structural formula VI: wherein R8 is hydrogen or C1-4 alkyl which is unsubstituted or substituted with one to five fluorines. 8. The process of claim 1 wherein said transition metal precursor is [M(cod)Cl]2, [M(norbornadiene)Cl]2, [M(cod)2]X, or [M(norbornadiene)2]X wherein X is methanesulfonate, trifluoromethanesulfonate, tetrafluoroborate, hexafluorophosphate, or hexafluoroantimonate and M is rhodium or iridium. 9. The process of claim 8 wherein said transition metal precursor is [Rh(cod)Cl]2. 10. A process for preparing a compound of structural formula 1: having the (R)-configuration at the stereogenic center marked with an ***; in an enantiomeric excess of at least 70% over the enantiomer having the opposite (S)-configuration; wherein Ar is phenyl which is unsubstituted or substituted with one to five substituents independently selected from the group consisting of fluorine, trifluoromethyl, and trifluoromethoxy; and R8 is hydrogen or C1-4 alkyl unsubstituted or substituted with one to five fluorines; comprising the step of: hydrogenating a compound of structural formula 2: in a suitable organic solvent in the presence of a rhodium metal precursor and a chiral ferrocenyl disphosphine of structural formula IV: wherein R4 is C1-4 alkyl or aryl; R5 and R6 are each independently C1-6 alkyl, C5-12 cycloalkyl, or aryl; and R7 is C1-4 alkyl or unsubstituted phenyl. 11. The process of claim 10 additionally comprising the step of producing a compound of structural formula 2: by treating a compound of structural formula 3: with a source of ammonia in a suitable organic solvent. 12. The process of claim 10 wherein Ar is 2,5-difluorophenyl or 2,4,5-trifluorophenyl and R8 is trifluoromethyl. 13. The process of claim 10 wherein said rhodium metal precursor is [Rh(cod)Cl]2. 14. The process of claim 10 wherein R4 is methyl, R5 and R6 are both t-butyl, and R7 is unsubstituted phenyl. 15. The process of claim 14 wherein said rhodium metal precursor is [Rh(cod)Cl]2. 16. The process of claim 10 wherein R4 is methyl, R5 and R6 are both t-butyl, R7 is unsubstituted phenyl, Ar is 2,5-difluorophenyl or 2,4,5-trifluorophenyl, R8 is trifluoromethyl, and the rhodium metal precursor is chloro(1,5-cyclooctadiene)rhodium(I) dimer. 17. The process of claim 11 wherein said source of ammonia is ammonium acetate. 18. A process for preparing a compound of structural formula 1: having the (R)-configuration at the stereogenic center marked with an ***; in an enantiomeric excess of at least 70% over the enantiomer having the opposite (S)-configuration; wherein Ar is phenyl which is unsubstituted or substituted with one to five substituents independently selected from the group consisting of fluorine, trifluoromethyl, and trifluoromethoxy; and R8 is hydrogen or C1-4 alkyl unsubstituted or substituted with one to five fluorines; comprising the steps of: (a) producing a compound of structural formula 2: by treating a compound of structural formula 3: with a source of ammonia in a suitable organic solvent; and (b) hydrogenating a compound of structural formula 2: in a suitable organic solvent in the presence of a rhodium metal precursor and a chiral ferrocenyl disphosphine of structural formula IV: wherein R4 is C1-4 alkyl or aryl; R5 and R6 are each independently C1-6 alkyl, C5-12 cycloalkyl, or aryl; and R7 is C1-4 alkyl or unsubstituted phenyl. 19. The process of claim 2 wherein Z is OR2. 20. The process of claim 19 wherein R1 is 6-methoxy-pyridin-3-yl and Z is C1-4 alkoxy. 21. The process of claim 20 wherein Z is methoxy or ethoxy. 22. The process of claim 21 wherein R4 is methyl, R5 and R6 are t-butyl, R7 is phenyl, and said transition metal precursor is [Rh(cod)Cl]2.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a process for the efficient preparation of enantiomerically enriched beta amino acid derivatives which are useful in the asymmetric synthesis of biologically active molecules. The process comprises an enantioselective hydrogenation of a prochiral beta-amino acrylic acid derivative substrate in the presence of a transition metal precursor complexed with a chiral ferrocenyl diphosphine ligand. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an efficient process for the preparation of an enantiomerically enriched beta amino acid derivative of structural formula I: having the (R)- or (S)-configuration at the stereogenic center marked with an *; wherein Z is OR2, SR2, or NR2R3; R1 is C1-8 alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aryl-C1-2 alkyl, or heteroaryl-C1-2 alkyl; R2 and R3 are each independently hydrogen, C1-8 alkyl, aryl, or aryl-C1-2 alkyl; or R2 and R3 together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached form a 4- to 7-membered heterocyclic ring system optionally containing an additional heteroatom selected from O, S, and NC1-4 alkyl, said heterocyclic ring system being optionally fused with a 5- to 6-membered saturated or aromatic carbocyclic ring system or a 5- to 6-membered saturated or aromatic heterocyclic ring system containing one to two heteroatoms selected from O, S, and NC1-4 alkyl, said fused ring system being unsubstituted or substituted with one to two substituents independently selected from hydroxy, amino, fluoro, C1-4 alkyl, C1-4 alkoxy, and trifluoromethyl. The process of the present invention relates to a method for the preparation of chiral beta amino acid derivatives of structural formula I in an efficient enantioselective fashion via transition metal-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of a prochiral enamine of structural formula II: wherein the amino group is unprotected, in the presence of a chiral ferrocenyl diphosphine ligand. Methods for asymmetrically reducing enamine carbon-carbon double bonds (C═C—N) using chiral ferrocenyl diphosphines as ligands complexed to a rhodium or iridium precursor have been described in the patent literature (See U.S. Pat. No. 5,563,309 issued Oct. 8, 1996 to Ciba-Geigy Corp. and the related family of patents and patent applications). A related approach to N-acylated beta amino acids using a rhodium Me-DuPHOS catalytic complex has also published (U.S. 2002/0128509 published on Sep. 12, 2002 assigned to Degussa AG). The following publications also describe the asymmetric hydrogenation of N-acylated beta-amino acrylic acids with rhodium metal precursors complexed to a chiral phosphine ligand: (1) T. Hayashi, et al., Bull. Chem. Soc. Japan, 53: 1136-1151 (1980); (2) G. Zhu et al., J. Org. Chem., 64: 6907-6910 (1999); and (3) W. D. Lubell, et al., Tetrahedron: Asymmetry, 2: 543-554 (1991). In these publications all the examples provided have the amino group in the beta amino acrylic acid derivative substrate protected as an acetamide derivative. The requirement for amine protection introduces two additional chemical steps into the sequence, namely protection and deprotection, and the synthesis of the protected substrate may also be difficult. The process of the present invention circumvents the need for protecting the primary amino group in the substrate for the asymmetric hydrogenation reaction and proceeds with excellent reactivity and enantioselectivity. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is concerned with a process for the preparation of enantiomerically enriched beta amino acid derivatives of structural formula I. The process utilizes an asymmetric hydrogenation of a prochiral beta amino acrylic acid derivative, wherein the primary amino group is unprotected, in the presence of a transition metal precursor complexed with a chiral ferrocenyl diphosphine ligand. The process of the present invention is applicable to the preparation of beta amino acid derivatives on a pilot plant or industrial scale. The beta amino acids are useful to prepare a wide variety of biologically active molecules. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an efficient process for the preparation of an enantiomerically enriched beta amino acid derivative of structural formula I: having the (R)- or (S)-configuration at the stereogenic center marked with an *; in an enantiomeric excess of at least 70% over the opposite enantiomer, wherein Z is OR2, SR2, or NR2R3; R1 is C1-8 alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aryl-C1-2 alkyl, or heteroaryl-C1-2 alkyl; R2 and R3 are each independently hydrogen, C1-8 alkyl, aryl, or aryl-C1-2 alkyl; or R2 and R3 together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached form a 4- to 7-membered heterocyclic ring system optionally containing an additional heteroatom selected from O, S, NH, and NC1-4 alkyl, said heterocyclic ring being unsubstituted or substituted with one to three substituents independently selected from oxo, hydroxy, halogen, C1-4 alkoxy, and C1-4 alkyl wherein alkyl and alkoxy are unsubstituted or substituted with one to five fluorines; and said heterocyclic ring system being optionally fused with a 5- to 6-membered saturated or aromatic carbocyclic ring system or a 5- to 6-membered saturated or aromatic heterocyclic ring system containing one to two heteroatoms selected from O, S, and NC0-4 alkyl, said fused ring system being unsubstituted or substituted with one to two substituents selected from hydroxy, amino, fluorine, C1-4 alkyl, C1-4 alkoxy, and trifluoromethyl. The process of the present invention comprises the step of hydrogenating a prochiral enamine of structural formula II: in a suitable organic solvent in the presence of a transition metal precursor complexed to a chiral ferrocenyl diphosphine ligand of structural formula III: wherein R4 is C1-4 alkyl or aryl; R5 and R6 are each independently C1-6 alkyl, C5-12 cycloalkyl, or aryl; and R7 is C1-4 alkyl or unsubstituted phenyl. The process of the present invention contemplates that the catalytic complex of the transition metal precursor and the chiral ferrocenyl diphosphine ligand may be either (a) generated in situ by the sequential or contemporaneous addition of the transition metal species and the chiral ferrocenyl diphosphine ligand to the reaction mixture or (b) pre-formed with or without isolation and then added to the reaction mixture. A pre-formed catalytic complex is represented by the formula: where X represents a non-coordinating anion, such as trifluoromethanesulfonate, tetrafluoroborate, and hexafluorophosphate, and L is a neutral ligand such as an olefin (or chelating di-olefin such as 1,5-cyclooctadiene or norbornadiene) or a solvent molecule (such as MeOH and TFE). In the case where olefin is arene, the complex is represented by the formula: The pre-formed catalytic complex in the case where X represents halogen is represented by the formula: The ligands of structural formula III are known in the art as Josiphos ligands and are commercially available from Solvias AG, Basel, Switzerland. In one embodiment of the ligands of formula III useful in the process of the present invention, the carbon stereogenic center marked with an ** has the (R)-configuration as depicted in formula IV: In another embodiment of the ligands of formula II useful in the process of the present invention, R4 is C1-2 alkyl, R5 and R6 are C1-4 alkyl, and R7 is unsubstituted phenyl. In a class of this embodiment, R4 is methyl, R5 and R6 are t-butyl, and R7 is unsubstituted phenyl. The latter ligand is known in the art as t-butyl Josiphos. Commercially available forms of the t-butyl Josiphos ligand are the S,R and R,S enantiomeric forms. R,S-t-butyl Josiphos is {(R)-1-[(S)-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenyl]}ethyl-di-tert-butylphosphine of formula V below: The ferrocenyl diphosphine ligands of formula III have two centers of asymmetry, and the process of the present invention is intended to encompass the use of single enantiomers, individual diastereomers, and mixtures of diastereomers thereof. The present invention is meant to comprehend the use of all such isomeric forms of the ligands of structural formula III for the asymmetric hydrogenation of a compound of formula II. The facial enantioselectivity of the hydrogenation reaction will depend on the particular stereoisomer of the ligand that is employed in the reaction. It is possible to control the configuration at the newly formed stereogenic center in a compound of formula I marked with an * by the judicious choice of the chirality of the ferrocenyl diphosphine ligand of formula III. In one embodiment of the substrate for the process of the present invention, R1 is benzyl wherein the phenyl group of benzyl is unsubstituted or substituted one to three substituents selected from the group consisting of fluorine, trifluoromethyl, and trifluoromethoxy. In another embodiment of the process of the present invention, Z is OR2 or NR2R3. In a class of this embodiment, NR2R3 is a heterocycle of the structural formula VI: wherein R8 is hydrogen or C1-4 alkyl which is unsubstituted or substituted with one to five fluorines. In another class of this embodiment, Z is OR2. In another embodiment of the substrate for the process of the present invention, R1 is 6-methoxy-pyridin-3-yl and Z is C1-4 alkoxy. In a class of this embodiment, Z is methoxy or ethoxy. The asymmetric hydrogenation reaction of the present invention is carried out in a suitable organic solvent. Suitable organic solvents include lower alkanols, such as methanol, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, hexafluoroisopropyl alcohol, phenol, 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol SE), and mixtures thereof; tetrahydrofuran; methyl t-butyl ether; and mixtures thereof. The reaction temperature for the reaction may be in the range of about 10° C. to about 90° C. A preferred temperature range for the reaction is about 45° C. to about 65° C. The hydrogenation reaction can be performed at a hydrogen pressure range of about 20 psig to about 1500 psig. A preferred hydrogen pressure range is about 80 psig to about 200 psig. The transition metal precursor is [M(monoolefin)2Cl]2, [M(diolefin)Cl]2, [M(monoolefin)2acetylacetonate], [M(diolefin)acetylacetonate], [M(monoolefin)4]X, or [M(diolefin)2]X wherein X is a non-coordinating anion selected from the group consisting of methanesulfonate, trifluoromethanesulfonate (Tf), tetrafluoroborate (BF4), hexafluorophosphate (PF6), and hexafluoroantimonate (SbF6), and M is rhodium (Rh) or iridium (Ir). Transition metal precursors where M is ruthenium (Ru) are [M(arene)Cl2]2, [M(diolefin)Cl2]n, or [M(diolefin)(η3-2-methyl-1-propenyl)2]. In one embodiment the transition metal precursor is [Rh(cod)Cl]2, [Rh(norbornadiene)Cl]2, [Rh(cod)2]X, or [Rh(norbornadiene)2]X. In a class of this embodiment, the transition metal precursor is [Rh(cod)Cl]2. The ratio of transition metal precursor to substrate is about 0.01 to about 10 mol %. A preferred ratio of the transition metal precursor to substrate is about 0.05 mol % to about 0.4 mol %. The beta amino acrylic acid derivative substrates of formula II for the asymmetric hydrogenation contain an olefinic double bond, and unless specified otherwise, are meant to include both E and Z geometric isomers or mixtures thereof as starting materials. The squiggly bond in the substrate of structural formula II signifies either the Z or E geometric isomer or a mixture thereof. In one embodiment of the present invention, the geometric configuration of the double bond in the beta amino acrylic acid derivative substrate for the asymmetric hydrogenation reaction is the Z-configuration as depicted in formula VII: The beta amino acrylate esters of formula II (Z=OR2 or SR2) for the asymmetric hydrogenation reaction of the present invention can be prepared from a beta-keto ester of structural formula VI in high yield by reaction with a source of ammonia in a suitable organic solvent such as methanol, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, tetrahydrofuran, and aqueous mixtures thereof. Sources of ammonia include ammonium acetate, ammonium hydroxide, and ammonium formate. In one embodiment the source of ammonia is ammonium acetate. The beta-keto esters can be prepared as described by D. W. Brooks et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl., 18: 72 (1979). The beta amino acrylamides can be prepared from the corresponding esters via amide exchange as described in Org. Syn. Collect., Vol. 3, p. 108. Another embodiment of the present invention concerns a process for the preparation of a compound of structural formula 1: having the (R)-configuration at the stereogenic center marked with an in an enantiomeric excess of at least 70% over the enantiomer having the opposite (S)-configuration, wherein Ar is phenyl which is unsubstituted or substituted with one to five substituents independently selected from the group consisting of fluorine, trifluoromethyl, and trifluoromethoxy; and R8 is hydrogen or C1-4 alkyl unsubstituted or substituted with one to five fluorines; comprising the steps of: (a) producing a compound of structural formula 2: by treating a compound of structural formula 3: with a source of ammonia in a suitable organic solvent; and (b) hydrogenating a compound of structural formula 2: in a suitable organic solvent in the presence of a rhodium metal precursor and a chiral ferrocenyl disphosphine of structural formula IV: wherein R4 is C1-4 alkyl or aryl; R5 and R6 are each independently C1-6 alkyl, C5-12 cycloalkyl, or aryl; and R7 is C1-4 alkyl or unsubstituted phenyl. In a class of this embodiment, Ar is 2,5-difluorophenyl or 2,4,5-trifluorophenyl. In a subclass of this class, R8 is trifluoromethyl. In another class of this embodiment, the rhodium metal precursor is chloro(1,5-cyclooctadiene)rhodium(I) dimer {[Rh(cod)Cl]2}. In another class of this embodiment, R4 is methyl, R5 and R6 are both t-butyl, and R7 is unsubstituted phenyl. In a subclass of this class, the rhodium metal precursor is chloro(1,5-cyclooctadiene)rhodium(I) dimer. In yet another class of this embodiment, R4 is methyl, R5 and R6 are both t-butyl, R7 is unsubstituted phenyl, Ar is 2,5-difluorophenyl or 2,4,5-trifluorophenyl, R8 is trifluoromethyl, and the rhodium metal precursor is chloro(1,5-cyclooctadiene)rhodium(I) dimer. In another embodiment the compound of structural formula 1 is obtained with an enantiomeric excess of greater than 90%. In a class of this embodiment the compound of structural formula 1 is obtained with an enantiomeric excess of greater than 95%. Compounds of structural formula 1 are disclosed in WO 03/004498 (published 16 Jan. 2003) as inhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidase-IV which are useful for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. A further embodiment of the present invention comprises structurally novel intermediates of structural formula 2 which are useful in the preparation of compounds of structural formula 1: wherein Ar is phenyl which is unsubstituted or substituted with one to five substituents independently selected from the group consisting of fluorine, trifluoromethyl, and trifluoromethoxy; and R8 is hydrogen or C1-4 alkyl unsubstituted or substituted with one to five fluorines. In a class of this embodiment of novel intermediates of formula 2, Ar is 2,5-difluorophenyl or 2,4,5-trifluorophenyl and R8 is trifluoromethyl. Throughout the instant application, the following terms have the indicated meanings: The term “% enantiomeric excess” (abbreviated “ee”) shall mean the % major enantiomer less the % minor enantiomer. Thus, a 70% enantiomeric excess corresponds to formation of 85% of one enantiomer and 15% of the other. The term “enantiomeric excess” is synonymous with the term “optical purity.” The process of the present invention provides compounds of structural formula I with high optical purity, typically in excess of 70% ee. In one embodiment, compounds of formula I are obtained with an optical purity in excess of 80% ee. In a class of this embodiment, compounds of formula I are obtained with an optical purity in excess of 90% ee. In a subclass of this class, compounds of formula I are obtained with an optical purity in excess of 95% ee. The term “enantioselective” shall mean a reaction in which one enantiomer is produced (or destroyed) more rapidly than the other, resulting in the predominance of the favored enantiomer in the mixture of products. The alkyl groups specified above are intended to include those alkyl groups of the designated length in either a straight or branched configuration. Exemplary of such alkyl groups are methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, sec-butyl, tertiary butyl, pentyl, isopentyl, hexyl, isohexyl, and the like. The alkyl groups are unsubstituted or substituted with one to three groups independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, hydroxy, carboxy, aminocarbonyl, amino, C1-4 alkoxy, and C1-4 alkylthio. The term “cycloalkyl” is intended to mean cyclic rings of alkanes of five to twelve total carbon atoms, or any number within this range (i.e., cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, etc). The term “halogen” is intended to include the halogen atoms fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine. The abbreviation “cod” means “1,5-cyclooctadiene.” The term “aryl” includes phenyl and naphthyl. “Aryl” is unsubstituted or substituted with one to five substituents independently selected from fluoro, hydroxy, trifluoromethyl, amino, C1-4 alkyl, and C1-4 alkoxy. The term “arene” refers to benzene, naphthalene, and o-, m-, or p-isopropyltoluene (o, m, or p-cymene). The term “olefin” refers to a acyclic or cyclic hydrocarbon containing one or more double bonds including aromatic cyclic hydrocarbons. The term includes, but is not limited to, 1,5-cyclooctadiene and norbornadiene (“nbd”). The term “heteroaryl” means a 5- or 6-membered aromatic heterocycle that contains at least one ring heteroatom selected from O, S and N. Heteroaryls also include heteroaryls fused to other kinds of rings, such as aryls, cycloalkyls and heterocycles that are not aromatic. Examples of heteroaryl groups include, but are not limited to, pyrrolyl, isoxazolyl, isothiazolyl, pyrazolyl, pyridinyl, oxazolyl, 1,2,4-oxadiazolyl, 1,3,4-oxadiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, thiazolyl, imidazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, furyl, triazinyl, thienyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, benzisoxazolyl, benzoxazolyl, benzothiazolyl, benzothiadiazolyl, dihydrobenzofuranyl, indolinyl, pyridazinyl, indazolyl, isoindolyl, dihydrobenzothienyl, indolizinyl, cinnolinyl, phthalazinyl, quinazolinyl, naphthyridinyl, carbazolyl, benzodioxolyl, quinoxalinyl, purinyl, furazanyl, isobenzylfuranyl, benzimidazolyl, benzofuranyl, benzothienyl, quinolyl, indolyl, isoquinolyl, and dibenzofuranyl. “Heteroaryl” is unsubstituted or substituted with one to five substituents independently selected from fluoro, hydroxy, trifluoromethyl, amino, C1-4 alkyl, and C1-4 alkoxy. Representative experimental procedures utilizing the novel process are detailed below. The following Examples are for the purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the process of the present invention to the specific conditions for making these particular compounds. EXAMPLE 1 (2R)-4-oxo-4-[3-(trifluoromethyl)-5,6-dihydro[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-α]pyrazin-7(8H)-yl]-1-(2,4,5-trifluorophenyl)butan-2-amine (2-5) Preparation of 3-(trifluoromethyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-α]pyrazine, hydrochloride salt (1-4) Step A: Preparation of bishydrazide (1-1) Hydrazine (20.1 g, 35 wt % in water, 0.22 mol) was mixed with 310 mL of acetonitrile. 31.5 g of ethyl trifluoroacetate (0.22 mol) was added over 60 min. The internal temperature was increased to 25° C. from 14° C. The resulting solution was aged at 22-25° C. for 60 min. The solution was cooled to 7° C. 17.9 g of 50 wt % aqueous NaOH (0.22 mol) and 25.3 g of chloroacetyl chloride (0.22 mol) were added simultaneously over 130 min at a temperature below 16° C. When the reaction was complete, the mixture was vacuum distilled to remove water and ethanol at 27˜30° C. and under 26˜27 in Hg vacuum. During the distillation, 720 mL of acetonitrile was added slowly to maintain constant volume (approximately 500 mL). The slurry was filtered to remove sodium chloride. The cake was rinsed with about 100 mL of acetonitrile. Removal of the solvent afforded bis-hydrazide 1-1 (43.2 g, 96.5% yield, 94.4 area % pure by HPLC assay). 1H-NMR (400 M, DMSO-d6): δ 4.2 (s, 2H), 10.7 (s, 1H), and 11.6 (s, 1H) ppm. 13C-NMR (100 Mz, DMSO-d6): δ 41.0, 116.1 (q, J=362 Hz), 155.8 (q, J=50 Hz), and 165.4 ppm. Step B: Preparation of 5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-(chloromethyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (1-2) Bishydrazide 1-1 from Step A (43.2 g, 0.21 mol) in ACN (82 mL) was cooled to 5° C. Phosphorus oxychloride (32.2 g, 0.21 mol) was added, maintaining the temperature below 10° C. The mixture was heated to 80° C. and aged at this temperature for 24 h until HPLC showed less than 2 area % of 1-1. In a separate vessel, 260 mL of IPAc and 250 mL of water were mixed and cooled to 0° C. The reaction slurry was charged to the quench keeping the internal temperature below 10° C. After the addition, the mixture was agitated vigorously for 30 min, the temperature was increased to room temperature and the aqueous layer was cut. The organic layer was then washed with 215 mL of water, 215 mL of 5 wt % aqueous sodium bicarbonate and finally 215 mL of 20 wt % aqueous brine solution. BPLC assay yield after work up was 86-92%. Volatiles were removed by distillation at 75-80 mm Hg, 55° C. to afford an oil which could be used directly in Step C without further purification. Otherwise the product can be purified by distillation to afford 1-2 in 70-80% yield. 1H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ 4.8 (s, 2H) ppm. 13C-NMR (100 MD, CDCl3): δ 32.1, 115.8 (q, J=337 Hz), 156.2 (q, J=50 Hz), and 164.4 ppm. Step C: Preparation of N-[(2Z)-piperazin-2-ylidene]trifluoroacetohydrazide (1-3) To a solution of ethylenediamine (33.1 g, 0.55 mol) in methanol (150 mL) cooled at −20° C. was added distilled oxadiazole 1-2 from Step B (29.8 g, 0.16 mol) while keeping the internal temperature at −20° C. After the addition was complete, the resulting slurry was aged at −20° C. for 1 h. Ethanol (225 mL) was then charged and the slurry slowly warmed to −5° C. After 60 min at −5° C., the slurry was filtered and washed with ethanol (60 mL) at −5° C. Amidine 1-3 was obtained as a white solid in 72% yield (24.4 g, 99.5 area wt % pure by HPLC). 1H-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ 2.9 (t, 2H), 3.2 (t, 2H), 3.6 (s, 2H), and 8.3 (b, 1H) ppm. 13C-NMR (100 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ 40.8, 42.0, 43.3, 119.3 (q, J=350 Hz), 154.2, and 156.2 (q, J=38 Hz) ppm. Step D: Preparation of 3-(trifluoromethyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-α]pyrazine, hydrochloride salt (1-4) A suspension of amidine 1-3 (27.3 g, 0.13 mol) in 110 mL of methanol was warmed to 55° C. 37% Hydrochloric acid (11.2 mL, 0.14 mol) was added over 15 min at this temperature. During the addition, all solids dissolved resulting in a clear solution. The reaction was aged for 30 min. The solution was cooled down to 20° C. and aged at this temperature until a seed bed formed (10 min to 1 h). 300 mL of MTBE was charged at 20° C. over 1 h. The resulting slurry was cooled to 2° C., aged for 30 min and filtered. Solids were washed with 50 mL of ethanol:MTBE (1:3) and dried under vacuum at 45° C. Yield of triazole 1-4 was 26.7 g (99.5 area wt % pure by HPLC). 1H-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ 3.6 (t, 2H), 4.4 (t, 2H), 4.6 (s, 2H), and 10.6 (b, 2H) ppm; 13C-NMR (100 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ: 39.4, 39.6, 41.0, 118.6 (q, J=325 Hz), 142.9 (q, J=50 Hz), and 148.8 ppm. Step A: Preparation of 4-oxo-4-[3-(trifluoromethyl)-5,6-dihydro[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-α]pyrazin-7(8H)-yl]-1-(2,4,5-trifluorophenyl)butan-2-one (2-3) 2,4,5-Trifluorophenylacetic acid (2-1) (150 g, 0.789 mol), Meldrum's acid (125 g, 0.868 mol), and 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP) (7.7 g, 0063 mol) were charged into a 5 L three-neck flask. N,N-Dimethylacetamide (DMAc) (525 mL) was added in one portion at room temperature to dissolve the solids. N,N-diisopropylethylamine (282 mL, 1.62 mol) was added in one portion at room temperature while maintaining the temperature below 40° C. Pivaloyl chloride (107 mL, 0.868 mol) was added dropwise over 1 to 2 h while maintaining the temperature between 0 and 5° C. The reaction mixture was aged at 5° C. for 1 h. Triazole hydrochloride 1-4 (180 g, 0.789 mol) was added in one portion at 40-50° C. The reaction solution was aged at 70° C. for several h. 5% Aqueous sodium hydrogencarbonate solution (625 mL) was then added dropwise at 20-45° C. The batch was seeded and aged at 20-30° C. for 1-2 h. Then an additional 525 mL of 5% aqueous sodium hydrogencarbonate solution was added dropwise over 2-3 h. After aging several h at room temperature, the slurry was cooled to 0-5° C. and aged 1 h before filtering the solid. The wet cake was displacement-washed with 20% aqueous DMAc (300 mL), followed by an additional two batches of 20% aqueous DMAc (400 mL), and finally water (400 mL). The cake was suction-dried at room temperature. The isolated yield of final product 2-3 was 89%. Step B: Preparation of (2Z)4-oxo-4-[3-(trifluoromethyl)-5,6-dihydro[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-α]pyrazin-7(8H)-yl]-1-(2,4,5-trifluorophenyl)but-2-en-2-amine (2-4) A 5 L round-bottom flask was charged with methanol (100 mL), the ketoamide 2-3 (200 g), and ammonium acetate (110.4 g). Methanol (180 mL) and 28% aqueous ammonium hydroxide (58.6 ml) were then added keeping the temperature below 30° C. during the addition. Additional methanol (100 mL) was added to the reaction mixture. The mixture was heated at reflux temperature and aged for 2 h. The reaction was cooled to room temperature and then to about 5° C. in an ice-bath. After 30 min, the solid was filtered and dried to afford 2-4 as a solid (180 g); m.p. 271.2° C. Step C: Preparation of (2R)-4-oxo-4-[3-(trifluoromethyl)-5,6-dihydro[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-α]pyrazin-7(8H)-yl]-1-(2,4,5-trifluorophenyl)butan-2-amine (2-5) Into a 500 ml flask were charged chloro(1,5-cyclooctadiene)rhodium(I) dimer {[Rh(cod)Cl]2}(292 mg, 0.59 mmol) and (R,S) t-butyl Josiphos (708 mg, 1.31 mmol) under a nitrogen atmosphere. Degassed MeOH was then added (200 mL) and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1 h. Into a 4 L hydrogenator was charged the enamine amide 2-4 (118 g, 0.29 mol) along with MeOH (1 L). The slurry was degassed. The catalyst solution was then transferred to the hydrogenator under nitrogen. After degassing three times, the enamine amide was hydrogenated under 200 psi hydrogen gas at 50° C. for 13 h. Assay yield was determined by HPLC to be 93% and optical purity to be 94% ee. The optical purity was further enhanced in the following manner. The methanol solution from the hydrogenation reaction (18 g in 180 mL MeOH) was concentrated and switched to methyl t-butyl ether (MTBE) (45 mL). Into this solution was added aqueous H3PO4 solution (0.5 M, 95 mL). After separation of the layers, 3N NaOH (35 mL) was added to the water layer, which was then extracted with MTBE (180 mL+100 mL). The MTBE solution was concentrated and solvent switched to hot toluene (180 mL, about 75° C.). The hot toluene solution was then allowed to cool to 0° C. slowly (5-10 h). The crystals were isolated by filtration (13 g, yield 72%, 98-99% ee); m.p. 114.1-115.7° C. 1H NMR (300 Mz, CD3CN): δ 7.26 (m), 7.08 (m), 4.90 (s), 4.89 (s), 4.14 (m), 3.95 (m), 3.40 (m), 2.68 (m), 2.49 (m), 1.40 (bs). Compound 2-5 exists as amide bond rotamers. Unless indicated, the major and minor rotamers are grouped together since the carbon-13 signals are not well resolved: 13C NMR (CD3CN): δ 171.8, 157.4 (ddd, JCF=242.4, 9.2, 2.5 Hz), 152.2 (major), 151.8 (minor), 149.3 (ddd; JCF=246.7, 14.2, 12.9 Hz), 147.4 (ddd, JCF=241.2, 12.3, 3.7 Hz), 144.2 (q, JCF=38.8 Hz), 124.6 (ddd, JCF=18.5, 5.9, 4.0 Hz), 120.4 (dd, JCF=19.1, 6.2 Hz), 119.8 (q, JCF=268.9 Hz), 106.2 (dd, JCF=29.5, 20.9 Hz), 50.1, 44.8, 44.3 (minor), 43.2 (minor), 42.4, 41.6 (minor), 41.4, 39.6, 38.5 (minor), 36.9. The following high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) conditions were used to determine percent conversion to product: Column: Waters Symmetry C18, 250 mm×4.6 mm Eluent: Solvent A: 0.1 vol % HClO4/H2O Solvent B: acetonitrile Gradient: 0 min 75% A: 25% B 10 min 25% A: 75% B 12.5 min 25% A: 75% B 15 min 75% A: 25% B Flow rate: 1 mL/min Injection Vol.: 10 μL UV detection: 210 nm Column temp.: 40° C. Retention times: compound 2-4: 9.1 min compound 2-5: 5.4 min tBu Josiphos: 8.7 min The following high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) conditions were used to determine optical purity: Column: Chirapak, AD-H, 250 mm×4.6 mm Eluent: Solvent A: 0.2 vol. % diethylamine in heptane Solvent B: 0.1 vol % diethylamine in ethanol Isochratic Run Time: 18 min Flow rate: 0.7 mL/min Injection Vol.: 7 μL UV detection: 268 nm Column temp.: 35° C. Retention times: (R)-amine 2-5: 13.8 min (S)-amine: 11.2 min EXAMPLE 2 Methyl(3S)-3-amino-3-(6-methoxypyridin-3-yl)propanoate (3-2) Into a 7 in L vial were charged chloro(1,5-cyclooctadiene)rhodium(I) dimer {[Rh(cod)Cl]2}(14.2 mg, 0.029 mmol) and (R,S)-t-Bu Josiphos (31.3 mg, 0.058 mmol) under a nitrogen atmosphere. Degassed methanol (1 mL) was then added and the catalytic complex was stirred for 45 min at room temperature. In a separate 2-mL vial, the enamine ester 3-1 (0.1 g, 0.5 mmol) was dissolved in 0.9 mL distilled 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol. To the same vial 0.1 mL of the prepared catalyst solution was added resulting in 1 mol % catalyst loading and a 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol/methanol mixture of 90/10. The hydrogenation vial was then sealed and transferred into the hydrogenation bomb under nitrogen. After degassing three times with hydrogen, the enamine ester was hydrogenated under 90-psig-hydrogen gas at 50° C. for 13.5 h. Assay yield was determined by HPLC to be 88% and optical purity to be 89% ee. 1H-NMR (400 Mz, CDCl3): δ 1.81 (bs, 2H), 2.64 (m, 2H), 3.68 (s, 3H), 3.91 (s, 31), 4.4 (dd, 1H), 6.72 (d, 1H), 7.62 (dd, 1H), and 8.11 (s, 1H) ppm. EXAMPLES 3-6 TABLEa Ex. R1 % yieldb % eec config. 3 Ph 75 96 S 3 4-F—Ph 74 96 S 5 4-OMe—Ph 82 96 S 6 PhCH2— 94 97 S aReaction conditions: 0.15 mol % [Rh(cod)Cl]2; 0.333 mol % (R,S)-t-Bu Josiphos, 50° C., 100 psig H2. bAssay yield; cAssayed by chiral HPLC using a AS-RH or AD-RH chiral column eluting with 25-40% acetonitrile/water as the mobile phase.

<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The present invention provides an efficient process for the preparation of an enantiomerically enriched beta amino acid derivative of structural formula I: having the (R)- or (S)-configuration at the stereogenic center marked with an *; wherein Z is OR 2 , SR 2 , or NR 2 R 3 ; R 1 is C 1-8 alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aryl-C 1-2 alkyl, or heteroaryl-C 1-2 alkyl; R 2 and R 3 are each independently hydrogen, C 1-8 alkyl, aryl, or aryl-C 1-2 alkyl; or R 2 and R 3 together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached form a 4- to 7-membered heterocyclic ring system optionally containing an additional heteroatom selected from O, S, and NC 1-4 alkyl, said heterocyclic ring system being optionally fused with a 5- to 6-membered saturated or aromatic carbocyclic ring system or a 5- to 6-membered saturated or aromatic heterocyclic ring system containing one to two heteroatoms selected from O, S, and NC 1-4 alkyl, said fused ring system being unsubstituted or substituted with one to two substituents independently selected from hydroxy, amino, fluoro, C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 alkoxy, and trifluoromethyl. The process of the present invention relates to a method for the preparation of chiral beta amino acid derivatives of structural formula I in an efficient enantioselective fashion via transition metal-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of a prochiral enamine of structural formula II: wherein the amino group is unprotected, in the presence of a chiral ferrocenyl diphosphine ligand. Methods for asymmetrically reducing enamine carbon-carbon double bonds (C═C—N) using chiral ferrocenyl diphosphines as ligands complexed to a rhodium or iridium precursor have been described in the patent literature (See U.S. Pat. No. 5,563,309 issued Oct. 8, 1996 to Ciba-Geigy Corp. and the related family of patents and patent applications). A related approach to N-acylated beta amino acids using a rhodium Me-DuPHOS catalytic complex has also published (U.S. 2002/0128509 published on Sep. 12, 2002 assigned to Degussa AG). The following publications also describe the asymmetric hydrogenation of N-acylated beta-amino acrylic acids with rhodium metal precursors complexed to a chiral phosphine ligand: (1) T. Hayashi, et al., Bull. Chem. Soc. Japan, 53: 1136-1151 (1980); (2) G. Zhu et al., J. Org. Chem., 64: 6907-6910 (1999); and (3) W. D. Lubell, et al., Tetrahedron: Asymmetry, 2: 543-554 (1991). In these publications all the examples provided have the amino group in the beta amino acrylic acid derivative substrate protected as an acetamide derivative. The requirement for amine protection introduces two additional chemical steps into the sequence, namely protection and deprotection, and the synthesis of the protected substrate may also be difficult. The process of the present invention circumvents the need for protecting the primary amino group in the substrate for the asymmetric hydrogenation reaction and proceeds with excellent reactivity and enantioselectivity.

<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The present invention is concerned with a process for the preparation of enantiomerically enriched beta amino acid derivatives of structural formula I. The process utilizes an asymmetric hydrogenation of a prochiral beta amino acrylic acid derivative, wherein the primary amino group is unprotected, in the presence of a transition metal precursor complexed with a chiral ferrocenyl diphosphine ligand. The process of the present invention is applicable to the preparation of beta amino acid derivatives on a pilot plant or industrial scale. The beta amino acids are useful to prepare a wide variety of biologically active molecules. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"?

20050915

20081223

20060831

57364.0

C07C32722

PUTTLITZ, KARL J

PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF CHIRAL BETA AMINO ACID DERIVATIVES BY ASYMMETRIC HYDROGENATION

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

C07C

ACCEPTED

Method for producing group III nitride single crystal and apparatus used therefor

A production method is provided in which Group-III-element nitride single crystals that have a lower dislocation density and a uniform thickness and are transparent, high quality, large, and bulk crystals can be produced with a high yield. The method for producing Group-III-element nitride single crystals includes: heating a reaction vessel containing at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal and an alkaline-earth metal and at least one Group III element selected from the group consisting of gallium (Ga), aluminum (Al), and indium (In) to prepare a flux of the metal element; and feeding nitrogen-containing gas into the reaction vessel and thereby allowing the Group III element and nitrogen to react with each other in the flux to grow Group-III-element nitride single crystals, wherein the single crystals are grown, with the flux being stirred by rocking the reaction vessel, for instance.

1. A production method for producing Group-III-element nitride single crystals comprising: heating a reaction vessel containing at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal and an alkaline-earth metal and at least one Group III element selected from gallium (Ga), aluminum (Al), and indium (In) to prepare a flux of the metal element; and feeding nitrogen-containing gas into the reaction vessel and thereby allowing the at least one Group III element and nitrogen to react with each other in the flux to grow Group-III-element nitride single crystals, wherein the Group-III-element nitride single crystals are grown, with the flux and the at least one Group III element having been stirred to be mixed together. 2. The production method according to claim 1, wherein the reaction vessel is rocked and thereby the flux and the at least one Group III element are stirred to be mixed together. 3. The production method according to claim 2, wherein the reaction vessel is rotated instead of or in addition to being rocked. 4. The production method according to claim 2, wherein a substrate is placed in the reaction vessel, a thin film of Group-III-element nitride is formed on a surface of the substrate beforehand, and Group-III-element nitride single crystals are grown on the thin film. 5. The production method according to claim 4, wherein the single crystals are grown with a liquid mixture of the flux containing the at least one Group III element and the at least one Group III element flowing continuously or intermittently in a thin layer state on a surface of the thin film formed on the substrate. 6. The production method according to claim 4, wherein before the Group-III-element nitride single crystals start growing, the reaction vessel is tilted in one direction, so that a liquid mixture of the flux and the at least one Group III element is pooled on a bottom of the reaction vessel on a side to which the reaction vessel is tilted and thereby the liquid mixture is prevented from coming into contact with a surface of the thin film of the substrate. 7. The production method according to claim 4, wherein after the Group-III-element nitride single crystals finish growing, the reaction vessel is tilted in one direction, so that a liquid mixture of the flux and the at least one Group III element is remove from a surface of the thin film of the substrate and is pooled on a side to which the reaction vessel is tilted. 8. The production method according to claim 1, wherein the flux and the at least one Group III element are stirred to be mixed together by heating a lower part of the reaction vessel to generate heat convection in addition to the heating of the reaction vessel for preparing the flux. 9. The production method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one Group III element is supplied to the flux while the Group-III-element nitride single crystals grow. 10. The production method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one Group III element is gallium (Ga), and the Group-III-element nitride single crystals are gallium (Ga) nitride single crystals. 11. The production method according to claim 1, wherein the alkali metal is at least one selected from the group consisting of lithium (Li), sodium (Na), potassium (K), rubidium (Rb), cesium (Cs), and francium (Fr) while the alkaline-earth metal is at least one selected from the group consisting of calcium (Ca), strontium (Sr), barium (Br), and radium (Ra). 12. The production method according to claim 1, wherein the flux of the at least one metal element is a sodium flux. 13. The production method according to claim 1, wherein the flux of the at least one metal element is a mixed flux of sodium and calcium. 14. The production method according to claim 13, wherein the ratio of the calcium (Ca) to the sum of the sodium (Na) and the calcium (Ca) is in a range of 0.1 mol % to 99 mol %. 15. The production method according to claim 1, wherein the mixed flux is a mixed flux of sodium (Na) and lithium (Li). 16. The production method according to claim 15, wherein the ratio of the lithium (Li) to the sum of the sodium (Na) and the lithium (Li) is in a range of 0.1 mol % to 99 mol %. 17. The production method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one Group III element and nitrogen react with each other under conditions including a temperature of 100° C. to 1200° C. and a pressure of 100 Pa to 20 MPa. 18. The production method according to claim 1, wherein the nitrogen(N)-containing gas is at least one of nitrogen (N2) gas and ammonia (NH3) gas. 19. The production method according to claim 1, wherein the nitrogen(N)-containing gas is ammonia (NH3) gas or a mixed gas of ammonia (NH3) gas and nitrogen (N2) gas. 20. The production method according to claim 4, wherein the thin film formed on the substrate is single crystals of Group-III-element nitride or is amorphous Group-III-element nitride. 21. The production method according to claim 4, wherein the largest diameter of the thin film formed on the substrate is at least 2 cm. 22. The production method according to claim 4, wherein the largest diameter of the thin film formed on the substrate is at least 3 cm. 23. The production method according to claim 4, wherein the largest diameter of the thin film formed on the substrate is at least 5 cm. 24. The production method according to claim 1, wherein impurities that are intended to be used for doping are allowed to be present in a liquid mixture of the flux and the at least one Group III element. 25. The production method according to claim 24, wherein the impurities are at least one selected from the group consisting of calcium (Ca), a compound containing calcium (Ca), silicon (Si), alumina (Al2O3), indium (In), aluminum (Al), indium nitride (InN), silicon nitride (Si3N4), silicon oxide (SiO2), indium oxide (In2O3), zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), zinc oxide (ZnO), magnesium oxide (MgO), and germanium (Ge). 26. The production method according to claim 1, wherein transparent single crystals are grown. 27. The production method according to claim 1, wherein the flux and the at least one Group III element are stirred to be mixed together, which is carried out in an atmosphere of inert gas other than nitrogen first and then in an atmosphere of the nitrogen-containing gas that is obtained by substituting the inert gas by the nitrogen-containing gas. 28. The production method according to claim 27, wherein the inert gas is substituted by the nitrogen-containing gas gradually. 29. The production method according to claim 1, wherein the flux and the at least one Group III element are stirred to be mixed together using a stirring blade. 30. The production method according to claim 29, wherein the flux and the at least one Group III element are stirred to be mixed together using the stirring blade, which is carried out through a rotational motion or a reciprocating motion of the stirring blade or a combination thereof. 31. The production method according to claim 29, wherein the flux and the at least one Group III element are stirred to be mixed together using the stirring blade, which is carried out through a rotational motion or a reciprocating motion of the reaction vessel with respect to the stirring blade or a combination thereof. 32. The production method according to claim 29, wherein the stirring blade is formed of at least one material selected from: (A) a material that is free from nitrogen and has a melting point or a decomposition temperature of at least 2000° C.; and (B) at least one material selected from the group consisting of rare earth oxide, alkaline-earth metal oxide, W, SiC, diamond, and diamond-like carbon. 33. The production method according to claim 29, wherein the stirring blade is formed of at least one material selected from the group consisting of Y2O3, CaO, MgO, and W. 34. The production method according to claim 32, wherein the at least one material is Y2O3. 35. The production method according to claim 1, wherein the reaction vessel is a crucible. 36. Transparent Group-III-element nitride single crystals obtained by a production method according to claim 1. 37. An apparatus that is used in a production method for producing Group-III-element nitride single crystals according to claim 2, comprising: a means for heating a reaction vessel for preparing a flux by heating at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal and an alkaline-earth metal contained in the reaction vessel; a means for feeding nitrogen-containing gas to be used for reacting a Group III element contained in the flux and nitrogen to each other by feeding the nitrogen-containing gas into the reaction vessel; and a means for rocking the reaction vessel in a certain direction, wherein the means tilts the reaction vessel in one direction and then tilts it in an opposite direction to the one direction. 38. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the reaction vessel is a crucible. 39. A reaction vessel that is used in a production method for producing Group-III-element nitride single crystals according to claim 2, wherein the reaction vessel has a cylindrical shape and includes two projections that protrude from an inner wall thereof toward the circular center, and a substrate placed between the two projections. 40. The reaction vessel according to claim 39, wherein the reaction vessel is a crucible. 41. A reaction vessel that is used in a production method for producing Group-III-element nitride single crystals according to claim 2, wherein the reaction vessel is formed of or coated with at least one material selected from the group consisting of AlN, SiC, and a carbon-based material. 42. The reaction vessel according to claim 41, wherein the reaction vessel is a crucible. 43. A semiconductor device comprising transparent Group-III-element nitride single crystals according to claim 36. 44. The semiconductor device according to claim 43, comprising a semiconductor layer, wherein the semiconductor layer is formed of the transparent Group-III-element nitride single crystals according to claim 36. 45. The semiconductor device according to claim 44, comprising a field-effect transistor element in which a conductive semiconductor layer is formed on an insulating semiconductor layer, and a source electrode, a gate electrode, and a drain electrode are formed thereon, wherein at least one of the insulating semiconductor layer and the conductive semiconductor layer is formed of transparent Group-III-element nitride single crystals according to claim 36. 46. The semiconductor device according to claim 45, further comprising a wherein the field-effect transistor element is formed on the substrate, and the substrate is formed of transparent Group-III-element nitride single crystals according to claim 36. 47. A semiconductor device comprising a light-emitting diode (LED) element including an n-type semiconductor layer, an active region layer, and a p-type semiconductor layer that are stacked together in this order, wherein at least one of the n-type semiconductor layer, the active region layer, and the p-type semiconductor layer is formed of transparent Group-III-element nitride single crystals according to claim 36. 48. The semiconductor device according to claim 47, further comprising a substrate, wherein the light-emitting diode element is formed on the substrate, and the substrate is formed of transparent Group-III-element nitride single crystals according to claim 36. 49. A semiconductor device comprising a laser diode (LD) element including an n-type semiconductor layer, an active region layer, and a p-type semiconductor layer that are stacked together in this order, wherein at least one of the n-type semiconductor layer, the active region layer, and the p-type semiconductor layer is formed of transparent Group-III-element nitride single crystals according to claim 36. 50. The semiconductor device according to claim 49, further comprising a substrate, wherein the laser diode element is formed on the substrate, and the substrate is formed of transparent Group-III-element nitride single crystals according to claim 36.

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a method for producing single crystals of Group-III-element nitride. BACKGROUND ART Group-III-element nitride semiconductors are used in the fields of, for instance, hetero-junction high-speed electron devices and photoelectron devices (such as laser diodes, light-emitting diodes, sensors, etc). Particularly, gallium nitride (GaN) has been gaining attention. Conventionally, in order to obtain single crystals of gallium nitride, gallium and nitrogen gas are allowed to react with each other directly (see J. Phys. Chem. Solids, 1995, 56, 639). In this case, however, ultrahigh temperature and pressure, specifically 1300° C. to 1600° C. and 8000 atm to 17000 atm (0.81 MPa to 1.72 MPa) are required. In order to solve this problem, a technique of growing gallium nitride single crystals in a sodium (Na) flux (hereinafter also referred to as a “Na flux method”) has been developed (see, for instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,868,837). This method allows the heating temperature to be decreased considerably to 600° C. to 800° C. and also allows the pressure to be decreased down to about 50 atm (about 5 MPa). In this method, however, the resulting single crystals are blackened and there therefore is a problem of quality. Furthermore, the conventional techniques do not make it possible to produce gallium nitride single crystals that have a lower dislocation density and a uniform thickness (i.e. a substantially level crystal surface) and are transparent, high quality, large, and bulk crystals. In addition, the conventional techniques have a lower yield. That is, in the conventional techniques, the growth rate is particularly low, and even the largest diameter of the largest gallium nitride single crystals that have been reported until now is about 1 cm, which does not allow gallium nitride to be used practically. For instance, a method has been reported in which lithium nitride (Li3N) and gallium are allowed to react with each other to grow gallium nitride single crystals (see Journal of Crystal Growth 247(2003)275-278). However, the size of the crystals obtained using the method was only about 1 mm to 4 mm. These problems are not peculiar to gallium nitride. The same applies to semiconductors of other Group-III-element nitrides. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION The present invention was made in consideration of such situations. An object of the present invention is to provide a production method that makes it possible to produce Group-III-element nitride single crystals with a high yield, with the Group-III-element nitride single crystals having a lower dislocation density and a uniform thickness and being transparent, high quality, large, and bulk single crystals. In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the method for producing Group-III-element nitride single crystals of the present invention includes: heating a reaction vessel containing at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal and an alkaline-earth metal and at least one Group III element selected from gallium (Ga), aluminum (Al), and indium (In) to prepare a flux of the metal element; and feeding nitrogen-containing gas into the reaction vessel and thereby allowing the Group III element and nitrogen to react with each other in the flux to grow Group-III-element nitride single crystals, wherein the single crystals are grown, with the flux and the Group III element having been stirred to be mixed together. As described above, when gallium and nitrogen are reacted with each other in the flux, with the flux and the Group III element having been stirred to be mixed together, the speed at which the nitrogen dissolves in the liquid mixture increases, the gallium and nitrogen distribute uniformly in the flux, and in addition, a fresh raw material can be supplied continuously to the growth faces of crystals. Accordingly, Group-III-element nitride single crystals can be produced quickly that have a lower dislocation density and a uniform thickness and are transparent, high quality, large, and bulk single crystals. According to the studies made by the present inventors and others, it has been proved that if no actions are taken, the flux and the Group III element need a long period of time to be mixed together and in this case, nitrogen is difficult to dissolve, which results in a lower growth rate and non-uniform nitrogen distribution and thus makes it difficult to improve the quality of crystals to be obtained. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 shows cross-sectional views illustrating rocking states in an example of the production method according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of the reaction vessel according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a SEM micrograph of gallium nitride single crystals obtained in another example of the production method according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a SEM micrograph of gallium nitride single crystals obtained in still another example of the production method according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of a manufacturing apparatus that is used in another example of the production method according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the reaction vessel part of the manufacturing apparatus. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Hereafter, the present invention is described further in detail using examples. In the present invention, the flux and the Group III element can be stirred to be mixed together by, for instance, rocking the reaction vessel, rotating the reaction vessel, or a combination thereof. In addition, the flux and the Group III element also can be stirred to be mixed together by, for instance, not only heating the reaction vessel for preparing the flux but also heating the lower part of the reaction vessel to generate heat convection. Furthermore, they may be stirred to be mixed together using a stirring blade. These respective means for stirring them to mix them together can be combined with each other. In the present invention, the manner of rocking the reaction vessel is not particular limited. For instance, the reaction vessel is rocked in a certain direction, wherein the reaction vessel is tilted in one direction and then is tilted in the opposite direction to the one direction. This rocking motion may be a regular motion or an intermittent irregular motion. Furthermore, a rotational motion may be employed in addition to the rocking motion. The tilt of the reaction vessel caused during the rocking also is not particularly limited. In the case of a regular rocking motion, the reaction vessel is rocked in a cycle of, for instance, 1 second to 10 hours, preferably 30 seconds to 1 hour, and more preferably 1 minute to 20 minutes. The maximum tilt angle of the reaction vessel during rocking with respect to the center line extending in the height direction of the reaction vessel is, for instance, 5 degrees to 70 degrees, preferably 10 degrees to 50 degrees, and more preferably 15 degrees to 45 degrees. Moreover, as described later, when a substrate is placed on the bottom of the reaction vessel, the reaction vessel may be rocked in the state where the Group-III-element nitride thin film formed on the substrate is covered continuously with the flux or in the state where the flux does not cover the substrate when the reaction vessel is tilted. In the present invention, the reaction vessel may be a crucible. In the production method of the present invention, it is preferable that a substrate be placed in the reaction vessel, a thin film of Group-III-element nitride be formed on the surface of the substrate beforehand, and then Group-III-element nitride single crystals be grown on the thin film. The Group-III-element nitride of the thin film formed on the substrate may be single crystals or may be amorphous. Examples of the material to be used for the substrate include amorphous gallium nitride (GaN), amorphous aluminum nitride (MN), sapphire, silicon (Si), gallium arsenic (GaAs), gallium nitride (GaN), aluminum nitride (AlN), silicon carbide (SiC), boron nitride (BN), lithium gallium oxide (LiGaO2), zirconium boride (ZrB2), zinc oxide (ZnO), various glasses, various metals, boron phosphide (BP), MoS2, LaAlO3, NbN, MnFe2O4, ZnFe2O4, ZrN, TiN, gallium phosphide (GaP), MgAl2O4, NdGaO3, LiAlO2, ScAlMgO4, Ca8La2(PO4)6O2, etc. The thickness of the thin film is not particularly limited but may be in the range of, for instance, 0.0005 μm to 100000 μm, preferably 0.001 μm to 50000 μm, and more preferably 0.01 μm to 5000 μm. The Group-III-element nitride thin film can be formed on the substrate by, for example, a metalorganic chemical vapor deposition method (a MOCVD method), a hydride vapor phase epitaxy (HVPE), a molecular beam epitaxy method (a MBE method), etc. Since products in which a thin film of Group-III-element nitride such as gallium nitride has been formed on a substrate are commercially available, they may be used. The largest diameter of the thin film is, for instance, at least 2 cm, preferably at least 3 cm, and more preferably at least 5 cm. The larger the largest diameter, the more preferable the thin film. The upper limit thereof is not limited. However, sic the standard for bulk compound semiconductors is two inches, from this viewpoint, the largest diameter preferably is 5 cm. In this case, the largest diameter is in the range of, for instance, 2 cm to 5 cm, preferably 3 cm to 5 cm, and more preferably 5 cm. In this context, the “largest diameter” is the length of the longest line that extends between one point and another point on the periphery of the thin film surface. In this production method, there is a possibility that the Group-III-element nitride thin film formed on the substrate beforehand is melted by the flux before the nitrogen concentration rises. In order to prevent this from occurring, it is preferable that nitride be allowed to be present in the flux at least at an early stage of the reaction. Examples of the nitride include Ca3N2, Li3N, NaN3, BN, Si3N4, InN, etc. They may be used individually, or two or more of them may be used together. Furthermore, the ratio of the nitride contained in the flux is, for instance, 0.0001 mol % to 99 mol %, preferably 0.001 mol % to 50 mol %, and more preferably 0.005 mol % to 5 mol %. In the production method of the present invention, the single crystals preferably are grown, with the flux that contains the Group III element flowing, in a thin layer state, continuously or intermittently on the surface of the thin film formed on the substrate, by rocking the reaction vessel. When the flux is in a thin layer state, the nitrogen-containing gas dissolves easily in the flux. This allows a large amount of nitrogen to be supplied continuously to the growth faces of the crystals. Moreover, when the reaction vessel is rocked regularly in one direction, the flux flows regularly on the thin film, which allows the step flow of the growth faces of the crystals to be stable. This results in further uniform thickness and thus allows high quality single crystals to be obtained. In the production method of the present invention, it is preferable that before the single crystals start growing, the reaction vessel be tilted in one direction to pool the flux containing the Group III element on the bottom of the reaction vessel on the side to which the reaction vessel is tilted and thereby the flux prevented from coming into contact with the surface of the thin film of the substrate. In this case, the flux can be supplied onto the thin film of the substrate by rocking the reaction vessel after it is confirmed that the temperature of the flux has risen satisfactorily. As a result, formation of undesired compounds or the like are prevented and thus higher quality single crystals can be obtained. In the production method of the present invention, it is preferable that after the single crystals finish growing, the reaction vessel be tilted in one direction to remove the flux containing the Group III element from the surface of the thin film of the substrate and to pool it on the side to which the reaction vessel is tilted. In this case, when the internal temperature of the reaction vessel has decreased after the single crystals finish growing, the flux does not come into contact with the single crystals that have been obtained. As a result, this can prevent any low quality crystals from growing on the single crystals that have been obtained. The manner of heating the reaction vessel for generating the heat convection is not particularly limited as long as it is carried out under conditions that allow heat convection to be generated. The position of the part of the reaction vessel to be heated is not particularly limited as long as it is a lower part of the reaction vessel. For instance, the bottom part or the side wall of the lower part of the reaction vessel may be heated. The temperature at which the reaction vessel is heated for generating the heat convection is, for instance, 0.01° C. to 500° C. higher than the heating temperature that is employed for preparing the flux, preferably 0.1° C. to 300° C. higher than that, more preferably 1° C. to 100° C. higher than that. A common heater can be used for the heating. The manner of stirring the flux and the Group III element to mix them together using the stirring blade is not particularly limited. For instance, it may be carried out through a rotational motion or a reciprocating motion of the stirring blade or a combination thereof. In addition, it may be carried out through a rotational motion or a reciprocating motion of the reaction vessel with respect to the stirring blade or a combination thereof. Furthermore, it may be carried out through a combination of the motion of the stirring blade itself and the motion of the reaction vessel itself The stirring blade is not particularly limited. The shape and material to be employed for the stirring blade can be determined suitably according to, for instance, the size and shape of the reaction vessel. It, however, is preferable that the stirring blade be formed of a material that is free from nitrogen and has a melting point or a decomposition temperature of at least 2000° C. This is because when formed of such a material, the stirring blade is not melted by the flux and can prevent crystal nucleation from occurring on the surface of the stirring blade. Examples of the material to be used for the stirring blade include rare-earth oxides, alkaline-earth metal oxides, W, SiC, diamond, diamond-like carbon, etc. A stirring blade formed of such a material also is not melted by the flux and can prevent crystal nucleation from occurring on the surface of the stirring blade, as in the case described above. Examples of the rare earth and the alkaline-earth metals include Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, and Ra. Preferable materials to be used for the stirring blade are Y2O3, CaO, MgO, W, SiC, diamond, diamond-like carbon, etc. Among them, Y2O3 is the most preferable. In the production method of the present invention, it is preferable that a Group III element and a doping material be supplied to the flux while the single crystals are growing. This allows the crystals to grow continuously for a longer period of time. The method of supplying the Group III element is not particularly limited but the following method may be employed. That is, a reaction vessel is formed of two parts including an inner part and an outer part and the outer part is divided into several small chambers. Each of the small chambers is provided with a door that can be opened and closed from the outside. A material to be supplied to the small chambers is put into the small chambers beforehand. When the door of a small chamber that is located on the higher side of the reaction vessel during rocking is opened, the material contained in the small chamber flows down to the inner part of the reaction vessel by gravity and then is mixed together. Further, when a small chamber of the outer part is empty, a first material that was used for growing crystals initially is removed and another material that is different from the first material and that has been put into a small chamber that is located in the opposite side is put into the inner part of the reaction vessel, so that Group III nitride semiconductor crystals can be grown sequentially in which the ratio of the Group III element and the type of the doping material are varied. Changing the direction of rocking (for instance, employing both the rocking motion and the rotational motion) makes it possible to increase the number of small chambers of the outer part that can be used and to make many materials containing various compositions and impurities available. In the present invention, the Group III element is gallium (Ga), aluminum (Al), or indium (In). Among them, however, gallium is preferable. In addition, it is preferable that the Group-III-element nitride single crystals be gallium nitride (GaN) single crystals. The conditions described below are particularly suitable for producing single crystals of gallium nitride but also can be employed for producing single crystals of other Group-III-element nitrides. In the production method of the present invention, the alkali metals to be used are lithium (Li), sodium (Na), potassium (K), rubidium (Rb), cesium (Cs), and francium (Fr) while the alkaline-earth metals to be used are calcium (Ca), strontium (Sr), barium (Br), and radium (Ra). They may be used individually, or two or more of them may be used together. Among them, Li, Na, Ca, K, Rb, and Cs are preferable, Li, Na, and Ca are more preferable, and a mixed flux of Na and Ca and a mixed flux of Na and Li are further preferable. In these cases, the ratio (mol %) of calcium (Ca) or lithium (Li) to the sum of sodium (Na) and calcium (Ca) or lithium (Li) is in the range of, for instance, 0.1 mol % to 99 mol %, preferably 0.1 mol % to 50 mol %, and more preferably 2.5 mol % to 30 mol %. On the other hand, the ratio (mol %) of sodium (Na) to the sum of gallium (Ga) and sodium (Na) is in the range of, for instance, 0.1 mol % to 99.9 mol %, preferably 30 mol % to 99 mol %, and more preferably 60 mol % to 95 mol %. The particularly preferable mol ratio of gallium:sodium:lithium or calcium is 3.7:9.75:0.25. In the production method of the present invention, the conditions for the dissolving include for instance, a temperature of 100° C. to 1500° C. and a pressure of 100 Pa to 20 MPa, preferably a temperature of 300° C. to 1200° C. and a pressure of 0.01 MPa to 10 MPa, and more preferably a temperature of 500° C. to 1100° C. and a pressure of 0.1 MPa to 6 MPa. In the production method of the present invention, the nitrogen(N)-containing gas is, for instance, nitrogen (N2) gas or ammonia (NH3) gas. They may be mixed together and the mixing ratio thereof is not limited. The use of ammonia gas is particularly preferable since it allows the reaction pressure to decrease. In the production method of the present invention, impurities can be present in the flux. In this case, gallium nitride single crystals containing impurities can be produced. Examples of the impurities include calcium (Ca), a compound containing calcium (Ca), silicon (Si), alumina (Al2O3), indium (In), aluminum (Al), indium nitride (InN), silicon nitride (Si3N4), silicon oxide (SiO2), indium oxide (In2O3), zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), zinc oxide (ZnO), magnesium oxide (MgO), and germanium (Ge). In the production method of the present invention, it is preferable that the flux and the Group III element be stirred to be mixed together, which is carried out in an atmosphere of inert gas other than nitrogen first and then in an atmosphere of the nitrogen-containing gas that is obtained by substituting the inert gas by the nitrogen-containing gas. That is, there is a possibility that the flux and the Group III element have not been mixed well in the early stage of stirring them to mix them together, and in this case, there is a possibility that the flux components react with nitrogen to form nitride. The production of nitride can be prevented when the nitrogen-containing gas is not present. In the unpressurized state, however, there is a possibility that the high temperature flux and Group III element evaporate. In order to solve this problem, it is preferable that in the early stage of stirring the flux and the Group III element to mix them together, they be stirred to be mixed together in an atmosphere of inert gas other than nitrogen, and then the stirring be continued, with the inert gas being substituted by the nitrogen-containing gas, as described above. In this case, it is preferable that the substitution be carried out gradually. The inert gas to be used herein can be argon gas or helium gas, for instance. The apparatus of the present invention is used in the method for producing Group-III-element nitride single crystals of the present invention. The apparatus includes: a means for heating a reaction vessel for preparing a flux by heating at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal and an alkaline-earth metal contained in the reaction vessel; a means for feeding nitrogen-containing gas to be used for reacting the Group III element contained in the flux and nitrogen to each other by feeding the nitrogen-containing gas into the reaction vessel; and a rocking means for rocking the reaction vessel in a certain direction by tilting the reaction vessel in one direction and then tilting it in the opposite direction to the one direction. Preferably, the apparatus is provided with a means for rotating the reaction vessel in addition to or instead of the rocking means. An example of the apparatus of the present invention is shown with the cross-sectional view in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, in this apparatus, a heating container 2 is disposed in a heat- and pressure-resistant container 1. A pipe 4 for feeding nitrogen-containing gas 7 is connected to the heating container 2. In addition, a shaft 6 that extends from a rocking device 5 also is connected to the heating container 2. The rocking device 5 is composed of a motor, a mechanism for controlling the rotation thereof, etc. An example of the production method of the present invention that is carried out using this apparatus is described below with respect to the production of GaN single crystals. First, a substrate 8 with a GaN thin film formed on the surface thereof is placed on the bottom of a reaction vessel 3. Then gallium and metal elements such as sodium, calcium, lithium, etc. to be used as a raw material of a flux are put into the reaction vessel 3. This reaction vessel 3 then is placed in the heating container 2. Thereafter, the heating container 2 as a whole is tilted with the rocking device 5 and the shaft 6, so that the surface of the thin film formed on the substrate 8 is prevented from being in contact with the gallium, the flux raw material, etc. In this state, heating is started. After the temperature becomes sufficiently high and thereby the flux is brought into a preferable state, the whole heating container 2 is rocked by the rocking device 5 and thereby the reaction vessel is rocked. An example of the flow of the flux caused by this rocking is shown in FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, the same parts as those shown in FIG. 1 are indicated with the same numerals. As shown in FIG. 2, in the reaction vessel 3 tilted to the left, the flux 9 pools on the left side on the bottom of the reaction vessel 3 and therefore is not in contact with the surface of the substrate 8. As indicated with an arrow, when the reaction vessel 3 is stood upright, the flux 9 covers the surface of the substrate 8, in a thin-film state. Further, when the reaction vessel 3 is tilted to the right, the flux 9 flows to be pooled on the right side on the bottom of the reaction vessel 3, which prevents the flux 9 from coming into contact with the surface of the substrate 8. When this motion is carried out so as to tilt the reaction vessel 3 from the right to the left, the flux 9 flows in the opposite direction to the above-mentioned direction. During this rocking, when nitrogen-containing gas 7 is fed into the heating container 2 and the reaction vessel 3 through the pipe 4, the gallium and nitrogen react with each other in the flux 9 to form gallium nitride single crystals on the surface of the gallium nitride thin film of the substrate 8. In this case, feeding of the nitrogen-containing gas may be started before the rocking motion starts or may be started after the rocking motion starts as described above. When crystal growth is completed, the reaction vessel 3 is brought into a tilted state to prevent the flux 9 from coming into contact with the gallium nitride single crystals newly obtained on the substrate 8. Then after the internal temperature of the heating container 2 has fallen, the gallium nitride single crystals are collected without being separated from the substrate 8. In this example, the substrate was placed on the center of the bottom of the reaction vessel. The present invention, however, is not limited thereto and the substrate may be placed in a place that is apart from the center. The material to be used for the reaction vessel that is employed in the production method of the present invention is not particularly limited. Examples of the material to be used herein include BN, AlN, alumina, SiC, graphite, carbon-based materials such as diamond-like carbon, etc. Among them, AlN, SiC, diamond-like carbon are preferable. Examples of the reaction vessel include a BN crucible, an AlN crucible, an alumina crucible, a SiC crucible, a graphite crucible, a crucible made of a carbon-based material such as diamond-like carbon, etc. Among them, the AlN crucible, the SiC crucible, and the diamond-like carbon crucible are preferable because they tend not to dissolve in the flux. Furthermore, a crucible whose surface is coated with such a material also may be used. In addition, the shape of the reaction vessel (or the crucible) to be used in the production method of the present invention also is not particularly limited. It, however, is preferable that the reaction vessel has a cylindrical shape and includes two projections that protrude from the inner wall thereof toward the circular center, and a substrate placed between the two projections. Such a shape allows the flux to flow concentrating on the surface of the substrate placed between the two projections when the reaction vessel is rocked. An example of this reaction vessel is shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, this reaction vessel 10 has a cylindrical shape and includes two wall-like projections 10a and 10b that protrude toward the circular center. A substrate 8 is placed between the projections 10a and 10b. The conditions for using the reaction vessel with such a shape are not limited except that the reaction vessel is rocked in the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the two projections protrude. Transparent Group-III-element nitride single crystals that are obtained by the production method of the present invention have a dislocation density of 104/cm2 or lower and a largest diameter of at least 2 cm and are transparent bulk single crystals. The single crystals preferably have a dislocation density of 102/cm2 or lower and more preferably substantially no dislocation (for instance, 101/cm2 or lower). The largest diameter of the single crystals is, for instance, at least 2 cm, preferably at least 3 cm, and more preferably at least 5 cm. The larger the largest diameter, the more preferable the single crystals. The upper limit thereof is not limited. Since the standard for bulk compound semiconductors is two inches, from this viewpoint, the largest diameter preferably is 5 cm. In this case, the largest diameter is in the range of, for instance, 2 cm to 5 cm, preferably 3 cm to 5 cm, and more preferably 5 cm. In this context, the “largest diameter” is the length of the longest line that extends between one point and another point on the periphery of the single crystals. The semiconductor device of the present invention includes the transparent Group-III-element nitride single crystals of the present invention. Preferably, the semiconductor device of the present invention includes a semiconductor layer and this semiconductor layer is formed of the transparent Group-III-element nitride single crystals of the present invention. An example of the semiconductor device of the present invention includes a field-effect transistor element in which a conductive semiconductor layer is formed on an insulating semiconductor layer, and a source electrode, a gate electrode, and a drain electrode are formed thereon. In this example, at least one of the insulating semiconductor layer and the conductive semiconductor layer is formed of the transparent Group-III-element nitride single crystals of the present invention. Preferably, this semiconductor device further includes a substrate, the field-effect transistor element is formed on the substrate, and the substrate is formed of the transparent Group-III-element nitride single crystals of the present invention. Another example of the semiconductor device of the present invention includes a light-emitting diode (LED) element including an n-type semiconductor layer, an active region layer, and a p-type semiconductor layer that are stacked together in this order, wherein at least one of the three layers is formed of the transparent Group-III-element nitride single crystals of the present invention. Preferably, this semiconductor device further includes a substrate, the light-emitting diode element is formed on the substrate, and the substrate is formed of the transparent Group-III-element nitride single crystals of the present invention. Still another example of the semiconductor device of the present invention includes a laser diode (LD) element including an n-type semiconductor layer, an active region layer, and a p-type semiconductor layer that are stacked together in this order, wherein at least one of the three layers is formed of the transparent Group-III-element nitride single crystals of the present invention. Preferably, this semiconductor device further includes a substrate, the laser diode element is formed on the substrate, and the substrate is formed of the transparent Group-III-element nitride single crystals of the present invention. EXAMPLES Next, examples of the present invention are described. Example 1 Gallium nitride single crystals were produced using the apparatus shown in FIG. 1. First, GaN thin-film crystals were formed on the surface of a sapphire substrate 8 by the MOCVD method. The substrate 8 was placed at one end (in this example, the “end” refers to a part that moves up and down when the reaction vessel is rocked) of the reaction vessel. The boron nitride reaction vessel 3 in which 2.0 g of gallium and 5.77 g of flux material (sodium) had been put was placed in the heating container 2. The temperature thereof was raised to a growth temperature of 890° C. While the temperature was raised, nitrogen gas 7 was fed into the heating container 2 through the pipe 4 to increase the pressure to a predetermined pressure. In this case, until the heating container 2 was heated to the predetermined temperature, the substrate 8 was prevented from coming into contact with the flux, with the reaction vessel 3 being tilted. The flux component was sodium only. The growth conditions included a pressure of 9.5 atm (9.5×1.013×105 Pa), a growth time of four hours, and a rocking speed of 1.5 reciprocations per minute (in terms of the number of times the substrate is rocked up and down). Since the substrate 8 was placed at one end of the reaction vessel 3, the solution covered and uncovered the surface of the substrate repeatedly when the reaction vessel 3 was rocked. After the crystal growth was completed, the reaction vessel 3 was kept tilted to prevent the substrate 8 from coming into contact with the flux. As a result of the crystal growth carried out as above, transparent bulk gallium nitride single crystals with a uniform thickness grew on the substrate 8 and had a thickness of about 15 μm as shown in the micrograph taken with the scanning electron microscope (SEM; with a magnification of 950 times) shown in FIG. 4. Thus it was proved that a growth rate exceeding 4 μm/hour was achieved. Furthermore, no undesired compounds or the like were produced in the single crystals obtained herein. Example 2 Gallium nitride single crystals were produced using the apparatus shown in FIG. 1. First, a 3-μm thick GaN film was formed on a sapphire substrate 8 by the MOCVD method. This substrate 8 was placed on one side on the bottom of the boron nitride reaction vessel 3. Then 3.0 g of gallium and a flux material (8.78 g of sodium and 0.027 g of lithium (sodium:lithium=99:1 (mol))) were put into the reaction vessel 3. This reaction vessel 3 was set in the heating container 2. The reaction vessel 3 was tilted in a certain direction to prevent the substrate surface from coming into contact with the raw material. Thereafter, nitrogen gas was fed to increase the pressure to 10 atm (10×1.013×105 Pa) and then the reaction vessel 3 was heated to 890° C. After the rise in temperature and pressure was completed, the reaction vessel 3 was rocked to allow the raw material solution to flow from side to side and thereby to allow the surface of the GaN substrate to be covered continuously with a thin layer of a mixed flux of Na and Li (at a rocking speed of 1.5 reciprocations per minute). While the reaction vessel was rocked continuously, the temperature and pressure were maintained uniformly for four hours. During this period, nitrogen gas dissolved in the film-like flux and thereby gallium and nitrogen reacted with each other. Thus, gallium nitride single crystals grew on the substrate 8. After the crystal growth was completed, the reaction vessel 3 was kept tilted to prevent the substrate 8 from coming into contact with the flux. After the temperature fell, the gallium nitride single crystals were taken out without being separated from the substrate. FIG. 5 shows a SEM micrograph (taken with a magnification of 950 times) of the gallium nitride single crystals thus obtained. In FIG. 5, “A” indicates the GaN (LPE-GaN) layer obtained herein, “B” denotes the GaN thin film formed by the MOCVD method, and “C” indicates the sapphire substrate. As shown in FIG. 5, the single crystals obtained herein were 10-μm thick gallium nitride single crystals. The single crystals had a uniform thickness and were transparent, large, and bulk crystals. With respect to the single crystals, photoluminescence (PL) emission intensity was determined. The excitation light source was a He—Cd laser with a wavelength of 325 nm and the intensity thereof was 10 mW. The temperature at which the measurement was carried out was room temperature. In addition, as a comparative example, the gallium nitride single crystals produced by the MOCVD also were subjected to the measurement of PL emission. As a result, the single crystals of the present example exhibited a PL emission intensity that was at least three times higher than that of the comparative example. Example 3 In this example, GaN single crystals were produced while the lower part of the reaction vessel was heated, which generated heat convection and thereby stirred a Na flux and Ga to mix them together, using the apparatus shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. As shown in FIG. 6, this apparatus includes a gas cylinder 11, an electric furnace 14, and a heat- and pressure-resistant container 13 placed in the electric furnace 14. A pipe 21 is connected to the gas cylinder 11 and is provided with a gas pressure controller 15 and a pressure control valve 25. A leak pipe is attached to a middle part of the pipe 21 and a leak valve 24 is disposed at the end of the leak pipe. The pipe 21 is connected to a pipe 22 that is connected to a pipe 23. The pipe 23 enters the electric furnace 14 and is connected to the heat- and pressure-resistant container 13. An electric heater 18 is attached to the outer wall of the lower part of the heat- and pressure-resistant container 13. As shown in FIG. 7, a reaction vessel 16 is disposed in the heat- and pressure-resistant container 13, and Na (0.89 g) and Ga (1.0 g) have been put in the reaction vessel 16. The lower part of the reaction vessel 16 can be heated with the electric heater 18 attached to the outer wall of the lower part of the heat- and pressure-resistant container 13. Using this apparatus, GaN single crystals were grown as follows. That is, first, nitrogen gas was fed from the gas cylinder 11 into the heat- and pressure-resistant container 13 through the pipes (21, 22, and 23) to allow the inside of the container 13 to have a pressurized atmosphere of 5 atm (5×1.013×105 Pa) while the container 13 was heated to 850° C. by the electric furnace 14. Thus, Na was dissolved and thereby a Na flux was obtained. In heating the heat- and pressure-resistant container 13, the lower part of the reaction vessel 13 was heated at 900° C. from the outer wall thereof with the electric heater 18 and thereby heat convection was generated. Thus, the Na flux and Ga were stirred to be mixed together. As a result, it was observed after the lapse of 45 hours from the start of growth that high quality GaN single crystals were produced. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY As described above, the production method of the present invention makes it possible to produce Group-III-element nitride single crystals that have a lower dislocation density and a uniform thickness and are transparent, high quality, large, and bulk crystals, with a high yield.

<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>Group-III-element nitride semiconductors are used in the fields of, for instance, hetero-junction high-speed electron devices and photoelectron devices (such as laser diodes, light-emitting diodes, sensors, etc). Particularly, gallium nitride (GaN) has been gaining attention. Conventionally, in order to obtain single crystals of gallium nitride, gallium and nitrogen gas are allowed to react with each other directly (see J. Phys. Chem. Solids, 1995, 56, 639). In this case, however, ultrahigh temperature and pressure, specifically 1300° C. to 1600° C. and 8000 atm to 17000 atm (0.81 MPa to 1.72 MPa) are required. In order to solve this problem, a technique of growing gallium nitride single crystals in a sodium (Na) flux (hereinafter also referred to as a “Na flux method”) has been developed (see, for instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,868,837). This method allows the heating temperature to be decreased considerably to 600° C. to 800° C. and also allows the pressure to be decreased down to about 50 atm (about 5 MPa). In this method, however, the resulting single crystals are blackened and there therefore is a problem of quality. Furthermore, the conventional techniques do not make it possible to produce gallium nitride single crystals that have a lower dislocation density and a uniform thickness (i.e. a substantially level crystal surface) and are transparent, high quality, large, and bulk crystals. In addition, the conventional techniques have a lower yield. That is, in the conventional techniques, the growth rate is particularly low, and even the largest diameter of the largest gallium nitride single crystals that have been reported until now is about 1 cm, which does not allow gallium nitride to be used practically. For instance, a method has been reported in which lithium nitride (Li 3 N) and gallium are allowed to react with each other to grow gallium nitride single crystals (see Journal of Crystal Growth 247(2003)275-278). However, the size of the crystals obtained using the method was only about 1 mm to 4 mm. These problems are not peculiar to gallium nitride. The same applies to semiconductors of other Group-III-element nitrides.

<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS <EOH>FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 shows cross-sectional views illustrating rocking states in an example of the production method according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of the reaction vessel according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a SEM micrograph of gallium nitride single crystals obtained in another example of the production method according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a SEM micrograph of gallium nitride single crystals obtained in still another example of the production method according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of a manufacturing apparatus that is used in another example of the production method according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the reaction vessel part of the manufacturing apparatus. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"?

20050915

20110614

20060803

60586.0

H01L21322

SONG, MATTHEW J

METHOD FOR PRODUCING GROUP-III-ELEMENT NITRIDE SINGLE CRYSTALS AND APPARATUS USED THEREIN

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

H01L

ACCEPTED

Power supply controller method and structure

A power supply controller determines the value of an input power and uses the value of the input power to regulate a value of the output voltage.

1. A method of operating a power supply system comprising: calculating an input power of a power supply system; and using the input power to regulate an output voltage of the power supply system to a desired value. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein using the input power to regulate the output voltage includes using the input power to modulate drive pulses to a power switch of the power supply system. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein calculating the input power of the power supply system includes generating a power signal that is representative of the input power and summing the power signal with a feedback signal that is representative of the output voltage. 4. The method of claim 1 further including using a signal representative of an input voltage for brow-out detection. 5. A method of forming a power supply controller: coupling the power supply controller to receive a first signal representative of an input voltage and a second signal representative of an input current and responsively form a power signal representative of an input power; coupling the power supply controller to receive a feedback signal representative of an output voltage; and coupling the power supply controller to form drive pulses to regulate the output voltage responsively to the power signal and the feedback signal. 6. The method of claim 5 wherein coupling the power supply controller to form drive pulses to regulate the output voltage responsively to the power signal and the feedback signal includes coupling the power supply controller to sum the feedback signal with the power signal. 7. The method of claim 5 wherein coupling the power supply controller to receive the first signal representative of the input voltage and the second signal representative of the input current and responsively form the power signal includes coupling a multiplier to receive the first signal and the second signal and responsively form the power signal. 8. The method of claim 5 wherein coupling the power supply controller to form drive pulses to regulate the output voltage includes coupling the power supply controller to divide the power signal by the feedback signal. 9. The method of claim 5 wherein coupling the power supply controller to form drive pulses to regulate the output voltage responsively to the power signal and the feedback signal includes coupling the power supply controller to sum the feedback signal with the power signal to form a power feedback control signal. 10. The method of claim 9 wherein coupling the power supply controller to sum the feedback signal with the power signal further includes coupling an error amplifier to receive the power feedback control signal and responsively form an error signal and also includes coupling a comparator to receive the error signal and the second signal to modulate a duty cycle of the drive pulses. 11. The method of claim 5 wherein coupling the power supply controller to form drive pulses to regulate the output voltage responsively to the power signal and the feedback signal includes coupling the power supply controller to regulate the output voltage within at least plus or minus ten per cent of a desired value. 12. The method of claim 5 wherein coupling the power supply controller to receive the first signal representative of the input voltage and the second signal representative of the input current and responsively form the power signal includes coupling a brown-out detection circuit of the power supply controller to receive the first signal. 13. The method of claim 5 wherein coupling the power supply controller to receive the first signal representative of the input voltage and the second signal representative of the input current and responsively form the power signal includes coupling the power supply controller signal to responsively form the power signal having a haversine waveform. 14. The method of claim 5 wherein coupling the power supply controller to form drive pulses to regulate the output voltage responsively to the power signal and the feedback signal includes coupling the power supply controller to maintain input power substantially constant during an overload condition. 15. A power supply controller comprising: a multiplier coupled to receive a voltage representative of an input voltage and receive a current sense signal representative of an input current and responsively form a power signal representative of an input power; a PWM controller of the power supply controller coupled to form drive pulses to regulate an output voltage; and an error block of the power supply controller coupled to receive the power signal, a feedback signal, and the current sense signal and responsively control the PWM controller to form the drive pulses. 16. The power supply controller of claim 15 wherein the error block of the power supply controller coupled to receive the power signal, the feedback signal, and the current sense signal includes an input of the power supply controller coupled to sum the power signal and the feedback signal. 17. The power supply controller of claim 15 further including a brown-out detector coupled to receive the voltage representative of the input voltage. 18. The power supply controller of claim 15 wherein the error block of the power supply controller coupled to receive the power signal, the feedback signal, and the current sense signal includes an amplifier coupled to receive the power signal and the feedback signal and responsively form a voltage on an output of the amplifier. 19. The power supply controller of claim 18 further including a comparator coupled to receive the current sense signal and the voltage on the output of the amplifier and modulate a duty cycle of the drive pulses. 20. The power supply controller of claim 15 wherein the error block of the power supply controller coupled to receive the power signal, the feedback signal, and the current sense signal includes an amplifier coupled to receive the feedback signal and responsively form an output, and also includes a divider coupled to divide the power signal by the output of the amplifier.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates, in general, to electronics, and more particularly, to methods of forming semiconductor devices and structure. In the past, the semiconductor industry utilized various methods and structures to produce power supply controllers. Typically, the power supply controllers utilized either a voltage mode or a current mode regulation technique to regulate the value of an output voltage. A voltage mode controller utilized the value of the output voltage as a feedback signal to regulate the value of the output voltage. A current mode controller utilized both the output voltage and the value of a switch current flowing through a switching transistor in order to regulate the value of the output voltage. One example of such a current mode controller is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,252,783 issued to Dong-Young Huh on Jun. 26, 2001. When the value of the output voltage decreased, such as due to an increase in load current, the controller increases the switch current in order to increase the load current. In some cases, for example a short on the output, the controller increased the load current to a value that resulted in damage to the controller and the power supply system. Accordingly, it is desirable to have a power supply controller that prevents damaging the controller under large load conditions. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a portion of an embodiment of a power system having an embodiment of a power supply controller in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a portion of embodiment of a another power supply system having an alternate embodiment of the power supply controller of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present invention; and FIG. 3 schematically illustrates an enlarged plan view of an embodiment of a semiconductor device incorporating the power supply controller in accordance with the present invention. For simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements in the figures are not necessarily to scale, and the same reference numbers in different figures denote the same elements. Additionally, descriptions and details of well-known steps and elements are omitted for simplicity of the description. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a portion of an embodiment of a power supply system 10 that includes an embodiment of a power supply controller 40 that uses the input power to system 10 in order to regulate the output voltage of system 10 and prevent damage to both controller 40 and system 10. Other components typically are connected externally to controller 40 in order to provide functionality for system 10. For example a bridge rectifier 11 which receives a source voltage from an AC source such as a household mains, an energy storage capacitors 17 and 70, a voltage divider including resistors 14 and 15 connected in series and coupled across rectifier 11, a transformer 18, a blocking diode 19, an output storage capacitor 21, an output transistor or switch transistor 26, a feedback network 29, and a current sense resistor 27 typically are connected externally to controller 40. Rectifier 11 forms a bulk voltage between connections 12 and 13 of rectifier 11 that typically is filtered by a capacitor 70 to a substantially dc waveform. Resistors 14 and 15 divide the bulk voltage formed between connections 12 and 13 down to an input voltage that is usable by controller 40. The input voltage received on input 41 typically is representative of the bulk input voltage to system 10. Controller 40 receives the input voltage and uses it for control functions performed by controller 40. The values of resistors 14 and 15 usually are selected to provide the desired functions and may also be selected to set a voltage level for brown-out detection as explained further hereinafter. Controller 40 receives the bulk input voltage as a supply voltage between a supply input 50 and a voltage return 42, and system 10 provides an output voltage between outputs 22 and 23. Controller 40 uses the supply voltage received between supply input 50 and return 42 to provide an internal operating voltage for controller 40. A load 24 typically is connected between outputs 22 and 23 to receive a load current from system 10 in addition to the output voltage. Transistor 26 typically is a switching power transistor that is connected in series between one leg of the primary of transformer 18 and resistor 27. Controller 40 has an output 46 that is connected to drive transistor 26. Current sense resistor 27 is connected in series between transistor 26 and return 42 to provide a current sense (CS) signal at a node 28. The CS signal is a voltage that is representative of a switch current 68 that flows through transistor 26, thus, representative of the input current to system 10. The current sense (CS) signal is received by controller 40 on a current sense (CS) input 43. Feedback network 29 typically is an optical coupler that provides a feedback (FB) current 33 that is representative of the output voltage between outputs 22 and 23. The optical coupler typically has a light emitting diode connected between output 22 and a reference connection 30. A reference voltage generally is applied to connection 30 so that the value of the reference voltage plus the voltage drop across the light emitting diode of network 29 is approximately equal to the desired output voltage between outputs 22 and 23. For example, a zener diode may be connected between connection 30 and output 23 to provide the desired reference voltage. The optical coupler also has an optical transistor having an emitter coupled to a feedback (FB) input 44 of controller 40 and a collector connected to a voltage terminal 16 of controller 40. Feedback network 29 may also be one of a variety of well-known feedback circuits including series connected resistors. Transformer 18, capacitor 21, capacitor 70, diode 19, rectifier 11, capacitor 17, and resistors 14 and 15 are shown to assist in describing the operation of controller 40. In most embodiments, network 29, transistor 26, transformer 18, capacitor 21, and diode 19 are external to the semiconductor die on which controller 40 is formed, although in some embodiments either or both of transistor 26 and resistor 27 may be included within controller 40. Controller 40 includes a pulse width modulated (PWM) controller or PWM 61, a reference generator or reference 47, an internal regulator 45, a multiplier 51, and an error block 69 that includes an error amplifier 52 and a current sense (CS) comparator 56. Controller 40 typically includes a driver 66 and may also include other circuits to provide additional functionality to controller 40 such as brown-out detector 48, and other well known circuitry that is not shown such as under-voltage lock-out (UVLO), leading edge blanking, soft-start, and over-voltage protection. Regulator 45 receives the supply voltage from supply input 50 and provides an internal operating voltage for the elements within controller 40 including reference 47, detector 48, PWM 61, multiplier 51, amplifier 52, and comparator 56. Although not shown for simplicity of the drawings, regulator 45 is connected between input 50 and return 42 to receive the voltage applied to input 50. Regulator 45 also has a voltage output that is connected to voltage terminal 16 in order to provide the internal operating voltage for controller 40 and for circuits external to controller 40. Reference 47 generates a voltage reference signal Vref1 that is used by amplifier 52 and may also be used elsewhere within controller 40. PWM 61 includes a clock generator or clock 62 that provides clock signals at a periodic rate, a reset dominant RS/latch 63, and control logic 64 that typically is used to modified the PWM drive signals based on other control logic such as detector 48. In most embodiments, amplifier 52 and comparator 56 are regarded as a portion of PWM 61. Clock 62 provides periodic clock pulses on an output 60 that are used to set latch 63 and form a leading edge of drive pulses applied to the gate of transistor 26 in order to turn-on or enable transistor 26. Turning-on transistor forms current 68 flowing through transistor 26 and resistor 27, and to forms the load current to load 24 and to charge capacitor 21. Latch 63 is reset to form the trailing edge of the drive pulses by the output of comparator 56 being driven to a logic high. Controller 40 is formed to use the input voltage on input 41 and the CS signal on input 43 to calculate the instantaneous value of the input power to system 10, and to use the FB signal and the average value of the system input power to regulate the value of the output voltage on outputs 22 and 23 to a desired operating value. For example, if the desired normal operating value is 3.5 volts, controller 40 uses the input power to regulate the output voltage to approximately 3.5 volts. The value of the output voltage generally is regulated to within plus or minus ten per cent (10%) of the desired value. As will be seen hereinafter, controller 40 uses the input power to assist in modulating the duty cycle of the drive pulses that are formed by PWM 61 and used to drive transistor 26. When a clock edge from clock 62 sets latch 63, controller 40 enables transistor 26 and switch current 68 flows through both transistor 26 and resistor 27 and forms the CS signal. Multiplier 51 receives the input voltage and the CS signal and responsively multiplies the two signals together to form a power sense signal as a current 67 that is representative of the instantaneous input power to system 10. Feedback network 29 generates FB current 33. Currents 33 and 67 are summed together at a node 55 to form a power FB control current 34 that is converted to a power FB control voltage by a resistor 31 and a capacitor 32. The power FB control voltage across resistor 31 represents a sum of a signal representative of the input power added to a quantity that is representative of the difference between a desired output voltage and the actual output voltage. The power FB control voltage is received by error amplifier 52 which responsively generates an error signal on an output 59. Consequently, the value of the error signal also is representative of the amount of input power required to maintain the output voltage substantially constant. Resistors 53 and 54 are used to set the gain of amplifier 52. Comparator 56 receives the error voltage and the CS signal and responsively compares the CS signal to the error signal in order to determine the appropriate value of current 68 at which to reset latch 63. Resetting latch 63 terminates the current drive pulse to transistor 26. Those skilled in the art will realize that since system 10 is operating in a mode typically referred to as discontinuous current operation, current 67 has a triangular waveshape. In other embodiments where system 10 operates in the mode typically referred to as the continuous current mode, current 67 would have a trapezoidal wave shape. Both the discontinuous and continuous current operational modes are well known to those skilled in the art. The filter of resistor 31 and capacitor 32 integrates the triangular waveform of current 67 to provide an average value of the power represented by current 67. The filter also integrates instantaneous changes in current 33 to provide an average value of the voltage represented by current 33. The time constant of the filter typically ranges between ten and one hundred (10-100) micro-seconds. When load 24 requires an increase in load current, the output voltage between outputs 22 and 23 decreases causing a corresponding decrease in current 33. The change in the output voltage represents a transition from the condition of the desired steady state output voltage value or first value to another steady state regulated voltage condition. Note that the power FB control voltage at input 44 also is at a first steady state value or first value when the output voltage is at the first value, and that the value of the power FB control voltage changes when current 33 changes, however, such change may be small. Those skilled in the art understand that completing such a transition from one steady state condition to another steady state condition may require several cycles to complete. The below description shortens the number of cycles for clarity of the description. The filter of resistor 31 and a capacitor 32 integrates the change in current 33 to form the average value of the change in voltage which causes the value of the power FB control voltage applied to amplifier 52 to decrease from the first value to a second value. The decreased second value of the power FB control voltage is received by amplifier 52. Since amplifier 52 is inverting, the voltage on output 59 increases from a first voltage to a second voltage. Amplifier 52 has a high gain, thus, a small change in the value of the voltage received by amplifier 52 results in a large change in the voltage on output 59 and a corresponding large change in current 68. In the preferred embodiment, amplifier 52 has a gain of about ten (10). When clock 62 sets latch 63, the corresponding current sense signal at input 43 is received by multiplier 51 and comparator 56. As noted previously, several cycles of such changes may be required to complete the transition between stable steady state conditions. The increased second voltage value of output 59 requires current 68 and the CS signal to increase in value before the output of comparator 56 goes high to reset latch 63. The increased value of current 68 moves the output voltage to a second steady state value that is close to the first one. As the value of current 68 and the CS signal increase, the value of current 67 also increases. The increase in current 67 sums with the decrease in current 33 to form a second steady state value for the power FB control voltage. Consequently, summing currents 33 and 67 regulates the output voltage to the desired output voltage value while controlling the amount of input power transferred to the output. As noted hereinbefore, controller 40 regulates the output voltage to a value that typically is substantially constant to within plus or minus ten per cent (10%) of the desired output voltage value. Consequently, the voltage on input 44 is also regulated to a value that is substantially constant to within plus or minus ten per cent (10%) of the value of Vref1. The increase in current 68 increases the load current in order to provide the required increased load current to load 24 and to keep capacitor 21 charged to the desired output voltage to maintain regulation of the output voltage. As indicated hereinbefore, current 68 typically has a triangular or ramp shape, thus, current 67 also has a ramp shape. The filter of resistor 31 and capacitor 32 integrate it to provide a voltage that is representative of the average value of the input power. The values of resistors 27 and 31 are also chosen to set the maximum input power for system 10. Resistor 57 and capacitor 58 are optional and assist in isolating the input to multiplier 51 to improve operation thereof. Resistor 57 and capacitor 58 also provide additional integration of the pulse of current 68. For a decrease in the load current, the same operations occur but with opposite polarity. As with the description of an increase in load current, the transition from one stable regulated state to another stable regulated state may occur over several cycles, however, the following explanation shortens the number of cycles for clarity of the description. The output voltage and current 33 increase causing the output of amplifier 52 to decrease. The subsequent drive pulses to transistor 26 are narrower due to the decrease in output 59 causing the corresponding pulses of current 68 to have a shorter duration and a lower amplitude. Current 67 decreases and sums with the increase in current 33 to form a second steady state value for the power FB control voltage and to control the amount of input power transferred to the output. The same type of regulation occurs if the bulk voltage formed between connections 12 and 13 changes while the voltage and current required by load 24 remains constant. If the bulk voltage increases or decreases, current 67 respectively decreases or increases and sums with current 33 to form a current 34 that respectively decreases or increases. Controller 40 responsively changes current 68 as described hereinbefore to regulate the output voltage. In the case of an overload condition on outputs 22 and 23, current 33 decreases to almost zero. The resulting value of output 59 increases significantly causing the next pulse of current 68 to have a much larger duration and amplitude until the CS signal equals the value on output 59. The increase in the CS signal increases the value of current 67 which sums with the decrease in current 33 to keep capacitor 32 charged and to move output 59 back toward the previous value keeping the value of output 59 substantially constant. The amount of energy delivered by the increase in current 68 is not sufficient to maintain regulation of the output voltage and the value of the output voltage decreases. However, the power delivered to load 24, thus the input power, remains substantially constant even though there is a short between outputs 22 and 23. Keeping the power substantially constant prevents damaging controller 40 and other components of system 10. For the case of an open circuit between outputs 22 and 23, the opposite occurs, that is, current 33 increases and current 67 substantially goes to zero. Controller 40 receives the increase in the value of the voltage at input 44 and uses the input power to keep the output voltage substantially constant. In order to facilitate this operation, a voltage input of regulator 45 is connected to input 50 and a voltage return of regulator 45 is connected to return 42. A Vref1 output of reference 47 is connected to a non-inverting input of amplifier 52. An inverting input of amplifier 52 is commonly connected to a first terminal of resistor 53 and a first terminal of resistor 54. A second terminal of resistor 53 is connected to output 59 of amplifier 52 and to a non-inverting input of comparator 56. An inverting input of comparator 56 is connected to input 43 and to a first terminal of resistor 57, and an output of comparator 56 is connected to the reset input of latch 63. An output of latch 63 is connected to an input of logic 64. A set input of latch 63 is connected to an output of clock 62. An output of logic 64 is connected to an input of driver 66. An output driver 66 is connected to output 46. A first input of multiplier 51 is connected to input 41 and a second input of multiplier 51 is commonly connected to a second terminal of resistor 57 and a first terminal of capacitor 58. A second terminal of capacitor 58 is connected to return 42. An output of multiplier 51 is commonly connected to the second terminal of resistor 54 and to input 44. FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a portion of an embodiment of a power supply system 90 that includes a power supply controller 91 that is an alternate embodiment of controller 40 that is described in the description of FIG. 1. System 90 is configured as a boost converter and includes an input inductor 36, a blocking diode 37, and resistors 38 and 39 connected to provide FB current 33 and the corresponding feedback voltage. The operation of controller 91 and system 90 is similar to the description of system 10. However, system 90 operates in a continuous conduction mode. The bulk voltage between connections 12 and 13 is not filtered, thus, the bulk voltage has a haversine waveform. Current 68 has a waveform that is a haversine envelope modulated with the ramp waveform formed by the enabling and disabling of transistor 26. Consequently, current 67 has a waveform that is the same waveshape as current 68. Since this is a continuous conduction mode, the ramp waveform rides on top of the haversine waveform. Also note that in this embodiment, clock 62 has an additional ramp output 65 and that generator 74 has an additional voltage reference signal (Vref2) on an output Vref2. Controller 91 includes an error block 95 that has amplifier 52, a divider 94, an adder 92, and a comparator 93. The power FB control voltage received on input 44, thus the output of amplifier 52, is representative of the output voltage and follows the increase or decrease of the output voltage. Divider 94 divides the input power by the output voltage to form a signal representative of the change in input power that is required for a change in output voltage. If the output voltage decreases, for example as a result of an increase in load current, the voltage on input 44 decreases, thus, the output of divider 94 decreases representing a need for increased input power. Conversely, an increase in the output voltage results in an increase in the output of divider 94. Adder 92 adds the ramp from clock 62 to the output of divider 94 to form a signal for modulating the duty cycle of transistor 26. Comparator 93 compares the output of adder 92 to reference voltage Vref2 to set the voltage level of the adder output at which transistor 26 will switch. FIG. 3 schematically illustrates an enlarged plan view of a portion of an embodiment of a semiconductor device 97 that is formed on a semiconductor die 96. Controller 40 is formed on die 96. Die 96 may also include other circuits that are not shown in FIG. 3 for simplicity of the drawing. Controller 40 and device 97 are formed on die 96 by semiconductor manufacturing techniques that are well know to those skilled in the art. In view of all of the above, it is evident that a novel device and method is disclosed. Included, among other features, is using the value of the input power to regulate the value of the output voltage to a desired output voltage value. Using the value of the input power to regulate the output voltage facilitates detecting a change in the bulk input voltage and changing the duty cycle to maintain a substantially constant output voltage. Additionally, using the input power also facilitates maintaining a substantially constant input power during overload conditions thereby protecting the system and controller 40 from damage. Summing the value of the feedback current and the multiplier current facilitates using a single pin of a semiconductor package to form the feedback signal for the power supply controller. Using the input voltage for both the input voltage and for brown-out detection also reduces the number of pins used on the semiconductor package. While the invention is described with specific preferred embodiments, it is evident that many alternatives and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the semiconductor arts. For example multiplier 51 can be formed to have current inputs instead of voltage inputs, and the output of multiplier 51 can be a voltage instead of a current. Additionally, multiplier 51 may be formed from a variety of implementations that are well known to those skilled in the art.

<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The present invention relates, in general, to electronics, and more particularly, to methods of forming semiconductor devices and structure. In the past, the semiconductor industry utilized various methods and structures to produce power supply controllers. Typically, the power supply controllers utilized either a voltage mode or a current mode regulation technique to regulate the value of an output voltage. A voltage mode controller utilized the value of the output voltage as a feedback signal to regulate the value of the output voltage. A current mode controller utilized both the output voltage and the value of a switch current flowing through a switching transistor in order to regulate the value of the output voltage. One example of such a current mode controller is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,252,783 issued to Dong-Young Huh on Jun. 26, 2001. When the value of the output voltage decreased, such as due to an increase in load current, the controller increases the switch current in order to increase the load current. In some cases, for example a short on the output, the controller increased the load current to a value that resulted in damage to the controller and the power supply system. Accordingly, it is desirable to have a power supply controller that prevents damaging the controller under large load conditions.

<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a portion of an embodiment of a power system having an embodiment of a power supply controller in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a portion of embodiment of a another power supply system having an alternate embodiment of the power supply controller of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present invention; and FIG. 3 schematically illustrates an enlarged plan view of an embodiment of a semiconductor device incorporating the power supply controller in accordance with the present invention. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"? For simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements in the figures are not necessarily to scale, and the same reference numbers in different figures denote the same elements. Additionally, descriptions and details of well-known steps and elements are omitted for simplicity of the description.

20050919

20081104

20061228

97240.0

G05F320

TEIXEIRA MOFFAT, JONATHAN CHARLES

POWER SUPPLY CONTROLLER METHOD AND STRUCTURE

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

G05F

ACCEPTED

Sustained-release hydrogel preparation

A sustained-release preparation is provided which comprises a drug and a bioabsorbable polymer hydrogel, wherein a concentration gradient of the drug is formed in the hydrogel. Also disclosed is a method of sustained release of a drug in vivo using the sustained-release preparation of the invention. The directionality of the drug release may be controlled by employing the sustained-release preparation of the invention. The sustained-release preparation of the invention is particularly useful as an anti-cancer agent.

1. A sustained-release preparation which comprises a drug and a bioabsorbable polymer hydrogel, wherein a concentration gradient of the drug is formed in the hydrogel. 2. The sustained-release preparation according to claim 1 wherein the hydrogel is a gelatin hydrogel. 3. A method of sustained release of a drug in vivo using a sustained-release preparation which comprises a drug and a bioabsorbable polymer hydrogel, wherein a concentration gradient of the drug is formed in the hydrogel.

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a sustained-release preparation which can control the direction of release of a drug. BACKGROUND ART In order to keep a drug concentration constant in a living body for a long period of time, a method of controlling the release by encapsulating the drug in a microcapsule or hydrogel composed of a bioabsorbable polymer which absorbs the drug has been known. Many kinds of natural or synthetic polymers such as collagen, gelatin, polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid and poly-γ-glutamic acid have been reported to be a bioabsorbable polymer which may be used to such an end. When a sustained-release preparation is embedded into a living body to allow a drug to be released, it is believed to be advantageous also in terms of alleviation of side effects when sustained release of the drug can be realized in a specified direction such as a direction from the embedded site toward the place where the lesion is present, because impairment and damage of peripheral normal tissues resulting from release of the drug toward directions other than the specified direction can be suppressed. However, although a variety of methods have been attempted hitherto in regard to control of the velocity of release, no method has been known allowing control of the direction of release. Japanese Patent No. 2702729 discloses a sustained-release embedded agent prepared by laminating or adjoining two kinds of matrices, i.e., a matrix obtained by mixing a biodegradable polymer with a biologically active substance, and a matrix comprising a biodegradable polymer alone. The object of this invention is to provide a sustained-release embedding agent enabling control of the velocity of release of a biologically active substance, but control of release directionality is not mentioned. An object of the present invention is to provide a sustained-release preparation which can control the direction of release of a drug. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present inventors found that directionality of sustained release can be controlled by producing a sustained-release preparation such that a concentration gradient of a drug is formed in a bioabsorbable polymer hydrogel that releases the drug upon degradation in vivo. Accordingly, an aspect of the invention provides a sustained-release preparation which comprises a drug and a bioabsorbable polymer hydrogel, and is characterized in that a concentration gradient of the drug is formed in the hydrogel. Preferably, the hydrogel is a gelatin hydrogel. Another aspect of the invention provides a method of sustained release of a drug in vivo using a sustained-release preparation which comprises the drug and a bioabsorbable polymer hydrogel, wherein a concentration gradient of the drug is formed in the hydrogel. Preferably, the hydrogel is gelatin hydrogel. In the sustained-release preparation of the invention, the drug interacts with the bioabsorbable polymer constituting the hydrogel, and therefore it cannot freely disperse in the hydrogel and is not released until the hydrogel itself is degraded and the polymer becomes water-soluble. More specifically, sustained release of the drug is effected upon degradation of the hydrogel, and therefore, formation of the concentration gradient of the drug in the hydrogel causes more drug to be released from the region with higher drug concentration, resulting in sustained release of the drug with directionality. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view showing release of CDDP from a CDDP-impregnated hydrogel in vitro. FIG. 2 is a view showing directionality of CDDP release from a CDDP-impregnated hydrogel. FIG. 3 is a view showing directionality of drug release from various drug-impregnated hydrogels. FIG. 4 is a view showing the tumor volume on Day 7 in an in vivo therapeutic experiment using a mouse. FIG. 5 is a view showing time course of the tumor volume in an in vivo therapeutic experiment using a mouse. FIG. 6 is a view showing a survival curve in an in vivo therapeutic experiment using a mouse. FIG. 7 is a view showing remanence of CDDP and remanence of CDDP-impregnated hydrogel under the mouse skin. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As used herein, the bioabsorbable polymer used for producing a bioabsorbable polymer hydrogel is a polymer which can form a complex through physicochemical interaction with the drug to effect sustained release, and which will be degraded by hydrolysis and oxygen degradation in vivo, or will be hydrolyzed by an action of a biologically active substance such as an enzyme present in the living body. Specific examples include bioabsorbable synthetic polymers, for example, polysaccharides such as chitin, chitosan, hyaluronic acid, alginic acid, starch and pectin, proteins such as gelatin, collagen, fibrin and albumin, polyamino acids such as poly-γ-glutamic acid, poly-L-lysine and polyarginine, and derivative thereof; or mixtures or chemical conjugates of the compounds described above, and the like. A preferable example is gelatin or a derivative thereof. A derivative as used herein refers to a substance modified to be suitable to form a complex of the drug and the bioabsorbable polymer hydrogel. Specific examples include derivatives having a guanidyl group, a thiol group, an amino group, a carboxyl group, a sulfuric acid group, a phosphoric acid group, or a hydrophobic residue such as an alkyl group, an acyl group or a benzyl group, and a low molecular hydrophobic substance or the like introduced therein. The source of the natural bioabsorbable polymer is not particularly limited, but any one derived from various animals such as humans as well as pigs, cattle, and fishes such as sharks may be used. It may be a naturally occurring polymer, or may be obtained by a fermentation process using a microorganism or a genetic recombinant procedure. Alternatively, it may be produced by chemical synthesis. As the bioabsorbable polymer, gelatin is preferably used. Gelatin can be obtained by any of various means causing denaturation, such as alkali hydrolysis, acid hydrolysis, oxygen degradation, of collagen that can be collected from any site in a body such as skin, bone or tendon of any variety of animal species including cattle, pig, and fishes, or from any commercially available collagen. Modified gelatin derived from genetic recombinant collagen may be also used. In order to achieve a more excellent effect to control sustained-release of a drug according to the invention, it is preferable that the bioabsorbable polymer hydrogel is made to be insoluble in water, whereby the release of the drug may be controlled according to the degradation properties of the bioabsorbable polymer hydrogel in vivo. More specifically, the sustained release rate of a drug may be controlled by degradation of the bioabsorbable polymer hydrogel in vivo. The bioabsorbable polymer hydrogel can be insolubilized by causing formation of a chemical crosslinking between molecules of the bioabsorbable polymer using any of a variety of chemical crosslinking agents. The chemical crosslinking agent may be glutaraldehyde, a water soluble carbodiimide such as EDC, or a condensing agent that forms a chemical bond with propylene oxide, a diepoxy compound, a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, an amino group, a thiol group, or an imidazole group. Preferably, the chemical crosslinking agent is glutaraldehyde. In addition, a chemical crosslinkage of the bioabsorbable polymer may also be formed by a thermal dehydrating treatment, ultraviolet rays, gamma rays, or electron rays. These crosslinking treatments may also be used in combination. Furthermore, the hydrogel may also be produced by a physical crosslinkage utilizing a salt crosslinkage, an electrostatic interaction, a hydrogen bond, a hydrophobic interaction or the like. The degree of crosslinking of the bioabsorbable polymer may be conveniently selected depending on the desired water content, i.e., the level of bioabsorptivity of the hydrogel. When gelatin is used as the bioabsorbable polymer, preferable range of concentration of gelatin is from 1 to 20 w/w % and the crosslinking agent in the hydrogel preparation is from 0.01 to 1 w/w %. Conditions of the crosslinking reaction are not particularly limited, however, the reaction may be carried out, for example, at 0 to 40° C., and preferably 25-30° C., for 1 to 48 hrs, and preferably 12 to 24 hrs. In general, as the concentration of gelatin and the crosslinking agent and crosslinking time are increased, degree of crosslinking of the hydrogel is increased and bioabsorptivity is diminished. Crosslinking of gelatin can also be conducted by a thermal treatment. Example of crosslinking by a thermal treatment is as follows. An aqueous gelatin solution (preferably approximately 10% by weight) is poured into a plastic dish, followed by air drying to give a gelatin film. The film is allowed to stand under a reduced pressure, preferably at approximately 10 mmHg, generally at 110 to 160° C., and preferably at 120 to 150° C., generally for 1 to 48 hrs, and preferably for 6 to 24 hrs. Alternatively, when a gelatin film is crosslinked by ultraviolet rays, the resulting gelatin film is left under a sterilization lamp usually at room temperature, and preferably at 0 to 40° C. Also, a sponge-like molded product may be obtained by freeze-drying of an aqueous gelatin solution. Crosslinking of the product can be performed similarly by a thermal treatment and ultraviolet rays, gamma rays or electron rays. Alternatively, a combination of the foregoing crosslinking methods may be used. The shape of the bioabsorbable polymer hydrogel is not particularly limited, but may be in the form of, for example, cylindrical, prismatic, sheet-like, discal, spherical and paste-like. A cylindrical, prismatic, sheet-like or discal shape is particularly suited for use as an embedded chip. Cylindrical, prismatic, sheet-like or discal gelatin hydrogel can be prepared by adding an aqueous solution of a crosslinking agent to an aqueous gelatin solution, or adding: gelatin to an aqueous solution of a crosslinking agent, then pouring the mixture into a template having a desired shape to allow for crosslinking reaction. Alternatively, an aqueous solution of a crosslinking agent may be added to a molded or a dried gelatin gel. In order to terminate the crosslinking reaction, the mixture may be brought into contact with a low molecular substance having an amino group such as ethanolamine or glycine, or an aqueous solution with pH of not higher than 2.5 may be added. For the purpose of completely eliminating the crosslinking agent and low molecular substances used in the reaction, the thus resulting gelatin hydrogel is washed with distilled water, ethanol, 2-propanol, acetone or the like. The gelatin hydrogel then is used for preparation of the formulation. The bioabsorbable polymer hydrogel of the invention can be used after cutting into an appropriate size and shape in a conventional manner, followed by freeze-drying and sterilization. The freeze-drying can be carried out by, for example, putting the bioabsorbable polymer hydrogel into distilled water, freeze-drying it in liquid nitrogen for 30 min or more, or at −80° C. for 1 hour or more, and thereafter drying it in a lyophilizer for 1 to 3 days. Examples of the drug which may be used for producing the sustained-release preparation according to the invention include, for example, antitumor agents, antimicrobial agents, anti-inflammatory agents, antiviral agents, anti-AIDS agents, low molecular drugs such as hormones, bioactive peptides, proteins, glycoproteins, polysaccharides and nucleic acids. Particularly, a drug having a molecular weight of about 10,000 or less is preferred. The drugs may be either a naturally occurring substance or a synthetic products. Examples of particularly preferable drugs include antitumor agents. Among them, platinum based antitumor agents such as cisplatin (CDDP), carboplatin, oxaliplatin, ormaplatin, CI-973 and JM-216 are suited for use in the sustained-release preparation of the invention. The containing sustained-release bioabsorbable polymer hydrogel preparation of the invention containing a drug can be obtained by, for example, adding the drug solution dropwise to the lyophilized bioabsorbable polymer hydrogel, or soaking the bioabsorbable polymer in the drug solution to allow the drug to impregnate in the hydrogel. To form a concentration gradient of the drug in the bioabsorbable polymer hydrogel, the drug solution may be added dropwise from one face of the bioabsorbable polymer hydrogel in a sheet form, or the bioabsorbable polymer hydrogel may be disposed in an apparatus, such as a diffusion chamber, between cells in which drug solutions having different drug concentration to allow for impregnation of the drug. Molar ratio of the drug to the bioabsorbable polymer is preferably about 5 or less. More preferably, molar ratio of the drug to the bioabsorbable polymer is from about 5 to about 1/104. The impregnation may be generally conducted at 4 to 37° C. for 15 min to 1 hour, and preferably at 4 to 25° C. for 15 to 30 min. During this time period, the hydrogel is swollen with drug solution, and the drug forms a complex with the bioabsorbable polymer by physicochemical interactions, leading to immobilization of the drug within the bioabsorbable polymerhydrogel. In binding of the drug and the bioabsorbable polymer hydrogel, it is believed that physical interaction such as Coulomb force, hydrogen bonding force and hydrophobic interaction, as well as a coordinate bond between a functional group or a metal on the drug and a functional group on the hydrogel may be involved alone or in conjunction. In the complex of the drug and the bioabsorbable polymer hydrogel of the invention, the drug incorporated in the complex is gradually released out from the complex as the bioabsorbable polymer hydrogel is degraded in vivo. The release rate is determined by the degree of degradation and absorption of the bioabsorbable polymer hydrogel in vivo, and the extent of strength and stability of the bond between the drug and the bioabsorbable polymer hydrogel in the complex. The degree of degradation and absorption of the bioabsorbable polymer hydrogel in vivo can be controlled by controlling the degree of the crosslinking upon production of the hydrogel. When gelatin is used as the bioabsorbable polymer, the degree of crosslinking of the hydrogel can be evaluated using water content as a marker. The water content is weight percentage of water in the hydrogel per the weight of the swollen hydrogel. As the water content becomes greater, the degree of crosslinking of the hydrogel becomes lower, and degradation becomes faster. Water content that will exhibit a desirable sustained-release effect is about 80 to 99 w/w %, and more preferably about 95 to 98 w/w %. When a negatively charged substance such as nucleic acid is used as the drug in the invention, it is preferred that the bioabsorbable polymer is positively charged so that a stable complex of the drug and the bioabsorbable polymer hydrogel can be formed. A stable bioabsorbable polymer hydrogel-drug complex is formed by strong binding (ionic bond) between the drug of negative charge and the bioabsorbable polymer of positive charge. To obtain a bioabsorbable polymer with a positive charge, an amino group or the like can be introduced into the bioabsorbable polymer to make it cationic. Accordingly, binding force between the bioabsorbable polymer hydrogel and the drug is enhanced, and thereby a more stable bioabsorbable polymer hydrogel complex can be formed. The method of the cationization is not particularly limited as long as the process enables introduction of a functional group and achieves cationization under physiological conditions. Preferred is a process of introducing a primary, secondary or tertiary amino group or an ammonium group to a hydroxyl group or a carboxyl group of the bioabsorbable polymer under mild conditions. For example, alkyl diamine such as ethylenediamine or N,N-dimethyl-1,3-diaminopropane, or trimethyl ammonium acetohydrazide, spermine, spermidine, diethylamide chloride or the like is reacted with the bioabsorbable polymer using any of various condensing agents, for example, 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride, cyanuric chloride, N,N′-carbodiimidazole, cyanogen bromide, a diepoxy compound, tosyl chloride, a dianhydride compound such as diethyltriamine-N,N,N′,N″,N″-pentanoate dianhydride, tosyl chloride or the like. Among these, a process using ethylenediamine is suitable because of convenience and versatility. To the sustained-release preparation of the invention may be added other ingredients to achieve desired qualities, such as stability of the resulting hydrogel or persistence of release of the drug. Examples of the other ingredient include amino sugars or polymers thereof, chitosan oligomers, basic amino acids or oligomers or polymers thereof, and basic polymers such as polyallyl amine, polydiethylaminoethyl acrylamide and polyethylene imine. The drug-containing bioabsorbable polymer hydrogel of the invention can be administered to a living body by any methods; however, topical administration is particularly preferred for allowing the drug to be released persistently at an intended particular site with directionality. The drug-containing bioabsorbable polymer hydrogel can be subjected to mixing with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier (stabilizing agent, preservative, solubilizer, pH adjusting agent, thickening agent and the like) to prepare the sustained-release preparation, as needed. Any known carrier may be used. Furthermore, any type of additive which further regulates the sustained release effect may also be included. When formulating the sustained-release preparation of the invention, it is further desired to carry out a sterilization step such as sterilization by filtration. The sustained-release preparation of the invention can be formulated to have any of various shapes depending on the purpose, including, for example, solid or semisolid preparation having granular, cylindrical, prismatic, sheet-like, discal, stick-like, or rod-like shape. Preferably, it is a solid preparation which is excellent in sustained release effect at the intended particular site and is suited for topical application. Additionally, it may also be used in the form of a paste preparation having fluidity. For example, the sustained-release preparation of the invention formulated to have a sheet-like shape is suited for embedding in a topical site. Also, the sustained-release preparation can be used in combination with other materials depending on the site where it is used. For example, in an attempt to fix the sustained-release preparation at a particular site, the preparation may be used after mixing with a paste substance. The dose of the preparation of the invention may be conventionally selected such that it causes a satisfactory therapeutic response. In general, the dose may be usually selected from the range of about 0.01 to about 10,00 μg, and preferably the range of about 0.1 to about 1000 μg per one adult patient. The preparation can be embedded or infused in the lesion or a peripheral site thereof. Furthermore, when the effect is insufficient with a single dose, additional dose may be administered several times. The sustained-release bioabsorbable polymer hydrogel preparation of the invention has both a sustained-release effect and a drug stabilizing effect, and therefore, the drug can be released at a desired site with controlled directionality for a long period of time. Accordingly, action of the drug is efficaciously exerted on the lesion. Disclosures of all the patents and reference documents explicitly cited herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Also, disclosure of the specification and drawings of Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-71657 that is the basic application to claim priority of the present application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The present invention will be explained in detail below by way of the Examples; however, the invention is not limited by these Examples. EXAMPLES Example 1 Preparation of Gelatin Hydrogel Sheet Gelatin employed was gelatin having an isoelectric point of 5.0 and a molecular weight of 100,000 which was derived from cattle bone and had been treated with alkali (Nitta Gelatin Inc., Osaka). A 5% aqueous gelatin solution was prepared, and added a predetermined amount of a 25% aqueous glutaraldehyde solution dropwise at room temperature. One ml of this aqueous solution was cast into a 2×2 cm2 polytetrafluoroethylene vessel, and allowed to stand at 4° C. overnight to provide a crosslinked gelatin hydrogel. In order to remove unreacted glutaraldehyde, the gel was washed with a 100 mM aqueous glycine solution for 1 hour, and further washed twice with 50 ml of double-distilled water (DDW) for 1 hour each. After freezing at −80° C. for 3 hours, it was dried in a lyophilizer for 48 hrs to obtain a crosslinked gelatin sheet. Measurement of water content was conducted as follows. Lyophilized hydrogel sheet was allowed to swell by immersing it in 20 ml of phosphate buffered saline (PBS, pH 7.4) at 37° C. for 24 hrs. After swelling, water on the surface of the sheet was removed using cartridge paper, and the weight (Ws) was measured. Then, the sheet was dried in a vacuum drying oven (type DN-30S, SATO VAC Inc., Tokyo) at 60° C. for 6 hrs, and the sheet weight thereafter (Wd) was measured. Water content was calculated as: ((Ws−Wd)/Ws)×100 Gelatin hydrogels having various water content were obtained by varying concentration of glutaraldehyde in production of the hydrogel. Glutaraldehyde Water content in concentration (μl/mL) gelatin hydrogel (%) Ws/Wd 1.25 97.4 38.7 2.50 94.0 14.7 3.75 90.4 10.7 15.0 87.0 8.15 As a Comparative Example, a 1.5 wt % aqueous solution of poly-γ-glutamic acid (molecular weight: 60,000) was prepared, and added ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (Nagase Chemicals, Ltd, Denacol EX-100) in an amount of 50 wt %. The mixture was left to stand at room temperature for 24 hrs to allow for a crosslinking reaction to proceed. The epoxy-crosslinked gel thus obtained was washed twice with DDW for 1 hour, and freeze-dried to provide a crosslinked poly-γ-glutamic acid hydrogel sheet. This polyglutamic acid hydrogel had a water content of 98%. Cationized gelatin was produced as follows. Gelatin (manufactured by Nitta Gelatin Inc., derived from pig skin; molecular weight: 100,000; isoelectric point: 9) in an amount of 10 g was dissolved in 0.1 M phosphate buffer to prepare a 4% (w/w) solution. It was mixedwith 27.9 g of ethylenediamine, and pH of the mixture was adjusted to 5.0 with hydrochloric acid. After adding 5.3 g of 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiumide, the mixture was adjusted to 500 mL with a phosphate buffer. After the reaction at 37° C. for 18 hrs, the mixture was dialyzed against ultra pure water using a cellulose tube (fractionation molecular weight: 12000-14000). Ultra pure water was exchanged 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 36 and 48 hrs after beginning of the dialysis to eliminate unreacted ethylenediamine and 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide. The thus resulting sample was freeze-dried to obtain cationized gelatin. The degree of cationization of gelatin was determined by quantitative determination of amino group of cationized gelatin by a TNBS method, demonstrating that 47% of carboxyl groups of gelatin used in the reaction were converted into amino groups. Example 2 Preparation of CDDP-Impregnated Gelatin Hydrogel Sheet CDDP (Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd., Tokyo) was used as the drug incorporated in the sustained-release preparation. Using an ultrasonic homogenizer (Ultrasonic generator MODEL US150, Nisei), a 2 mg/ml aqueous CDDP solution was prepared. This aqueous CDDP solution was added dropwise to the central part of the gelatin sheet or the poly-γ-glutamic acid sheet, which was allowed to stand at room temperature for 24 hrs to impregnate CDDP into the gelatin sheet or the poly-γ-glutamic acid sheet. The amount of the aqueous solution used in this procedure was sufficient to cause swelling of the whole sheet uniformly. Thereafter, EOG sterilization was carried out at 40° C. for 24 hrs. The thus resulting CDDP-impregnated sheet was mounted on an scanning electron microscope (SEM) sample platform with a adhesive double coated tape. After platinum coating with a vapor deposition apparatus, the sheet surface was observed with a SEM (Hitachi, Model S-450, Hitachi, Ltd., Tokyo). Conditions of SEM were: voltage of 15 kV, and magnification of 30 to 200 times. On the surface of and inside the sheet to which CDDP was added dropwise, a lot of crystals of CDDP were found on the sheet material surface. To the contrary, no CDDP crystals were found on the back face of the sheet. Every sheet was found to be similar. Example 3 In Vitro Release Experiment The thus resulting gelatin sheet of 2×2 cm following impregnation of the aqueous CDDP solution (water content: 97%) was placed in 10 ml of a phosphate buffer (PBS, pH 7.4) containing 0.1% Twwen80, and shaken in a 37° C. incubator at 60 rpm/min. At a predetermined time, 5 ml of the supernatant was taken out. The same amount of 0.1% Tween80/PBS was immediately added to the sheet and put back in the incubator. Pt concentration in the samples was quantitatively determined three times using an atomic absorption photometer (Hitachi Model Z-8000, Hitachi, Ltd., Tokyo). The results are shown in FIG. 1. CDDP remained in the gel even after 24 hrs, suggesting that release of CDDP in the gel toward PBS by way of simple diffusion was suppressed by physicochemical interaction of CDDP with the gelatin molecule created during the impregnation process. It was found that CDDP is entirely released after approximately 3 hrs when no such interaction was created. However, release was not completely suppressed regardless of the water content, and approximately 10 to 40% of the CDDP was released. It is believed that higher water content resulted in the presence of more gelatin molecules that do not participate in crosslinkage, and therefore, CDDP was released together with uncrosslinked water soluble gelatin even under conditions in which crosslinked hydrogel is not degraded in PBS. Next, in order to study the difference in release from the sheet face on which CDDP was added dropwise (impregnated side) and from the unimpregnated side, a diffusion chamber model was employed. To each well of the diffusion chamber was charged 4 ml of PBS containing 0.1% Tween80, and was shaken under conditions similar to those in the aforementioned in vitro release experiment. At a predetermined time, 2 ml was taken out from each well, and to the well was immediately added the same amount of 0.1% Tween80/PBS. Quantitative determination of Pt concentration was conducted by measurement using an atomic absorption photometer in a similar manner to that described above. The results are shown in FIG. 2. In the Figure, (+) shows the side to which CDDP was added dropwise of the gelatin sheet, while (−) shows the reverse side. In either case where water content of gelatin is 94% or 87%, explicit directionality of CDDP release was found. The difference was more marked in case where water content of the gelatin sheet was 94%. It is believed that this result was obtained because a gradient of the amount of immobilized CDDP molecules was generated in the hydrogel. More specifically, as CDDP permeates through the hydrogel, CDDP is progressively trapped through interaction with the gelatin molecules. In impregnation of the drug, this interaction is caused on the side of the sheet to which CDDP was added dropwise, thereby generating a gradient of the amount of immobilized CDDP within the sheet. However, because gelatin molecules that do not participate in crosslinkage are present within the hydrogel, CDDP interacting with this water soluble uncrosslinked gelatin is released into PBS through the aqueous phase in the hydrogel even under the in vitro condition in which hydrogel is not degraded. Directionality of the release is believed to be generated accordingly. Under conditions in which gelatin is degraded, the hydrogel is degraded uniformly, there is uniform solubilization of gelatin in water, and CDDP interacting with gelatin is released from the hydrogel. Also in this case, directionality in release is achieved. As in the foregoing, it was revealed that direction of CDDP release can be controlled by using the CDDP-impregnated gelatin hydrogel sheet according to the invention. Next, directionality of release of each drug from CDDP-impregnated poly-γ-glutamic acid, adriamycin-impregnated cationized gelatin and DNA oligomer-impregnated cationized gelatin sheet was investigated. The release experiment was carried out with the same method as described above. Calibration curves of concentration versus absorbance at 529 nm for adriamycin and absorbance at 260 nm for DNA oligomer were prepared, respectively, and the amount of the release was calculated therefrom. Results are shown in FIG. 3. In the Figure, open square represents adriamycin-containing gelatin (+); filled square represents adriamycin-containing gelatin (−); open triangle represents DNA oligomer-containing cationized gelatin (+); filled triangle represents DNA oligomer-containing cationized gelatin (−); open circle represents CDDP-containing poly-γ-glutamic acid (+); and filled circle represents CDDP-containing poly-γ-glutamic acid (−), where each (+) represents the side to which the drug was added dropwise, while (−) represents the reverse side thereof. Although difference in the amount of release was found to be dependent on combination of the drug and gel, clear directionality of release of the drug was found in any of the combinations of the drug and the hydrogel. Difference in amount of release depending on type of the drug is believed to result from the difference in strength of interaction between gelatin and the drug. Example 4 In Vivo Therapeutic Experiment Experimental animal employed was 6-weeks old female CDF1 (BALB/c×DBA/2) mouse. The animal was previously fed for 1 week. In the feeding condition, the animal was permitted to freely take solid feed and tap water in day/night cycle of 12 hours under an SPF environment over the entire period of the experiment. McthA fibrosarcoma cells were transplanted into CDF1 mouse abdominal cavity, subcultured and maintained. The cells were suspended at 1×107 cells/ml, and 0.1 ml of the suspension was subcutaneously inoculated to left abdominal area of the animals. One week later, tumor volume of 45-55 mm3 was ascertained, and the therapy was initiated. The experiment was carried out on the following groups (dose of CDDP (μg) is indicated in parentheses): untreated group; aqueous CDDP solution intraabdominally administered group (ip (80)); aqueous CDDP solution intratumorally administered group (it (20), it (40), it (80)); sheet group (S (0), S (20), S (40), S (80)). With respect to intraabdominally administered group, the aqueous CDDP solution was prepared just before use with the aforementioned ultrasound. The solution of a total volume of 0.1 ml containing a predetermined dose of the drug was administered. In the intratumorally administered group, a 2 mg/ml aqueous solution of CDDP was prepared just before administration with the aforementioned ultrasonic wave. Following anesthesia by intraabdominal administration of pentobarbital (10 mg/kg), the solution was administered to the central part of the tumor using a microsyringe. Administration was carried out over 30 seconds, and after fixing the syringe for another 30 seconds at the same part following administration, the syringe was drawn off. With respect to the sheet group, four kinds of gelatin sheets with the impregnation amount of CDDP of 0, 20, 40, 80 μg were prepared as described above. The sheet of 1×1 cm2 was soaked in the CDDP solution for 24 hours and freeze-dried. Water content of the gelatin sheet was 94%. Following anesthesia by intraabdominal administration of pentobarbital, a pocket was produced between the tumor and the peritoneum tissue by incising the skin in a lateral direction 1 cm below the tumor. The sheet was inserted into the pocket, and four corners were fixed by suture with a 5-0 nylon thread. Thereafter, the skin was sutured with a 5-0 nylon thread. Measurement of the tumor diameter and body weight was carried out 3 days, 7 days, 10 days and 14 days after surgery. The tumor diameter was measured using a caliper, and the tumor volume was calculated with the formula: major axis×minor axis×thickness×½ Survival curve was produced with a Kaplan Meier method, and tested with a Logrank test. Tumor volume on day 7 is shown in FIG. 4. Also, time course of the tumor volume is shown in FIG. 5. In the Figures, filled diamond represents untreated group; open triangle represents it (40); open circle represents it (80); filled square represents S (0); x represents S (40); and filled circle represents S (80). Survival curves are shown in FIG. 6. In the Figure, open circle represents untreated group; open square represents it (40), open diamond represents it (80); open triangle represents S (40); and open circle represents S (80). # indicates P<0.01 for the untreated group, it (40) and it (80). *indicates P<0.05 for S (80). It is revealed that tumor growth was significantly suppressed and survival rate was improved by using the CDDP-impregnated gelatin sheet of the invention, compared to the case where the same amount of CDDP was intraabdominally administered in an aqueous solution. Example 5 Pharmacokinetics In a similar manner to Example 4, 40 μg of CDDP in a solution was intraabdominally administered, or a gelatin sheet impregnated with CDDP was administered to tumor-bearing mouse. After a predetermined time passed, the mouse was sacrificed, and the tumor tissue, and blood, kidney, liver and spleen tissues, as well as the sheet for the sheet group was quickly removed. Pt concentration in each tissue was measured with the above-referenced atomic absorption spectroscopy. Additionally, weight of the gel sheet which had been concomitantly removed was measured. Results are shown in FIG. 7. As is seen from the Figure, both Pt concentration in the tissues and the sheet weight decreased in a time dependent manner, and a significant agreement was found in the time course, suggesting that CDDP was released with degradation of the gel. It is believed that initial increase in weight of the hydrogel was caused by the embedded hydrogel being swollen with the body fluid, and the impregnated CDDP was released thereafter, due to degradation of the hydrogel by enzymatic action in vivo.

<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>In order to keep a drug concentration constant in a living body for a long period of time, a method of controlling the release by encapsulating the drug in a microcapsule or hydrogel composed of a bioabsorbable polymer which absorbs the drug has been known. Many kinds of natural or synthetic polymers such as collagen, gelatin, polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid and poly-γ-glutamic acid have been reported to be a bioabsorbable polymer which may be used to such an end. When a sustained-release preparation is embedded into a living body to allow a drug to be released, it is believed to be advantageous also in terms of alleviation of side effects when sustained release of the drug can be realized in a specified direction such as a direction from the embedded site toward the place where the lesion is present, because impairment and damage of peripheral normal tissues resulting from release of the drug toward directions other than the specified direction can be suppressed. However, although a variety of methods have been attempted hitherto in regard to control of the velocity of release, no method has been known allowing control of the direction of release. Japanese Patent No. 2702729 discloses a sustained-release embedded agent prepared by laminating or adjoining two kinds of matrices, i.e., a matrix obtained by mixing a biodegradable polymer with a biologically active substance, and a matrix comprising a biodegradable polymer alone. The object of this invention is to provide a sustained-release embedding agent enabling control of the velocity of release of a biologically active substance, but control of release directionality is not mentioned. An object of the present invention is to provide a sustained-release preparation which can control the direction of release of a drug.

<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>FIG. 1 is a view showing release of CDDP from a CDDP-impregnated hydrogel in vitro. FIG. 2 is a view showing directionality of CDDP release from a CDDP-impregnated hydrogel. FIG. 3 is a view showing directionality of drug release from various drug-impregnated hydrogels. FIG. 4 is a view showing the tumor volume on Day 7 in an in vivo therapeutic experiment using a mouse. FIG. 5 is a view showing time course of the tumor volume in an in vivo therapeutic experiment using a mouse. FIG. 6 is a view showing a survival curve in an in vivo therapeutic experiment using a mouse. FIG. 7 is a view showing remanence of CDDP and remanence of CDDP-impregnated hydrogel under the mouse skin. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"?

20060526

20140708

20061109

69361.0

A61K922

SASAN, ARADHANA

SUSTAINED-RELEASE HYDROGEL PREPARATION

SMALL

ACCEPTED

A61K

ACCEPTED

Grain-oriented electrical steel sheet excellent in magnetic characteristic and its manufacturing method

The present invention provides a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet with an extremely low core loss by scanning by a small focused laser beam spot and a method of production of the same, that is, a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet improved in electrical characteristics by scanning by a continuous wave fiber laser of the TEM00 mode with a wavelength λ of 1.07≦λ≦2.10 μm substantially perpendicular to the steel sheet rolling direction and at substantially constant spacing and a method of production of the same, wherein a rolling direction focused spot diameter d (mm) of the irradiated beam, a linear scan rate V (mm/s) of the laser beam, an average output P (W) of the laser, a width of the formed laser scribing traces or with of the electrical domains Wl (mm), and a rolling direction Pl (mm) of the laser scribing traces are in the following ranges: 0<d≦0.20 0.001≦P/V≦0.012 0<Wl≦0.20 1.5≦Pl≦11.0

1. A method of production of a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet superior in magnetic characteristics improving the core loss by forming lined closure domains substantially perpendicular to the rolling direction of the steel sheet and at substantially constant line spacing by scanning continuous wave laser beam, said method of production of grain-oriented electrical sheet characterized in that the laser is of a TEM00 mode with an intensity profile of the laser beam in a cross-section perpendicular to the direction of beam propagation having a maximum intensity near the center of the optical axis and in that the focused beam spot diameter in rolling direction d (mm), a linear scan rate V (mm/s) of the laser beam, and an average output P (W) of the laser are in the following ranges: 0<d≦0.2 0.001≦P/V≦0.012 2. A method of production of a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet superior in magnetic characteristics as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that said d, V, and P are in the following ranges: 0.010≦d≦0.10 0.001≦P/V≦0.008 3. A method of production of a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet superior in magnetic characteristics as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that said d, V, and P are in the following ranges: 0.010<d≦0.060 0.002≦P/V≦0.006 4. A method of production of a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet superior in magnetic characteristics as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that said d, V, and P are in the following ranges: 0.010<d<0.040 0.002≦P/V≦0.006 5. A method of production of a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet superior in magnetic characteristics as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that when the focused beam spot diameter in rolling direction is d, the spot diameter in the direction perpendicular to that is dc, and the laser average output is P, the instantaneous peak power density Ip (kW/mm2) is defined as Ip=P/(d×dc) and the range of Ip is 0<Ip≦100 kW/mm2. 6. A method of production of a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet superior in magnetic characteristics as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that said laser apparatus is based on a continuous wave fiber laser apparatus with an emission wavelength λ of 1.07≦λ≦2.10 μm. 7. A method of production of a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet superior in magnetic characteristics as set forth in claim 6, characterized in that said laser apparatus is a continuous wave fiber laser with an average output of 10 W or more. 8. A grain-oriented electrical steel sheet superior in magnetic characteristics improving the core loss characteristic by forming linear closure domains substantially perpendicular to the rolling direction of the steel sheet and at substantially constant spacing by scanning by a continuous wave laser beam, said grain-oriented electrical sheet characterized in that a rolling direction width Wl of a laser beam scribing trace and/or linear closure domain is 0<Wl≦0.2 mm. 9. A grain-oriented electrical steel sheet superior in magnetic characteristics as set forth in claim 8, characterized in that a rolling direction width Wl of a laser beam scribing trace and/or linear closure domain is 0.01≦Wl≦0.1 mm. 10. A grain-oriented electrical steel sheet superior in magnetic characteristics as set forth in claim 8, characterized in that a rolling direction width Wl of a laser beam scribing trace and/or linear closure domain is 0.01≦Wl≦0.04 mm. 11. A grain-oriented electrical steel sheet superior in magnetic characteristics as set forth in claim 8, characterized in that a rolling direction spacing Pl of the laser beam linear scribing trace and/or linear closure domains is 1.5≦Pl≦11.0 mm 12. A grain-oriented electrical steel sheet superior in magnetic characteristics as set forth in claim 8, characterized in that a rolling direction spacing Pl of the laser beam linear scribing trace and/or linear closure domains is 3.0≦Pl≦7.0 mm.

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet superior in electrical characteristics and a method of production of the same. BACKGROUND ART Grain-oriented electrical steel sheets with electrical easy axes oriented in the rolling direction are being used as transformer core materials. As a method of production of such a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet, Japanese Patent Publication (B) No. 6-19112 discloses the method of irradiating a YAG laser substantially perpendicular to the rolling direction to introduce periodic linear stress fields in the rolling direction and thereby reduce the core loss. The principle of this method is that the closure domains formed due to the surface stress caused by scanning by the laser beam finely refine the 180° electrical domain wall spacing and that abnormal eddy current loss is reduced. This is called “electrical domain refinement”. In the past, various methods have been disclosed regarding this technology. For example, Japanese Patent Publication (A) No. 6-57333 discloses a method of using a periodic-pulse CO2 laser, while Japanese Patent Publication (B) No. 6-19112 discloses a method of using a continuous wave YAG laser and defining the irradiated beam spot diameter, power, scan rate, etc. so that no surface scribing traces occur. In each method, it is disclosed that by limiting the irradiating conditions to specific ranges, the core loss improvement (i.e. reduction) is enhanced. These methods are currently being put to actual use. However, the need for reduction of the core loss of transformer cores remains high. Further, a method of producing low core loss electrical steel sheet at a high efficiency has been desired. “Core loss” is mainly the total of the classical eddy current loss, abnormal eddy current loss, and hysteresis loss. Classical eddy current loss is loss substantially determined by the sheet thickness. The loss changing due to the laser electrical domain refinement is the abnormal eddy current loss and hysteresis loss. The closure domains imparted by laser electrical domain refinement finely refine the 180° electrical domain wall spacing and reduce the abnormal eddy current loss, but become factors causing the hysteresis loss to increase. Accordingly, forming closure domains as narrow as possible in the rolling direction keeps down the increase in the hysteresis loss and results in the total core loss becoming lower. However, if closure domains are too narrow, the effect of refining the electrical domains becomes small, As a result, as described in Japanese Patent Publication (B) No. 6-19112, when using a YAG laser, if making the irradiated beam spot diameter extremely small, even if adjusting the linear scan rate or laser power of the laser beam, there was the problem that a significant effect of improvement of the core loss could not be obtained. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet reduced sharply in core loss by scanning by a small focused laser beam spot and a method of production of the same. Its gist is as follows: (1) A method of production of a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet superior in electrical characteristics improving the core loss characteristic by forming linear closure domains substantially perpendicular to the rolling direction of the steel sheet and at substantially constant line spacing by scanning with a continuous wave laser beam, the method of production of grain-oriented electrical sheet characterized in that the laser is of a TEM00 mode with an intensity profile of the laser beam in a cross-section perpendicular to the direction of beam propagation having a maximum intensity near the center of the optical axis and in that the focused beam spot diameter in rolling direction d (mm) of the irradiated beam, a linear scan rate V (mm/s) of the laser beam, and an average output P (W) of the laser are in the following ranges: 0<d≦0.2 0.001≦P/V≦0.012 (2) A method of production of a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet superior in electrical characteristics as set forth in (1), characterized in that the d, V, and P are in the following ranges: 0.010≦d≦0.10 0.001≦P/V≦0.008 (3) A method of production of a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet superior in electrical characteristics as set forth in (1), characterized in that the d, V, and P are in the following ranges: 0.010<d≦0.060 0.002≦P/V≦0.006 (4) A method of production of a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet superior in electrical characteristics as set forth in (1), characterized in that the d, V, and P are in the following ranges: 0.010<d<0.040 0.002≦P/V≦0.006 (5) A method of production of a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet superior in electrical characteristics as set forth in any one of (1) to (4), characterized in that when the focused beam spot diameter in rolling direction is d, the spot diameter in the direction perpendicular to that is dc, and the laser average output is P, the instantaneous peak power density Ip (kW/mm2) is defined as Ip=P/(d×dc) and the range of Ip is 0<Ip≦100 kW/mm2. (6) A method of production of a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet superior in electrical characteristics as set forth in any one of (1) to (4), characterized in that the laser apparatus is based on a continuous wave fiber laser apparatus with an emission wavelength λ of 1.07≦λ≦2.10 μm. (7) A method of production of a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet superior in electrical characteristics as set forth in (6), characterized in that the laser apparatus is a continuous wave fiber laser with an average output of 10 W or more. (8) A grain-oriented electrical steel sheet superior in electrical characteristics improving the core loss characteristic by forming linear closure domains substantially perpendicular to the rolling direction of the steel sheet and at substantially constant line spacing by scanning with a continuous wave laser beam, the grain-oriented electrical sheet characterized in that a rolling direction width Wl of a laser beam scribing trace and/or linear closure domain is 0<Wl≦0.2 mm. (9) A grain-oriented electrical steel sheet superior in electrical characteristics as set forth in (8), characterized in that a rolling direction width Wl of a laser beam scribing trace and/or linear closure domain is 0.01≦Wl≦0.1 mm. (10) A grain-oriented electrical steel sheet superior in electrical characteristics as set forth in (8), characterized in that a rolling direction width Wl of a laser beam scribing trace and/or linear closure domain is 0.01≦Wl≦0.04 mm. (11) A grain-oriented electrical steel sheet superior in magnetic characteristics as set forth in any one of (8) to (10), characterized in that a rolling direction line spacing Pl of the laser beam linear scribing trace and/or linear closure domains is 1.5≦Pl≦11.0 mm (12) A grain-oriented electrical steel sheet superior in magnetic characteristics as set forth in any one of (8) to (10), characterized in that a rolling direction line spacing Pl of the laser beam linear scribing trace and/or linear closure domains is 3.0≦Pl≦7.0 mm. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a graphical representation of the dependency of core loss improvement on the parameter of the ratio of the power and scan rate. FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of the laser irradiating method according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a TEMOO mode. FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a multi-mode. FIG. 5 is a view of the results of calculation of the temperature profile near the surface of the steel sheet due to focusing and irradiating of a TEM00 mode beam in the scope of the present invention. FIG. 6(a) is a view of the results of calculation of the temperature profile near the surface of the steel sheet due to focusing and irradiating of a TEM00 mode beam in the scope of the present invention in the case where the P/V is relatively high. FIG. 6(b) is a cross-sectional micrograph of a steel sheet under the laser irradiating conditions of FIG. 6(a). FIG. 7 is a view of the results of calculation of the temperature profile near the surface of the steel sheet due to focusing and irradiating of a multi-mode beam. FIG. 8 is a view of results of calculation of the temperature profile of FIG. 5 and FIG. 7 compared with the change in temperature in the depth direction at the beam center. FIG. 9(a) is an optical micrograph of the surface showing a typical laser scribing trace of the present invention, while FIG. 9(b) is an SEM micrograph of the magnetic domain structure. FIG. 10 is a view of the relationship between core loss improvement and the P/V. FIG. 11 is a view of the relationship between the Wl approximated by the laser scribing trace width and core loss improvement. FIG. 12 is a view of the relationship between the rolling direction line spacing, the distance between two adjacent lines, Pl of the laser scribing traces and core loss improvement. FIG. 13 is a view of the relationship between the Ip and the interlayer current after coating. BEST MODE FOR WORKING THE INVENTION Below, embodiments will be used to explain the effects of the present invention and the reasons for manifestation of those effects. FIG. 2 is a view explaining the method of irradiating a laser beam according to the present invention. A laser beam 1 is output from a not shown fiber laser apparatus. A “fiber laser” is a laser apparatus which uses a semiconductor laser as an excitation source and where the fiber core itself emits the light. The output beam diameter is restricted by the diameter of the fiber core. In this regard, the laser beam output from a laser resonator is a superposition of beam modes having various intensity profiles as determined by the wavelength, diameter of the active media, curvature of the resonator mirror, etc. These modes are expressed by different order Gaussian modes. The larger the cross-section of the beam able to be generated in a resonator, the higher order the mode generated up to. A commonly used YAG laser etc. can generate this plurality of modes simultaneously, so its beam is called a “multi-mode beam”. FIG. 4 shows a typical multi-mode intensity profile. On the other hand, in the case of a fiber laser, by using a single mode fiber with a fiber core diameter of about 0.01 mm, the modes which can be generated are restricted and single mode generation at the lowest order can be easily realized. This mode substantially corresponds to the Gaussian profile and is generally referred to as the TEM00 mode. The TEM00 mode, as shown in FIG. 3, is a Gaussian profile having a maximum intensity centered along the optical axis. When focusing this beam, even the focused point has the same intensity profile. As an indicator of the mode of a beam, a beam quality factor M2 is used. The theoretically calculated value of M2 of the TEM00 mode is 1.0. As the order of the mode becomes higher, M2 increases. The M2of a beam obtained by the above-mentioned single mode fiber laser is not more than 1.1 or is substantially the ideal TEM00 mode. The M2 value of a commonly used multi-mode YAG laser etc. is 20 or more. Therefore, the TEM00 mode of the laser beam used in the present invention includes a mode where the intensity profile is a substantially Gaussian profile. The M2 value corresponds to 2 or less. In an embodiment of the present invention, the TEM00 mode laser beam 1 output from the fiber laser apparatus, as shown in FIG. 2, is made to scan along the X direction of the grain-oriented electrical steel sheet 4 by using a scan mirror 2 and an fθ lens 3. Note that the “X direction” is the direction substantially perpendicular to the rolling direction of the grain-oriented electrical steel sheet. The beam spot diameter d at the focused point is about 0.05 mm. The “beam spot diameter” is defined as the beam spot diameter at which 86% of the laser power is contained. The linear scan rate V of the beam is 3000 to 16000 mm/s. The laser average output is fixed at 32 W. Further, rolling direction irradiating Pl is 5 mm. The stress fields generated by the laser irradiating may be considered to be dependent on the density of the energy input to the surface of the steel sheet, so the inventors took note of the P/V (J/mm) between the laser average output P (W=J/s), a parameter proportional to the input energy density in beam scanning, and the scan rate V (mm/s). FIG. 1 shows results of an experiment investigating the relationship between the P/V and rate of improvement of the core loss in the present embodiment. The core loss improvement η, the rate of improvement of the core loss, is defined by the following equation from the core loss values W17/50 (W/kg) before and after laser irradiating. η={(W17/50 before laser irradiating−W17/50 after laser irradiating)/W17/50 before laser irradiating}×100 (%) Here, W17/50 is the value of the core loss at a magnetic field strength of 1.7 T and a frequency of 50 Hz. The thickness of the sample of the grain-oriented electrical steel sheet used in the present embodiment is 0.23 mm. The range of W17/50 before laser irradiating is 0.85 to 0.90 W/kg. From FIG. 1, it is learned that at the TEM00 mode with a focused spot diameter d of 0.05 mm, when the P/V is in the range of 0.0065 J/mm or less, that is, under high speed scanning conditions where the linear scan rate V is over 5000 mm/s, core loss improvement particularly increases and a high value over 8% is obtained. On the other hand, with this focused spot diameter, under conditions of a value of P/V of 0.0065 J/mm or more and a scan rate of 5000 mm/s or less, core loss improvement tends to fall. The surface of steel sheet was examined in detail under such conditions, whereupon it was found that the laser irradiated regions melted and resolidified. At such resolidified regions, an excessive tensile stress is generated, so the hysteresis loss remarkably increases. Therefore, according to the method of the present invention, a superior core loss is obtained even in a region of a very small focused beam spot diameter of 0.05 mm or so where the core loss deteriorated in the past even if adjusting the laser average output and scan rate. Further, since a rate of improvement of the core loss greater than the past is obtained at a range of power lower than or a range of scan rate higher than the conditions disclosed as optimal in the prior art using an equivalent level of a small focused beam spot diameter (Japanese Patent Publication (B) No. 06-19112), not only are the characteristics superior, but also a high efficiency, high speed process can be realized. The reason why the method of the present invention enables such superior characteristics and efficiency to be obtained is understood as follows. The ideal of magnetic domain refinement is to suppress an increase in hysteresis loss in closure domains narrow in the rolling direction and to give strength to the narrow closure domains sufficiently to enable refining of the 180° magnetic domain. The source of the closure domains is the stress fields caused by the laser irradiation. The inventors believed that the stress fields was due to the temperature profile near the surface of the steel sheet and in particular was dependent on the temperature to be reached and the temperature gradient. Further, they believed that the spatial profile of the temperature of the laser irradiated regions was affected by the spatial intensity profile of the laser beam. Therefore, they considered the beam modes and estimated the temperature profile of laser irradiated regions under steady conditions in the case of scanning by a continuous wave laser by using a heat conduction simulation. The calculation parameters here are the beam mode, laser average output P, and linear scan rate V. FIG. 5 shows the results of calculation of the temperature profile at conditions corresponding to the conditions of the present invention, that is, a TEM00 mode, a focused spot diameter d of 0.05 mm, an average output of 32 W, and a linear scan rate of 8000 mm/s. Further, the coordinates x, y, z correspond to the coordinates shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 6(a) shows the results of calculation of the temperature profile under conditions of a linear scan rate V=4000 mm/s and P/V=0.008. Note that the rest of the conditions are the same as in FIG. 5. Further, FIG. 6(b) is a micrograph of a cross-section of a sample of a steel sheet obtained under these experimental conditions and reveals a melted region at the surface. FIG. 7 shows the results of calculation in the case of a multi-mode. The rest of the conditions are the same as in FIG. 3. Melted regions are seen at the surface. Further, FIG. 8 shows results of a comparison of the results of calculation of FIG. 5 and FIG. 7 with the change in temperature in the depth direction at the beam center. From the comparison of FIG. 5 and FIG. 7 and from FIG. 8, even when the focused spot diameters are the same, the spacing between isotherms are narrower and the gradient of the temperature profile is greater in the case of the TEM00 mode compared with the multi-mode. Further, it is deduced that the depth of penetration of the high temperature regions of the 600° C. level is shallow and the high temperature regions concentrate near the beam center. According to experiments of the inventors, if annealing a steel sheet refined in magnetic domains by laser irradiating to remove stress at a temperature of 500° C. or more, the effect of magnetic domain refinement ends up being lost. Therefore, at the time of laser irradiating, it seemed necessary to go through a temperature history of this temperature or more. The isotherms of this temperature region are believed to affect the shape of the closure domains. Further, the sharper the temperature gradient, the greater the amount of stress, so in the case of the TEM00 mode strong stress seems to be formed in narrow regions. As a result, in the present invention using the TEM00 mode, compared with the commonly used multi-mode, closure domains sufficient for refining magnetic domains in narrow deep spaces are obtained even with a very small focused beam spot. Such an ideal magnetic domain refinement becomes possible for the first time in this invention. On the other hand, when P/V increases as a result of the high power or low scan rate, as shown in FIG. 6, the surface temperature is predicted to exceed melting point of the steel sheet, 1600° C., in some regions. This finding matches relatively well with the cross-section of a molten sample obtained by experiments. Combined with results of other calculations, the accuracy of prediction of the temperature profile is high. If melted regions occur in this way, as mentioned before, a large tensile stress occurs in the process of resolidification of the melted regions. This region is supposed to form an extremely wide range of stress fields, that is, closure domains. As a result, the hysteresis loss starts to increase, so the overall core loss tends to deteriorate. Based on the above consideration, the inventors engaged in detailed experiments and studies on using small focused beam spot to form narrow closure domains, the focused spot diameter giving a superior core loss, and the closure domain widths, and the ranges of power and linear scan rate. FIG. 10 shows the results of investigation of the relationship between core loss improvement and P/V when changing the beam spot diameter in rolling direction d from 0.010 mm to 0.200 mm. Here, the rolling direction irradiation line spacing Pl is 5 mm. From these results, in the TEM00 mode, it is found that core loss improvement is seen in wide ranges of d and P/V. In particular, when d is small, it is found that a higher improvement is obtained with a lower P/V. A higher core loss improvement is obtained in a range of 0<d≦0.20 mm when 0.001≦P/V≦0.012 J/mm. Further, by setting the upper limit of d to preferably 0.1, 0.08, 0.06, 0.04, 0.03, and 0.02 mm and the lower limit to preferably 0.005 and 0.010 mm, a higher core loss improvement is obtained. In combination with P/V, if further limiting the laser irradiating to preferably 0.001≦P/V≦0.008 J/mm in the range of 0.010≦d≦0.10 mm or 0.002≦P/V≦0.006 J/mm in the range of 0.010<d≦0.060 mm, a higher core loss improvement is obtained. A higher core loss improvement is obtained by a relatively small laser beam focused spot diameter, which is understood because of suppressed hysteresis loss as described in detail above. Further, the optimum range of P/V in the above-mentioned ranges of d will be explained as follows. The lower limit of P/V is the value required for inputting sufficient power for formation of closure domains. On the other hand, the upper limit of P/V is the value just before the power density excessive to cause remarkable surface melting. For example, in the range of a small beam spot diameter, the thermal profile becomes more local, so the core loss improvement becomes higher, but to avoid surface melting, it is preferable to suppress P/V to a smaller range. Further, when examining in detail the laser irradiated regions of a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet produced in the range of conditions of the present invention by a microscope and SEM for magnetic domain observation, it was found that laser scribing traces and closure domain widths Wl are formed substantially matching the irradiated beam spot diameter d. A micrograph of the laser scribing trace when the beam spot diameter d is 0.015 mm and a SEM micrograph of the closure domains are shown in FIG. 9. The results indicated that the beam spot diameter d well corresponded with the closure domain width Wl. FIG. 11 shows the results summarizing the highest core loss improvements at different Wl's assuming the laser scribing trace width to be Wl. When the range of Wl is less than 0.2 mm, particularly a range from 0.01 to 0.1 mm, a high core loss improvement is obtained. The lower limit of Wl is preferably 0.005 mm, more preferably 0.010 mm, while the upper limit is preferably 0.1 mm, more preferably 0.04 mm. As explained above, it has been discovered that when the laser beam spot diameter is extremely small and the laser beam mode, power, and scan rate are limited in preferable range, a high core loss improvement is obtained. It has further been found that the range of power and scan rate in the prior art is not suitable but a lower power and higher scan rate are optimal for these superior characteristics. Further, it has been found that the rolling direction spacing of the laser scribing traces Pl also has an effect on the core loss improvement. FIG. 12 shows the change in core loss improvement when fixing P/V to 0.0030 and changing Pl from 1.5 to 13 mm at Wl=0.015 mm. If Pl is a too small value of 1.5 mm or less, while the increase in the hysteresis loss due to each closure domain is small, the number of the lines of closure domains formed on the steel sheet as a whole greatly increases, so the total hysteresis loss increases and the core loss deteriorates. On the other hand, if Pl is too large value of over 11 mm, the effect of refining the 180° magnetic domain becomes smaller, so the core loss again deteriorates. Therefore, a range of Pl from 1.5 mm to 11 mm is preferable. Further, a range of 3.0≦Pl≦7.0 mm gives the highest core loss improvement relatively independent of Pl. Next, the reason for use of a fiber laser as a method of production of the present invention will be explained. The fiber laser used in the embodiment of the present invention is comprised of a quartz fiber with a core doped with Yb (Ytterbium) and generates a beam by excitation using a semiconductor laser. The emitted wavelength is 1.07 to 1.10 μm. The primary feature of the fiber laser is the wavelength between 1.06 μm of YAG laser and 10.6 μm of CO2 laser which has been used for magnetic domain refinement of electrical steel sheet so far. Further, the emission mode of a fiber laser is close to the single mode as explained above. The M2 value of the beam quality factor is close to the theoretical limit of 1. This is an extremely superior feature when compared with the M2 value of 20 or more of a commonly used YAG laser. The focused beam spot decreases with decreasing values of M or wavelength of the beam. Here, the minimum focused spot diameter dm to which a laser beam can be focused is expressed by the following equation assuming the wavelength to be λ, focal distance of the focusing lens to be f, and the diameter of the beam incident on the lens to be D: dm=M2×(4/π)×f×λ/D. Therefore, a fiber laser enables a smaller focused spot diameter compared with a YAG laser with large M2 value or CO2 laser with a long wavelength λ. This is the secondary feature of a fiber laser in magnetic domain refinement. Considering the two characteristics mentioned above, the inventors arrived at an invention using a fiber laser. The inventors took note of the facts that a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet is covered at its surface with a ceramic-like coating and that this coating has an better absorption of the wavelengths from 1 μm to the longer side of 10 μm band. Accordingly, if utilizing a Yb doped fiber laser with a wavelength longer than that of a YAG laser, the laser power absorbed in the steel sheet can be increased and more efficient magnetic domain refinement are obtained. Further, since small focused beam spot has been achieved utilizing fiber laser, the technology of the present invention is suitable to produce grain-oriented electrical steel sheet with extremely small closure domains of Wl<0.2 mm which is one of the characteristics of the present invention. Further, although the wavelength of a fiber laser is less absorbed at the surface of grain-oriented electrical steel compared with that of a CO2 laser, it is difficult to obtain a focused spot diameter of 0.2 mm stably in practice utilizing long wavelength CO2 laser, so again the technology of the invention is much more advantageous compared with use of a CO2 laser. Therefore, in industrial practice of the present invention, it is possible to stably and efficiently produce an electrical steel sheet with desired characteristics using a fiber laser. As a type of fiber laser, a fiber laser with a core doped with Er (erbium) has an emission wavelength near 1.55 μm, while a fiber laser doped with Tm (thulium) has an emission wavelength of 1.70 to 2.10 μm. The method of use of either fiber laser falls under the method of the present invention for above mentioned reason. Further, for the method of the present invention, a fiber laser easily giving a high output TEM00 mode laser beam is optimal, but any laser apparatus giving a mode close to the TEM00 and a wavelength absorbed at the surface of the steel sheet may be used in the present invention. Note that the embodiment of the present invention represents a circular focused beam spot with a diameter d, but as explained above, the condition required for ideal magnetic domain refinement is a narrow rolling direction width of the closure domains, so if the rolling direction beam spot diameter d is in the range of the present invention, the beam scan direction spot diameter may be different from d as well. For example, the beam may be an elliptical one with a beam spot diameter in the scan direction longer than d. As a result, a method where laser irradiated scribing traces are not caused at the surface of the steel sheet is also included in the present invention. Since the laser irradiating method of the present invention gives a high beam strength near the center as compared with conventional method, sometimes the laser irradiated region may show uneven surface. Therefore, it is necessary to specially design the shape of the focused beam spot so as to avoid uneven surface in the laser irradiated regions because interlaminar insulative value is effected when a stacked core transformer is fabricated from the steel sheets with uneven surfaces. Generally, to make electrical resistivity more reliable, the surface is applied to insulative coating after laser irradiation treatment, but uneven surface may injure resistivity of insulative coating. The inventors studied the laser irradiating method able to make the laser irradiated surface substantially even and obtain a high interlaminar resistivity. As a result, it has been found that while dependent to a certain extent on the laser average output P and the beam scanning rate V, it is possible to control the interlaminar resistivity by the instantaneous peak power density Ip as determined by the average output P and the irradiated beam cross-sectional area. Here, the Ip is defined by the following equation when the laser average output is P, the rolling direction beam spot diameter is d, and the beam spot diameter perpendicularly to the rolling direction is dc. Ip=P/(d×dc) [kW/mm2] The resistivity is evaluated by measuring the interlaminar current after coating. FIG. 13 shows the relationship between Ip and the interlaminar current after coating while changing the scan rate V at a constant Ip. A steel sheet with an interlaminar current after coating of 200 mA or less is applicable to a stacked core transformer. From this result, while being affected by the difference of V, if Ip is less than 130 kW/mm2, preferably 100 kW/mm2 or less, more preferably 70 kW/mm2 or less, the interlaminar current is controlled to 200 mA or less. Ip is the factor governing the instantaneous evaporation phenomenon on the surface of steel sheet at the time of laser irradiation, so can be considered the factor governing the surface conditions, in particular the surface roughness. Accordingly, in the method of the present invention, by controlling Ip to 100 kW/mm2 or less, it is possible to produce electrical steel sheet superior in core loss and interlaminar resistivity. For example, at d=0.015 mm and P=150 W, by setting the focused beam spot shape to an ellipse with a dc of preferably 0.127 mm or more, a superior resistivity is obtained. The laser average output P will be explained. In the present invention as explained above, the range of P/V is defined. Accordingly, if the laser average output P becomes small, the plate width direction beam scan rate V also has to be made proportionally small. However, the method of use of the magnetic domain refinement process of electrical steel sheet according to the present invention, for example as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication (B) No. 6-19112, is to periodically irradiate a laser beam at a steel sheet divided time-wise. In this case, when the production line speed becomes fast, to maintain the rolling direction irradiation line spacing Pl constant, irradiation period, the scan time to produce required spacing between adjacent scan lines, t (sec) becomes shorter. The range where the scanned beam traverses during the period, Wc, is the product of the scan rate and period t. Accordingly, when the laser average output is small, V is also small and as a result Wc is also small. That is, when the laser average output is small, the width processable by one laser is narrower. For example, when considering a steel sheet of a width of 1000 mm and a continuous treatment process of a practical product line speed of 30 m/min for example, with a laser with an average output of 10 W or smaller, the width treatable by a single laser would be extremely as narrow as 10 mm and the number of lasers required would exceed 100. Accordingly, the laser output is preferably more than 10 W. Specifically, 20 W, 30 W, 40 W, 50 W, 100 W, 200 W, 300 W, 500 W, 800 W, 1 kW, 2 kW, 3 kW, 5 kW, 10 kW, 20 kW, 50 kW, and other various ones are possible. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can provide a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet markedly improved core loss by scanning with a small focused laser beam spot.

<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>Grain-oriented electrical steel sheets with electrical easy axes oriented in the rolling direction are being used as transformer core materials. As a method of production of such a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet, Japanese Patent Publication (B) No. 6-19112 discloses the method of irradiating a YAG laser substantially perpendicular to the rolling direction to introduce periodic linear stress fields in the rolling direction and thereby reduce the core loss. The principle of this method is that the closure domains formed due to the surface stress caused by scanning by the laser beam finely refine the 180° electrical domain wall spacing and that abnormal eddy current loss is reduced. This is called “electrical domain refinement”. In the past, various methods have been disclosed regarding this technology. For example, Japanese Patent Publication (A) No. 6-57333 discloses a method of using a periodic-pulse CO 2 laser, while Japanese Patent Publication (B) No. 6-19112 discloses a method of using a continuous wave YAG laser and defining the irradiated beam spot diameter, power, scan rate, etc. so that no surface scribing traces occur. In each method, it is disclosed that by limiting the irradiating conditions to specific ranges, the core loss improvement (i.e. reduction) is enhanced. These methods are currently being put to actual use. However, the need for reduction of the core loss of transformer cores remains high. Further, a method of producing low core loss electrical steel sheet at a high efficiency has been desired. “Core loss” is mainly the total of the classical eddy current loss, abnormal eddy current loss, and hysteresis loss. Classical eddy current loss is loss substantially determined by the sheet thickness. The loss changing due to the laser electrical domain refinement is the abnormal eddy current loss and hysteresis loss. The closure domains imparted by laser electrical domain refinement finely refine the 180° electrical domain wall spacing and reduce the abnormal eddy current loss, but become factors causing the hysteresis loss to increase. Accordingly, forming closure domains as narrow as possible in the rolling direction keeps down the increase in the hysteresis loss and results in the total core loss becoming lower. However, if closure domains are too narrow, the effect of refining the electrical domains becomes small, As a result, as described in Japanese Patent Publication (B) No. 6-19112, when using a YAG laser, if making the irradiated beam spot diameter extremely small, even if adjusting the linear scan rate or laser power of the laser beam, there was the problem that a significant effect of improvement of the core loss could not be obtained.

<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>FIG. 1 is a graphical representation of the dependency of core loss improvement on the parameter of the ratio of the power and scan rate. FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of the laser irradiating method according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a TEMOO mode. FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a multi-mode. FIG. 5 is a view of the results of calculation of the temperature profile near the surface of the steel sheet due to focusing and irradiating of a TEM 00 mode beam in the scope of the present invention. FIG. 6 ( a ) is a view of the results of calculation of the temperature profile near the surface of the steel sheet due to focusing and irradiating of a TEM 00 mode beam in the scope of the present invention in the case where the P/V is relatively high. FIG. 6 ( b ) is a cross-sectional micrograph of a steel sheet under the laser irradiating conditions of FIG. 6 ( a ). FIG. 7 is a view of the results of calculation of the temperature profile near the surface of the steel sheet due to focusing and irradiating of a multi-mode beam. FIG. 8 is a view of results of calculation of the temperature profile of FIG. 5 and FIG. 7 compared with the change in temperature in the depth direction at the beam center. FIG. 9 ( a ) is an optical micrograph of the surface showing a typical laser scribing trace of the present invention, while FIG. 9 ( b ) is an SEM micrograph of the magnetic domain structure. FIG. 10 is a view of the relationship between core loss improvement and the P/V. FIG. 11 is a view of the relationship between the Wl approximated by the laser scribing trace width and core loss improvement. FIG. 12 is a view of the relationship between the rolling direction line spacing, the distance between two adjacent lines, Pl of the laser scribing traces and core loss improvement. FIG. 13 is a view of the relationship between the Ip and the interlayer current after coating. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"?

20050916

20081028

20060803

89855.0

H01F104

SHEEHAN, JOHN P

GRAIN-ORIENTED ELECTRICAL STEEL SHEET SUPERIOR IN ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND METHOD OF PRODUCTION OF SAME

UNDISCOUNTED

ACCEPTED

H01F

ACCEPTED

Apparatus and method that prevent flux reversal in the stator back material of a two-phase srm (tpsrm)

A TPSRM may include a stator, having a plurality of poles and a ferromagnetic or iron back material, and a rotor having a plurality of poles and a ferromagnetic or iron back material. A current flowing through coils wound around a first set of the plurality of stator poles induces a flux flow through the first set of stator poles and portions of the stator back material during a first excitation phase. A current flowing through coils wound around a second set of the plurality of stator poles induces a flux flow through the second set of stator poles and portions of the stator back material during a second excitation phase. The numbers of stator and rotor poles for this TPSRM are selected such that substantially no flux reversal occurs in any part of the stator back material as a result of transitioning between the first and second excitation phases.

1. A two-phase switched reluctance machine (TPSRM), comprising: a stator having a plurality of poles and a ferromagnetic or iron back material; and a rotor having a plurality of poles and a ferromagnetic or iron back material, wherein: current flowing through coils wound around a first set of the plurality of stator poles induces a flux flow through the first set of stator poles and portions of the stator back material during a first excitation phase, current flowing through coils wound around a second set of the plurality of stator poles induces a flux flow through the second set of stator poles and portions of the stator back material during a second excitation phase, and the numbers of stator and rotor poles are selected such that substantially no flux reversal occurs in any part of the stator back material as a result of transitioning between the first and second excitation phases. 2. The TPSRM of claim 1, wherein the number of stator poles is 6 and the number of rotor poles is 3. 3. The TPSRM of claim 1, wherein the number of stator poles is 6 and the number of rotor poles is 9. 4. The TPSRM of claim 1, wherein the number of stator poles is 6 and the number of rotor poles is 15. 5. The TPSRM of claim 1, wherein the stator or rotor poles provide a non-zero combined torque for all rotational positions of the rotor during which at least one of the first and second phases is excited or a transition is occurring between the first and second phase excitations. 6. The TPSRM of claim 5, wherein the distal end faces of the stator or rotor poles are contoured to have a non-uniform radius from the rotor's axis of rotation. 7. The TPSRM of claim 5, wherein the rotor poles are slotted. 8. The TPSRM of claim 1, wherein one stator pole in each of the first and second sets has a maximum flux density flow rate that is about twice the maximum flux density flow rate of the other stator poles in the set. 9. The TPSRM of claim 1, wherein one stator pole in each of the first and second sets conveys about twice or more the amount of flux density conveyed by the other stator poles in the set. 10. The TPSRM of claim 1, wherein the coil wound around one stator pole in each of the first and second sets has twice the number of windings as the coils wound around the other stator poles in the set. 11. The TPSRM of claim 1, wherein further comprising a controller that provides about twice as much current to the coil wound around one stator pole in each of the first and second sets as is provided to the other stator poles in the set. 12. The TPSRM of claim 1, wherein the numbers of stator and rotor poles are further selected such that a flux reversal occurs only once in any part of the rotor back material, excluding the rotor poles, per revolution of the rotor as a result of transitioning between the first and second excitation phases. 13. The TPSRM of claim 1, wherein the vector sum of normal forces exerted by the stator poles, in response to the first and second excitation phases, at any instant of time is zero. 14. A two-phase switched reluctance machine (TPSRM), comprising: a stator having a plurality of poles and a ferromagnetic or iron back material; and a rotor having a plurality of poles and a ferromagnetic or iron back material, wherein: current flowing through coils wound around a first set of the plurality of stator poles induces a flux flow through the first set of stator poles and portions of the stator back material during a first excitation phase, current flowing through coils wound around a second set of the plurality of stator poles induces a flux flow through the second set of stator poles and portions of the stator back material during a second excitation phase, and the numbers of stator and rotor poles are selected such that a flux induced by each of the first and second excitation phases flows through a path encompassing about two-thirds of the circumference of each of the rotor and stator back materials. 15. A method of operating a two-phase switched reluctance machine (TPSRM), comprising: inducing an electromagnetic flux to flow through a first set of poles of a stator of the TPSRM during a first excitation phase; inducing an electromagnetic flux to flow through a second set of poles of the stator during a second excitation phase; and transitioning between the first and second excitation phases without creating a substantial flux reversal in a ferromagnetic or iron back material of the stator. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the electromagnetic flux induces a torque to a rotor of the TPSRM and the combined torque provided by both the first and second excitation phases produces a non-zero value for all rotational positions of the rotor during which at least one of the first and second phases is excited or a transition is occurring between the first and second phase excitations. 17. The method of claim 15, wherein one stator pole in each of the first and second sets has a maximum flux density flow rate that is about twice the maximum flux density flow rate of the other stator poles in the set. 18. The method of claim 15, further comprising inducing about twice as much flux density to flow in one stator pole in each of the first and second sets as flows in the other stator poles in the set. 19. The method of claim 15, wherein a flux reversal substantially occurs only once in any part of a ferromagnetic or iron back material of a rotor of the TPSRM, excluding poles of the rotor, per revolution of the rotor as a result of transitioning between the first and second excitation phases. 20. The method of claim 15, further comprising regulating the electromagnetic flux flow through the stator poles during each of the first and second excitation phases to exert substantially a zero value vector sum of normal forces by the stator poles at any instant of time during the first or second excitation phases.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/454,630 and incorporates by reference this provisional application in its entirety into the present application (see Appendix A). Additionally, the application hereby incorporates by reference the disclosures provided in Applicant's co-pending PCT International Application Nos. PCT/US03/16627, PCT/US03/16628, PCT/US03/16629, PCT/US03/16630, and PCT/US03/16631. BACKGROUND OF THE RELATED ART There is an emerging interest in very high speed machines, having speeds in the range of 20,000 to 60,000 revolutions per minute (rpm), for use in appliances, aerospace, and other applications. The foremost features that are required for these machines are high efficiency and low acoustic noise. For high efficiency operation of these machines, it is important to examine the dominant effects of each and every loss in the machine. There are three dominant losses to be considered in these machines that impose significant design and operational constraints. These dominant losses are: (1) copper or resistive losses, (2) core losses, and (3) frictional and winding losses. Copper or resistive losses result from the flow of current in the stator windings. The windings invariably have resistances, and currents in them produce a voltage drop, v, equal to the current, i, times the resistance, R, expressed as v=Ri. Since a current is flowing through the resistive element, the voltage drop produces a power loss, p, across the windings equal to the current times the voltage drop, which, in turn, equals the resistance times the square of the current, which is expressed as p=vi=i2R. For a given power, if the current is minimized, then the only parameter to impact the resistive power loss is its resistance. The resistance for a given winding varies with its temperature and a skin effect. Temperature sensitivity is determined by a physical coefficient of the winding material and the temperature rise in the windings due to their excitation. The temperature rise can be controlled by a cooling arrangement, and its upper limit is determined by the thermal capability of the winding's insulator material. Therefore, there is not much that can be done to reduce the resistive losses beyond optimizing the winding material and its cooling arrangement. The skin effect is due to the frequency of the current that is flowing in the winding and is controlled by the phase switching frequency (PSF), which is different from the pulse width modulation (PWM) frequency. The PSF is determined by how many times a phase experiences current per unit time (i.e., a second) and is determined by the number of poles of the switched reluctance machine (SRM). Therefore, the PSF can be minimized by minimizing the number of poles and operating the machine at lower speed. While the pole numbers can be minimized, the upper speed limit is not determined by the machine but by the application, and, hence, the upper speed (i.e., the highest speed that the machine will experience) is a dominating factor in the machine design. In the final analysis, it can be deduced that the resistive losses are determined by: (a) temperature sensitivity of the winding material and (b) frequency of the alternating current (ac) component of the current, primarily that of the phase switching frequency. The frequency of the current's ac component is determined by the number of poles of the rotor and stator and by the upper speed of the machine, which is determined by the application and not by anything one can do in the machine design. Therefore, the upper speed of the machine is an independent variable. The temperature sensitivity of the winding material, the frequency of the ac component, and the number of rotor and stator poles can, however, be controlled by the machine designer, within the constraints of the physical characteristics of materials and the necessary pole numbers. Therefore, the resistive losses can be minimized to an extent. Besides resistive losses, core losses constitute another type of the dominant losses affecting TPSRM design. The core material of a TPSRM experiences a loss due to the varying flux flow in it. The core losses consist of two parts, hysteresis loss and eddy current loss. The hysteresis loss is influenced by the frequency of the flux and flux density in the material and a physical factor of the material. The frequency of the flux is determined by the phase switching frequency, which in turn is determined by the upper speed of the machine. Assuming that flux density is kept at a desired level to generate the required torque, then the factor that is under the control of the designer is the phase switching frequency, but only to an extent as explained above. Eddy current loss is due to the flow of eddy currents in the laminations and is a function of the square of the frequency and the square of the flux density, as well as other variables, such as the square of the thickness of the lamination material. The thickness of the lamination materials is determined primarily by the cost, and, hence, it is prefixed for each and every application. Therefore, to minimize the eddy current loss, the designer has to minimize the flux density and phase switching frequency. From the above discussion, it may be seen that is important to reduce the frequency of the phase flux and the magnitude of flux density in the material, to minimize core losses. The third type of dominant loss affecting TPSRM design is friction and winding loss. This type of loss is a function of the rotor and stator pole shapes and the air gap between them. Given an electromagnetic design of the stator and rotor pole shapes, there is not much that can be done to reduce the friction and winding losses, other than filling the rotor interpolar space with a magnetically inert material, so that the rotor is cylindrical. Also, the stator may be constructed with a thermally-conducting, but magnetically inert, material between the coils of each pole and its adjacent pole, so the stator's inner surface is full of material with no gap other than the air gap in its vicinity. But this is a cost issue, and, therefore, it may not be possible for all applications, particularly for low-cost applications, such as in home appliances. From the above discussion of the various machine losses, it may be discerned that it is important to minimize all the core loss components, but most importantly the ones that will dominate in the final analysis, related to electromagnetics in very high speed machines. These components can be minimized by controlling the flux density and also by minimizing the frequency of the flux in the materials. Once the pole numbers and upper speed are fixed, the frequency of the flux is also fixed. Thereafter, the design variables available to the designer for minimizing core losses are few or nonexistent. Examining very closely the core losses for various parts of the machine, such as the stator and rotor poles and the stator and rotor back irons, a degree of freedom in tackling the core losses becomes evident. That is, the designer can minimize the core losses in each and every part separately. The core losses for these parts are described below. The stator and rotor back irons usually have bipolar flux in most SRM machines and experience flux reversals. In the stator poles, the flux density should be maximized for a minimum of material weight. Stator poles do not experience flux reversals. The flux in the rotor poles is also bipolar and designed not to exceed the maximum peak flux density of the materials. FIG. 1 illustrates a related art TPSRM having 4 stator poles and 2 rotor poles (a 4/2 stator/rotor pole combination) and the machine's flux paths when phase A is excited. FIG. 2 illustrates the TPSRM of FIG. 1 and its flux paths when phase B is excited. Phase A consists of windings 101 and 102 on diametrically opposite stator poles 105 and 106 connected in series, though they could alternatively be connected in parallel. Likewise, phase B consists of series (or parallel) connected windings 103 and 104 on diametrically opposite stator poles 107 and 108. The flux paths for phase A's stator poles 105 and 106, when excited and aligned with rotor poles 109 and 110, are identified by reference characters 111 and 112. Similarly, the flux paths for phase B's stator poles 107 and 108, when excited and aligned with rotor poles 109 and 110, are identified by reference characters 113 and 114. As may be determined by inspection of FIGS. 1 and 2, stator poles 105-108 do not experience flux reversal for unidirectional current excitation of phases A and B. However, rotor poles 109 and 110 do experience flux reversal as they move from one stator pole (say phase A's) to another stator pole having the same phase. Likewise, rotor back iron 115, which includes the regions between rotor poles 109 and 110 and around shaft 116, also undergoes flux reversal. Similarly, stator back iron segments 117 and 119 experience flux reversal. Stator back iron segment 117 is located in the region between stator poles 105 and 108, stator back iron segment 118 is located in the region between stator poles 106 and 108, stator back iron segment 119 is located between stator poles 106 and 107, and stator back iron segment 120 is located between stator poles 105 and 107. The above-described flux reversals create: (i) forces in the opposite direction for each flux reversal, thereby causing stator acceleration and, hence, higher acoustic noise generation; and (ii) increased core losses. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to overcome the above-described problems and limitations of the related art. Another object of the invention is to provide a two-phase switched reluctance machine (TPSRM) that eliminates electromagnetic flux reversals in the ferromagnetic or iron back material of its stator. Still another object of the invention is to provide a TPSRM that limits the number of electromagnetic flux reversals in the ferromagnetic or iron back material of its rotor to one per revolution of the rotor. A further object of the invention is to provide a TPSRM that reduces acoustic noise generation at high operating speeds. A further object of the invention is to provide a TPSRM that reduces core losses. These and other objects of the invention may be achieved in whole or in part by a TPSRM that includes a stator, having a plurality of poles and a ferromagnetic or iron back material, and a rotor having a plurality of poles and a ferromagnetic or iron back material. A current flowing through coils wound around a first set of the plurality of stator poles induces a flux flow through the first set of stator poles and portions of the stator back material during a first excitation phase. A current flowing through coils wound around a second set of the plurality of stator poles induces a flux flow through the second set of stator poles and portions of the stator back material during a second excitation phase. The numbers of stator and rotor poles are selected such that substantially no flux reversal occurs in any part of the stator back material as a result of transitioning between the first and second excitation phases. The objects of the invention may also be achieved in whole or in part by a TPSRM that includes a stator, having a plurality of poles and a ferromagnetic or iron back material; and a rotor having a plurality of poles and a ferromagnetic or iron back material. A current flowing through coils wound around a first set of the plurality of stator poles induces a flux flow through the first set of stator poles and portions of the stator back material during a first excitation phase. A current flowing through coils wound around a second set of the plurality of stator poles induces a flux flow through the second set of stator poles and portions of the stator back material during a second excitation phase. The numbers of stator and rotor poles are selected such that a flux induced by each of the first and second excitation phases flows through a path encompassing about two-thirds of the circumference of each of the rotor and stator back materials. The objects of the invention may be further achieved in whole or in part by a method of operating a TPSRM that includes: (1) inducing an electromagnetic flux to flow through a first set of poles of a stator of the TPSRM during a first excitation phase, (2) inducing an electromagnetic flux to flow through a second set of poles of the stator during a second excitation phase, and (3) transitioning between the first and second excitation phases without creating a substantial flux reversal in a ferromagnetic or iron back material of the stator. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be further described in the following paragraphs of the specification and may be better understood when read in conjunction with the attached drawings, in which: FIG. 1 illustrates a related art TPSRM having 4 stator poles and 2 rotor poles and the TPSRM's flux paths when phase A is excited; FIG. 2 illustrates the TPSRM of FIG. 1 and its flux paths when phase B is excited; FIG. 3A illustrates a 6/9 TPSRM having its phase A poles excited when these poles are aligned with poles of the TPSRM's rotor; FIG. 3B illustrates the normal forces produced at each of the phase A stator poles, of FIG. 3A, when phase A is excited; FIG. 4A illustrates the 6/9 TPSRM of FIG. 3 when the TPSRM's phase B poles are excited and aligned with poles of the TPSRM's rotor; FIG. 4B illustrates the normal forces produced at each of the phase B stator poles of FIG. 4A when phase B is excited; FIG. 5 illustrates representative waveforms of the flux density flowing through elements of the TPSRM illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 4A; FIG. 6 illustrates a representative torque versus rotor position characteristic for the TPSRM illustrated by FIGS. 3A and 3B; FIG. 7 illustrates a TPSRM having contoured rotor poles in which the radial length of each rotor pole decreases as the distal end curvature is traversed from one side to the other; FIG. 8 illustrates a torque versus rotor position graph for the TPSRM of FIG. 7; FIG. 9A illustrates a rotor or stator pole whose distal end face is shaped to induce a non-uniform flux density flow through the pole; and FIG. 9B illustrates a rotor pole that is slotted to induce a non-uniform flux density flow through the rotor pole. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention endows the machine designer with a degree of freedom for enhancing machine performance by providing an additional variable for reducing core losses. The invention completely eliminates flux reversals in the stator back iron of a two-phase switched reluctance machine (TPSRM) and reduces the number of flux reversals in the rotor back iron, thereby reducing the flux density in these iron parts and controlling both the hysteresis and eddy current losses in them. This leads to minimization of the core losses in the machine and maximization of its operational efficiency. Further, by eliminating the stator flux reversals, the acoustic noise generated by such reversals is minimized. The invention uniquely provides a two-thirds utilization ratio of the stator to rotor back iron sections serving to convey flux at any given time of the TPSRM's operation, so as to reduce the size of the flux path. TPSRMs having a combination of six stator poles and three rotor poles (i.e., a 6/3 TPSRM) or six stator poles and nine rotor poles (i.e., a 6/9 TPSRM) provide such a two-thirds utilization ratio and its resultant smaller flux path. A smaller flux path requires less magneto motive force (mmf), thereby providing higher efficiency operation. Furthermore, the core losses in the lamination material decrease, since core losses are related to the volume of the material that is covered by the flux path. FIG. 3A illustrates a 6/9 TPSRM having its phase A poles excited when these poles are aligned with poles of the TPSRM's rotor. FIG. 4A illustrates the 6/9 TPSRM of FIG. 3 when the TPSRM's phase B poles are excited and aligned with poles of the rotor. The stator poles excited during phase A are stator poles A1, A2 and A3, and the stator poles excited during phase B are stator poles B1, B2 and B3. Stator poles A1-A3 and B1-B3 are excited by coils 301-303 and 304-306, respectively, wound around the poles. In an exemplary embodiment, the coils on each stator pole have an equal number of turns but may carry differing currents, though other configurations are possible. For the exemplary embodiment, the current in stator poles A1 and B1 is assumed to be I amperes. Coils 302, 303 on stator poles A2 and A3 are connected in parallel, so that the current coming into coil 301 of stator pole A1 is divided into equal parts for coils 302, 303 and has a value of I/2. Similarly, for coil 304 on stator pole B1, a current of I amperes passes through stator pole B1 and is divided equally into parallel coils 305, 306, wound on stator poles B2 and B3, so that they pass a current of I/2. With this configuration, the magneto motive force (mmf) provided by the currents flowing through coils 301, 304 of stator poles A1 and B1, respectively, is NI and is NI/2 for each of stator poles A2, A3, B2, and B3. The direction of the currents entering coils 301-306 of stator poles A1-A3 and B1-B3, as indicated by flux paths 307-310 and 407-410 respectively, implies a positive value mmf being exerted by each of stator poles A1 and B1 and a negative value mmf being exerted by each of stator poles A2, A3, B2, and B3. FIG. 3B illustrates the normal forces produced at each of the phase A stator poles of FIG. 3A, when phase A is excited. FIG. 4B illustrates the normal forces produced at each of the phase B stator poles of FIG. 4A, when phase B is excited. As illustrated by FIGS. 3B and 4B, the normal (i.e., radial) forces FA1R1, FA2R4, and FA3R7 for stator poles A1-A3 combine to produce a vector sum of zero when phase A is excited and, similarly, normal forces FB1R5, FB2R8, and FB3R2 for stator poles B1-B3 combine to produce a vector sum of zero when phase B is excited. Therefore, the resultant normal force exerted on the rotor by the stator is zero for all periods of operation. Moreover, since the individual radial forces pull in three different directions for each of phases A and B, they act to prevent the ovalization of the stator and, hence, mitigate stator acceleration induced by the transitions between the excitation of phases A and B. As a result, the invention reduces acoustic noise in TPSRM 300. In the related art TPSRM 100 illustrated by FIGS. 1 and 2, the generated normal forces for each of the phase A and B excitations have the same magnitude and opposite directions (i.e., a 180 degree directional separation). These equal and oppositely directed forces induce an ovalization of the stator, as the resultant normal force is cancelled through the stator and rotor bodies. Moreover, since the phase A and B excitations induce ovalizations at right angles to one another, the stator is accelerated between phase excitations and, thereby, produces acoustic noise. Another advantage of the invention results from the characteristic flux flow it produces in the back iron 311 of the stator, in particular. Referring to FIG. 3A, four flux paths exist in stator back iron 311. These four paths are flux path 307 between stator poles A3 and B2, flux path 308 between stator poles B2 and A1, flux path 309 between stator poles A2 and B3, and flux path 310 between stator poles B3 and A1. Four flux paths are also shown in FIG. 4A. These flux paths are flux path 407 between stator poles A3 and B2, flux path 408 between stator poles A3 and B1, flux path 409 between stator poles A2 and B3, and flux path 410 between stator poles B1 and A2. Of these eight flux paths, only flux paths 307, 309 and flux paths 407 and 409, respectively, overlap in the stator's back iron. Flux paths 307, 309 correspond to the excitation of phase A and flux paths 407, 409 correspond to the excitation of phase B. As may be seen by inspection of FIGS. 3A and 4A, flux paths 307 and 407 have the same direction of travel through the portions of stator back iron 311 through which both paths flow. Similarly, flux paths 309 and 409 have the same direction of travel through the portions of stator back iron 311 through which these flux paths flow. Therefore, no portion of stator back iron 311 experiences flux reversal during the operation of TPSRM 300. The absence of flux reversal in stator back iron 311 reduces core losses. Still another advantage of the invention is that the flux reversal in segments of rotor back iron 312 occurs only once per revolution, which also reduces core losses. Stator poles A1-A3 and B1-B3 also do not experience any flux reversal, though rotor poles R1-R9 do. FIG. 5 illustrates representative waveforms of the flux density flowing through elements of TPSRM 300, illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 4A. In FIG. 5, the flux density waveforms for stator poles A1 and B2 are indicated by A1 and B2, respectively, and the flux density waveform for rotor pole R1 is identified by R1. The nomenclature RlR9 refers to the rotor back iron region between rotor poles R1 and R9. Similarly, the nomenclature B2A1 and B2A3 refer to the region between stator poles B2 and A1 and the region between stator poles B2 and A3, respectively. As may be determined by inspection of FIG. 5, a flux density reversal occurs in rotor back iron 312 once per revolution, but no flux density reversal occurs in stator back iron 311. In FIG. 5, the magnitude value Bm indicates the maximum flux density experienced by stator poles A1 and B1. Only stator poles A1 and B1 carry the maximum flux density value Bm. All other stator poles A2, A3, B2, and B3 carry a maximum flux density of Bm/2. As a result, all stator poles other than A1 and B1 can be half the size of stator poles A1 and B1, as each carries only half the flux of these poles. A considerable cost saving and weight reduction can be achieved with this arrangement. This may matter in aerospace applications where weight and volume minimization are critical factors in the selection of an electric machine. The present invention eliminates flux reversals in the stator back iron and reduces or minimizes flux reversals in the rotor back iron. The stator back iron is defined for this invention as being all iron or ferromagnetic components in the stator, except the stator pole components, that convey the flux flowing through the rotor and stator. Because there are no flux reversals in the stator back iron, the hysteresis and eddy current losses in the iron decrease significantly, thus enhancing the efficiency of the machine. In the rotor back iron (i.e., the back iron between adjacent rotor poles), the flux reversal occurs only once per rotor revolution, which is much less than occurs in conventional machines. For example, in a conventional 6/4 SRM, flux reversal in the rotor back iron may occur six times per rotor revolution, as described in Chapter 3 of Switched Reluctance Motor Drives, by R. Krishnan, CRC Press, 2001, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety into this specification. Four flux reversals occur in one revolution of the rotor in a conventional three-phase 12/8 machine. FIG. 6 illustrates a representative torque versus rotor position characteristic for the TPSRM illustrated by FIGS. 3A and 3B. As may be seen by inspection of FIG. 6, there are rotor positions for which the torque 601, 602 produced by each of phases A and B is zero. To produce a non-zero torque at all rotor positions, the rotor poles can be slotted, contoured, air-gap stepped, etc. FIG. 7 illustrates a TPSRM having contoured rotor poles in which the radial length of each rotor pole decreases as the distal end curvature is traversed from one side to the other. FIG. 8 illustrates a torque versus rotor position graph for the TPSRM of FIG. 7. The torque for phase A is identified by reference character 801 and that for phase B is identified by reference character 802. The contouring of rotor pole 701 provides a non-uniform air gap across the pole face. As a result, the combined torque generated by TPSRM 700 has a non-zero value, considering both phases of the machine, at all times. This feature is crucial for supporting a self-starting capability for TPSRM 700 in both rotational directions of the shaft. The present invention provides a force distribution similar to that of three phase ac machines, by distributing a stator current distribution among three windings. The three windings may constitute one phase of the SRM, as illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 4A. Alternatively, the SRM may have multiples of three windings in a phase with other combinations of total stator and rotor poles. The rationale for such a force distribution is that the normal forces are cancelled and uniformly distributed about the circle of rotation. Furthermore, the tangential forces can be distributed over two thirds of the periphery as opposed to only half the periphery, such as occurs where only two diametrically opposite poles contribute to the entire tangential force. FIG. 9A illustrates a rotor or stator pole whose distal end face is shaped to induce a non-uniform flux density flow through the pole. FIG. 9B illustrates a rotor pole that is slotted to induce a non-uniform flux density flow through the rotor pole. In FIG. 9A, rotor or stator pole 900 is shaped so that its distal end face has a non-uniform radius from the rotational axis of the rotor. In FIG. 9B, slots 911 are formed in rotor pole 910. With stator pole shaping or rotor pole shaping or slotting, or some combination thereof, the present invention can operate in both the clockwise and counter-clockwise directions with full four-quadrant capability, thereby providing a bidirectional start and run capability using only two phases. The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 4A is only one of many embodiments of the invention. Other embodiments may have different combinations of stator and rotor poles, such as the combinations of 6/3, 6/15, etc. The invention completely eliminates flux reversals in the stator back iron and reduces or minimizes the flux reversals in the rotor back iron to one reversal for each rotor revolution. There are many advantages to having zero flux reversals in the stator back iron. These include: (1) reduced core losses and, hence, higher operating efficiency of the machine, (2) reduced vibration in the stator back iron and, hence, lower acoustic noise generated in the machine, and (3) a lower amount of required excitation, since there is no flux reversal in the machine, and hence higher operating efficiency. Similarly there are advantages to having only one flux reversal per revolution in the rotor back iron of the machine. These advantages include reduced core losses, reduced excitation requirements, and reduced vibration induced by the rotor. The present invention includes the unique pole combination of 6/9 for the stator and rotor with concentric windings for a two phase switched reluctance machine and its derivatives using the same principle of no flux reversals in the stator back iron. The stator poles may have differing numbers of winding turns around each pole of one phase of the machine, so as to distribute the normal and tangential forces as desired. Also, the winding currents on each pole can be controlled independently of other winding currents, thereby individually controlling the normal force around the periphery of the machine to produce a frictionless SRM. Furthermore, the TPSRM may be operated with the power converter topologies, described in Applicant's co-pending applications, that use either one controllable switch or two controllable switches for the control of currents and voltages in the windings of the machine for the two phases of the machine. The foregoing description illustrates and describes the present invention. However, the disclosure shows and describes only the preferred embodiments of the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is capable of use in various other combinations, modifications, and environments. Also, the invention is capable of change or modification, within the scope of the inventive concept, as expressed herein, that is commensurate with the above teachings and the skill or knowledge of one skilled in the relevant art. The embodiments described herein are further intended to explain best modes known of practicing the invention and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in these and other embodiments, with the various modifications that may be required by the particular applications or uses of the invention. Accordingly, the description is not intended to limit the invention to the form disclosed herein.

<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE RELATED ART <EOH>There is an emerging interest in very high speed machines, having speeds in the range of 20,000 to 60,000 revolutions per minute (rpm), for use in appliances, aerospace, and other applications. The foremost features that are required for these machines are high efficiency and low acoustic noise. For high efficiency operation of these machines, it is important to examine the dominant effects of each and every loss in the machine. There are three dominant losses to be considered in these machines that impose significant design and operational constraints. These dominant losses are: (1) copper or resistive losses, (2) core losses, and (3) frictional and winding losses. Copper or resistive losses result from the flow of current in the stator windings. The windings invariably have resistances, and currents in them produce a voltage drop, v, equal to the current, i, times the resistance, R, expressed as v=Ri. Since a current is flowing through the resistive element, the voltage drop produces a power loss, p, across the windings equal to the current times the voltage drop, which, in turn, equals the resistance times the square of the current, which is expressed as p=vi=i 2 R. For a given power, if the current is minimized, then the only parameter to impact the resistive power loss is its resistance. The resistance for a given winding varies with its temperature and a skin effect. Temperature sensitivity is determined by a physical coefficient of the winding material and the temperature rise in the windings due to their excitation. The temperature rise can be controlled by a cooling arrangement, and its upper limit is determined by the thermal capability of the winding's insulator material. Therefore, there is not much that can be done to reduce the resistive losses beyond optimizing the winding material and its cooling arrangement. The skin effect is due to the frequency of the current that is flowing in the winding and is controlled by the phase switching frequency (PSF), which is different from the pulse width modulation (PWM) frequency. The PSF is determined by how many times a phase experiences current per unit time (i.e., a second) and is determined by the number of poles of the switched reluctance machine (SRM). Therefore, the PSF can be minimized by minimizing the number of poles and operating the machine at lower speed. While the pole numbers can be minimized, the upper speed limit is not determined by the machine but by the application, and, hence, the upper speed (i.e., the highest speed that the machine will experience) is a dominating factor in the machine design. In the final analysis, it can be deduced that the resistive losses are determined by: (a) temperature sensitivity of the winding material and (b) frequency of the alternating current (ac) component of the current, primarily that of the phase switching frequency. The frequency of the current's ac component is determined by the number of poles of the rotor and stator and by the upper speed of the machine, which is determined by the application and not by anything one can do in the machine design. Therefore, the upper speed of the machine is an independent variable. The temperature sensitivity of the winding material, the frequency of the ac component, and the number of rotor and stator poles can, however, be controlled by the machine designer, within the constraints of the physical characteristics of materials and the necessary pole numbers. Therefore, the resistive losses can be minimized to an extent. Besides resistive losses, core losses constitute another type of the dominant losses affecting TPSRM design. The core material of a TPSRM experiences a loss due to the varying flux flow in it. The core losses consist of two parts, hysteresis loss and eddy current loss. The hysteresis loss is influenced by the frequency of the flux and flux density in the material and a physical factor of the material. The frequency of the flux is determined by the phase switching frequency, which in turn is determined by the upper speed of the machine. Assuming that flux density is kept at a desired level to generate the required torque, then the factor that is under the control of the designer is the phase switching frequency, but only to an extent as explained above. Eddy current loss is due to the flow of eddy currents in the laminations and is a function of the square of the frequency and the square of the flux density, as well as other variables, such as the square of the thickness of the lamination material. The thickness of the lamination materials is determined primarily by the cost, and, hence, it is prefixed for each and every application. Therefore, to minimize the eddy current loss, the designer has to minimize the flux density and phase switching frequency. From the above discussion, it may be seen that is important to reduce the frequency of the phase flux and the magnitude of flux density in the material, to minimize core losses. The third type of dominant loss affecting TPSRM design is friction and winding loss. This type of loss is a function of the rotor and stator pole shapes and the air gap between them. Given an electromagnetic design of the stator and rotor pole shapes, there is not much that can be done to reduce the friction and winding losses, other than filling the rotor interpolar space with a magnetically inert material, so that the rotor is cylindrical. Also, the stator may be constructed with a thermally-conducting, but magnetically inert, material between the coils of each pole and its adjacent pole, so the stator's inner surface is full of material with no gap other than the air gap in its vicinity. But this is a cost issue, and, therefore, it may not be possible for all applications, particularly for low-cost applications, such as in home appliances. From the above discussion of the various machine losses, it may be discerned that it is important to minimize all the core loss components, but most importantly the ones that will dominate in the final analysis, related to electromagnetics in very high speed machines. These components can be minimized by controlling the flux density and also by minimizing the frequency of the flux in the materials. Once the pole numbers and upper speed are fixed, the frequency of the flux is also fixed. Thereafter, the design variables available to the designer for minimizing core losses are few or nonexistent. Examining very closely the core losses for various parts of the machine, such as the stator and rotor poles and the stator and rotor back irons, a degree of freedom in tackling the core losses becomes evident. That is, the designer can minimize the core losses in each and every part separately. The core losses for these parts are described below. The stator and rotor back irons usually have bipolar flux in most SRM machines and experience flux reversals. In the stator poles, the flux density should be maximized for a minimum of material weight. Stator poles do not experience flux reversals. The flux in the rotor poles is also bipolar and designed not to exceed the maximum peak flux density of the materials. FIG. 1 illustrates a related art TPSRM having 4 stator poles and 2 rotor poles (a 4/2 stator/rotor pole combination) and the machine's flux paths when phase A is excited. FIG. 2 illustrates the TPSRM of FIG. 1 and its flux paths when phase B is excited. Phase A consists of windings 101 and 102 on diametrically opposite stator poles 105 and 106 connected in series, though they could alternatively be connected in parallel. Likewise, phase B consists of series (or parallel) connected windings 103 and 104 on diametrically opposite stator poles 107 and 108 . The flux paths for phase A's stator poles 105 and 106 , when excited and aligned with rotor poles 109 and 110 , are identified by reference characters 111 and 112 . Similarly, the flux paths for phase B's stator poles 107 and 108 , when excited and aligned with rotor poles 109 and 110 , are identified by reference characters 113 and 114 . As may be determined by inspection of FIGS. 1 and 2 , stator poles 105 - 108 do not experience flux reversal for unidirectional current excitation of phases A and B. However, rotor poles 109 and 110 do experience flux reversal as they move from one stator pole (say phase A's) to another stator pole having the same phase. Likewise, rotor back iron 115 , which includes the regions between rotor poles 109 and 110 and around shaft 116 , also undergoes flux reversal. Similarly, stator back iron segments 117 and 119 experience flux reversal. Stator back iron segment 117 is located in the region between stator poles 105 and 108 , stator back iron segment 118 is located in the region between stator poles 106 and 108 , stator back iron segment 119 is located between stator poles 106 and 107 , and stator back iron segment 120 is located between stator poles 105 and 107 . The above-described flux reversals create: (i) forces in the opposite direction for each flux reversal, thereby causing stator acceleration and, hence, higher acoustic noise generation; and (ii) increased core losses.

<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>An object of the present invention is to overcome the above-described problems and limitations of the related art. Another object of the invention is to provide a two-phase switched reluctance machine (TPSRM) that eliminates electromagnetic flux reversals in the ferromagnetic or iron back material of its stator. Still another object of the invention is to provide a TPSRM that limits the number of electromagnetic flux reversals in the ferromagnetic or iron back material of its rotor to one per revolution of the rotor. A further object of the invention is to provide a TPSRM that reduces acoustic noise generation at high operating speeds. A further object of the invention is to provide a TPSRM that reduces core losses. These and other objects of the invention may be achieved in whole or in part by a TPSRM that includes a stator, having a plurality of poles and a ferromagnetic or iron back material, and a rotor having a plurality of poles and a ferromagnetic or iron back material. A current flowing through coils wound around a first set of the plurality of stator poles induces a flux flow through the first set of stator poles and portions of the stator back material during a first excitation phase. A current flowing through coils wound around a second set of the plurality of stator poles induces a flux flow through the second set of stator poles and portions of the stator back material during a second excitation phase. The numbers of stator and rotor poles are selected such that substantially no flux reversal occurs in any part of the stator back material as a result of transitioning between the first and second excitation phases. The objects of the invention may also be achieved in whole or in part by a TPSRM that includes a stator, having a plurality of poles and a ferromagnetic or iron back material; and a rotor having a plurality of poles and a ferromagnetic or iron back material. A current flowing through coils wound around a first set of the plurality of stator poles induces a flux flow through the first set of stator poles and portions of the stator back material during a first excitation phase. A current flowing through coils wound around a second set of the plurality of stator poles induces a flux flow through the second set of stator poles and portions of the stator back material during a second excitation phase. The numbers of stator and rotor poles are selected such that a flux induced by each of the first and second excitation phases flows through a path encompassing about two-thirds of the circumference of each of the rotor and stator back materials. The objects of the invention may be further achieved in whole or in part by a method of operating a TPSRM that includes: (1) inducing an electromagnetic flux to flow through a first set of poles of a stator of the TPSRM during a first excitation phase, (2) inducing an electromagnetic flux to flow through a second set of poles of the stator during a second excitation phase, and (3) transitioning between the first and second excitation phases without creating a substantial flux reversal in a ferromagnetic or iron back material of the stator.