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patent_classification_question_preference

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null	a developing apparatus according to the present invention will hereinafter be described in greater detail . however , the dimensions , materials , shapes , relative arrangement , and so on , of constituent parts described herein are not intended to restrict the scope of this invention thereto unless particularly specified . an image forming apparatus provided with the developing apparatus used in this embodiment is similar to the image forming apparatus described in the example of the conventional art with reference to fig9 in the general construction thereof and the construction of the ramming runner 52 of the developing device shown in fig6 and therefore , those constructions need not be described in detail again . description will first be made of the control of the rotation of a moving member ( rotary ) 4 which is a developing device changeover mechanism which is a characteristic portion of the present embodiment . the controlling operation until the image forming process described in the example of the conventional art is started , that is , until an image signal is transmitted , or in the present embodiment , until a copy button is depressed , is similar to that in the example of the conventional art described with reference to fig1 . that is , the rotary 4 is provided with a flag ( not shown ) and as a rotary developing apparatus , it is designed to be rotatively moved with the flag with the rotation of a rotary motor 41 , and an apparatus main body is provided with a home position detecting sensor 42 for detecting the rotated position of the rotary 4 , and this sensor 42 is disposed so as to detect the flag provided on the rotary 4 , and when a central control board 100 recognizes that the power supply switch of the apparatus has been closed , a motor table signal is transmitted to a motor rotation control board 43 , whereby the rotary motor 41 starts its rotating operation . when subsequently , a y developing device 5 y is disposed at a home position hp disposed at a developing position , this fact is detected by the home position detecting sensor 42 , and the motor rotation control board 43 stops the motor 41 and the y developing device 5 y stands by at the home position hp . when the central control board 100 of an apparatus control mechanism recognizes that a copy start button has been depressed , that is , an image forming signal has been transmitted , the rotary 4 is rotated on the basis of motor tables 44 ( 44 a , 44 b ), but the present embodiment has changing means for changing the moving speed of the rotary 4 by the moving distance of each developing device 5 to the developing position 50 , and as what constitutes the changing means , use is made of motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 . of these motor tables 44 ( 44 a , 44 b ) used for the control of the rotation of the rotary , the table 44 a is for the 120 ° movement of c → bk , and the table 44 b is for the 80 ° movement of y → m , m → c and bk → y ( hp ). that is , the two tables 44 a and 44 b , i . e ., acceleration and deceleration curves , are similar to each other , and have effected the shortening of the moving time as a maximum value at which the motor 41 does not lose synchronism . the table 44 a used in the rotation of a long moving distance makes the rotational speed of the rotary 4 higher than the table 44 b , that is , makes the rotational speed different , and makes the moving time equivalent , whereby there has been effected such control that the time for each developing device 5 to be moved from a developing standby position which is a position just preceding the developing position 50 to the developing position p is made the same . the timing at which the rotary 4 is rotated is set in connection with the image forming steps such as exposure , primary transfer and secondary transfer in accordance with an operation sequence shown in fig2 . referring to fig4 and 5 a to 5 d , a laser beam is first emitted to the exposing position 30 ( see fig4 ) of a photosensitive drum 1 on the basis of y image information ( timing y 1 ), whereby a y latent image is formed on the drum 1 . the y latent image is moved to the developing position 50 provided downstream of the exposing position 30 with respect to the direction of rotation of the drum 1 , and a y toner is applied to the drum 1 by the y developing device 5 y . further , a y developer image ( toner image ) is moved to a primary transferring position t 1 provided downstream of the developing position 50 with respect to the direction of rotation of the drum 1 , and is primary - transferred onto an itb 2 d by a primary transfer roller 2 e ( timing y 2 ). here again , much time is required from after the exposure till the primary transfer and therefore , it is impossible to change over the timing of exposure and the timing of primary transfer at a time and accordingly , the exposure and the primary transfer become operation sequences differing in timing from each other . when y developing is terminated later than y exposure ( timing y 1 ), the rotary 4 starts its rotation ( timing r 2 ), and at the developing position 50 , changeover from the y developing device 5 y to an m developing device 5 m ( y - m ) is effected . in the meantime , the exposure of m ( timing m 1 ) is not started , but yet the primary transfer of y ( timing y 2 ) still continues and therefore , the influence of the contact ( contact shock ) of the rotary 4 with the photosensitive drum 1 at timing r 1 does not appear in the exposure , but yet appears in the primary transfer at the timing y 2 . the aforedescribed operation is repeated , whereby y , m , c and bk are multiplexly transferred onto the itb 2 d . in fig2 , parts designated by y 1 , m 1 , c 1 , and bk 1 in the exposure portion represent respective image forming regions on the photosensitive drum ( image bearing member ) 1 then , electrostatic images corresponding to the respective colors of y , m , c , and bk are formed within the respective image forming regions . the multiplexly transferred images on the itb 2 d are moved to a secondary transferring position t 2 provided downstream of the primary transferring position t 1 with respect to the direction of rotation of the itb 2 d , and are secondary - transferred to a recording material conveyed in synchronism with the multiplexly transferred images , by a secondary transfer roller 7 ( timing x ). when bk developing is terminated later than bk exposure ( timing bk 1 ), the rotary 4 starts its rotation , and changeover from a bk developing device 5 bk to the y developing device sy is effected ( timing r 5 ). in the meantime , the secondary transfer ( timing x ) continues and therefore , the influence of the rotation of the rotary 4 ( timing r 5 ) also appears in the secondary transfer ( timing x ). also , in the primary transfer ( timing y 2 , timing m 2 , timing c 2 , timing bk 2 ), all the timing r 1 , r 2 , r 3 and r 4 of the rotation of the rotary 4 which affect become the same in the 120 ° movement of c → bk and the 80 ° movement of y → m , m → c and bk → y ( hp ). the rotary contact shock and the phenomena of position misregister and color misregister occurring from the above - described operation will be described here with reference to fig3 a to 3 c . as previously described , when the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 is effected in accordance with the operation sequence shown in fig2 , position misregister occurs due to the shock with which the ramming runner 52 of the developing device 5 contacts with the drum 1 during primary transfer . in the present embodiment , the position misregister is such as shown in fig3 a . in fig3 a , 3b and 3 c , the number of lines indicates an image position , and 0 is the head and 74 is the trailing edge of the image . that is , in the present embodiment , the rotating operation time of the rotary 4 is equivalent for the respective colors and therefore , all of the position misregister of y , m , c and bk images occur in the vicinity of 72 lines . the color misregister from the c reference color at this time is shown in fig3 b . the influence of the position misregister of y , m , c and bk images ( color misregister occurs ) is offset by the influence of the position misregister of the c reference color and no color misregister occurs . a maximum color misregister amount occurring to the images on the itb is shown in fig3 c . here , relative to the c reference color , bk position - misregisters toward the leading edge side of the images , and the color misregister amount is minus , and m position - misregisters toward the trailing edge side of the images , and the color misregister amount is plus . therefore , the color - misregister amount becomes greater between bk - m than between bk - c and between m - c . according to this , the maximum color misregister amount occurring to the images is 0 . 08 , and has decreased to about a half as compared with the conventional art in which the speed was made constant in spite of the moving distance of the developing device 5 . as described above , the rotating time of the rotary 4 for each color is made equivalent , whereby the position misregister occurring position to the images is adjusted , whereby color misregister can be prevented . as another form of the present embodiment , description will be made of a form in which the motor tables 44 used in the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 which is the developing device changeover mechanism are changed over in accordance with an operation mode . an image forming apparatus used in the present embodiment is similar to the image forming apparatus used in the first embodiment except for the motor tables 44 and therefore need not be described . the mode in which the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 according to the present embodiment is required is divided broadly into three modes , i . e ., ( 1 ) an ordinary color image forming mode , ( 2 ) a toner supplying mode and ( 3 ) an image adjusting mode . in the first embodiment , the motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 in these modes ( 1 ), ( 2 ) and ( 3 ). in the present embodiment , for the further stabilization of the toner supply , different motor tables 44 are used in ( 1 ) the image forming mode , ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode and ( 3 ) the image adjusting mode . here again , in ( 1 ) the image forming mode , such motor tables 44 a and 44 b as shown in fig1 and 7 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 to thereby prevent color misregister . in ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode and ( 3 ) the image adjusting mode , however , use is made of such motor tables 44 a ( solid line ) and 44 c ( dot - and - dash line ) as shown in fig7 wherein the rotational speed of the rotary 4 is equivalent . the motor table 44 c is used during the 80 ° movement of y → m , m → c and bk → y ( hp ) in which the moving distance is short , and the motor table 44 a is used during the 120 ° movement of c → bk in which the moving distance is long . the present image forming apparatus effects the toner supply by the rotation of the rotary 4 for image forming . when at this time , high density images have been continuously copied , the copying is discontinued and the toner supplying sequence by the idle rotation control of the rotary 4 is executed . in ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode , the purpose is to fill the developing device 5 with a toner from a supplying container 11 by the rotation of the rotary 4 and image forming is not carried out and therefore , color misregister need not be taken into consideration . the rotation of the rotary 4 during the toner supply is made equal in speed , whereby stable toner supply can be realized . usually the toner supply is satisfied by several full idle rotations and copying is resumed . fig1 a is a front view of a supplying container body 11 provided in the rotary 4 together with the developing devices 5 , fig1 b is a side view thereof , fig1 c is a front cross - sectional view thereof , fig1 d is a perspective view thereof , and fig1 e is a perspective see - through view thereof . the container body 11 is provided with a developer discharge opening 11 a , a shutter guide 11 b and carrying projections 11 d . the discharge opening 11 a as an opening portion is a rectangle of 10 mm × 15 mm , and is formed in the peripheral surface of the container 11 at a location of 40 mm from the end surface of the container 11 . the developer contained in the container body 11 is discharged to the developing device 5 through the discharge opening 11 a . by the discharge opening 11 a being formed in the peripheral surface of the container body 11 , the residual developer amount residual in the developer supplying container 11 after discharge can be made small , as compared with a developer supplying container provided with an opening portion in the end surface of the container body 11 . also , the discharge opening 11 a can be made shorter than the full length of the container body 11 in the longitudinal direction thereof to thereby reduce the stains by the adherence of the developer . the shutter guide 11 b comprises two hook - shaped ribs provided near the developer discharge opening 11 a of the container body 11 and parallel to the circumferential direction thereof a shutter ( not shown ) engageable with this shutter guide 11 b is mounted for reciprocal movement in the circumferential direction . in the interior of the container body 11 , the carrying projections 11 d for carrying the contained developer to the discharge opening 11 a are spaced apart from each other and protrudedly provided on the inner wall of the container body 11 . the carrying projections 11 d are provided while being divided into two upper and lower groups spaced apart circumferentially of the container body 11 . in the present embodiment , the height of the projections is 5 mm and the thickness thereof is 1 mm . the height of the carrying projections 11 d on the small - diametered portion of the container body 11 which is adjacent to the discharge opening 11 a is 2 . 5 mm , and six projections and seven projections are provided on the upper portion and lower portion , respectively , of the container body 11 . by the carrying projections 11 d being thus provided while being divided into two upper and lower groups circumferentially spaced apart from each other , the developer can be effectively loosened by the spacing - apart portion between adjacent ones of the projections , and the developer can be smoothly discharged through the discharge opening 11 a . also , the container body 11 can be manufactured by molding what has been divided into two upper and lower parts , and adhesively securing the two to each other , and the container body 11 can be shaped and manufactured by a minimum number of divisions and as a result , it can be manufactured inexpensively . the container body 11 is filled with a predetermined amount of developer and is mounted on the rotary 4 and unsealed by the aforedescribed procedure . in the process of image forming , the developer in the developing device 5 is gradually consumed , but design is made such that the developer is sent into the developing device 5 by a signal from means ( not shown ) for detecting the developer amount in the developing device 5 or the ratio between the developer and carrier , and by the action of the carrying projections lid in the container 11 , and the developer amount in the developing device 5 or the ratio between the developer and carrier is kept substantially constant . design is made such that at the developing position 50 , the developing device 5 is operated , whereby the developer in the developing device 5 is decreased near the connected portion to the discharge opening 11 a of the developer supplying container 11 . the developer supplying container 11 is designed to communicate with a developer receiving port ( not shown ) on the developing device 5 side . therefore , if the developer in the developing device 5 is decreased , the developer present in the end portion of the developer supplying container 11 will immediately fall from gravity and be supplied to the developing device 5 through the discharge opening 11 a . thus , in the rotation of the rotary 4 for the toner supply , use is made of the motor tables 44 a and 44 c in which the rotational speed of the rotary 4 is equivalent , whereby quick and stable supply is obtained . as another form of the present embodiment , description will now be made of a form in which the motor tables 44 used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 which is the developing device changeover mechanism are changed over in accordance with the operation mode . an image forming apparatus used in the present embodiment is similar to the image forming apparatus used in the first and second embodiments , except for the motor tables 44 , and therefore need not be described . the situation in which the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 is required is divided broadly into three modes , i . e , ( 1 ) the ordinary color image forming mode , ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode and ( 3 ) the image adjusting mode , as described above . in the first embodiment , the motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 in the modes ( 1 ), ( 2 ) and ( 3 ). also , in the second embodiment , the motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 in the modes ( 1 ) and ( 3 ), and the motor tables 44 a and 44 c shown in fig7 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 in the mode ( 2 ). in the present embodiment , in ( 1 ) the image forming mode , the motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 to thereby prevent color misregister . also , in ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode which is a non - image forming mode , use is made of the motor tables 44 a and 44 c shown in fig7 wherein the rotational speed of the rotary 4 is equivalent , and in ( 3 ) the image adjusting mode , during the 80 ° movement of y → m , m → c and bk → y ( hp ) in which the moving distance is short , use is made of the same table 44 c ( dot - and - dash line ) as that in ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode , and for the further shortening of time , use is made of a motor table 44 d ( dots - and - dash line ) shown in fig8 to thereby shorten the time in the c → bk movement wherein the moving distance is long . that is , in the present embodiment , the motor table 44 c is used during the 80 ° movement of y → m , m → c and bk → y ( hp ) in which the moving distance is short , and the motor table 44 d is used during the 120 ° movement c → bk in which the moving distance is long . in the case of the motor table 44 d , the speed is accelerated more to the maximum than in the case of the ordinary motor table 44 a to thereby shorten the moving time . in the image adjusting mode , there is incorporated a sequence for transferring the y , m , c and bk toner images to the itb 2 d , measuring the toner density by an optical sensor ( not shown ), and optimizing various adjusted values . therefore , it becomes possible to make each developing device changeover time shortest to thereby shorten the image adjusting time and achieve an improvement in the adjustment down time . in the first embodiment to the third embodiment , description has been made of such an image forming apparatus as shown in fig9 adopting such a construction as shown in detail in fig4 which carries the developing devices 5 of four colors on the rotary 4 , and conveys the developing devices 5 to the hp one by one in the order of arrangement thereof along the rotation outer periphery of the rotary 4 , and having a construction in which among the developing devices 5 , the bk developing device 5 bk which is high in the frequency of use is great in the capacity of the toner container 11 bk thereof and therefore , the moving distance of the rotary 4 in c bk is lengthened . in the present embodiment , reference is had to fig1 to describe an example in which the present invention is applied to an image forming apparatus in which the arrangement of the developing devices 5 in the rotary 4 is changed and developing devices 5 of six colors are carried on the rotary 4 . the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment is similar to the image forming apparatus shown in fig9 which has been described in the first to third embodiments , except for the construction of the rotary 4 , and therefore the whole of the image forming apparatus need not be described . the present embodiment , as shown in fig1 , has a rotary 4 carrying thereon developing devices 5 of light magenta m and light cyan c , besides yellow y , magenta m , cyan c and black bk . thus , the six developing devices 5 ( 5 y , 5 m , 5 m , 5 c , 5 c and 5 bk ) are made to correspond to a single photosensitive drum 1 , and the rotary 4 is rotated to thereby change over the developing devices 5 and effect developing . then , images of the respective colors formed on the photosensitive drum 1 are primary - transferred to an intermediate transfer belt 2 d which is an intermediate transfer member ( transfer medium ), whereby multiplex transfer is effected on the intermediate transfer belt 2 d , and the multiplexly transferred images are secondary - transferred to a recording material ( transfer medium ) fed from a sheet feeding apparatus 6 , under the action of a secondary transfer roller 7 . the developing device 5 m of light magenta and the developing device 5 c of light cyan are filled with developers including toners of the same hue but lower in density than the magenta toner and the cyan toner filling the developing devices 5 m and 5 c , respectively . that is , these developing devices contain therein toners of two colors magenta ( m ) and cyan ( c ) of the same hue but high in density and low in density . the toners of the same hue but of different density usually refer to toners which are equal in the spectral characteristic , but differing in the amount , of a coloring component ( pigment ) contained in a toner having resin and a coloring component ( pigment ) as a base substance . a light color toner refers to a toner relatively low in density , of a combination of toners of the same hue but differing in density . in the toners of the same hue but low in density ( light color toners ), the optical density after fixing is less than 1 . 0 per toner amount of 0 . 5 mg / cm 2 on a recording material , and in a toner high in density ( deep color toner ), the optical density after fixing is 1 . 0 or greater per toner amount of 0 . 5 mg / cm 2 on the recording material . now , in the present embodiment , in ( 1 ) the ordinary image forming mode , there are set two kinds of modes , i . e ., ( 1a ) a six - color image forming mode using all of the developing devices 5 of six colors , and ( 1b ) a four - color image forming mode using the other four colors than light magenta and light cyan . so , in ( 1b ) the four - color image forming mode , the developing operation is performed in the order of yellow y , magenta m , cyan c and black bk , and there are a case where the moving distance of the rotary 4 is long and a case where the moving distance of the rotary 4 is short , and motor control using the two kinds of motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 is carried out . again in such an image forming apparatus , the rotating time of the rotary 4 for each color is made equivalent to thereby adjust the position misregister occurring position to the images , whereby color misregister can be prevented . as a range within which the moving times to the developing position in the present embodiment become substantially equal , a range in which a time required for the drum moving a predetermined distance fluctuates when the rotational speed of the drum fluctuates within a range of − 0 . 2 % to 0 . 2 % is preferable , and the more approximate to 0 , the better . this application claims priority from japanese patent application no . 2004 - 008557 filed on jan . 15 , 2004 , which is hereby incorporated by reference herein	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'Physics'?	Is 'Human Necessities' the correct technical category for the patent?	0.25	f61d5dd481d09ef0d8d8d2ddcd2028ae31005256a3905b8cff981628b9bee855	0.155273	0.001648	0.025146	0.000296	0.106934	0.000854
null	a developing apparatus according to the present invention will hereinafter be described in greater detail . however , the dimensions , materials , shapes , relative arrangement , and so on , of constituent parts described herein are not intended to restrict the scope of this invention thereto unless particularly specified . an image forming apparatus provided with the developing apparatus used in this embodiment is similar to the image forming apparatus described in the example of the conventional art with reference to fig9 in the general construction thereof and the construction of the ramming runner 52 of the developing device shown in fig6 and therefore , those constructions need not be described in detail again . description will first be made of the control of the rotation of a moving member ( rotary ) 4 which is a developing device changeover mechanism which is a characteristic portion of the present embodiment . the controlling operation until the image forming process described in the example of the conventional art is started , that is , until an image signal is transmitted , or in the present embodiment , until a copy button is depressed , is similar to that in the example of the conventional art described with reference to fig1 . that is , the rotary 4 is provided with a flag ( not shown ) and as a rotary developing apparatus , it is designed to be rotatively moved with the flag with the rotation of a rotary motor 41 , and an apparatus main body is provided with a home position detecting sensor 42 for detecting the rotated position of the rotary 4 , and this sensor 42 is disposed so as to detect the flag provided on the rotary 4 , and when a central control board 100 recognizes that the power supply switch of the apparatus has been closed , a motor table signal is transmitted to a motor rotation control board 43 , whereby the rotary motor 41 starts its rotating operation . when subsequently , a y developing device 5 y is disposed at a home position hp disposed at a developing position , this fact is detected by the home position detecting sensor 42 , and the motor rotation control board 43 stops the motor 41 and the y developing device 5 y stands by at the home position hp . when the central control board 100 of an apparatus control mechanism recognizes that a copy start button has been depressed , that is , an image forming signal has been transmitted , the rotary 4 is rotated on the basis of motor tables 44 ( 44 a , 44 b ), but the present embodiment has changing means for changing the moving speed of the rotary 4 by the moving distance of each developing device 5 to the developing position 50 , and as what constitutes the changing means , use is made of motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 . of these motor tables 44 ( 44 a , 44 b ) used for the control of the rotation of the rotary , the table 44 a is for the 120 ° movement of c → bk , and the table 44 b is for the 80 ° movement of y → m , m → c and bk → y ( hp ). that is , the two tables 44 a and 44 b , i . e ., acceleration and deceleration curves , are similar to each other , and have effected the shortening of the moving time as a maximum value at which the motor 41 does not lose synchronism . the table 44 a used in the rotation of a long moving distance makes the rotational speed of the rotary 4 higher than the table 44 b , that is , makes the rotational speed different , and makes the moving time equivalent , whereby there has been effected such control that the time for each developing device 5 to be moved from a developing standby position which is a position just preceding the developing position 50 to the developing position p is made the same . the timing at which the rotary 4 is rotated is set in connection with the image forming steps such as exposure , primary transfer and secondary transfer in accordance with an operation sequence shown in fig2 . referring to fig4 and 5 a to 5 d , a laser beam is first emitted to the exposing position 30 ( see fig4 ) of a photosensitive drum 1 on the basis of y image information ( timing y 1 ), whereby a y latent image is formed on the drum 1 . the y latent image is moved to the developing position 50 provided downstream of the exposing position 30 with respect to the direction of rotation of the drum 1 , and a y toner is applied to the drum 1 by the y developing device 5 y . further , a y developer image ( toner image ) is moved to a primary transferring position t 1 provided downstream of the developing position 50 with respect to the direction of rotation of the drum 1 , and is primary - transferred onto an itb 2 d by a primary transfer roller 2 e ( timing y 2 ). here again , much time is required from after the exposure till the primary transfer and therefore , it is impossible to change over the timing of exposure and the timing of primary transfer at a time and accordingly , the exposure and the primary transfer become operation sequences differing in timing from each other . when y developing is terminated later than y exposure ( timing y 1 ), the rotary 4 starts its rotation ( timing r 2 ), and at the developing position 50 , changeover from the y developing device 5 y to an m developing device 5 m ( y - m ) is effected . in the meantime , the exposure of m ( timing m 1 ) is not started , but yet the primary transfer of y ( timing y 2 ) still continues and therefore , the influence of the contact ( contact shock ) of the rotary 4 with the photosensitive drum 1 at timing r 1 does not appear in the exposure , but yet appears in the primary transfer at the timing y 2 . the aforedescribed operation is repeated , whereby y , m , c and bk are multiplexly transferred onto the itb 2 d . in fig2 , parts designated by y 1 , m 1 , c 1 , and bk 1 in the exposure portion represent respective image forming regions on the photosensitive drum ( image bearing member ) 1 then , electrostatic images corresponding to the respective colors of y , m , c , and bk are formed within the respective image forming regions . the multiplexly transferred images on the itb 2 d are moved to a secondary transferring position t 2 provided downstream of the primary transferring position t 1 with respect to the direction of rotation of the itb 2 d , and are secondary - transferred to a recording material conveyed in synchronism with the multiplexly transferred images , by a secondary transfer roller 7 ( timing x ). when bk developing is terminated later than bk exposure ( timing bk 1 ), the rotary 4 starts its rotation , and changeover from a bk developing device 5 bk to the y developing device sy is effected ( timing r 5 ). in the meantime , the secondary transfer ( timing x ) continues and therefore , the influence of the rotation of the rotary 4 ( timing r 5 ) also appears in the secondary transfer ( timing x ). also , in the primary transfer ( timing y 2 , timing m 2 , timing c 2 , timing bk 2 ), all the timing r 1 , r 2 , r 3 and r 4 of the rotation of the rotary 4 which affect become the same in the 120 ° movement of c → bk and the 80 ° movement of y → m , m → c and bk → y ( hp ). the rotary contact shock and the phenomena of position misregister and color misregister occurring from the above - described operation will be described here with reference to fig3 a to 3 c . as previously described , when the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 is effected in accordance with the operation sequence shown in fig2 , position misregister occurs due to the shock with which the ramming runner 52 of the developing device 5 contacts with the drum 1 during primary transfer . in the present embodiment , the position misregister is such as shown in fig3 a . in fig3 a , 3b and 3 c , the number of lines indicates an image position , and 0 is the head and 74 is the trailing edge of the image . that is , in the present embodiment , the rotating operation time of the rotary 4 is equivalent for the respective colors and therefore , all of the position misregister of y , m , c and bk images occur in the vicinity of 72 lines . the color misregister from the c reference color at this time is shown in fig3 b . the influence of the position misregister of y , m , c and bk images ( color misregister occurs ) is offset by the influence of the position misregister of the c reference color and no color misregister occurs . a maximum color misregister amount occurring to the images on the itb is shown in fig3 c . here , relative to the c reference color , bk position - misregisters toward the leading edge side of the images , and the color misregister amount is minus , and m position - misregisters toward the trailing edge side of the images , and the color misregister amount is plus . therefore , the color - misregister amount becomes greater between bk - m than between bk - c and between m - c . according to this , the maximum color misregister amount occurring to the images is 0 . 08 , and has decreased to about a half as compared with the conventional art in which the speed was made constant in spite of the moving distance of the developing device 5 . as described above , the rotating time of the rotary 4 for each color is made equivalent , whereby the position misregister occurring position to the images is adjusted , whereby color misregister can be prevented . as another form of the present embodiment , description will be made of a form in which the motor tables 44 used in the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 which is the developing device changeover mechanism are changed over in accordance with an operation mode . an image forming apparatus used in the present embodiment is similar to the image forming apparatus used in the first embodiment except for the motor tables 44 and therefore need not be described . the mode in which the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 according to the present embodiment is required is divided broadly into three modes , i . e ., ( 1 ) an ordinary color image forming mode , ( 2 ) a toner supplying mode and ( 3 ) an image adjusting mode . in the first embodiment , the motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 in these modes ( 1 ), ( 2 ) and ( 3 ). in the present embodiment , for the further stabilization of the toner supply , different motor tables 44 are used in ( 1 ) the image forming mode , ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode and ( 3 ) the image adjusting mode . here again , in ( 1 ) the image forming mode , such motor tables 44 a and 44 b as shown in fig1 and 7 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 to thereby prevent color misregister . in ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode and ( 3 ) the image adjusting mode , however , use is made of such motor tables 44 a ( solid line ) and 44 c ( dot - and - dash line ) as shown in fig7 wherein the rotational speed of the rotary 4 is equivalent . the motor table 44 c is used during the 80 ° movement of y → m , m → c and bk → y ( hp ) in which the moving distance is short , and the motor table 44 a is used during the 120 ° movement of c → bk in which the moving distance is long . the present image forming apparatus effects the toner supply by the rotation of the rotary 4 for image forming . when at this time , high density images have been continuously copied , the copying is discontinued and the toner supplying sequence by the idle rotation control of the rotary 4 is executed . in ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode , the purpose is to fill the developing device 5 with a toner from a supplying container 11 by the rotation of the rotary 4 and image forming is not carried out and therefore , color misregister need not be taken into consideration . the rotation of the rotary 4 during the toner supply is made equal in speed , whereby stable toner supply can be realized . usually the toner supply is satisfied by several full idle rotations and copying is resumed . fig1 a is a front view of a supplying container body 11 provided in the rotary 4 together with the developing devices 5 , fig1 b is a side view thereof , fig1 c is a front cross - sectional view thereof , fig1 d is a perspective view thereof , and fig1 e is a perspective see - through view thereof . the container body 11 is provided with a developer discharge opening 11 a , a shutter guide 11 b and carrying projections 11 d . the discharge opening 11 a as an opening portion is a rectangle of 10 mm × 15 mm , and is formed in the peripheral surface of the container 11 at a location of 40 mm from the end surface of the container 11 . the developer contained in the container body 11 is discharged to the developing device 5 through the discharge opening 11 a . by the discharge opening 11 a being formed in the peripheral surface of the container body 11 , the residual developer amount residual in the developer supplying container 11 after discharge can be made small , as compared with a developer supplying container provided with an opening portion in the end surface of the container body 11 . also , the discharge opening 11 a can be made shorter than the full length of the container body 11 in the longitudinal direction thereof to thereby reduce the stains by the adherence of the developer . the shutter guide 11 b comprises two hook - shaped ribs provided near the developer discharge opening 11 a of the container body 11 and parallel to the circumferential direction thereof a shutter ( not shown ) engageable with this shutter guide 11 b is mounted for reciprocal movement in the circumferential direction . in the interior of the container body 11 , the carrying projections 11 d for carrying the contained developer to the discharge opening 11 a are spaced apart from each other and protrudedly provided on the inner wall of the container body 11 . the carrying projections 11 d are provided while being divided into two upper and lower groups spaced apart circumferentially of the container body 11 . in the present embodiment , the height of the projections is 5 mm and the thickness thereof is 1 mm . the height of the carrying projections 11 d on the small - diametered portion of the container body 11 which is adjacent to the discharge opening 11 a is 2 . 5 mm , and six projections and seven projections are provided on the upper portion and lower portion , respectively , of the container body 11 . by the carrying projections 11 d being thus provided while being divided into two upper and lower groups circumferentially spaced apart from each other , the developer can be effectively loosened by the spacing - apart portion between adjacent ones of the projections , and the developer can be smoothly discharged through the discharge opening 11 a . also , the container body 11 can be manufactured by molding what has been divided into two upper and lower parts , and adhesively securing the two to each other , and the container body 11 can be shaped and manufactured by a minimum number of divisions and as a result , it can be manufactured inexpensively . the container body 11 is filled with a predetermined amount of developer and is mounted on the rotary 4 and unsealed by the aforedescribed procedure . in the process of image forming , the developer in the developing device 5 is gradually consumed , but design is made such that the developer is sent into the developing device 5 by a signal from means ( not shown ) for detecting the developer amount in the developing device 5 or the ratio between the developer and carrier , and by the action of the carrying projections lid in the container 11 , and the developer amount in the developing device 5 or the ratio between the developer and carrier is kept substantially constant . design is made such that at the developing position 50 , the developing device 5 is operated , whereby the developer in the developing device 5 is decreased near the connected portion to the discharge opening 11 a of the developer supplying container 11 . the developer supplying container 11 is designed to communicate with a developer receiving port ( not shown ) on the developing device 5 side . therefore , if the developer in the developing device 5 is decreased , the developer present in the end portion of the developer supplying container 11 will immediately fall from gravity and be supplied to the developing device 5 through the discharge opening 11 a . thus , in the rotation of the rotary 4 for the toner supply , use is made of the motor tables 44 a and 44 c in which the rotational speed of the rotary 4 is equivalent , whereby quick and stable supply is obtained . as another form of the present embodiment , description will now be made of a form in which the motor tables 44 used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 which is the developing device changeover mechanism are changed over in accordance with the operation mode . an image forming apparatus used in the present embodiment is similar to the image forming apparatus used in the first and second embodiments , except for the motor tables 44 , and therefore need not be described . the situation in which the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 is required is divided broadly into three modes , i . e , ( 1 ) the ordinary color image forming mode , ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode and ( 3 ) the image adjusting mode , as described above . in the first embodiment , the motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 in the modes ( 1 ), ( 2 ) and ( 3 ). also , in the second embodiment , the motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 in the modes ( 1 ) and ( 3 ), and the motor tables 44 a and 44 c shown in fig7 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 in the mode ( 2 ). in the present embodiment , in ( 1 ) the image forming mode , the motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 to thereby prevent color misregister . also , in ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode which is a non - image forming mode , use is made of the motor tables 44 a and 44 c shown in fig7 wherein the rotational speed of the rotary 4 is equivalent , and in ( 3 ) the image adjusting mode , during the 80 ° movement of y → m , m → c and bk → y ( hp ) in which the moving distance is short , use is made of the same table 44 c ( dot - and - dash line ) as that in ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode , and for the further shortening of time , use is made of a motor table 44 d ( dots - and - dash line ) shown in fig8 to thereby shorten the time in the c → bk movement wherein the moving distance is long . that is , in the present embodiment , the motor table 44 c is used during the 80 ° movement of y → m , m → c and bk → y ( hp ) in which the moving distance is short , and the motor table 44 d is used during the 120 ° movement c → bk in which the moving distance is long . in the case of the motor table 44 d , the speed is accelerated more to the maximum than in the case of the ordinary motor table 44 a to thereby shorten the moving time . in the image adjusting mode , there is incorporated a sequence for transferring the y , m , c and bk toner images to the itb 2 d , measuring the toner density by an optical sensor ( not shown ), and optimizing various adjusted values . therefore , it becomes possible to make each developing device changeover time shortest to thereby shorten the image adjusting time and achieve an improvement in the adjustment down time . in the first embodiment to the third embodiment , description has been made of such an image forming apparatus as shown in fig9 adopting such a construction as shown in detail in fig4 which carries the developing devices 5 of four colors on the rotary 4 , and conveys the developing devices 5 to the hp one by one in the order of arrangement thereof along the rotation outer periphery of the rotary 4 , and having a construction in which among the developing devices 5 , the bk developing device 5 bk which is high in the frequency of use is great in the capacity of the toner container 11 bk thereof and therefore , the moving distance of the rotary 4 in c bk is lengthened . in the present embodiment , reference is had to fig1 to describe an example in which the present invention is applied to an image forming apparatus in which the arrangement of the developing devices 5 in the rotary 4 is changed and developing devices 5 of six colors are carried on the rotary 4 . the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment is similar to the image forming apparatus shown in fig9 which has been described in the first to third embodiments , except for the construction of the rotary 4 , and therefore the whole of the image forming apparatus need not be described . the present embodiment , as shown in fig1 , has a rotary 4 carrying thereon developing devices 5 of light magenta m and light cyan c , besides yellow y , magenta m , cyan c and black bk . thus , the six developing devices 5 ( 5 y , 5 m , 5 m , 5 c , 5 c and 5 bk ) are made to correspond to a single photosensitive drum 1 , and the rotary 4 is rotated to thereby change over the developing devices 5 and effect developing . then , images of the respective colors formed on the photosensitive drum 1 are primary - transferred to an intermediate transfer belt 2 d which is an intermediate transfer member ( transfer medium ), whereby multiplex transfer is effected on the intermediate transfer belt 2 d , and the multiplexly transferred images are secondary - transferred to a recording material ( transfer medium ) fed from a sheet feeding apparatus 6 , under the action of a secondary transfer roller 7 . the developing device 5 m of light magenta and the developing device 5 c of light cyan are filled with developers including toners of the same hue but lower in density than the magenta toner and the cyan toner filling the developing devices 5 m and 5 c , respectively . that is , these developing devices contain therein toners of two colors magenta ( m ) and cyan ( c ) of the same hue but high in density and low in density . the toners of the same hue but of different density usually refer to toners which are equal in the spectral characteristic , but differing in the amount , of a coloring component ( pigment ) contained in a toner having resin and a coloring component ( pigment ) as a base substance . a light color toner refers to a toner relatively low in density , of a combination of toners of the same hue but differing in density . in the toners of the same hue but low in density ( light color toners ), the optical density after fixing is less than 1 . 0 per toner amount of 0 . 5 mg / cm 2 on a recording material , and in a toner high in density ( deep color toner ), the optical density after fixing is 1 . 0 or greater per toner amount of 0 . 5 mg / cm 2 on the recording material . now , in the present embodiment , in ( 1 ) the ordinary image forming mode , there are set two kinds of modes , i . e ., ( 1a ) a six - color image forming mode using all of the developing devices 5 of six colors , and ( 1b ) a four - color image forming mode using the other four colors than light magenta and light cyan . so , in ( 1b ) the four - color image forming mode , the developing operation is performed in the order of yellow y , magenta m , cyan c and black bk , and there are a case where the moving distance of the rotary 4 is long and a case where the moving distance of the rotary 4 is short , and motor control using the two kinds of motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 is carried out . again in such an image forming apparatus , the rotating time of the rotary 4 for each color is made equivalent to thereby adjust the position misregister occurring position to the images , whereby color misregister can be prevented . as a range within which the moving times to the developing position in the present embodiment become substantially equal , a range in which a time required for the drum moving a predetermined distance fluctuates when the rotational speed of the drum fluctuates within a range of − 0 . 2 % to 0 . 2 % is preferable , and the more approximate to 0 , the better . this application claims priority from japanese patent application no . 2004 - 008557 filed on jan . 15 , 2004 , which is hereby incorporated by reference herein	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'Physics'?	Is 'Performing Operations; Transporting' the correct technical category for the patent?	0.25	f61d5dd481d09ef0d8d8d2ddcd2028ae31005256a3905b8cff981628b9bee855	0.147461	0.056641	0.025146	0.031738	0.106934	0.144531
null	a developing apparatus according to the present invention will hereinafter be described in greater detail . however , the dimensions , materials , shapes , relative arrangement , and so on , of constituent parts described herein are not intended to restrict the scope of this invention thereto unless particularly specified . an image forming apparatus provided with the developing apparatus used in this embodiment is similar to the image forming apparatus described in the example of the conventional art with reference to fig9 in the general construction thereof and the construction of the ramming runner 52 of the developing device shown in fig6 and therefore , those constructions need not be described in detail again . description will first be made of the control of the rotation of a moving member ( rotary ) 4 which is a developing device changeover mechanism which is a characteristic portion of the present embodiment . the controlling operation until the image forming process described in the example of the conventional art is started , that is , until an image signal is transmitted , or in the present embodiment , until a copy button is depressed , is similar to that in the example of the conventional art described with reference to fig1 . that is , the rotary 4 is provided with a flag ( not shown ) and as a rotary developing apparatus , it is designed to be rotatively moved with the flag with the rotation of a rotary motor 41 , and an apparatus main body is provided with a home position detecting sensor 42 for detecting the rotated position of the rotary 4 , and this sensor 42 is disposed so as to detect the flag provided on the rotary 4 , and when a central control board 100 recognizes that the power supply switch of the apparatus has been closed , a motor table signal is transmitted to a motor rotation control board 43 , whereby the rotary motor 41 starts its rotating operation . when subsequently , a y developing device 5 y is disposed at a home position hp disposed at a developing position , this fact is detected by the home position detecting sensor 42 , and the motor rotation control board 43 stops the motor 41 and the y developing device 5 y stands by at the home position hp . when the central control board 100 of an apparatus control mechanism recognizes that a copy start button has been depressed , that is , an image forming signal has been transmitted , the rotary 4 is rotated on the basis of motor tables 44 ( 44 a , 44 b ), but the present embodiment has changing means for changing the moving speed of the rotary 4 by the moving distance of each developing device 5 to the developing position 50 , and as what constitutes the changing means , use is made of motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 . of these motor tables 44 ( 44 a , 44 b ) used for the control of the rotation of the rotary , the table 44 a is for the 120 ° movement of c → bk , and the table 44 b is for the 80 ° movement of y → m , m → c and bk → y ( hp ). that is , the two tables 44 a and 44 b , i . e ., acceleration and deceleration curves , are similar to each other , and have effected the shortening of the moving time as a maximum value at which the motor 41 does not lose synchronism . the table 44 a used in the rotation of a long moving distance makes the rotational speed of the rotary 4 higher than the table 44 b , that is , makes the rotational speed different , and makes the moving time equivalent , whereby there has been effected such control that the time for each developing device 5 to be moved from a developing standby position which is a position just preceding the developing position 50 to the developing position p is made the same . the timing at which the rotary 4 is rotated is set in connection with the image forming steps such as exposure , primary transfer and secondary transfer in accordance with an operation sequence shown in fig2 . referring to fig4 and 5 a to 5 d , a laser beam is first emitted to the exposing position 30 ( see fig4 ) of a photosensitive drum 1 on the basis of y image information ( timing y 1 ), whereby a y latent image is formed on the drum 1 . the y latent image is moved to the developing position 50 provided downstream of the exposing position 30 with respect to the direction of rotation of the drum 1 , and a y toner is applied to the drum 1 by the y developing device 5 y . further , a y developer image ( toner image ) is moved to a primary transferring position t 1 provided downstream of the developing position 50 with respect to the direction of rotation of the drum 1 , and is primary - transferred onto an itb 2 d by a primary transfer roller 2 e ( timing y 2 ). here again , much time is required from after the exposure till the primary transfer and therefore , it is impossible to change over the timing of exposure and the timing of primary transfer at a time and accordingly , the exposure and the primary transfer become operation sequences differing in timing from each other . when y developing is terminated later than y exposure ( timing y 1 ), the rotary 4 starts its rotation ( timing r 2 ), and at the developing position 50 , changeover from the y developing device 5 y to an m developing device 5 m ( y - m ) is effected . in the meantime , the exposure of m ( timing m 1 ) is not started , but yet the primary transfer of y ( timing y 2 ) still continues and therefore , the influence of the contact ( contact shock ) of the rotary 4 with the photosensitive drum 1 at timing r 1 does not appear in the exposure , but yet appears in the primary transfer at the timing y 2 . the aforedescribed operation is repeated , whereby y , m , c and bk are multiplexly transferred onto the itb 2 d . in fig2 , parts designated by y 1 , m 1 , c 1 , and bk 1 in the exposure portion represent respective image forming regions on the photosensitive drum ( image bearing member ) 1 then , electrostatic images corresponding to the respective colors of y , m , c , and bk are formed within the respective image forming regions . the multiplexly transferred images on the itb 2 d are moved to a secondary transferring position t 2 provided downstream of the primary transferring position t 1 with respect to the direction of rotation of the itb 2 d , and are secondary - transferred to a recording material conveyed in synchronism with the multiplexly transferred images , by a secondary transfer roller 7 ( timing x ). when bk developing is terminated later than bk exposure ( timing bk 1 ), the rotary 4 starts its rotation , and changeover from a bk developing device 5 bk to the y developing device sy is effected ( timing r 5 ). in the meantime , the secondary transfer ( timing x ) continues and therefore , the influence of the rotation of the rotary 4 ( timing r 5 ) also appears in the secondary transfer ( timing x ). also , in the primary transfer ( timing y 2 , timing m 2 , timing c 2 , timing bk 2 ), all the timing r 1 , r 2 , r 3 and r 4 of the rotation of the rotary 4 which affect become the same in the 120 ° movement of c → bk and the 80 ° movement of y → m , m → c and bk → y ( hp ). the rotary contact shock and the phenomena of position misregister and color misregister occurring from the above - described operation will be described here with reference to fig3 a to 3 c . as previously described , when the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 is effected in accordance with the operation sequence shown in fig2 , position misregister occurs due to the shock with which the ramming runner 52 of the developing device 5 contacts with the drum 1 during primary transfer . in the present embodiment , the position misregister is such as shown in fig3 a . in fig3 a , 3b and 3 c , the number of lines indicates an image position , and 0 is the head and 74 is the trailing edge of the image . that is , in the present embodiment , the rotating operation time of the rotary 4 is equivalent for the respective colors and therefore , all of the position misregister of y , m , c and bk images occur in the vicinity of 72 lines . the color misregister from the c reference color at this time is shown in fig3 b . the influence of the position misregister of y , m , c and bk images ( color misregister occurs ) is offset by the influence of the position misregister of the c reference color and no color misregister occurs . a maximum color misregister amount occurring to the images on the itb is shown in fig3 c . here , relative to the c reference color , bk position - misregisters toward the leading edge side of the images , and the color misregister amount is minus , and m position - misregisters toward the trailing edge side of the images , and the color misregister amount is plus . therefore , the color - misregister amount becomes greater between bk - m than between bk - c and between m - c . according to this , the maximum color misregister amount occurring to the images is 0 . 08 , and has decreased to about a half as compared with the conventional art in which the speed was made constant in spite of the moving distance of the developing device 5 . as described above , the rotating time of the rotary 4 for each color is made equivalent , whereby the position misregister occurring position to the images is adjusted , whereby color misregister can be prevented . as another form of the present embodiment , description will be made of a form in which the motor tables 44 used in the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 which is the developing device changeover mechanism are changed over in accordance with an operation mode . an image forming apparatus used in the present embodiment is similar to the image forming apparatus used in the first embodiment except for the motor tables 44 and therefore need not be described . the mode in which the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 according to the present embodiment is required is divided broadly into three modes , i . e ., ( 1 ) an ordinary color image forming mode , ( 2 ) a toner supplying mode and ( 3 ) an image adjusting mode . in the first embodiment , the motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 in these modes ( 1 ), ( 2 ) and ( 3 ). in the present embodiment , for the further stabilization of the toner supply , different motor tables 44 are used in ( 1 ) the image forming mode , ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode and ( 3 ) the image adjusting mode . here again , in ( 1 ) the image forming mode , such motor tables 44 a and 44 b as shown in fig1 and 7 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 to thereby prevent color misregister . in ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode and ( 3 ) the image adjusting mode , however , use is made of such motor tables 44 a ( solid line ) and 44 c ( dot - and - dash line ) as shown in fig7 wherein the rotational speed of the rotary 4 is equivalent . the motor table 44 c is used during the 80 ° movement of y → m , m → c and bk → y ( hp ) in which the moving distance is short , and the motor table 44 a is used during the 120 ° movement of c → bk in which the moving distance is long . the present image forming apparatus effects the toner supply by the rotation of the rotary 4 for image forming . when at this time , high density images have been continuously copied , the copying is discontinued and the toner supplying sequence by the idle rotation control of the rotary 4 is executed . in ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode , the purpose is to fill the developing device 5 with a toner from a supplying container 11 by the rotation of the rotary 4 and image forming is not carried out and therefore , color misregister need not be taken into consideration . the rotation of the rotary 4 during the toner supply is made equal in speed , whereby stable toner supply can be realized . usually the toner supply is satisfied by several full idle rotations and copying is resumed . fig1 a is a front view of a supplying container body 11 provided in the rotary 4 together with the developing devices 5 , fig1 b is a side view thereof , fig1 c is a front cross - sectional view thereof , fig1 d is a perspective view thereof , and fig1 e is a perspective see - through view thereof . the container body 11 is provided with a developer discharge opening 11 a , a shutter guide 11 b and carrying projections 11 d . the discharge opening 11 a as an opening portion is a rectangle of 10 mm × 15 mm , and is formed in the peripheral surface of the container 11 at a location of 40 mm from the end surface of the container 11 . the developer contained in the container body 11 is discharged to the developing device 5 through the discharge opening 11 a . by the discharge opening 11 a being formed in the peripheral surface of the container body 11 , the residual developer amount residual in the developer supplying container 11 after discharge can be made small , as compared with a developer supplying container provided with an opening portion in the end surface of the container body 11 . also , the discharge opening 11 a can be made shorter than the full length of the container body 11 in the longitudinal direction thereof to thereby reduce the stains by the adherence of the developer . the shutter guide 11 b comprises two hook - shaped ribs provided near the developer discharge opening 11 a of the container body 11 and parallel to the circumferential direction thereof a shutter ( not shown ) engageable with this shutter guide 11 b is mounted for reciprocal movement in the circumferential direction . in the interior of the container body 11 , the carrying projections 11 d for carrying the contained developer to the discharge opening 11 a are spaced apart from each other and protrudedly provided on the inner wall of the container body 11 . the carrying projections 11 d are provided while being divided into two upper and lower groups spaced apart circumferentially of the container body 11 . in the present embodiment , the height of the projections is 5 mm and the thickness thereof is 1 mm . the height of the carrying projections 11 d on the small - diametered portion of the container body 11 which is adjacent to the discharge opening 11 a is 2 . 5 mm , and six projections and seven projections are provided on the upper portion and lower portion , respectively , of the container body 11 . by the carrying projections 11 d being thus provided while being divided into two upper and lower groups circumferentially spaced apart from each other , the developer can be effectively loosened by the spacing - apart portion between adjacent ones of the projections , and the developer can be smoothly discharged through the discharge opening 11 a . also , the container body 11 can be manufactured by molding what has been divided into two upper and lower parts , and adhesively securing the two to each other , and the container body 11 can be shaped and manufactured by a minimum number of divisions and as a result , it can be manufactured inexpensively . the container body 11 is filled with a predetermined amount of developer and is mounted on the rotary 4 and unsealed by the aforedescribed procedure . in the process of image forming , the developer in the developing device 5 is gradually consumed , but design is made such that the developer is sent into the developing device 5 by a signal from means ( not shown ) for detecting the developer amount in the developing device 5 or the ratio between the developer and carrier , and by the action of the carrying projections lid in the container 11 , and the developer amount in the developing device 5 or the ratio between the developer and carrier is kept substantially constant . design is made such that at the developing position 50 , the developing device 5 is operated , whereby the developer in the developing device 5 is decreased near the connected portion to the discharge opening 11 a of the developer supplying container 11 . the developer supplying container 11 is designed to communicate with a developer receiving port ( not shown ) on the developing device 5 side . therefore , if the developer in the developing device 5 is decreased , the developer present in the end portion of the developer supplying container 11 will immediately fall from gravity and be supplied to the developing device 5 through the discharge opening 11 a . thus , in the rotation of the rotary 4 for the toner supply , use is made of the motor tables 44 a and 44 c in which the rotational speed of the rotary 4 is equivalent , whereby quick and stable supply is obtained . as another form of the present embodiment , description will now be made of a form in which the motor tables 44 used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 which is the developing device changeover mechanism are changed over in accordance with the operation mode . an image forming apparatus used in the present embodiment is similar to the image forming apparatus used in the first and second embodiments , except for the motor tables 44 , and therefore need not be described . the situation in which the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 is required is divided broadly into three modes , i . e , ( 1 ) the ordinary color image forming mode , ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode and ( 3 ) the image adjusting mode , as described above . in the first embodiment , the motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 in the modes ( 1 ), ( 2 ) and ( 3 ). also , in the second embodiment , the motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 in the modes ( 1 ) and ( 3 ), and the motor tables 44 a and 44 c shown in fig7 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 in the mode ( 2 ). in the present embodiment , in ( 1 ) the image forming mode , the motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 to thereby prevent color misregister . also , in ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode which is a non - image forming mode , use is made of the motor tables 44 a and 44 c shown in fig7 wherein the rotational speed of the rotary 4 is equivalent , and in ( 3 ) the image adjusting mode , during the 80 ° movement of y → m , m → c and bk → y ( hp ) in which the moving distance is short , use is made of the same table 44 c ( dot - and - dash line ) as that in ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode , and for the further shortening of time , use is made of a motor table 44 d ( dots - and - dash line ) shown in fig8 to thereby shorten the time in the c → bk movement wherein the moving distance is long . that is , in the present embodiment , the motor table 44 c is used during the 80 ° movement of y → m , m → c and bk → y ( hp ) in which the moving distance is short , and the motor table 44 d is used during the 120 ° movement c → bk in which the moving distance is long . in the case of the motor table 44 d , the speed is accelerated more to the maximum than in the case of the ordinary motor table 44 a to thereby shorten the moving time . in the image adjusting mode , there is incorporated a sequence for transferring the y , m , c and bk toner images to the itb 2 d , measuring the toner density by an optical sensor ( not shown ), and optimizing various adjusted values . therefore , it becomes possible to make each developing device changeover time shortest to thereby shorten the image adjusting time and achieve an improvement in the adjustment down time . in the first embodiment to the third embodiment , description has been made of such an image forming apparatus as shown in fig9 adopting such a construction as shown in detail in fig4 which carries the developing devices 5 of four colors on the rotary 4 , and conveys the developing devices 5 to the hp one by one in the order of arrangement thereof along the rotation outer periphery of the rotary 4 , and having a construction in which among the developing devices 5 , the bk developing device 5 bk which is high in the frequency of use is great in the capacity of the toner container 11 bk thereof and therefore , the moving distance of the rotary 4 in c bk is lengthened . in the present embodiment , reference is had to fig1 to describe an example in which the present invention is applied to an image forming apparatus in which the arrangement of the developing devices 5 in the rotary 4 is changed and developing devices 5 of six colors are carried on the rotary 4 . the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment is similar to the image forming apparatus shown in fig9 which has been described in the first to third embodiments , except for the construction of the rotary 4 , and therefore the whole of the image forming apparatus need not be described . the present embodiment , as shown in fig1 , has a rotary 4 carrying thereon developing devices 5 of light magenta m and light cyan c , besides yellow y , magenta m , cyan c and black bk . thus , the six developing devices 5 ( 5 y , 5 m , 5 m , 5 c , 5 c and 5 bk ) are made to correspond to a single photosensitive drum 1 , and the rotary 4 is rotated to thereby change over the developing devices 5 and effect developing . then , images of the respective colors formed on the photosensitive drum 1 are primary - transferred to an intermediate transfer belt 2 d which is an intermediate transfer member ( transfer medium ), whereby multiplex transfer is effected on the intermediate transfer belt 2 d , and the multiplexly transferred images are secondary - transferred to a recording material ( transfer medium ) fed from a sheet feeding apparatus 6 , under the action of a secondary transfer roller 7 . the developing device 5 m of light magenta and the developing device 5 c of light cyan are filled with developers including toners of the same hue but lower in density than the magenta toner and the cyan toner filling the developing devices 5 m and 5 c , respectively . that is , these developing devices contain therein toners of two colors magenta ( m ) and cyan ( c ) of the same hue but high in density and low in density . the toners of the same hue but of different density usually refer to toners which are equal in the spectral characteristic , but differing in the amount , of a coloring component ( pigment ) contained in a toner having resin and a coloring component ( pigment ) as a base substance . a light color toner refers to a toner relatively low in density , of a combination of toners of the same hue but differing in density . in the toners of the same hue but low in density ( light color toners ), the optical density after fixing is less than 1 . 0 per toner amount of 0 . 5 mg / cm 2 on a recording material , and in a toner high in density ( deep color toner ), the optical density after fixing is 1 . 0 or greater per toner amount of 0 . 5 mg / cm 2 on the recording material . now , in the present embodiment , in ( 1 ) the ordinary image forming mode , there are set two kinds of modes , i . e ., ( 1a ) a six - color image forming mode using all of the developing devices 5 of six colors , and ( 1b ) a four - color image forming mode using the other four colors than light magenta and light cyan . so , in ( 1b ) the four - color image forming mode , the developing operation is performed in the order of yellow y , magenta m , cyan c and black bk , and there are a case where the moving distance of the rotary 4 is long and a case where the moving distance of the rotary 4 is short , and motor control using the two kinds of motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 is carried out . again in such an image forming apparatus , the rotating time of the rotary 4 for each color is made equivalent to thereby adjust the position misregister occurring position to the images , whereby color misregister can be prevented . as a range within which the moving times to the developing position in the present embodiment become substantially equal , a range in which a time required for the drum moving a predetermined distance fluctuates when the rotational speed of the drum fluctuates within a range of − 0 . 2 % to 0 . 2 % is preferable , and the more approximate to 0 , the better . this application claims priority from japanese patent application no . 2004 - 008557 filed on jan . 15 , 2004 , which is hereby incorporated by reference herein	Should this patent be classified under 'Physics'?	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Chemistry; Metallurgy'?	0.25	f61d5dd481d09ef0d8d8d2ddcd2028ae31005256a3905b8cff981628b9bee855	0.124023	0.015442	0.014526	0.0065	0.061035	0.048096
null	a developing apparatus according to the present invention will hereinafter be described in greater detail . however , the dimensions , materials , shapes , relative arrangement , and so on , of constituent parts described herein are not intended to restrict the scope of this invention thereto unless particularly specified . an image forming apparatus provided with the developing apparatus used in this embodiment is similar to the image forming apparatus described in the example of the conventional art with reference to fig9 in the general construction thereof and the construction of the ramming runner 52 of the developing device shown in fig6 and therefore , those constructions need not be described in detail again . description will first be made of the control of the rotation of a moving member ( rotary ) 4 which is a developing device changeover mechanism which is a characteristic portion of the present embodiment . the controlling operation until the image forming process described in the example of the conventional art is started , that is , until an image signal is transmitted , or in the present embodiment , until a copy button is depressed , is similar to that in the example of the conventional art described with reference to fig1 . that is , the rotary 4 is provided with a flag ( not shown ) and as a rotary developing apparatus , it is designed to be rotatively moved with the flag with the rotation of a rotary motor 41 , and an apparatus main body is provided with a home position detecting sensor 42 for detecting the rotated position of the rotary 4 , and this sensor 42 is disposed so as to detect the flag provided on the rotary 4 , and when a central control board 100 recognizes that the power supply switch of the apparatus has been closed , a motor table signal is transmitted to a motor rotation control board 43 , whereby the rotary motor 41 starts its rotating operation . when subsequently , a y developing device 5 y is disposed at a home position hp disposed at a developing position , this fact is detected by the home position detecting sensor 42 , and the motor rotation control board 43 stops the motor 41 and the y developing device 5 y stands by at the home position hp . when the central control board 100 of an apparatus control mechanism recognizes that a copy start button has been depressed , that is , an image forming signal has been transmitted , the rotary 4 is rotated on the basis of motor tables 44 ( 44 a , 44 b ), but the present embodiment has changing means for changing the moving speed of the rotary 4 by the moving distance of each developing device 5 to the developing position 50 , and as what constitutes the changing means , use is made of motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 . of these motor tables 44 ( 44 a , 44 b ) used for the control of the rotation of the rotary , the table 44 a is for the 120 ° movement of c → bk , and the table 44 b is for the 80 ° movement of y → m , m → c and bk → y ( hp ). that is , the two tables 44 a and 44 b , i . e ., acceleration and deceleration curves , are similar to each other , and have effected the shortening of the moving time as a maximum value at which the motor 41 does not lose synchronism . the table 44 a used in the rotation of a long moving distance makes the rotational speed of the rotary 4 higher than the table 44 b , that is , makes the rotational speed different , and makes the moving time equivalent , whereby there has been effected such control that the time for each developing device 5 to be moved from a developing standby position which is a position just preceding the developing position 50 to the developing position p is made the same . the timing at which the rotary 4 is rotated is set in connection with the image forming steps such as exposure , primary transfer and secondary transfer in accordance with an operation sequence shown in fig2 . referring to fig4 and 5 a to 5 d , a laser beam is first emitted to the exposing position 30 ( see fig4 ) of a photosensitive drum 1 on the basis of y image information ( timing y 1 ), whereby a y latent image is formed on the drum 1 . the y latent image is moved to the developing position 50 provided downstream of the exposing position 30 with respect to the direction of rotation of the drum 1 , and a y toner is applied to the drum 1 by the y developing device 5 y . further , a y developer image ( toner image ) is moved to a primary transferring position t 1 provided downstream of the developing position 50 with respect to the direction of rotation of the drum 1 , and is primary - transferred onto an itb 2 d by a primary transfer roller 2 e ( timing y 2 ). here again , much time is required from after the exposure till the primary transfer and therefore , it is impossible to change over the timing of exposure and the timing of primary transfer at a time and accordingly , the exposure and the primary transfer become operation sequences differing in timing from each other . when y developing is terminated later than y exposure ( timing y 1 ), the rotary 4 starts its rotation ( timing r 2 ), and at the developing position 50 , changeover from the y developing device 5 y to an m developing device 5 m ( y - m ) is effected . in the meantime , the exposure of m ( timing m 1 ) is not started , but yet the primary transfer of y ( timing y 2 ) still continues and therefore , the influence of the contact ( contact shock ) of the rotary 4 with the photosensitive drum 1 at timing r 1 does not appear in the exposure , but yet appears in the primary transfer at the timing y 2 . the aforedescribed operation is repeated , whereby y , m , c and bk are multiplexly transferred onto the itb 2 d . in fig2 , parts designated by y 1 , m 1 , c 1 , and bk 1 in the exposure portion represent respective image forming regions on the photosensitive drum ( image bearing member ) 1 then , electrostatic images corresponding to the respective colors of y , m , c , and bk are formed within the respective image forming regions . the multiplexly transferred images on the itb 2 d are moved to a secondary transferring position t 2 provided downstream of the primary transferring position t 1 with respect to the direction of rotation of the itb 2 d , and are secondary - transferred to a recording material conveyed in synchronism with the multiplexly transferred images , by a secondary transfer roller 7 ( timing x ). when bk developing is terminated later than bk exposure ( timing bk 1 ), the rotary 4 starts its rotation , and changeover from a bk developing device 5 bk to the y developing device sy is effected ( timing r 5 ). in the meantime , the secondary transfer ( timing x ) continues and therefore , the influence of the rotation of the rotary 4 ( timing r 5 ) also appears in the secondary transfer ( timing x ). also , in the primary transfer ( timing y 2 , timing m 2 , timing c 2 , timing bk 2 ), all the timing r 1 , r 2 , r 3 and r 4 of the rotation of the rotary 4 which affect become the same in the 120 ° movement of c → bk and the 80 ° movement of y → m , m → c and bk → y ( hp ). the rotary contact shock and the phenomena of position misregister and color misregister occurring from the above - described operation will be described here with reference to fig3 a to 3 c . as previously described , when the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 is effected in accordance with the operation sequence shown in fig2 , position misregister occurs due to the shock with which the ramming runner 52 of the developing device 5 contacts with the drum 1 during primary transfer . in the present embodiment , the position misregister is such as shown in fig3 a . in fig3 a , 3b and 3 c , the number of lines indicates an image position , and 0 is the head and 74 is the trailing edge of the image . that is , in the present embodiment , the rotating operation time of the rotary 4 is equivalent for the respective colors and therefore , all of the position misregister of y , m , c and bk images occur in the vicinity of 72 lines . the color misregister from the c reference color at this time is shown in fig3 b . the influence of the position misregister of y , m , c and bk images ( color misregister occurs ) is offset by the influence of the position misregister of the c reference color and no color misregister occurs . a maximum color misregister amount occurring to the images on the itb is shown in fig3 c . here , relative to the c reference color , bk position - misregisters toward the leading edge side of the images , and the color misregister amount is minus , and m position - misregisters toward the trailing edge side of the images , and the color misregister amount is plus . therefore , the color - misregister amount becomes greater between bk - m than between bk - c and between m - c . according to this , the maximum color misregister amount occurring to the images is 0 . 08 , and has decreased to about a half as compared with the conventional art in which the speed was made constant in spite of the moving distance of the developing device 5 . as described above , the rotating time of the rotary 4 for each color is made equivalent , whereby the position misregister occurring position to the images is adjusted , whereby color misregister can be prevented . as another form of the present embodiment , description will be made of a form in which the motor tables 44 used in the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 which is the developing device changeover mechanism are changed over in accordance with an operation mode . an image forming apparatus used in the present embodiment is similar to the image forming apparatus used in the first embodiment except for the motor tables 44 and therefore need not be described . the mode in which the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 according to the present embodiment is required is divided broadly into three modes , i . e ., ( 1 ) an ordinary color image forming mode , ( 2 ) a toner supplying mode and ( 3 ) an image adjusting mode . in the first embodiment , the motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 in these modes ( 1 ), ( 2 ) and ( 3 ). in the present embodiment , for the further stabilization of the toner supply , different motor tables 44 are used in ( 1 ) the image forming mode , ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode and ( 3 ) the image adjusting mode . here again , in ( 1 ) the image forming mode , such motor tables 44 a and 44 b as shown in fig1 and 7 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 to thereby prevent color misregister . in ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode and ( 3 ) the image adjusting mode , however , use is made of such motor tables 44 a ( solid line ) and 44 c ( dot - and - dash line ) as shown in fig7 wherein the rotational speed of the rotary 4 is equivalent . the motor table 44 c is used during the 80 ° movement of y → m , m → c and bk → y ( hp ) in which the moving distance is short , and the motor table 44 a is used during the 120 ° movement of c → bk in which the moving distance is long . the present image forming apparatus effects the toner supply by the rotation of the rotary 4 for image forming . when at this time , high density images have been continuously copied , the copying is discontinued and the toner supplying sequence by the idle rotation control of the rotary 4 is executed . in ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode , the purpose is to fill the developing device 5 with a toner from a supplying container 11 by the rotation of the rotary 4 and image forming is not carried out and therefore , color misregister need not be taken into consideration . the rotation of the rotary 4 during the toner supply is made equal in speed , whereby stable toner supply can be realized . usually the toner supply is satisfied by several full idle rotations and copying is resumed . fig1 a is a front view of a supplying container body 11 provided in the rotary 4 together with the developing devices 5 , fig1 b is a side view thereof , fig1 c is a front cross - sectional view thereof , fig1 d is a perspective view thereof , and fig1 e is a perspective see - through view thereof . the container body 11 is provided with a developer discharge opening 11 a , a shutter guide 11 b and carrying projections 11 d . the discharge opening 11 a as an opening portion is a rectangle of 10 mm × 15 mm , and is formed in the peripheral surface of the container 11 at a location of 40 mm from the end surface of the container 11 . the developer contained in the container body 11 is discharged to the developing device 5 through the discharge opening 11 a . by the discharge opening 11 a being formed in the peripheral surface of the container body 11 , the residual developer amount residual in the developer supplying container 11 after discharge can be made small , as compared with a developer supplying container provided with an opening portion in the end surface of the container body 11 . also , the discharge opening 11 a can be made shorter than the full length of the container body 11 in the longitudinal direction thereof to thereby reduce the stains by the adherence of the developer . the shutter guide 11 b comprises two hook - shaped ribs provided near the developer discharge opening 11 a of the container body 11 and parallel to the circumferential direction thereof a shutter ( not shown ) engageable with this shutter guide 11 b is mounted for reciprocal movement in the circumferential direction . in the interior of the container body 11 , the carrying projections 11 d for carrying the contained developer to the discharge opening 11 a are spaced apart from each other and protrudedly provided on the inner wall of the container body 11 . the carrying projections 11 d are provided while being divided into two upper and lower groups spaced apart circumferentially of the container body 11 . in the present embodiment , the height of the projections is 5 mm and the thickness thereof is 1 mm . the height of the carrying projections 11 d on the small - diametered portion of the container body 11 which is adjacent to the discharge opening 11 a is 2 . 5 mm , and six projections and seven projections are provided on the upper portion and lower portion , respectively , of the container body 11 . by the carrying projections 11 d being thus provided while being divided into two upper and lower groups circumferentially spaced apart from each other , the developer can be effectively loosened by the spacing - apart portion between adjacent ones of the projections , and the developer can be smoothly discharged through the discharge opening 11 a . also , the container body 11 can be manufactured by molding what has been divided into two upper and lower parts , and adhesively securing the two to each other , and the container body 11 can be shaped and manufactured by a minimum number of divisions and as a result , it can be manufactured inexpensively . the container body 11 is filled with a predetermined amount of developer and is mounted on the rotary 4 and unsealed by the aforedescribed procedure . in the process of image forming , the developer in the developing device 5 is gradually consumed , but design is made such that the developer is sent into the developing device 5 by a signal from means ( not shown ) for detecting the developer amount in the developing device 5 or the ratio between the developer and carrier , and by the action of the carrying projections lid in the container 11 , and the developer amount in the developing device 5 or the ratio between the developer and carrier is kept substantially constant . design is made such that at the developing position 50 , the developing device 5 is operated , whereby the developer in the developing device 5 is decreased near the connected portion to the discharge opening 11 a of the developer supplying container 11 . the developer supplying container 11 is designed to communicate with a developer receiving port ( not shown ) on the developing device 5 side . therefore , if the developer in the developing device 5 is decreased , the developer present in the end portion of the developer supplying container 11 will immediately fall from gravity and be supplied to the developing device 5 through the discharge opening 11 a . thus , in the rotation of the rotary 4 for the toner supply , use is made of the motor tables 44 a and 44 c in which the rotational speed of the rotary 4 is equivalent , whereby quick and stable supply is obtained . as another form of the present embodiment , description will now be made of a form in which the motor tables 44 used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 which is the developing device changeover mechanism are changed over in accordance with the operation mode . an image forming apparatus used in the present embodiment is similar to the image forming apparatus used in the first and second embodiments , except for the motor tables 44 , and therefore need not be described . the situation in which the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 is required is divided broadly into three modes , i . e , ( 1 ) the ordinary color image forming mode , ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode and ( 3 ) the image adjusting mode , as described above . in the first embodiment , the motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 in the modes ( 1 ), ( 2 ) and ( 3 ). also , in the second embodiment , the motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 in the modes ( 1 ) and ( 3 ), and the motor tables 44 a and 44 c shown in fig7 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 in the mode ( 2 ). in the present embodiment , in ( 1 ) the image forming mode , the motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 to thereby prevent color misregister . also , in ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode which is a non - image forming mode , use is made of the motor tables 44 a and 44 c shown in fig7 wherein the rotational speed of the rotary 4 is equivalent , and in ( 3 ) the image adjusting mode , during the 80 ° movement of y → m , m → c and bk → y ( hp ) in which the moving distance is short , use is made of the same table 44 c ( dot - and - dash line ) as that in ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode , and for the further shortening of time , use is made of a motor table 44 d ( dots - and - dash line ) shown in fig8 to thereby shorten the time in the c → bk movement wherein the moving distance is long . that is , in the present embodiment , the motor table 44 c is used during the 80 ° movement of y → m , m → c and bk → y ( hp ) in which the moving distance is short , and the motor table 44 d is used during the 120 ° movement c → bk in which the moving distance is long . in the case of the motor table 44 d , the speed is accelerated more to the maximum than in the case of the ordinary motor table 44 a to thereby shorten the moving time . in the image adjusting mode , there is incorporated a sequence for transferring the y , m , c and bk toner images to the itb 2 d , measuring the toner density by an optical sensor ( not shown ), and optimizing various adjusted values . therefore , it becomes possible to make each developing device changeover time shortest to thereby shorten the image adjusting time and achieve an improvement in the adjustment down time . in the first embodiment to the third embodiment , description has been made of such an image forming apparatus as shown in fig9 adopting such a construction as shown in detail in fig4 which carries the developing devices 5 of four colors on the rotary 4 , and conveys the developing devices 5 to the hp one by one in the order of arrangement thereof along the rotation outer periphery of the rotary 4 , and having a construction in which among the developing devices 5 , the bk developing device 5 bk which is high in the frequency of use is great in the capacity of the toner container 11 bk thereof and therefore , the moving distance of the rotary 4 in c bk is lengthened . in the present embodiment , reference is had to fig1 to describe an example in which the present invention is applied to an image forming apparatus in which the arrangement of the developing devices 5 in the rotary 4 is changed and developing devices 5 of six colors are carried on the rotary 4 . the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment is similar to the image forming apparatus shown in fig9 which has been described in the first to third embodiments , except for the construction of the rotary 4 , and therefore the whole of the image forming apparatus need not be described . the present embodiment , as shown in fig1 , has a rotary 4 carrying thereon developing devices 5 of light magenta m and light cyan c , besides yellow y , magenta m , cyan c and black bk . thus , the six developing devices 5 ( 5 y , 5 m , 5 m , 5 c , 5 c and 5 bk ) are made to correspond to a single photosensitive drum 1 , and the rotary 4 is rotated to thereby change over the developing devices 5 and effect developing . then , images of the respective colors formed on the photosensitive drum 1 are primary - transferred to an intermediate transfer belt 2 d which is an intermediate transfer member ( transfer medium ), whereby multiplex transfer is effected on the intermediate transfer belt 2 d , and the multiplexly transferred images are secondary - transferred to a recording material ( transfer medium ) fed from a sheet feeding apparatus 6 , under the action of a secondary transfer roller 7 . the developing device 5 m of light magenta and the developing device 5 c of light cyan are filled with developers including toners of the same hue but lower in density than the magenta toner and the cyan toner filling the developing devices 5 m and 5 c , respectively . that is , these developing devices contain therein toners of two colors magenta ( m ) and cyan ( c ) of the same hue but high in density and low in density . the toners of the same hue but of different density usually refer to toners which are equal in the spectral characteristic , but differing in the amount , of a coloring component ( pigment ) contained in a toner having resin and a coloring component ( pigment ) as a base substance . a light color toner refers to a toner relatively low in density , of a combination of toners of the same hue but differing in density . in the toners of the same hue but low in density ( light color toners ), the optical density after fixing is less than 1 . 0 per toner amount of 0 . 5 mg / cm 2 on a recording material , and in a toner high in density ( deep color toner ), the optical density after fixing is 1 . 0 or greater per toner amount of 0 . 5 mg / cm 2 on the recording material . now , in the present embodiment , in ( 1 ) the ordinary image forming mode , there are set two kinds of modes , i . e ., ( 1a ) a six - color image forming mode using all of the developing devices 5 of six colors , and ( 1b ) a four - color image forming mode using the other four colors than light magenta and light cyan . so , in ( 1b ) the four - color image forming mode , the developing operation is performed in the order of yellow y , magenta m , cyan c and black bk , and there are a case where the moving distance of the rotary 4 is long and a case where the moving distance of the rotary 4 is short , and motor control using the two kinds of motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 is carried out . again in such an image forming apparatus , the rotating time of the rotary 4 for each color is made equivalent to thereby adjust the position misregister occurring position to the images , whereby color misregister can be prevented . as a range within which the moving times to the developing position in the present embodiment become substantially equal , a range in which a time required for the drum moving a predetermined distance fluctuates when the rotational speed of the drum fluctuates within a range of − 0 . 2 % to 0 . 2 % is preferable , and the more approximate to 0 , the better . this application claims priority from japanese patent application no . 2004 - 008557 filed on jan . 15 , 2004 , which is hereby incorporated by reference herein	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'Physics'?	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Textiles; Paper'?	0.25	f61d5dd481d09ef0d8d8d2ddcd2028ae31005256a3905b8cff981628b9bee855	0.147461	0.000393	0.025146	0.000035	0.106934	0.007813
null	a developing apparatus according to the present invention will hereinafter be described in greater detail . however , the dimensions , materials , shapes , relative arrangement , and so on , of constituent parts described herein are not intended to restrict the scope of this invention thereto unless particularly specified . an image forming apparatus provided with the developing apparatus used in this embodiment is similar to the image forming apparatus described in the example of the conventional art with reference to fig9 in the general construction thereof and the construction of the ramming runner 52 of the developing device shown in fig6 and therefore , those constructions need not be described in detail again . description will first be made of the control of the rotation of a moving member ( rotary ) 4 which is a developing device changeover mechanism which is a characteristic portion of the present embodiment . the controlling operation until the image forming process described in the example of the conventional art is started , that is , until an image signal is transmitted , or in the present embodiment , until a copy button is depressed , is similar to that in the example of the conventional art described with reference to fig1 . that is , the rotary 4 is provided with a flag ( not shown ) and as a rotary developing apparatus , it is designed to be rotatively moved with the flag with the rotation of a rotary motor 41 , and an apparatus main body is provided with a home position detecting sensor 42 for detecting the rotated position of the rotary 4 , and this sensor 42 is disposed so as to detect the flag provided on the rotary 4 , and when a central control board 100 recognizes that the power supply switch of the apparatus has been closed , a motor table signal is transmitted to a motor rotation control board 43 , whereby the rotary motor 41 starts its rotating operation . when subsequently , a y developing device 5 y is disposed at a home position hp disposed at a developing position , this fact is detected by the home position detecting sensor 42 , and the motor rotation control board 43 stops the motor 41 and the y developing device 5 y stands by at the home position hp . when the central control board 100 of an apparatus control mechanism recognizes that a copy start button has been depressed , that is , an image forming signal has been transmitted , the rotary 4 is rotated on the basis of motor tables 44 ( 44 a , 44 b ), but the present embodiment has changing means for changing the moving speed of the rotary 4 by the moving distance of each developing device 5 to the developing position 50 , and as what constitutes the changing means , use is made of motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 . of these motor tables 44 ( 44 a , 44 b ) used for the control of the rotation of the rotary , the table 44 a is for the 120 ° movement of c → bk , and the table 44 b is for the 80 ° movement of y → m , m → c and bk → y ( hp ). that is , the two tables 44 a and 44 b , i . e ., acceleration and deceleration curves , are similar to each other , and have effected the shortening of the moving time as a maximum value at which the motor 41 does not lose synchronism . the table 44 a used in the rotation of a long moving distance makes the rotational speed of the rotary 4 higher than the table 44 b , that is , makes the rotational speed different , and makes the moving time equivalent , whereby there has been effected such control that the time for each developing device 5 to be moved from a developing standby position which is a position just preceding the developing position 50 to the developing position p is made the same . the timing at which the rotary 4 is rotated is set in connection with the image forming steps such as exposure , primary transfer and secondary transfer in accordance with an operation sequence shown in fig2 . referring to fig4 and 5 a to 5 d , a laser beam is first emitted to the exposing position 30 ( see fig4 ) of a photosensitive drum 1 on the basis of y image information ( timing y 1 ), whereby a y latent image is formed on the drum 1 . the y latent image is moved to the developing position 50 provided downstream of the exposing position 30 with respect to the direction of rotation of the drum 1 , and a y toner is applied to the drum 1 by the y developing device 5 y . further , a y developer image ( toner image ) is moved to a primary transferring position t 1 provided downstream of the developing position 50 with respect to the direction of rotation of the drum 1 , and is primary - transferred onto an itb 2 d by a primary transfer roller 2 e ( timing y 2 ). here again , much time is required from after the exposure till the primary transfer and therefore , it is impossible to change over the timing of exposure and the timing of primary transfer at a time and accordingly , the exposure and the primary transfer become operation sequences differing in timing from each other . when y developing is terminated later than y exposure ( timing y 1 ), the rotary 4 starts its rotation ( timing r 2 ), and at the developing position 50 , changeover from the y developing device 5 y to an m developing device 5 m ( y - m ) is effected . in the meantime , the exposure of m ( timing m 1 ) is not started , but yet the primary transfer of y ( timing y 2 ) still continues and therefore , the influence of the contact ( contact shock ) of the rotary 4 with the photosensitive drum 1 at timing r 1 does not appear in the exposure , but yet appears in the primary transfer at the timing y 2 . the aforedescribed operation is repeated , whereby y , m , c and bk are multiplexly transferred onto the itb 2 d . in fig2 , parts designated by y 1 , m 1 , c 1 , and bk 1 in the exposure portion represent respective image forming regions on the photosensitive drum ( image bearing member ) 1 then , electrostatic images corresponding to the respective colors of y , m , c , and bk are formed within the respective image forming regions . the multiplexly transferred images on the itb 2 d are moved to a secondary transferring position t 2 provided downstream of the primary transferring position t 1 with respect to the direction of rotation of the itb 2 d , and are secondary - transferred to a recording material conveyed in synchronism with the multiplexly transferred images , by a secondary transfer roller 7 ( timing x ). when bk developing is terminated later than bk exposure ( timing bk 1 ), the rotary 4 starts its rotation , and changeover from a bk developing device 5 bk to the y developing device sy is effected ( timing r 5 ). in the meantime , the secondary transfer ( timing x ) continues and therefore , the influence of the rotation of the rotary 4 ( timing r 5 ) also appears in the secondary transfer ( timing x ). also , in the primary transfer ( timing y 2 , timing m 2 , timing c 2 , timing bk 2 ), all the timing r 1 , r 2 , r 3 and r 4 of the rotation of the rotary 4 which affect become the same in the 120 ° movement of c → bk and the 80 ° movement of y → m , m → c and bk → y ( hp ). the rotary contact shock and the phenomena of position misregister and color misregister occurring from the above - described operation will be described here with reference to fig3 a to 3 c . as previously described , when the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 is effected in accordance with the operation sequence shown in fig2 , position misregister occurs due to the shock with which the ramming runner 52 of the developing device 5 contacts with the drum 1 during primary transfer . in the present embodiment , the position misregister is such as shown in fig3 a . in fig3 a , 3b and 3 c , the number of lines indicates an image position , and 0 is the head and 74 is the trailing edge of the image . that is , in the present embodiment , the rotating operation time of the rotary 4 is equivalent for the respective colors and therefore , all of the position misregister of y , m , c and bk images occur in the vicinity of 72 lines . the color misregister from the c reference color at this time is shown in fig3 b . the influence of the position misregister of y , m , c and bk images ( color misregister occurs ) is offset by the influence of the position misregister of the c reference color and no color misregister occurs . a maximum color misregister amount occurring to the images on the itb is shown in fig3 c . here , relative to the c reference color , bk position - misregisters toward the leading edge side of the images , and the color misregister amount is minus , and m position - misregisters toward the trailing edge side of the images , and the color misregister amount is plus . therefore , the color - misregister amount becomes greater between bk - m than between bk - c and between m - c . according to this , the maximum color misregister amount occurring to the images is 0 . 08 , and has decreased to about a half as compared with the conventional art in which the speed was made constant in spite of the moving distance of the developing device 5 . as described above , the rotating time of the rotary 4 for each color is made equivalent , whereby the position misregister occurring position to the images is adjusted , whereby color misregister can be prevented . as another form of the present embodiment , description will be made of a form in which the motor tables 44 used in the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 which is the developing device changeover mechanism are changed over in accordance with an operation mode . an image forming apparatus used in the present embodiment is similar to the image forming apparatus used in the first embodiment except for the motor tables 44 and therefore need not be described . the mode in which the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 according to the present embodiment is required is divided broadly into three modes , i . e ., ( 1 ) an ordinary color image forming mode , ( 2 ) a toner supplying mode and ( 3 ) an image adjusting mode . in the first embodiment , the motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 in these modes ( 1 ), ( 2 ) and ( 3 ). in the present embodiment , for the further stabilization of the toner supply , different motor tables 44 are used in ( 1 ) the image forming mode , ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode and ( 3 ) the image adjusting mode . here again , in ( 1 ) the image forming mode , such motor tables 44 a and 44 b as shown in fig1 and 7 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 to thereby prevent color misregister . in ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode and ( 3 ) the image adjusting mode , however , use is made of such motor tables 44 a ( solid line ) and 44 c ( dot - and - dash line ) as shown in fig7 wherein the rotational speed of the rotary 4 is equivalent . the motor table 44 c is used during the 80 ° movement of y → m , m → c and bk → y ( hp ) in which the moving distance is short , and the motor table 44 a is used during the 120 ° movement of c → bk in which the moving distance is long . the present image forming apparatus effects the toner supply by the rotation of the rotary 4 for image forming . when at this time , high density images have been continuously copied , the copying is discontinued and the toner supplying sequence by the idle rotation control of the rotary 4 is executed . in ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode , the purpose is to fill the developing device 5 with a toner from a supplying container 11 by the rotation of the rotary 4 and image forming is not carried out and therefore , color misregister need not be taken into consideration . the rotation of the rotary 4 during the toner supply is made equal in speed , whereby stable toner supply can be realized . usually the toner supply is satisfied by several full idle rotations and copying is resumed . fig1 a is a front view of a supplying container body 11 provided in the rotary 4 together with the developing devices 5 , fig1 b is a side view thereof , fig1 c is a front cross - sectional view thereof , fig1 d is a perspective view thereof , and fig1 e is a perspective see - through view thereof . the container body 11 is provided with a developer discharge opening 11 a , a shutter guide 11 b and carrying projections 11 d . the discharge opening 11 a as an opening portion is a rectangle of 10 mm × 15 mm , and is formed in the peripheral surface of the container 11 at a location of 40 mm from the end surface of the container 11 . the developer contained in the container body 11 is discharged to the developing device 5 through the discharge opening 11 a . by the discharge opening 11 a being formed in the peripheral surface of the container body 11 , the residual developer amount residual in the developer supplying container 11 after discharge can be made small , as compared with a developer supplying container provided with an opening portion in the end surface of the container body 11 . also , the discharge opening 11 a can be made shorter than the full length of the container body 11 in the longitudinal direction thereof to thereby reduce the stains by the adherence of the developer . the shutter guide 11 b comprises two hook - shaped ribs provided near the developer discharge opening 11 a of the container body 11 and parallel to the circumferential direction thereof a shutter ( not shown ) engageable with this shutter guide 11 b is mounted for reciprocal movement in the circumferential direction . in the interior of the container body 11 , the carrying projections 11 d for carrying the contained developer to the discharge opening 11 a are spaced apart from each other and protrudedly provided on the inner wall of the container body 11 . the carrying projections 11 d are provided while being divided into two upper and lower groups spaced apart circumferentially of the container body 11 . in the present embodiment , the height of the projections is 5 mm and the thickness thereof is 1 mm . the height of the carrying projections 11 d on the small - diametered portion of the container body 11 which is adjacent to the discharge opening 11 a is 2 . 5 mm , and six projections and seven projections are provided on the upper portion and lower portion , respectively , of the container body 11 . by the carrying projections 11 d being thus provided while being divided into two upper and lower groups circumferentially spaced apart from each other , the developer can be effectively loosened by the spacing - apart portion between adjacent ones of the projections , and the developer can be smoothly discharged through the discharge opening 11 a . also , the container body 11 can be manufactured by molding what has been divided into two upper and lower parts , and adhesively securing the two to each other , and the container body 11 can be shaped and manufactured by a minimum number of divisions and as a result , it can be manufactured inexpensively . the container body 11 is filled with a predetermined amount of developer and is mounted on the rotary 4 and unsealed by the aforedescribed procedure . in the process of image forming , the developer in the developing device 5 is gradually consumed , but design is made such that the developer is sent into the developing device 5 by a signal from means ( not shown ) for detecting the developer amount in the developing device 5 or the ratio between the developer and carrier , and by the action of the carrying projections lid in the container 11 , and the developer amount in the developing device 5 or the ratio between the developer and carrier is kept substantially constant . design is made such that at the developing position 50 , the developing device 5 is operated , whereby the developer in the developing device 5 is decreased near the connected portion to the discharge opening 11 a of the developer supplying container 11 . the developer supplying container 11 is designed to communicate with a developer receiving port ( not shown ) on the developing device 5 side . therefore , if the developer in the developing device 5 is decreased , the developer present in the end portion of the developer supplying container 11 will immediately fall from gravity and be supplied to the developing device 5 through the discharge opening 11 a . thus , in the rotation of the rotary 4 for the toner supply , use is made of the motor tables 44 a and 44 c in which the rotational speed of the rotary 4 is equivalent , whereby quick and stable supply is obtained . as another form of the present embodiment , description will now be made of a form in which the motor tables 44 used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 which is the developing device changeover mechanism are changed over in accordance with the operation mode . an image forming apparatus used in the present embodiment is similar to the image forming apparatus used in the first and second embodiments , except for the motor tables 44 , and therefore need not be described . the situation in which the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 is required is divided broadly into three modes , i . e , ( 1 ) the ordinary color image forming mode , ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode and ( 3 ) the image adjusting mode , as described above . in the first embodiment , the motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 in the modes ( 1 ), ( 2 ) and ( 3 ). also , in the second embodiment , the motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 in the modes ( 1 ) and ( 3 ), and the motor tables 44 a and 44 c shown in fig7 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 in the mode ( 2 ). in the present embodiment , in ( 1 ) the image forming mode , the motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 to thereby prevent color misregister . also , in ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode which is a non - image forming mode , use is made of the motor tables 44 a and 44 c shown in fig7 wherein the rotational speed of the rotary 4 is equivalent , and in ( 3 ) the image adjusting mode , during the 80 ° movement of y → m , m → c and bk → y ( hp ) in which the moving distance is short , use is made of the same table 44 c ( dot - and - dash line ) as that in ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode , and for the further shortening of time , use is made of a motor table 44 d ( dots - and - dash line ) shown in fig8 to thereby shorten the time in the c → bk movement wherein the moving distance is long . that is , in the present embodiment , the motor table 44 c is used during the 80 ° movement of y → m , m → c and bk → y ( hp ) in which the moving distance is short , and the motor table 44 d is used during the 120 ° movement c → bk in which the moving distance is long . in the case of the motor table 44 d , the speed is accelerated more to the maximum than in the case of the ordinary motor table 44 a to thereby shorten the moving time . in the image adjusting mode , there is incorporated a sequence for transferring the y , m , c and bk toner images to the itb 2 d , measuring the toner density by an optical sensor ( not shown ), and optimizing various adjusted values . therefore , it becomes possible to make each developing device changeover time shortest to thereby shorten the image adjusting time and achieve an improvement in the adjustment down time . in the first embodiment to the third embodiment , description has been made of such an image forming apparatus as shown in fig9 adopting such a construction as shown in detail in fig4 which carries the developing devices 5 of four colors on the rotary 4 , and conveys the developing devices 5 to the hp one by one in the order of arrangement thereof along the rotation outer periphery of the rotary 4 , and having a construction in which among the developing devices 5 , the bk developing device 5 bk which is high in the frequency of use is great in the capacity of the toner container 11 bk thereof and therefore , the moving distance of the rotary 4 in c bk is lengthened . in the present embodiment , reference is had to fig1 to describe an example in which the present invention is applied to an image forming apparatus in which the arrangement of the developing devices 5 in the rotary 4 is changed and developing devices 5 of six colors are carried on the rotary 4 . the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment is similar to the image forming apparatus shown in fig9 which has been described in the first to third embodiments , except for the construction of the rotary 4 , and therefore the whole of the image forming apparatus need not be described . the present embodiment , as shown in fig1 , has a rotary 4 carrying thereon developing devices 5 of light magenta m and light cyan c , besides yellow y , magenta m , cyan c and black bk . thus , the six developing devices 5 ( 5 y , 5 m , 5 m , 5 c , 5 c and 5 bk ) are made to correspond to a single photosensitive drum 1 , and the rotary 4 is rotated to thereby change over the developing devices 5 and effect developing . then , images of the respective colors formed on the photosensitive drum 1 are primary - transferred to an intermediate transfer belt 2 d which is an intermediate transfer member ( transfer medium ), whereby multiplex transfer is effected on the intermediate transfer belt 2 d , and the multiplexly transferred images are secondary - transferred to a recording material ( transfer medium ) fed from a sheet feeding apparatus 6 , under the action of a secondary transfer roller 7 . the developing device 5 m of light magenta and the developing device 5 c of light cyan are filled with developers including toners of the same hue but lower in density than the magenta toner and the cyan toner filling the developing devices 5 m and 5 c , respectively . that is , these developing devices contain therein toners of two colors magenta ( m ) and cyan ( c ) of the same hue but high in density and low in density . the toners of the same hue but of different density usually refer to toners which are equal in the spectral characteristic , but differing in the amount , of a coloring component ( pigment ) contained in a toner having resin and a coloring component ( pigment ) as a base substance . a light color toner refers to a toner relatively low in density , of a combination of toners of the same hue but differing in density . in the toners of the same hue but low in density ( light color toners ), the optical density after fixing is less than 1 . 0 per toner amount of 0 . 5 mg / cm 2 on a recording material , and in a toner high in density ( deep color toner ), the optical density after fixing is 1 . 0 or greater per toner amount of 0 . 5 mg / cm 2 on the recording material . now , in the present embodiment , in ( 1 ) the ordinary image forming mode , there are set two kinds of modes , i . e ., ( 1a ) a six - color image forming mode using all of the developing devices 5 of six colors , and ( 1b ) a four - color image forming mode using the other four colors than light magenta and light cyan . so , in ( 1b ) the four - color image forming mode , the developing operation is performed in the order of yellow y , magenta m , cyan c and black bk , and there are a case where the moving distance of the rotary 4 is long and a case where the moving distance of the rotary 4 is short , and motor control using the two kinds of motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 is carried out . again in such an image forming apparatus , the rotating time of the rotary 4 for each color is made equivalent to thereby adjust the position misregister occurring position to the images , whereby color misregister can be prevented . as a range within which the moving times to the developing position in the present embodiment become substantially equal , a range in which a time required for the drum moving a predetermined distance fluctuates when the rotational speed of the drum fluctuates within a range of − 0 . 2 % to 0 . 2 % is preferable , and the more approximate to 0 , the better . this application claims priority from japanese patent application no . 2004 - 008557 filed on jan . 15 , 2004 , which is hereby incorporated by reference herein	Is 'Physics' the correct technical category for the patent?	Is 'Fixed Constructions' the correct technical category for the patent?	0.25	f61d5dd481d09ef0d8d8d2ddcd2028ae31005256a3905b8cff981628b9bee855	0.162109	0.031128	0.027954	0.015442	0.078125	0.043945
null	a developing apparatus according to the present invention will hereinafter be described in greater detail . however , the dimensions , materials , shapes , relative arrangement , and so on , of constituent parts described herein are not intended to restrict the scope of this invention thereto unless particularly specified . an image forming apparatus provided with the developing apparatus used in this embodiment is similar to the image forming apparatus described in the example of the conventional art with reference to fig9 in the general construction thereof and the construction of the ramming runner 52 of the developing device shown in fig6 and therefore , those constructions need not be described in detail again . description will first be made of the control of the rotation of a moving member ( rotary ) 4 which is a developing device changeover mechanism which is a characteristic portion of the present embodiment . the controlling operation until the image forming process described in the example of the conventional art is started , that is , until an image signal is transmitted , or in the present embodiment , until a copy button is depressed , is similar to that in the example of the conventional art described with reference to fig1 . that is , the rotary 4 is provided with a flag ( not shown ) and as a rotary developing apparatus , it is designed to be rotatively moved with the flag with the rotation of a rotary motor 41 , and an apparatus main body is provided with a home position detecting sensor 42 for detecting the rotated position of the rotary 4 , and this sensor 42 is disposed so as to detect the flag provided on the rotary 4 , and when a central control board 100 recognizes that the power supply switch of the apparatus has been closed , a motor table signal is transmitted to a motor rotation control board 43 , whereby the rotary motor 41 starts its rotating operation . when subsequently , a y developing device 5 y is disposed at a home position hp disposed at a developing position , this fact is detected by the home position detecting sensor 42 , and the motor rotation control board 43 stops the motor 41 and the y developing device 5 y stands by at the home position hp . when the central control board 100 of an apparatus control mechanism recognizes that a copy start button has been depressed , that is , an image forming signal has been transmitted , the rotary 4 is rotated on the basis of motor tables 44 ( 44 a , 44 b ), but the present embodiment has changing means for changing the moving speed of the rotary 4 by the moving distance of each developing device 5 to the developing position 50 , and as what constitutes the changing means , use is made of motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 . of these motor tables 44 ( 44 a , 44 b ) used for the control of the rotation of the rotary , the table 44 a is for the 120 ° movement of c → bk , and the table 44 b is for the 80 ° movement of y → m , m → c and bk → y ( hp ). that is , the two tables 44 a and 44 b , i . e ., acceleration and deceleration curves , are similar to each other , and have effected the shortening of the moving time as a maximum value at which the motor 41 does not lose synchronism . the table 44 a used in the rotation of a long moving distance makes the rotational speed of the rotary 4 higher than the table 44 b , that is , makes the rotational speed different , and makes the moving time equivalent , whereby there has been effected such control that the time for each developing device 5 to be moved from a developing standby position which is a position just preceding the developing position 50 to the developing position p is made the same . the timing at which the rotary 4 is rotated is set in connection with the image forming steps such as exposure , primary transfer and secondary transfer in accordance with an operation sequence shown in fig2 . referring to fig4 and 5 a to 5 d , a laser beam is first emitted to the exposing position 30 ( see fig4 ) of a photosensitive drum 1 on the basis of y image information ( timing y 1 ), whereby a y latent image is formed on the drum 1 . the y latent image is moved to the developing position 50 provided downstream of the exposing position 30 with respect to the direction of rotation of the drum 1 , and a y toner is applied to the drum 1 by the y developing device 5 y . further , a y developer image ( toner image ) is moved to a primary transferring position t 1 provided downstream of the developing position 50 with respect to the direction of rotation of the drum 1 , and is primary - transferred onto an itb 2 d by a primary transfer roller 2 e ( timing y 2 ). here again , much time is required from after the exposure till the primary transfer and therefore , it is impossible to change over the timing of exposure and the timing of primary transfer at a time and accordingly , the exposure and the primary transfer become operation sequences differing in timing from each other . when y developing is terminated later than y exposure ( timing y 1 ), the rotary 4 starts its rotation ( timing r 2 ), and at the developing position 50 , changeover from the y developing device 5 y to an m developing device 5 m ( y - m ) is effected . in the meantime , the exposure of m ( timing m 1 ) is not started , but yet the primary transfer of y ( timing y 2 ) still continues and therefore , the influence of the contact ( contact shock ) of the rotary 4 with the photosensitive drum 1 at timing r 1 does not appear in the exposure , but yet appears in the primary transfer at the timing y 2 . the aforedescribed operation is repeated , whereby y , m , c and bk are multiplexly transferred onto the itb 2 d . in fig2 , parts designated by y 1 , m 1 , c 1 , and bk 1 in the exposure portion represent respective image forming regions on the photosensitive drum ( image bearing member ) 1 then , electrostatic images corresponding to the respective colors of y , m , c , and bk are formed within the respective image forming regions . the multiplexly transferred images on the itb 2 d are moved to a secondary transferring position t 2 provided downstream of the primary transferring position t 1 with respect to the direction of rotation of the itb 2 d , and are secondary - transferred to a recording material conveyed in synchronism with the multiplexly transferred images , by a secondary transfer roller 7 ( timing x ). when bk developing is terminated later than bk exposure ( timing bk 1 ), the rotary 4 starts its rotation , and changeover from a bk developing device 5 bk to the y developing device sy is effected ( timing r 5 ). in the meantime , the secondary transfer ( timing x ) continues and therefore , the influence of the rotation of the rotary 4 ( timing r 5 ) also appears in the secondary transfer ( timing x ). also , in the primary transfer ( timing y 2 , timing m 2 , timing c 2 , timing bk 2 ), all the timing r 1 , r 2 , r 3 and r 4 of the rotation of the rotary 4 which affect become the same in the 120 ° movement of c → bk and the 80 ° movement of y → m , m → c and bk → y ( hp ). the rotary contact shock and the phenomena of position misregister and color misregister occurring from the above - described operation will be described here with reference to fig3 a to 3 c . as previously described , when the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 is effected in accordance with the operation sequence shown in fig2 , position misregister occurs due to the shock with which the ramming runner 52 of the developing device 5 contacts with the drum 1 during primary transfer . in the present embodiment , the position misregister is such as shown in fig3 a . in fig3 a , 3b and 3 c , the number of lines indicates an image position , and 0 is the head and 74 is the trailing edge of the image . that is , in the present embodiment , the rotating operation time of the rotary 4 is equivalent for the respective colors and therefore , all of the position misregister of y , m , c and bk images occur in the vicinity of 72 lines . the color misregister from the c reference color at this time is shown in fig3 b . the influence of the position misregister of y , m , c and bk images ( color misregister occurs ) is offset by the influence of the position misregister of the c reference color and no color misregister occurs . a maximum color misregister amount occurring to the images on the itb is shown in fig3 c . here , relative to the c reference color , bk position - misregisters toward the leading edge side of the images , and the color misregister amount is minus , and m position - misregisters toward the trailing edge side of the images , and the color misregister amount is plus . therefore , the color - misregister amount becomes greater between bk - m than between bk - c and between m - c . according to this , the maximum color misregister amount occurring to the images is 0 . 08 , and has decreased to about a half as compared with the conventional art in which the speed was made constant in spite of the moving distance of the developing device 5 . as described above , the rotating time of the rotary 4 for each color is made equivalent , whereby the position misregister occurring position to the images is adjusted , whereby color misregister can be prevented . as another form of the present embodiment , description will be made of a form in which the motor tables 44 used in the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 which is the developing device changeover mechanism are changed over in accordance with an operation mode . an image forming apparatus used in the present embodiment is similar to the image forming apparatus used in the first embodiment except for the motor tables 44 and therefore need not be described . the mode in which the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 according to the present embodiment is required is divided broadly into three modes , i . e ., ( 1 ) an ordinary color image forming mode , ( 2 ) a toner supplying mode and ( 3 ) an image adjusting mode . in the first embodiment , the motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 in these modes ( 1 ), ( 2 ) and ( 3 ). in the present embodiment , for the further stabilization of the toner supply , different motor tables 44 are used in ( 1 ) the image forming mode , ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode and ( 3 ) the image adjusting mode . here again , in ( 1 ) the image forming mode , such motor tables 44 a and 44 b as shown in fig1 and 7 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 to thereby prevent color misregister . in ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode and ( 3 ) the image adjusting mode , however , use is made of such motor tables 44 a ( solid line ) and 44 c ( dot - and - dash line ) as shown in fig7 wherein the rotational speed of the rotary 4 is equivalent . the motor table 44 c is used during the 80 ° movement of y → m , m → c and bk → y ( hp ) in which the moving distance is short , and the motor table 44 a is used during the 120 ° movement of c → bk in which the moving distance is long . the present image forming apparatus effects the toner supply by the rotation of the rotary 4 for image forming . when at this time , high density images have been continuously copied , the copying is discontinued and the toner supplying sequence by the idle rotation control of the rotary 4 is executed . in ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode , the purpose is to fill the developing device 5 with a toner from a supplying container 11 by the rotation of the rotary 4 and image forming is not carried out and therefore , color misregister need not be taken into consideration . the rotation of the rotary 4 during the toner supply is made equal in speed , whereby stable toner supply can be realized . usually the toner supply is satisfied by several full idle rotations and copying is resumed . fig1 a is a front view of a supplying container body 11 provided in the rotary 4 together with the developing devices 5 , fig1 b is a side view thereof , fig1 c is a front cross - sectional view thereof , fig1 d is a perspective view thereof , and fig1 e is a perspective see - through view thereof . the container body 11 is provided with a developer discharge opening 11 a , a shutter guide 11 b and carrying projections 11 d . the discharge opening 11 a as an opening portion is a rectangle of 10 mm × 15 mm , and is formed in the peripheral surface of the container 11 at a location of 40 mm from the end surface of the container 11 . the developer contained in the container body 11 is discharged to the developing device 5 through the discharge opening 11 a . by the discharge opening 11 a being formed in the peripheral surface of the container body 11 , the residual developer amount residual in the developer supplying container 11 after discharge can be made small , as compared with a developer supplying container provided with an opening portion in the end surface of the container body 11 . also , the discharge opening 11 a can be made shorter than the full length of the container body 11 in the longitudinal direction thereof to thereby reduce the stains by the adherence of the developer . the shutter guide 11 b comprises two hook - shaped ribs provided near the developer discharge opening 11 a of the container body 11 and parallel to the circumferential direction thereof a shutter ( not shown ) engageable with this shutter guide 11 b is mounted for reciprocal movement in the circumferential direction . in the interior of the container body 11 , the carrying projections 11 d for carrying the contained developer to the discharge opening 11 a are spaced apart from each other and protrudedly provided on the inner wall of the container body 11 . the carrying projections 11 d are provided while being divided into two upper and lower groups spaced apart circumferentially of the container body 11 . in the present embodiment , the height of the projections is 5 mm and the thickness thereof is 1 mm . the height of the carrying projections 11 d on the small - diametered portion of the container body 11 which is adjacent to the discharge opening 11 a is 2 . 5 mm , and six projections and seven projections are provided on the upper portion and lower portion , respectively , of the container body 11 . by the carrying projections 11 d being thus provided while being divided into two upper and lower groups circumferentially spaced apart from each other , the developer can be effectively loosened by the spacing - apart portion between adjacent ones of the projections , and the developer can be smoothly discharged through the discharge opening 11 a . also , the container body 11 can be manufactured by molding what has been divided into two upper and lower parts , and adhesively securing the two to each other , and the container body 11 can be shaped and manufactured by a minimum number of divisions and as a result , it can be manufactured inexpensively . the container body 11 is filled with a predetermined amount of developer and is mounted on the rotary 4 and unsealed by the aforedescribed procedure . in the process of image forming , the developer in the developing device 5 is gradually consumed , but design is made such that the developer is sent into the developing device 5 by a signal from means ( not shown ) for detecting the developer amount in the developing device 5 or the ratio between the developer and carrier , and by the action of the carrying projections lid in the container 11 , and the developer amount in the developing device 5 or the ratio between the developer and carrier is kept substantially constant . design is made such that at the developing position 50 , the developing device 5 is operated , whereby the developer in the developing device 5 is decreased near the connected portion to the discharge opening 11 a of the developer supplying container 11 . the developer supplying container 11 is designed to communicate with a developer receiving port ( not shown ) on the developing device 5 side . therefore , if the developer in the developing device 5 is decreased , the developer present in the end portion of the developer supplying container 11 will immediately fall from gravity and be supplied to the developing device 5 through the discharge opening 11 a . thus , in the rotation of the rotary 4 for the toner supply , use is made of the motor tables 44 a and 44 c in which the rotational speed of the rotary 4 is equivalent , whereby quick and stable supply is obtained . as another form of the present embodiment , description will now be made of a form in which the motor tables 44 used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 which is the developing device changeover mechanism are changed over in accordance with the operation mode . an image forming apparatus used in the present embodiment is similar to the image forming apparatus used in the first and second embodiments , except for the motor tables 44 , and therefore need not be described . the situation in which the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 is required is divided broadly into three modes , i . e , ( 1 ) the ordinary color image forming mode , ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode and ( 3 ) the image adjusting mode , as described above . in the first embodiment , the motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 in the modes ( 1 ), ( 2 ) and ( 3 ). also , in the second embodiment , the motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 in the modes ( 1 ) and ( 3 ), and the motor tables 44 a and 44 c shown in fig7 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 in the mode ( 2 ). in the present embodiment , in ( 1 ) the image forming mode , the motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 to thereby prevent color misregister . also , in ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode which is a non - image forming mode , use is made of the motor tables 44 a and 44 c shown in fig7 wherein the rotational speed of the rotary 4 is equivalent , and in ( 3 ) the image adjusting mode , during the 80 ° movement of y → m , m → c and bk → y ( hp ) in which the moving distance is short , use is made of the same table 44 c ( dot - and - dash line ) as that in ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode , and for the further shortening of time , use is made of a motor table 44 d ( dots - and - dash line ) shown in fig8 to thereby shorten the time in the c → bk movement wherein the moving distance is long . that is , in the present embodiment , the motor table 44 c is used during the 80 ° movement of y → m , m → c and bk → y ( hp ) in which the moving distance is short , and the motor table 44 d is used during the 120 ° movement c → bk in which the moving distance is long . in the case of the motor table 44 d , the speed is accelerated more to the maximum than in the case of the ordinary motor table 44 a to thereby shorten the moving time . in the image adjusting mode , there is incorporated a sequence for transferring the y , m , c and bk toner images to the itb 2 d , measuring the toner density by an optical sensor ( not shown ), and optimizing various adjusted values . therefore , it becomes possible to make each developing device changeover time shortest to thereby shorten the image adjusting time and achieve an improvement in the adjustment down time . in the first embodiment to the third embodiment , description has been made of such an image forming apparatus as shown in fig9 adopting such a construction as shown in detail in fig4 which carries the developing devices 5 of four colors on the rotary 4 , and conveys the developing devices 5 to the hp one by one in the order of arrangement thereof along the rotation outer periphery of the rotary 4 , and having a construction in which among the developing devices 5 , the bk developing device 5 bk which is high in the frequency of use is great in the capacity of the toner container 11 bk thereof and therefore , the moving distance of the rotary 4 in c bk is lengthened . in the present embodiment , reference is had to fig1 to describe an example in which the present invention is applied to an image forming apparatus in which the arrangement of the developing devices 5 in the rotary 4 is changed and developing devices 5 of six colors are carried on the rotary 4 . the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment is similar to the image forming apparatus shown in fig9 which has been described in the first to third embodiments , except for the construction of the rotary 4 , and therefore the whole of the image forming apparatus need not be described . the present embodiment , as shown in fig1 , has a rotary 4 carrying thereon developing devices 5 of light magenta m and light cyan c , besides yellow y , magenta m , cyan c and black bk . thus , the six developing devices 5 ( 5 y , 5 m , 5 m , 5 c , 5 c and 5 bk ) are made to correspond to a single photosensitive drum 1 , and the rotary 4 is rotated to thereby change over the developing devices 5 and effect developing . then , images of the respective colors formed on the photosensitive drum 1 are primary - transferred to an intermediate transfer belt 2 d which is an intermediate transfer member ( transfer medium ), whereby multiplex transfer is effected on the intermediate transfer belt 2 d , and the multiplexly transferred images are secondary - transferred to a recording material ( transfer medium ) fed from a sheet feeding apparatus 6 , under the action of a secondary transfer roller 7 . the developing device 5 m of light magenta and the developing device 5 c of light cyan are filled with developers including toners of the same hue but lower in density than the magenta toner and the cyan toner filling the developing devices 5 m and 5 c , respectively . that is , these developing devices contain therein toners of two colors magenta ( m ) and cyan ( c ) of the same hue but high in density and low in density . the toners of the same hue but of different density usually refer to toners which are equal in the spectral characteristic , but differing in the amount , of a coloring component ( pigment ) contained in a toner having resin and a coloring component ( pigment ) as a base substance . a light color toner refers to a toner relatively low in density , of a combination of toners of the same hue but differing in density . in the toners of the same hue but low in density ( light color toners ), the optical density after fixing is less than 1 . 0 per toner amount of 0 . 5 mg / cm 2 on a recording material , and in a toner high in density ( deep color toner ), the optical density after fixing is 1 . 0 or greater per toner amount of 0 . 5 mg / cm 2 on the recording material . now , in the present embodiment , in ( 1 ) the ordinary image forming mode , there are set two kinds of modes , i . e ., ( 1a ) a six - color image forming mode using all of the developing devices 5 of six colors , and ( 1b ) a four - color image forming mode using the other four colors than light magenta and light cyan . so , in ( 1b ) the four - color image forming mode , the developing operation is performed in the order of yellow y , magenta m , cyan c and black bk , and there are a case where the moving distance of the rotary 4 is long and a case where the moving distance of the rotary 4 is short , and motor control using the two kinds of motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 is carried out . again in such an image forming apparatus , the rotating time of the rotary 4 for each color is made equivalent to thereby adjust the position misregister occurring position to the images , whereby color misregister can be prevented . as a range within which the moving times to the developing position in the present embodiment become substantially equal , a range in which a time required for the drum moving a predetermined distance fluctuates when the rotational speed of the drum fluctuates within a range of − 0 . 2 % to 0 . 2 % is preferable , and the more approximate to 0 , the better . this application claims priority from japanese patent application no . 2004 - 008557 filed on jan . 15 , 2004 , which is hereby incorporated by reference herein	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Physics'?	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Mechanical Engineering; Lightning; Heating; Weapons; Blasting'?	0.25	f61d5dd481d09ef0d8d8d2ddcd2028ae31005256a3905b8cff981628b9bee855	0.248047	0.003479	0.016968	0.001595	0.178711	0.092773
null	a developing apparatus according to the present invention will hereinafter be described in greater detail . however , the dimensions , materials , shapes , relative arrangement , and so on , of constituent parts described herein are not intended to restrict the scope of this invention thereto unless particularly specified . an image forming apparatus provided with the developing apparatus used in this embodiment is similar to the image forming apparatus described in the example of the conventional art with reference to fig9 in the general construction thereof and the construction of the ramming runner 52 of the developing device shown in fig6 and therefore , those constructions need not be described in detail again . description will first be made of the control of the rotation of a moving member ( rotary ) 4 which is a developing device changeover mechanism which is a characteristic portion of the present embodiment . the controlling operation until the image forming process described in the example of the conventional art is started , that is , until an image signal is transmitted , or in the present embodiment , until a copy button is depressed , is similar to that in the example of the conventional art described with reference to fig1 . that is , the rotary 4 is provided with a flag ( not shown ) and as a rotary developing apparatus , it is designed to be rotatively moved with the flag with the rotation of a rotary motor 41 , and an apparatus main body is provided with a home position detecting sensor 42 for detecting the rotated position of the rotary 4 , and this sensor 42 is disposed so as to detect the flag provided on the rotary 4 , and when a central control board 100 recognizes that the power supply switch of the apparatus has been closed , a motor table signal is transmitted to a motor rotation control board 43 , whereby the rotary motor 41 starts its rotating operation . when subsequently , a y developing device 5 y is disposed at a home position hp disposed at a developing position , this fact is detected by the home position detecting sensor 42 , and the motor rotation control board 43 stops the motor 41 and the y developing device 5 y stands by at the home position hp . when the central control board 100 of an apparatus control mechanism recognizes that a copy start button has been depressed , that is , an image forming signal has been transmitted , the rotary 4 is rotated on the basis of motor tables 44 ( 44 a , 44 b ), but the present embodiment has changing means for changing the moving speed of the rotary 4 by the moving distance of each developing device 5 to the developing position 50 , and as what constitutes the changing means , use is made of motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 . of these motor tables 44 ( 44 a , 44 b ) used for the control of the rotation of the rotary , the table 44 a is for the 120 ° movement of c → bk , and the table 44 b is for the 80 ° movement of y → m , m → c and bk → y ( hp ). that is , the two tables 44 a and 44 b , i . e ., acceleration and deceleration curves , are similar to each other , and have effected the shortening of the moving time as a maximum value at which the motor 41 does not lose synchronism . the table 44 a used in the rotation of a long moving distance makes the rotational speed of the rotary 4 higher than the table 44 b , that is , makes the rotational speed different , and makes the moving time equivalent , whereby there has been effected such control that the time for each developing device 5 to be moved from a developing standby position which is a position just preceding the developing position 50 to the developing position p is made the same . the timing at which the rotary 4 is rotated is set in connection with the image forming steps such as exposure , primary transfer and secondary transfer in accordance with an operation sequence shown in fig2 . referring to fig4 and 5 a to 5 d , a laser beam is first emitted to the exposing position 30 ( see fig4 ) of a photosensitive drum 1 on the basis of y image information ( timing y 1 ), whereby a y latent image is formed on the drum 1 . the y latent image is moved to the developing position 50 provided downstream of the exposing position 30 with respect to the direction of rotation of the drum 1 , and a y toner is applied to the drum 1 by the y developing device 5 y . further , a y developer image ( toner image ) is moved to a primary transferring position t 1 provided downstream of the developing position 50 with respect to the direction of rotation of the drum 1 , and is primary - transferred onto an itb 2 d by a primary transfer roller 2 e ( timing y 2 ). here again , much time is required from after the exposure till the primary transfer and therefore , it is impossible to change over the timing of exposure and the timing of primary transfer at a time and accordingly , the exposure and the primary transfer become operation sequences differing in timing from each other . when y developing is terminated later than y exposure ( timing y 1 ), the rotary 4 starts its rotation ( timing r 2 ), and at the developing position 50 , changeover from the y developing device 5 y to an m developing device 5 m ( y - m ) is effected . in the meantime , the exposure of m ( timing m 1 ) is not started , but yet the primary transfer of y ( timing y 2 ) still continues and therefore , the influence of the contact ( contact shock ) of the rotary 4 with the photosensitive drum 1 at timing r 1 does not appear in the exposure , but yet appears in the primary transfer at the timing y 2 . the aforedescribed operation is repeated , whereby y , m , c and bk are multiplexly transferred onto the itb 2 d . in fig2 , parts designated by y 1 , m 1 , c 1 , and bk 1 in the exposure portion represent respective image forming regions on the photosensitive drum ( image bearing member ) 1 then , electrostatic images corresponding to the respective colors of y , m , c , and bk are formed within the respective image forming regions . the multiplexly transferred images on the itb 2 d are moved to a secondary transferring position t 2 provided downstream of the primary transferring position t 1 with respect to the direction of rotation of the itb 2 d , and are secondary - transferred to a recording material conveyed in synchronism with the multiplexly transferred images , by a secondary transfer roller 7 ( timing x ). when bk developing is terminated later than bk exposure ( timing bk 1 ), the rotary 4 starts its rotation , and changeover from a bk developing device 5 bk to the y developing device sy is effected ( timing r 5 ). in the meantime , the secondary transfer ( timing x ) continues and therefore , the influence of the rotation of the rotary 4 ( timing r 5 ) also appears in the secondary transfer ( timing x ). also , in the primary transfer ( timing y 2 , timing m 2 , timing c 2 , timing bk 2 ), all the timing r 1 , r 2 , r 3 and r 4 of the rotation of the rotary 4 which affect become the same in the 120 ° movement of c → bk and the 80 ° movement of y → m , m → c and bk → y ( hp ). the rotary contact shock and the phenomena of position misregister and color misregister occurring from the above - described operation will be described here with reference to fig3 a to 3 c . as previously described , when the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 is effected in accordance with the operation sequence shown in fig2 , position misregister occurs due to the shock with which the ramming runner 52 of the developing device 5 contacts with the drum 1 during primary transfer . in the present embodiment , the position misregister is such as shown in fig3 a . in fig3 a , 3b and 3 c , the number of lines indicates an image position , and 0 is the head and 74 is the trailing edge of the image . that is , in the present embodiment , the rotating operation time of the rotary 4 is equivalent for the respective colors and therefore , all of the position misregister of y , m , c and bk images occur in the vicinity of 72 lines . the color misregister from the c reference color at this time is shown in fig3 b . the influence of the position misregister of y , m , c and bk images ( color misregister occurs ) is offset by the influence of the position misregister of the c reference color and no color misregister occurs . a maximum color misregister amount occurring to the images on the itb is shown in fig3 c . here , relative to the c reference color , bk position - misregisters toward the leading edge side of the images , and the color misregister amount is minus , and m position - misregisters toward the trailing edge side of the images , and the color misregister amount is plus . therefore , the color - misregister amount becomes greater between bk - m than between bk - c and between m - c . according to this , the maximum color misregister amount occurring to the images is 0 . 08 , and has decreased to about a half as compared with the conventional art in which the speed was made constant in spite of the moving distance of the developing device 5 . as described above , the rotating time of the rotary 4 for each color is made equivalent , whereby the position misregister occurring position to the images is adjusted , whereby color misregister can be prevented . as another form of the present embodiment , description will be made of a form in which the motor tables 44 used in the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 which is the developing device changeover mechanism are changed over in accordance with an operation mode . an image forming apparatus used in the present embodiment is similar to the image forming apparatus used in the first embodiment except for the motor tables 44 and therefore need not be described . the mode in which the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 according to the present embodiment is required is divided broadly into three modes , i . e ., ( 1 ) an ordinary color image forming mode , ( 2 ) a toner supplying mode and ( 3 ) an image adjusting mode . in the first embodiment , the motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 in these modes ( 1 ), ( 2 ) and ( 3 ). in the present embodiment , for the further stabilization of the toner supply , different motor tables 44 are used in ( 1 ) the image forming mode , ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode and ( 3 ) the image adjusting mode . here again , in ( 1 ) the image forming mode , such motor tables 44 a and 44 b as shown in fig1 and 7 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 to thereby prevent color misregister . in ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode and ( 3 ) the image adjusting mode , however , use is made of such motor tables 44 a ( solid line ) and 44 c ( dot - and - dash line ) as shown in fig7 wherein the rotational speed of the rotary 4 is equivalent . the motor table 44 c is used during the 80 ° movement of y → m , m → c and bk → y ( hp ) in which the moving distance is short , and the motor table 44 a is used during the 120 ° movement of c → bk in which the moving distance is long . the present image forming apparatus effects the toner supply by the rotation of the rotary 4 for image forming . when at this time , high density images have been continuously copied , the copying is discontinued and the toner supplying sequence by the idle rotation control of the rotary 4 is executed . in ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode , the purpose is to fill the developing device 5 with a toner from a supplying container 11 by the rotation of the rotary 4 and image forming is not carried out and therefore , color misregister need not be taken into consideration . the rotation of the rotary 4 during the toner supply is made equal in speed , whereby stable toner supply can be realized . usually the toner supply is satisfied by several full idle rotations and copying is resumed . fig1 a is a front view of a supplying container body 11 provided in the rotary 4 together with the developing devices 5 , fig1 b is a side view thereof , fig1 c is a front cross - sectional view thereof , fig1 d is a perspective view thereof , and fig1 e is a perspective see - through view thereof . the container body 11 is provided with a developer discharge opening 11 a , a shutter guide 11 b and carrying projections 11 d . the discharge opening 11 a as an opening portion is a rectangle of 10 mm × 15 mm , and is formed in the peripheral surface of the container 11 at a location of 40 mm from the end surface of the container 11 . the developer contained in the container body 11 is discharged to the developing device 5 through the discharge opening 11 a . by the discharge opening 11 a being formed in the peripheral surface of the container body 11 , the residual developer amount residual in the developer supplying container 11 after discharge can be made small , as compared with a developer supplying container provided with an opening portion in the end surface of the container body 11 . also , the discharge opening 11 a can be made shorter than the full length of the container body 11 in the longitudinal direction thereof to thereby reduce the stains by the adherence of the developer . the shutter guide 11 b comprises two hook - shaped ribs provided near the developer discharge opening 11 a of the container body 11 and parallel to the circumferential direction thereof a shutter ( not shown ) engageable with this shutter guide 11 b is mounted for reciprocal movement in the circumferential direction . in the interior of the container body 11 , the carrying projections 11 d for carrying the contained developer to the discharge opening 11 a are spaced apart from each other and protrudedly provided on the inner wall of the container body 11 . the carrying projections 11 d are provided while being divided into two upper and lower groups spaced apart circumferentially of the container body 11 . in the present embodiment , the height of the projections is 5 mm and the thickness thereof is 1 mm . the height of the carrying projections 11 d on the small - diametered portion of the container body 11 which is adjacent to the discharge opening 11 a is 2 . 5 mm , and six projections and seven projections are provided on the upper portion and lower portion , respectively , of the container body 11 . by the carrying projections 11 d being thus provided while being divided into two upper and lower groups circumferentially spaced apart from each other , the developer can be effectively loosened by the spacing - apart portion between adjacent ones of the projections , and the developer can be smoothly discharged through the discharge opening 11 a . also , the container body 11 can be manufactured by molding what has been divided into two upper and lower parts , and adhesively securing the two to each other , and the container body 11 can be shaped and manufactured by a minimum number of divisions and as a result , it can be manufactured inexpensively . the container body 11 is filled with a predetermined amount of developer and is mounted on the rotary 4 and unsealed by the aforedescribed procedure . in the process of image forming , the developer in the developing device 5 is gradually consumed , but design is made such that the developer is sent into the developing device 5 by a signal from means ( not shown ) for detecting the developer amount in the developing device 5 or the ratio between the developer and carrier , and by the action of the carrying projections lid in the container 11 , and the developer amount in the developing device 5 or the ratio between the developer and carrier is kept substantially constant . design is made such that at the developing position 50 , the developing device 5 is operated , whereby the developer in the developing device 5 is decreased near the connected portion to the discharge opening 11 a of the developer supplying container 11 . the developer supplying container 11 is designed to communicate with a developer receiving port ( not shown ) on the developing device 5 side . therefore , if the developer in the developing device 5 is decreased , the developer present in the end portion of the developer supplying container 11 will immediately fall from gravity and be supplied to the developing device 5 through the discharge opening 11 a . thus , in the rotation of the rotary 4 for the toner supply , use is made of the motor tables 44 a and 44 c in which the rotational speed of the rotary 4 is equivalent , whereby quick and stable supply is obtained . as another form of the present embodiment , description will now be made of a form in which the motor tables 44 used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 which is the developing device changeover mechanism are changed over in accordance with the operation mode . an image forming apparatus used in the present embodiment is similar to the image forming apparatus used in the first and second embodiments , except for the motor tables 44 , and therefore need not be described . the situation in which the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 is required is divided broadly into three modes , i . e , ( 1 ) the ordinary color image forming mode , ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode and ( 3 ) the image adjusting mode , as described above . in the first embodiment , the motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 in the modes ( 1 ), ( 2 ) and ( 3 ). also , in the second embodiment , the motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 in the modes ( 1 ) and ( 3 ), and the motor tables 44 a and 44 c shown in fig7 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 in the mode ( 2 ). in the present embodiment , in ( 1 ) the image forming mode , the motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 to thereby prevent color misregister . also , in ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode which is a non - image forming mode , use is made of the motor tables 44 a and 44 c shown in fig7 wherein the rotational speed of the rotary 4 is equivalent , and in ( 3 ) the image adjusting mode , during the 80 ° movement of y → m , m → c and bk → y ( hp ) in which the moving distance is short , use is made of the same table 44 c ( dot - and - dash line ) as that in ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode , and for the further shortening of time , use is made of a motor table 44 d ( dots - and - dash line ) shown in fig8 to thereby shorten the time in the c → bk movement wherein the moving distance is long . that is , in the present embodiment , the motor table 44 c is used during the 80 ° movement of y → m , m → c and bk → y ( hp ) in which the moving distance is short , and the motor table 44 d is used during the 120 ° movement c → bk in which the moving distance is long . in the case of the motor table 44 d , the speed is accelerated more to the maximum than in the case of the ordinary motor table 44 a to thereby shorten the moving time . in the image adjusting mode , there is incorporated a sequence for transferring the y , m , c and bk toner images to the itb 2 d , measuring the toner density by an optical sensor ( not shown ), and optimizing various adjusted values . therefore , it becomes possible to make each developing device changeover time shortest to thereby shorten the image adjusting time and achieve an improvement in the adjustment down time . in the first embodiment to the third embodiment , description has been made of such an image forming apparatus as shown in fig9 adopting such a construction as shown in detail in fig4 which carries the developing devices 5 of four colors on the rotary 4 , and conveys the developing devices 5 to the hp one by one in the order of arrangement thereof along the rotation outer periphery of the rotary 4 , and having a construction in which among the developing devices 5 , the bk developing device 5 bk which is high in the frequency of use is great in the capacity of the toner container 11 bk thereof and therefore , the moving distance of the rotary 4 in c bk is lengthened . in the present embodiment , reference is had to fig1 to describe an example in which the present invention is applied to an image forming apparatus in which the arrangement of the developing devices 5 in the rotary 4 is changed and developing devices 5 of six colors are carried on the rotary 4 . the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment is similar to the image forming apparatus shown in fig9 which has been described in the first to third embodiments , except for the construction of the rotary 4 , and therefore the whole of the image forming apparatus need not be described . the present embodiment , as shown in fig1 , has a rotary 4 carrying thereon developing devices 5 of light magenta m and light cyan c , besides yellow y , magenta m , cyan c and black bk . thus , the six developing devices 5 ( 5 y , 5 m , 5 m , 5 c , 5 c and 5 bk ) are made to correspond to a single photosensitive drum 1 , and the rotary 4 is rotated to thereby change over the developing devices 5 and effect developing . then , images of the respective colors formed on the photosensitive drum 1 are primary - transferred to an intermediate transfer belt 2 d which is an intermediate transfer member ( transfer medium ), whereby multiplex transfer is effected on the intermediate transfer belt 2 d , and the multiplexly transferred images are secondary - transferred to a recording material ( transfer medium ) fed from a sheet feeding apparatus 6 , under the action of a secondary transfer roller 7 . the developing device 5 m of light magenta and the developing device 5 c of light cyan are filled with developers including toners of the same hue but lower in density than the magenta toner and the cyan toner filling the developing devices 5 m and 5 c , respectively . that is , these developing devices contain therein toners of two colors magenta ( m ) and cyan ( c ) of the same hue but high in density and low in density . the toners of the same hue but of different density usually refer to toners which are equal in the spectral characteristic , but differing in the amount , of a coloring component ( pigment ) contained in a toner having resin and a coloring component ( pigment ) as a base substance . a light color toner refers to a toner relatively low in density , of a combination of toners of the same hue but differing in density . in the toners of the same hue but low in density ( light color toners ), the optical density after fixing is less than 1 . 0 per toner amount of 0 . 5 mg / cm 2 on a recording material , and in a toner high in density ( deep color toner ), the optical density after fixing is 1 . 0 or greater per toner amount of 0 . 5 mg / cm 2 on the recording material . now , in the present embodiment , in ( 1 ) the ordinary image forming mode , there are set two kinds of modes , i . e ., ( 1a ) a six - color image forming mode using all of the developing devices 5 of six colors , and ( 1b ) a four - color image forming mode using the other four colors than light magenta and light cyan . so , in ( 1b ) the four - color image forming mode , the developing operation is performed in the order of yellow y , magenta m , cyan c and black bk , and there are a case where the moving distance of the rotary 4 is long and a case where the moving distance of the rotary 4 is short , and motor control using the two kinds of motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 is carried out . again in such an image forming apparatus , the rotating time of the rotary 4 for each color is made equivalent to thereby adjust the position misregister occurring position to the images , whereby color misregister can be prevented . as a range within which the moving times to the developing position in the present embodiment become substantially equal , a range in which a time required for the drum moving a predetermined distance fluctuates when the rotational speed of the drum fluctuates within a range of − 0 . 2 % to 0 . 2 % is preferable , and the more approximate to 0 , the better . this application claims priority from japanese patent application no . 2004 - 008557 filed on jan . 15 , 2004 , which is hereby incorporated by reference herein	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Physics'?	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'Electricity'?	0.25	f61d5dd481d09ef0d8d8d2ddcd2028ae31005256a3905b8cff981628b9bee855	0.248047	0.006897	0.016968	0.001099	0.178711	0.001282
null	a developing apparatus according to the present invention will hereinafter be described in greater detail . however , the dimensions , materials , shapes , relative arrangement , and so on , of constituent parts described herein are not intended to restrict the scope of this invention thereto unless particularly specified . an image forming apparatus provided with the developing apparatus used in this embodiment is similar to the image forming apparatus described in the example of the conventional art with reference to fig9 in the general construction thereof and the construction of the ramming runner 52 of the developing device shown in fig6 and therefore , those constructions need not be described in detail again . description will first be made of the control of the rotation of a moving member ( rotary ) 4 which is a developing device changeover mechanism which is a characteristic portion of the present embodiment . the controlling operation until the image forming process described in the example of the conventional art is started , that is , until an image signal is transmitted , or in the present embodiment , until a copy button is depressed , is similar to that in the example of the conventional art described with reference to fig1 . that is , the rotary 4 is provided with a flag ( not shown ) and as a rotary developing apparatus , it is designed to be rotatively moved with the flag with the rotation of a rotary motor 41 , and an apparatus main body is provided with a home position detecting sensor 42 for detecting the rotated position of the rotary 4 , and this sensor 42 is disposed so as to detect the flag provided on the rotary 4 , and when a central control board 100 recognizes that the power supply switch of the apparatus has been closed , a motor table signal is transmitted to a motor rotation control board 43 , whereby the rotary motor 41 starts its rotating operation . when subsequently , a y developing device 5 y is disposed at a home position hp disposed at a developing position , this fact is detected by the home position detecting sensor 42 , and the motor rotation control board 43 stops the motor 41 and the y developing device 5 y stands by at the home position hp . when the central control board 100 of an apparatus control mechanism recognizes that a copy start button has been depressed , that is , an image forming signal has been transmitted , the rotary 4 is rotated on the basis of motor tables 44 ( 44 a , 44 b ), but the present embodiment has changing means for changing the moving speed of the rotary 4 by the moving distance of each developing device 5 to the developing position 50 , and as what constitutes the changing means , use is made of motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 . of these motor tables 44 ( 44 a , 44 b ) used for the control of the rotation of the rotary , the table 44 a is for the 120 ° movement of c → bk , and the table 44 b is for the 80 ° movement of y → m , m → c and bk → y ( hp ). that is , the two tables 44 a and 44 b , i . e ., acceleration and deceleration curves , are similar to each other , and have effected the shortening of the moving time as a maximum value at which the motor 41 does not lose synchronism . the table 44 a used in the rotation of a long moving distance makes the rotational speed of the rotary 4 higher than the table 44 b , that is , makes the rotational speed different , and makes the moving time equivalent , whereby there has been effected such control that the time for each developing device 5 to be moved from a developing standby position which is a position just preceding the developing position 50 to the developing position p is made the same . the timing at which the rotary 4 is rotated is set in connection with the image forming steps such as exposure , primary transfer and secondary transfer in accordance with an operation sequence shown in fig2 . referring to fig4 and 5 a to 5 d , a laser beam is first emitted to the exposing position 30 ( see fig4 ) of a photosensitive drum 1 on the basis of y image information ( timing y 1 ), whereby a y latent image is formed on the drum 1 . the y latent image is moved to the developing position 50 provided downstream of the exposing position 30 with respect to the direction of rotation of the drum 1 , and a y toner is applied to the drum 1 by the y developing device 5 y . further , a y developer image ( toner image ) is moved to a primary transferring position t 1 provided downstream of the developing position 50 with respect to the direction of rotation of the drum 1 , and is primary - transferred onto an itb 2 d by a primary transfer roller 2 e ( timing y 2 ). here again , much time is required from after the exposure till the primary transfer and therefore , it is impossible to change over the timing of exposure and the timing of primary transfer at a time and accordingly , the exposure and the primary transfer become operation sequences differing in timing from each other . when y developing is terminated later than y exposure ( timing y 1 ), the rotary 4 starts its rotation ( timing r 2 ), and at the developing position 50 , changeover from the y developing device 5 y to an m developing device 5 m ( y - m ) is effected . in the meantime , the exposure of m ( timing m 1 ) is not started , but yet the primary transfer of y ( timing y 2 ) still continues and therefore , the influence of the contact ( contact shock ) of the rotary 4 with the photosensitive drum 1 at timing r 1 does not appear in the exposure , but yet appears in the primary transfer at the timing y 2 . the aforedescribed operation is repeated , whereby y , m , c and bk are multiplexly transferred onto the itb 2 d . in fig2 , parts designated by y 1 , m 1 , c 1 , and bk 1 in the exposure portion represent respective image forming regions on the photosensitive drum ( image bearing member ) 1 then , electrostatic images corresponding to the respective colors of y , m , c , and bk are formed within the respective image forming regions . the multiplexly transferred images on the itb 2 d are moved to a secondary transferring position t 2 provided downstream of the primary transferring position t 1 with respect to the direction of rotation of the itb 2 d , and are secondary - transferred to a recording material conveyed in synchronism with the multiplexly transferred images , by a secondary transfer roller 7 ( timing x ). when bk developing is terminated later than bk exposure ( timing bk 1 ), the rotary 4 starts its rotation , and changeover from a bk developing device 5 bk to the y developing device sy is effected ( timing r 5 ). in the meantime , the secondary transfer ( timing x ) continues and therefore , the influence of the rotation of the rotary 4 ( timing r 5 ) also appears in the secondary transfer ( timing x ). also , in the primary transfer ( timing y 2 , timing m 2 , timing c 2 , timing bk 2 ), all the timing r 1 , r 2 , r 3 and r 4 of the rotation of the rotary 4 which affect become the same in the 120 ° movement of c → bk and the 80 ° movement of y → m , m → c and bk → y ( hp ). the rotary contact shock and the phenomena of position misregister and color misregister occurring from the above - described operation will be described here with reference to fig3 a to 3 c . as previously described , when the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 is effected in accordance with the operation sequence shown in fig2 , position misregister occurs due to the shock with which the ramming runner 52 of the developing device 5 contacts with the drum 1 during primary transfer . in the present embodiment , the position misregister is such as shown in fig3 a . in fig3 a , 3b and 3 c , the number of lines indicates an image position , and 0 is the head and 74 is the trailing edge of the image . that is , in the present embodiment , the rotating operation time of the rotary 4 is equivalent for the respective colors and therefore , all of the position misregister of y , m , c and bk images occur in the vicinity of 72 lines . the color misregister from the c reference color at this time is shown in fig3 b . the influence of the position misregister of y , m , c and bk images ( color misregister occurs ) is offset by the influence of the position misregister of the c reference color and no color misregister occurs . a maximum color misregister amount occurring to the images on the itb is shown in fig3 c . here , relative to the c reference color , bk position - misregisters toward the leading edge side of the images , and the color misregister amount is minus , and m position - misregisters toward the trailing edge side of the images , and the color misregister amount is plus . therefore , the color - misregister amount becomes greater between bk - m than between bk - c and between m - c . according to this , the maximum color misregister amount occurring to the images is 0 . 08 , and has decreased to about a half as compared with the conventional art in which the speed was made constant in spite of the moving distance of the developing device 5 . as described above , the rotating time of the rotary 4 for each color is made equivalent , whereby the position misregister occurring position to the images is adjusted , whereby color misregister can be prevented . as another form of the present embodiment , description will be made of a form in which the motor tables 44 used in the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 which is the developing device changeover mechanism are changed over in accordance with an operation mode . an image forming apparatus used in the present embodiment is similar to the image forming apparatus used in the first embodiment except for the motor tables 44 and therefore need not be described . the mode in which the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 according to the present embodiment is required is divided broadly into three modes , i . e ., ( 1 ) an ordinary color image forming mode , ( 2 ) a toner supplying mode and ( 3 ) an image adjusting mode . in the first embodiment , the motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 in these modes ( 1 ), ( 2 ) and ( 3 ). in the present embodiment , for the further stabilization of the toner supply , different motor tables 44 are used in ( 1 ) the image forming mode , ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode and ( 3 ) the image adjusting mode . here again , in ( 1 ) the image forming mode , such motor tables 44 a and 44 b as shown in fig1 and 7 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 to thereby prevent color misregister . in ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode and ( 3 ) the image adjusting mode , however , use is made of such motor tables 44 a ( solid line ) and 44 c ( dot - and - dash line ) as shown in fig7 wherein the rotational speed of the rotary 4 is equivalent . the motor table 44 c is used during the 80 ° movement of y → m , m → c and bk → y ( hp ) in which the moving distance is short , and the motor table 44 a is used during the 120 ° movement of c → bk in which the moving distance is long . the present image forming apparatus effects the toner supply by the rotation of the rotary 4 for image forming . when at this time , high density images have been continuously copied , the copying is discontinued and the toner supplying sequence by the idle rotation control of the rotary 4 is executed . in ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode , the purpose is to fill the developing device 5 with a toner from a supplying container 11 by the rotation of the rotary 4 and image forming is not carried out and therefore , color misregister need not be taken into consideration . the rotation of the rotary 4 during the toner supply is made equal in speed , whereby stable toner supply can be realized . usually the toner supply is satisfied by several full idle rotations and copying is resumed . fig1 a is a front view of a supplying container body 11 provided in the rotary 4 together with the developing devices 5 , fig1 b is a side view thereof , fig1 c is a front cross - sectional view thereof , fig1 d is a perspective view thereof , and fig1 e is a perspective see - through view thereof . the container body 11 is provided with a developer discharge opening 11 a , a shutter guide 11 b and carrying projections 11 d . the discharge opening 11 a as an opening portion is a rectangle of 10 mm × 15 mm , and is formed in the peripheral surface of the container 11 at a location of 40 mm from the end surface of the container 11 . the developer contained in the container body 11 is discharged to the developing device 5 through the discharge opening 11 a . by the discharge opening 11 a being formed in the peripheral surface of the container body 11 , the residual developer amount residual in the developer supplying container 11 after discharge can be made small , as compared with a developer supplying container provided with an opening portion in the end surface of the container body 11 . also , the discharge opening 11 a can be made shorter than the full length of the container body 11 in the longitudinal direction thereof to thereby reduce the stains by the adherence of the developer . the shutter guide 11 b comprises two hook - shaped ribs provided near the developer discharge opening 11 a of the container body 11 and parallel to the circumferential direction thereof a shutter ( not shown ) engageable with this shutter guide 11 b is mounted for reciprocal movement in the circumferential direction . in the interior of the container body 11 , the carrying projections 11 d for carrying the contained developer to the discharge opening 11 a are spaced apart from each other and protrudedly provided on the inner wall of the container body 11 . the carrying projections 11 d are provided while being divided into two upper and lower groups spaced apart circumferentially of the container body 11 . in the present embodiment , the height of the projections is 5 mm and the thickness thereof is 1 mm . the height of the carrying projections 11 d on the small - diametered portion of the container body 11 which is adjacent to the discharge opening 11 a is 2 . 5 mm , and six projections and seven projections are provided on the upper portion and lower portion , respectively , of the container body 11 . by the carrying projections 11 d being thus provided while being divided into two upper and lower groups circumferentially spaced apart from each other , the developer can be effectively loosened by the spacing - apart portion between adjacent ones of the projections , and the developer can be smoothly discharged through the discharge opening 11 a . also , the container body 11 can be manufactured by molding what has been divided into two upper and lower parts , and adhesively securing the two to each other , and the container body 11 can be shaped and manufactured by a minimum number of divisions and as a result , it can be manufactured inexpensively . the container body 11 is filled with a predetermined amount of developer and is mounted on the rotary 4 and unsealed by the aforedescribed procedure . in the process of image forming , the developer in the developing device 5 is gradually consumed , but design is made such that the developer is sent into the developing device 5 by a signal from means ( not shown ) for detecting the developer amount in the developing device 5 or the ratio between the developer and carrier , and by the action of the carrying projections lid in the container 11 , and the developer amount in the developing device 5 or the ratio between the developer and carrier is kept substantially constant . design is made such that at the developing position 50 , the developing device 5 is operated , whereby the developer in the developing device 5 is decreased near the connected portion to the discharge opening 11 a of the developer supplying container 11 . the developer supplying container 11 is designed to communicate with a developer receiving port ( not shown ) on the developing device 5 side . therefore , if the developer in the developing device 5 is decreased , the developer present in the end portion of the developer supplying container 11 will immediately fall from gravity and be supplied to the developing device 5 through the discharge opening 11 a . thus , in the rotation of the rotary 4 for the toner supply , use is made of the motor tables 44 a and 44 c in which the rotational speed of the rotary 4 is equivalent , whereby quick and stable supply is obtained . as another form of the present embodiment , description will now be made of a form in which the motor tables 44 used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 which is the developing device changeover mechanism are changed over in accordance with the operation mode . an image forming apparatus used in the present embodiment is similar to the image forming apparatus used in the first and second embodiments , except for the motor tables 44 , and therefore need not be described . the situation in which the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 is required is divided broadly into three modes , i . e , ( 1 ) the ordinary color image forming mode , ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode and ( 3 ) the image adjusting mode , as described above . in the first embodiment , the motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 in the modes ( 1 ), ( 2 ) and ( 3 ). also , in the second embodiment , the motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 in the modes ( 1 ) and ( 3 ), and the motor tables 44 a and 44 c shown in fig7 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 in the mode ( 2 ). in the present embodiment , in ( 1 ) the image forming mode , the motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 are used for the control of the rotation of the rotary 4 to thereby prevent color misregister . also , in ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode which is a non - image forming mode , use is made of the motor tables 44 a and 44 c shown in fig7 wherein the rotational speed of the rotary 4 is equivalent , and in ( 3 ) the image adjusting mode , during the 80 ° movement of y → m , m → c and bk → y ( hp ) in which the moving distance is short , use is made of the same table 44 c ( dot - and - dash line ) as that in ( 2 ) the toner supplying mode , and for the further shortening of time , use is made of a motor table 44 d ( dots - and - dash line ) shown in fig8 to thereby shorten the time in the c → bk movement wherein the moving distance is long . that is , in the present embodiment , the motor table 44 c is used during the 80 ° movement of y → m , m → c and bk → y ( hp ) in which the moving distance is short , and the motor table 44 d is used during the 120 ° movement c → bk in which the moving distance is long . in the case of the motor table 44 d , the speed is accelerated more to the maximum than in the case of the ordinary motor table 44 a to thereby shorten the moving time . in the image adjusting mode , there is incorporated a sequence for transferring the y , m , c and bk toner images to the itb 2 d , measuring the toner density by an optical sensor ( not shown ), and optimizing various adjusted values . therefore , it becomes possible to make each developing device changeover time shortest to thereby shorten the image adjusting time and achieve an improvement in the adjustment down time . in the first embodiment to the third embodiment , description has been made of such an image forming apparatus as shown in fig9 adopting such a construction as shown in detail in fig4 which carries the developing devices 5 of four colors on the rotary 4 , and conveys the developing devices 5 to the hp one by one in the order of arrangement thereof along the rotation outer periphery of the rotary 4 , and having a construction in which among the developing devices 5 , the bk developing device 5 bk which is high in the frequency of use is great in the capacity of the toner container 11 bk thereof and therefore , the moving distance of the rotary 4 in c bk is lengthened . in the present embodiment , reference is had to fig1 to describe an example in which the present invention is applied to an image forming apparatus in which the arrangement of the developing devices 5 in the rotary 4 is changed and developing devices 5 of six colors are carried on the rotary 4 . the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment is similar to the image forming apparatus shown in fig9 which has been described in the first to third embodiments , except for the construction of the rotary 4 , and therefore the whole of the image forming apparatus need not be described . the present embodiment , as shown in fig1 , has a rotary 4 carrying thereon developing devices 5 of light magenta m and light cyan c , besides yellow y , magenta m , cyan c and black bk . thus , the six developing devices 5 ( 5 y , 5 m , 5 m , 5 c , 5 c and 5 bk ) are made to correspond to a single photosensitive drum 1 , and the rotary 4 is rotated to thereby change over the developing devices 5 and effect developing . then , images of the respective colors formed on the photosensitive drum 1 are primary - transferred to an intermediate transfer belt 2 d which is an intermediate transfer member ( transfer medium ), whereby multiplex transfer is effected on the intermediate transfer belt 2 d , and the multiplexly transferred images are secondary - transferred to a recording material ( transfer medium ) fed from a sheet feeding apparatus 6 , under the action of a secondary transfer roller 7 . the developing device 5 m of light magenta and the developing device 5 c of light cyan are filled with developers including toners of the same hue but lower in density than the magenta toner and the cyan toner filling the developing devices 5 m and 5 c , respectively . that is , these developing devices contain therein toners of two colors magenta ( m ) and cyan ( c ) of the same hue but high in density and low in density . the toners of the same hue but of different density usually refer to toners which are equal in the spectral characteristic , but differing in the amount , of a coloring component ( pigment ) contained in a toner having resin and a coloring component ( pigment ) as a base substance . a light color toner refers to a toner relatively low in density , of a combination of toners of the same hue but differing in density . in the toners of the same hue but low in density ( light color toners ), the optical density after fixing is less than 1 . 0 per toner amount of 0 . 5 mg / cm 2 on a recording material , and in a toner high in density ( deep color toner ), the optical density after fixing is 1 . 0 or greater per toner amount of 0 . 5 mg / cm 2 on the recording material . now , in the present embodiment , in ( 1 ) the ordinary image forming mode , there are set two kinds of modes , i . e ., ( 1a ) a six - color image forming mode using all of the developing devices 5 of six colors , and ( 1b ) a four - color image forming mode using the other four colors than light magenta and light cyan . so , in ( 1b ) the four - color image forming mode , the developing operation is performed in the order of yellow y , magenta m , cyan c and black bk , and there are a case where the moving distance of the rotary 4 is long and a case where the moving distance of the rotary 4 is short , and motor control using the two kinds of motor tables 44 a and 44 b shown in fig1 is carried out . again in such an image forming apparatus , the rotating time of the rotary 4 for each color is made equivalent to thereby adjust the position misregister occurring position to the images , whereby color misregister can be prevented . as a range within which the moving times to the developing position in the present embodiment become substantially equal , a range in which a time required for the drum moving a predetermined distance fluctuates when the rotational speed of the drum fluctuates within a range of − 0 . 2 % to 0 . 2 % is preferable , and the more approximate to 0 , the better . this application claims priority from japanese patent application no . 2004 - 008557 filed on jan . 15 , 2004 , which is hereby incorporated by reference herein	Should this patent be classified under 'Physics'?	Should this patent be classified under 'General tagging of new or cross-sectional technology'?	0.25	f61d5dd481d09ef0d8d8d2ddcd2028ae31005256a3905b8cff981628b9bee855	0.129883	0.112793	0.014526	0.009705	0.061035	0.090332
null	the present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings , in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown . the invention may , however , be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein ; rather , these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness . like reference character refer to like elements throughout the description . with particular reference to fig1 , there is provided a vehicle 1 provided with a battery ( not shown ). the battery comprises a plurality of battery cells which can be charged and discharged depending on the specific battery operating mode . the vehicle 1 depicted in fig1 is a bus for which the inventive method for determining the reliability of state of health parameter values , which will be described in detail below , is particularly suitable for . turning now to fig2 , there is provided a flowchart of an example embodiment for determining if it is reliable to calculate battery state of health . the flowchart in fig2 comprises a first part which relates to the present accuracy of the state of health parameter values , referred to in the following as the parameter accuracy status module 202 , and a second part which relates to present state of the state of health parameter values , referred to in the following as the parameter state status module 204 . starting with the parameter accuracy status module 202 , it comprises , according to the non - limiting example embodiment depicted in fig2 , a state of charge accuracy status 206 , a temperature accuracy status 208 , and a voltage accuracy status 210 . the main purpose of the parameter accuracy status module 202 is to determine if the measured , or calculated , parameters are accurate enough when the measurement , or calculation , was made . the state of charge accuracy status 206 of the parameter accuracy status module 202 relates to the accuracy of calculated state of charge parameter values which can be used in the calculation of state of health of the battery . the state of charge of the battery can be calculated by a measured voltage value , a measured electric current value , or a combination of a measured voltage value and a measured electric current value . an example of a voltage - state of charge curve is given in connection to the description of fig3 below , illustrating state of charge for an open cell voltage curve . the determination of state of charge accuracy is thus dependent on how accurate the measured voltage and / or electric current was . the following will describe factors that affect the accuracy of voltage values , electric current values , as well as the combination of voltage and electric current values . starting with voltage values , one parameter that is decisive when determining if the voltage value is accurate enough is in which state of charge region the voltage value was measured . these regions will be described further in relation to fig3 below . another parameter that affects the accuracy of the measured voltage value is when the voltage measurement was made , or more particularly , for how long time the battery has “ rested ” since it was previously electrically charged or discharged . hereby , the measured voltage value is considered less accurate if the time period since the battery was charged / discharged is within a certain time period before the voltage measurement was made , i . e . the voltage measurement was executed to close in time from the previous charging / discharging of the battery . hence , the measured voltage value changes in relation to the electric current which is charging / discharging the battery . if the battery is charged with electric current , the measured voltage value will thus not represent the true state of the battery and as such be considered unreliable . also , the voltage value will need some time to converge to its “ true ” value after charging / discharging of the battery is executed . furthermore , the measured voltage value is also dependent on the battery temperature at the time when the measurement was made . for example , an increased temperature will increase a resistance of the battery and thus , for a constant electric current , provide a measured voltage value which is higher than what may be the real situation . hence , if the temperature of the battery is not within a specific range when the measurement was made , the voltage value is not considered accurate . also , if the temperature difference between the battery cells is not within a specific temperature range , the measured voltage value may be higher or lower than what would be the case if the temperature of the cells is within the specific temperature range . further , and described above , the temperature of the battery cells should not vary too much during the period when the temperature measurement is made , i . e . a relatively steady state of the temperature is preferable to be able to calculate a reliable battery state of health . moreover , the accuracy of the voltage values may also be dependent on the spread in voltage values between the battery cells . if the difference between the largest cell voltage and the lowest cell voltage is outside a predetermined acceptable voltage range , the overall measured battery voltage may be determined not to be accurate . when it comes to determining if a measured electric current is accurate or not , other parameters may also be of importance for providing a reliable state of health calculation . for example , it may be relevant to check if the battery was charged or discharged with electric current at the moment when the electric current measurement was made . also , if the electric current was measured when the electric current was less stable , i . e . electric current measurements tend to fluctuate over time , the electric current measurement is considered not to be accurate . another parameter relating to accuracy of electric current is the sum of integrated electric currents for all the battery cells . this may be of interest when using the integrated electric current values for calculating state of charge when the voltage - state of charge derivative function is below a predetermined threshold value . naturally , also the temperature is an important aspect for determining if the measured electric current is accurate or not for the same reasons as described above . finally , when determining if a state of charge , which is calculated by means of both voltage and electric current , is accurate , it may be important to determine that a combination of the above described parameters for voltage and electric current is accurate . accordingly , with at least some of the above described parameters , it can be determined if a calculated state of charge accuracy status 206 is sufficiently accurate . turning to the temperature accuracy status 208 , this accuracy status relates to the accuracy of the measure temperature of the battery , which can be used for calculating the state of health of the battery . as described above , the temperature of the battery may be an important aspect when determining if other parameters , such as measured voltage and electric current are accurate . the temperature parameter itself may however also be provided in a state of health calculation and its accuracy may therefore be important to consider before calculating battery state of health . there are a number of aspects that can be considered when determining if a measured temperature of the battery is accurate or not . for example , the temperature measurement may be considered inaccurate if there are not enough sensors provided to the battery , i . e . an insufficiently amount of battery cells are provided with a temperature sensor . for example , it may be determined that at least every other cell should be provided with a temperature sensor in order to provide a temperature measurement which is considered accurate . this is of course dependent on the specific battery as well as the specific application of the battery , for some applications it may be sufficient that every third cell , or even every fourth cell , is provided with a temperature sensor . the accuracy of the temperature may also be determined by verifying that the difference between the largest temperature of the battery cells and the lowest temperature of the battery cells are within a predetermined range , i . e . that a spread of the temperature is within a specific and accepted temperature range . further , another aspect is that the temperature measured from two adjacent temperature sensors must not differ too much . if this is the case , it may be determined that the temperature measurement is not sufficiently accurate . still further , the accuracy of the temperature sensors themselves may also be an aspect to consider . if the accuracy of the sensors is not sufficient , then the measured temperature value is thus not considered accurate . as a final example of the temperature accuracy , if the change of temperature over time changes too rapidly or too slowly , then a temperature measurement made during this time period may not be considered sufficiently accurate to be used in a state of health calculation . it should be noted that the temperature of battery cells are often measured on the surface of the cells , or at the pole of the cells . one further aspect to consider is whether the difference in temperature between the core of the cells and the surface of the cells are such that a measured temperature on the surface of the cell , or the pole of the cell , sufficiently describes the “ true ” temperature of the cells . this may be the case if the measurement is made too close in time since the battery was charged or discharged . since it is the cell core that is heated and the cell surface that is cooled , it will be difficult to assess whether the measured temperature on the surface describes the true characteristic of the cell temperature . hereby , in order to determine that the dynamically measured temperature is accurate , the measurement should preferably be made a time period after the battery has been charged / discharged with / from electric current . further , the core of the cells may have a higher temperature then the surface of the cells in cases where the battery has been exposed to “ severe ” charging / discharging , after which it takes a time period until the temperature of the cells and the surface have converged to substantially the same temperature level . accordingly , with at least some of the above described parameters , it can be determined if a measured temperature accuracy status 208 is sufficiently accurate . turning now to the voltage accuracy 210 , this accuracy status relates to the accuracy of measured voltage values for the different cells . the accuracy of the measured voltage value may be dependent on the specific temperature at the time of the measurement . accordingly , if the temperature is too high when measuring the battery voltage , the measured voltage value may not be considered reliable or accurate enough to provide a reliable value when calculating battery state of health . also , other parameters affecting the accuracy of the measured battery voltage is e . g . in which open cell voltage area the measurement was made , as described further below in relation to fig3 , or the time period since battery was previously charged / discharged , as described above , etc . with the state of charge accuracy 206 , the temperature accuracy 208 and the voltage accuracy 210 , a parameter accuracy value 212 can be provided . accordingly , if it is determined in 206 that the calculate state of charge is accurate , that the temperature measurement in 208 is accurate and that the voltage in 210 is accurate , then the battery parameter values are considered accurate . it should however be readily understood that a parameter accuracy value 212 indicating that the battery parameters are accurate can be provided by means of only one of state of charge accuracy 206 , temperature accuracy 208 or voltage accuracy 210 , it is not a prerequisite that all accuracy values are provided for receiving a parameter value indicating an accuracy of the battery . as described above , different parameters are more important for some applications than for others and it may therefore only be important to consider the specific parameters which are important for the specific applications . turning now instead to the battery state status module 204 , it comprises a state of charge state 214 , a temperature state 216 , and a voltage state 218 . the main purpose of the battery state status module 204 is to be able to determine if the state of the battery is such that it is beneficial to calculate the battery state of health . accordingly , the battery state status module 204 determines if the level of the parameter values will provide a calculated state of health value that is substantially reliable , i . e . substantially accurate . to be able to determine how much a battery has aged , the parameter value that is measured and used in calculating the aging of the battery needs to be compared to a reference parameter value when the battery was new . when the battery was new , measurement of various parameters was made under certain circumstances and it is therefore of interest to keep track of the circumstances that influence the parameters for determining the aging of the batteries , in order to assure that a reliable result of the calculation of the battery state of health is provided . firstly , the state of charge state 214 determines if a calculated state of the state of charge is such that it will contribute to a reliably calculated state of health value , i . e . that the state of charge is reliable . the state of charge state may be determined to be reliable if , for example , the state of charge value is calculated when the derivative function , as described below , is above a predetermined threshold value . the temperature state 216 determines if the state of the measured temperature is such that it will contribute to a reliably calculated state of health value . the measured temperature value may be determined to be reliable if the mean value of the measured temperature is within a specific range , i . e . the battery was neither too warm nor too cold when the measurement was made . also , the individual cell temperatures should not deviate too much from the mean temperature of battery in order for their value to be considered reliable . finally , the voltage state 218 determines if the measured voltage is such that it will contribute to a reliably calculated state of health value for the battery . when studying the voltage values it can be determined that voltage values are reliable if the voltage measurement was made within a predetermined time period since the previous balancing of the battery was executed . hence , a voltage value can be considered reliable if the spread between the voltage values of the different cells are within a predetermined voltage range . studying the range of the battery cell voltage can be an important aspect since e . g . a similar mean value can be provided for two measurements but where the spread between the highest and lowest battery cell voltage differs significantly between the measurements . hereby , only the voltage mean value having a cell voltage spread within the predetermined range is considered reliable . accordingly , the voltage values may be considered reliable shortly after balancing of the battery have been executed , since the spread in voltage will be reduced after battery balancing . also , the voltage value may be considered unreliable if it is either too high or too low . more specifically , if the level of the voltage value of a cell is too high or too low , this may probably indicate that the cell in question is damaged . hereby , calculating state of health of the battery based on a voltage value when one cell , or a plurality of cells , is broken , will not provide a sufficiently reliable state of health value . further , for the state of charge state 214 , the temperature state 216 and the voltage state 218 , it may also be of interest to determine the spread of the values for each of the parameters , i . e . how a cell value deviates from the other cell values , or from a calculated mean value of the cells , etc . with the above states 214 , 216 , 218 of the battery , the battery state module 220 determines whether the battery state is beneficial for providing a reliable state of health calculation by using the above described parameters . furthermore , it should be understood that the battery state module 220 is not necessarily dependent on receiving the state from all of the various parameters , i . e . from the state of charge state 214 , the temperature state 216 , or the voltage state 218 . it may , for the same reasons as described above in relation to the description of the parameter accuracy module 212 , be sufficient to receive input from only one of the modules . finally , the parameter accuracy module 212 and the battery state module 220 provides their result to a state of health determination status module 230 . the state of health determination status module 230 determines , based on the received input from the parameter accuracy module 212 and the battery state module 220 , if the measured parameter values are considered reliable for calculating a substantially accurate state of health of the battery . although fig2 illustrates that the state of health determination status module 230 should receive input from both the parameter accuracy module 212 and the battery state module 220 , the invention should be understood to function equally as well with a state of health determination status module 230 receiving input from only one of the parameter accuracy module 212 and the battery state module 220 . turning now to fig3 illustrating an open cell voltage graph 300 . the graph 300 illustrates how the battery voltage 302 depends on the state of charge 304 of the battery . the graph 300 in fig3 is divided into five sections 306 , 308 , 310 , 312 , 314 . the battery can either be charged , indicated by the arrows 316 showing increased voltage and increased state of charge of the battery , or be discharge , indicated by the arrows 318 showing a decrease in voltage as well as a decrease in state of charge of the battery . the following will mainly describe the graph in a battery charging state , illustrated by the arrows 316 . in the first section 306 the battery is charged from an empty state . hereby , the derivative function of the voltage - state of charge is relatively steep , i . e . a relatively large increase in voltage 302 in comparison to the increase in state of charge 304 . conversely , when the battery is discharged , the first section 306 indicates that the battery will soon be out of power . in the second section 308 of the graph 300 , the derivative function of the voltage - state of charge has been slightly reduced in comparison to the first section 306 , but the voltage 302 of the battery is still increasing with increased state of charge 304 and the voltage level of the battery is still in its lower region with regards to its overall capacity . in the third section 310 of the graph , the above defined derivative function is approximately zero . hereby , the state of charge 304 of the battery is in this section still increasing but the voltage level is remaining approximately the same . in the fourth 312 and fifth 314 sections of the graph , the derivative function has increased such that the battery voltage 302 is increasing and the state of charge 304 is also increasing . in the fifth section 314 the charging level of the battery has almost reached its complete capacity . now , as described above in relation to fig2 , measuring a voltage value during specific points in time may provide parameter values that cannot be considered accurate enough . in fig3 , this is illustrated by the third section 310 where the derivative function is approximately zero . more specifically , if a voltage measurement is made when the battery state of charge is in the third section 310 , the accuracy of the corresponding state of charge of the battery will be relatively uncertain , since a small change in voltage 302 will provide a relatively large change in state of charge 304 . accordingly , in the third section 310 , it may be difficult to provide an exact , or approximately exact , state of charge value with the measured voltage value , thus making the measured voltage value , as well as the state of charge value inaccurate at the third section 310 . in the first 306 , second 308 , fourth 312 and fifth 314 sections of the graph 300 , the derivative function is above a predetermined accepted threshold value and a measured voltage value will correspond to a relatively precise state of charge value . hereby , the measured voltage value as well as the corresponding state of charge value is in these sections considered accurate enough for providing a reliable state of health calculation . furthermore , the state of charge value can thus be considered reliable if the state of charge calculation was executed at a point in time when it was beneficial to do so , i . e . in one of the first 306 , second 308 , fourth 312 or fifth 314 sections described above . however , although the measured voltage value and the corresponding state of charge value is considered accurate , other parameter values may result in that it is determined not to perform a state of health calculation . for example , although the voltage - state of charge is in one of the first 306 , second 308 , fourth 312 or fifth 314 sections of the graph 300 , other parameters such as the temperature may have such a large spread between the cells that it is determined that this will render a calculated state of health unreliable . other parameter values that may result in the decision of not performing a state of health calculation is given above in relation to fig2 . in order to summarize the inventive method according to the present application , reference is made to fig4 illustrating a flowchart of an example embodiment of the method according to the present invention . according to the example depicted in fig4 , a first step s 1 of the method is to receive measured state of health parameter values from the battery . the measured state of health parameter values can , for example , be any one of those described above in relation to the description of fig2 and 3 . the measured state of health parameter values relate to parameter that can be used when calculating state of health of the battery . thereafter , the measured state of health parameter values are compared s 2 with at least one parameter criterion . the at least one parameter criterion is described above and can be set differently for different parameters as well as for different fields of application for the battery . finally , it is determined s 3 that the measured state of health parameter values are reliable if the state of health parameter value fulfils the at least one predetermined parameter criterion . hereby , the method can further determine if a state health parameter calculation , which is to be based on the received measured state of health parameter values , will provide a result which is accurate or not , i . e . if the result from the calculation will indicate a state of health of the battery which will substantially correspond to the true behaviour of the battery . it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings ; rather , the skilled person will recognize that many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims .	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Physics'?	Should this patent be classified under 'Human Necessities'?	0.25	ff6829ff8a168cd98f66b16468ca7da8fe3e41eef281122af3ace46f2bcee800	0.022339	0.003601	0.000999	0.000169	0.026367	0.001411
null	the present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings , in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown . the invention may , however , be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein ; rather , these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness . like reference character refer to like elements throughout the description . with particular reference to fig1 , there is provided a vehicle 1 provided with a battery ( not shown ). the battery comprises a plurality of battery cells which can be charged and discharged depending on the specific battery operating mode . the vehicle 1 depicted in fig1 is a bus for which the inventive method for determining the reliability of state of health parameter values , which will be described in detail below , is particularly suitable for . turning now to fig2 , there is provided a flowchart of an example embodiment for determining if it is reliable to calculate battery state of health . the flowchart in fig2 comprises a first part which relates to the present accuracy of the state of health parameter values , referred to in the following as the parameter accuracy status module 202 , and a second part which relates to present state of the state of health parameter values , referred to in the following as the parameter state status module 204 . starting with the parameter accuracy status module 202 , it comprises , according to the non - limiting example embodiment depicted in fig2 , a state of charge accuracy status 206 , a temperature accuracy status 208 , and a voltage accuracy status 210 . the main purpose of the parameter accuracy status module 202 is to determine if the measured , or calculated , parameters are accurate enough when the measurement , or calculation , was made . the state of charge accuracy status 206 of the parameter accuracy status module 202 relates to the accuracy of calculated state of charge parameter values which can be used in the calculation of state of health of the battery . the state of charge of the battery can be calculated by a measured voltage value , a measured electric current value , or a combination of a measured voltage value and a measured electric current value . an example of a voltage - state of charge curve is given in connection to the description of fig3 below , illustrating state of charge for an open cell voltage curve . the determination of state of charge accuracy is thus dependent on how accurate the measured voltage and / or electric current was . the following will describe factors that affect the accuracy of voltage values , electric current values , as well as the combination of voltage and electric current values . starting with voltage values , one parameter that is decisive when determining if the voltage value is accurate enough is in which state of charge region the voltage value was measured . these regions will be described further in relation to fig3 below . another parameter that affects the accuracy of the measured voltage value is when the voltage measurement was made , or more particularly , for how long time the battery has “ rested ” since it was previously electrically charged or discharged . hereby , the measured voltage value is considered less accurate if the time period since the battery was charged / discharged is within a certain time period before the voltage measurement was made , i . e . the voltage measurement was executed to close in time from the previous charging / discharging of the battery . hence , the measured voltage value changes in relation to the electric current which is charging / discharging the battery . if the battery is charged with electric current , the measured voltage value will thus not represent the true state of the battery and as such be considered unreliable . also , the voltage value will need some time to converge to its “ true ” value after charging / discharging of the battery is executed . furthermore , the measured voltage value is also dependent on the battery temperature at the time when the measurement was made . for example , an increased temperature will increase a resistance of the battery and thus , for a constant electric current , provide a measured voltage value which is higher than what may be the real situation . hence , if the temperature of the battery is not within a specific range when the measurement was made , the voltage value is not considered accurate . also , if the temperature difference between the battery cells is not within a specific temperature range , the measured voltage value may be higher or lower than what would be the case if the temperature of the cells is within the specific temperature range . further , and described above , the temperature of the battery cells should not vary too much during the period when the temperature measurement is made , i . e . a relatively steady state of the temperature is preferable to be able to calculate a reliable battery state of health . moreover , the accuracy of the voltage values may also be dependent on the spread in voltage values between the battery cells . if the difference between the largest cell voltage and the lowest cell voltage is outside a predetermined acceptable voltage range , the overall measured battery voltage may be determined not to be accurate . when it comes to determining if a measured electric current is accurate or not , other parameters may also be of importance for providing a reliable state of health calculation . for example , it may be relevant to check if the battery was charged or discharged with electric current at the moment when the electric current measurement was made . also , if the electric current was measured when the electric current was less stable , i . e . electric current measurements tend to fluctuate over time , the electric current measurement is considered not to be accurate . another parameter relating to accuracy of electric current is the sum of integrated electric currents for all the battery cells . this may be of interest when using the integrated electric current values for calculating state of charge when the voltage - state of charge derivative function is below a predetermined threshold value . naturally , also the temperature is an important aspect for determining if the measured electric current is accurate or not for the same reasons as described above . finally , when determining if a state of charge , which is calculated by means of both voltage and electric current , is accurate , it may be important to determine that a combination of the above described parameters for voltage and electric current is accurate . accordingly , with at least some of the above described parameters , it can be determined if a calculated state of charge accuracy status 206 is sufficiently accurate . turning to the temperature accuracy status 208 , this accuracy status relates to the accuracy of the measure temperature of the battery , which can be used for calculating the state of health of the battery . as described above , the temperature of the battery may be an important aspect when determining if other parameters , such as measured voltage and electric current are accurate . the temperature parameter itself may however also be provided in a state of health calculation and its accuracy may therefore be important to consider before calculating battery state of health . there are a number of aspects that can be considered when determining if a measured temperature of the battery is accurate or not . for example , the temperature measurement may be considered inaccurate if there are not enough sensors provided to the battery , i . e . an insufficiently amount of battery cells are provided with a temperature sensor . for example , it may be determined that at least every other cell should be provided with a temperature sensor in order to provide a temperature measurement which is considered accurate . this is of course dependent on the specific battery as well as the specific application of the battery , for some applications it may be sufficient that every third cell , or even every fourth cell , is provided with a temperature sensor . the accuracy of the temperature may also be determined by verifying that the difference between the largest temperature of the battery cells and the lowest temperature of the battery cells are within a predetermined range , i . e . that a spread of the temperature is within a specific and accepted temperature range . further , another aspect is that the temperature measured from two adjacent temperature sensors must not differ too much . if this is the case , it may be determined that the temperature measurement is not sufficiently accurate . still further , the accuracy of the temperature sensors themselves may also be an aspect to consider . if the accuracy of the sensors is not sufficient , then the measured temperature value is thus not considered accurate . as a final example of the temperature accuracy , if the change of temperature over time changes too rapidly or too slowly , then a temperature measurement made during this time period may not be considered sufficiently accurate to be used in a state of health calculation . it should be noted that the temperature of battery cells are often measured on the surface of the cells , or at the pole of the cells . one further aspect to consider is whether the difference in temperature between the core of the cells and the surface of the cells are such that a measured temperature on the surface of the cell , or the pole of the cell , sufficiently describes the “ true ” temperature of the cells . this may be the case if the measurement is made too close in time since the battery was charged or discharged . since it is the cell core that is heated and the cell surface that is cooled , it will be difficult to assess whether the measured temperature on the surface describes the true characteristic of the cell temperature . hereby , in order to determine that the dynamically measured temperature is accurate , the measurement should preferably be made a time period after the battery has been charged / discharged with / from electric current . further , the core of the cells may have a higher temperature then the surface of the cells in cases where the battery has been exposed to “ severe ” charging / discharging , after which it takes a time period until the temperature of the cells and the surface have converged to substantially the same temperature level . accordingly , with at least some of the above described parameters , it can be determined if a measured temperature accuracy status 208 is sufficiently accurate . turning now to the voltage accuracy 210 , this accuracy status relates to the accuracy of measured voltage values for the different cells . the accuracy of the measured voltage value may be dependent on the specific temperature at the time of the measurement . accordingly , if the temperature is too high when measuring the battery voltage , the measured voltage value may not be considered reliable or accurate enough to provide a reliable value when calculating battery state of health . also , other parameters affecting the accuracy of the measured battery voltage is e . g . in which open cell voltage area the measurement was made , as described further below in relation to fig3 , or the time period since battery was previously charged / discharged , as described above , etc . with the state of charge accuracy 206 , the temperature accuracy 208 and the voltage accuracy 210 , a parameter accuracy value 212 can be provided . accordingly , if it is determined in 206 that the calculate state of charge is accurate , that the temperature measurement in 208 is accurate and that the voltage in 210 is accurate , then the battery parameter values are considered accurate . it should however be readily understood that a parameter accuracy value 212 indicating that the battery parameters are accurate can be provided by means of only one of state of charge accuracy 206 , temperature accuracy 208 or voltage accuracy 210 , it is not a prerequisite that all accuracy values are provided for receiving a parameter value indicating an accuracy of the battery . as described above , different parameters are more important for some applications than for others and it may therefore only be important to consider the specific parameters which are important for the specific applications . turning now instead to the battery state status module 204 , it comprises a state of charge state 214 , a temperature state 216 , and a voltage state 218 . the main purpose of the battery state status module 204 is to be able to determine if the state of the battery is such that it is beneficial to calculate the battery state of health . accordingly , the battery state status module 204 determines if the level of the parameter values will provide a calculated state of health value that is substantially reliable , i . e . substantially accurate . to be able to determine how much a battery has aged , the parameter value that is measured and used in calculating the aging of the battery needs to be compared to a reference parameter value when the battery was new . when the battery was new , measurement of various parameters was made under certain circumstances and it is therefore of interest to keep track of the circumstances that influence the parameters for determining the aging of the batteries , in order to assure that a reliable result of the calculation of the battery state of health is provided . firstly , the state of charge state 214 determines if a calculated state of the state of charge is such that it will contribute to a reliably calculated state of health value , i . e . that the state of charge is reliable . the state of charge state may be determined to be reliable if , for example , the state of charge value is calculated when the derivative function , as described below , is above a predetermined threshold value . the temperature state 216 determines if the state of the measured temperature is such that it will contribute to a reliably calculated state of health value . the measured temperature value may be determined to be reliable if the mean value of the measured temperature is within a specific range , i . e . the battery was neither too warm nor too cold when the measurement was made . also , the individual cell temperatures should not deviate too much from the mean temperature of battery in order for their value to be considered reliable . finally , the voltage state 218 determines if the measured voltage is such that it will contribute to a reliably calculated state of health value for the battery . when studying the voltage values it can be determined that voltage values are reliable if the voltage measurement was made within a predetermined time period since the previous balancing of the battery was executed . hence , a voltage value can be considered reliable if the spread between the voltage values of the different cells are within a predetermined voltage range . studying the range of the battery cell voltage can be an important aspect since e . g . a similar mean value can be provided for two measurements but where the spread between the highest and lowest battery cell voltage differs significantly between the measurements . hereby , only the voltage mean value having a cell voltage spread within the predetermined range is considered reliable . accordingly , the voltage values may be considered reliable shortly after balancing of the battery have been executed , since the spread in voltage will be reduced after battery balancing . also , the voltage value may be considered unreliable if it is either too high or too low . more specifically , if the level of the voltage value of a cell is too high or too low , this may probably indicate that the cell in question is damaged . hereby , calculating state of health of the battery based on a voltage value when one cell , or a plurality of cells , is broken , will not provide a sufficiently reliable state of health value . further , for the state of charge state 214 , the temperature state 216 and the voltage state 218 , it may also be of interest to determine the spread of the values for each of the parameters , i . e . how a cell value deviates from the other cell values , or from a calculated mean value of the cells , etc . with the above states 214 , 216 , 218 of the battery , the battery state module 220 determines whether the battery state is beneficial for providing a reliable state of health calculation by using the above described parameters . furthermore , it should be understood that the battery state module 220 is not necessarily dependent on receiving the state from all of the various parameters , i . e . from the state of charge state 214 , the temperature state 216 , or the voltage state 218 . it may , for the same reasons as described above in relation to the description of the parameter accuracy module 212 , be sufficient to receive input from only one of the modules . finally , the parameter accuracy module 212 and the battery state module 220 provides their result to a state of health determination status module 230 . the state of health determination status module 230 determines , based on the received input from the parameter accuracy module 212 and the battery state module 220 , if the measured parameter values are considered reliable for calculating a substantially accurate state of health of the battery . although fig2 illustrates that the state of health determination status module 230 should receive input from both the parameter accuracy module 212 and the battery state module 220 , the invention should be understood to function equally as well with a state of health determination status module 230 receiving input from only one of the parameter accuracy module 212 and the battery state module 220 . turning now to fig3 illustrating an open cell voltage graph 300 . the graph 300 illustrates how the battery voltage 302 depends on the state of charge 304 of the battery . the graph 300 in fig3 is divided into five sections 306 , 308 , 310 , 312 , 314 . the battery can either be charged , indicated by the arrows 316 showing increased voltage and increased state of charge of the battery , or be discharge , indicated by the arrows 318 showing a decrease in voltage as well as a decrease in state of charge of the battery . the following will mainly describe the graph in a battery charging state , illustrated by the arrows 316 . in the first section 306 the battery is charged from an empty state . hereby , the derivative function of the voltage - state of charge is relatively steep , i . e . a relatively large increase in voltage 302 in comparison to the increase in state of charge 304 . conversely , when the battery is discharged , the first section 306 indicates that the battery will soon be out of power . in the second section 308 of the graph 300 , the derivative function of the voltage - state of charge has been slightly reduced in comparison to the first section 306 , but the voltage 302 of the battery is still increasing with increased state of charge 304 and the voltage level of the battery is still in its lower region with regards to its overall capacity . in the third section 310 of the graph , the above defined derivative function is approximately zero . hereby , the state of charge 304 of the battery is in this section still increasing but the voltage level is remaining approximately the same . in the fourth 312 and fifth 314 sections of the graph , the derivative function has increased such that the battery voltage 302 is increasing and the state of charge 304 is also increasing . in the fifth section 314 the charging level of the battery has almost reached its complete capacity . now , as described above in relation to fig2 , measuring a voltage value during specific points in time may provide parameter values that cannot be considered accurate enough . in fig3 , this is illustrated by the third section 310 where the derivative function is approximately zero . more specifically , if a voltage measurement is made when the battery state of charge is in the third section 310 , the accuracy of the corresponding state of charge of the battery will be relatively uncertain , since a small change in voltage 302 will provide a relatively large change in state of charge 304 . accordingly , in the third section 310 , it may be difficult to provide an exact , or approximately exact , state of charge value with the measured voltage value , thus making the measured voltage value , as well as the state of charge value inaccurate at the third section 310 . in the first 306 , second 308 , fourth 312 and fifth 314 sections of the graph 300 , the derivative function is above a predetermined accepted threshold value and a measured voltage value will correspond to a relatively precise state of charge value . hereby , the measured voltage value as well as the corresponding state of charge value is in these sections considered accurate enough for providing a reliable state of health calculation . furthermore , the state of charge value can thus be considered reliable if the state of charge calculation was executed at a point in time when it was beneficial to do so , i . e . in one of the first 306 , second 308 , fourth 312 or fifth 314 sections described above . however , although the measured voltage value and the corresponding state of charge value is considered accurate , other parameter values may result in that it is determined not to perform a state of health calculation . for example , although the voltage - state of charge is in one of the first 306 , second 308 , fourth 312 or fifth 314 sections of the graph 300 , other parameters such as the temperature may have such a large spread between the cells that it is determined that this will render a calculated state of health unreliable . other parameter values that may result in the decision of not performing a state of health calculation is given above in relation to fig2 . in order to summarize the inventive method according to the present application , reference is made to fig4 illustrating a flowchart of an example embodiment of the method according to the present invention . according to the example depicted in fig4 , a first step s 1 of the method is to receive measured state of health parameter values from the battery . the measured state of health parameter values can , for example , be any one of those described above in relation to the description of fig2 and 3 . the measured state of health parameter values relate to parameter that can be used when calculating state of health of the battery . thereafter , the measured state of health parameter values are compared s 2 with at least one parameter criterion . the at least one parameter criterion is described above and can be set differently for different parameters as well as for different fields of application for the battery . finally , it is determined s 3 that the measured state of health parameter values are reliable if the state of health parameter value fulfils the at least one predetermined parameter criterion . hereby , the method can further determine if a state health parameter calculation , which is to be based on the received measured state of health parameter values , will provide a result which is accurate or not , i . e . if the result from the calculation will indicate a state of health of the battery which will substantially correspond to the true behaviour of the battery . it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings ; rather , the skilled person will recognize that many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims .	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'Physics'?	Should this patent be classified under 'Performing Operations; Transporting'?	0.25	ff6829ff8a168cd98f66b16468ca7da8fe3e41eef281122af3ace46f2bcee800	0.043945	0.103516	0.005371	0.036133	0.015869	0.161133
null	the present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings , in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown . the invention may , however , be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein ; rather , these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness . like reference character refer to like elements throughout the description . with particular reference to fig1 , there is provided a vehicle 1 provided with a battery ( not shown ). the battery comprises a plurality of battery cells which can be charged and discharged depending on the specific battery operating mode . the vehicle 1 depicted in fig1 is a bus for which the inventive method for determining the reliability of state of health parameter values , which will be described in detail below , is particularly suitable for . turning now to fig2 , there is provided a flowchart of an example embodiment for determining if it is reliable to calculate battery state of health . the flowchart in fig2 comprises a first part which relates to the present accuracy of the state of health parameter values , referred to in the following as the parameter accuracy status module 202 , and a second part which relates to present state of the state of health parameter values , referred to in the following as the parameter state status module 204 . starting with the parameter accuracy status module 202 , it comprises , according to the non - limiting example embodiment depicted in fig2 , a state of charge accuracy status 206 , a temperature accuracy status 208 , and a voltage accuracy status 210 . the main purpose of the parameter accuracy status module 202 is to determine if the measured , or calculated , parameters are accurate enough when the measurement , or calculation , was made . the state of charge accuracy status 206 of the parameter accuracy status module 202 relates to the accuracy of calculated state of charge parameter values which can be used in the calculation of state of health of the battery . the state of charge of the battery can be calculated by a measured voltage value , a measured electric current value , or a combination of a measured voltage value and a measured electric current value . an example of a voltage - state of charge curve is given in connection to the description of fig3 below , illustrating state of charge for an open cell voltage curve . the determination of state of charge accuracy is thus dependent on how accurate the measured voltage and / or electric current was . the following will describe factors that affect the accuracy of voltage values , electric current values , as well as the combination of voltage and electric current values . starting with voltage values , one parameter that is decisive when determining if the voltage value is accurate enough is in which state of charge region the voltage value was measured . these regions will be described further in relation to fig3 below . another parameter that affects the accuracy of the measured voltage value is when the voltage measurement was made , or more particularly , for how long time the battery has “ rested ” since it was previously electrically charged or discharged . hereby , the measured voltage value is considered less accurate if the time period since the battery was charged / discharged is within a certain time period before the voltage measurement was made , i . e . the voltage measurement was executed to close in time from the previous charging / discharging of the battery . hence , the measured voltage value changes in relation to the electric current which is charging / discharging the battery . if the battery is charged with electric current , the measured voltage value will thus not represent the true state of the battery and as such be considered unreliable . also , the voltage value will need some time to converge to its “ true ” value after charging / discharging of the battery is executed . furthermore , the measured voltage value is also dependent on the battery temperature at the time when the measurement was made . for example , an increased temperature will increase a resistance of the battery and thus , for a constant electric current , provide a measured voltage value which is higher than what may be the real situation . hence , if the temperature of the battery is not within a specific range when the measurement was made , the voltage value is not considered accurate . also , if the temperature difference between the battery cells is not within a specific temperature range , the measured voltage value may be higher or lower than what would be the case if the temperature of the cells is within the specific temperature range . further , and described above , the temperature of the battery cells should not vary too much during the period when the temperature measurement is made , i . e . a relatively steady state of the temperature is preferable to be able to calculate a reliable battery state of health . moreover , the accuracy of the voltage values may also be dependent on the spread in voltage values between the battery cells . if the difference between the largest cell voltage and the lowest cell voltage is outside a predetermined acceptable voltage range , the overall measured battery voltage may be determined not to be accurate . when it comes to determining if a measured electric current is accurate or not , other parameters may also be of importance for providing a reliable state of health calculation . for example , it may be relevant to check if the battery was charged or discharged with electric current at the moment when the electric current measurement was made . also , if the electric current was measured when the electric current was less stable , i . e . electric current measurements tend to fluctuate over time , the electric current measurement is considered not to be accurate . another parameter relating to accuracy of electric current is the sum of integrated electric currents for all the battery cells . this may be of interest when using the integrated electric current values for calculating state of charge when the voltage - state of charge derivative function is below a predetermined threshold value . naturally , also the temperature is an important aspect for determining if the measured electric current is accurate or not for the same reasons as described above . finally , when determining if a state of charge , which is calculated by means of both voltage and electric current , is accurate , it may be important to determine that a combination of the above described parameters for voltage and electric current is accurate . accordingly , with at least some of the above described parameters , it can be determined if a calculated state of charge accuracy status 206 is sufficiently accurate . turning to the temperature accuracy status 208 , this accuracy status relates to the accuracy of the measure temperature of the battery , which can be used for calculating the state of health of the battery . as described above , the temperature of the battery may be an important aspect when determining if other parameters , such as measured voltage and electric current are accurate . the temperature parameter itself may however also be provided in a state of health calculation and its accuracy may therefore be important to consider before calculating battery state of health . there are a number of aspects that can be considered when determining if a measured temperature of the battery is accurate or not . for example , the temperature measurement may be considered inaccurate if there are not enough sensors provided to the battery , i . e . an insufficiently amount of battery cells are provided with a temperature sensor . for example , it may be determined that at least every other cell should be provided with a temperature sensor in order to provide a temperature measurement which is considered accurate . this is of course dependent on the specific battery as well as the specific application of the battery , for some applications it may be sufficient that every third cell , or even every fourth cell , is provided with a temperature sensor . the accuracy of the temperature may also be determined by verifying that the difference between the largest temperature of the battery cells and the lowest temperature of the battery cells are within a predetermined range , i . e . that a spread of the temperature is within a specific and accepted temperature range . further , another aspect is that the temperature measured from two adjacent temperature sensors must not differ too much . if this is the case , it may be determined that the temperature measurement is not sufficiently accurate . still further , the accuracy of the temperature sensors themselves may also be an aspect to consider . if the accuracy of the sensors is not sufficient , then the measured temperature value is thus not considered accurate . as a final example of the temperature accuracy , if the change of temperature over time changes too rapidly or too slowly , then a temperature measurement made during this time period may not be considered sufficiently accurate to be used in a state of health calculation . it should be noted that the temperature of battery cells are often measured on the surface of the cells , or at the pole of the cells . one further aspect to consider is whether the difference in temperature between the core of the cells and the surface of the cells are such that a measured temperature on the surface of the cell , or the pole of the cell , sufficiently describes the “ true ” temperature of the cells . this may be the case if the measurement is made too close in time since the battery was charged or discharged . since it is the cell core that is heated and the cell surface that is cooled , it will be difficult to assess whether the measured temperature on the surface describes the true characteristic of the cell temperature . hereby , in order to determine that the dynamically measured temperature is accurate , the measurement should preferably be made a time period after the battery has been charged / discharged with / from electric current . further , the core of the cells may have a higher temperature then the surface of the cells in cases where the battery has been exposed to “ severe ” charging / discharging , after which it takes a time period until the temperature of the cells and the surface have converged to substantially the same temperature level . accordingly , with at least some of the above described parameters , it can be determined if a measured temperature accuracy status 208 is sufficiently accurate . turning now to the voltage accuracy 210 , this accuracy status relates to the accuracy of measured voltage values for the different cells . the accuracy of the measured voltage value may be dependent on the specific temperature at the time of the measurement . accordingly , if the temperature is too high when measuring the battery voltage , the measured voltage value may not be considered reliable or accurate enough to provide a reliable value when calculating battery state of health . also , other parameters affecting the accuracy of the measured battery voltage is e . g . in which open cell voltage area the measurement was made , as described further below in relation to fig3 , or the time period since battery was previously charged / discharged , as described above , etc . with the state of charge accuracy 206 , the temperature accuracy 208 and the voltage accuracy 210 , a parameter accuracy value 212 can be provided . accordingly , if it is determined in 206 that the calculate state of charge is accurate , that the temperature measurement in 208 is accurate and that the voltage in 210 is accurate , then the battery parameter values are considered accurate . it should however be readily understood that a parameter accuracy value 212 indicating that the battery parameters are accurate can be provided by means of only one of state of charge accuracy 206 , temperature accuracy 208 or voltage accuracy 210 , it is not a prerequisite that all accuracy values are provided for receiving a parameter value indicating an accuracy of the battery . as described above , different parameters are more important for some applications than for others and it may therefore only be important to consider the specific parameters which are important for the specific applications . turning now instead to the battery state status module 204 , it comprises a state of charge state 214 , a temperature state 216 , and a voltage state 218 . the main purpose of the battery state status module 204 is to be able to determine if the state of the battery is such that it is beneficial to calculate the battery state of health . accordingly , the battery state status module 204 determines if the level of the parameter values will provide a calculated state of health value that is substantially reliable , i . e . substantially accurate . to be able to determine how much a battery has aged , the parameter value that is measured and used in calculating the aging of the battery needs to be compared to a reference parameter value when the battery was new . when the battery was new , measurement of various parameters was made under certain circumstances and it is therefore of interest to keep track of the circumstances that influence the parameters for determining the aging of the batteries , in order to assure that a reliable result of the calculation of the battery state of health is provided . firstly , the state of charge state 214 determines if a calculated state of the state of charge is such that it will contribute to a reliably calculated state of health value , i . e . that the state of charge is reliable . the state of charge state may be determined to be reliable if , for example , the state of charge value is calculated when the derivative function , as described below , is above a predetermined threshold value . the temperature state 216 determines if the state of the measured temperature is such that it will contribute to a reliably calculated state of health value . the measured temperature value may be determined to be reliable if the mean value of the measured temperature is within a specific range , i . e . the battery was neither too warm nor too cold when the measurement was made . also , the individual cell temperatures should not deviate too much from the mean temperature of battery in order for their value to be considered reliable . finally , the voltage state 218 determines if the measured voltage is such that it will contribute to a reliably calculated state of health value for the battery . when studying the voltage values it can be determined that voltage values are reliable if the voltage measurement was made within a predetermined time period since the previous balancing of the battery was executed . hence , a voltage value can be considered reliable if the spread between the voltage values of the different cells are within a predetermined voltage range . studying the range of the battery cell voltage can be an important aspect since e . g . a similar mean value can be provided for two measurements but where the spread between the highest and lowest battery cell voltage differs significantly between the measurements . hereby , only the voltage mean value having a cell voltage spread within the predetermined range is considered reliable . accordingly , the voltage values may be considered reliable shortly after balancing of the battery have been executed , since the spread in voltage will be reduced after battery balancing . also , the voltage value may be considered unreliable if it is either too high or too low . more specifically , if the level of the voltage value of a cell is too high or too low , this may probably indicate that the cell in question is damaged . hereby , calculating state of health of the battery based on a voltage value when one cell , or a plurality of cells , is broken , will not provide a sufficiently reliable state of health value . further , for the state of charge state 214 , the temperature state 216 and the voltage state 218 , it may also be of interest to determine the spread of the values for each of the parameters , i . e . how a cell value deviates from the other cell values , or from a calculated mean value of the cells , etc . with the above states 214 , 216 , 218 of the battery , the battery state module 220 determines whether the battery state is beneficial for providing a reliable state of health calculation by using the above described parameters . furthermore , it should be understood that the battery state module 220 is not necessarily dependent on receiving the state from all of the various parameters , i . e . from the state of charge state 214 , the temperature state 216 , or the voltage state 218 . it may , for the same reasons as described above in relation to the description of the parameter accuracy module 212 , be sufficient to receive input from only one of the modules . finally , the parameter accuracy module 212 and the battery state module 220 provides their result to a state of health determination status module 230 . the state of health determination status module 230 determines , based on the received input from the parameter accuracy module 212 and the battery state module 220 , if the measured parameter values are considered reliable for calculating a substantially accurate state of health of the battery . although fig2 illustrates that the state of health determination status module 230 should receive input from both the parameter accuracy module 212 and the battery state module 220 , the invention should be understood to function equally as well with a state of health determination status module 230 receiving input from only one of the parameter accuracy module 212 and the battery state module 220 . turning now to fig3 illustrating an open cell voltage graph 300 . the graph 300 illustrates how the battery voltage 302 depends on the state of charge 304 of the battery . the graph 300 in fig3 is divided into five sections 306 , 308 , 310 , 312 , 314 . the battery can either be charged , indicated by the arrows 316 showing increased voltage and increased state of charge of the battery , or be discharge , indicated by the arrows 318 showing a decrease in voltage as well as a decrease in state of charge of the battery . the following will mainly describe the graph in a battery charging state , illustrated by the arrows 316 . in the first section 306 the battery is charged from an empty state . hereby , the derivative function of the voltage - state of charge is relatively steep , i . e . a relatively large increase in voltage 302 in comparison to the increase in state of charge 304 . conversely , when the battery is discharged , the first section 306 indicates that the battery will soon be out of power . in the second section 308 of the graph 300 , the derivative function of the voltage - state of charge has been slightly reduced in comparison to the first section 306 , but the voltage 302 of the battery is still increasing with increased state of charge 304 and the voltage level of the battery is still in its lower region with regards to its overall capacity . in the third section 310 of the graph , the above defined derivative function is approximately zero . hereby , the state of charge 304 of the battery is in this section still increasing but the voltage level is remaining approximately the same . in the fourth 312 and fifth 314 sections of the graph , the derivative function has increased such that the battery voltage 302 is increasing and the state of charge 304 is also increasing . in the fifth section 314 the charging level of the battery has almost reached its complete capacity . now , as described above in relation to fig2 , measuring a voltage value during specific points in time may provide parameter values that cannot be considered accurate enough . in fig3 , this is illustrated by the third section 310 where the derivative function is approximately zero . more specifically , if a voltage measurement is made when the battery state of charge is in the third section 310 , the accuracy of the corresponding state of charge of the battery will be relatively uncertain , since a small change in voltage 302 will provide a relatively large change in state of charge 304 . accordingly , in the third section 310 , it may be difficult to provide an exact , or approximately exact , state of charge value with the measured voltage value , thus making the measured voltage value , as well as the state of charge value inaccurate at the third section 310 . in the first 306 , second 308 , fourth 312 and fifth 314 sections of the graph 300 , the derivative function is above a predetermined accepted threshold value and a measured voltage value will correspond to a relatively precise state of charge value . hereby , the measured voltage value as well as the corresponding state of charge value is in these sections considered accurate enough for providing a reliable state of health calculation . furthermore , the state of charge value can thus be considered reliable if the state of charge calculation was executed at a point in time when it was beneficial to do so , i . e . in one of the first 306 , second 308 , fourth 312 or fifth 314 sections described above . however , although the measured voltage value and the corresponding state of charge value is considered accurate , other parameter values may result in that it is determined not to perform a state of health calculation . for example , although the voltage - state of charge is in one of the first 306 , second 308 , fourth 312 or fifth 314 sections of the graph 300 , other parameters such as the temperature may have such a large spread between the cells that it is determined that this will render a calculated state of health unreliable . other parameter values that may result in the decision of not performing a state of health calculation is given above in relation to fig2 . in order to summarize the inventive method according to the present application , reference is made to fig4 illustrating a flowchart of an example embodiment of the method according to the present invention . according to the example depicted in fig4 , a first step s 1 of the method is to receive measured state of health parameter values from the battery . the measured state of health parameter values can , for example , be any one of those described above in relation to the description of fig2 and 3 . the measured state of health parameter values relate to parameter that can be used when calculating state of health of the battery . thereafter , the measured state of health parameter values are compared s 2 with at least one parameter criterion . the at least one parameter criterion is described above and can be set differently for different parameters as well as for different fields of application for the battery . finally , it is determined s 3 that the measured state of health parameter values are reliable if the state of health parameter value fulfils the at least one predetermined parameter criterion . hereby , the method can further determine if a state health parameter calculation , which is to be based on the received measured state of health parameter values , will provide a result which is accurate or not , i . e . if the result from the calculation will indicate a state of health of the battery which will substantially correspond to the true behaviour of the battery . it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings ; rather , the skilled person will recognize that many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims .	Is 'Physics' the correct technical category for the patent?	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Chemistry; Metallurgy'?	0.25	ff6829ff8a168cd98f66b16468ca7da8fe3e41eef281122af3ace46f2bcee800	0.019775	0.000296	0.003708	0.000043	0.017456	0.001457
null	the present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings , in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown . the invention may , however , be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein ; rather , these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness . like reference character refer to like elements throughout the description . with particular reference to fig1 , there is provided a vehicle 1 provided with a battery ( not shown ). the battery comprises a plurality of battery cells which can be charged and discharged depending on the specific battery operating mode . the vehicle 1 depicted in fig1 is a bus for which the inventive method for determining the reliability of state of health parameter values , which will be described in detail below , is particularly suitable for . turning now to fig2 , there is provided a flowchart of an example embodiment for determining if it is reliable to calculate battery state of health . the flowchart in fig2 comprises a first part which relates to the present accuracy of the state of health parameter values , referred to in the following as the parameter accuracy status module 202 , and a second part which relates to present state of the state of health parameter values , referred to in the following as the parameter state status module 204 . starting with the parameter accuracy status module 202 , it comprises , according to the non - limiting example embodiment depicted in fig2 , a state of charge accuracy status 206 , a temperature accuracy status 208 , and a voltage accuracy status 210 . the main purpose of the parameter accuracy status module 202 is to determine if the measured , or calculated , parameters are accurate enough when the measurement , or calculation , was made . the state of charge accuracy status 206 of the parameter accuracy status module 202 relates to the accuracy of calculated state of charge parameter values which can be used in the calculation of state of health of the battery . the state of charge of the battery can be calculated by a measured voltage value , a measured electric current value , or a combination of a measured voltage value and a measured electric current value . an example of a voltage - state of charge curve is given in connection to the description of fig3 below , illustrating state of charge for an open cell voltage curve . the determination of state of charge accuracy is thus dependent on how accurate the measured voltage and / or electric current was . the following will describe factors that affect the accuracy of voltage values , electric current values , as well as the combination of voltage and electric current values . starting with voltage values , one parameter that is decisive when determining if the voltage value is accurate enough is in which state of charge region the voltage value was measured . these regions will be described further in relation to fig3 below . another parameter that affects the accuracy of the measured voltage value is when the voltage measurement was made , or more particularly , for how long time the battery has “ rested ” since it was previously electrically charged or discharged . hereby , the measured voltage value is considered less accurate if the time period since the battery was charged / discharged is within a certain time period before the voltage measurement was made , i . e . the voltage measurement was executed to close in time from the previous charging / discharging of the battery . hence , the measured voltage value changes in relation to the electric current which is charging / discharging the battery . if the battery is charged with electric current , the measured voltage value will thus not represent the true state of the battery and as such be considered unreliable . also , the voltage value will need some time to converge to its “ true ” value after charging / discharging of the battery is executed . furthermore , the measured voltage value is also dependent on the battery temperature at the time when the measurement was made . for example , an increased temperature will increase a resistance of the battery and thus , for a constant electric current , provide a measured voltage value which is higher than what may be the real situation . hence , if the temperature of the battery is not within a specific range when the measurement was made , the voltage value is not considered accurate . also , if the temperature difference between the battery cells is not within a specific temperature range , the measured voltage value may be higher or lower than what would be the case if the temperature of the cells is within the specific temperature range . further , and described above , the temperature of the battery cells should not vary too much during the period when the temperature measurement is made , i . e . a relatively steady state of the temperature is preferable to be able to calculate a reliable battery state of health . moreover , the accuracy of the voltage values may also be dependent on the spread in voltage values between the battery cells . if the difference between the largest cell voltage and the lowest cell voltage is outside a predetermined acceptable voltage range , the overall measured battery voltage may be determined not to be accurate . when it comes to determining if a measured electric current is accurate or not , other parameters may also be of importance for providing a reliable state of health calculation . for example , it may be relevant to check if the battery was charged or discharged with electric current at the moment when the electric current measurement was made . also , if the electric current was measured when the electric current was less stable , i . e . electric current measurements tend to fluctuate over time , the electric current measurement is considered not to be accurate . another parameter relating to accuracy of electric current is the sum of integrated electric currents for all the battery cells . this may be of interest when using the integrated electric current values for calculating state of charge when the voltage - state of charge derivative function is below a predetermined threshold value . naturally , also the temperature is an important aspect for determining if the measured electric current is accurate or not for the same reasons as described above . finally , when determining if a state of charge , which is calculated by means of both voltage and electric current , is accurate , it may be important to determine that a combination of the above described parameters for voltage and electric current is accurate . accordingly , with at least some of the above described parameters , it can be determined if a calculated state of charge accuracy status 206 is sufficiently accurate . turning to the temperature accuracy status 208 , this accuracy status relates to the accuracy of the measure temperature of the battery , which can be used for calculating the state of health of the battery . as described above , the temperature of the battery may be an important aspect when determining if other parameters , such as measured voltage and electric current are accurate . the temperature parameter itself may however also be provided in a state of health calculation and its accuracy may therefore be important to consider before calculating battery state of health . there are a number of aspects that can be considered when determining if a measured temperature of the battery is accurate or not . for example , the temperature measurement may be considered inaccurate if there are not enough sensors provided to the battery , i . e . an insufficiently amount of battery cells are provided with a temperature sensor . for example , it may be determined that at least every other cell should be provided with a temperature sensor in order to provide a temperature measurement which is considered accurate . this is of course dependent on the specific battery as well as the specific application of the battery , for some applications it may be sufficient that every third cell , or even every fourth cell , is provided with a temperature sensor . the accuracy of the temperature may also be determined by verifying that the difference between the largest temperature of the battery cells and the lowest temperature of the battery cells are within a predetermined range , i . e . that a spread of the temperature is within a specific and accepted temperature range . further , another aspect is that the temperature measured from two adjacent temperature sensors must not differ too much . if this is the case , it may be determined that the temperature measurement is not sufficiently accurate . still further , the accuracy of the temperature sensors themselves may also be an aspect to consider . if the accuracy of the sensors is not sufficient , then the measured temperature value is thus not considered accurate . as a final example of the temperature accuracy , if the change of temperature over time changes too rapidly or too slowly , then a temperature measurement made during this time period may not be considered sufficiently accurate to be used in a state of health calculation . it should be noted that the temperature of battery cells are often measured on the surface of the cells , or at the pole of the cells . one further aspect to consider is whether the difference in temperature between the core of the cells and the surface of the cells are such that a measured temperature on the surface of the cell , or the pole of the cell , sufficiently describes the “ true ” temperature of the cells . this may be the case if the measurement is made too close in time since the battery was charged or discharged . since it is the cell core that is heated and the cell surface that is cooled , it will be difficult to assess whether the measured temperature on the surface describes the true characteristic of the cell temperature . hereby , in order to determine that the dynamically measured temperature is accurate , the measurement should preferably be made a time period after the battery has been charged / discharged with / from electric current . further , the core of the cells may have a higher temperature then the surface of the cells in cases where the battery has been exposed to “ severe ” charging / discharging , after which it takes a time period until the temperature of the cells and the surface have converged to substantially the same temperature level . accordingly , with at least some of the above described parameters , it can be determined if a measured temperature accuracy status 208 is sufficiently accurate . turning now to the voltage accuracy 210 , this accuracy status relates to the accuracy of measured voltage values for the different cells . the accuracy of the measured voltage value may be dependent on the specific temperature at the time of the measurement . accordingly , if the temperature is too high when measuring the battery voltage , the measured voltage value may not be considered reliable or accurate enough to provide a reliable value when calculating battery state of health . also , other parameters affecting the accuracy of the measured battery voltage is e . g . in which open cell voltage area the measurement was made , as described further below in relation to fig3 , or the time period since battery was previously charged / discharged , as described above , etc . with the state of charge accuracy 206 , the temperature accuracy 208 and the voltage accuracy 210 , a parameter accuracy value 212 can be provided . accordingly , if it is determined in 206 that the calculate state of charge is accurate , that the temperature measurement in 208 is accurate and that the voltage in 210 is accurate , then the battery parameter values are considered accurate . it should however be readily understood that a parameter accuracy value 212 indicating that the battery parameters are accurate can be provided by means of only one of state of charge accuracy 206 , temperature accuracy 208 or voltage accuracy 210 , it is not a prerequisite that all accuracy values are provided for receiving a parameter value indicating an accuracy of the battery . as described above , different parameters are more important for some applications than for others and it may therefore only be important to consider the specific parameters which are important for the specific applications . turning now instead to the battery state status module 204 , it comprises a state of charge state 214 , a temperature state 216 , and a voltage state 218 . the main purpose of the battery state status module 204 is to be able to determine if the state of the battery is such that it is beneficial to calculate the battery state of health . accordingly , the battery state status module 204 determines if the level of the parameter values will provide a calculated state of health value that is substantially reliable , i . e . substantially accurate . to be able to determine how much a battery has aged , the parameter value that is measured and used in calculating the aging of the battery needs to be compared to a reference parameter value when the battery was new . when the battery was new , measurement of various parameters was made under certain circumstances and it is therefore of interest to keep track of the circumstances that influence the parameters for determining the aging of the batteries , in order to assure that a reliable result of the calculation of the battery state of health is provided . firstly , the state of charge state 214 determines if a calculated state of the state of charge is such that it will contribute to a reliably calculated state of health value , i . e . that the state of charge is reliable . the state of charge state may be determined to be reliable if , for example , the state of charge value is calculated when the derivative function , as described below , is above a predetermined threshold value . the temperature state 216 determines if the state of the measured temperature is such that it will contribute to a reliably calculated state of health value . the measured temperature value may be determined to be reliable if the mean value of the measured temperature is within a specific range , i . e . the battery was neither too warm nor too cold when the measurement was made . also , the individual cell temperatures should not deviate too much from the mean temperature of battery in order for their value to be considered reliable . finally , the voltage state 218 determines if the measured voltage is such that it will contribute to a reliably calculated state of health value for the battery . when studying the voltage values it can be determined that voltage values are reliable if the voltage measurement was made within a predetermined time period since the previous balancing of the battery was executed . hence , a voltage value can be considered reliable if the spread between the voltage values of the different cells are within a predetermined voltage range . studying the range of the battery cell voltage can be an important aspect since e . g . a similar mean value can be provided for two measurements but where the spread between the highest and lowest battery cell voltage differs significantly between the measurements . hereby , only the voltage mean value having a cell voltage spread within the predetermined range is considered reliable . accordingly , the voltage values may be considered reliable shortly after balancing of the battery have been executed , since the spread in voltage will be reduced after battery balancing . also , the voltage value may be considered unreliable if it is either too high or too low . more specifically , if the level of the voltage value of a cell is too high or too low , this may probably indicate that the cell in question is damaged . hereby , calculating state of health of the battery based on a voltage value when one cell , or a plurality of cells , is broken , will not provide a sufficiently reliable state of health value . further , for the state of charge state 214 , the temperature state 216 and the voltage state 218 , it may also be of interest to determine the spread of the values for each of the parameters , i . e . how a cell value deviates from the other cell values , or from a calculated mean value of the cells , etc . with the above states 214 , 216 , 218 of the battery , the battery state module 220 determines whether the battery state is beneficial for providing a reliable state of health calculation by using the above described parameters . furthermore , it should be understood that the battery state module 220 is not necessarily dependent on receiving the state from all of the various parameters , i . e . from the state of charge state 214 , the temperature state 216 , or the voltage state 218 . it may , for the same reasons as described above in relation to the description of the parameter accuracy module 212 , be sufficient to receive input from only one of the modules . finally , the parameter accuracy module 212 and the battery state module 220 provides their result to a state of health determination status module 230 . the state of health determination status module 230 determines , based on the received input from the parameter accuracy module 212 and the battery state module 220 , if the measured parameter values are considered reliable for calculating a substantially accurate state of health of the battery . although fig2 illustrates that the state of health determination status module 230 should receive input from both the parameter accuracy module 212 and the battery state module 220 , the invention should be understood to function equally as well with a state of health determination status module 230 receiving input from only one of the parameter accuracy module 212 and the battery state module 220 . turning now to fig3 illustrating an open cell voltage graph 300 . the graph 300 illustrates how the battery voltage 302 depends on the state of charge 304 of the battery . the graph 300 in fig3 is divided into five sections 306 , 308 , 310 , 312 , 314 . the battery can either be charged , indicated by the arrows 316 showing increased voltage and increased state of charge of the battery , or be discharge , indicated by the arrows 318 showing a decrease in voltage as well as a decrease in state of charge of the battery . the following will mainly describe the graph in a battery charging state , illustrated by the arrows 316 . in the first section 306 the battery is charged from an empty state . hereby , the derivative function of the voltage - state of charge is relatively steep , i . e . a relatively large increase in voltage 302 in comparison to the increase in state of charge 304 . conversely , when the battery is discharged , the first section 306 indicates that the battery will soon be out of power . in the second section 308 of the graph 300 , the derivative function of the voltage - state of charge has been slightly reduced in comparison to the first section 306 , but the voltage 302 of the battery is still increasing with increased state of charge 304 and the voltage level of the battery is still in its lower region with regards to its overall capacity . in the third section 310 of the graph , the above defined derivative function is approximately zero . hereby , the state of charge 304 of the battery is in this section still increasing but the voltage level is remaining approximately the same . in the fourth 312 and fifth 314 sections of the graph , the derivative function has increased such that the battery voltage 302 is increasing and the state of charge 304 is also increasing . in the fifth section 314 the charging level of the battery has almost reached its complete capacity . now , as described above in relation to fig2 , measuring a voltage value during specific points in time may provide parameter values that cannot be considered accurate enough . in fig3 , this is illustrated by the third section 310 where the derivative function is approximately zero . more specifically , if a voltage measurement is made when the battery state of charge is in the third section 310 , the accuracy of the corresponding state of charge of the battery will be relatively uncertain , since a small change in voltage 302 will provide a relatively large change in state of charge 304 . accordingly , in the third section 310 , it may be difficult to provide an exact , or approximately exact , state of charge value with the measured voltage value , thus making the measured voltage value , as well as the state of charge value inaccurate at the third section 310 . in the first 306 , second 308 , fourth 312 and fifth 314 sections of the graph 300 , the derivative function is above a predetermined accepted threshold value and a measured voltage value will correspond to a relatively precise state of charge value . hereby , the measured voltage value as well as the corresponding state of charge value is in these sections considered accurate enough for providing a reliable state of health calculation . furthermore , the state of charge value can thus be considered reliable if the state of charge calculation was executed at a point in time when it was beneficial to do so , i . e . in one of the first 306 , second 308 , fourth 312 or fifth 314 sections described above . however , although the measured voltage value and the corresponding state of charge value is considered accurate , other parameter values may result in that it is determined not to perform a state of health calculation . for example , although the voltage - state of charge is in one of the first 306 , second 308 , fourth 312 or fifth 314 sections of the graph 300 , other parameters such as the temperature may have such a large spread between the cells that it is determined that this will render a calculated state of health unreliable . other parameter values that may result in the decision of not performing a state of health calculation is given above in relation to fig2 . in order to summarize the inventive method according to the present application , reference is made to fig4 illustrating a flowchart of an example embodiment of the method according to the present invention . according to the example depicted in fig4 , a first step s 1 of the method is to receive measured state of health parameter values from the battery . the measured state of health parameter values can , for example , be any one of those described above in relation to the description of fig2 and 3 . the measured state of health parameter values relate to parameter that can be used when calculating state of health of the battery . thereafter , the measured state of health parameter values are compared s 2 with at least one parameter criterion . the at least one parameter criterion is described above and can be set differently for different parameters as well as for different fields of application for the battery . finally , it is determined s 3 that the measured state of health parameter values are reliable if the state of health parameter value fulfils the at least one predetermined parameter criterion . hereby , the method can further determine if a state health parameter calculation , which is to be based on the received measured state of health parameter values , will provide a result which is accurate or not , i . e . if the result from the calculation will indicate a state of health of the battery which will substantially correspond to the true behaviour of the battery . it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings ; rather , the skilled person will recognize that many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims .	Should this patent be classified under 'Physics'?	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'Textiles; Paper'?	0.25	ff6829ff8a168cd98f66b16468ca7da8fe3e41eef281122af3ace46f2bcee800	0.012451	0.001068	0.000732	0.000444	0.005554	0.012451
null	the present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings , in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown . the invention may , however , be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein ; rather , these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness . like reference character refer to like elements throughout the description . with particular reference to fig1 , there is provided a vehicle 1 provided with a battery ( not shown ). the battery comprises a plurality of battery cells which can be charged and discharged depending on the specific battery operating mode . the vehicle 1 depicted in fig1 is a bus for which the inventive method for determining the reliability of state of health parameter values , which will be described in detail below , is particularly suitable for . turning now to fig2 , there is provided a flowchart of an example embodiment for determining if it is reliable to calculate battery state of health . the flowchart in fig2 comprises a first part which relates to the present accuracy of the state of health parameter values , referred to in the following as the parameter accuracy status module 202 , and a second part which relates to present state of the state of health parameter values , referred to in the following as the parameter state status module 204 . starting with the parameter accuracy status module 202 , it comprises , according to the non - limiting example embodiment depicted in fig2 , a state of charge accuracy status 206 , a temperature accuracy status 208 , and a voltage accuracy status 210 . the main purpose of the parameter accuracy status module 202 is to determine if the measured , or calculated , parameters are accurate enough when the measurement , or calculation , was made . the state of charge accuracy status 206 of the parameter accuracy status module 202 relates to the accuracy of calculated state of charge parameter values which can be used in the calculation of state of health of the battery . the state of charge of the battery can be calculated by a measured voltage value , a measured electric current value , or a combination of a measured voltage value and a measured electric current value . an example of a voltage - state of charge curve is given in connection to the description of fig3 below , illustrating state of charge for an open cell voltage curve . the determination of state of charge accuracy is thus dependent on how accurate the measured voltage and / or electric current was . the following will describe factors that affect the accuracy of voltage values , electric current values , as well as the combination of voltage and electric current values . starting with voltage values , one parameter that is decisive when determining if the voltage value is accurate enough is in which state of charge region the voltage value was measured . these regions will be described further in relation to fig3 below . another parameter that affects the accuracy of the measured voltage value is when the voltage measurement was made , or more particularly , for how long time the battery has “ rested ” since it was previously electrically charged or discharged . hereby , the measured voltage value is considered less accurate if the time period since the battery was charged / discharged is within a certain time period before the voltage measurement was made , i . e . the voltage measurement was executed to close in time from the previous charging / discharging of the battery . hence , the measured voltage value changes in relation to the electric current which is charging / discharging the battery . if the battery is charged with electric current , the measured voltage value will thus not represent the true state of the battery and as such be considered unreliable . also , the voltage value will need some time to converge to its “ true ” value after charging / discharging of the battery is executed . furthermore , the measured voltage value is also dependent on the battery temperature at the time when the measurement was made . for example , an increased temperature will increase a resistance of the battery and thus , for a constant electric current , provide a measured voltage value which is higher than what may be the real situation . hence , if the temperature of the battery is not within a specific range when the measurement was made , the voltage value is not considered accurate . also , if the temperature difference between the battery cells is not within a specific temperature range , the measured voltage value may be higher or lower than what would be the case if the temperature of the cells is within the specific temperature range . further , and described above , the temperature of the battery cells should not vary too much during the period when the temperature measurement is made , i . e . a relatively steady state of the temperature is preferable to be able to calculate a reliable battery state of health . moreover , the accuracy of the voltage values may also be dependent on the spread in voltage values between the battery cells . if the difference between the largest cell voltage and the lowest cell voltage is outside a predetermined acceptable voltage range , the overall measured battery voltage may be determined not to be accurate . when it comes to determining if a measured electric current is accurate or not , other parameters may also be of importance for providing a reliable state of health calculation . for example , it may be relevant to check if the battery was charged or discharged with electric current at the moment when the electric current measurement was made . also , if the electric current was measured when the electric current was less stable , i . e . electric current measurements tend to fluctuate over time , the electric current measurement is considered not to be accurate . another parameter relating to accuracy of electric current is the sum of integrated electric currents for all the battery cells . this may be of interest when using the integrated electric current values for calculating state of charge when the voltage - state of charge derivative function is below a predetermined threshold value . naturally , also the temperature is an important aspect for determining if the measured electric current is accurate or not for the same reasons as described above . finally , when determining if a state of charge , which is calculated by means of both voltage and electric current , is accurate , it may be important to determine that a combination of the above described parameters for voltage and electric current is accurate . accordingly , with at least some of the above described parameters , it can be determined if a calculated state of charge accuracy status 206 is sufficiently accurate . turning to the temperature accuracy status 208 , this accuracy status relates to the accuracy of the measure temperature of the battery , which can be used for calculating the state of health of the battery . as described above , the temperature of the battery may be an important aspect when determining if other parameters , such as measured voltage and electric current are accurate . the temperature parameter itself may however also be provided in a state of health calculation and its accuracy may therefore be important to consider before calculating battery state of health . there are a number of aspects that can be considered when determining if a measured temperature of the battery is accurate or not . for example , the temperature measurement may be considered inaccurate if there are not enough sensors provided to the battery , i . e . an insufficiently amount of battery cells are provided with a temperature sensor . for example , it may be determined that at least every other cell should be provided with a temperature sensor in order to provide a temperature measurement which is considered accurate . this is of course dependent on the specific battery as well as the specific application of the battery , for some applications it may be sufficient that every third cell , or even every fourth cell , is provided with a temperature sensor . the accuracy of the temperature may also be determined by verifying that the difference between the largest temperature of the battery cells and the lowest temperature of the battery cells are within a predetermined range , i . e . that a spread of the temperature is within a specific and accepted temperature range . further , another aspect is that the temperature measured from two adjacent temperature sensors must not differ too much . if this is the case , it may be determined that the temperature measurement is not sufficiently accurate . still further , the accuracy of the temperature sensors themselves may also be an aspect to consider . if the accuracy of the sensors is not sufficient , then the measured temperature value is thus not considered accurate . as a final example of the temperature accuracy , if the change of temperature over time changes too rapidly or too slowly , then a temperature measurement made during this time period may not be considered sufficiently accurate to be used in a state of health calculation . it should be noted that the temperature of battery cells are often measured on the surface of the cells , or at the pole of the cells . one further aspect to consider is whether the difference in temperature between the core of the cells and the surface of the cells are such that a measured temperature on the surface of the cell , or the pole of the cell , sufficiently describes the “ true ” temperature of the cells . this may be the case if the measurement is made too close in time since the battery was charged or discharged . since it is the cell core that is heated and the cell surface that is cooled , it will be difficult to assess whether the measured temperature on the surface describes the true characteristic of the cell temperature . hereby , in order to determine that the dynamically measured temperature is accurate , the measurement should preferably be made a time period after the battery has been charged / discharged with / from electric current . further , the core of the cells may have a higher temperature then the surface of the cells in cases where the battery has been exposed to “ severe ” charging / discharging , after which it takes a time period until the temperature of the cells and the surface have converged to substantially the same temperature level . accordingly , with at least some of the above described parameters , it can be determined if a measured temperature accuracy status 208 is sufficiently accurate . turning now to the voltage accuracy 210 , this accuracy status relates to the accuracy of measured voltage values for the different cells . the accuracy of the measured voltage value may be dependent on the specific temperature at the time of the measurement . accordingly , if the temperature is too high when measuring the battery voltage , the measured voltage value may not be considered reliable or accurate enough to provide a reliable value when calculating battery state of health . also , other parameters affecting the accuracy of the measured battery voltage is e . g . in which open cell voltage area the measurement was made , as described further below in relation to fig3 , or the time period since battery was previously charged / discharged , as described above , etc . with the state of charge accuracy 206 , the temperature accuracy 208 and the voltage accuracy 210 , a parameter accuracy value 212 can be provided . accordingly , if it is determined in 206 that the calculate state of charge is accurate , that the temperature measurement in 208 is accurate and that the voltage in 210 is accurate , then the battery parameter values are considered accurate . it should however be readily understood that a parameter accuracy value 212 indicating that the battery parameters are accurate can be provided by means of only one of state of charge accuracy 206 , temperature accuracy 208 or voltage accuracy 210 , it is not a prerequisite that all accuracy values are provided for receiving a parameter value indicating an accuracy of the battery . as described above , different parameters are more important for some applications than for others and it may therefore only be important to consider the specific parameters which are important for the specific applications . turning now instead to the battery state status module 204 , it comprises a state of charge state 214 , a temperature state 216 , and a voltage state 218 . the main purpose of the battery state status module 204 is to be able to determine if the state of the battery is such that it is beneficial to calculate the battery state of health . accordingly , the battery state status module 204 determines if the level of the parameter values will provide a calculated state of health value that is substantially reliable , i . e . substantially accurate . to be able to determine how much a battery has aged , the parameter value that is measured and used in calculating the aging of the battery needs to be compared to a reference parameter value when the battery was new . when the battery was new , measurement of various parameters was made under certain circumstances and it is therefore of interest to keep track of the circumstances that influence the parameters for determining the aging of the batteries , in order to assure that a reliable result of the calculation of the battery state of health is provided . firstly , the state of charge state 214 determines if a calculated state of the state of charge is such that it will contribute to a reliably calculated state of health value , i . e . that the state of charge is reliable . the state of charge state may be determined to be reliable if , for example , the state of charge value is calculated when the derivative function , as described below , is above a predetermined threshold value . the temperature state 216 determines if the state of the measured temperature is such that it will contribute to a reliably calculated state of health value . the measured temperature value may be determined to be reliable if the mean value of the measured temperature is within a specific range , i . e . the battery was neither too warm nor too cold when the measurement was made . also , the individual cell temperatures should not deviate too much from the mean temperature of battery in order for their value to be considered reliable . finally , the voltage state 218 determines if the measured voltage is such that it will contribute to a reliably calculated state of health value for the battery . when studying the voltage values it can be determined that voltage values are reliable if the voltage measurement was made within a predetermined time period since the previous balancing of the battery was executed . hence , a voltage value can be considered reliable if the spread between the voltage values of the different cells are within a predetermined voltage range . studying the range of the battery cell voltage can be an important aspect since e . g . a similar mean value can be provided for two measurements but where the spread between the highest and lowest battery cell voltage differs significantly between the measurements . hereby , only the voltage mean value having a cell voltage spread within the predetermined range is considered reliable . accordingly , the voltage values may be considered reliable shortly after balancing of the battery have been executed , since the spread in voltage will be reduced after battery balancing . also , the voltage value may be considered unreliable if it is either too high or too low . more specifically , if the level of the voltage value of a cell is too high or too low , this may probably indicate that the cell in question is damaged . hereby , calculating state of health of the battery based on a voltage value when one cell , or a plurality of cells , is broken , will not provide a sufficiently reliable state of health value . further , for the state of charge state 214 , the temperature state 216 and the voltage state 218 , it may also be of interest to determine the spread of the values for each of the parameters , i . e . how a cell value deviates from the other cell values , or from a calculated mean value of the cells , etc . with the above states 214 , 216 , 218 of the battery , the battery state module 220 determines whether the battery state is beneficial for providing a reliable state of health calculation by using the above described parameters . furthermore , it should be understood that the battery state module 220 is not necessarily dependent on receiving the state from all of the various parameters , i . e . from the state of charge state 214 , the temperature state 216 , or the voltage state 218 . it may , for the same reasons as described above in relation to the description of the parameter accuracy module 212 , be sufficient to receive input from only one of the modules . finally , the parameter accuracy module 212 and the battery state module 220 provides their result to a state of health determination status module 230 . the state of health determination status module 230 determines , based on the received input from the parameter accuracy module 212 and the battery state module 220 , if the measured parameter values are considered reliable for calculating a substantially accurate state of health of the battery . although fig2 illustrates that the state of health determination status module 230 should receive input from both the parameter accuracy module 212 and the battery state module 220 , the invention should be understood to function equally as well with a state of health determination status module 230 receiving input from only one of the parameter accuracy module 212 and the battery state module 220 . turning now to fig3 illustrating an open cell voltage graph 300 . the graph 300 illustrates how the battery voltage 302 depends on the state of charge 304 of the battery . the graph 300 in fig3 is divided into five sections 306 , 308 , 310 , 312 , 314 . the battery can either be charged , indicated by the arrows 316 showing increased voltage and increased state of charge of the battery , or be discharge , indicated by the arrows 318 showing a decrease in voltage as well as a decrease in state of charge of the battery . the following will mainly describe the graph in a battery charging state , illustrated by the arrows 316 . in the first section 306 the battery is charged from an empty state . hereby , the derivative function of the voltage - state of charge is relatively steep , i . e . a relatively large increase in voltage 302 in comparison to the increase in state of charge 304 . conversely , when the battery is discharged , the first section 306 indicates that the battery will soon be out of power . in the second section 308 of the graph 300 , the derivative function of the voltage - state of charge has been slightly reduced in comparison to the first section 306 , but the voltage 302 of the battery is still increasing with increased state of charge 304 and the voltage level of the battery is still in its lower region with regards to its overall capacity . in the third section 310 of the graph , the above defined derivative function is approximately zero . hereby , the state of charge 304 of the battery is in this section still increasing but the voltage level is remaining approximately the same . in the fourth 312 and fifth 314 sections of the graph , the derivative function has increased such that the battery voltage 302 is increasing and the state of charge 304 is also increasing . in the fifth section 314 the charging level of the battery has almost reached its complete capacity . now , as described above in relation to fig2 , measuring a voltage value during specific points in time may provide parameter values that cannot be considered accurate enough . in fig3 , this is illustrated by the third section 310 where the derivative function is approximately zero . more specifically , if a voltage measurement is made when the battery state of charge is in the third section 310 , the accuracy of the corresponding state of charge of the battery will be relatively uncertain , since a small change in voltage 302 will provide a relatively large change in state of charge 304 . accordingly , in the third section 310 , it may be difficult to provide an exact , or approximately exact , state of charge value with the measured voltage value , thus making the measured voltage value , as well as the state of charge value inaccurate at the third section 310 . in the first 306 , second 308 , fourth 312 and fifth 314 sections of the graph 300 , the derivative function is above a predetermined accepted threshold value and a measured voltage value will correspond to a relatively precise state of charge value . hereby , the measured voltage value as well as the corresponding state of charge value is in these sections considered accurate enough for providing a reliable state of health calculation . furthermore , the state of charge value can thus be considered reliable if the state of charge calculation was executed at a point in time when it was beneficial to do so , i . e . in one of the first 306 , second 308 , fourth 312 or fifth 314 sections described above . however , although the measured voltage value and the corresponding state of charge value is considered accurate , other parameter values may result in that it is determined not to perform a state of health calculation . for example , although the voltage - state of charge is in one of the first 306 , second 308 , fourth 312 or fifth 314 sections of the graph 300 , other parameters such as the temperature may have such a large spread between the cells that it is determined that this will render a calculated state of health unreliable . other parameter values that may result in the decision of not performing a state of health calculation is given above in relation to fig2 . in order to summarize the inventive method according to the present application , reference is made to fig4 illustrating a flowchart of an example embodiment of the method according to the present invention . according to the example depicted in fig4 , a first step s 1 of the method is to receive measured state of health parameter values from the battery . the measured state of health parameter values can , for example , be any one of those described above in relation to the description of fig2 and 3 . the measured state of health parameter values relate to parameter that can be used when calculating state of health of the battery . thereafter , the measured state of health parameter values are compared s 2 with at least one parameter criterion . the at least one parameter criterion is described above and can be set differently for different parameters as well as for different fields of application for the battery . finally , it is determined s 3 that the measured state of health parameter values are reliable if the state of health parameter value fulfils the at least one predetermined parameter criterion . hereby , the method can further determine if a state health parameter calculation , which is to be based on the received measured state of health parameter values , will provide a result which is accurate or not , i . e . if the result from the calculation will indicate a state of health of the battery which will substantially correspond to the true behaviour of the battery . it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings ; rather , the skilled person will recognize that many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims .	Should this patent be classified under 'Physics'?	Is 'Fixed Constructions' the correct technical category for the patent?	0.25	ff6829ff8a168cd98f66b16468ca7da8fe3e41eef281122af3ace46f2bcee800	0.012817	0.004333	0.000732	0.003281	0.005554	0.010315
null	the present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings , in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown . the invention may , however , be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein ; rather , these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness . like reference character refer to like elements throughout the description . with particular reference to fig1 , there is provided a vehicle 1 provided with a battery ( not shown ). the battery comprises a plurality of battery cells which can be charged and discharged depending on the specific battery operating mode . the vehicle 1 depicted in fig1 is a bus for which the inventive method for determining the reliability of state of health parameter values , which will be described in detail below , is particularly suitable for . turning now to fig2 , there is provided a flowchart of an example embodiment for determining if it is reliable to calculate battery state of health . the flowchart in fig2 comprises a first part which relates to the present accuracy of the state of health parameter values , referred to in the following as the parameter accuracy status module 202 , and a second part which relates to present state of the state of health parameter values , referred to in the following as the parameter state status module 204 . starting with the parameter accuracy status module 202 , it comprises , according to the non - limiting example embodiment depicted in fig2 , a state of charge accuracy status 206 , a temperature accuracy status 208 , and a voltage accuracy status 210 . the main purpose of the parameter accuracy status module 202 is to determine if the measured , or calculated , parameters are accurate enough when the measurement , or calculation , was made . the state of charge accuracy status 206 of the parameter accuracy status module 202 relates to the accuracy of calculated state of charge parameter values which can be used in the calculation of state of health of the battery . the state of charge of the battery can be calculated by a measured voltage value , a measured electric current value , or a combination of a measured voltage value and a measured electric current value . an example of a voltage - state of charge curve is given in connection to the description of fig3 below , illustrating state of charge for an open cell voltage curve . the determination of state of charge accuracy is thus dependent on how accurate the measured voltage and / or electric current was . the following will describe factors that affect the accuracy of voltage values , electric current values , as well as the combination of voltage and electric current values . starting with voltage values , one parameter that is decisive when determining if the voltage value is accurate enough is in which state of charge region the voltage value was measured . these regions will be described further in relation to fig3 below . another parameter that affects the accuracy of the measured voltage value is when the voltage measurement was made , or more particularly , for how long time the battery has “ rested ” since it was previously electrically charged or discharged . hereby , the measured voltage value is considered less accurate if the time period since the battery was charged / discharged is within a certain time period before the voltage measurement was made , i . e . the voltage measurement was executed to close in time from the previous charging / discharging of the battery . hence , the measured voltage value changes in relation to the electric current which is charging / discharging the battery . if the battery is charged with electric current , the measured voltage value will thus not represent the true state of the battery and as such be considered unreliable . also , the voltage value will need some time to converge to its “ true ” value after charging / discharging of the battery is executed . furthermore , the measured voltage value is also dependent on the battery temperature at the time when the measurement was made . for example , an increased temperature will increase a resistance of the battery and thus , for a constant electric current , provide a measured voltage value which is higher than what may be the real situation . hence , if the temperature of the battery is not within a specific range when the measurement was made , the voltage value is not considered accurate . also , if the temperature difference between the battery cells is not within a specific temperature range , the measured voltage value may be higher or lower than what would be the case if the temperature of the cells is within the specific temperature range . further , and described above , the temperature of the battery cells should not vary too much during the period when the temperature measurement is made , i . e . a relatively steady state of the temperature is preferable to be able to calculate a reliable battery state of health . moreover , the accuracy of the voltage values may also be dependent on the spread in voltage values between the battery cells . if the difference between the largest cell voltage and the lowest cell voltage is outside a predetermined acceptable voltage range , the overall measured battery voltage may be determined not to be accurate . when it comes to determining if a measured electric current is accurate or not , other parameters may also be of importance for providing a reliable state of health calculation . for example , it may be relevant to check if the battery was charged or discharged with electric current at the moment when the electric current measurement was made . also , if the electric current was measured when the electric current was less stable , i . e . electric current measurements tend to fluctuate over time , the electric current measurement is considered not to be accurate . another parameter relating to accuracy of electric current is the sum of integrated electric currents for all the battery cells . this may be of interest when using the integrated electric current values for calculating state of charge when the voltage - state of charge derivative function is below a predetermined threshold value . naturally , also the temperature is an important aspect for determining if the measured electric current is accurate or not for the same reasons as described above . finally , when determining if a state of charge , which is calculated by means of both voltage and electric current , is accurate , it may be important to determine that a combination of the above described parameters for voltage and electric current is accurate . accordingly , with at least some of the above described parameters , it can be determined if a calculated state of charge accuracy status 206 is sufficiently accurate . turning to the temperature accuracy status 208 , this accuracy status relates to the accuracy of the measure temperature of the battery , which can be used for calculating the state of health of the battery . as described above , the temperature of the battery may be an important aspect when determining if other parameters , such as measured voltage and electric current are accurate . the temperature parameter itself may however also be provided in a state of health calculation and its accuracy may therefore be important to consider before calculating battery state of health . there are a number of aspects that can be considered when determining if a measured temperature of the battery is accurate or not . for example , the temperature measurement may be considered inaccurate if there are not enough sensors provided to the battery , i . e . an insufficiently amount of battery cells are provided with a temperature sensor . for example , it may be determined that at least every other cell should be provided with a temperature sensor in order to provide a temperature measurement which is considered accurate . this is of course dependent on the specific battery as well as the specific application of the battery , for some applications it may be sufficient that every third cell , or even every fourth cell , is provided with a temperature sensor . the accuracy of the temperature may also be determined by verifying that the difference between the largest temperature of the battery cells and the lowest temperature of the battery cells are within a predetermined range , i . e . that a spread of the temperature is within a specific and accepted temperature range . further , another aspect is that the temperature measured from two adjacent temperature sensors must not differ too much . if this is the case , it may be determined that the temperature measurement is not sufficiently accurate . still further , the accuracy of the temperature sensors themselves may also be an aspect to consider . if the accuracy of the sensors is not sufficient , then the measured temperature value is thus not considered accurate . as a final example of the temperature accuracy , if the change of temperature over time changes too rapidly or too slowly , then a temperature measurement made during this time period may not be considered sufficiently accurate to be used in a state of health calculation . it should be noted that the temperature of battery cells are often measured on the surface of the cells , or at the pole of the cells . one further aspect to consider is whether the difference in temperature between the core of the cells and the surface of the cells are such that a measured temperature on the surface of the cell , or the pole of the cell , sufficiently describes the “ true ” temperature of the cells . this may be the case if the measurement is made too close in time since the battery was charged or discharged . since it is the cell core that is heated and the cell surface that is cooled , it will be difficult to assess whether the measured temperature on the surface describes the true characteristic of the cell temperature . hereby , in order to determine that the dynamically measured temperature is accurate , the measurement should preferably be made a time period after the battery has been charged / discharged with / from electric current . further , the core of the cells may have a higher temperature then the surface of the cells in cases where the battery has been exposed to “ severe ” charging / discharging , after which it takes a time period until the temperature of the cells and the surface have converged to substantially the same temperature level . accordingly , with at least some of the above described parameters , it can be determined if a measured temperature accuracy status 208 is sufficiently accurate . turning now to the voltage accuracy 210 , this accuracy status relates to the accuracy of measured voltage values for the different cells . the accuracy of the measured voltage value may be dependent on the specific temperature at the time of the measurement . accordingly , if the temperature is too high when measuring the battery voltage , the measured voltage value may not be considered reliable or accurate enough to provide a reliable value when calculating battery state of health . also , other parameters affecting the accuracy of the measured battery voltage is e . g . in which open cell voltage area the measurement was made , as described further below in relation to fig3 , or the time period since battery was previously charged / discharged , as described above , etc . with the state of charge accuracy 206 , the temperature accuracy 208 and the voltage accuracy 210 , a parameter accuracy value 212 can be provided . accordingly , if it is determined in 206 that the calculate state of charge is accurate , that the temperature measurement in 208 is accurate and that the voltage in 210 is accurate , then the battery parameter values are considered accurate . it should however be readily understood that a parameter accuracy value 212 indicating that the battery parameters are accurate can be provided by means of only one of state of charge accuracy 206 , temperature accuracy 208 or voltage accuracy 210 , it is not a prerequisite that all accuracy values are provided for receiving a parameter value indicating an accuracy of the battery . as described above , different parameters are more important for some applications than for others and it may therefore only be important to consider the specific parameters which are important for the specific applications . turning now instead to the battery state status module 204 , it comprises a state of charge state 214 , a temperature state 216 , and a voltage state 218 . the main purpose of the battery state status module 204 is to be able to determine if the state of the battery is such that it is beneficial to calculate the battery state of health . accordingly , the battery state status module 204 determines if the level of the parameter values will provide a calculated state of health value that is substantially reliable , i . e . substantially accurate . to be able to determine how much a battery has aged , the parameter value that is measured and used in calculating the aging of the battery needs to be compared to a reference parameter value when the battery was new . when the battery was new , measurement of various parameters was made under certain circumstances and it is therefore of interest to keep track of the circumstances that influence the parameters for determining the aging of the batteries , in order to assure that a reliable result of the calculation of the battery state of health is provided . firstly , the state of charge state 214 determines if a calculated state of the state of charge is such that it will contribute to a reliably calculated state of health value , i . e . that the state of charge is reliable . the state of charge state may be determined to be reliable if , for example , the state of charge value is calculated when the derivative function , as described below , is above a predetermined threshold value . the temperature state 216 determines if the state of the measured temperature is such that it will contribute to a reliably calculated state of health value . the measured temperature value may be determined to be reliable if the mean value of the measured temperature is within a specific range , i . e . the battery was neither too warm nor too cold when the measurement was made . also , the individual cell temperatures should not deviate too much from the mean temperature of battery in order for their value to be considered reliable . finally , the voltage state 218 determines if the measured voltage is such that it will contribute to a reliably calculated state of health value for the battery . when studying the voltage values it can be determined that voltage values are reliable if the voltage measurement was made within a predetermined time period since the previous balancing of the battery was executed . hence , a voltage value can be considered reliable if the spread between the voltage values of the different cells are within a predetermined voltage range . studying the range of the battery cell voltage can be an important aspect since e . g . a similar mean value can be provided for two measurements but where the spread between the highest and lowest battery cell voltage differs significantly between the measurements . hereby , only the voltage mean value having a cell voltage spread within the predetermined range is considered reliable . accordingly , the voltage values may be considered reliable shortly after balancing of the battery have been executed , since the spread in voltage will be reduced after battery balancing . also , the voltage value may be considered unreliable if it is either too high or too low . more specifically , if the level of the voltage value of a cell is too high or too low , this may probably indicate that the cell in question is damaged . hereby , calculating state of health of the battery based on a voltage value when one cell , or a plurality of cells , is broken , will not provide a sufficiently reliable state of health value . further , for the state of charge state 214 , the temperature state 216 and the voltage state 218 , it may also be of interest to determine the spread of the values for each of the parameters , i . e . how a cell value deviates from the other cell values , or from a calculated mean value of the cells , etc . with the above states 214 , 216 , 218 of the battery , the battery state module 220 determines whether the battery state is beneficial for providing a reliable state of health calculation by using the above described parameters . furthermore , it should be understood that the battery state module 220 is not necessarily dependent on receiving the state from all of the various parameters , i . e . from the state of charge state 214 , the temperature state 216 , or the voltage state 218 . it may , for the same reasons as described above in relation to the description of the parameter accuracy module 212 , be sufficient to receive input from only one of the modules . finally , the parameter accuracy module 212 and the battery state module 220 provides their result to a state of health determination status module 230 . the state of health determination status module 230 determines , based on the received input from the parameter accuracy module 212 and the battery state module 220 , if the measured parameter values are considered reliable for calculating a substantially accurate state of health of the battery . although fig2 illustrates that the state of health determination status module 230 should receive input from both the parameter accuracy module 212 and the battery state module 220 , the invention should be understood to function equally as well with a state of health determination status module 230 receiving input from only one of the parameter accuracy module 212 and the battery state module 220 . turning now to fig3 illustrating an open cell voltage graph 300 . the graph 300 illustrates how the battery voltage 302 depends on the state of charge 304 of the battery . the graph 300 in fig3 is divided into five sections 306 , 308 , 310 , 312 , 314 . the battery can either be charged , indicated by the arrows 316 showing increased voltage and increased state of charge of the battery , or be discharge , indicated by the arrows 318 showing a decrease in voltage as well as a decrease in state of charge of the battery . the following will mainly describe the graph in a battery charging state , illustrated by the arrows 316 . in the first section 306 the battery is charged from an empty state . hereby , the derivative function of the voltage - state of charge is relatively steep , i . e . a relatively large increase in voltage 302 in comparison to the increase in state of charge 304 . conversely , when the battery is discharged , the first section 306 indicates that the battery will soon be out of power . in the second section 308 of the graph 300 , the derivative function of the voltage - state of charge has been slightly reduced in comparison to the first section 306 , but the voltage 302 of the battery is still increasing with increased state of charge 304 and the voltage level of the battery is still in its lower region with regards to its overall capacity . in the third section 310 of the graph , the above defined derivative function is approximately zero . hereby , the state of charge 304 of the battery is in this section still increasing but the voltage level is remaining approximately the same . in the fourth 312 and fifth 314 sections of the graph , the derivative function has increased such that the battery voltage 302 is increasing and the state of charge 304 is also increasing . in the fifth section 314 the charging level of the battery has almost reached its complete capacity . now , as described above in relation to fig2 , measuring a voltage value during specific points in time may provide parameter values that cannot be considered accurate enough . in fig3 , this is illustrated by the third section 310 where the derivative function is approximately zero . more specifically , if a voltage measurement is made when the battery state of charge is in the third section 310 , the accuracy of the corresponding state of charge of the battery will be relatively uncertain , since a small change in voltage 302 will provide a relatively large change in state of charge 304 . accordingly , in the third section 310 , it may be difficult to provide an exact , or approximately exact , state of charge value with the measured voltage value , thus making the measured voltage value , as well as the state of charge value inaccurate at the third section 310 . in the first 306 , second 308 , fourth 312 and fifth 314 sections of the graph 300 , the derivative function is above a predetermined accepted threshold value and a measured voltage value will correspond to a relatively precise state of charge value . hereby , the measured voltage value as well as the corresponding state of charge value is in these sections considered accurate enough for providing a reliable state of health calculation . furthermore , the state of charge value can thus be considered reliable if the state of charge calculation was executed at a point in time when it was beneficial to do so , i . e . in one of the first 306 , second 308 , fourth 312 or fifth 314 sections described above . however , although the measured voltage value and the corresponding state of charge value is considered accurate , other parameter values may result in that it is determined not to perform a state of health calculation . for example , although the voltage - state of charge is in one of the first 306 , second 308 , fourth 312 or fifth 314 sections of the graph 300 , other parameters such as the temperature may have such a large spread between the cells that it is determined that this will render a calculated state of health unreliable . other parameter values that may result in the decision of not performing a state of health calculation is given above in relation to fig2 . in order to summarize the inventive method according to the present application , reference is made to fig4 illustrating a flowchart of an example embodiment of the method according to the present invention . according to the example depicted in fig4 , a first step s 1 of the method is to receive measured state of health parameter values from the battery . the measured state of health parameter values can , for example , be any one of those described above in relation to the description of fig2 and 3 . the measured state of health parameter values relate to parameter that can be used when calculating state of health of the battery . thereafter , the measured state of health parameter values are compared s 2 with at least one parameter criterion . the at least one parameter criterion is described above and can be set differently for different parameters as well as for different fields of application for the battery . finally , it is determined s 3 that the measured state of health parameter values are reliable if the state of health parameter value fulfils the at least one predetermined parameter criterion . hereby , the method can further determine if a state health parameter calculation , which is to be based on the received measured state of health parameter values , will provide a result which is accurate or not , i . e . if the result from the calculation will indicate a state of health of the battery which will substantially correspond to the true behaviour of the battery . it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings ; rather , the skilled person will recognize that many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims .	Should this patent be classified under 'Physics'?	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Mechanical Engineering; Lightning; Heating; Weapons; Blasting'?	0.25	ff6829ff8a168cd98f66b16468ca7da8fe3e41eef281122af3ace46f2bcee800	0.012817	0.000778	0.000732	0.000296	0.005554	0.003708
null	the present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings , in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown . the invention may , however , be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein ; rather , these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness . like reference character refer to like elements throughout the description . with particular reference to fig1 , there is provided a vehicle 1 provided with a battery ( not shown ). the battery comprises a plurality of battery cells which can be charged and discharged depending on the specific battery operating mode . the vehicle 1 depicted in fig1 is a bus for which the inventive method for determining the reliability of state of health parameter values , which will be described in detail below , is particularly suitable for . turning now to fig2 , there is provided a flowchart of an example embodiment for determining if it is reliable to calculate battery state of health . the flowchart in fig2 comprises a first part which relates to the present accuracy of the state of health parameter values , referred to in the following as the parameter accuracy status module 202 , and a second part which relates to present state of the state of health parameter values , referred to in the following as the parameter state status module 204 . starting with the parameter accuracy status module 202 , it comprises , according to the non - limiting example embodiment depicted in fig2 , a state of charge accuracy status 206 , a temperature accuracy status 208 , and a voltage accuracy status 210 . the main purpose of the parameter accuracy status module 202 is to determine if the measured , or calculated , parameters are accurate enough when the measurement , or calculation , was made . the state of charge accuracy status 206 of the parameter accuracy status module 202 relates to the accuracy of calculated state of charge parameter values which can be used in the calculation of state of health of the battery . the state of charge of the battery can be calculated by a measured voltage value , a measured electric current value , or a combination of a measured voltage value and a measured electric current value . an example of a voltage - state of charge curve is given in connection to the description of fig3 below , illustrating state of charge for an open cell voltage curve . the determination of state of charge accuracy is thus dependent on how accurate the measured voltage and / or electric current was . the following will describe factors that affect the accuracy of voltage values , electric current values , as well as the combination of voltage and electric current values . starting with voltage values , one parameter that is decisive when determining if the voltage value is accurate enough is in which state of charge region the voltage value was measured . these regions will be described further in relation to fig3 below . another parameter that affects the accuracy of the measured voltage value is when the voltage measurement was made , or more particularly , for how long time the battery has “ rested ” since it was previously electrically charged or discharged . hereby , the measured voltage value is considered less accurate if the time period since the battery was charged / discharged is within a certain time period before the voltage measurement was made , i . e . the voltage measurement was executed to close in time from the previous charging / discharging of the battery . hence , the measured voltage value changes in relation to the electric current which is charging / discharging the battery . if the battery is charged with electric current , the measured voltage value will thus not represent the true state of the battery and as such be considered unreliable . also , the voltage value will need some time to converge to its “ true ” value after charging / discharging of the battery is executed . furthermore , the measured voltage value is also dependent on the battery temperature at the time when the measurement was made . for example , an increased temperature will increase a resistance of the battery and thus , for a constant electric current , provide a measured voltage value which is higher than what may be the real situation . hence , if the temperature of the battery is not within a specific range when the measurement was made , the voltage value is not considered accurate . also , if the temperature difference between the battery cells is not within a specific temperature range , the measured voltage value may be higher or lower than what would be the case if the temperature of the cells is within the specific temperature range . further , and described above , the temperature of the battery cells should not vary too much during the period when the temperature measurement is made , i . e . a relatively steady state of the temperature is preferable to be able to calculate a reliable battery state of health . moreover , the accuracy of the voltage values may also be dependent on the spread in voltage values between the battery cells . if the difference between the largest cell voltage and the lowest cell voltage is outside a predetermined acceptable voltage range , the overall measured battery voltage may be determined not to be accurate . when it comes to determining if a measured electric current is accurate or not , other parameters may also be of importance for providing a reliable state of health calculation . for example , it may be relevant to check if the battery was charged or discharged with electric current at the moment when the electric current measurement was made . also , if the electric current was measured when the electric current was less stable , i . e . electric current measurements tend to fluctuate over time , the electric current measurement is considered not to be accurate . another parameter relating to accuracy of electric current is the sum of integrated electric currents for all the battery cells . this may be of interest when using the integrated electric current values for calculating state of charge when the voltage - state of charge derivative function is below a predetermined threshold value . naturally , also the temperature is an important aspect for determining if the measured electric current is accurate or not for the same reasons as described above . finally , when determining if a state of charge , which is calculated by means of both voltage and electric current , is accurate , it may be important to determine that a combination of the above described parameters for voltage and electric current is accurate . accordingly , with at least some of the above described parameters , it can be determined if a calculated state of charge accuracy status 206 is sufficiently accurate . turning to the temperature accuracy status 208 , this accuracy status relates to the accuracy of the measure temperature of the battery , which can be used for calculating the state of health of the battery . as described above , the temperature of the battery may be an important aspect when determining if other parameters , such as measured voltage and electric current are accurate . the temperature parameter itself may however also be provided in a state of health calculation and its accuracy may therefore be important to consider before calculating battery state of health . there are a number of aspects that can be considered when determining if a measured temperature of the battery is accurate or not . for example , the temperature measurement may be considered inaccurate if there are not enough sensors provided to the battery , i . e . an insufficiently amount of battery cells are provided with a temperature sensor . for example , it may be determined that at least every other cell should be provided with a temperature sensor in order to provide a temperature measurement which is considered accurate . this is of course dependent on the specific battery as well as the specific application of the battery , for some applications it may be sufficient that every third cell , or even every fourth cell , is provided with a temperature sensor . the accuracy of the temperature may also be determined by verifying that the difference between the largest temperature of the battery cells and the lowest temperature of the battery cells are within a predetermined range , i . e . that a spread of the temperature is within a specific and accepted temperature range . further , another aspect is that the temperature measured from two adjacent temperature sensors must not differ too much . if this is the case , it may be determined that the temperature measurement is not sufficiently accurate . still further , the accuracy of the temperature sensors themselves may also be an aspect to consider . if the accuracy of the sensors is not sufficient , then the measured temperature value is thus not considered accurate . as a final example of the temperature accuracy , if the change of temperature over time changes too rapidly or too slowly , then a temperature measurement made during this time period may not be considered sufficiently accurate to be used in a state of health calculation . it should be noted that the temperature of battery cells are often measured on the surface of the cells , or at the pole of the cells . one further aspect to consider is whether the difference in temperature between the core of the cells and the surface of the cells are such that a measured temperature on the surface of the cell , or the pole of the cell , sufficiently describes the “ true ” temperature of the cells . this may be the case if the measurement is made too close in time since the battery was charged or discharged . since it is the cell core that is heated and the cell surface that is cooled , it will be difficult to assess whether the measured temperature on the surface describes the true characteristic of the cell temperature . hereby , in order to determine that the dynamically measured temperature is accurate , the measurement should preferably be made a time period after the battery has been charged / discharged with / from electric current . further , the core of the cells may have a higher temperature then the surface of the cells in cases where the battery has been exposed to “ severe ” charging / discharging , after which it takes a time period until the temperature of the cells and the surface have converged to substantially the same temperature level . accordingly , with at least some of the above described parameters , it can be determined if a measured temperature accuracy status 208 is sufficiently accurate . turning now to the voltage accuracy 210 , this accuracy status relates to the accuracy of measured voltage values for the different cells . the accuracy of the measured voltage value may be dependent on the specific temperature at the time of the measurement . accordingly , if the temperature is too high when measuring the battery voltage , the measured voltage value may not be considered reliable or accurate enough to provide a reliable value when calculating battery state of health . also , other parameters affecting the accuracy of the measured battery voltage is e . g . in which open cell voltage area the measurement was made , as described further below in relation to fig3 , or the time period since battery was previously charged / discharged , as described above , etc . with the state of charge accuracy 206 , the temperature accuracy 208 and the voltage accuracy 210 , a parameter accuracy value 212 can be provided . accordingly , if it is determined in 206 that the calculate state of charge is accurate , that the temperature measurement in 208 is accurate and that the voltage in 210 is accurate , then the battery parameter values are considered accurate . it should however be readily understood that a parameter accuracy value 212 indicating that the battery parameters are accurate can be provided by means of only one of state of charge accuracy 206 , temperature accuracy 208 or voltage accuracy 210 , it is not a prerequisite that all accuracy values are provided for receiving a parameter value indicating an accuracy of the battery . as described above , different parameters are more important for some applications than for others and it may therefore only be important to consider the specific parameters which are important for the specific applications . turning now instead to the battery state status module 204 , it comprises a state of charge state 214 , a temperature state 216 , and a voltage state 218 . the main purpose of the battery state status module 204 is to be able to determine if the state of the battery is such that it is beneficial to calculate the battery state of health . accordingly , the battery state status module 204 determines if the level of the parameter values will provide a calculated state of health value that is substantially reliable , i . e . substantially accurate . to be able to determine how much a battery has aged , the parameter value that is measured and used in calculating the aging of the battery needs to be compared to a reference parameter value when the battery was new . when the battery was new , measurement of various parameters was made under certain circumstances and it is therefore of interest to keep track of the circumstances that influence the parameters for determining the aging of the batteries , in order to assure that a reliable result of the calculation of the battery state of health is provided . firstly , the state of charge state 214 determines if a calculated state of the state of charge is such that it will contribute to a reliably calculated state of health value , i . e . that the state of charge is reliable . the state of charge state may be determined to be reliable if , for example , the state of charge value is calculated when the derivative function , as described below , is above a predetermined threshold value . the temperature state 216 determines if the state of the measured temperature is such that it will contribute to a reliably calculated state of health value . the measured temperature value may be determined to be reliable if the mean value of the measured temperature is within a specific range , i . e . the battery was neither too warm nor too cold when the measurement was made . also , the individual cell temperatures should not deviate too much from the mean temperature of battery in order for their value to be considered reliable . finally , the voltage state 218 determines if the measured voltage is such that it will contribute to a reliably calculated state of health value for the battery . when studying the voltage values it can be determined that voltage values are reliable if the voltage measurement was made within a predetermined time period since the previous balancing of the battery was executed . hence , a voltage value can be considered reliable if the spread between the voltage values of the different cells are within a predetermined voltage range . studying the range of the battery cell voltage can be an important aspect since e . g . a similar mean value can be provided for two measurements but where the spread between the highest and lowest battery cell voltage differs significantly between the measurements . hereby , only the voltage mean value having a cell voltage spread within the predetermined range is considered reliable . accordingly , the voltage values may be considered reliable shortly after balancing of the battery have been executed , since the spread in voltage will be reduced after battery balancing . also , the voltage value may be considered unreliable if it is either too high or too low . more specifically , if the level of the voltage value of a cell is too high or too low , this may probably indicate that the cell in question is damaged . hereby , calculating state of health of the battery based on a voltage value when one cell , or a plurality of cells , is broken , will not provide a sufficiently reliable state of health value . further , for the state of charge state 214 , the temperature state 216 and the voltage state 218 , it may also be of interest to determine the spread of the values for each of the parameters , i . e . how a cell value deviates from the other cell values , or from a calculated mean value of the cells , etc . with the above states 214 , 216 , 218 of the battery , the battery state module 220 determines whether the battery state is beneficial for providing a reliable state of health calculation by using the above described parameters . furthermore , it should be understood that the battery state module 220 is not necessarily dependent on receiving the state from all of the various parameters , i . e . from the state of charge state 214 , the temperature state 216 , or the voltage state 218 . it may , for the same reasons as described above in relation to the description of the parameter accuracy module 212 , be sufficient to receive input from only one of the modules . finally , the parameter accuracy module 212 and the battery state module 220 provides their result to a state of health determination status module 230 . the state of health determination status module 230 determines , based on the received input from the parameter accuracy module 212 and the battery state module 220 , if the measured parameter values are considered reliable for calculating a substantially accurate state of health of the battery . although fig2 illustrates that the state of health determination status module 230 should receive input from both the parameter accuracy module 212 and the battery state module 220 , the invention should be understood to function equally as well with a state of health determination status module 230 receiving input from only one of the parameter accuracy module 212 and the battery state module 220 . turning now to fig3 illustrating an open cell voltage graph 300 . the graph 300 illustrates how the battery voltage 302 depends on the state of charge 304 of the battery . the graph 300 in fig3 is divided into five sections 306 , 308 , 310 , 312 , 314 . the battery can either be charged , indicated by the arrows 316 showing increased voltage and increased state of charge of the battery , or be discharge , indicated by the arrows 318 showing a decrease in voltage as well as a decrease in state of charge of the battery . the following will mainly describe the graph in a battery charging state , illustrated by the arrows 316 . in the first section 306 the battery is charged from an empty state . hereby , the derivative function of the voltage - state of charge is relatively steep , i . e . a relatively large increase in voltage 302 in comparison to the increase in state of charge 304 . conversely , when the battery is discharged , the first section 306 indicates that the battery will soon be out of power . in the second section 308 of the graph 300 , the derivative function of the voltage - state of charge has been slightly reduced in comparison to the first section 306 , but the voltage 302 of the battery is still increasing with increased state of charge 304 and the voltage level of the battery is still in its lower region with regards to its overall capacity . in the third section 310 of the graph , the above defined derivative function is approximately zero . hereby , the state of charge 304 of the battery is in this section still increasing but the voltage level is remaining approximately the same . in the fourth 312 and fifth 314 sections of the graph , the derivative function has increased such that the battery voltage 302 is increasing and the state of charge 304 is also increasing . in the fifth section 314 the charging level of the battery has almost reached its complete capacity . now , as described above in relation to fig2 , measuring a voltage value during specific points in time may provide parameter values that cannot be considered accurate enough . in fig3 , this is illustrated by the third section 310 where the derivative function is approximately zero . more specifically , if a voltage measurement is made when the battery state of charge is in the third section 310 , the accuracy of the corresponding state of charge of the battery will be relatively uncertain , since a small change in voltage 302 will provide a relatively large change in state of charge 304 . accordingly , in the third section 310 , it may be difficult to provide an exact , or approximately exact , state of charge value with the measured voltage value , thus making the measured voltage value , as well as the state of charge value inaccurate at the third section 310 . in the first 306 , second 308 , fourth 312 and fifth 314 sections of the graph 300 , the derivative function is above a predetermined accepted threshold value and a measured voltage value will correspond to a relatively precise state of charge value . hereby , the measured voltage value as well as the corresponding state of charge value is in these sections considered accurate enough for providing a reliable state of health calculation . furthermore , the state of charge value can thus be considered reliable if the state of charge calculation was executed at a point in time when it was beneficial to do so , i . e . in one of the first 306 , second 308 , fourth 312 or fifth 314 sections described above . however , although the measured voltage value and the corresponding state of charge value is considered accurate , other parameter values may result in that it is determined not to perform a state of health calculation . for example , although the voltage - state of charge is in one of the first 306 , second 308 , fourth 312 or fifth 314 sections of the graph 300 , other parameters such as the temperature may have such a large spread between the cells that it is determined that this will render a calculated state of health unreliable . other parameter values that may result in the decision of not performing a state of health calculation is given above in relation to fig2 . in order to summarize the inventive method according to the present application , reference is made to fig4 illustrating a flowchart of an example embodiment of the method according to the present invention . according to the example depicted in fig4 , a first step s 1 of the method is to receive measured state of health parameter values from the battery . the measured state of health parameter values can , for example , be any one of those described above in relation to the description of fig2 and 3 . the measured state of health parameter values relate to parameter that can be used when calculating state of health of the battery . thereafter , the measured state of health parameter values are compared s 2 with at least one parameter criterion . the at least one parameter criterion is described above and can be set differently for different parameters as well as for different fields of application for the battery . finally , it is determined s 3 that the measured state of health parameter values are reliable if the state of health parameter value fulfils the at least one predetermined parameter criterion . hereby , the method can further determine if a state health parameter calculation , which is to be based on the received measured state of health parameter values , will provide a result which is accurate or not , i . e . if the result from the calculation will indicate a state of health of the battery which will substantially correspond to the true behaviour of the battery . it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings ; rather , the skilled person will recognize that many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims .	Should this patent be classified under 'Physics'?	Should this patent be classified under 'Electricity'?	0.25	ff6829ff8a168cd98f66b16468ca7da8fe3e41eef281122af3ace46f2bcee800	0.012817	0.212891	0.000732	0.019409	0.005554	0.016357
null	the present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings , in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown . the invention may , however , be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein ; rather , these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness . like reference character refer to like elements throughout the description . with particular reference to fig1 , there is provided a vehicle 1 provided with a battery ( not shown ). the battery comprises a plurality of battery cells which can be charged and discharged depending on the specific battery operating mode . the vehicle 1 depicted in fig1 is a bus for which the inventive method for determining the reliability of state of health parameter values , which will be described in detail below , is particularly suitable for . turning now to fig2 , there is provided a flowchart of an example embodiment for determining if it is reliable to calculate battery state of health . the flowchart in fig2 comprises a first part which relates to the present accuracy of the state of health parameter values , referred to in the following as the parameter accuracy status module 202 , and a second part which relates to present state of the state of health parameter values , referred to in the following as the parameter state status module 204 . starting with the parameter accuracy status module 202 , it comprises , according to the non - limiting example embodiment depicted in fig2 , a state of charge accuracy status 206 , a temperature accuracy status 208 , and a voltage accuracy status 210 . the main purpose of the parameter accuracy status module 202 is to determine if the measured , or calculated , parameters are accurate enough when the measurement , or calculation , was made . the state of charge accuracy status 206 of the parameter accuracy status module 202 relates to the accuracy of calculated state of charge parameter values which can be used in the calculation of state of health of the battery . the state of charge of the battery can be calculated by a measured voltage value , a measured electric current value , or a combination of a measured voltage value and a measured electric current value . an example of a voltage - state of charge curve is given in connection to the description of fig3 below , illustrating state of charge for an open cell voltage curve . the determination of state of charge accuracy is thus dependent on how accurate the measured voltage and / or electric current was . the following will describe factors that affect the accuracy of voltage values , electric current values , as well as the combination of voltage and electric current values . starting with voltage values , one parameter that is decisive when determining if the voltage value is accurate enough is in which state of charge region the voltage value was measured . these regions will be described further in relation to fig3 below . another parameter that affects the accuracy of the measured voltage value is when the voltage measurement was made , or more particularly , for how long time the battery has “ rested ” since it was previously electrically charged or discharged . hereby , the measured voltage value is considered less accurate if the time period since the battery was charged / discharged is within a certain time period before the voltage measurement was made , i . e . the voltage measurement was executed to close in time from the previous charging / discharging of the battery . hence , the measured voltage value changes in relation to the electric current which is charging / discharging the battery . if the battery is charged with electric current , the measured voltage value will thus not represent the true state of the battery and as such be considered unreliable . also , the voltage value will need some time to converge to its “ true ” value after charging / discharging of the battery is executed . furthermore , the measured voltage value is also dependent on the battery temperature at the time when the measurement was made . for example , an increased temperature will increase a resistance of the battery and thus , for a constant electric current , provide a measured voltage value which is higher than what may be the real situation . hence , if the temperature of the battery is not within a specific range when the measurement was made , the voltage value is not considered accurate . also , if the temperature difference between the battery cells is not within a specific temperature range , the measured voltage value may be higher or lower than what would be the case if the temperature of the cells is within the specific temperature range . further , and described above , the temperature of the battery cells should not vary too much during the period when the temperature measurement is made , i . e . a relatively steady state of the temperature is preferable to be able to calculate a reliable battery state of health . moreover , the accuracy of the voltage values may also be dependent on the spread in voltage values between the battery cells . if the difference between the largest cell voltage and the lowest cell voltage is outside a predetermined acceptable voltage range , the overall measured battery voltage may be determined not to be accurate . when it comes to determining if a measured electric current is accurate or not , other parameters may also be of importance for providing a reliable state of health calculation . for example , it may be relevant to check if the battery was charged or discharged with electric current at the moment when the electric current measurement was made . also , if the electric current was measured when the electric current was less stable , i . e . electric current measurements tend to fluctuate over time , the electric current measurement is considered not to be accurate . another parameter relating to accuracy of electric current is the sum of integrated electric currents for all the battery cells . this may be of interest when using the integrated electric current values for calculating state of charge when the voltage - state of charge derivative function is below a predetermined threshold value . naturally , also the temperature is an important aspect for determining if the measured electric current is accurate or not for the same reasons as described above . finally , when determining if a state of charge , which is calculated by means of both voltage and electric current , is accurate , it may be important to determine that a combination of the above described parameters for voltage and electric current is accurate . accordingly , with at least some of the above described parameters , it can be determined if a calculated state of charge accuracy status 206 is sufficiently accurate . turning to the temperature accuracy status 208 , this accuracy status relates to the accuracy of the measure temperature of the battery , which can be used for calculating the state of health of the battery . as described above , the temperature of the battery may be an important aspect when determining if other parameters , such as measured voltage and electric current are accurate . the temperature parameter itself may however also be provided in a state of health calculation and its accuracy may therefore be important to consider before calculating battery state of health . there are a number of aspects that can be considered when determining if a measured temperature of the battery is accurate or not . for example , the temperature measurement may be considered inaccurate if there are not enough sensors provided to the battery , i . e . an insufficiently amount of battery cells are provided with a temperature sensor . for example , it may be determined that at least every other cell should be provided with a temperature sensor in order to provide a temperature measurement which is considered accurate . this is of course dependent on the specific battery as well as the specific application of the battery , for some applications it may be sufficient that every third cell , or even every fourth cell , is provided with a temperature sensor . the accuracy of the temperature may also be determined by verifying that the difference between the largest temperature of the battery cells and the lowest temperature of the battery cells are within a predetermined range , i . e . that a spread of the temperature is within a specific and accepted temperature range . further , another aspect is that the temperature measured from two adjacent temperature sensors must not differ too much . if this is the case , it may be determined that the temperature measurement is not sufficiently accurate . still further , the accuracy of the temperature sensors themselves may also be an aspect to consider . if the accuracy of the sensors is not sufficient , then the measured temperature value is thus not considered accurate . as a final example of the temperature accuracy , if the change of temperature over time changes too rapidly or too slowly , then a temperature measurement made during this time period may not be considered sufficiently accurate to be used in a state of health calculation . it should be noted that the temperature of battery cells are often measured on the surface of the cells , or at the pole of the cells . one further aspect to consider is whether the difference in temperature between the core of the cells and the surface of the cells are such that a measured temperature on the surface of the cell , or the pole of the cell , sufficiently describes the “ true ” temperature of the cells . this may be the case if the measurement is made too close in time since the battery was charged or discharged . since it is the cell core that is heated and the cell surface that is cooled , it will be difficult to assess whether the measured temperature on the surface describes the true characteristic of the cell temperature . hereby , in order to determine that the dynamically measured temperature is accurate , the measurement should preferably be made a time period after the battery has been charged / discharged with / from electric current . further , the core of the cells may have a higher temperature then the surface of the cells in cases where the battery has been exposed to “ severe ” charging / discharging , after which it takes a time period until the temperature of the cells and the surface have converged to substantially the same temperature level . accordingly , with at least some of the above described parameters , it can be determined if a measured temperature accuracy status 208 is sufficiently accurate . turning now to the voltage accuracy 210 , this accuracy status relates to the accuracy of measured voltage values for the different cells . the accuracy of the measured voltage value may be dependent on the specific temperature at the time of the measurement . accordingly , if the temperature is too high when measuring the battery voltage , the measured voltage value may not be considered reliable or accurate enough to provide a reliable value when calculating battery state of health . also , other parameters affecting the accuracy of the measured battery voltage is e . g . in which open cell voltage area the measurement was made , as described further below in relation to fig3 , or the time period since battery was previously charged / discharged , as described above , etc . with the state of charge accuracy 206 , the temperature accuracy 208 and the voltage accuracy 210 , a parameter accuracy value 212 can be provided . accordingly , if it is determined in 206 that the calculate state of charge is accurate , that the temperature measurement in 208 is accurate and that the voltage in 210 is accurate , then the battery parameter values are considered accurate . it should however be readily understood that a parameter accuracy value 212 indicating that the battery parameters are accurate can be provided by means of only one of state of charge accuracy 206 , temperature accuracy 208 or voltage accuracy 210 , it is not a prerequisite that all accuracy values are provided for receiving a parameter value indicating an accuracy of the battery . as described above , different parameters are more important for some applications than for others and it may therefore only be important to consider the specific parameters which are important for the specific applications . turning now instead to the battery state status module 204 , it comprises a state of charge state 214 , a temperature state 216 , and a voltage state 218 . the main purpose of the battery state status module 204 is to be able to determine if the state of the battery is such that it is beneficial to calculate the battery state of health . accordingly , the battery state status module 204 determines if the level of the parameter values will provide a calculated state of health value that is substantially reliable , i . e . substantially accurate . to be able to determine how much a battery has aged , the parameter value that is measured and used in calculating the aging of the battery needs to be compared to a reference parameter value when the battery was new . when the battery was new , measurement of various parameters was made under certain circumstances and it is therefore of interest to keep track of the circumstances that influence the parameters for determining the aging of the batteries , in order to assure that a reliable result of the calculation of the battery state of health is provided . firstly , the state of charge state 214 determines if a calculated state of the state of charge is such that it will contribute to a reliably calculated state of health value , i . e . that the state of charge is reliable . the state of charge state may be determined to be reliable if , for example , the state of charge value is calculated when the derivative function , as described below , is above a predetermined threshold value . the temperature state 216 determines if the state of the measured temperature is such that it will contribute to a reliably calculated state of health value . the measured temperature value may be determined to be reliable if the mean value of the measured temperature is within a specific range , i . e . the battery was neither too warm nor too cold when the measurement was made . also , the individual cell temperatures should not deviate too much from the mean temperature of battery in order for their value to be considered reliable . finally , the voltage state 218 determines if the measured voltage is such that it will contribute to a reliably calculated state of health value for the battery . when studying the voltage values it can be determined that voltage values are reliable if the voltage measurement was made within a predetermined time period since the previous balancing of the battery was executed . hence , a voltage value can be considered reliable if the spread between the voltage values of the different cells are within a predetermined voltage range . studying the range of the battery cell voltage can be an important aspect since e . g . a similar mean value can be provided for two measurements but where the spread between the highest and lowest battery cell voltage differs significantly between the measurements . hereby , only the voltage mean value having a cell voltage spread within the predetermined range is considered reliable . accordingly , the voltage values may be considered reliable shortly after balancing of the battery have been executed , since the spread in voltage will be reduced after battery balancing . also , the voltage value may be considered unreliable if it is either too high or too low . more specifically , if the level of the voltage value of a cell is too high or too low , this may probably indicate that the cell in question is damaged . hereby , calculating state of health of the battery based on a voltage value when one cell , or a plurality of cells , is broken , will not provide a sufficiently reliable state of health value . further , for the state of charge state 214 , the temperature state 216 and the voltage state 218 , it may also be of interest to determine the spread of the values for each of the parameters , i . e . how a cell value deviates from the other cell values , or from a calculated mean value of the cells , etc . with the above states 214 , 216 , 218 of the battery , the battery state module 220 determines whether the battery state is beneficial for providing a reliable state of health calculation by using the above described parameters . furthermore , it should be understood that the battery state module 220 is not necessarily dependent on receiving the state from all of the various parameters , i . e . from the state of charge state 214 , the temperature state 216 , or the voltage state 218 . it may , for the same reasons as described above in relation to the description of the parameter accuracy module 212 , be sufficient to receive input from only one of the modules . finally , the parameter accuracy module 212 and the battery state module 220 provides their result to a state of health determination status module 230 . the state of health determination status module 230 determines , based on the received input from the parameter accuracy module 212 and the battery state module 220 , if the measured parameter values are considered reliable for calculating a substantially accurate state of health of the battery . although fig2 illustrates that the state of health determination status module 230 should receive input from both the parameter accuracy module 212 and the battery state module 220 , the invention should be understood to function equally as well with a state of health determination status module 230 receiving input from only one of the parameter accuracy module 212 and the battery state module 220 . turning now to fig3 illustrating an open cell voltage graph 300 . the graph 300 illustrates how the battery voltage 302 depends on the state of charge 304 of the battery . the graph 300 in fig3 is divided into five sections 306 , 308 , 310 , 312 , 314 . the battery can either be charged , indicated by the arrows 316 showing increased voltage and increased state of charge of the battery , or be discharge , indicated by the arrows 318 showing a decrease in voltage as well as a decrease in state of charge of the battery . the following will mainly describe the graph in a battery charging state , illustrated by the arrows 316 . in the first section 306 the battery is charged from an empty state . hereby , the derivative function of the voltage - state of charge is relatively steep , i . e . a relatively large increase in voltage 302 in comparison to the increase in state of charge 304 . conversely , when the battery is discharged , the first section 306 indicates that the battery will soon be out of power . in the second section 308 of the graph 300 , the derivative function of the voltage - state of charge has been slightly reduced in comparison to the first section 306 , but the voltage 302 of the battery is still increasing with increased state of charge 304 and the voltage level of the battery is still in its lower region with regards to its overall capacity . in the third section 310 of the graph , the above defined derivative function is approximately zero . hereby , the state of charge 304 of the battery is in this section still increasing but the voltage level is remaining approximately the same . in the fourth 312 and fifth 314 sections of the graph , the derivative function has increased such that the battery voltage 302 is increasing and the state of charge 304 is also increasing . in the fifth section 314 the charging level of the battery has almost reached its complete capacity . now , as described above in relation to fig2 , measuring a voltage value during specific points in time may provide parameter values that cannot be considered accurate enough . in fig3 , this is illustrated by the third section 310 where the derivative function is approximately zero . more specifically , if a voltage measurement is made when the battery state of charge is in the third section 310 , the accuracy of the corresponding state of charge of the battery will be relatively uncertain , since a small change in voltage 302 will provide a relatively large change in state of charge 304 . accordingly , in the third section 310 , it may be difficult to provide an exact , or approximately exact , state of charge value with the measured voltage value , thus making the measured voltage value , as well as the state of charge value inaccurate at the third section 310 . in the first 306 , second 308 , fourth 312 and fifth 314 sections of the graph 300 , the derivative function is above a predetermined accepted threshold value and a measured voltage value will correspond to a relatively precise state of charge value . hereby , the measured voltage value as well as the corresponding state of charge value is in these sections considered accurate enough for providing a reliable state of health calculation . furthermore , the state of charge value can thus be considered reliable if the state of charge calculation was executed at a point in time when it was beneficial to do so , i . e . in one of the first 306 , second 308 , fourth 312 or fifth 314 sections described above . however , although the measured voltage value and the corresponding state of charge value is considered accurate , other parameter values may result in that it is determined not to perform a state of health calculation . for example , although the voltage - state of charge is in one of the first 306 , second 308 , fourth 312 or fifth 314 sections of the graph 300 , other parameters such as the temperature may have such a large spread between the cells that it is determined that this will render a calculated state of health unreliable . other parameter values that may result in the decision of not performing a state of health calculation is given above in relation to fig2 . in order to summarize the inventive method according to the present application , reference is made to fig4 illustrating a flowchart of an example embodiment of the method according to the present invention . according to the example depicted in fig4 , a first step s 1 of the method is to receive measured state of health parameter values from the battery . the measured state of health parameter values can , for example , be any one of those described above in relation to the description of fig2 and 3 . the measured state of health parameter values relate to parameter that can be used when calculating state of health of the battery . thereafter , the measured state of health parameter values are compared s 2 with at least one parameter criterion . the at least one parameter criterion is described above and can be set differently for different parameters as well as for different fields of application for the battery . finally , it is determined s 3 that the measured state of health parameter values are reliable if the state of health parameter value fulfils the at least one predetermined parameter criterion . hereby , the method can further determine if a state health parameter calculation , which is to be based on the received measured state of health parameter values , will provide a result which is accurate or not , i . e . if the result from the calculation will indicate a state of health of the battery which will substantially correspond to the true behaviour of the battery . it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings ; rather , the skilled person will recognize that many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims .	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'Physics'?	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'General tagging of new or cross-sectional technology'?	0.25	ff6829ff8a168cd98f66b16468ca7da8fe3e41eef281122af3ace46f2bcee800	0.043945	0.207031	0.005371	0.695313	0.015869	0.195313
null	unless defined otherwise , all terms of art , notations and other scientific terms or terminology used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs . many of the techniques and procedures described or referenced herein are well understood and commonly employed using conventional methodology by those skilled in the art . as appropriate , procedures involving the use of commercially available kits and reagents are generally carried out in accordance with manufacturer defined protocols and / or parameters unless otherwise noted . all patents , applications , published applications and other publications referred to herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety . if a definition set forth in this section is contrary to or otherwise inconsistent with a definition set forth in the patents , applications , published applications , and other publications that are herein incorporated by reference , the definition set forth in this section prevails over the definition that is incorporated herein by reference . as used herein , “ a ” or “ an ” means “ at least one ” or “ one or more .” this description may use relative spatial and / or orientation terms in describing the position and / or orientation of a component , apparatus , location , feature , or a portion thereof . unless specifically stated , or otherwise dictated by the context of the description , such terms , including , without limitation , top , bottom , above , below , under , on top of , upper , lower , left of , right of , in front of , behind , next to , adjacent , between , horizontal , vertical , diagonal , longitudinal , transverse , etc ., are used for convenience in referring to such component , apparatus , location , feature , or a portion thereof in the drawings and are not intended to be limiting . an actuator mechanism for compressing deformable fluid vessels — such as blisters on a liquid reagent module — embodying aspects of the present invention is shown at reference number 50 in fig2 . the actuator mechanism 50 may include an articulated blister actuator platen assembly 52 and a sliding actuator plate 66 . the sliding actuator plate 66 is configured to be movable in a direction that is generally parallel to the plane of the liquid reagent module — horizontally in the illustrated embodiment — and may be driven by a linear actuator , a rack and pinion , a belt drive , or other suitable motive means . sliding actuator plate 66 , in the illustrated embodiment , has v - shaped edges 76 that are supported in four v - rollers 74 to accommodate movement of the plate 66 in opposite rectilinear directions , while holding the sliding actuator plate 66 at a fixed spacing from the actuator platen assembly 52 . other features may be provided to guide the actuator plate 66 , such as rails and cooperating grooves . a component 40 — which may comprise liquid reagent module 10 described above — having one or more deformable fluid vessels , such as blisters 36 and 38 , is positioned within the actuator mechanism 50 beneath the articulated blister actuator platen assembly 52 . further details of the configuration of the articulated blister actuator platen assembly 52 and the operation thereof are shown in fig3 a - 6b . as shown in fig3 a and 3b , the actuator platen assembly 52 includes a chassis 54 . a cam body 56 is disposed within a slot 57 of the chassis 54 and is attached to the chassis 54 by a first pivot 58 . a platen 64 is pivotally attached to the cam body 56 by means of a second pivot 60 . the cam body 56 is held in a horizontal , unactuated position within the slot 57 by means of a torsional spring 55 coupled around the first pivot 58 . cam body 56 further includes a cam surface 65 along one edge thereof ( top edge in the figure ) which , in the exemplary embodiment shown in fig3 b , comprises an initial flat portion 61 , a convexly - curved portion 62 , and a second flat portion 63 . the sliding actuator plate 66 includes a cam follow 68 ( a roller in the illustrated embodiment ) rotatably mounted within a slot 72 formed in the actuator plate 66 . in an embodiment of the invention , one cam body 56 and associated platen 64 and cam follower 68 are associated with each deformable vessel ( e . g . blister 36 ) of the liquid reagent module 40 . the actuator platen assembly 52 and the sliding actuator plate 66 are configured to be movable relative to each other . in one embodiment , the actuator platen assembly 52 is fixed , and the actuator plate 66 is configured to move laterally relative to the platen assembly 52 , supported by the v - rollers 74 . lateral movement of the sliding actuator plate 66 , e . g ., in the direction “ a ”, causes the cam follower 68 to translate along the cam surface 65 of the cam body 56 , thereby actuating the cam body 56 and the platen 64 attached thereto . in fig3 a and 3b , before the sliding actuator plate 66 has begun to move relative to the actuator platen assembly 52 , the cam follower 68 is disposed on the initial flat portion 61 of the cam surface 65 of the cam body 56 . in fig4 a and 4b , the sliding actuator plate 66 has moved relative to the actuator platen assembly 52 in the direction “ a ” so that the cam follower 68 has moved across the initial flat portion 61 of the cam surface 65 and has just begun to engage the upwardly curved contour of the convexly - curved portion 62 of the cam surface 65 of the cam body 56 . in fig5 a and 5b , the sliding actuator plate 66 has proceeded in the direction “ a ” to a point such that the cam follower 68 is at the topmost point of the convexly - curved portion 62 of the cam surface 65 , thereby causing the cam body 56 to rotate about the first pivot 58 . the platen 64 is lowered by the downwardly pivoting cam body 56 and pivots relative to the cam body 56 about the second pivot 60 and thereby compresses the blister 36 . in fig6 a and 6b , sliding actuator plate 66 has moved to a position in the direction “ a ” relative to the actuator platen assembly 52 such that the cam follower 68 has progressed to the second flat portion 63 of the cam surface 65 . accordingly , the cam body 56 , urged by the torsion spring 55 , pivots about the first pivot 58 back to the unactuated position , thereby retracting the platen 64 . thus , the articulated blister actuator platen assembly 52 is constructed and arranged to convert the horizontal movement of actuator plate 66 into vertical movement of the platen 64 to compress a blister , and movement of the platen does not require pneumatic , electromechanical , or other components at larger distances above and / or below the liquid module . an alternative embodiment of a blister compression actuator mechanism is indicated by reference number 80 in fig7 a and 7b . actuator 80 includes a linear actuator 82 that is coupled to a cam rail 84 . cam rail 84 is supported for longitudinal movement by a first support rod 96 extending transversely through slot 86 and a second support rod 98 extending transversely through a second slot 88 formed in the cam rail 84 . the first support rod 96 and / or the second support rod 98 may include an annular groove within which portions of the cam rail 84 surrounding slot 86 or slot 88 may be supported , or cylindrical spacers may be placed over the first support rod 96 and / or the second support rod 98 on opposite sides of the cam rail 84 to prevent the cam rail 84 from twisting or sliding axially along the first support rail 96 and / or the second support rail 98 . cam rail 84 includes one or more cam profile slots . in the illustrated embodiment , cam rail 84 includes three cam profile slots 90 , 92 , and 94 . referring to cam profile slot 90 , in the illustrated embodiment , slot 90 includes , progressing from left to right in the figure , an initial horizontal portion , a downwardly sloped portion , and a second horizontal portion . the shapes of the cam profile slots are exemplary , and other shapes may be effectively implemented . the actuator mechanism 80 also includes a platen associated with each cam profile slot . in the illustrated embodiment , actuator 80 includes three platens 100 , 102 , 104 associated with cam profile slots 90 , 92 , 94 , respectively . first platen 100 is coupled to the cam profile slot 90 by a cam follower pin 106 extending transversely from the platen 100 into the cam profile slot 90 . similarly , second platen 102 is coupled to the second cam profile slot 92 by a cam follower pin 108 , and the third platen 104 is coupled to the third cam profile slot 94 by a cam follower pin 110 . platens 100 , 102 , 104 are supported and guided by a guide 112 , which may comprise a panel having openings formed therein conforming to the shape of each of the platens . in fig7 a , cam rail 84 is in its furthest right - most position , and the platens 100 , 102 , 104 are in their unactuated positions . each of the cam follower pins 106 , 108 , 110 is in the initial upper horizontal portion of the respective cam profile slot 90 , 92 , 94 . as the cam rail 84 is moved longitudinally to the left , in the direction “ a ” shown in fig7 b , by the linear actuator 82 , each cam follower pin 106 , 108 , 110 moves within its respective cam profile slot 90 , 92 , 94 until the cam follower pin is in the lower , second horizontal portion of the respective cam profile slot . movement of each of the pins 106 , 108 , 110 downwardly within its respective cam profile slot 90 , 92 , 94 causes a corresponding downward movement of the associated platen 100 , 102 , 104 . this movement of the platens thereby compresses a fluid vessel ( or blister ) located under each platen . each platen may compress a vessel directly in contact with the platen or it may contact the vessel through one or more intermediate components located between the vessel and the corresponding platen . thus , the blister compression actuator mechanism 80 is constructed and arranged to convert the horizontal movement cam rail 84 , driven by the linear actuator 82 , into vertical movement of the platens 100 , 102 , 104 to compress blisters , and movement of the platens does not require pneumatic , electromechanical , or other components at larger distances above and / or below the liquid module . when compressing a fluid vessel , or blister , to displace the fluid contents thereof , sufficient compressive force must be applied to the blister to break , or otherwise open , a breakable seal that is holding the fluid within the vessel . the amount of force required to break the seal and displace the fluid contents of a vessel typically increases as the volume of the vessel increases . this is illustrated in the bar graph shown in fig1 , which shows the minimum , maximum , and average blister burst forces required for blisters having volumes of 100 , 200 , 400 , and 3000 microliters . the average force required to burst a blister of 400 or less microliters is relatively small , ranging from an average of 10 . 7 lbf to 11 . 5 lbf . on the other hand , the force required to burst a blister of 3000 microliters is substantially larger , with an average burst force of 43 . 4 lbf and a maximum required burst force of greater than 65 lbf . generating such large forces can be difficult , especially in low profile actuator mechanisms , such as those described above , in which horizontal displacement of an actuator is converted into vertical , blister - compressing movement of a platen . accordingly , aspects of the present invention are embodied in methods and apparatus for opening a fluid vessel , or blister , in a manner that reduces the amount of force required to burst the vessel and displace the fluid contents of the vessel . such aspects of the invention are illustrated in fig8 a and 8b . as shown in fig8 a , a fluid vessel ( or blister ) 122 is mounted on a substrate 124 and is connected by means of a channel 130 to a sphere blister 128 . in certain embodiments , channel 130 may be initially blocked by a breakable seal . a film layer 129 may be disposed on the bottom of the substrate 124 to cover one or more channels formed in the bottom of the substrate 124 to form fluid conduits . an opening device , comprising a sphere 126 ( e . g ., a steel ball bearing ) is enclosed within the sphere blister 128 and is supported , as shown in fig8 a , within the sphere blister 128 by a foil partition or septum 125 . the foil partition 125 prevents fluid from flowing from the vessel 122 through a recess 127 and fluid exit port 123 . upon applying downward force to the sphere 126 , however , a large local compressive stress is generated due to the relatively small surface size of the sphere 126 , and the foil partition 125 can be broken with relatively little force to push the sphere 126 through the partition 125 and into the recess 127 , as shown in fig8 b . with the foil partition 125 broken , a relatively small additional force is required to break a seal within channel 130 and force the fluid to flow from the vessel 122 through the fluid exit port 123 . in fig8 b , the sphere blister 128 is shown intact . in some embodiments , a force applied to the sphere 126 to push it through the foil partition 125 would also collapse the sphere blister 128 . an apparatus for opening a vessel by pushing a sphere 126 through foil partition 125 is indicated by reference number 120 in fig9 a , 9b , 9c , 9d . in the illustrated embodiment , the apparatus 120 includes a ball actuator 140 extending through an opening formed through a blister plate , or platen , 132 . with the blister plate 132 and an actuator 138 configured for moving the blister plate 132 disposed above the vessel 122 , the ball actuator 140 is secured in a first position , shown in fig9 a , by a detent 136 that engages a detent collar 144 formed in the ball actuator 140 . as shown in fig9 b , the blister plate 132 is moved by the actuator 138 down to a position in which a contact end 142 of the ball actuator 140 contacts the top of the of the sphere blister 128 . actuator 138 may comprise a low profile actuator , such as actuator mechanisms 50 or 80 described above . as shown in fig9 c , continued downward movement of the blister plate 132 by the actuator 138 causes the ball actuator 140 to collapse the sphere blister 128 , thereby pushing the opening device , e . g ., sphere 126 , through a partition blocking fluid flow from the vessel 122 . in this regard , it will be appreciated that the detent must provide a holding force sufficient to prevent the ball actuator 140 from sliding relative to the blister plate 132 until after the sphere 126 has pierced the partition . thus , the detent must provide a holding force sufficient to collapse the sphere blister 128 and push the sphere 126 through a partition . as shown in fig9 d , continued downward movement of the blister plate 132 by the actuator 138 eventually overcomes the holding force provided by the detent 136 , and the ball actuator 140 is then released to move relative to the blister plate 132 , so that the blister plate can continue to move down and collapse the vessel 122 . after the vessel 122 is collapsed , the blister plate 132 can be raised by the actuator 138 to the position shown in fig9 a . as the blister plate 132 is being raised from the position shown in fig9 d to the position shown in 9 a , a hard stop 146 contacts a top end of the ball actuator 140 to prevent its continued upward movement , thereby sliding the ball actuator 140 relative to the blister plate 132 until the detent 136 contacts the detent collar 144 to reset the ball actuator 140 . an alternative embodiment of an apparatus for opening a vessel embodying aspects of the present invention is indicated by reference number 150 in fig1 . apparatus 150 includes a pivoting ball actuator 152 configured to pivot about a pivot pin 154 . a top surface 156 of the pivoting ball actuator 152 comprises a cam surface , and a cam follower 158 , comprising a roller , moving in the direction “ a ” along the cam surface 156 pivots the actuator 152 down in the direction “ b ” to collapse the sphere blister 128 and force the sphere 126 through the foil partition 125 . pivoting actuator 152 may further include a torsional spring ( not shown ) or other means for restoring the actuator to an up position disengaged with the sphere blister 128 when the cam follower 158 is withdrawn . fig1 is a plot of compressive load versus time showing an exemplary load versus time curve for an apparatus for opening a vessel embodying aspects of the present invention . as the apparatus contacts and begins to compress the sphere blister 128 , the load experiences an initial increase as shown at portion ( a ) of the graph . a plateau shown at portion ( b ) of the graph occurs after the sphere 126 penetrates the foil partition 125 . a second increase in the force load occurs when the blister plate 132 makes contact with and begins compressing the vessel 122 . a peak , as shown at part ( c ) of the plot , is reached as a breakable seal within channel 130 between the vessel 122 and the sphere blister 128 is broken . after the seal has been broken , the pressure drops dramatically , as shown at part ( d ) of the plot , as the vessel 122 is collapsed and the fluid contained therein is forced through the exit port 123 ( see fig8 a , 8b ) supporting the sphere 126 . an alternative apparatus for opening a vessel is indicated by reference number 160 in fig1 a . as shown in fig1 a , a fluid vessel ( or blister ) 162 is mounted on a substrate 172 and is connected by means of a channel — which may or may not be initially blocked by a breakable seal — to a dimple 161 . a film layer 164 may be disposed on the bottom of the substrate 172 to cover one or more channels formed in the bottom of the substrate 172 to form fluid conduits . an opening device comprising a cantilevered lance 166 is positioned within a lance chamber 170 formed in the substrate 172 where it is anchored at an end thereof by a screw attachment 168 . a foil partition or septum 165 seals the interior of the dimple 161 from the lance chamber 170 . an actuator pushes the lance 170 up in the direction “ a ” into the dimple 161 , thereby piercing the foil partition 165 and permitting fluid to flow from the blister 162 out of the lance chamber 170 and a fluid exit port . the spring force resilience of the lance 166 returns it to its initial position after the upward force is removed . in one embodiment , the lance 166 is made of metal . alternatively , a plastic lance could be part of a molded plastic substrate on which the blister 162 is formed . alternatively , a metallic lance could be heat staked onto a male plastic post . a further option is to employ a formed metal wire as a lance . a further alternative embodiment of an apparatus for opening a vessel is indicated by reference number 180 in fig1 . a component having one or more deformable vessels includes at least one blister 182 formed on a substrate 194 . in the arrangement shown in fig1 , an internal dimple 184 is formed inside the blister 182 . internal dimple 184 encloses an opening device comprising a fixed spike 186 projecting upwardly from a spike cavity 188 formed in the substrate 194 . a film layer 192 is disposed on an opposite side of the substrate 194 . as an actuator presses down on the blister 182 , internal pressure within the blister 182 causes the internal dimple 184 to collapse and invert . the inverted dimple is punctured by the fixed spike 186 , thereby permitting fluid within the blister 182 to flow through an exit port 190 . an alternative apparatus for opening a vessel is indicated by reference number 200 in fig1 a . as shown in fig1 a , a fluid vessel ( or blister ) 202 is mounted on a substrate 216 and is connected by means of a channel — which may or may not be initially blocked by a breakable seal — to a dimple 204 . an opening device comprising a lancing pin 206 having a fluid port 208 formed through the center thereof ( see fig1 b ) is disposed within a segmented bore 220 formed in the substrate 216 beneath the dimple 204 . a partition or septum 205 separates the dimple 204 from the bore 220 , thereby preventing fluid from exiting the blister 202 and dimple 204 . an actuator ( not shown ) presses on a film layer 212 disposed on a bottom portion of the substrate 216 in the direction “ a ” forcing the lancing pin 206 up within the segmented bore 220 until a shoulder 210 formed on the lancing pin 206 encounters a hard stop 222 formed in the segmented bore 220 . a lancing point of the pin 206 pierces the partition 205 thereby permitting fluid to flow through the fluid port 208 in the lancing pin 206 and out of a fluid exit channel 214 . an alternative embodiment of an apparatus for opening a vessel is indicated by reference number 230 in fig1 a and 16b . as shown in fig1 a , a fluid vessel ( or blister ) 232 is mounted on a substrate 244 and is connected by means of a channel — which may or may not be initially blocked by a breakable seal — to a dimple 234 . an opening device comprising a lancing pin 236 is disposed within a segmented board 246 formed in the substrate 244 beneath the dimple 234 . a partition or septum 235 separates the dimple 234 from the segmented bore 246 . the upper surface of the substrate 244 is sealed with a film 240 before the blister 232 and dimple 234 are adhered . an actuator ( not shown ) pushes up on the lancing pin 236 in the direction “ a ” until a shoulder 238 formed on the lancing pin 236 encounters hard stop 248 within the bore 246 . the pin 236 thereby pierces the partition 235 and remains in the upper position as fluid flows out along an exit channel 242 formed on an upper surface of the substrate 244 . a fluid tight seal is maintained between the pin 238 and the bore 246 by a slight interference fit . as the collapsible fluid vessels of a liquid reagent module are configured to be compressed and collapsed to displace the fluid contents from the vessel ( s ), such vessels are susceptible to damage or fluid leakage due to inadvertent exposures to contacts that impart a compressing force to the vessel . accordingly , when storing , handling , or transporting a component having one or more collapsible fluid vessels , it is desirable to protect the fluid vessel and avoid such inadvertent contact . the liquid reagent module could be stored within a rigid casing to protect the collapsible vessel ( s ) from unintended external forces , but such a casing would inhibit or prevent collapsing of the vessel by application of an external force . thus , the liquid reagent module would have to be removed from the casing prior to use , thereby leaving the collapsible vessel ( s ) of the module vulnerable to unintended external forces . an apparatus for protecting and interfacing with a collapsible vessel is indicated by reference number 260 in fig1 , 18 , and 19 . a component with one or more collapsible vessels includes a collapsible blister 262 formed on a substrate 264 . a dispensing channel 266 extends from the blister 262 to a frangible seal 268 . it is understood that , in some alternative embodiments , the dispensing channel 266 may be substituted with a breakable seal , providing an additional safeguard against an accidental reagent release . frangible seal 268 may comprise one of the apparatuses for opening a vessel described above and shown in any of fig8 - 16 . a rigid or semi - rigid housing is provided over the blister 262 and , optionally , the dispensing channel 266 as well , and comprises a blister housing cover 270 covering the blister 262 and a blister housing extension 280 covering and protecting the dispensing channel 266 and the area of the frangible seal 268 . a floating actuator plate 276 is disposed within the blister housing cover 270 . in the illustrated embodiments , both the blister housing cover 270 and the floating actuator plate 276 are circular , but the housing 270 and the actuator plate 276 could be of any shape , preferably generally conforming to the shape of the blister 262 . the apparatus 260 further includes a plunger 274 having a plunger point 275 at one end thereof . plunger 274 is disposed above the blister housing cover 270 generally at a center portion thereof and disposed above an aperture 272 formed in the housing 270 . the floating actuator plate 276 includes a plunger receiver recess 278 , which , in an embodiment , generally conforms to the shape of the plunger point 275 . the blister 262 is collapsed by actuating the plunger 274 downwardly into the aperture 272 . plunger 274 may be actuated by any suitable mechanism , including one of the actuator mechanisms 50 , 80 described above . plunger 274 passes into the aperture 272 where the plunger point 275 nests within the plunger receiver recess 278 of the floating actuator plate 276 . continued downward movement by the plunger 274 presses the actuator plate 276 against the blister 262 , thereby collapsing the blister 262 and displacing fluid from the blister 262 through the dispensing channel 266 to a fluid egress . continued pressure will cause the frangible seal at 268 to break , or an apparatus for opening the vessel as described above may be employed to open the frangible seal . the plunger point 275 nested within the plunger point recess 278 helps to keep the plunger 274 centered with respect to the actuator plate 276 and prevents the actuator plate 276 from sliding laterally relative to the plunger 274 . when the blister is fully collapsed , as shown in fig1 , a convex side of the plunger receiver recess 278 of the floating actuator plate 276 nests within a plunger recess 282 formed in the substrate 264 . accordingly , the blister housing cover 270 protects the blister 262 from inadvertent damage or collapse , while the floating actuator plate inside the blister housing cover 270 permits and facilitates the collapsing of the blister 262 without having to remove or otherwise alter the blister housing cover 270 . in components having more than one collapsible vessel and dispensing channel , a blister housing cover may be provided for all of the vessels and dispensing channels or for some , but less than all vessels and dispensing channels . while the present invention has been described and shown in considerable detail with reference to certain illustrative embodiments , including various combinations and sub - combinations of features , those skilled in the art will readily appreciate other embodiments and variations and modifications thereof as encompassed within the scope of the present invention . moreover , the descriptions of such embodiments , combinations , and sub - combinations is not intended to convey that the inventions requires features or combinations of features other than those expressly recited in the claims . accordingly , the present invention is deemed to include all modifications and variations encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following appended claims .	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'Performing Operations; Transporting'?	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Human Necessities'?	0.25	c84308d14e27651f1e8fb69c35afed32101c57f17dd94f5a8289f90a2b3c1182	0.046143	0.033203	0.022339	0.000231	0.046631	0.024048
null	unless defined otherwise , all terms of art , notations and other scientific terms or terminology used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs . many of the techniques and procedures described or referenced herein are well understood and commonly employed using conventional methodology by those skilled in the art . as appropriate , procedures involving the use of commercially available kits and reagents are generally carried out in accordance with manufacturer defined protocols and / or parameters unless otherwise noted . all patents , applications , published applications and other publications referred to herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety . if a definition set forth in this section is contrary to or otherwise inconsistent with a definition set forth in the patents , applications , published applications , and other publications that are herein incorporated by reference , the definition set forth in this section prevails over the definition that is incorporated herein by reference . as used herein , “ a ” or “ an ” means “ at least one ” or “ one or more .” this description may use relative spatial and / or orientation terms in describing the position and / or orientation of a component , apparatus , location , feature , or a portion thereof . unless specifically stated , or otherwise dictated by the context of the description , such terms , including , without limitation , top , bottom , above , below , under , on top of , upper , lower , left of , right of , in front of , behind , next to , adjacent , between , horizontal , vertical , diagonal , longitudinal , transverse , etc ., are used for convenience in referring to such component , apparatus , location , feature , or a portion thereof in the drawings and are not intended to be limiting . an actuator mechanism for compressing deformable fluid vessels — such as blisters on a liquid reagent module — embodying aspects of the present invention is shown at reference number 50 in fig2 . the actuator mechanism 50 may include an articulated blister actuator platen assembly 52 and a sliding actuator plate 66 . the sliding actuator plate 66 is configured to be movable in a direction that is generally parallel to the plane of the liquid reagent module — horizontally in the illustrated embodiment — and may be driven by a linear actuator , a rack and pinion , a belt drive , or other suitable motive means . sliding actuator plate 66 , in the illustrated embodiment , has v - shaped edges 76 that are supported in four v - rollers 74 to accommodate movement of the plate 66 in opposite rectilinear directions , while holding the sliding actuator plate 66 at a fixed spacing from the actuator platen assembly 52 . other features may be provided to guide the actuator plate 66 , such as rails and cooperating grooves . a component 40 — which may comprise liquid reagent module 10 described above — having one or more deformable fluid vessels , such as blisters 36 and 38 , is positioned within the actuator mechanism 50 beneath the articulated blister actuator platen assembly 52 . further details of the configuration of the articulated blister actuator platen assembly 52 and the operation thereof are shown in fig3 a - 6b . as shown in fig3 a and 3b , the actuator platen assembly 52 includes a chassis 54 . a cam body 56 is disposed within a slot 57 of the chassis 54 and is attached to the chassis 54 by a first pivot 58 . a platen 64 is pivotally attached to the cam body 56 by means of a second pivot 60 . the cam body 56 is held in a horizontal , unactuated position within the slot 57 by means of a torsional spring 55 coupled around the first pivot 58 . cam body 56 further includes a cam surface 65 along one edge thereof ( top edge in the figure ) which , in the exemplary embodiment shown in fig3 b , comprises an initial flat portion 61 , a convexly - curved portion 62 , and a second flat portion 63 . the sliding actuator plate 66 includes a cam follow 68 ( a roller in the illustrated embodiment ) rotatably mounted within a slot 72 formed in the actuator plate 66 . in an embodiment of the invention , one cam body 56 and associated platen 64 and cam follower 68 are associated with each deformable vessel ( e . g . blister 36 ) of the liquid reagent module 40 . the actuator platen assembly 52 and the sliding actuator plate 66 are configured to be movable relative to each other . in one embodiment , the actuator platen assembly 52 is fixed , and the actuator plate 66 is configured to move laterally relative to the platen assembly 52 , supported by the v - rollers 74 . lateral movement of the sliding actuator plate 66 , e . g ., in the direction “ a ”, causes the cam follower 68 to translate along the cam surface 65 of the cam body 56 , thereby actuating the cam body 56 and the platen 64 attached thereto . in fig3 a and 3b , before the sliding actuator plate 66 has begun to move relative to the actuator platen assembly 52 , the cam follower 68 is disposed on the initial flat portion 61 of the cam surface 65 of the cam body 56 . in fig4 a and 4b , the sliding actuator plate 66 has moved relative to the actuator platen assembly 52 in the direction “ a ” so that the cam follower 68 has moved across the initial flat portion 61 of the cam surface 65 and has just begun to engage the upwardly curved contour of the convexly - curved portion 62 of the cam surface 65 of the cam body 56 . in fig5 a and 5b , the sliding actuator plate 66 has proceeded in the direction “ a ” to a point such that the cam follower 68 is at the topmost point of the convexly - curved portion 62 of the cam surface 65 , thereby causing the cam body 56 to rotate about the first pivot 58 . the platen 64 is lowered by the downwardly pivoting cam body 56 and pivots relative to the cam body 56 about the second pivot 60 and thereby compresses the blister 36 . in fig6 a and 6b , sliding actuator plate 66 has moved to a position in the direction “ a ” relative to the actuator platen assembly 52 such that the cam follower 68 has progressed to the second flat portion 63 of the cam surface 65 . accordingly , the cam body 56 , urged by the torsion spring 55 , pivots about the first pivot 58 back to the unactuated position , thereby retracting the platen 64 . thus , the articulated blister actuator platen assembly 52 is constructed and arranged to convert the horizontal movement of actuator plate 66 into vertical movement of the platen 64 to compress a blister , and movement of the platen does not require pneumatic , electromechanical , or other components at larger distances above and / or below the liquid module . an alternative embodiment of a blister compression actuator mechanism is indicated by reference number 80 in fig7 a and 7b . actuator 80 includes a linear actuator 82 that is coupled to a cam rail 84 . cam rail 84 is supported for longitudinal movement by a first support rod 96 extending transversely through slot 86 and a second support rod 98 extending transversely through a second slot 88 formed in the cam rail 84 . the first support rod 96 and / or the second support rod 98 may include an annular groove within which portions of the cam rail 84 surrounding slot 86 or slot 88 may be supported , or cylindrical spacers may be placed over the first support rod 96 and / or the second support rod 98 on opposite sides of the cam rail 84 to prevent the cam rail 84 from twisting or sliding axially along the first support rail 96 and / or the second support rail 98 . cam rail 84 includes one or more cam profile slots . in the illustrated embodiment , cam rail 84 includes three cam profile slots 90 , 92 , and 94 . referring to cam profile slot 90 , in the illustrated embodiment , slot 90 includes , progressing from left to right in the figure , an initial horizontal portion , a downwardly sloped portion , and a second horizontal portion . the shapes of the cam profile slots are exemplary , and other shapes may be effectively implemented . the actuator mechanism 80 also includes a platen associated with each cam profile slot . in the illustrated embodiment , actuator 80 includes three platens 100 , 102 , 104 associated with cam profile slots 90 , 92 , 94 , respectively . first platen 100 is coupled to the cam profile slot 90 by a cam follower pin 106 extending transversely from the platen 100 into the cam profile slot 90 . similarly , second platen 102 is coupled to the second cam profile slot 92 by a cam follower pin 108 , and the third platen 104 is coupled to the third cam profile slot 94 by a cam follower pin 110 . platens 100 , 102 , 104 are supported and guided by a guide 112 , which may comprise a panel having openings formed therein conforming to the shape of each of the platens . in fig7 a , cam rail 84 is in its furthest right - most position , and the platens 100 , 102 , 104 are in their unactuated positions . each of the cam follower pins 106 , 108 , 110 is in the initial upper horizontal portion of the respective cam profile slot 90 , 92 , 94 . as the cam rail 84 is moved longitudinally to the left , in the direction “ a ” shown in fig7 b , by the linear actuator 82 , each cam follower pin 106 , 108 , 110 moves within its respective cam profile slot 90 , 92 , 94 until the cam follower pin is in the lower , second horizontal portion of the respective cam profile slot . movement of each of the pins 106 , 108 , 110 downwardly within its respective cam profile slot 90 , 92 , 94 causes a corresponding downward movement of the associated platen 100 , 102 , 104 . this movement of the platens thereby compresses a fluid vessel ( or blister ) located under each platen . each platen may compress a vessel directly in contact with the platen or it may contact the vessel through one or more intermediate components located between the vessel and the corresponding platen . thus , the blister compression actuator mechanism 80 is constructed and arranged to convert the horizontal movement cam rail 84 , driven by the linear actuator 82 , into vertical movement of the platens 100 , 102 , 104 to compress blisters , and movement of the platens does not require pneumatic , electromechanical , or other components at larger distances above and / or below the liquid module . when compressing a fluid vessel , or blister , to displace the fluid contents thereof , sufficient compressive force must be applied to the blister to break , or otherwise open , a breakable seal that is holding the fluid within the vessel . the amount of force required to break the seal and displace the fluid contents of a vessel typically increases as the volume of the vessel increases . this is illustrated in the bar graph shown in fig1 , which shows the minimum , maximum , and average blister burst forces required for blisters having volumes of 100 , 200 , 400 , and 3000 microliters . the average force required to burst a blister of 400 or less microliters is relatively small , ranging from an average of 10 . 7 lbf to 11 . 5 lbf . on the other hand , the force required to burst a blister of 3000 microliters is substantially larger , with an average burst force of 43 . 4 lbf and a maximum required burst force of greater than 65 lbf . generating such large forces can be difficult , especially in low profile actuator mechanisms , such as those described above , in which horizontal displacement of an actuator is converted into vertical , blister - compressing movement of a platen . accordingly , aspects of the present invention are embodied in methods and apparatus for opening a fluid vessel , or blister , in a manner that reduces the amount of force required to burst the vessel and displace the fluid contents of the vessel . such aspects of the invention are illustrated in fig8 a and 8b . as shown in fig8 a , a fluid vessel ( or blister ) 122 is mounted on a substrate 124 and is connected by means of a channel 130 to a sphere blister 128 . in certain embodiments , channel 130 may be initially blocked by a breakable seal . a film layer 129 may be disposed on the bottom of the substrate 124 to cover one or more channels formed in the bottom of the substrate 124 to form fluid conduits . an opening device , comprising a sphere 126 ( e . g ., a steel ball bearing ) is enclosed within the sphere blister 128 and is supported , as shown in fig8 a , within the sphere blister 128 by a foil partition or septum 125 . the foil partition 125 prevents fluid from flowing from the vessel 122 through a recess 127 and fluid exit port 123 . upon applying downward force to the sphere 126 , however , a large local compressive stress is generated due to the relatively small surface size of the sphere 126 , and the foil partition 125 can be broken with relatively little force to push the sphere 126 through the partition 125 and into the recess 127 , as shown in fig8 b . with the foil partition 125 broken , a relatively small additional force is required to break a seal within channel 130 and force the fluid to flow from the vessel 122 through the fluid exit port 123 . in fig8 b , the sphere blister 128 is shown intact . in some embodiments , a force applied to the sphere 126 to push it through the foil partition 125 would also collapse the sphere blister 128 . an apparatus for opening a vessel by pushing a sphere 126 through foil partition 125 is indicated by reference number 120 in fig9 a , 9b , 9c , 9d . in the illustrated embodiment , the apparatus 120 includes a ball actuator 140 extending through an opening formed through a blister plate , or platen , 132 . with the blister plate 132 and an actuator 138 configured for moving the blister plate 132 disposed above the vessel 122 , the ball actuator 140 is secured in a first position , shown in fig9 a , by a detent 136 that engages a detent collar 144 formed in the ball actuator 140 . as shown in fig9 b , the blister plate 132 is moved by the actuator 138 down to a position in which a contact end 142 of the ball actuator 140 contacts the top of the of the sphere blister 128 . actuator 138 may comprise a low profile actuator , such as actuator mechanisms 50 or 80 described above . as shown in fig9 c , continued downward movement of the blister plate 132 by the actuator 138 causes the ball actuator 140 to collapse the sphere blister 128 , thereby pushing the opening device , e . g ., sphere 126 , through a partition blocking fluid flow from the vessel 122 . in this regard , it will be appreciated that the detent must provide a holding force sufficient to prevent the ball actuator 140 from sliding relative to the blister plate 132 until after the sphere 126 has pierced the partition . thus , the detent must provide a holding force sufficient to collapse the sphere blister 128 and push the sphere 126 through a partition . as shown in fig9 d , continued downward movement of the blister plate 132 by the actuator 138 eventually overcomes the holding force provided by the detent 136 , and the ball actuator 140 is then released to move relative to the blister plate 132 , so that the blister plate can continue to move down and collapse the vessel 122 . after the vessel 122 is collapsed , the blister plate 132 can be raised by the actuator 138 to the position shown in fig9 a . as the blister plate 132 is being raised from the position shown in fig9 d to the position shown in 9 a , a hard stop 146 contacts a top end of the ball actuator 140 to prevent its continued upward movement , thereby sliding the ball actuator 140 relative to the blister plate 132 until the detent 136 contacts the detent collar 144 to reset the ball actuator 140 . an alternative embodiment of an apparatus for opening a vessel embodying aspects of the present invention is indicated by reference number 150 in fig1 . apparatus 150 includes a pivoting ball actuator 152 configured to pivot about a pivot pin 154 . a top surface 156 of the pivoting ball actuator 152 comprises a cam surface , and a cam follower 158 , comprising a roller , moving in the direction “ a ” along the cam surface 156 pivots the actuator 152 down in the direction “ b ” to collapse the sphere blister 128 and force the sphere 126 through the foil partition 125 . pivoting actuator 152 may further include a torsional spring ( not shown ) or other means for restoring the actuator to an up position disengaged with the sphere blister 128 when the cam follower 158 is withdrawn . fig1 is a plot of compressive load versus time showing an exemplary load versus time curve for an apparatus for opening a vessel embodying aspects of the present invention . as the apparatus contacts and begins to compress the sphere blister 128 , the load experiences an initial increase as shown at portion ( a ) of the graph . a plateau shown at portion ( b ) of the graph occurs after the sphere 126 penetrates the foil partition 125 . a second increase in the force load occurs when the blister plate 132 makes contact with and begins compressing the vessel 122 . a peak , as shown at part ( c ) of the plot , is reached as a breakable seal within channel 130 between the vessel 122 and the sphere blister 128 is broken . after the seal has been broken , the pressure drops dramatically , as shown at part ( d ) of the plot , as the vessel 122 is collapsed and the fluid contained therein is forced through the exit port 123 ( see fig8 a , 8b ) supporting the sphere 126 . an alternative apparatus for opening a vessel is indicated by reference number 160 in fig1 a . as shown in fig1 a , a fluid vessel ( or blister ) 162 is mounted on a substrate 172 and is connected by means of a channel — which may or may not be initially blocked by a breakable seal — to a dimple 161 . a film layer 164 may be disposed on the bottom of the substrate 172 to cover one or more channels formed in the bottom of the substrate 172 to form fluid conduits . an opening device comprising a cantilevered lance 166 is positioned within a lance chamber 170 formed in the substrate 172 where it is anchored at an end thereof by a screw attachment 168 . a foil partition or septum 165 seals the interior of the dimple 161 from the lance chamber 170 . an actuator pushes the lance 170 up in the direction “ a ” into the dimple 161 , thereby piercing the foil partition 165 and permitting fluid to flow from the blister 162 out of the lance chamber 170 and a fluid exit port . the spring force resilience of the lance 166 returns it to its initial position after the upward force is removed . in one embodiment , the lance 166 is made of metal . alternatively , a plastic lance could be part of a molded plastic substrate on which the blister 162 is formed . alternatively , a metallic lance could be heat staked onto a male plastic post . a further option is to employ a formed metal wire as a lance . a further alternative embodiment of an apparatus for opening a vessel is indicated by reference number 180 in fig1 . a component having one or more deformable vessels includes at least one blister 182 formed on a substrate 194 . in the arrangement shown in fig1 , an internal dimple 184 is formed inside the blister 182 . internal dimple 184 encloses an opening device comprising a fixed spike 186 projecting upwardly from a spike cavity 188 formed in the substrate 194 . a film layer 192 is disposed on an opposite side of the substrate 194 . as an actuator presses down on the blister 182 , internal pressure within the blister 182 causes the internal dimple 184 to collapse and invert . the inverted dimple is punctured by the fixed spike 186 , thereby permitting fluid within the blister 182 to flow through an exit port 190 . an alternative apparatus for opening a vessel is indicated by reference number 200 in fig1 a . as shown in fig1 a , a fluid vessel ( or blister ) 202 is mounted on a substrate 216 and is connected by means of a channel — which may or may not be initially blocked by a breakable seal — to a dimple 204 . an opening device comprising a lancing pin 206 having a fluid port 208 formed through the center thereof ( see fig1 b ) is disposed within a segmented bore 220 formed in the substrate 216 beneath the dimple 204 . a partition or septum 205 separates the dimple 204 from the bore 220 , thereby preventing fluid from exiting the blister 202 and dimple 204 . an actuator ( not shown ) presses on a film layer 212 disposed on a bottom portion of the substrate 216 in the direction “ a ” forcing the lancing pin 206 up within the segmented bore 220 until a shoulder 210 formed on the lancing pin 206 encounters a hard stop 222 formed in the segmented bore 220 . a lancing point of the pin 206 pierces the partition 205 thereby permitting fluid to flow through the fluid port 208 in the lancing pin 206 and out of a fluid exit channel 214 . an alternative embodiment of an apparatus for opening a vessel is indicated by reference number 230 in fig1 a and 16b . as shown in fig1 a , a fluid vessel ( or blister ) 232 is mounted on a substrate 244 and is connected by means of a channel — which may or may not be initially blocked by a breakable seal — to a dimple 234 . an opening device comprising a lancing pin 236 is disposed within a segmented board 246 formed in the substrate 244 beneath the dimple 234 . a partition or septum 235 separates the dimple 234 from the segmented bore 246 . the upper surface of the substrate 244 is sealed with a film 240 before the blister 232 and dimple 234 are adhered . an actuator ( not shown ) pushes up on the lancing pin 236 in the direction “ a ” until a shoulder 238 formed on the lancing pin 236 encounters hard stop 248 within the bore 246 . the pin 236 thereby pierces the partition 235 and remains in the upper position as fluid flows out along an exit channel 242 formed on an upper surface of the substrate 244 . a fluid tight seal is maintained between the pin 238 and the bore 246 by a slight interference fit . as the collapsible fluid vessels of a liquid reagent module are configured to be compressed and collapsed to displace the fluid contents from the vessel ( s ), such vessels are susceptible to damage or fluid leakage due to inadvertent exposures to contacts that impart a compressing force to the vessel . accordingly , when storing , handling , or transporting a component having one or more collapsible fluid vessels , it is desirable to protect the fluid vessel and avoid such inadvertent contact . the liquid reagent module could be stored within a rigid casing to protect the collapsible vessel ( s ) from unintended external forces , but such a casing would inhibit or prevent collapsing of the vessel by application of an external force . thus , the liquid reagent module would have to be removed from the casing prior to use , thereby leaving the collapsible vessel ( s ) of the module vulnerable to unintended external forces . an apparatus for protecting and interfacing with a collapsible vessel is indicated by reference number 260 in fig1 , 18 , and 19 . a component with one or more collapsible vessels includes a collapsible blister 262 formed on a substrate 264 . a dispensing channel 266 extends from the blister 262 to a frangible seal 268 . it is understood that , in some alternative embodiments , the dispensing channel 266 may be substituted with a breakable seal , providing an additional safeguard against an accidental reagent release . frangible seal 268 may comprise one of the apparatuses for opening a vessel described above and shown in any of fig8 - 16 . a rigid or semi - rigid housing is provided over the blister 262 and , optionally , the dispensing channel 266 as well , and comprises a blister housing cover 270 covering the blister 262 and a blister housing extension 280 covering and protecting the dispensing channel 266 and the area of the frangible seal 268 . a floating actuator plate 276 is disposed within the blister housing cover 270 . in the illustrated embodiments , both the blister housing cover 270 and the floating actuator plate 276 are circular , but the housing 270 and the actuator plate 276 could be of any shape , preferably generally conforming to the shape of the blister 262 . the apparatus 260 further includes a plunger 274 having a plunger point 275 at one end thereof . plunger 274 is disposed above the blister housing cover 270 generally at a center portion thereof and disposed above an aperture 272 formed in the housing 270 . the floating actuator plate 276 includes a plunger receiver recess 278 , which , in an embodiment , generally conforms to the shape of the plunger point 275 . the blister 262 is collapsed by actuating the plunger 274 downwardly into the aperture 272 . plunger 274 may be actuated by any suitable mechanism , including one of the actuator mechanisms 50 , 80 described above . plunger 274 passes into the aperture 272 where the plunger point 275 nests within the plunger receiver recess 278 of the floating actuator plate 276 . continued downward movement by the plunger 274 presses the actuator plate 276 against the blister 262 , thereby collapsing the blister 262 and displacing fluid from the blister 262 through the dispensing channel 266 to a fluid egress . continued pressure will cause the frangible seal at 268 to break , or an apparatus for opening the vessel as described above may be employed to open the frangible seal . the plunger point 275 nested within the plunger point recess 278 helps to keep the plunger 274 centered with respect to the actuator plate 276 and prevents the actuator plate 276 from sliding laterally relative to the plunger 274 . when the blister is fully collapsed , as shown in fig1 , a convex side of the plunger receiver recess 278 of the floating actuator plate 276 nests within a plunger recess 282 formed in the substrate 264 . accordingly , the blister housing cover 270 protects the blister 262 from inadvertent damage or collapse , while the floating actuator plate inside the blister housing cover 270 permits and facilitates the collapsing of the blister 262 without having to remove or otherwise alter the blister housing cover 270 . in components having more than one collapsible vessel and dispensing channel , a blister housing cover may be provided for all of the vessels and dispensing channels or for some , but less than all vessels and dispensing channels . while the present invention has been described and shown in considerable detail with reference to certain illustrative embodiments , including various combinations and sub - combinations of features , those skilled in the art will readily appreciate other embodiments and variations and modifications thereof as encompassed within the scope of the present invention . moreover , the descriptions of such embodiments , combinations , and sub - combinations is not intended to convey that the inventions requires features or combinations of features other than those expressly recited in the claims . accordingly , the present invention is deemed to include all modifications and variations encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following appended claims .	Should this patent be classified under 'Performing Operations; Transporting'?	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Chemistry; Metallurgy'?	0.25	c84308d14e27651f1e8fb69c35afed32101c57f17dd94f5a8289f90a2b3c1182	0.02478	0.098145	0.008301	0.039063	0.023682	0.121582
null	unless defined otherwise , all terms of art , notations and other scientific terms or terminology used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs . many of the techniques and procedures described or referenced herein are well understood and commonly employed using conventional methodology by those skilled in the art . as appropriate , procedures involving the use of commercially available kits and reagents are generally carried out in accordance with manufacturer defined protocols and / or parameters unless otherwise noted . all patents , applications , published applications and other publications referred to herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety . if a definition set forth in this section is contrary to or otherwise inconsistent with a definition set forth in the patents , applications , published applications , and other publications that are herein incorporated by reference , the definition set forth in this section prevails over the definition that is incorporated herein by reference . as used herein , “ a ” or “ an ” means “ at least one ” or “ one or more .” this description may use relative spatial and / or orientation terms in describing the position and / or orientation of a component , apparatus , location , feature , or a portion thereof . unless specifically stated , or otherwise dictated by the context of the description , such terms , including , without limitation , top , bottom , above , below , under , on top of , upper , lower , left of , right of , in front of , behind , next to , adjacent , between , horizontal , vertical , diagonal , longitudinal , transverse , etc ., are used for convenience in referring to such component , apparatus , location , feature , or a portion thereof in the drawings and are not intended to be limiting . an actuator mechanism for compressing deformable fluid vessels — such as blisters on a liquid reagent module — embodying aspects of the present invention is shown at reference number 50 in fig2 . the actuator mechanism 50 may include an articulated blister actuator platen assembly 52 and a sliding actuator plate 66 . the sliding actuator plate 66 is configured to be movable in a direction that is generally parallel to the plane of the liquid reagent module — horizontally in the illustrated embodiment — and may be driven by a linear actuator , a rack and pinion , a belt drive , or other suitable motive means . sliding actuator plate 66 , in the illustrated embodiment , has v - shaped edges 76 that are supported in four v - rollers 74 to accommodate movement of the plate 66 in opposite rectilinear directions , while holding the sliding actuator plate 66 at a fixed spacing from the actuator platen assembly 52 . other features may be provided to guide the actuator plate 66 , such as rails and cooperating grooves . a component 40 — which may comprise liquid reagent module 10 described above — having one or more deformable fluid vessels , such as blisters 36 and 38 , is positioned within the actuator mechanism 50 beneath the articulated blister actuator platen assembly 52 . further details of the configuration of the articulated blister actuator platen assembly 52 and the operation thereof are shown in fig3 a - 6b . as shown in fig3 a and 3b , the actuator platen assembly 52 includes a chassis 54 . a cam body 56 is disposed within a slot 57 of the chassis 54 and is attached to the chassis 54 by a first pivot 58 . a platen 64 is pivotally attached to the cam body 56 by means of a second pivot 60 . the cam body 56 is held in a horizontal , unactuated position within the slot 57 by means of a torsional spring 55 coupled around the first pivot 58 . cam body 56 further includes a cam surface 65 along one edge thereof ( top edge in the figure ) which , in the exemplary embodiment shown in fig3 b , comprises an initial flat portion 61 , a convexly - curved portion 62 , and a second flat portion 63 . the sliding actuator plate 66 includes a cam follow 68 ( a roller in the illustrated embodiment ) rotatably mounted within a slot 72 formed in the actuator plate 66 . in an embodiment of the invention , one cam body 56 and associated platen 64 and cam follower 68 are associated with each deformable vessel ( e . g . blister 36 ) of the liquid reagent module 40 . the actuator platen assembly 52 and the sliding actuator plate 66 are configured to be movable relative to each other . in one embodiment , the actuator platen assembly 52 is fixed , and the actuator plate 66 is configured to move laterally relative to the platen assembly 52 , supported by the v - rollers 74 . lateral movement of the sliding actuator plate 66 , e . g ., in the direction “ a ”, causes the cam follower 68 to translate along the cam surface 65 of the cam body 56 , thereby actuating the cam body 56 and the platen 64 attached thereto . in fig3 a and 3b , before the sliding actuator plate 66 has begun to move relative to the actuator platen assembly 52 , the cam follower 68 is disposed on the initial flat portion 61 of the cam surface 65 of the cam body 56 . in fig4 a and 4b , the sliding actuator plate 66 has moved relative to the actuator platen assembly 52 in the direction “ a ” so that the cam follower 68 has moved across the initial flat portion 61 of the cam surface 65 and has just begun to engage the upwardly curved contour of the convexly - curved portion 62 of the cam surface 65 of the cam body 56 . in fig5 a and 5b , the sliding actuator plate 66 has proceeded in the direction “ a ” to a point such that the cam follower 68 is at the topmost point of the convexly - curved portion 62 of the cam surface 65 , thereby causing the cam body 56 to rotate about the first pivot 58 . the platen 64 is lowered by the downwardly pivoting cam body 56 and pivots relative to the cam body 56 about the second pivot 60 and thereby compresses the blister 36 . in fig6 a and 6b , sliding actuator plate 66 has moved to a position in the direction “ a ” relative to the actuator platen assembly 52 such that the cam follower 68 has progressed to the second flat portion 63 of the cam surface 65 . accordingly , the cam body 56 , urged by the torsion spring 55 , pivots about the first pivot 58 back to the unactuated position , thereby retracting the platen 64 . thus , the articulated blister actuator platen assembly 52 is constructed and arranged to convert the horizontal movement of actuator plate 66 into vertical movement of the platen 64 to compress a blister , and movement of the platen does not require pneumatic , electromechanical , or other components at larger distances above and / or below the liquid module . an alternative embodiment of a blister compression actuator mechanism is indicated by reference number 80 in fig7 a and 7b . actuator 80 includes a linear actuator 82 that is coupled to a cam rail 84 . cam rail 84 is supported for longitudinal movement by a first support rod 96 extending transversely through slot 86 and a second support rod 98 extending transversely through a second slot 88 formed in the cam rail 84 . the first support rod 96 and / or the second support rod 98 may include an annular groove within which portions of the cam rail 84 surrounding slot 86 or slot 88 may be supported , or cylindrical spacers may be placed over the first support rod 96 and / or the second support rod 98 on opposite sides of the cam rail 84 to prevent the cam rail 84 from twisting or sliding axially along the first support rail 96 and / or the second support rail 98 . cam rail 84 includes one or more cam profile slots . in the illustrated embodiment , cam rail 84 includes three cam profile slots 90 , 92 , and 94 . referring to cam profile slot 90 , in the illustrated embodiment , slot 90 includes , progressing from left to right in the figure , an initial horizontal portion , a downwardly sloped portion , and a second horizontal portion . the shapes of the cam profile slots are exemplary , and other shapes may be effectively implemented . the actuator mechanism 80 also includes a platen associated with each cam profile slot . in the illustrated embodiment , actuator 80 includes three platens 100 , 102 , 104 associated with cam profile slots 90 , 92 , 94 , respectively . first platen 100 is coupled to the cam profile slot 90 by a cam follower pin 106 extending transversely from the platen 100 into the cam profile slot 90 . similarly , second platen 102 is coupled to the second cam profile slot 92 by a cam follower pin 108 , and the third platen 104 is coupled to the third cam profile slot 94 by a cam follower pin 110 . platens 100 , 102 , 104 are supported and guided by a guide 112 , which may comprise a panel having openings formed therein conforming to the shape of each of the platens . in fig7 a , cam rail 84 is in its furthest right - most position , and the platens 100 , 102 , 104 are in their unactuated positions . each of the cam follower pins 106 , 108 , 110 is in the initial upper horizontal portion of the respective cam profile slot 90 , 92 , 94 . as the cam rail 84 is moved longitudinally to the left , in the direction “ a ” shown in fig7 b , by the linear actuator 82 , each cam follower pin 106 , 108 , 110 moves within its respective cam profile slot 90 , 92 , 94 until the cam follower pin is in the lower , second horizontal portion of the respective cam profile slot . movement of each of the pins 106 , 108 , 110 downwardly within its respective cam profile slot 90 , 92 , 94 causes a corresponding downward movement of the associated platen 100 , 102 , 104 . this movement of the platens thereby compresses a fluid vessel ( or blister ) located under each platen . each platen may compress a vessel directly in contact with the platen or it may contact the vessel through one or more intermediate components located between the vessel and the corresponding platen . thus , the blister compression actuator mechanism 80 is constructed and arranged to convert the horizontal movement cam rail 84 , driven by the linear actuator 82 , into vertical movement of the platens 100 , 102 , 104 to compress blisters , and movement of the platens does not require pneumatic , electromechanical , or other components at larger distances above and / or below the liquid module . when compressing a fluid vessel , or blister , to displace the fluid contents thereof , sufficient compressive force must be applied to the blister to break , or otherwise open , a breakable seal that is holding the fluid within the vessel . the amount of force required to break the seal and displace the fluid contents of a vessel typically increases as the volume of the vessel increases . this is illustrated in the bar graph shown in fig1 , which shows the minimum , maximum , and average blister burst forces required for blisters having volumes of 100 , 200 , 400 , and 3000 microliters . the average force required to burst a blister of 400 or less microliters is relatively small , ranging from an average of 10 . 7 lbf to 11 . 5 lbf . on the other hand , the force required to burst a blister of 3000 microliters is substantially larger , with an average burst force of 43 . 4 lbf and a maximum required burst force of greater than 65 lbf . generating such large forces can be difficult , especially in low profile actuator mechanisms , such as those described above , in which horizontal displacement of an actuator is converted into vertical , blister - compressing movement of a platen . accordingly , aspects of the present invention are embodied in methods and apparatus for opening a fluid vessel , or blister , in a manner that reduces the amount of force required to burst the vessel and displace the fluid contents of the vessel . such aspects of the invention are illustrated in fig8 a and 8b . as shown in fig8 a , a fluid vessel ( or blister ) 122 is mounted on a substrate 124 and is connected by means of a channel 130 to a sphere blister 128 . in certain embodiments , channel 130 may be initially blocked by a breakable seal . a film layer 129 may be disposed on the bottom of the substrate 124 to cover one or more channels formed in the bottom of the substrate 124 to form fluid conduits . an opening device , comprising a sphere 126 ( e . g ., a steel ball bearing ) is enclosed within the sphere blister 128 and is supported , as shown in fig8 a , within the sphere blister 128 by a foil partition or septum 125 . the foil partition 125 prevents fluid from flowing from the vessel 122 through a recess 127 and fluid exit port 123 . upon applying downward force to the sphere 126 , however , a large local compressive stress is generated due to the relatively small surface size of the sphere 126 , and the foil partition 125 can be broken with relatively little force to push the sphere 126 through the partition 125 and into the recess 127 , as shown in fig8 b . with the foil partition 125 broken , a relatively small additional force is required to break a seal within channel 130 and force the fluid to flow from the vessel 122 through the fluid exit port 123 . in fig8 b , the sphere blister 128 is shown intact . in some embodiments , a force applied to the sphere 126 to push it through the foil partition 125 would also collapse the sphere blister 128 . an apparatus for opening a vessel by pushing a sphere 126 through foil partition 125 is indicated by reference number 120 in fig9 a , 9b , 9c , 9d . in the illustrated embodiment , the apparatus 120 includes a ball actuator 140 extending through an opening formed through a blister plate , or platen , 132 . with the blister plate 132 and an actuator 138 configured for moving the blister plate 132 disposed above the vessel 122 , the ball actuator 140 is secured in a first position , shown in fig9 a , by a detent 136 that engages a detent collar 144 formed in the ball actuator 140 . as shown in fig9 b , the blister plate 132 is moved by the actuator 138 down to a position in which a contact end 142 of the ball actuator 140 contacts the top of the of the sphere blister 128 . actuator 138 may comprise a low profile actuator , such as actuator mechanisms 50 or 80 described above . as shown in fig9 c , continued downward movement of the blister plate 132 by the actuator 138 causes the ball actuator 140 to collapse the sphere blister 128 , thereby pushing the opening device , e . g ., sphere 126 , through a partition blocking fluid flow from the vessel 122 . in this regard , it will be appreciated that the detent must provide a holding force sufficient to prevent the ball actuator 140 from sliding relative to the blister plate 132 until after the sphere 126 has pierced the partition . thus , the detent must provide a holding force sufficient to collapse the sphere blister 128 and push the sphere 126 through a partition . as shown in fig9 d , continued downward movement of the blister plate 132 by the actuator 138 eventually overcomes the holding force provided by the detent 136 , and the ball actuator 140 is then released to move relative to the blister plate 132 , so that the blister plate can continue to move down and collapse the vessel 122 . after the vessel 122 is collapsed , the blister plate 132 can be raised by the actuator 138 to the position shown in fig9 a . as the blister plate 132 is being raised from the position shown in fig9 d to the position shown in 9 a , a hard stop 146 contacts a top end of the ball actuator 140 to prevent its continued upward movement , thereby sliding the ball actuator 140 relative to the blister plate 132 until the detent 136 contacts the detent collar 144 to reset the ball actuator 140 . an alternative embodiment of an apparatus for opening a vessel embodying aspects of the present invention is indicated by reference number 150 in fig1 . apparatus 150 includes a pivoting ball actuator 152 configured to pivot about a pivot pin 154 . a top surface 156 of the pivoting ball actuator 152 comprises a cam surface , and a cam follower 158 , comprising a roller , moving in the direction “ a ” along the cam surface 156 pivots the actuator 152 down in the direction “ b ” to collapse the sphere blister 128 and force the sphere 126 through the foil partition 125 . pivoting actuator 152 may further include a torsional spring ( not shown ) or other means for restoring the actuator to an up position disengaged with the sphere blister 128 when the cam follower 158 is withdrawn . fig1 is a plot of compressive load versus time showing an exemplary load versus time curve for an apparatus for opening a vessel embodying aspects of the present invention . as the apparatus contacts and begins to compress the sphere blister 128 , the load experiences an initial increase as shown at portion ( a ) of the graph . a plateau shown at portion ( b ) of the graph occurs after the sphere 126 penetrates the foil partition 125 . a second increase in the force load occurs when the blister plate 132 makes contact with and begins compressing the vessel 122 . a peak , as shown at part ( c ) of the plot , is reached as a breakable seal within channel 130 between the vessel 122 and the sphere blister 128 is broken . after the seal has been broken , the pressure drops dramatically , as shown at part ( d ) of the plot , as the vessel 122 is collapsed and the fluid contained therein is forced through the exit port 123 ( see fig8 a , 8b ) supporting the sphere 126 . an alternative apparatus for opening a vessel is indicated by reference number 160 in fig1 a . as shown in fig1 a , a fluid vessel ( or blister ) 162 is mounted on a substrate 172 and is connected by means of a channel — which may or may not be initially blocked by a breakable seal — to a dimple 161 . a film layer 164 may be disposed on the bottom of the substrate 172 to cover one or more channels formed in the bottom of the substrate 172 to form fluid conduits . an opening device comprising a cantilevered lance 166 is positioned within a lance chamber 170 formed in the substrate 172 where it is anchored at an end thereof by a screw attachment 168 . a foil partition or septum 165 seals the interior of the dimple 161 from the lance chamber 170 . an actuator pushes the lance 170 up in the direction “ a ” into the dimple 161 , thereby piercing the foil partition 165 and permitting fluid to flow from the blister 162 out of the lance chamber 170 and a fluid exit port . the spring force resilience of the lance 166 returns it to its initial position after the upward force is removed . in one embodiment , the lance 166 is made of metal . alternatively , a plastic lance could be part of a molded plastic substrate on which the blister 162 is formed . alternatively , a metallic lance could be heat staked onto a male plastic post . a further option is to employ a formed metal wire as a lance . a further alternative embodiment of an apparatus for opening a vessel is indicated by reference number 180 in fig1 . a component having one or more deformable vessels includes at least one blister 182 formed on a substrate 194 . in the arrangement shown in fig1 , an internal dimple 184 is formed inside the blister 182 . internal dimple 184 encloses an opening device comprising a fixed spike 186 projecting upwardly from a spike cavity 188 formed in the substrate 194 . a film layer 192 is disposed on an opposite side of the substrate 194 . as an actuator presses down on the blister 182 , internal pressure within the blister 182 causes the internal dimple 184 to collapse and invert . the inverted dimple is punctured by the fixed spike 186 , thereby permitting fluid within the blister 182 to flow through an exit port 190 . an alternative apparatus for opening a vessel is indicated by reference number 200 in fig1 a . as shown in fig1 a , a fluid vessel ( or blister ) 202 is mounted on a substrate 216 and is connected by means of a channel — which may or may not be initially blocked by a breakable seal — to a dimple 204 . an opening device comprising a lancing pin 206 having a fluid port 208 formed through the center thereof ( see fig1 b ) is disposed within a segmented bore 220 formed in the substrate 216 beneath the dimple 204 . a partition or septum 205 separates the dimple 204 from the bore 220 , thereby preventing fluid from exiting the blister 202 and dimple 204 . an actuator ( not shown ) presses on a film layer 212 disposed on a bottom portion of the substrate 216 in the direction “ a ” forcing the lancing pin 206 up within the segmented bore 220 until a shoulder 210 formed on the lancing pin 206 encounters a hard stop 222 formed in the segmented bore 220 . a lancing point of the pin 206 pierces the partition 205 thereby permitting fluid to flow through the fluid port 208 in the lancing pin 206 and out of a fluid exit channel 214 . an alternative embodiment of an apparatus for opening a vessel is indicated by reference number 230 in fig1 a and 16b . as shown in fig1 a , a fluid vessel ( or blister ) 232 is mounted on a substrate 244 and is connected by means of a channel — which may or may not be initially blocked by a breakable seal — to a dimple 234 . an opening device comprising a lancing pin 236 is disposed within a segmented board 246 formed in the substrate 244 beneath the dimple 234 . a partition or septum 235 separates the dimple 234 from the segmented bore 246 . the upper surface of the substrate 244 is sealed with a film 240 before the blister 232 and dimple 234 are adhered . an actuator ( not shown ) pushes up on the lancing pin 236 in the direction “ a ” until a shoulder 238 formed on the lancing pin 236 encounters hard stop 248 within the bore 246 . the pin 236 thereby pierces the partition 235 and remains in the upper position as fluid flows out along an exit channel 242 formed on an upper surface of the substrate 244 . a fluid tight seal is maintained between the pin 238 and the bore 246 by a slight interference fit . as the collapsible fluid vessels of a liquid reagent module are configured to be compressed and collapsed to displace the fluid contents from the vessel ( s ), such vessels are susceptible to damage or fluid leakage due to inadvertent exposures to contacts that impart a compressing force to the vessel . accordingly , when storing , handling , or transporting a component having one or more collapsible fluid vessels , it is desirable to protect the fluid vessel and avoid such inadvertent contact . the liquid reagent module could be stored within a rigid casing to protect the collapsible vessel ( s ) from unintended external forces , but such a casing would inhibit or prevent collapsing of the vessel by application of an external force . thus , the liquid reagent module would have to be removed from the casing prior to use , thereby leaving the collapsible vessel ( s ) of the module vulnerable to unintended external forces . an apparatus for protecting and interfacing with a collapsible vessel is indicated by reference number 260 in fig1 , 18 , and 19 . a component with one or more collapsible vessels includes a collapsible blister 262 formed on a substrate 264 . a dispensing channel 266 extends from the blister 262 to a frangible seal 268 . it is understood that , in some alternative embodiments , the dispensing channel 266 may be substituted with a breakable seal , providing an additional safeguard against an accidental reagent release . frangible seal 268 may comprise one of the apparatuses for opening a vessel described above and shown in any of fig8 - 16 . a rigid or semi - rigid housing is provided over the blister 262 and , optionally , the dispensing channel 266 as well , and comprises a blister housing cover 270 covering the blister 262 and a blister housing extension 280 covering and protecting the dispensing channel 266 and the area of the frangible seal 268 . a floating actuator plate 276 is disposed within the blister housing cover 270 . in the illustrated embodiments , both the blister housing cover 270 and the floating actuator plate 276 are circular , but the housing 270 and the actuator plate 276 could be of any shape , preferably generally conforming to the shape of the blister 262 . the apparatus 260 further includes a plunger 274 having a plunger point 275 at one end thereof . plunger 274 is disposed above the blister housing cover 270 generally at a center portion thereof and disposed above an aperture 272 formed in the housing 270 . the floating actuator plate 276 includes a plunger receiver recess 278 , which , in an embodiment , generally conforms to the shape of the plunger point 275 . the blister 262 is collapsed by actuating the plunger 274 downwardly into the aperture 272 . plunger 274 may be actuated by any suitable mechanism , including one of the actuator mechanisms 50 , 80 described above . plunger 274 passes into the aperture 272 where the plunger point 275 nests within the plunger receiver recess 278 of the floating actuator plate 276 . continued downward movement by the plunger 274 presses the actuator plate 276 against the blister 262 , thereby collapsing the blister 262 and displacing fluid from the blister 262 through the dispensing channel 266 to a fluid egress . continued pressure will cause the frangible seal at 268 to break , or an apparatus for opening the vessel as described above may be employed to open the frangible seal . the plunger point 275 nested within the plunger point recess 278 helps to keep the plunger 274 centered with respect to the actuator plate 276 and prevents the actuator plate 276 from sliding laterally relative to the plunger 274 . when the blister is fully collapsed , as shown in fig1 , a convex side of the plunger receiver recess 278 of the floating actuator plate 276 nests within a plunger recess 282 formed in the substrate 264 . accordingly , the blister housing cover 270 protects the blister 262 from inadvertent damage or collapse , while the floating actuator plate inside the blister housing cover 270 permits and facilitates the collapsing of the blister 262 without having to remove or otherwise alter the blister housing cover 270 . in components having more than one collapsible vessel and dispensing channel , a blister housing cover may be provided for all of the vessels and dispensing channels or for some , but less than all vessels and dispensing channels . while the present invention has been described and shown in considerable detail with reference to certain illustrative embodiments , including various combinations and sub - combinations of features , those skilled in the art will readily appreciate other embodiments and variations and modifications thereof as encompassed within the scope of the present invention . moreover , the descriptions of such embodiments , combinations , and sub - combinations is not intended to convey that the inventions requires features or combinations of features other than those expressly recited in the claims . accordingly , the present invention is deemed to include all modifications and variations encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following appended claims .	Is 'Performing Operations; Transporting' the correct technical category for the patent?	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Textiles; Paper'?	0.25	c84308d14e27651f1e8fb69c35afed32101c57f17dd94f5a8289f90a2b3c1182	0.060059	0.00383	0.043457	0.000062	0.04541	0.01001
null	unless defined otherwise , all terms of art , notations and other scientific terms or terminology used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs . many of the techniques and procedures described or referenced herein are well understood and commonly employed using conventional methodology by those skilled in the art . as appropriate , procedures involving the use of commercially available kits and reagents are generally carried out in accordance with manufacturer defined protocols and / or parameters unless otherwise noted . all patents , applications , published applications and other publications referred to herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety . if a definition set forth in this section is contrary to or otherwise inconsistent with a definition set forth in the patents , applications , published applications , and other publications that are herein incorporated by reference , the definition set forth in this section prevails over the definition that is incorporated herein by reference . as used herein , “ a ” or “ an ” means “ at least one ” or “ one or more .” this description may use relative spatial and / or orientation terms in describing the position and / or orientation of a component , apparatus , location , feature , or a portion thereof . unless specifically stated , or otherwise dictated by the context of the description , such terms , including , without limitation , top , bottom , above , below , under , on top of , upper , lower , left of , right of , in front of , behind , next to , adjacent , between , horizontal , vertical , diagonal , longitudinal , transverse , etc ., are used for convenience in referring to such component , apparatus , location , feature , or a portion thereof in the drawings and are not intended to be limiting . an actuator mechanism for compressing deformable fluid vessels — such as blisters on a liquid reagent module — embodying aspects of the present invention is shown at reference number 50 in fig2 . the actuator mechanism 50 may include an articulated blister actuator platen assembly 52 and a sliding actuator plate 66 . the sliding actuator plate 66 is configured to be movable in a direction that is generally parallel to the plane of the liquid reagent module — horizontally in the illustrated embodiment — and may be driven by a linear actuator , a rack and pinion , a belt drive , or other suitable motive means . sliding actuator plate 66 , in the illustrated embodiment , has v - shaped edges 76 that are supported in four v - rollers 74 to accommodate movement of the plate 66 in opposite rectilinear directions , while holding the sliding actuator plate 66 at a fixed spacing from the actuator platen assembly 52 . other features may be provided to guide the actuator plate 66 , such as rails and cooperating grooves . a component 40 — which may comprise liquid reagent module 10 described above — having one or more deformable fluid vessels , such as blisters 36 and 38 , is positioned within the actuator mechanism 50 beneath the articulated blister actuator platen assembly 52 . further details of the configuration of the articulated blister actuator platen assembly 52 and the operation thereof are shown in fig3 a - 6b . as shown in fig3 a and 3b , the actuator platen assembly 52 includes a chassis 54 . a cam body 56 is disposed within a slot 57 of the chassis 54 and is attached to the chassis 54 by a first pivot 58 . a platen 64 is pivotally attached to the cam body 56 by means of a second pivot 60 . the cam body 56 is held in a horizontal , unactuated position within the slot 57 by means of a torsional spring 55 coupled around the first pivot 58 . cam body 56 further includes a cam surface 65 along one edge thereof ( top edge in the figure ) which , in the exemplary embodiment shown in fig3 b , comprises an initial flat portion 61 , a convexly - curved portion 62 , and a second flat portion 63 . the sliding actuator plate 66 includes a cam follow 68 ( a roller in the illustrated embodiment ) rotatably mounted within a slot 72 formed in the actuator plate 66 . in an embodiment of the invention , one cam body 56 and associated platen 64 and cam follower 68 are associated with each deformable vessel ( e . g . blister 36 ) of the liquid reagent module 40 . the actuator platen assembly 52 and the sliding actuator plate 66 are configured to be movable relative to each other . in one embodiment , the actuator platen assembly 52 is fixed , and the actuator plate 66 is configured to move laterally relative to the platen assembly 52 , supported by the v - rollers 74 . lateral movement of the sliding actuator plate 66 , e . g ., in the direction “ a ”, causes the cam follower 68 to translate along the cam surface 65 of the cam body 56 , thereby actuating the cam body 56 and the platen 64 attached thereto . in fig3 a and 3b , before the sliding actuator plate 66 has begun to move relative to the actuator platen assembly 52 , the cam follower 68 is disposed on the initial flat portion 61 of the cam surface 65 of the cam body 56 . in fig4 a and 4b , the sliding actuator plate 66 has moved relative to the actuator platen assembly 52 in the direction “ a ” so that the cam follower 68 has moved across the initial flat portion 61 of the cam surface 65 and has just begun to engage the upwardly curved contour of the convexly - curved portion 62 of the cam surface 65 of the cam body 56 . in fig5 a and 5b , the sliding actuator plate 66 has proceeded in the direction “ a ” to a point such that the cam follower 68 is at the topmost point of the convexly - curved portion 62 of the cam surface 65 , thereby causing the cam body 56 to rotate about the first pivot 58 . the platen 64 is lowered by the downwardly pivoting cam body 56 and pivots relative to the cam body 56 about the second pivot 60 and thereby compresses the blister 36 . in fig6 a and 6b , sliding actuator plate 66 has moved to a position in the direction “ a ” relative to the actuator platen assembly 52 such that the cam follower 68 has progressed to the second flat portion 63 of the cam surface 65 . accordingly , the cam body 56 , urged by the torsion spring 55 , pivots about the first pivot 58 back to the unactuated position , thereby retracting the platen 64 . thus , the articulated blister actuator platen assembly 52 is constructed and arranged to convert the horizontal movement of actuator plate 66 into vertical movement of the platen 64 to compress a blister , and movement of the platen does not require pneumatic , electromechanical , or other components at larger distances above and / or below the liquid module . an alternative embodiment of a blister compression actuator mechanism is indicated by reference number 80 in fig7 a and 7b . actuator 80 includes a linear actuator 82 that is coupled to a cam rail 84 . cam rail 84 is supported for longitudinal movement by a first support rod 96 extending transversely through slot 86 and a second support rod 98 extending transversely through a second slot 88 formed in the cam rail 84 . the first support rod 96 and / or the second support rod 98 may include an annular groove within which portions of the cam rail 84 surrounding slot 86 or slot 88 may be supported , or cylindrical spacers may be placed over the first support rod 96 and / or the second support rod 98 on opposite sides of the cam rail 84 to prevent the cam rail 84 from twisting or sliding axially along the first support rail 96 and / or the second support rail 98 . cam rail 84 includes one or more cam profile slots . in the illustrated embodiment , cam rail 84 includes three cam profile slots 90 , 92 , and 94 . referring to cam profile slot 90 , in the illustrated embodiment , slot 90 includes , progressing from left to right in the figure , an initial horizontal portion , a downwardly sloped portion , and a second horizontal portion . the shapes of the cam profile slots are exemplary , and other shapes may be effectively implemented . the actuator mechanism 80 also includes a platen associated with each cam profile slot . in the illustrated embodiment , actuator 80 includes three platens 100 , 102 , 104 associated with cam profile slots 90 , 92 , 94 , respectively . first platen 100 is coupled to the cam profile slot 90 by a cam follower pin 106 extending transversely from the platen 100 into the cam profile slot 90 . similarly , second platen 102 is coupled to the second cam profile slot 92 by a cam follower pin 108 , and the third platen 104 is coupled to the third cam profile slot 94 by a cam follower pin 110 . platens 100 , 102 , 104 are supported and guided by a guide 112 , which may comprise a panel having openings formed therein conforming to the shape of each of the platens . in fig7 a , cam rail 84 is in its furthest right - most position , and the platens 100 , 102 , 104 are in their unactuated positions . each of the cam follower pins 106 , 108 , 110 is in the initial upper horizontal portion of the respective cam profile slot 90 , 92 , 94 . as the cam rail 84 is moved longitudinally to the left , in the direction “ a ” shown in fig7 b , by the linear actuator 82 , each cam follower pin 106 , 108 , 110 moves within its respective cam profile slot 90 , 92 , 94 until the cam follower pin is in the lower , second horizontal portion of the respective cam profile slot . movement of each of the pins 106 , 108 , 110 downwardly within its respective cam profile slot 90 , 92 , 94 causes a corresponding downward movement of the associated platen 100 , 102 , 104 . this movement of the platens thereby compresses a fluid vessel ( or blister ) located under each platen . each platen may compress a vessel directly in contact with the platen or it may contact the vessel through one or more intermediate components located between the vessel and the corresponding platen . thus , the blister compression actuator mechanism 80 is constructed and arranged to convert the horizontal movement cam rail 84 , driven by the linear actuator 82 , into vertical movement of the platens 100 , 102 , 104 to compress blisters , and movement of the platens does not require pneumatic , electromechanical , or other components at larger distances above and / or below the liquid module . when compressing a fluid vessel , or blister , to displace the fluid contents thereof , sufficient compressive force must be applied to the blister to break , or otherwise open , a breakable seal that is holding the fluid within the vessel . the amount of force required to break the seal and displace the fluid contents of a vessel typically increases as the volume of the vessel increases . this is illustrated in the bar graph shown in fig1 , which shows the minimum , maximum , and average blister burst forces required for blisters having volumes of 100 , 200 , 400 , and 3000 microliters . the average force required to burst a blister of 400 or less microliters is relatively small , ranging from an average of 10 . 7 lbf to 11 . 5 lbf . on the other hand , the force required to burst a blister of 3000 microliters is substantially larger , with an average burst force of 43 . 4 lbf and a maximum required burst force of greater than 65 lbf . generating such large forces can be difficult , especially in low profile actuator mechanisms , such as those described above , in which horizontal displacement of an actuator is converted into vertical , blister - compressing movement of a platen . accordingly , aspects of the present invention are embodied in methods and apparatus for opening a fluid vessel , or blister , in a manner that reduces the amount of force required to burst the vessel and displace the fluid contents of the vessel . such aspects of the invention are illustrated in fig8 a and 8b . as shown in fig8 a , a fluid vessel ( or blister ) 122 is mounted on a substrate 124 and is connected by means of a channel 130 to a sphere blister 128 . in certain embodiments , channel 130 may be initially blocked by a breakable seal . a film layer 129 may be disposed on the bottom of the substrate 124 to cover one or more channels formed in the bottom of the substrate 124 to form fluid conduits . an opening device , comprising a sphere 126 ( e . g ., a steel ball bearing ) is enclosed within the sphere blister 128 and is supported , as shown in fig8 a , within the sphere blister 128 by a foil partition or septum 125 . the foil partition 125 prevents fluid from flowing from the vessel 122 through a recess 127 and fluid exit port 123 . upon applying downward force to the sphere 126 , however , a large local compressive stress is generated due to the relatively small surface size of the sphere 126 , and the foil partition 125 can be broken with relatively little force to push the sphere 126 through the partition 125 and into the recess 127 , as shown in fig8 b . with the foil partition 125 broken , a relatively small additional force is required to break a seal within channel 130 and force the fluid to flow from the vessel 122 through the fluid exit port 123 . in fig8 b , the sphere blister 128 is shown intact . in some embodiments , a force applied to the sphere 126 to push it through the foil partition 125 would also collapse the sphere blister 128 . an apparatus for opening a vessel by pushing a sphere 126 through foil partition 125 is indicated by reference number 120 in fig9 a , 9b , 9c , 9d . in the illustrated embodiment , the apparatus 120 includes a ball actuator 140 extending through an opening formed through a blister plate , or platen , 132 . with the blister plate 132 and an actuator 138 configured for moving the blister plate 132 disposed above the vessel 122 , the ball actuator 140 is secured in a first position , shown in fig9 a , by a detent 136 that engages a detent collar 144 formed in the ball actuator 140 . as shown in fig9 b , the blister plate 132 is moved by the actuator 138 down to a position in which a contact end 142 of the ball actuator 140 contacts the top of the of the sphere blister 128 . actuator 138 may comprise a low profile actuator , such as actuator mechanisms 50 or 80 described above . as shown in fig9 c , continued downward movement of the blister plate 132 by the actuator 138 causes the ball actuator 140 to collapse the sphere blister 128 , thereby pushing the opening device , e . g ., sphere 126 , through a partition blocking fluid flow from the vessel 122 . in this regard , it will be appreciated that the detent must provide a holding force sufficient to prevent the ball actuator 140 from sliding relative to the blister plate 132 until after the sphere 126 has pierced the partition . thus , the detent must provide a holding force sufficient to collapse the sphere blister 128 and push the sphere 126 through a partition . as shown in fig9 d , continued downward movement of the blister plate 132 by the actuator 138 eventually overcomes the holding force provided by the detent 136 , and the ball actuator 140 is then released to move relative to the blister plate 132 , so that the blister plate can continue to move down and collapse the vessel 122 . after the vessel 122 is collapsed , the blister plate 132 can be raised by the actuator 138 to the position shown in fig9 a . as the blister plate 132 is being raised from the position shown in fig9 d to the position shown in 9 a , a hard stop 146 contacts a top end of the ball actuator 140 to prevent its continued upward movement , thereby sliding the ball actuator 140 relative to the blister plate 132 until the detent 136 contacts the detent collar 144 to reset the ball actuator 140 . an alternative embodiment of an apparatus for opening a vessel embodying aspects of the present invention is indicated by reference number 150 in fig1 . apparatus 150 includes a pivoting ball actuator 152 configured to pivot about a pivot pin 154 . a top surface 156 of the pivoting ball actuator 152 comprises a cam surface , and a cam follower 158 , comprising a roller , moving in the direction “ a ” along the cam surface 156 pivots the actuator 152 down in the direction “ b ” to collapse the sphere blister 128 and force the sphere 126 through the foil partition 125 . pivoting actuator 152 may further include a torsional spring ( not shown ) or other means for restoring the actuator to an up position disengaged with the sphere blister 128 when the cam follower 158 is withdrawn . fig1 is a plot of compressive load versus time showing an exemplary load versus time curve for an apparatus for opening a vessel embodying aspects of the present invention . as the apparatus contacts and begins to compress the sphere blister 128 , the load experiences an initial increase as shown at portion ( a ) of the graph . a plateau shown at portion ( b ) of the graph occurs after the sphere 126 penetrates the foil partition 125 . a second increase in the force load occurs when the blister plate 132 makes contact with and begins compressing the vessel 122 . a peak , as shown at part ( c ) of the plot , is reached as a breakable seal within channel 130 between the vessel 122 and the sphere blister 128 is broken . after the seal has been broken , the pressure drops dramatically , as shown at part ( d ) of the plot , as the vessel 122 is collapsed and the fluid contained therein is forced through the exit port 123 ( see fig8 a , 8b ) supporting the sphere 126 . an alternative apparatus for opening a vessel is indicated by reference number 160 in fig1 a . as shown in fig1 a , a fluid vessel ( or blister ) 162 is mounted on a substrate 172 and is connected by means of a channel — which may or may not be initially blocked by a breakable seal — to a dimple 161 . a film layer 164 may be disposed on the bottom of the substrate 172 to cover one or more channels formed in the bottom of the substrate 172 to form fluid conduits . an opening device comprising a cantilevered lance 166 is positioned within a lance chamber 170 formed in the substrate 172 where it is anchored at an end thereof by a screw attachment 168 . a foil partition or septum 165 seals the interior of the dimple 161 from the lance chamber 170 . an actuator pushes the lance 170 up in the direction “ a ” into the dimple 161 , thereby piercing the foil partition 165 and permitting fluid to flow from the blister 162 out of the lance chamber 170 and a fluid exit port . the spring force resilience of the lance 166 returns it to its initial position after the upward force is removed . in one embodiment , the lance 166 is made of metal . alternatively , a plastic lance could be part of a molded plastic substrate on which the blister 162 is formed . alternatively , a metallic lance could be heat staked onto a male plastic post . a further option is to employ a formed metal wire as a lance . a further alternative embodiment of an apparatus for opening a vessel is indicated by reference number 180 in fig1 . a component having one or more deformable vessels includes at least one blister 182 formed on a substrate 194 . in the arrangement shown in fig1 , an internal dimple 184 is formed inside the blister 182 . internal dimple 184 encloses an opening device comprising a fixed spike 186 projecting upwardly from a spike cavity 188 formed in the substrate 194 . a film layer 192 is disposed on an opposite side of the substrate 194 . as an actuator presses down on the blister 182 , internal pressure within the blister 182 causes the internal dimple 184 to collapse and invert . the inverted dimple is punctured by the fixed spike 186 , thereby permitting fluid within the blister 182 to flow through an exit port 190 . an alternative apparatus for opening a vessel is indicated by reference number 200 in fig1 a . as shown in fig1 a , a fluid vessel ( or blister ) 202 is mounted on a substrate 216 and is connected by means of a channel — which may or may not be initially blocked by a breakable seal — to a dimple 204 . an opening device comprising a lancing pin 206 having a fluid port 208 formed through the center thereof ( see fig1 b ) is disposed within a segmented bore 220 formed in the substrate 216 beneath the dimple 204 . a partition or septum 205 separates the dimple 204 from the bore 220 , thereby preventing fluid from exiting the blister 202 and dimple 204 . an actuator ( not shown ) presses on a film layer 212 disposed on a bottom portion of the substrate 216 in the direction “ a ” forcing the lancing pin 206 up within the segmented bore 220 until a shoulder 210 formed on the lancing pin 206 encounters a hard stop 222 formed in the segmented bore 220 . a lancing point of the pin 206 pierces the partition 205 thereby permitting fluid to flow through the fluid port 208 in the lancing pin 206 and out of a fluid exit channel 214 . an alternative embodiment of an apparatus for opening a vessel is indicated by reference number 230 in fig1 a and 16b . as shown in fig1 a , a fluid vessel ( or blister ) 232 is mounted on a substrate 244 and is connected by means of a channel — which may or may not be initially blocked by a breakable seal — to a dimple 234 . an opening device comprising a lancing pin 236 is disposed within a segmented board 246 formed in the substrate 244 beneath the dimple 234 . a partition or septum 235 separates the dimple 234 from the segmented bore 246 . the upper surface of the substrate 244 is sealed with a film 240 before the blister 232 and dimple 234 are adhered . an actuator ( not shown ) pushes up on the lancing pin 236 in the direction “ a ” until a shoulder 238 formed on the lancing pin 236 encounters hard stop 248 within the bore 246 . the pin 236 thereby pierces the partition 235 and remains in the upper position as fluid flows out along an exit channel 242 formed on an upper surface of the substrate 244 . a fluid tight seal is maintained between the pin 238 and the bore 246 by a slight interference fit . as the collapsible fluid vessels of a liquid reagent module are configured to be compressed and collapsed to displace the fluid contents from the vessel ( s ), such vessels are susceptible to damage or fluid leakage due to inadvertent exposures to contacts that impart a compressing force to the vessel . accordingly , when storing , handling , or transporting a component having one or more collapsible fluid vessels , it is desirable to protect the fluid vessel and avoid such inadvertent contact . the liquid reagent module could be stored within a rigid casing to protect the collapsible vessel ( s ) from unintended external forces , but such a casing would inhibit or prevent collapsing of the vessel by application of an external force . thus , the liquid reagent module would have to be removed from the casing prior to use , thereby leaving the collapsible vessel ( s ) of the module vulnerable to unintended external forces . an apparatus for protecting and interfacing with a collapsible vessel is indicated by reference number 260 in fig1 , 18 , and 19 . a component with one or more collapsible vessels includes a collapsible blister 262 formed on a substrate 264 . a dispensing channel 266 extends from the blister 262 to a frangible seal 268 . it is understood that , in some alternative embodiments , the dispensing channel 266 may be substituted with a breakable seal , providing an additional safeguard against an accidental reagent release . frangible seal 268 may comprise one of the apparatuses for opening a vessel described above and shown in any of fig8 - 16 . a rigid or semi - rigid housing is provided over the blister 262 and , optionally , the dispensing channel 266 as well , and comprises a blister housing cover 270 covering the blister 262 and a blister housing extension 280 covering and protecting the dispensing channel 266 and the area of the frangible seal 268 . a floating actuator plate 276 is disposed within the blister housing cover 270 . in the illustrated embodiments , both the blister housing cover 270 and the floating actuator plate 276 are circular , but the housing 270 and the actuator plate 276 could be of any shape , preferably generally conforming to the shape of the blister 262 . the apparatus 260 further includes a plunger 274 having a plunger point 275 at one end thereof . plunger 274 is disposed above the blister housing cover 270 generally at a center portion thereof and disposed above an aperture 272 formed in the housing 270 . the floating actuator plate 276 includes a plunger receiver recess 278 , which , in an embodiment , generally conforms to the shape of the plunger point 275 . the blister 262 is collapsed by actuating the plunger 274 downwardly into the aperture 272 . plunger 274 may be actuated by any suitable mechanism , including one of the actuator mechanisms 50 , 80 described above . plunger 274 passes into the aperture 272 where the plunger point 275 nests within the plunger receiver recess 278 of the floating actuator plate 276 . continued downward movement by the plunger 274 presses the actuator plate 276 against the blister 262 , thereby collapsing the blister 262 and displacing fluid from the blister 262 through the dispensing channel 266 to a fluid egress . continued pressure will cause the frangible seal at 268 to break , or an apparatus for opening the vessel as described above may be employed to open the frangible seal . the plunger point 275 nested within the plunger point recess 278 helps to keep the plunger 274 centered with respect to the actuator plate 276 and prevents the actuator plate 276 from sliding laterally relative to the plunger 274 . when the blister is fully collapsed , as shown in fig1 , a convex side of the plunger receiver recess 278 of the floating actuator plate 276 nests within a plunger recess 282 formed in the substrate 264 . accordingly , the blister housing cover 270 protects the blister 262 from inadvertent damage or collapse , while the floating actuator plate inside the blister housing cover 270 permits and facilitates the collapsing of the blister 262 without having to remove or otherwise alter the blister housing cover 270 . in components having more than one collapsible vessel and dispensing channel , a blister housing cover may be provided for all of the vessels and dispensing channels or for some , but less than all vessels and dispensing channels . while the present invention has been described and shown in considerable detail with reference to certain illustrative embodiments , including various combinations and sub - combinations of features , those skilled in the art will readily appreciate other embodiments and variations and modifications thereof as encompassed within the scope of the present invention . moreover , the descriptions of such embodiments , combinations , and sub - combinations is not intended to convey that the inventions requires features or combinations of features other than those expressly recited in the claims . accordingly , the present invention is deemed to include all modifications and variations encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following appended claims .	Should this patent be classified under 'Performing Operations; Transporting'?	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Fixed Constructions'?	0.25	c84308d14e27651f1e8fb69c35afed32101c57f17dd94f5a8289f90a2b3c1182	0.02478	0.047363	0.008301	0.018555	0.023682	0.086426
null	unless defined otherwise , all terms of art , notations and other scientific terms or terminology used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs . many of the techniques and procedures described or referenced herein are well understood and commonly employed using conventional methodology by those skilled in the art . as appropriate , procedures involving the use of commercially available kits and reagents are generally carried out in accordance with manufacturer defined protocols and / or parameters unless otherwise noted . all patents , applications , published applications and other publications referred to herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety . if a definition set forth in this section is contrary to or otherwise inconsistent with a definition set forth in the patents , applications , published applications , and other publications that are herein incorporated by reference , the definition set forth in this section prevails over the definition that is incorporated herein by reference . as used herein , “ a ” or “ an ” means “ at least one ” or “ one or more .” this description may use relative spatial and / or orientation terms in describing the position and / or orientation of a component , apparatus , location , feature , or a portion thereof . unless specifically stated , or otherwise dictated by the context of the description , such terms , including , without limitation , top , bottom , above , below , under , on top of , upper , lower , left of , right of , in front of , behind , next to , adjacent , between , horizontal , vertical , diagonal , longitudinal , transverse , etc ., are used for convenience in referring to such component , apparatus , location , feature , or a portion thereof in the drawings and are not intended to be limiting . an actuator mechanism for compressing deformable fluid vessels — such as blisters on a liquid reagent module — embodying aspects of the present invention is shown at reference number 50 in fig2 . the actuator mechanism 50 may include an articulated blister actuator platen assembly 52 and a sliding actuator plate 66 . the sliding actuator plate 66 is configured to be movable in a direction that is generally parallel to the plane of the liquid reagent module — horizontally in the illustrated embodiment — and may be driven by a linear actuator , a rack and pinion , a belt drive , or other suitable motive means . sliding actuator plate 66 , in the illustrated embodiment , has v - shaped edges 76 that are supported in four v - rollers 74 to accommodate movement of the plate 66 in opposite rectilinear directions , while holding the sliding actuator plate 66 at a fixed spacing from the actuator platen assembly 52 . other features may be provided to guide the actuator plate 66 , such as rails and cooperating grooves . a component 40 — which may comprise liquid reagent module 10 described above — having one or more deformable fluid vessels , such as blisters 36 and 38 , is positioned within the actuator mechanism 50 beneath the articulated blister actuator platen assembly 52 . further details of the configuration of the articulated blister actuator platen assembly 52 and the operation thereof are shown in fig3 a - 6b . as shown in fig3 a and 3b , the actuator platen assembly 52 includes a chassis 54 . a cam body 56 is disposed within a slot 57 of the chassis 54 and is attached to the chassis 54 by a first pivot 58 . a platen 64 is pivotally attached to the cam body 56 by means of a second pivot 60 . the cam body 56 is held in a horizontal , unactuated position within the slot 57 by means of a torsional spring 55 coupled around the first pivot 58 . cam body 56 further includes a cam surface 65 along one edge thereof ( top edge in the figure ) which , in the exemplary embodiment shown in fig3 b , comprises an initial flat portion 61 , a convexly - curved portion 62 , and a second flat portion 63 . the sliding actuator plate 66 includes a cam follow 68 ( a roller in the illustrated embodiment ) rotatably mounted within a slot 72 formed in the actuator plate 66 . in an embodiment of the invention , one cam body 56 and associated platen 64 and cam follower 68 are associated with each deformable vessel ( e . g . blister 36 ) of the liquid reagent module 40 . the actuator platen assembly 52 and the sliding actuator plate 66 are configured to be movable relative to each other . in one embodiment , the actuator platen assembly 52 is fixed , and the actuator plate 66 is configured to move laterally relative to the platen assembly 52 , supported by the v - rollers 74 . lateral movement of the sliding actuator plate 66 , e . g ., in the direction “ a ”, causes the cam follower 68 to translate along the cam surface 65 of the cam body 56 , thereby actuating the cam body 56 and the platen 64 attached thereto . in fig3 a and 3b , before the sliding actuator plate 66 has begun to move relative to the actuator platen assembly 52 , the cam follower 68 is disposed on the initial flat portion 61 of the cam surface 65 of the cam body 56 . in fig4 a and 4b , the sliding actuator plate 66 has moved relative to the actuator platen assembly 52 in the direction “ a ” so that the cam follower 68 has moved across the initial flat portion 61 of the cam surface 65 and has just begun to engage the upwardly curved contour of the convexly - curved portion 62 of the cam surface 65 of the cam body 56 . in fig5 a and 5b , the sliding actuator plate 66 has proceeded in the direction “ a ” to a point such that the cam follower 68 is at the topmost point of the convexly - curved portion 62 of the cam surface 65 , thereby causing the cam body 56 to rotate about the first pivot 58 . the platen 64 is lowered by the downwardly pivoting cam body 56 and pivots relative to the cam body 56 about the second pivot 60 and thereby compresses the blister 36 . in fig6 a and 6b , sliding actuator plate 66 has moved to a position in the direction “ a ” relative to the actuator platen assembly 52 such that the cam follower 68 has progressed to the second flat portion 63 of the cam surface 65 . accordingly , the cam body 56 , urged by the torsion spring 55 , pivots about the first pivot 58 back to the unactuated position , thereby retracting the platen 64 . thus , the articulated blister actuator platen assembly 52 is constructed and arranged to convert the horizontal movement of actuator plate 66 into vertical movement of the platen 64 to compress a blister , and movement of the platen does not require pneumatic , electromechanical , or other components at larger distances above and / or below the liquid module . an alternative embodiment of a blister compression actuator mechanism is indicated by reference number 80 in fig7 a and 7b . actuator 80 includes a linear actuator 82 that is coupled to a cam rail 84 . cam rail 84 is supported for longitudinal movement by a first support rod 96 extending transversely through slot 86 and a second support rod 98 extending transversely through a second slot 88 formed in the cam rail 84 . the first support rod 96 and / or the second support rod 98 may include an annular groove within which portions of the cam rail 84 surrounding slot 86 or slot 88 may be supported , or cylindrical spacers may be placed over the first support rod 96 and / or the second support rod 98 on opposite sides of the cam rail 84 to prevent the cam rail 84 from twisting or sliding axially along the first support rail 96 and / or the second support rail 98 . cam rail 84 includes one or more cam profile slots . in the illustrated embodiment , cam rail 84 includes three cam profile slots 90 , 92 , and 94 . referring to cam profile slot 90 , in the illustrated embodiment , slot 90 includes , progressing from left to right in the figure , an initial horizontal portion , a downwardly sloped portion , and a second horizontal portion . the shapes of the cam profile slots are exemplary , and other shapes may be effectively implemented . the actuator mechanism 80 also includes a platen associated with each cam profile slot . in the illustrated embodiment , actuator 80 includes three platens 100 , 102 , 104 associated with cam profile slots 90 , 92 , 94 , respectively . first platen 100 is coupled to the cam profile slot 90 by a cam follower pin 106 extending transversely from the platen 100 into the cam profile slot 90 . similarly , second platen 102 is coupled to the second cam profile slot 92 by a cam follower pin 108 , and the third platen 104 is coupled to the third cam profile slot 94 by a cam follower pin 110 . platens 100 , 102 , 104 are supported and guided by a guide 112 , which may comprise a panel having openings formed therein conforming to the shape of each of the platens . in fig7 a , cam rail 84 is in its furthest right - most position , and the platens 100 , 102 , 104 are in their unactuated positions . each of the cam follower pins 106 , 108 , 110 is in the initial upper horizontal portion of the respective cam profile slot 90 , 92 , 94 . as the cam rail 84 is moved longitudinally to the left , in the direction “ a ” shown in fig7 b , by the linear actuator 82 , each cam follower pin 106 , 108 , 110 moves within its respective cam profile slot 90 , 92 , 94 until the cam follower pin is in the lower , second horizontal portion of the respective cam profile slot . movement of each of the pins 106 , 108 , 110 downwardly within its respective cam profile slot 90 , 92 , 94 causes a corresponding downward movement of the associated platen 100 , 102 , 104 . this movement of the platens thereby compresses a fluid vessel ( or blister ) located under each platen . each platen may compress a vessel directly in contact with the platen or it may contact the vessel through one or more intermediate components located between the vessel and the corresponding platen . thus , the blister compression actuator mechanism 80 is constructed and arranged to convert the horizontal movement cam rail 84 , driven by the linear actuator 82 , into vertical movement of the platens 100 , 102 , 104 to compress blisters , and movement of the platens does not require pneumatic , electromechanical , or other components at larger distances above and / or below the liquid module . when compressing a fluid vessel , or blister , to displace the fluid contents thereof , sufficient compressive force must be applied to the blister to break , or otherwise open , a breakable seal that is holding the fluid within the vessel . the amount of force required to break the seal and displace the fluid contents of a vessel typically increases as the volume of the vessel increases . this is illustrated in the bar graph shown in fig1 , which shows the minimum , maximum , and average blister burst forces required for blisters having volumes of 100 , 200 , 400 , and 3000 microliters . the average force required to burst a blister of 400 or less microliters is relatively small , ranging from an average of 10 . 7 lbf to 11 . 5 lbf . on the other hand , the force required to burst a blister of 3000 microliters is substantially larger , with an average burst force of 43 . 4 lbf and a maximum required burst force of greater than 65 lbf . generating such large forces can be difficult , especially in low profile actuator mechanisms , such as those described above , in which horizontal displacement of an actuator is converted into vertical , blister - compressing movement of a platen . accordingly , aspects of the present invention are embodied in methods and apparatus for opening a fluid vessel , or blister , in a manner that reduces the amount of force required to burst the vessel and displace the fluid contents of the vessel . such aspects of the invention are illustrated in fig8 a and 8b . as shown in fig8 a , a fluid vessel ( or blister ) 122 is mounted on a substrate 124 and is connected by means of a channel 130 to a sphere blister 128 . in certain embodiments , channel 130 may be initially blocked by a breakable seal . a film layer 129 may be disposed on the bottom of the substrate 124 to cover one or more channels formed in the bottom of the substrate 124 to form fluid conduits . an opening device , comprising a sphere 126 ( e . g ., a steel ball bearing ) is enclosed within the sphere blister 128 and is supported , as shown in fig8 a , within the sphere blister 128 by a foil partition or septum 125 . the foil partition 125 prevents fluid from flowing from the vessel 122 through a recess 127 and fluid exit port 123 . upon applying downward force to the sphere 126 , however , a large local compressive stress is generated due to the relatively small surface size of the sphere 126 , and the foil partition 125 can be broken with relatively little force to push the sphere 126 through the partition 125 and into the recess 127 , as shown in fig8 b . with the foil partition 125 broken , a relatively small additional force is required to break a seal within channel 130 and force the fluid to flow from the vessel 122 through the fluid exit port 123 . in fig8 b , the sphere blister 128 is shown intact . in some embodiments , a force applied to the sphere 126 to push it through the foil partition 125 would also collapse the sphere blister 128 . an apparatus for opening a vessel by pushing a sphere 126 through foil partition 125 is indicated by reference number 120 in fig9 a , 9b , 9c , 9d . in the illustrated embodiment , the apparatus 120 includes a ball actuator 140 extending through an opening formed through a blister plate , or platen , 132 . with the blister plate 132 and an actuator 138 configured for moving the blister plate 132 disposed above the vessel 122 , the ball actuator 140 is secured in a first position , shown in fig9 a , by a detent 136 that engages a detent collar 144 formed in the ball actuator 140 . as shown in fig9 b , the blister plate 132 is moved by the actuator 138 down to a position in which a contact end 142 of the ball actuator 140 contacts the top of the of the sphere blister 128 . actuator 138 may comprise a low profile actuator , such as actuator mechanisms 50 or 80 described above . as shown in fig9 c , continued downward movement of the blister plate 132 by the actuator 138 causes the ball actuator 140 to collapse the sphere blister 128 , thereby pushing the opening device , e . g ., sphere 126 , through a partition blocking fluid flow from the vessel 122 . in this regard , it will be appreciated that the detent must provide a holding force sufficient to prevent the ball actuator 140 from sliding relative to the blister plate 132 until after the sphere 126 has pierced the partition . thus , the detent must provide a holding force sufficient to collapse the sphere blister 128 and push the sphere 126 through a partition . as shown in fig9 d , continued downward movement of the blister plate 132 by the actuator 138 eventually overcomes the holding force provided by the detent 136 , and the ball actuator 140 is then released to move relative to the blister plate 132 , so that the blister plate can continue to move down and collapse the vessel 122 . after the vessel 122 is collapsed , the blister plate 132 can be raised by the actuator 138 to the position shown in fig9 a . as the blister plate 132 is being raised from the position shown in fig9 d to the position shown in 9 a , a hard stop 146 contacts a top end of the ball actuator 140 to prevent its continued upward movement , thereby sliding the ball actuator 140 relative to the blister plate 132 until the detent 136 contacts the detent collar 144 to reset the ball actuator 140 . an alternative embodiment of an apparatus for opening a vessel embodying aspects of the present invention is indicated by reference number 150 in fig1 . apparatus 150 includes a pivoting ball actuator 152 configured to pivot about a pivot pin 154 . a top surface 156 of the pivoting ball actuator 152 comprises a cam surface , and a cam follower 158 , comprising a roller , moving in the direction “ a ” along the cam surface 156 pivots the actuator 152 down in the direction “ b ” to collapse the sphere blister 128 and force the sphere 126 through the foil partition 125 . pivoting actuator 152 may further include a torsional spring ( not shown ) or other means for restoring the actuator to an up position disengaged with the sphere blister 128 when the cam follower 158 is withdrawn . fig1 is a plot of compressive load versus time showing an exemplary load versus time curve for an apparatus for opening a vessel embodying aspects of the present invention . as the apparatus contacts and begins to compress the sphere blister 128 , the load experiences an initial increase as shown at portion ( a ) of the graph . a plateau shown at portion ( b ) of the graph occurs after the sphere 126 penetrates the foil partition 125 . a second increase in the force load occurs when the blister plate 132 makes contact with and begins compressing the vessel 122 . a peak , as shown at part ( c ) of the plot , is reached as a breakable seal within channel 130 between the vessel 122 and the sphere blister 128 is broken . after the seal has been broken , the pressure drops dramatically , as shown at part ( d ) of the plot , as the vessel 122 is collapsed and the fluid contained therein is forced through the exit port 123 ( see fig8 a , 8b ) supporting the sphere 126 . an alternative apparatus for opening a vessel is indicated by reference number 160 in fig1 a . as shown in fig1 a , a fluid vessel ( or blister ) 162 is mounted on a substrate 172 and is connected by means of a channel — which may or may not be initially blocked by a breakable seal — to a dimple 161 . a film layer 164 may be disposed on the bottom of the substrate 172 to cover one or more channels formed in the bottom of the substrate 172 to form fluid conduits . an opening device comprising a cantilevered lance 166 is positioned within a lance chamber 170 formed in the substrate 172 where it is anchored at an end thereof by a screw attachment 168 . a foil partition or septum 165 seals the interior of the dimple 161 from the lance chamber 170 . an actuator pushes the lance 170 up in the direction “ a ” into the dimple 161 , thereby piercing the foil partition 165 and permitting fluid to flow from the blister 162 out of the lance chamber 170 and a fluid exit port . the spring force resilience of the lance 166 returns it to its initial position after the upward force is removed . in one embodiment , the lance 166 is made of metal . alternatively , a plastic lance could be part of a molded plastic substrate on which the blister 162 is formed . alternatively , a metallic lance could be heat staked onto a male plastic post . a further option is to employ a formed metal wire as a lance . a further alternative embodiment of an apparatus for opening a vessel is indicated by reference number 180 in fig1 . a component having one or more deformable vessels includes at least one blister 182 formed on a substrate 194 . in the arrangement shown in fig1 , an internal dimple 184 is formed inside the blister 182 . internal dimple 184 encloses an opening device comprising a fixed spike 186 projecting upwardly from a spike cavity 188 formed in the substrate 194 . a film layer 192 is disposed on an opposite side of the substrate 194 . as an actuator presses down on the blister 182 , internal pressure within the blister 182 causes the internal dimple 184 to collapse and invert . the inverted dimple is punctured by the fixed spike 186 , thereby permitting fluid within the blister 182 to flow through an exit port 190 . an alternative apparatus for opening a vessel is indicated by reference number 200 in fig1 a . as shown in fig1 a , a fluid vessel ( or blister ) 202 is mounted on a substrate 216 and is connected by means of a channel — which may or may not be initially blocked by a breakable seal — to a dimple 204 . an opening device comprising a lancing pin 206 having a fluid port 208 formed through the center thereof ( see fig1 b ) is disposed within a segmented bore 220 formed in the substrate 216 beneath the dimple 204 . a partition or septum 205 separates the dimple 204 from the bore 220 , thereby preventing fluid from exiting the blister 202 and dimple 204 . an actuator ( not shown ) presses on a film layer 212 disposed on a bottom portion of the substrate 216 in the direction “ a ” forcing the lancing pin 206 up within the segmented bore 220 until a shoulder 210 formed on the lancing pin 206 encounters a hard stop 222 formed in the segmented bore 220 . a lancing point of the pin 206 pierces the partition 205 thereby permitting fluid to flow through the fluid port 208 in the lancing pin 206 and out of a fluid exit channel 214 . an alternative embodiment of an apparatus for opening a vessel is indicated by reference number 230 in fig1 a and 16b . as shown in fig1 a , a fluid vessel ( or blister ) 232 is mounted on a substrate 244 and is connected by means of a channel — which may or may not be initially blocked by a breakable seal — to a dimple 234 . an opening device comprising a lancing pin 236 is disposed within a segmented board 246 formed in the substrate 244 beneath the dimple 234 . a partition or septum 235 separates the dimple 234 from the segmented bore 246 . the upper surface of the substrate 244 is sealed with a film 240 before the blister 232 and dimple 234 are adhered . an actuator ( not shown ) pushes up on the lancing pin 236 in the direction “ a ” until a shoulder 238 formed on the lancing pin 236 encounters hard stop 248 within the bore 246 . the pin 236 thereby pierces the partition 235 and remains in the upper position as fluid flows out along an exit channel 242 formed on an upper surface of the substrate 244 . a fluid tight seal is maintained between the pin 238 and the bore 246 by a slight interference fit . as the collapsible fluid vessels of a liquid reagent module are configured to be compressed and collapsed to displace the fluid contents from the vessel ( s ), such vessels are susceptible to damage or fluid leakage due to inadvertent exposures to contacts that impart a compressing force to the vessel . accordingly , when storing , handling , or transporting a component having one or more collapsible fluid vessels , it is desirable to protect the fluid vessel and avoid such inadvertent contact . the liquid reagent module could be stored within a rigid casing to protect the collapsible vessel ( s ) from unintended external forces , but such a casing would inhibit or prevent collapsing of the vessel by application of an external force . thus , the liquid reagent module would have to be removed from the casing prior to use , thereby leaving the collapsible vessel ( s ) of the module vulnerable to unintended external forces . an apparatus for protecting and interfacing with a collapsible vessel is indicated by reference number 260 in fig1 , 18 , and 19 . a component with one or more collapsible vessels includes a collapsible blister 262 formed on a substrate 264 . a dispensing channel 266 extends from the blister 262 to a frangible seal 268 . it is understood that , in some alternative embodiments , the dispensing channel 266 may be substituted with a breakable seal , providing an additional safeguard against an accidental reagent release . frangible seal 268 may comprise one of the apparatuses for opening a vessel described above and shown in any of fig8 - 16 . a rigid or semi - rigid housing is provided over the blister 262 and , optionally , the dispensing channel 266 as well , and comprises a blister housing cover 270 covering the blister 262 and a blister housing extension 280 covering and protecting the dispensing channel 266 and the area of the frangible seal 268 . a floating actuator plate 276 is disposed within the blister housing cover 270 . in the illustrated embodiments , both the blister housing cover 270 and the floating actuator plate 276 are circular , but the housing 270 and the actuator plate 276 could be of any shape , preferably generally conforming to the shape of the blister 262 . the apparatus 260 further includes a plunger 274 having a plunger point 275 at one end thereof . plunger 274 is disposed above the blister housing cover 270 generally at a center portion thereof and disposed above an aperture 272 formed in the housing 270 . the floating actuator plate 276 includes a plunger receiver recess 278 , which , in an embodiment , generally conforms to the shape of the plunger point 275 . the blister 262 is collapsed by actuating the plunger 274 downwardly into the aperture 272 . plunger 274 may be actuated by any suitable mechanism , including one of the actuator mechanisms 50 , 80 described above . plunger 274 passes into the aperture 272 where the plunger point 275 nests within the plunger receiver recess 278 of the floating actuator plate 276 . continued downward movement by the plunger 274 presses the actuator plate 276 against the blister 262 , thereby collapsing the blister 262 and displacing fluid from the blister 262 through the dispensing channel 266 to a fluid egress . continued pressure will cause the frangible seal at 268 to break , or an apparatus for opening the vessel as described above may be employed to open the frangible seal . the plunger point 275 nested within the plunger point recess 278 helps to keep the plunger 274 centered with respect to the actuator plate 276 and prevents the actuator plate 276 from sliding laterally relative to the plunger 274 . when the blister is fully collapsed , as shown in fig1 , a convex side of the plunger receiver recess 278 of the floating actuator plate 276 nests within a plunger recess 282 formed in the substrate 264 . accordingly , the blister housing cover 270 protects the blister 262 from inadvertent damage or collapse , while the floating actuator plate inside the blister housing cover 270 permits and facilitates the collapsing of the blister 262 without having to remove or otherwise alter the blister housing cover 270 . in components having more than one collapsible vessel and dispensing channel , a blister housing cover may be provided for all of the vessels and dispensing channels or for some , but less than all vessels and dispensing channels . while the present invention has been described and shown in considerable detail with reference to certain illustrative embodiments , including various combinations and sub - combinations of features , those skilled in the art will readily appreciate other embodiments and variations and modifications thereof as encompassed within the scope of the present invention . moreover , the descriptions of such embodiments , combinations , and sub - combinations is not intended to convey that the inventions requires features or combinations of features other than those expressly recited in the claims . accordingly , the present invention is deemed to include all modifications and variations encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following appended claims .	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'Performing Operations; Transporting'?	Should this patent be classified under 'Mechanical Engineering; Lightning; Heating; Weapons; Blasting'?	0.25	c84308d14e27651f1e8fb69c35afed32101c57f17dd94f5a8289f90a2b3c1182	0.046143	0.001411	0.022339	0.000431	0.046631	0.013245
null	unless defined otherwise , all terms of art , notations and other scientific terms or terminology used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs . many of the techniques and procedures described or referenced herein are well understood and commonly employed using conventional methodology by those skilled in the art . as appropriate , procedures involving the use of commercially available kits and reagents are generally carried out in accordance with manufacturer defined protocols and / or parameters unless otherwise noted . all patents , applications , published applications and other publications referred to herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety . if a definition set forth in this section is contrary to or otherwise inconsistent with a definition set forth in the patents , applications , published applications , and other publications that are herein incorporated by reference , the definition set forth in this section prevails over the definition that is incorporated herein by reference . as used herein , “ a ” or “ an ” means “ at least one ” or “ one or more .” this description may use relative spatial and / or orientation terms in describing the position and / or orientation of a component , apparatus , location , feature , or a portion thereof . unless specifically stated , or otherwise dictated by the context of the description , such terms , including , without limitation , top , bottom , above , below , under , on top of , upper , lower , left of , right of , in front of , behind , next to , adjacent , between , horizontal , vertical , diagonal , longitudinal , transverse , etc ., are used for convenience in referring to such component , apparatus , location , feature , or a portion thereof in the drawings and are not intended to be limiting . an actuator mechanism for compressing deformable fluid vessels — such as blisters on a liquid reagent module — embodying aspects of the present invention is shown at reference number 50 in fig2 . the actuator mechanism 50 may include an articulated blister actuator platen assembly 52 and a sliding actuator plate 66 . the sliding actuator plate 66 is configured to be movable in a direction that is generally parallel to the plane of the liquid reagent module — horizontally in the illustrated embodiment — and may be driven by a linear actuator , a rack and pinion , a belt drive , or other suitable motive means . sliding actuator plate 66 , in the illustrated embodiment , has v - shaped edges 76 that are supported in four v - rollers 74 to accommodate movement of the plate 66 in opposite rectilinear directions , while holding the sliding actuator plate 66 at a fixed spacing from the actuator platen assembly 52 . other features may be provided to guide the actuator plate 66 , such as rails and cooperating grooves . a component 40 — which may comprise liquid reagent module 10 described above — having one or more deformable fluid vessels , such as blisters 36 and 38 , is positioned within the actuator mechanism 50 beneath the articulated blister actuator platen assembly 52 . further details of the configuration of the articulated blister actuator platen assembly 52 and the operation thereof are shown in fig3 a - 6b . as shown in fig3 a and 3b , the actuator platen assembly 52 includes a chassis 54 . a cam body 56 is disposed within a slot 57 of the chassis 54 and is attached to the chassis 54 by a first pivot 58 . a platen 64 is pivotally attached to the cam body 56 by means of a second pivot 60 . the cam body 56 is held in a horizontal , unactuated position within the slot 57 by means of a torsional spring 55 coupled around the first pivot 58 . cam body 56 further includes a cam surface 65 along one edge thereof ( top edge in the figure ) which , in the exemplary embodiment shown in fig3 b , comprises an initial flat portion 61 , a convexly - curved portion 62 , and a second flat portion 63 . the sliding actuator plate 66 includes a cam follow 68 ( a roller in the illustrated embodiment ) rotatably mounted within a slot 72 formed in the actuator plate 66 . in an embodiment of the invention , one cam body 56 and associated platen 64 and cam follower 68 are associated with each deformable vessel ( e . g . blister 36 ) of the liquid reagent module 40 . the actuator platen assembly 52 and the sliding actuator plate 66 are configured to be movable relative to each other . in one embodiment , the actuator platen assembly 52 is fixed , and the actuator plate 66 is configured to move laterally relative to the platen assembly 52 , supported by the v - rollers 74 . lateral movement of the sliding actuator plate 66 , e . g ., in the direction “ a ”, causes the cam follower 68 to translate along the cam surface 65 of the cam body 56 , thereby actuating the cam body 56 and the platen 64 attached thereto . in fig3 a and 3b , before the sliding actuator plate 66 has begun to move relative to the actuator platen assembly 52 , the cam follower 68 is disposed on the initial flat portion 61 of the cam surface 65 of the cam body 56 . in fig4 a and 4b , the sliding actuator plate 66 has moved relative to the actuator platen assembly 52 in the direction “ a ” so that the cam follower 68 has moved across the initial flat portion 61 of the cam surface 65 and has just begun to engage the upwardly curved contour of the convexly - curved portion 62 of the cam surface 65 of the cam body 56 . in fig5 a and 5b , the sliding actuator plate 66 has proceeded in the direction “ a ” to a point such that the cam follower 68 is at the topmost point of the convexly - curved portion 62 of the cam surface 65 , thereby causing the cam body 56 to rotate about the first pivot 58 . the platen 64 is lowered by the downwardly pivoting cam body 56 and pivots relative to the cam body 56 about the second pivot 60 and thereby compresses the blister 36 . in fig6 a and 6b , sliding actuator plate 66 has moved to a position in the direction “ a ” relative to the actuator platen assembly 52 such that the cam follower 68 has progressed to the second flat portion 63 of the cam surface 65 . accordingly , the cam body 56 , urged by the torsion spring 55 , pivots about the first pivot 58 back to the unactuated position , thereby retracting the platen 64 . thus , the articulated blister actuator platen assembly 52 is constructed and arranged to convert the horizontal movement of actuator plate 66 into vertical movement of the platen 64 to compress a blister , and movement of the platen does not require pneumatic , electromechanical , or other components at larger distances above and / or below the liquid module . an alternative embodiment of a blister compression actuator mechanism is indicated by reference number 80 in fig7 a and 7b . actuator 80 includes a linear actuator 82 that is coupled to a cam rail 84 . cam rail 84 is supported for longitudinal movement by a first support rod 96 extending transversely through slot 86 and a second support rod 98 extending transversely through a second slot 88 formed in the cam rail 84 . the first support rod 96 and / or the second support rod 98 may include an annular groove within which portions of the cam rail 84 surrounding slot 86 or slot 88 may be supported , or cylindrical spacers may be placed over the first support rod 96 and / or the second support rod 98 on opposite sides of the cam rail 84 to prevent the cam rail 84 from twisting or sliding axially along the first support rail 96 and / or the second support rail 98 . cam rail 84 includes one or more cam profile slots . in the illustrated embodiment , cam rail 84 includes three cam profile slots 90 , 92 , and 94 . referring to cam profile slot 90 , in the illustrated embodiment , slot 90 includes , progressing from left to right in the figure , an initial horizontal portion , a downwardly sloped portion , and a second horizontal portion . the shapes of the cam profile slots are exemplary , and other shapes may be effectively implemented . the actuator mechanism 80 also includes a platen associated with each cam profile slot . in the illustrated embodiment , actuator 80 includes three platens 100 , 102 , 104 associated with cam profile slots 90 , 92 , 94 , respectively . first platen 100 is coupled to the cam profile slot 90 by a cam follower pin 106 extending transversely from the platen 100 into the cam profile slot 90 . similarly , second platen 102 is coupled to the second cam profile slot 92 by a cam follower pin 108 , and the third platen 104 is coupled to the third cam profile slot 94 by a cam follower pin 110 . platens 100 , 102 , 104 are supported and guided by a guide 112 , which may comprise a panel having openings formed therein conforming to the shape of each of the platens . in fig7 a , cam rail 84 is in its furthest right - most position , and the platens 100 , 102 , 104 are in their unactuated positions . each of the cam follower pins 106 , 108 , 110 is in the initial upper horizontal portion of the respective cam profile slot 90 , 92 , 94 . as the cam rail 84 is moved longitudinally to the left , in the direction “ a ” shown in fig7 b , by the linear actuator 82 , each cam follower pin 106 , 108 , 110 moves within its respective cam profile slot 90 , 92 , 94 until the cam follower pin is in the lower , second horizontal portion of the respective cam profile slot . movement of each of the pins 106 , 108 , 110 downwardly within its respective cam profile slot 90 , 92 , 94 causes a corresponding downward movement of the associated platen 100 , 102 , 104 . this movement of the platens thereby compresses a fluid vessel ( or blister ) located under each platen . each platen may compress a vessel directly in contact with the platen or it may contact the vessel through one or more intermediate components located between the vessel and the corresponding platen . thus , the blister compression actuator mechanism 80 is constructed and arranged to convert the horizontal movement cam rail 84 , driven by the linear actuator 82 , into vertical movement of the platens 100 , 102 , 104 to compress blisters , and movement of the platens does not require pneumatic , electromechanical , or other components at larger distances above and / or below the liquid module . when compressing a fluid vessel , or blister , to displace the fluid contents thereof , sufficient compressive force must be applied to the blister to break , or otherwise open , a breakable seal that is holding the fluid within the vessel . the amount of force required to break the seal and displace the fluid contents of a vessel typically increases as the volume of the vessel increases . this is illustrated in the bar graph shown in fig1 , which shows the minimum , maximum , and average blister burst forces required for blisters having volumes of 100 , 200 , 400 , and 3000 microliters . the average force required to burst a blister of 400 or less microliters is relatively small , ranging from an average of 10 . 7 lbf to 11 . 5 lbf . on the other hand , the force required to burst a blister of 3000 microliters is substantially larger , with an average burst force of 43 . 4 lbf and a maximum required burst force of greater than 65 lbf . generating such large forces can be difficult , especially in low profile actuator mechanisms , such as those described above , in which horizontal displacement of an actuator is converted into vertical , blister - compressing movement of a platen . accordingly , aspects of the present invention are embodied in methods and apparatus for opening a fluid vessel , or blister , in a manner that reduces the amount of force required to burst the vessel and displace the fluid contents of the vessel . such aspects of the invention are illustrated in fig8 a and 8b . as shown in fig8 a , a fluid vessel ( or blister ) 122 is mounted on a substrate 124 and is connected by means of a channel 130 to a sphere blister 128 . in certain embodiments , channel 130 may be initially blocked by a breakable seal . a film layer 129 may be disposed on the bottom of the substrate 124 to cover one or more channels formed in the bottom of the substrate 124 to form fluid conduits . an opening device , comprising a sphere 126 ( e . g ., a steel ball bearing ) is enclosed within the sphere blister 128 and is supported , as shown in fig8 a , within the sphere blister 128 by a foil partition or septum 125 . the foil partition 125 prevents fluid from flowing from the vessel 122 through a recess 127 and fluid exit port 123 . upon applying downward force to the sphere 126 , however , a large local compressive stress is generated due to the relatively small surface size of the sphere 126 , and the foil partition 125 can be broken with relatively little force to push the sphere 126 through the partition 125 and into the recess 127 , as shown in fig8 b . with the foil partition 125 broken , a relatively small additional force is required to break a seal within channel 130 and force the fluid to flow from the vessel 122 through the fluid exit port 123 . in fig8 b , the sphere blister 128 is shown intact . in some embodiments , a force applied to the sphere 126 to push it through the foil partition 125 would also collapse the sphere blister 128 . an apparatus for opening a vessel by pushing a sphere 126 through foil partition 125 is indicated by reference number 120 in fig9 a , 9b , 9c , 9d . in the illustrated embodiment , the apparatus 120 includes a ball actuator 140 extending through an opening formed through a blister plate , or platen , 132 . with the blister plate 132 and an actuator 138 configured for moving the blister plate 132 disposed above the vessel 122 , the ball actuator 140 is secured in a first position , shown in fig9 a , by a detent 136 that engages a detent collar 144 formed in the ball actuator 140 . as shown in fig9 b , the blister plate 132 is moved by the actuator 138 down to a position in which a contact end 142 of the ball actuator 140 contacts the top of the of the sphere blister 128 . actuator 138 may comprise a low profile actuator , such as actuator mechanisms 50 or 80 described above . as shown in fig9 c , continued downward movement of the blister plate 132 by the actuator 138 causes the ball actuator 140 to collapse the sphere blister 128 , thereby pushing the opening device , e . g ., sphere 126 , through a partition blocking fluid flow from the vessel 122 . in this regard , it will be appreciated that the detent must provide a holding force sufficient to prevent the ball actuator 140 from sliding relative to the blister plate 132 until after the sphere 126 has pierced the partition . thus , the detent must provide a holding force sufficient to collapse the sphere blister 128 and push the sphere 126 through a partition . as shown in fig9 d , continued downward movement of the blister plate 132 by the actuator 138 eventually overcomes the holding force provided by the detent 136 , and the ball actuator 140 is then released to move relative to the blister plate 132 , so that the blister plate can continue to move down and collapse the vessel 122 . after the vessel 122 is collapsed , the blister plate 132 can be raised by the actuator 138 to the position shown in fig9 a . as the blister plate 132 is being raised from the position shown in fig9 d to the position shown in 9 a , a hard stop 146 contacts a top end of the ball actuator 140 to prevent its continued upward movement , thereby sliding the ball actuator 140 relative to the blister plate 132 until the detent 136 contacts the detent collar 144 to reset the ball actuator 140 . an alternative embodiment of an apparatus for opening a vessel embodying aspects of the present invention is indicated by reference number 150 in fig1 . apparatus 150 includes a pivoting ball actuator 152 configured to pivot about a pivot pin 154 . a top surface 156 of the pivoting ball actuator 152 comprises a cam surface , and a cam follower 158 , comprising a roller , moving in the direction “ a ” along the cam surface 156 pivots the actuator 152 down in the direction “ b ” to collapse the sphere blister 128 and force the sphere 126 through the foil partition 125 . pivoting actuator 152 may further include a torsional spring ( not shown ) or other means for restoring the actuator to an up position disengaged with the sphere blister 128 when the cam follower 158 is withdrawn . fig1 is a plot of compressive load versus time showing an exemplary load versus time curve for an apparatus for opening a vessel embodying aspects of the present invention . as the apparatus contacts and begins to compress the sphere blister 128 , the load experiences an initial increase as shown at portion ( a ) of the graph . a plateau shown at portion ( b ) of the graph occurs after the sphere 126 penetrates the foil partition 125 . a second increase in the force load occurs when the blister plate 132 makes contact with and begins compressing the vessel 122 . a peak , as shown at part ( c ) of the plot , is reached as a breakable seal within channel 130 between the vessel 122 and the sphere blister 128 is broken . after the seal has been broken , the pressure drops dramatically , as shown at part ( d ) of the plot , as the vessel 122 is collapsed and the fluid contained therein is forced through the exit port 123 ( see fig8 a , 8b ) supporting the sphere 126 . an alternative apparatus for opening a vessel is indicated by reference number 160 in fig1 a . as shown in fig1 a , a fluid vessel ( or blister ) 162 is mounted on a substrate 172 and is connected by means of a channel — which may or may not be initially blocked by a breakable seal — to a dimple 161 . a film layer 164 may be disposed on the bottom of the substrate 172 to cover one or more channels formed in the bottom of the substrate 172 to form fluid conduits . an opening device comprising a cantilevered lance 166 is positioned within a lance chamber 170 formed in the substrate 172 where it is anchored at an end thereof by a screw attachment 168 . a foil partition or septum 165 seals the interior of the dimple 161 from the lance chamber 170 . an actuator pushes the lance 170 up in the direction “ a ” into the dimple 161 , thereby piercing the foil partition 165 and permitting fluid to flow from the blister 162 out of the lance chamber 170 and a fluid exit port . the spring force resilience of the lance 166 returns it to its initial position after the upward force is removed . in one embodiment , the lance 166 is made of metal . alternatively , a plastic lance could be part of a molded plastic substrate on which the blister 162 is formed . alternatively , a metallic lance could be heat staked onto a male plastic post . a further option is to employ a formed metal wire as a lance . a further alternative embodiment of an apparatus for opening a vessel is indicated by reference number 180 in fig1 . a component having one or more deformable vessels includes at least one blister 182 formed on a substrate 194 . in the arrangement shown in fig1 , an internal dimple 184 is formed inside the blister 182 . internal dimple 184 encloses an opening device comprising a fixed spike 186 projecting upwardly from a spike cavity 188 formed in the substrate 194 . a film layer 192 is disposed on an opposite side of the substrate 194 . as an actuator presses down on the blister 182 , internal pressure within the blister 182 causes the internal dimple 184 to collapse and invert . the inverted dimple is punctured by the fixed spike 186 , thereby permitting fluid within the blister 182 to flow through an exit port 190 . an alternative apparatus for opening a vessel is indicated by reference number 200 in fig1 a . as shown in fig1 a , a fluid vessel ( or blister ) 202 is mounted on a substrate 216 and is connected by means of a channel — which may or may not be initially blocked by a breakable seal — to a dimple 204 . an opening device comprising a lancing pin 206 having a fluid port 208 formed through the center thereof ( see fig1 b ) is disposed within a segmented bore 220 formed in the substrate 216 beneath the dimple 204 . a partition or septum 205 separates the dimple 204 from the bore 220 , thereby preventing fluid from exiting the blister 202 and dimple 204 . an actuator ( not shown ) presses on a film layer 212 disposed on a bottom portion of the substrate 216 in the direction “ a ” forcing the lancing pin 206 up within the segmented bore 220 until a shoulder 210 formed on the lancing pin 206 encounters a hard stop 222 formed in the segmented bore 220 . a lancing point of the pin 206 pierces the partition 205 thereby permitting fluid to flow through the fluid port 208 in the lancing pin 206 and out of a fluid exit channel 214 . an alternative embodiment of an apparatus for opening a vessel is indicated by reference number 230 in fig1 a and 16b . as shown in fig1 a , a fluid vessel ( or blister ) 232 is mounted on a substrate 244 and is connected by means of a channel — which may or may not be initially blocked by a breakable seal — to a dimple 234 . an opening device comprising a lancing pin 236 is disposed within a segmented board 246 formed in the substrate 244 beneath the dimple 234 . a partition or septum 235 separates the dimple 234 from the segmented bore 246 . the upper surface of the substrate 244 is sealed with a film 240 before the blister 232 and dimple 234 are adhered . an actuator ( not shown ) pushes up on the lancing pin 236 in the direction “ a ” until a shoulder 238 formed on the lancing pin 236 encounters hard stop 248 within the bore 246 . the pin 236 thereby pierces the partition 235 and remains in the upper position as fluid flows out along an exit channel 242 formed on an upper surface of the substrate 244 . a fluid tight seal is maintained between the pin 238 and the bore 246 by a slight interference fit . as the collapsible fluid vessels of a liquid reagent module are configured to be compressed and collapsed to displace the fluid contents from the vessel ( s ), such vessels are susceptible to damage or fluid leakage due to inadvertent exposures to contacts that impart a compressing force to the vessel . accordingly , when storing , handling , or transporting a component having one or more collapsible fluid vessels , it is desirable to protect the fluid vessel and avoid such inadvertent contact . the liquid reagent module could be stored within a rigid casing to protect the collapsible vessel ( s ) from unintended external forces , but such a casing would inhibit or prevent collapsing of the vessel by application of an external force . thus , the liquid reagent module would have to be removed from the casing prior to use , thereby leaving the collapsible vessel ( s ) of the module vulnerable to unintended external forces . an apparatus for protecting and interfacing with a collapsible vessel is indicated by reference number 260 in fig1 , 18 , and 19 . a component with one or more collapsible vessels includes a collapsible blister 262 formed on a substrate 264 . a dispensing channel 266 extends from the blister 262 to a frangible seal 268 . it is understood that , in some alternative embodiments , the dispensing channel 266 may be substituted with a breakable seal , providing an additional safeguard against an accidental reagent release . frangible seal 268 may comprise one of the apparatuses for opening a vessel described above and shown in any of fig8 - 16 . a rigid or semi - rigid housing is provided over the blister 262 and , optionally , the dispensing channel 266 as well , and comprises a blister housing cover 270 covering the blister 262 and a blister housing extension 280 covering and protecting the dispensing channel 266 and the area of the frangible seal 268 . a floating actuator plate 276 is disposed within the blister housing cover 270 . in the illustrated embodiments , both the blister housing cover 270 and the floating actuator plate 276 are circular , but the housing 270 and the actuator plate 276 could be of any shape , preferably generally conforming to the shape of the blister 262 . the apparatus 260 further includes a plunger 274 having a plunger point 275 at one end thereof . plunger 274 is disposed above the blister housing cover 270 generally at a center portion thereof and disposed above an aperture 272 formed in the housing 270 . the floating actuator plate 276 includes a plunger receiver recess 278 , which , in an embodiment , generally conforms to the shape of the plunger point 275 . the blister 262 is collapsed by actuating the plunger 274 downwardly into the aperture 272 . plunger 274 may be actuated by any suitable mechanism , including one of the actuator mechanisms 50 , 80 described above . plunger 274 passes into the aperture 272 where the plunger point 275 nests within the plunger receiver recess 278 of the floating actuator plate 276 . continued downward movement by the plunger 274 presses the actuator plate 276 against the blister 262 , thereby collapsing the blister 262 and displacing fluid from the blister 262 through the dispensing channel 266 to a fluid egress . continued pressure will cause the frangible seal at 268 to break , or an apparatus for opening the vessel as described above may be employed to open the frangible seal . the plunger point 275 nested within the plunger point recess 278 helps to keep the plunger 274 centered with respect to the actuator plate 276 and prevents the actuator plate 276 from sliding laterally relative to the plunger 274 . when the blister is fully collapsed , as shown in fig1 , a convex side of the plunger receiver recess 278 of the floating actuator plate 276 nests within a plunger recess 282 formed in the substrate 264 . accordingly , the blister housing cover 270 protects the blister 262 from inadvertent damage or collapse , while the floating actuator plate inside the blister housing cover 270 permits and facilitates the collapsing of the blister 262 without having to remove or otherwise alter the blister housing cover 270 . in components having more than one collapsible vessel and dispensing channel , a blister housing cover may be provided for all of the vessels and dispensing channels or for some , but less than all vessels and dispensing channels . while the present invention has been described and shown in considerable detail with reference to certain illustrative embodiments , including various combinations and sub - combinations of features , those skilled in the art will readily appreciate other embodiments and variations and modifications thereof as encompassed within the scope of the present invention . moreover , the descriptions of such embodiments , combinations , and sub - combinations is not intended to convey that the inventions requires features or combinations of features other than those expressly recited in the claims . accordingly , the present invention is deemed to include all modifications and variations encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following appended claims .	Is 'Performing Operations; Transporting' the correct technical category for the patent?	Should this patent be classified under 'Physics'?	0.25	c84308d14e27651f1e8fb69c35afed32101c57f17dd94f5a8289f90a2b3c1182	0.060059	0.078125	0.043457	0.011353	0.04541	0.080566
null	unless defined otherwise , all terms of art , notations and other scientific terms or terminology used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs . many of the techniques and procedures described or referenced herein are well understood and commonly employed using conventional methodology by those skilled in the art . as appropriate , procedures involving the use of commercially available kits and reagents are generally carried out in accordance with manufacturer defined protocols and / or parameters unless otherwise noted . all patents , applications , published applications and other publications referred to herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety . if a definition set forth in this section is contrary to or otherwise inconsistent with a definition set forth in the patents , applications , published applications , and other publications that are herein incorporated by reference , the definition set forth in this section prevails over the definition that is incorporated herein by reference . as used herein , “ a ” or “ an ” means “ at least one ” or “ one or more .” this description may use relative spatial and / or orientation terms in describing the position and / or orientation of a component , apparatus , location , feature , or a portion thereof . unless specifically stated , or otherwise dictated by the context of the description , such terms , including , without limitation , top , bottom , above , below , under , on top of , upper , lower , left of , right of , in front of , behind , next to , adjacent , between , horizontal , vertical , diagonal , longitudinal , transverse , etc ., are used for convenience in referring to such component , apparatus , location , feature , or a portion thereof in the drawings and are not intended to be limiting . an actuator mechanism for compressing deformable fluid vessels — such as blisters on a liquid reagent module — embodying aspects of the present invention is shown at reference number 50 in fig2 . the actuator mechanism 50 may include an articulated blister actuator platen assembly 52 and a sliding actuator plate 66 . the sliding actuator plate 66 is configured to be movable in a direction that is generally parallel to the plane of the liquid reagent module — horizontally in the illustrated embodiment — and may be driven by a linear actuator , a rack and pinion , a belt drive , or other suitable motive means . sliding actuator plate 66 , in the illustrated embodiment , has v - shaped edges 76 that are supported in four v - rollers 74 to accommodate movement of the plate 66 in opposite rectilinear directions , while holding the sliding actuator plate 66 at a fixed spacing from the actuator platen assembly 52 . other features may be provided to guide the actuator plate 66 , such as rails and cooperating grooves . a component 40 — which may comprise liquid reagent module 10 described above — having one or more deformable fluid vessels , such as blisters 36 and 38 , is positioned within the actuator mechanism 50 beneath the articulated blister actuator platen assembly 52 . further details of the configuration of the articulated blister actuator platen assembly 52 and the operation thereof are shown in fig3 a - 6b . as shown in fig3 a and 3b , the actuator platen assembly 52 includes a chassis 54 . a cam body 56 is disposed within a slot 57 of the chassis 54 and is attached to the chassis 54 by a first pivot 58 . a platen 64 is pivotally attached to the cam body 56 by means of a second pivot 60 . the cam body 56 is held in a horizontal , unactuated position within the slot 57 by means of a torsional spring 55 coupled around the first pivot 58 . cam body 56 further includes a cam surface 65 along one edge thereof ( top edge in the figure ) which , in the exemplary embodiment shown in fig3 b , comprises an initial flat portion 61 , a convexly - curved portion 62 , and a second flat portion 63 . the sliding actuator plate 66 includes a cam follow 68 ( a roller in the illustrated embodiment ) rotatably mounted within a slot 72 formed in the actuator plate 66 . in an embodiment of the invention , one cam body 56 and associated platen 64 and cam follower 68 are associated with each deformable vessel ( e . g . blister 36 ) of the liquid reagent module 40 . the actuator platen assembly 52 and the sliding actuator plate 66 are configured to be movable relative to each other . in one embodiment , the actuator platen assembly 52 is fixed , and the actuator plate 66 is configured to move laterally relative to the platen assembly 52 , supported by the v - rollers 74 . lateral movement of the sliding actuator plate 66 , e . g ., in the direction “ a ”, causes the cam follower 68 to translate along the cam surface 65 of the cam body 56 , thereby actuating the cam body 56 and the platen 64 attached thereto . in fig3 a and 3b , before the sliding actuator plate 66 has begun to move relative to the actuator platen assembly 52 , the cam follower 68 is disposed on the initial flat portion 61 of the cam surface 65 of the cam body 56 . in fig4 a and 4b , the sliding actuator plate 66 has moved relative to the actuator platen assembly 52 in the direction “ a ” so that the cam follower 68 has moved across the initial flat portion 61 of the cam surface 65 and has just begun to engage the upwardly curved contour of the convexly - curved portion 62 of the cam surface 65 of the cam body 56 . in fig5 a and 5b , the sliding actuator plate 66 has proceeded in the direction “ a ” to a point such that the cam follower 68 is at the topmost point of the convexly - curved portion 62 of the cam surface 65 , thereby causing the cam body 56 to rotate about the first pivot 58 . the platen 64 is lowered by the downwardly pivoting cam body 56 and pivots relative to the cam body 56 about the second pivot 60 and thereby compresses the blister 36 . in fig6 a and 6b , sliding actuator plate 66 has moved to a position in the direction “ a ” relative to the actuator platen assembly 52 such that the cam follower 68 has progressed to the second flat portion 63 of the cam surface 65 . accordingly , the cam body 56 , urged by the torsion spring 55 , pivots about the first pivot 58 back to the unactuated position , thereby retracting the platen 64 . thus , the articulated blister actuator platen assembly 52 is constructed and arranged to convert the horizontal movement of actuator plate 66 into vertical movement of the platen 64 to compress a blister , and movement of the platen does not require pneumatic , electromechanical , or other components at larger distances above and / or below the liquid module . an alternative embodiment of a blister compression actuator mechanism is indicated by reference number 80 in fig7 a and 7b . actuator 80 includes a linear actuator 82 that is coupled to a cam rail 84 . cam rail 84 is supported for longitudinal movement by a first support rod 96 extending transversely through slot 86 and a second support rod 98 extending transversely through a second slot 88 formed in the cam rail 84 . the first support rod 96 and / or the second support rod 98 may include an annular groove within which portions of the cam rail 84 surrounding slot 86 or slot 88 may be supported , or cylindrical spacers may be placed over the first support rod 96 and / or the second support rod 98 on opposite sides of the cam rail 84 to prevent the cam rail 84 from twisting or sliding axially along the first support rail 96 and / or the second support rail 98 . cam rail 84 includes one or more cam profile slots . in the illustrated embodiment , cam rail 84 includes three cam profile slots 90 , 92 , and 94 . referring to cam profile slot 90 , in the illustrated embodiment , slot 90 includes , progressing from left to right in the figure , an initial horizontal portion , a downwardly sloped portion , and a second horizontal portion . the shapes of the cam profile slots are exemplary , and other shapes may be effectively implemented . the actuator mechanism 80 also includes a platen associated with each cam profile slot . in the illustrated embodiment , actuator 80 includes three platens 100 , 102 , 104 associated with cam profile slots 90 , 92 , 94 , respectively . first platen 100 is coupled to the cam profile slot 90 by a cam follower pin 106 extending transversely from the platen 100 into the cam profile slot 90 . similarly , second platen 102 is coupled to the second cam profile slot 92 by a cam follower pin 108 , and the third platen 104 is coupled to the third cam profile slot 94 by a cam follower pin 110 . platens 100 , 102 , 104 are supported and guided by a guide 112 , which may comprise a panel having openings formed therein conforming to the shape of each of the platens . in fig7 a , cam rail 84 is in its furthest right - most position , and the platens 100 , 102 , 104 are in their unactuated positions . each of the cam follower pins 106 , 108 , 110 is in the initial upper horizontal portion of the respective cam profile slot 90 , 92 , 94 . as the cam rail 84 is moved longitudinally to the left , in the direction “ a ” shown in fig7 b , by the linear actuator 82 , each cam follower pin 106 , 108 , 110 moves within its respective cam profile slot 90 , 92 , 94 until the cam follower pin is in the lower , second horizontal portion of the respective cam profile slot . movement of each of the pins 106 , 108 , 110 downwardly within its respective cam profile slot 90 , 92 , 94 causes a corresponding downward movement of the associated platen 100 , 102 , 104 . this movement of the platens thereby compresses a fluid vessel ( or blister ) located under each platen . each platen may compress a vessel directly in contact with the platen or it may contact the vessel through one or more intermediate components located between the vessel and the corresponding platen . thus , the blister compression actuator mechanism 80 is constructed and arranged to convert the horizontal movement cam rail 84 , driven by the linear actuator 82 , into vertical movement of the platens 100 , 102 , 104 to compress blisters , and movement of the platens does not require pneumatic , electromechanical , or other components at larger distances above and / or below the liquid module . when compressing a fluid vessel , or blister , to displace the fluid contents thereof , sufficient compressive force must be applied to the blister to break , or otherwise open , a breakable seal that is holding the fluid within the vessel . the amount of force required to break the seal and displace the fluid contents of a vessel typically increases as the volume of the vessel increases . this is illustrated in the bar graph shown in fig1 , which shows the minimum , maximum , and average blister burst forces required for blisters having volumes of 100 , 200 , 400 , and 3000 microliters . the average force required to burst a blister of 400 or less microliters is relatively small , ranging from an average of 10 . 7 lbf to 11 . 5 lbf . on the other hand , the force required to burst a blister of 3000 microliters is substantially larger , with an average burst force of 43 . 4 lbf and a maximum required burst force of greater than 65 lbf . generating such large forces can be difficult , especially in low profile actuator mechanisms , such as those described above , in which horizontal displacement of an actuator is converted into vertical , blister - compressing movement of a platen . accordingly , aspects of the present invention are embodied in methods and apparatus for opening a fluid vessel , or blister , in a manner that reduces the amount of force required to burst the vessel and displace the fluid contents of the vessel . such aspects of the invention are illustrated in fig8 a and 8b . as shown in fig8 a , a fluid vessel ( or blister ) 122 is mounted on a substrate 124 and is connected by means of a channel 130 to a sphere blister 128 . in certain embodiments , channel 130 may be initially blocked by a breakable seal . a film layer 129 may be disposed on the bottom of the substrate 124 to cover one or more channels formed in the bottom of the substrate 124 to form fluid conduits . an opening device , comprising a sphere 126 ( e . g ., a steel ball bearing ) is enclosed within the sphere blister 128 and is supported , as shown in fig8 a , within the sphere blister 128 by a foil partition or septum 125 . the foil partition 125 prevents fluid from flowing from the vessel 122 through a recess 127 and fluid exit port 123 . upon applying downward force to the sphere 126 , however , a large local compressive stress is generated due to the relatively small surface size of the sphere 126 , and the foil partition 125 can be broken with relatively little force to push the sphere 126 through the partition 125 and into the recess 127 , as shown in fig8 b . with the foil partition 125 broken , a relatively small additional force is required to break a seal within channel 130 and force the fluid to flow from the vessel 122 through the fluid exit port 123 . in fig8 b , the sphere blister 128 is shown intact . in some embodiments , a force applied to the sphere 126 to push it through the foil partition 125 would also collapse the sphere blister 128 . an apparatus for opening a vessel by pushing a sphere 126 through foil partition 125 is indicated by reference number 120 in fig9 a , 9b , 9c , 9d . in the illustrated embodiment , the apparatus 120 includes a ball actuator 140 extending through an opening formed through a blister plate , or platen , 132 . with the blister plate 132 and an actuator 138 configured for moving the blister plate 132 disposed above the vessel 122 , the ball actuator 140 is secured in a first position , shown in fig9 a , by a detent 136 that engages a detent collar 144 formed in the ball actuator 140 . as shown in fig9 b , the blister plate 132 is moved by the actuator 138 down to a position in which a contact end 142 of the ball actuator 140 contacts the top of the of the sphere blister 128 . actuator 138 may comprise a low profile actuator , such as actuator mechanisms 50 or 80 described above . as shown in fig9 c , continued downward movement of the blister plate 132 by the actuator 138 causes the ball actuator 140 to collapse the sphere blister 128 , thereby pushing the opening device , e . g ., sphere 126 , through a partition blocking fluid flow from the vessel 122 . in this regard , it will be appreciated that the detent must provide a holding force sufficient to prevent the ball actuator 140 from sliding relative to the blister plate 132 until after the sphere 126 has pierced the partition . thus , the detent must provide a holding force sufficient to collapse the sphere blister 128 and push the sphere 126 through a partition . as shown in fig9 d , continued downward movement of the blister plate 132 by the actuator 138 eventually overcomes the holding force provided by the detent 136 , and the ball actuator 140 is then released to move relative to the blister plate 132 , so that the blister plate can continue to move down and collapse the vessel 122 . after the vessel 122 is collapsed , the blister plate 132 can be raised by the actuator 138 to the position shown in fig9 a . as the blister plate 132 is being raised from the position shown in fig9 d to the position shown in 9 a , a hard stop 146 contacts a top end of the ball actuator 140 to prevent its continued upward movement , thereby sliding the ball actuator 140 relative to the blister plate 132 until the detent 136 contacts the detent collar 144 to reset the ball actuator 140 . an alternative embodiment of an apparatus for opening a vessel embodying aspects of the present invention is indicated by reference number 150 in fig1 . apparatus 150 includes a pivoting ball actuator 152 configured to pivot about a pivot pin 154 . a top surface 156 of the pivoting ball actuator 152 comprises a cam surface , and a cam follower 158 , comprising a roller , moving in the direction “ a ” along the cam surface 156 pivots the actuator 152 down in the direction “ b ” to collapse the sphere blister 128 and force the sphere 126 through the foil partition 125 . pivoting actuator 152 may further include a torsional spring ( not shown ) or other means for restoring the actuator to an up position disengaged with the sphere blister 128 when the cam follower 158 is withdrawn . fig1 is a plot of compressive load versus time showing an exemplary load versus time curve for an apparatus for opening a vessel embodying aspects of the present invention . as the apparatus contacts and begins to compress the sphere blister 128 , the load experiences an initial increase as shown at portion ( a ) of the graph . a plateau shown at portion ( b ) of the graph occurs after the sphere 126 penetrates the foil partition 125 . a second increase in the force load occurs when the blister plate 132 makes contact with and begins compressing the vessel 122 . a peak , as shown at part ( c ) of the plot , is reached as a breakable seal within channel 130 between the vessel 122 and the sphere blister 128 is broken . after the seal has been broken , the pressure drops dramatically , as shown at part ( d ) of the plot , as the vessel 122 is collapsed and the fluid contained therein is forced through the exit port 123 ( see fig8 a , 8b ) supporting the sphere 126 . an alternative apparatus for opening a vessel is indicated by reference number 160 in fig1 a . as shown in fig1 a , a fluid vessel ( or blister ) 162 is mounted on a substrate 172 and is connected by means of a channel — which may or may not be initially blocked by a breakable seal — to a dimple 161 . a film layer 164 may be disposed on the bottom of the substrate 172 to cover one or more channels formed in the bottom of the substrate 172 to form fluid conduits . an opening device comprising a cantilevered lance 166 is positioned within a lance chamber 170 formed in the substrate 172 where it is anchored at an end thereof by a screw attachment 168 . a foil partition or septum 165 seals the interior of the dimple 161 from the lance chamber 170 . an actuator pushes the lance 170 up in the direction “ a ” into the dimple 161 , thereby piercing the foil partition 165 and permitting fluid to flow from the blister 162 out of the lance chamber 170 and a fluid exit port . the spring force resilience of the lance 166 returns it to its initial position after the upward force is removed . in one embodiment , the lance 166 is made of metal . alternatively , a plastic lance could be part of a molded plastic substrate on which the blister 162 is formed . alternatively , a metallic lance could be heat staked onto a male plastic post . a further option is to employ a formed metal wire as a lance . a further alternative embodiment of an apparatus for opening a vessel is indicated by reference number 180 in fig1 . a component having one or more deformable vessels includes at least one blister 182 formed on a substrate 194 . in the arrangement shown in fig1 , an internal dimple 184 is formed inside the blister 182 . internal dimple 184 encloses an opening device comprising a fixed spike 186 projecting upwardly from a spike cavity 188 formed in the substrate 194 . a film layer 192 is disposed on an opposite side of the substrate 194 . as an actuator presses down on the blister 182 , internal pressure within the blister 182 causes the internal dimple 184 to collapse and invert . the inverted dimple is punctured by the fixed spike 186 , thereby permitting fluid within the blister 182 to flow through an exit port 190 . an alternative apparatus for opening a vessel is indicated by reference number 200 in fig1 a . as shown in fig1 a , a fluid vessel ( or blister ) 202 is mounted on a substrate 216 and is connected by means of a channel — which may or may not be initially blocked by a breakable seal — to a dimple 204 . an opening device comprising a lancing pin 206 having a fluid port 208 formed through the center thereof ( see fig1 b ) is disposed within a segmented bore 220 formed in the substrate 216 beneath the dimple 204 . a partition or septum 205 separates the dimple 204 from the bore 220 , thereby preventing fluid from exiting the blister 202 and dimple 204 . an actuator ( not shown ) presses on a film layer 212 disposed on a bottom portion of the substrate 216 in the direction “ a ” forcing the lancing pin 206 up within the segmented bore 220 until a shoulder 210 formed on the lancing pin 206 encounters a hard stop 222 formed in the segmented bore 220 . a lancing point of the pin 206 pierces the partition 205 thereby permitting fluid to flow through the fluid port 208 in the lancing pin 206 and out of a fluid exit channel 214 . an alternative embodiment of an apparatus for opening a vessel is indicated by reference number 230 in fig1 a and 16b . as shown in fig1 a , a fluid vessel ( or blister ) 232 is mounted on a substrate 244 and is connected by means of a channel — which may or may not be initially blocked by a breakable seal — to a dimple 234 . an opening device comprising a lancing pin 236 is disposed within a segmented board 246 formed in the substrate 244 beneath the dimple 234 . a partition or septum 235 separates the dimple 234 from the segmented bore 246 . the upper surface of the substrate 244 is sealed with a film 240 before the blister 232 and dimple 234 are adhered . an actuator ( not shown ) pushes up on the lancing pin 236 in the direction “ a ” until a shoulder 238 formed on the lancing pin 236 encounters hard stop 248 within the bore 246 . the pin 236 thereby pierces the partition 235 and remains in the upper position as fluid flows out along an exit channel 242 formed on an upper surface of the substrate 244 . a fluid tight seal is maintained between the pin 238 and the bore 246 by a slight interference fit . as the collapsible fluid vessels of a liquid reagent module are configured to be compressed and collapsed to displace the fluid contents from the vessel ( s ), such vessels are susceptible to damage or fluid leakage due to inadvertent exposures to contacts that impart a compressing force to the vessel . accordingly , when storing , handling , or transporting a component having one or more collapsible fluid vessels , it is desirable to protect the fluid vessel and avoid such inadvertent contact . the liquid reagent module could be stored within a rigid casing to protect the collapsible vessel ( s ) from unintended external forces , but such a casing would inhibit or prevent collapsing of the vessel by application of an external force . thus , the liquid reagent module would have to be removed from the casing prior to use , thereby leaving the collapsible vessel ( s ) of the module vulnerable to unintended external forces . an apparatus for protecting and interfacing with a collapsible vessel is indicated by reference number 260 in fig1 , 18 , and 19 . a component with one or more collapsible vessels includes a collapsible blister 262 formed on a substrate 264 . a dispensing channel 266 extends from the blister 262 to a frangible seal 268 . it is understood that , in some alternative embodiments , the dispensing channel 266 may be substituted with a breakable seal , providing an additional safeguard against an accidental reagent release . frangible seal 268 may comprise one of the apparatuses for opening a vessel described above and shown in any of fig8 - 16 . a rigid or semi - rigid housing is provided over the blister 262 and , optionally , the dispensing channel 266 as well , and comprises a blister housing cover 270 covering the blister 262 and a blister housing extension 280 covering and protecting the dispensing channel 266 and the area of the frangible seal 268 . a floating actuator plate 276 is disposed within the blister housing cover 270 . in the illustrated embodiments , both the blister housing cover 270 and the floating actuator plate 276 are circular , but the housing 270 and the actuator plate 276 could be of any shape , preferably generally conforming to the shape of the blister 262 . the apparatus 260 further includes a plunger 274 having a plunger point 275 at one end thereof . plunger 274 is disposed above the blister housing cover 270 generally at a center portion thereof and disposed above an aperture 272 formed in the housing 270 . the floating actuator plate 276 includes a plunger receiver recess 278 , which , in an embodiment , generally conforms to the shape of the plunger point 275 . the blister 262 is collapsed by actuating the plunger 274 downwardly into the aperture 272 . plunger 274 may be actuated by any suitable mechanism , including one of the actuator mechanisms 50 , 80 described above . plunger 274 passes into the aperture 272 where the plunger point 275 nests within the plunger receiver recess 278 of the floating actuator plate 276 . continued downward movement by the plunger 274 presses the actuator plate 276 against the blister 262 , thereby collapsing the blister 262 and displacing fluid from the blister 262 through the dispensing channel 266 to a fluid egress . continued pressure will cause the frangible seal at 268 to break , or an apparatus for opening the vessel as described above may be employed to open the frangible seal . the plunger point 275 nested within the plunger point recess 278 helps to keep the plunger 274 centered with respect to the actuator plate 276 and prevents the actuator plate 276 from sliding laterally relative to the plunger 274 . when the blister is fully collapsed , as shown in fig1 , a convex side of the plunger receiver recess 278 of the floating actuator plate 276 nests within a plunger recess 282 formed in the substrate 264 . accordingly , the blister housing cover 270 protects the blister 262 from inadvertent damage or collapse , while the floating actuator plate inside the blister housing cover 270 permits and facilitates the collapsing of the blister 262 without having to remove or otherwise alter the blister housing cover 270 . in components having more than one collapsible vessel and dispensing channel , a blister housing cover may be provided for all of the vessels and dispensing channels or for some , but less than all vessels and dispensing channels . while the present invention has been described and shown in considerable detail with reference to certain illustrative embodiments , including various combinations and sub - combinations of features , those skilled in the art will readily appreciate other embodiments and variations and modifications thereof as encompassed within the scope of the present invention . moreover , the descriptions of such embodiments , combinations , and sub - combinations is not intended to convey that the inventions requires features or combinations of features other than those expressly recited in the claims . accordingly , the present invention is deemed to include all modifications and variations encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following appended claims .	Is 'Performing Operations; Transporting' the correct technical category for the patent?	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'Electricity'?	0.25	c84308d14e27651f1e8fb69c35afed32101c57f17dd94f5a8289f90a2b3c1182	0.060059	0.002319	0.043457	0.000179	0.04541	0.000969
null	unless defined otherwise , all terms of art , notations and other scientific terms or terminology used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs . many of the techniques and procedures described or referenced herein are well understood and commonly employed using conventional methodology by those skilled in the art . as appropriate , procedures involving the use of commercially available kits and reagents are generally carried out in accordance with manufacturer defined protocols and / or parameters unless otherwise noted . all patents , applications , published applications and other publications referred to herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety . if a definition set forth in this section is contrary to or otherwise inconsistent with a definition set forth in the patents , applications , published applications , and other publications that are herein incorporated by reference , the definition set forth in this section prevails over the definition that is incorporated herein by reference . as used herein , “ a ” or “ an ” means “ at least one ” or “ one or more .” this description may use relative spatial and / or orientation terms in describing the position and / or orientation of a component , apparatus , location , feature , or a portion thereof . unless specifically stated , or otherwise dictated by the context of the description , such terms , including , without limitation , top , bottom , above , below , under , on top of , upper , lower , left of , right of , in front of , behind , next to , adjacent , between , horizontal , vertical , diagonal , longitudinal , transverse , etc ., are used for convenience in referring to such component , apparatus , location , feature , or a portion thereof in the drawings and are not intended to be limiting . an actuator mechanism for compressing deformable fluid vessels — such as blisters on a liquid reagent module — embodying aspects of the present invention is shown at reference number 50 in fig2 . the actuator mechanism 50 may include an articulated blister actuator platen assembly 52 and a sliding actuator plate 66 . the sliding actuator plate 66 is configured to be movable in a direction that is generally parallel to the plane of the liquid reagent module — horizontally in the illustrated embodiment — and may be driven by a linear actuator , a rack and pinion , a belt drive , or other suitable motive means . sliding actuator plate 66 , in the illustrated embodiment , has v - shaped edges 76 that are supported in four v - rollers 74 to accommodate movement of the plate 66 in opposite rectilinear directions , while holding the sliding actuator plate 66 at a fixed spacing from the actuator platen assembly 52 . other features may be provided to guide the actuator plate 66 , such as rails and cooperating grooves . a component 40 — which may comprise liquid reagent module 10 described above — having one or more deformable fluid vessels , such as blisters 36 and 38 , is positioned within the actuator mechanism 50 beneath the articulated blister actuator platen assembly 52 . further details of the configuration of the articulated blister actuator platen assembly 52 and the operation thereof are shown in fig3 a - 6b . as shown in fig3 a and 3b , the actuator platen assembly 52 includes a chassis 54 . a cam body 56 is disposed within a slot 57 of the chassis 54 and is attached to the chassis 54 by a first pivot 58 . a platen 64 is pivotally attached to the cam body 56 by means of a second pivot 60 . the cam body 56 is held in a horizontal , unactuated position within the slot 57 by means of a torsional spring 55 coupled around the first pivot 58 . cam body 56 further includes a cam surface 65 along one edge thereof ( top edge in the figure ) which , in the exemplary embodiment shown in fig3 b , comprises an initial flat portion 61 , a convexly - curved portion 62 , and a second flat portion 63 . the sliding actuator plate 66 includes a cam follow 68 ( a roller in the illustrated embodiment ) rotatably mounted within a slot 72 formed in the actuator plate 66 . in an embodiment of the invention , one cam body 56 and associated platen 64 and cam follower 68 are associated with each deformable vessel ( e . g . blister 36 ) of the liquid reagent module 40 . the actuator platen assembly 52 and the sliding actuator plate 66 are configured to be movable relative to each other . in one embodiment , the actuator platen assembly 52 is fixed , and the actuator plate 66 is configured to move laterally relative to the platen assembly 52 , supported by the v - rollers 74 . lateral movement of the sliding actuator plate 66 , e . g ., in the direction “ a ”, causes the cam follower 68 to translate along the cam surface 65 of the cam body 56 , thereby actuating the cam body 56 and the platen 64 attached thereto . in fig3 a and 3b , before the sliding actuator plate 66 has begun to move relative to the actuator platen assembly 52 , the cam follower 68 is disposed on the initial flat portion 61 of the cam surface 65 of the cam body 56 . in fig4 a and 4b , the sliding actuator plate 66 has moved relative to the actuator platen assembly 52 in the direction “ a ” so that the cam follower 68 has moved across the initial flat portion 61 of the cam surface 65 and has just begun to engage the upwardly curved contour of the convexly - curved portion 62 of the cam surface 65 of the cam body 56 . in fig5 a and 5b , the sliding actuator plate 66 has proceeded in the direction “ a ” to a point such that the cam follower 68 is at the topmost point of the convexly - curved portion 62 of the cam surface 65 , thereby causing the cam body 56 to rotate about the first pivot 58 . the platen 64 is lowered by the downwardly pivoting cam body 56 and pivots relative to the cam body 56 about the second pivot 60 and thereby compresses the blister 36 . in fig6 a and 6b , sliding actuator plate 66 has moved to a position in the direction “ a ” relative to the actuator platen assembly 52 such that the cam follower 68 has progressed to the second flat portion 63 of the cam surface 65 . accordingly , the cam body 56 , urged by the torsion spring 55 , pivots about the first pivot 58 back to the unactuated position , thereby retracting the platen 64 . thus , the articulated blister actuator platen assembly 52 is constructed and arranged to convert the horizontal movement of actuator plate 66 into vertical movement of the platen 64 to compress a blister , and movement of the platen does not require pneumatic , electromechanical , or other components at larger distances above and / or below the liquid module . an alternative embodiment of a blister compression actuator mechanism is indicated by reference number 80 in fig7 a and 7b . actuator 80 includes a linear actuator 82 that is coupled to a cam rail 84 . cam rail 84 is supported for longitudinal movement by a first support rod 96 extending transversely through slot 86 and a second support rod 98 extending transversely through a second slot 88 formed in the cam rail 84 . the first support rod 96 and / or the second support rod 98 may include an annular groove within which portions of the cam rail 84 surrounding slot 86 or slot 88 may be supported , or cylindrical spacers may be placed over the first support rod 96 and / or the second support rod 98 on opposite sides of the cam rail 84 to prevent the cam rail 84 from twisting or sliding axially along the first support rail 96 and / or the second support rail 98 . cam rail 84 includes one or more cam profile slots . in the illustrated embodiment , cam rail 84 includes three cam profile slots 90 , 92 , and 94 . referring to cam profile slot 90 , in the illustrated embodiment , slot 90 includes , progressing from left to right in the figure , an initial horizontal portion , a downwardly sloped portion , and a second horizontal portion . the shapes of the cam profile slots are exemplary , and other shapes may be effectively implemented . the actuator mechanism 80 also includes a platen associated with each cam profile slot . in the illustrated embodiment , actuator 80 includes three platens 100 , 102 , 104 associated with cam profile slots 90 , 92 , 94 , respectively . first platen 100 is coupled to the cam profile slot 90 by a cam follower pin 106 extending transversely from the platen 100 into the cam profile slot 90 . similarly , second platen 102 is coupled to the second cam profile slot 92 by a cam follower pin 108 , and the third platen 104 is coupled to the third cam profile slot 94 by a cam follower pin 110 . platens 100 , 102 , 104 are supported and guided by a guide 112 , which may comprise a panel having openings formed therein conforming to the shape of each of the platens . in fig7 a , cam rail 84 is in its furthest right - most position , and the platens 100 , 102 , 104 are in their unactuated positions . each of the cam follower pins 106 , 108 , 110 is in the initial upper horizontal portion of the respective cam profile slot 90 , 92 , 94 . as the cam rail 84 is moved longitudinally to the left , in the direction “ a ” shown in fig7 b , by the linear actuator 82 , each cam follower pin 106 , 108 , 110 moves within its respective cam profile slot 90 , 92 , 94 until the cam follower pin is in the lower , second horizontal portion of the respective cam profile slot . movement of each of the pins 106 , 108 , 110 downwardly within its respective cam profile slot 90 , 92 , 94 causes a corresponding downward movement of the associated platen 100 , 102 , 104 . this movement of the platens thereby compresses a fluid vessel ( or blister ) located under each platen . each platen may compress a vessel directly in contact with the platen or it may contact the vessel through one or more intermediate components located between the vessel and the corresponding platen . thus , the blister compression actuator mechanism 80 is constructed and arranged to convert the horizontal movement cam rail 84 , driven by the linear actuator 82 , into vertical movement of the platens 100 , 102 , 104 to compress blisters , and movement of the platens does not require pneumatic , electromechanical , or other components at larger distances above and / or below the liquid module . when compressing a fluid vessel , or blister , to displace the fluid contents thereof , sufficient compressive force must be applied to the blister to break , or otherwise open , a breakable seal that is holding the fluid within the vessel . the amount of force required to break the seal and displace the fluid contents of a vessel typically increases as the volume of the vessel increases . this is illustrated in the bar graph shown in fig1 , which shows the minimum , maximum , and average blister burst forces required for blisters having volumes of 100 , 200 , 400 , and 3000 microliters . the average force required to burst a blister of 400 or less microliters is relatively small , ranging from an average of 10 . 7 lbf to 11 . 5 lbf . on the other hand , the force required to burst a blister of 3000 microliters is substantially larger , with an average burst force of 43 . 4 lbf and a maximum required burst force of greater than 65 lbf . generating such large forces can be difficult , especially in low profile actuator mechanisms , such as those described above , in which horizontal displacement of an actuator is converted into vertical , blister - compressing movement of a platen . accordingly , aspects of the present invention are embodied in methods and apparatus for opening a fluid vessel , or blister , in a manner that reduces the amount of force required to burst the vessel and displace the fluid contents of the vessel . such aspects of the invention are illustrated in fig8 a and 8b . as shown in fig8 a , a fluid vessel ( or blister ) 122 is mounted on a substrate 124 and is connected by means of a channel 130 to a sphere blister 128 . in certain embodiments , channel 130 may be initially blocked by a breakable seal . a film layer 129 may be disposed on the bottom of the substrate 124 to cover one or more channels formed in the bottom of the substrate 124 to form fluid conduits . an opening device , comprising a sphere 126 ( e . g ., a steel ball bearing ) is enclosed within the sphere blister 128 and is supported , as shown in fig8 a , within the sphere blister 128 by a foil partition or septum 125 . the foil partition 125 prevents fluid from flowing from the vessel 122 through a recess 127 and fluid exit port 123 . upon applying downward force to the sphere 126 , however , a large local compressive stress is generated due to the relatively small surface size of the sphere 126 , and the foil partition 125 can be broken with relatively little force to push the sphere 126 through the partition 125 and into the recess 127 , as shown in fig8 b . with the foil partition 125 broken , a relatively small additional force is required to break a seal within channel 130 and force the fluid to flow from the vessel 122 through the fluid exit port 123 . in fig8 b , the sphere blister 128 is shown intact . in some embodiments , a force applied to the sphere 126 to push it through the foil partition 125 would also collapse the sphere blister 128 . an apparatus for opening a vessel by pushing a sphere 126 through foil partition 125 is indicated by reference number 120 in fig9 a , 9b , 9c , 9d . in the illustrated embodiment , the apparatus 120 includes a ball actuator 140 extending through an opening formed through a blister plate , or platen , 132 . with the blister plate 132 and an actuator 138 configured for moving the blister plate 132 disposed above the vessel 122 , the ball actuator 140 is secured in a first position , shown in fig9 a , by a detent 136 that engages a detent collar 144 formed in the ball actuator 140 . as shown in fig9 b , the blister plate 132 is moved by the actuator 138 down to a position in which a contact end 142 of the ball actuator 140 contacts the top of the of the sphere blister 128 . actuator 138 may comprise a low profile actuator , such as actuator mechanisms 50 or 80 described above . as shown in fig9 c , continued downward movement of the blister plate 132 by the actuator 138 causes the ball actuator 140 to collapse the sphere blister 128 , thereby pushing the opening device , e . g ., sphere 126 , through a partition blocking fluid flow from the vessel 122 . in this regard , it will be appreciated that the detent must provide a holding force sufficient to prevent the ball actuator 140 from sliding relative to the blister plate 132 until after the sphere 126 has pierced the partition . thus , the detent must provide a holding force sufficient to collapse the sphere blister 128 and push the sphere 126 through a partition . as shown in fig9 d , continued downward movement of the blister plate 132 by the actuator 138 eventually overcomes the holding force provided by the detent 136 , and the ball actuator 140 is then released to move relative to the blister plate 132 , so that the blister plate can continue to move down and collapse the vessel 122 . after the vessel 122 is collapsed , the blister plate 132 can be raised by the actuator 138 to the position shown in fig9 a . as the blister plate 132 is being raised from the position shown in fig9 d to the position shown in 9 a , a hard stop 146 contacts a top end of the ball actuator 140 to prevent its continued upward movement , thereby sliding the ball actuator 140 relative to the blister plate 132 until the detent 136 contacts the detent collar 144 to reset the ball actuator 140 . an alternative embodiment of an apparatus for opening a vessel embodying aspects of the present invention is indicated by reference number 150 in fig1 . apparatus 150 includes a pivoting ball actuator 152 configured to pivot about a pivot pin 154 . a top surface 156 of the pivoting ball actuator 152 comprises a cam surface , and a cam follower 158 , comprising a roller , moving in the direction “ a ” along the cam surface 156 pivots the actuator 152 down in the direction “ b ” to collapse the sphere blister 128 and force the sphere 126 through the foil partition 125 . pivoting actuator 152 may further include a torsional spring ( not shown ) or other means for restoring the actuator to an up position disengaged with the sphere blister 128 when the cam follower 158 is withdrawn . fig1 is a plot of compressive load versus time showing an exemplary load versus time curve for an apparatus for opening a vessel embodying aspects of the present invention . as the apparatus contacts and begins to compress the sphere blister 128 , the load experiences an initial increase as shown at portion ( a ) of the graph . a plateau shown at portion ( b ) of the graph occurs after the sphere 126 penetrates the foil partition 125 . a second increase in the force load occurs when the blister plate 132 makes contact with and begins compressing the vessel 122 . a peak , as shown at part ( c ) of the plot , is reached as a breakable seal within channel 130 between the vessel 122 and the sphere blister 128 is broken . after the seal has been broken , the pressure drops dramatically , as shown at part ( d ) of the plot , as the vessel 122 is collapsed and the fluid contained therein is forced through the exit port 123 ( see fig8 a , 8b ) supporting the sphere 126 . an alternative apparatus for opening a vessel is indicated by reference number 160 in fig1 a . as shown in fig1 a , a fluid vessel ( or blister ) 162 is mounted on a substrate 172 and is connected by means of a channel — which may or may not be initially blocked by a breakable seal — to a dimple 161 . a film layer 164 may be disposed on the bottom of the substrate 172 to cover one or more channels formed in the bottom of the substrate 172 to form fluid conduits . an opening device comprising a cantilevered lance 166 is positioned within a lance chamber 170 formed in the substrate 172 where it is anchored at an end thereof by a screw attachment 168 . a foil partition or septum 165 seals the interior of the dimple 161 from the lance chamber 170 . an actuator pushes the lance 170 up in the direction “ a ” into the dimple 161 , thereby piercing the foil partition 165 and permitting fluid to flow from the blister 162 out of the lance chamber 170 and a fluid exit port . the spring force resilience of the lance 166 returns it to its initial position after the upward force is removed . in one embodiment , the lance 166 is made of metal . alternatively , a plastic lance could be part of a molded plastic substrate on which the blister 162 is formed . alternatively , a metallic lance could be heat staked onto a male plastic post . a further option is to employ a formed metal wire as a lance . a further alternative embodiment of an apparatus for opening a vessel is indicated by reference number 180 in fig1 . a component having one or more deformable vessels includes at least one blister 182 formed on a substrate 194 . in the arrangement shown in fig1 , an internal dimple 184 is formed inside the blister 182 . internal dimple 184 encloses an opening device comprising a fixed spike 186 projecting upwardly from a spike cavity 188 formed in the substrate 194 . a film layer 192 is disposed on an opposite side of the substrate 194 . as an actuator presses down on the blister 182 , internal pressure within the blister 182 causes the internal dimple 184 to collapse and invert . the inverted dimple is punctured by the fixed spike 186 , thereby permitting fluid within the blister 182 to flow through an exit port 190 . an alternative apparatus for opening a vessel is indicated by reference number 200 in fig1 a . as shown in fig1 a , a fluid vessel ( or blister ) 202 is mounted on a substrate 216 and is connected by means of a channel — which may or may not be initially blocked by a breakable seal — to a dimple 204 . an opening device comprising a lancing pin 206 having a fluid port 208 formed through the center thereof ( see fig1 b ) is disposed within a segmented bore 220 formed in the substrate 216 beneath the dimple 204 . a partition or septum 205 separates the dimple 204 from the bore 220 , thereby preventing fluid from exiting the blister 202 and dimple 204 . an actuator ( not shown ) presses on a film layer 212 disposed on a bottom portion of the substrate 216 in the direction “ a ” forcing the lancing pin 206 up within the segmented bore 220 until a shoulder 210 formed on the lancing pin 206 encounters a hard stop 222 formed in the segmented bore 220 . a lancing point of the pin 206 pierces the partition 205 thereby permitting fluid to flow through the fluid port 208 in the lancing pin 206 and out of a fluid exit channel 214 . an alternative embodiment of an apparatus for opening a vessel is indicated by reference number 230 in fig1 a and 16b . as shown in fig1 a , a fluid vessel ( or blister ) 232 is mounted on a substrate 244 and is connected by means of a channel — which may or may not be initially blocked by a breakable seal — to a dimple 234 . an opening device comprising a lancing pin 236 is disposed within a segmented board 246 formed in the substrate 244 beneath the dimple 234 . a partition or septum 235 separates the dimple 234 from the segmented bore 246 . the upper surface of the substrate 244 is sealed with a film 240 before the blister 232 and dimple 234 are adhered . an actuator ( not shown ) pushes up on the lancing pin 236 in the direction “ a ” until a shoulder 238 formed on the lancing pin 236 encounters hard stop 248 within the bore 246 . the pin 236 thereby pierces the partition 235 and remains in the upper position as fluid flows out along an exit channel 242 formed on an upper surface of the substrate 244 . a fluid tight seal is maintained between the pin 238 and the bore 246 by a slight interference fit . as the collapsible fluid vessels of a liquid reagent module are configured to be compressed and collapsed to displace the fluid contents from the vessel ( s ), such vessels are susceptible to damage or fluid leakage due to inadvertent exposures to contacts that impart a compressing force to the vessel . accordingly , when storing , handling , or transporting a component having one or more collapsible fluid vessels , it is desirable to protect the fluid vessel and avoid such inadvertent contact . the liquid reagent module could be stored within a rigid casing to protect the collapsible vessel ( s ) from unintended external forces , but such a casing would inhibit or prevent collapsing of the vessel by application of an external force . thus , the liquid reagent module would have to be removed from the casing prior to use , thereby leaving the collapsible vessel ( s ) of the module vulnerable to unintended external forces . an apparatus for protecting and interfacing with a collapsible vessel is indicated by reference number 260 in fig1 , 18 , and 19 . a component with one or more collapsible vessels includes a collapsible blister 262 formed on a substrate 264 . a dispensing channel 266 extends from the blister 262 to a frangible seal 268 . it is understood that , in some alternative embodiments , the dispensing channel 266 may be substituted with a breakable seal , providing an additional safeguard against an accidental reagent release . frangible seal 268 may comprise one of the apparatuses for opening a vessel described above and shown in any of fig8 - 16 . a rigid or semi - rigid housing is provided over the blister 262 and , optionally , the dispensing channel 266 as well , and comprises a blister housing cover 270 covering the blister 262 and a blister housing extension 280 covering and protecting the dispensing channel 266 and the area of the frangible seal 268 . a floating actuator plate 276 is disposed within the blister housing cover 270 . in the illustrated embodiments , both the blister housing cover 270 and the floating actuator plate 276 are circular , but the housing 270 and the actuator plate 276 could be of any shape , preferably generally conforming to the shape of the blister 262 . the apparatus 260 further includes a plunger 274 having a plunger point 275 at one end thereof . plunger 274 is disposed above the blister housing cover 270 generally at a center portion thereof and disposed above an aperture 272 formed in the housing 270 . the floating actuator plate 276 includes a plunger receiver recess 278 , which , in an embodiment , generally conforms to the shape of the plunger point 275 . the blister 262 is collapsed by actuating the plunger 274 downwardly into the aperture 272 . plunger 274 may be actuated by any suitable mechanism , including one of the actuator mechanisms 50 , 80 described above . plunger 274 passes into the aperture 272 where the plunger point 275 nests within the plunger receiver recess 278 of the floating actuator plate 276 . continued downward movement by the plunger 274 presses the actuator plate 276 against the blister 262 , thereby collapsing the blister 262 and displacing fluid from the blister 262 through the dispensing channel 266 to a fluid egress . continued pressure will cause the frangible seal at 268 to break , or an apparatus for opening the vessel as described above may be employed to open the frangible seal . the plunger point 275 nested within the plunger point recess 278 helps to keep the plunger 274 centered with respect to the actuator plate 276 and prevents the actuator plate 276 from sliding laterally relative to the plunger 274 . when the blister is fully collapsed , as shown in fig1 , a convex side of the plunger receiver recess 278 of the floating actuator plate 276 nests within a plunger recess 282 formed in the substrate 264 . accordingly , the blister housing cover 270 protects the blister 262 from inadvertent damage or collapse , while the floating actuator plate inside the blister housing cover 270 permits and facilitates the collapsing of the blister 262 without having to remove or otherwise alter the blister housing cover 270 . in components having more than one collapsible vessel and dispensing channel , a blister housing cover may be provided for all of the vessels and dispensing channels or for some , but less than all vessels and dispensing channels . while the present invention has been described and shown in considerable detail with reference to certain illustrative embodiments , including various combinations and sub - combinations of features , those skilled in the art will readily appreciate other embodiments and variations and modifications thereof as encompassed within the scope of the present invention . moreover , the descriptions of such embodiments , combinations , and sub - combinations is not intended to convey that the inventions requires features or combinations of features other than those expressly recited in the claims . accordingly , the present invention is deemed to include all modifications and variations encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following appended claims .	Is 'Performing Operations; Transporting' the correct technical category for the patent?	Should this patent be classified under 'General tagging of new or cross-sectional technology'?	0.25	c84308d14e27651f1e8fb69c35afed32101c57f17dd94f5a8289f90a2b3c1182	0.060059	0.111328	0.043457	0.015869	0.04541	0.064453
null	a system for transmitting compressed video data over a transmission path 15from a transmitting station 16 to a receiving station 17 is shown in fig1 . a conventional video signal is generated by a video source 18 , which may be a video camera , a video tape player or similar equipment . the transmission path 15 has a limited bandwidth , therefore video data is compressed so as to be retained within the available bandwidth . the transmission path may be a telephone line , a dedicated digital link , a radio link or any other known means of providing a communication channel . by convention , the compressed video signal is in non - interlaced form , witheach video frame having 288 lines with 352 picture elements on each line . in non - compressed form , each picture element has a luminance value represented by eight bits of data , with a smaller number of bits allocatedto represent each colour difference signal . the video data generated by the video source 18 is compressed by a compression circuit 19 which may , for example , compress the video data in accordance with the ccitt h . 261 compression recommendation although the invention is not limited to this form of compression . according to the h . 261 recommendation , the video signal to be compressed is divided into portions representing blocks of pixels of the video image . each block is transformed into the frequency domain by a discrete cosine transform ( dct ) and the coefficients are transmitted . the blocks may be compressed without reference to any other block or frame ( intra frame coding ) or with reference to another block or frame , in which case the dct coefficients represent the differences between the compared blocks . the original video data includes eight bits luminance for each picture element location and the block consists of an 8 × 8 array of picture elements . an array of coefficients is similarly proportioned but the resolution is such that a minimum of twelve bits may be required for a particular coefficient , plus a sign bit . compression is achieved because many of the coefficients will have values of zero and may , therefore , effectively be ignored . an output circuit 20 amplifies and , where required , modulates the compressed video signal , thereby placing it in a form suitable for transmission over the transmission path 15 . it is likely that the level of attenuation suffered by the transmitted signal will be frequency dependent , therefore an equalisation circuit 26 at the receiving station provides compensation . the received signal is then de - modulated ( if required ) by means not shown and amplified by an amplifying circuit 25 . de - compression is performed by a de - compression circuit 27 , arranged to perform the reverse process to the compression provided by the compressioncircuit 19 . any errors introduced into the signal , due to noise on the transmission channel 15 , may result in corruption of the data . this would result in the corrupted data being visible on a display device 28 . thus , the overall integrity of the displayed image would be improved if the corrupted data could be detected and concealed in some way . to provide such a detection and concealing process , the system includes an error detecting and concealing circuit 29 , arranged to identify a block ofcorrupted data and to conceal this block of corrupted data by selecting an equivalent block from a previously transmitted frame . a conventional video frame 31 , as shown in fig2 consists of 288 lines with 352 elements on each line . as part of the h . 261 compression procedure , the frame is divided into 1584 blocks , with sixty four picture elements , in the form of an 8 × 8 matrix , within each block . a luminance block 32 is shown in fig2 and this , in combination with its three adjacent blocks , provides a macro block 32 . the macro block 33 is shown enlarged at fig2 a , with block 32 displaying a full matrix of picture elements 35 . in addition , a full colour picture also requires the transmission of two colour difference blocks per luminance block . the error detecting and concealing circuit 29 is detailed in fig3 in which decompressed video data from the decompression circuit 27 is received at an input port 41 and processed video data for display on the display device 28 is applied to an output port 42 . the circuit 29 includesa first image store 43 and a second image store 44 , each capable of storinga full video frame . a video write controller 45 controls the writing of video data to the image stores , such that , a first frame is written to image store 43 and a second frame is written to store 44 , while the first frame is being read from the first image store 43 under the control of a video read controller 46 . after a full video frame has been written to thesecond image store 44 , the next video frame is written to the first image store 43 , overwriting the previously written frame and an output signal for port 42 is derived by reading the image from store 44 . while data is being written to one of the image stores 43 or 44 , said data is also processed to detect the presence of errors . when an error is detected , blocks of data in the image stores 43 and 44 may be overwritten , under the control of a block overwrite controller 47 . in order to identify the presence of errors , the input image data from port 41 is also suppliedto a transform unit 48 , arranged to transform the input image data into frequency related coefficients for each block of picture elements . in the preferred embodiment , the transform unit performs a discrete cosine transform ( dct ) on the blocks of image data . the frequency related coefficients are then supplied to a processing unit 49 . in order to detect the presence of errors in the transmitted video data , the processing unit 49 is arranged to calculate the mean and variance of the coefficient values within each block . as these variance values are calculated , they are supplied to a first variance store 55 or to a second variance store 56 , thereby ensuring that variance values calculated for the previous frame are available to the processing unit 49 . the writing and reading of variance values to and from stores 55 and 56 is controlled by a variance store controller 57 . if the video information supplied over the transmission path 15 is compressed in a form such that , in addition to including spatially compressed coefficients , data representing motion vectors for each block of compressed data are also supplied , the motion vectors are also suppliedto the error concealing circuit 29 via an input port 50 . motion vectors are calculated by comparing a block of picture elements in acurrent frame with a similarly positioned block in a previous frame and with blocks , shifted by a plurality of picture element displacements in both the x and y directions . the motion vector is not related directly to movement of objects within the original image but actually represents the closest fit , derived by comparing the block of interest with similar blocks of the previous frame . a technique for performing such comparisons in order to produce motion vectors , is disclosed in u . s . pat . no . 5 , 803 , 202 , assigned to the present applicant . thus , for each block of video data , x and y values are transmitted indicating a motion vector of the closest fitting block from the previous frame . these displacement vectors are supplied to a vector - store write - controller 51 , wherein vectors derived from a first frame are written to a first vector store 52 , vectors from the next frame are written to a second vector store 53 , whereafter the first store is over - written etc . thus , vector values for the previous frame are availableto the processing unit 49 , via a vector store reading circuit 54 . operational procedures for the processing unit 49 are detailed in fig4 . as a result of the transform performed by transform unit 48 , a frame of coefficients will become available to processing unit 49 , which initiates its processing procedures at step 61 . a question is asked at step 62 as towhether another block of the frame is available and , for the first block ofa frame , this question will be answered in the affirmative . when answered in the affirmative , the mean value for the coefficients in the block is calculated at step 63 . the mean value for the coefficients of an 8 × 8block is derived by adding the values of the coefficients together and thendividing by 64 . at step 64 the variance of the values is calculated by subtracting the meanvalue from each coefficient value to produce a difference value for each particular coefficient . this difference value is squared and the variance is obtained by adding all 64 squared terms . at step 65 the variance value calculated for the particular block is storedin variance store 55 or 56 , depending upon the phase of the particular frame under consideration . at step 66 a threshold value t is read and at step 67 a question is asked as to whether the variance value calculated at step 64 is larger than the threshold value t . the threshold value t is adjustable or selectable by anoperator and may be adjusted to suit a particular type of video transmission . if the variance value calculated at step 64 is larger than the threshold value read at step 66 , it is assumed that the block under consideration contains errors , in that a large variance value has been produced due to the presence of errors . thus , if the question asked at step 67 is answered in the affirmative , the block is concealed by invokinga conceal block routine at step 68 . if the question asked at step 67 is answered in the negative , a further check is performed on the variance value to determine whether said value represents the presence of an error . previously , said variance value was compared against a threshold value , which is appropriate for identifying very severe errors which produce very large variance values . however , a block having coefficients with a modest variance may still be in error andsuch an error is detected if the variance is significantly different from the variance values of blocks surrounding the block under consideration , in the equivalent position of a previous frame . thus , at step 69 , the processing unit accesses the variance store for the previous frame . therefore , if the variance value calculated at step 64 waswritten to store 55 , step 69 accesses variance values from store 56 . the equivalent position to the block under consideration is identified and thevariance values for it and the eight surrounding blocks are read from store at step 70 the mean value p for the previous frame variance values is calculated and a comparison of this previous mean value ms made with the present variance value , at step 71 . if the value for the block under consideration is greater than three times the previous mean value p or smaller than the previous mean value p divided by three , it is assumed that the block contains an error and the concealing algorithm as again invoked . thus , if the value is greater than three times the previous mean or smaller than said previous mean divided by three , the question asked atstep 71 is answered in the affirmative and the conceal block routine is called at step 72 . alternatively , if the question asked at step 71 is answered in the negative , the block is considered to be error free at step73 and control is returned to step 62 . eventually , all of the blocks for a particular frame will have been considered and the question asked at step 62 will be answered in the negative , returning control to step 61 and placing the processing unit 49 in a state ready for the next frame of coefficients . the concealing routine which may be called at step 68 or at step 72 is detailed in fig5 . for the purposes of this example , it is assumed that image data is being written to image store 43 and that the processing unit49 has identified a block of image data which contains an error . as data iswritten to image store 43 , previously processed data is read from image store 44 , thereby providing a video output signal to output port 42 . a period of time is therefore available during which modifications may be made to the image data stored in store 43 , before said data is selected bythe output controller 46 . as image data is written to store 43 , motion vectors are written to vector store 52 and , similarly , as the writing of image data is switched to image store 44 , the writing of motion vector data is switched to store 53 . thus , an error is detected by the processing unit in a block of image data which has been written to the image store 43 and the processing unit 49 isnow required to effect procedures to conceal she error before this data is supplied to the output port 42 . at step 81 of fig5 the vector store 52 is accessed so as to read the motion vector for the equivalent block of the previous frame . at step 82 the motion vectors for the eight surrounding blocks are read from vector store 52 , thereby providing a total of nine motion vectors to the processing unit 49 . at step 83 an average motion vector is calculated by adding said nine values and dividing by nine to produce an averaged motion vector for accessing image data of the previous frame . thus , the average motion vector identifies the position of a block in the previous frame which , after being moved in the x and y directions by amounts specified by the motion vector , provides a close match to the block under consideration in the present frame . thus , the averaged motion vector identifies a block of data in the previousframe which , at this point in time , will be held in image store 44 , the store presently being read to provide an output signal . thus , at step 85 the data identified in store 44 is read by the block overwrite controller 47 , in response to instructions received from the processing unit 49 , and written to the block under consideration in the input image store 43 . it is important to note that the block read from the output image store 44 will not necessarily lie within an original block boundary , given that themotion vectors are specified for picture element positions . after the image block has been overwritten , control is returned to step 62 , allowing another block to be considered . fig6 shows a system in which the compressed transmitted signal comprises frequency related coefficients that represent the actual pixel values of the frame . little or no further processing of the dct coefficients is therefore required before they are input to the processing unit 49 , as shown in fig7 . the operation of the circuit as shown in fig7 is otherwise the same as that shown in fig3 . the decompression circuit 27 may include some conventional form of error checking , for instance error correction code checking means . in this case , the decompression circuit flags a macroblock or a group of blocks ( gob ) that is identified as containing an error , ( a group of blocks comprises a matrix of 11 macroblocks by 3 macroblocks ). only those blocks of a flaggedmacroblock or gob are passed to the error detecting and concealing circuit 29 to determine which block within the macroblock or gob contains an error . those blocks that are not corrupted may therefore be retained , whereas those blocks in which an error is detected can be concealed .	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Electricity'?	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Human Necessities'?	0.25	41ed2e4fda7e061d284e2a9561b66ee94aa9b541a3a30484e085e27ac72aef52	0.004608	0.0065	0.00004	0.000031	0.001549	0.007813
null	a system for transmitting compressed video data over a transmission path 15from a transmitting station 16 to a receiving station 17 is shown in fig1 . a conventional video signal is generated by a video source 18 , which may be a video camera , a video tape player or similar equipment . the transmission path 15 has a limited bandwidth , therefore video data is compressed so as to be retained within the available bandwidth . the transmission path may be a telephone line , a dedicated digital link , a radio link or any other known means of providing a communication channel . by convention , the compressed video signal is in non - interlaced form , witheach video frame having 288 lines with 352 picture elements on each line . in non - compressed form , each picture element has a luminance value represented by eight bits of data , with a smaller number of bits allocatedto represent each colour difference signal . the video data generated by the video source 18 is compressed by a compression circuit 19 which may , for example , compress the video data in accordance with the ccitt h . 261 compression recommendation although the invention is not limited to this form of compression . according to the h . 261 recommendation , the video signal to be compressed is divided into portions representing blocks of pixels of the video image . each block is transformed into the frequency domain by a discrete cosine transform ( dct ) and the coefficients are transmitted . the blocks may be compressed without reference to any other block or frame ( intra frame coding ) or with reference to another block or frame , in which case the dct coefficients represent the differences between the compared blocks . the original video data includes eight bits luminance for each picture element location and the block consists of an 8 × 8 array of picture elements . an array of coefficients is similarly proportioned but the resolution is such that a minimum of twelve bits may be required for a particular coefficient , plus a sign bit . compression is achieved because many of the coefficients will have values of zero and may , therefore , effectively be ignored . an output circuit 20 amplifies and , where required , modulates the compressed video signal , thereby placing it in a form suitable for transmission over the transmission path 15 . it is likely that the level of attenuation suffered by the transmitted signal will be frequency dependent , therefore an equalisation circuit 26 at the receiving station provides compensation . the received signal is then de - modulated ( if required ) by means not shown and amplified by an amplifying circuit 25 . de - compression is performed by a de - compression circuit 27 , arranged to perform the reverse process to the compression provided by the compressioncircuit 19 . any errors introduced into the signal , due to noise on the transmission channel 15 , may result in corruption of the data . this would result in the corrupted data being visible on a display device 28 . thus , the overall integrity of the displayed image would be improved if the corrupted data could be detected and concealed in some way . to provide such a detection and concealing process , the system includes an error detecting and concealing circuit 29 , arranged to identify a block ofcorrupted data and to conceal this block of corrupted data by selecting an equivalent block from a previously transmitted frame . a conventional video frame 31 , as shown in fig2 consists of 288 lines with 352 elements on each line . as part of the h . 261 compression procedure , the frame is divided into 1584 blocks , with sixty four picture elements , in the form of an 8 × 8 matrix , within each block . a luminance block 32 is shown in fig2 and this , in combination with its three adjacent blocks , provides a macro block 32 . the macro block 33 is shown enlarged at fig2 a , with block 32 displaying a full matrix of picture elements 35 . in addition , a full colour picture also requires the transmission of two colour difference blocks per luminance block . the error detecting and concealing circuit 29 is detailed in fig3 in which decompressed video data from the decompression circuit 27 is received at an input port 41 and processed video data for display on the display device 28 is applied to an output port 42 . the circuit 29 includesa first image store 43 and a second image store 44 , each capable of storinga full video frame . a video write controller 45 controls the writing of video data to the image stores , such that , a first frame is written to image store 43 and a second frame is written to store 44 , while the first frame is being read from the first image store 43 under the control of a video read controller 46 . after a full video frame has been written to thesecond image store 44 , the next video frame is written to the first image store 43 , overwriting the previously written frame and an output signal for port 42 is derived by reading the image from store 44 . while data is being written to one of the image stores 43 or 44 , said data is also processed to detect the presence of errors . when an error is detected , blocks of data in the image stores 43 and 44 may be overwritten , under the control of a block overwrite controller 47 . in order to identify the presence of errors , the input image data from port 41 is also suppliedto a transform unit 48 , arranged to transform the input image data into frequency related coefficients for each block of picture elements . in the preferred embodiment , the transform unit performs a discrete cosine transform ( dct ) on the blocks of image data . the frequency related coefficients are then supplied to a processing unit 49 . in order to detect the presence of errors in the transmitted video data , the processing unit 49 is arranged to calculate the mean and variance of the coefficient values within each block . as these variance values are calculated , they are supplied to a first variance store 55 or to a second variance store 56 , thereby ensuring that variance values calculated for the previous frame are available to the processing unit 49 . the writing and reading of variance values to and from stores 55 and 56 is controlled by a variance store controller 57 . if the video information supplied over the transmission path 15 is compressed in a form such that , in addition to including spatially compressed coefficients , data representing motion vectors for each block of compressed data are also supplied , the motion vectors are also suppliedto the error concealing circuit 29 via an input port 50 . motion vectors are calculated by comparing a block of picture elements in acurrent frame with a similarly positioned block in a previous frame and with blocks , shifted by a plurality of picture element displacements in both the x and y directions . the motion vector is not related directly to movement of objects within the original image but actually represents the closest fit , derived by comparing the block of interest with similar blocks of the previous frame . a technique for performing such comparisons in order to produce motion vectors , is disclosed in u . s . pat . no . 5 , 803 , 202 , assigned to the present applicant . thus , for each block of video data , x and y values are transmitted indicating a motion vector of the closest fitting block from the previous frame . these displacement vectors are supplied to a vector - store write - controller 51 , wherein vectors derived from a first frame are written to a first vector store 52 , vectors from the next frame are written to a second vector store 53 , whereafter the first store is over - written etc . thus , vector values for the previous frame are availableto the processing unit 49 , via a vector store reading circuit 54 . operational procedures for the processing unit 49 are detailed in fig4 . as a result of the transform performed by transform unit 48 , a frame of coefficients will become available to processing unit 49 , which initiates its processing procedures at step 61 . a question is asked at step 62 as towhether another block of the frame is available and , for the first block ofa frame , this question will be answered in the affirmative . when answered in the affirmative , the mean value for the coefficients in the block is calculated at step 63 . the mean value for the coefficients of an 8 × 8block is derived by adding the values of the coefficients together and thendividing by 64 . at step 64 the variance of the values is calculated by subtracting the meanvalue from each coefficient value to produce a difference value for each particular coefficient . this difference value is squared and the variance is obtained by adding all 64 squared terms . at step 65 the variance value calculated for the particular block is storedin variance store 55 or 56 , depending upon the phase of the particular frame under consideration . at step 66 a threshold value t is read and at step 67 a question is asked as to whether the variance value calculated at step 64 is larger than the threshold value t . the threshold value t is adjustable or selectable by anoperator and may be adjusted to suit a particular type of video transmission . if the variance value calculated at step 64 is larger than the threshold value read at step 66 , it is assumed that the block under consideration contains errors , in that a large variance value has been produced due to the presence of errors . thus , if the question asked at step 67 is answered in the affirmative , the block is concealed by invokinga conceal block routine at step 68 . if the question asked at step 67 is answered in the negative , a further check is performed on the variance value to determine whether said value represents the presence of an error . previously , said variance value was compared against a threshold value , which is appropriate for identifying very severe errors which produce very large variance values . however , a block having coefficients with a modest variance may still be in error andsuch an error is detected if the variance is significantly different from the variance values of blocks surrounding the block under consideration , in the equivalent position of a previous frame . thus , at step 69 , the processing unit accesses the variance store for the previous frame . therefore , if the variance value calculated at step 64 waswritten to store 55 , step 69 accesses variance values from store 56 . the equivalent position to the block under consideration is identified and thevariance values for it and the eight surrounding blocks are read from store at step 70 the mean value p for the previous frame variance values is calculated and a comparison of this previous mean value ms made with the present variance value , at step 71 . if the value for the block under consideration is greater than three times the previous mean value p or smaller than the previous mean value p divided by three , it is assumed that the block contains an error and the concealing algorithm as again invoked . thus , if the value is greater than three times the previous mean or smaller than said previous mean divided by three , the question asked atstep 71 is answered in the affirmative and the conceal block routine is called at step 72 . alternatively , if the question asked at step 71 is answered in the negative , the block is considered to be error free at step73 and control is returned to step 62 . eventually , all of the blocks for a particular frame will have been considered and the question asked at step 62 will be answered in the negative , returning control to step 61 and placing the processing unit 49 in a state ready for the next frame of coefficients . the concealing routine which may be called at step 68 or at step 72 is detailed in fig5 . for the purposes of this example , it is assumed that image data is being written to image store 43 and that the processing unit49 has identified a block of image data which contains an error . as data iswritten to image store 43 , previously processed data is read from image store 44 , thereby providing a video output signal to output port 42 . a period of time is therefore available during which modifications may be made to the image data stored in store 43 , before said data is selected bythe output controller 46 . as image data is written to store 43 , motion vectors are written to vector store 52 and , similarly , as the writing of image data is switched to image store 44 , the writing of motion vector data is switched to store 53 . thus , an error is detected by the processing unit in a block of image data which has been written to the image store 43 and the processing unit 49 isnow required to effect procedures to conceal she error before this data is supplied to the output port 42 . at step 81 of fig5 the vector store 52 is accessed so as to read the motion vector for the equivalent block of the previous frame . at step 82 the motion vectors for the eight surrounding blocks are read from vector store 52 , thereby providing a total of nine motion vectors to the processing unit 49 . at step 83 an average motion vector is calculated by adding said nine values and dividing by nine to produce an averaged motion vector for accessing image data of the previous frame . thus , the average motion vector identifies the position of a block in the previous frame which , after being moved in the x and y directions by amounts specified by the motion vector , provides a close match to the block under consideration in the present frame . thus , the averaged motion vector identifies a block of data in the previousframe which , at this point in time , will be held in image store 44 , the store presently being read to provide an output signal . thus , at step 85 the data identified in store 44 is read by the block overwrite controller 47 , in response to instructions received from the processing unit 49 , and written to the block under consideration in the input image store 43 . it is important to note that the block read from the output image store 44 will not necessarily lie within an original block boundary , given that themotion vectors are specified for picture element positions . after the image block has been overwritten , control is returned to step 62 , allowing another block to be considered . fig6 shows a system in which the compressed transmitted signal comprises frequency related coefficients that represent the actual pixel values of the frame . little or no further processing of the dct coefficients is therefore required before they are input to the processing unit 49 , as shown in fig7 . the operation of the circuit as shown in fig7 is otherwise the same as that shown in fig3 . the decompression circuit 27 may include some conventional form of error checking , for instance error correction code checking means . in this case , the decompression circuit flags a macroblock or a group of blocks ( gob ) that is identified as containing an error , ( a group of blocks comprises a matrix of 11 macroblocks by 3 macroblocks ). only those blocks of a flaggedmacroblock or gob are passed to the error detecting and concealing circuit 29 to determine which block within the macroblock or gob contains an error . those blocks that are not corrupted may therefore be retained , whereas those blocks in which an error is detected can be concealed .	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Electricity'?	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Performing Operations; Transporting'?	0.25	41ed2e4fda7e061d284e2a9561b66ee94aa9b541a3a30484e085e27ac72aef52	0.004608	0.294922	0.00004	0.010315	0.001549	0.157227
null	a system for transmitting compressed video data over a transmission path 15from a transmitting station 16 to a receiving station 17 is shown in fig1 . a conventional video signal is generated by a video source 18 , which may be a video camera , a video tape player or similar equipment . the transmission path 15 has a limited bandwidth , therefore video data is compressed so as to be retained within the available bandwidth . the transmission path may be a telephone line , a dedicated digital link , a radio link or any other known means of providing a communication channel . by convention , the compressed video signal is in non - interlaced form , witheach video frame having 288 lines with 352 picture elements on each line . in non - compressed form , each picture element has a luminance value represented by eight bits of data , with a smaller number of bits allocatedto represent each colour difference signal . the video data generated by the video source 18 is compressed by a compression circuit 19 which may , for example , compress the video data in accordance with the ccitt h . 261 compression recommendation although the invention is not limited to this form of compression . according to the h . 261 recommendation , the video signal to be compressed is divided into portions representing blocks of pixels of the video image . each block is transformed into the frequency domain by a discrete cosine transform ( dct ) and the coefficients are transmitted . the blocks may be compressed without reference to any other block or frame ( intra frame coding ) or with reference to another block or frame , in which case the dct coefficients represent the differences between the compared blocks . the original video data includes eight bits luminance for each picture element location and the block consists of an 8 × 8 array of picture elements . an array of coefficients is similarly proportioned but the resolution is such that a minimum of twelve bits may be required for a particular coefficient , plus a sign bit . compression is achieved because many of the coefficients will have values of zero and may , therefore , effectively be ignored . an output circuit 20 amplifies and , where required , modulates the compressed video signal , thereby placing it in a form suitable for transmission over the transmission path 15 . it is likely that the level of attenuation suffered by the transmitted signal will be frequency dependent , therefore an equalisation circuit 26 at the receiving station provides compensation . the received signal is then de - modulated ( if required ) by means not shown and amplified by an amplifying circuit 25 . de - compression is performed by a de - compression circuit 27 , arranged to perform the reverse process to the compression provided by the compressioncircuit 19 . any errors introduced into the signal , due to noise on the transmission channel 15 , may result in corruption of the data . this would result in the corrupted data being visible on a display device 28 . thus , the overall integrity of the displayed image would be improved if the corrupted data could be detected and concealed in some way . to provide such a detection and concealing process , the system includes an error detecting and concealing circuit 29 , arranged to identify a block ofcorrupted data and to conceal this block of corrupted data by selecting an equivalent block from a previously transmitted frame . a conventional video frame 31 , as shown in fig2 consists of 288 lines with 352 elements on each line . as part of the h . 261 compression procedure , the frame is divided into 1584 blocks , with sixty four picture elements , in the form of an 8 × 8 matrix , within each block . a luminance block 32 is shown in fig2 and this , in combination with its three adjacent blocks , provides a macro block 32 . the macro block 33 is shown enlarged at fig2 a , with block 32 displaying a full matrix of picture elements 35 . in addition , a full colour picture also requires the transmission of two colour difference blocks per luminance block . the error detecting and concealing circuit 29 is detailed in fig3 in which decompressed video data from the decompression circuit 27 is received at an input port 41 and processed video data for display on the display device 28 is applied to an output port 42 . the circuit 29 includesa first image store 43 and a second image store 44 , each capable of storinga full video frame . a video write controller 45 controls the writing of video data to the image stores , such that , a first frame is written to image store 43 and a second frame is written to store 44 , while the first frame is being read from the first image store 43 under the control of a video read controller 46 . after a full video frame has been written to thesecond image store 44 , the next video frame is written to the first image store 43 , overwriting the previously written frame and an output signal for port 42 is derived by reading the image from store 44 . while data is being written to one of the image stores 43 or 44 , said data is also processed to detect the presence of errors . when an error is detected , blocks of data in the image stores 43 and 44 may be overwritten , under the control of a block overwrite controller 47 . in order to identify the presence of errors , the input image data from port 41 is also suppliedto a transform unit 48 , arranged to transform the input image data into frequency related coefficients for each block of picture elements . in the preferred embodiment , the transform unit performs a discrete cosine transform ( dct ) on the blocks of image data . the frequency related coefficients are then supplied to a processing unit 49 . in order to detect the presence of errors in the transmitted video data , the processing unit 49 is arranged to calculate the mean and variance of the coefficient values within each block . as these variance values are calculated , they are supplied to a first variance store 55 or to a second variance store 56 , thereby ensuring that variance values calculated for the previous frame are available to the processing unit 49 . the writing and reading of variance values to and from stores 55 and 56 is controlled by a variance store controller 57 . if the video information supplied over the transmission path 15 is compressed in a form such that , in addition to including spatially compressed coefficients , data representing motion vectors for each block of compressed data are also supplied , the motion vectors are also suppliedto the error concealing circuit 29 via an input port 50 . motion vectors are calculated by comparing a block of picture elements in acurrent frame with a similarly positioned block in a previous frame and with blocks , shifted by a plurality of picture element displacements in both the x and y directions . the motion vector is not related directly to movement of objects within the original image but actually represents the closest fit , derived by comparing the block of interest with similar blocks of the previous frame . a technique for performing such comparisons in order to produce motion vectors , is disclosed in u . s . pat . no . 5 , 803 , 202 , assigned to the present applicant . thus , for each block of video data , x and y values are transmitted indicating a motion vector of the closest fitting block from the previous frame . these displacement vectors are supplied to a vector - store write - controller 51 , wherein vectors derived from a first frame are written to a first vector store 52 , vectors from the next frame are written to a second vector store 53 , whereafter the first store is over - written etc . thus , vector values for the previous frame are availableto the processing unit 49 , via a vector store reading circuit 54 . operational procedures for the processing unit 49 are detailed in fig4 . as a result of the transform performed by transform unit 48 , a frame of coefficients will become available to processing unit 49 , which initiates its processing procedures at step 61 . a question is asked at step 62 as towhether another block of the frame is available and , for the first block ofa frame , this question will be answered in the affirmative . when answered in the affirmative , the mean value for the coefficients in the block is calculated at step 63 . the mean value for the coefficients of an 8 × 8block is derived by adding the values of the coefficients together and thendividing by 64 . at step 64 the variance of the values is calculated by subtracting the meanvalue from each coefficient value to produce a difference value for each particular coefficient . this difference value is squared and the variance is obtained by adding all 64 squared terms . at step 65 the variance value calculated for the particular block is storedin variance store 55 or 56 , depending upon the phase of the particular frame under consideration . at step 66 a threshold value t is read and at step 67 a question is asked as to whether the variance value calculated at step 64 is larger than the threshold value t . the threshold value t is adjustable or selectable by anoperator and may be adjusted to suit a particular type of video transmission . if the variance value calculated at step 64 is larger than the threshold value read at step 66 , it is assumed that the block under consideration contains errors , in that a large variance value has been produced due to the presence of errors . thus , if the question asked at step 67 is answered in the affirmative , the block is concealed by invokinga conceal block routine at step 68 . if the question asked at step 67 is answered in the negative , a further check is performed on the variance value to determine whether said value represents the presence of an error . previously , said variance value was compared against a threshold value , which is appropriate for identifying very severe errors which produce very large variance values . however , a block having coefficients with a modest variance may still be in error andsuch an error is detected if the variance is significantly different from the variance values of blocks surrounding the block under consideration , in the equivalent position of a previous frame . thus , at step 69 , the processing unit accesses the variance store for the previous frame . therefore , if the variance value calculated at step 64 waswritten to store 55 , step 69 accesses variance values from store 56 . the equivalent position to the block under consideration is identified and thevariance values for it and the eight surrounding blocks are read from store at step 70 the mean value p for the previous frame variance values is calculated and a comparison of this previous mean value ms made with the present variance value , at step 71 . if the value for the block under consideration is greater than three times the previous mean value p or smaller than the previous mean value p divided by three , it is assumed that the block contains an error and the concealing algorithm as again invoked . thus , if the value is greater than three times the previous mean or smaller than said previous mean divided by three , the question asked atstep 71 is answered in the affirmative and the conceal block routine is called at step 72 . alternatively , if the question asked at step 71 is answered in the negative , the block is considered to be error free at step73 and control is returned to step 62 . eventually , all of the blocks for a particular frame will have been considered and the question asked at step 62 will be answered in the negative , returning control to step 61 and placing the processing unit 49 in a state ready for the next frame of coefficients . the concealing routine which may be called at step 68 or at step 72 is detailed in fig5 . for the purposes of this example , it is assumed that image data is being written to image store 43 and that the processing unit49 has identified a block of image data which contains an error . as data iswritten to image store 43 , previously processed data is read from image store 44 , thereby providing a video output signal to output port 42 . a period of time is therefore available during which modifications may be made to the image data stored in store 43 , before said data is selected bythe output controller 46 . as image data is written to store 43 , motion vectors are written to vector store 52 and , similarly , as the writing of image data is switched to image store 44 , the writing of motion vector data is switched to store 53 . thus , an error is detected by the processing unit in a block of image data which has been written to the image store 43 and the processing unit 49 isnow required to effect procedures to conceal she error before this data is supplied to the output port 42 . at step 81 of fig5 the vector store 52 is accessed so as to read the motion vector for the equivalent block of the previous frame . at step 82 the motion vectors for the eight surrounding blocks are read from vector store 52 , thereby providing a total of nine motion vectors to the processing unit 49 . at step 83 an average motion vector is calculated by adding said nine values and dividing by nine to produce an averaged motion vector for accessing image data of the previous frame . thus , the average motion vector identifies the position of a block in the previous frame which , after being moved in the x and y directions by amounts specified by the motion vector , provides a close match to the block under consideration in the present frame . thus , the averaged motion vector identifies a block of data in the previousframe which , at this point in time , will be held in image store 44 , the store presently being read to provide an output signal . thus , at step 85 the data identified in store 44 is read by the block overwrite controller 47 , in response to instructions received from the processing unit 49 , and written to the block under consideration in the input image store 43 . it is important to note that the block read from the output image store 44 will not necessarily lie within an original block boundary , given that themotion vectors are specified for picture element positions . after the image block has been overwritten , control is returned to step 62 , allowing another block to be considered . fig6 shows a system in which the compressed transmitted signal comprises frequency related coefficients that represent the actual pixel values of the frame . little or no further processing of the dct coefficients is therefore required before they are input to the processing unit 49 , as shown in fig7 . the operation of the circuit as shown in fig7 is otherwise the same as that shown in fig3 . the decompression circuit 27 may include some conventional form of error checking , for instance error correction code checking means . in this case , the decompression circuit flags a macroblock or a group of blocks ( gob ) that is identified as containing an error , ( a group of blocks comprises a matrix of 11 macroblocks by 3 macroblocks ). only those blocks of a flaggedmacroblock or gob are passed to the error detecting and concealing circuit 29 to determine which block within the macroblock or gob contains an error . those blocks that are not corrupted may therefore be retained , whereas those blocks in which an error is detected can be concealed .	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'Electricity'?	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'Chemistry; Metallurgy'?	0.25	41ed2e4fda7e061d284e2a9561b66ee94aa9b541a3a30484e085e27ac72aef52	0.009705	0.001755	0.000075	0.000075	0.001205	0.002319
null	a system for transmitting compressed video data over a transmission path 15from a transmitting station 16 to a receiving station 17 is shown in fig1 . a conventional video signal is generated by a video source 18 , which may be a video camera , a video tape player or similar equipment . the transmission path 15 has a limited bandwidth , therefore video data is compressed so as to be retained within the available bandwidth . the transmission path may be a telephone line , a dedicated digital link , a radio link or any other known means of providing a communication channel . by convention , the compressed video signal is in non - interlaced form , witheach video frame having 288 lines with 352 picture elements on each line . in non - compressed form , each picture element has a luminance value represented by eight bits of data , with a smaller number of bits allocatedto represent each colour difference signal . the video data generated by the video source 18 is compressed by a compression circuit 19 which may , for example , compress the video data in accordance with the ccitt h . 261 compression recommendation although the invention is not limited to this form of compression . according to the h . 261 recommendation , the video signal to be compressed is divided into portions representing blocks of pixels of the video image . each block is transformed into the frequency domain by a discrete cosine transform ( dct ) and the coefficients are transmitted . the blocks may be compressed without reference to any other block or frame ( intra frame coding ) or with reference to another block or frame , in which case the dct coefficients represent the differences between the compared blocks . the original video data includes eight bits luminance for each picture element location and the block consists of an 8 × 8 array of picture elements . an array of coefficients is similarly proportioned but the resolution is such that a minimum of twelve bits may be required for a particular coefficient , plus a sign bit . compression is achieved because many of the coefficients will have values of zero and may , therefore , effectively be ignored . an output circuit 20 amplifies and , where required , modulates the compressed video signal , thereby placing it in a form suitable for transmission over the transmission path 15 . it is likely that the level of attenuation suffered by the transmitted signal will be frequency dependent , therefore an equalisation circuit 26 at the receiving station provides compensation . the received signal is then de - modulated ( if required ) by means not shown and amplified by an amplifying circuit 25 . de - compression is performed by a de - compression circuit 27 , arranged to perform the reverse process to the compression provided by the compressioncircuit 19 . any errors introduced into the signal , due to noise on the transmission channel 15 , may result in corruption of the data . this would result in the corrupted data being visible on a display device 28 . thus , the overall integrity of the displayed image would be improved if the corrupted data could be detected and concealed in some way . to provide such a detection and concealing process , the system includes an error detecting and concealing circuit 29 , arranged to identify a block ofcorrupted data and to conceal this block of corrupted data by selecting an equivalent block from a previously transmitted frame . a conventional video frame 31 , as shown in fig2 consists of 288 lines with 352 elements on each line . as part of the h . 261 compression procedure , the frame is divided into 1584 blocks , with sixty four picture elements , in the form of an 8 × 8 matrix , within each block . a luminance block 32 is shown in fig2 and this , in combination with its three adjacent blocks , provides a macro block 32 . the macro block 33 is shown enlarged at fig2 a , with block 32 displaying a full matrix of picture elements 35 . in addition , a full colour picture also requires the transmission of two colour difference blocks per luminance block . the error detecting and concealing circuit 29 is detailed in fig3 in which decompressed video data from the decompression circuit 27 is received at an input port 41 and processed video data for display on the display device 28 is applied to an output port 42 . the circuit 29 includesa first image store 43 and a second image store 44 , each capable of storinga full video frame . a video write controller 45 controls the writing of video data to the image stores , such that , a first frame is written to image store 43 and a second frame is written to store 44 , while the first frame is being read from the first image store 43 under the control of a video read controller 46 . after a full video frame has been written to thesecond image store 44 , the next video frame is written to the first image store 43 , overwriting the previously written frame and an output signal for port 42 is derived by reading the image from store 44 . while data is being written to one of the image stores 43 or 44 , said data is also processed to detect the presence of errors . when an error is detected , blocks of data in the image stores 43 and 44 may be overwritten , under the control of a block overwrite controller 47 . in order to identify the presence of errors , the input image data from port 41 is also suppliedto a transform unit 48 , arranged to transform the input image data into frequency related coefficients for each block of picture elements . in the preferred embodiment , the transform unit performs a discrete cosine transform ( dct ) on the blocks of image data . the frequency related coefficients are then supplied to a processing unit 49 . in order to detect the presence of errors in the transmitted video data , the processing unit 49 is arranged to calculate the mean and variance of the coefficient values within each block . as these variance values are calculated , they are supplied to a first variance store 55 or to a second variance store 56 , thereby ensuring that variance values calculated for the previous frame are available to the processing unit 49 . the writing and reading of variance values to and from stores 55 and 56 is controlled by a variance store controller 57 . if the video information supplied over the transmission path 15 is compressed in a form such that , in addition to including spatially compressed coefficients , data representing motion vectors for each block of compressed data are also supplied , the motion vectors are also suppliedto the error concealing circuit 29 via an input port 50 . motion vectors are calculated by comparing a block of picture elements in acurrent frame with a similarly positioned block in a previous frame and with blocks , shifted by a plurality of picture element displacements in both the x and y directions . the motion vector is not related directly to movement of objects within the original image but actually represents the closest fit , derived by comparing the block of interest with similar blocks of the previous frame . a technique for performing such comparisons in order to produce motion vectors , is disclosed in u . s . pat . no . 5 , 803 , 202 , assigned to the present applicant . thus , for each block of video data , x and y values are transmitted indicating a motion vector of the closest fitting block from the previous frame . these displacement vectors are supplied to a vector - store write - controller 51 , wherein vectors derived from a first frame are written to a first vector store 52 , vectors from the next frame are written to a second vector store 53 , whereafter the first store is over - written etc . thus , vector values for the previous frame are availableto the processing unit 49 , via a vector store reading circuit 54 . operational procedures for the processing unit 49 are detailed in fig4 . as a result of the transform performed by transform unit 48 , a frame of coefficients will become available to processing unit 49 , which initiates its processing procedures at step 61 . a question is asked at step 62 as towhether another block of the frame is available and , for the first block ofa frame , this question will be answered in the affirmative . when answered in the affirmative , the mean value for the coefficients in the block is calculated at step 63 . the mean value for the coefficients of an 8 × 8block is derived by adding the values of the coefficients together and thendividing by 64 . at step 64 the variance of the values is calculated by subtracting the meanvalue from each coefficient value to produce a difference value for each particular coefficient . this difference value is squared and the variance is obtained by adding all 64 squared terms . at step 65 the variance value calculated for the particular block is storedin variance store 55 or 56 , depending upon the phase of the particular frame under consideration . at step 66 a threshold value t is read and at step 67 a question is asked as to whether the variance value calculated at step 64 is larger than the threshold value t . the threshold value t is adjustable or selectable by anoperator and may be adjusted to suit a particular type of video transmission . if the variance value calculated at step 64 is larger than the threshold value read at step 66 , it is assumed that the block under consideration contains errors , in that a large variance value has been produced due to the presence of errors . thus , if the question asked at step 67 is answered in the affirmative , the block is concealed by invokinga conceal block routine at step 68 . if the question asked at step 67 is answered in the negative , a further check is performed on the variance value to determine whether said value represents the presence of an error . previously , said variance value was compared against a threshold value , which is appropriate for identifying very severe errors which produce very large variance values . however , a block having coefficients with a modest variance may still be in error andsuch an error is detected if the variance is significantly different from the variance values of blocks surrounding the block under consideration , in the equivalent position of a previous frame . thus , at step 69 , the processing unit accesses the variance store for the previous frame . therefore , if the variance value calculated at step 64 waswritten to store 55 , step 69 accesses variance values from store 56 . the equivalent position to the block under consideration is identified and thevariance values for it and the eight surrounding blocks are read from store at step 70 the mean value p for the previous frame variance values is calculated and a comparison of this previous mean value ms made with the present variance value , at step 71 . if the value for the block under consideration is greater than three times the previous mean value p or smaller than the previous mean value p divided by three , it is assumed that the block contains an error and the concealing algorithm as again invoked . thus , if the value is greater than three times the previous mean or smaller than said previous mean divided by three , the question asked atstep 71 is answered in the affirmative and the conceal block routine is called at step 72 . alternatively , if the question asked at step 71 is answered in the negative , the block is considered to be error free at step73 and control is returned to step 62 . eventually , all of the blocks for a particular frame will have been considered and the question asked at step 62 will be answered in the negative , returning control to step 61 and placing the processing unit 49 in a state ready for the next frame of coefficients . the concealing routine which may be called at step 68 or at step 72 is detailed in fig5 . for the purposes of this example , it is assumed that image data is being written to image store 43 and that the processing unit49 has identified a block of image data which contains an error . as data iswritten to image store 43 , previously processed data is read from image store 44 , thereby providing a video output signal to output port 42 . a period of time is therefore available during which modifications may be made to the image data stored in store 43 , before said data is selected bythe output controller 46 . as image data is written to store 43 , motion vectors are written to vector store 52 and , similarly , as the writing of image data is switched to image store 44 , the writing of motion vector data is switched to store 53 . thus , an error is detected by the processing unit in a block of image data which has been written to the image store 43 and the processing unit 49 isnow required to effect procedures to conceal she error before this data is supplied to the output port 42 . at step 81 of fig5 the vector store 52 is accessed so as to read the motion vector for the equivalent block of the previous frame . at step 82 the motion vectors for the eight surrounding blocks are read from vector store 52 , thereby providing a total of nine motion vectors to the processing unit 49 . at step 83 an average motion vector is calculated by adding said nine values and dividing by nine to produce an averaged motion vector for accessing image data of the previous frame . thus , the average motion vector identifies the position of a block in the previous frame which , after being moved in the x and y directions by amounts specified by the motion vector , provides a close match to the block under consideration in the present frame . thus , the averaged motion vector identifies a block of data in the previousframe which , at this point in time , will be held in image store 44 , the store presently being read to provide an output signal . thus , at step 85 the data identified in store 44 is read by the block overwrite controller 47 , in response to instructions received from the processing unit 49 , and written to the block under consideration in the input image store 43 . it is important to note that the block read from the output image store 44 will not necessarily lie within an original block boundary , given that themotion vectors are specified for picture element positions . after the image block has been overwritten , control is returned to step 62 , allowing another block to be considered . fig6 shows a system in which the compressed transmitted signal comprises frequency related coefficients that represent the actual pixel values of the frame . little or no further processing of the dct coefficients is therefore required before they are input to the processing unit 49 , as shown in fig7 . the operation of the circuit as shown in fig7 is otherwise the same as that shown in fig3 . the decompression circuit 27 may include some conventional form of error checking , for instance error correction code checking means . in this case , the decompression circuit flags a macroblock or a group of blocks ( gob ) that is identified as containing an error , ( a group of blocks comprises a matrix of 11 macroblocks by 3 macroblocks ). only those blocks of a flaggedmacroblock or gob are passed to the error detecting and concealing circuit 29 to determine which block within the macroblock or gob contains an error . those blocks that are not corrupted may therefore be retained , whereas those blocks in which an error is detected can be concealed .	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Electricity'?	Is 'Textiles; Paper' the correct technical category for the patent?	0.25	41ed2e4fda7e061d284e2a9561b66ee94aa9b541a3a30484e085e27ac72aef52	0.004608	0.000315	0.00004	0.000024	0.001549	0.001869
null	a system for transmitting compressed video data over a transmission path 15from a transmitting station 16 to a receiving station 17 is shown in fig1 . a conventional video signal is generated by a video source 18 , which may be a video camera , a video tape player or similar equipment . the transmission path 15 has a limited bandwidth , therefore video data is compressed so as to be retained within the available bandwidth . the transmission path may be a telephone line , a dedicated digital link , a radio link or any other known means of providing a communication channel . by convention , the compressed video signal is in non - interlaced form , witheach video frame having 288 lines with 352 picture elements on each line . in non - compressed form , each picture element has a luminance value represented by eight bits of data , with a smaller number of bits allocatedto represent each colour difference signal . the video data generated by the video source 18 is compressed by a compression circuit 19 which may , for example , compress the video data in accordance with the ccitt h . 261 compression recommendation although the invention is not limited to this form of compression . according to the h . 261 recommendation , the video signal to be compressed is divided into portions representing blocks of pixels of the video image . each block is transformed into the frequency domain by a discrete cosine transform ( dct ) and the coefficients are transmitted . the blocks may be compressed without reference to any other block or frame ( intra frame coding ) or with reference to another block or frame , in which case the dct coefficients represent the differences between the compared blocks . the original video data includes eight bits luminance for each picture element location and the block consists of an 8 × 8 array of picture elements . an array of coefficients is similarly proportioned but the resolution is such that a minimum of twelve bits may be required for a particular coefficient , plus a sign bit . compression is achieved because many of the coefficients will have values of zero and may , therefore , effectively be ignored . an output circuit 20 amplifies and , where required , modulates the compressed video signal , thereby placing it in a form suitable for transmission over the transmission path 15 . it is likely that the level of attenuation suffered by the transmitted signal will be frequency dependent , therefore an equalisation circuit 26 at the receiving station provides compensation . the received signal is then de - modulated ( if required ) by means not shown and amplified by an amplifying circuit 25 . de - compression is performed by a de - compression circuit 27 , arranged to perform the reverse process to the compression provided by the compressioncircuit 19 . any errors introduced into the signal , due to noise on the transmission channel 15 , may result in corruption of the data . this would result in the corrupted data being visible on a display device 28 . thus , the overall integrity of the displayed image would be improved if the corrupted data could be detected and concealed in some way . to provide such a detection and concealing process , the system includes an error detecting and concealing circuit 29 , arranged to identify a block ofcorrupted data and to conceal this block of corrupted data by selecting an equivalent block from a previously transmitted frame . a conventional video frame 31 , as shown in fig2 consists of 288 lines with 352 elements on each line . as part of the h . 261 compression procedure , the frame is divided into 1584 blocks , with sixty four picture elements , in the form of an 8 × 8 matrix , within each block . a luminance block 32 is shown in fig2 and this , in combination with its three adjacent blocks , provides a macro block 32 . the macro block 33 is shown enlarged at fig2 a , with block 32 displaying a full matrix of picture elements 35 . in addition , a full colour picture also requires the transmission of two colour difference blocks per luminance block . the error detecting and concealing circuit 29 is detailed in fig3 in which decompressed video data from the decompression circuit 27 is received at an input port 41 and processed video data for display on the display device 28 is applied to an output port 42 . the circuit 29 includesa first image store 43 and a second image store 44 , each capable of storinga full video frame . a video write controller 45 controls the writing of video data to the image stores , such that , a first frame is written to image store 43 and a second frame is written to store 44 , while the first frame is being read from the first image store 43 under the control of a video read controller 46 . after a full video frame has been written to thesecond image store 44 , the next video frame is written to the first image store 43 , overwriting the previously written frame and an output signal for port 42 is derived by reading the image from store 44 . while data is being written to one of the image stores 43 or 44 , said data is also processed to detect the presence of errors . when an error is detected , blocks of data in the image stores 43 and 44 may be overwritten , under the control of a block overwrite controller 47 . in order to identify the presence of errors , the input image data from port 41 is also suppliedto a transform unit 48 , arranged to transform the input image data into frequency related coefficients for each block of picture elements . in the preferred embodiment , the transform unit performs a discrete cosine transform ( dct ) on the blocks of image data . the frequency related coefficients are then supplied to a processing unit 49 . in order to detect the presence of errors in the transmitted video data , the processing unit 49 is arranged to calculate the mean and variance of the coefficient values within each block . as these variance values are calculated , they are supplied to a first variance store 55 or to a second variance store 56 , thereby ensuring that variance values calculated for the previous frame are available to the processing unit 49 . the writing and reading of variance values to and from stores 55 and 56 is controlled by a variance store controller 57 . if the video information supplied over the transmission path 15 is compressed in a form such that , in addition to including spatially compressed coefficients , data representing motion vectors for each block of compressed data are also supplied , the motion vectors are also suppliedto the error concealing circuit 29 via an input port 50 . motion vectors are calculated by comparing a block of picture elements in acurrent frame with a similarly positioned block in a previous frame and with blocks , shifted by a plurality of picture element displacements in both the x and y directions . the motion vector is not related directly to movement of objects within the original image but actually represents the closest fit , derived by comparing the block of interest with similar blocks of the previous frame . a technique for performing such comparisons in order to produce motion vectors , is disclosed in u . s . pat . no . 5 , 803 , 202 , assigned to the present applicant . thus , for each block of video data , x and y values are transmitted indicating a motion vector of the closest fitting block from the previous frame . these displacement vectors are supplied to a vector - store write - controller 51 , wherein vectors derived from a first frame are written to a first vector store 52 , vectors from the next frame are written to a second vector store 53 , whereafter the first store is over - written etc . thus , vector values for the previous frame are availableto the processing unit 49 , via a vector store reading circuit 54 . operational procedures for the processing unit 49 are detailed in fig4 . as a result of the transform performed by transform unit 48 , a frame of coefficients will become available to processing unit 49 , which initiates its processing procedures at step 61 . a question is asked at step 62 as towhether another block of the frame is available and , for the first block ofa frame , this question will be answered in the affirmative . when answered in the affirmative , the mean value for the coefficients in the block is calculated at step 63 . the mean value for the coefficients of an 8 × 8block is derived by adding the values of the coefficients together and thendividing by 64 . at step 64 the variance of the values is calculated by subtracting the meanvalue from each coefficient value to produce a difference value for each particular coefficient . this difference value is squared and the variance is obtained by adding all 64 squared terms . at step 65 the variance value calculated for the particular block is storedin variance store 55 or 56 , depending upon the phase of the particular frame under consideration . at step 66 a threshold value t is read and at step 67 a question is asked as to whether the variance value calculated at step 64 is larger than the threshold value t . the threshold value t is adjustable or selectable by anoperator and may be adjusted to suit a particular type of video transmission . if the variance value calculated at step 64 is larger than the threshold value read at step 66 , it is assumed that the block under consideration contains errors , in that a large variance value has been produced due to the presence of errors . thus , if the question asked at step 67 is answered in the affirmative , the block is concealed by invokinga conceal block routine at step 68 . if the question asked at step 67 is answered in the negative , a further check is performed on the variance value to determine whether said value represents the presence of an error . previously , said variance value was compared against a threshold value , which is appropriate for identifying very severe errors which produce very large variance values . however , a block having coefficients with a modest variance may still be in error andsuch an error is detected if the variance is significantly different from the variance values of blocks surrounding the block under consideration , in the equivalent position of a previous frame . thus , at step 69 , the processing unit accesses the variance store for the previous frame . therefore , if the variance value calculated at step 64 waswritten to store 55 , step 69 accesses variance values from store 56 . the equivalent position to the block under consideration is identified and thevariance values for it and the eight surrounding blocks are read from store at step 70 the mean value p for the previous frame variance values is calculated and a comparison of this previous mean value ms made with the present variance value , at step 71 . if the value for the block under consideration is greater than three times the previous mean value p or smaller than the previous mean value p divided by three , it is assumed that the block contains an error and the concealing algorithm as again invoked . thus , if the value is greater than three times the previous mean or smaller than said previous mean divided by three , the question asked atstep 71 is answered in the affirmative and the conceal block routine is called at step 72 . alternatively , if the question asked at step 71 is answered in the negative , the block is considered to be error free at step73 and control is returned to step 62 . eventually , all of the blocks for a particular frame will have been considered and the question asked at step 62 will be answered in the negative , returning control to step 61 and placing the processing unit 49 in a state ready for the next frame of coefficients . the concealing routine which may be called at step 68 or at step 72 is detailed in fig5 . for the purposes of this example , it is assumed that image data is being written to image store 43 and that the processing unit49 has identified a block of image data which contains an error . as data iswritten to image store 43 , previously processed data is read from image store 44 , thereby providing a video output signal to output port 42 . a period of time is therefore available during which modifications may be made to the image data stored in store 43 , before said data is selected bythe output controller 46 . as image data is written to store 43 , motion vectors are written to vector store 52 and , similarly , as the writing of image data is switched to image store 44 , the writing of motion vector data is switched to store 53 . thus , an error is detected by the processing unit in a block of image data which has been written to the image store 43 and the processing unit 49 isnow required to effect procedures to conceal she error before this data is supplied to the output port 42 . at step 81 of fig5 the vector store 52 is accessed so as to read the motion vector for the equivalent block of the previous frame . at step 82 the motion vectors for the eight surrounding blocks are read from vector store 52 , thereby providing a total of nine motion vectors to the processing unit 49 . at step 83 an average motion vector is calculated by adding said nine values and dividing by nine to produce an averaged motion vector for accessing image data of the previous frame . thus , the average motion vector identifies the position of a block in the previous frame which , after being moved in the x and y directions by amounts specified by the motion vector , provides a close match to the block under consideration in the present frame . thus , the averaged motion vector identifies a block of data in the previousframe which , at this point in time , will be held in image store 44 , the store presently being read to provide an output signal . thus , at step 85 the data identified in store 44 is read by the block overwrite controller 47 , in response to instructions received from the processing unit 49 , and written to the block under consideration in the input image store 43 . it is important to note that the block read from the output image store 44 will not necessarily lie within an original block boundary , given that themotion vectors are specified for picture element positions . after the image block has been overwritten , control is returned to step 62 , allowing another block to be considered . fig6 shows a system in which the compressed transmitted signal comprises frequency related coefficients that represent the actual pixel values of the frame . little or no further processing of the dct coefficients is therefore required before they are input to the processing unit 49 , as shown in fig7 . the operation of the circuit as shown in fig7 is otherwise the same as that shown in fig3 . the decompression circuit 27 may include some conventional form of error checking , for instance error correction code checking means . in this case , the decompression circuit flags a macroblock or a group of blocks ( gob ) that is identified as containing an error , ( a group of blocks comprises a matrix of 11 macroblocks by 3 macroblocks ). only those blocks of a flaggedmacroblock or gob are passed to the error detecting and concealing circuit 29 to determine which block within the macroblock or gob contains an error . those blocks that are not corrupted may therefore be retained , whereas those blocks in which an error is detected can be concealed .	Should this patent be classified under 'Electricity'?	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'Fixed Constructions'?	0.25	41ed2e4fda7e061d284e2a9561b66ee94aa9b541a3a30484e085e27ac72aef52	0.00885	0.025513	0.000043	0.003601	0.000969	0.069336
null	a system for transmitting compressed video data over a transmission path 15from a transmitting station 16 to a receiving station 17 is shown in fig1 . a conventional video signal is generated by a video source 18 , which may be a video camera , a video tape player or similar equipment . the transmission path 15 has a limited bandwidth , therefore video data is compressed so as to be retained within the available bandwidth . the transmission path may be a telephone line , a dedicated digital link , a radio link or any other known means of providing a communication channel . by convention , the compressed video signal is in non - interlaced form , witheach video frame having 288 lines with 352 picture elements on each line . in non - compressed form , each picture element has a luminance value represented by eight bits of data , with a smaller number of bits allocatedto represent each colour difference signal . the video data generated by the video source 18 is compressed by a compression circuit 19 which may , for example , compress the video data in accordance with the ccitt h . 261 compression recommendation although the invention is not limited to this form of compression . according to the h . 261 recommendation , the video signal to be compressed is divided into portions representing blocks of pixels of the video image . each block is transformed into the frequency domain by a discrete cosine transform ( dct ) and the coefficients are transmitted . the blocks may be compressed without reference to any other block or frame ( intra frame coding ) or with reference to another block or frame , in which case the dct coefficients represent the differences between the compared blocks . the original video data includes eight bits luminance for each picture element location and the block consists of an 8 × 8 array of picture elements . an array of coefficients is similarly proportioned but the resolution is such that a minimum of twelve bits may be required for a particular coefficient , plus a sign bit . compression is achieved because many of the coefficients will have values of zero and may , therefore , effectively be ignored . an output circuit 20 amplifies and , where required , modulates the compressed video signal , thereby placing it in a form suitable for transmission over the transmission path 15 . it is likely that the level of attenuation suffered by the transmitted signal will be frequency dependent , therefore an equalisation circuit 26 at the receiving station provides compensation . the received signal is then de - modulated ( if required ) by means not shown and amplified by an amplifying circuit 25 . de - compression is performed by a de - compression circuit 27 , arranged to perform the reverse process to the compression provided by the compressioncircuit 19 . any errors introduced into the signal , due to noise on the transmission channel 15 , may result in corruption of the data . this would result in the corrupted data being visible on a display device 28 . thus , the overall integrity of the displayed image would be improved if the corrupted data could be detected and concealed in some way . to provide such a detection and concealing process , the system includes an error detecting and concealing circuit 29 , arranged to identify a block ofcorrupted data and to conceal this block of corrupted data by selecting an equivalent block from a previously transmitted frame . a conventional video frame 31 , as shown in fig2 consists of 288 lines with 352 elements on each line . as part of the h . 261 compression procedure , the frame is divided into 1584 blocks , with sixty four picture elements , in the form of an 8 × 8 matrix , within each block . a luminance block 32 is shown in fig2 and this , in combination with its three adjacent blocks , provides a macro block 32 . the macro block 33 is shown enlarged at fig2 a , with block 32 displaying a full matrix of picture elements 35 . in addition , a full colour picture also requires the transmission of two colour difference blocks per luminance block . the error detecting and concealing circuit 29 is detailed in fig3 in which decompressed video data from the decompression circuit 27 is received at an input port 41 and processed video data for display on the display device 28 is applied to an output port 42 . the circuit 29 includesa first image store 43 and a second image store 44 , each capable of storinga full video frame . a video write controller 45 controls the writing of video data to the image stores , such that , a first frame is written to image store 43 and a second frame is written to store 44 , while the first frame is being read from the first image store 43 under the control of a video read controller 46 . after a full video frame has been written to thesecond image store 44 , the next video frame is written to the first image store 43 , overwriting the previously written frame and an output signal for port 42 is derived by reading the image from store 44 . while data is being written to one of the image stores 43 or 44 , said data is also processed to detect the presence of errors . when an error is detected , blocks of data in the image stores 43 and 44 may be overwritten , under the control of a block overwrite controller 47 . in order to identify the presence of errors , the input image data from port 41 is also suppliedto a transform unit 48 , arranged to transform the input image data into frequency related coefficients for each block of picture elements . in the preferred embodiment , the transform unit performs a discrete cosine transform ( dct ) on the blocks of image data . the frequency related coefficients are then supplied to a processing unit 49 . in order to detect the presence of errors in the transmitted video data , the processing unit 49 is arranged to calculate the mean and variance of the coefficient values within each block . as these variance values are calculated , they are supplied to a first variance store 55 or to a second variance store 56 , thereby ensuring that variance values calculated for the previous frame are available to the processing unit 49 . the writing and reading of variance values to and from stores 55 and 56 is controlled by a variance store controller 57 . if the video information supplied over the transmission path 15 is compressed in a form such that , in addition to including spatially compressed coefficients , data representing motion vectors for each block of compressed data are also supplied , the motion vectors are also suppliedto the error concealing circuit 29 via an input port 50 . motion vectors are calculated by comparing a block of picture elements in acurrent frame with a similarly positioned block in a previous frame and with blocks , shifted by a plurality of picture element displacements in both the x and y directions . the motion vector is not related directly to movement of objects within the original image but actually represents the closest fit , derived by comparing the block of interest with similar blocks of the previous frame . a technique for performing such comparisons in order to produce motion vectors , is disclosed in u . s . pat . no . 5 , 803 , 202 , assigned to the present applicant . thus , for each block of video data , x and y values are transmitted indicating a motion vector of the closest fitting block from the previous frame . these displacement vectors are supplied to a vector - store write - controller 51 , wherein vectors derived from a first frame are written to a first vector store 52 , vectors from the next frame are written to a second vector store 53 , whereafter the first store is over - written etc . thus , vector values for the previous frame are availableto the processing unit 49 , via a vector store reading circuit 54 . operational procedures for the processing unit 49 are detailed in fig4 . as a result of the transform performed by transform unit 48 , a frame of coefficients will become available to processing unit 49 , which initiates its processing procedures at step 61 . a question is asked at step 62 as towhether another block of the frame is available and , for the first block ofa frame , this question will be answered in the affirmative . when answered in the affirmative , the mean value for the coefficients in the block is calculated at step 63 . the mean value for the coefficients of an 8 × 8block is derived by adding the values of the coefficients together and thendividing by 64 . at step 64 the variance of the values is calculated by subtracting the meanvalue from each coefficient value to produce a difference value for each particular coefficient . this difference value is squared and the variance is obtained by adding all 64 squared terms . at step 65 the variance value calculated for the particular block is storedin variance store 55 or 56 , depending upon the phase of the particular frame under consideration . at step 66 a threshold value t is read and at step 67 a question is asked as to whether the variance value calculated at step 64 is larger than the threshold value t . the threshold value t is adjustable or selectable by anoperator and may be adjusted to suit a particular type of video transmission . if the variance value calculated at step 64 is larger than the threshold value read at step 66 , it is assumed that the block under consideration contains errors , in that a large variance value has been produced due to the presence of errors . thus , if the question asked at step 67 is answered in the affirmative , the block is concealed by invokinga conceal block routine at step 68 . if the question asked at step 67 is answered in the negative , a further check is performed on the variance value to determine whether said value represents the presence of an error . previously , said variance value was compared against a threshold value , which is appropriate for identifying very severe errors which produce very large variance values . however , a block having coefficients with a modest variance may still be in error andsuch an error is detected if the variance is significantly different from the variance values of blocks surrounding the block under consideration , in the equivalent position of a previous frame . thus , at step 69 , the processing unit accesses the variance store for the previous frame . therefore , if the variance value calculated at step 64 waswritten to store 55 , step 69 accesses variance values from store 56 . the equivalent position to the block under consideration is identified and thevariance values for it and the eight surrounding blocks are read from store at step 70 the mean value p for the previous frame variance values is calculated and a comparison of this previous mean value ms made with the present variance value , at step 71 . if the value for the block under consideration is greater than three times the previous mean value p or smaller than the previous mean value p divided by three , it is assumed that the block contains an error and the concealing algorithm as again invoked . thus , if the value is greater than three times the previous mean or smaller than said previous mean divided by three , the question asked atstep 71 is answered in the affirmative and the conceal block routine is called at step 72 . alternatively , if the question asked at step 71 is answered in the negative , the block is considered to be error free at step73 and control is returned to step 62 . eventually , all of the blocks for a particular frame will have been considered and the question asked at step 62 will be answered in the negative , returning control to step 61 and placing the processing unit 49 in a state ready for the next frame of coefficients . the concealing routine which may be called at step 68 or at step 72 is detailed in fig5 . for the purposes of this example , it is assumed that image data is being written to image store 43 and that the processing unit49 has identified a block of image data which contains an error . as data iswritten to image store 43 , previously processed data is read from image store 44 , thereby providing a video output signal to output port 42 . a period of time is therefore available during which modifications may be made to the image data stored in store 43 , before said data is selected bythe output controller 46 . as image data is written to store 43 , motion vectors are written to vector store 52 and , similarly , as the writing of image data is switched to image store 44 , the writing of motion vector data is switched to store 53 . thus , an error is detected by the processing unit in a block of image data which has been written to the image store 43 and the processing unit 49 isnow required to effect procedures to conceal she error before this data is supplied to the output port 42 . at step 81 of fig5 the vector store 52 is accessed so as to read the motion vector for the equivalent block of the previous frame . at step 82 the motion vectors for the eight surrounding blocks are read from vector store 52 , thereby providing a total of nine motion vectors to the processing unit 49 . at step 83 an average motion vector is calculated by adding said nine values and dividing by nine to produce an averaged motion vector for accessing image data of the previous frame . thus , the average motion vector identifies the position of a block in the previous frame which , after being moved in the x and y directions by amounts specified by the motion vector , provides a close match to the block under consideration in the present frame . thus , the averaged motion vector identifies a block of data in the previousframe which , at this point in time , will be held in image store 44 , the store presently being read to provide an output signal . thus , at step 85 the data identified in store 44 is read by the block overwrite controller 47 , in response to instructions received from the processing unit 49 , and written to the block under consideration in the input image store 43 . it is important to note that the block read from the output image store 44 will not necessarily lie within an original block boundary , given that themotion vectors are specified for picture element positions . after the image block has been overwritten , control is returned to step 62 , allowing another block to be considered . fig6 shows a system in which the compressed transmitted signal comprises frequency related coefficients that represent the actual pixel values of the frame . little or no further processing of the dct coefficients is therefore required before they are input to the processing unit 49 , as shown in fig7 . the operation of the circuit as shown in fig7 is otherwise the same as that shown in fig3 . the decompression circuit 27 may include some conventional form of error checking , for instance error correction code checking means . in this case , the decompression circuit flags a macroblock or a group of blocks ( gob ) that is identified as containing an error , ( a group of blocks comprises a matrix of 11 macroblocks by 3 macroblocks ). only those blocks of a flaggedmacroblock or gob are passed to the error detecting and concealing circuit 29 to determine which block within the macroblock or gob contains an error . those blocks that are not corrupted may therefore be retained , whereas those blocks in which an error is detected can be concealed .	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Electricity'?	Should this patent be classified under 'Mechanical Engineering; Lightning; Heating; Weapons; Blasting'?	0.25	41ed2e4fda7e061d284e2a9561b66ee94aa9b541a3a30484e085e27ac72aef52	0.004456	0.000132	0.00004	0.000045	0.001549	0.001648
null	a system for transmitting compressed video data over a transmission path 15from a transmitting station 16 to a receiving station 17 is shown in fig1 . a conventional video signal is generated by a video source 18 , which may be a video camera , a video tape player or similar equipment . the transmission path 15 has a limited bandwidth , therefore video data is compressed so as to be retained within the available bandwidth . the transmission path may be a telephone line , a dedicated digital link , a radio link or any other known means of providing a communication channel . by convention , the compressed video signal is in non - interlaced form , witheach video frame having 288 lines with 352 picture elements on each line . in non - compressed form , each picture element has a luminance value represented by eight bits of data , with a smaller number of bits allocatedto represent each colour difference signal . the video data generated by the video source 18 is compressed by a compression circuit 19 which may , for example , compress the video data in accordance with the ccitt h . 261 compression recommendation although the invention is not limited to this form of compression . according to the h . 261 recommendation , the video signal to be compressed is divided into portions representing blocks of pixels of the video image . each block is transformed into the frequency domain by a discrete cosine transform ( dct ) and the coefficients are transmitted . the blocks may be compressed without reference to any other block or frame ( intra frame coding ) or with reference to another block or frame , in which case the dct coefficients represent the differences between the compared blocks . the original video data includes eight bits luminance for each picture element location and the block consists of an 8 × 8 array of picture elements . an array of coefficients is similarly proportioned but the resolution is such that a minimum of twelve bits may be required for a particular coefficient , plus a sign bit . compression is achieved because many of the coefficients will have values of zero and may , therefore , effectively be ignored . an output circuit 20 amplifies and , where required , modulates the compressed video signal , thereby placing it in a form suitable for transmission over the transmission path 15 . it is likely that the level of attenuation suffered by the transmitted signal will be frequency dependent , therefore an equalisation circuit 26 at the receiving station provides compensation . the received signal is then de - modulated ( if required ) by means not shown and amplified by an amplifying circuit 25 . de - compression is performed by a de - compression circuit 27 , arranged to perform the reverse process to the compression provided by the compressioncircuit 19 . any errors introduced into the signal , due to noise on the transmission channel 15 , may result in corruption of the data . this would result in the corrupted data being visible on a display device 28 . thus , the overall integrity of the displayed image would be improved if the corrupted data could be detected and concealed in some way . to provide such a detection and concealing process , the system includes an error detecting and concealing circuit 29 , arranged to identify a block ofcorrupted data and to conceal this block of corrupted data by selecting an equivalent block from a previously transmitted frame . a conventional video frame 31 , as shown in fig2 consists of 288 lines with 352 elements on each line . as part of the h . 261 compression procedure , the frame is divided into 1584 blocks , with sixty four picture elements , in the form of an 8 × 8 matrix , within each block . a luminance block 32 is shown in fig2 and this , in combination with its three adjacent blocks , provides a macro block 32 . the macro block 33 is shown enlarged at fig2 a , with block 32 displaying a full matrix of picture elements 35 . in addition , a full colour picture also requires the transmission of two colour difference blocks per luminance block . the error detecting and concealing circuit 29 is detailed in fig3 in which decompressed video data from the decompression circuit 27 is received at an input port 41 and processed video data for display on the display device 28 is applied to an output port 42 . the circuit 29 includesa first image store 43 and a second image store 44 , each capable of storinga full video frame . a video write controller 45 controls the writing of video data to the image stores , such that , a first frame is written to image store 43 and a second frame is written to store 44 , while the first frame is being read from the first image store 43 under the control of a video read controller 46 . after a full video frame has been written to thesecond image store 44 , the next video frame is written to the first image store 43 , overwriting the previously written frame and an output signal for port 42 is derived by reading the image from store 44 . while data is being written to one of the image stores 43 or 44 , said data is also processed to detect the presence of errors . when an error is detected , blocks of data in the image stores 43 and 44 may be overwritten , under the control of a block overwrite controller 47 . in order to identify the presence of errors , the input image data from port 41 is also suppliedto a transform unit 48 , arranged to transform the input image data into frequency related coefficients for each block of picture elements . in the preferred embodiment , the transform unit performs a discrete cosine transform ( dct ) on the blocks of image data . the frequency related coefficients are then supplied to a processing unit 49 . in order to detect the presence of errors in the transmitted video data , the processing unit 49 is arranged to calculate the mean and variance of the coefficient values within each block . as these variance values are calculated , they are supplied to a first variance store 55 or to a second variance store 56 , thereby ensuring that variance values calculated for the previous frame are available to the processing unit 49 . the writing and reading of variance values to and from stores 55 and 56 is controlled by a variance store controller 57 . if the video information supplied over the transmission path 15 is compressed in a form such that , in addition to including spatially compressed coefficients , data representing motion vectors for each block of compressed data are also supplied , the motion vectors are also suppliedto the error concealing circuit 29 via an input port 50 . motion vectors are calculated by comparing a block of picture elements in acurrent frame with a similarly positioned block in a previous frame and with blocks , shifted by a plurality of picture element displacements in both the x and y directions . the motion vector is not related directly to movement of objects within the original image but actually represents the closest fit , derived by comparing the block of interest with similar blocks of the previous frame . a technique for performing such comparisons in order to produce motion vectors , is disclosed in u . s . pat . no . 5 , 803 , 202 , assigned to the present applicant . thus , for each block of video data , x and y values are transmitted indicating a motion vector of the closest fitting block from the previous frame . these displacement vectors are supplied to a vector - store write - controller 51 , wherein vectors derived from a first frame are written to a first vector store 52 , vectors from the next frame are written to a second vector store 53 , whereafter the first store is over - written etc . thus , vector values for the previous frame are availableto the processing unit 49 , via a vector store reading circuit 54 . operational procedures for the processing unit 49 are detailed in fig4 . as a result of the transform performed by transform unit 48 , a frame of coefficients will become available to processing unit 49 , which initiates its processing procedures at step 61 . a question is asked at step 62 as towhether another block of the frame is available and , for the first block ofa frame , this question will be answered in the affirmative . when answered in the affirmative , the mean value for the coefficients in the block is calculated at step 63 . the mean value for the coefficients of an 8 × 8block is derived by adding the values of the coefficients together and thendividing by 64 . at step 64 the variance of the values is calculated by subtracting the meanvalue from each coefficient value to produce a difference value for each particular coefficient . this difference value is squared and the variance is obtained by adding all 64 squared terms . at step 65 the variance value calculated for the particular block is storedin variance store 55 or 56 , depending upon the phase of the particular frame under consideration . at step 66 a threshold value t is read and at step 67 a question is asked as to whether the variance value calculated at step 64 is larger than the threshold value t . the threshold value t is adjustable or selectable by anoperator and may be adjusted to suit a particular type of video transmission . if the variance value calculated at step 64 is larger than the threshold value read at step 66 , it is assumed that the block under consideration contains errors , in that a large variance value has been produced due to the presence of errors . thus , if the question asked at step 67 is answered in the affirmative , the block is concealed by invokinga conceal block routine at step 68 . if the question asked at step 67 is answered in the negative , a further check is performed on the variance value to determine whether said value represents the presence of an error . previously , said variance value was compared against a threshold value , which is appropriate for identifying very severe errors which produce very large variance values . however , a block having coefficients with a modest variance may still be in error andsuch an error is detected if the variance is significantly different from the variance values of blocks surrounding the block under consideration , in the equivalent position of a previous frame . thus , at step 69 , the processing unit accesses the variance store for the previous frame . therefore , if the variance value calculated at step 64 waswritten to store 55 , step 69 accesses variance values from store 56 . the equivalent position to the block under consideration is identified and thevariance values for it and the eight surrounding blocks are read from store at step 70 the mean value p for the previous frame variance values is calculated and a comparison of this previous mean value ms made with the present variance value , at step 71 . if the value for the block under consideration is greater than three times the previous mean value p or smaller than the previous mean value p divided by three , it is assumed that the block contains an error and the concealing algorithm as again invoked . thus , if the value is greater than three times the previous mean or smaller than said previous mean divided by three , the question asked atstep 71 is answered in the affirmative and the conceal block routine is called at step 72 . alternatively , if the question asked at step 71 is answered in the negative , the block is considered to be error free at step73 and control is returned to step 62 . eventually , all of the blocks for a particular frame will have been considered and the question asked at step 62 will be answered in the negative , returning control to step 61 and placing the processing unit 49 in a state ready for the next frame of coefficients . the concealing routine which may be called at step 68 or at step 72 is detailed in fig5 . for the purposes of this example , it is assumed that image data is being written to image store 43 and that the processing unit49 has identified a block of image data which contains an error . as data iswritten to image store 43 , previously processed data is read from image store 44 , thereby providing a video output signal to output port 42 . a period of time is therefore available during which modifications may be made to the image data stored in store 43 , before said data is selected bythe output controller 46 . as image data is written to store 43 , motion vectors are written to vector store 52 and , similarly , as the writing of image data is switched to image store 44 , the writing of motion vector data is switched to store 53 . thus , an error is detected by the processing unit in a block of image data which has been written to the image store 43 and the processing unit 49 isnow required to effect procedures to conceal she error before this data is supplied to the output port 42 . at step 81 of fig5 the vector store 52 is accessed so as to read the motion vector for the equivalent block of the previous frame . at step 82 the motion vectors for the eight surrounding blocks are read from vector store 52 , thereby providing a total of nine motion vectors to the processing unit 49 . at step 83 an average motion vector is calculated by adding said nine values and dividing by nine to produce an averaged motion vector for accessing image data of the previous frame . thus , the average motion vector identifies the position of a block in the previous frame which , after being moved in the x and y directions by amounts specified by the motion vector , provides a close match to the block under consideration in the present frame . thus , the averaged motion vector identifies a block of data in the previousframe which , at this point in time , will be held in image store 44 , the store presently being read to provide an output signal . thus , at step 85 the data identified in store 44 is read by the block overwrite controller 47 , in response to instructions received from the processing unit 49 , and written to the block under consideration in the input image store 43 . it is important to note that the block read from the output image store 44 will not necessarily lie within an original block boundary , given that themotion vectors are specified for picture element positions . after the image block has been overwritten , control is returned to step 62 , allowing another block to be considered . fig6 shows a system in which the compressed transmitted signal comprises frequency related coefficients that represent the actual pixel values of the frame . little or no further processing of the dct coefficients is therefore required before they are input to the processing unit 49 , as shown in fig7 . the operation of the circuit as shown in fig7 is otherwise the same as that shown in fig3 . the decompression circuit 27 may include some conventional form of error checking , for instance error correction code checking means . in this case , the decompression circuit flags a macroblock or a group of blocks ( gob ) that is identified as containing an error , ( a group of blocks comprises a matrix of 11 macroblocks by 3 macroblocks ). only those blocks of a flaggedmacroblock or gob are passed to the error detecting and concealing circuit 29 to determine which block within the macroblock or gob contains an error . those blocks that are not corrupted may therefore be retained , whereas those blocks in which an error is detected can be concealed .	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Electricity'?	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Physics'?	0.25	41ed2e4fda7e061d284e2a9561b66ee94aa9b541a3a30484e085e27ac72aef52	0.004608	0.162109	0.00004	0.033691	0.001549	0.195313
null	a system for transmitting compressed video data over a transmission path 15from a transmitting station 16 to a receiving station 17 is shown in fig1 . a conventional video signal is generated by a video source 18 , which may be a video camera , a video tape player or similar equipment . the transmission path 15 has a limited bandwidth , therefore video data is compressed so as to be retained within the available bandwidth . the transmission path may be a telephone line , a dedicated digital link , a radio link or any other known means of providing a communication channel . by convention , the compressed video signal is in non - interlaced form , witheach video frame having 288 lines with 352 picture elements on each line . in non - compressed form , each picture element has a luminance value represented by eight bits of data , with a smaller number of bits allocatedto represent each colour difference signal . the video data generated by the video source 18 is compressed by a compression circuit 19 which may , for example , compress the video data in accordance with the ccitt h . 261 compression recommendation although the invention is not limited to this form of compression . according to the h . 261 recommendation , the video signal to be compressed is divided into portions representing blocks of pixels of the video image . each block is transformed into the frequency domain by a discrete cosine transform ( dct ) and the coefficients are transmitted . the blocks may be compressed without reference to any other block or frame ( intra frame coding ) or with reference to another block or frame , in which case the dct coefficients represent the differences between the compared blocks . the original video data includes eight bits luminance for each picture element location and the block consists of an 8 × 8 array of picture elements . an array of coefficients is similarly proportioned but the resolution is such that a minimum of twelve bits may be required for a particular coefficient , plus a sign bit . compression is achieved because many of the coefficients will have values of zero and may , therefore , effectively be ignored . an output circuit 20 amplifies and , where required , modulates the compressed video signal , thereby placing it in a form suitable for transmission over the transmission path 15 . it is likely that the level of attenuation suffered by the transmitted signal will be frequency dependent , therefore an equalisation circuit 26 at the receiving station provides compensation . the received signal is then de - modulated ( if required ) by means not shown and amplified by an amplifying circuit 25 . de - compression is performed by a de - compression circuit 27 , arranged to perform the reverse process to the compression provided by the compressioncircuit 19 . any errors introduced into the signal , due to noise on the transmission channel 15 , may result in corruption of the data . this would result in the corrupted data being visible on a display device 28 . thus , the overall integrity of the displayed image would be improved if the corrupted data could be detected and concealed in some way . to provide such a detection and concealing process , the system includes an error detecting and concealing circuit 29 , arranged to identify a block ofcorrupted data and to conceal this block of corrupted data by selecting an equivalent block from a previously transmitted frame . a conventional video frame 31 , as shown in fig2 consists of 288 lines with 352 elements on each line . as part of the h . 261 compression procedure , the frame is divided into 1584 blocks , with sixty four picture elements , in the form of an 8 × 8 matrix , within each block . a luminance block 32 is shown in fig2 and this , in combination with its three adjacent blocks , provides a macro block 32 . the macro block 33 is shown enlarged at fig2 a , with block 32 displaying a full matrix of picture elements 35 . in addition , a full colour picture also requires the transmission of two colour difference blocks per luminance block . the error detecting and concealing circuit 29 is detailed in fig3 in which decompressed video data from the decompression circuit 27 is received at an input port 41 and processed video data for display on the display device 28 is applied to an output port 42 . the circuit 29 includesa first image store 43 and a second image store 44 , each capable of storinga full video frame . a video write controller 45 controls the writing of video data to the image stores , such that , a first frame is written to image store 43 and a second frame is written to store 44 , while the first frame is being read from the first image store 43 under the control of a video read controller 46 . after a full video frame has been written to thesecond image store 44 , the next video frame is written to the first image store 43 , overwriting the previously written frame and an output signal for port 42 is derived by reading the image from store 44 . while data is being written to one of the image stores 43 or 44 , said data is also processed to detect the presence of errors . when an error is detected , blocks of data in the image stores 43 and 44 may be overwritten , under the control of a block overwrite controller 47 . in order to identify the presence of errors , the input image data from port 41 is also suppliedto a transform unit 48 , arranged to transform the input image data into frequency related coefficients for each block of picture elements . in the preferred embodiment , the transform unit performs a discrete cosine transform ( dct ) on the blocks of image data . the frequency related coefficients are then supplied to a processing unit 49 . in order to detect the presence of errors in the transmitted video data , the processing unit 49 is arranged to calculate the mean and variance of the coefficient values within each block . as these variance values are calculated , they are supplied to a first variance store 55 or to a second variance store 56 , thereby ensuring that variance values calculated for the previous frame are available to the processing unit 49 . the writing and reading of variance values to and from stores 55 and 56 is controlled by a variance store controller 57 . if the video information supplied over the transmission path 15 is compressed in a form such that , in addition to including spatially compressed coefficients , data representing motion vectors for each block of compressed data are also supplied , the motion vectors are also suppliedto the error concealing circuit 29 via an input port 50 . motion vectors are calculated by comparing a block of picture elements in acurrent frame with a similarly positioned block in a previous frame and with blocks , shifted by a plurality of picture element displacements in both the x and y directions . the motion vector is not related directly to movement of objects within the original image but actually represents the closest fit , derived by comparing the block of interest with similar blocks of the previous frame . a technique for performing such comparisons in order to produce motion vectors , is disclosed in u . s . pat . no . 5 , 803 , 202 , assigned to the present applicant . thus , for each block of video data , x and y values are transmitted indicating a motion vector of the closest fitting block from the previous frame . these displacement vectors are supplied to a vector - store write - controller 51 , wherein vectors derived from a first frame are written to a first vector store 52 , vectors from the next frame are written to a second vector store 53 , whereafter the first store is over - written etc . thus , vector values for the previous frame are availableto the processing unit 49 , via a vector store reading circuit 54 . operational procedures for the processing unit 49 are detailed in fig4 . as a result of the transform performed by transform unit 48 , a frame of coefficients will become available to processing unit 49 , which initiates its processing procedures at step 61 . a question is asked at step 62 as towhether another block of the frame is available and , for the first block ofa frame , this question will be answered in the affirmative . when answered in the affirmative , the mean value for the coefficients in the block is calculated at step 63 . the mean value for the coefficients of an 8 × 8block is derived by adding the values of the coefficients together and thendividing by 64 . at step 64 the variance of the values is calculated by subtracting the meanvalue from each coefficient value to produce a difference value for each particular coefficient . this difference value is squared and the variance is obtained by adding all 64 squared terms . at step 65 the variance value calculated for the particular block is storedin variance store 55 or 56 , depending upon the phase of the particular frame under consideration . at step 66 a threshold value t is read and at step 67 a question is asked as to whether the variance value calculated at step 64 is larger than the threshold value t . the threshold value t is adjustable or selectable by anoperator and may be adjusted to suit a particular type of video transmission . if the variance value calculated at step 64 is larger than the threshold value read at step 66 , it is assumed that the block under consideration contains errors , in that a large variance value has been produced due to the presence of errors . thus , if the question asked at step 67 is answered in the affirmative , the block is concealed by invokinga conceal block routine at step 68 . if the question asked at step 67 is answered in the negative , a further check is performed on the variance value to determine whether said value represents the presence of an error . previously , said variance value was compared against a threshold value , which is appropriate for identifying very severe errors which produce very large variance values . however , a block having coefficients with a modest variance may still be in error andsuch an error is detected if the variance is significantly different from the variance values of blocks surrounding the block under consideration , in the equivalent position of a previous frame . thus , at step 69 , the processing unit accesses the variance store for the previous frame . therefore , if the variance value calculated at step 64 waswritten to store 55 , step 69 accesses variance values from store 56 . the equivalent position to the block under consideration is identified and thevariance values for it and the eight surrounding blocks are read from store at step 70 the mean value p for the previous frame variance values is calculated and a comparison of this previous mean value ms made with the present variance value , at step 71 . if the value for the block under consideration is greater than three times the previous mean value p or smaller than the previous mean value p divided by three , it is assumed that the block contains an error and the concealing algorithm as again invoked . thus , if the value is greater than three times the previous mean or smaller than said previous mean divided by three , the question asked atstep 71 is answered in the affirmative and the conceal block routine is called at step 72 . alternatively , if the question asked at step 71 is answered in the negative , the block is considered to be error free at step73 and control is returned to step 62 . eventually , all of the blocks for a particular frame will have been considered and the question asked at step 62 will be answered in the negative , returning control to step 61 and placing the processing unit 49 in a state ready for the next frame of coefficients . the concealing routine which may be called at step 68 or at step 72 is detailed in fig5 . for the purposes of this example , it is assumed that image data is being written to image store 43 and that the processing unit49 has identified a block of image data which contains an error . as data iswritten to image store 43 , previously processed data is read from image store 44 , thereby providing a video output signal to output port 42 . a period of time is therefore available during which modifications may be made to the image data stored in store 43 , before said data is selected bythe output controller 46 . as image data is written to store 43 , motion vectors are written to vector store 52 and , similarly , as the writing of image data is switched to image store 44 , the writing of motion vector data is switched to store 53 . thus , an error is detected by the processing unit in a block of image data which has been written to the image store 43 and the processing unit 49 isnow required to effect procedures to conceal she error before this data is supplied to the output port 42 . at step 81 of fig5 the vector store 52 is accessed so as to read the motion vector for the equivalent block of the previous frame . at step 82 the motion vectors for the eight surrounding blocks are read from vector store 52 , thereby providing a total of nine motion vectors to the processing unit 49 . at step 83 an average motion vector is calculated by adding said nine values and dividing by nine to produce an averaged motion vector for accessing image data of the previous frame . thus , the average motion vector identifies the position of a block in the previous frame which , after being moved in the x and y directions by amounts specified by the motion vector , provides a close match to the block under consideration in the present frame . thus , the averaged motion vector identifies a block of data in the previousframe which , at this point in time , will be held in image store 44 , the store presently being read to provide an output signal . thus , at step 85 the data identified in store 44 is read by the block overwrite controller 47 , in response to instructions received from the processing unit 49 , and written to the block under consideration in the input image store 43 . it is important to note that the block read from the output image store 44 will not necessarily lie within an original block boundary , given that themotion vectors are specified for picture element positions . after the image block has been overwritten , control is returned to step 62 , allowing another block to be considered . fig6 shows a system in which the compressed transmitted signal comprises frequency related coefficients that represent the actual pixel values of the frame . little or no further processing of the dct coefficients is therefore required before they are input to the processing unit 49 , as shown in fig7 . the operation of the circuit as shown in fig7 is otherwise the same as that shown in fig3 . the decompression circuit 27 may include some conventional form of error checking , for instance error correction code checking means . in this case , the decompression circuit flags a macroblock or a group of blocks ( gob ) that is identified as containing an error , ( a group of blocks comprises a matrix of 11 macroblocks by 3 macroblocks ). only those blocks of a flaggedmacroblock or gob are passed to the error detecting and concealing circuit 29 to determine which block within the macroblock or gob contains an error . those blocks that are not corrupted may therefore be retained , whereas those blocks in which an error is detected can be concealed .	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Electricity'?	Is 'General tagging of new or cross-sectional technology' the correct technical category for the patent?	0.25	41ed2e4fda7e061d284e2a9561b66ee94aa9b541a3a30484e085e27ac72aef52	0.004608	0.108398	0.00004	0.014038	0.001549	0.081543
null	the following examples specifically illustrate lithium secondary batteries according to the present invention . further , comparative examples will be taken to make it clear that in the lithium secondary batteries of the examples , decrease in the discharge capacity is restrained even when the batteries in a charged state are stored under high temperature conditions . it should be appreciated that the lithium secondary batteries according to the present invention are not particularly limited to those in the following examples , and various changes and modifications may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof . in the example a1 , a positive electrode and a negative electrode were fabricated in the following manner , and an electrolyte was prepared in the following manner , to fabricate a flat - type lithium secondary battery as shown in fig1 . a lithium - containing composite cobalt dioxide licoo 2 was used as a positive electrode active material . powder of licoo 2 , carbon materials such as artificial carbon , acetylene black , and graphite as a conductive agent , and a solution obtained by dissolving polyvinylidene fluoride as a binding agent in n - methyl - 2 - pyrolidone were mixed , to prepare a slurry containing the powder of licoo 2 , the conductive agent , and the polyvinylidene fluoride in the weight ratio of 90 : 5 : 5 . subsequently , the slurry was uniformly applied to one side of an aluminum foil as a positive - electrode current collector la by means of the doctor blade coating method . the slurry on the positive - electrode current collector 1 a was heat - treated at 130 ° c . for 2 hours to remove the n - methyl - 2 - pyrolidone as a solvent , after which the positive - electrode current collector 1 a which was coated with the slurry was rolled by a roll press , to obtain a positive electrode 1 . natural graphite ( d 002 = 3 . 35 å ) was used as a negative electrode active material . powder of the natural graphite and a solution obtained by dissolving polyvinylidene fluoride as a binding agent in n - methyl - 2 - pyrolidone were mixed , to prepare a slurry containing the powder of the natural graphite and the polyvinylidene fluoride in the weight ratio of 95 : 5 . subsequently , the slurry was uniformly applied to one side of a copper foil as a negative - electrode current collector 2 a by means of the doctor blade coating method . the slurry on the negative - electrode current collector 2 a was heat - treated at 130 ° c . for 2 hours to remove the n - methyl - 2 - pyrolidone as a solvent , after which the negative - electrode current collector 2 a which was coated with the slurry was rolled , to obtain a negative electrode 2 . the example a1 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 1 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of lithium fluoride lif was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in fabricating a battery , as shown in fig1 a microporous film made of polypropylene and impregnated with the above - mentioned electrolyte was interposed as a separator 3 between the positive electrode 1 and the negative electrode 2 respectively fabricated in the above - mentioned manners , after which they were contained in a battery case 4 comprising a positive - electrode can 4 a and a negative - electrode can 4 b , and the positive electrode 1 was connected to the positive - electrode can 4 a via the positive - electrode current collector 1 a while the negative electrode 2 was connected to the negative - electrode can 4 b via the negative - electrode current collector 2 a , to electrically separate the positive - electrode can 4 a and the negative - electrode can 4 b from each other by an insulating packing 5 , to obtain a lithium secondary batter of example a1 having a capacity of 8 mah . in the example a2 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example a2 employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 . the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of lithium fluoride lif was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example a3 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example a3 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ), which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 ) ( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 4 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ) was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of lithium fluoride lif was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example b1 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example b1 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 1 , as in the case of the above - mentioned example a1 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of trilithium phosphate li 3 po 4 was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example b2 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example b2 employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 , as in the case of the above - mentioned example a2 . the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of trilithium phosphate li 3 po 4 was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example b3 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example b3 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ), which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 4 , as in the case of the above - mentioned example a3 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ) was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of trilithium phosphate li 3 po 4 was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example c1 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example c1 employed as a solute lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 , which is a methide group lithium salt represented by lic ( c p f 2p + 1 so 2 )( c q f 2q + 1 so 2 )( c r f 2r + 1 so 2 ) wherein p = 1 , q = 1 , and r = 1 . the above - mentioned lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of lithium fluoride lif was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example c2 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example c2 employed as a solute lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 , which is a methide group lithium salt represented by lic ( c p f 2p + 1 so 2 )( c q f 2q + 1 so 2 )( c r f 2r + 1 so 2 ) wherein p = 1 , q = 1 , and r = 1 , as in the case of the above - mentioned example c1 . the above - mentioned lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of trilithium phosphate li 3 po 4 was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the comparative example 1 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the comparative example 1 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 1 , as in the case of the above - mentioned examples a1 and b1 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). neither of a fluoride and phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . in the comparative example 2 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the comparative example 2 employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 , as in the case of the above - mentioned examples a2 and b2 . the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). neither of a fluoride and phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . in the comparative example 3 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the comparative example 3 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ), which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 4 , as in the case of the above - mentioned examples a3 and b3 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ) was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). neither of a fluoride and phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . in the comparative example 4 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the comparative example 4 employed as a solute lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 , which is a methide group lithium salt represented by lic ( c p f 2p + 1 so 2 )( c q f 2q + 1 so 2 )( c r f 2r + 1 so 2 ) wherein p = 1 , q = 1 , and r = 1 , as in the case of the above - mentioned examples c1 and c2 . the above - mentioned lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). neither of a fluoride and phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples a1 to a3 , b1 to b3 , c1 , c2 , and the comparative examples 1 to 4 fabricated as above was charged with constant current of 1 ma up to 4 . 1 v and was then discharged with constant current of 1 ma up to 2 . 5 v at room temperature of 25 ° c ., to find an initial discharge capacity q 0 . subsequently , each of the above - mentioned batteries was charged with constant current of 1 ma up to 4 . 1 v , was then stored for 10 days at a temperature of 60 ° c ., and thereafter , was discharged with constant current of 1 ma up to 2 . 5 v , to find a discharge capacity q 1 after the storage under high temperature conditions . the ratio of the discharging capacity q 1 after the storage under high temperature conditions to the initial discharging capacity q 0 [( q 0 / q 1 )× 100 ] was found as the percentage of capacity retention . the results were shown in the following table 1 . as apparent from the result , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the comparative examples 1 to 4 employing the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt or a methide group lithium salt , to which neither of a fluoride or phosphorus compound is added presented a low percentage of capacity retention of 34 to 42 % after the storage under high temperature conditions . on the other hand , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples a1 to a3 , b1 to b3 , c1 , and c2 employing the above - mentioned electrolyte solution to which lithium fluoride lif or trilithium phosphate li 3 po 4 is added presented a high percentage of capacity retention of 69 to 76 % after the storage under high temperature conditions , and was remarkably improved in storage characteristics in a charged state . the reason for this is conceivably that when a fluoride or a phosphorus compound is added to the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt or a methide group lithium salt , a protective film is formed on a surface of the positive electrode 1 or negative electrode 2 . the protective film thus formed serves to prevent direct contact between the electrolyte solution and the positive electrode or negative electrode and hence , the electrolyte solution is prevented from being decomposed when the lithium secondary battery is stored in a charged state , resulting in improved storage characteristics of the battery in a charge state . although each of the lithium secondary battery in the above - mentioned examples a1 to a3 , b1 to b3 , c1 , and c2 employed the mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 as a solvent in the electrolyte solution , substantially the same effects may be attained when propylene carbonate ( pc ), butylene carbonate ( bc ), dimethyl carbonate ( dmc ), sulfolane ( sl ), vinylene carbonate ( vc ), methyl ethyl carbonate ( mec ), tetrahydrofuran ( thf ), 1 , 2 - diethoxyethane ( dee ), 1 , 2 - dimethoxyethane ( dme ), ethoxymethoxyethane ( eme ), and the like besides the above - mentioned ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) are used alone or in combination of two or more types . in the examples a4 to a17 , lithium secondary batteries were fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the examples a4 to a17 each employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 , and the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ), as in the case of the above - mentioned example a2 . then , in each of the examples a4 to a17 , the type of the fluoride added to the above - mentioned electrolyte solution as an additive in the above - mentioned example a2 was changed . specifically , the example a4 employed agf ; the example a5 employed cof 2 ; the example a6 employed cof 3 ; the example a7 employed cuf ; the example a8 employed cuf 2 ; the example a9 employed fef 2 ; the example a10 employed fef 3 ; the example all employed mnf 2 ; the example a12 employed mnf 3 ; the example a13 employed snf 2 ; the example a14 employed snf 4 ; the example a15 employed tif 3 ; the example a16 employed tif 4 ; and the example a17 employed zrf 4 , as shown in the following table 2 . these additives were respectively added to the electrolyte solutions at the ratio of 1 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of each electrolyte solution . in the example b4 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example b4 employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 , and the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ), as in the case of the above - mentioned example b2 . then , in the example b4 , the type of the phosphorus compound added to the above - mentioned electrolyte solution as an additive in the above - mentioned example b2 was changed . specifically , 1 . 0 wt % of lipo 3 was added to the electrolyte solution as shown in the following table 2 . with respect to each of the lithium secondary batteries according to the examples a4 to a17 and b4 fabricated as above , the percentage of capacity retention (%) was found in the same manner as that in each of the above - mentioned lithium secondary batteries . the results , along with those of the above - mentioned examples a2 , b2 , and comparative example 2 , are shown in the following table 2 . as apparent from the result , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples a2 and a4 to a17 in which the fluoride selected from the group consisting of lif , agf , cof 2 , cof 3 , cuf , cuf 2 , fef 2 , fef 3 , mnf 2 , mnf 3 , snf 2 , snf 4 , tif 3 , tif 4 , and zrf 4 was added to the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt and each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples b2 and b4 in which the phosphorus compound selected from the group consisting of lipo 3 and li 3 po 4 was added to the above - mentioned electrolyte solution presented a high percentage of capacity retention of 70 to 78 %, and was remarkably improved in storage characteristics in a charged state as compared with the lithium secondary battery in the comparative example 2 . although each of the lithium secondary battery in the above - mentioned examples a4 to a17 and b4 cites the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt , substantially the same effects may be attained by an electrolyte solution using as a solute a methide group lithium salt . in the examples d1 to d6 , a lithium secondary batteries were fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the examples d1 to d6 each employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 , and the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ), as in the above - mentioned example b2 . in the examples d1 to d6 , there were used as an additive added to the above - mentioned electrolyte a mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d1 ; a mixture containing lif and lipo 3 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d2 ; a mixture containing tif 4 and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d3 ; a mixture containing tif 4 and lipo 3 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d4 ; a mixture containing lif and tif 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d5 ; and a mixture containing li 3 po 4 and lipo 3 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d6 , as shown in the following table 3 . these additives were respectively added to the electrolyte solutions in at the ratio of 1 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of each electrolyte solution . with respect to each of the lithium secondary batteries according to the examples d1 to d6 fabricated as above , the percentage of capacity retention (%) was found in the same manner as that in each of the above - mentioned lithium secondary batteries . the results , along with that of the above - mentioned comparative example 2 , are shown in the following table 3 . as apparent from the result , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 to d6 in which two types of materials selected from a fluoride and phosphorus compound were added to the electrolyte solution as an additive was remarkably improved in storage characteristics in a charged state as compared with the lithium secondary battery in the comparative example 2 in which neither of a fluoride and a phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . further , when the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 to d6 were compared with each other , it was found that the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 and d4 in which the mixture of the fluoride and phosphorus compound is added to the electrolyte solution presented further improved percentage of capacity retention as compared with the lithium secondary battery in the example d5 in which the mixture of two types of fluorides was added to the electrolyte solution and the lithium secondary battery in the example d6 in which the mixture of two types of phosphorus compounds was added to the electrolyte solution . although each of the lithium secondary battery in the above - mentioned examples d1 to d6 cites the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt , substantially the same effects may be attained by an electrolyte solution using as a solute a methide group lithium salt . in the examples d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 , lithium secondary batteries were fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in each of the examples d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 , in preparing an electrolyte , lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ), and a mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 was added to the electrolyte solution , as in the above - mentioned example d1 . in the examples d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 , the amount of the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 added to the above - mentioned electrolyte solution in the example d1 was changed as shown in the following table 4 . more specifically , an amount of the mixture added to the electrolyte solution was 0 . 001 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 1 ; 0 . 01 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 2 ; 0 . 1 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 3 ; 2 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 4 ; 5 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 5 ; and 10 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 6 . with respect to each of the lithium secondary batteries according to the examples d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 fabricated as above , the percentage of capacity retention (%) was found in the same manner as that in each of the above - mentioned lithium secondary batteries . the results , along with that of the above - mentioned example d1 , are shown in the following table 4 . as apparent from the result , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 in which the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive in the range of 0 . 001 to 10 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution was remarkably improved in storage characteristics in a charged state as compared with the lithium secondary battery in the comparative example 2 in which neither of a fluoride and phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . further , when the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 and d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 were compared with each other , it was found that the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 and d1 . 2 to d1 . 5 in which the mixture containing li 3 po 4 and lipo 3 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 were added to the electrolyte solution as an additive in the range of 0 . 01 to 5 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution presented further improved percentage of capacity retention . the reason for this is conceivably that when an amount of the additive containing li 3 po 4 and lipo 3 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 added to the electrolyte solution is too small , a film formed on a surface of the positive electrode or negative electrode by the additive is hardly made uniform , while when the amount is too large , the film becomes thick , resulting in increased resistance . although each of the above - mentioned examples d1 and d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 presents a case where the mixture of lif and li 3 po 4 is added to the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt , substantially the same tendency may be observed in a case where a mixture of another fluoride and phosphorus compound ; a mixture of fluorides ; a mixture of phosphorus compounds ; or one type of fluoride or phosphorus compound is added , and in a case where the electrolyte solution employs as a solute a methide group lithium salt . in each of the examples e1 and e2 , in preparing an electrolyte , lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ), as in the case of the above - mentioned example d1 . further , as a polymer material , the example e1 employed polyethylene oxide ( peo ) having molecular weight of about 200 , 000 while the example e2 employed polyvinylidene fluoride ( pvdf ) having molecular weight of about 200 , 000 . films respectively composed of the above - mentioned polymer materials were formed on respective positive electrodes by means of the casting method . subsequently , an additive comprising a mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 , together with the above - mentioned electrolyte solution , was added to each of the films , thus giving a gelated polymer electrolyte containing 1 . 0 wt % of the additive comprising the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 on the positive electrode . except for the above , the same procedure as that in the above - mentioned example a1 was taken to fabricate each lithium secondary battery . with respect to each of the lithium secondary batteries according to the examples e1 and e2 fabricated as above , the percentage of capacity retention (%) was found in the same manner as that in each of the above - mentioned lithium secondary batteries . the results , along with that of the above - mentioned example d1 , are shown in the following table 5 . as apparent from the result , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples e1 and e2 employing the gelated polymer electrolyte obtained by adding the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 together with the electrolyte solution to the polymer material presented further improved percentage of capacity retention as compared with the lithium secondary battery in the example d1 employing the electrolyte solution to which the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 is added . although each of the above - mentioned examples e1 and e2 presents a case where the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 , together with the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt , was added to the polymer material , substantially the same effects may be attained in a case where a mixture of another fluoride and phosphorus compound ; a mixture of fluorides ; a mixture of phosphorus compounds ; or one type of fluoride or phosphorus compound is added , and in a case where the electrolyte solution employs as a solute a methide group lithium salt . although the present invention has been fully described by way of examples , it is to be noted that various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art . therefore , unless otherwise such changes and modifications depart from the scope of the present invention , they should be construed as being included therein .	Is 'Electricity' the correct technical category for the patent?	Should this patent be classified under 'Human Necessities'?	0.25	f05073b0c781958ef51868cdb49264d7e11c078cff727582a221bf06daaf0e82	0.099609	0.003937	0.112793	0.000778	0.154297	0.020996
null	the following examples specifically illustrate lithium secondary batteries according to the present invention . further , comparative examples will be taken to make it clear that in the lithium secondary batteries of the examples , decrease in the discharge capacity is restrained even when the batteries in a charged state are stored under high temperature conditions . it should be appreciated that the lithium secondary batteries according to the present invention are not particularly limited to those in the following examples , and various changes and modifications may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof . in the example a1 , a positive electrode and a negative electrode were fabricated in the following manner , and an electrolyte was prepared in the following manner , to fabricate a flat - type lithium secondary battery as shown in fig1 . a lithium - containing composite cobalt dioxide licoo 2 was used as a positive electrode active material . powder of licoo 2 , carbon materials such as artificial carbon , acetylene black , and graphite as a conductive agent , and a solution obtained by dissolving polyvinylidene fluoride as a binding agent in n - methyl - 2 - pyrolidone were mixed , to prepare a slurry containing the powder of licoo 2 , the conductive agent , and the polyvinylidene fluoride in the weight ratio of 90 : 5 : 5 . subsequently , the slurry was uniformly applied to one side of an aluminum foil as a positive - electrode current collector la by means of the doctor blade coating method . the slurry on the positive - electrode current collector 1 a was heat - treated at 130 ° c . for 2 hours to remove the n - methyl - 2 - pyrolidone as a solvent , after which the positive - electrode current collector 1 a which was coated with the slurry was rolled by a roll press , to obtain a positive electrode 1 . natural graphite ( d 002 = 3 . 35 å ) was used as a negative electrode active material . powder of the natural graphite and a solution obtained by dissolving polyvinylidene fluoride as a binding agent in n - methyl - 2 - pyrolidone were mixed , to prepare a slurry containing the powder of the natural graphite and the polyvinylidene fluoride in the weight ratio of 95 : 5 . subsequently , the slurry was uniformly applied to one side of a copper foil as a negative - electrode current collector 2 a by means of the doctor blade coating method . the slurry on the negative - electrode current collector 2 a was heat - treated at 130 ° c . for 2 hours to remove the n - methyl - 2 - pyrolidone as a solvent , after which the negative - electrode current collector 2 a which was coated with the slurry was rolled , to obtain a negative electrode 2 . the example a1 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 1 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of lithium fluoride lif was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in fabricating a battery , as shown in fig1 a microporous film made of polypropylene and impregnated with the above - mentioned electrolyte was interposed as a separator 3 between the positive electrode 1 and the negative electrode 2 respectively fabricated in the above - mentioned manners , after which they were contained in a battery case 4 comprising a positive - electrode can 4 a and a negative - electrode can 4 b , and the positive electrode 1 was connected to the positive - electrode can 4 a via the positive - electrode current collector 1 a while the negative electrode 2 was connected to the negative - electrode can 4 b via the negative - electrode current collector 2 a , to electrically separate the positive - electrode can 4 a and the negative - electrode can 4 b from each other by an insulating packing 5 , to obtain a lithium secondary batter of example a1 having a capacity of 8 mah . in the example a2 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example a2 employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 . the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of lithium fluoride lif was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example a3 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example a3 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ), which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 ) ( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 4 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ) was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of lithium fluoride lif was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example b1 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example b1 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 1 , as in the case of the above - mentioned example a1 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of trilithium phosphate li 3 po 4 was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example b2 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example b2 employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 , as in the case of the above - mentioned example a2 . the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of trilithium phosphate li 3 po 4 was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example b3 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example b3 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ), which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 4 , as in the case of the above - mentioned example a3 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ) was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of trilithium phosphate li 3 po 4 was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example c1 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example c1 employed as a solute lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 , which is a methide group lithium salt represented by lic ( c p f 2p + 1 so 2 )( c q f 2q + 1 so 2 )( c r f 2r + 1 so 2 ) wherein p = 1 , q = 1 , and r = 1 . the above - mentioned lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of lithium fluoride lif was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example c2 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example c2 employed as a solute lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 , which is a methide group lithium salt represented by lic ( c p f 2p + 1 so 2 )( c q f 2q + 1 so 2 )( c r f 2r + 1 so 2 ) wherein p = 1 , q = 1 , and r = 1 , as in the case of the above - mentioned example c1 . the above - mentioned lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of trilithium phosphate li 3 po 4 was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the comparative example 1 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the comparative example 1 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 1 , as in the case of the above - mentioned examples a1 and b1 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). neither of a fluoride and phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . in the comparative example 2 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the comparative example 2 employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 , as in the case of the above - mentioned examples a2 and b2 . the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). neither of a fluoride and phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . in the comparative example 3 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the comparative example 3 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ), which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 4 , as in the case of the above - mentioned examples a3 and b3 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ) was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). neither of a fluoride and phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . in the comparative example 4 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the comparative example 4 employed as a solute lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 , which is a methide group lithium salt represented by lic ( c p f 2p + 1 so 2 )( c q f 2q + 1 so 2 )( c r f 2r + 1 so 2 ) wherein p = 1 , q = 1 , and r = 1 , as in the case of the above - mentioned examples c1 and c2 . the above - mentioned lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). neither of a fluoride and phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples a1 to a3 , b1 to b3 , c1 , c2 , and the comparative examples 1 to 4 fabricated as above was charged with constant current of 1 ma up to 4 . 1 v and was then discharged with constant current of 1 ma up to 2 . 5 v at room temperature of 25 ° c ., to find an initial discharge capacity q 0 . subsequently , each of the above - mentioned batteries was charged with constant current of 1 ma up to 4 . 1 v , was then stored for 10 days at a temperature of 60 ° c ., and thereafter , was discharged with constant current of 1 ma up to 2 . 5 v , to find a discharge capacity q 1 after the storage under high temperature conditions . the ratio of the discharging capacity q 1 after the storage under high temperature conditions to the initial discharging capacity q 0 [( q 0 / q 1 )× 100 ] was found as the percentage of capacity retention . the results were shown in the following table 1 . as apparent from the result , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the comparative examples 1 to 4 employing the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt or a methide group lithium salt , to which neither of a fluoride or phosphorus compound is added presented a low percentage of capacity retention of 34 to 42 % after the storage under high temperature conditions . on the other hand , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples a1 to a3 , b1 to b3 , c1 , and c2 employing the above - mentioned electrolyte solution to which lithium fluoride lif or trilithium phosphate li 3 po 4 is added presented a high percentage of capacity retention of 69 to 76 % after the storage under high temperature conditions , and was remarkably improved in storage characteristics in a charged state . the reason for this is conceivably that when a fluoride or a phosphorus compound is added to the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt or a methide group lithium salt , a protective film is formed on a surface of the positive electrode 1 or negative electrode 2 . the protective film thus formed serves to prevent direct contact between the electrolyte solution and the positive electrode or negative electrode and hence , the electrolyte solution is prevented from being decomposed when the lithium secondary battery is stored in a charged state , resulting in improved storage characteristics of the battery in a charge state . although each of the lithium secondary battery in the above - mentioned examples a1 to a3 , b1 to b3 , c1 , and c2 employed the mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 as a solvent in the electrolyte solution , substantially the same effects may be attained when propylene carbonate ( pc ), butylene carbonate ( bc ), dimethyl carbonate ( dmc ), sulfolane ( sl ), vinylene carbonate ( vc ), methyl ethyl carbonate ( mec ), tetrahydrofuran ( thf ), 1 , 2 - diethoxyethane ( dee ), 1 , 2 - dimethoxyethane ( dme ), ethoxymethoxyethane ( eme ), and the like besides the above - mentioned ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) are used alone or in combination of two or more types . in the examples a4 to a17 , lithium secondary batteries were fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the examples a4 to a17 each employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 , and the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ), as in the case of the above - mentioned example a2 . then , in each of the examples a4 to a17 , the type of the fluoride added to the above - mentioned electrolyte solution as an additive in the above - mentioned example a2 was changed . specifically , the example a4 employed agf ; the example a5 employed cof 2 ; the example a6 employed cof 3 ; the example a7 employed cuf ; the example a8 employed cuf 2 ; the example a9 employed fef 2 ; the example a10 employed fef 3 ; the example all employed mnf 2 ; the example a12 employed mnf 3 ; the example a13 employed snf 2 ; the example a14 employed snf 4 ; the example a15 employed tif 3 ; the example a16 employed tif 4 ; and the example a17 employed zrf 4 , as shown in the following table 2 . these additives were respectively added to the electrolyte solutions at the ratio of 1 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of each electrolyte solution . in the example b4 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example b4 employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 , and the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ), as in the case of the above - mentioned example b2 . then , in the example b4 , the type of the phosphorus compound added to the above - mentioned electrolyte solution as an additive in the above - mentioned example b2 was changed . specifically , 1 . 0 wt % of lipo 3 was added to the electrolyte solution as shown in the following table 2 . with respect to each of the lithium secondary batteries according to the examples a4 to a17 and b4 fabricated as above , the percentage of capacity retention (%) was found in the same manner as that in each of the above - mentioned lithium secondary batteries . the results , along with those of the above - mentioned examples a2 , b2 , and comparative example 2 , are shown in the following table 2 . as apparent from the result , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples a2 and a4 to a17 in which the fluoride selected from the group consisting of lif , agf , cof 2 , cof 3 , cuf , cuf 2 , fef 2 , fef 3 , mnf 2 , mnf 3 , snf 2 , snf 4 , tif 3 , tif 4 , and zrf 4 was added to the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt and each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples b2 and b4 in which the phosphorus compound selected from the group consisting of lipo 3 and li 3 po 4 was added to the above - mentioned electrolyte solution presented a high percentage of capacity retention of 70 to 78 %, and was remarkably improved in storage characteristics in a charged state as compared with the lithium secondary battery in the comparative example 2 . although each of the lithium secondary battery in the above - mentioned examples a4 to a17 and b4 cites the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt , substantially the same effects may be attained by an electrolyte solution using as a solute a methide group lithium salt . in the examples d1 to d6 , a lithium secondary batteries were fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the examples d1 to d6 each employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 , and the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ), as in the above - mentioned example b2 . in the examples d1 to d6 , there were used as an additive added to the above - mentioned electrolyte a mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d1 ; a mixture containing lif and lipo 3 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d2 ; a mixture containing tif 4 and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d3 ; a mixture containing tif 4 and lipo 3 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d4 ; a mixture containing lif and tif 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d5 ; and a mixture containing li 3 po 4 and lipo 3 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d6 , as shown in the following table 3 . these additives were respectively added to the electrolyte solutions in at the ratio of 1 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of each electrolyte solution . with respect to each of the lithium secondary batteries according to the examples d1 to d6 fabricated as above , the percentage of capacity retention (%) was found in the same manner as that in each of the above - mentioned lithium secondary batteries . the results , along with that of the above - mentioned comparative example 2 , are shown in the following table 3 . as apparent from the result , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 to d6 in which two types of materials selected from a fluoride and phosphorus compound were added to the electrolyte solution as an additive was remarkably improved in storage characteristics in a charged state as compared with the lithium secondary battery in the comparative example 2 in which neither of a fluoride and a phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . further , when the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 to d6 were compared with each other , it was found that the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 and d4 in which the mixture of the fluoride and phosphorus compound is added to the electrolyte solution presented further improved percentage of capacity retention as compared with the lithium secondary battery in the example d5 in which the mixture of two types of fluorides was added to the electrolyte solution and the lithium secondary battery in the example d6 in which the mixture of two types of phosphorus compounds was added to the electrolyte solution . although each of the lithium secondary battery in the above - mentioned examples d1 to d6 cites the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt , substantially the same effects may be attained by an electrolyte solution using as a solute a methide group lithium salt . in the examples d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 , lithium secondary batteries were fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in each of the examples d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 , in preparing an electrolyte , lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ), and a mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 was added to the electrolyte solution , as in the above - mentioned example d1 . in the examples d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 , the amount of the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 added to the above - mentioned electrolyte solution in the example d1 was changed as shown in the following table 4 . more specifically , an amount of the mixture added to the electrolyte solution was 0 . 001 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 1 ; 0 . 01 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 2 ; 0 . 1 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 3 ; 2 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 4 ; 5 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 5 ; and 10 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 6 . with respect to each of the lithium secondary batteries according to the examples d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 fabricated as above , the percentage of capacity retention (%) was found in the same manner as that in each of the above - mentioned lithium secondary batteries . the results , along with that of the above - mentioned example d1 , are shown in the following table 4 . as apparent from the result , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 in which the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive in the range of 0 . 001 to 10 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution was remarkably improved in storage characteristics in a charged state as compared with the lithium secondary battery in the comparative example 2 in which neither of a fluoride and phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . further , when the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 and d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 were compared with each other , it was found that the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 and d1 . 2 to d1 . 5 in which the mixture containing li 3 po 4 and lipo 3 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 were added to the electrolyte solution as an additive in the range of 0 . 01 to 5 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution presented further improved percentage of capacity retention . the reason for this is conceivably that when an amount of the additive containing li 3 po 4 and lipo 3 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 added to the electrolyte solution is too small , a film formed on a surface of the positive electrode or negative electrode by the additive is hardly made uniform , while when the amount is too large , the film becomes thick , resulting in increased resistance . although each of the above - mentioned examples d1 and d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 presents a case where the mixture of lif and li 3 po 4 is added to the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt , substantially the same tendency may be observed in a case where a mixture of another fluoride and phosphorus compound ; a mixture of fluorides ; a mixture of phosphorus compounds ; or one type of fluoride or phosphorus compound is added , and in a case where the electrolyte solution employs as a solute a methide group lithium salt . in each of the examples e1 and e2 , in preparing an electrolyte , lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ), as in the case of the above - mentioned example d1 . further , as a polymer material , the example e1 employed polyethylene oxide ( peo ) having molecular weight of about 200 , 000 while the example e2 employed polyvinylidene fluoride ( pvdf ) having molecular weight of about 200 , 000 . films respectively composed of the above - mentioned polymer materials were formed on respective positive electrodes by means of the casting method . subsequently , an additive comprising a mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 , together with the above - mentioned electrolyte solution , was added to each of the films , thus giving a gelated polymer electrolyte containing 1 . 0 wt % of the additive comprising the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 on the positive electrode . except for the above , the same procedure as that in the above - mentioned example a1 was taken to fabricate each lithium secondary battery . with respect to each of the lithium secondary batteries according to the examples e1 and e2 fabricated as above , the percentage of capacity retention (%) was found in the same manner as that in each of the above - mentioned lithium secondary batteries . the results , along with that of the above - mentioned example d1 , are shown in the following table 5 . as apparent from the result , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples e1 and e2 employing the gelated polymer electrolyte obtained by adding the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 together with the electrolyte solution to the polymer material presented further improved percentage of capacity retention as compared with the lithium secondary battery in the example d1 employing the electrolyte solution to which the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 is added . although each of the above - mentioned examples e1 and e2 presents a case where the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 , together with the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt , was added to the polymer material , substantially the same effects may be attained in a case where a mixture of another fluoride and phosphorus compound ; a mixture of fluorides ; a mixture of phosphorus compounds ; or one type of fluoride or phosphorus compound is added , and in a case where the electrolyte solution employs as a solute a methide group lithium salt . although the present invention has been fully described by way of examples , it is to be noted that various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art . therefore , unless otherwise such changes and modifications depart from the scope of the present invention , they should be construed as being included therein .	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Electricity'?	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'Performing Operations; Transporting'?	0.25	f05073b0c781958ef51868cdb49264d7e11c078cff727582a221bf06daaf0e82	0.25	0.006683	0.243164	0.004761	0.470703	0.022583
null	the following examples specifically illustrate lithium secondary batteries according to the present invention . further , comparative examples will be taken to make it clear that in the lithium secondary batteries of the examples , decrease in the discharge capacity is restrained even when the batteries in a charged state are stored under high temperature conditions . it should be appreciated that the lithium secondary batteries according to the present invention are not particularly limited to those in the following examples , and various changes and modifications may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof . in the example a1 , a positive electrode and a negative electrode were fabricated in the following manner , and an electrolyte was prepared in the following manner , to fabricate a flat - type lithium secondary battery as shown in fig1 . a lithium - containing composite cobalt dioxide licoo 2 was used as a positive electrode active material . powder of licoo 2 , carbon materials such as artificial carbon , acetylene black , and graphite as a conductive agent , and a solution obtained by dissolving polyvinylidene fluoride as a binding agent in n - methyl - 2 - pyrolidone were mixed , to prepare a slurry containing the powder of licoo 2 , the conductive agent , and the polyvinylidene fluoride in the weight ratio of 90 : 5 : 5 . subsequently , the slurry was uniformly applied to one side of an aluminum foil as a positive - electrode current collector la by means of the doctor blade coating method . the slurry on the positive - electrode current collector 1 a was heat - treated at 130 ° c . for 2 hours to remove the n - methyl - 2 - pyrolidone as a solvent , after which the positive - electrode current collector 1 a which was coated with the slurry was rolled by a roll press , to obtain a positive electrode 1 . natural graphite ( d 002 = 3 . 35 å ) was used as a negative electrode active material . powder of the natural graphite and a solution obtained by dissolving polyvinylidene fluoride as a binding agent in n - methyl - 2 - pyrolidone were mixed , to prepare a slurry containing the powder of the natural graphite and the polyvinylidene fluoride in the weight ratio of 95 : 5 . subsequently , the slurry was uniformly applied to one side of a copper foil as a negative - electrode current collector 2 a by means of the doctor blade coating method . the slurry on the negative - electrode current collector 2 a was heat - treated at 130 ° c . for 2 hours to remove the n - methyl - 2 - pyrolidone as a solvent , after which the negative - electrode current collector 2 a which was coated with the slurry was rolled , to obtain a negative electrode 2 . the example a1 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 1 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of lithium fluoride lif was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in fabricating a battery , as shown in fig1 a microporous film made of polypropylene and impregnated with the above - mentioned electrolyte was interposed as a separator 3 between the positive electrode 1 and the negative electrode 2 respectively fabricated in the above - mentioned manners , after which they were contained in a battery case 4 comprising a positive - electrode can 4 a and a negative - electrode can 4 b , and the positive electrode 1 was connected to the positive - electrode can 4 a via the positive - electrode current collector 1 a while the negative electrode 2 was connected to the negative - electrode can 4 b via the negative - electrode current collector 2 a , to electrically separate the positive - electrode can 4 a and the negative - electrode can 4 b from each other by an insulating packing 5 , to obtain a lithium secondary batter of example a1 having a capacity of 8 mah . in the example a2 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example a2 employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 . the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of lithium fluoride lif was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example a3 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example a3 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ), which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 ) ( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 4 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ) was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of lithium fluoride lif was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example b1 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example b1 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 1 , as in the case of the above - mentioned example a1 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of trilithium phosphate li 3 po 4 was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example b2 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example b2 employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 , as in the case of the above - mentioned example a2 . the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of trilithium phosphate li 3 po 4 was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example b3 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example b3 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ), which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 4 , as in the case of the above - mentioned example a3 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ) was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of trilithium phosphate li 3 po 4 was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example c1 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example c1 employed as a solute lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 , which is a methide group lithium salt represented by lic ( c p f 2p + 1 so 2 )( c q f 2q + 1 so 2 )( c r f 2r + 1 so 2 ) wherein p = 1 , q = 1 , and r = 1 . the above - mentioned lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of lithium fluoride lif was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example c2 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example c2 employed as a solute lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 , which is a methide group lithium salt represented by lic ( c p f 2p + 1 so 2 )( c q f 2q + 1 so 2 )( c r f 2r + 1 so 2 ) wherein p = 1 , q = 1 , and r = 1 , as in the case of the above - mentioned example c1 . the above - mentioned lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of trilithium phosphate li 3 po 4 was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the comparative example 1 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the comparative example 1 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 1 , as in the case of the above - mentioned examples a1 and b1 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). neither of a fluoride and phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . in the comparative example 2 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the comparative example 2 employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 , as in the case of the above - mentioned examples a2 and b2 . the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). neither of a fluoride and phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . in the comparative example 3 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the comparative example 3 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ), which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 4 , as in the case of the above - mentioned examples a3 and b3 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ) was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). neither of a fluoride and phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . in the comparative example 4 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the comparative example 4 employed as a solute lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 , which is a methide group lithium salt represented by lic ( c p f 2p + 1 so 2 )( c q f 2q + 1 so 2 )( c r f 2r + 1 so 2 ) wherein p = 1 , q = 1 , and r = 1 , as in the case of the above - mentioned examples c1 and c2 . the above - mentioned lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). neither of a fluoride and phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples a1 to a3 , b1 to b3 , c1 , c2 , and the comparative examples 1 to 4 fabricated as above was charged with constant current of 1 ma up to 4 . 1 v and was then discharged with constant current of 1 ma up to 2 . 5 v at room temperature of 25 ° c ., to find an initial discharge capacity q 0 . subsequently , each of the above - mentioned batteries was charged with constant current of 1 ma up to 4 . 1 v , was then stored for 10 days at a temperature of 60 ° c ., and thereafter , was discharged with constant current of 1 ma up to 2 . 5 v , to find a discharge capacity q 1 after the storage under high temperature conditions . the ratio of the discharging capacity q 1 after the storage under high temperature conditions to the initial discharging capacity q 0 [( q 0 / q 1 )× 100 ] was found as the percentage of capacity retention . the results were shown in the following table 1 . as apparent from the result , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the comparative examples 1 to 4 employing the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt or a methide group lithium salt , to which neither of a fluoride or phosphorus compound is added presented a low percentage of capacity retention of 34 to 42 % after the storage under high temperature conditions . on the other hand , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples a1 to a3 , b1 to b3 , c1 , and c2 employing the above - mentioned electrolyte solution to which lithium fluoride lif or trilithium phosphate li 3 po 4 is added presented a high percentage of capacity retention of 69 to 76 % after the storage under high temperature conditions , and was remarkably improved in storage characteristics in a charged state . the reason for this is conceivably that when a fluoride or a phosphorus compound is added to the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt or a methide group lithium salt , a protective film is formed on a surface of the positive electrode 1 or negative electrode 2 . the protective film thus formed serves to prevent direct contact between the electrolyte solution and the positive electrode or negative electrode and hence , the electrolyte solution is prevented from being decomposed when the lithium secondary battery is stored in a charged state , resulting in improved storage characteristics of the battery in a charge state . although each of the lithium secondary battery in the above - mentioned examples a1 to a3 , b1 to b3 , c1 , and c2 employed the mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 as a solvent in the electrolyte solution , substantially the same effects may be attained when propylene carbonate ( pc ), butylene carbonate ( bc ), dimethyl carbonate ( dmc ), sulfolane ( sl ), vinylene carbonate ( vc ), methyl ethyl carbonate ( mec ), tetrahydrofuran ( thf ), 1 , 2 - diethoxyethane ( dee ), 1 , 2 - dimethoxyethane ( dme ), ethoxymethoxyethane ( eme ), and the like besides the above - mentioned ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) are used alone or in combination of two or more types . in the examples a4 to a17 , lithium secondary batteries were fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the examples a4 to a17 each employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 , and the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ), as in the case of the above - mentioned example a2 . then , in each of the examples a4 to a17 , the type of the fluoride added to the above - mentioned electrolyte solution as an additive in the above - mentioned example a2 was changed . specifically , the example a4 employed agf ; the example a5 employed cof 2 ; the example a6 employed cof 3 ; the example a7 employed cuf ; the example a8 employed cuf 2 ; the example a9 employed fef 2 ; the example a10 employed fef 3 ; the example all employed mnf 2 ; the example a12 employed mnf 3 ; the example a13 employed snf 2 ; the example a14 employed snf 4 ; the example a15 employed tif 3 ; the example a16 employed tif 4 ; and the example a17 employed zrf 4 , as shown in the following table 2 . these additives were respectively added to the electrolyte solutions at the ratio of 1 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of each electrolyte solution . in the example b4 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example b4 employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 , and the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ), as in the case of the above - mentioned example b2 . then , in the example b4 , the type of the phosphorus compound added to the above - mentioned electrolyte solution as an additive in the above - mentioned example b2 was changed . specifically , 1 . 0 wt % of lipo 3 was added to the electrolyte solution as shown in the following table 2 . with respect to each of the lithium secondary batteries according to the examples a4 to a17 and b4 fabricated as above , the percentage of capacity retention (%) was found in the same manner as that in each of the above - mentioned lithium secondary batteries . the results , along with those of the above - mentioned examples a2 , b2 , and comparative example 2 , are shown in the following table 2 . as apparent from the result , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples a2 and a4 to a17 in which the fluoride selected from the group consisting of lif , agf , cof 2 , cof 3 , cuf , cuf 2 , fef 2 , fef 3 , mnf 2 , mnf 3 , snf 2 , snf 4 , tif 3 , tif 4 , and zrf 4 was added to the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt and each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples b2 and b4 in which the phosphorus compound selected from the group consisting of lipo 3 and li 3 po 4 was added to the above - mentioned electrolyte solution presented a high percentage of capacity retention of 70 to 78 %, and was remarkably improved in storage characteristics in a charged state as compared with the lithium secondary battery in the comparative example 2 . although each of the lithium secondary battery in the above - mentioned examples a4 to a17 and b4 cites the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt , substantially the same effects may be attained by an electrolyte solution using as a solute a methide group lithium salt . in the examples d1 to d6 , a lithium secondary batteries were fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the examples d1 to d6 each employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 , and the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ), as in the above - mentioned example b2 . in the examples d1 to d6 , there were used as an additive added to the above - mentioned electrolyte a mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d1 ; a mixture containing lif and lipo 3 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d2 ; a mixture containing tif 4 and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d3 ; a mixture containing tif 4 and lipo 3 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d4 ; a mixture containing lif and tif 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d5 ; and a mixture containing li 3 po 4 and lipo 3 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d6 , as shown in the following table 3 . these additives were respectively added to the electrolyte solutions in at the ratio of 1 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of each electrolyte solution . with respect to each of the lithium secondary batteries according to the examples d1 to d6 fabricated as above , the percentage of capacity retention (%) was found in the same manner as that in each of the above - mentioned lithium secondary batteries . the results , along with that of the above - mentioned comparative example 2 , are shown in the following table 3 . as apparent from the result , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 to d6 in which two types of materials selected from a fluoride and phosphorus compound were added to the electrolyte solution as an additive was remarkably improved in storage characteristics in a charged state as compared with the lithium secondary battery in the comparative example 2 in which neither of a fluoride and a phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . further , when the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 to d6 were compared with each other , it was found that the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 and d4 in which the mixture of the fluoride and phosphorus compound is added to the electrolyte solution presented further improved percentage of capacity retention as compared with the lithium secondary battery in the example d5 in which the mixture of two types of fluorides was added to the electrolyte solution and the lithium secondary battery in the example d6 in which the mixture of two types of phosphorus compounds was added to the electrolyte solution . although each of the lithium secondary battery in the above - mentioned examples d1 to d6 cites the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt , substantially the same effects may be attained by an electrolyte solution using as a solute a methide group lithium salt . in the examples d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 , lithium secondary batteries were fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in each of the examples d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 , in preparing an electrolyte , lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ), and a mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 was added to the electrolyte solution , as in the above - mentioned example d1 . in the examples d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 , the amount of the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 added to the above - mentioned electrolyte solution in the example d1 was changed as shown in the following table 4 . more specifically , an amount of the mixture added to the electrolyte solution was 0 . 001 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 1 ; 0 . 01 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 2 ; 0 . 1 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 3 ; 2 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 4 ; 5 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 5 ; and 10 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 6 . with respect to each of the lithium secondary batteries according to the examples d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 fabricated as above , the percentage of capacity retention (%) was found in the same manner as that in each of the above - mentioned lithium secondary batteries . the results , along with that of the above - mentioned example d1 , are shown in the following table 4 . as apparent from the result , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 in which the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive in the range of 0 . 001 to 10 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution was remarkably improved in storage characteristics in a charged state as compared with the lithium secondary battery in the comparative example 2 in which neither of a fluoride and phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . further , when the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 and d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 were compared with each other , it was found that the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 and d1 . 2 to d1 . 5 in which the mixture containing li 3 po 4 and lipo 3 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 were added to the electrolyte solution as an additive in the range of 0 . 01 to 5 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution presented further improved percentage of capacity retention . the reason for this is conceivably that when an amount of the additive containing li 3 po 4 and lipo 3 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 added to the electrolyte solution is too small , a film formed on a surface of the positive electrode or negative electrode by the additive is hardly made uniform , while when the amount is too large , the film becomes thick , resulting in increased resistance . although each of the above - mentioned examples d1 and d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 presents a case where the mixture of lif and li 3 po 4 is added to the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt , substantially the same tendency may be observed in a case where a mixture of another fluoride and phosphorus compound ; a mixture of fluorides ; a mixture of phosphorus compounds ; or one type of fluoride or phosphorus compound is added , and in a case where the electrolyte solution employs as a solute a methide group lithium salt . in each of the examples e1 and e2 , in preparing an electrolyte , lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ), as in the case of the above - mentioned example d1 . further , as a polymer material , the example e1 employed polyethylene oxide ( peo ) having molecular weight of about 200 , 000 while the example e2 employed polyvinylidene fluoride ( pvdf ) having molecular weight of about 200 , 000 . films respectively composed of the above - mentioned polymer materials were formed on respective positive electrodes by means of the casting method . subsequently , an additive comprising a mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 , together with the above - mentioned electrolyte solution , was added to each of the films , thus giving a gelated polymer electrolyte containing 1 . 0 wt % of the additive comprising the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 on the positive electrode . except for the above , the same procedure as that in the above - mentioned example a1 was taken to fabricate each lithium secondary battery . with respect to each of the lithium secondary batteries according to the examples e1 and e2 fabricated as above , the percentage of capacity retention (%) was found in the same manner as that in each of the above - mentioned lithium secondary batteries . the results , along with that of the above - mentioned example d1 , are shown in the following table 5 . as apparent from the result , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples e1 and e2 employing the gelated polymer electrolyte obtained by adding the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 together with the electrolyte solution to the polymer material presented further improved percentage of capacity retention as compared with the lithium secondary battery in the example d1 employing the electrolyte solution to which the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 is added . although each of the above - mentioned examples e1 and e2 presents a case where the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 , together with the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt , was added to the polymer material , substantially the same effects may be attained in a case where a mixture of another fluoride and phosphorus compound ; a mixture of fluorides ; a mixture of phosphorus compounds ; or one type of fluoride or phosphorus compound is added , and in a case where the electrolyte solution employs as a solute a methide group lithium salt . although the present invention has been fully described by way of examples , it is to be noted that various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art . therefore , unless otherwise such changes and modifications depart from the scope of the present invention , they should be construed as being included therein .	Should this patent be classified under 'Electricity'?	Is 'Chemistry; Metallurgy' the correct technical category for the patent?	0.25	f05073b0c781958ef51868cdb49264d7e11c078cff727582a221bf06daaf0e82	0.111328	0.146484	0.214844	0.249023	0.080566	0.162109
null	the following examples specifically illustrate lithium secondary batteries according to the present invention . further , comparative examples will be taken to make it clear that in the lithium secondary batteries of the examples , decrease in the discharge capacity is restrained even when the batteries in a charged state are stored under high temperature conditions . it should be appreciated that the lithium secondary batteries according to the present invention are not particularly limited to those in the following examples , and various changes and modifications may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof . in the example a1 , a positive electrode and a negative electrode were fabricated in the following manner , and an electrolyte was prepared in the following manner , to fabricate a flat - type lithium secondary battery as shown in fig1 . a lithium - containing composite cobalt dioxide licoo 2 was used as a positive electrode active material . powder of licoo 2 , carbon materials such as artificial carbon , acetylene black , and graphite as a conductive agent , and a solution obtained by dissolving polyvinylidene fluoride as a binding agent in n - methyl - 2 - pyrolidone were mixed , to prepare a slurry containing the powder of licoo 2 , the conductive agent , and the polyvinylidene fluoride in the weight ratio of 90 : 5 : 5 . subsequently , the slurry was uniformly applied to one side of an aluminum foil as a positive - electrode current collector la by means of the doctor blade coating method . the slurry on the positive - electrode current collector 1 a was heat - treated at 130 ° c . for 2 hours to remove the n - methyl - 2 - pyrolidone as a solvent , after which the positive - electrode current collector 1 a which was coated with the slurry was rolled by a roll press , to obtain a positive electrode 1 . natural graphite ( d 002 = 3 . 35 å ) was used as a negative electrode active material . powder of the natural graphite and a solution obtained by dissolving polyvinylidene fluoride as a binding agent in n - methyl - 2 - pyrolidone were mixed , to prepare a slurry containing the powder of the natural graphite and the polyvinylidene fluoride in the weight ratio of 95 : 5 . subsequently , the slurry was uniformly applied to one side of a copper foil as a negative - electrode current collector 2 a by means of the doctor blade coating method . the slurry on the negative - electrode current collector 2 a was heat - treated at 130 ° c . for 2 hours to remove the n - methyl - 2 - pyrolidone as a solvent , after which the negative - electrode current collector 2 a which was coated with the slurry was rolled , to obtain a negative electrode 2 . the example a1 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 1 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of lithium fluoride lif was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in fabricating a battery , as shown in fig1 a microporous film made of polypropylene and impregnated with the above - mentioned electrolyte was interposed as a separator 3 between the positive electrode 1 and the negative electrode 2 respectively fabricated in the above - mentioned manners , after which they were contained in a battery case 4 comprising a positive - electrode can 4 a and a negative - electrode can 4 b , and the positive electrode 1 was connected to the positive - electrode can 4 a via the positive - electrode current collector 1 a while the negative electrode 2 was connected to the negative - electrode can 4 b via the negative - electrode current collector 2 a , to electrically separate the positive - electrode can 4 a and the negative - electrode can 4 b from each other by an insulating packing 5 , to obtain a lithium secondary batter of example a1 having a capacity of 8 mah . in the example a2 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example a2 employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 . the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of lithium fluoride lif was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example a3 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example a3 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ), which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 ) ( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 4 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ) was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of lithium fluoride lif was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example b1 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example b1 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 1 , as in the case of the above - mentioned example a1 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of trilithium phosphate li 3 po 4 was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example b2 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example b2 employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 , as in the case of the above - mentioned example a2 . the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of trilithium phosphate li 3 po 4 was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example b3 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example b3 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ), which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 4 , as in the case of the above - mentioned example a3 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ) was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of trilithium phosphate li 3 po 4 was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example c1 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example c1 employed as a solute lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 , which is a methide group lithium salt represented by lic ( c p f 2p + 1 so 2 )( c q f 2q + 1 so 2 )( c r f 2r + 1 so 2 ) wherein p = 1 , q = 1 , and r = 1 . the above - mentioned lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of lithium fluoride lif was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example c2 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example c2 employed as a solute lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 , which is a methide group lithium salt represented by lic ( c p f 2p + 1 so 2 )( c q f 2q + 1 so 2 )( c r f 2r + 1 so 2 ) wherein p = 1 , q = 1 , and r = 1 , as in the case of the above - mentioned example c1 . the above - mentioned lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of trilithium phosphate li 3 po 4 was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the comparative example 1 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the comparative example 1 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 1 , as in the case of the above - mentioned examples a1 and b1 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). neither of a fluoride and phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . in the comparative example 2 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the comparative example 2 employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 , as in the case of the above - mentioned examples a2 and b2 . the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). neither of a fluoride and phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . in the comparative example 3 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the comparative example 3 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ), which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 4 , as in the case of the above - mentioned examples a3 and b3 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ) was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). neither of a fluoride and phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . in the comparative example 4 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the comparative example 4 employed as a solute lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 , which is a methide group lithium salt represented by lic ( c p f 2p + 1 so 2 )( c q f 2q + 1 so 2 )( c r f 2r + 1 so 2 ) wherein p = 1 , q = 1 , and r = 1 , as in the case of the above - mentioned examples c1 and c2 . the above - mentioned lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). neither of a fluoride and phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples a1 to a3 , b1 to b3 , c1 , c2 , and the comparative examples 1 to 4 fabricated as above was charged with constant current of 1 ma up to 4 . 1 v and was then discharged with constant current of 1 ma up to 2 . 5 v at room temperature of 25 ° c ., to find an initial discharge capacity q 0 . subsequently , each of the above - mentioned batteries was charged with constant current of 1 ma up to 4 . 1 v , was then stored for 10 days at a temperature of 60 ° c ., and thereafter , was discharged with constant current of 1 ma up to 2 . 5 v , to find a discharge capacity q 1 after the storage under high temperature conditions . the ratio of the discharging capacity q 1 after the storage under high temperature conditions to the initial discharging capacity q 0 [( q 0 / q 1 )× 100 ] was found as the percentage of capacity retention . the results were shown in the following table 1 . as apparent from the result , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the comparative examples 1 to 4 employing the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt or a methide group lithium salt , to which neither of a fluoride or phosphorus compound is added presented a low percentage of capacity retention of 34 to 42 % after the storage under high temperature conditions . on the other hand , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples a1 to a3 , b1 to b3 , c1 , and c2 employing the above - mentioned electrolyte solution to which lithium fluoride lif or trilithium phosphate li 3 po 4 is added presented a high percentage of capacity retention of 69 to 76 % after the storage under high temperature conditions , and was remarkably improved in storage characteristics in a charged state . the reason for this is conceivably that when a fluoride or a phosphorus compound is added to the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt or a methide group lithium salt , a protective film is formed on a surface of the positive electrode 1 or negative electrode 2 . the protective film thus formed serves to prevent direct contact between the electrolyte solution and the positive electrode or negative electrode and hence , the electrolyte solution is prevented from being decomposed when the lithium secondary battery is stored in a charged state , resulting in improved storage characteristics of the battery in a charge state . although each of the lithium secondary battery in the above - mentioned examples a1 to a3 , b1 to b3 , c1 , and c2 employed the mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 as a solvent in the electrolyte solution , substantially the same effects may be attained when propylene carbonate ( pc ), butylene carbonate ( bc ), dimethyl carbonate ( dmc ), sulfolane ( sl ), vinylene carbonate ( vc ), methyl ethyl carbonate ( mec ), tetrahydrofuran ( thf ), 1 , 2 - diethoxyethane ( dee ), 1 , 2 - dimethoxyethane ( dme ), ethoxymethoxyethane ( eme ), and the like besides the above - mentioned ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) are used alone or in combination of two or more types . in the examples a4 to a17 , lithium secondary batteries were fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the examples a4 to a17 each employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 , and the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ), as in the case of the above - mentioned example a2 . then , in each of the examples a4 to a17 , the type of the fluoride added to the above - mentioned electrolyte solution as an additive in the above - mentioned example a2 was changed . specifically , the example a4 employed agf ; the example a5 employed cof 2 ; the example a6 employed cof 3 ; the example a7 employed cuf ; the example a8 employed cuf 2 ; the example a9 employed fef 2 ; the example a10 employed fef 3 ; the example all employed mnf 2 ; the example a12 employed mnf 3 ; the example a13 employed snf 2 ; the example a14 employed snf 4 ; the example a15 employed tif 3 ; the example a16 employed tif 4 ; and the example a17 employed zrf 4 , as shown in the following table 2 . these additives were respectively added to the electrolyte solutions at the ratio of 1 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of each electrolyte solution . in the example b4 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example b4 employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 , and the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ), as in the case of the above - mentioned example b2 . then , in the example b4 , the type of the phosphorus compound added to the above - mentioned electrolyte solution as an additive in the above - mentioned example b2 was changed . specifically , 1 . 0 wt % of lipo 3 was added to the electrolyte solution as shown in the following table 2 . with respect to each of the lithium secondary batteries according to the examples a4 to a17 and b4 fabricated as above , the percentage of capacity retention (%) was found in the same manner as that in each of the above - mentioned lithium secondary batteries . the results , along with those of the above - mentioned examples a2 , b2 , and comparative example 2 , are shown in the following table 2 . as apparent from the result , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples a2 and a4 to a17 in which the fluoride selected from the group consisting of lif , agf , cof 2 , cof 3 , cuf , cuf 2 , fef 2 , fef 3 , mnf 2 , mnf 3 , snf 2 , snf 4 , tif 3 , tif 4 , and zrf 4 was added to the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt and each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples b2 and b4 in which the phosphorus compound selected from the group consisting of lipo 3 and li 3 po 4 was added to the above - mentioned electrolyte solution presented a high percentage of capacity retention of 70 to 78 %, and was remarkably improved in storage characteristics in a charged state as compared with the lithium secondary battery in the comparative example 2 . although each of the lithium secondary battery in the above - mentioned examples a4 to a17 and b4 cites the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt , substantially the same effects may be attained by an electrolyte solution using as a solute a methide group lithium salt . in the examples d1 to d6 , a lithium secondary batteries were fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the examples d1 to d6 each employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 , and the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ), as in the above - mentioned example b2 . in the examples d1 to d6 , there were used as an additive added to the above - mentioned electrolyte a mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d1 ; a mixture containing lif and lipo 3 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d2 ; a mixture containing tif 4 and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d3 ; a mixture containing tif 4 and lipo 3 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d4 ; a mixture containing lif and tif 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d5 ; and a mixture containing li 3 po 4 and lipo 3 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d6 , as shown in the following table 3 . these additives were respectively added to the electrolyte solutions in at the ratio of 1 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of each electrolyte solution . with respect to each of the lithium secondary batteries according to the examples d1 to d6 fabricated as above , the percentage of capacity retention (%) was found in the same manner as that in each of the above - mentioned lithium secondary batteries . the results , along with that of the above - mentioned comparative example 2 , are shown in the following table 3 . as apparent from the result , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 to d6 in which two types of materials selected from a fluoride and phosphorus compound were added to the electrolyte solution as an additive was remarkably improved in storage characteristics in a charged state as compared with the lithium secondary battery in the comparative example 2 in which neither of a fluoride and a phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . further , when the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 to d6 were compared with each other , it was found that the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 and d4 in which the mixture of the fluoride and phosphorus compound is added to the electrolyte solution presented further improved percentage of capacity retention as compared with the lithium secondary battery in the example d5 in which the mixture of two types of fluorides was added to the electrolyte solution and the lithium secondary battery in the example d6 in which the mixture of two types of phosphorus compounds was added to the electrolyte solution . although each of the lithium secondary battery in the above - mentioned examples d1 to d6 cites the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt , substantially the same effects may be attained by an electrolyte solution using as a solute a methide group lithium salt . in the examples d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 , lithium secondary batteries were fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in each of the examples d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 , in preparing an electrolyte , lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ), and a mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 was added to the electrolyte solution , as in the above - mentioned example d1 . in the examples d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 , the amount of the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 added to the above - mentioned electrolyte solution in the example d1 was changed as shown in the following table 4 . more specifically , an amount of the mixture added to the electrolyte solution was 0 . 001 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 1 ; 0 . 01 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 2 ; 0 . 1 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 3 ; 2 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 4 ; 5 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 5 ; and 10 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 6 . with respect to each of the lithium secondary batteries according to the examples d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 fabricated as above , the percentage of capacity retention (%) was found in the same manner as that in each of the above - mentioned lithium secondary batteries . the results , along with that of the above - mentioned example d1 , are shown in the following table 4 . as apparent from the result , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 in which the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive in the range of 0 . 001 to 10 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution was remarkably improved in storage characteristics in a charged state as compared with the lithium secondary battery in the comparative example 2 in which neither of a fluoride and phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . further , when the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 and d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 were compared with each other , it was found that the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 and d1 . 2 to d1 . 5 in which the mixture containing li 3 po 4 and lipo 3 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 were added to the electrolyte solution as an additive in the range of 0 . 01 to 5 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution presented further improved percentage of capacity retention . the reason for this is conceivably that when an amount of the additive containing li 3 po 4 and lipo 3 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 added to the electrolyte solution is too small , a film formed on a surface of the positive electrode or negative electrode by the additive is hardly made uniform , while when the amount is too large , the film becomes thick , resulting in increased resistance . although each of the above - mentioned examples d1 and d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 presents a case where the mixture of lif and li 3 po 4 is added to the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt , substantially the same tendency may be observed in a case where a mixture of another fluoride and phosphorus compound ; a mixture of fluorides ; a mixture of phosphorus compounds ; or one type of fluoride or phosphorus compound is added , and in a case where the electrolyte solution employs as a solute a methide group lithium salt . in each of the examples e1 and e2 , in preparing an electrolyte , lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ), as in the case of the above - mentioned example d1 . further , as a polymer material , the example e1 employed polyethylene oxide ( peo ) having molecular weight of about 200 , 000 while the example e2 employed polyvinylidene fluoride ( pvdf ) having molecular weight of about 200 , 000 . films respectively composed of the above - mentioned polymer materials were formed on respective positive electrodes by means of the casting method . subsequently , an additive comprising a mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 , together with the above - mentioned electrolyte solution , was added to each of the films , thus giving a gelated polymer electrolyte containing 1 . 0 wt % of the additive comprising the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 on the positive electrode . except for the above , the same procedure as that in the above - mentioned example a1 was taken to fabricate each lithium secondary battery . with respect to each of the lithium secondary batteries according to the examples e1 and e2 fabricated as above , the percentage of capacity retention (%) was found in the same manner as that in each of the above - mentioned lithium secondary batteries . the results , along with that of the above - mentioned example d1 , are shown in the following table 5 . as apparent from the result , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples e1 and e2 employing the gelated polymer electrolyte obtained by adding the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 together with the electrolyte solution to the polymer material presented further improved percentage of capacity retention as compared with the lithium secondary battery in the example d1 employing the electrolyte solution to which the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 is added . although each of the above - mentioned examples e1 and e2 presents a case where the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 , together with the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt , was added to the polymer material , substantially the same effects may be attained in a case where a mixture of another fluoride and phosphorus compound ; a mixture of fluorides ; a mixture of phosphorus compounds ; or one type of fluoride or phosphorus compound is added , and in a case where the electrolyte solution employs as a solute a methide group lithium salt . although the present invention has been fully described by way of examples , it is to be noted that various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art . therefore , unless otherwise such changes and modifications depart from the scope of the present invention , they should be construed as being included therein .	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'Electricity'?	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Textiles; Paper'?	0.25	f05073b0c781958ef51868cdb49264d7e11c078cff727582a221bf06daaf0e82	0.142578	0.0065	0.265625	0.0065	0.193359	0.034668
null	the following examples specifically illustrate lithium secondary batteries according to the present invention . further , comparative examples will be taken to make it clear that in the lithium secondary batteries of the examples , decrease in the discharge capacity is restrained even when the batteries in a charged state are stored under high temperature conditions . it should be appreciated that the lithium secondary batteries according to the present invention are not particularly limited to those in the following examples , and various changes and modifications may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof . in the example a1 , a positive electrode and a negative electrode were fabricated in the following manner , and an electrolyte was prepared in the following manner , to fabricate a flat - type lithium secondary battery as shown in fig1 . a lithium - containing composite cobalt dioxide licoo 2 was used as a positive electrode active material . powder of licoo 2 , carbon materials such as artificial carbon , acetylene black , and graphite as a conductive agent , and a solution obtained by dissolving polyvinylidene fluoride as a binding agent in n - methyl - 2 - pyrolidone were mixed , to prepare a slurry containing the powder of licoo 2 , the conductive agent , and the polyvinylidene fluoride in the weight ratio of 90 : 5 : 5 . subsequently , the slurry was uniformly applied to one side of an aluminum foil as a positive - electrode current collector la by means of the doctor blade coating method . the slurry on the positive - electrode current collector 1 a was heat - treated at 130 ° c . for 2 hours to remove the n - methyl - 2 - pyrolidone as a solvent , after which the positive - electrode current collector 1 a which was coated with the slurry was rolled by a roll press , to obtain a positive electrode 1 . natural graphite ( d 002 = 3 . 35 å ) was used as a negative electrode active material . powder of the natural graphite and a solution obtained by dissolving polyvinylidene fluoride as a binding agent in n - methyl - 2 - pyrolidone were mixed , to prepare a slurry containing the powder of the natural graphite and the polyvinylidene fluoride in the weight ratio of 95 : 5 . subsequently , the slurry was uniformly applied to one side of a copper foil as a negative - electrode current collector 2 a by means of the doctor blade coating method . the slurry on the negative - electrode current collector 2 a was heat - treated at 130 ° c . for 2 hours to remove the n - methyl - 2 - pyrolidone as a solvent , after which the negative - electrode current collector 2 a which was coated with the slurry was rolled , to obtain a negative electrode 2 . the example a1 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 1 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of lithium fluoride lif was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in fabricating a battery , as shown in fig1 a microporous film made of polypropylene and impregnated with the above - mentioned electrolyte was interposed as a separator 3 between the positive electrode 1 and the negative electrode 2 respectively fabricated in the above - mentioned manners , after which they were contained in a battery case 4 comprising a positive - electrode can 4 a and a negative - electrode can 4 b , and the positive electrode 1 was connected to the positive - electrode can 4 a via the positive - electrode current collector 1 a while the negative electrode 2 was connected to the negative - electrode can 4 b via the negative - electrode current collector 2 a , to electrically separate the positive - electrode can 4 a and the negative - electrode can 4 b from each other by an insulating packing 5 , to obtain a lithium secondary batter of example a1 having a capacity of 8 mah . in the example a2 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example a2 employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 . the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of lithium fluoride lif was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example a3 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example a3 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ), which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 ) ( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 4 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ) was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of lithium fluoride lif was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example b1 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example b1 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 1 , as in the case of the above - mentioned example a1 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of trilithium phosphate li 3 po 4 was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example b2 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example b2 employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 , as in the case of the above - mentioned example a2 . the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of trilithium phosphate li 3 po 4 was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example b3 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example b3 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ), which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 4 , as in the case of the above - mentioned example a3 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ) was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of trilithium phosphate li 3 po 4 was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example c1 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example c1 employed as a solute lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 , which is a methide group lithium salt represented by lic ( c p f 2p + 1 so 2 )( c q f 2q + 1 so 2 )( c r f 2r + 1 so 2 ) wherein p = 1 , q = 1 , and r = 1 . the above - mentioned lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of lithium fluoride lif was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example c2 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example c2 employed as a solute lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 , which is a methide group lithium salt represented by lic ( c p f 2p + 1 so 2 )( c q f 2q + 1 so 2 )( c r f 2r + 1 so 2 ) wherein p = 1 , q = 1 , and r = 1 , as in the case of the above - mentioned example c1 . the above - mentioned lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of trilithium phosphate li 3 po 4 was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the comparative example 1 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the comparative example 1 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 1 , as in the case of the above - mentioned examples a1 and b1 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). neither of a fluoride and phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . in the comparative example 2 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the comparative example 2 employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 , as in the case of the above - mentioned examples a2 and b2 . the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). neither of a fluoride and phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . in the comparative example 3 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the comparative example 3 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ), which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 4 , as in the case of the above - mentioned examples a3 and b3 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ) was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). neither of a fluoride and phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . in the comparative example 4 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the comparative example 4 employed as a solute lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 , which is a methide group lithium salt represented by lic ( c p f 2p + 1 so 2 )( c q f 2q + 1 so 2 )( c r f 2r + 1 so 2 ) wherein p = 1 , q = 1 , and r = 1 , as in the case of the above - mentioned examples c1 and c2 . the above - mentioned lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). neither of a fluoride and phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples a1 to a3 , b1 to b3 , c1 , c2 , and the comparative examples 1 to 4 fabricated as above was charged with constant current of 1 ma up to 4 . 1 v and was then discharged with constant current of 1 ma up to 2 . 5 v at room temperature of 25 ° c ., to find an initial discharge capacity q 0 . subsequently , each of the above - mentioned batteries was charged with constant current of 1 ma up to 4 . 1 v , was then stored for 10 days at a temperature of 60 ° c ., and thereafter , was discharged with constant current of 1 ma up to 2 . 5 v , to find a discharge capacity q 1 after the storage under high temperature conditions . the ratio of the discharging capacity q 1 after the storage under high temperature conditions to the initial discharging capacity q 0 [( q 0 / q 1 )× 100 ] was found as the percentage of capacity retention . the results were shown in the following table 1 . as apparent from the result , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the comparative examples 1 to 4 employing the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt or a methide group lithium salt , to which neither of a fluoride or phosphorus compound is added presented a low percentage of capacity retention of 34 to 42 % after the storage under high temperature conditions . on the other hand , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples a1 to a3 , b1 to b3 , c1 , and c2 employing the above - mentioned electrolyte solution to which lithium fluoride lif or trilithium phosphate li 3 po 4 is added presented a high percentage of capacity retention of 69 to 76 % after the storage under high temperature conditions , and was remarkably improved in storage characteristics in a charged state . the reason for this is conceivably that when a fluoride or a phosphorus compound is added to the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt or a methide group lithium salt , a protective film is formed on a surface of the positive electrode 1 or negative electrode 2 . the protective film thus formed serves to prevent direct contact between the electrolyte solution and the positive electrode or negative electrode and hence , the electrolyte solution is prevented from being decomposed when the lithium secondary battery is stored in a charged state , resulting in improved storage characteristics of the battery in a charge state . although each of the lithium secondary battery in the above - mentioned examples a1 to a3 , b1 to b3 , c1 , and c2 employed the mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 as a solvent in the electrolyte solution , substantially the same effects may be attained when propylene carbonate ( pc ), butylene carbonate ( bc ), dimethyl carbonate ( dmc ), sulfolane ( sl ), vinylene carbonate ( vc ), methyl ethyl carbonate ( mec ), tetrahydrofuran ( thf ), 1 , 2 - diethoxyethane ( dee ), 1 , 2 - dimethoxyethane ( dme ), ethoxymethoxyethane ( eme ), and the like besides the above - mentioned ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) are used alone or in combination of two or more types . in the examples a4 to a17 , lithium secondary batteries were fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the examples a4 to a17 each employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 , and the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ), as in the case of the above - mentioned example a2 . then , in each of the examples a4 to a17 , the type of the fluoride added to the above - mentioned electrolyte solution as an additive in the above - mentioned example a2 was changed . specifically , the example a4 employed agf ; the example a5 employed cof 2 ; the example a6 employed cof 3 ; the example a7 employed cuf ; the example a8 employed cuf 2 ; the example a9 employed fef 2 ; the example a10 employed fef 3 ; the example all employed mnf 2 ; the example a12 employed mnf 3 ; the example a13 employed snf 2 ; the example a14 employed snf 4 ; the example a15 employed tif 3 ; the example a16 employed tif 4 ; and the example a17 employed zrf 4 , as shown in the following table 2 . these additives were respectively added to the electrolyte solutions at the ratio of 1 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of each electrolyte solution . in the example b4 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example b4 employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 , and the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ), as in the case of the above - mentioned example b2 . then , in the example b4 , the type of the phosphorus compound added to the above - mentioned electrolyte solution as an additive in the above - mentioned example b2 was changed . specifically , 1 . 0 wt % of lipo 3 was added to the electrolyte solution as shown in the following table 2 . with respect to each of the lithium secondary batteries according to the examples a4 to a17 and b4 fabricated as above , the percentage of capacity retention (%) was found in the same manner as that in each of the above - mentioned lithium secondary batteries . the results , along with those of the above - mentioned examples a2 , b2 , and comparative example 2 , are shown in the following table 2 . as apparent from the result , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples a2 and a4 to a17 in which the fluoride selected from the group consisting of lif , agf , cof 2 , cof 3 , cuf , cuf 2 , fef 2 , fef 3 , mnf 2 , mnf 3 , snf 2 , snf 4 , tif 3 , tif 4 , and zrf 4 was added to the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt and each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples b2 and b4 in which the phosphorus compound selected from the group consisting of lipo 3 and li 3 po 4 was added to the above - mentioned electrolyte solution presented a high percentage of capacity retention of 70 to 78 %, and was remarkably improved in storage characteristics in a charged state as compared with the lithium secondary battery in the comparative example 2 . although each of the lithium secondary battery in the above - mentioned examples a4 to a17 and b4 cites the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt , substantially the same effects may be attained by an electrolyte solution using as a solute a methide group lithium salt . in the examples d1 to d6 , a lithium secondary batteries were fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the examples d1 to d6 each employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 , and the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ), as in the above - mentioned example b2 . in the examples d1 to d6 , there were used as an additive added to the above - mentioned electrolyte a mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d1 ; a mixture containing lif and lipo 3 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d2 ; a mixture containing tif 4 and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d3 ; a mixture containing tif 4 and lipo 3 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d4 ; a mixture containing lif and tif 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d5 ; and a mixture containing li 3 po 4 and lipo 3 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d6 , as shown in the following table 3 . these additives were respectively added to the electrolyte solutions in at the ratio of 1 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of each electrolyte solution . with respect to each of the lithium secondary batteries according to the examples d1 to d6 fabricated as above , the percentage of capacity retention (%) was found in the same manner as that in each of the above - mentioned lithium secondary batteries . the results , along with that of the above - mentioned comparative example 2 , are shown in the following table 3 . as apparent from the result , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 to d6 in which two types of materials selected from a fluoride and phosphorus compound were added to the electrolyte solution as an additive was remarkably improved in storage characteristics in a charged state as compared with the lithium secondary battery in the comparative example 2 in which neither of a fluoride and a phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . further , when the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 to d6 were compared with each other , it was found that the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 and d4 in which the mixture of the fluoride and phosphorus compound is added to the electrolyte solution presented further improved percentage of capacity retention as compared with the lithium secondary battery in the example d5 in which the mixture of two types of fluorides was added to the electrolyte solution and the lithium secondary battery in the example d6 in which the mixture of two types of phosphorus compounds was added to the electrolyte solution . although each of the lithium secondary battery in the above - mentioned examples d1 to d6 cites the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt , substantially the same effects may be attained by an electrolyte solution using as a solute a methide group lithium salt . in the examples d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 , lithium secondary batteries were fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in each of the examples d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 , in preparing an electrolyte , lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ), and a mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 was added to the electrolyte solution , as in the above - mentioned example d1 . in the examples d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 , the amount of the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 added to the above - mentioned electrolyte solution in the example d1 was changed as shown in the following table 4 . more specifically , an amount of the mixture added to the electrolyte solution was 0 . 001 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 1 ; 0 . 01 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 2 ; 0 . 1 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 3 ; 2 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 4 ; 5 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 5 ; and 10 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 6 . with respect to each of the lithium secondary batteries according to the examples d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 fabricated as above , the percentage of capacity retention (%) was found in the same manner as that in each of the above - mentioned lithium secondary batteries . the results , along with that of the above - mentioned example d1 , are shown in the following table 4 . as apparent from the result , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 in which the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive in the range of 0 . 001 to 10 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution was remarkably improved in storage characteristics in a charged state as compared with the lithium secondary battery in the comparative example 2 in which neither of a fluoride and phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . further , when the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 and d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 were compared with each other , it was found that the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 and d1 . 2 to d1 . 5 in which the mixture containing li 3 po 4 and lipo 3 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 were added to the electrolyte solution as an additive in the range of 0 . 01 to 5 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution presented further improved percentage of capacity retention . the reason for this is conceivably that when an amount of the additive containing li 3 po 4 and lipo 3 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 added to the electrolyte solution is too small , a film formed on a surface of the positive electrode or negative electrode by the additive is hardly made uniform , while when the amount is too large , the film becomes thick , resulting in increased resistance . although each of the above - mentioned examples d1 and d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 presents a case where the mixture of lif and li 3 po 4 is added to the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt , substantially the same tendency may be observed in a case where a mixture of another fluoride and phosphorus compound ; a mixture of fluorides ; a mixture of phosphorus compounds ; or one type of fluoride or phosphorus compound is added , and in a case where the electrolyte solution employs as a solute a methide group lithium salt . in each of the examples e1 and e2 , in preparing an electrolyte , lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ), as in the case of the above - mentioned example d1 . further , as a polymer material , the example e1 employed polyethylene oxide ( peo ) having molecular weight of about 200 , 000 while the example e2 employed polyvinylidene fluoride ( pvdf ) having molecular weight of about 200 , 000 . films respectively composed of the above - mentioned polymer materials were formed on respective positive electrodes by means of the casting method . subsequently , an additive comprising a mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 , together with the above - mentioned electrolyte solution , was added to each of the films , thus giving a gelated polymer electrolyte containing 1 . 0 wt % of the additive comprising the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 on the positive electrode . except for the above , the same procedure as that in the above - mentioned example a1 was taken to fabricate each lithium secondary battery . with respect to each of the lithium secondary batteries according to the examples e1 and e2 fabricated as above , the percentage of capacity retention (%) was found in the same manner as that in each of the above - mentioned lithium secondary batteries . the results , along with that of the above - mentioned example d1 , are shown in the following table 5 . as apparent from the result , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples e1 and e2 employing the gelated polymer electrolyte obtained by adding the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 together with the electrolyte solution to the polymer material presented further improved percentage of capacity retention as compared with the lithium secondary battery in the example d1 employing the electrolyte solution to which the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 is added . although each of the above - mentioned examples e1 and e2 presents a case where the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 , together with the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt , was added to the polymer material , substantially the same effects may be attained in a case where a mixture of another fluoride and phosphorus compound ; a mixture of fluorides ; a mixture of phosphorus compounds ; or one type of fluoride or phosphorus compound is added , and in a case where the electrolyte solution employs as a solute a methide group lithium salt . although the present invention has been fully described by way of examples , it is to be noted that various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art . therefore , unless otherwise such changes and modifications depart from the scope of the present invention , they should be construed as being included therein .	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Electricity'?	Is 'Fixed Constructions' the correct technical category for the patent?	0.25	f05073b0c781958ef51868cdb49264d7e11c078cff727582a221bf06daaf0e82	0.25	0.033203	0.243164	0.080566	0.470703	0.060059
null	the following examples specifically illustrate lithium secondary batteries according to the present invention . further , comparative examples will be taken to make it clear that in the lithium secondary batteries of the examples , decrease in the discharge capacity is restrained even when the batteries in a charged state are stored under high temperature conditions . it should be appreciated that the lithium secondary batteries according to the present invention are not particularly limited to those in the following examples , and various changes and modifications may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof . in the example a1 , a positive electrode and a negative electrode were fabricated in the following manner , and an electrolyte was prepared in the following manner , to fabricate a flat - type lithium secondary battery as shown in fig1 . a lithium - containing composite cobalt dioxide licoo 2 was used as a positive electrode active material . powder of licoo 2 , carbon materials such as artificial carbon , acetylene black , and graphite as a conductive agent , and a solution obtained by dissolving polyvinylidene fluoride as a binding agent in n - methyl - 2 - pyrolidone were mixed , to prepare a slurry containing the powder of licoo 2 , the conductive agent , and the polyvinylidene fluoride in the weight ratio of 90 : 5 : 5 . subsequently , the slurry was uniformly applied to one side of an aluminum foil as a positive - electrode current collector la by means of the doctor blade coating method . the slurry on the positive - electrode current collector 1 a was heat - treated at 130 ° c . for 2 hours to remove the n - methyl - 2 - pyrolidone as a solvent , after which the positive - electrode current collector 1 a which was coated with the slurry was rolled by a roll press , to obtain a positive electrode 1 . natural graphite ( d 002 = 3 . 35 å ) was used as a negative electrode active material . powder of the natural graphite and a solution obtained by dissolving polyvinylidene fluoride as a binding agent in n - methyl - 2 - pyrolidone were mixed , to prepare a slurry containing the powder of the natural graphite and the polyvinylidene fluoride in the weight ratio of 95 : 5 . subsequently , the slurry was uniformly applied to one side of a copper foil as a negative - electrode current collector 2 a by means of the doctor blade coating method . the slurry on the negative - electrode current collector 2 a was heat - treated at 130 ° c . for 2 hours to remove the n - methyl - 2 - pyrolidone as a solvent , after which the negative - electrode current collector 2 a which was coated with the slurry was rolled , to obtain a negative electrode 2 . the example a1 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 1 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of lithium fluoride lif was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in fabricating a battery , as shown in fig1 a microporous film made of polypropylene and impregnated with the above - mentioned electrolyte was interposed as a separator 3 between the positive electrode 1 and the negative electrode 2 respectively fabricated in the above - mentioned manners , after which they were contained in a battery case 4 comprising a positive - electrode can 4 a and a negative - electrode can 4 b , and the positive electrode 1 was connected to the positive - electrode can 4 a via the positive - electrode current collector 1 a while the negative electrode 2 was connected to the negative - electrode can 4 b via the negative - electrode current collector 2 a , to electrically separate the positive - electrode can 4 a and the negative - electrode can 4 b from each other by an insulating packing 5 , to obtain a lithium secondary batter of example a1 having a capacity of 8 mah . in the example a2 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example a2 employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 . the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of lithium fluoride lif was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example a3 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example a3 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ), which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 ) ( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 4 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ) was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of lithium fluoride lif was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example b1 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example b1 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 1 , as in the case of the above - mentioned example a1 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of trilithium phosphate li 3 po 4 was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example b2 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example b2 employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 , as in the case of the above - mentioned example a2 . the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of trilithium phosphate li 3 po 4 was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example b3 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example b3 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ), which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 4 , as in the case of the above - mentioned example a3 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ) was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of trilithium phosphate li 3 po 4 was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example c1 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example c1 employed as a solute lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 , which is a methide group lithium salt represented by lic ( c p f 2p + 1 so 2 )( c q f 2q + 1 so 2 )( c r f 2r + 1 so 2 ) wherein p = 1 , q = 1 , and r = 1 . the above - mentioned lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of lithium fluoride lif was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example c2 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example c2 employed as a solute lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 , which is a methide group lithium salt represented by lic ( c p f 2p + 1 so 2 )( c q f 2q + 1 so 2 )( c r f 2r + 1 so 2 ) wherein p = 1 , q = 1 , and r = 1 , as in the case of the above - mentioned example c1 . the above - mentioned lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of trilithium phosphate li 3 po 4 was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the comparative example 1 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the comparative example 1 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 1 , as in the case of the above - mentioned examples a1 and b1 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). neither of a fluoride and phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . in the comparative example 2 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the comparative example 2 employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 , as in the case of the above - mentioned examples a2 and b2 . the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). neither of a fluoride and phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . in the comparative example 3 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the comparative example 3 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ), which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 4 , as in the case of the above - mentioned examples a3 and b3 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ) was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). neither of a fluoride and phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . in the comparative example 4 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the comparative example 4 employed as a solute lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 , which is a methide group lithium salt represented by lic ( c p f 2p + 1 so 2 )( c q f 2q + 1 so 2 )( c r f 2r + 1 so 2 ) wherein p = 1 , q = 1 , and r = 1 , as in the case of the above - mentioned examples c1 and c2 . the above - mentioned lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). neither of a fluoride and phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples a1 to a3 , b1 to b3 , c1 , c2 , and the comparative examples 1 to 4 fabricated as above was charged with constant current of 1 ma up to 4 . 1 v and was then discharged with constant current of 1 ma up to 2 . 5 v at room temperature of 25 ° c ., to find an initial discharge capacity q 0 . subsequently , each of the above - mentioned batteries was charged with constant current of 1 ma up to 4 . 1 v , was then stored for 10 days at a temperature of 60 ° c ., and thereafter , was discharged with constant current of 1 ma up to 2 . 5 v , to find a discharge capacity q 1 after the storage under high temperature conditions . the ratio of the discharging capacity q 1 after the storage under high temperature conditions to the initial discharging capacity q 0 [( q 0 / q 1 )× 100 ] was found as the percentage of capacity retention . the results were shown in the following table 1 . as apparent from the result , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the comparative examples 1 to 4 employing the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt or a methide group lithium salt , to which neither of a fluoride or phosphorus compound is added presented a low percentage of capacity retention of 34 to 42 % after the storage under high temperature conditions . on the other hand , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples a1 to a3 , b1 to b3 , c1 , and c2 employing the above - mentioned electrolyte solution to which lithium fluoride lif or trilithium phosphate li 3 po 4 is added presented a high percentage of capacity retention of 69 to 76 % after the storage under high temperature conditions , and was remarkably improved in storage characteristics in a charged state . the reason for this is conceivably that when a fluoride or a phosphorus compound is added to the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt or a methide group lithium salt , a protective film is formed on a surface of the positive electrode 1 or negative electrode 2 . the protective film thus formed serves to prevent direct contact between the electrolyte solution and the positive electrode or negative electrode and hence , the electrolyte solution is prevented from being decomposed when the lithium secondary battery is stored in a charged state , resulting in improved storage characteristics of the battery in a charge state . although each of the lithium secondary battery in the above - mentioned examples a1 to a3 , b1 to b3 , c1 , and c2 employed the mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 as a solvent in the electrolyte solution , substantially the same effects may be attained when propylene carbonate ( pc ), butylene carbonate ( bc ), dimethyl carbonate ( dmc ), sulfolane ( sl ), vinylene carbonate ( vc ), methyl ethyl carbonate ( mec ), tetrahydrofuran ( thf ), 1 , 2 - diethoxyethane ( dee ), 1 , 2 - dimethoxyethane ( dme ), ethoxymethoxyethane ( eme ), and the like besides the above - mentioned ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) are used alone or in combination of two or more types . in the examples a4 to a17 , lithium secondary batteries were fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the examples a4 to a17 each employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 , and the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ), as in the case of the above - mentioned example a2 . then , in each of the examples a4 to a17 , the type of the fluoride added to the above - mentioned electrolyte solution as an additive in the above - mentioned example a2 was changed . specifically , the example a4 employed agf ; the example a5 employed cof 2 ; the example a6 employed cof 3 ; the example a7 employed cuf ; the example a8 employed cuf 2 ; the example a9 employed fef 2 ; the example a10 employed fef 3 ; the example all employed mnf 2 ; the example a12 employed mnf 3 ; the example a13 employed snf 2 ; the example a14 employed snf 4 ; the example a15 employed tif 3 ; the example a16 employed tif 4 ; and the example a17 employed zrf 4 , as shown in the following table 2 . these additives were respectively added to the electrolyte solutions at the ratio of 1 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of each electrolyte solution . in the example b4 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example b4 employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 , and the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ), as in the case of the above - mentioned example b2 . then , in the example b4 , the type of the phosphorus compound added to the above - mentioned electrolyte solution as an additive in the above - mentioned example b2 was changed . specifically , 1 . 0 wt % of lipo 3 was added to the electrolyte solution as shown in the following table 2 . with respect to each of the lithium secondary batteries according to the examples a4 to a17 and b4 fabricated as above , the percentage of capacity retention (%) was found in the same manner as that in each of the above - mentioned lithium secondary batteries . the results , along with those of the above - mentioned examples a2 , b2 , and comparative example 2 , are shown in the following table 2 . as apparent from the result , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples a2 and a4 to a17 in which the fluoride selected from the group consisting of lif , agf , cof 2 , cof 3 , cuf , cuf 2 , fef 2 , fef 3 , mnf 2 , mnf 3 , snf 2 , snf 4 , tif 3 , tif 4 , and zrf 4 was added to the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt and each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples b2 and b4 in which the phosphorus compound selected from the group consisting of lipo 3 and li 3 po 4 was added to the above - mentioned electrolyte solution presented a high percentage of capacity retention of 70 to 78 %, and was remarkably improved in storage characteristics in a charged state as compared with the lithium secondary battery in the comparative example 2 . although each of the lithium secondary battery in the above - mentioned examples a4 to a17 and b4 cites the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt , substantially the same effects may be attained by an electrolyte solution using as a solute a methide group lithium salt . in the examples d1 to d6 , a lithium secondary batteries were fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the examples d1 to d6 each employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 , and the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ), as in the above - mentioned example b2 . in the examples d1 to d6 , there were used as an additive added to the above - mentioned electrolyte a mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d1 ; a mixture containing lif and lipo 3 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d2 ; a mixture containing tif 4 and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d3 ; a mixture containing tif 4 and lipo 3 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d4 ; a mixture containing lif and tif 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d5 ; and a mixture containing li 3 po 4 and lipo 3 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d6 , as shown in the following table 3 . these additives were respectively added to the electrolyte solutions in at the ratio of 1 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of each electrolyte solution . with respect to each of the lithium secondary batteries according to the examples d1 to d6 fabricated as above , the percentage of capacity retention (%) was found in the same manner as that in each of the above - mentioned lithium secondary batteries . the results , along with that of the above - mentioned comparative example 2 , are shown in the following table 3 . as apparent from the result , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 to d6 in which two types of materials selected from a fluoride and phosphorus compound were added to the electrolyte solution as an additive was remarkably improved in storage characteristics in a charged state as compared with the lithium secondary battery in the comparative example 2 in which neither of a fluoride and a phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . further , when the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 to d6 were compared with each other , it was found that the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 and d4 in which the mixture of the fluoride and phosphorus compound is added to the electrolyte solution presented further improved percentage of capacity retention as compared with the lithium secondary battery in the example d5 in which the mixture of two types of fluorides was added to the electrolyte solution and the lithium secondary battery in the example d6 in which the mixture of two types of phosphorus compounds was added to the electrolyte solution . although each of the lithium secondary battery in the above - mentioned examples d1 to d6 cites the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt , substantially the same effects may be attained by an electrolyte solution using as a solute a methide group lithium salt . in the examples d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 , lithium secondary batteries were fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in each of the examples d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 , in preparing an electrolyte , lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ), and a mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 was added to the electrolyte solution , as in the above - mentioned example d1 . in the examples d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 , the amount of the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 added to the above - mentioned electrolyte solution in the example d1 was changed as shown in the following table 4 . more specifically , an amount of the mixture added to the electrolyte solution was 0 . 001 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 1 ; 0 . 01 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 2 ; 0 . 1 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 3 ; 2 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 4 ; 5 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 5 ; and 10 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 6 . with respect to each of the lithium secondary batteries according to the examples d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 fabricated as above , the percentage of capacity retention (%) was found in the same manner as that in each of the above - mentioned lithium secondary batteries . the results , along with that of the above - mentioned example d1 , are shown in the following table 4 . as apparent from the result , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 in which the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive in the range of 0 . 001 to 10 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution was remarkably improved in storage characteristics in a charged state as compared with the lithium secondary battery in the comparative example 2 in which neither of a fluoride and phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . further , when the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 and d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 were compared with each other , it was found that the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 and d1 . 2 to d1 . 5 in which the mixture containing li 3 po 4 and lipo 3 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 were added to the electrolyte solution as an additive in the range of 0 . 01 to 5 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution presented further improved percentage of capacity retention . the reason for this is conceivably that when an amount of the additive containing li 3 po 4 and lipo 3 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 added to the electrolyte solution is too small , a film formed on a surface of the positive electrode or negative electrode by the additive is hardly made uniform , while when the amount is too large , the film becomes thick , resulting in increased resistance . although each of the above - mentioned examples d1 and d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 presents a case where the mixture of lif and li 3 po 4 is added to the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt , substantially the same tendency may be observed in a case where a mixture of another fluoride and phosphorus compound ; a mixture of fluorides ; a mixture of phosphorus compounds ; or one type of fluoride or phosphorus compound is added , and in a case where the electrolyte solution employs as a solute a methide group lithium salt . in each of the examples e1 and e2 , in preparing an electrolyte , lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ), as in the case of the above - mentioned example d1 . further , as a polymer material , the example e1 employed polyethylene oxide ( peo ) having molecular weight of about 200 , 000 while the example e2 employed polyvinylidene fluoride ( pvdf ) having molecular weight of about 200 , 000 . films respectively composed of the above - mentioned polymer materials were formed on respective positive electrodes by means of the casting method . subsequently , an additive comprising a mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 , together with the above - mentioned electrolyte solution , was added to each of the films , thus giving a gelated polymer electrolyte containing 1 . 0 wt % of the additive comprising the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 on the positive electrode . except for the above , the same procedure as that in the above - mentioned example a1 was taken to fabricate each lithium secondary battery . with respect to each of the lithium secondary batteries according to the examples e1 and e2 fabricated as above , the percentage of capacity retention (%) was found in the same manner as that in each of the above - mentioned lithium secondary batteries . the results , along with that of the above - mentioned example d1 , are shown in the following table 5 . as apparent from the result , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples e1 and e2 employing the gelated polymer electrolyte obtained by adding the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 together with the electrolyte solution to the polymer material presented further improved percentage of capacity retention as compared with the lithium secondary battery in the example d1 employing the electrolyte solution to which the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 is added . although each of the above - mentioned examples e1 and e2 presents a case where the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 , together with the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt , was added to the polymer material , substantially the same effects may be attained in a case where a mixture of another fluoride and phosphorus compound ; a mixture of fluorides ; a mixture of phosphorus compounds ; or one type of fluoride or phosphorus compound is added , and in a case where the electrolyte solution employs as a solute a methide group lithium salt . although the present invention has been fully described by way of examples , it is to be noted that various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art . therefore , unless otherwise such changes and modifications depart from the scope of the present invention , they should be construed as being included therein .	Should this patent be classified under 'Electricity'?	Should this patent be classified under 'Mechanical Engineering; Lightning; Heating; Weapons; Blasting'?	0.25	f05073b0c781958ef51868cdb49264d7e11c078cff727582a221bf06daaf0e82	0.111328	0.000246	0.214844	0.000881	0.080566	0.004456
null	the following examples specifically illustrate lithium secondary batteries according to the present invention . further , comparative examples will be taken to make it clear that in the lithium secondary batteries of the examples , decrease in the discharge capacity is restrained even when the batteries in a charged state are stored under high temperature conditions . it should be appreciated that the lithium secondary batteries according to the present invention are not particularly limited to those in the following examples , and various changes and modifications may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof . in the example a1 , a positive electrode and a negative electrode were fabricated in the following manner , and an electrolyte was prepared in the following manner , to fabricate a flat - type lithium secondary battery as shown in fig1 . a lithium - containing composite cobalt dioxide licoo 2 was used as a positive electrode active material . powder of licoo 2 , carbon materials such as artificial carbon , acetylene black , and graphite as a conductive agent , and a solution obtained by dissolving polyvinylidene fluoride as a binding agent in n - methyl - 2 - pyrolidone were mixed , to prepare a slurry containing the powder of licoo 2 , the conductive agent , and the polyvinylidene fluoride in the weight ratio of 90 : 5 : 5 . subsequently , the slurry was uniformly applied to one side of an aluminum foil as a positive - electrode current collector la by means of the doctor blade coating method . the slurry on the positive - electrode current collector 1 a was heat - treated at 130 ° c . for 2 hours to remove the n - methyl - 2 - pyrolidone as a solvent , after which the positive - electrode current collector 1 a which was coated with the slurry was rolled by a roll press , to obtain a positive electrode 1 . natural graphite ( d 002 = 3 . 35 å ) was used as a negative electrode active material . powder of the natural graphite and a solution obtained by dissolving polyvinylidene fluoride as a binding agent in n - methyl - 2 - pyrolidone were mixed , to prepare a slurry containing the powder of the natural graphite and the polyvinylidene fluoride in the weight ratio of 95 : 5 . subsequently , the slurry was uniformly applied to one side of a copper foil as a negative - electrode current collector 2 a by means of the doctor blade coating method . the slurry on the negative - electrode current collector 2 a was heat - treated at 130 ° c . for 2 hours to remove the n - methyl - 2 - pyrolidone as a solvent , after which the negative - electrode current collector 2 a which was coated with the slurry was rolled , to obtain a negative electrode 2 . the example a1 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 1 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of lithium fluoride lif was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in fabricating a battery , as shown in fig1 a microporous film made of polypropylene and impregnated with the above - mentioned electrolyte was interposed as a separator 3 between the positive electrode 1 and the negative electrode 2 respectively fabricated in the above - mentioned manners , after which they were contained in a battery case 4 comprising a positive - electrode can 4 a and a negative - electrode can 4 b , and the positive electrode 1 was connected to the positive - electrode can 4 a via the positive - electrode current collector 1 a while the negative electrode 2 was connected to the negative - electrode can 4 b via the negative - electrode current collector 2 a , to electrically separate the positive - electrode can 4 a and the negative - electrode can 4 b from each other by an insulating packing 5 , to obtain a lithium secondary batter of example a1 having a capacity of 8 mah . in the example a2 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example a2 employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 . the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of lithium fluoride lif was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example a3 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example a3 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ), which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 ) ( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 4 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ) was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of lithium fluoride lif was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example b1 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example b1 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 1 , as in the case of the above - mentioned example a1 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of trilithium phosphate li 3 po 4 was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example b2 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example b2 employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 , as in the case of the above - mentioned example a2 . the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of trilithium phosphate li 3 po 4 was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example b3 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example b3 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ), which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 4 , as in the case of the above - mentioned example a3 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ) was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of trilithium phosphate li 3 po 4 was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example c1 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example c1 employed as a solute lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 , which is a methide group lithium salt represented by lic ( c p f 2p + 1 so 2 )( c q f 2q + 1 so 2 )( c r f 2r + 1 so 2 ) wherein p = 1 , q = 1 , and r = 1 . the above - mentioned lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of lithium fluoride lif was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example c2 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example c2 employed as a solute lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 , which is a methide group lithium salt represented by lic ( c p f 2p + 1 so 2 )( c q f 2q + 1 so 2 )( c r f 2r + 1 so 2 ) wherein p = 1 , q = 1 , and r = 1 , as in the case of the above - mentioned example c1 . the above - mentioned lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of trilithium phosphate li 3 po 4 was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the comparative example 1 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the comparative example 1 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 1 , as in the case of the above - mentioned examples a1 and b1 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). neither of a fluoride and phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . in the comparative example 2 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the comparative example 2 employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 , as in the case of the above - mentioned examples a2 and b2 . the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). neither of a fluoride and phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . in the comparative example 3 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the comparative example 3 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ), which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 4 , as in the case of the above - mentioned examples a3 and b3 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ) was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). neither of a fluoride and phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . in the comparative example 4 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the comparative example 4 employed as a solute lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 , which is a methide group lithium salt represented by lic ( c p f 2p + 1 so 2 )( c q f 2q + 1 so 2 )( c r f 2r + 1 so 2 ) wherein p = 1 , q = 1 , and r = 1 , as in the case of the above - mentioned examples c1 and c2 . the above - mentioned lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). neither of a fluoride and phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples a1 to a3 , b1 to b3 , c1 , c2 , and the comparative examples 1 to 4 fabricated as above was charged with constant current of 1 ma up to 4 . 1 v and was then discharged with constant current of 1 ma up to 2 . 5 v at room temperature of 25 ° c ., to find an initial discharge capacity q 0 . subsequently , each of the above - mentioned batteries was charged with constant current of 1 ma up to 4 . 1 v , was then stored for 10 days at a temperature of 60 ° c ., and thereafter , was discharged with constant current of 1 ma up to 2 . 5 v , to find a discharge capacity q 1 after the storage under high temperature conditions . the ratio of the discharging capacity q 1 after the storage under high temperature conditions to the initial discharging capacity q 0 [( q 0 / q 1 )× 100 ] was found as the percentage of capacity retention . the results were shown in the following table 1 . as apparent from the result , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the comparative examples 1 to 4 employing the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt or a methide group lithium salt , to which neither of a fluoride or phosphorus compound is added presented a low percentage of capacity retention of 34 to 42 % after the storage under high temperature conditions . on the other hand , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples a1 to a3 , b1 to b3 , c1 , and c2 employing the above - mentioned electrolyte solution to which lithium fluoride lif or trilithium phosphate li 3 po 4 is added presented a high percentage of capacity retention of 69 to 76 % after the storage under high temperature conditions , and was remarkably improved in storage characteristics in a charged state . the reason for this is conceivably that when a fluoride or a phosphorus compound is added to the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt or a methide group lithium salt , a protective film is formed on a surface of the positive electrode 1 or negative electrode 2 . the protective film thus formed serves to prevent direct contact between the electrolyte solution and the positive electrode or negative electrode and hence , the electrolyte solution is prevented from being decomposed when the lithium secondary battery is stored in a charged state , resulting in improved storage characteristics of the battery in a charge state . although each of the lithium secondary battery in the above - mentioned examples a1 to a3 , b1 to b3 , c1 , and c2 employed the mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 as a solvent in the electrolyte solution , substantially the same effects may be attained when propylene carbonate ( pc ), butylene carbonate ( bc ), dimethyl carbonate ( dmc ), sulfolane ( sl ), vinylene carbonate ( vc ), methyl ethyl carbonate ( mec ), tetrahydrofuran ( thf ), 1 , 2 - diethoxyethane ( dee ), 1 , 2 - dimethoxyethane ( dme ), ethoxymethoxyethane ( eme ), and the like besides the above - mentioned ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) are used alone or in combination of two or more types . in the examples a4 to a17 , lithium secondary batteries were fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the examples a4 to a17 each employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 , and the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ), as in the case of the above - mentioned example a2 . then , in each of the examples a4 to a17 , the type of the fluoride added to the above - mentioned electrolyte solution as an additive in the above - mentioned example a2 was changed . specifically , the example a4 employed agf ; the example a5 employed cof 2 ; the example a6 employed cof 3 ; the example a7 employed cuf ; the example a8 employed cuf 2 ; the example a9 employed fef 2 ; the example a10 employed fef 3 ; the example all employed mnf 2 ; the example a12 employed mnf 3 ; the example a13 employed snf 2 ; the example a14 employed snf 4 ; the example a15 employed tif 3 ; the example a16 employed tif 4 ; and the example a17 employed zrf 4 , as shown in the following table 2 . these additives were respectively added to the electrolyte solutions at the ratio of 1 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of each electrolyte solution . in the example b4 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example b4 employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 , and the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ), as in the case of the above - mentioned example b2 . then , in the example b4 , the type of the phosphorus compound added to the above - mentioned electrolyte solution as an additive in the above - mentioned example b2 was changed . specifically , 1 . 0 wt % of lipo 3 was added to the electrolyte solution as shown in the following table 2 . with respect to each of the lithium secondary batteries according to the examples a4 to a17 and b4 fabricated as above , the percentage of capacity retention (%) was found in the same manner as that in each of the above - mentioned lithium secondary batteries . the results , along with those of the above - mentioned examples a2 , b2 , and comparative example 2 , are shown in the following table 2 . as apparent from the result , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples a2 and a4 to a17 in which the fluoride selected from the group consisting of lif , agf , cof 2 , cof 3 , cuf , cuf 2 , fef 2 , fef 3 , mnf 2 , mnf 3 , snf 2 , snf 4 , tif 3 , tif 4 , and zrf 4 was added to the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt and each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples b2 and b4 in which the phosphorus compound selected from the group consisting of lipo 3 and li 3 po 4 was added to the above - mentioned electrolyte solution presented a high percentage of capacity retention of 70 to 78 %, and was remarkably improved in storage characteristics in a charged state as compared with the lithium secondary battery in the comparative example 2 . although each of the lithium secondary battery in the above - mentioned examples a4 to a17 and b4 cites the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt , substantially the same effects may be attained by an electrolyte solution using as a solute a methide group lithium salt . in the examples d1 to d6 , a lithium secondary batteries were fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the examples d1 to d6 each employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 , and the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ), as in the above - mentioned example b2 . in the examples d1 to d6 , there were used as an additive added to the above - mentioned electrolyte a mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d1 ; a mixture containing lif and lipo 3 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d2 ; a mixture containing tif 4 and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d3 ; a mixture containing tif 4 and lipo 3 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d4 ; a mixture containing lif and tif 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d5 ; and a mixture containing li 3 po 4 and lipo 3 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d6 , as shown in the following table 3 . these additives were respectively added to the electrolyte solutions in at the ratio of 1 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of each electrolyte solution . with respect to each of the lithium secondary batteries according to the examples d1 to d6 fabricated as above , the percentage of capacity retention (%) was found in the same manner as that in each of the above - mentioned lithium secondary batteries . the results , along with that of the above - mentioned comparative example 2 , are shown in the following table 3 . as apparent from the result , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 to d6 in which two types of materials selected from a fluoride and phosphorus compound were added to the electrolyte solution as an additive was remarkably improved in storage characteristics in a charged state as compared with the lithium secondary battery in the comparative example 2 in which neither of a fluoride and a phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . further , when the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 to d6 were compared with each other , it was found that the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 and d4 in which the mixture of the fluoride and phosphorus compound is added to the electrolyte solution presented further improved percentage of capacity retention as compared with the lithium secondary battery in the example d5 in which the mixture of two types of fluorides was added to the electrolyte solution and the lithium secondary battery in the example d6 in which the mixture of two types of phosphorus compounds was added to the electrolyte solution . although each of the lithium secondary battery in the above - mentioned examples d1 to d6 cites the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt , substantially the same effects may be attained by an electrolyte solution using as a solute a methide group lithium salt . in the examples d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 , lithium secondary batteries were fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in each of the examples d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 , in preparing an electrolyte , lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ), and a mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 was added to the electrolyte solution , as in the above - mentioned example d1 . in the examples d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 , the amount of the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 added to the above - mentioned electrolyte solution in the example d1 was changed as shown in the following table 4 . more specifically , an amount of the mixture added to the electrolyte solution was 0 . 001 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 1 ; 0 . 01 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 2 ; 0 . 1 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 3 ; 2 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 4 ; 5 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 5 ; and 10 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 6 . with respect to each of the lithium secondary batteries according to the examples d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 fabricated as above , the percentage of capacity retention (%) was found in the same manner as that in each of the above - mentioned lithium secondary batteries . the results , along with that of the above - mentioned example d1 , are shown in the following table 4 . as apparent from the result , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 in which the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive in the range of 0 . 001 to 10 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution was remarkably improved in storage characteristics in a charged state as compared with the lithium secondary battery in the comparative example 2 in which neither of a fluoride and phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . further , when the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 and d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 were compared with each other , it was found that the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 and d1 . 2 to d1 . 5 in which the mixture containing li 3 po 4 and lipo 3 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 were added to the electrolyte solution as an additive in the range of 0 . 01 to 5 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution presented further improved percentage of capacity retention . the reason for this is conceivably that when an amount of the additive containing li 3 po 4 and lipo 3 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 added to the electrolyte solution is too small , a film formed on a surface of the positive electrode or negative electrode by the additive is hardly made uniform , while when the amount is too large , the film becomes thick , resulting in increased resistance . although each of the above - mentioned examples d1 and d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 presents a case where the mixture of lif and li 3 po 4 is added to the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt , substantially the same tendency may be observed in a case where a mixture of another fluoride and phosphorus compound ; a mixture of fluorides ; a mixture of phosphorus compounds ; or one type of fluoride or phosphorus compound is added , and in a case where the electrolyte solution employs as a solute a methide group lithium salt . in each of the examples e1 and e2 , in preparing an electrolyte , lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ), as in the case of the above - mentioned example d1 . further , as a polymer material , the example e1 employed polyethylene oxide ( peo ) having molecular weight of about 200 , 000 while the example e2 employed polyvinylidene fluoride ( pvdf ) having molecular weight of about 200 , 000 . films respectively composed of the above - mentioned polymer materials were formed on respective positive electrodes by means of the casting method . subsequently , an additive comprising a mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 , together with the above - mentioned electrolyte solution , was added to each of the films , thus giving a gelated polymer electrolyte containing 1 . 0 wt % of the additive comprising the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 on the positive electrode . except for the above , the same procedure as that in the above - mentioned example a1 was taken to fabricate each lithium secondary battery . with respect to each of the lithium secondary batteries according to the examples e1 and e2 fabricated as above , the percentage of capacity retention (%) was found in the same manner as that in each of the above - mentioned lithium secondary batteries . the results , along with that of the above - mentioned example d1 , are shown in the following table 5 . as apparent from the result , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples e1 and e2 employing the gelated polymer electrolyte obtained by adding the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 together with the electrolyte solution to the polymer material presented further improved percentage of capacity retention as compared with the lithium secondary battery in the example d1 employing the electrolyte solution to which the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 is added . although each of the above - mentioned examples e1 and e2 presents a case where the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 , together with the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt , was added to the polymer material , substantially the same effects may be attained in a case where a mixture of another fluoride and phosphorus compound ; a mixture of fluorides ; a mixture of phosphorus compounds ; or one type of fluoride or phosphorus compound is added , and in a case where the electrolyte solution employs as a solute a methide group lithium salt . although the present invention has been fully described by way of examples , it is to be noted that various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art . therefore , unless otherwise such changes and modifications depart from the scope of the present invention , they should be construed as being included therein .	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Electricity'?	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'Physics'?	0.25	f05073b0c781958ef51868cdb49264d7e11c078cff727582a221bf06daaf0e82	0.25	0.19043	0.243164	0.204102	0.470703	0.365234
null	the following examples specifically illustrate lithium secondary batteries according to the present invention . further , comparative examples will be taken to make it clear that in the lithium secondary batteries of the examples , decrease in the discharge capacity is restrained even when the batteries in a charged state are stored under high temperature conditions . it should be appreciated that the lithium secondary batteries according to the present invention are not particularly limited to those in the following examples , and various changes and modifications may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof . in the example a1 , a positive electrode and a negative electrode were fabricated in the following manner , and an electrolyte was prepared in the following manner , to fabricate a flat - type lithium secondary battery as shown in fig1 . a lithium - containing composite cobalt dioxide licoo 2 was used as a positive electrode active material . powder of licoo 2 , carbon materials such as artificial carbon , acetylene black , and graphite as a conductive agent , and a solution obtained by dissolving polyvinylidene fluoride as a binding agent in n - methyl - 2 - pyrolidone were mixed , to prepare a slurry containing the powder of licoo 2 , the conductive agent , and the polyvinylidene fluoride in the weight ratio of 90 : 5 : 5 . subsequently , the slurry was uniformly applied to one side of an aluminum foil as a positive - electrode current collector la by means of the doctor blade coating method . the slurry on the positive - electrode current collector 1 a was heat - treated at 130 ° c . for 2 hours to remove the n - methyl - 2 - pyrolidone as a solvent , after which the positive - electrode current collector 1 a which was coated with the slurry was rolled by a roll press , to obtain a positive electrode 1 . natural graphite ( d 002 = 3 . 35 å ) was used as a negative electrode active material . powder of the natural graphite and a solution obtained by dissolving polyvinylidene fluoride as a binding agent in n - methyl - 2 - pyrolidone were mixed , to prepare a slurry containing the powder of the natural graphite and the polyvinylidene fluoride in the weight ratio of 95 : 5 . subsequently , the slurry was uniformly applied to one side of a copper foil as a negative - electrode current collector 2 a by means of the doctor blade coating method . the slurry on the negative - electrode current collector 2 a was heat - treated at 130 ° c . for 2 hours to remove the n - methyl - 2 - pyrolidone as a solvent , after which the negative - electrode current collector 2 a which was coated with the slurry was rolled , to obtain a negative electrode 2 . the example a1 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 1 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of lithium fluoride lif was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in fabricating a battery , as shown in fig1 a microporous film made of polypropylene and impregnated with the above - mentioned electrolyte was interposed as a separator 3 between the positive electrode 1 and the negative electrode 2 respectively fabricated in the above - mentioned manners , after which they were contained in a battery case 4 comprising a positive - electrode can 4 a and a negative - electrode can 4 b , and the positive electrode 1 was connected to the positive - electrode can 4 a via the positive - electrode current collector 1 a while the negative electrode 2 was connected to the negative - electrode can 4 b via the negative - electrode current collector 2 a , to electrically separate the positive - electrode can 4 a and the negative - electrode can 4 b from each other by an insulating packing 5 , to obtain a lithium secondary batter of example a1 having a capacity of 8 mah . in the example a2 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example a2 employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 . the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of lithium fluoride lif was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example a3 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example a3 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ), which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 ) ( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 4 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ) was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of lithium fluoride lif was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example b1 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example b1 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 1 , as in the case of the above - mentioned example a1 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of trilithium phosphate li 3 po 4 was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example b2 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example b2 employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 , as in the case of the above - mentioned example a2 . the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of trilithium phosphate li 3 po 4 was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example b3 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example b3 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ), which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 4 , as in the case of the above - mentioned example a3 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ) was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of trilithium phosphate li 3 po 4 was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example c1 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example c1 employed as a solute lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 , which is a methide group lithium salt represented by lic ( c p f 2p + 1 so 2 )( c q f 2q + 1 so 2 )( c r f 2r + 1 so 2 ) wherein p = 1 , q = 1 , and r = 1 . the above - mentioned lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of lithium fluoride lif was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the example c2 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example c2 employed as a solute lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 , which is a methide group lithium salt represented by lic ( c p f 2p + 1 so 2 )( c q f 2q + 1 so 2 )( c r f 2r + 1 so 2 ) wherein p = 1 , q = 1 , and r = 1 , as in the case of the above - mentioned example c1 . the above - mentioned lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). then , 1 . 0 wt % of trilithium phosphate li 3 po 4 was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive . in the comparative example 1 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the comparative example 1 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 1 , as in the case of the above - mentioned examples a1 and b1 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). neither of a fluoride and phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . in the comparative example 2 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the comparative example 2 employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 , as in the case of the above - mentioned examples a2 and b2 . the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). neither of a fluoride and phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . in the comparative example 3 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the comparative example 3 employed as a solute lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ), which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 1 and n = 4 , as in the case of the above - mentioned examples a3 and b3 . the above - mentioned lin ( cf 3 so 2 )( c 4 f 9 so 2 ) was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). neither of a fluoride and phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . in the comparative example 4 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the comparative example 4 employed as a solute lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 , which is a methide group lithium salt represented by lic ( c p f 2p + 1 so 2 )( c q f 2q + 1 so 2 )( c r f 2r + 1 so 2 ) wherein p = 1 , q = 1 , and r = 1 , as in the case of the above - mentioned examples c1 and c2 . the above - mentioned lic ( cf 3 so 2 ) 3 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ). neither of a fluoride and phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples a1 to a3 , b1 to b3 , c1 , c2 , and the comparative examples 1 to 4 fabricated as above was charged with constant current of 1 ma up to 4 . 1 v and was then discharged with constant current of 1 ma up to 2 . 5 v at room temperature of 25 ° c ., to find an initial discharge capacity q 0 . subsequently , each of the above - mentioned batteries was charged with constant current of 1 ma up to 4 . 1 v , was then stored for 10 days at a temperature of 60 ° c ., and thereafter , was discharged with constant current of 1 ma up to 2 . 5 v , to find a discharge capacity q 1 after the storage under high temperature conditions . the ratio of the discharging capacity q 1 after the storage under high temperature conditions to the initial discharging capacity q 0 [( q 0 / q 1 )× 100 ] was found as the percentage of capacity retention . the results were shown in the following table 1 . as apparent from the result , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the comparative examples 1 to 4 employing the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt or a methide group lithium salt , to which neither of a fluoride or phosphorus compound is added presented a low percentage of capacity retention of 34 to 42 % after the storage under high temperature conditions . on the other hand , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples a1 to a3 , b1 to b3 , c1 , and c2 employing the above - mentioned electrolyte solution to which lithium fluoride lif or trilithium phosphate li 3 po 4 is added presented a high percentage of capacity retention of 69 to 76 % after the storage under high temperature conditions , and was remarkably improved in storage characteristics in a charged state . the reason for this is conceivably that when a fluoride or a phosphorus compound is added to the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt or a methide group lithium salt , a protective film is formed on a surface of the positive electrode 1 or negative electrode 2 . the protective film thus formed serves to prevent direct contact between the electrolyte solution and the positive electrode or negative electrode and hence , the electrolyte solution is prevented from being decomposed when the lithium secondary battery is stored in a charged state , resulting in improved storage characteristics of the battery in a charge state . although each of the lithium secondary battery in the above - mentioned examples a1 to a3 , b1 to b3 , c1 , and c2 employed the mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 as a solvent in the electrolyte solution , substantially the same effects may be attained when propylene carbonate ( pc ), butylene carbonate ( bc ), dimethyl carbonate ( dmc ), sulfolane ( sl ), vinylene carbonate ( vc ), methyl ethyl carbonate ( mec ), tetrahydrofuran ( thf ), 1 , 2 - diethoxyethane ( dee ), 1 , 2 - dimethoxyethane ( dme ), ethoxymethoxyethane ( eme ), and the like besides the above - mentioned ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) are used alone or in combination of two or more types . in the examples a4 to a17 , lithium secondary batteries were fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the examples a4 to a17 each employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 , and the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ), as in the case of the above - mentioned example a2 . then , in each of the examples a4 to a17 , the type of the fluoride added to the above - mentioned electrolyte solution as an additive in the above - mentioned example a2 was changed . specifically , the example a4 employed agf ; the example a5 employed cof 2 ; the example a6 employed cof 3 ; the example a7 employed cuf ; the example a8 employed cuf 2 ; the example a9 employed fef 2 ; the example a10 employed fef 3 ; the example all employed mnf 2 ; the example a12 employed mnf 3 ; the example a13 employed snf 2 ; the example a14 employed snf 4 ; the example a15 employed tif 3 ; the example a16 employed tif 4 ; and the example a17 employed zrf 4 , as shown in the following table 2 . these additives were respectively added to the electrolyte solutions at the ratio of 1 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of each electrolyte solution . in the example b4 , a lithium secondary battery was fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the example b4 employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 , and the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ), as in the case of the above - mentioned example b2 . then , in the example b4 , the type of the phosphorus compound added to the above - mentioned electrolyte solution as an additive in the above - mentioned example b2 was changed . specifically , 1 . 0 wt % of lipo 3 was added to the electrolyte solution as shown in the following table 2 . with respect to each of the lithium secondary batteries according to the examples a4 to a17 and b4 fabricated as above , the percentage of capacity retention (%) was found in the same manner as that in each of the above - mentioned lithium secondary batteries . the results , along with those of the above - mentioned examples a2 , b2 , and comparative example 2 , are shown in the following table 2 . as apparent from the result , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples a2 and a4 to a17 in which the fluoride selected from the group consisting of lif , agf , cof 2 , cof 3 , cuf , cuf 2 , fef 2 , fef 3 , mnf 2 , mnf 3 , snf 2 , snf 4 , tif 3 , tif 4 , and zrf 4 was added to the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt and each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples b2 and b4 in which the phosphorus compound selected from the group consisting of lipo 3 and li 3 po 4 was added to the above - mentioned electrolyte solution presented a high percentage of capacity retention of 70 to 78 %, and was remarkably improved in storage characteristics in a charged state as compared with the lithium secondary battery in the comparative example 2 . although each of the lithium secondary battery in the above - mentioned examples a4 to a17 and b4 cites the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt , substantially the same effects may be attained by an electrolyte solution using as a solute a methide group lithium salt . in the examples d1 to d6 , a lithium secondary batteries were fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in preparing an electrolyte , the examples d1 to d6 each employed as a solute lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 , which is an imide group lithium salt represented by the above - mentioned formula lin ( c m f 2m + 1 so 2 )( c n f 2n + 1 so 2 ) wherein m = 2 and n = 2 , and the above - mentioned lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ), as in the above - mentioned example b2 . in the examples d1 to d6 , there were used as an additive added to the above - mentioned electrolyte a mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d1 ; a mixture containing lif and lipo 3 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d2 ; a mixture containing tif 4 and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d3 ; a mixture containing tif 4 and lipo 3 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d4 ; a mixture containing lif and tif 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d5 ; and a mixture containing li 3 po 4 and lipo 3 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 in the example d6 , as shown in the following table 3 . these additives were respectively added to the electrolyte solutions in at the ratio of 1 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of each electrolyte solution . with respect to each of the lithium secondary batteries according to the examples d1 to d6 fabricated as above , the percentage of capacity retention (%) was found in the same manner as that in each of the above - mentioned lithium secondary batteries . the results , along with that of the above - mentioned comparative example 2 , are shown in the following table 3 . as apparent from the result , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 to d6 in which two types of materials selected from a fluoride and phosphorus compound were added to the electrolyte solution as an additive was remarkably improved in storage characteristics in a charged state as compared with the lithium secondary battery in the comparative example 2 in which neither of a fluoride and a phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . further , when the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 to d6 were compared with each other , it was found that the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 and d4 in which the mixture of the fluoride and phosphorus compound is added to the electrolyte solution presented further improved percentage of capacity retention as compared with the lithium secondary battery in the example d5 in which the mixture of two types of fluorides was added to the electrolyte solution and the lithium secondary battery in the example d6 in which the mixture of two types of phosphorus compounds was added to the electrolyte solution . although each of the lithium secondary battery in the above - mentioned examples d1 to d6 cites the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt , substantially the same effects may be attained by an electrolyte solution using as a solute a methide group lithium salt . in the examples d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 , lithium secondary batteries were fabricated in the same manner as that in the above - mentioned example a1 except that only the electrolyte used in the example a1 was changed . in each of the examples d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 , in preparing an electrolyte , lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ), and a mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 was added to the electrolyte solution , as in the above - mentioned example d1 . in the examples d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 , the amount of the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 added to the above - mentioned electrolyte solution in the example d1 was changed as shown in the following table 4 . more specifically , an amount of the mixture added to the electrolyte solution was 0 . 001 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 1 ; 0 . 01 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 2 ; 0 . 1 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 3 ; 2 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 4 ; 5 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 5 ; and 10 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution in the example d1 . 6 . with respect to each of the lithium secondary batteries according to the examples d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 fabricated as above , the percentage of capacity retention (%) was found in the same manner as that in each of the above - mentioned lithium secondary batteries . the results , along with that of the above - mentioned example d1 , are shown in the following table 4 . as apparent from the result , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 in which the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 was added to the electrolyte solution as an additive in the range of 0 . 001 to 10 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution was remarkably improved in storage characteristics in a charged state as compared with the lithium secondary battery in the comparative example 2 in which neither of a fluoride and phosphorus compound was added to the electrolyte solution . further , when the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 and d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 were compared with each other , it was found that the lithium secondary batteries in the examples d1 and d1 . 2 to d1 . 5 in which the mixture containing li 3 po 4 and lipo 3 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 were added to the electrolyte solution as an additive in the range of 0 . 01 to 5 . 0 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution presented further improved percentage of capacity retention . the reason for this is conceivably that when an amount of the additive containing li 3 po 4 and lipo 3 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 added to the electrolyte solution is too small , a film formed on a surface of the positive electrode or negative electrode by the additive is hardly made uniform , while when the amount is too large , the film becomes thick , resulting in increased resistance . although each of the above - mentioned examples d1 and d1 . 1 to d1 . 6 presents a case where the mixture of lif and li 3 po 4 is added to the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt , substantially the same tendency may be observed in a case where a mixture of another fluoride and phosphorus compound ; a mixture of fluorides ; a mixture of phosphorus compounds ; or one type of fluoride or phosphorus compound is added , and in a case where the electrolyte solution employs as a solute a methide group lithium salt . in each of the examples e1 and e2 , in preparing an electrolyte , lin ( c 2 f 5 so 2 ) 2 was dissolved in a concentration of 1 . 0 mole / liter in a mixed solvent containing ethylene carbonate ( ec ) and diethyl carbonate ( dec ) in a volume ratio of 40 : 60 to prepare an electrolyte solution ( electrolyte ), as in the case of the above - mentioned example d1 . further , as a polymer material , the example e1 employed polyethylene oxide ( peo ) having molecular weight of about 200 , 000 while the example e2 employed polyvinylidene fluoride ( pvdf ) having molecular weight of about 200 , 000 . films respectively composed of the above - mentioned polymer materials were formed on respective positive electrodes by means of the casting method . subsequently , an additive comprising a mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 , together with the above - mentioned electrolyte solution , was added to each of the films , thus giving a gelated polymer electrolyte containing 1 . 0 wt % of the additive comprising the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 on the positive electrode . except for the above , the same procedure as that in the above - mentioned example a1 was taken to fabricate each lithium secondary battery . with respect to each of the lithium secondary batteries according to the examples e1 and e2 fabricated as above , the percentage of capacity retention (%) was found in the same manner as that in each of the above - mentioned lithium secondary batteries . the results , along with that of the above - mentioned example d1 , are shown in the following table 5 . as apparent from the result , each of the lithium secondary batteries in the examples e1 and e2 employing the gelated polymer electrolyte obtained by adding the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 together with the electrolyte solution to the polymer material presented further improved percentage of capacity retention as compared with the lithium secondary battery in the example d1 employing the electrolyte solution to which the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 is added . although each of the above - mentioned examples e1 and e2 presents a case where the mixture containing lif and li 3 po 4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 1 , together with the electrolyte solution using as a solute an imide group lithium salt , was added to the polymer material , substantially the same effects may be attained in a case where a mixture of another fluoride and phosphorus compound ; a mixture of fluorides ; a mixture of phosphorus compounds ; or one type of fluoride or phosphorus compound is added , and in a case where the electrolyte solution employs as a solute a methide group lithium salt . although the present invention has been fully described by way of examples , it is to be noted that various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art . therefore , unless otherwise such changes and modifications depart from the scope of the present invention , they should be construed as being included therein .	Should this patent be classified under 'Electricity'?	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'General tagging of new or cross-sectional technology'?	0.25	f05073b0c781958ef51868cdb49264d7e11c078cff727582a221bf06daaf0e82	0.111328	0.179688	0.214844	0.451172	0.080566	0.232422
null	the disclosure of the above - referenced u . s . pat . no . 5 , 448 , 582 , issued sep . 5 , 1995 , entitled &# 34 ; optical sources having a strongly scattering gain medium providing laser - like action &# 34 ;, by nabil m . lawandy is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety . also incorporated by reference herein in its entirety is the disclosure of u . s . pat . no . 5 , 434 , 878 , issued jul . 18 , 1995 , entitled &# 34 ; optical gain medium having doped nanocrystals of semiconductors and also optical scatterers &# 34 ;, by nabil m . lawandy . reference is first made to fig2 a and 2b for showing an embodiment of a catheter 10 that is suitable for use in photo - dynamic therapy applications . it should be realized , however , that the various methods and apparatus of this invention are not limited for use with only this one , albeit important , application . the catheter 10 includes an optical fiber 12 or other suitable conduit of electromagnetic radiation , and a protective covering or sheath 12a made from , by example , a non - reactive material such as teflon ™. a first end of the catheter 10 is coupled to a laser source such as a frequency doubled or frequency tripled nd : yag laser 2 . in the illustrated example the laser 2 provides light at a first wavelength ( λ 1 ), such as 532 nm . the light is conveyed to a terminal end of the catheter 12 where a scattering region 15 having a mirror 14 is provided . the scattering region 15 may be comprised of silicone containing titania or other suitable scattering particles . the purpose of the region 15 is to direct the incident light out of the optical fiber 12 or light conduit and into a surrounding sheath or structure 16 that includes a gain medium as described in u . s . pat . no . 5 , 488 , 582 . that is , the sheath or structure 16 includes , by example , a selected dye molecule or molecules 13a in combination with scattering sites 13b which provide in combination a laser - like emission when stimulated by the light from the laser 2 . the structure 16 outputs light with a second , desired wavelength ( λ 2 ). in this embodiment of this invention the gain medium may be contained in a transparent polymer of a type that contracts or shrinks when heated , such as heat shrinkable tubing . the output wavelength ( λ 2 ) is selected in accordance with the activation requirements of a photo - sensitive drug or substance used in a given pdt treatment . fig3 shows an embodiment wherein a dichroic mirror 20 is provided in combination with a substrate 22 that contains the gain medium . by example , the dichroic mirror 20 is transparent at the pump wavelength ( e . g . 532 nm ) and is reflective at the wavelength ( e . g . 650 nm ) that is emitted by the gain medium within the substrate 22 . the substrate 22 may be a polymer , a glass , or any suitable material for containing the gain medium ( e . g . dye molecules and scattering sites , such as particles of tio 2 or alumina ). two known photo - sensitive drugs that are activated by 650 nm light are mpth and photofrin . the embodiment of fig3 is well suited for treating external or exposed tissue , whereas the embodiment of fig2 a and 2b is well suited for treating internal tissue . in general , it is desirable to position the gain medium in close proximity to the tissue to be treated in order to maximize the amount of light that can be delivered to the photo - sensitive drug or drugs that are being used . fig4 a shows an embodiment wherein the substrate 22 is curved , and may represent a cross - section through a hemisphere or dome . fig4 b illustrates an embodiment wherein a plurality of the curved substrates 22a and 22b are employed to provide at least first and second wavelengths ( λ 2 , λ 3 ). as can be seen , the substrates 22a and 22b can have a generally concave inner surface , and one may be nested or contained within the other . in both of these embodiments the substrate shape leads to an integrating sphere effect for providing a more uniform illumination of the tissue being treated . in the embodiment of fig4 b it is assumed that the substrate 22a is substantially transparent at λ 1 , and that the substrate 22b is substantially transparent at λ 2 . fig5 a and 5b illustrate embodiments wherein a plurality of the structures 16 ( e . g ., sub - structures 16a - 16c ) are arranged circumferentially or longitudinally , respectively , about the terminal end of the optical fiber 12 . each sub - structure 16a - 16c has an associated emission wavelength λ 2 - λ 4 , respectively . the result is the simultaneous presence of a plurality of wavelengths for simultaneously activating a plurality of photo - sensitive drugs during a pdt treatment . more or less than three sub - structures can be provided . fig6 illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein a gain medium - containing substrate 23 is given a predetermined three - dimensional shape for conforming the substrate to a shape of a region of tissue to be treated . by example , a mold of a region of tissue to be treated ( e . g , a tumor ) is made , and the substrate 23 , such as polymeric material containing the gain medium , is formed from the mold . alternatively , a three dimensional surface profile or map of the region of tissue can be obtained from a medical imaging technique ( e . g ., cat scan or nmr image ), and the shape of the substrate 23 conformed to the profile . this embodiment of the invention is useful in providing an intimate fit between the substrate 23 and the region of tissue to be treated , thereby maximizing an amount of photo - sensitive drug or drugs that are activated . it should be realized that the dichroic mirror 20 can also be used with the embodiment of fig6 as well as the embodiment of fig4 b . fig7 illustrates a further embodiment of this invention wherein the terminal end of the optical fiber 12 is wrapped with one or more polymer filaments 26 that contain the gain medium . preferably adjacent wraps of the filaments 26 touch one another to prevent any leakage of the light at λ 1 . a plurality of different filaments can be used for providing a plurality of different wavelengths of light for activating a plurality of photo - sensitive drugs . a suitable laser system for driving this and other embodiments of this invention is a 15 mj , 1000 hz prr , 532 nm laser available from continuum . in general , a diode pumped nd : yag laser can be employed to provide a compact and relatively low cost source . in other embodiments a pure silica fiber 12 can be used with an ultraviolet ( uv ) source operating at , by example , 400 nm , and can provide an emission of , by example , 1 . 7 micrometers , depending on the characteristics of the selected gain medium . it can be realized that the teaching of this invention provides the ability to readily provide a number of different wavelengths of therapeutic light , while avoiding the problems inherent in providing , operating , and maintaining a conventional tuneable light source , such as a dye laser . in a further embodiment of this invention the dye molecules that comprise a portion of the gain medium may be replaced by semiconductor nanocrystals selected for their emission wavelength ( s ) ( e . g ., gan for blue , znse for green , cdse for red ). in this case the semiconductor nanocrystals may also function as scattering sites for the stimulated emission , either alone or in combination with the scattering particles . in a still further embodiment of this invention the polymer structure or substrate itself may provide the stimulated emission , such as a polymer comprised of ppv or mehppv . although described above in the context of specific materials , dimensions and the like , it should be appreciated that the teaching of this invention is not intended to be limited to only these disclosed exemplary embodiments and values . neither is the teaching of this invention intended to be limited to only the specific catheter and other embodiments described above . as such , while the invention has been particularly shown and described with respect to preferred embodiments thereof , it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention .	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'Physics'?	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Human Necessities'?	0.25	1dc3de47c437749c9c2a9133bbebced9f13c744d052053e486e2af4beea810d9	0.146484	0.003937	0.126953	0.00007	0.157227	0.003281
null	the disclosure of the above - referenced u . s . pat . no . 5 , 448 , 582 , issued sep . 5 , 1995 , entitled &# 34 ; optical sources having a strongly scattering gain medium providing laser - like action &# 34 ;, by nabil m . lawandy is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety . also incorporated by reference herein in its entirety is the disclosure of u . s . pat . no . 5 , 434 , 878 , issued jul . 18 , 1995 , entitled &# 34 ; optical gain medium having doped nanocrystals of semiconductors and also optical scatterers &# 34 ;, by nabil m . lawandy . reference is first made to fig2 a and 2b for showing an embodiment of a catheter 10 that is suitable for use in photo - dynamic therapy applications . it should be realized , however , that the various methods and apparatus of this invention are not limited for use with only this one , albeit important , application . the catheter 10 includes an optical fiber 12 or other suitable conduit of electromagnetic radiation , and a protective covering or sheath 12a made from , by example , a non - reactive material such as teflon ™. a first end of the catheter 10 is coupled to a laser source such as a frequency doubled or frequency tripled nd : yag laser 2 . in the illustrated example the laser 2 provides light at a first wavelength ( λ 1 ), such as 532 nm . the light is conveyed to a terminal end of the catheter 12 where a scattering region 15 having a mirror 14 is provided . the scattering region 15 may be comprised of silicone containing titania or other suitable scattering particles . the purpose of the region 15 is to direct the incident light out of the optical fiber 12 or light conduit and into a surrounding sheath or structure 16 that includes a gain medium as described in u . s . pat . no . 5 , 488 , 582 . that is , the sheath or structure 16 includes , by example , a selected dye molecule or molecules 13a in combination with scattering sites 13b which provide in combination a laser - like emission when stimulated by the light from the laser 2 . the structure 16 outputs light with a second , desired wavelength ( λ 2 ). in this embodiment of this invention the gain medium may be contained in a transparent polymer of a type that contracts or shrinks when heated , such as heat shrinkable tubing . the output wavelength ( λ 2 ) is selected in accordance with the activation requirements of a photo - sensitive drug or substance used in a given pdt treatment . fig3 shows an embodiment wherein a dichroic mirror 20 is provided in combination with a substrate 22 that contains the gain medium . by example , the dichroic mirror 20 is transparent at the pump wavelength ( e . g . 532 nm ) and is reflective at the wavelength ( e . g . 650 nm ) that is emitted by the gain medium within the substrate 22 . the substrate 22 may be a polymer , a glass , or any suitable material for containing the gain medium ( e . g . dye molecules and scattering sites , such as particles of tio 2 or alumina ). two known photo - sensitive drugs that are activated by 650 nm light are mpth and photofrin . the embodiment of fig3 is well suited for treating external or exposed tissue , whereas the embodiment of fig2 a and 2b is well suited for treating internal tissue . in general , it is desirable to position the gain medium in close proximity to the tissue to be treated in order to maximize the amount of light that can be delivered to the photo - sensitive drug or drugs that are being used . fig4 a shows an embodiment wherein the substrate 22 is curved , and may represent a cross - section through a hemisphere or dome . fig4 b illustrates an embodiment wherein a plurality of the curved substrates 22a and 22b are employed to provide at least first and second wavelengths ( λ 2 , λ 3 ). as can be seen , the substrates 22a and 22b can have a generally concave inner surface , and one may be nested or contained within the other . in both of these embodiments the substrate shape leads to an integrating sphere effect for providing a more uniform illumination of the tissue being treated . in the embodiment of fig4 b it is assumed that the substrate 22a is substantially transparent at λ 1 , and that the substrate 22b is substantially transparent at λ 2 . fig5 a and 5b illustrate embodiments wherein a plurality of the structures 16 ( e . g ., sub - structures 16a - 16c ) are arranged circumferentially or longitudinally , respectively , about the terminal end of the optical fiber 12 . each sub - structure 16a - 16c has an associated emission wavelength λ 2 - λ 4 , respectively . the result is the simultaneous presence of a plurality of wavelengths for simultaneously activating a plurality of photo - sensitive drugs during a pdt treatment . more or less than three sub - structures can be provided . fig6 illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein a gain medium - containing substrate 23 is given a predetermined three - dimensional shape for conforming the substrate to a shape of a region of tissue to be treated . by example , a mold of a region of tissue to be treated ( e . g , a tumor ) is made , and the substrate 23 , such as polymeric material containing the gain medium , is formed from the mold . alternatively , a three dimensional surface profile or map of the region of tissue can be obtained from a medical imaging technique ( e . g ., cat scan or nmr image ), and the shape of the substrate 23 conformed to the profile . this embodiment of the invention is useful in providing an intimate fit between the substrate 23 and the region of tissue to be treated , thereby maximizing an amount of photo - sensitive drug or drugs that are activated . it should be realized that the dichroic mirror 20 can also be used with the embodiment of fig6 as well as the embodiment of fig4 b . fig7 illustrates a further embodiment of this invention wherein the terminal end of the optical fiber 12 is wrapped with one or more polymer filaments 26 that contain the gain medium . preferably adjacent wraps of the filaments 26 touch one another to prevent any leakage of the light at λ 1 . a plurality of different filaments can be used for providing a plurality of different wavelengths of light for activating a plurality of photo - sensitive drugs . a suitable laser system for driving this and other embodiments of this invention is a 15 mj , 1000 hz prr , 532 nm laser available from continuum . in general , a diode pumped nd : yag laser can be employed to provide a compact and relatively low cost source . in other embodiments a pure silica fiber 12 can be used with an ultraviolet ( uv ) source operating at , by example , 400 nm , and can provide an emission of , by example , 1 . 7 micrometers , depending on the characteristics of the selected gain medium . it can be realized that the teaching of this invention provides the ability to readily provide a number of different wavelengths of therapeutic light , while avoiding the problems inherent in providing , operating , and maintaining a conventional tuneable light source , such as a dye laser . in a further embodiment of this invention the dye molecules that comprise a portion of the gain medium may be replaced by semiconductor nanocrystals selected for their emission wavelength ( s ) ( e . g ., gan for blue , znse for green , cdse for red ). in this case the semiconductor nanocrystals may also function as scattering sites for the stimulated emission , either alone or in combination with the scattering particles . in a still further embodiment of this invention the polymer structure or substrate itself may provide the stimulated emission , such as a polymer comprised of ppv or mehppv . although described above in the context of specific materials , dimensions and the like , it should be appreciated that the teaching of this invention is not intended to be limited to only these disclosed exemplary embodiments and values . neither is the teaching of this invention intended to be limited to only the specific catheter and other embodiments described above . as such , while the invention has been particularly shown and described with respect to preferred embodiments thereof , it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention .	Is 'Physics' the correct technical category for the patent?	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'Performing Operations; Transporting'?	0.25	1dc3de47c437749c9c2a9133bbebced9f13c744d052053e486e2af4beea810d9	0.109863	0.011353	0.130859	0.005371	0.139648	0.037354
null	the disclosure of the above - referenced u . s . pat . no . 5 , 448 , 582 , issued sep . 5 , 1995 , entitled &# 34 ; optical sources having a strongly scattering gain medium providing laser - like action &# 34 ;, by nabil m . lawandy is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety . also incorporated by reference herein in its entirety is the disclosure of u . s . pat . no . 5 , 434 , 878 , issued jul . 18 , 1995 , entitled &# 34 ; optical gain medium having doped nanocrystals of semiconductors and also optical scatterers &# 34 ;, by nabil m . lawandy . reference is first made to fig2 a and 2b for showing an embodiment of a catheter 10 that is suitable for use in photo - dynamic therapy applications . it should be realized , however , that the various methods and apparatus of this invention are not limited for use with only this one , albeit important , application . the catheter 10 includes an optical fiber 12 or other suitable conduit of electromagnetic radiation , and a protective covering or sheath 12a made from , by example , a non - reactive material such as teflon ™. a first end of the catheter 10 is coupled to a laser source such as a frequency doubled or frequency tripled nd : yag laser 2 . in the illustrated example the laser 2 provides light at a first wavelength ( λ 1 ), such as 532 nm . the light is conveyed to a terminal end of the catheter 12 where a scattering region 15 having a mirror 14 is provided . the scattering region 15 may be comprised of silicone containing titania or other suitable scattering particles . the purpose of the region 15 is to direct the incident light out of the optical fiber 12 or light conduit and into a surrounding sheath or structure 16 that includes a gain medium as described in u . s . pat . no . 5 , 488 , 582 . that is , the sheath or structure 16 includes , by example , a selected dye molecule or molecules 13a in combination with scattering sites 13b which provide in combination a laser - like emission when stimulated by the light from the laser 2 . the structure 16 outputs light with a second , desired wavelength ( λ 2 ). in this embodiment of this invention the gain medium may be contained in a transparent polymer of a type that contracts or shrinks when heated , such as heat shrinkable tubing . the output wavelength ( λ 2 ) is selected in accordance with the activation requirements of a photo - sensitive drug or substance used in a given pdt treatment . fig3 shows an embodiment wherein a dichroic mirror 20 is provided in combination with a substrate 22 that contains the gain medium . by example , the dichroic mirror 20 is transparent at the pump wavelength ( e . g . 532 nm ) and is reflective at the wavelength ( e . g . 650 nm ) that is emitted by the gain medium within the substrate 22 . the substrate 22 may be a polymer , a glass , or any suitable material for containing the gain medium ( e . g . dye molecules and scattering sites , such as particles of tio 2 or alumina ). two known photo - sensitive drugs that are activated by 650 nm light are mpth and photofrin . the embodiment of fig3 is well suited for treating external or exposed tissue , whereas the embodiment of fig2 a and 2b is well suited for treating internal tissue . in general , it is desirable to position the gain medium in close proximity to the tissue to be treated in order to maximize the amount of light that can be delivered to the photo - sensitive drug or drugs that are being used . fig4 a shows an embodiment wherein the substrate 22 is curved , and may represent a cross - section through a hemisphere or dome . fig4 b illustrates an embodiment wherein a plurality of the curved substrates 22a and 22b are employed to provide at least first and second wavelengths ( λ 2 , λ 3 ). as can be seen , the substrates 22a and 22b can have a generally concave inner surface , and one may be nested or contained within the other . in both of these embodiments the substrate shape leads to an integrating sphere effect for providing a more uniform illumination of the tissue being treated . in the embodiment of fig4 b it is assumed that the substrate 22a is substantially transparent at λ 1 , and that the substrate 22b is substantially transparent at λ 2 . fig5 a and 5b illustrate embodiments wherein a plurality of the structures 16 ( e . g ., sub - structures 16a - 16c ) are arranged circumferentially or longitudinally , respectively , about the terminal end of the optical fiber 12 . each sub - structure 16a - 16c has an associated emission wavelength λ 2 - λ 4 , respectively . the result is the simultaneous presence of a plurality of wavelengths for simultaneously activating a plurality of photo - sensitive drugs during a pdt treatment . more or less than three sub - structures can be provided . fig6 illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein a gain medium - containing substrate 23 is given a predetermined three - dimensional shape for conforming the substrate to a shape of a region of tissue to be treated . by example , a mold of a region of tissue to be treated ( e . g , a tumor ) is made , and the substrate 23 , such as polymeric material containing the gain medium , is formed from the mold . alternatively , a three dimensional surface profile or map of the region of tissue can be obtained from a medical imaging technique ( e . g ., cat scan or nmr image ), and the shape of the substrate 23 conformed to the profile . this embodiment of the invention is useful in providing an intimate fit between the substrate 23 and the region of tissue to be treated , thereby maximizing an amount of photo - sensitive drug or drugs that are activated . it should be realized that the dichroic mirror 20 can also be used with the embodiment of fig6 as well as the embodiment of fig4 b . fig7 illustrates a further embodiment of this invention wherein the terminal end of the optical fiber 12 is wrapped with one or more polymer filaments 26 that contain the gain medium . preferably adjacent wraps of the filaments 26 touch one another to prevent any leakage of the light at λ 1 . a plurality of different filaments can be used for providing a plurality of different wavelengths of light for activating a plurality of photo - sensitive drugs . a suitable laser system for driving this and other embodiments of this invention is a 15 mj , 1000 hz prr , 532 nm laser available from continuum . in general , a diode pumped nd : yag laser can be employed to provide a compact and relatively low cost source . in other embodiments a pure silica fiber 12 can be used with an ultraviolet ( uv ) source operating at , by example , 400 nm , and can provide an emission of , by example , 1 . 7 micrometers , depending on the characteristics of the selected gain medium . it can be realized that the teaching of this invention provides the ability to readily provide a number of different wavelengths of therapeutic light , while avoiding the problems inherent in providing , operating , and maintaining a conventional tuneable light source , such as a dye laser . in a further embodiment of this invention the dye molecules that comprise a portion of the gain medium may be replaced by semiconductor nanocrystals selected for their emission wavelength ( s ) ( e . g ., gan for blue , znse for green , cdse for red ). in this case the semiconductor nanocrystals may also function as scattering sites for the stimulated emission , either alone or in combination with the scattering particles . in a still further embodiment of this invention the polymer structure or substrate itself may provide the stimulated emission , such as a polymer comprised of ppv or mehppv . although described above in the context of specific materials , dimensions and the like , it should be appreciated that the teaching of this invention is not intended to be limited to only these disclosed exemplary embodiments and values . neither is the teaching of this invention intended to be limited to only the specific catheter and other embodiments described above . as such , while the invention has been particularly shown and described with respect to preferred embodiments thereof , it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention .	Should this patent be classified under 'Physics'?	Is 'Chemistry; Metallurgy' the correct technical category for the patent?	0.25	1dc3de47c437749c9c2a9133bbebced9f13c744d052053e486e2af4beea810d9	0.135742	0.006287	0.124023	0.010315	0.130859	0.017944
null	the disclosure of the above - referenced u . s . pat . no . 5 , 448 , 582 , issued sep . 5 , 1995 , entitled &# 34 ; optical sources having a strongly scattering gain medium providing laser - like action &# 34 ;, by nabil m . lawandy is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety . also incorporated by reference herein in its entirety is the disclosure of u . s . pat . no . 5 , 434 , 878 , issued jul . 18 , 1995 , entitled &# 34 ; optical gain medium having doped nanocrystals of semiconductors and also optical scatterers &# 34 ;, by nabil m . lawandy . reference is first made to fig2 a and 2b for showing an embodiment of a catheter 10 that is suitable for use in photo - dynamic therapy applications . it should be realized , however , that the various methods and apparatus of this invention are not limited for use with only this one , albeit important , application . the catheter 10 includes an optical fiber 12 or other suitable conduit of electromagnetic radiation , and a protective covering or sheath 12a made from , by example , a non - reactive material such as teflon ™. a first end of the catheter 10 is coupled to a laser source such as a frequency doubled or frequency tripled nd : yag laser 2 . in the illustrated example the laser 2 provides light at a first wavelength ( λ 1 ), such as 532 nm . the light is conveyed to a terminal end of the catheter 12 where a scattering region 15 having a mirror 14 is provided . the scattering region 15 may be comprised of silicone containing titania or other suitable scattering particles . the purpose of the region 15 is to direct the incident light out of the optical fiber 12 or light conduit and into a surrounding sheath or structure 16 that includes a gain medium as described in u . s . pat . no . 5 , 488 , 582 . that is , the sheath or structure 16 includes , by example , a selected dye molecule or molecules 13a in combination with scattering sites 13b which provide in combination a laser - like emission when stimulated by the light from the laser 2 . the structure 16 outputs light with a second , desired wavelength ( λ 2 ). in this embodiment of this invention the gain medium may be contained in a transparent polymer of a type that contracts or shrinks when heated , such as heat shrinkable tubing . the output wavelength ( λ 2 ) is selected in accordance with the activation requirements of a photo - sensitive drug or substance used in a given pdt treatment . fig3 shows an embodiment wherein a dichroic mirror 20 is provided in combination with a substrate 22 that contains the gain medium . by example , the dichroic mirror 20 is transparent at the pump wavelength ( e . g . 532 nm ) and is reflective at the wavelength ( e . g . 650 nm ) that is emitted by the gain medium within the substrate 22 . the substrate 22 may be a polymer , a glass , or any suitable material for containing the gain medium ( e . g . dye molecules and scattering sites , such as particles of tio 2 or alumina ). two known photo - sensitive drugs that are activated by 650 nm light are mpth and photofrin . the embodiment of fig3 is well suited for treating external or exposed tissue , whereas the embodiment of fig2 a and 2b is well suited for treating internal tissue . in general , it is desirable to position the gain medium in close proximity to the tissue to be treated in order to maximize the amount of light that can be delivered to the photo - sensitive drug or drugs that are being used . fig4 a shows an embodiment wherein the substrate 22 is curved , and may represent a cross - section through a hemisphere or dome . fig4 b illustrates an embodiment wherein a plurality of the curved substrates 22a and 22b are employed to provide at least first and second wavelengths ( λ 2 , λ 3 ). as can be seen , the substrates 22a and 22b can have a generally concave inner surface , and one may be nested or contained within the other . in both of these embodiments the substrate shape leads to an integrating sphere effect for providing a more uniform illumination of the tissue being treated . in the embodiment of fig4 b it is assumed that the substrate 22a is substantially transparent at λ 1 , and that the substrate 22b is substantially transparent at λ 2 . fig5 a and 5b illustrate embodiments wherein a plurality of the structures 16 ( e . g ., sub - structures 16a - 16c ) are arranged circumferentially or longitudinally , respectively , about the terminal end of the optical fiber 12 . each sub - structure 16a - 16c has an associated emission wavelength λ 2 - λ 4 , respectively . the result is the simultaneous presence of a plurality of wavelengths for simultaneously activating a plurality of photo - sensitive drugs during a pdt treatment . more or less than three sub - structures can be provided . fig6 illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein a gain medium - containing substrate 23 is given a predetermined three - dimensional shape for conforming the substrate to a shape of a region of tissue to be treated . by example , a mold of a region of tissue to be treated ( e . g , a tumor ) is made , and the substrate 23 , such as polymeric material containing the gain medium , is formed from the mold . alternatively , a three dimensional surface profile or map of the region of tissue can be obtained from a medical imaging technique ( e . g ., cat scan or nmr image ), and the shape of the substrate 23 conformed to the profile . this embodiment of the invention is useful in providing an intimate fit between the substrate 23 and the region of tissue to be treated , thereby maximizing an amount of photo - sensitive drug or drugs that are activated . it should be realized that the dichroic mirror 20 can also be used with the embodiment of fig6 as well as the embodiment of fig4 b . fig7 illustrates a further embodiment of this invention wherein the terminal end of the optical fiber 12 is wrapped with one or more polymer filaments 26 that contain the gain medium . preferably adjacent wraps of the filaments 26 touch one another to prevent any leakage of the light at λ 1 . a plurality of different filaments can be used for providing a plurality of different wavelengths of light for activating a plurality of photo - sensitive drugs . a suitable laser system for driving this and other embodiments of this invention is a 15 mj , 1000 hz prr , 532 nm laser available from continuum . in general , a diode pumped nd : yag laser can be employed to provide a compact and relatively low cost source . in other embodiments a pure silica fiber 12 can be used with an ultraviolet ( uv ) source operating at , by example , 400 nm , and can provide an emission of , by example , 1 . 7 micrometers , depending on the characteristics of the selected gain medium . it can be realized that the teaching of this invention provides the ability to readily provide a number of different wavelengths of therapeutic light , while avoiding the problems inherent in providing , operating , and maintaining a conventional tuneable light source , such as a dye laser . in a further embodiment of this invention the dye molecules that comprise a portion of the gain medium may be replaced by semiconductor nanocrystals selected for their emission wavelength ( s ) ( e . g ., gan for blue , znse for green , cdse for red ). in this case the semiconductor nanocrystals may also function as scattering sites for the stimulated emission , either alone or in combination with the scattering particles . in a still further embodiment of this invention the polymer structure or substrate itself may provide the stimulated emission , such as a polymer comprised of ppv or mehppv . although described above in the context of specific materials , dimensions and the like , it should be appreciated that the teaching of this invention is not intended to be limited to only these disclosed exemplary embodiments and values . neither is the teaching of this invention intended to be limited to only the specific catheter and other embodiments described above . as such , while the invention has been particularly shown and described with respect to preferred embodiments thereof , it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention .	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Physics'?	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Textiles; Paper'?	0.25	1dc3de47c437749c9c2a9133bbebced9f13c744d052053e486e2af4beea810d9	0.189453	0.001167	0.044678	0.000001	0.22168	0.009155
null	the disclosure of the above - referenced u . s . pat . no . 5 , 448 , 582 , issued sep . 5 , 1995 , entitled &# 34 ; optical sources having a strongly scattering gain medium providing laser - like action &# 34 ;, by nabil m . lawandy is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety . also incorporated by reference herein in its entirety is the disclosure of u . s . pat . no . 5 , 434 , 878 , issued jul . 18 , 1995 , entitled &# 34 ; optical gain medium having doped nanocrystals of semiconductors and also optical scatterers &# 34 ;, by nabil m . lawandy . reference is first made to fig2 a and 2b for showing an embodiment of a catheter 10 that is suitable for use in photo - dynamic therapy applications . it should be realized , however , that the various methods and apparatus of this invention are not limited for use with only this one , albeit important , application . the catheter 10 includes an optical fiber 12 or other suitable conduit of electromagnetic radiation , and a protective covering or sheath 12a made from , by example , a non - reactive material such as teflon ™. a first end of the catheter 10 is coupled to a laser source such as a frequency doubled or frequency tripled nd : yag laser 2 . in the illustrated example the laser 2 provides light at a first wavelength ( λ 1 ), such as 532 nm . the light is conveyed to a terminal end of the catheter 12 where a scattering region 15 having a mirror 14 is provided . the scattering region 15 may be comprised of silicone containing titania or other suitable scattering particles . the purpose of the region 15 is to direct the incident light out of the optical fiber 12 or light conduit and into a surrounding sheath or structure 16 that includes a gain medium as described in u . s . pat . no . 5 , 488 , 582 . that is , the sheath or structure 16 includes , by example , a selected dye molecule or molecules 13a in combination with scattering sites 13b which provide in combination a laser - like emission when stimulated by the light from the laser 2 . the structure 16 outputs light with a second , desired wavelength ( λ 2 ). in this embodiment of this invention the gain medium may be contained in a transparent polymer of a type that contracts or shrinks when heated , such as heat shrinkable tubing . the output wavelength ( λ 2 ) is selected in accordance with the activation requirements of a photo - sensitive drug or substance used in a given pdt treatment . fig3 shows an embodiment wherein a dichroic mirror 20 is provided in combination with a substrate 22 that contains the gain medium . by example , the dichroic mirror 20 is transparent at the pump wavelength ( e . g . 532 nm ) and is reflective at the wavelength ( e . g . 650 nm ) that is emitted by the gain medium within the substrate 22 . the substrate 22 may be a polymer , a glass , or any suitable material for containing the gain medium ( e . g . dye molecules and scattering sites , such as particles of tio 2 or alumina ). two known photo - sensitive drugs that are activated by 650 nm light are mpth and photofrin . the embodiment of fig3 is well suited for treating external or exposed tissue , whereas the embodiment of fig2 a and 2b is well suited for treating internal tissue . in general , it is desirable to position the gain medium in close proximity to the tissue to be treated in order to maximize the amount of light that can be delivered to the photo - sensitive drug or drugs that are being used . fig4 a shows an embodiment wherein the substrate 22 is curved , and may represent a cross - section through a hemisphere or dome . fig4 b illustrates an embodiment wherein a plurality of the curved substrates 22a and 22b are employed to provide at least first and second wavelengths ( λ 2 , λ 3 ). as can be seen , the substrates 22a and 22b can have a generally concave inner surface , and one may be nested or contained within the other . in both of these embodiments the substrate shape leads to an integrating sphere effect for providing a more uniform illumination of the tissue being treated . in the embodiment of fig4 b it is assumed that the substrate 22a is substantially transparent at λ 1 , and that the substrate 22b is substantially transparent at λ 2 . fig5 a and 5b illustrate embodiments wherein a plurality of the structures 16 ( e . g ., sub - structures 16a - 16c ) are arranged circumferentially or longitudinally , respectively , about the terminal end of the optical fiber 12 . each sub - structure 16a - 16c has an associated emission wavelength λ 2 - λ 4 , respectively . the result is the simultaneous presence of a plurality of wavelengths for simultaneously activating a plurality of photo - sensitive drugs during a pdt treatment . more or less than three sub - structures can be provided . fig6 illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein a gain medium - containing substrate 23 is given a predetermined three - dimensional shape for conforming the substrate to a shape of a region of tissue to be treated . by example , a mold of a region of tissue to be treated ( e . g , a tumor ) is made , and the substrate 23 , such as polymeric material containing the gain medium , is formed from the mold . alternatively , a three dimensional surface profile or map of the region of tissue can be obtained from a medical imaging technique ( e . g ., cat scan or nmr image ), and the shape of the substrate 23 conformed to the profile . this embodiment of the invention is useful in providing an intimate fit between the substrate 23 and the region of tissue to be treated , thereby maximizing an amount of photo - sensitive drug or drugs that are activated . it should be realized that the dichroic mirror 20 can also be used with the embodiment of fig6 as well as the embodiment of fig4 b . fig7 illustrates a further embodiment of this invention wherein the terminal end of the optical fiber 12 is wrapped with one or more polymer filaments 26 that contain the gain medium . preferably adjacent wraps of the filaments 26 touch one another to prevent any leakage of the light at λ 1 . a plurality of different filaments can be used for providing a plurality of different wavelengths of light for activating a plurality of photo - sensitive drugs . a suitable laser system for driving this and other embodiments of this invention is a 15 mj , 1000 hz prr , 532 nm laser available from continuum . in general , a diode pumped nd : yag laser can be employed to provide a compact and relatively low cost source . in other embodiments a pure silica fiber 12 can be used with an ultraviolet ( uv ) source operating at , by example , 400 nm , and can provide an emission of , by example , 1 . 7 micrometers , depending on the characteristics of the selected gain medium . it can be realized that the teaching of this invention provides the ability to readily provide a number of different wavelengths of therapeutic light , while avoiding the problems inherent in providing , operating , and maintaining a conventional tuneable light source , such as a dye laser . in a further embodiment of this invention the dye molecules that comprise a portion of the gain medium may be replaced by semiconductor nanocrystals selected for their emission wavelength ( s ) ( e . g ., gan for blue , znse for green , cdse for red ). in this case the semiconductor nanocrystals may also function as scattering sites for the stimulated emission , either alone or in combination with the scattering particles . in a still further embodiment of this invention the polymer structure or substrate itself may provide the stimulated emission , such as a polymer comprised of ppv or mehppv . although described above in the context of specific materials , dimensions and the like , it should be appreciated that the teaching of this invention is not intended to be limited to only these disclosed exemplary embodiments and values . neither is the teaching of this invention intended to be limited to only the specific catheter and other embodiments described above . as such , while the invention has been particularly shown and described with respect to preferred embodiments thereof , it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention .	Is 'Physics' the correct technical category for the patent?	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'Fixed Constructions'?	0.25	1dc3de47c437749c9c2a9133bbebced9f13c744d052053e486e2af4beea810d9	0.109863	0.011353	0.130859	0.004456	0.139648	0.031738
null	the disclosure of the above - referenced u . s . pat . no . 5 , 448 , 582 , issued sep . 5 , 1995 , entitled &# 34 ; optical sources having a strongly scattering gain medium providing laser - like action &# 34 ;, by nabil m . lawandy is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety . also incorporated by reference herein in its entirety is the disclosure of u . s . pat . no . 5 , 434 , 878 , issued jul . 18 , 1995 , entitled &# 34 ; optical gain medium having doped nanocrystals of semiconductors and also optical scatterers &# 34 ;, by nabil m . lawandy . reference is first made to fig2 a and 2b for showing an embodiment of a catheter 10 that is suitable for use in photo - dynamic therapy applications . it should be realized , however , that the various methods and apparatus of this invention are not limited for use with only this one , albeit important , application . the catheter 10 includes an optical fiber 12 or other suitable conduit of electromagnetic radiation , and a protective covering or sheath 12a made from , by example , a non - reactive material such as teflon ™. a first end of the catheter 10 is coupled to a laser source such as a frequency doubled or frequency tripled nd : yag laser 2 . in the illustrated example the laser 2 provides light at a first wavelength ( λ 1 ), such as 532 nm . the light is conveyed to a terminal end of the catheter 12 where a scattering region 15 having a mirror 14 is provided . the scattering region 15 may be comprised of silicone containing titania or other suitable scattering particles . the purpose of the region 15 is to direct the incident light out of the optical fiber 12 or light conduit and into a surrounding sheath or structure 16 that includes a gain medium as described in u . s . pat . no . 5 , 488 , 582 . that is , the sheath or structure 16 includes , by example , a selected dye molecule or molecules 13a in combination with scattering sites 13b which provide in combination a laser - like emission when stimulated by the light from the laser 2 . the structure 16 outputs light with a second , desired wavelength ( λ 2 ). in this embodiment of this invention the gain medium may be contained in a transparent polymer of a type that contracts or shrinks when heated , such as heat shrinkable tubing . the output wavelength ( λ 2 ) is selected in accordance with the activation requirements of a photo - sensitive drug or substance used in a given pdt treatment . fig3 shows an embodiment wherein a dichroic mirror 20 is provided in combination with a substrate 22 that contains the gain medium . by example , the dichroic mirror 20 is transparent at the pump wavelength ( e . g . 532 nm ) and is reflective at the wavelength ( e . g . 650 nm ) that is emitted by the gain medium within the substrate 22 . the substrate 22 may be a polymer , a glass , or any suitable material for containing the gain medium ( e . g . dye molecules and scattering sites , such as particles of tio 2 or alumina ). two known photo - sensitive drugs that are activated by 650 nm light are mpth and photofrin . the embodiment of fig3 is well suited for treating external or exposed tissue , whereas the embodiment of fig2 a and 2b is well suited for treating internal tissue . in general , it is desirable to position the gain medium in close proximity to the tissue to be treated in order to maximize the amount of light that can be delivered to the photo - sensitive drug or drugs that are being used . fig4 a shows an embodiment wherein the substrate 22 is curved , and may represent a cross - section through a hemisphere or dome . fig4 b illustrates an embodiment wherein a plurality of the curved substrates 22a and 22b are employed to provide at least first and second wavelengths ( λ 2 , λ 3 ). as can be seen , the substrates 22a and 22b can have a generally concave inner surface , and one may be nested or contained within the other . in both of these embodiments the substrate shape leads to an integrating sphere effect for providing a more uniform illumination of the tissue being treated . in the embodiment of fig4 b it is assumed that the substrate 22a is substantially transparent at λ 1 , and that the substrate 22b is substantially transparent at λ 2 . fig5 a and 5b illustrate embodiments wherein a plurality of the structures 16 ( e . g ., sub - structures 16a - 16c ) are arranged circumferentially or longitudinally , respectively , about the terminal end of the optical fiber 12 . each sub - structure 16a - 16c has an associated emission wavelength λ 2 - λ 4 , respectively . the result is the simultaneous presence of a plurality of wavelengths for simultaneously activating a plurality of photo - sensitive drugs during a pdt treatment . more or less than three sub - structures can be provided . fig6 illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein a gain medium - containing substrate 23 is given a predetermined three - dimensional shape for conforming the substrate to a shape of a region of tissue to be treated . by example , a mold of a region of tissue to be treated ( e . g , a tumor ) is made , and the substrate 23 , such as polymeric material containing the gain medium , is formed from the mold . alternatively , a three dimensional surface profile or map of the region of tissue can be obtained from a medical imaging technique ( e . g ., cat scan or nmr image ), and the shape of the substrate 23 conformed to the profile . this embodiment of the invention is useful in providing an intimate fit between the substrate 23 and the region of tissue to be treated , thereby maximizing an amount of photo - sensitive drug or drugs that are activated . it should be realized that the dichroic mirror 20 can also be used with the embodiment of fig6 as well as the embodiment of fig4 b . fig7 illustrates a further embodiment of this invention wherein the terminal end of the optical fiber 12 is wrapped with one or more polymer filaments 26 that contain the gain medium . preferably adjacent wraps of the filaments 26 touch one another to prevent any leakage of the light at λ 1 . a plurality of different filaments can be used for providing a plurality of different wavelengths of light for activating a plurality of photo - sensitive drugs . a suitable laser system for driving this and other embodiments of this invention is a 15 mj , 1000 hz prr , 532 nm laser available from continuum . in general , a diode pumped nd : yag laser can be employed to provide a compact and relatively low cost source . in other embodiments a pure silica fiber 12 can be used with an ultraviolet ( uv ) source operating at , by example , 400 nm , and can provide an emission of , by example , 1 . 7 micrometers , depending on the characteristics of the selected gain medium . it can be realized that the teaching of this invention provides the ability to readily provide a number of different wavelengths of therapeutic light , while avoiding the problems inherent in providing , operating , and maintaining a conventional tuneable light source , such as a dye laser . in a further embodiment of this invention the dye molecules that comprise a portion of the gain medium may be replaced by semiconductor nanocrystals selected for their emission wavelength ( s ) ( e . g ., gan for blue , znse for green , cdse for red ). in this case the semiconductor nanocrystals may also function as scattering sites for the stimulated emission , either alone or in combination with the scattering particles . in a still further embodiment of this invention the polymer structure or substrate itself may provide the stimulated emission , such as a polymer comprised of ppv or mehppv . although described above in the context of specific materials , dimensions and the like , it should be appreciated that the teaching of this invention is not intended to be limited to only these disclosed exemplary embodiments and values . neither is the teaching of this invention intended to be limited to only the specific catheter and other embodiments described above . as such , while the invention has been particularly shown and described with respect to preferred embodiments thereof , it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention .	Should this patent be classified under 'Physics'?	Should this patent be classified under 'Mechanical Engineering; Lightning; Heating; Weapons; Blasting'?	0.25	1dc3de47c437749c9c2a9133bbebced9f13c744d052053e486e2af4beea810d9	0.135742	0.000103	0.124023	0.000017	0.130859	0.000938
null	the disclosure of the above - referenced u . s . pat . no . 5 , 448 , 582 , issued sep . 5 , 1995 , entitled &# 34 ; optical sources having a strongly scattering gain medium providing laser - like action &# 34 ;, by nabil m . lawandy is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety . also incorporated by reference herein in its entirety is the disclosure of u . s . pat . no . 5 , 434 , 878 , issued jul . 18 , 1995 , entitled &# 34 ; optical gain medium having doped nanocrystals of semiconductors and also optical scatterers &# 34 ;, by nabil m . lawandy . reference is first made to fig2 a and 2b for showing an embodiment of a catheter 10 that is suitable for use in photo - dynamic therapy applications . it should be realized , however , that the various methods and apparatus of this invention are not limited for use with only this one , albeit important , application . the catheter 10 includes an optical fiber 12 or other suitable conduit of electromagnetic radiation , and a protective covering or sheath 12a made from , by example , a non - reactive material such as teflon ™. a first end of the catheter 10 is coupled to a laser source such as a frequency doubled or frequency tripled nd : yag laser 2 . in the illustrated example the laser 2 provides light at a first wavelength ( λ 1 ), such as 532 nm . the light is conveyed to a terminal end of the catheter 12 where a scattering region 15 having a mirror 14 is provided . the scattering region 15 may be comprised of silicone containing titania or other suitable scattering particles . the purpose of the region 15 is to direct the incident light out of the optical fiber 12 or light conduit and into a surrounding sheath or structure 16 that includes a gain medium as described in u . s . pat . no . 5 , 488 , 582 . that is , the sheath or structure 16 includes , by example , a selected dye molecule or molecules 13a in combination with scattering sites 13b which provide in combination a laser - like emission when stimulated by the light from the laser 2 . the structure 16 outputs light with a second , desired wavelength ( λ 2 ). in this embodiment of this invention the gain medium may be contained in a transparent polymer of a type that contracts or shrinks when heated , such as heat shrinkable tubing . the output wavelength ( λ 2 ) is selected in accordance with the activation requirements of a photo - sensitive drug or substance used in a given pdt treatment . fig3 shows an embodiment wherein a dichroic mirror 20 is provided in combination with a substrate 22 that contains the gain medium . by example , the dichroic mirror 20 is transparent at the pump wavelength ( e . g . 532 nm ) and is reflective at the wavelength ( e . g . 650 nm ) that is emitted by the gain medium within the substrate 22 . the substrate 22 may be a polymer , a glass , or any suitable material for containing the gain medium ( e . g . dye molecules and scattering sites , such as particles of tio 2 or alumina ). two known photo - sensitive drugs that are activated by 650 nm light are mpth and photofrin . the embodiment of fig3 is well suited for treating external or exposed tissue , whereas the embodiment of fig2 a and 2b is well suited for treating internal tissue . in general , it is desirable to position the gain medium in close proximity to the tissue to be treated in order to maximize the amount of light that can be delivered to the photo - sensitive drug or drugs that are being used . fig4 a shows an embodiment wherein the substrate 22 is curved , and may represent a cross - section through a hemisphere or dome . fig4 b illustrates an embodiment wherein a plurality of the curved substrates 22a and 22b are employed to provide at least first and second wavelengths ( λ 2 , λ 3 ). as can be seen , the substrates 22a and 22b can have a generally concave inner surface , and one may be nested or contained within the other . in both of these embodiments the substrate shape leads to an integrating sphere effect for providing a more uniform illumination of the tissue being treated . in the embodiment of fig4 b it is assumed that the substrate 22a is substantially transparent at λ 1 , and that the substrate 22b is substantially transparent at λ 2 . fig5 a and 5b illustrate embodiments wherein a plurality of the structures 16 ( e . g ., sub - structures 16a - 16c ) are arranged circumferentially or longitudinally , respectively , about the terminal end of the optical fiber 12 . each sub - structure 16a - 16c has an associated emission wavelength λ 2 - λ 4 , respectively . the result is the simultaneous presence of a plurality of wavelengths for simultaneously activating a plurality of photo - sensitive drugs during a pdt treatment . more or less than three sub - structures can be provided . fig6 illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein a gain medium - containing substrate 23 is given a predetermined three - dimensional shape for conforming the substrate to a shape of a region of tissue to be treated . by example , a mold of a region of tissue to be treated ( e . g , a tumor ) is made , and the substrate 23 , such as polymeric material containing the gain medium , is formed from the mold . alternatively , a three dimensional surface profile or map of the region of tissue can be obtained from a medical imaging technique ( e . g ., cat scan or nmr image ), and the shape of the substrate 23 conformed to the profile . this embodiment of the invention is useful in providing an intimate fit between the substrate 23 and the region of tissue to be treated , thereby maximizing an amount of photo - sensitive drug or drugs that are activated . it should be realized that the dichroic mirror 20 can also be used with the embodiment of fig6 as well as the embodiment of fig4 b . fig7 illustrates a further embodiment of this invention wherein the terminal end of the optical fiber 12 is wrapped with one or more polymer filaments 26 that contain the gain medium . preferably adjacent wraps of the filaments 26 touch one another to prevent any leakage of the light at λ 1 . a plurality of different filaments can be used for providing a plurality of different wavelengths of light for activating a plurality of photo - sensitive drugs . a suitable laser system for driving this and other embodiments of this invention is a 15 mj , 1000 hz prr , 532 nm laser available from continuum . in general , a diode pumped nd : yag laser can be employed to provide a compact and relatively low cost source . in other embodiments a pure silica fiber 12 can be used with an ultraviolet ( uv ) source operating at , by example , 400 nm , and can provide an emission of , by example , 1 . 7 micrometers , depending on the characteristics of the selected gain medium . it can be realized that the teaching of this invention provides the ability to readily provide a number of different wavelengths of therapeutic light , while avoiding the problems inherent in providing , operating , and maintaining a conventional tuneable light source , such as a dye laser . in a further embodiment of this invention the dye molecules that comprise a portion of the gain medium may be replaced by semiconductor nanocrystals selected for their emission wavelength ( s ) ( e . g ., gan for blue , znse for green , cdse for red ). in this case the semiconductor nanocrystals may also function as scattering sites for the stimulated emission , either alone or in combination with the scattering particles . in a still further embodiment of this invention the polymer structure or substrate itself may provide the stimulated emission , such as a polymer comprised of ppv or mehppv . although described above in the context of specific materials , dimensions and the like , it should be appreciated that the teaching of this invention is not intended to be limited to only these disclosed exemplary embodiments and values . neither is the teaching of this invention intended to be limited to only the specific catheter and other embodiments described above . as such , while the invention has been particularly shown and described with respect to preferred embodiments thereof , it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention .	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'Physics'?	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Electricity'?	0.25	1dc3de47c437749c9c2a9133bbebced9f13c744d052053e486e2af4beea810d9	0.145508	0.00103	0.126953	0.000109	0.157227	0.000805
null	the disclosure of the above - referenced u . s . pat . no . 5 , 448 , 582 , issued sep . 5 , 1995 , entitled &# 34 ; optical sources having a strongly scattering gain medium providing laser - like action &# 34 ;, by nabil m . lawandy is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety . also incorporated by reference herein in its entirety is the disclosure of u . s . pat . no . 5 , 434 , 878 , issued jul . 18 , 1995 , entitled &# 34 ; optical gain medium having doped nanocrystals of semiconductors and also optical scatterers &# 34 ;, by nabil m . lawandy . reference is first made to fig2 a and 2b for showing an embodiment of a catheter 10 that is suitable for use in photo - dynamic therapy applications . it should be realized , however , that the various methods and apparatus of this invention are not limited for use with only this one , albeit important , application . the catheter 10 includes an optical fiber 12 or other suitable conduit of electromagnetic radiation , and a protective covering or sheath 12a made from , by example , a non - reactive material such as teflon ™. a first end of the catheter 10 is coupled to a laser source such as a frequency doubled or frequency tripled nd : yag laser 2 . in the illustrated example the laser 2 provides light at a first wavelength ( λ 1 ), such as 532 nm . the light is conveyed to a terminal end of the catheter 12 where a scattering region 15 having a mirror 14 is provided . the scattering region 15 may be comprised of silicone containing titania or other suitable scattering particles . the purpose of the region 15 is to direct the incident light out of the optical fiber 12 or light conduit and into a surrounding sheath or structure 16 that includes a gain medium as described in u . s . pat . no . 5 , 488 , 582 . that is , the sheath or structure 16 includes , by example , a selected dye molecule or molecules 13a in combination with scattering sites 13b which provide in combination a laser - like emission when stimulated by the light from the laser 2 . the structure 16 outputs light with a second , desired wavelength ( λ 2 ). in this embodiment of this invention the gain medium may be contained in a transparent polymer of a type that contracts or shrinks when heated , such as heat shrinkable tubing . the output wavelength ( λ 2 ) is selected in accordance with the activation requirements of a photo - sensitive drug or substance used in a given pdt treatment . fig3 shows an embodiment wherein a dichroic mirror 20 is provided in combination with a substrate 22 that contains the gain medium . by example , the dichroic mirror 20 is transparent at the pump wavelength ( e . g . 532 nm ) and is reflective at the wavelength ( e . g . 650 nm ) that is emitted by the gain medium within the substrate 22 . the substrate 22 may be a polymer , a glass , or any suitable material for containing the gain medium ( e . g . dye molecules and scattering sites , such as particles of tio 2 or alumina ). two known photo - sensitive drugs that are activated by 650 nm light are mpth and photofrin . the embodiment of fig3 is well suited for treating external or exposed tissue , whereas the embodiment of fig2 a and 2b is well suited for treating internal tissue . in general , it is desirable to position the gain medium in close proximity to the tissue to be treated in order to maximize the amount of light that can be delivered to the photo - sensitive drug or drugs that are being used . fig4 a shows an embodiment wherein the substrate 22 is curved , and may represent a cross - section through a hemisphere or dome . fig4 b illustrates an embodiment wherein a plurality of the curved substrates 22a and 22b are employed to provide at least first and second wavelengths ( λ 2 , λ 3 ). as can be seen , the substrates 22a and 22b can have a generally concave inner surface , and one may be nested or contained within the other . in both of these embodiments the substrate shape leads to an integrating sphere effect for providing a more uniform illumination of the tissue being treated . in the embodiment of fig4 b it is assumed that the substrate 22a is substantially transparent at λ 1 , and that the substrate 22b is substantially transparent at λ 2 . fig5 a and 5b illustrate embodiments wherein a plurality of the structures 16 ( e . g ., sub - structures 16a - 16c ) are arranged circumferentially or longitudinally , respectively , about the terminal end of the optical fiber 12 . each sub - structure 16a - 16c has an associated emission wavelength λ 2 - λ 4 , respectively . the result is the simultaneous presence of a plurality of wavelengths for simultaneously activating a plurality of photo - sensitive drugs during a pdt treatment . more or less than three sub - structures can be provided . fig6 illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein a gain medium - containing substrate 23 is given a predetermined three - dimensional shape for conforming the substrate to a shape of a region of tissue to be treated . by example , a mold of a region of tissue to be treated ( e . g , a tumor ) is made , and the substrate 23 , such as polymeric material containing the gain medium , is formed from the mold . alternatively , a three dimensional surface profile or map of the region of tissue can be obtained from a medical imaging technique ( e . g ., cat scan or nmr image ), and the shape of the substrate 23 conformed to the profile . this embodiment of the invention is useful in providing an intimate fit between the substrate 23 and the region of tissue to be treated , thereby maximizing an amount of photo - sensitive drug or drugs that are activated . it should be realized that the dichroic mirror 20 can also be used with the embodiment of fig6 as well as the embodiment of fig4 b . fig7 illustrates a further embodiment of this invention wherein the terminal end of the optical fiber 12 is wrapped with one or more polymer filaments 26 that contain the gain medium . preferably adjacent wraps of the filaments 26 touch one another to prevent any leakage of the light at λ 1 . a plurality of different filaments can be used for providing a plurality of different wavelengths of light for activating a plurality of photo - sensitive drugs . a suitable laser system for driving this and other embodiments of this invention is a 15 mj , 1000 hz prr , 532 nm laser available from continuum . in general , a diode pumped nd : yag laser can be employed to provide a compact and relatively low cost source . in other embodiments a pure silica fiber 12 can be used with an ultraviolet ( uv ) source operating at , by example , 400 nm , and can provide an emission of , by example , 1 . 7 micrometers , depending on the characteristics of the selected gain medium . it can be realized that the teaching of this invention provides the ability to readily provide a number of different wavelengths of therapeutic light , while avoiding the problems inherent in providing , operating , and maintaining a conventional tuneable light source , such as a dye laser . in a further embodiment of this invention the dye molecules that comprise a portion of the gain medium may be replaced by semiconductor nanocrystals selected for their emission wavelength ( s ) ( e . g ., gan for blue , znse for green , cdse for red ). in this case the semiconductor nanocrystals may also function as scattering sites for the stimulated emission , either alone or in combination with the scattering particles . in a still further embodiment of this invention the polymer structure or substrate itself may provide the stimulated emission , such as a polymer comprised of ppv or mehppv . although described above in the context of specific materials , dimensions and the like , it should be appreciated that the teaching of this invention is not intended to be limited to only these disclosed exemplary embodiments and values . neither is the teaching of this invention intended to be limited to only the specific catheter and other embodiments described above . as such , while the invention has been particularly shown and described with respect to preferred embodiments thereof , it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention .	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Physics'?	Is 'General tagging of new or cross-sectional technology' the correct technical category for the patent?	0.25	1dc3de47c437749c9c2a9133bbebced9f13c744d052053e486e2af4beea810d9	0.189453	0.084961	0.042725	0.171875	0.22168	0.074707
null	as shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration , the present invention for a cannula support is referred to generally by the reference number 10 in fig2 - 7 . in this respect , the support 10 may be used in association with a cannula that consists of a somewhat slender and elongated tube 12 ( fig1 ) that extends from a device such as an oxygen tank , a portable oxygen generator , or a wall connection in a hospital that delivers oxygen via a flow meter ( not shown ) at one end to one or more open ended branches or ports 14 at the other end designed to be inserted into , for example , a nostril 16 to deliver supplemental oxygen to a patient in need of respiratory help . oxygen flows from the source , through the flexible tube 12 and out through one or more of the open - ended branches or ports 14 as a means to supplement breathing . the open - ended branches or ports 14 may vary in size depending on the desired flow rate . as generally shown in fig1 , the branches or ports 14 of the cannula flexible tube 12 are positioned near the nostrils 16 to provide oxygen thereto . from here , the cannula flexible tube 12 wraps around the cheeks of the wearer 22 toward the ears 18 . as such , the flexible plastic tube 12 may extend into a space or channel 24 formed between the head 20 and a portion of the outwardly extending ear 18 . the cannula flexible tube 12 then wraps around the ear 18 , comes back toward the front of the neck by the chin and travels back to the oxygen source . the tube 12 is typically made from a somewhat flexible plastic material that can be manipulated in a manner that allows conformity around the wearer &# 39 ; s facial features , for example the exterior curvature of the face and around the ear 18 , to streamline the fit of the cannula to the wearer 22 as shown in fig1 . the support 10 disclosed herein is a supplemental attachment for the cannula flexible tube 12 as it is designed to reduce or eliminate the aforementioned problems associated with skin - to - plastic contact with the flexible tube 12 . that is , the support 10 helps reduce indentations that may form in and around the skin from constant contact with the flexible tube 12 , reduce redness , sores or other skin irritations , and reduce or eliminate tearing of the skin resultant from the flexible tube 12 sticking to the skin . fig2 illustrates one embodiment of the support 10 in the form of a curled or coiled cord that may be formed by winding strips of material around a cylinder to create the shown helical shape . preferably , the support 10 comprises a form of elastic material ( e . g ., polyester ) that permits stretching or uncoiling when loaded ( fig3 ), while also returning to its natural length ( fig2 ) when unloaded . the helical shape of the support 10 shown in fig2 - 7 produces a smooth three - dimensional curve with each coil initially aligned along a common central axis 30 ( fig3 ). while the support 10 in fig2 - 7 is substantially cylindrical in shape , it could be made into a conical shape by winding it around a cone , for example . in this respect , the ends 26 , 28 of the support 10 may taper inwardly toward the exterior circumference of the flexible tube 12 to provide a tighter fit thereto at each of the ends 26 , 28 . this embodiment may prevent the support 10 from sliding along the length of the flexible tube 12 , as is problematic with the e - z wraps . the shape , structure and materials of the support 10 are , in one embodiment , comparable to or the same as the outer polyester material of curly or spiral shoelaces . in this respect , the support 10 may similarly include a tight inner core that helps maintain or form the outer polyester material into the spiral or helical shape of the support 10 . the outer layer preferably includes the aforementioned polyester material , but a person of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the outer layer of the support 10 may be made from various types of materials , such as cotton , nylon , polyester , spandex , etc . of course , the support 10 may include only the outer polyester material or both the outer polyester material with the harder inner core . in this respect , the outer polyester material may be configured to naturally coil itself , as disclosed herein . the elasticity of the support 10 allows it to be bent , curved , extended , retracted , etc . as generally shown in fig3 - 7 . in this respect , material selection is important so that the support 10 can adequately conform to the outer curved surface of the ear ( fig6 and 7 ) to bias the plastic tube 12 away from contacting the skin . the support 10 may also enhance the positional stability of the cannula in and around the ear 18 by increasing the traction therewith while comfortably contacting the skin without causing irritation thereto . the substantially spiral or helical shape of the support 10 made from polyester ( or a comparable material ) accomplishes these objectives . for instance , fig4 illustrates the support 10 being bent and turned around the exterior of the flexible tube 12 . in this embodiment , the inner diameter formed by the helical structure of the support 10 is approximately the same size as the outer diameter of the flexible tube 12 . this allows the wearer 22 to comfortably slide or spiral bind the support 10 along the length of the flexible tube 12 to properly locate and place the support 10 to attain a comfortable fit behind the ear 18 , as shown in fig7 . the inner diameter of the support 10 may , alternatively , be somewhat smaller than the outer diameter of the flexible tube 12 to enhance frictional contact therebetween during use . this , of course , will tend to inhibit movement of the support 10 along the length of the flexible tube 12 relative to a support 10 with a larger diameter . in another alternative embodiment , the support 10 may have a somewhat larger inner diameter at or near its mid - section 32 ( generally shown in fig2 ) that terminates at respective conically shaped ends 26 , 28 . this embodiment may provide enhanced contact at each end 26 , 28 , while allowing greater adjustability in the larger diameter mid - section 32 . as shown in fig5 relative to fig4 , the support 10 is flexible enough to be wound around the exterior of the flexible tube 12 . in one embodiment , the support 10 attached to the flexible tube 12 , as shown in fig5 , may be a two inch piece of curled shoelace with the harder interior cord removed . once attached , the wearer may manipulate the shape and placement of the flexible tube 12 with the support 10 mounted thereto . in this regard , fig5 illustrates the support 10 partially curved and shaped to conform to the curved exterior surface of the ear 18 . placement behind the ear 18 in this manner , and as shown in fig7 , permits the support 10 to bias the inner plastic flexible tube 12 away from contacting the skin in and around the ear 18 to prevent or stop the aforementioned skin irritations . since the support 10 is curled around the exterior of the flexible tube 12 , it does not fall off when bent around the ear 18 . in this respect , the curled helical shape not only grips to portions of the flexible tube 12 to prevent slippage , as described above , but it also provides enhanced traction against the skin in the area in and around the ear 18 . additionally , the polyester clothing - type material made from a series of interwoven spiral - bound fibers allows the skin to breath underneath ( similar to clothing ) and does not have the same abrasive surface interaction with the skin as does the plastic material of the flexible tube 12 . accordingly , the support 10 stays on the flexible tube 12 until purposefully unwrapped , provides adequate stability , and causes virtually no skin irritation . moreover , the spiral or helical shape of the interwoven fibers of the support 10 provides the flexibility necessary to conform to the outer curvature in and around the ear 18 while providing sufficient traction against the skin without irritation . in this respect , each of the coils of the support 10 may expand ( fig2 ) or contract ( fig3 ) and bend along the central axis 30 thereof ( fig3 relative to fig6 - 7 ). a solid foam material , such as the e - z wrap design , is unable to flex in this manner because the solid material bunches and prevents interior curving , and otherwise does not permit exterior stretching in the same manner that a series of spaced apart and flexible / bendable helical coils provide . this shape and structure of the support 10 further enhances gripping action in and around the ear 18 so that the support 10 and the flexible tube 12 do not slip or slide out from this space or channel 24 when worn by the wearer 22 . that is , the coils are able to bend with the flexible tube 12 so as to remain in some constant frictional contact therewith such that each of the individual coils are no longer necessarily aligned with the central axis 30 . several individuals using a nasal - cannula have used the support 10 disclosed herein as an alternative to using bandages to cover areas around the ears that were torn and bleeding from the irritation of the cannula flexible tube 12 . in each case , the individual was able to use the support 10 for at least six months without having any of the aforementioned problems associated with skin irritation in and around the ears . of course , the support 10 would be beneficial to those who use oxygen , and especially those who must be on oxygen all day and all night . although several embodiments have been described in detail for purposes of illustration , various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention . accordingly , the invention is not to be limited , except as by the appended claims .	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'Human Necessities'?	Should this patent be classified under 'Performing Operations; Transporting'?	0.25	745cd62039add52698cba4c1807c85334e1d770b04862943d836362fbbbe0afe	0.204102	0.024048	0.202148	0.023315	0.098145	0.017456
null	as shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration , the present invention for a cannula support is referred to generally by the reference number 10 in fig2 - 7 . in this respect , the support 10 may be used in association with a cannula that consists of a somewhat slender and elongated tube 12 ( fig1 ) that extends from a device such as an oxygen tank , a portable oxygen generator , or a wall connection in a hospital that delivers oxygen via a flow meter ( not shown ) at one end to one or more open ended branches or ports 14 at the other end designed to be inserted into , for example , a nostril 16 to deliver supplemental oxygen to a patient in need of respiratory help . oxygen flows from the source , through the flexible tube 12 and out through one or more of the open - ended branches or ports 14 as a means to supplement breathing . the open - ended branches or ports 14 may vary in size depending on the desired flow rate . as generally shown in fig1 , the branches or ports 14 of the cannula flexible tube 12 are positioned near the nostrils 16 to provide oxygen thereto . from here , the cannula flexible tube 12 wraps around the cheeks of the wearer 22 toward the ears 18 . as such , the flexible plastic tube 12 may extend into a space or channel 24 formed between the head 20 and a portion of the outwardly extending ear 18 . the cannula flexible tube 12 then wraps around the ear 18 , comes back toward the front of the neck by the chin and travels back to the oxygen source . the tube 12 is typically made from a somewhat flexible plastic material that can be manipulated in a manner that allows conformity around the wearer &# 39 ; s facial features , for example the exterior curvature of the face and around the ear 18 , to streamline the fit of the cannula to the wearer 22 as shown in fig1 . the support 10 disclosed herein is a supplemental attachment for the cannula flexible tube 12 as it is designed to reduce or eliminate the aforementioned problems associated with skin - to - plastic contact with the flexible tube 12 . that is , the support 10 helps reduce indentations that may form in and around the skin from constant contact with the flexible tube 12 , reduce redness , sores or other skin irritations , and reduce or eliminate tearing of the skin resultant from the flexible tube 12 sticking to the skin . fig2 illustrates one embodiment of the support 10 in the form of a curled or coiled cord that may be formed by winding strips of material around a cylinder to create the shown helical shape . preferably , the support 10 comprises a form of elastic material ( e . g ., polyester ) that permits stretching or uncoiling when loaded ( fig3 ), while also returning to its natural length ( fig2 ) when unloaded . the helical shape of the support 10 shown in fig2 - 7 produces a smooth three - dimensional curve with each coil initially aligned along a common central axis 30 ( fig3 ). while the support 10 in fig2 - 7 is substantially cylindrical in shape , it could be made into a conical shape by winding it around a cone , for example . in this respect , the ends 26 , 28 of the support 10 may taper inwardly toward the exterior circumference of the flexible tube 12 to provide a tighter fit thereto at each of the ends 26 , 28 . this embodiment may prevent the support 10 from sliding along the length of the flexible tube 12 , as is problematic with the e - z wraps . the shape , structure and materials of the support 10 are , in one embodiment , comparable to or the same as the outer polyester material of curly or spiral shoelaces . in this respect , the support 10 may similarly include a tight inner core that helps maintain or form the outer polyester material into the spiral or helical shape of the support 10 . the outer layer preferably includes the aforementioned polyester material , but a person of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the outer layer of the support 10 may be made from various types of materials , such as cotton , nylon , polyester , spandex , etc . of course , the support 10 may include only the outer polyester material or both the outer polyester material with the harder inner core . in this respect , the outer polyester material may be configured to naturally coil itself , as disclosed herein . the elasticity of the support 10 allows it to be bent , curved , extended , retracted , etc . as generally shown in fig3 - 7 . in this respect , material selection is important so that the support 10 can adequately conform to the outer curved surface of the ear ( fig6 and 7 ) to bias the plastic tube 12 away from contacting the skin . the support 10 may also enhance the positional stability of the cannula in and around the ear 18 by increasing the traction therewith while comfortably contacting the skin without causing irritation thereto . the substantially spiral or helical shape of the support 10 made from polyester ( or a comparable material ) accomplishes these objectives . for instance , fig4 illustrates the support 10 being bent and turned around the exterior of the flexible tube 12 . in this embodiment , the inner diameter formed by the helical structure of the support 10 is approximately the same size as the outer diameter of the flexible tube 12 . this allows the wearer 22 to comfortably slide or spiral bind the support 10 along the length of the flexible tube 12 to properly locate and place the support 10 to attain a comfortable fit behind the ear 18 , as shown in fig7 . the inner diameter of the support 10 may , alternatively , be somewhat smaller than the outer diameter of the flexible tube 12 to enhance frictional contact therebetween during use . this , of course , will tend to inhibit movement of the support 10 along the length of the flexible tube 12 relative to a support 10 with a larger diameter . in another alternative embodiment , the support 10 may have a somewhat larger inner diameter at or near its mid - section 32 ( generally shown in fig2 ) that terminates at respective conically shaped ends 26 , 28 . this embodiment may provide enhanced contact at each end 26 , 28 , while allowing greater adjustability in the larger diameter mid - section 32 . as shown in fig5 relative to fig4 , the support 10 is flexible enough to be wound around the exterior of the flexible tube 12 . in one embodiment , the support 10 attached to the flexible tube 12 , as shown in fig5 , may be a two inch piece of curled shoelace with the harder interior cord removed . once attached , the wearer may manipulate the shape and placement of the flexible tube 12 with the support 10 mounted thereto . in this regard , fig5 illustrates the support 10 partially curved and shaped to conform to the curved exterior surface of the ear 18 . placement behind the ear 18 in this manner , and as shown in fig7 , permits the support 10 to bias the inner plastic flexible tube 12 away from contacting the skin in and around the ear 18 to prevent or stop the aforementioned skin irritations . since the support 10 is curled around the exterior of the flexible tube 12 , it does not fall off when bent around the ear 18 . in this respect , the curled helical shape not only grips to portions of the flexible tube 12 to prevent slippage , as described above , but it also provides enhanced traction against the skin in the area in and around the ear 18 . additionally , the polyester clothing - type material made from a series of interwoven spiral - bound fibers allows the skin to breath underneath ( similar to clothing ) and does not have the same abrasive surface interaction with the skin as does the plastic material of the flexible tube 12 . accordingly , the support 10 stays on the flexible tube 12 until purposefully unwrapped , provides adequate stability , and causes virtually no skin irritation . moreover , the spiral or helical shape of the interwoven fibers of the support 10 provides the flexibility necessary to conform to the outer curvature in and around the ear 18 while providing sufficient traction against the skin without irritation . in this respect , each of the coils of the support 10 may expand ( fig2 ) or contract ( fig3 ) and bend along the central axis 30 thereof ( fig3 relative to fig6 - 7 ). a solid foam material , such as the e - z wrap design , is unable to flex in this manner because the solid material bunches and prevents interior curving , and otherwise does not permit exterior stretching in the same manner that a series of spaced apart and flexible / bendable helical coils provide . this shape and structure of the support 10 further enhances gripping action in and around the ear 18 so that the support 10 and the flexible tube 12 do not slip or slide out from this space or channel 24 when worn by the wearer 22 . that is , the coils are able to bend with the flexible tube 12 so as to remain in some constant frictional contact therewith such that each of the individual coils are no longer necessarily aligned with the central axis 30 . several individuals using a nasal - cannula have used the support 10 disclosed herein as an alternative to using bandages to cover areas around the ears that were torn and bleeding from the irritation of the cannula flexible tube 12 . in each case , the individual was able to use the support 10 for at least six months without having any of the aforementioned problems associated with skin irritation in and around the ears . of course , the support 10 would be beneficial to those who use oxygen , and especially those who must be on oxygen all day and all night . although several embodiments have been described in detail for purposes of illustration , various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention . accordingly , the invention is not to be limited , except as by the appended claims .	Should this patent be classified under 'Human Necessities'?	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'Chemistry; Metallurgy'?	0.25	745cd62039add52698cba4c1807c85334e1d770b04862943d836362fbbbe0afe	0.175781	0.012817	0.099609	0.001648	0.067383	0.004211
null	as shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration , the present invention for a cannula support is referred to generally by the reference number 10 in fig2 - 7 . in this respect , the support 10 may be used in association with a cannula that consists of a somewhat slender and elongated tube 12 ( fig1 ) that extends from a device such as an oxygen tank , a portable oxygen generator , or a wall connection in a hospital that delivers oxygen via a flow meter ( not shown ) at one end to one or more open ended branches or ports 14 at the other end designed to be inserted into , for example , a nostril 16 to deliver supplemental oxygen to a patient in need of respiratory help . oxygen flows from the source , through the flexible tube 12 and out through one or more of the open - ended branches or ports 14 as a means to supplement breathing . the open - ended branches or ports 14 may vary in size depending on the desired flow rate . as generally shown in fig1 , the branches or ports 14 of the cannula flexible tube 12 are positioned near the nostrils 16 to provide oxygen thereto . from here , the cannula flexible tube 12 wraps around the cheeks of the wearer 22 toward the ears 18 . as such , the flexible plastic tube 12 may extend into a space or channel 24 formed between the head 20 and a portion of the outwardly extending ear 18 . the cannula flexible tube 12 then wraps around the ear 18 , comes back toward the front of the neck by the chin and travels back to the oxygen source . the tube 12 is typically made from a somewhat flexible plastic material that can be manipulated in a manner that allows conformity around the wearer &# 39 ; s facial features , for example the exterior curvature of the face and around the ear 18 , to streamline the fit of the cannula to the wearer 22 as shown in fig1 . the support 10 disclosed herein is a supplemental attachment for the cannula flexible tube 12 as it is designed to reduce or eliminate the aforementioned problems associated with skin - to - plastic contact with the flexible tube 12 . that is , the support 10 helps reduce indentations that may form in and around the skin from constant contact with the flexible tube 12 , reduce redness , sores or other skin irritations , and reduce or eliminate tearing of the skin resultant from the flexible tube 12 sticking to the skin . fig2 illustrates one embodiment of the support 10 in the form of a curled or coiled cord that may be formed by winding strips of material around a cylinder to create the shown helical shape . preferably , the support 10 comprises a form of elastic material ( e . g ., polyester ) that permits stretching or uncoiling when loaded ( fig3 ), while also returning to its natural length ( fig2 ) when unloaded . the helical shape of the support 10 shown in fig2 - 7 produces a smooth three - dimensional curve with each coil initially aligned along a common central axis 30 ( fig3 ). while the support 10 in fig2 - 7 is substantially cylindrical in shape , it could be made into a conical shape by winding it around a cone , for example . in this respect , the ends 26 , 28 of the support 10 may taper inwardly toward the exterior circumference of the flexible tube 12 to provide a tighter fit thereto at each of the ends 26 , 28 . this embodiment may prevent the support 10 from sliding along the length of the flexible tube 12 , as is problematic with the e - z wraps . the shape , structure and materials of the support 10 are , in one embodiment , comparable to or the same as the outer polyester material of curly or spiral shoelaces . in this respect , the support 10 may similarly include a tight inner core that helps maintain or form the outer polyester material into the spiral or helical shape of the support 10 . the outer layer preferably includes the aforementioned polyester material , but a person of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the outer layer of the support 10 may be made from various types of materials , such as cotton , nylon , polyester , spandex , etc . of course , the support 10 may include only the outer polyester material or both the outer polyester material with the harder inner core . in this respect , the outer polyester material may be configured to naturally coil itself , as disclosed herein . the elasticity of the support 10 allows it to be bent , curved , extended , retracted , etc . as generally shown in fig3 - 7 . in this respect , material selection is important so that the support 10 can adequately conform to the outer curved surface of the ear ( fig6 and 7 ) to bias the plastic tube 12 away from contacting the skin . the support 10 may also enhance the positional stability of the cannula in and around the ear 18 by increasing the traction therewith while comfortably contacting the skin without causing irritation thereto . the substantially spiral or helical shape of the support 10 made from polyester ( or a comparable material ) accomplishes these objectives . for instance , fig4 illustrates the support 10 being bent and turned around the exterior of the flexible tube 12 . in this embodiment , the inner diameter formed by the helical structure of the support 10 is approximately the same size as the outer diameter of the flexible tube 12 . this allows the wearer 22 to comfortably slide or spiral bind the support 10 along the length of the flexible tube 12 to properly locate and place the support 10 to attain a comfortable fit behind the ear 18 , as shown in fig7 . the inner diameter of the support 10 may , alternatively , be somewhat smaller than the outer diameter of the flexible tube 12 to enhance frictional contact therebetween during use . this , of course , will tend to inhibit movement of the support 10 along the length of the flexible tube 12 relative to a support 10 with a larger diameter . in another alternative embodiment , the support 10 may have a somewhat larger inner diameter at or near its mid - section 32 ( generally shown in fig2 ) that terminates at respective conically shaped ends 26 , 28 . this embodiment may provide enhanced contact at each end 26 , 28 , while allowing greater adjustability in the larger diameter mid - section 32 . as shown in fig5 relative to fig4 , the support 10 is flexible enough to be wound around the exterior of the flexible tube 12 . in one embodiment , the support 10 attached to the flexible tube 12 , as shown in fig5 , may be a two inch piece of curled shoelace with the harder interior cord removed . once attached , the wearer may manipulate the shape and placement of the flexible tube 12 with the support 10 mounted thereto . in this regard , fig5 illustrates the support 10 partially curved and shaped to conform to the curved exterior surface of the ear 18 . placement behind the ear 18 in this manner , and as shown in fig7 , permits the support 10 to bias the inner plastic flexible tube 12 away from contacting the skin in and around the ear 18 to prevent or stop the aforementioned skin irritations . since the support 10 is curled around the exterior of the flexible tube 12 , it does not fall off when bent around the ear 18 . in this respect , the curled helical shape not only grips to portions of the flexible tube 12 to prevent slippage , as described above , but it also provides enhanced traction against the skin in the area in and around the ear 18 . additionally , the polyester clothing - type material made from a series of interwoven spiral - bound fibers allows the skin to breath underneath ( similar to clothing ) and does not have the same abrasive surface interaction with the skin as does the plastic material of the flexible tube 12 . accordingly , the support 10 stays on the flexible tube 12 until purposefully unwrapped , provides adequate stability , and causes virtually no skin irritation . moreover , the spiral or helical shape of the interwoven fibers of the support 10 provides the flexibility necessary to conform to the outer curvature in and around the ear 18 while providing sufficient traction against the skin without irritation . in this respect , each of the coils of the support 10 may expand ( fig2 ) or contract ( fig3 ) and bend along the central axis 30 thereof ( fig3 relative to fig6 - 7 ). a solid foam material , such as the e - z wrap design , is unable to flex in this manner because the solid material bunches and prevents interior curving , and otherwise does not permit exterior stretching in the same manner that a series of spaced apart and flexible / bendable helical coils provide . this shape and structure of the support 10 further enhances gripping action in and around the ear 18 so that the support 10 and the flexible tube 12 do not slip or slide out from this space or channel 24 when worn by the wearer 22 . that is , the coils are able to bend with the flexible tube 12 so as to remain in some constant frictional contact therewith such that each of the individual coils are no longer necessarily aligned with the central axis 30 . several individuals using a nasal - cannula have used the support 10 disclosed herein as an alternative to using bandages to cover areas around the ears that were torn and bleeding from the irritation of the cannula flexible tube 12 . in each case , the individual was able to use the support 10 for at least six months without having any of the aforementioned problems associated with skin irritation in and around the ears . of course , the support 10 would be beneficial to those who use oxygen , and especially those who must be on oxygen all day and all night . although several embodiments have been described in detail for purposes of illustration , various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention . accordingly , the invention is not to be limited , except as by the appended claims .	Is 'Human Necessities' the correct technical category for the patent?	Should this patent be classified under 'Textiles; Paper'?	0.25	745cd62039add52698cba4c1807c85334e1d770b04862943d836362fbbbe0afe	0.074707	0.000002	0.003281	0.000004	0.048828	0.000231
null	as shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration , the present invention for a cannula support is referred to generally by the reference number 10 in fig2 - 7 . in this respect , the support 10 may be used in association with a cannula that consists of a somewhat slender and elongated tube 12 ( fig1 ) that extends from a device such as an oxygen tank , a portable oxygen generator , or a wall connection in a hospital that delivers oxygen via a flow meter ( not shown ) at one end to one or more open ended branches or ports 14 at the other end designed to be inserted into , for example , a nostril 16 to deliver supplemental oxygen to a patient in need of respiratory help . oxygen flows from the source , through the flexible tube 12 and out through one or more of the open - ended branches or ports 14 as a means to supplement breathing . the open - ended branches or ports 14 may vary in size depending on the desired flow rate . as generally shown in fig1 , the branches or ports 14 of the cannula flexible tube 12 are positioned near the nostrils 16 to provide oxygen thereto . from here , the cannula flexible tube 12 wraps around the cheeks of the wearer 22 toward the ears 18 . as such , the flexible plastic tube 12 may extend into a space or channel 24 formed between the head 20 and a portion of the outwardly extending ear 18 . the cannula flexible tube 12 then wraps around the ear 18 , comes back toward the front of the neck by the chin and travels back to the oxygen source . the tube 12 is typically made from a somewhat flexible plastic material that can be manipulated in a manner that allows conformity around the wearer &# 39 ; s facial features , for example the exterior curvature of the face and around the ear 18 , to streamline the fit of the cannula to the wearer 22 as shown in fig1 . the support 10 disclosed herein is a supplemental attachment for the cannula flexible tube 12 as it is designed to reduce or eliminate the aforementioned problems associated with skin - to - plastic contact with the flexible tube 12 . that is , the support 10 helps reduce indentations that may form in and around the skin from constant contact with the flexible tube 12 , reduce redness , sores or other skin irritations , and reduce or eliminate tearing of the skin resultant from the flexible tube 12 sticking to the skin . fig2 illustrates one embodiment of the support 10 in the form of a curled or coiled cord that may be formed by winding strips of material around a cylinder to create the shown helical shape . preferably , the support 10 comprises a form of elastic material ( e . g ., polyester ) that permits stretching or uncoiling when loaded ( fig3 ), while also returning to its natural length ( fig2 ) when unloaded . the helical shape of the support 10 shown in fig2 - 7 produces a smooth three - dimensional curve with each coil initially aligned along a common central axis 30 ( fig3 ). while the support 10 in fig2 - 7 is substantially cylindrical in shape , it could be made into a conical shape by winding it around a cone , for example . in this respect , the ends 26 , 28 of the support 10 may taper inwardly toward the exterior circumference of the flexible tube 12 to provide a tighter fit thereto at each of the ends 26 , 28 . this embodiment may prevent the support 10 from sliding along the length of the flexible tube 12 , as is problematic with the e - z wraps . the shape , structure and materials of the support 10 are , in one embodiment , comparable to or the same as the outer polyester material of curly or spiral shoelaces . in this respect , the support 10 may similarly include a tight inner core that helps maintain or form the outer polyester material into the spiral or helical shape of the support 10 . the outer layer preferably includes the aforementioned polyester material , but a person of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the outer layer of the support 10 may be made from various types of materials , such as cotton , nylon , polyester , spandex , etc . of course , the support 10 may include only the outer polyester material or both the outer polyester material with the harder inner core . in this respect , the outer polyester material may be configured to naturally coil itself , as disclosed herein . the elasticity of the support 10 allows it to be bent , curved , extended , retracted , etc . as generally shown in fig3 - 7 . in this respect , material selection is important so that the support 10 can adequately conform to the outer curved surface of the ear ( fig6 and 7 ) to bias the plastic tube 12 away from contacting the skin . the support 10 may also enhance the positional stability of the cannula in and around the ear 18 by increasing the traction therewith while comfortably contacting the skin without causing irritation thereto . the substantially spiral or helical shape of the support 10 made from polyester ( or a comparable material ) accomplishes these objectives . for instance , fig4 illustrates the support 10 being bent and turned around the exterior of the flexible tube 12 . in this embodiment , the inner diameter formed by the helical structure of the support 10 is approximately the same size as the outer diameter of the flexible tube 12 . this allows the wearer 22 to comfortably slide or spiral bind the support 10 along the length of the flexible tube 12 to properly locate and place the support 10 to attain a comfortable fit behind the ear 18 , as shown in fig7 . the inner diameter of the support 10 may , alternatively , be somewhat smaller than the outer diameter of the flexible tube 12 to enhance frictional contact therebetween during use . this , of course , will tend to inhibit movement of the support 10 along the length of the flexible tube 12 relative to a support 10 with a larger diameter . in another alternative embodiment , the support 10 may have a somewhat larger inner diameter at or near its mid - section 32 ( generally shown in fig2 ) that terminates at respective conically shaped ends 26 , 28 . this embodiment may provide enhanced contact at each end 26 , 28 , while allowing greater adjustability in the larger diameter mid - section 32 . as shown in fig5 relative to fig4 , the support 10 is flexible enough to be wound around the exterior of the flexible tube 12 . in one embodiment , the support 10 attached to the flexible tube 12 , as shown in fig5 , may be a two inch piece of curled shoelace with the harder interior cord removed . once attached , the wearer may manipulate the shape and placement of the flexible tube 12 with the support 10 mounted thereto . in this regard , fig5 illustrates the support 10 partially curved and shaped to conform to the curved exterior surface of the ear 18 . placement behind the ear 18 in this manner , and as shown in fig7 , permits the support 10 to bias the inner plastic flexible tube 12 away from contacting the skin in and around the ear 18 to prevent or stop the aforementioned skin irritations . since the support 10 is curled around the exterior of the flexible tube 12 , it does not fall off when bent around the ear 18 . in this respect , the curled helical shape not only grips to portions of the flexible tube 12 to prevent slippage , as described above , but it also provides enhanced traction against the skin in the area in and around the ear 18 . additionally , the polyester clothing - type material made from a series of interwoven spiral - bound fibers allows the skin to breath underneath ( similar to clothing ) and does not have the same abrasive surface interaction with the skin as does the plastic material of the flexible tube 12 . accordingly , the support 10 stays on the flexible tube 12 until purposefully unwrapped , provides adequate stability , and causes virtually no skin irritation . moreover , the spiral or helical shape of the interwoven fibers of the support 10 provides the flexibility necessary to conform to the outer curvature in and around the ear 18 while providing sufficient traction against the skin without irritation . in this respect , each of the coils of the support 10 may expand ( fig2 ) or contract ( fig3 ) and bend along the central axis 30 thereof ( fig3 relative to fig6 - 7 ). a solid foam material , such as the e - z wrap design , is unable to flex in this manner because the solid material bunches and prevents interior curving , and otherwise does not permit exterior stretching in the same manner that a series of spaced apart and flexible / bendable helical coils provide . this shape and structure of the support 10 further enhances gripping action in and around the ear 18 so that the support 10 and the flexible tube 12 do not slip or slide out from this space or channel 24 when worn by the wearer 22 . that is , the coils are able to bend with the flexible tube 12 so as to remain in some constant frictional contact therewith such that each of the individual coils are no longer necessarily aligned with the central axis 30 . several individuals using a nasal - cannula have used the support 10 disclosed herein as an alternative to using bandages to cover areas around the ears that were torn and bleeding from the irritation of the cannula flexible tube 12 . in each case , the individual was able to use the support 10 for at least six months without having any of the aforementioned problems associated with skin irritation in and around the ears . of course , the support 10 would be beneficial to those who use oxygen , and especially those who must be on oxygen all day and all night . although several embodiments have been described in detail for purposes of illustration , various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention . accordingly , the invention is not to be limited , except as by the appended claims .	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Human Necessities'?	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Fixed Constructions'?	0.25	745cd62039add52698cba4c1807c85334e1d770b04862943d836362fbbbe0afe	0.474609	0.002258	0.271484	0.003372	0.145508	0.013611
null	as shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration , the present invention for a cannula support is referred to generally by the reference number 10 in fig2 - 7 . in this respect , the support 10 may be used in association with a cannula that consists of a somewhat slender and elongated tube 12 ( fig1 ) that extends from a device such as an oxygen tank , a portable oxygen generator , or a wall connection in a hospital that delivers oxygen via a flow meter ( not shown ) at one end to one or more open ended branches or ports 14 at the other end designed to be inserted into , for example , a nostril 16 to deliver supplemental oxygen to a patient in need of respiratory help . oxygen flows from the source , through the flexible tube 12 and out through one or more of the open - ended branches or ports 14 as a means to supplement breathing . the open - ended branches or ports 14 may vary in size depending on the desired flow rate . as generally shown in fig1 , the branches or ports 14 of the cannula flexible tube 12 are positioned near the nostrils 16 to provide oxygen thereto . from here , the cannula flexible tube 12 wraps around the cheeks of the wearer 22 toward the ears 18 . as such , the flexible plastic tube 12 may extend into a space or channel 24 formed between the head 20 and a portion of the outwardly extending ear 18 . the cannula flexible tube 12 then wraps around the ear 18 , comes back toward the front of the neck by the chin and travels back to the oxygen source . the tube 12 is typically made from a somewhat flexible plastic material that can be manipulated in a manner that allows conformity around the wearer &# 39 ; s facial features , for example the exterior curvature of the face and around the ear 18 , to streamline the fit of the cannula to the wearer 22 as shown in fig1 . the support 10 disclosed herein is a supplemental attachment for the cannula flexible tube 12 as it is designed to reduce or eliminate the aforementioned problems associated with skin - to - plastic contact with the flexible tube 12 . that is , the support 10 helps reduce indentations that may form in and around the skin from constant contact with the flexible tube 12 , reduce redness , sores or other skin irritations , and reduce or eliminate tearing of the skin resultant from the flexible tube 12 sticking to the skin . fig2 illustrates one embodiment of the support 10 in the form of a curled or coiled cord that may be formed by winding strips of material around a cylinder to create the shown helical shape . preferably , the support 10 comprises a form of elastic material ( e . g ., polyester ) that permits stretching or uncoiling when loaded ( fig3 ), while also returning to its natural length ( fig2 ) when unloaded . the helical shape of the support 10 shown in fig2 - 7 produces a smooth three - dimensional curve with each coil initially aligned along a common central axis 30 ( fig3 ). while the support 10 in fig2 - 7 is substantially cylindrical in shape , it could be made into a conical shape by winding it around a cone , for example . in this respect , the ends 26 , 28 of the support 10 may taper inwardly toward the exterior circumference of the flexible tube 12 to provide a tighter fit thereto at each of the ends 26 , 28 . this embodiment may prevent the support 10 from sliding along the length of the flexible tube 12 , as is problematic with the e - z wraps . the shape , structure and materials of the support 10 are , in one embodiment , comparable to or the same as the outer polyester material of curly or spiral shoelaces . in this respect , the support 10 may similarly include a tight inner core that helps maintain or form the outer polyester material into the spiral or helical shape of the support 10 . the outer layer preferably includes the aforementioned polyester material , but a person of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the outer layer of the support 10 may be made from various types of materials , such as cotton , nylon , polyester , spandex , etc . of course , the support 10 may include only the outer polyester material or both the outer polyester material with the harder inner core . in this respect , the outer polyester material may be configured to naturally coil itself , as disclosed herein . the elasticity of the support 10 allows it to be bent , curved , extended , retracted , etc . as generally shown in fig3 - 7 . in this respect , material selection is important so that the support 10 can adequately conform to the outer curved surface of the ear ( fig6 and 7 ) to bias the plastic tube 12 away from contacting the skin . the support 10 may also enhance the positional stability of the cannula in and around the ear 18 by increasing the traction therewith while comfortably contacting the skin without causing irritation thereto . the substantially spiral or helical shape of the support 10 made from polyester ( or a comparable material ) accomplishes these objectives . for instance , fig4 illustrates the support 10 being bent and turned around the exterior of the flexible tube 12 . in this embodiment , the inner diameter formed by the helical structure of the support 10 is approximately the same size as the outer diameter of the flexible tube 12 . this allows the wearer 22 to comfortably slide or spiral bind the support 10 along the length of the flexible tube 12 to properly locate and place the support 10 to attain a comfortable fit behind the ear 18 , as shown in fig7 . the inner diameter of the support 10 may , alternatively , be somewhat smaller than the outer diameter of the flexible tube 12 to enhance frictional contact therebetween during use . this , of course , will tend to inhibit movement of the support 10 along the length of the flexible tube 12 relative to a support 10 with a larger diameter . in another alternative embodiment , the support 10 may have a somewhat larger inner diameter at or near its mid - section 32 ( generally shown in fig2 ) that terminates at respective conically shaped ends 26 , 28 . this embodiment may provide enhanced contact at each end 26 , 28 , while allowing greater adjustability in the larger diameter mid - section 32 . as shown in fig5 relative to fig4 , the support 10 is flexible enough to be wound around the exterior of the flexible tube 12 . in one embodiment , the support 10 attached to the flexible tube 12 , as shown in fig5 , may be a two inch piece of curled shoelace with the harder interior cord removed . once attached , the wearer may manipulate the shape and placement of the flexible tube 12 with the support 10 mounted thereto . in this regard , fig5 illustrates the support 10 partially curved and shaped to conform to the curved exterior surface of the ear 18 . placement behind the ear 18 in this manner , and as shown in fig7 , permits the support 10 to bias the inner plastic flexible tube 12 away from contacting the skin in and around the ear 18 to prevent or stop the aforementioned skin irritations . since the support 10 is curled around the exterior of the flexible tube 12 , it does not fall off when bent around the ear 18 . in this respect , the curled helical shape not only grips to portions of the flexible tube 12 to prevent slippage , as described above , but it also provides enhanced traction against the skin in the area in and around the ear 18 . additionally , the polyester clothing - type material made from a series of interwoven spiral - bound fibers allows the skin to breath underneath ( similar to clothing ) and does not have the same abrasive surface interaction with the skin as does the plastic material of the flexible tube 12 . accordingly , the support 10 stays on the flexible tube 12 until purposefully unwrapped , provides adequate stability , and causes virtually no skin irritation . moreover , the spiral or helical shape of the interwoven fibers of the support 10 provides the flexibility necessary to conform to the outer curvature in and around the ear 18 while providing sufficient traction against the skin without irritation . in this respect , each of the coils of the support 10 may expand ( fig2 ) or contract ( fig3 ) and bend along the central axis 30 thereof ( fig3 relative to fig6 - 7 ). a solid foam material , such as the e - z wrap design , is unable to flex in this manner because the solid material bunches and prevents interior curving , and otherwise does not permit exterior stretching in the same manner that a series of spaced apart and flexible / bendable helical coils provide . this shape and structure of the support 10 further enhances gripping action in and around the ear 18 so that the support 10 and the flexible tube 12 do not slip or slide out from this space or channel 24 when worn by the wearer 22 . that is , the coils are able to bend with the flexible tube 12 so as to remain in some constant frictional contact therewith such that each of the individual coils are no longer necessarily aligned with the central axis 30 . several individuals using a nasal - cannula have used the support 10 disclosed herein as an alternative to using bandages to cover areas around the ears that were torn and bleeding from the irritation of the cannula flexible tube 12 . in each case , the individual was able to use the support 10 for at least six months without having any of the aforementioned problems associated with skin irritation in and around the ears . of course , the support 10 would be beneficial to those who use oxygen , and especially those who must be on oxygen all day and all night . although several embodiments have been described in detail for purposes of illustration , various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention . accordingly , the invention is not to be limited , except as by the appended claims .	Is 'Human Necessities' the correct technical category for the patent?	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Mechanical Engineering; Lightning; Heating; Weapons; Blasting'?	0.25	745cd62039add52698cba4c1807c85334e1d770b04862943d836362fbbbe0afe	0.072754	0.000431	0.003479	0.000123	0.048828	0.001328
null	as shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration , the present invention for a cannula support is referred to generally by the reference number 10 in fig2 - 7 . in this respect , the support 10 may be used in association with a cannula that consists of a somewhat slender and elongated tube 12 ( fig1 ) that extends from a device such as an oxygen tank , a portable oxygen generator , or a wall connection in a hospital that delivers oxygen via a flow meter ( not shown ) at one end to one or more open ended branches or ports 14 at the other end designed to be inserted into , for example , a nostril 16 to deliver supplemental oxygen to a patient in need of respiratory help . oxygen flows from the source , through the flexible tube 12 and out through one or more of the open - ended branches or ports 14 as a means to supplement breathing . the open - ended branches or ports 14 may vary in size depending on the desired flow rate . as generally shown in fig1 , the branches or ports 14 of the cannula flexible tube 12 are positioned near the nostrils 16 to provide oxygen thereto . from here , the cannula flexible tube 12 wraps around the cheeks of the wearer 22 toward the ears 18 . as such , the flexible plastic tube 12 may extend into a space or channel 24 formed between the head 20 and a portion of the outwardly extending ear 18 . the cannula flexible tube 12 then wraps around the ear 18 , comes back toward the front of the neck by the chin and travels back to the oxygen source . the tube 12 is typically made from a somewhat flexible plastic material that can be manipulated in a manner that allows conformity around the wearer &# 39 ; s facial features , for example the exterior curvature of the face and around the ear 18 , to streamline the fit of the cannula to the wearer 22 as shown in fig1 . the support 10 disclosed herein is a supplemental attachment for the cannula flexible tube 12 as it is designed to reduce or eliminate the aforementioned problems associated with skin - to - plastic contact with the flexible tube 12 . that is , the support 10 helps reduce indentations that may form in and around the skin from constant contact with the flexible tube 12 , reduce redness , sores or other skin irritations , and reduce or eliminate tearing of the skin resultant from the flexible tube 12 sticking to the skin . fig2 illustrates one embodiment of the support 10 in the form of a curled or coiled cord that may be formed by winding strips of material around a cylinder to create the shown helical shape . preferably , the support 10 comprises a form of elastic material ( e . g ., polyester ) that permits stretching or uncoiling when loaded ( fig3 ), while also returning to its natural length ( fig2 ) when unloaded . the helical shape of the support 10 shown in fig2 - 7 produces a smooth three - dimensional curve with each coil initially aligned along a common central axis 30 ( fig3 ). while the support 10 in fig2 - 7 is substantially cylindrical in shape , it could be made into a conical shape by winding it around a cone , for example . in this respect , the ends 26 , 28 of the support 10 may taper inwardly toward the exterior circumference of the flexible tube 12 to provide a tighter fit thereto at each of the ends 26 , 28 . this embodiment may prevent the support 10 from sliding along the length of the flexible tube 12 , as is problematic with the e - z wraps . the shape , structure and materials of the support 10 are , in one embodiment , comparable to or the same as the outer polyester material of curly or spiral shoelaces . in this respect , the support 10 may similarly include a tight inner core that helps maintain or form the outer polyester material into the spiral or helical shape of the support 10 . the outer layer preferably includes the aforementioned polyester material , but a person of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the outer layer of the support 10 may be made from various types of materials , such as cotton , nylon , polyester , spandex , etc . of course , the support 10 may include only the outer polyester material or both the outer polyester material with the harder inner core . in this respect , the outer polyester material may be configured to naturally coil itself , as disclosed herein . the elasticity of the support 10 allows it to be bent , curved , extended , retracted , etc . as generally shown in fig3 - 7 . in this respect , material selection is important so that the support 10 can adequately conform to the outer curved surface of the ear ( fig6 and 7 ) to bias the plastic tube 12 away from contacting the skin . the support 10 may also enhance the positional stability of the cannula in and around the ear 18 by increasing the traction therewith while comfortably contacting the skin without causing irritation thereto . the substantially spiral or helical shape of the support 10 made from polyester ( or a comparable material ) accomplishes these objectives . for instance , fig4 illustrates the support 10 being bent and turned around the exterior of the flexible tube 12 . in this embodiment , the inner diameter formed by the helical structure of the support 10 is approximately the same size as the outer diameter of the flexible tube 12 . this allows the wearer 22 to comfortably slide or spiral bind the support 10 along the length of the flexible tube 12 to properly locate and place the support 10 to attain a comfortable fit behind the ear 18 , as shown in fig7 . the inner diameter of the support 10 may , alternatively , be somewhat smaller than the outer diameter of the flexible tube 12 to enhance frictional contact therebetween during use . this , of course , will tend to inhibit movement of the support 10 along the length of the flexible tube 12 relative to a support 10 with a larger diameter . in another alternative embodiment , the support 10 may have a somewhat larger inner diameter at or near its mid - section 32 ( generally shown in fig2 ) that terminates at respective conically shaped ends 26 , 28 . this embodiment may provide enhanced contact at each end 26 , 28 , while allowing greater adjustability in the larger diameter mid - section 32 . as shown in fig5 relative to fig4 , the support 10 is flexible enough to be wound around the exterior of the flexible tube 12 . in one embodiment , the support 10 attached to the flexible tube 12 , as shown in fig5 , may be a two inch piece of curled shoelace with the harder interior cord removed . once attached , the wearer may manipulate the shape and placement of the flexible tube 12 with the support 10 mounted thereto . in this regard , fig5 illustrates the support 10 partially curved and shaped to conform to the curved exterior surface of the ear 18 . placement behind the ear 18 in this manner , and as shown in fig7 , permits the support 10 to bias the inner plastic flexible tube 12 away from contacting the skin in and around the ear 18 to prevent or stop the aforementioned skin irritations . since the support 10 is curled around the exterior of the flexible tube 12 , it does not fall off when bent around the ear 18 . in this respect , the curled helical shape not only grips to portions of the flexible tube 12 to prevent slippage , as described above , but it also provides enhanced traction against the skin in the area in and around the ear 18 . additionally , the polyester clothing - type material made from a series of interwoven spiral - bound fibers allows the skin to breath underneath ( similar to clothing ) and does not have the same abrasive surface interaction with the skin as does the plastic material of the flexible tube 12 . accordingly , the support 10 stays on the flexible tube 12 until purposefully unwrapped , provides adequate stability , and causes virtually no skin irritation . moreover , the spiral or helical shape of the interwoven fibers of the support 10 provides the flexibility necessary to conform to the outer curvature in and around the ear 18 while providing sufficient traction against the skin without irritation . in this respect , each of the coils of the support 10 may expand ( fig2 ) or contract ( fig3 ) and bend along the central axis 30 thereof ( fig3 relative to fig6 - 7 ). a solid foam material , such as the e - z wrap design , is unable to flex in this manner because the solid material bunches and prevents interior curving , and otherwise does not permit exterior stretching in the same manner that a series of spaced apart and flexible / bendable helical coils provide . this shape and structure of the support 10 further enhances gripping action in and around the ear 18 so that the support 10 and the flexible tube 12 do not slip or slide out from this space or channel 24 when worn by the wearer 22 . that is , the coils are able to bend with the flexible tube 12 so as to remain in some constant frictional contact therewith such that each of the individual coils are no longer necessarily aligned with the central axis 30 . several individuals using a nasal - cannula have used the support 10 disclosed herein as an alternative to using bandages to cover areas around the ears that were torn and bleeding from the irritation of the cannula flexible tube 12 . in each case , the individual was able to use the support 10 for at least six months without having any of the aforementioned problems associated with skin irritation in and around the ears . of course , the support 10 would be beneficial to those who use oxygen , and especially those who must be on oxygen all day and all night . although several embodiments have been described in detail for purposes of illustration , various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention . accordingly , the invention is not to be limited , except as by the appended claims .	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'Human Necessities'?	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'Physics'?	0.25	745cd62039add52698cba4c1807c85334e1d770b04862943d836362fbbbe0afe	0.204102	0.052734	0.202148	0.081543	0.098145	0.019775
null	as shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration , the present invention for a cannula support is referred to generally by the reference number 10 in fig2 - 7 . in this respect , the support 10 may be used in association with a cannula that consists of a somewhat slender and elongated tube 12 ( fig1 ) that extends from a device such as an oxygen tank , a portable oxygen generator , or a wall connection in a hospital that delivers oxygen via a flow meter ( not shown ) at one end to one or more open ended branches or ports 14 at the other end designed to be inserted into , for example , a nostril 16 to deliver supplemental oxygen to a patient in need of respiratory help . oxygen flows from the source , through the flexible tube 12 and out through one or more of the open - ended branches or ports 14 as a means to supplement breathing . the open - ended branches or ports 14 may vary in size depending on the desired flow rate . as generally shown in fig1 , the branches or ports 14 of the cannula flexible tube 12 are positioned near the nostrils 16 to provide oxygen thereto . from here , the cannula flexible tube 12 wraps around the cheeks of the wearer 22 toward the ears 18 . as such , the flexible plastic tube 12 may extend into a space or channel 24 formed between the head 20 and a portion of the outwardly extending ear 18 . the cannula flexible tube 12 then wraps around the ear 18 , comes back toward the front of the neck by the chin and travels back to the oxygen source . the tube 12 is typically made from a somewhat flexible plastic material that can be manipulated in a manner that allows conformity around the wearer &# 39 ; s facial features , for example the exterior curvature of the face and around the ear 18 , to streamline the fit of the cannula to the wearer 22 as shown in fig1 . the support 10 disclosed herein is a supplemental attachment for the cannula flexible tube 12 as it is designed to reduce or eliminate the aforementioned problems associated with skin - to - plastic contact with the flexible tube 12 . that is , the support 10 helps reduce indentations that may form in and around the skin from constant contact with the flexible tube 12 , reduce redness , sores or other skin irritations , and reduce or eliminate tearing of the skin resultant from the flexible tube 12 sticking to the skin . fig2 illustrates one embodiment of the support 10 in the form of a curled or coiled cord that may be formed by winding strips of material around a cylinder to create the shown helical shape . preferably , the support 10 comprises a form of elastic material ( e . g ., polyester ) that permits stretching or uncoiling when loaded ( fig3 ), while also returning to its natural length ( fig2 ) when unloaded . the helical shape of the support 10 shown in fig2 - 7 produces a smooth three - dimensional curve with each coil initially aligned along a common central axis 30 ( fig3 ). while the support 10 in fig2 - 7 is substantially cylindrical in shape , it could be made into a conical shape by winding it around a cone , for example . in this respect , the ends 26 , 28 of the support 10 may taper inwardly toward the exterior circumference of the flexible tube 12 to provide a tighter fit thereto at each of the ends 26 , 28 . this embodiment may prevent the support 10 from sliding along the length of the flexible tube 12 , as is problematic with the e - z wraps . the shape , structure and materials of the support 10 are , in one embodiment , comparable to or the same as the outer polyester material of curly or spiral shoelaces . in this respect , the support 10 may similarly include a tight inner core that helps maintain or form the outer polyester material into the spiral or helical shape of the support 10 . the outer layer preferably includes the aforementioned polyester material , but a person of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the outer layer of the support 10 may be made from various types of materials , such as cotton , nylon , polyester , spandex , etc . of course , the support 10 may include only the outer polyester material or both the outer polyester material with the harder inner core . in this respect , the outer polyester material may be configured to naturally coil itself , as disclosed herein . the elasticity of the support 10 allows it to be bent , curved , extended , retracted , etc . as generally shown in fig3 - 7 . in this respect , material selection is important so that the support 10 can adequately conform to the outer curved surface of the ear ( fig6 and 7 ) to bias the plastic tube 12 away from contacting the skin . the support 10 may also enhance the positional stability of the cannula in and around the ear 18 by increasing the traction therewith while comfortably contacting the skin without causing irritation thereto . the substantially spiral or helical shape of the support 10 made from polyester ( or a comparable material ) accomplishes these objectives . for instance , fig4 illustrates the support 10 being bent and turned around the exterior of the flexible tube 12 . in this embodiment , the inner diameter formed by the helical structure of the support 10 is approximately the same size as the outer diameter of the flexible tube 12 . this allows the wearer 22 to comfortably slide or spiral bind the support 10 along the length of the flexible tube 12 to properly locate and place the support 10 to attain a comfortable fit behind the ear 18 , as shown in fig7 . the inner diameter of the support 10 may , alternatively , be somewhat smaller than the outer diameter of the flexible tube 12 to enhance frictional contact therebetween during use . this , of course , will tend to inhibit movement of the support 10 along the length of the flexible tube 12 relative to a support 10 with a larger diameter . in another alternative embodiment , the support 10 may have a somewhat larger inner diameter at or near its mid - section 32 ( generally shown in fig2 ) that terminates at respective conically shaped ends 26 , 28 . this embodiment may provide enhanced contact at each end 26 , 28 , while allowing greater adjustability in the larger diameter mid - section 32 . as shown in fig5 relative to fig4 , the support 10 is flexible enough to be wound around the exterior of the flexible tube 12 . in one embodiment , the support 10 attached to the flexible tube 12 , as shown in fig5 , may be a two inch piece of curled shoelace with the harder interior cord removed . once attached , the wearer may manipulate the shape and placement of the flexible tube 12 with the support 10 mounted thereto . in this regard , fig5 illustrates the support 10 partially curved and shaped to conform to the curved exterior surface of the ear 18 . placement behind the ear 18 in this manner , and as shown in fig7 , permits the support 10 to bias the inner plastic flexible tube 12 away from contacting the skin in and around the ear 18 to prevent or stop the aforementioned skin irritations . since the support 10 is curled around the exterior of the flexible tube 12 , it does not fall off when bent around the ear 18 . in this respect , the curled helical shape not only grips to portions of the flexible tube 12 to prevent slippage , as described above , but it also provides enhanced traction against the skin in the area in and around the ear 18 . additionally , the polyester clothing - type material made from a series of interwoven spiral - bound fibers allows the skin to breath underneath ( similar to clothing ) and does not have the same abrasive surface interaction with the skin as does the plastic material of the flexible tube 12 . accordingly , the support 10 stays on the flexible tube 12 until purposefully unwrapped , provides adequate stability , and causes virtually no skin irritation . moreover , the spiral or helical shape of the interwoven fibers of the support 10 provides the flexibility necessary to conform to the outer curvature in and around the ear 18 while providing sufficient traction against the skin without irritation . in this respect , each of the coils of the support 10 may expand ( fig2 ) or contract ( fig3 ) and bend along the central axis 30 thereof ( fig3 relative to fig6 - 7 ). a solid foam material , such as the e - z wrap design , is unable to flex in this manner because the solid material bunches and prevents interior curving , and otherwise does not permit exterior stretching in the same manner that a series of spaced apart and flexible / bendable helical coils provide . this shape and structure of the support 10 further enhances gripping action in and around the ear 18 so that the support 10 and the flexible tube 12 do not slip or slide out from this space or channel 24 when worn by the wearer 22 . that is , the coils are able to bend with the flexible tube 12 so as to remain in some constant frictional contact therewith such that each of the individual coils are no longer necessarily aligned with the central axis 30 . several individuals using a nasal - cannula have used the support 10 disclosed herein as an alternative to using bandages to cover areas around the ears that were torn and bleeding from the irritation of the cannula flexible tube 12 . in each case , the individual was able to use the support 10 for at least six months without having any of the aforementioned problems associated with skin irritation in and around the ears . of course , the support 10 would be beneficial to those who use oxygen , and especially those who must be on oxygen all day and all night . although several embodiments have been described in detail for purposes of illustration , various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention . accordingly , the invention is not to be limited , except as by the appended claims .	Is 'Human Necessities' the correct technical category for the patent?	Should this patent be classified under 'Electricity'?	0.25	745cd62039add52698cba4c1807c85334e1d770b04862943d836362fbbbe0afe	0.072754	0.000026	0.003281	0.000012	0.048828	0.000014
null	as shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration , the present invention for a cannula support is referred to generally by the reference number 10 in fig2 - 7 . in this respect , the support 10 may be used in association with a cannula that consists of a somewhat slender and elongated tube 12 ( fig1 ) that extends from a device such as an oxygen tank , a portable oxygen generator , or a wall connection in a hospital that delivers oxygen via a flow meter ( not shown ) at one end to one or more open ended branches or ports 14 at the other end designed to be inserted into , for example , a nostril 16 to deliver supplemental oxygen to a patient in need of respiratory help . oxygen flows from the source , through the flexible tube 12 and out through one or more of the open - ended branches or ports 14 as a means to supplement breathing . the open - ended branches or ports 14 may vary in size depending on the desired flow rate . as generally shown in fig1 , the branches or ports 14 of the cannula flexible tube 12 are positioned near the nostrils 16 to provide oxygen thereto . from here , the cannula flexible tube 12 wraps around the cheeks of the wearer 22 toward the ears 18 . as such , the flexible plastic tube 12 may extend into a space or channel 24 formed between the head 20 and a portion of the outwardly extending ear 18 . the cannula flexible tube 12 then wraps around the ear 18 , comes back toward the front of the neck by the chin and travels back to the oxygen source . the tube 12 is typically made from a somewhat flexible plastic material that can be manipulated in a manner that allows conformity around the wearer &# 39 ; s facial features , for example the exterior curvature of the face and around the ear 18 , to streamline the fit of the cannula to the wearer 22 as shown in fig1 . the support 10 disclosed herein is a supplemental attachment for the cannula flexible tube 12 as it is designed to reduce or eliminate the aforementioned problems associated with skin - to - plastic contact with the flexible tube 12 . that is , the support 10 helps reduce indentations that may form in and around the skin from constant contact with the flexible tube 12 , reduce redness , sores or other skin irritations , and reduce or eliminate tearing of the skin resultant from the flexible tube 12 sticking to the skin . fig2 illustrates one embodiment of the support 10 in the form of a curled or coiled cord that may be formed by winding strips of material around a cylinder to create the shown helical shape . preferably , the support 10 comprises a form of elastic material ( e . g ., polyester ) that permits stretching or uncoiling when loaded ( fig3 ), while also returning to its natural length ( fig2 ) when unloaded . the helical shape of the support 10 shown in fig2 - 7 produces a smooth three - dimensional curve with each coil initially aligned along a common central axis 30 ( fig3 ). while the support 10 in fig2 - 7 is substantially cylindrical in shape , it could be made into a conical shape by winding it around a cone , for example . in this respect , the ends 26 , 28 of the support 10 may taper inwardly toward the exterior circumference of the flexible tube 12 to provide a tighter fit thereto at each of the ends 26 , 28 . this embodiment may prevent the support 10 from sliding along the length of the flexible tube 12 , as is problematic with the e - z wraps . the shape , structure and materials of the support 10 are , in one embodiment , comparable to or the same as the outer polyester material of curly or spiral shoelaces . in this respect , the support 10 may similarly include a tight inner core that helps maintain or form the outer polyester material into the spiral or helical shape of the support 10 . the outer layer preferably includes the aforementioned polyester material , but a person of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the outer layer of the support 10 may be made from various types of materials , such as cotton , nylon , polyester , spandex , etc . of course , the support 10 may include only the outer polyester material or both the outer polyester material with the harder inner core . in this respect , the outer polyester material may be configured to naturally coil itself , as disclosed herein . the elasticity of the support 10 allows it to be bent , curved , extended , retracted , etc . as generally shown in fig3 - 7 . in this respect , material selection is important so that the support 10 can adequately conform to the outer curved surface of the ear ( fig6 and 7 ) to bias the plastic tube 12 away from contacting the skin . the support 10 may also enhance the positional stability of the cannula in and around the ear 18 by increasing the traction therewith while comfortably contacting the skin without causing irritation thereto . the substantially spiral or helical shape of the support 10 made from polyester ( or a comparable material ) accomplishes these objectives . for instance , fig4 illustrates the support 10 being bent and turned around the exterior of the flexible tube 12 . in this embodiment , the inner diameter formed by the helical structure of the support 10 is approximately the same size as the outer diameter of the flexible tube 12 . this allows the wearer 22 to comfortably slide or spiral bind the support 10 along the length of the flexible tube 12 to properly locate and place the support 10 to attain a comfortable fit behind the ear 18 , as shown in fig7 . the inner diameter of the support 10 may , alternatively , be somewhat smaller than the outer diameter of the flexible tube 12 to enhance frictional contact therebetween during use . this , of course , will tend to inhibit movement of the support 10 along the length of the flexible tube 12 relative to a support 10 with a larger diameter . in another alternative embodiment , the support 10 may have a somewhat larger inner diameter at or near its mid - section 32 ( generally shown in fig2 ) that terminates at respective conically shaped ends 26 , 28 . this embodiment may provide enhanced contact at each end 26 , 28 , while allowing greater adjustability in the larger diameter mid - section 32 . as shown in fig5 relative to fig4 , the support 10 is flexible enough to be wound around the exterior of the flexible tube 12 . in one embodiment , the support 10 attached to the flexible tube 12 , as shown in fig5 , may be a two inch piece of curled shoelace with the harder interior cord removed . once attached , the wearer may manipulate the shape and placement of the flexible tube 12 with the support 10 mounted thereto . in this regard , fig5 illustrates the support 10 partially curved and shaped to conform to the curved exterior surface of the ear 18 . placement behind the ear 18 in this manner , and as shown in fig7 , permits the support 10 to bias the inner plastic flexible tube 12 away from contacting the skin in and around the ear 18 to prevent or stop the aforementioned skin irritations . since the support 10 is curled around the exterior of the flexible tube 12 , it does not fall off when bent around the ear 18 . in this respect , the curled helical shape not only grips to portions of the flexible tube 12 to prevent slippage , as described above , but it also provides enhanced traction against the skin in the area in and around the ear 18 . additionally , the polyester clothing - type material made from a series of interwoven spiral - bound fibers allows the skin to breath underneath ( similar to clothing ) and does not have the same abrasive surface interaction with the skin as does the plastic material of the flexible tube 12 . accordingly , the support 10 stays on the flexible tube 12 until purposefully unwrapped , provides adequate stability , and causes virtually no skin irritation . moreover , the spiral or helical shape of the interwoven fibers of the support 10 provides the flexibility necessary to conform to the outer curvature in and around the ear 18 while providing sufficient traction against the skin without irritation . in this respect , each of the coils of the support 10 may expand ( fig2 ) or contract ( fig3 ) and bend along the central axis 30 thereof ( fig3 relative to fig6 - 7 ). a solid foam material , such as the e - z wrap design , is unable to flex in this manner because the solid material bunches and prevents interior curving , and otherwise does not permit exterior stretching in the same manner that a series of spaced apart and flexible / bendable helical coils provide . this shape and structure of the support 10 further enhances gripping action in and around the ear 18 so that the support 10 and the flexible tube 12 do not slip or slide out from this space or channel 24 when worn by the wearer 22 . that is , the coils are able to bend with the flexible tube 12 so as to remain in some constant frictional contact therewith such that each of the individual coils are no longer necessarily aligned with the central axis 30 . several individuals using a nasal - cannula have used the support 10 disclosed herein as an alternative to using bandages to cover areas around the ears that were torn and bleeding from the irritation of the cannula flexible tube 12 . in each case , the individual was able to use the support 10 for at least six months without having any of the aforementioned problems associated with skin irritation in and around the ears . of course , the support 10 would be beneficial to those who use oxygen , and especially those who must be on oxygen all day and all night . although several embodiments have been described in detail for purposes of illustration , various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention . accordingly , the invention is not to be limited , except as by the appended claims .	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'Human Necessities'?	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'General tagging of new or cross-sectional technology'?	0.25	745cd62039add52698cba4c1807c85334e1d770b04862943d836362fbbbe0afe	0.210938	0.034668	0.202148	0.005219	0.098145	0.061768
null	a magnetic separation device 10 to separate non - magnetic components from magnetic components in a wet or dry mixture , as shown in fig1 - 5 , the device comprising a non - magnetic cylindrical housing 20 defining an inner longitudinal cylindrical channel 22 , an outer surface 24 , a central radial hilt 30 , a closed end tool section 25 and a handle section 27 defining an opening 29 to the inner longitudinal channel 22 , a handle section grommet 40 having a central aperture 42 , the handle section grommet 40 inserting within the opening 29 of the handle section 27 , a drive shaft 60 defining a tool end 62 , a cylindrical neck 64 and a drill attaching end 66 , the tool end 62 attaching a strong cylindrical bipolar magnet 50 encased within a slip sleeve 55 , the slip sleeve 55 slidably engaged within the inner longitudinal cylindrical channel 22 , the drill attaching end 66 extending beyond the central aperture 42 of the handle section grommet 40 further secured to a rotary drive apparatus a , fig1 , delivering rotation to the 60 drive shaft , the bipolar magnet 50 upon the tool end 62 rotating within the inner longitudinal cylindrical channel 22 of the cylindrical housing 20 and being movable between the tool section 25 and the handle section 27 as drive shaft 60 is pulled or pushed with the neck 64 moving within the central aperture 42 of the grommet 40 , the bipolar magnet 50 producing an alternating and rotating magnetic field around the outer surface 24 of the cylindrical housing 20 attracting magnetic components from a mixture of magnetic and non - magnetic particles against the outer surface 24 of the cylindrical housing 20 , spinning the particle mixture upon the outer surface 24 of the tool section 25 of the cylindrical housing 20 while the bipolar magnet 50 is positioned within the tool section 25 , fig2 . this spinning action urges , liberates and releases the non - magnetic particles outward while spinning , grinding and agitating the magnetic particles against one another while rotating upon the outer surface 24 , wherein the non - magnetic particles are expelled and collected from the spinning mixture while the magnetic particles remain bound to the outer surface 24 at the tool section 25 of the cylindrical housing 20 . once the user has cleaned the quantity of mixed materials to their satisfaction , the device 10 is then transferred to a disposal location where the magnetic material is removed from the outer surface 24 of the tool section 25 of the cylindrical tube 20 by withdrawing the bipolar magnet 50 by sliding the drive shaft 60 from the tool section 25 into the handle section 27 , fig3 , the magnetic material removed from the outer surface 24 as the bipolar magnet 50 is passed by the radial hilt 30 into the handle section 27 , withdrawing the magnetic attraction retaining the magnetic material from the tool section 25 , the radial hilt 30 blocking the magnetic material from transfer onto the outer surface 24 of the handle section 27 within which the bipolar magnet 50 is now positioned . it would be beneficial for the cylindrical housing 20 to be made of a smooth , non - stick material for ease of removal of the magnetic materials from the tool section 25 during disposal . the device 10 is then ready for further use in processing more of the mixture , or reprocessing the same material for more complete separation by returning the bipolar magnet 50 to the tool section 25 of the cylindrical housing , fig2 . the slip sleeve 55 surrounding the bipolar magnet 50 is made of a non - magnetic friction reducing material which allows the encased bipolar magnet 50 to rotate and slide freely within the inner longitudinal cylindrical channel 22 . the bi - polar magnet 50 is a strong earth magnet having a positive portion n and a negative portion s which may be provided in several polar configurations embodiments including a radial polar and a diametric polar configuration , as shown in fig4 and 5 . this bi - polar magnet 50 would configure the positive portion n and negative portion s in a manner which would produce a shifting or alternating magnetic field during rotation . this rotation causes the magnetic particles to also rotate around the outer surface of the cylindrical housing 20 at the same speed as the rotary drive apparatus a would turn the attached drive shaft 60 . the higher the rotational speed of the drive shaft 60 , the greater the rotational speed of the bipolar magnet 50 and its resulting alternating magnetic field , further causing greater rotation and grinding movement of the magnetic particles , separating the non - magnetic particles from confinement within the magnetic particles and producing a greater amount of rotational force or inertia upon the non - magnetic particles , spinning those non - magnetic particles outward and releasing them from the mixture , preferably into a container for further processing . the retained magnetic particles are then transferred to an appropriate waste disposal container while still attached upon the device 10 and released from the device 10 into the waste disposal container by withdrawing the bipolar magnet 50 within the cylindrical housing 20 from the tool section 25 to the handle section 27 thereby removing the magnetic attraction from the tool section 25 . the radial hilt 30 would be attached to the outer surface 24 of the cylindrical housing 20 along a linear axis between the tool section 25 and the handle section 27 introducing a barrier between the tool section 25 and handle section 27 and also a hand grip stop for the user to hold during operation and use , with the positioning of the radial hilt 30 dependant on the manufactured length desired for the tool section 25 . it is contemplated that the radial hilt 30 may be incorporated into a handle section sleeve 28 which inserts over the outer surface 24 of the handle section 27 of the cylindrical housing 20 , fig3 and 4 , the handle section sleeve 28 being also made of a non - magnetic material and could also be constructed with the radial hilt 30 as an integrated component . as currently constructed , the tool section 25 beyond the radial hilt 30 is provided in a short version and a long version , with the handle section 27 being provided in both versions at approximately the same size and length . the radial hilt 30 would further provide a tool side surface 32 and a handle side surface 34 , with the radial hilt 30 aligning the tool side surface 32 and handle side surface 34 at right angles with the outer surface 24 , as shown in fig2 and 3 , for better deterrent to the passage of magnetic materials during withdrawal of the bipolar magnet 50 from the tool section 25 to the handle section 27 of the cylindrical housing 20 . it is contemplated within the scope of this device 10 that its use may be in conjunction with mining and prospecting , ideally suited for use in the separation of black sand mixtures containing precious metals , and also in applications involving plastics and foundries , oil and petroleum refinement , oil and petroleum extraction , chemical and pharmaceutical processing , agricultural and food processing or any other industrial use requiring the separation or extraction of magnetic particles . additionally , the rotary drive apparatus a may be proportionally sized to the application employed , from as small as the hand held rotary drill shown in fig1 , above , to an independent drive mechanism , not shown , which is supplied to the device or provided locally within the industrially application or appliance to compel the required rotational force and speed . a mechanical means , also not shown , may also be provided within a large industrial section to move the magnet from the tool section to the handle section , not under human hand control as is implied in the present device employing the hand held drill of fig1 , the handle section 27 alternatively being referenced as a base section , an anchor section , or a dormant section , depending on the size of the magnet , its orientation and the magnitude of the correlating components . it is contemplated that the device 10 may be used in conjunction with other mining and prospecting application , such as incorporation of the device into a trammel , wet or dry sluice , roller cage , swarf , air or water spinning devices , barrels or drums , or into a conveyor drive mechanism , as observed in the prior art and as determined by those skilled in the art who might substitute the novel features of the current device into other technologies . additionally , the cylindrical housing 20 is intended to be used as a hand held device , held in one hand against the handle side surface 34 by the handle section 27 , with the other hand being used to operate the rotary drive apparatus a while controlling the position location of the bipolar magnet 50 within the longitudinal cylindrical channel 22 . it is essential that the cylindrical housing 20 be of an appropriate circumference to be comfortably and securely held by a user . thus , the cylindrical housing 20 may be presented in more than one circumference for the comfort to various users , with the bipolar magnet 50 and other components accordingly sized to maintain the intended function of the device 10 . the cylindrical bi - polar magnet 50 would preferably be no longer than the length of the tool section 25 , the tool side surface 32 of the radial hilt 30 imposing a separation barrier between the tool section 25 of the cylindrical housing 20 and the handle section 27 of the cylindrical housing 20 , while completely withdrawing any magnetic attraction to the tool section 25 when the bipolar magnet 50 is completely withdrawn into the handle section 27 to release the magnetic particles from the tool section 25 , fig3 . without the radial hilt 30 , the magnetic particles would simply pass along the cylindrical housing 20 without the ability to release the magnetic particles from the cylindrical housing 20 . with the inclusion of the radial hilt 50 , the attracted and attached magnetic particles are prevented from passing along the cylindrical housing 20 and , when the bipolar magnet 50 is withdrawn past the radial hilt 30 , the magnetic particles are released and fall away from the outer surface 24 of the cylindrical housing 20 . while the separation device 10 has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof , it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention .	Is 'Performing Operations; Transporting' the correct technical category for the patent?	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Human Necessities'?	0.25	fd3930fba07f3cb94cb7324c09f98db9987a99f8f9a5d4241846ed82a46553f0	0.048828	0.015869	0.006897	0.000033	0.054199	0.007813
null	a magnetic separation device 10 to separate non - magnetic components from magnetic components in a wet or dry mixture , as shown in fig1 - 5 , the device comprising a non - magnetic cylindrical housing 20 defining an inner longitudinal cylindrical channel 22 , an outer surface 24 , a central radial hilt 30 , a closed end tool section 25 and a handle section 27 defining an opening 29 to the inner longitudinal channel 22 , a handle section grommet 40 having a central aperture 42 , the handle section grommet 40 inserting within the opening 29 of the handle section 27 , a drive shaft 60 defining a tool end 62 , a cylindrical neck 64 and a drill attaching end 66 , the tool end 62 attaching a strong cylindrical bipolar magnet 50 encased within a slip sleeve 55 , the slip sleeve 55 slidably engaged within the inner longitudinal cylindrical channel 22 , the drill attaching end 66 extending beyond the central aperture 42 of the handle section grommet 40 further secured to a rotary drive apparatus a , fig1 , delivering rotation to the 60 drive shaft , the bipolar magnet 50 upon the tool end 62 rotating within the inner longitudinal cylindrical channel 22 of the cylindrical housing 20 and being movable between the tool section 25 and the handle section 27 as drive shaft 60 is pulled or pushed with the neck 64 moving within the central aperture 42 of the grommet 40 , the bipolar magnet 50 producing an alternating and rotating magnetic field around the outer surface 24 of the cylindrical housing 20 attracting magnetic components from a mixture of magnetic and non - magnetic particles against the outer surface 24 of the cylindrical housing 20 , spinning the particle mixture upon the outer surface 24 of the tool section 25 of the cylindrical housing 20 while the bipolar magnet 50 is positioned within the tool section 25 , fig2 . this spinning action urges , liberates and releases the non - magnetic particles outward while spinning , grinding and agitating the magnetic particles against one another while rotating upon the outer surface 24 , wherein the non - magnetic particles are expelled and collected from the spinning mixture while the magnetic particles remain bound to the outer surface 24 at the tool section 25 of the cylindrical housing 20 . once the user has cleaned the quantity of mixed materials to their satisfaction , the device 10 is then transferred to a disposal location where the magnetic material is removed from the outer surface 24 of the tool section 25 of the cylindrical tube 20 by withdrawing the bipolar magnet 50 by sliding the drive shaft 60 from the tool section 25 into the handle section 27 , fig3 , the magnetic material removed from the outer surface 24 as the bipolar magnet 50 is passed by the radial hilt 30 into the handle section 27 , withdrawing the magnetic attraction retaining the magnetic material from the tool section 25 , the radial hilt 30 blocking the magnetic material from transfer onto the outer surface 24 of the handle section 27 within which the bipolar magnet 50 is now positioned . it would be beneficial for the cylindrical housing 20 to be made of a smooth , non - stick material for ease of removal of the magnetic materials from the tool section 25 during disposal . the device 10 is then ready for further use in processing more of the mixture , or reprocessing the same material for more complete separation by returning the bipolar magnet 50 to the tool section 25 of the cylindrical housing , fig2 . the slip sleeve 55 surrounding the bipolar magnet 50 is made of a non - magnetic friction reducing material which allows the encased bipolar magnet 50 to rotate and slide freely within the inner longitudinal cylindrical channel 22 . the bi - polar magnet 50 is a strong earth magnet having a positive portion n and a negative portion s which may be provided in several polar configurations embodiments including a radial polar and a diametric polar configuration , as shown in fig4 and 5 . this bi - polar magnet 50 would configure the positive portion n and negative portion s in a manner which would produce a shifting or alternating magnetic field during rotation . this rotation causes the magnetic particles to also rotate around the outer surface of the cylindrical housing 20 at the same speed as the rotary drive apparatus a would turn the attached drive shaft 60 . the higher the rotational speed of the drive shaft 60 , the greater the rotational speed of the bipolar magnet 50 and its resulting alternating magnetic field , further causing greater rotation and grinding movement of the magnetic particles , separating the non - magnetic particles from confinement within the magnetic particles and producing a greater amount of rotational force or inertia upon the non - magnetic particles , spinning those non - magnetic particles outward and releasing them from the mixture , preferably into a container for further processing . the retained magnetic particles are then transferred to an appropriate waste disposal container while still attached upon the device 10 and released from the device 10 into the waste disposal container by withdrawing the bipolar magnet 50 within the cylindrical housing 20 from the tool section 25 to the handle section 27 thereby removing the magnetic attraction from the tool section 25 . the radial hilt 30 would be attached to the outer surface 24 of the cylindrical housing 20 along a linear axis between the tool section 25 and the handle section 27 introducing a barrier between the tool section 25 and handle section 27 and also a hand grip stop for the user to hold during operation and use , with the positioning of the radial hilt 30 dependant on the manufactured length desired for the tool section 25 . it is contemplated that the radial hilt 30 may be incorporated into a handle section sleeve 28 which inserts over the outer surface 24 of the handle section 27 of the cylindrical housing 20 , fig3 and 4 , the handle section sleeve 28 being also made of a non - magnetic material and could also be constructed with the radial hilt 30 as an integrated component . as currently constructed , the tool section 25 beyond the radial hilt 30 is provided in a short version and a long version , with the handle section 27 being provided in both versions at approximately the same size and length . the radial hilt 30 would further provide a tool side surface 32 and a handle side surface 34 , with the radial hilt 30 aligning the tool side surface 32 and handle side surface 34 at right angles with the outer surface 24 , as shown in fig2 and 3 , for better deterrent to the passage of magnetic materials during withdrawal of the bipolar magnet 50 from the tool section 25 to the handle section 27 of the cylindrical housing 20 . it is contemplated within the scope of this device 10 that its use may be in conjunction with mining and prospecting , ideally suited for use in the separation of black sand mixtures containing precious metals , and also in applications involving plastics and foundries , oil and petroleum refinement , oil and petroleum extraction , chemical and pharmaceutical processing , agricultural and food processing or any other industrial use requiring the separation or extraction of magnetic particles . additionally , the rotary drive apparatus a may be proportionally sized to the application employed , from as small as the hand held rotary drill shown in fig1 , above , to an independent drive mechanism , not shown , which is supplied to the device or provided locally within the industrially application or appliance to compel the required rotational force and speed . a mechanical means , also not shown , may also be provided within a large industrial section to move the magnet from the tool section to the handle section , not under human hand control as is implied in the present device employing the hand held drill of fig1 , the handle section 27 alternatively being referenced as a base section , an anchor section , or a dormant section , depending on the size of the magnet , its orientation and the magnitude of the correlating components . it is contemplated that the device 10 may be used in conjunction with other mining and prospecting application , such as incorporation of the device into a trammel , wet or dry sluice , roller cage , swarf , air or water spinning devices , barrels or drums , or into a conveyor drive mechanism , as observed in the prior art and as determined by those skilled in the art who might substitute the novel features of the current device into other technologies . additionally , the cylindrical housing 20 is intended to be used as a hand held device , held in one hand against the handle side surface 34 by the handle section 27 , with the other hand being used to operate the rotary drive apparatus a while controlling the position location of the bipolar magnet 50 within the longitudinal cylindrical channel 22 . it is essential that the cylindrical housing 20 be of an appropriate circumference to be comfortably and securely held by a user . thus , the cylindrical housing 20 may be presented in more than one circumference for the comfort to various users , with the bipolar magnet 50 and other components accordingly sized to maintain the intended function of the device 10 . the cylindrical bi - polar magnet 50 would preferably be no longer than the length of the tool section 25 , the tool side surface 32 of the radial hilt 30 imposing a separation barrier between the tool section 25 of the cylindrical housing 20 and the handle section 27 of the cylindrical housing 20 , while completely withdrawing any magnetic attraction to the tool section 25 when the bipolar magnet 50 is completely withdrawn into the handle section 27 to release the magnetic particles from the tool section 25 , fig3 . without the radial hilt 30 , the magnetic particles would simply pass along the cylindrical housing 20 without the ability to release the magnetic particles from the cylindrical housing 20 . with the inclusion of the radial hilt 50 , the attracted and attached magnetic particles are prevented from passing along the cylindrical housing 20 and , when the bipolar magnet 50 is withdrawn past the radial hilt 30 , the magnetic particles are released and fall away from the outer surface 24 of the cylindrical housing 20 . while the separation device 10 has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof , it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention .	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Performing Operations; Transporting'?	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Chemistry; Metallurgy'?	0.25	fd3930fba07f3cb94cb7324c09f98db9987a99f8f9a5d4241846ed82a46553f0	0.081543	0.008057	0.003937	0.000519	0.069336	0.009399
null	a magnetic separation device 10 to separate non - magnetic components from magnetic components in a wet or dry mixture , as shown in fig1 - 5 , the device comprising a non - magnetic cylindrical housing 20 defining an inner longitudinal cylindrical channel 22 , an outer surface 24 , a central radial hilt 30 , a closed end tool section 25 and a handle section 27 defining an opening 29 to the inner longitudinal channel 22 , a handle section grommet 40 having a central aperture 42 , the handle section grommet 40 inserting within the opening 29 of the handle section 27 , a drive shaft 60 defining a tool end 62 , a cylindrical neck 64 and a drill attaching end 66 , the tool end 62 attaching a strong cylindrical bipolar magnet 50 encased within a slip sleeve 55 , the slip sleeve 55 slidably engaged within the inner longitudinal cylindrical channel 22 , the drill attaching end 66 extending beyond the central aperture 42 of the handle section grommet 40 further secured to a rotary drive apparatus a , fig1 , delivering rotation to the 60 drive shaft , the bipolar magnet 50 upon the tool end 62 rotating within the inner longitudinal cylindrical channel 22 of the cylindrical housing 20 and being movable between the tool section 25 and the handle section 27 as drive shaft 60 is pulled or pushed with the neck 64 moving within the central aperture 42 of the grommet 40 , the bipolar magnet 50 producing an alternating and rotating magnetic field around the outer surface 24 of the cylindrical housing 20 attracting magnetic components from a mixture of magnetic and non - magnetic particles against the outer surface 24 of the cylindrical housing 20 , spinning the particle mixture upon the outer surface 24 of the tool section 25 of the cylindrical housing 20 while the bipolar magnet 50 is positioned within the tool section 25 , fig2 . this spinning action urges , liberates and releases the non - magnetic particles outward while spinning , grinding and agitating the magnetic particles against one another while rotating upon the outer surface 24 , wherein the non - magnetic particles are expelled and collected from the spinning mixture while the magnetic particles remain bound to the outer surface 24 at the tool section 25 of the cylindrical housing 20 . once the user has cleaned the quantity of mixed materials to their satisfaction , the device 10 is then transferred to a disposal location where the magnetic material is removed from the outer surface 24 of the tool section 25 of the cylindrical tube 20 by withdrawing the bipolar magnet 50 by sliding the drive shaft 60 from the tool section 25 into the handle section 27 , fig3 , the magnetic material removed from the outer surface 24 as the bipolar magnet 50 is passed by the radial hilt 30 into the handle section 27 , withdrawing the magnetic attraction retaining the magnetic material from the tool section 25 , the radial hilt 30 blocking the magnetic material from transfer onto the outer surface 24 of the handle section 27 within which the bipolar magnet 50 is now positioned . it would be beneficial for the cylindrical housing 20 to be made of a smooth , non - stick material for ease of removal of the magnetic materials from the tool section 25 during disposal . the device 10 is then ready for further use in processing more of the mixture , or reprocessing the same material for more complete separation by returning the bipolar magnet 50 to the tool section 25 of the cylindrical housing , fig2 . the slip sleeve 55 surrounding the bipolar magnet 50 is made of a non - magnetic friction reducing material which allows the encased bipolar magnet 50 to rotate and slide freely within the inner longitudinal cylindrical channel 22 . the bi - polar magnet 50 is a strong earth magnet having a positive portion n and a negative portion s which may be provided in several polar configurations embodiments including a radial polar and a diametric polar configuration , as shown in fig4 and 5 . this bi - polar magnet 50 would configure the positive portion n and negative portion s in a manner which would produce a shifting or alternating magnetic field during rotation . this rotation causes the magnetic particles to also rotate around the outer surface of the cylindrical housing 20 at the same speed as the rotary drive apparatus a would turn the attached drive shaft 60 . the higher the rotational speed of the drive shaft 60 , the greater the rotational speed of the bipolar magnet 50 and its resulting alternating magnetic field , further causing greater rotation and grinding movement of the magnetic particles , separating the non - magnetic particles from confinement within the magnetic particles and producing a greater amount of rotational force or inertia upon the non - magnetic particles , spinning those non - magnetic particles outward and releasing them from the mixture , preferably into a container for further processing . the retained magnetic particles are then transferred to an appropriate waste disposal container while still attached upon the device 10 and released from the device 10 into the waste disposal container by withdrawing the bipolar magnet 50 within the cylindrical housing 20 from the tool section 25 to the handle section 27 thereby removing the magnetic attraction from the tool section 25 . the radial hilt 30 would be attached to the outer surface 24 of the cylindrical housing 20 along a linear axis between the tool section 25 and the handle section 27 introducing a barrier between the tool section 25 and handle section 27 and also a hand grip stop for the user to hold during operation and use , with the positioning of the radial hilt 30 dependant on the manufactured length desired for the tool section 25 . it is contemplated that the radial hilt 30 may be incorporated into a handle section sleeve 28 which inserts over the outer surface 24 of the handle section 27 of the cylindrical housing 20 , fig3 and 4 , the handle section sleeve 28 being also made of a non - magnetic material and could also be constructed with the radial hilt 30 as an integrated component . as currently constructed , the tool section 25 beyond the radial hilt 30 is provided in a short version and a long version , with the handle section 27 being provided in both versions at approximately the same size and length . the radial hilt 30 would further provide a tool side surface 32 and a handle side surface 34 , with the radial hilt 30 aligning the tool side surface 32 and handle side surface 34 at right angles with the outer surface 24 , as shown in fig2 and 3 , for better deterrent to the passage of magnetic materials during withdrawal of the bipolar magnet 50 from the tool section 25 to the handle section 27 of the cylindrical housing 20 . it is contemplated within the scope of this device 10 that its use may be in conjunction with mining and prospecting , ideally suited for use in the separation of black sand mixtures containing precious metals , and also in applications involving plastics and foundries , oil and petroleum refinement , oil and petroleum extraction , chemical and pharmaceutical processing , agricultural and food processing or any other industrial use requiring the separation or extraction of magnetic particles . additionally , the rotary drive apparatus a may be proportionally sized to the application employed , from as small as the hand held rotary drill shown in fig1 , above , to an independent drive mechanism , not shown , which is supplied to the device or provided locally within the industrially application or appliance to compel the required rotational force and speed . a mechanical means , also not shown , may also be provided within a large industrial section to move the magnet from the tool section to the handle section , not under human hand control as is implied in the present device employing the hand held drill of fig1 , the handle section 27 alternatively being referenced as a base section , an anchor section , or a dormant section , depending on the size of the magnet , its orientation and the magnitude of the correlating components . it is contemplated that the device 10 may be used in conjunction with other mining and prospecting application , such as incorporation of the device into a trammel , wet or dry sluice , roller cage , swarf , air or water spinning devices , barrels or drums , or into a conveyor drive mechanism , as observed in the prior art and as determined by those skilled in the art who might substitute the novel features of the current device into other technologies . additionally , the cylindrical housing 20 is intended to be used as a hand held device , held in one hand against the handle side surface 34 by the handle section 27 , with the other hand being used to operate the rotary drive apparatus a while controlling the position location of the bipolar magnet 50 within the longitudinal cylindrical channel 22 . it is essential that the cylindrical housing 20 be of an appropriate circumference to be comfortably and securely held by a user . thus , the cylindrical housing 20 may be presented in more than one circumference for the comfort to various users , with the bipolar magnet 50 and other components accordingly sized to maintain the intended function of the device 10 . the cylindrical bi - polar magnet 50 would preferably be no longer than the length of the tool section 25 , the tool side surface 32 of the radial hilt 30 imposing a separation barrier between the tool section 25 of the cylindrical housing 20 and the handle section 27 of the cylindrical housing 20 , while completely withdrawing any magnetic attraction to the tool section 25 when the bipolar magnet 50 is completely withdrawn into the handle section 27 to release the magnetic particles from the tool section 25 , fig3 . without the radial hilt 30 , the magnetic particles would simply pass along the cylindrical housing 20 without the ability to release the magnetic particles from the cylindrical housing 20 . with the inclusion of the radial hilt 50 , the attracted and attached magnetic particles are prevented from passing along the cylindrical housing 20 and , when the bipolar magnet 50 is withdrawn past the radial hilt 30 , the magnetic particles are released and fall away from the outer surface 24 of the cylindrical housing 20 . while the separation device 10 has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof , it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention .	Is 'Performing Operations; Transporting' the correct technical category for the patent?	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Textiles; Paper'?	0.25	fd3930fba07f3cb94cb7324c09f98db9987a99f8f9a5d4241846ed82a46553f0	0.051025	0.000587	0.006897	0.000005	0.054199	0.010681
null	a magnetic separation device 10 to separate non - magnetic components from magnetic components in a wet or dry mixture , as shown in fig1 - 5 , the device comprising a non - magnetic cylindrical housing 20 defining an inner longitudinal cylindrical channel 22 , an outer surface 24 , a central radial hilt 30 , a closed end tool section 25 and a handle section 27 defining an opening 29 to the inner longitudinal channel 22 , a handle section grommet 40 having a central aperture 42 , the handle section grommet 40 inserting within the opening 29 of the handle section 27 , a drive shaft 60 defining a tool end 62 , a cylindrical neck 64 and a drill attaching end 66 , the tool end 62 attaching a strong cylindrical bipolar magnet 50 encased within a slip sleeve 55 , the slip sleeve 55 slidably engaged within the inner longitudinal cylindrical channel 22 , the drill attaching end 66 extending beyond the central aperture 42 of the handle section grommet 40 further secured to a rotary drive apparatus a , fig1 , delivering rotation to the 60 drive shaft , the bipolar magnet 50 upon the tool end 62 rotating within the inner longitudinal cylindrical channel 22 of the cylindrical housing 20 and being movable between the tool section 25 and the handle section 27 as drive shaft 60 is pulled or pushed with the neck 64 moving within the central aperture 42 of the grommet 40 , the bipolar magnet 50 producing an alternating and rotating magnetic field around the outer surface 24 of the cylindrical housing 20 attracting magnetic components from a mixture of magnetic and non - magnetic particles against the outer surface 24 of the cylindrical housing 20 , spinning the particle mixture upon the outer surface 24 of the tool section 25 of the cylindrical housing 20 while the bipolar magnet 50 is positioned within the tool section 25 , fig2 . this spinning action urges , liberates and releases the non - magnetic particles outward while spinning , grinding and agitating the magnetic particles against one another while rotating upon the outer surface 24 , wherein the non - magnetic particles are expelled and collected from the spinning mixture while the magnetic particles remain bound to the outer surface 24 at the tool section 25 of the cylindrical housing 20 . once the user has cleaned the quantity of mixed materials to their satisfaction , the device 10 is then transferred to a disposal location where the magnetic material is removed from the outer surface 24 of the tool section 25 of the cylindrical tube 20 by withdrawing the bipolar magnet 50 by sliding the drive shaft 60 from the tool section 25 into the handle section 27 , fig3 , the magnetic material removed from the outer surface 24 as the bipolar magnet 50 is passed by the radial hilt 30 into the handle section 27 , withdrawing the magnetic attraction retaining the magnetic material from the tool section 25 , the radial hilt 30 blocking the magnetic material from transfer onto the outer surface 24 of the handle section 27 within which the bipolar magnet 50 is now positioned . it would be beneficial for the cylindrical housing 20 to be made of a smooth , non - stick material for ease of removal of the magnetic materials from the tool section 25 during disposal . the device 10 is then ready for further use in processing more of the mixture , or reprocessing the same material for more complete separation by returning the bipolar magnet 50 to the tool section 25 of the cylindrical housing , fig2 . the slip sleeve 55 surrounding the bipolar magnet 50 is made of a non - magnetic friction reducing material which allows the encased bipolar magnet 50 to rotate and slide freely within the inner longitudinal cylindrical channel 22 . the bi - polar magnet 50 is a strong earth magnet having a positive portion n and a negative portion s which may be provided in several polar configurations embodiments including a radial polar and a diametric polar configuration , as shown in fig4 and 5 . this bi - polar magnet 50 would configure the positive portion n and negative portion s in a manner which would produce a shifting or alternating magnetic field during rotation . this rotation causes the magnetic particles to also rotate around the outer surface of the cylindrical housing 20 at the same speed as the rotary drive apparatus a would turn the attached drive shaft 60 . the higher the rotational speed of the drive shaft 60 , the greater the rotational speed of the bipolar magnet 50 and its resulting alternating magnetic field , further causing greater rotation and grinding movement of the magnetic particles , separating the non - magnetic particles from confinement within the magnetic particles and producing a greater amount of rotational force or inertia upon the non - magnetic particles , spinning those non - magnetic particles outward and releasing them from the mixture , preferably into a container for further processing . the retained magnetic particles are then transferred to an appropriate waste disposal container while still attached upon the device 10 and released from the device 10 into the waste disposal container by withdrawing the bipolar magnet 50 within the cylindrical housing 20 from the tool section 25 to the handle section 27 thereby removing the magnetic attraction from the tool section 25 . the radial hilt 30 would be attached to the outer surface 24 of the cylindrical housing 20 along a linear axis between the tool section 25 and the handle section 27 introducing a barrier between the tool section 25 and handle section 27 and also a hand grip stop for the user to hold during operation and use , with the positioning of the radial hilt 30 dependant on the manufactured length desired for the tool section 25 . it is contemplated that the radial hilt 30 may be incorporated into a handle section sleeve 28 which inserts over the outer surface 24 of the handle section 27 of the cylindrical housing 20 , fig3 and 4 , the handle section sleeve 28 being also made of a non - magnetic material and could also be constructed with the radial hilt 30 as an integrated component . as currently constructed , the tool section 25 beyond the radial hilt 30 is provided in a short version and a long version , with the handle section 27 being provided in both versions at approximately the same size and length . the radial hilt 30 would further provide a tool side surface 32 and a handle side surface 34 , with the radial hilt 30 aligning the tool side surface 32 and handle side surface 34 at right angles with the outer surface 24 , as shown in fig2 and 3 , for better deterrent to the passage of magnetic materials during withdrawal of the bipolar magnet 50 from the tool section 25 to the handle section 27 of the cylindrical housing 20 . it is contemplated within the scope of this device 10 that its use may be in conjunction with mining and prospecting , ideally suited for use in the separation of black sand mixtures containing precious metals , and also in applications involving plastics and foundries , oil and petroleum refinement , oil and petroleum extraction , chemical and pharmaceutical processing , agricultural and food processing or any other industrial use requiring the separation or extraction of magnetic particles . additionally , the rotary drive apparatus a may be proportionally sized to the application employed , from as small as the hand held rotary drill shown in fig1 , above , to an independent drive mechanism , not shown , which is supplied to the device or provided locally within the industrially application or appliance to compel the required rotational force and speed . a mechanical means , also not shown , may also be provided within a large industrial section to move the magnet from the tool section to the handle section , not under human hand control as is implied in the present device employing the hand held drill of fig1 , the handle section 27 alternatively being referenced as a base section , an anchor section , or a dormant section , depending on the size of the magnet , its orientation and the magnitude of the correlating components . it is contemplated that the device 10 may be used in conjunction with other mining and prospecting application , such as incorporation of the device into a trammel , wet or dry sluice , roller cage , swarf , air or water spinning devices , barrels or drums , or into a conveyor drive mechanism , as observed in the prior art and as determined by those skilled in the art who might substitute the novel features of the current device into other technologies . additionally , the cylindrical housing 20 is intended to be used as a hand held device , held in one hand against the handle side surface 34 by the handle section 27 , with the other hand being used to operate the rotary drive apparatus a while controlling the position location of the bipolar magnet 50 within the longitudinal cylindrical channel 22 . it is essential that the cylindrical housing 20 be of an appropriate circumference to be comfortably and securely held by a user . thus , the cylindrical housing 20 may be presented in more than one circumference for the comfort to various users , with the bipolar magnet 50 and other components accordingly sized to maintain the intended function of the device 10 . the cylindrical bi - polar magnet 50 would preferably be no longer than the length of the tool section 25 , the tool side surface 32 of the radial hilt 30 imposing a separation barrier between the tool section 25 of the cylindrical housing 20 and the handle section 27 of the cylindrical housing 20 , while completely withdrawing any magnetic attraction to the tool section 25 when the bipolar magnet 50 is completely withdrawn into the handle section 27 to release the magnetic particles from the tool section 25 , fig3 . without the radial hilt 30 , the magnetic particles would simply pass along the cylindrical housing 20 without the ability to release the magnetic particles from the cylindrical housing 20 . with the inclusion of the radial hilt 50 , the attracted and attached magnetic particles are prevented from passing along the cylindrical housing 20 and , when the bipolar magnet 50 is withdrawn past the radial hilt 30 , the magnetic particles are released and fall away from the outer surface 24 of the cylindrical housing 20 . while the separation device 10 has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof , it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention .	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Performing Operations; Transporting'?	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'Fixed Constructions'?	0.25	fd3930fba07f3cb94cb7324c09f98db9987a99f8f9a5d4241846ed82a46553f0	0.079102	0.019775	0.003937	0.024048	0.069336	0.064453
null	a magnetic separation device 10 to separate non - magnetic components from magnetic components in a wet or dry mixture , as shown in fig1 - 5 , the device comprising a non - magnetic cylindrical housing 20 defining an inner longitudinal cylindrical channel 22 , an outer surface 24 , a central radial hilt 30 , a closed end tool section 25 and a handle section 27 defining an opening 29 to the inner longitudinal channel 22 , a handle section grommet 40 having a central aperture 42 , the handle section grommet 40 inserting within the opening 29 of the handle section 27 , a drive shaft 60 defining a tool end 62 , a cylindrical neck 64 and a drill attaching end 66 , the tool end 62 attaching a strong cylindrical bipolar magnet 50 encased within a slip sleeve 55 , the slip sleeve 55 slidably engaged within the inner longitudinal cylindrical channel 22 , the drill attaching end 66 extending beyond the central aperture 42 of the handle section grommet 40 further secured to a rotary drive apparatus a , fig1 , delivering rotation to the 60 drive shaft , the bipolar magnet 50 upon the tool end 62 rotating within the inner longitudinal cylindrical channel 22 of the cylindrical housing 20 and being movable between the tool section 25 and the handle section 27 as drive shaft 60 is pulled or pushed with the neck 64 moving within the central aperture 42 of the grommet 40 , the bipolar magnet 50 producing an alternating and rotating magnetic field around the outer surface 24 of the cylindrical housing 20 attracting magnetic components from a mixture of magnetic and non - magnetic particles against the outer surface 24 of the cylindrical housing 20 , spinning the particle mixture upon the outer surface 24 of the tool section 25 of the cylindrical housing 20 while the bipolar magnet 50 is positioned within the tool section 25 , fig2 . this spinning action urges , liberates and releases the non - magnetic particles outward while spinning , grinding and agitating the magnetic particles against one another while rotating upon the outer surface 24 , wherein the non - magnetic particles are expelled and collected from the spinning mixture while the magnetic particles remain bound to the outer surface 24 at the tool section 25 of the cylindrical housing 20 . once the user has cleaned the quantity of mixed materials to their satisfaction , the device 10 is then transferred to a disposal location where the magnetic material is removed from the outer surface 24 of the tool section 25 of the cylindrical tube 20 by withdrawing the bipolar magnet 50 by sliding the drive shaft 60 from the tool section 25 into the handle section 27 , fig3 , the magnetic material removed from the outer surface 24 as the bipolar magnet 50 is passed by the radial hilt 30 into the handle section 27 , withdrawing the magnetic attraction retaining the magnetic material from the tool section 25 , the radial hilt 30 blocking the magnetic material from transfer onto the outer surface 24 of the handle section 27 within which the bipolar magnet 50 is now positioned . it would be beneficial for the cylindrical housing 20 to be made of a smooth , non - stick material for ease of removal of the magnetic materials from the tool section 25 during disposal . the device 10 is then ready for further use in processing more of the mixture , or reprocessing the same material for more complete separation by returning the bipolar magnet 50 to the tool section 25 of the cylindrical housing , fig2 . the slip sleeve 55 surrounding the bipolar magnet 50 is made of a non - magnetic friction reducing material which allows the encased bipolar magnet 50 to rotate and slide freely within the inner longitudinal cylindrical channel 22 . the bi - polar magnet 50 is a strong earth magnet having a positive portion n and a negative portion s which may be provided in several polar configurations embodiments including a radial polar and a diametric polar configuration , as shown in fig4 and 5 . this bi - polar magnet 50 would configure the positive portion n and negative portion s in a manner which would produce a shifting or alternating magnetic field during rotation . this rotation causes the magnetic particles to also rotate around the outer surface of the cylindrical housing 20 at the same speed as the rotary drive apparatus a would turn the attached drive shaft 60 . the higher the rotational speed of the drive shaft 60 , the greater the rotational speed of the bipolar magnet 50 and its resulting alternating magnetic field , further causing greater rotation and grinding movement of the magnetic particles , separating the non - magnetic particles from confinement within the magnetic particles and producing a greater amount of rotational force or inertia upon the non - magnetic particles , spinning those non - magnetic particles outward and releasing them from the mixture , preferably into a container for further processing . the retained magnetic particles are then transferred to an appropriate waste disposal container while still attached upon the device 10 and released from the device 10 into the waste disposal container by withdrawing the bipolar magnet 50 within the cylindrical housing 20 from the tool section 25 to the handle section 27 thereby removing the magnetic attraction from the tool section 25 . the radial hilt 30 would be attached to the outer surface 24 of the cylindrical housing 20 along a linear axis between the tool section 25 and the handle section 27 introducing a barrier between the tool section 25 and handle section 27 and also a hand grip stop for the user to hold during operation and use , with the positioning of the radial hilt 30 dependant on the manufactured length desired for the tool section 25 . it is contemplated that the radial hilt 30 may be incorporated into a handle section sleeve 28 which inserts over the outer surface 24 of the handle section 27 of the cylindrical housing 20 , fig3 and 4 , the handle section sleeve 28 being also made of a non - magnetic material and could also be constructed with the radial hilt 30 as an integrated component . as currently constructed , the tool section 25 beyond the radial hilt 30 is provided in a short version and a long version , with the handle section 27 being provided in both versions at approximately the same size and length . the radial hilt 30 would further provide a tool side surface 32 and a handle side surface 34 , with the radial hilt 30 aligning the tool side surface 32 and handle side surface 34 at right angles with the outer surface 24 , as shown in fig2 and 3 , for better deterrent to the passage of magnetic materials during withdrawal of the bipolar magnet 50 from the tool section 25 to the handle section 27 of the cylindrical housing 20 . it is contemplated within the scope of this device 10 that its use may be in conjunction with mining and prospecting , ideally suited for use in the separation of black sand mixtures containing precious metals , and also in applications involving plastics and foundries , oil and petroleum refinement , oil and petroleum extraction , chemical and pharmaceutical processing , agricultural and food processing or any other industrial use requiring the separation or extraction of magnetic particles . additionally , the rotary drive apparatus a may be proportionally sized to the application employed , from as small as the hand held rotary drill shown in fig1 , above , to an independent drive mechanism , not shown , which is supplied to the device or provided locally within the industrially application or appliance to compel the required rotational force and speed . a mechanical means , also not shown , may also be provided within a large industrial section to move the magnet from the tool section to the handle section , not under human hand control as is implied in the present device employing the hand held drill of fig1 , the handle section 27 alternatively being referenced as a base section , an anchor section , or a dormant section , depending on the size of the magnet , its orientation and the magnitude of the correlating components . it is contemplated that the device 10 may be used in conjunction with other mining and prospecting application , such as incorporation of the device into a trammel , wet or dry sluice , roller cage , swarf , air or water spinning devices , barrels or drums , or into a conveyor drive mechanism , as observed in the prior art and as determined by those skilled in the art who might substitute the novel features of the current device into other technologies . additionally , the cylindrical housing 20 is intended to be used as a hand held device , held in one hand against the handle side surface 34 by the handle section 27 , with the other hand being used to operate the rotary drive apparatus a while controlling the position location of the bipolar magnet 50 within the longitudinal cylindrical channel 22 . it is essential that the cylindrical housing 20 be of an appropriate circumference to be comfortably and securely held by a user . thus , the cylindrical housing 20 may be presented in more than one circumference for the comfort to various users , with the bipolar magnet 50 and other components accordingly sized to maintain the intended function of the device 10 . the cylindrical bi - polar magnet 50 would preferably be no longer than the length of the tool section 25 , the tool side surface 32 of the radial hilt 30 imposing a separation barrier between the tool section 25 of the cylindrical housing 20 and the handle section 27 of the cylindrical housing 20 , while completely withdrawing any magnetic attraction to the tool section 25 when the bipolar magnet 50 is completely withdrawn into the handle section 27 to release the magnetic particles from the tool section 25 , fig3 . without the radial hilt 30 , the magnetic particles would simply pass along the cylindrical housing 20 without the ability to release the magnetic particles from the cylindrical housing 20 . with the inclusion of the radial hilt 50 , the attracted and attached magnetic particles are prevented from passing along the cylindrical housing 20 and , when the bipolar magnet 50 is withdrawn past the radial hilt 30 , the magnetic particles are released and fall away from the outer surface 24 of the cylindrical housing 20 . while the separation device 10 has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof , it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention .	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'Performing Operations; Transporting'?	Should this patent be classified under 'Mechanical Engineering; Lightning; Heating; Weapons; Blasting'?	0.25	fd3930fba07f3cb94cb7324c09f98db9987a99f8f9a5d4241846ed82a46553f0	0.047363	0.000315	0.004211	0.000103	0.056641	0.012024
null	a magnetic separation device 10 to separate non - magnetic components from magnetic components in a wet or dry mixture , as shown in fig1 - 5 , the device comprising a non - magnetic cylindrical housing 20 defining an inner longitudinal cylindrical channel 22 , an outer surface 24 , a central radial hilt 30 , a closed end tool section 25 and a handle section 27 defining an opening 29 to the inner longitudinal channel 22 , a handle section grommet 40 having a central aperture 42 , the handle section grommet 40 inserting within the opening 29 of the handle section 27 , a drive shaft 60 defining a tool end 62 , a cylindrical neck 64 and a drill attaching end 66 , the tool end 62 attaching a strong cylindrical bipolar magnet 50 encased within a slip sleeve 55 , the slip sleeve 55 slidably engaged within the inner longitudinal cylindrical channel 22 , the drill attaching end 66 extending beyond the central aperture 42 of the handle section grommet 40 further secured to a rotary drive apparatus a , fig1 , delivering rotation to the 60 drive shaft , the bipolar magnet 50 upon the tool end 62 rotating within the inner longitudinal cylindrical channel 22 of the cylindrical housing 20 and being movable between the tool section 25 and the handle section 27 as drive shaft 60 is pulled or pushed with the neck 64 moving within the central aperture 42 of the grommet 40 , the bipolar magnet 50 producing an alternating and rotating magnetic field around the outer surface 24 of the cylindrical housing 20 attracting magnetic components from a mixture of magnetic and non - magnetic particles against the outer surface 24 of the cylindrical housing 20 , spinning the particle mixture upon the outer surface 24 of the tool section 25 of the cylindrical housing 20 while the bipolar magnet 50 is positioned within the tool section 25 , fig2 . this spinning action urges , liberates and releases the non - magnetic particles outward while spinning , grinding and agitating the magnetic particles against one another while rotating upon the outer surface 24 , wherein the non - magnetic particles are expelled and collected from the spinning mixture while the magnetic particles remain bound to the outer surface 24 at the tool section 25 of the cylindrical housing 20 . once the user has cleaned the quantity of mixed materials to their satisfaction , the device 10 is then transferred to a disposal location where the magnetic material is removed from the outer surface 24 of the tool section 25 of the cylindrical tube 20 by withdrawing the bipolar magnet 50 by sliding the drive shaft 60 from the tool section 25 into the handle section 27 , fig3 , the magnetic material removed from the outer surface 24 as the bipolar magnet 50 is passed by the radial hilt 30 into the handle section 27 , withdrawing the magnetic attraction retaining the magnetic material from the tool section 25 , the radial hilt 30 blocking the magnetic material from transfer onto the outer surface 24 of the handle section 27 within which the bipolar magnet 50 is now positioned . it would be beneficial for the cylindrical housing 20 to be made of a smooth , non - stick material for ease of removal of the magnetic materials from the tool section 25 during disposal . the device 10 is then ready for further use in processing more of the mixture , or reprocessing the same material for more complete separation by returning the bipolar magnet 50 to the tool section 25 of the cylindrical housing , fig2 . the slip sleeve 55 surrounding the bipolar magnet 50 is made of a non - magnetic friction reducing material which allows the encased bipolar magnet 50 to rotate and slide freely within the inner longitudinal cylindrical channel 22 . the bi - polar magnet 50 is a strong earth magnet having a positive portion n and a negative portion s which may be provided in several polar configurations embodiments including a radial polar and a diametric polar configuration , as shown in fig4 and 5 . this bi - polar magnet 50 would configure the positive portion n and negative portion s in a manner which would produce a shifting or alternating magnetic field during rotation . this rotation causes the magnetic particles to also rotate around the outer surface of the cylindrical housing 20 at the same speed as the rotary drive apparatus a would turn the attached drive shaft 60 . the higher the rotational speed of the drive shaft 60 , the greater the rotational speed of the bipolar magnet 50 and its resulting alternating magnetic field , further causing greater rotation and grinding movement of the magnetic particles , separating the non - magnetic particles from confinement within the magnetic particles and producing a greater amount of rotational force or inertia upon the non - magnetic particles , spinning those non - magnetic particles outward and releasing them from the mixture , preferably into a container for further processing . the retained magnetic particles are then transferred to an appropriate waste disposal container while still attached upon the device 10 and released from the device 10 into the waste disposal container by withdrawing the bipolar magnet 50 within the cylindrical housing 20 from the tool section 25 to the handle section 27 thereby removing the magnetic attraction from the tool section 25 . the radial hilt 30 would be attached to the outer surface 24 of the cylindrical housing 20 along a linear axis between the tool section 25 and the handle section 27 introducing a barrier between the tool section 25 and handle section 27 and also a hand grip stop for the user to hold during operation and use , with the positioning of the radial hilt 30 dependant on the manufactured length desired for the tool section 25 . it is contemplated that the radial hilt 30 may be incorporated into a handle section sleeve 28 which inserts over the outer surface 24 of the handle section 27 of the cylindrical housing 20 , fig3 and 4 , the handle section sleeve 28 being also made of a non - magnetic material and could also be constructed with the radial hilt 30 as an integrated component . as currently constructed , the tool section 25 beyond the radial hilt 30 is provided in a short version and a long version , with the handle section 27 being provided in both versions at approximately the same size and length . the radial hilt 30 would further provide a tool side surface 32 and a handle side surface 34 , with the radial hilt 30 aligning the tool side surface 32 and handle side surface 34 at right angles with the outer surface 24 , as shown in fig2 and 3 , for better deterrent to the passage of magnetic materials during withdrawal of the bipolar magnet 50 from the tool section 25 to the handle section 27 of the cylindrical housing 20 . it is contemplated within the scope of this device 10 that its use may be in conjunction with mining and prospecting , ideally suited for use in the separation of black sand mixtures containing precious metals , and also in applications involving plastics and foundries , oil and petroleum refinement , oil and petroleum extraction , chemical and pharmaceutical processing , agricultural and food processing or any other industrial use requiring the separation or extraction of magnetic particles . additionally , the rotary drive apparatus a may be proportionally sized to the application employed , from as small as the hand held rotary drill shown in fig1 , above , to an independent drive mechanism , not shown , which is supplied to the device or provided locally within the industrially application or appliance to compel the required rotational force and speed . a mechanical means , also not shown , may also be provided within a large industrial section to move the magnet from the tool section to the handle section , not under human hand control as is implied in the present device employing the hand held drill of fig1 , the handle section 27 alternatively being referenced as a base section , an anchor section , or a dormant section , depending on the size of the magnet , its orientation and the magnitude of the correlating components . it is contemplated that the device 10 may be used in conjunction with other mining and prospecting application , such as incorporation of the device into a trammel , wet or dry sluice , roller cage , swarf , air or water spinning devices , barrels or drums , or into a conveyor drive mechanism , as observed in the prior art and as determined by those skilled in the art who might substitute the novel features of the current device into other technologies . additionally , the cylindrical housing 20 is intended to be used as a hand held device , held in one hand against the handle side surface 34 by the handle section 27 , with the other hand being used to operate the rotary drive apparatus a while controlling the position location of the bipolar magnet 50 within the longitudinal cylindrical channel 22 . it is essential that the cylindrical housing 20 be of an appropriate circumference to be comfortably and securely held by a user . thus , the cylindrical housing 20 may be presented in more than one circumference for the comfort to various users , with the bipolar magnet 50 and other components accordingly sized to maintain the intended function of the device 10 . the cylindrical bi - polar magnet 50 would preferably be no longer than the length of the tool section 25 , the tool side surface 32 of the radial hilt 30 imposing a separation barrier between the tool section 25 of the cylindrical housing 20 and the handle section 27 of the cylindrical housing 20 , while completely withdrawing any magnetic attraction to the tool section 25 when the bipolar magnet 50 is completely withdrawn into the handle section 27 to release the magnetic particles from the tool section 25 , fig3 . without the radial hilt 30 , the magnetic particles would simply pass along the cylindrical housing 20 without the ability to release the magnetic particles from the cylindrical housing 20 . with the inclusion of the radial hilt 50 , the attracted and attached magnetic particles are prevented from passing along the cylindrical housing 20 and , when the bipolar magnet 50 is withdrawn past the radial hilt 30 , the magnetic particles are released and fall away from the outer surface 24 of the cylindrical housing 20 . while the separation device 10 has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof , it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention .	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Performing Operations; Transporting'?	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Physics'?	0.25	fd3930fba07f3cb94cb7324c09f98db9987a99f8f9a5d4241846ed82a46553f0	0.079102	0.223633	0.003937	0.017944	0.069336	0.115723
null	a magnetic separation device 10 to separate non - magnetic components from magnetic components in a wet or dry mixture , as shown in fig1 - 5 , the device comprising a non - magnetic cylindrical housing 20 defining an inner longitudinal cylindrical channel 22 , an outer surface 24 , a central radial hilt 30 , a closed end tool section 25 and a handle section 27 defining an opening 29 to the inner longitudinal channel 22 , a handle section grommet 40 having a central aperture 42 , the handle section grommet 40 inserting within the opening 29 of the handle section 27 , a drive shaft 60 defining a tool end 62 , a cylindrical neck 64 and a drill attaching end 66 , the tool end 62 attaching a strong cylindrical bipolar magnet 50 encased within a slip sleeve 55 , the slip sleeve 55 slidably engaged within the inner longitudinal cylindrical channel 22 , the drill attaching end 66 extending beyond the central aperture 42 of the handle section grommet 40 further secured to a rotary drive apparatus a , fig1 , delivering rotation to the 60 drive shaft , the bipolar magnet 50 upon the tool end 62 rotating within the inner longitudinal cylindrical channel 22 of the cylindrical housing 20 and being movable between the tool section 25 and the handle section 27 as drive shaft 60 is pulled or pushed with the neck 64 moving within the central aperture 42 of the grommet 40 , the bipolar magnet 50 producing an alternating and rotating magnetic field around the outer surface 24 of the cylindrical housing 20 attracting magnetic components from a mixture of magnetic and non - magnetic particles against the outer surface 24 of the cylindrical housing 20 , spinning the particle mixture upon the outer surface 24 of the tool section 25 of the cylindrical housing 20 while the bipolar magnet 50 is positioned within the tool section 25 , fig2 . this spinning action urges , liberates and releases the non - magnetic particles outward while spinning , grinding and agitating the magnetic particles against one another while rotating upon the outer surface 24 , wherein the non - magnetic particles are expelled and collected from the spinning mixture while the magnetic particles remain bound to the outer surface 24 at the tool section 25 of the cylindrical housing 20 . once the user has cleaned the quantity of mixed materials to their satisfaction , the device 10 is then transferred to a disposal location where the magnetic material is removed from the outer surface 24 of the tool section 25 of the cylindrical tube 20 by withdrawing the bipolar magnet 50 by sliding the drive shaft 60 from the tool section 25 into the handle section 27 , fig3 , the magnetic material removed from the outer surface 24 as the bipolar magnet 50 is passed by the radial hilt 30 into the handle section 27 , withdrawing the magnetic attraction retaining the magnetic material from the tool section 25 , the radial hilt 30 blocking the magnetic material from transfer onto the outer surface 24 of the handle section 27 within which the bipolar magnet 50 is now positioned . it would be beneficial for the cylindrical housing 20 to be made of a smooth , non - stick material for ease of removal of the magnetic materials from the tool section 25 during disposal . the device 10 is then ready for further use in processing more of the mixture , or reprocessing the same material for more complete separation by returning the bipolar magnet 50 to the tool section 25 of the cylindrical housing , fig2 . the slip sleeve 55 surrounding the bipolar magnet 50 is made of a non - magnetic friction reducing material which allows the encased bipolar magnet 50 to rotate and slide freely within the inner longitudinal cylindrical channel 22 . the bi - polar magnet 50 is a strong earth magnet having a positive portion n and a negative portion s which may be provided in several polar configurations embodiments including a radial polar and a diametric polar configuration , as shown in fig4 and 5 . this bi - polar magnet 50 would configure the positive portion n and negative portion s in a manner which would produce a shifting or alternating magnetic field during rotation . this rotation causes the magnetic particles to also rotate around the outer surface of the cylindrical housing 20 at the same speed as the rotary drive apparatus a would turn the attached drive shaft 60 . the higher the rotational speed of the drive shaft 60 , the greater the rotational speed of the bipolar magnet 50 and its resulting alternating magnetic field , further causing greater rotation and grinding movement of the magnetic particles , separating the non - magnetic particles from confinement within the magnetic particles and producing a greater amount of rotational force or inertia upon the non - magnetic particles , spinning those non - magnetic particles outward and releasing them from the mixture , preferably into a container for further processing . the retained magnetic particles are then transferred to an appropriate waste disposal container while still attached upon the device 10 and released from the device 10 into the waste disposal container by withdrawing the bipolar magnet 50 within the cylindrical housing 20 from the tool section 25 to the handle section 27 thereby removing the magnetic attraction from the tool section 25 . the radial hilt 30 would be attached to the outer surface 24 of the cylindrical housing 20 along a linear axis between the tool section 25 and the handle section 27 introducing a barrier between the tool section 25 and handle section 27 and also a hand grip stop for the user to hold during operation and use , with the positioning of the radial hilt 30 dependant on the manufactured length desired for the tool section 25 . it is contemplated that the radial hilt 30 may be incorporated into a handle section sleeve 28 which inserts over the outer surface 24 of the handle section 27 of the cylindrical housing 20 , fig3 and 4 , the handle section sleeve 28 being also made of a non - magnetic material and could also be constructed with the radial hilt 30 as an integrated component . as currently constructed , the tool section 25 beyond the radial hilt 30 is provided in a short version and a long version , with the handle section 27 being provided in both versions at approximately the same size and length . the radial hilt 30 would further provide a tool side surface 32 and a handle side surface 34 , with the radial hilt 30 aligning the tool side surface 32 and handle side surface 34 at right angles with the outer surface 24 , as shown in fig2 and 3 , for better deterrent to the passage of magnetic materials during withdrawal of the bipolar magnet 50 from the tool section 25 to the handle section 27 of the cylindrical housing 20 . it is contemplated within the scope of this device 10 that its use may be in conjunction with mining and prospecting , ideally suited for use in the separation of black sand mixtures containing precious metals , and also in applications involving plastics and foundries , oil and petroleum refinement , oil and petroleum extraction , chemical and pharmaceutical processing , agricultural and food processing or any other industrial use requiring the separation or extraction of magnetic particles . additionally , the rotary drive apparatus a may be proportionally sized to the application employed , from as small as the hand held rotary drill shown in fig1 , above , to an independent drive mechanism , not shown , which is supplied to the device or provided locally within the industrially application or appliance to compel the required rotational force and speed . a mechanical means , also not shown , may also be provided within a large industrial section to move the magnet from the tool section to the handle section , not under human hand control as is implied in the present device employing the hand held drill of fig1 , the handle section 27 alternatively being referenced as a base section , an anchor section , or a dormant section , depending on the size of the magnet , its orientation and the magnitude of the correlating components . it is contemplated that the device 10 may be used in conjunction with other mining and prospecting application , such as incorporation of the device into a trammel , wet or dry sluice , roller cage , swarf , air or water spinning devices , barrels or drums , or into a conveyor drive mechanism , as observed in the prior art and as determined by those skilled in the art who might substitute the novel features of the current device into other technologies . additionally , the cylindrical housing 20 is intended to be used as a hand held device , held in one hand against the handle side surface 34 by the handle section 27 , with the other hand being used to operate the rotary drive apparatus a while controlling the position location of the bipolar magnet 50 within the longitudinal cylindrical channel 22 . it is essential that the cylindrical housing 20 be of an appropriate circumference to be comfortably and securely held by a user . thus , the cylindrical housing 20 may be presented in more than one circumference for the comfort to various users , with the bipolar magnet 50 and other components accordingly sized to maintain the intended function of the device 10 . the cylindrical bi - polar magnet 50 would preferably be no longer than the length of the tool section 25 , the tool side surface 32 of the radial hilt 30 imposing a separation barrier between the tool section 25 of the cylindrical housing 20 and the handle section 27 of the cylindrical housing 20 , while completely withdrawing any magnetic attraction to the tool section 25 when the bipolar magnet 50 is completely withdrawn into the handle section 27 to release the magnetic particles from the tool section 25 , fig3 . without the radial hilt 30 , the magnetic particles would simply pass along the cylindrical housing 20 without the ability to release the magnetic particles from the cylindrical housing 20 . with the inclusion of the radial hilt 50 , the attracted and attached magnetic particles are prevented from passing along the cylindrical housing 20 and , when the bipolar magnet 50 is withdrawn past the radial hilt 30 , the magnetic particles are released and fall away from the outer surface 24 of the cylindrical housing 20 . while the separation device 10 has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof , it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention .	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Performing Operations; Transporting'?	Should this patent be classified under 'Electricity'?	0.25	fd3930fba07f3cb94cb7324c09f98db9987a99f8f9a5d4241846ed82a46553f0	0.077148	0.00038	0.00383	0.000023	0.069336	0.000055
null	a magnetic separation device 10 to separate non - magnetic components from magnetic components in a wet or dry mixture , as shown in fig1 - 5 , the device comprising a non - magnetic cylindrical housing 20 defining an inner longitudinal cylindrical channel 22 , an outer surface 24 , a central radial hilt 30 , a closed end tool section 25 and a handle section 27 defining an opening 29 to the inner longitudinal channel 22 , a handle section grommet 40 having a central aperture 42 , the handle section grommet 40 inserting within the opening 29 of the handle section 27 , a drive shaft 60 defining a tool end 62 , a cylindrical neck 64 and a drill attaching end 66 , the tool end 62 attaching a strong cylindrical bipolar magnet 50 encased within a slip sleeve 55 , the slip sleeve 55 slidably engaged within the inner longitudinal cylindrical channel 22 , the drill attaching end 66 extending beyond the central aperture 42 of the handle section grommet 40 further secured to a rotary drive apparatus a , fig1 , delivering rotation to the 60 drive shaft , the bipolar magnet 50 upon the tool end 62 rotating within the inner longitudinal cylindrical channel 22 of the cylindrical housing 20 and being movable between the tool section 25 and the handle section 27 as drive shaft 60 is pulled or pushed with the neck 64 moving within the central aperture 42 of the grommet 40 , the bipolar magnet 50 producing an alternating and rotating magnetic field around the outer surface 24 of the cylindrical housing 20 attracting magnetic components from a mixture of magnetic and non - magnetic particles against the outer surface 24 of the cylindrical housing 20 , spinning the particle mixture upon the outer surface 24 of the tool section 25 of the cylindrical housing 20 while the bipolar magnet 50 is positioned within the tool section 25 , fig2 . this spinning action urges , liberates and releases the non - magnetic particles outward while spinning , grinding and agitating the magnetic particles against one another while rotating upon the outer surface 24 , wherein the non - magnetic particles are expelled and collected from the spinning mixture while the magnetic particles remain bound to the outer surface 24 at the tool section 25 of the cylindrical housing 20 . once the user has cleaned the quantity of mixed materials to their satisfaction , the device 10 is then transferred to a disposal location where the magnetic material is removed from the outer surface 24 of the tool section 25 of the cylindrical tube 20 by withdrawing the bipolar magnet 50 by sliding the drive shaft 60 from the tool section 25 into the handle section 27 , fig3 , the magnetic material removed from the outer surface 24 as the bipolar magnet 50 is passed by the radial hilt 30 into the handle section 27 , withdrawing the magnetic attraction retaining the magnetic material from the tool section 25 , the radial hilt 30 blocking the magnetic material from transfer onto the outer surface 24 of the handle section 27 within which the bipolar magnet 50 is now positioned . it would be beneficial for the cylindrical housing 20 to be made of a smooth , non - stick material for ease of removal of the magnetic materials from the tool section 25 during disposal . the device 10 is then ready for further use in processing more of the mixture , or reprocessing the same material for more complete separation by returning the bipolar magnet 50 to the tool section 25 of the cylindrical housing , fig2 . the slip sleeve 55 surrounding the bipolar magnet 50 is made of a non - magnetic friction reducing material which allows the encased bipolar magnet 50 to rotate and slide freely within the inner longitudinal cylindrical channel 22 . the bi - polar magnet 50 is a strong earth magnet having a positive portion n and a negative portion s which may be provided in several polar configurations embodiments including a radial polar and a diametric polar configuration , as shown in fig4 and 5 . this bi - polar magnet 50 would configure the positive portion n and negative portion s in a manner which would produce a shifting or alternating magnetic field during rotation . this rotation causes the magnetic particles to also rotate around the outer surface of the cylindrical housing 20 at the same speed as the rotary drive apparatus a would turn the attached drive shaft 60 . the higher the rotational speed of the drive shaft 60 , the greater the rotational speed of the bipolar magnet 50 and its resulting alternating magnetic field , further causing greater rotation and grinding movement of the magnetic particles , separating the non - magnetic particles from confinement within the magnetic particles and producing a greater amount of rotational force or inertia upon the non - magnetic particles , spinning those non - magnetic particles outward and releasing them from the mixture , preferably into a container for further processing . the retained magnetic particles are then transferred to an appropriate waste disposal container while still attached upon the device 10 and released from the device 10 into the waste disposal container by withdrawing the bipolar magnet 50 within the cylindrical housing 20 from the tool section 25 to the handle section 27 thereby removing the magnetic attraction from the tool section 25 . the radial hilt 30 would be attached to the outer surface 24 of the cylindrical housing 20 along a linear axis between the tool section 25 and the handle section 27 introducing a barrier between the tool section 25 and handle section 27 and also a hand grip stop for the user to hold during operation and use , with the positioning of the radial hilt 30 dependant on the manufactured length desired for the tool section 25 . it is contemplated that the radial hilt 30 may be incorporated into a handle section sleeve 28 which inserts over the outer surface 24 of the handle section 27 of the cylindrical housing 20 , fig3 and 4 , the handle section sleeve 28 being also made of a non - magnetic material and could also be constructed with the radial hilt 30 as an integrated component . as currently constructed , the tool section 25 beyond the radial hilt 30 is provided in a short version and a long version , with the handle section 27 being provided in both versions at approximately the same size and length . the radial hilt 30 would further provide a tool side surface 32 and a handle side surface 34 , with the radial hilt 30 aligning the tool side surface 32 and handle side surface 34 at right angles with the outer surface 24 , as shown in fig2 and 3 , for better deterrent to the passage of magnetic materials during withdrawal of the bipolar magnet 50 from the tool section 25 to the handle section 27 of the cylindrical housing 20 . it is contemplated within the scope of this device 10 that its use may be in conjunction with mining and prospecting , ideally suited for use in the separation of black sand mixtures containing precious metals , and also in applications involving plastics and foundries , oil and petroleum refinement , oil and petroleum extraction , chemical and pharmaceutical processing , agricultural and food processing or any other industrial use requiring the separation or extraction of magnetic particles . additionally , the rotary drive apparatus a may be proportionally sized to the application employed , from as small as the hand held rotary drill shown in fig1 , above , to an independent drive mechanism , not shown , which is supplied to the device or provided locally within the industrially application or appliance to compel the required rotational force and speed . a mechanical means , also not shown , may also be provided within a large industrial section to move the magnet from the tool section to the handle section , not under human hand control as is implied in the present device employing the hand held drill of fig1 , the handle section 27 alternatively being referenced as a base section , an anchor section , or a dormant section , depending on the size of the magnet , its orientation and the magnitude of the correlating components . it is contemplated that the device 10 may be used in conjunction with other mining and prospecting application , such as incorporation of the device into a trammel , wet or dry sluice , roller cage , swarf , air or water spinning devices , barrels or drums , or into a conveyor drive mechanism , as observed in the prior art and as determined by those skilled in the art who might substitute the novel features of the current device into other technologies . additionally , the cylindrical housing 20 is intended to be used as a hand held device , held in one hand against the handle side surface 34 by the handle section 27 , with the other hand being used to operate the rotary drive apparatus a while controlling the position location of the bipolar magnet 50 within the longitudinal cylindrical channel 22 . it is essential that the cylindrical housing 20 be of an appropriate circumference to be comfortably and securely held by a user . thus , the cylindrical housing 20 may be presented in more than one circumference for the comfort to various users , with the bipolar magnet 50 and other components accordingly sized to maintain the intended function of the device 10 . the cylindrical bi - polar magnet 50 would preferably be no longer than the length of the tool section 25 , the tool side surface 32 of the radial hilt 30 imposing a separation barrier between the tool section 25 of the cylindrical housing 20 and the handle section 27 of the cylindrical housing 20 , while completely withdrawing any magnetic attraction to the tool section 25 when the bipolar magnet 50 is completely withdrawn into the handle section 27 to release the magnetic particles from the tool section 25 , fig3 . without the radial hilt 30 , the magnetic particles would simply pass along the cylindrical housing 20 without the ability to release the magnetic particles from the cylindrical housing 20 . with the inclusion of the radial hilt 50 , the attracted and attached magnetic particles are prevented from passing along the cylindrical housing 20 and , when the bipolar magnet 50 is withdrawn past the radial hilt 30 , the magnetic particles are released and fall away from the outer surface 24 of the cylindrical housing 20 . while the separation device 10 has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof , it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention .	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Performing Operations; Transporting'?	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'General tagging of new or cross-sectional technology'?	0.25	fd3930fba07f3cb94cb7324c09f98db9987a99f8f9a5d4241846ed82a46553f0	0.079102	0.189453	0.003937	0.084961	0.069336	0.155273
null	fig1 depicts an example scanner 100 . the scanner 100 may be used to scan tissue ( e . g ., a breast ) at a medical center , for example . as illustrated , the scanner 100 typically comprises an object scanning apparatus 102 configured to scan an object ( e . g ., human tissue ). one or more images of the scanned object may be presented on a monitor 128 ( that is part of a desktop or laptop computer ) for human observation . in this way , targets of the object that are not visible to the naked eye ( e . g ., cancer cells comprised within breast tissue ) may be displayed in the one or more images and , ultimately , may be detected by the human observer . the object scanning apparatus 102 is configured to scan an object under examination and transmit data related to the scan to other components of the scanner 100 . the object scanning apparatus 102 comprises an x - ray source 132 and a detector array 138 . the x - ray source 132 is configured to emit fan , cone , wedge , or other shaped x - ray configuration into an examination region 144 of the object scanning apparatus 102 . x - rays that traverse the object under examination ( e . g ., the object in the examination region 144 ) are detected by the detector array 138 located on a diametrically opposing side of the object from the x - ray source 132 . targets ( e . g ., masses , cancer , scar tissue , etc .) within the object ( e . g ., a breast ) may cause various amounts of x - rays to traverse the object ( e . g ., creating areas of high traversal and areas of low traversal within the object ). for example , less radiation may traverse targets with a higher density ( relative to densities of other targets in the object ). it will be appreciated that the changes in traversal may be used to create x - ray images of targets within the object . for example , if breast tissue is scanned by the object scanning apparatus 102 , regions of tightly compacted cells may appear more prominently on an x - ray image than healthy breast cells ( which may be virtually invisible ). in one embodiment , the object scanning apparatus 102 is part of a mammography unit and the object scanning apparatus 102 further comprises a top compression paddle 134 and a bottom compression paddle 136 . a vertical support stand 142 may provide a means for suspending the compression paddles 134 and 136 , the x - ray source 132 , and the detector array 138 above the ground . for example , the vertical support may be seven feet tall so that the compression paddles 134 and 136 align with the height of breast tissue when a person is in a standing position . in one example , the compression paddles 134 and 136 are adjustable along the vertical support 142 to adjust for the varying heights of humans , and a shield 140 may protect a person &# 39 ; s head from exposure to the x - rays . in a mammography unit , for example , the examination region 144 may be comprised between the top compression paddle 134 and the bottom compression paddle 136 . when the object ( e . g ., breast tissue ) is inserted between the top and bottom compression paddles 134 and 136 , the object is compressed ( to even out the tissue and hold the tissue still ). while the object is under compression , x - rays may be emitted from the x - ray source 132 . to mitigate discomfort caused by the compression , the tissue may be compressed for a short period of time ( e . g ., approximately 10 seconds ). x - rays that traverse the breast while it is compressed are detected by the detector array 138 that is located within and / or below the bottom compression paddle 136 . the object scanning apparatus 102 may also comprise an ultrasound component 146 . the ultrasound component 146 may be configured to emit a plurality of sound waves , electromagnetic waves , light waves , or other image producing transmission into the examination region 144 , and / or detect emitted sound waves , for example , that have interacted with the object , in such a manner that the detected sounds waves can be used to generate an ultrasound image of object that depicts a plane of the object substantially parallel to a plane depicted in an x - ray image of the object . for example , in mammography , a horizontal slice of breast tissue is depicted in an x - ray image , and the ultrasound component 146 may be configured to emit and / or detect sound waves in such a manner that it ultimately causes the resulting ultrasound image ( s ) to also depict a horizontal slice of breast tissue in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the x - ray image . in one example , the ultrasound component 146 emits sound waves in a direction substantially perpendicular to a trajectory of a center x - ray beam associated with the x - ray source 132 and / or perpendicular to a detector plane formed by the detector array 138 . it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the terms “ center x - ray beam ” as used herein refers to an x - ray beam that impacts the detector array at a ninety degree angle ( e . g ., the center beam of a fan , cone , wedge , or other shaped x - ray configuration ). it will be appreciated that the ultrasound component 146 may be configured to detect transmission waves and / or reflection waves depending upon its configuration . in one example , a single transducer 148 of the ultrasound component 146 both emits sound waves and detects those sound waves that have reflected off targets in the object . in another example , one transducer 148 emits sound waves and another transducer , positioned on a diametrically opposing side of the object , detects sound waves that have traversed the object under examination . it will also be appreciated that the ultrasound component 146 and / or components of the ultrasound component 146 ( e . g ., one or more transducers 148 comprised within the ultrasound component 146 ) may be configured to adjust ( e . g ., vertically ) relative to the object to acquire data that may used to create a plurality of images , respective images depicting various parallel planes of the object . in this way , a plurality of ultrasound images may be formed , each ultrasound image of the plurality depicting a scanning of the object that is both substantially parallel to the planes depicted in the other ultrasound images of the plurality of images and substantially parallel to the plane depicted in the x - ray image . in one example , a doctor may take a series of ultrasound images , each depicting a unique slice of the object , for example , and compare it to an x - ray image ( e . g ., depicting the entire object collapsed or flattened in one plane ) to determine what is below , above , and / or to the side of a mass depicted in the x - ray image . in the example scanner 100 , an x - ray data acquisition component 104 is operably coupled to the object scanning apparatus 102 and is configured to collect information and data related to x - rays that were detected by the detector array 138 . the x - ray data acquisition component 104 may also be used to compile the collected data ( e . g ., from multiple perspectives of the object ) into one or more x - ray projections 106 of the object . the illustrated example scanner 100 also comprises an x - ray reconstructor 108 that is operably coupled to the x - ray data acquisition component 104 , and is configured to receive the x - ray projections 106 from the x - ray data acquisition component 104 and generate 2 - d x - ray image ( s ) 110 indicative of the scanned object using a suitable analytical , iterative , and / or other reconstruction technique ( e . g ., backprojection from projection data space to image data ). the x - ray image ( s ) 110 illustrate the latitudinal dimension ( e . g ., orthogonal to a center x - ray beam and parallel to the detector array ) of the object . that is , the images may not depict the vertical height , for example , of a target inside an object when x - rays are emitted from above the object under examination . the example scanner 100 also comprises an ultrasound acquisition component 116 that is operably coupled to the object scanning apparatus 102 and is configured to collect information and data related to sounds waves that are detected by the ultrasound component 146 . the ultrasound acquisition component 116 may also be configured to compile the collected data into projection space data 118 . as an example , data from a plurality of transducers positioned about the object may be compiled into projection space data 118 . in the example scanner 100 , an ultrasound image apparatus 120 is operably coupled to the ultrasound acquisition component 116 , and is configured to receive the projection space data 118 from the ultrasound acquisition component 116 and generate ultrasound image ( s ) 122 . that is , ultrasound image apparatus is configured to convert sound waves into one or more images 122 using techniques known to those skilled in the art ( e . g ., beam forming techniques ). it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the one or more 2 - d x - ray images 110 and the one or more ultrasound images 122 depict substantially parallel planes of the object under examination . in another embodiment , the x - ray source 132 and / or the detector array 138 may be configured to vary their relative position to one another . for example , the x - ray source 132 may be configured to rotate about a portion of the object under examination ( e . g ., 20 degrees left and right of center ). in this way , data from a variety of perspectives ( e . g ., angles ) of the object can be collected from a single scan of the object . the data from the variety of perspectives ( e . g ., which may be volumetric data representative of the volumetric space of the object since it is acquired from a plurality of perspectives ) may be combined or synthesized by the x - ray reconstructor 108 using known digital averaging and / or filtering techniques ( e . g ., tomosynthesis ). each image 110 , for example , may be focused on a scanning plane ( e . g ., a horizontal slice ) of the object , which is parallel to the detector plane , and depicts targets within a particular longitudinal range . in this way , a substantially three - dimensional image of the object under examination may be formed by stacking the two - dimensional images 110 . in another embodiment , the ultrasound component 146 is configured to acquire data from a plurality of angles along a similar scanning plane of the object . in this way , a computed tomography ultrasound ( e . g ., similar to a computed tomography scan using x - rays ) of the object may be acquired , for example . ultrasound data may be acquired from a plurality of angles by a rotatable ultrasound component and / or an ultrasound component that comprises a plurality of transducers situated about the object ( e . g ., forming an arc about the object ), for example . it will be appreciated that where the ultrasound component 146 acquires data from a plurality of angles , the ultrasound image apparatus 120 may use more a suitable analytical , iterative , and / or other reconstruction technique ( e . g ., similar to the techniques used to generate computed tomography images from x - ray data ). in one example , the ultrasound image apparatus 120 may also place emphasis on particular types of data generated based upon the detected sound waves ( e . g ., elastography , reflection , transmission , etc .). in some instances , the x - ray images 110 and the ultrasound images 122 may be spatially coincident to one another . that is , the plane of the object depicted in at least one x - ray image may correspond to a plane of the object depicted in at least one ultrasound image , in such a way that the ultrasound image may be overlaid onto the x - ray image or vice - versa . for example , if the x - ray images 110 depict five different planes of object ( e . g ., each plain representing a horizontal slice ⅕ the width of the total object ), the ultrasound component and / or components of the ultrasound component may be configured to adjust so as to cause five ultrasound images 122 to be produced . each of the five ultrasound images 122 produced may have spatial coincidence with one of the x - ray images 110 , for example . the illustrated example scanner 100 further comprises a spatial registration component 124 . the spatial registration component 124 is in operable communication with the ultrasound image apparatus 120 and the x - ray reconstructor component 108 . the spatial registration component 124 is configured to combine the one or more x - ray images 110 with one or more ultrasound images 122 to form one or more combined images 126 ( through the process of fusion ) when the x - ray image ( s ) and the ultrasound image ( s ) are spatially coincident ( e . g ., by identifying corresponding portions of the x - ray image and the ultrasound image , or more generally , by identifying corresponding portions of the x - ray data and the ultrasound data ). that is , the spatial registration component 124 is configured to combine complementary information from two modalities ( e . g ., an x - ray image 110 and an ultrasound image 122 ) through suitable analytical techniques ( e . g ., retrospective registration algorithms , algorithms based on entropy , etc .). it will be understood to those skilled in the art that other configures and components for a scanner are also contemplated . in one example , a single x - ray image 110 ( e . g ., depicting a collapsed or flattened representation of the object ) and a single ultrasound image 122 ( e . g ., depicting an un - flattened slice of the object parallel to the flattened x - ray image ) is produced from data acquired from the object scanning apparatus 102 and the two images are visually compared ( e . g ., the x - ray image 110 and the ultrasound image 122 are not combined by the spatial registration component 124 ). therefore , the scanner may not comprise a spatial registration component 124 , for example . fig2 illustrates example scanning planes 200 ( e . g ., horizontal slices ) of an object 210 that may be depicted in x - ray images 202 and / or ultrasound images 204 . when x - ray data ( e . g ., which may be volumetric data representative of a volumetric space of the object ) is acquired at a variety of perspectives as discussed above ( e . g ., an x - ray source is varied with respect to an x - ray detector array ) and combined and / or filtered ( e . g ., using tomosynthesis techniques ) x - ray images depicting the illustrated example scanning planes 200 may be produced . it will be appreciated that the x - ray images 202 generally depict the various scanning planes 200 in a flattened latitudinal dimension ( e . g ., x , y ), such that targets in a scanning plane are depicted in the image generally having no discernable z coordinate . ultrasound images 204 depicting similar scanning planes 200 ( e . g ., three - dimensional slices ) to those depicted in the x - ray images may also be produced . the ultrasound images 204 may depict the scanning planes 200 in a flattened latitudinal dimension or in an unflattened latitudinal dimension ( e . g ., depicting x , y , and z dimensions ). the example ultrasound images 204 depict the scanning planes in an unflattened latitudinal dimension . that is , they are depicted as having x , y and z dimensions . unflattened ultrasound images may be useful to more easily determine the z coordinate of a target in the object ( e . g ., relative to comparing a plurality of flattened x - ray and / or flattened ultrasound images depicting various scanning planes ), for example . once x - ray images 202 and ultrasound images 204 are acquired , x - ray and ultrasound image that are spatially coincident may be combined ( e . g ., by a spatial registration component similar to 124 in fig1 ) to form a combined image . that is , an x - ray image depicting a particular plane may be combined with an ultrasound image depicting a similar plane to form a combined image . it will be appreciated that while the images may be combined to form combined images , the ultrasound images 204 and the x - ray images 202 may also remain separated and viewed independently ( e . g ., manually by a physician ), for example . it will also be appreciated that the ultrasound images 204 and the x - ray images may not be spatially coincident ( e . g ., because they depict different planes of the object 210 ). nevertheless , they may provide helpful ( diagnosis ) information , such as the location of a mass / tumor in the x , y and z direction , for example . fig3 is a cross sectional area ( e . g ., taken along line 3 - 3 in fig1 ) of an example object scanning apparatus 300 ( e . g ., 102 in fig1 ). the object scanning apparatus 300 comprises an x - ray source 302 ( e . g ., 132 in fig1 ), a detector array 304 ( e . g ., 138 in fig1 ), and an ultrasound component 306 ( e . g ., 146 in fig1 ). in the illustrated example , the x - ray source 302 is affixed to a guide mechanism 308 that is configured to rotate the x - ray source 302 about a portion of an object 310 under examination ( e . g ., 20 degrees left and / or right of center ). the guide mechanism 308 may be suspended from a vertical support stand 312 ( e . g ., 142 in fig1 ). it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the guide mechanism 308 may be unnecessary in certain applications , such as those in which data is not collected from a variety of perspectives , the x - ray source 302 is stationary while the detector array rotates 304 , etc . x - rays 314 are emitted from the x - ray source 302 and traverse the object 310 under examination . x - rays 314 that traverse the object 310 are detected by the detector array 304 positioned on a diametrically opposing side of the object 310 from the x - ray source 302 . in the illustrated example , the object 310 ( e . g ., tissue ) is compressed between a top compression paddle 316 and a bottom compression paddle 318 ( similar to those used on mammography apparatuses ) to condense and / or even out the object ( e . g ., to promote image quality ). the ultrasound component 306 is configured to send and / or receive sound waves 320 that interact with the object 310 . in the example scanning apparatus , the ultrasound component 306 is positioned between the top compression paddle 316 and the bottom compression paddle 318 ( at least one of which is configured to selectively receive the ultrasound component ) and is configured to contact the object 310 under examination . using this configuration ( e . g ., the ultrasound component 306 perpendicular to the detector array 304 and / or parallel to a center x - ray beam 326 ), the ultrasound component 306 may acquire data relating to the sound waves while the detector array 304 is acquiring data related to the x - rays since the two modalities occupy different space ( e . g ., the detector array occupies space below the object 310 and the ultrasound component 306 occupies space to the side of the object 310 ). in one example , the ultrasound component 306 is attached to , and movable along , one or both of the compression paddles 316 and 318 . stated differently , the ultrasound component is configured to be selectively coupled to at least one of the compression paddles 316 and 318 . for example , as illustrated , one or both of the compression paddles 316 and 318 comprise tracks ( e . g ., along their horizontal surface ) and the ultrasound component 306 slides along the tracks ( e . g ., substantially into and out of the page at a midline of the breast as further illustrated in fig4 ) based upon the size of the object 310 under examination , for example , to come into contact with and / or move away from the object 310 . the ultrasound component 306 may comprise one or more transducers 322 ( e . g ., 148 in fig1 ). in one example , the transducers 322 are single element transducers ( e . g ., similar to endo - transducers ) that are affixed to a guide mechanism 324 . the transducers may rotate about the guide mechanism 324 and / or move vertically along it , for example . in this way , ultrasound scans may be isolated to a particular scanning plane ( e . g ., horizontal slice ) of the object 310 under examination . for example , data that is acquired while the one or more transducers 322 are in the upper elevation of object 310 may relate to the upper vertical portion of the object 310 , and data acquired while the one or more transducers 322 are in the lower vertical portion of the object 310 may relate to the lower vertical portion of the object 310 . data acquired from the particular portion of the object 310 that was isolated by the transducers may be reconstructed to form an image , depicting targets comprised in a particular scanning plane of the object 310 which is parallel to the detector array 304 and parallel to a plane depicted in the x - ray image . while the illustrated object scanning apparatus 300 illustrates two transducers 322 ( e . g ., one on each side of the object 310 ) it will be understood to those skilled in that art that a different number of transducers 322 may be used . additionally , the sound waves may be emitted and / or detected from another type of ultrasound mechanism , such as a multi - element probe , for example . it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the data that is acquired from substantially vertical x - rays 314 may be compiled ( e . g ., through reconstruction techniques ) to form one or more x - ray images ( e . g ., 110 in fig1 ) that depict a scanning plane of the object 310 , if the position of the x - ray source is rotated relative to the x - ray detector during the scan ( e . g ., to acquire data from a variety of perspectives of the object ). additionally , the x - ray images may be combined ( e . g ., fused ) with one or more corresponding ultrasound images to form a combined image ( e . g ., 126 in fig1 ). in one example , the corresponding ultrasound image is representative of data acquired while the one or more transducers were located in the scanning plane corresponding to the x - ray image . fig4 illustrates the cross sectional area ( e . g ., taken along line 4 - 4 in fig1 ) of an ultrasound component 402 comprising a plurality of transducers 404 that may be arranged about the object in a particular scanning plane ( e . g ., to acquire a computed tomography ultrasound image along a plane of the object ). a plurality of transducers 404 may be used , for example , to mitigate false positives in ultrasound images and / or improve image quality . in one example , a first transducer 406 of the plurality of transducers 404 may emit a first set of sound waves and the plurality of transducers 406 ( e . g ., including the first transducer ) may listen for and / or detect the first set of sound waves . a second transducer 408 may emit a second set of sound waves once the first set of sound waves is detected , for example . after a predetermined number of transducers has emitted sound waves , for example , the plurality of transducers may reposition themselves along the object 410 ( e . g ., into or out of the page along a guide mechanism similar to 324 in fig3 ). in this way , the transducers 404 may detect sound waves that reflect and / or traverse the object 410 under examination , whereas a single transducer may not as thoroughly detect sound waves that traverse the object 410 under examination , for example . additionally , using a plurality of transducers 404 may minimize artifacts ( e . g ., white streaks ) in an image caused by areas of the object 410 that sound waves did not reach and / or areas where a weak signal was detected ( e . g ., because the sound waves were reflected off another target within the object ). data collected from the plurality of transducers 404 while the transducers 404 were in a particular scanning plane of the object 410 , for example , may be combined by an ultrasound acquisition component ( e . g ., 116 of fig1 ) and / or reconstructed by an ultrasound image apparatus ( e . g ., 120 in fig1 ) to form a tomography image of targets within the scanning plane . a second computed tomography image may be acquired based upon data detected while the transducers are in a second scanning plane of the object 410 , for example . these computed tomography images may be combined with x - ray images representing similar planes of the object 410 to form one or more combined images ( e . g ., 126 in fig1 ). fig5 is a cross sectional area ( e . g ., taken along line 3 - 3 in fig1 ) of another example object scanning apparatus 500 ( e . g ., 102 in fig1 ). the example scanning apparatus 500 includes an ultrasound component 506 , which may operate as set forth in u . s . patent application no . 20040030227 , bearing ser . no . 10 / 440 , 427 to littrup et al ., the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein . unlike object scanning apparatus 300 in fig3 , the ultrasound component 506 ( e . g ., 306 in fig3 ) may not be in contact with the object 510 ( e . g ., 310 in fig3 or 410 in fig4 ) because the object 510 is submersed in a conductive fluid 512 ( e . g . water ) that allows the sound waves to transfer between the object 510 and the ultrasound component 506 . the fluid 512 may be stored in a compression paddle 518 ( e . g ., 318 in fig3 ) that has walls configured to mitigate fluid flow outside of the compression paddle 518 , and the ultrasound component 506 may be attached to the wall of the compression paddle 518 , for example . additionally , the ultrasound component 506 may be capable of rotating about a scanning plane of the object 510 ( e . g ., in a circular plane into and out of the page ). in this way , a ( single ) rotatable ultrasound component 506 comprising a single transducer , for example , may provide benefits similar to a plurality of transducers ( e . g ., 404 in fig1 ) that are in contact with the object 510 . that is , data from a variety of perspectives may be used to produce one or more computed tomography ultrasound images of the object . in some applications , a rotatable ultrasound component 506 may be better than a plurality of transducers attached to the object because less set up time may be necessary for the procedure ( e . g ., a breast examination ) and / or less discomfort since the transducer may not be pressed against the object 510 ( e . g ., breast tissue ) being examined , for example . it will be appreciated that the rotatable ultrasound component 506 and / or portions of the ultrasound component may also traverse various scanning planes of the object ( e . g ., moving up or down the page ) to produce a plurality of images , each image depicting targets in a different scanning plane of the object , for example . fig6 illustrates an exemplary method 600 of presenting data acquired from two scanning modalities . the method begins at 602 , and data related to an x - ray image and data related to an ultrasound image of the object under examination are acquired such that the ultrasound image depicts a plane of the object that is substantially parallel with a plane of the object depicted in the x - ray image . in one example , the ultrasound image and the x - ray image have spatial coincidence . that is , a plane of at least one x - ray image , created from data acquired by from the x - ray modality , corresponds to a plane of an ultrasound image , created from data acquired by the ultrasound modality , in such a way that the ultrasound image may be overlaid onto the x - ray image or vice - versa . it will be appreciated that such coincidence is not be attainable with disparate equipment ( e . g ., separate x - ray and ultrasound acquisition devices ). similarly , such coincidence would likewise not be attainable where the object under examination is repositioned in a combined x - ray and ultrasound acquisition device ( e . g ., a single device is used , but data acquisition occurs at different times ) because the orientation of the object would be , at least , slightly different when the different data is acquired . nevertheless , while the different modalities ( e . g ., x - ray and ultrasound ) may acquire data concurrently as provided herein , it is not a requisite since the system may maintain the orientation of the object during the examination ( e . g ., the modalities may scan the object consecutively , while the orientation of the object remains substantially fixed ). x - rays are emitted from an x - ray source and detected on a detector array . in one embodiment , the detector array and x - ray source are on diametrically opposing sides of the object , and the x - rays that are detected by the detector array are those that have traversed the object under examination . since some targets within the object may be characteristically different from other targets within the object ( e . g ., have different densities , made of different materials , etc . ), varying amounts of x - rays will traverse different portions of the object . data related to x - rays that are detected by the detector array is reconstructed to form an x - ray image depicting a plane of the object , and targets comprised within the plane . in one example , the object is x - rayed from a plurality of angles to acquire a plurality of two - dimensional ( 2 - d ) images of the object from varying angles , and images corresponding to the respective angles are reconstructed from data related to the detected x - rays . for example , the data may undergo tomosynthesis to produce x - ray images representing various scanning planes of the object under examination . it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the number of images that may be produced may be a function of the number of angles the object is x - rayed from ( e . g ., two angles may allow two images to be produced ). in one embodiment , ultrasound images are acquired based upon one or more transducers of the ultrasound component that are perpendicular to the detector array and emit and / or receive sound waves that have interacted with the object under examination . to acquire a plurality of slices , the transducers and / or the ultrasound component may be adjusted along a trajectory that is substantially perpendicular to the detector array . for example , the transducers may emit and / or detect sound waves in a first scanning plane of the object to acquire data related to sound waves that interact with the object in the first plane , adjust to a second scanning plane , and emit and / or detect a second set of sound waves to acquire data related to sound waves that interact with the object in the second plane . this process may be repeated for multiple scanning planes along the trajectory . data from respective planes may be reconstructed to acquire ultrasound images representing various scanning planes of the object under examination ( e . g ., a first image may depict targets comprised in the first scanning plane , a second image may depict targets comprised in the second scanning plane , etc .). in one embodiment , a computed tomography ultrasound image can be created using a plurality of transducers positioned within a scanning plane of the object . a plurality of transducers may be useful if the object under examination is dense and / or compressed , for example , to improve the image quality of ultrasound images . in one example , the plurality of transducers is positioned in a predetermined scanning plane about the object , and a first set of sound waves is emitted from a first transducer . one or more of the transducers comprising the plurality may detect the first set of sound waves . once the first set of sound waves are detected , a second transducer of the plurality may emit a second set of sound waves , and one or more of the plurality may detect the second set of sound waves . this process may be repeated until a predetermined number of transducers emit sound waves . it will be appreciated that the plurality of transducers may also traverse various scanning planes of the object to produce a plurality of computed tomography images , each image depicting a scanning plane of the object . in another embodiment , the object is submerged in a conductive fluid , and the x - ray images and ultrasound images are acquired while the object is submersed in the fluid . in this way , one or more ultrasound transducers may rotate ( e . g ., in a horizontal scanning plane ) about the object to produce one or more computed tomography ultrasound images . additionally , due to the presence of the conductive fluid , the transducers do not have to be in contact with the object , thereby reducing the time of the examination and / or that discomfort that may be felt when the transducer is pushed against the object . as discussed above , one or more x - ray images may be combined with one or more ultrasound images when the ultrasound and x - ray images are spatially coincident using techniques known to those skilled in the art . in this way , images from two different modalities may be combined into a single image . this may provide doctors with additional data , such as what is below and above a mass depicted in an x - ray image , for example , to assist in determining whether a mass is malignant or benign . the method ends at 606 . fig7 illustrates an example method ( 700 ) of spatial registration . the method begins at 702 , and x - rays that traverse an object under examination are detected at 704 . at 706 , an x - ray image of a plane of the object is generated based upon the detected x - rays . in one example , an x - ray source rotates about a portion of the object under examination and x - ray snapshot ( s ) of the object are taken at predetermined angles . data from the one or more snapshots may be combined and filtered ( e . g ., through tomosynthesis ) to produce one or more images depicting targets comprised within respective scanning planes ( e . g ., each image depicts targets in one scanning plane ). at 708 , waves are emitted into the object , and the waves interact with the object in a plane that is substantially parallel to the plane depicted in the x - ray image . in one example , sound waves travel through the object in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to a center x - ray beam that was emitted from the x - ray source . at 710 , waves that interact with the object in the plane that is substantially parallel to the plane depicted in the x - ray image are detected . in one example , one or more ultrasound images are produced from the detected waves and are combined with the generated x - ray image ( e . g ., if they are spatially coincident ) using algorithm and / or analytic techniques known to those skilled in the art . the image produced by combining the x - ray image ( s ) and the ultrasound image ( s ) may assist a user in detecting of cancer , for example . the method ends at 712 . it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the techniques herein described offer numerous benefits over techniques currently used in the art . for example , since the ultrasound component and the x - ray component produce images in similar planes and both components capture the data while the object has a particular physical position and / or orientation , the information may be more easily fused through coincidence ( e . g ., alignment ) of the planes depicted in the x - ray and ultrasound images . that is , an ultrasound image of a plane of the object can be easily fused with an x - ray image of a similar plane of the object . in some instances , such as where tissue is compressed during the examination , the ability to acquire data from two modalities at once , for example , may reduce the time the tissue is compressed , thereby lessening the duration of the discomfort caused by the compression . additionally , in the cancer screening , for example , the additional data acquired from using two modalities may reduce the number of false positives in the initial screening and mitigate emotional distress . the application has been described with reference to various embodiments . modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading the application . it is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations , including insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims and the equivalents thereof . for example , a , an and / or the may include one or more , but generally is not intended to be limited to one or a single item .	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Human Necessities'?	Should this patent be classified under 'Performing Operations; Transporting'?	0.25	8742d1fa56a298cbb183339d048733c83849afa941d1f7098cea0aa3b2ab5d7e	0.080566	0.060059	0.001595	0.008606	0.033691	0.059326
null	fig1 depicts an example scanner 100 . the scanner 100 may be used to scan tissue ( e . g ., a breast ) at a medical center , for example . as illustrated , the scanner 100 typically comprises an object scanning apparatus 102 configured to scan an object ( e . g ., human tissue ). one or more images of the scanned object may be presented on a monitor 128 ( that is part of a desktop or laptop computer ) for human observation . in this way , targets of the object that are not visible to the naked eye ( e . g ., cancer cells comprised within breast tissue ) may be displayed in the one or more images and , ultimately , may be detected by the human observer . the object scanning apparatus 102 is configured to scan an object under examination and transmit data related to the scan to other components of the scanner 100 . the object scanning apparatus 102 comprises an x - ray source 132 and a detector array 138 . the x - ray source 132 is configured to emit fan , cone , wedge , or other shaped x - ray configuration into an examination region 144 of the object scanning apparatus 102 . x - rays that traverse the object under examination ( e . g ., the object in the examination region 144 ) are detected by the detector array 138 located on a diametrically opposing side of the object from the x - ray source 132 . targets ( e . g ., masses , cancer , scar tissue , etc .) within the object ( e . g ., a breast ) may cause various amounts of x - rays to traverse the object ( e . g ., creating areas of high traversal and areas of low traversal within the object ). for example , less radiation may traverse targets with a higher density ( relative to densities of other targets in the object ). it will be appreciated that the changes in traversal may be used to create x - ray images of targets within the object . for example , if breast tissue is scanned by the object scanning apparatus 102 , regions of tightly compacted cells may appear more prominently on an x - ray image than healthy breast cells ( which may be virtually invisible ). in one embodiment , the object scanning apparatus 102 is part of a mammography unit and the object scanning apparatus 102 further comprises a top compression paddle 134 and a bottom compression paddle 136 . a vertical support stand 142 may provide a means for suspending the compression paddles 134 and 136 , the x - ray source 132 , and the detector array 138 above the ground . for example , the vertical support may be seven feet tall so that the compression paddles 134 and 136 align with the height of breast tissue when a person is in a standing position . in one example , the compression paddles 134 and 136 are adjustable along the vertical support 142 to adjust for the varying heights of humans , and a shield 140 may protect a person &# 39 ; s head from exposure to the x - rays . in a mammography unit , for example , the examination region 144 may be comprised between the top compression paddle 134 and the bottom compression paddle 136 . when the object ( e . g ., breast tissue ) is inserted between the top and bottom compression paddles 134 and 136 , the object is compressed ( to even out the tissue and hold the tissue still ). while the object is under compression , x - rays may be emitted from the x - ray source 132 . to mitigate discomfort caused by the compression , the tissue may be compressed for a short period of time ( e . g ., approximately 10 seconds ). x - rays that traverse the breast while it is compressed are detected by the detector array 138 that is located within and / or below the bottom compression paddle 136 . the object scanning apparatus 102 may also comprise an ultrasound component 146 . the ultrasound component 146 may be configured to emit a plurality of sound waves , electromagnetic waves , light waves , or other image producing transmission into the examination region 144 , and / or detect emitted sound waves , for example , that have interacted with the object , in such a manner that the detected sounds waves can be used to generate an ultrasound image of object that depicts a plane of the object substantially parallel to a plane depicted in an x - ray image of the object . for example , in mammography , a horizontal slice of breast tissue is depicted in an x - ray image , and the ultrasound component 146 may be configured to emit and / or detect sound waves in such a manner that it ultimately causes the resulting ultrasound image ( s ) to also depict a horizontal slice of breast tissue in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the x - ray image . in one example , the ultrasound component 146 emits sound waves in a direction substantially perpendicular to a trajectory of a center x - ray beam associated with the x - ray source 132 and / or perpendicular to a detector plane formed by the detector array 138 . it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the terms “ center x - ray beam ” as used herein refers to an x - ray beam that impacts the detector array at a ninety degree angle ( e . g ., the center beam of a fan , cone , wedge , or other shaped x - ray configuration ). it will be appreciated that the ultrasound component 146 may be configured to detect transmission waves and / or reflection waves depending upon its configuration . in one example , a single transducer 148 of the ultrasound component 146 both emits sound waves and detects those sound waves that have reflected off targets in the object . in another example , one transducer 148 emits sound waves and another transducer , positioned on a diametrically opposing side of the object , detects sound waves that have traversed the object under examination . it will also be appreciated that the ultrasound component 146 and / or components of the ultrasound component 146 ( e . g ., one or more transducers 148 comprised within the ultrasound component 146 ) may be configured to adjust ( e . g ., vertically ) relative to the object to acquire data that may used to create a plurality of images , respective images depicting various parallel planes of the object . in this way , a plurality of ultrasound images may be formed , each ultrasound image of the plurality depicting a scanning of the object that is both substantially parallel to the planes depicted in the other ultrasound images of the plurality of images and substantially parallel to the plane depicted in the x - ray image . in one example , a doctor may take a series of ultrasound images , each depicting a unique slice of the object , for example , and compare it to an x - ray image ( e . g ., depicting the entire object collapsed or flattened in one plane ) to determine what is below , above , and / or to the side of a mass depicted in the x - ray image . in the example scanner 100 , an x - ray data acquisition component 104 is operably coupled to the object scanning apparatus 102 and is configured to collect information and data related to x - rays that were detected by the detector array 138 . the x - ray data acquisition component 104 may also be used to compile the collected data ( e . g ., from multiple perspectives of the object ) into one or more x - ray projections 106 of the object . the illustrated example scanner 100 also comprises an x - ray reconstructor 108 that is operably coupled to the x - ray data acquisition component 104 , and is configured to receive the x - ray projections 106 from the x - ray data acquisition component 104 and generate 2 - d x - ray image ( s ) 110 indicative of the scanned object using a suitable analytical , iterative , and / or other reconstruction technique ( e . g ., backprojection from projection data space to image data ). the x - ray image ( s ) 110 illustrate the latitudinal dimension ( e . g ., orthogonal to a center x - ray beam and parallel to the detector array ) of the object . that is , the images may not depict the vertical height , for example , of a target inside an object when x - rays are emitted from above the object under examination . the example scanner 100 also comprises an ultrasound acquisition component 116 that is operably coupled to the object scanning apparatus 102 and is configured to collect information and data related to sounds waves that are detected by the ultrasound component 146 . the ultrasound acquisition component 116 may also be configured to compile the collected data into projection space data 118 . as an example , data from a plurality of transducers positioned about the object may be compiled into projection space data 118 . in the example scanner 100 , an ultrasound image apparatus 120 is operably coupled to the ultrasound acquisition component 116 , and is configured to receive the projection space data 118 from the ultrasound acquisition component 116 and generate ultrasound image ( s ) 122 . that is , ultrasound image apparatus is configured to convert sound waves into one or more images 122 using techniques known to those skilled in the art ( e . g ., beam forming techniques ). it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the one or more 2 - d x - ray images 110 and the one or more ultrasound images 122 depict substantially parallel planes of the object under examination . in another embodiment , the x - ray source 132 and / or the detector array 138 may be configured to vary their relative position to one another . for example , the x - ray source 132 may be configured to rotate about a portion of the object under examination ( e . g ., 20 degrees left and right of center ). in this way , data from a variety of perspectives ( e . g ., angles ) of the object can be collected from a single scan of the object . the data from the variety of perspectives ( e . g ., which may be volumetric data representative of the volumetric space of the object since it is acquired from a plurality of perspectives ) may be combined or synthesized by the x - ray reconstructor 108 using known digital averaging and / or filtering techniques ( e . g ., tomosynthesis ). each image 110 , for example , may be focused on a scanning plane ( e . g ., a horizontal slice ) of the object , which is parallel to the detector plane , and depicts targets within a particular longitudinal range . in this way , a substantially three - dimensional image of the object under examination may be formed by stacking the two - dimensional images 110 . in another embodiment , the ultrasound component 146 is configured to acquire data from a plurality of angles along a similar scanning plane of the object . in this way , a computed tomography ultrasound ( e . g ., similar to a computed tomography scan using x - rays ) of the object may be acquired , for example . ultrasound data may be acquired from a plurality of angles by a rotatable ultrasound component and / or an ultrasound component that comprises a plurality of transducers situated about the object ( e . g ., forming an arc about the object ), for example . it will be appreciated that where the ultrasound component 146 acquires data from a plurality of angles , the ultrasound image apparatus 120 may use more a suitable analytical , iterative , and / or other reconstruction technique ( e . g ., similar to the techniques used to generate computed tomography images from x - ray data ). in one example , the ultrasound image apparatus 120 may also place emphasis on particular types of data generated based upon the detected sound waves ( e . g ., elastography , reflection , transmission , etc .). in some instances , the x - ray images 110 and the ultrasound images 122 may be spatially coincident to one another . that is , the plane of the object depicted in at least one x - ray image may correspond to a plane of the object depicted in at least one ultrasound image , in such a way that the ultrasound image may be overlaid onto the x - ray image or vice - versa . for example , if the x - ray images 110 depict five different planes of object ( e . g ., each plain representing a horizontal slice ⅕ the width of the total object ), the ultrasound component and / or components of the ultrasound component may be configured to adjust so as to cause five ultrasound images 122 to be produced . each of the five ultrasound images 122 produced may have spatial coincidence with one of the x - ray images 110 , for example . the illustrated example scanner 100 further comprises a spatial registration component 124 . the spatial registration component 124 is in operable communication with the ultrasound image apparatus 120 and the x - ray reconstructor component 108 . the spatial registration component 124 is configured to combine the one or more x - ray images 110 with one or more ultrasound images 122 to form one or more combined images 126 ( through the process of fusion ) when the x - ray image ( s ) and the ultrasound image ( s ) are spatially coincident ( e . g ., by identifying corresponding portions of the x - ray image and the ultrasound image , or more generally , by identifying corresponding portions of the x - ray data and the ultrasound data ). that is , the spatial registration component 124 is configured to combine complementary information from two modalities ( e . g ., an x - ray image 110 and an ultrasound image 122 ) through suitable analytical techniques ( e . g ., retrospective registration algorithms , algorithms based on entropy , etc .). it will be understood to those skilled in the art that other configures and components for a scanner are also contemplated . in one example , a single x - ray image 110 ( e . g ., depicting a collapsed or flattened representation of the object ) and a single ultrasound image 122 ( e . g ., depicting an un - flattened slice of the object parallel to the flattened x - ray image ) is produced from data acquired from the object scanning apparatus 102 and the two images are visually compared ( e . g ., the x - ray image 110 and the ultrasound image 122 are not combined by the spatial registration component 124 ). therefore , the scanner may not comprise a spatial registration component 124 , for example . fig2 illustrates example scanning planes 200 ( e . g ., horizontal slices ) of an object 210 that may be depicted in x - ray images 202 and / or ultrasound images 204 . when x - ray data ( e . g ., which may be volumetric data representative of a volumetric space of the object ) is acquired at a variety of perspectives as discussed above ( e . g ., an x - ray source is varied with respect to an x - ray detector array ) and combined and / or filtered ( e . g ., using tomosynthesis techniques ) x - ray images depicting the illustrated example scanning planes 200 may be produced . it will be appreciated that the x - ray images 202 generally depict the various scanning planes 200 in a flattened latitudinal dimension ( e . g ., x , y ), such that targets in a scanning plane are depicted in the image generally having no discernable z coordinate . ultrasound images 204 depicting similar scanning planes 200 ( e . g ., three - dimensional slices ) to those depicted in the x - ray images may also be produced . the ultrasound images 204 may depict the scanning planes 200 in a flattened latitudinal dimension or in an unflattened latitudinal dimension ( e . g ., depicting x , y , and z dimensions ). the example ultrasound images 204 depict the scanning planes in an unflattened latitudinal dimension . that is , they are depicted as having x , y and z dimensions . unflattened ultrasound images may be useful to more easily determine the z coordinate of a target in the object ( e . g ., relative to comparing a plurality of flattened x - ray and / or flattened ultrasound images depicting various scanning planes ), for example . once x - ray images 202 and ultrasound images 204 are acquired , x - ray and ultrasound image that are spatially coincident may be combined ( e . g ., by a spatial registration component similar to 124 in fig1 ) to form a combined image . that is , an x - ray image depicting a particular plane may be combined with an ultrasound image depicting a similar plane to form a combined image . it will be appreciated that while the images may be combined to form combined images , the ultrasound images 204 and the x - ray images 202 may also remain separated and viewed independently ( e . g ., manually by a physician ), for example . it will also be appreciated that the ultrasound images 204 and the x - ray images may not be spatially coincident ( e . g ., because they depict different planes of the object 210 ). nevertheless , they may provide helpful ( diagnosis ) information , such as the location of a mass / tumor in the x , y and z direction , for example . fig3 is a cross sectional area ( e . g ., taken along line 3 - 3 in fig1 ) of an example object scanning apparatus 300 ( e . g ., 102 in fig1 ). the object scanning apparatus 300 comprises an x - ray source 302 ( e . g ., 132 in fig1 ), a detector array 304 ( e . g ., 138 in fig1 ), and an ultrasound component 306 ( e . g ., 146 in fig1 ). in the illustrated example , the x - ray source 302 is affixed to a guide mechanism 308 that is configured to rotate the x - ray source 302 about a portion of an object 310 under examination ( e . g ., 20 degrees left and / or right of center ). the guide mechanism 308 may be suspended from a vertical support stand 312 ( e . g ., 142 in fig1 ). it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the guide mechanism 308 may be unnecessary in certain applications , such as those in which data is not collected from a variety of perspectives , the x - ray source 302 is stationary while the detector array rotates 304 , etc . x - rays 314 are emitted from the x - ray source 302 and traverse the object 310 under examination . x - rays 314 that traverse the object 310 are detected by the detector array 304 positioned on a diametrically opposing side of the object 310 from the x - ray source 302 . in the illustrated example , the object 310 ( e . g ., tissue ) is compressed between a top compression paddle 316 and a bottom compression paddle 318 ( similar to those used on mammography apparatuses ) to condense and / or even out the object ( e . g ., to promote image quality ). the ultrasound component 306 is configured to send and / or receive sound waves 320 that interact with the object 310 . in the example scanning apparatus , the ultrasound component 306 is positioned between the top compression paddle 316 and the bottom compression paddle 318 ( at least one of which is configured to selectively receive the ultrasound component ) and is configured to contact the object 310 under examination . using this configuration ( e . g ., the ultrasound component 306 perpendicular to the detector array 304 and / or parallel to a center x - ray beam 326 ), the ultrasound component 306 may acquire data relating to the sound waves while the detector array 304 is acquiring data related to the x - rays since the two modalities occupy different space ( e . g ., the detector array occupies space below the object 310 and the ultrasound component 306 occupies space to the side of the object 310 ). in one example , the ultrasound component 306 is attached to , and movable along , one or both of the compression paddles 316 and 318 . stated differently , the ultrasound component is configured to be selectively coupled to at least one of the compression paddles 316 and 318 . for example , as illustrated , one or both of the compression paddles 316 and 318 comprise tracks ( e . g ., along their horizontal surface ) and the ultrasound component 306 slides along the tracks ( e . g ., substantially into and out of the page at a midline of the breast as further illustrated in fig4 ) based upon the size of the object 310 under examination , for example , to come into contact with and / or move away from the object 310 . the ultrasound component 306 may comprise one or more transducers 322 ( e . g ., 148 in fig1 ). in one example , the transducers 322 are single element transducers ( e . g ., similar to endo - transducers ) that are affixed to a guide mechanism 324 . the transducers may rotate about the guide mechanism 324 and / or move vertically along it , for example . in this way , ultrasound scans may be isolated to a particular scanning plane ( e . g ., horizontal slice ) of the object 310 under examination . for example , data that is acquired while the one or more transducers 322 are in the upper elevation of object 310 may relate to the upper vertical portion of the object 310 , and data acquired while the one or more transducers 322 are in the lower vertical portion of the object 310 may relate to the lower vertical portion of the object 310 . data acquired from the particular portion of the object 310 that was isolated by the transducers may be reconstructed to form an image , depicting targets comprised in a particular scanning plane of the object 310 which is parallel to the detector array 304 and parallel to a plane depicted in the x - ray image . while the illustrated object scanning apparatus 300 illustrates two transducers 322 ( e . g ., one on each side of the object 310 ) it will be understood to those skilled in that art that a different number of transducers 322 may be used . additionally , the sound waves may be emitted and / or detected from another type of ultrasound mechanism , such as a multi - element probe , for example . it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the data that is acquired from substantially vertical x - rays 314 may be compiled ( e . g ., through reconstruction techniques ) to form one or more x - ray images ( e . g ., 110 in fig1 ) that depict a scanning plane of the object 310 , if the position of the x - ray source is rotated relative to the x - ray detector during the scan ( e . g ., to acquire data from a variety of perspectives of the object ). additionally , the x - ray images may be combined ( e . g ., fused ) with one or more corresponding ultrasound images to form a combined image ( e . g ., 126 in fig1 ). in one example , the corresponding ultrasound image is representative of data acquired while the one or more transducers were located in the scanning plane corresponding to the x - ray image . fig4 illustrates the cross sectional area ( e . g ., taken along line 4 - 4 in fig1 ) of an ultrasound component 402 comprising a plurality of transducers 404 that may be arranged about the object in a particular scanning plane ( e . g ., to acquire a computed tomography ultrasound image along a plane of the object ). a plurality of transducers 404 may be used , for example , to mitigate false positives in ultrasound images and / or improve image quality . in one example , a first transducer 406 of the plurality of transducers 404 may emit a first set of sound waves and the plurality of transducers 406 ( e . g ., including the first transducer ) may listen for and / or detect the first set of sound waves . a second transducer 408 may emit a second set of sound waves once the first set of sound waves is detected , for example . after a predetermined number of transducers has emitted sound waves , for example , the plurality of transducers may reposition themselves along the object 410 ( e . g ., into or out of the page along a guide mechanism similar to 324 in fig3 ). in this way , the transducers 404 may detect sound waves that reflect and / or traverse the object 410 under examination , whereas a single transducer may not as thoroughly detect sound waves that traverse the object 410 under examination , for example . additionally , using a plurality of transducers 404 may minimize artifacts ( e . g ., white streaks ) in an image caused by areas of the object 410 that sound waves did not reach and / or areas where a weak signal was detected ( e . g ., because the sound waves were reflected off another target within the object ). data collected from the plurality of transducers 404 while the transducers 404 were in a particular scanning plane of the object 410 , for example , may be combined by an ultrasound acquisition component ( e . g ., 116 of fig1 ) and / or reconstructed by an ultrasound image apparatus ( e . g ., 120 in fig1 ) to form a tomography image of targets within the scanning plane . a second computed tomography image may be acquired based upon data detected while the transducers are in a second scanning plane of the object 410 , for example . these computed tomography images may be combined with x - ray images representing similar planes of the object 410 to form one or more combined images ( e . g ., 126 in fig1 ). fig5 is a cross sectional area ( e . g ., taken along line 3 - 3 in fig1 ) of another example object scanning apparatus 500 ( e . g ., 102 in fig1 ). the example scanning apparatus 500 includes an ultrasound component 506 , which may operate as set forth in u . s . patent application no . 20040030227 , bearing ser . no . 10 / 440 , 427 to littrup et al ., the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein . unlike object scanning apparatus 300 in fig3 , the ultrasound component 506 ( e . g ., 306 in fig3 ) may not be in contact with the object 510 ( e . g ., 310 in fig3 or 410 in fig4 ) because the object 510 is submersed in a conductive fluid 512 ( e . g . water ) that allows the sound waves to transfer between the object 510 and the ultrasound component 506 . the fluid 512 may be stored in a compression paddle 518 ( e . g ., 318 in fig3 ) that has walls configured to mitigate fluid flow outside of the compression paddle 518 , and the ultrasound component 506 may be attached to the wall of the compression paddle 518 , for example . additionally , the ultrasound component 506 may be capable of rotating about a scanning plane of the object 510 ( e . g ., in a circular plane into and out of the page ). in this way , a ( single ) rotatable ultrasound component 506 comprising a single transducer , for example , may provide benefits similar to a plurality of transducers ( e . g ., 404 in fig1 ) that are in contact with the object 510 . that is , data from a variety of perspectives may be used to produce one or more computed tomography ultrasound images of the object . in some applications , a rotatable ultrasound component 506 may be better than a plurality of transducers attached to the object because less set up time may be necessary for the procedure ( e . g ., a breast examination ) and / or less discomfort since the transducer may not be pressed against the object 510 ( e . g ., breast tissue ) being examined , for example . it will be appreciated that the rotatable ultrasound component 506 and / or portions of the ultrasound component may also traverse various scanning planes of the object ( e . g ., moving up or down the page ) to produce a plurality of images , each image depicting targets in a different scanning plane of the object , for example . fig6 illustrates an exemplary method 600 of presenting data acquired from two scanning modalities . the method begins at 602 , and data related to an x - ray image and data related to an ultrasound image of the object under examination are acquired such that the ultrasound image depicts a plane of the object that is substantially parallel with a plane of the object depicted in the x - ray image . in one example , the ultrasound image and the x - ray image have spatial coincidence . that is , a plane of at least one x - ray image , created from data acquired by from the x - ray modality , corresponds to a plane of an ultrasound image , created from data acquired by the ultrasound modality , in such a way that the ultrasound image may be overlaid onto the x - ray image or vice - versa . it will be appreciated that such coincidence is not be attainable with disparate equipment ( e . g ., separate x - ray and ultrasound acquisition devices ). similarly , such coincidence would likewise not be attainable where the object under examination is repositioned in a combined x - ray and ultrasound acquisition device ( e . g ., a single device is used , but data acquisition occurs at different times ) because the orientation of the object would be , at least , slightly different when the different data is acquired . nevertheless , while the different modalities ( e . g ., x - ray and ultrasound ) may acquire data concurrently as provided herein , it is not a requisite since the system may maintain the orientation of the object during the examination ( e . g ., the modalities may scan the object consecutively , while the orientation of the object remains substantially fixed ). x - rays are emitted from an x - ray source and detected on a detector array . in one embodiment , the detector array and x - ray source are on diametrically opposing sides of the object , and the x - rays that are detected by the detector array are those that have traversed the object under examination . since some targets within the object may be characteristically different from other targets within the object ( e . g ., have different densities , made of different materials , etc . ), varying amounts of x - rays will traverse different portions of the object . data related to x - rays that are detected by the detector array is reconstructed to form an x - ray image depicting a plane of the object , and targets comprised within the plane . in one example , the object is x - rayed from a plurality of angles to acquire a plurality of two - dimensional ( 2 - d ) images of the object from varying angles , and images corresponding to the respective angles are reconstructed from data related to the detected x - rays . for example , the data may undergo tomosynthesis to produce x - ray images representing various scanning planes of the object under examination . it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the number of images that may be produced may be a function of the number of angles the object is x - rayed from ( e . g ., two angles may allow two images to be produced ). in one embodiment , ultrasound images are acquired based upon one or more transducers of the ultrasound component that are perpendicular to the detector array and emit and / or receive sound waves that have interacted with the object under examination . to acquire a plurality of slices , the transducers and / or the ultrasound component may be adjusted along a trajectory that is substantially perpendicular to the detector array . for example , the transducers may emit and / or detect sound waves in a first scanning plane of the object to acquire data related to sound waves that interact with the object in the first plane , adjust to a second scanning plane , and emit and / or detect a second set of sound waves to acquire data related to sound waves that interact with the object in the second plane . this process may be repeated for multiple scanning planes along the trajectory . data from respective planes may be reconstructed to acquire ultrasound images representing various scanning planes of the object under examination ( e . g ., a first image may depict targets comprised in the first scanning plane , a second image may depict targets comprised in the second scanning plane , etc .). in one embodiment , a computed tomography ultrasound image can be created using a plurality of transducers positioned within a scanning plane of the object . a plurality of transducers may be useful if the object under examination is dense and / or compressed , for example , to improve the image quality of ultrasound images . in one example , the plurality of transducers is positioned in a predetermined scanning plane about the object , and a first set of sound waves is emitted from a first transducer . one or more of the transducers comprising the plurality may detect the first set of sound waves . once the first set of sound waves are detected , a second transducer of the plurality may emit a second set of sound waves , and one or more of the plurality may detect the second set of sound waves . this process may be repeated until a predetermined number of transducers emit sound waves . it will be appreciated that the plurality of transducers may also traverse various scanning planes of the object to produce a plurality of computed tomography images , each image depicting a scanning plane of the object . in another embodiment , the object is submerged in a conductive fluid , and the x - ray images and ultrasound images are acquired while the object is submersed in the fluid . in this way , one or more ultrasound transducers may rotate ( e . g ., in a horizontal scanning plane ) about the object to produce one or more computed tomography ultrasound images . additionally , due to the presence of the conductive fluid , the transducers do not have to be in contact with the object , thereby reducing the time of the examination and / or that discomfort that may be felt when the transducer is pushed against the object . as discussed above , one or more x - ray images may be combined with one or more ultrasound images when the ultrasound and x - ray images are spatially coincident using techniques known to those skilled in the art . in this way , images from two different modalities may be combined into a single image . this may provide doctors with additional data , such as what is below and above a mass depicted in an x - ray image , for example , to assist in determining whether a mass is malignant or benign . the method ends at 606 . fig7 illustrates an example method ( 700 ) of spatial registration . the method begins at 702 , and x - rays that traverse an object under examination are detected at 704 . at 706 , an x - ray image of a plane of the object is generated based upon the detected x - rays . in one example , an x - ray source rotates about a portion of the object under examination and x - ray snapshot ( s ) of the object are taken at predetermined angles . data from the one or more snapshots may be combined and filtered ( e . g ., through tomosynthesis ) to produce one or more images depicting targets comprised within respective scanning planes ( e . g ., each image depicts targets in one scanning plane ). at 708 , waves are emitted into the object , and the waves interact with the object in a plane that is substantially parallel to the plane depicted in the x - ray image . in one example , sound waves travel through the object in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to a center x - ray beam that was emitted from the x - ray source . at 710 , waves that interact with the object in the plane that is substantially parallel to the plane depicted in the x - ray image are detected . in one example , one or more ultrasound images are produced from the detected waves and are combined with the generated x - ray image ( e . g ., if they are spatially coincident ) using algorithm and / or analytic techniques known to those skilled in the art . the image produced by combining the x - ray image ( s ) and the ultrasound image ( s ) may assist a user in detecting of cancer , for example . the method ends at 712 . it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the techniques herein described offer numerous benefits over techniques currently used in the art . for example , since the ultrasound component and the x - ray component produce images in similar planes and both components capture the data while the object has a particular physical position and / or orientation , the information may be more easily fused through coincidence ( e . g ., alignment ) of the planes depicted in the x - ray and ultrasound images . that is , an ultrasound image of a plane of the object can be easily fused with an x - ray image of a similar plane of the object . in some instances , such as where tissue is compressed during the examination , the ability to acquire data from two modalities at once , for example , may reduce the time the tissue is compressed , thereby lessening the duration of the discomfort caused by the compression . additionally , in the cancer screening , for example , the additional data acquired from using two modalities may reduce the number of false positives in the initial screening and mitigate emotional distress . the application has been described with reference to various embodiments . modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading the application . it is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations , including insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims and the equivalents thereof . for example , a , an and / or the may include one or more , but generally is not intended to be limited to one or a single item .	Should this patent be classified under 'Human Necessities'?	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'Chemistry; Metallurgy'?	0.25	8742d1fa56a298cbb183339d048733c83849afa941d1f7098cea0aa3b2ab5d7e	0.041504	0.013611	0.001457	0.000169	0.015442	0.004913
null	fig1 depicts an example scanner 100 . the scanner 100 may be used to scan tissue ( e . g ., a breast ) at a medical center , for example . as illustrated , the scanner 100 typically comprises an object scanning apparatus 102 configured to scan an object ( e . g ., human tissue ). one or more images of the scanned object may be presented on a monitor 128 ( that is part of a desktop or laptop computer ) for human observation . in this way , targets of the object that are not visible to the naked eye ( e . g ., cancer cells comprised within breast tissue ) may be displayed in the one or more images and , ultimately , may be detected by the human observer . the object scanning apparatus 102 is configured to scan an object under examination and transmit data related to the scan to other components of the scanner 100 . the object scanning apparatus 102 comprises an x - ray source 132 and a detector array 138 . the x - ray source 132 is configured to emit fan , cone , wedge , or other shaped x - ray configuration into an examination region 144 of the object scanning apparatus 102 . x - rays that traverse the object under examination ( e . g ., the object in the examination region 144 ) are detected by the detector array 138 located on a diametrically opposing side of the object from the x - ray source 132 . targets ( e . g ., masses , cancer , scar tissue , etc .) within the object ( e . g ., a breast ) may cause various amounts of x - rays to traverse the object ( e . g ., creating areas of high traversal and areas of low traversal within the object ). for example , less radiation may traverse targets with a higher density ( relative to densities of other targets in the object ). it will be appreciated that the changes in traversal may be used to create x - ray images of targets within the object . for example , if breast tissue is scanned by the object scanning apparatus 102 , regions of tightly compacted cells may appear more prominently on an x - ray image than healthy breast cells ( which may be virtually invisible ). in one embodiment , the object scanning apparatus 102 is part of a mammography unit and the object scanning apparatus 102 further comprises a top compression paddle 134 and a bottom compression paddle 136 . a vertical support stand 142 may provide a means for suspending the compression paddles 134 and 136 , the x - ray source 132 , and the detector array 138 above the ground . for example , the vertical support may be seven feet tall so that the compression paddles 134 and 136 align with the height of breast tissue when a person is in a standing position . in one example , the compression paddles 134 and 136 are adjustable along the vertical support 142 to adjust for the varying heights of humans , and a shield 140 may protect a person &# 39 ; s head from exposure to the x - rays . in a mammography unit , for example , the examination region 144 may be comprised between the top compression paddle 134 and the bottom compression paddle 136 . when the object ( e . g ., breast tissue ) is inserted between the top and bottom compression paddles 134 and 136 , the object is compressed ( to even out the tissue and hold the tissue still ). while the object is under compression , x - rays may be emitted from the x - ray source 132 . to mitigate discomfort caused by the compression , the tissue may be compressed for a short period of time ( e . g ., approximately 10 seconds ). x - rays that traverse the breast while it is compressed are detected by the detector array 138 that is located within and / or below the bottom compression paddle 136 . the object scanning apparatus 102 may also comprise an ultrasound component 146 . the ultrasound component 146 may be configured to emit a plurality of sound waves , electromagnetic waves , light waves , or other image producing transmission into the examination region 144 , and / or detect emitted sound waves , for example , that have interacted with the object , in such a manner that the detected sounds waves can be used to generate an ultrasound image of object that depicts a plane of the object substantially parallel to a plane depicted in an x - ray image of the object . for example , in mammography , a horizontal slice of breast tissue is depicted in an x - ray image , and the ultrasound component 146 may be configured to emit and / or detect sound waves in such a manner that it ultimately causes the resulting ultrasound image ( s ) to also depict a horizontal slice of breast tissue in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the x - ray image . in one example , the ultrasound component 146 emits sound waves in a direction substantially perpendicular to a trajectory of a center x - ray beam associated with the x - ray source 132 and / or perpendicular to a detector plane formed by the detector array 138 . it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the terms “ center x - ray beam ” as used herein refers to an x - ray beam that impacts the detector array at a ninety degree angle ( e . g ., the center beam of a fan , cone , wedge , or other shaped x - ray configuration ). it will be appreciated that the ultrasound component 146 may be configured to detect transmission waves and / or reflection waves depending upon its configuration . in one example , a single transducer 148 of the ultrasound component 146 both emits sound waves and detects those sound waves that have reflected off targets in the object . in another example , one transducer 148 emits sound waves and another transducer , positioned on a diametrically opposing side of the object , detects sound waves that have traversed the object under examination . it will also be appreciated that the ultrasound component 146 and / or components of the ultrasound component 146 ( e . g ., one or more transducers 148 comprised within the ultrasound component 146 ) may be configured to adjust ( e . g ., vertically ) relative to the object to acquire data that may used to create a plurality of images , respective images depicting various parallel planes of the object . in this way , a plurality of ultrasound images may be formed , each ultrasound image of the plurality depicting a scanning of the object that is both substantially parallel to the planes depicted in the other ultrasound images of the plurality of images and substantially parallel to the plane depicted in the x - ray image . in one example , a doctor may take a series of ultrasound images , each depicting a unique slice of the object , for example , and compare it to an x - ray image ( e . g ., depicting the entire object collapsed or flattened in one plane ) to determine what is below , above , and / or to the side of a mass depicted in the x - ray image . in the example scanner 100 , an x - ray data acquisition component 104 is operably coupled to the object scanning apparatus 102 and is configured to collect information and data related to x - rays that were detected by the detector array 138 . the x - ray data acquisition component 104 may also be used to compile the collected data ( e . g ., from multiple perspectives of the object ) into one or more x - ray projections 106 of the object . the illustrated example scanner 100 also comprises an x - ray reconstructor 108 that is operably coupled to the x - ray data acquisition component 104 , and is configured to receive the x - ray projections 106 from the x - ray data acquisition component 104 and generate 2 - d x - ray image ( s ) 110 indicative of the scanned object using a suitable analytical , iterative , and / or other reconstruction technique ( e . g ., backprojection from projection data space to image data ). the x - ray image ( s ) 110 illustrate the latitudinal dimension ( e . g ., orthogonal to a center x - ray beam and parallel to the detector array ) of the object . that is , the images may not depict the vertical height , for example , of a target inside an object when x - rays are emitted from above the object under examination . the example scanner 100 also comprises an ultrasound acquisition component 116 that is operably coupled to the object scanning apparatus 102 and is configured to collect information and data related to sounds waves that are detected by the ultrasound component 146 . the ultrasound acquisition component 116 may also be configured to compile the collected data into projection space data 118 . as an example , data from a plurality of transducers positioned about the object may be compiled into projection space data 118 . in the example scanner 100 , an ultrasound image apparatus 120 is operably coupled to the ultrasound acquisition component 116 , and is configured to receive the projection space data 118 from the ultrasound acquisition component 116 and generate ultrasound image ( s ) 122 . that is , ultrasound image apparatus is configured to convert sound waves into one or more images 122 using techniques known to those skilled in the art ( e . g ., beam forming techniques ). it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the one or more 2 - d x - ray images 110 and the one or more ultrasound images 122 depict substantially parallel planes of the object under examination . in another embodiment , the x - ray source 132 and / or the detector array 138 may be configured to vary their relative position to one another . for example , the x - ray source 132 may be configured to rotate about a portion of the object under examination ( e . g ., 20 degrees left and right of center ). in this way , data from a variety of perspectives ( e . g ., angles ) of the object can be collected from a single scan of the object . the data from the variety of perspectives ( e . g ., which may be volumetric data representative of the volumetric space of the object since it is acquired from a plurality of perspectives ) may be combined or synthesized by the x - ray reconstructor 108 using known digital averaging and / or filtering techniques ( e . g ., tomosynthesis ). each image 110 , for example , may be focused on a scanning plane ( e . g ., a horizontal slice ) of the object , which is parallel to the detector plane , and depicts targets within a particular longitudinal range . in this way , a substantially three - dimensional image of the object under examination may be formed by stacking the two - dimensional images 110 . in another embodiment , the ultrasound component 146 is configured to acquire data from a plurality of angles along a similar scanning plane of the object . in this way , a computed tomography ultrasound ( e . g ., similar to a computed tomography scan using x - rays ) of the object may be acquired , for example . ultrasound data may be acquired from a plurality of angles by a rotatable ultrasound component and / or an ultrasound component that comprises a plurality of transducers situated about the object ( e . g ., forming an arc about the object ), for example . it will be appreciated that where the ultrasound component 146 acquires data from a plurality of angles , the ultrasound image apparatus 120 may use more a suitable analytical , iterative , and / or other reconstruction technique ( e . g ., similar to the techniques used to generate computed tomography images from x - ray data ). in one example , the ultrasound image apparatus 120 may also place emphasis on particular types of data generated based upon the detected sound waves ( e . g ., elastography , reflection , transmission , etc .). in some instances , the x - ray images 110 and the ultrasound images 122 may be spatially coincident to one another . that is , the plane of the object depicted in at least one x - ray image may correspond to a plane of the object depicted in at least one ultrasound image , in such a way that the ultrasound image may be overlaid onto the x - ray image or vice - versa . for example , if the x - ray images 110 depict five different planes of object ( e . g ., each plain representing a horizontal slice ⅕ the width of the total object ), the ultrasound component and / or components of the ultrasound component may be configured to adjust so as to cause five ultrasound images 122 to be produced . each of the five ultrasound images 122 produced may have spatial coincidence with one of the x - ray images 110 , for example . the illustrated example scanner 100 further comprises a spatial registration component 124 . the spatial registration component 124 is in operable communication with the ultrasound image apparatus 120 and the x - ray reconstructor component 108 . the spatial registration component 124 is configured to combine the one or more x - ray images 110 with one or more ultrasound images 122 to form one or more combined images 126 ( through the process of fusion ) when the x - ray image ( s ) and the ultrasound image ( s ) are spatially coincident ( e . g ., by identifying corresponding portions of the x - ray image and the ultrasound image , or more generally , by identifying corresponding portions of the x - ray data and the ultrasound data ). that is , the spatial registration component 124 is configured to combine complementary information from two modalities ( e . g ., an x - ray image 110 and an ultrasound image 122 ) through suitable analytical techniques ( e . g ., retrospective registration algorithms , algorithms based on entropy , etc .). it will be understood to those skilled in the art that other configures and components for a scanner are also contemplated . in one example , a single x - ray image 110 ( e . g ., depicting a collapsed or flattened representation of the object ) and a single ultrasound image 122 ( e . g ., depicting an un - flattened slice of the object parallel to the flattened x - ray image ) is produced from data acquired from the object scanning apparatus 102 and the two images are visually compared ( e . g ., the x - ray image 110 and the ultrasound image 122 are not combined by the spatial registration component 124 ). therefore , the scanner may not comprise a spatial registration component 124 , for example . fig2 illustrates example scanning planes 200 ( e . g ., horizontal slices ) of an object 210 that may be depicted in x - ray images 202 and / or ultrasound images 204 . when x - ray data ( e . g ., which may be volumetric data representative of a volumetric space of the object ) is acquired at a variety of perspectives as discussed above ( e . g ., an x - ray source is varied with respect to an x - ray detector array ) and combined and / or filtered ( e . g ., using tomosynthesis techniques ) x - ray images depicting the illustrated example scanning planes 200 may be produced . it will be appreciated that the x - ray images 202 generally depict the various scanning planes 200 in a flattened latitudinal dimension ( e . g ., x , y ), such that targets in a scanning plane are depicted in the image generally having no discernable z coordinate . ultrasound images 204 depicting similar scanning planes 200 ( e . g ., three - dimensional slices ) to those depicted in the x - ray images may also be produced . the ultrasound images 204 may depict the scanning planes 200 in a flattened latitudinal dimension or in an unflattened latitudinal dimension ( e . g ., depicting x , y , and z dimensions ). the example ultrasound images 204 depict the scanning planes in an unflattened latitudinal dimension . that is , they are depicted as having x , y and z dimensions . unflattened ultrasound images may be useful to more easily determine the z coordinate of a target in the object ( e . g ., relative to comparing a plurality of flattened x - ray and / or flattened ultrasound images depicting various scanning planes ), for example . once x - ray images 202 and ultrasound images 204 are acquired , x - ray and ultrasound image that are spatially coincident may be combined ( e . g ., by a spatial registration component similar to 124 in fig1 ) to form a combined image . that is , an x - ray image depicting a particular plane may be combined with an ultrasound image depicting a similar plane to form a combined image . it will be appreciated that while the images may be combined to form combined images , the ultrasound images 204 and the x - ray images 202 may also remain separated and viewed independently ( e . g ., manually by a physician ), for example . it will also be appreciated that the ultrasound images 204 and the x - ray images may not be spatially coincident ( e . g ., because they depict different planes of the object 210 ). nevertheless , they may provide helpful ( diagnosis ) information , such as the location of a mass / tumor in the x , y and z direction , for example . fig3 is a cross sectional area ( e . g ., taken along line 3 - 3 in fig1 ) of an example object scanning apparatus 300 ( e . g ., 102 in fig1 ). the object scanning apparatus 300 comprises an x - ray source 302 ( e . g ., 132 in fig1 ), a detector array 304 ( e . g ., 138 in fig1 ), and an ultrasound component 306 ( e . g ., 146 in fig1 ). in the illustrated example , the x - ray source 302 is affixed to a guide mechanism 308 that is configured to rotate the x - ray source 302 about a portion of an object 310 under examination ( e . g ., 20 degrees left and / or right of center ). the guide mechanism 308 may be suspended from a vertical support stand 312 ( e . g ., 142 in fig1 ). it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the guide mechanism 308 may be unnecessary in certain applications , such as those in which data is not collected from a variety of perspectives , the x - ray source 302 is stationary while the detector array rotates 304 , etc . x - rays 314 are emitted from the x - ray source 302 and traverse the object 310 under examination . x - rays 314 that traverse the object 310 are detected by the detector array 304 positioned on a diametrically opposing side of the object 310 from the x - ray source 302 . in the illustrated example , the object 310 ( e . g ., tissue ) is compressed between a top compression paddle 316 and a bottom compression paddle 318 ( similar to those used on mammography apparatuses ) to condense and / or even out the object ( e . g ., to promote image quality ). the ultrasound component 306 is configured to send and / or receive sound waves 320 that interact with the object 310 . in the example scanning apparatus , the ultrasound component 306 is positioned between the top compression paddle 316 and the bottom compression paddle 318 ( at least one of which is configured to selectively receive the ultrasound component ) and is configured to contact the object 310 under examination . using this configuration ( e . g ., the ultrasound component 306 perpendicular to the detector array 304 and / or parallel to a center x - ray beam 326 ), the ultrasound component 306 may acquire data relating to the sound waves while the detector array 304 is acquiring data related to the x - rays since the two modalities occupy different space ( e . g ., the detector array occupies space below the object 310 and the ultrasound component 306 occupies space to the side of the object 310 ). in one example , the ultrasound component 306 is attached to , and movable along , one or both of the compression paddles 316 and 318 . stated differently , the ultrasound component is configured to be selectively coupled to at least one of the compression paddles 316 and 318 . for example , as illustrated , one or both of the compression paddles 316 and 318 comprise tracks ( e . g ., along their horizontal surface ) and the ultrasound component 306 slides along the tracks ( e . g ., substantially into and out of the page at a midline of the breast as further illustrated in fig4 ) based upon the size of the object 310 under examination , for example , to come into contact with and / or move away from the object 310 . the ultrasound component 306 may comprise one or more transducers 322 ( e . g ., 148 in fig1 ). in one example , the transducers 322 are single element transducers ( e . g ., similar to endo - transducers ) that are affixed to a guide mechanism 324 . the transducers may rotate about the guide mechanism 324 and / or move vertically along it , for example . in this way , ultrasound scans may be isolated to a particular scanning plane ( e . g ., horizontal slice ) of the object 310 under examination . for example , data that is acquired while the one or more transducers 322 are in the upper elevation of object 310 may relate to the upper vertical portion of the object 310 , and data acquired while the one or more transducers 322 are in the lower vertical portion of the object 310 may relate to the lower vertical portion of the object 310 . data acquired from the particular portion of the object 310 that was isolated by the transducers may be reconstructed to form an image , depicting targets comprised in a particular scanning plane of the object 310 which is parallel to the detector array 304 and parallel to a plane depicted in the x - ray image . while the illustrated object scanning apparatus 300 illustrates two transducers 322 ( e . g ., one on each side of the object 310 ) it will be understood to those skilled in that art that a different number of transducers 322 may be used . additionally , the sound waves may be emitted and / or detected from another type of ultrasound mechanism , such as a multi - element probe , for example . it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the data that is acquired from substantially vertical x - rays 314 may be compiled ( e . g ., through reconstruction techniques ) to form one or more x - ray images ( e . g ., 110 in fig1 ) that depict a scanning plane of the object 310 , if the position of the x - ray source is rotated relative to the x - ray detector during the scan ( e . g ., to acquire data from a variety of perspectives of the object ). additionally , the x - ray images may be combined ( e . g ., fused ) with one or more corresponding ultrasound images to form a combined image ( e . g ., 126 in fig1 ). in one example , the corresponding ultrasound image is representative of data acquired while the one or more transducers were located in the scanning plane corresponding to the x - ray image . fig4 illustrates the cross sectional area ( e . g ., taken along line 4 - 4 in fig1 ) of an ultrasound component 402 comprising a plurality of transducers 404 that may be arranged about the object in a particular scanning plane ( e . g ., to acquire a computed tomography ultrasound image along a plane of the object ). a plurality of transducers 404 may be used , for example , to mitigate false positives in ultrasound images and / or improve image quality . in one example , a first transducer 406 of the plurality of transducers 404 may emit a first set of sound waves and the plurality of transducers 406 ( e . g ., including the first transducer ) may listen for and / or detect the first set of sound waves . a second transducer 408 may emit a second set of sound waves once the first set of sound waves is detected , for example . after a predetermined number of transducers has emitted sound waves , for example , the plurality of transducers may reposition themselves along the object 410 ( e . g ., into or out of the page along a guide mechanism similar to 324 in fig3 ). in this way , the transducers 404 may detect sound waves that reflect and / or traverse the object 410 under examination , whereas a single transducer may not as thoroughly detect sound waves that traverse the object 410 under examination , for example . additionally , using a plurality of transducers 404 may minimize artifacts ( e . g ., white streaks ) in an image caused by areas of the object 410 that sound waves did not reach and / or areas where a weak signal was detected ( e . g ., because the sound waves were reflected off another target within the object ). data collected from the plurality of transducers 404 while the transducers 404 were in a particular scanning plane of the object 410 , for example , may be combined by an ultrasound acquisition component ( e . g ., 116 of fig1 ) and / or reconstructed by an ultrasound image apparatus ( e . g ., 120 in fig1 ) to form a tomography image of targets within the scanning plane . a second computed tomography image may be acquired based upon data detected while the transducers are in a second scanning plane of the object 410 , for example . these computed tomography images may be combined with x - ray images representing similar planes of the object 410 to form one or more combined images ( e . g ., 126 in fig1 ). fig5 is a cross sectional area ( e . g ., taken along line 3 - 3 in fig1 ) of another example object scanning apparatus 500 ( e . g ., 102 in fig1 ). the example scanning apparatus 500 includes an ultrasound component 506 , which may operate as set forth in u . s . patent application no . 20040030227 , bearing ser . no . 10 / 440 , 427 to littrup et al ., the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein . unlike object scanning apparatus 300 in fig3 , the ultrasound component 506 ( e . g ., 306 in fig3 ) may not be in contact with the object 510 ( e . g ., 310 in fig3 or 410 in fig4 ) because the object 510 is submersed in a conductive fluid 512 ( e . g . water ) that allows the sound waves to transfer between the object 510 and the ultrasound component 506 . the fluid 512 may be stored in a compression paddle 518 ( e . g ., 318 in fig3 ) that has walls configured to mitigate fluid flow outside of the compression paddle 518 , and the ultrasound component 506 may be attached to the wall of the compression paddle 518 , for example . additionally , the ultrasound component 506 may be capable of rotating about a scanning plane of the object 510 ( e . g ., in a circular plane into and out of the page ). in this way , a ( single ) rotatable ultrasound component 506 comprising a single transducer , for example , may provide benefits similar to a plurality of transducers ( e . g ., 404 in fig1 ) that are in contact with the object 510 . that is , data from a variety of perspectives may be used to produce one or more computed tomography ultrasound images of the object . in some applications , a rotatable ultrasound component 506 may be better than a plurality of transducers attached to the object because less set up time may be necessary for the procedure ( e . g ., a breast examination ) and / or less discomfort since the transducer may not be pressed against the object 510 ( e . g ., breast tissue ) being examined , for example . it will be appreciated that the rotatable ultrasound component 506 and / or portions of the ultrasound component may also traverse various scanning planes of the object ( e . g ., moving up or down the page ) to produce a plurality of images , each image depicting targets in a different scanning plane of the object , for example . fig6 illustrates an exemplary method 600 of presenting data acquired from two scanning modalities . the method begins at 602 , and data related to an x - ray image and data related to an ultrasound image of the object under examination are acquired such that the ultrasound image depicts a plane of the object that is substantially parallel with a plane of the object depicted in the x - ray image . in one example , the ultrasound image and the x - ray image have spatial coincidence . that is , a plane of at least one x - ray image , created from data acquired by from the x - ray modality , corresponds to a plane of an ultrasound image , created from data acquired by the ultrasound modality , in such a way that the ultrasound image may be overlaid onto the x - ray image or vice - versa . it will be appreciated that such coincidence is not be attainable with disparate equipment ( e . g ., separate x - ray and ultrasound acquisition devices ). similarly , such coincidence would likewise not be attainable where the object under examination is repositioned in a combined x - ray and ultrasound acquisition device ( e . g ., a single device is used , but data acquisition occurs at different times ) because the orientation of the object would be , at least , slightly different when the different data is acquired . nevertheless , while the different modalities ( e . g ., x - ray and ultrasound ) may acquire data concurrently as provided herein , it is not a requisite since the system may maintain the orientation of the object during the examination ( e . g ., the modalities may scan the object consecutively , while the orientation of the object remains substantially fixed ). x - rays are emitted from an x - ray source and detected on a detector array . in one embodiment , the detector array and x - ray source are on diametrically opposing sides of the object , and the x - rays that are detected by the detector array are those that have traversed the object under examination . since some targets within the object may be characteristically different from other targets within the object ( e . g ., have different densities , made of different materials , etc . ), varying amounts of x - rays will traverse different portions of the object . data related to x - rays that are detected by the detector array is reconstructed to form an x - ray image depicting a plane of the object , and targets comprised within the plane . in one example , the object is x - rayed from a plurality of angles to acquire a plurality of two - dimensional ( 2 - d ) images of the object from varying angles , and images corresponding to the respective angles are reconstructed from data related to the detected x - rays . for example , the data may undergo tomosynthesis to produce x - ray images representing various scanning planes of the object under examination . it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the number of images that may be produced may be a function of the number of angles the object is x - rayed from ( e . g ., two angles may allow two images to be produced ). in one embodiment , ultrasound images are acquired based upon one or more transducers of the ultrasound component that are perpendicular to the detector array and emit and / or receive sound waves that have interacted with the object under examination . to acquire a plurality of slices , the transducers and / or the ultrasound component may be adjusted along a trajectory that is substantially perpendicular to the detector array . for example , the transducers may emit and / or detect sound waves in a first scanning plane of the object to acquire data related to sound waves that interact with the object in the first plane , adjust to a second scanning plane , and emit and / or detect a second set of sound waves to acquire data related to sound waves that interact with the object in the second plane . this process may be repeated for multiple scanning planes along the trajectory . data from respective planes may be reconstructed to acquire ultrasound images representing various scanning planes of the object under examination ( e . g ., a first image may depict targets comprised in the first scanning plane , a second image may depict targets comprised in the second scanning plane , etc .). in one embodiment , a computed tomography ultrasound image can be created using a plurality of transducers positioned within a scanning plane of the object . a plurality of transducers may be useful if the object under examination is dense and / or compressed , for example , to improve the image quality of ultrasound images . in one example , the plurality of transducers is positioned in a predetermined scanning plane about the object , and a first set of sound waves is emitted from a first transducer . one or more of the transducers comprising the plurality may detect the first set of sound waves . once the first set of sound waves are detected , a second transducer of the plurality may emit a second set of sound waves , and one or more of the plurality may detect the second set of sound waves . this process may be repeated until a predetermined number of transducers emit sound waves . it will be appreciated that the plurality of transducers may also traverse various scanning planes of the object to produce a plurality of computed tomography images , each image depicting a scanning plane of the object . in another embodiment , the object is submerged in a conductive fluid , and the x - ray images and ultrasound images are acquired while the object is submersed in the fluid . in this way , one or more ultrasound transducers may rotate ( e . g ., in a horizontal scanning plane ) about the object to produce one or more computed tomography ultrasound images . additionally , due to the presence of the conductive fluid , the transducers do not have to be in contact with the object , thereby reducing the time of the examination and / or that discomfort that may be felt when the transducer is pushed against the object . as discussed above , one or more x - ray images may be combined with one or more ultrasound images when the ultrasound and x - ray images are spatially coincident using techniques known to those skilled in the art . in this way , images from two different modalities may be combined into a single image . this may provide doctors with additional data , such as what is below and above a mass depicted in an x - ray image , for example , to assist in determining whether a mass is malignant or benign . the method ends at 606 . fig7 illustrates an example method ( 700 ) of spatial registration . the method begins at 702 , and x - rays that traverse an object under examination are detected at 704 . at 706 , an x - ray image of a plane of the object is generated based upon the detected x - rays . in one example , an x - ray source rotates about a portion of the object under examination and x - ray snapshot ( s ) of the object are taken at predetermined angles . data from the one or more snapshots may be combined and filtered ( e . g ., through tomosynthesis ) to produce one or more images depicting targets comprised within respective scanning planes ( e . g ., each image depicts targets in one scanning plane ). at 708 , waves are emitted into the object , and the waves interact with the object in a plane that is substantially parallel to the plane depicted in the x - ray image . in one example , sound waves travel through the object in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to a center x - ray beam that was emitted from the x - ray source . at 710 , waves that interact with the object in the plane that is substantially parallel to the plane depicted in the x - ray image are detected . in one example , one or more ultrasound images are produced from the detected waves and are combined with the generated x - ray image ( e . g ., if they are spatially coincident ) using algorithm and / or analytic techniques known to those skilled in the art . the image produced by combining the x - ray image ( s ) and the ultrasound image ( s ) may assist a user in detecting of cancer , for example . the method ends at 712 . it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the techniques herein described offer numerous benefits over techniques currently used in the art . for example , since the ultrasound component and the x - ray component produce images in similar planes and both components capture the data while the object has a particular physical position and / or orientation , the information may be more easily fused through coincidence ( e . g ., alignment ) of the planes depicted in the x - ray and ultrasound images . that is , an ultrasound image of a plane of the object can be easily fused with an x - ray image of a similar plane of the object . in some instances , such as where tissue is compressed during the examination , the ability to acquire data from two modalities at once , for example , may reduce the time the tissue is compressed , thereby lessening the duration of the discomfort caused by the compression . additionally , in the cancer screening , for example , the additional data acquired from using two modalities may reduce the number of false positives in the initial screening and mitigate emotional distress . the application has been described with reference to various embodiments . modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading the application . it is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations , including insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims and the equivalents thereof . for example , a , an and / or the may include one or more , but generally is not intended to be limited to one or a single item .	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Human Necessities'?	Should this patent be classified under 'Textiles; Paper'?	0.25	8742d1fa56a298cbb183339d048733c83849afa941d1f7098cea0aa3b2ab5d7e	0.080566	0.000444	0.001595	0.000012	0.03418	0.002258
null	fig1 depicts an example scanner 100 . the scanner 100 may be used to scan tissue ( e . g ., a breast ) at a medical center , for example . as illustrated , the scanner 100 typically comprises an object scanning apparatus 102 configured to scan an object ( e . g ., human tissue ). one or more images of the scanned object may be presented on a monitor 128 ( that is part of a desktop or laptop computer ) for human observation . in this way , targets of the object that are not visible to the naked eye ( e . g ., cancer cells comprised within breast tissue ) may be displayed in the one or more images and , ultimately , may be detected by the human observer . the object scanning apparatus 102 is configured to scan an object under examination and transmit data related to the scan to other components of the scanner 100 . the object scanning apparatus 102 comprises an x - ray source 132 and a detector array 138 . the x - ray source 132 is configured to emit fan , cone , wedge , or other shaped x - ray configuration into an examination region 144 of the object scanning apparatus 102 . x - rays that traverse the object under examination ( e . g ., the object in the examination region 144 ) are detected by the detector array 138 located on a diametrically opposing side of the object from the x - ray source 132 . targets ( e . g ., masses , cancer , scar tissue , etc .) within the object ( e . g ., a breast ) may cause various amounts of x - rays to traverse the object ( e . g ., creating areas of high traversal and areas of low traversal within the object ). for example , less radiation may traverse targets with a higher density ( relative to densities of other targets in the object ). it will be appreciated that the changes in traversal may be used to create x - ray images of targets within the object . for example , if breast tissue is scanned by the object scanning apparatus 102 , regions of tightly compacted cells may appear more prominently on an x - ray image than healthy breast cells ( which may be virtually invisible ). in one embodiment , the object scanning apparatus 102 is part of a mammography unit and the object scanning apparatus 102 further comprises a top compression paddle 134 and a bottom compression paddle 136 . a vertical support stand 142 may provide a means for suspending the compression paddles 134 and 136 , the x - ray source 132 , and the detector array 138 above the ground . for example , the vertical support may be seven feet tall so that the compression paddles 134 and 136 align with the height of breast tissue when a person is in a standing position . in one example , the compression paddles 134 and 136 are adjustable along the vertical support 142 to adjust for the varying heights of humans , and a shield 140 may protect a person &# 39 ; s head from exposure to the x - rays . in a mammography unit , for example , the examination region 144 may be comprised between the top compression paddle 134 and the bottom compression paddle 136 . when the object ( e . g ., breast tissue ) is inserted between the top and bottom compression paddles 134 and 136 , the object is compressed ( to even out the tissue and hold the tissue still ). while the object is under compression , x - rays may be emitted from the x - ray source 132 . to mitigate discomfort caused by the compression , the tissue may be compressed for a short period of time ( e . g ., approximately 10 seconds ). x - rays that traverse the breast while it is compressed are detected by the detector array 138 that is located within and / or below the bottom compression paddle 136 . the object scanning apparatus 102 may also comprise an ultrasound component 146 . the ultrasound component 146 may be configured to emit a plurality of sound waves , electromagnetic waves , light waves , or other image producing transmission into the examination region 144 , and / or detect emitted sound waves , for example , that have interacted with the object , in such a manner that the detected sounds waves can be used to generate an ultrasound image of object that depicts a plane of the object substantially parallel to a plane depicted in an x - ray image of the object . for example , in mammography , a horizontal slice of breast tissue is depicted in an x - ray image , and the ultrasound component 146 may be configured to emit and / or detect sound waves in such a manner that it ultimately causes the resulting ultrasound image ( s ) to also depict a horizontal slice of breast tissue in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the x - ray image . in one example , the ultrasound component 146 emits sound waves in a direction substantially perpendicular to a trajectory of a center x - ray beam associated with the x - ray source 132 and / or perpendicular to a detector plane formed by the detector array 138 . it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the terms “ center x - ray beam ” as used herein refers to an x - ray beam that impacts the detector array at a ninety degree angle ( e . g ., the center beam of a fan , cone , wedge , or other shaped x - ray configuration ). it will be appreciated that the ultrasound component 146 may be configured to detect transmission waves and / or reflection waves depending upon its configuration . in one example , a single transducer 148 of the ultrasound component 146 both emits sound waves and detects those sound waves that have reflected off targets in the object . in another example , one transducer 148 emits sound waves and another transducer , positioned on a diametrically opposing side of the object , detects sound waves that have traversed the object under examination . it will also be appreciated that the ultrasound component 146 and / or components of the ultrasound component 146 ( e . g ., one or more transducers 148 comprised within the ultrasound component 146 ) may be configured to adjust ( e . g ., vertically ) relative to the object to acquire data that may used to create a plurality of images , respective images depicting various parallel planes of the object . in this way , a plurality of ultrasound images may be formed , each ultrasound image of the plurality depicting a scanning of the object that is both substantially parallel to the planes depicted in the other ultrasound images of the plurality of images and substantially parallel to the plane depicted in the x - ray image . in one example , a doctor may take a series of ultrasound images , each depicting a unique slice of the object , for example , and compare it to an x - ray image ( e . g ., depicting the entire object collapsed or flattened in one plane ) to determine what is below , above , and / or to the side of a mass depicted in the x - ray image . in the example scanner 100 , an x - ray data acquisition component 104 is operably coupled to the object scanning apparatus 102 and is configured to collect information and data related to x - rays that were detected by the detector array 138 . the x - ray data acquisition component 104 may also be used to compile the collected data ( e . g ., from multiple perspectives of the object ) into one or more x - ray projections 106 of the object . the illustrated example scanner 100 also comprises an x - ray reconstructor 108 that is operably coupled to the x - ray data acquisition component 104 , and is configured to receive the x - ray projections 106 from the x - ray data acquisition component 104 and generate 2 - d x - ray image ( s ) 110 indicative of the scanned object using a suitable analytical , iterative , and / or other reconstruction technique ( e . g ., backprojection from projection data space to image data ). the x - ray image ( s ) 110 illustrate the latitudinal dimension ( e . g ., orthogonal to a center x - ray beam and parallel to the detector array ) of the object . that is , the images may not depict the vertical height , for example , of a target inside an object when x - rays are emitted from above the object under examination . the example scanner 100 also comprises an ultrasound acquisition component 116 that is operably coupled to the object scanning apparatus 102 and is configured to collect information and data related to sounds waves that are detected by the ultrasound component 146 . the ultrasound acquisition component 116 may also be configured to compile the collected data into projection space data 118 . as an example , data from a plurality of transducers positioned about the object may be compiled into projection space data 118 . in the example scanner 100 , an ultrasound image apparatus 120 is operably coupled to the ultrasound acquisition component 116 , and is configured to receive the projection space data 118 from the ultrasound acquisition component 116 and generate ultrasound image ( s ) 122 . that is , ultrasound image apparatus is configured to convert sound waves into one or more images 122 using techniques known to those skilled in the art ( e . g ., beam forming techniques ). it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the one or more 2 - d x - ray images 110 and the one or more ultrasound images 122 depict substantially parallel planes of the object under examination . in another embodiment , the x - ray source 132 and / or the detector array 138 may be configured to vary their relative position to one another . for example , the x - ray source 132 may be configured to rotate about a portion of the object under examination ( e . g ., 20 degrees left and right of center ). in this way , data from a variety of perspectives ( e . g ., angles ) of the object can be collected from a single scan of the object . the data from the variety of perspectives ( e . g ., which may be volumetric data representative of the volumetric space of the object since it is acquired from a plurality of perspectives ) may be combined or synthesized by the x - ray reconstructor 108 using known digital averaging and / or filtering techniques ( e . g ., tomosynthesis ). each image 110 , for example , may be focused on a scanning plane ( e . g ., a horizontal slice ) of the object , which is parallel to the detector plane , and depicts targets within a particular longitudinal range . in this way , a substantially three - dimensional image of the object under examination may be formed by stacking the two - dimensional images 110 . in another embodiment , the ultrasound component 146 is configured to acquire data from a plurality of angles along a similar scanning plane of the object . in this way , a computed tomography ultrasound ( e . g ., similar to a computed tomography scan using x - rays ) of the object may be acquired , for example . ultrasound data may be acquired from a plurality of angles by a rotatable ultrasound component and / or an ultrasound component that comprises a plurality of transducers situated about the object ( e . g ., forming an arc about the object ), for example . it will be appreciated that where the ultrasound component 146 acquires data from a plurality of angles , the ultrasound image apparatus 120 may use more a suitable analytical , iterative , and / or other reconstruction technique ( e . g ., similar to the techniques used to generate computed tomography images from x - ray data ). in one example , the ultrasound image apparatus 120 may also place emphasis on particular types of data generated based upon the detected sound waves ( e . g ., elastography , reflection , transmission , etc .). in some instances , the x - ray images 110 and the ultrasound images 122 may be spatially coincident to one another . that is , the plane of the object depicted in at least one x - ray image may correspond to a plane of the object depicted in at least one ultrasound image , in such a way that the ultrasound image may be overlaid onto the x - ray image or vice - versa . for example , if the x - ray images 110 depict five different planes of object ( e . g ., each plain representing a horizontal slice ⅕ the width of the total object ), the ultrasound component and / or components of the ultrasound component may be configured to adjust so as to cause five ultrasound images 122 to be produced . each of the five ultrasound images 122 produced may have spatial coincidence with one of the x - ray images 110 , for example . the illustrated example scanner 100 further comprises a spatial registration component 124 . the spatial registration component 124 is in operable communication with the ultrasound image apparatus 120 and the x - ray reconstructor component 108 . the spatial registration component 124 is configured to combine the one or more x - ray images 110 with one or more ultrasound images 122 to form one or more combined images 126 ( through the process of fusion ) when the x - ray image ( s ) and the ultrasound image ( s ) are spatially coincident ( e . g ., by identifying corresponding portions of the x - ray image and the ultrasound image , or more generally , by identifying corresponding portions of the x - ray data and the ultrasound data ). that is , the spatial registration component 124 is configured to combine complementary information from two modalities ( e . g ., an x - ray image 110 and an ultrasound image 122 ) through suitable analytical techniques ( e . g ., retrospective registration algorithms , algorithms based on entropy , etc .). it will be understood to those skilled in the art that other configures and components for a scanner are also contemplated . in one example , a single x - ray image 110 ( e . g ., depicting a collapsed or flattened representation of the object ) and a single ultrasound image 122 ( e . g ., depicting an un - flattened slice of the object parallel to the flattened x - ray image ) is produced from data acquired from the object scanning apparatus 102 and the two images are visually compared ( e . g ., the x - ray image 110 and the ultrasound image 122 are not combined by the spatial registration component 124 ). therefore , the scanner may not comprise a spatial registration component 124 , for example . fig2 illustrates example scanning planes 200 ( e . g ., horizontal slices ) of an object 210 that may be depicted in x - ray images 202 and / or ultrasound images 204 . when x - ray data ( e . g ., which may be volumetric data representative of a volumetric space of the object ) is acquired at a variety of perspectives as discussed above ( e . g ., an x - ray source is varied with respect to an x - ray detector array ) and combined and / or filtered ( e . g ., using tomosynthesis techniques ) x - ray images depicting the illustrated example scanning planes 200 may be produced . it will be appreciated that the x - ray images 202 generally depict the various scanning planes 200 in a flattened latitudinal dimension ( e . g ., x , y ), such that targets in a scanning plane are depicted in the image generally having no discernable z coordinate . ultrasound images 204 depicting similar scanning planes 200 ( e . g ., three - dimensional slices ) to those depicted in the x - ray images may also be produced . the ultrasound images 204 may depict the scanning planes 200 in a flattened latitudinal dimension or in an unflattened latitudinal dimension ( e . g ., depicting x , y , and z dimensions ). the example ultrasound images 204 depict the scanning planes in an unflattened latitudinal dimension . that is , they are depicted as having x , y and z dimensions . unflattened ultrasound images may be useful to more easily determine the z coordinate of a target in the object ( e . g ., relative to comparing a plurality of flattened x - ray and / or flattened ultrasound images depicting various scanning planes ), for example . once x - ray images 202 and ultrasound images 204 are acquired , x - ray and ultrasound image that are spatially coincident may be combined ( e . g ., by a spatial registration component similar to 124 in fig1 ) to form a combined image . that is , an x - ray image depicting a particular plane may be combined with an ultrasound image depicting a similar plane to form a combined image . it will be appreciated that while the images may be combined to form combined images , the ultrasound images 204 and the x - ray images 202 may also remain separated and viewed independently ( e . g ., manually by a physician ), for example . it will also be appreciated that the ultrasound images 204 and the x - ray images may not be spatially coincident ( e . g ., because they depict different planes of the object 210 ). nevertheless , they may provide helpful ( diagnosis ) information , such as the location of a mass / tumor in the x , y and z direction , for example . fig3 is a cross sectional area ( e . g ., taken along line 3 - 3 in fig1 ) of an example object scanning apparatus 300 ( e . g ., 102 in fig1 ). the object scanning apparatus 300 comprises an x - ray source 302 ( e . g ., 132 in fig1 ), a detector array 304 ( e . g ., 138 in fig1 ), and an ultrasound component 306 ( e . g ., 146 in fig1 ). in the illustrated example , the x - ray source 302 is affixed to a guide mechanism 308 that is configured to rotate the x - ray source 302 about a portion of an object 310 under examination ( e . g ., 20 degrees left and / or right of center ). the guide mechanism 308 may be suspended from a vertical support stand 312 ( e . g ., 142 in fig1 ). it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the guide mechanism 308 may be unnecessary in certain applications , such as those in which data is not collected from a variety of perspectives , the x - ray source 302 is stationary while the detector array rotates 304 , etc . x - rays 314 are emitted from the x - ray source 302 and traverse the object 310 under examination . x - rays 314 that traverse the object 310 are detected by the detector array 304 positioned on a diametrically opposing side of the object 310 from the x - ray source 302 . in the illustrated example , the object 310 ( e . g ., tissue ) is compressed between a top compression paddle 316 and a bottom compression paddle 318 ( similar to those used on mammography apparatuses ) to condense and / or even out the object ( e . g ., to promote image quality ). the ultrasound component 306 is configured to send and / or receive sound waves 320 that interact with the object 310 . in the example scanning apparatus , the ultrasound component 306 is positioned between the top compression paddle 316 and the bottom compression paddle 318 ( at least one of which is configured to selectively receive the ultrasound component ) and is configured to contact the object 310 under examination . using this configuration ( e . g ., the ultrasound component 306 perpendicular to the detector array 304 and / or parallel to a center x - ray beam 326 ), the ultrasound component 306 may acquire data relating to the sound waves while the detector array 304 is acquiring data related to the x - rays since the two modalities occupy different space ( e . g ., the detector array occupies space below the object 310 and the ultrasound component 306 occupies space to the side of the object 310 ). in one example , the ultrasound component 306 is attached to , and movable along , one or both of the compression paddles 316 and 318 . stated differently , the ultrasound component is configured to be selectively coupled to at least one of the compression paddles 316 and 318 . for example , as illustrated , one or both of the compression paddles 316 and 318 comprise tracks ( e . g ., along their horizontal surface ) and the ultrasound component 306 slides along the tracks ( e . g ., substantially into and out of the page at a midline of the breast as further illustrated in fig4 ) based upon the size of the object 310 under examination , for example , to come into contact with and / or move away from the object 310 . the ultrasound component 306 may comprise one or more transducers 322 ( e . g ., 148 in fig1 ). in one example , the transducers 322 are single element transducers ( e . g ., similar to endo - transducers ) that are affixed to a guide mechanism 324 . the transducers may rotate about the guide mechanism 324 and / or move vertically along it , for example . in this way , ultrasound scans may be isolated to a particular scanning plane ( e . g ., horizontal slice ) of the object 310 under examination . for example , data that is acquired while the one or more transducers 322 are in the upper elevation of object 310 may relate to the upper vertical portion of the object 310 , and data acquired while the one or more transducers 322 are in the lower vertical portion of the object 310 may relate to the lower vertical portion of the object 310 . data acquired from the particular portion of the object 310 that was isolated by the transducers may be reconstructed to form an image , depicting targets comprised in a particular scanning plane of the object 310 which is parallel to the detector array 304 and parallel to a plane depicted in the x - ray image . while the illustrated object scanning apparatus 300 illustrates two transducers 322 ( e . g ., one on each side of the object 310 ) it will be understood to those skilled in that art that a different number of transducers 322 may be used . additionally , the sound waves may be emitted and / or detected from another type of ultrasound mechanism , such as a multi - element probe , for example . it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the data that is acquired from substantially vertical x - rays 314 may be compiled ( e . g ., through reconstruction techniques ) to form one or more x - ray images ( e . g ., 110 in fig1 ) that depict a scanning plane of the object 310 , if the position of the x - ray source is rotated relative to the x - ray detector during the scan ( e . g ., to acquire data from a variety of perspectives of the object ). additionally , the x - ray images may be combined ( e . g ., fused ) with one or more corresponding ultrasound images to form a combined image ( e . g ., 126 in fig1 ). in one example , the corresponding ultrasound image is representative of data acquired while the one or more transducers were located in the scanning plane corresponding to the x - ray image . fig4 illustrates the cross sectional area ( e . g ., taken along line 4 - 4 in fig1 ) of an ultrasound component 402 comprising a plurality of transducers 404 that may be arranged about the object in a particular scanning plane ( e . g ., to acquire a computed tomography ultrasound image along a plane of the object ). a plurality of transducers 404 may be used , for example , to mitigate false positives in ultrasound images and / or improve image quality . in one example , a first transducer 406 of the plurality of transducers 404 may emit a first set of sound waves and the plurality of transducers 406 ( e . g ., including the first transducer ) may listen for and / or detect the first set of sound waves . a second transducer 408 may emit a second set of sound waves once the first set of sound waves is detected , for example . after a predetermined number of transducers has emitted sound waves , for example , the plurality of transducers may reposition themselves along the object 410 ( e . g ., into or out of the page along a guide mechanism similar to 324 in fig3 ). in this way , the transducers 404 may detect sound waves that reflect and / or traverse the object 410 under examination , whereas a single transducer may not as thoroughly detect sound waves that traverse the object 410 under examination , for example . additionally , using a plurality of transducers 404 may minimize artifacts ( e . g ., white streaks ) in an image caused by areas of the object 410 that sound waves did not reach and / or areas where a weak signal was detected ( e . g ., because the sound waves were reflected off another target within the object ). data collected from the plurality of transducers 404 while the transducers 404 were in a particular scanning plane of the object 410 , for example , may be combined by an ultrasound acquisition component ( e . g ., 116 of fig1 ) and / or reconstructed by an ultrasound image apparatus ( e . g ., 120 in fig1 ) to form a tomography image of targets within the scanning plane . a second computed tomography image may be acquired based upon data detected while the transducers are in a second scanning plane of the object 410 , for example . these computed tomography images may be combined with x - ray images representing similar planes of the object 410 to form one or more combined images ( e . g ., 126 in fig1 ). fig5 is a cross sectional area ( e . g ., taken along line 3 - 3 in fig1 ) of another example object scanning apparatus 500 ( e . g ., 102 in fig1 ). the example scanning apparatus 500 includes an ultrasound component 506 , which may operate as set forth in u . s . patent application no . 20040030227 , bearing ser . no . 10 / 440 , 427 to littrup et al ., the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein . unlike object scanning apparatus 300 in fig3 , the ultrasound component 506 ( e . g ., 306 in fig3 ) may not be in contact with the object 510 ( e . g ., 310 in fig3 or 410 in fig4 ) because the object 510 is submersed in a conductive fluid 512 ( e . g . water ) that allows the sound waves to transfer between the object 510 and the ultrasound component 506 . the fluid 512 may be stored in a compression paddle 518 ( e . g ., 318 in fig3 ) that has walls configured to mitigate fluid flow outside of the compression paddle 518 , and the ultrasound component 506 may be attached to the wall of the compression paddle 518 , for example . additionally , the ultrasound component 506 may be capable of rotating about a scanning plane of the object 510 ( e . g ., in a circular plane into and out of the page ). in this way , a ( single ) rotatable ultrasound component 506 comprising a single transducer , for example , may provide benefits similar to a plurality of transducers ( e . g ., 404 in fig1 ) that are in contact with the object 510 . that is , data from a variety of perspectives may be used to produce one or more computed tomography ultrasound images of the object . in some applications , a rotatable ultrasound component 506 may be better than a plurality of transducers attached to the object because less set up time may be necessary for the procedure ( e . g ., a breast examination ) and / or less discomfort since the transducer may not be pressed against the object 510 ( e . g ., breast tissue ) being examined , for example . it will be appreciated that the rotatable ultrasound component 506 and / or portions of the ultrasound component may also traverse various scanning planes of the object ( e . g ., moving up or down the page ) to produce a plurality of images , each image depicting targets in a different scanning plane of the object , for example . fig6 illustrates an exemplary method 600 of presenting data acquired from two scanning modalities . the method begins at 602 , and data related to an x - ray image and data related to an ultrasound image of the object under examination are acquired such that the ultrasound image depicts a plane of the object that is substantially parallel with a plane of the object depicted in the x - ray image . in one example , the ultrasound image and the x - ray image have spatial coincidence . that is , a plane of at least one x - ray image , created from data acquired by from the x - ray modality , corresponds to a plane of an ultrasound image , created from data acquired by the ultrasound modality , in such a way that the ultrasound image may be overlaid onto the x - ray image or vice - versa . it will be appreciated that such coincidence is not be attainable with disparate equipment ( e . g ., separate x - ray and ultrasound acquisition devices ). similarly , such coincidence would likewise not be attainable where the object under examination is repositioned in a combined x - ray and ultrasound acquisition device ( e . g ., a single device is used , but data acquisition occurs at different times ) because the orientation of the object would be , at least , slightly different when the different data is acquired . nevertheless , while the different modalities ( e . g ., x - ray and ultrasound ) may acquire data concurrently as provided herein , it is not a requisite since the system may maintain the orientation of the object during the examination ( e . g ., the modalities may scan the object consecutively , while the orientation of the object remains substantially fixed ). x - rays are emitted from an x - ray source and detected on a detector array . in one embodiment , the detector array and x - ray source are on diametrically opposing sides of the object , and the x - rays that are detected by the detector array are those that have traversed the object under examination . since some targets within the object may be characteristically different from other targets within the object ( e . g ., have different densities , made of different materials , etc . ), varying amounts of x - rays will traverse different portions of the object . data related to x - rays that are detected by the detector array is reconstructed to form an x - ray image depicting a plane of the object , and targets comprised within the plane . in one example , the object is x - rayed from a plurality of angles to acquire a plurality of two - dimensional ( 2 - d ) images of the object from varying angles , and images corresponding to the respective angles are reconstructed from data related to the detected x - rays . for example , the data may undergo tomosynthesis to produce x - ray images representing various scanning planes of the object under examination . it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the number of images that may be produced may be a function of the number of angles the object is x - rayed from ( e . g ., two angles may allow two images to be produced ). in one embodiment , ultrasound images are acquired based upon one or more transducers of the ultrasound component that are perpendicular to the detector array and emit and / or receive sound waves that have interacted with the object under examination . to acquire a plurality of slices , the transducers and / or the ultrasound component may be adjusted along a trajectory that is substantially perpendicular to the detector array . for example , the transducers may emit and / or detect sound waves in a first scanning plane of the object to acquire data related to sound waves that interact with the object in the first plane , adjust to a second scanning plane , and emit and / or detect a second set of sound waves to acquire data related to sound waves that interact with the object in the second plane . this process may be repeated for multiple scanning planes along the trajectory . data from respective planes may be reconstructed to acquire ultrasound images representing various scanning planes of the object under examination ( e . g ., a first image may depict targets comprised in the first scanning plane , a second image may depict targets comprised in the second scanning plane , etc .). in one embodiment , a computed tomography ultrasound image can be created using a plurality of transducers positioned within a scanning plane of the object . a plurality of transducers may be useful if the object under examination is dense and / or compressed , for example , to improve the image quality of ultrasound images . in one example , the plurality of transducers is positioned in a predetermined scanning plane about the object , and a first set of sound waves is emitted from a first transducer . one or more of the transducers comprising the plurality may detect the first set of sound waves . once the first set of sound waves are detected , a second transducer of the plurality may emit a second set of sound waves , and one or more of the plurality may detect the second set of sound waves . this process may be repeated until a predetermined number of transducers emit sound waves . it will be appreciated that the plurality of transducers may also traverse various scanning planes of the object to produce a plurality of computed tomography images , each image depicting a scanning plane of the object . in another embodiment , the object is submerged in a conductive fluid , and the x - ray images and ultrasound images are acquired while the object is submersed in the fluid . in this way , one or more ultrasound transducers may rotate ( e . g ., in a horizontal scanning plane ) about the object to produce one or more computed tomography ultrasound images . additionally , due to the presence of the conductive fluid , the transducers do not have to be in contact with the object , thereby reducing the time of the examination and / or that discomfort that may be felt when the transducer is pushed against the object . as discussed above , one or more x - ray images may be combined with one or more ultrasound images when the ultrasound and x - ray images are spatially coincident using techniques known to those skilled in the art . in this way , images from two different modalities may be combined into a single image . this may provide doctors with additional data , such as what is below and above a mass depicted in an x - ray image , for example , to assist in determining whether a mass is malignant or benign . the method ends at 606 . fig7 illustrates an example method ( 700 ) of spatial registration . the method begins at 702 , and x - rays that traverse an object under examination are detected at 704 . at 706 , an x - ray image of a plane of the object is generated based upon the detected x - rays . in one example , an x - ray source rotates about a portion of the object under examination and x - ray snapshot ( s ) of the object are taken at predetermined angles . data from the one or more snapshots may be combined and filtered ( e . g ., through tomosynthesis ) to produce one or more images depicting targets comprised within respective scanning planes ( e . g ., each image depicts targets in one scanning plane ). at 708 , waves are emitted into the object , and the waves interact with the object in a plane that is substantially parallel to the plane depicted in the x - ray image . in one example , sound waves travel through the object in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to a center x - ray beam that was emitted from the x - ray source . at 710 , waves that interact with the object in the plane that is substantially parallel to the plane depicted in the x - ray image are detected . in one example , one or more ultrasound images are produced from the detected waves and are combined with the generated x - ray image ( e . g ., if they are spatially coincident ) using algorithm and / or analytic techniques known to those skilled in the art . the image produced by combining the x - ray image ( s ) and the ultrasound image ( s ) may assist a user in detecting of cancer , for example . the method ends at 712 . it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the techniques herein described offer numerous benefits over techniques currently used in the art . for example , since the ultrasound component and the x - ray component produce images in similar planes and both components capture the data while the object has a particular physical position and / or orientation , the information may be more easily fused through coincidence ( e . g ., alignment ) of the planes depicted in the x - ray and ultrasound images . that is , an ultrasound image of a plane of the object can be easily fused with an x - ray image of a similar plane of the object . in some instances , such as where tissue is compressed during the examination , the ability to acquire data from two modalities at once , for example , may reduce the time the tissue is compressed , thereby lessening the duration of the discomfort caused by the compression . additionally , in the cancer screening , for example , the additional data acquired from using two modalities may reduce the number of false positives in the initial screening and mitigate emotional distress . the application has been described with reference to various embodiments . modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading the application . it is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations , including insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims and the equivalents thereof . for example , a , an and / or the may include one or more , but generally is not intended to be limited to one or a single item .	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'Human Necessities'?	Should this patent be classified under 'Fixed Constructions'?	0.25	8742d1fa56a298cbb183339d048733c83849afa941d1f7098cea0aa3b2ab5d7e	0.054932	0.030273	0.002808	0.013611	0.016968	0.03064
null	fig1 depicts an example scanner 100 . the scanner 100 may be used to scan tissue ( e . g ., a breast ) at a medical center , for example . as illustrated , the scanner 100 typically comprises an object scanning apparatus 102 configured to scan an object ( e . g ., human tissue ). one or more images of the scanned object may be presented on a monitor 128 ( that is part of a desktop or laptop computer ) for human observation . in this way , targets of the object that are not visible to the naked eye ( e . g ., cancer cells comprised within breast tissue ) may be displayed in the one or more images and , ultimately , may be detected by the human observer . the object scanning apparatus 102 is configured to scan an object under examination and transmit data related to the scan to other components of the scanner 100 . the object scanning apparatus 102 comprises an x - ray source 132 and a detector array 138 . the x - ray source 132 is configured to emit fan , cone , wedge , or other shaped x - ray configuration into an examination region 144 of the object scanning apparatus 102 . x - rays that traverse the object under examination ( e . g ., the object in the examination region 144 ) are detected by the detector array 138 located on a diametrically opposing side of the object from the x - ray source 132 . targets ( e . g ., masses , cancer , scar tissue , etc .) within the object ( e . g ., a breast ) may cause various amounts of x - rays to traverse the object ( e . g ., creating areas of high traversal and areas of low traversal within the object ). for example , less radiation may traverse targets with a higher density ( relative to densities of other targets in the object ). it will be appreciated that the changes in traversal may be used to create x - ray images of targets within the object . for example , if breast tissue is scanned by the object scanning apparatus 102 , regions of tightly compacted cells may appear more prominently on an x - ray image than healthy breast cells ( which may be virtually invisible ). in one embodiment , the object scanning apparatus 102 is part of a mammography unit and the object scanning apparatus 102 further comprises a top compression paddle 134 and a bottom compression paddle 136 . a vertical support stand 142 may provide a means for suspending the compression paddles 134 and 136 , the x - ray source 132 , and the detector array 138 above the ground . for example , the vertical support may be seven feet tall so that the compression paddles 134 and 136 align with the height of breast tissue when a person is in a standing position . in one example , the compression paddles 134 and 136 are adjustable along the vertical support 142 to adjust for the varying heights of humans , and a shield 140 may protect a person &# 39 ; s head from exposure to the x - rays . in a mammography unit , for example , the examination region 144 may be comprised between the top compression paddle 134 and the bottom compression paddle 136 . when the object ( e . g ., breast tissue ) is inserted between the top and bottom compression paddles 134 and 136 , the object is compressed ( to even out the tissue and hold the tissue still ). while the object is under compression , x - rays may be emitted from the x - ray source 132 . to mitigate discomfort caused by the compression , the tissue may be compressed for a short period of time ( e . g ., approximately 10 seconds ). x - rays that traverse the breast while it is compressed are detected by the detector array 138 that is located within and / or below the bottom compression paddle 136 . the object scanning apparatus 102 may also comprise an ultrasound component 146 . the ultrasound component 146 may be configured to emit a plurality of sound waves , electromagnetic waves , light waves , or other image producing transmission into the examination region 144 , and / or detect emitted sound waves , for example , that have interacted with the object , in such a manner that the detected sounds waves can be used to generate an ultrasound image of object that depicts a plane of the object substantially parallel to a plane depicted in an x - ray image of the object . for example , in mammography , a horizontal slice of breast tissue is depicted in an x - ray image , and the ultrasound component 146 may be configured to emit and / or detect sound waves in such a manner that it ultimately causes the resulting ultrasound image ( s ) to also depict a horizontal slice of breast tissue in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the x - ray image . in one example , the ultrasound component 146 emits sound waves in a direction substantially perpendicular to a trajectory of a center x - ray beam associated with the x - ray source 132 and / or perpendicular to a detector plane formed by the detector array 138 . it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the terms “ center x - ray beam ” as used herein refers to an x - ray beam that impacts the detector array at a ninety degree angle ( e . g ., the center beam of a fan , cone , wedge , or other shaped x - ray configuration ). it will be appreciated that the ultrasound component 146 may be configured to detect transmission waves and / or reflection waves depending upon its configuration . in one example , a single transducer 148 of the ultrasound component 146 both emits sound waves and detects those sound waves that have reflected off targets in the object . in another example , one transducer 148 emits sound waves and another transducer , positioned on a diametrically opposing side of the object , detects sound waves that have traversed the object under examination . it will also be appreciated that the ultrasound component 146 and / or components of the ultrasound component 146 ( e . g ., one or more transducers 148 comprised within the ultrasound component 146 ) may be configured to adjust ( e . g ., vertically ) relative to the object to acquire data that may used to create a plurality of images , respective images depicting various parallel planes of the object . in this way , a plurality of ultrasound images may be formed , each ultrasound image of the plurality depicting a scanning of the object that is both substantially parallel to the planes depicted in the other ultrasound images of the plurality of images and substantially parallel to the plane depicted in the x - ray image . in one example , a doctor may take a series of ultrasound images , each depicting a unique slice of the object , for example , and compare it to an x - ray image ( e . g ., depicting the entire object collapsed or flattened in one plane ) to determine what is below , above , and / or to the side of a mass depicted in the x - ray image . in the example scanner 100 , an x - ray data acquisition component 104 is operably coupled to the object scanning apparatus 102 and is configured to collect information and data related to x - rays that were detected by the detector array 138 . the x - ray data acquisition component 104 may also be used to compile the collected data ( e . g ., from multiple perspectives of the object ) into one or more x - ray projections 106 of the object . the illustrated example scanner 100 also comprises an x - ray reconstructor 108 that is operably coupled to the x - ray data acquisition component 104 , and is configured to receive the x - ray projections 106 from the x - ray data acquisition component 104 and generate 2 - d x - ray image ( s ) 110 indicative of the scanned object using a suitable analytical , iterative , and / or other reconstruction technique ( e . g ., backprojection from projection data space to image data ). the x - ray image ( s ) 110 illustrate the latitudinal dimension ( e . g ., orthogonal to a center x - ray beam and parallel to the detector array ) of the object . that is , the images may not depict the vertical height , for example , of a target inside an object when x - rays are emitted from above the object under examination . the example scanner 100 also comprises an ultrasound acquisition component 116 that is operably coupled to the object scanning apparatus 102 and is configured to collect information and data related to sounds waves that are detected by the ultrasound component 146 . the ultrasound acquisition component 116 may also be configured to compile the collected data into projection space data 118 . as an example , data from a plurality of transducers positioned about the object may be compiled into projection space data 118 . in the example scanner 100 , an ultrasound image apparatus 120 is operably coupled to the ultrasound acquisition component 116 , and is configured to receive the projection space data 118 from the ultrasound acquisition component 116 and generate ultrasound image ( s ) 122 . that is , ultrasound image apparatus is configured to convert sound waves into one or more images 122 using techniques known to those skilled in the art ( e . g ., beam forming techniques ). it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the one or more 2 - d x - ray images 110 and the one or more ultrasound images 122 depict substantially parallel planes of the object under examination . in another embodiment , the x - ray source 132 and / or the detector array 138 may be configured to vary their relative position to one another . for example , the x - ray source 132 may be configured to rotate about a portion of the object under examination ( e . g ., 20 degrees left and right of center ). in this way , data from a variety of perspectives ( e . g ., angles ) of the object can be collected from a single scan of the object . the data from the variety of perspectives ( e . g ., which may be volumetric data representative of the volumetric space of the object since it is acquired from a plurality of perspectives ) may be combined or synthesized by the x - ray reconstructor 108 using known digital averaging and / or filtering techniques ( e . g ., tomosynthesis ). each image 110 , for example , may be focused on a scanning plane ( e . g ., a horizontal slice ) of the object , which is parallel to the detector plane , and depicts targets within a particular longitudinal range . in this way , a substantially three - dimensional image of the object under examination may be formed by stacking the two - dimensional images 110 . in another embodiment , the ultrasound component 146 is configured to acquire data from a plurality of angles along a similar scanning plane of the object . in this way , a computed tomography ultrasound ( e . g ., similar to a computed tomography scan using x - rays ) of the object may be acquired , for example . ultrasound data may be acquired from a plurality of angles by a rotatable ultrasound component and / or an ultrasound component that comprises a plurality of transducers situated about the object ( e . g ., forming an arc about the object ), for example . it will be appreciated that where the ultrasound component 146 acquires data from a plurality of angles , the ultrasound image apparatus 120 may use more a suitable analytical , iterative , and / or other reconstruction technique ( e . g ., similar to the techniques used to generate computed tomography images from x - ray data ). in one example , the ultrasound image apparatus 120 may also place emphasis on particular types of data generated based upon the detected sound waves ( e . g ., elastography , reflection , transmission , etc .). in some instances , the x - ray images 110 and the ultrasound images 122 may be spatially coincident to one another . that is , the plane of the object depicted in at least one x - ray image may correspond to a plane of the object depicted in at least one ultrasound image , in such a way that the ultrasound image may be overlaid onto the x - ray image or vice - versa . for example , if the x - ray images 110 depict five different planes of object ( e . g ., each plain representing a horizontal slice ⅕ the width of the total object ), the ultrasound component and / or components of the ultrasound component may be configured to adjust so as to cause five ultrasound images 122 to be produced . each of the five ultrasound images 122 produced may have spatial coincidence with one of the x - ray images 110 , for example . the illustrated example scanner 100 further comprises a spatial registration component 124 . the spatial registration component 124 is in operable communication with the ultrasound image apparatus 120 and the x - ray reconstructor component 108 . the spatial registration component 124 is configured to combine the one or more x - ray images 110 with one or more ultrasound images 122 to form one or more combined images 126 ( through the process of fusion ) when the x - ray image ( s ) and the ultrasound image ( s ) are spatially coincident ( e . g ., by identifying corresponding portions of the x - ray image and the ultrasound image , or more generally , by identifying corresponding portions of the x - ray data and the ultrasound data ). that is , the spatial registration component 124 is configured to combine complementary information from two modalities ( e . g ., an x - ray image 110 and an ultrasound image 122 ) through suitable analytical techniques ( e . g ., retrospective registration algorithms , algorithms based on entropy , etc .). it will be understood to those skilled in the art that other configures and components for a scanner are also contemplated . in one example , a single x - ray image 110 ( e . g ., depicting a collapsed or flattened representation of the object ) and a single ultrasound image 122 ( e . g ., depicting an un - flattened slice of the object parallel to the flattened x - ray image ) is produced from data acquired from the object scanning apparatus 102 and the two images are visually compared ( e . g ., the x - ray image 110 and the ultrasound image 122 are not combined by the spatial registration component 124 ). therefore , the scanner may not comprise a spatial registration component 124 , for example . fig2 illustrates example scanning planes 200 ( e . g ., horizontal slices ) of an object 210 that may be depicted in x - ray images 202 and / or ultrasound images 204 . when x - ray data ( e . g ., which may be volumetric data representative of a volumetric space of the object ) is acquired at a variety of perspectives as discussed above ( e . g ., an x - ray source is varied with respect to an x - ray detector array ) and combined and / or filtered ( e . g ., using tomosynthesis techniques ) x - ray images depicting the illustrated example scanning planes 200 may be produced . it will be appreciated that the x - ray images 202 generally depict the various scanning planes 200 in a flattened latitudinal dimension ( e . g ., x , y ), such that targets in a scanning plane are depicted in the image generally having no discernable z coordinate . ultrasound images 204 depicting similar scanning planes 200 ( e . g ., three - dimensional slices ) to those depicted in the x - ray images may also be produced . the ultrasound images 204 may depict the scanning planes 200 in a flattened latitudinal dimension or in an unflattened latitudinal dimension ( e . g ., depicting x , y , and z dimensions ). the example ultrasound images 204 depict the scanning planes in an unflattened latitudinal dimension . that is , they are depicted as having x , y and z dimensions . unflattened ultrasound images may be useful to more easily determine the z coordinate of a target in the object ( e . g ., relative to comparing a plurality of flattened x - ray and / or flattened ultrasound images depicting various scanning planes ), for example . once x - ray images 202 and ultrasound images 204 are acquired , x - ray and ultrasound image that are spatially coincident may be combined ( e . g ., by a spatial registration component similar to 124 in fig1 ) to form a combined image . that is , an x - ray image depicting a particular plane may be combined with an ultrasound image depicting a similar plane to form a combined image . it will be appreciated that while the images may be combined to form combined images , the ultrasound images 204 and the x - ray images 202 may also remain separated and viewed independently ( e . g ., manually by a physician ), for example . it will also be appreciated that the ultrasound images 204 and the x - ray images may not be spatially coincident ( e . g ., because they depict different planes of the object 210 ). nevertheless , they may provide helpful ( diagnosis ) information , such as the location of a mass / tumor in the x , y and z direction , for example . fig3 is a cross sectional area ( e . g ., taken along line 3 - 3 in fig1 ) of an example object scanning apparatus 300 ( e . g ., 102 in fig1 ). the object scanning apparatus 300 comprises an x - ray source 302 ( e . g ., 132 in fig1 ), a detector array 304 ( e . g ., 138 in fig1 ), and an ultrasound component 306 ( e . g ., 146 in fig1 ). in the illustrated example , the x - ray source 302 is affixed to a guide mechanism 308 that is configured to rotate the x - ray source 302 about a portion of an object 310 under examination ( e . g ., 20 degrees left and / or right of center ). the guide mechanism 308 may be suspended from a vertical support stand 312 ( e . g ., 142 in fig1 ). it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the guide mechanism 308 may be unnecessary in certain applications , such as those in which data is not collected from a variety of perspectives , the x - ray source 302 is stationary while the detector array rotates 304 , etc . x - rays 314 are emitted from the x - ray source 302 and traverse the object 310 under examination . x - rays 314 that traverse the object 310 are detected by the detector array 304 positioned on a diametrically opposing side of the object 310 from the x - ray source 302 . in the illustrated example , the object 310 ( e . g ., tissue ) is compressed between a top compression paddle 316 and a bottom compression paddle 318 ( similar to those used on mammography apparatuses ) to condense and / or even out the object ( e . g ., to promote image quality ). the ultrasound component 306 is configured to send and / or receive sound waves 320 that interact with the object 310 . in the example scanning apparatus , the ultrasound component 306 is positioned between the top compression paddle 316 and the bottom compression paddle 318 ( at least one of which is configured to selectively receive the ultrasound component ) and is configured to contact the object 310 under examination . using this configuration ( e . g ., the ultrasound component 306 perpendicular to the detector array 304 and / or parallel to a center x - ray beam 326 ), the ultrasound component 306 may acquire data relating to the sound waves while the detector array 304 is acquiring data related to the x - rays since the two modalities occupy different space ( e . g ., the detector array occupies space below the object 310 and the ultrasound component 306 occupies space to the side of the object 310 ). in one example , the ultrasound component 306 is attached to , and movable along , one or both of the compression paddles 316 and 318 . stated differently , the ultrasound component is configured to be selectively coupled to at least one of the compression paddles 316 and 318 . for example , as illustrated , one or both of the compression paddles 316 and 318 comprise tracks ( e . g ., along their horizontal surface ) and the ultrasound component 306 slides along the tracks ( e . g ., substantially into and out of the page at a midline of the breast as further illustrated in fig4 ) based upon the size of the object 310 under examination , for example , to come into contact with and / or move away from the object 310 . the ultrasound component 306 may comprise one or more transducers 322 ( e . g ., 148 in fig1 ). in one example , the transducers 322 are single element transducers ( e . g ., similar to endo - transducers ) that are affixed to a guide mechanism 324 . the transducers may rotate about the guide mechanism 324 and / or move vertically along it , for example . in this way , ultrasound scans may be isolated to a particular scanning plane ( e . g ., horizontal slice ) of the object 310 under examination . for example , data that is acquired while the one or more transducers 322 are in the upper elevation of object 310 may relate to the upper vertical portion of the object 310 , and data acquired while the one or more transducers 322 are in the lower vertical portion of the object 310 may relate to the lower vertical portion of the object 310 . data acquired from the particular portion of the object 310 that was isolated by the transducers may be reconstructed to form an image , depicting targets comprised in a particular scanning plane of the object 310 which is parallel to the detector array 304 and parallel to a plane depicted in the x - ray image . while the illustrated object scanning apparatus 300 illustrates two transducers 322 ( e . g ., one on each side of the object 310 ) it will be understood to those skilled in that art that a different number of transducers 322 may be used . additionally , the sound waves may be emitted and / or detected from another type of ultrasound mechanism , such as a multi - element probe , for example . it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the data that is acquired from substantially vertical x - rays 314 may be compiled ( e . g ., through reconstruction techniques ) to form one or more x - ray images ( e . g ., 110 in fig1 ) that depict a scanning plane of the object 310 , if the position of the x - ray source is rotated relative to the x - ray detector during the scan ( e . g ., to acquire data from a variety of perspectives of the object ). additionally , the x - ray images may be combined ( e . g ., fused ) with one or more corresponding ultrasound images to form a combined image ( e . g ., 126 in fig1 ). in one example , the corresponding ultrasound image is representative of data acquired while the one or more transducers were located in the scanning plane corresponding to the x - ray image . fig4 illustrates the cross sectional area ( e . g ., taken along line 4 - 4 in fig1 ) of an ultrasound component 402 comprising a plurality of transducers 404 that may be arranged about the object in a particular scanning plane ( e . g ., to acquire a computed tomography ultrasound image along a plane of the object ). a plurality of transducers 404 may be used , for example , to mitigate false positives in ultrasound images and / or improve image quality . in one example , a first transducer 406 of the plurality of transducers 404 may emit a first set of sound waves and the plurality of transducers 406 ( e . g ., including the first transducer ) may listen for and / or detect the first set of sound waves . a second transducer 408 may emit a second set of sound waves once the first set of sound waves is detected , for example . after a predetermined number of transducers has emitted sound waves , for example , the plurality of transducers may reposition themselves along the object 410 ( e . g ., into or out of the page along a guide mechanism similar to 324 in fig3 ). in this way , the transducers 404 may detect sound waves that reflect and / or traverse the object 410 under examination , whereas a single transducer may not as thoroughly detect sound waves that traverse the object 410 under examination , for example . additionally , using a plurality of transducers 404 may minimize artifacts ( e . g ., white streaks ) in an image caused by areas of the object 410 that sound waves did not reach and / or areas where a weak signal was detected ( e . g ., because the sound waves were reflected off another target within the object ). data collected from the plurality of transducers 404 while the transducers 404 were in a particular scanning plane of the object 410 , for example , may be combined by an ultrasound acquisition component ( e . g ., 116 of fig1 ) and / or reconstructed by an ultrasound image apparatus ( e . g ., 120 in fig1 ) to form a tomography image of targets within the scanning plane . a second computed tomography image may be acquired based upon data detected while the transducers are in a second scanning plane of the object 410 , for example . these computed tomography images may be combined with x - ray images representing similar planes of the object 410 to form one or more combined images ( e . g ., 126 in fig1 ). fig5 is a cross sectional area ( e . g ., taken along line 3 - 3 in fig1 ) of another example object scanning apparatus 500 ( e . g ., 102 in fig1 ). the example scanning apparatus 500 includes an ultrasound component 506 , which may operate as set forth in u . s . patent application no . 20040030227 , bearing ser . no . 10 / 440 , 427 to littrup et al ., the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein . unlike object scanning apparatus 300 in fig3 , the ultrasound component 506 ( e . g ., 306 in fig3 ) may not be in contact with the object 510 ( e . g ., 310 in fig3 or 410 in fig4 ) because the object 510 is submersed in a conductive fluid 512 ( e . g . water ) that allows the sound waves to transfer between the object 510 and the ultrasound component 506 . the fluid 512 may be stored in a compression paddle 518 ( e . g ., 318 in fig3 ) that has walls configured to mitigate fluid flow outside of the compression paddle 518 , and the ultrasound component 506 may be attached to the wall of the compression paddle 518 , for example . additionally , the ultrasound component 506 may be capable of rotating about a scanning plane of the object 510 ( e . g ., in a circular plane into and out of the page ). in this way , a ( single ) rotatable ultrasound component 506 comprising a single transducer , for example , may provide benefits similar to a plurality of transducers ( e . g ., 404 in fig1 ) that are in contact with the object 510 . that is , data from a variety of perspectives may be used to produce one or more computed tomography ultrasound images of the object . in some applications , a rotatable ultrasound component 506 may be better than a plurality of transducers attached to the object because less set up time may be necessary for the procedure ( e . g ., a breast examination ) and / or less discomfort since the transducer may not be pressed against the object 510 ( e . g ., breast tissue ) being examined , for example . it will be appreciated that the rotatable ultrasound component 506 and / or portions of the ultrasound component may also traverse various scanning planes of the object ( e . g ., moving up or down the page ) to produce a plurality of images , each image depicting targets in a different scanning plane of the object , for example . fig6 illustrates an exemplary method 600 of presenting data acquired from two scanning modalities . the method begins at 602 , and data related to an x - ray image and data related to an ultrasound image of the object under examination are acquired such that the ultrasound image depicts a plane of the object that is substantially parallel with a plane of the object depicted in the x - ray image . in one example , the ultrasound image and the x - ray image have spatial coincidence . that is , a plane of at least one x - ray image , created from data acquired by from the x - ray modality , corresponds to a plane of an ultrasound image , created from data acquired by the ultrasound modality , in such a way that the ultrasound image may be overlaid onto the x - ray image or vice - versa . it will be appreciated that such coincidence is not be attainable with disparate equipment ( e . g ., separate x - ray and ultrasound acquisition devices ). similarly , such coincidence would likewise not be attainable where the object under examination is repositioned in a combined x - ray and ultrasound acquisition device ( e . g ., a single device is used , but data acquisition occurs at different times ) because the orientation of the object would be , at least , slightly different when the different data is acquired . nevertheless , while the different modalities ( e . g ., x - ray and ultrasound ) may acquire data concurrently as provided herein , it is not a requisite since the system may maintain the orientation of the object during the examination ( e . g ., the modalities may scan the object consecutively , while the orientation of the object remains substantially fixed ). x - rays are emitted from an x - ray source and detected on a detector array . in one embodiment , the detector array and x - ray source are on diametrically opposing sides of the object , and the x - rays that are detected by the detector array are those that have traversed the object under examination . since some targets within the object may be characteristically different from other targets within the object ( e . g ., have different densities , made of different materials , etc . ), varying amounts of x - rays will traverse different portions of the object . data related to x - rays that are detected by the detector array is reconstructed to form an x - ray image depicting a plane of the object , and targets comprised within the plane . in one example , the object is x - rayed from a plurality of angles to acquire a plurality of two - dimensional ( 2 - d ) images of the object from varying angles , and images corresponding to the respective angles are reconstructed from data related to the detected x - rays . for example , the data may undergo tomosynthesis to produce x - ray images representing various scanning planes of the object under examination . it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the number of images that may be produced may be a function of the number of angles the object is x - rayed from ( e . g ., two angles may allow two images to be produced ). in one embodiment , ultrasound images are acquired based upon one or more transducers of the ultrasound component that are perpendicular to the detector array and emit and / or receive sound waves that have interacted with the object under examination . to acquire a plurality of slices , the transducers and / or the ultrasound component may be adjusted along a trajectory that is substantially perpendicular to the detector array . for example , the transducers may emit and / or detect sound waves in a first scanning plane of the object to acquire data related to sound waves that interact with the object in the first plane , adjust to a second scanning plane , and emit and / or detect a second set of sound waves to acquire data related to sound waves that interact with the object in the second plane . this process may be repeated for multiple scanning planes along the trajectory . data from respective planes may be reconstructed to acquire ultrasound images representing various scanning planes of the object under examination ( e . g ., a first image may depict targets comprised in the first scanning plane , a second image may depict targets comprised in the second scanning plane , etc .). in one embodiment , a computed tomography ultrasound image can be created using a plurality of transducers positioned within a scanning plane of the object . a plurality of transducers may be useful if the object under examination is dense and / or compressed , for example , to improve the image quality of ultrasound images . in one example , the plurality of transducers is positioned in a predetermined scanning plane about the object , and a first set of sound waves is emitted from a first transducer . one or more of the transducers comprising the plurality may detect the first set of sound waves . once the first set of sound waves are detected , a second transducer of the plurality may emit a second set of sound waves , and one or more of the plurality may detect the second set of sound waves . this process may be repeated until a predetermined number of transducers emit sound waves . it will be appreciated that the plurality of transducers may also traverse various scanning planes of the object to produce a plurality of computed tomography images , each image depicting a scanning plane of the object . in another embodiment , the object is submerged in a conductive fluid , and the x - ray images and ultrasound images are acquired while the object is submersed in the fluid . in this way , one or more ultrasound transducers may rotate ( e . g ., in a horizontal scanning plane ) about the object to produce one or more computed tomography ultrasound images . additionally , due to the presence of the conductive fluid , the transducers do not have to be in contact with the object , thereby reducing the time of the examination and / or that discomfort that may be felt when the transducer is pushed against the object . as discussed above , one or more x - ray images may be combined with one or more ultrasound images when the ultrasound and x - ray images are spatially coincident using techniques known to those skilled in the art . in this way , images from two different modalities may be combined into a single image . this may provide doctors with additional data , such as what is below and above a mass depicted in an x - ray image , for example , to assist in determining whether a mass is malignant or benign . the method ends at 606 . fig7 illustrates an example method ( 700 ) of spatial registration . the method begins at 702 , and x - rays that traverse an object under examination are detected at 704 . at 706 , an x - ray image of a plane of the object is generated based upon the detected x - rays . in one example , an x - ray source rotates about a portion of the object under examination and x - ray snapshot ( s ) of the object are taken at predetermined angles . data from the one or more snapshots may be combined and filtered ( e . g ., through tomosynthesis ) to produce one or more images depicting targets comprised within respective scanning planes ( e . g ., each image depicts targets in one scanning plane ). at 708 , waves are emitted into the object , and the waves interact with the object in a plane that is substantially parallel to the plane depicted in the x - ray image . in one example , sound waves travel through the object in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to a center x - ray beam that was emitted from the x - ray source . at 710 , waves that interact with the object in the plane that is substantially parallel to the plane depicted in the x - ray image are detected . in one example , one or more ultrasound images are produced from the detected waves and are combined with the generated x - ray image ( e . g ., if they are spatially coincident ) using algorithm and / or analytic techniques known to those skilled in the art . the image produced by combining the x - ray image ( s ) and the ultrasound image ( s ) may assist a user in detecting of cancer , for example . the method ends at 712 . it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the techniques herein described offer numerous benefits over techniques currently used in the art . for example , since the ultrasound component and the x - ray component produce images in similar planes and both components capture the data while the object has a particular physical position and / or orientation , the information may be more easily fused through coincidence ( e . g ., alignment ) of the planes depicted in the x - ray and ultrasound images . that is , an ultrasound image of a plane of the object can be easily fused with an x - ray image of a similar plane of the object . in some instances , such as where tissue is compressed during the examination , the ability to acquire data from two modalities at once , for example , may reduce the time the tissue is compressed , thereby lessening the duration of the discomfort caused by the compression . additionally , in the cancer screening , for example , the additional data acquired from using two modalities may reduce the number of false positives in the initial screening and mitigate emotional distress . the application has been described with reference to various embodiments . modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading the application . it is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations , including insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims and the equivalents thereof . for example , a , an and / or the may include one or more , but generally is not intended to be limited to one or a single item .	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Human Necessities'?	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'Mechanical Engineering; Lightning; Heating; Weapons; Blasting'?	0.25	8742d1fa56a298cbb183339d048733c83849afa941d1f7098cea0aa3b2ab5d7e	0.080566	0.0065	0.001595	0.000732	0.033691	0.028442
null	fig1 depicts an example scanner 100 . the scanner 100 may be used to scan tissue ( e . g ., a breast ) at a medical center , for example . as illustrated , the scanner 100 typically comprises an object scanning apparatus 102 configured to scan an object ( e . g ., human tissue ). one or more images of the scanned object may be presented on a monitor 128 ( that is part of a desktop or laptop computer ) for human observation . in this way , targets of the object that are not visible to the naked eye ( e . g ., cancer cells comprised within breast tissue ) may be displayed in the one or more images and , ultimately , may be detected by the human observer . the object scanning apparatus 102 is configured to scan an object under examination and transmit data related to the scan to other components of the scanner 100 . the object scanning apparatus 102 comprises an x - ray source 132 and a detector array 138 . the x - ray source 132 is configured to emit fan , cone , wedge , or other shaped x - ray configuration into an examination region 144 of the object scanning apparatus 102 . x - rays that traverse the object under examination ( e . g ., the object in the examination region 144 ) are detected by the detector array 138 located on a diametrically opposing side of the object from the x - ray source 132 . targets ( e . g ., masses , cancer , scar tissue , etc .) within the object ( e . g ., a breast ) may cause various amounts of x - rays to traverse the object ( e . g ., creating areas of high traversal and areas of low traversal within the object ). for example , less radiation may traverse targets with a higher density ( relative to densities of other targets in the object ). it will be appreciated that the changes in traversal may be used to create x - ray images of targets within the object . for example , if breast tissue is scanned by the object scanning apparatus 102 , regions of tightly compacted cells may appear more prominently on an x - ray image than healthy breast cells ( which may be virtually invisible ). in one embodiment , the object scanning apparatus 102 is part of a mammography unit and the object scanning apparatus 102 further comprises a top compression paddle 134 and a bottom compression paddle 136 . a vertical support stand 142 may provide a means for suspending the compression paddles 134 and 136 , the x - ray source 132 , and the detector array 138 above the ground . for example , the vertical support may be seven feet tall so that the compression paddles 134 and 136 align with the height of breast tissue when a person is in a standing position . in one example , the compression paddles 134 and 136 are adjustable along the vertical support 142 to adjust for the varying heights of humans , and a shield 140 may protect a person &# 39 ; s head from exposure to the x - rays . in a mammography unit , for example , the examination region 144 may be comprised between the top compression paddle 134 and the bottom compression paddle 136 . when the object ( e . g ., breast tissue ) is inserted between the top and bottom compression paddles 134 and 136 , the object is compressed ( to even out the tissue and hold the tissue still ). while the object is under compression , x - rays may be emitted from the x - ray source 132 . to mitigate discomfort caused by the compression , the tissue may be compressed for a short period of time ( e . g ., approximately 10 seconds ). x - rays that traverse the breast while it is compressed are detected by the detector array 138 that is located within and / or below the bottom compression paddle 136 . the object scanning apparatus 102 may also comprise an ultrasound component 146 . the ultrasound component 146 may be configured to emit a plurality of sound waves , electromagnetic waves , light waves , or other image producing transmission into the examination region 144 , and / or detect emitted sound waves , for example , that have interacted with the object , in such a manner that the detected sounds waves can be used to generate an ultrasound image of object that depicts a plane of the object substantially parallel to a plane depicted in an x - ray image of the object . for example , in mammography , a horizontal slice of breast tissue is depicted in an x - ray image , and the ultrasound component 146 may be configured to emit and / or detect sound waves in such a manner that it ultimately causes the resulting ultrasound image ( s ) to also depict a horizontal slice of breast tissue in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the x - ray image . in one example , the ultrasound component 146 emits sound waves in a direction substantially perpendicular to a trajectory of a center x - ray beam associated with the x - ray source 132 and / or perpendicular to a detector plane formed by the detector array 138 . it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the terms “ center x - ray beam ” as used herein refers to an x - ray beam that impacts the detector array at a ninety degree angle ( e . g ., the center beam of a fan , cone , wedge , or other shaped x - ray configuration ). it will be appreciated that the ultrasound component 146 may be configured to detect transmission waves and / or reflection waves depending upon its configuration . in one example , a single transducer 148 of the ultrasound component 146 both emits sound waves and detects those sound waves that have reflected off targets in the object . in another example , one transducer 148 emits sound waves and another transducer , positioned on a diametrically opposing side of the object , detects sound waves that have traversed the object under examination . it will also be appreciated that the ultrasound component 146 and / or components of the ultrasound component 146 ( e . g ., one or more transducers 148 comprised within the ultrasound component 146 ) may be configured to adjust ( e . g ., vertically ) relative to the object to acquire data that may used to create a plurality of images , respective images depicting various parallel planes of the object . in this way , a plurality of ultrasound images may be formed , each ultrasound image of the plurality depicting a scanning of the object that is both substantially parallel to the planes depicted in the other ultrasound images of the plurality of images and substantially parallel to the plane depicted in the x - ray image . in one example , a doctor may take a series of ultrasound images , each depicting a unique slice of the object , for example , and compare it to an x - ray image ( e . g ., depicting the entire object collapsed or flattened in one plane ) to determine what is below , above , and / or to the side of a mass depicted in the x - ray image . in the example scanner 100 , an x - ray data acquisition component 104 is operably coupled to the object scanning apparatus 102 and is configured to collect information and data related to x - rays that were detected by the detector array 138 . the x - ray data acquisition component 104 may also be used to compile the collected data ( e . g ., from multiple perspectives of the object ) into one or more x - ray projections 106 of the object . the illustrated example scanner 100 also comprises an x - ray reconstructor 108 that is operably coupled to the x - ray data acquisition component 104 , and is configured to receive the x - ray projections 106 from the x - ray data acquisition component 104 and generate 2 - d x - ray image ( s ) 110 indicative of the scanned object using a suitable analytical , iterative , and / or other reconstruction technique ( e . g ., backprojection from projection data space to image data ). the x - ray image ( s ) 110 illustrate the latitudinal dimension ( e . g ., orthogonal to a center x - ray beam and parallel to the detector array ) of the object . that is , the images may not depict the vertical height , for example , of a target inside an object when x - rays are emitted from above the object under examination . the example scanner 100 also comprises an ultrasound acquisition component 116 that is operably coupled to the object scanning apparatus 102 and is configured to collect information and data related to sounds waves that are detected by the ultrasound component 146 . the ultrasound acquisition component 116 may also be configured to compile the collected data into projection space data 118 . as an example , data from a plurality of transducers positioned about the object may be compiled into projection space data 118 . in the example scanner 100 , an ultrasound image apparatus 120 is operably coupled to the ultrasound acquisition component 116 , and is configured to receive the projection space data 118 from the ultrasound acquisition component 116 and generate ultrasound image ( s ) 122 . that is , ultrasound image apparatus is configured to convert sound waves into one or more images 122 using techniques known to those skilled in the art ( e . g ., beam forming techniques ). it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the one or more 2 - d x - ray images 110 and the one or more ultrasound images 122 depict substantially parallel planes of the object under examination . in another embodiment , the x - ray source 132 and / or the detector array 138 may be configured to vary their relative position to one another . for example , the x - ray source 132 may be configured to rotate about a portion of the object under examination ( e . g ., 20 degrees left and right of center ). in this way , data from a variety of perspectives ( e . g ., angles ) of the object can be collected from a single scan of the object . the data from the variety of perspectives ( e . g ., which may be volumetric data representative of the volumetric space of the object since it is acquired from a plurality of perspectives ) may be combined or synthesized by the x - ray reconstructor 108 using known digital averaging and / or filtering techniques ( e . g ., tomosynthesis ). each image 110 , for example , may be focused on a scanning plane ( e . g ., a horizontal slice ) of the object , which is parallel to the detector plane , and depicts targets within a particular longitudinal range . in this way , a substantially three - dimensional image of the object under examination may be formed by stacking the two - dimensional images 110 . in another embodiment , the ultrasound component 146 is configured to acquire data from a plurality of angles along a similar scanning plane of the object . in this way , a computed tomography ultrasound ( e . g ., similar to a computed tomography scan using x - rays ) of the object may be acquired , for example . ultrasound data may be acquired from a plurality of angles by a rotatable ultrasound component and / or an ultrasound component that comprises a plurality of transducers situated about the object ( e . g ., forming an arc about the object ), for example . it will be appreciated that where the ultrasound component 146 acquires data from a plurality of angles , the ultrasound image apparatus 120 may use more a suitable analytical , iterative , and / or other reconstruction technique ( e . g ., similar to the techniques used to generate computed tomography images from x - ray data ). in one example , the ultrasound image apparatus 120 may also place emphasis on particular types of data generated based upon the detected sound waves ( e . g ., elastography , reflection , transmission , etc .). in some instances , the x - ray images 110 and the ultrasound images 122 may be spatially coincident to one another . that is , the plane of the object depicted in at least one x - ray image may correspond to a plane of the object depicted in at least one ultrasound image , in such a way that the ultrasound image may be overlaid onto the x - ray image or vice - versa . for example , if the x - ray images 110 depict five different planes of object ( e . g ., each plain representing a horizontal slice ⅕ the width of the total object ), the ultrasound component and / or components of the ultrasound component may be configured to adjust so as to cause five ultrasound images 122 to be produced . each of the five ultrasound images 122 produced may have spatial coincidence with one of the x - ray images 110 , for example . the illustrated example scanner 100 further comprises a spatial registration component 124 . the spatial registration component 124 is in operable communication with the ultrasound image apparatus 120 and the x - ray reconstructor component 108 . the spatial registration component 124 is configured to combine the one or more x - ray images 110 with one or more ultrasound images 122 to form one or more combined images 126 ( through the process of fusion ) when the x - ray image ( s ) and the ultrasound image ( s ) are spatially coincident ( e . g ., by identifying corresponding portions of the x - ray image and the ultrasound image , or more generally , by identifying corresponding portions of the x - ray data and the ultrasound data ). that is , the spatial registration component 124 is configured to combine complementary information from two modalities ( e . g ., an x - ray image 110 and an ultrasound image 122 ) through suitable analytical techniques ( e . g ., retrospective registration algorithms , algorithms based on entropy , etc .). it will be understood to those skilled in the art that other configures and components for a scanner are also contemplated . in one example , a single x - ray image 110 ( e . g ., depicting a collapsed or flattened representation of the object ) and a single ultrasound image 122 ( e . g ., depicting an un - flattened slice of the object parallel to the flattened x - ray image ) is produced from data acquired from the object scanning apparatus 102 and the two images are visually compared ( e . g ., the x - ray image 110 and the ultrasound image 122 are not combined by the spatial registration component 124 ). therefore , the scanner may not comprise a spatial registration component 124 , for example . fig2 illustrates example scanning planes 200 ( e . g ., horizontal slices ) of an object 210 that may be depicted in x - ray images 202 and / or ultrasound images 204 . when x - ray data ( e . g ., which may be volumetric data representative of a volumetric space of the object ) is acquired at a variety of perspectives as discussed above ( e . g ., an x - ray source is varied with respect to an x - ray detector array ) and combined and / or filtered ( e . g ., using tomosynthesis techniques ) x - ray images depicting the illustrated example scanning planes 200 may be produced . it will be appreciated that the x - ray images 202 generally depict the various scanning planes 200 in a flattened latitudinal dimension ( e . g ., x , y ), such that targets in a scanning plane are depicted in the image generally having no discernable z coordinate . ultrasound images 204 depicting similar scanning planes 200 ( e . g ., three - dimensional slices ) to those depicted in the x - ray images may also be produced . the ultrasound images 204 may depict the scanning planes 200 in a flattened latitudinal dimension or in an unflattened latitudinal dimension ( e . g ., depicting x , y , and z dimensions ). the example ultrasound images 204 depict the scanning planes in an unflattened latitudinal dimension . that is , they are depicted as having x , y and z dimensions . unflattened ultrasound images may be useful to more easily determine the z coordinate of a target in the object ( e . g ., relative to comparing a plurality of flattened x - ray and / or flattened ultrasound images depicting various scanning planes ), for example . once x - ray images 202 and ultrasound images 204 are acquired , x - ray and ultrasound image that are spatially coincident may be combined ( e . g ., by a spatial registration component similar to 124 in fig1 ) to form a combined image . that is , an x - ray image depicting a particular plane may be combined with an ultrasound image depicting a similar plane to form a combined image . it will be appreciated that while the images may be combined to form combined images , the ultrasound images 204 and the x - ray images 202 may also remain separated and viewed independently ( e . g ., manually by a physician ), for example . it will also be appreciated that the ultrasound images 204 and the x - ray images may not be spatially coincident ( e . g ., because they depict different planes of the object 210 ). nevertheless , they may provide helpful ( diagnosis ) information , such as the location of a mass / tumor in the x , y and z direction , for example . fig3 is a cross sectional area ( e . g ., taken along line 3 - 3 in fig1 ) of an example object scanning apparatus 300 ( e . g ., 102 in fig1 ). the object scanning apparatus 300 comprises an x - ray source 302 ( e . g ., 132 in fig1 ), a detector array 304 ( e . g ., 138 in fig1 ), and an ultrasound component 306 ( e . g ., 146 in fig1 ). in the illustrated example , the x - ray source 302 is affixed to a guide mechanism 308 that is configured to rotate the x - ray source 302 about a portion of an object 310 under examination ( e . g ., 20 degrees left and / or right of center ). the guide mechanism 308 may be suspended from a vertical support stand 312 ( e . g ., 142 in fig1 ). it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the guide mechanism 308 may be unnecessary in certain applications , such as those in which data is not collected from a variety of perspectives , the x - ray source 302 is stationary while the detector array rotates 304 , etc . x - rays 314 are emitted from the x - ray source 302 and traverse the object 310 under examination . x - rays 314 that traverse the object 310 are detected by the detector array 304 positioned on a diametrically opposing side of the object 310 from the x - ray source 302 . in the illustrated example , the object 310 ( e . g ., tissue ) is compressed between a top compression paddle 316 and a bottom compression paddle 318 ( similar to those used on mammography apparatuses ) to condense and / or even out the object ( e . g ., to promote image quality ). the ultrasound component 306 is configured to send and / or receive sound waves 320 that interact with the object 310 . in the example scanning apparatus , the ultrasound component 306 is positioned between the top compression paddle 316 and the bottom compression paddle 318 ( at least one of which is configured to selectively receive the ultrasound component ) and is configured to contact the object 310 under examination . using this configuration ( e . g ., the ultrasound component 306 perpendicular to the detector array 304 and / or parallel to a center x - ray beam 326 ), the ultrasound component 306 may acquire data relating to the sound waves while the detector array 304 is acquiring data related to the x - rays since the two modalities occupy different space ( e . g ., the detector array occupies space below the object 310 and the ultrasound component 306 occupies space to the side of the object 310 ). in one example , the ultrasound component 306 is attached to , and movable along , one or both of the compression paddles 316 and 318 . stated differently , the ultrasound component is configured to be selectively coupled to at least one of the compression paddles 316 and 318 . for example , as illustrated , one or both of the compression paddles 316 and 318 comprise tracks ( e . g ., along their horizontal surface ) and the ultrasound component 306 slides along the tracks ( e . g ., substantially into and out of the page at a midline of the breast as further illustrated in fig4 ) based upon the size of the object 310 under examination , for example , to come into contact with and / or move away from the object 310 . the ultrasound component 306 may comprise one or more transducers 322 ( e . g ., 148 in fig1 ). in one example , the transducers 322 are single element transducers ( e . g ., similar to endo - transducers ) that are affixed to a guide mechanism 324 . the transducers may rotate about the guide mechanism 324 and / or move vertically along it , for example . in this way , ultrasound scans may be isolated to a particular scanning plane ( e . g ., horizontal slice ) of the object 310 under examination . for example , data that is acquired while the one or more transducers 322 are in the upper elevation of object 310 may relate to the upper vertical portion of the object 310 , and data acquired while the one or more transducers 322 are in the lower vertical portion of the object 310 may relate to the lower vertical portion of the object 310 . data acquired from the particular portion of the object 310 that was isolated by the transducers may be reconstructed to form an image , depicting targets comprised in a particular scanning plane of the object 310 which is parallel to the detector array 304 and parallel to a plane depicted in the x - ray image . while the illustrated object scanning apparatus 300 illustrates two transducers 322 ( e . g ., one on each side of the object 310 ) it will be understood to those skilled in that art that a different number of transducers 322 may be used . additionally , the sound waves may be emitted and / or detected from another type of ultrasound mechanism , such as a multi - element probe , for example . it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the data that is acquired from substantially vertical x - rays 314 may be compiled ( e . g ., through reconstruction techniques ) to form one or more x - ray images ( e . g ., 110 in fig1 ) that depict a scanning plane of the object 310 , if the position of the x - ray source is rotated relative to the x - ray detector during the scan ( e . g ., to acquire data from a variety of perspectives of the object ). additionally , the x - ray images may be combined ( e . g ., fused ) with one or more corresponding ultrasound images to form a combined image ( e . g ., 126 in fig1 ). in one example , the corresponding ultrasound image is representative of data acquired while the one or more transducers were located in the scanning plane corresponding to the x - ray image . fig4 illustrates the cross sectional area ( e . g ., taken along line 4 - 4 in fig1 ) of an ultrasound component 402 comprising a plurality of transducers 404 that may be arranged about the object in a particular scanning plane ( e . g ., to acquire a computed tomography ultrasound image along a plane of the object ). a plurality of transducers 404 may be used , for example , to mitigate false positives in ultrasound images and / or improve image quality . in one example , a first transducer 406 of the plurality of transducers 404 may emit a first set of sound waves and the plurality of transducers 406 ( e . g ., including the first transducer ) may listen for and / or detect the first set of sound waves . a second transducer 408 may emit a second set of sound waves once the first set of sound waves is detected , for example . after a predetermined number of transducers has emitted sound waves , for example , the plurality of transducers may reposition themselves along the object 410 ( e . g ., into or out of the page along a guide mechanism similar to 324 in fig3 ). in this way , the transducers 404 may detect sound waves that reflect and / or traverse the object 410 under examination , whereas a single transducer may not as thoroughly detect sound waves that traverse the object 410 under examination , for example . additionally , using a plurality of transducers 404 may minimize artifacts ( e . g ., white streaks ) in an image caused by areas of the object 410 that sound waves did not reach and / or areas where a weak signal was detected ( e . g ., because the sound waves were reflected off another target within the object ). data collected from the plurality of transducers 404 while the transducers 404 were in a particular scanning plane of the object 410 , for example , may be combined by an ultrasound acquisition component ( e . g ., 116 of fig1 ) and / or reconstructed by an ultrasound image apparatus ( e . g ., 120 in fig1 ) to form a tomography image of targets within the scanning plane . a second computed tomography image may be acquired based upon data detected while the transducers are in a second scanning plane of the object 410 , for example . these computed tomography images may be combined with x - ray images representing similar planes of the object 410 to form one or more combined images ( e . g ., 126 in fig1 ). fig5 is a cross sectional area ( e . g ., taken along line 3 - 3 in fig1 ) of another example object scanning apparatus 500 ( e . g ., 102 in fig1 ). the example scanning apparatus 500 includes an ultrasound component 506 , which may operate as set forth in u . s . patent application no . 20040030227 , bearing ser . no . 10 / 440 , 427 to littrup et al ., the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein . unlike object scanning apparatus 300 in fig3 , the ultrasound component 506 ( e . g ., 306 in fig3 ) may not be in contact with the object 510 ( e . g ., 310 in fig3 or 410 in fig4 ) because the object 510 is submersed in a conductive fluid 512 ( e . g . water ) that allows the sound waves to transfer between the object 510 and the ultrasound component 506 . the fluid 512 may be stored in a compression paddle 518 ( e . g ., 318 in fig3 ) that has walls configured to mitigate fluid flow outside of the compression paddle 518 , and the ultrasound component 506 may be attached to the wall of the compression paddle 518 , for example . additionally , the ultrasound component 506 may be capable of rotating about a scanning plane of the object 510 ( e . g ., in a circular plane into and out of the page ). in this way , a ( single ) rotatable ultrasound component 506 comprising a single transducer , for example , may provide benefits similar to a plurality of transducers ( e . g ., 404 in fig1 ) that are in contact with the object 510 . that is , data from a variety of perspectives may be used to produce one or more computed tomography ultrasound images of the object . in some applications , a rotatable ultrasound component 506 may be better than a plurality of transducers attached to the object because less set up time may be necessary for the procedure ( e . g ., a breast examination ) and / or less discomfort since the transducer may not be pressed against the object 510 ( e . g ., breast tissue ) being examined , for example . it will be appreciated that the rotatable ultrasound component 506 and / or portions of the ultrasound component may also traverse various scanning planes of the object ( e . g ., moving up or down the page ) to produce a plurality of images , each image depicting targets in a different scanning plane of the object , for example . fig6 illustrates an exemplary method 600 of presenting data acquired from two scanning modalities . the method begins at 602 , and data related to an x - ray image and data related to an ultrasound image of the object under examination are acquired such that the ultrasound image depicts a plane of the object that is substantially parallel with a plane of the object depicted in the x - ray image . in one example , the ultrasound image and the x - ray image have spatial coincidence . that is , a plane of at least one x - ray image , created from data acquired by from the x - ray modality , corresponds to a plane of an ultrasound image , created from data acquired by the ultrasound modality , in such a way that the ultrasound image may be overlaid onto the x - ray image or vice - versa . it will be appreciated that such coincidence is not be attainable with disparate equipment ( e . g ., separate x - ray and ultrasound acquisition devices ). similarly , such coincidence would likewise not be attainable where the object under examination is repositioned in a combined x - ray and ultrasound acquisition device ( e . g ., a single device is used , but data acquisition occurs at different times ) because the orientation of the object would be , at least , slightly different when the different data is acquired . nevertheless , while the different modalities ( e . g ., x - ray and ultrasound ) may acquire data concurrently as provided herein , it is not a requisite since the system may maintain the orientation of the object during the examination ( e . g ., the modalities may scan the object consecutively , while the orientation of the object remains substantially fixed ). x - rays are emitted from an x - ray source and detected on a detector array . in one embodiment , the detector array and x - ray source are on diametrically opposing sides of the object , and the x - rays that are detected by the detector array are those that have traversed the object under examination . since some targets within the object may be characteristically different from other targets within the object ( e . g ., have different densities , made of different materials , etc . ), varying amounts of x - rays will traverse different portions of the object . data related to x - rays that are detected by the detector array is reconstructed to form an x - ray image depicting a plane of the object , and targets comprised within the plane . in one example , the object is x - rayed from a plurality of angles to acquire a plurality of two - dimensional ( 2 - d ) images of the object from varying angles , and images corresponding to the respective angles are reconstructed from data related to the detected x - rays . for example , the data may undergo tomosynthesis to produce x - ray images representing various scanning planes of the object under examination . it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the number of images that may be produced may be a function of the number of angles the object is x - rayed from ( e . g ., two angles may allow two images to be produced ). in one embodiment , ultrasound images are acquired based upon one or more transducers of the ultrasound component that are perpendicular to the detector array and emit and / or receive sound waves that have interacted with the object under examination . to acquire a plurality of slices , the transducers and / or the ultrasound component may be adjusted along a trajectory that is substantially perpendicular to the detector array . for example , the transducers may emit and / or detect sound waves in a first scanning plane of the object to acquire data related to sound waves that interact with the object in the first plane , adjust to a second scanning plane , and emit and / or detect a second set of sound waves to acquire data related to sound waves that interact with the object in the second plane . this process may be repeated for multiple scanning planes along the trajectory . data from respective planes may be reconstructed to acquire ultrasound images representing various scanning planes of the object under examination ( e . g ., a first image may depict targets comprised in the first scanning plane , a second image may depict targets comprised in the second scanning plane , etc .). in one embodiment , a computed tomography ultrasound image can be created using a plurality of transducers positioned within a scanning plane of the object . a plurality of transducers may be useful if the object under examination is dense and / or compressed , for example , to improve the image quality of ultrasound images . in one example , the plurality of transducers is positioned in a predetermined scanning plane about the object , and a first set of sound waves is emitted from a first transducer . one or more of the transducers comprising the plurality may detect the first set of sound waves . once the first set of sound waves are detected , a second transducer of the plurality may emit a second set of sound waves , and one or more of the plurality may detect the second set of sound waves . this process may be repeated until a predetermined number of transducers emit sound waves . it will be appreciated that the plurality of transducers may also traverse various scanning planes of the object to produce a plurality of computed tomography images , each image depicting a scanning plane of the object . in another embodiment , the object is submerged in a conductive fluid , and the x - ray images and ultrasound images are acquired while the object is submersed in the fluid . in this way , one or more ultrasound transducers may rotate ( e . g ., in a horizontal scanning plane ) about the object to produce one or more computed tomography ultrasound images . additionally , due to the presence of the conductive fluid , the transducers do not have to be in contact with the object , thereby reducing the time of the examination and / or that discomfort that may be felt when the transducer is pushed against the object . as discussed above , one or more x - ray images may be combined with one or more ultrasound images when the ultrasound and x - ray images are spatially coincident using techniques known to those skilled in the art . in this way , images from two different modalities may be combined into a single image . this may provide doctors with additional data , such as what is below and above a mass depicted in an x - ray image , for example , to assist in determining whether a mass is malignant or benign . the method ends at 606 . fig7 illustrates an example method ( 700 ) of spatial registration . the method begins at 702 , and x - rays that traverse an object under examination are detected at 704 . at 706 , an x - ray image of a plane of the object is generated based upon the detected x - rays . in one example , an x - ray source rotates about a portion of the object under examination and x - ray snapshot ( s ) of the object are taken at predetermined angles . data from the one or more snapshots may be combined and filtered ( e . g ., through tomosynthesis ) to produce one or more images depicting targets comprised within respective scanning planes ( e . g ., each image depicts targets in one scanning plane ). at 708 , waves are emitted into the object , and the waves interact with the object in a plane that is substantially parallel to the plane depicted in the x - ray image . in one example , sound waves travel through the object in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to a center x - ray beam that was emitted from the x - ray source . at 710 , waves that interact with the object in the plane that is substantially parallel to the plane depicted in the x - ray image are detected . in one example , one or more ultrasound images are produced from the detected waves and are combined with the generated x - ray image ( e . g ., if they are spatially coincident ) using algorithm and / or analytic techniques known to those skilled in the art . the image produced by combining the x - ray image ( s ) and the ultrasound image ( s ) may assist a user in detecting of cancer , for example . the method ends at 712 . it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the techniques herein described offer numerous benefits over techniques currently used in the art . for example , since the ultrasound component and the x - ray component produce images in similar planes and both components capture the data while the object has a particular physical position and / or orientation , the information may be more easily fused through coincidence ( e . g ., alignment ) of the planes depicted in the x - ray and ultrasound images . that is , an ultrasound image of a plane of the object can be easily fused with an x - ray image of a similar plane of the object . in some instances , such as where tissue is compressed during the examination , the ability to acquire data from two modalities at once , for example , may reduce the time the tissue is compressed , thereby lessening the duration of the discomfort caused by the compression . additionally , in the cancer screening , for example , the additional data acquired from using two modalities may reduce the number of false positives in the initial screening and mitigate emotional distress . the application has been described with reference to various embodiments . modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading the application . it is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations , including insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims and the equivalents thereof . for example , a , an and / or the may include one or more , but generally is not intended to be limited to one or a single item .	Should this patent be classified under 'Human Necessities'?	Is 'Physics' the correct technical category for the patent?	0.25	8742d1fa56a298cbb183339d048733c83849afa941d1f7098cea0aa3b2ab5d7e	0.042725	0.259766	0.001457	0.074707	0.014954	0.164063
null	fig1 depicts an example scanner 100 . the scanner 100 may be used to scan tissue ( e . g ., a breast ) at a medical center , for example . as illustrated , the scanner 100 typically comprises an object scanning apparatus 102 configured to scan an object ( e . g ., human tissue ). one or more images of the scanned object may be presented on a monitor 128 ( that is part of a desktop or laptop computer ) for human observation . in this way , targets of the object that are not visible to the naked eye ( e . g ., cancer cells comprised within breast tissue ) may be displayed in the one or more images and , ultimately , may be detected by the human observer . the object scanning apparatus 102 is configured to scan an object under examination and transmit data related to the scan to other components of the scanner 100 . the object scanning apparatus 102 comprises an x - ray source 132 and a detector array 138 . the x - ray source 132 is configured to emit fan , cone , wedge , or other shaped x - ray configuration into an examination region 144 of the object scanning apparatus 102 . x - rays that traverse the object under examination ( e . g ., the object in the examination region 144 ) are detected by the detector array 138 located on a diametrically opposing side of the object from the x - ray source 132 . targets ( e . g ., masses , cancer , scar tissue , etc .) within the object ( e . g ., a breast ) may cause various amounts of x - rays to traverse the object ( e . g ., creating areas of high traversal and areas of low traversal within the object ). for example , less radiation may traverse targets with a higher density ( relative to densities of other targets in the object ). it will be appreciated that the changes in traversal may be used to create x - ray images of targets within the object . for example , if breast tissue is scanned by the object scanning apparatus 102 , regions of tightly compacted cells may appear more prominently on an x - ray image than healthy breast cells ( which may be virtually invisible ). in one embodiment , the object scanning apparatus 102 is part of a mammography unit and the object scanning apparatus 102 further comprises a top compression paddle 134 and a bottom compression paddle 136 . a vertical support stand 142 may provide a means for suspending the compression paddles 134 and 136 , the x - ray source 132 , and the detector array 138 above the ground . for example , the vertical support may be seven feet tall so that the compression paddles 134 and 136 align with the height of breast tissue when a person is in a standing position . in one example , the compression paddles 134 and 136 are adjustable along the vertical support 142 to adjust for the varying heights of humans , and a shield 140 may protect a person &# 39 ; s head from exposure to the x - rays . in a mammography unit , for example , the examination region 144 may be comprised between the top compression paddle 134 and the bottom compression paddle 136 . when the object ( e . g ., breast tissue ) is inserted between the top and bottom compression paddles 134 and 136 , the object is compressed ( to even out the tissue and hold the tissue still ). while the object is under compression , x - rays may be emitted from the x - ray source 132 . to mitigate discomfort caused by the compression , the tissue may be compressed for a short period of time ( e . g ., approximately 10 seconds ). x - rays that traverse the breast while it is compressed are detected by the detector array 138 that is located within and / or below the bottom compression paddle 136 . the object scanning apparatus 102 may also comprise an ultrasound component 146 . the ultrasound component 146 may be configured to emit a plurality of sound waves , electromagnetic waves , light waves , or other image producing transmission into the examination region 144 , and / or detect emitted sound waves , for example , that have interacted with the object , in such a manner that the detected sounds waves can be used to generate an ultrasound image of object that depicts a plane of the object substantially parallel to a plane depicted in an x - ray image of the object . for example , in mammography , a horizontal slice of breast tissue is depicted in an x - ray image , and the ultrasound component 146 may be configured to emit and / or detect sound waves in such a manner that it ultimately causes the resulting ultrasound image ( s ) to also depict a horizontal slice of breast tissue in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the x - ray image . in one example , the ultrasound component 146 emits sound waves in a direction substantially perpendicular to a trajectory of a center x - ray beam associated with the x - ray source 132 and / or perpendicular to a detector plane formed by the detector array 138 . it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the terms “ center x - ray beam ” as used herein refers to an x - ray beam that impacts the detector array at a ninety degree angle ( e . g ., the center beam of a fan , cone , wedge , or other shaped x - ray configuration ). it will be appreciated that the ultrasound component 146 may be configured to detect transmission waves and / or reflection waves depending upon its configuration . in one example , a single transducer 148 of the ultrasound component 146 both emits sound waves and detects those sound waves that have reflected off targets in the object . in another example , one transducer 148 emits sound waves and another transducer , positioned on a diametrically opposing side of the object , detects sound waves that have traversed the object under examination . it will also be appreciated that the ultrasound component 146 and / or components of the ultrasound component 146 ( e . g ., one or more transducers 148 comprised within the ultrasound component 146 ) may be configured to adjust ( e . g ., vertically ) relative to the object to acquire data that may used to create a plurality of images , respective images depicting various parallel planes of the object . in this way , a plurality of ultrasound images may be formed , each ultrasound image of the plurality depicting a scanning of the object that is both substantially parallel to the planes depicted in the other ultrasound images of the plurality of images and substantially parallel to the plane depicted in the x - ray image . in one example , a doctor may take a series of ultrasound images , each depicting a unique slice of the object , for example , and compare it to an x - ray image ( e . g ., depicting the entire object collapsed or flattened in one plane ) to determine what is below , above , and / or to the side of a mass depicted in the x - ray image . in the example scanner 100 , an x - ray data acquisition component 104 is operably coupled to the object scanning apparatus 102 and is configured to collect information and data related to x - rays that were detected by the detector array 138 . the x - ray data acquisition component 104 may also be used to compile the collected data ( e . g ., from multiple perspectives of the object ) into one or more x - ray projections 106 of the object . the illustrated example scanner 100 also comprises an x - ray reconstructor 108 that is operably coupled to the x - ray data acquisition component 104 , and is configured to receive the x - ray projections 106 from the x - ray data acquisition component 104 and generate 2 - d x - ray image ( s ) 110 indicative of the scanned object using a suitable analytical , iterative , and / or other reconstruction technique ( e . g ., backprojection from projection data space to image data ). the x - ray image ( s ) 110 illustrate the latitudinal dimension ( e . g ., orthogonal to a center x - ray beam and parallel to the detector array ) of the object . that is , the images may not depict the vertical height , for example , of a target inside an object when x - rays are emitted from above the object under examination . the example scanner 100 also comprises an ultrasound acquisition component 116 that is operably coupled to the object scanning apparatus 102 and is configured to collect information and data related to sounds waves that are detected by the ultrasound component 146 . the ultrasound acquisition component 116 may also be configured to compile the collected data into projection space data 118 . as an example , data from a plurality of transducers positioned about the object may be compiled into projection space data 118 . in the example scanner 100 , an ultrasound image apparatus 120 is operably coupled to the ultrasound acquisition component 116 , and is configured to receive the projection space data 118 from the ultrasound acquisition component 116 and generate ultrasound image ( s ) 122 . that is , ultrasound image apparatus is configured to convert sound waves into one or more images 122 using techniques known to those skilled in the art ( e . g ., beam forming techniques ). it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the one or more 2 - d x - ray images 110 and the one or more ultrasound images 122 depict substantially parallel planes of the object under examination . in another embodiment , the x - ray source 132 and / or the detector array 138 may be configured to vary their relative position to one another . for example , the x - ray source 132 may be configured to rotate about a portion of the object under examination ( e . g ., 20 degrees left and right of center ). in this way , data from a variety of perspectives ( e . g ., angles ) of the object can be collected from a single scan of the object . the data from the variety of perspectives ( e . g ., which may be volumetric data representative of the volumetric space of the object since it is acquired from a plurality of perspectives ) may be combined or synthesized by the x - ray reconstructor 108 using known digital averaging and / or filtering techniques ( e . g ., tomosynthesis ). each image 110 , for example , may be focused on a scanning plane ( e . g ., a horizontal slice ) of the object , which is parallel to the detector plane , and depicts targets within a particular longitudinal range . in this way , a substantially three - dimensional image of the object under examination may be formed by stacking the two - dimensional images 110 . in another embodiment , the ultrasound component 146 is configured to acquire data from a plurality of angles along a similar scanning plane of the object . in this way , a computed tomography ultrasound ( e . g ., similar to a computed tomography scan using x - rays ) of the object may be acquired , for example . ultrasound data may be acquired from a plurality of angles by a rotatable ultrasound component and / or an ultrasound component that comprises a plurality of transducers situated about the object ( e . g ., forming an arc about the object ), for example . it will be appreciated that where the ultrasound component 146 acquires data from a plurality of angles , the ultrasound image apparatus 120 may use more a suitable analytical , iterative , and / or other reconstruction technique ( e . g ., similar to the techniques used to generate computed tomography images from x - ray data ). in one example , the ultrasound image apparatus 120 may also place emphasis on particular types of data generated based upon the detected sound waves ( e . g ., elastography , reflection , transmission , etc .). in some instances , the x - ray images 110 and the ultrasound images 122 may be spatially coincident to one another . that is , the plane of the object depicted in at least one x - ray image may correspond to a plane of the object depicted in at least one ultrasound image , in such a way that the ultrasound image may be overlaid onto the x - ray image or vice - versa . for example , if the x - ray images 110 depict five different planes of object ( e . g ., each plain representing a horizontal slice ⅕ the width of the total object ), the ultrasound component and / or components of the ultrasound component may be configured to adjust so as to cause five ultrasound images 122 to be produced . each of the five ultrasound images 122 produced may have spatial coincidence with one of the x - ray images 110 , for example . the illustrated example scanner 100 further comprises a spatial registration component 124 . the spatial registration component 124 is in operable communication with the ultrasound image apparatus 120 and the x - ray reconstructor component 108 . the spatial registration component 124 is configured to combine the one or more x - ray images 110 with one or more ultrasound images 122 to form one or more combined images 126 ( through the process of fusion ) when the x - ray image ( s ) and the ultrasound image ( s ) are spatially coincident ( e . g ., by identifying corresponding portions of the x - ray image and the ultrasound image , or more generally , by identifying corresponding portions of the x - ray data and the ultrasound data ). that is , the spatial registration component 124 is configured to combine complementary information from two modalities ( e . g ., an x - ray image 110 and an ultrasound image 122 ) through suitable analytical techniques ( e . g ., retrospective registration algorithms , algorithms based on entropy , etc .). it will be understood to those skilled in the art that other configures and components for a scanner are also contemplated . in one example , a single x - ray image 110 ( e . g ., depicting a collapsed or flattened representation of the object ) and a single ultrasound image 122 ( e . g ., depicting an un - flattened slice of the object parallel to the flattened x - ray image ) is produced from data acquired from the object scanning apparatus 102 and the two images are visually compared ( e . g ., the x - ray image 110 and the ultrasound image 122 are not combined by the spatial registration component 124 ). therefore , the scanner may not comprise a spatial registration component 124 , for example . fig2 illustrates example scanning planes 200 ( e . g ., horizontal slices ) of an object 210 that may be depicted in x - ray images 202 and / or ultrasound images 204 . when x - ray data ( e . g ., which may be volumetric data representative of a volumetric space of the object ) is acquired at a variety of perspectives as discussed above ( e . g ., an x - ray source is varied with respect to an x - ray detector array ) and combined and / or filtered ( e . g ., using tomosynthesis techniques ) x - ray images depicting the illustrated example scanning planes 200 may be produced . it will be appreciated that the x - ray images 202 generally depict the various scanning planes 200 in a flattened latitudinal dimension ( e . g ., x , y ), such that targets in a scanning plane are depicted in the image generally having no discernable z coordinate . ultrasound images 204 depicting similar scanning planes 200 ( e . g ., three - dimensional slices ) to those depicted in the x - ray images may also be produced . the ultrasound images 204 may depict the scanning planes 200 in a flattened latitudinal dimension or in an unflattened latitudinal dimension ( e . g ., depicting x , y , and z dimensions ). the example ultrasound images 204 depict the scanning planes in an unflattened latitudinal dimension . that is , they are depicted as having x , y and z dimensions . unflattened ultrasound images may be useful to more easily determine the z coordinate of a target in the object ( e . g ., relative to comparing a plurality of flattened x - ray and / or flattened ultrasound images depicting various scanning planes ), for example . once x - ray images 202 and ultrasound images 204 are acquired , x - ray and ultrasound image that are spatially coincident may be combined ( e . g ., by a spatial registration component similar to 124 in fig1 ) to form a combined image . that is , an x - ray image depicting a particular plane may be combined with an ultrasound image depicting a similar plane to form a combined image . it will be appreciated that while the images may be combined to form combined images , the ultrasound images 204 and the x - ray images 202 may also remain separated and viewed independently ( e . g ., manually by a physician ), for example . it will also be appreciated that the ultrasound images 204 and the x - ray images may not be spatially coincident ( e . g ., because they depict different planes of the object 210 ). nevertheless , they may provide helpful ( diagnosis ) information , such as the location of a mass / tumor in the x , y and z direction , for example . fig3 is a cross sectional area ( e . g ., taken along line 3 - 3 in fig1 ) of an example object scanning apparatus 300 ( e . g ., 102 in fig1 ). the object scanning apparatus 300 comprises an x - ray source 302 ( e . g ., 132 in fig1 ), a detector array 304 ( e . g ., 138 in fig1 ), and an ultrasound component 306 ( e . g ., 146 in fig1 ). in the illustrated example , the x - ray source 302 is affixed to a guide mechanism 308 that is configured to rotate the x - ray source 302 about a portion of an object 310 under examination ( e . g ., 20 degrees left and / or right of center ). the guide mechanism 308 may be suspended from a vertical support stand 312 ( e . g ., 142 in fig1 ). it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the guide mechanism 308 may be unnecessary in certain applications , such as those in which data is not collected from a variety of perspectives , the x - ray source 302 is stationary while the detector array rotates 304 , etc . x - rays 314 are emitted from the x - ray source 302 and traverse the object 310 under examination . x - rays 314 that traverse the object 310 are detected by the detector array 304 positioned on a diametrically opposing side of the object 310 from the x - ray source 302 . in the illustrated example , the object 310 ( e . g ., tissue ) is compressed between a top compression paddle 316 and a bottom compression paddle 318 ( similar to those used on mammography apparatuses ) to condense and / or even out the object ( e . g ., to promote image quality ). the ultrasound component 306 is configured to send and / or receive sound waves 320 that interact with the object 310 . in the example scanning apparatus , the ultrasound component 306 is positioned between the top compression paddle 316 and the bottom compression paddle 318 ( at least one of which is configured to selectively receive the ultrasound component ) and is configured to contact the object 310 under examination . using this configuration ( e . g ., the ultrasound component 306 perpendicular to the detector array 304 and / or parallel to a center x - ray beam 326 ), the ultrasound component 306 may acquire data relating to the sound waves while the detector array 304 is acquiring data related to the x - rays since the two modalities occupy different space ( e . g ., the detector array occupies space below the object 310 and the ultrasound component 306 occupies space to the side of the object 310 ). in one example , the ultrasound component 306 is attached to , and movable along , one or both of the compression paddles 316 and 318 . stated differently , the ultrasound component is configured to be selectively coupled to at least one of the compression paddles 316 and 318 . for example , as illustrated , one or both of the compression paddles 316 and 318 comprise tracks ( e . g ., along their horizontal surface ) and the ultrasound component 306 slides along the tracks ( e . g ., substantially into and out of the page at a midline of the breast as further illustrated in fig4 ) based upon the size of the object 310 under examination , for example , to come into contact with and / or move away from the object 310 . the ultrasound component 306 may comprise one or more transducers 322 ( e . g ., 148 in fig1 ). in one example , the transducers 322 are single element transducers ( e . g ., similar to endo - transducers ) that are affixed to a guide mechanism 324 . the transducers may rotate about the guide mechanism 324 and / or move vertically along it , for example . in this way , ultrasound scans may be isolated to a particular scanning plane ( e . g ., horizontal slice ) of the object 310 under examination . for example , data that is acquired while the one or more transducers 322 are in the upper elevation of object 310 may relate to the upper vertical portion of the object 310 , and data acquired while the one or more transducers 322 are in the lower vertical portion of the object 310 may relate to the lower vertical portion of the object 310 . data acquired from the particular portion of the object 310 that was isolated by the transducers may be reconstructed to form an image , depicting targets comprised in a particular scanning plane of the object 310 which is parallel to the detector array 304 and parallel to a plane depicted in the x - ray image . while the illustrated object scanning apparatus 300 illustrates two transducers 322 ( e . g ., one on each side of the object 310 ) it will be understood to those skilled in that art that a different number of transducers 322 may be used . additionally , the sound waves may be emitted and / or detected from another type of ultrasound mechanism , such as a multi - element probe , for example . it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the data that is acquired from substantially vertical x - rays 314 may be compiled ( e . g ., through reconstruction techniques ) to form one or more x - ray images ( e . g ., 110 in fig1 ) that depict a scanning plane of the object 310 , if the position of the x - ray source is rotated relative to the x - ray detector during the scan ( e . g ., to acquire data from a variety of perspectives of the object ). additionally , the x - ray images may be combined ( e . g ., fused ) with one or more corresponding ultrasound images to form a combined image ( e . g ., 126 in fig1 ). in one example , the corresponding ultrasound image is representative of data acquired while the one or more transducers were located in the scanning plane corresponding to the x - ray image . fig4 illustrates the cross sectional area ( e . g ., taken along line 4 - 4 in fig1 ) of an ultrasound component 402 comprising a plurality of transducers 404 that may be arranged about the object in a particular scanning plane ( e . g ., to acquire a computed tomography ultrasound image along a plane of the object ). a plurality of transducers 404 may be used , for example , to mitigate false positives in ultrasound images and / or improve image quality . in one example , a first transducer 406 of the plurality of transducers 404 may emit a first set of sound waves and the plurality of transducers 406 ( e . g ., including the first transducer ) may listen for and / or detect the first set of sound waves . a second transducer 408 may emit a second set of sound waves once the first set of sound waves is detected , for example . after a predetermined number of transducers has emitted sound waves , for example , the plurality of transducers may reposition themselves along the object 410 ( e . g ., into or out of the page along a guide mechanism similar to 324 in fig3 ). in this way , the transducers 404 may detect sound waves that reflect and / or traverse the object 410 under examination , whereas a single transducer may not as thoroughly detect sound waves that traverse the object 410 under examination , for example . additionally , using a plurality of transducers 404 may minimize artifacts ( e . g ., white streaks ) in an image caused by areas of the object 410 that sound waves did not reach and / or areas where a weak signal was detected ( e . g ., because the sound waves were reflected off another target within the object ). data collected from the plurality of transducers 404 while the transducers 404 were in a particular scanning plane of the object 410 , for example , may be combined by an ultrasound acquisition component ( e . g ., 116 of fig1 ) and / or reconstructed by an ultrasound image apparatus ( e . g ., 120 in fig1 ) to form a tomography image of targets within the scanning plane . a second computed tomography image may be acquired based upon data detected while the transducers are in a second scanning plane of the object 410 , for example . these computed tomography images may be combined with x - ray images representing similar planes of the object 410 to form one or more combined images ( e . g ., 126 in fig1 ). fig5 is a cross sectional area ( e . g ., taken along line 3 - 3 in fig1 ) of another example object scanning apparatus 500 ( e . g ., 102 in fig1 ). the example scanning apparatus 500 includes an ultrasound component 506 , which may operate as set forth in u . s . patent application no . 20040030227 , bearing ser . no . 10 / 440 , 427 to littrup et al ., the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein . unlike object scanning apparatus 300 in fig3 , the ultrasound component 506 ( e . g ., 306 in fig3 ) may not be in contact with the object 510 ( e . g ., 310 in fig3 or 410 in fig4 ) because the object 510 is submersed in a conductive fluid 512 ( e . g . water ) that allows the sound waves to transfer between the object 510 and the ultrasound component 506 . the fluid 512 may be stored in a compression paddle 518 ( e . g ., 318 in fig3 ) that has walls configured to mitigate fluid flow outside of the compression paddle 518 , and the ultrasound component 506 may be attached to the wall of the compression paddle 518 , for example . additionally , the ultrasound component 506 may be capable of rotating about a scanning plane of the object 510 ( e . g ., in a circular plane into and out of the page ). in this way , a ( single ) rotatable ultrasound component 506 comprising a single transducer , for example , may provide benefits similar to a plurality of transducers ( e . g ., 404 in fig1 ) that are in contact with the object 510 . that is , data from a variety of perspectives may be used to produce one or more computed tomography ultrasound images of the object . in some applications , a rotatable ultrasound component 506 may be better than a plurality of transducers attached to the object because less set up time may be necessary for the procedure ( e . g ., a breast examination ) and / or less discomfort since the transducer may not be pressed against the object 510 ( e . g ., breast tissue ) being examined , for example . it will be appreciated that the rotatable ultrasound component 506 and / or portions of the ultrasound component may also traverse various scanning planes of the object ( e . g ., moving up or down the page ) to produce a plurality of images , each image depicting targets in a different scanning plane of the object , for example . fig6 illustrates an exemplary method 600 of presenting data acquired from two scanning modalities . the method begins at 602 , and data related to an x - ray image and data related to an ultrasound image of the object under examination are acquired such that the ultrasound image depicts a plane of the object that is substantially parallel with a plane of the object depicted in the x - ray image . in one example , the ultrasound image and the x - ray image have spatial coincidence . that is , a plane of at least one x - ray image , created from data acquired by from the x - ray modality , corresponds to a plane of an ultrasound image , created from data acquired by the ultrasound modality , in such a way that the ultrasound image may be overlaid onto the x - ray image or vice - versa . it will be appreciated that such coincidence is not be attainable with disparate equipment ( e . g ., separate x - ray and ultrasound acquisition devices ). similarly , such coincidence would likewise not be attainable where the object under examination is repositioned in a combined x - ray and ultrasound acquisition device ( e . g ., a single device is used , but data acquisition occurs at different times ) because the orientation of the object would be , at least , slightly different when the different data is acquired . nevertheless , while the different modalities ( e . g ., x - ray and ultrasound ) may acquire data concurrently as provided herein , it is not a requisite since the system may maintain the orientation of the object during the examination ( e . g ., the modalities may scan the object consecutively , while the orientation of the object remains substantially fixed ). x - rays are emitted from an x - ray source and detected on a detector array . in one embodiment , the detector array and x - ray source are on diametrically opposing sides of the object , and the x - rays that are detected by the detector array are those that have traversed the object under examination . since some targets within the object may be characteristically different from other targets within the object ( e . g ., have different densities , made of different materials , etc . ), varying amounts of x - rays will traverse different portions of the object . data related to x - rays that are detected by the detector array is reconstructed to form an x - ray image depicting a plane of the object , and targets comprised within the plane . in one example , the object is x - rayed from a plurality of angles to acquire a plurality of two - dimensional ( 2 - d ) images of the object from varying angles , and images corresponding to the respective angles are reconstructed from data related to the detected x - rays . for example , the data may undergo tomosynthesis to produce x - ray images representing various scanning planes of the object under examination . it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the number of images that may be produced may be a function of the number of angles the object is x - rayed from ( e . g ., two angles may allow two images to be produced ). in one embodiment , ultrasound images are acquired based upon one or more transducers of the ultrasound component that are perpendicular to the detector array and emit and / or receive sound waves that have interacted with the object under examination . to acquire a plurality of slices , the transducers and / or the ultrasound component may be adjusted along a trajectory that is substantially perpendicular to the detector array . for example , the transducers may emit and / or detect sound waves in a first scanning plane of the object to acquire data related to sound waves that interact with the object in the first plane , adjust to a second scanning plane , and emit and / or detect a second set of sound waves to acquire data related to sound waves that interact with the object in the second plane . this process may be repeated for multiple scanning planes along the trajectory . data from respective planes may be reconstructed to acquire ultrasound images representing various scanning planes of the object under examination ( e . g ., a first image may depict targets comprised in the first scanning plane , a second image may depict targets comprised in the second scanning plane , etc .). in one embodiment , a computed tomography ultrasound image can be created using a plurality of transducers positioned within a scanning plane of the object . a plurality of transducers may be useful if the object under examination is dense and / or compressed , for example , to improve the image quality of ultrasound images . in one example , the plurality of transducers is positioned in a predetermined scanning plane about the object , and a first set of sound waves is emitted from a first transducer . one or more of the transducers comprising the plurality may detect the first set of sound waves . once the first set of sound waves are detected , a second transducer of the plurality may emit a second set of sound waves , and one or more of the plurality may detect the second set of sound waves . this process may be repeated until a predetermined number of transducers emit sound waves . it will be appreciated that the plurality of transducers may also traverse various scanning planes of the object to produce a plurality of computed tomography images , each image depicting a scanning plane of the object . in another embodiment , the object is submerged in a conductive fluid , and the x - ray images and ultrasound images are acquired while the object is submersed in the fluid . in this way , one or more ultrasound transducers may rotate ( e . g ., in a horizontal scanning plane ) about the object to produce one or more computed tomography ultrasound images . additionally , due to the presence of the conductive fluid , the transducers do not have to be in contact with the object , thereby reducing the time of the examination and / or that discomfort that may be felt when the transducer is pushed against the object . as discussed above , one or more x - ray images may be combined with one or more ultrasound images when the ultrasound and x - ray images are spatially coincident using techniques known to those skilled in the art . in this way , images from two different modalities may be combined into a single image . this may provide doctors with additional data , such as what is below and above a mass depicted in an x - ray image , for example , to assist in determining whether a mass is malignant or benign . the method ends at 606 . fig7 illustrates an example method ( 700 ) of spatial registration . the method begins at 702 , and x - rays that traverse an object under examination are detected at 704 . at 706 , an x - ray image of a plane of the object is generated based upon the detected x - rays . in one example , an x - ray source rotates about a portion of the object under examination and x - ray snapshot ( s ) of the object are taken at predetermined angles . data from the one or more snapshots may be combined and filtered ( e . g ., through tomosynthesis ) to produce one or more images depicting targets comprised within respective scanning planes ( e . g ., each image depicts targets in one scanning plane ). at 708 , waves are emitted into the object , and the waves interact with the object in a plane that is substantially parallel to the plane depicted in the x - ray image . in one example , sound waves travel through the object in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to a center x - ray beam that was emitted from the x - ray source . at 710 , waves that interact with the object in the plane that is substantially parallel to the plane depicted in the x - ray image are detected . in one example , one or more ultrasound images are produced from the detected waves and are combined with the generated x - ray image ( e . g ., if they are spatially coincident ) using algorithm and / or analytic techniques known to those skilled in the art . the image produced by combining the x - ray image ( s ) and the ultrasound image ( s ) may assist a user in detecting of cancer , for example . the method ends at 712 . it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the techniques herein described offer numerous benefits over techniques currently used in the art . for example , since the ultrasound component and the x - ray component produce images in similar planes and both components capture the data while the object has a particular physical position and / or orientation , the information may be more easily fused through coincidence ( e . g ., alignment ) of the planes depicted in the x - ray and ultrasound images . that is , an ultrasound image of a plane of the object can be easily fused with an x - ray image of a similar plane of the object . in some instances , such as where tissue is compressed during the examination , the ability to acquire data from two modalities at once , for example , may reduce the time the tissue is compressed , thereby lessening the duration of the discomfort caused by the compression . additionally , in the cancer screening , for example , the additional data acquired from using two modalities may reduce the number of false positives in the initial screening and mitigate emotional distress . the application has been described with reference to various embodiments . modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading the application . it is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations , including insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims and the equivalents thereof . for example , a , an and / or the may include one or more , but generally is not intended to be limited to one or a single item .	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'Human Necessities'?	Should this patent be classified under 'Electricity'?	0.25	8742d1fa56a298cbb183339d048733c83849afa941d1f7098cea0aa3b2ab5d7e	0.054932	0.002319	0.002808	0.00009	0.016968	0.001503
null	fig1 depicts an example scanner 100 . the scanner 100 may be used to scan tissue ( e . g ., a breast ) at a medical center , for example . as illustrated , the scanner 100 typically comprises an object scanning apparatus 102 configured to scan an object ( e . g ., human tissue ). one or more images of the scanned object may be presented on a monitor 128 ( that is part of a desktop or laptop computer ) for human observation . in this way , targets of the object that are not visible to the naked eye ( e . g ., cancer cells comprised within breast tissue ) may be displayed in the one or more images and , ultimately , may be detected by the human observer . the object scanning apparatus 102 is configured to scan an object under examination and transmit data related to the scan to other components of the scanner 100 . the object scanning apparatus 102 comprises an x - ray source 132 and a detector array 138 . the x - ray source 132 is configured to emit fan , cone , wedge , or other shaped x - ray configuration into an examination region 144 of the object scanning apparatus 102 . x - rays that traverse the object under examination ( e . g ., the object in the examination region 144 ) are detected by the detector array 138 located on a diametrically opposing side of the object from the x - ray source 132 . targets ( e . g ., masses , cancer , scar tissue , etc .) within the object ( e . g ., a breast ) may cause various amounts of x - rays to traverse the object ( e . g ., creating areas of high traversal and areas of low traversal within the object ). for example , less radiation may traverse targets with a higher density ( relative to densities of other targets in the object ). it will be appreciated that the changes in traversal may be used to create x - ray images of targets within the object . for example , if breast tissue is scanned by the object scanning apparatus 102 , regions of tightly compacted cells may appear more prominently on an x - ray image than healthy breast cells ( which may be virtually invisible ). in one embodiment , the object scanning apparatus 102 is part of a mammography unit and the object scanning apparatus 102 further comprises a top compression paddle 134 and a bottom compression paddle 136 . a vertical support stand 142 may provide a means for suspending the compression paddles 134 and 136 , the x - ray source 132 , and the detector array 138 above the ground . for example , the vertical support may be seven feet tall so that the compression paddles 134 and 136 align with the height of breast tissue when a person is in a standing position . in one example , the compression paddles 134 and 136 are adjustable along the vertical support 142 to adjust for the varying heights of humans , and a shield 140 may protect a person &# 39 ; s head from exposure to the x - rays . in a mammography unit , for example , the examination region 144 may be comprised between the top compression paddle 134 and the bottom compression paddle 136 . when the object ( e . g ., breast tissue ) is inserted between the top and bottom compression paddles 134 and 136 , the object is compressed ( to even out the tissue and hold the tissue still ). while the object is under compression , x - rays may be emitted from the x - ray source 132 . to mitigate discomfort caused by the compression , the tissue may be compressed for a short period of time ( e . g ., approximately 10 seconds ). x - rays that traverse the breast while it is compressed are detected by the detector array 138 that is located within and / or below the bottom compression paddle 136 . the object scanning apparatus 102 may also comprise an ultrasound component 146 . the ultrasound component 146 may be configured to emit a plurality of sound waves , electromagnetic waves , light waves , or other image producing transmission into the examination region 144 , and / or detect emitted sound waves , for example , that have interacted with the object , in such a manner that the detected sounds waves can be used to generate an ultrasound image of object that depicts a plane of the object substantially parallel to a plane depicted in an x - ray image of the object . for example , in mammography , a horizontal slice of breast tissue is depicted in an x - ray image , and the ultrasound component 146 may be configured to emit and / or detect sound waves in such a manner that it ultimately causes the resulting ultrasound image ( s ) to also depict a horizontal slice of breast tissue in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the x - ray image . in one example , the ultrasound component 146 emits sound waves in a direction substantially perpendicular to a trajectory of a center x - ray beam associated with the x - ray source 132 and / or perpendicular to a detector plane formed by the detector array 138 . it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the terms “ center x - ray beam ” as used herein refers to an x - ray beam that impacts the detector array at a ninety degree angle ( e . g ., the center beam of a fan , cone , wedge , or other shaped x - ray configuration ). it will be appreciated that the ultrasound component 146 may be configured to detect transmission waves and / or reflection waves depending upon its configuration . in one example , a single transducer 148 of the ultrasound component 146 both emits sound waves and detects those sound waves that have reflected off targets in the object . in another example , one transducer 148 emits sound waves and another transducer , positioned on a diametrically opposing side of the object , detects sound waves that have traversed the object under examination . it will also be appreciated that the ultrasound component 146 and / or components of the ultrasound component 146 ( e . g ., one or more transducers 148 comprised within the ultrasound component 146 ) may be configured to adjust ( e . g ., vertically ) relative to the object to acquire data that may used to create a plurality of images , respective images depicting various parallel planes of the object . in this way , a plurality of ultrasound images may be formed , each ultrasound image of the plurality depicting a scanning of the object that is both substantially parallel to the planes depicted in the other ultrasound images of the plurality of images and substantially parallel to the plane depicted in the x - ray image . in one example , a doctor may take a series of ultrasound images , each depicting a unique slice of the object , for example , and compare it to an x - ray image ( e . g ., depicting the entire object collapsed or flattened in one plane ) to determine what is below , above , and / or to the side of a mass depicted in the x - ray image . in the example scanner 100 , an x - ray data acquisition component 104 is operably coupled to the object scanning apparatus 102 and is configured to collect information and data related to x - rays that were detected by the detector array 138 . the x - ray data acquisition component 104 may also be used to compile the collected data ( e . g ., from multiple perspectives of the object ) into one or more x - ray projections 106 of the object . the illustrated example scanner 100 also comprises an x - ray reconstructor 108 that is operably coupled to the x - ray data acquisition component 104 , and is configured to receive the x - ray projections 106 from the x - ray data acquisition component 104 and generate 2 - d x - ray image ( s ) 110 indicative of the scanned object using a suitable analytical , iterative , and / or other reconstruction technique ( e . g ., backprojection from projection data space to image data ). the x - ray image ( s ) 110 illustrate the latitudinal dimension ( e . g ., orthogonal to a center x - ray beam and parallel to the detector array ) of the object . that is , the images may not depict the vertical height , for example , of a target inside an object when x - rays are emitted from above the object under examination . the example scanner 100 also comprises an ultrasound acquisition component 116 that is operably coupled to the object scanning apparatus 102 and is configured to collect information and data related to sounds waves that are detected by the ultrasound component 146 . the ultrasound acquisition component 116 may also be configured to compile the collected data into projection space data 118 . as an example , data from a plurality of transducers positioned about the object may be compiled into projection space data 118 . in the example scanner 100 , an ultrasound image apparatus 120 is operably coupled to the ultrasound acquisition component 116 , and is configured to receive the projection space data 118 from the ultrasound acquisition component 116 and generate ultrasound image ( s ) 122 . that is , ultrasound image apparatus is configured to convert sound waves into one or more images 122 using techniques known to those skilled in the art ( e . g ., beam forming techniques ). it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the one or more 2 - d x - ray images 110 and the one or more ultrasound images 122 depict substantially parallel planes of the object under examination . in another embodiment , the x - ray source 132 and / or the detector array 138 may be configured to vary their relative position to one another . for example , the x - ray source 132 may be configured to rotate about a portion of the object under examination ( e . g ., 20 degrees left and right of center ). in this way , data from a variety of perspectives ( e . g ., angles ) of the object can be collected from a single scan of the object . the data from the variety of perspectives ( e . g ., which may be volumetric data representative of the volumetric space of the object since it is acquired from a plurality of perspectives ) may be combined or synthesized by the x - ray reconstructor 108 using known digital averaging and / or filtering techniques ( e . g ., tomosynthesis ). each image 110 , for example , may be focused on a scanning plane ( e . g ., a horizontal slice ) of the object , which is parallel to the detector plane , and depicts targets within a particular longitudinal range . in this way , a substantially three - dimensional image of the object under examination may be formed by stacking the two - dimensional images 110 . in another embodiment , the ultrasound component 146 is configured to acquire data from a plurality of angles along a similar scanning plane of the object . in this way , a computed tomography ultrasound ( e . g ., similar to a computed tomography scan using x - rays ) of the object may be acquired , for example . ultrasound data may be acquired from a plurality of angles by a rotatable ultrasound component and / or an ultrasound component that comprises a plurality of transducers situated about the object ( e . g ., forming an arc about the object ), for example . it will be appreciated that where the ultrasound component 146 acquires data from a plurality of angles , the ultrasound image apparatus 120 may use more a suitable analytical , iterative , and / or other reconstruction technique ( e . g ., similar to the techniques used to generate computed tomography images from x - ray data ). in one example , the ultrasound image apparatus 120 may also place emphasis on particular types of data generated based upon the detected sound waves ( e . g ., elastography , reflection , transmission , etc .). in some instances , the x - ray images 110 and the ultrasound images 122 may be spatially coincident to one another . that is , the plane of the object depicted in at least one x - ray image may correspond to a plane of the object depicted in at least one ultrasound image , in such a way that the ultrasound image may be overlaid onto the x - ray image or vice - versa . for example , if the x - ray images 110 depict five different planes of object ( e . g ., each plain representing a horizontal slice ⅕ the width of the total object ), the ultrasound component and / or components of the ultrasound component may be configured to adjust so as to cause five ultrasound images 122 to be produced . each of the five ultrasound images 122 produced may have spatial coincidence with one of the x - ray images 110 , for example . the illustrated example scanner 100 further comprises a spatial registration component 124 . the spatial registration component 124 is in operable communication with the ultrasound image apparatus 120 and the x - ray reconstructor component 108 . the spatial registration component 124 is configured to combine the one or more x - ray images 110 with one or more ultrasound images 122 to form one or more combined images 126 ( through the process of fusion ) when the x - ray image ( s ) and the ultrasound image ( s ) are spatially coincident ( e . g ., by identifying corresponding portions of the x - ray image and the ultrasound image , or more generally , by identifying corresponding portions of the x - ray data and the ultrasound data ). that is , the spatial registration component 124 is configured to combine complementary information from two modalities ( e . g ., an x - ray image 110 and an ultrasound image 122 ) through suitable analytical techniques ( e . g ., retrospective registration algorithms , algorithms based on entropy , etc .). it will be understood to those skilled in the art that other configures and components for a scanner are also contemplated . in one example , a single x - ray image 110 ( e . g ., depicting a collapsed or flattened representation of the object ) and a single ultrasound image 122 ( e . g ., depicting an un - flattened slice of the object parallel to the flattened x - ray image ) is produced from data acquired from the object scanning apparatus 102 and the two images are visually compared ( e . g ., the x - ray image 110 and the ultrasound image 122 are not combined by the spatial registration component 124 ). therefore , the scanner may not comprise a spatial registration component 124 , for example . fig2 illustrates example scanning planes 200 ( e . g ., horizontal slices ) of an object 210 that may be depicted in x - ray images 202 and / or ultrasound images 204 . when x - ray data ( e . g ., which may be volumetric data representative of a volumetric space of the object ) is acquired at a variety of perspectives as discussed above ( e . g ., an x - ray source is varied with respect to an x - ray detector array ) and combined and / or filtered ( e . g ., using tomosynthesis techniques ) x - ray images depicting the illustrated example scanning planes 200 may be produced . it will be appreciated that the x - ray images 202 generally depict the various scanning planes 200 in a flattened latitudinal dimension ( e . g ., x , y ), such that targets in a scanning plane are depicted in the image generally having no discernable z coordinate . ultrasound images 204 depicting similar scanning planes 200 ( e . g ., three - dimensional slices ) to those depicted in the x - ray images may also be produced . the ultrasound images 204 may depict the scanning planes 200 in a flattened latitudinal dimension or in an unflattened latitudinal dimension ( e . g ., depicting x , y , and z dimensions ). the example ultrasound images 204 depict the scanning planes in an unflattened latitudinal dimension . that is , they are depicted as having x , y and z dimensions . unflattened ultrasound images may be useful to more easily determine the z coordinate of a target in the object ( e . g ., relative to comparing a plurality of flattened x - ray and / or flattened ultrasound images depicting various scanning planes ), for example . once x - ray images 202 and ultrasound images 204 are acquired , x - ray and ultrasound image that are spatially coincident may be combined ( e . g ., by a spatial registration component similar to 124 in fig1 ) to form a combined image . that is , an x - ray image depicting a particular plane may be combined with an ultrasound image depicting a similar plane to form a combined image . it will be appreciated that while the images may be combined to form combined images , the ultrasound images 204 and the x - ray images 202 may also remain separated and viewed independently ( e . g ., manually by a physician ), for example . it will also be appreciated that the ultrasound images 204 and the x - ray images may not be spatially coincident ( e . g ., because they depict different planes of the object 210 ). nevertheless , they may provide helpful ( diagnosis ) information , such as the location of a mass / tumor in the x , y and z direction , for example . fig3 is a cross sectional area ( e . g ., taken along line 3 - 3 in fig1 ) of an example object scanning apparatus 300 ( e . g ., 102 in fig1 ). the object scanning apparatus 300 comprises an x - ray source 302 ( e . g ., 132 in fig1 ), a detector array 304 ( e . g ., 138 in fig1 ), and an ultrasound component 306 ( e . g ., 146 in fig1 ). in the illustrated example , the x - ray source 302 is affixed to a guide mechanism 308 that is configured to rotate the x - ray source 302 about a portion of an object 310 under examination ( e . g ., 20 degrees left and / or right of center ). the guide mechanism 308 may be suspended from a vertical support stand 312 ( e . g ., 142 in fig1 ). it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the guide mechanism 308 may be unnecessary in certain applications , such as those in which data is not collected from a variety of perspectives , the x - ray source 302 is stationary while the detector array rotates 304 , etc . x - rays 314 are emitted from the x - ray source 302 and traverse the object 310 under examination . x - rays 314 that traverse the object 310 are detected by the detector array 304 positioned on a diametrically opposing side of the object 310 from the x - ray source 302 . in the illustrated example , the object 310 ( e . g ., tissue ) is compressed between a top compression paddle 316 and a bottom compression paddle 318 ( similar to those used on mammography apparatuses ) to condense and / or even out the object ( e . g ., to promote image quality ). the ultrasound component 306 is configured to send and / or receive sound waves 320 that interact with the object 310 . in the example scanning apparatus , the ultrasound component 306 is positioned between the top compression paddle 316 and the bottom compression paddle 318 ( at least one of which is configured to selectively receive the ultrasound component ) and is configured to contact the object 310 under examination . using this configuration ( e . g ., the ultrasound component 306 perpendicular to the detector array 304 and / or parallel to a center x - ray beam 326 ), the ultrasound component 306 may acquire data relating to the sound waves while the detector array 304 is acquiring data related to the x - rays since the two modalities occupy different space ( e . g ., the detector array occupies space below the object 310 and the ultrasound component 306 occupies space to the side of the object 310 ). in one example , the ultrasound component 306 is attached to , and movable along , one or both of the compression paddles 316 and 318 . stated differently , the ultrasound component is configured to be selectively coupled to at least one of the compression paddles 316 and 318 . for example , as illustrated , one or both of the compression paddles 316 and 318 comprise tracks ( e . g ., along their horizontal surface ) and the ultrasound component 306 slides along the tracks ( e . g ., substantially into and out of the page at a midline of the breast as further illustrated in fig4 ) based upon the size of the object 310 under examination , for example , to come into contact with and / or move away from the object 310 . the ultrasound component 306 may comprise one or more transducers 322 ( e . g ., 148 in fig1 ). in one example , the transducers 322 are single element transducers ( e . g ., similar to endo - transducers ) that are affixed to a guide mechanism 324 . the transducers may rotate about the guide mechanism 324 and / or move vertically along it , for example . in this way , ultrasound scans may be isolated to a particular scanning plane ( e . g ., horizontal slice ) of the object 310 under examination . for example , data that is acquired while the one or more transducers 322 are in the upper elevation of object 310 may relate to the upper vertical portion of the object 310 , and data acquired while the one or more transducers 322 are in the lower vertical portion of the object 310 may relate to the lower vertical portion of the object 310 . data acquired from the particular portion of the object 310 that was isolated by the transducers may be reconstructed to form an image , depicting targets comprised in a particular scanning plane of the object 310 which is parallel to the detector array 304 and parallel to a plane depicted in the x - ray image . while the illustrated object scanning apparatus 300 illustrates two transducers 322 ( e . g ., one on each side of the object 310 ) it will be understood to those skilled in that art that a different number of transducers 322 may be used . additionally , the sound waves may be emitted and / or detected from another type of ultrasound mechanism , such as a multi - element probe , for example . it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the data that is acquired from substantially vertical x - rays 314 may be compiled ( e . g ., through reconstruction techniques ) to form one or more x - ray images ( e . g ., 110 in fig1 ) that depict a scanning plane of the object 310 , if the position of the x - ray source is rotated relative to the x - ray detector during the scan ( e . g ., to acquire data from a variety of perspectives of the object ). additionally , the x - ray images may be combined ( e . g ., fused ) with one or more corresponding ultrasound images to form a combined image ( e . g ., 126 in fig1 ). in one example , the corresponding ultrasound image is representative of data acquired while the one or more transducers were located in the scanning plane corresponding to the x - ray image . fig4 illustrates the cross sectional area ( e . g ., taken along line 4 - 4 in fig1 ) of an ultrasound component 402 comprising a plurality of transducers 404 that may be arranged about the object in a particular scanning plane ( e . g ., to acquire a computed tomography ultrasound image along a plane of the object ). a plurality of transducers 404 may be used , for example , to mitigate false positives in ultrasound images and / or improve image quality . in one example , a first transducer 406 of the plurality of transducers 404 may emit a first set of sound waves and the plurality of transducers 406 ( e . g ., including the first transducer ) may listen for and / or detect the first set of sound waves . a second transducer 408 may emit a second set of sound waves once the first set of sound waves is detected , for example . after a predetermined number of transducers has emitted sound waves , for example , the plurality of transducers may reposition themselves along the object 410 ( e . g ., into or out of the page along a guide mechanism similar to 324 in fig3 ). in this way , the transducers 404 may detect sound waves that reflect and / or traverse the object 410 under examination , whereas a single transducer may not as thoroughly detect sound waves that traverse the object 410 under examination , for example . additionally , using a plurality of transducers 404 may minimize artifacts ( e . g ., white streaks ) in an image caused by areas of the object 410 that sound waves did not reach and / or areas where a weak signal was detected ( e . g ., because the sound waves were reflected off another target within the object ). data collected from the plurality of transducers 404 while the transducers 404 were in a particular scanning plane of the object 410 , for example , may be combined by an ultrasound acquisition component ( e . g ., 116 of fig1 ) and / or reconstructed by an ultrasound image apparatus ( e . g ., 120 in fig1 ) to form a tomography image of targets within the scanning plane . a second computed tomography image may be acquired based upon data detected while the transducers are in a second scanning plane of the object 410 , for example . these computed tomography images may be combined with x - ray images representing similar planes of the object 410 to form one or more combined images ( e . g ., 126 in fig1 ). fig5 is a cross sectional area ( e . g ., taken along line 3 - 3 in fig1 ) of another example object scanning apparatus 500 ( e . g ., 102 in fig1 ). the example scanning apparatus 500 includes an ultrasound component 506 , which may operate as set forth in u . s . patent application no . 20040030227 , bearing ser . no . 10 / 440 , 427 to littrup et al ., the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein . unlike object scanning apparatus 300 in fig3 , the ultrasound component 506 ( e . g ., 306 in fig3 ) may not be in contact with the object 510 ( e . g ., 310 in fig3 or 410 in fig4 ) because the object 510 is submersed in a conductive fluid 512 ( e . g . water ) that allows the sound waves to transfer between the object 510 and the ultrasound component 506 . the fluid 512 may be stored in a compression paddle 518 ( e . g ., 318 in fig3 ) that has walls configured to mitigate fluid flow outside of the compression paddle 518 , and the ultrasound component 506 may be attached to the wall of the compression paddle 518 , for example . additionally , the ultrasound component 506 may be capable of rotating about a scanning plane of the object 510 ( e . g ., in a circular plane into and out of the page ). in this way , a ( single ) rotatable ultrasound component 506 comprising a single transducer , for example , may provide benefits similar to a plurality of transducers ( e . g ., 404 in fig1 ) that are in contact with the object 510 . that is , data from a variety of perspectives may be used to produce one or more computed tomography ultrasound images of the object . in some applications , a rotatable ultrasound component 506 may be better than a plurality of transducers attached to the object because less set up time may be necessary for the procedure ( e . g ., a breast examination ) and / or less discomfort since the transducer may not be pressed against the object 510 ( e . g ., breast tissue ) being examined , for example . it will be appreciated that the rotatable ultrasound component 506 and / or portions of the ultrasound component may also traverse various scanning planes of the object ( e . g ., moving up or down the page ) to produce a plurality of images , each image depicting targets in a different scanning plane of the object , for example . fig6 illustrates an exemplary method 600 of presenting data acquired from two scanning modalities . the method begins at 602 , and data related to an x - ray image and data related to an ultrasound image of the object under examination are acquired such that the ultrasound image depicts a plane of the object that is substantially parallel with a plane of the object depicted in the x - ray image . in one example , the ultrasound image and the x - ray image have spatial coincidence . that is , a plane of at least one x - ray image , created from data acquired by from the x - ray modality , corresponds to a plane of an ultrasound image , created from data acquired by the ultrasound modality , in such a way that the ultrasound image may be overlaid onto the x - ray image or vice - versa . it will be appreciated that such coincidence is not be attainable with disparate equipment ( e . g ., separate x - ray and ultrasound acquisition devices ). similarly , such coincidence would likewise not be attainable where the object under examination is repositioned in a combined x - ray and ultrasound acquisition device ( e . g ., a single device is used , but data acquisition occurs at different times ) because the orientation of the object would be , at least , slightly different when the different data is acquired . nevertheless , while the different modalities ( e . g ., x - ray and ultrasound ) may acquire data concurrently as provided herein , it is not a requisite since the system may maintain the orientation of the object during the examination ( e . g ., the modalities may scan the object consecutively , while the orientation of the object remains substantially fixed ). x - rays are emitted from an x - ray source and detected on a detector array . in one embodiment , the detector array and x - ray source are on diametrically opposing sides of the object , and the x - rays that are detected by the detector array are those that have traversed the object under examination . since some targets within the object may be characteristically different from other targets within the object ( e . g ., have different densities , made of different materials , etc . ), varying amounts of x - rays will traverse different portions of the object . data related to x - rays that are detected by the detector array is reconstructed to form an x - ray image depicting a plane of the object , and targets comprised within the plane . in one example , the object is x - rayed from a plurality of angles to acquire a plurality of two - dimensional ( 2 - d ) images of the object from varying angles , and images corresponding to the respective angles are reconstructed from data related to the detected x - rays . for example , the data may undergo tomosynthesis to produce x - ray images representing various scanning planes of the object under examination . it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the number of images that may be produced may be a function of the number of angles the object is x - rayed from ( e . g ., two angles may allow two images to be produced ). in one embodiment , ultrasound images are acquired based upon one or more transducers of the ultrasound component that are perpendicular to the detector array and emit and / or receive sound waves that have interacted with the object under examination . to acquire a plurality of slices , the transducers and / or the ultrasound component may be adjusted along a trajectory that is substantially perpendicular to the detector array . for example , the transducers may emit and / or detect sound waves in a first scanning plane of the object to acquire data related to sound waves that interact with the object in the first plane , adjust to a second scanning plane , and emit and / or detect a second set of sound waves to acquire data related to sound waves that interact with the object in the second plane . this process may be repeated for multiple scanning planes along the trajectory . data from respective planes may be reconstructed to acquire ultrasound images representing various scanning planes of the object under examination ( e . g ., a first image may depict targets comprised in the first scanning plane , a second image may depict targets comprised in the second scanning plane , etc .). in one embodiment , a computed tomography ultrasound image can be created using a plurality of transducers positioned within a scanning plane of the object . a plurality of transducers may be useful if the object under examination is dense and / or compressed , for example , to improve the image quality of ultrasound images . in one example , the plurality of transducers is positioned in a predetermined scanning plane about the object , and a first set of sound waves is emitted from a first transducer . one or more of the transducers comprising the plurality may detect the first set of sound waves . once the first set of sound waves are detected , a second transducer of the plurality may emit a second set of sound waves , and one or more of the plurality may detect the second set of sound waves . this process may be repeated until a predetermined number of transducers emit sound waves . it will be appreciated that the plurality of transducers may also traverse various scanning planes of the object to produce a plurality of computed tomography images , each image depicting a scanning plane of the object . in another embodiment , the object is submerged in a conductive fluid , and the x - ray images and ultrasound images are acquired while the object is submersed in the fluid . in this way , one or more ultrasound transducers may rotate ( e . g ., in a horizontal scanning plane ) about the object to produce one or more computed tomography ultrasound images . additionally , due to the presence of the conductive fluid , the transducers do not have to be in contact with the object , thereby reducing the time of the examination and / or that discomfort that may be felt when the transducer is pushed against the object . as discussed above , one or more x - ray images may be combined with one or more ultrasound images when the ultrasound and x - ray images are spatially coincident using techniques known to those skilled in the art . in this way , images from two different modalities may be combined into a single image . this may provide doctors with additional data , such as what is below and above a mass depicted in an x - ray image , for example , to assist in determining whether a mass is malignant or benign . the method ends at 606 . fig7 illustrates an example method ( 700 ) of spatial registration . the method begins at 702 , and x - rays that traverse an object under examination are detected at 704 . at 706 , an x - ray image of a plane of the object is generated based upon the detected x - rays . in one example , an x - ray source rotates about a portion of the object under examination and x - ray snapshot ( s ) of the object are taken at predetermined angles . data from the one or more snapshots may be combined and filtered ( e . g ., through tomosynthesis ) to produce one or more images depicting targets comprised within respective scanning planes ( e . g ., each image depicts targets in one scanning plane ). at 708 , waves are emitted into the object , and the waves interact with the object in a plane that is substantially parallel to the plane depicted in the x - ray image . in one example , sound waves travel through the object in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to a center x - ray beam that was emitted from the x - ray source . at 710 , waves that interact with the object in the plane that is substantially parallel to the plane depicted in the x - ray image are detected . in one example , one or more ultrasound images are produced from the detected waves and are combined with the generated x - ray image ( e . g ., if they are spatially coincident ) using algorithm and / or analytic techniques known to those skilled in the art . the image produced by combining the x - ray image ( s ) and the ultrasound image ( s ) may assist a user in detecting of cancer , for example . the method ends at 712 . it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the techniques herein described offer numerous benefits over techniques currently used in the art . for example , since the ultrasound component and the x - ray component produce images in similar planes and both components capture the data while the object has a particular physical position and / or orientation , the information may be more easily fused through coincidence ( e . g ., alignment ) of the planes depicted in the x - ray and ultrasound images . that is , an ultrasound image of a plane of the object can be easily fused with an x - ray image of a similar plane of the object . in some instances , such as where tissue is compressed during the examination , the ability to acquire data from two modalities at once , for example , may reduce the time the tissue is compressed , thereby lessening the duration of the discomfort caused by the compression . additionally , in the cancer screening , for example , the additional data acquired from using two modalities may reduce the number of false positives in the initial screening and mitigate emotional distress . the application has been described with reference to various embodiments . modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading the application . it is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations , including insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims and the equivalents thereof . for example , a , an and / or the may include one or more , but generally is not intended to be limited to one or a single item .	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'Human Necessities'?	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'General tagging of new or cross-sectional technology'?	0.25	8742d1fa56a298cbb183339d048733c83849afa941d1f7098cea0aa3b2ab5d7e	0.054932	0.106934	0.002808	0.011353	0.016968	0.061768
null	the contents of the present invention are described with reference to embodiments . as shown in fig1 , the biomagnetic measurement apparatus according to the present invention comprises a cryogenic container 1 for cooling squid magnetometers , a gantry 2 for fixing the position of the cryogenic container 1 , a monitor 3 for displaying information on the positional adjustment of an object , an inspection bed 4 and a holding stand 5 for holding the bed 4 . the gantry 2 for holding the cryogenic container 1 is fixed on a floor surface . the distance between the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 and the floor surface is represented by a known value set in advance , and the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 is in a position fixed with respect to the floor surface . the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 and the top face of the bed are disposed in an almost parallel manner with respect to the floor surface . the gantry 2 for holding the cryogenic container 1 is fixed on the floor surface and the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 may be tilted arbitrarily with respect to the floor surface instead of fixing the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 with respect to the floor surface . in this case , a test object 9 is disposed in an almost parallel manner with respect to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 . a plurality of squid magnetometers employ magnetometers for detecting a magnetic field component in the z - axis direction 15 or magnetometers for detecting a magnetic field component in the x - axis direction 14 and in the y - axis direction 13 . a marker used for adjusting the positional relationship between the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 and the test object 9 employs a permanent magnet 10 of known magnetic field strength . the permanent magnet 10 is attached to the body surface of the xiphoid process of the test object 9 mounted on the bed 4 . means for moving the position of the bed 4 with respect to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 employs a feed rail 8 for moving the holding stand 5 in the x - axis direction 14 on the floor surface , a right / left feed handle 6 for moving the bed 4 in the y - axis direction 13 on the holding stand 5 , and a hydraulic pump handle 7 for moving the bed 4 in the z - axis direction 15 on the holding stand 5 . as the position of the bed 4 moves with respect to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 , the positional relationship between the test object 9 mounted on the bed 4 and the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 is automatically measured via position measurement means and a measurement result is displayed on the monitor 3 . further , as the position of the bed 4 moves with respect to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 , the distance between the test object 9 mounted on the bed 4 and the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 is automatically measured via distance measurement means and a measurement result is displayed on the monitor 3 . as shown in fig2 , on an area in the vicinity of the inside bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 , a plurality of squid magnetometers 20 are disposed and cooled , individually , in the x - axis direction and in the y - axis direction . a typical method for determining the position of the test object according to the present invention , which is used for the biomagnetic measurement apparatus , employs a coordinate system ( x , y , z ). the xy surface is parallel to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 , and the z axis is perpendicular to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 . the permanent magnet 10 is attached to a body surface 16 of the test object when the test object is mounted on the bed at the lowest height thereof . the bed is moved in the x - axis direction and the y - axis direction such that the permanent magnet 10 is disposed under the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 , and the magnetic strength of the permanent magnet 10 is measured . on the basis of a measurement result , a movement direction 19 of the test object is determined so that a marker 17 of a squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to a marker 18 that indicates the target point of positional adjustment . although the marker that indicates the target point has an initial setting value , it may be changed arbitrarily by an operator . as shown in fig3 , the display specification of the positional adjustment of the test object is displayed on the monitor on the basis of the magnetic field measurement result of the permanent magnet , including the squid magnetometers 20 and a dialog box 24 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the position measurement means . on the squid magnetometers 20 , the movement direction 19 of the test object is displayed so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . on the dialog box 24 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the position measurement means , a movement distance 21 of the test object in the x - axis direction and a movement distance 22 of the test object in the y - axis direction are displayed so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . moreover , an icon 23 that indicates data update is displayed in accordance with the change of the positional relationship between the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 and the test object 9 . as shown in fig4 , the bed is moved in the x - axis direction 14 and in the y - axis direction 13 in accordance with the indication of the monitor 3 so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . in this case , the indication of the positional adjustment may be supported by a buzzer , or voice transmission means of voice guidance . also , in fig4 , the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 may be tilted arbitrarily with respect to the floor surface in accordance with the indication of the monitor 3 so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . in this case , the test object 9 is disposed in an almost parallel manner with respect to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 . as shown in fig5 , the display specification of the positional adjustment of the test object is displayed on the monitor , including the squid magnetometers 20 and a dialog box 25 for the confirmation of the end of the positional adjustment in the z - axis direction . on the squid magnetometers 20 , the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength is displayed . also , on the dialog box 25 for the confirmation of the end of the positional adjustment in the z - axis direction , a display 26 for indicating the positional adjustment and a display 27 for the confirmation of the end of the positional adjustment are displayed . as shown in fig6 , the display specification of the positional adjustment of the test object is displayed on the monitor on the basis of the magnetic field measurement result of the permanent magnet , including the squid magnetometers 20 and a dialog box 29 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the distance measurement means . on the squid magnetometers 20 , the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength is displayed . also , on the dialog box 29 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the distance measurement means , the distance between the test object and the bottom face of the cryogenic container is displayed . as shown in fig7 , the display specification of the positional adjustment of the test object is displayed on the monitor on the basis of the magnetic field measurement result of the permanent magnet , including the cryogenic container 1 , the body surface 16 of the test object , the squid magnetometers 20 and a dialog box 24 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the position measurement means . on the squid magnetometers 20 , the movement direction 19 of the test object is displayed so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . the permanent magnet is displayed on the body surface 16 of the test object . on the dialog box 24 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the position measurement means , the movement distance 21 of the test object in the x - axis direction and the movement distance 22 of the test object in the y - axis direction are displayed so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . moreover , the icon 23 for calculating movement distance is displayed in accordance with the movement of the bed . as shown fig8 , the display specification of the positional adjustment of the test object is displayed on the monitor on the basis of the magnetic field measurement result of the permanent magnet , including the cryogenic container 1 , the body surface 16 of the test object , the squid magnetometers 20 and the dialog box 25 that instructs the positional adjustment in the z - axis direction . on the squid magnetometers 20 , the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 is displayed . the permanent magnet is displayed on the body surface 16 of the test object . on the dialog box 25 that instructs the positional adjustment in the z - axis direction , the measurement result obtained with the position measurement means and the instruction of positional adjustment in the z - axis direction are displayed . the marker including the permanent magnet is attached to the xiphoid process portion of the subject and a form image including the pectoral region is obtained via a three - dimensional x - ray ct apparatus . the marker is shown in an x - ray ct cross - sectional image on a ct image . then , the subject is measured via the biomagnetic measurement apparatus according to embodiment 1 regarding the change of the magnetic field strength , and a functional image is obtained ( showing an isofield contour map , a current - arrow map , an isofield - integral map , and functional information on cardiac activity in an estimated position of an activated region ( current source ), for example ). since the position of the heart of the subject is not clear with the functional image obtained by the biomagnetic measurement apparatus , the form image including the pectoral region obtained by the x - ray ct apparatus and the functional image obtained by the biomagnetic measurement apparatus are superposed , thereby obtaining a synthesized image . processes for obtaining the synthesized image include a process for making the pixel size of the functional image obtained by the biomagnetic measurement apparatus correspond to the pixel size of the cross - sectional image obtained by the three - dimensional x - ray ct apparatus , and a process for making the center position ( equivalent to the position of a measurement surface that the z - axis of the coordinate system ( x , y , z ) of the biomagnetic measurement apparatus goes through ) of the reference point in the functional image obtained by the biomagnetic measurement apparatus correspond to the reference point ( the center point of the image of a marker including a permanent magnet ) photographed in the cross - sectional image .	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Human Necessities'?	Is 'Performing Operations; Transporting' the correct technical category for the patent?	0.25	7c8cc8787d22d312e7c39e0f7515ab383ce8473b37bd4ee089de1ede705ff7ec	0.012817	0.038574	0.000203	0.029297	0.004456	0.069336
null	the contents of the present invention are described with reference to embodiments . as shown in fig1 , the biomagnetic measurement apparatus according to the present invention comprises a cryogenic container 1 for cooling squid magnetometers , a gantry 2 for fixing the position of the cryogenic container 1 , a monitor 3 for displaying information on the positional adjustment of an object , an inspection bed 4 and a holding stand 5 for holding the bed 4 . the gantry 2 for holding the cryogenic container 1 is fixed on a floor surface . the distance between the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 and the floor surface is represented by a known value set in advance , and the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 is in a position fixed with respect to the floor surface . the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 and the top face of the bed are disposed in an almost parallel manner with respect to the floor surface . the gantry 2 for holding the cryogenic container 1 is fixed on the floor surface and the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 may be tilted arbitrarily with respect to the floor surface instead of fixing the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 with respect to the floor surface . in this case , a test object 9 is disposed in an almost parallel manner with respect to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 . a plurality of squid magnetometers employ magnetometers for detecting a magnetic field component in the z - axis direction 15 or magnetometers for detecting a magnetic field component in the x - axis direction 14 and in the y - axis direction 13 . a marker used for adjusting the positional relationship between the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 and the test object 9 employs a permanent magnet 10 of known magnetic field strength . the permanent magnet 10 is attached to the body surface of the xiphoid process of the test object 9 mounted on the bed 4 . means for moving the position of the bed 4 with respect to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 employs a feed rail 8 for moving the holding stand 5 in the x - axis direction 14 on the floor surface , a right / left feed handle 6 for moving the bed 4 in the y - axis direction 13 on the holding stand 5 , and a hydraulic pump handle 7 for moving the bed 4 in the z - axis direction 15 on the holding stand 5 . as the position of the bed 4 moves with respect to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 , the positional relationship between the test object 9 mounted on the bed 4 and the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 is automatically measured via position measurement means and a measurement result is displayed on the monitor 3 . further , as the position of the bed 4 moves with respect to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 , the distance between the test object 9 mounted on the bed 4 and the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 is automatically measured via distance measurement means and a measurement result is displayed on the monitor 3 . as shown in fig2 , on an area in the vicinity of the inside bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 , a plurality of squid magnetometers 20 are disposed and cooled , individually , in the x - axis direction and in the y - axis direction . a typical method for determining the position of the test object according to the present invention , which is used for the biomagnetic measurement apparatus , employs a coordinate system ( x , y , z ). the xy surface is parallel to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 , and the z axis is perpendicular to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 . the permanent magnet 10 is attached to a body surface 16 of the test object when the test object is mounted on the bed at the lowest height thereof . the bed is moved in the x - axis direction and the y - axis direction such that the permanent magnet 10 is disposed under the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 , and the magnetic strength of the permanent magnet 10 is measured . on the basis of a measurement result , a movement direction 19 of the test object is determined so that a marker 17 of a squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to a marker 18 that indicates the target point of positional adjustment . although the marker that indicates the target point has an initial setting value , it may be changed arbitrarily by an operator . as shown in fig3 , the display specification of the positional adjustment of the test object is displayed on the monitor on the basis of the magnetic field measurement result of the permanent magnet , including the squid magnetometers 20 and a dialog box 24 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the position measurement means . on the squid magnetometers 20 , the movement direction 19 of the test object is displayed so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . on the dialog box 24 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the position measurement means , a movement distance 21 of the test object in the x - axis direction and a movement distance 22 of the test object in the y - axis direction are displayed so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . moreover , an icon 23 that indicates data update is displayed in accordance with the change of the positional relationship between the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 and the test object 9 . as shown in fig4 , the bed is moved in the x - axis direction 14 and in the y - axis direction 13 in accordance with the indication of the monitor 3 so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . in this case , the indication of the positional adjustment may be supported by a buzzer , or voice transmission means of voice guidance . also , in fig4 , the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 may be tilted arbitrarily with respect to the floor surface in accordance with the indication of the monitor 3 so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . in this case , the test object 9 is disposed in an almost parallel manner with respect to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 . as shown in fig5 , the display specification of the positional adjustment of the test object is displayed on the monitor , including the squid magnetometers 20 and a dialog box 25 for the confirmation of the end of the positional adjustment in the z - axis direction . on the squid magnetometers 20 , the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength is displayed . also , on the dialog box 25 for the confirmation of the end of the positional adjustment in the z - axis direction , a display 26 for indicating the positional adjustment and a display 27 for the confirmation of the end of the positional adjustment are displayed . as shown in fig6 , the display specification of the positional adjustment of the test object is displayed on the monitor on the basis of the magnetic field measurement result of the permanent magnet , including the squid magnetometers 20 and a dialog box 29 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the distance measurement means . on the squid magnetometers 20 , the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength is displayed . also , on the dialog box 29 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the distance measurement means , the distance between the test object and the bottom face of the cryogenic container is displayed . as shown in fig7 , the display specification of the positional adjustment of the test object is displayed on the monitor on the basis of the magnetic field measurement result of the permanent magnet , including the cryogenic container 1 , the body surface 16 of the test object , the squid magnetometers 20 and a dialog box 24 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the position measurement means . on the squid magnetometers 20 , the movement direction 19 of the test object is displayed so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . the permanent magnet is displayed on the body surface 16 of the test object . on the dialog box 24 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the position measurement means , the movement distance 21 of the test object in the x - axis direction and the movement distance 22 of the test object in the y - axis direction are displayed so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . moreover , the icon 23 for calculating movement distance is displayed in accordance with the movement of the bed . as shown fig8 , the display specification of the positional adjustment of the test object is displayed on the monitor on the basis of the magnetic field measurement result of the permanent magnet , including the cryogenic container 1 , the body surface 16 of the test object , the squid magnetometers 20 and the dialog box 25 that instructs the positional adjustment in the z - axis direction . on the squid magnetometers 20 , the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 is displayed . the permanent magnet is displayed on the body surface 16 of the test object . on the dialog box 25 that instructs the positional adjustment in the z - axis direction , the measurement result obtained with the position measurement means and the instruction of positional adjustment in the z - axis direction are displayed . the marker including the permanent magnet is attached to the xiphoid process portion of the subject and a form image including the pectoral region is obtained via a three - dimensional x - ray ct apparatus . the marker is shown in an x - ray ct cross - sectional image on a ct image . then , the subject is measured via the biomagnetic measurement apparatus according to embodiment 1 regarding the change of the magnetic field strength , and a functional image is obtained ( showing an isofield contour map , a current - arrow map , an isofield - integral map , and functional information on cardiac activity in an estimated position of an activated region ( current source ), for example ). since the position of the heart of the subject is not clear with the functional image obtained by the biomagnetic measurement apparatus , the form image including the pectoral region obtained by the x - ray ct apparatus and the functional image obtained by the biomagnetic measurement apparatus are superposed , thereby obtaining a synthesized image . processes for obtaining the synthesized image include a process for making the pixel size of the functional image obtained by the biomagnetic measurement apparatus correspond to the pixel size of the cross - sectional image obtained by the three - dimensional x - ray ct apparatus , and a process for making the center position ( equivalent to the position of a measurement surface that the z - axis of the coordinate system ( x , y , z ) of the biomagnetic measurement apparatus goes through ) of the reference point in the functional image obtained by the biomagnetic measurement apparatus correspond to the reference point ( the center point of the image of a marker including a permanent magnet ) photographed in the cross - sectional image .	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'Human Necessities'?	Should this patent be classified under 'Chemistry; Metallurgy'?	0.25	7c8cc8787d22d312e7c39e0f7515ab383ce8473b37bd4ee089de1ede705ff7ec	0.013245	0.000778	0.000854	0.000109	0.003601	0.000828
null	the contents of the present invention are described with reference to embodiments . as shown in fig1 , the biomagnetic measurement apparatus according to the present invention comprises a cryogenic container 1 for cooling squid magnetometers , a gantry 2 for fixing the position of the cryogenic container 1 , a monitor 3 for displaying information on the positional adjustment of an object , an inspection bed 4 and a holding stand 5 for holding the bed 4 . the gantry 2 for holding the cryogenic container 1 is fixed on a floor surface . the distance between the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 and the floor surface is represented by a known value set in advance , and the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 is in a position fixed with respect to the floor surface . the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 and the top face of the bed are disposed in an almost parallel manner with respect to the floor surface . the gantry 2 for holding the cryogenic container 1 is fixed on the floor surface and the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 may be tilted arbitrarily with respect to the floor surface instead of fixing the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 with respect to the floor surface . in this case , a test object 9 is disposed in an almost parallel manner with respect to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 . a plurality of squid magnetometers employ magnetometers for detecting a magnetic field component in the z - axis direction 15 or magnetometers for detecting a magnetic field component in the x - axis direction 14 and in the y - axis direction 13 . a marker used for adjusting the positional relationship between the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 and the test object 9 employs a permanent magnet 10 of known magnetic field strength . the permanent magnet 10 is attached to the body surface of the xiphoid process of the test object 9 mounted on the bed 4 . means for moving the position of the bed 4 with respect to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 employs a feed rail 8 for moving the holding stand 5 in the x - axis direction 14 on the floor surface , a right / left feed handle 6 for moving the bed 4 in the y - axis direction 13 on the holding stand 5 , and a hydraulic pump handle 7 for moving the bed 4 in the z - axis direction 15 on the holding stand 5 . as the position of the bed 4 moves with respect to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 , the positional relationship between the test object 9 mounted on the bed 4 and the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 is automatically measured via position measurement means and a measurement result is displayed on the monitor 3 . further , as the position of the bed 4 moves with respect to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 , the distance between the test object 9 mounted on the bed 4 and the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 is automatically measured via distance measurement means and a measurement result is displayed on the monitor 3 . as shown in fig2 , on an area in the vicinity of the inside bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 , a plurality of squid magnetometers 20 are disposed and cooled , individually , in the x - axis direction and in the y - axis direction . a typical method for determining the position of the test object according to the present invention , which is used for the biomagnetic measurement apparatus , employs a coordinate system ( x , y , z ). the xy surface is parallel to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 , and the z axis is perpendicular to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 . the permanent magnet 10 is attached to a body surface 16 of the test object when the test object is mounted on the bed at the lowest height thereof . the bed is moved in the x - axis direction and the y - axis direction such that the permanent magnet 10 is disposed under the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 , and the magnetic strength of the permanent magnet 10 is measured . on the basis of a measurement result , a movement direction 19 of the test object is determined so that a marker 17 of a squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to a marker 18 that indicates the target point of positional adjustment . although the marker that indicates the target point has an initial setting value , it may be changed arbitrarily by an operator . as shown in fig3 , the display specification of the positional adjustment of the test object is displayed on the monitor on the basis of the magnetic field measurement result of the permanent magnet , including the squid magnetometers 20 and a dialog box 24 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the position measurement means . on the squid magnetometers 20 , the movement direction 19 of the test object is displayed so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . on the dialog box 24 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the position measurement means , a movement distance 21 of the test object in the x - axis direction and a movement distance 22 of the test object in the y - axis direction are displayed so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . moreover , an icon 23 that indicates data update is displayed in accordance with the change of the positional relationship between the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 and the test object 9 . as shown in fig4 , the bed is moved in the x - axis direction 14 and in the y - axis direction 13 in accordance with the indication of the monitor 3 so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . in this case , the indication of the positional adjustment may be supported by a buzzer , or voice transmission means of voice guidance . also , in fig4 , the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 may be tilted arbitrarily with respect to the floor surface in accordance with the indication of the monitor 3 so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . in this case , the test object 9 is disposed in an almost parallel manner with respect to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 . as shown in fig5 , the display specification of the positional adjustment of the test object is displayed on the monitor , including the squid magnetometers 20 and a dialog box 25 for the confirmation of the end of the positional adjustment in the z - axis direction . on the squid magnetometers 20 , the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength is displayed . also , on the dialog box 25 for the confirmation of the end of the positional adjustment in the z - axis direction , a display 26 for indicating the positional adjustment and a display 27 for the confirmation of the end of the positional adjustment are displayed . as shown in fig6 , the display specification of the positional adjustment of the test object is displayed on the monitor on the basis of the magnetic field measurement result of the permanent magnet , including the squid magnetometers 20 and a dialog box 29 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the distance measurement means . on the squid magnetometers 20 , the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength is displayed . also , on the dialog box 29 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the distance measurement means , the distance between the test object and the bottom face of the cryogenic container is displayed . as shown in fig7 , the display specification of the positional adjustment of the test object is displayed on the monitor on the basis of the magnetic field measurement result of the permanent magnet , including the cryogenic container 1 , the body surface 16 of the test object , the squid magnetometers 20 and a dialog box 24 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the position measurement means . on the squid magnetometers 20 , the movement direction 19 of the test object is displayed so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . the permanent magnet is displayed on the body surface 16 of the test object . on the dialog box 24 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the position measurement means , the movement distance 21 of the test object in the x - axis direction and the movement distance 22 of the test object in the y - axis direction are displayed so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . moreover , the icon 23 for calculating movement distance is displayed in accordance with the movement of the bed . as shown fig8 , the display specification of the positional adjustment of the test object is displayed on the monitor on the basis of the magnetic field measurement result of the permanent magnet , including the cryogenic container 1 , the body surface 16 of the test object , the squid magnetometers 20 and the dialog box 25 that instructs the positional adjustment in the z - axis direction . on the squid magnetometers 20 , the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 is displayed . the permanent magnet is displayed on the body surface 16 of the test object . on the dialog box 25 that instructs the positional adjustment in the z - axis direction , the measurement result obtained with the position measurement means and the instruction of positional adjustment in the z - axis direction are displayed . the marker including the permanent magnet is attached to the xiphoid process portion of the subject and a form image including the pectoral region is obtained via a three - dimensional x - ray ct apparatus . the marker is shown in an x - ray ct cross - sectional image on a ct image . then , the subject is measured via the biomagnetic measurement apparatus according to embodiment 1 regarding the change of the magnetic field strength , and a functional image is obtained ( showing an isofield contour map , a current - arrow map , an isofield - integral map , and functional information on cardiac activity in an estimated position of an activated region ( current source ), for example ). since the position of the heart of the subject is not clear with the functional image obtained by the biomagnetic measurement apparatus , the form image including the pectoral region obtained by the x - ray ct apparatus and the functional image obtained by the biomagnetic measurement apparatus are superposed , thereby obtaining a synthesized image . processes for obtaining the synthesized image include a process for making the pixel size of the functional image obtained by the biomagnetic measurement apparatus correspond to the pixel size of the cross - sectional image obtained by the three - dimensional x - ray ct apparatus , and a process for making the center position ( equivalent to the position of a measurement surface that the z - axis of the coordinate system ( x , y , z ) of the biomagnetic measurement apparatus goes through ) of the reference point in the functional image obtained by the biomagnetic measurement apparatus correspond to the reference point ( the center point of the image of a marker including a permanent magnet ) photographed in the cross - sectional image .	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'Human Necessities'?	Should this patent be classified under 'Textiles; Paper'?	0.25	7c8cc8787d22d312e7c39e0f7515ab383ce8473b37bd4ee089de1ede705ff7ec	0.012817	0.000278	0.000854	0.000004	0.003601	0.004608
null	the contents of the present invention are described with reference to embodiments . as shown in fig1 , the biomagnetic measurement apparatus according to the present invention comprises a cryogenic container 1 for cooling squid magnetometers , a gantry 2 for fixing the position of the cryogenic container 1 , a monitor 3 for displaying information on the positional adjustment of an object , an inspection bed 4 and a holding stand 5 for holding the bed 4 . the gantry 2 for holding the cryogenic container 1 is fixed on a floor surface . the distance between the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 and the floor surface is represented by a known value set in advance , and the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 is in a position fixed with respect to the floor surface . the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 and the top face of the bed are disposed in an almost parallel manner with respect to the floor surface . the gantry 2 for holding the cryogenic container 1 is fixed on the floor surface and the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 may be tilted arbitrarily with respect to the floor surface instead of fixing the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 with respect to the floor surface . in this case , a test object 9 is disposed in an almost parallel manner with respect to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 . a plurality of squid magnetometers employ magnetometers for detecting a magnetic field component in the z - axis direction 15 or magnetometers for detecting a magnetic field component in the x - axis direction 14 and in the y - axis direction 13 . a marker used for adjusting the positional relationship between the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 and the test object 9 employs a permanent magnet 10 of known magnetic field strength . the permanent magnet 10 is attached to the body surface of the xiphoid process of the test object 9 mounted on the bed 4 . means for moving the position of the bed 4 with respect to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 employs a feed rail 8 for moving the holding stand 5 in the x - axis direction 14 on the floor surface , a right / left feed handle 6 for moving the bed 4 in the y - axis direction 13 on the holding stand 5 , and a hydraulic pump handle 7 for moving the bed 4 in the z - axis direction 15 on the holding stand 5 . as the position of the bed 4 moves with respect to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 , the positional relationship between the test object 9 mounted on the bed 4 and the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 is automatically measured via position measurement means and a measurement result is displayed on the monitor 3 . further , as the position of the bed 4 moves with respect to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 , the distance between the test object 9 mounted on the bed 4 and the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 is automatically measured via distance measurement means and a measurement result is displayed on the monitor 3 . as shown in fig2 , on an area in the vicinity of the inside bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 , a plurality of squid magnetometers 20 are disposed and cooled , individually , in the x - axis direction and in the y - axis direction . a typical method for determining the position of the test object according to the present invention , which is used for the biomagnetic measurement apparatus , employs a coordinate system ( x , y , z ). the xy surface is parallel to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 , and the z axis is perpendicular to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 . the permanent magnet 10 is attached to a body surface 16 of the test object when the test object is mounted on the bed at the lowest height thereof . the bed is moved in the x - axis direction and the y - axis direction such that the permanent magnet 10 is disposed under the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 , and the magnetic strength of the permanent magnet 10 is measured . on the basis of a measurement result , a movement direction 19 of the test object is determined so that a marker 17 of a squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to a marker 18 that indicates the target point of positional adjustment . although the marker that indicates the target point has an initial setting value , it may be changed arbitrarily by an operator . as shown in fig3 , the display specification of the positional adjustment of the test object is displayed on the monitor on the basis of the magnetic field measurement result of the permanent magnet , including the squid magnetometers 20 and a dialog box 24 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the position measurement means . on the squid magnetometers 20 , the movement direction 19 of the test object is displayed so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . on the dialog box 24 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the position measurement means , a movement distance 21 of the test object in the x - axis direction and a movement distance 22 of the test object in the y - axis direction are displayed so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . moreover , an icon 23 that indicates data update is displayed in accordance with the change of the positional relationship between the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 and the test object 9 . as shown in fig4 , the bed is moved in the x - axis direction 14 and in the y - axis direction 13 in accordance with the indication of the monitor 3 so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . in this case , the indication of the positional adjustment may be supported by a buzzer , or voice transmission means of voice guidance . also , in fig4 , the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 may be tilted arbitrarily with respect to the floor surface in accordance with the indication of the monitor 3 so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . in this case , the test object 9 is disposed in an almost parallel manner with respect to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 . as shown in fig5 , the display specification of the positional adjustment of the test object is displayed on the monitor , including the squid magnetometers 20 and a dialog box 25 for the confirmation of the end of the positional adjustment in the z - axis direction . on the squid magnetometers 20 , the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength is displayed . also , on the dialog box 25 for the confirmation of the end of the positional adjustment in the z - axis direction , a display 26 for indicating the positional adjustment and a display 27 for the confirmation of the end of the positional adjustment are displayed . as shown in fig6 , the display specification of the positional adjustment of the test object is displayed on the monitor on the basis of the magnetic field measurement result of the permanent magnet , including the squid magnetometers 20 and a dialog box 29 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the distance measurement means . on the squid magnetometers 20 , the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength is displayed . also , on the dialog box 29 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the distance measurement means , the distance between the test object and the bottom face of the cryogenic container is displayed . as shown in fig7 , the display specification of the positional adjustment of the test object is displayed on the monitor on the basis of the magnetic field measurement result of the permanent magnet , including the cryogenic container 1 , the body surface 16 of the test object , the squid magnetometers 20 and a dialog box 24 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the position measurement means . on the squid magnetometers 20 , the movement direction 19 of the test object is displayed so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . the permanent magnet is displayed on the body surface 16 of the test object . on the dialog box 24 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the position measurement means , the movement distance 21 of the test object in the x - axis direction and the movement distance 22 of the test object in the y - axis direction are displayed so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . moreover , the icon 23 for calculating movement distance is displayed in accordance with the movement of the bed . as shown fig8 , the display specification of the positional adjustment of the test object is displayed on the monitor on the basis of the magnetic field measurement result of the permanent magnet , including the cryogenic container 1 , the body surface 16 of the test object , the squid magnetometers 20 and the dialog box 25 that instructs the positional adjustment in the z - axis direction . on the squid magnetometers 20 , the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 is displayed . the permanent magnet is displayed on the body surface 16 of the test object . on the dialog box 25 that instructs the positional adjustment in the z - axis direction , the measurement result obtained with the position measurement means and the instruction of positional adjustment in the z - axis direction are displayed . the marker including the permanent magnet is attached to the xiphoid process portion of the subject and a form image including the pectoral region is obtained via a three - dimensional x - ray ct apparatus . the marker is shown in an x - ray ct cross - sectional image on a ct image . then , the subject is measured via the biomagnetic measurement apparatus according to embodiment 1 regarding the change of the magnetic field strength , and a functional image is obtained ( showing an isofield contour map , a current - arrow map , an isofield - integral map , and functional information on cardiac activity in an estimated position of an activated region ( current source ), for example ). since the position of the heart of the subject is not clear with the functional image obtained by the biomagnetic measurement apparatus , the form image including the pectoral region obtained by the x - ray ct apparatus and the functional image obtained by the biomagnetic measurement apparatus are superposed , thereby obtaining a synthesized image . processes for obtaining the synthesized image include a process for making the pixel size of the functional image obtained by the biomagnetic measurement apparatus correspond to the pixel size of the cross - sectional image obtained by the three - dimensional x - ray ct apparatus , and a process for making the center position ( equivalent to the position of a measurement surface that the z - axis of the coordinate system ( x , y , z ) of the biomagnetic measurement apparatus goes through ) of the reference point in the functional image obtained by the biomagnetic measurement apparatus correspond to the reference point ( the center point of the image of a marker including a permanent magnet ) photographed in the cross - sectional image .	Is 'Human Necessities' the correct technical category for the patent?	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Fixed Constructions'?	0.25	7c8cc8787d22d312e7c39e0f7515ab383ce8473b37bd4ee089de1ede705ff7ec	0.00383	0.164063	0.000458	0.429688	0.001701	0.431641
null	the contents of the present invention are described with reference to embodiments . as shown in fig1 , the biomagnetic measurement apparatus according to the present invention comprises a cryogenic container 1 for cooling squid magnetometers , a gantry 2 for fixing the position of the cryogenic container 1 , a monitor 3 for displaying information on the positional adjustment of an object , an inspection bed 4 and a holding stand 5 for holding the bed 4 . the gantry 2 for holding the cryogenic container 1 is fixed on a floor surface . the distance between the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 and the floor surface is represented by a known value set in advance , and the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 is in a position fixed with respect to the floor surface . the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 and the top face of the bed are disposed in an almost parallel manner with respect to the floor surface . the gantry 2 for holding the cryogenic container 1 is fixed on the floor surface and the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 may be tilted arbitrarily with respect to the floor surface instead of fixing the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 with respect to the floor surface . in this case , a test object 9 is disposed in an almost parallel manner with respect to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 . a plurality of squid magnetometers employ magnetometers for detecting a magnetic field component in the z - axis direction 15 or magnetometers for detecting a magnetic field component in the x - axis direction 14 and in the y - axis direction 13 . a marker used for adjusting the positional relationship between the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 and the test object 9 employs a permanent magnet 10 of known magnetic field strength . the permanent magnet 10 is attached to the body surface of the xiphoid process of the test object 9 mounted on the bed 4 . means for moving the position of the bed 4 with respect to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 employs a feed rail 8 for moving the holding stand 5 in the x - axis direction 14 on the floor surface , a right / left feed handle 6 for moving the bed 4 in the y - axis direction 13 on the holding stand 5 , and a hydraulic pump handle 7 for moving the bed 4 in the z - axis direction 15 on the holding stand 5 . as the position of the bed 4 moves with respect to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 , the positional relationship between the test object 9 mounted on the bed 4 and the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 is automatically measured via position measurement means and a measurement result is displayed on the monitor 3 . further , as the position of the bed 4 moves with respect to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 , the distance between the test object 9 mounted on the bed 4 and the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 is automatically measured via distance measurement means and a measurement result is displayed on the monitor 3 . as shown in fig2 , on an area in the vicinity of the inside bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 , a plurality of squid magnetometers 20 are disposed and cooled , individually , in the x - axis direction and in the y - axis direction . a typical method for determining the position of the test object according to the present invention , which is used for the biomagnetic measurement apparatus , employs a coordinate system ( x , y , z ). the xy surface is parallel to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 , and the z axis is perpendicular to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 . the permanent magnet 10 is attached to a body surface 16 of the test object when the test object is mounted on the bed at the lowest height thereof . the bed is moved in the x - axis direction and the y - axis direction such that the permanent magnet 10 is disposed under the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 , and the magnetic strength of the permanent magnet 10 is measured . on the basis of a measurement result , a movement direction 19 of the test object is determined so that a marker 17 of a squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to a marker 18 that indicates the target point of positional adjustment . although the marker that indicates the target point has an initial setting value , it may be changed arbitrarily by an operator . as shown in fig3 , the display specification of the positional adjustment of the test object is displayed on the monitor on the basis of the magnetic field measurement result of the permanent magnet , including the squid magnetometers 20 and a dialog box 24 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the position measurement means . on the squid magnetometers 20 , the movement direction 19 of the test object is displayed so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . on the dialog box 24 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the position measurement means , a movement distance 21 of the test object in the x - axis direction and a movement distance 22 of the test object in the y - axis direction are displayed so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . moreover , an icon 23 that indicates data update is displayed in accordance with the change of the positional relationship between the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 and the test object 9 . as shown in fig4 , the bed is moved in the x - axis direction 14 and in the y - axis direction 13 in accordance with the indication of the monitor 3 so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . in this case , the indication of the positional adjustment may be supported by a buzzer , or voice transmission means of voice guidance . also , in fig4 , the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 may be tilted arbitrarily with respect to the floor surface in accordance with the indication of the monitor 3 so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . in this case , the test object 9 is disposed in an almost parallel manner with respect to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 . as shown in fig5 , the display specification of the positional adjustment of the test object is displayed on the monitor , including the squid magnetometers 20 and a dialog box 25 for the confirmation of the end of the positional adjustment in the z - axis direction . on the squid magnetometers 20 , the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength is displayed . also , on the dialog box 25 for the confirmation of the end of the positional adjustment in the z - axis direction , a display 26 for indicating the positional adjustment and a display 27 for the confirmation of the end of the positional adjustment are displayed . as shown in fig6 , the display specification of the positional adjustment of the test object is displayed on the monitor on the basis of the magnetic field measurement result of the permanent magnet , including the squid magnetometers 20 and a dialog box 29 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the distance measurement means . on the squid magnetometers 20 , the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength is displayed . also , on the dialog box 29 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the distance measurement means , the distance between the test object and the bottom face of the cryogenic container is displayed . as shown in fig7 , the display specification of the positional adjustment of the test object is displayed on the monitor on the basis of the magnetic field measurement result of the permanent magnet , including the cryogenic container 1 , the body surface 16 of the test object , the squid magnetometers 20 and a dialog box 24 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the position measurement means . on the squid magnetometers 20 , the movement direction 19 of the test object is displayed so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . the permanent magnet is displayed on the body surface 16 of the test object . on the dialog box 24 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the position measurement means , the movement distance 21 of the test object in the x - axis direction and the movement distance 22 of the test object in the y - axis direction are displayed so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . moreover , the icon 23 for calculating movement distance is displayed in accordance with the movement of the bed . as shown fig8 , the display specification of the positional adjustment of the test object is displayed on the monitor on the basis of the magnetic field measurement result of the permanent magnet , including the cryogenic container 1 , the body surface 16 of the test object , the squid magnetometers 20 and the dialog box 25 that instructs the positional adjustment in the z - axis direction . on the squid magnetometers 20 , the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 is displayed . the permanent magnet is displayed on the body surface 16 of the test object . on the dialog box 25 that instructs the positional adjustment in the z - axis direction , the measurement result obtained with the position measurement means and the instruction of positional adjustment in the z - axis direction are displayed . the marker including the permanent magnet is attached to the xiphoid process portion of the subject and a form image including the pectoral region is obtained via a three - dimensional x - ray ct apparatus . the marker is shown in an x - ray ct cross - sectional image on a ct image . then , the subject is measured via the biomagnetic measurement apparatus according to embodiment 1 regarding the change of the magnetic field strength , and a functional image is obtained ( showing an isofield contour map , a current - arrow map , an isofield - integral map , and functional information on cardiac activity in an estimated position of an activated region ( current source ), for example ). since the position of the heart of the subject is not clear with the functional image obtained by the biomagnetic measurement apparatus , the form image including the pectoral region obtained by the x - ray ct apparatus and the functional image obtained by the biomagnetic measurement apparatus are superposed , thereby obtaining a synthesized image . processes for obtaining the synthesized image include a process for making the pixel size of the functional image obtained by the biomagnetic measurement apparatus correspond to the pixel size of the cross - sectional image obtained by the three - dimensional x - ray ct apparatus , and a process for making the center position ( equivalent to the position of a measurement surface that the z - axis of the coordinate system ( x , y , z ) of the biomagnetic measurement apparatus goes through ) of the reference point in the functional image obtained by the biomagnetic measurement apparatus correspond to the reference point ( the center point of the image of a marker including a permanent magnet ) photographed in the cross - sectional image .	Should this patent be classified under 'Human Necessities'?	Should this patent be classified under 'Mechanical Engineering; Lightning; Heating; Weapons; Blasting'?	0.25	7c8cc8787d22d312e7c39e0f7515ab383ce8473b37bd4ee089de1ede705ff7ec	0.008606	0.000051	0.000216	0.000158	0.002472	0.003601
null	the contents of the present invention are described with reference to embodiments . as shown in fig1 , the biomagnetic measurement apparatus according to the present invention comprises a cryogenic container 1 for cooling squid magnetometers , a gantry 2 for fixing the position of the cryogenic container 1 , a monitor 3 for displaying information on the positional adjustment of an object , an inspection bed 4 and a holding stand 5 for holding the bed 4 . the gantry 2 for holding the cryogenic container 1 is fixed on a floor surface . the distance between the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 and the floor surface is represented by a known value set in advance , and the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 is in a position fixed with respect to the floor surface . the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 and the top face of the bed are disposed in an almost parallel manner with respect to the floor surface . the gantry 2 for holding the cryogenic container 1 is fixed on the floor surface and the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 may be tilted arbitrarily with respect to the floor surface instead of fixing the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 with respect to the floor surface . in this case , a test object 9 is disposed in an almost parallel manner with respect to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 . a plurality of squid magnetometers employ magnetometers for detecting a magnetic field component in the z - axis direction 15 or magnetometers for detecting a magnetic field component in the x - axis direction 14 and in the y - axis direction 13 . a marker used for adjusting the positional relationship between the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 and the test object 9 employs a permanent magnet 10 of known magnetic field strength . the permanent magnet 10 is attached to the body surface of the xiphoid process of the test object 9 mounted on the bed 4 . means for moving the position of the bed 4 with respect to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 employs a feed rail 8 for moving the holding stand 5 in the x - axis direction 14 on the floor surface , a right / left feed handle 6 for moving the bed 4 in the y - axis direction 13 on the holding stand 5 , and a hydraulic pump handle 7 for moving the bed 4 in the z - axis direction 15 on the holding stand 5 . as the position of the bed 4 moves with respect to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 , the positional relationship between the test object 9 mounted on the bed 4 and the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 is automatically measured via position measurement means and a measurement result is displayed on the monitor 3 . further , as the position of the bed 4 moves with respect to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 , the distance between the test object 9 mounted on the bed 4 and the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 is automatically measured via distance measurement means and a measurement result is displayed on the monitor 3 . as shown in fig2 , on an area in the vicinity of the inside bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 , a plurality of squid magnetometers 20 are disposed and cooled , individually , in the x - axis direction and in the y - axis direction . a typical method for determining the position of the test object according to the present invention , which is used for the biomagnetic measurement apparatus , employs a coordinate system ( x , y , z ). the xy surface is parallel to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 , and the z axis is perpendicular to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 . the permanent magnet 10 is attached to a body surface 16 of the test object when the test object is mounted on the bed at the lowest height thereof . the bed is moved in the x - axis direction and the y - axis direction such that the permanent magnet 10 is disposed under the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 , and the magnetic strength of the permanent magnet 10 is measured . on the basis of a measurement result , a movement direction 19 of the test object is determined so that a marker 17 of a squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to a marker 18 that indicates the target point of positional adjustment . although the marker that indicates the target point has an initial setting value , it may be changed arbitrarily by an operator . as shown in fig3 , the display specification of the positional adjustment of the test object is displayed on the monitor on the basis of the magnetic field measurement result of the permanent magnet , including the squid magnetometers 20 and a dialog box 24 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the position measurement means . on the squid magnetometers 20 , the movement direction 19 of the test object is displayed so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . on the dialog box 24 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the position measurement means , a movement distance 21 of the test object in the x - axis direction and a movement distance 22 of the test object in the y - axis direction are displayed so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . moreover , an icon 23 that indicates data update is displayed in accordance with the change of the positional relationship between the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 and the test object 9 . as shown in fig4 , the bed is moved in the x - axis direction 14 and in the y - axis direction 13 in accordance with the indication of the monitor 3 so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . in this case , the indication of the positional adjustment may be supported by a buzzer , or voice transmission means of voice guidance . also , in fig4 , the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 may be tilted arbitrarily with respect to the floor surface in accordance with the indication of the monitor 3 so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . in this case , the test object 9 is disposed in an almost parallel manner with respect to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 . as shown in fig5 , the display specification of the positional adjustment of the test object is displayed on the monitor , including the squid magnetometers 20 and a dialog box 25 for the confirmation of the end of the positional adjustment in the z - axis direction . on the squid magnetometers 20 , the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength is displayed . also , on the dialog box 25 for the confirmation of the end of the positional adjustment in the z - axis direction , a display 26 for indicating the positional adjustment and a display 27 for the confirmation of the end of the positional adjustment are displayed . as shown in fig6 , the display specification of the positional adjustment of the test object is displayed on the monitor on the basis of the magnetic field measurement result of the permanent magnet , including the squid magnetometers 20 and a dialog box 29 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the distance measurement means . on the squid magnetometers 20 , the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength is displayed . also , on the dialog box 29 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the distance measurement means , the distance between the test object and the bottom face of the cryogenic container is displayed . as shown in fig7 , the display specification of the positional adjustment of the test object is displayed on the monitor on the basis of the magnetic field measurement result of the permanent magnet , including the cryogenic container 1 , the body surface 16 of the test object , the squid magnetometers 20 and a dialog box 24 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the position measurement means . on the squid magnetometers 20 , the movement direction 19 of the test object is displayed so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . the permanent magnet is displayed on the body surface 16 of the test object . on the dialog box 24 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the position measurement means , the movement distance 21 of the test object in the x - axis direction and the movement distance 22 of the test object in the y - axis direction are displayed so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . moreover , the icon 23 for calculating movement distance is displayed in accordance with the movement of the bed . as shown fig8 , the display specification of the positional adjustment of the test object is displayed on the monitor on the basis of the magnetic field measurement result of the permanent magnet , including the cryogenic container 1 , the body surface 16 of the test object , the squid magnetometers 20 and the dialog box 25 that instructs the positional adjustment in the z - axis direction . on the squid magnetometers 20 , the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 is displayed . the permanent magnet is displayed on the body surface 16 of the test object . on the dialog box 25 that instructs the positional adjustment in the z - axis direction , the measurement result obtained with the position measurement means and the instruction of positional adjustment in the z - axis direction are displayed . the marker including the permanent magnet is attached to the xiphoid process portion of the subject and a form image including the pectoral region is obtained via a three - dimensional x - ray ct apparatus . the marker is shown in an x - ray ct cross - sectional image on a ct image . then , the subject is measured via the biomagnetic measurement apparatus according to embodiment 1 regarding the change of the magnetic field strength , and a functional image is obtained ( showing an isofield contour map , a current - arrow map , an isofield - integral map , and functional information on cardiac activity in an estimated position of an activated region ( current source ), for example ). since the position of the heart of the subject is not clear with the functional image obtained by the biomagnetic measurement apparatus , the form image including the pectoral region obtained by the x - ray ct apparatus and the functional image obtained by the biomagnetic measurement apparatus are superposed , thereby obtaining a synthesized image . processes for obtaining the synthesized image include a process for making the pixel size of the functional image obtained by the biomagnetic measurement apparatus correspond to the pixel size of the cross - sectional image obtained by the three - dimensional x - ray ct apparatus , and a process for making the center position ( equivalent to the position of a measurement surface that the z - axis of the coordinate system ( x , y , z ) of the biomagnetic measurement apparatus goes through ) of the reference point in the functional image obtained by the biomagnetic measurement apparatus correspond to the reference point ( the center point of the image of a marker including a permanent magnet ) photographed in the cross - sectional image .	Is 'Human Necessities' the correct technical category for the patent?	Is 'Physics' the correct technical category for the patent?	0.25	7c8cc8787d22d312e7c39e0f7515ab383ce8473b37bd4ee089de1ede705ff7ec	0.003708	0.05835	0.000458	0.064453	0.001755	0.109863
null	the contents of the present invention are described with reference to embodiments . as shown in fig1 , the biomagnetic measurement apparatus according to the present invention comprises a cryogenic container 1 for cooling squid magnetometers , a gantry 2 for fixing the position of the cryogenic container 1 , a monitor 3 for displaying information on the positional adjustment of an object , an inspection bed 4 and a holding stand 5 for holding the bed 4 . the gantry 2 for holding the cryogenic container 1 is fixed on a floor surface . the distance between the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 and the floor surface is represented by a known value set in advance , and the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 is in a position fixed with respect to the floor surface . the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 and the top face of the bed are disposed in an almost parallel manner with respect to the floor surface . the gantry 2 for holding the cryogenic container 1 is fixed on the floor surface and the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 may be tilted arbitrarily with respect to the floor surface instead of fixing the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 with respect to the floor surface . in this case , a test object 9 is disposed in an almost parallel manner with respect to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 . a plurality of squid magnetometers employ magnetometers for detecting a magnetic field component in the z - axis direction 15 or magnetometers for detecting a magnetic field component in the x - axis direction 14 and in the y - axis direction 13 . a marker used for adjusting the positional relationship between the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 and the test object 9 employs a permanent magnet 10 of known magnetic field strength . the permanent magnet 10 is attached to the body surface of the xiphoid process of the test object 9 mounted on the bed 4 . means for moving the position of the bed 4 with respect to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 employs a feed rail 8 for moving the holding stand 5 in the x - axis direction 14 on the floor surface , a right / left feed handle 6 for moving the bed 4 in the y - axis direction 13 on the holding stand 5 , and a hydraulic pump handle 7 for moving the bed 4 in the z - axis direction 15 on the holding stand 5 . as the position of the bed 4 moves with respect to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 , the positional relationship between the test object 9 mounted on the bed 4 and the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 is automatically measured via position measurement means and a measurement result is displayed on the monitor 3 . further , as the position of the bed 4 moves with respect to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 , the distance between the test object 9 mounted on the bed 4 and the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 is automatically measured via distance measurement means and a measurement result is displayed on the monitor 3 . as shown in fig2 , on an area in the vicinity of the inside bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 , a plurality of squid magnetometers 20 are disposed and cooled , individually , in the x - axis direction and in the y - axis direction . a typical method for determining the position of the test object according to the present invention , which is used for the biomagnetic measurement apparatus , employs a coordinate system ( x , y , z ). the xy surface is parallel to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 , and the z axis is perpendicular to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 . the permanent magnet 10 is attached to a body surface 16 of the test object when the test object is mounted on the bed at the lowest height thereof . the bed is moved in the x - axis direction and the y - axis direction such that the permanent magnet 10 is disposed under the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 , and the magnetic strength of the permanent magnet 10 is measured . on the basis of a measurement result , a movement direction 19 of the test object is determined so that a marker 17 of a squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to a marker 18 that indicates the target point of positional adjustment . although the marker that indicates the target point has an initial setting value , it may be changed arbitrarily by an operator . as shown in fig3 , the display specification of the positional adjustment of the test object is displayed on the monitor on the basis of the magnetic field measurement result of the permanent magnet , including the squid magnetometers 20 and a dialog box 24 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the position measurement means . on the squid magnetometers 20 , the movement direction 19 of the test object is displayed so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . on the dialog box 24 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the position measurement means , a movement distance 21 of the test object in the x - axis direction and a movement distance 22 of the test object in the y - axis direction are displayed so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . moreover , an icon 23 that indicates data update is displayed in accordance with the change of the positional relationship between the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 and the test object 9 . as shown in fig4 , the bed is moved in the x - axis direction 14 and in the y - axis direction 13 in accordance with the indication of the monitor 3 so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . in this case , the indication of the positional adjustment may be supported by a buzzer , or voice transmission means of voice guidance . also , in fig4 , the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 may be tilted arbitrarily with respect to the floor surface in accordance with the indication of the monitor 3 so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . in this case , the test object 9 is disposed in an almost parallel manner with respect to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 . as shown in fig5 , the display specification of the positional adjustment of the test object is displayed on the monitor , including the squid magnetometers 20 and a dialog box 25 for the confirmation of the end of the positional adjustment in the z - axis direction . on the squid magnetometers 20 , the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength is displayed . also , on the dialog box 25 for the confirmation of the end of the positional adjustment in the z - axis direction , a display 26 for indicating the positional adjustment and a display 27 for the confirmation of the end of the positional adjustment are displayed . as shown in fig6 , the display specification of the positional adjustment of the test object is displayed on the monitor on the basis of the magnetic field measurement result of the permanent magnet , including the squid magnetometers 20 and a dialog box 29 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the distance measurement means . on the squid magnetometers 20 , the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength is displayed . also , on the dialog box 29 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the distance measurement means , the distance between the test object and the bottom face of the cryogenic container is displayed . as shown in fig7 , the display specification of the positional adjustment of the test object is displayed on the monitor on the basis of the magnetic field measurement result of the permanent magnet , including the cryogenic container 1 , the body surface 16 of the test object , the squid magnetometers 20 and a dialog box 24 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the position measurement means . on the squid magnetometers 20 , the movement direction 19 of the test object is displayed so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . the permanent magnet is displayed on the body surface 16 of the test object . on the dialog box 24 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the position measurement means , the movement distance 21 of the test object in the x - axis direction and the movement distance 22 of the test object in the y - axis direction are displayed so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . moreover , the icon 23 for calculating movement distance is displayed in accordance with the movement of the bed . as shown fig8 , the display specification of the positional adjustment of the test object is displayed on the monitor on the basis of the magnetic field measurement result of the permanent magnet , including the cryogenic container 1 , the body surface 16 of the test object , the squid magnetometers 20 and the dialog box 25 that instructs the positional adjustment in the z - axis direction . on the squid magnetometers 20 , the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 is displayed . the permanent magnet is displayed on the body surface 16 of the test object . on the dialog box 25 that instructs the positional adjustment in the z - axis direction , the measurement result obtained with the position measurement means and the instruction of positional adjustment in the z - axis direction are displayed . the marker including the permanent magnet is attached to the xiphoid process portion of the subject and a form image including the pectoral region is obtained via a three - dimensional x - ray ct apparatus . the marker is shown in an x - ray ct cross - sectional image on a ct image . then , the subject is measured via the biomagnetic measurement apparatus according to embodiment 1 regarding the change of the magnetic field strength , and a functional image is obtained ( showing an isofield contour map , a current - arrow map , an isofield - integral map , and functional information on cardiac activity in an estimated position of an activated region ( current source ), for example ). since the position of the heart of the subject is not clear with the functional image obtained by the biomagnetic measurement apparatus , the form image including the pectoral region obtained by the x - ray ct apparatus and the functional image obtained by the biomagnetic measurement apparatus are superposed , thereby obtaining a synthesized image . processes for obtaining the synthesized image include a process for making the pixel size of the functional image obtained by the biomagnetic measurement apparatus correspond to the pixel size of the cross - sectional image obtained by the three - dimensional x - ray ct apparatus , and a process for making the center position ( equivalent to the position of a measurement surface that the z - axis of the coordinate system ( x , y , z ) of the biomagnetic measurement apparatus goes through ) of the reference point in the functional image obtained by the biomagnetic measurement apparatus correspond to the reference point ( the center point of the image of a marker including a permanent magnet ) photographed in the cross - sectional image .	Should this patent be classified under 'Human Necessities'?	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Electricity'?	0.25	7c8cc8787d22d312e7c39e0f7515ab383ce8473b37bd4ee089de1ede705ff7ec	0.008606	0.000149	0.000203	0.00009	0.002472	0.000587
null	the contents of the present invention are described with reference to embodiments . as shown in fig1 , the biomagnetic measurement apparatus according to the present invention comprises a cryogenic container 1 for cooling squid magnetometers , a gantry 2 for fixing the position of the cryogenic container 1 , a monitor 3 for displaying information on the positional adjustment of an object , an inspection bed 4 and a holding stand 5 for holding the bed 4 . the gantry 2 for holding the cryogenic container 1 is fixed on a floor surface . the distance between the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 and the floor surface is represented by a known value set in advance , and the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 is in a position fixed with respect to the floor surface . the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 and the top face of the bed are disposed in an almost parallel manner with respect to the floor surface . the gantry 2 for holding the cryogenic container 1 is fixed on the floor surface and the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 may be tilted arbitrarily with respect to the floor surface instead of fixing the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 with respect to the floor surface . in this case , a test object 9 is disposed in an almost parallel manner with respect to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 . a plurality of squid magnetometers employ magnetometers for detecting a magnetic field component in the z - axis direction 15 or magnetometers for detecting a magnetic field component in the x - axis direction 14 and in the y - axis direction 13 . a marker used for adjusting the positional relationship between the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 and the test object 9 employs a permanent magnet 10 of known magnetic field strength . the permanent magnet 10 is attached to the body surface of the xiphoid process of the test object 9 mounted on the bed 4 . means for moving the position of the bed 4 with respect to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 employs a feed rail 8 for moving the holding stand 5 in the x - axis direction 14 on the floor surface , a right / left feed handle 6 for moving the bed 4 in the y - axis direction 13 on the holding stand 5 , and a hydraulic pump handle 7 for moving the bed 4 in the z - axis direction 15 on the holding stand 5 . as the position of the bed 4 moves with respect to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 , the positional relationship between the test object 9 mounted on the bed 4 and the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 is automatically measured via position measurement means and a measurement result is displayed on the monitor 3 . further , as the position of the bed 4 moves with respect to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 , the distance between the test object 9 mounted on the bed 4 and the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 is automatically measured via distance measurement means and a measurement result is displayed on the monitor 3 . as shown in fig2 , on an area in the vicinity of the inside bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 , a plurality of squid magnetometers 20 are disposed and cooled , individually , in the x - axis direction and in the y - axis direction . a typical method for determining the position of the test object according to the present invention , which is used for the biomagnetic measurement apparatus , employs a coordinate system ( x , y , z ). the xy surface is parallel to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 , and the z axis is perpendicular to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 . the permanent magnet 10 is attached to a body surface 16 of the test object when the test object is mounted on the bed at the lowest height thereof . the bed is moved in the x - axis direction and the y - axis direction such that the permanent magnet 10 is disposed under the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 , and the magnetic strength of the permanent magnet 10 is measured . on the basis of a measurement result , a movement direction 19 of the test object is determined so that a marker 17 of a squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to a marker 18 that indicates the target point of positional adjustment . although the marker that indicates the target point has an initial setting value , it may be changed arbitrarily by an operator . as shown in fig3 , the display specification of the positional adjustment of the test object is displayed on the monitor on the basis of the magnetic field measurement result of the permanent magnet , including the squid magnetometers 20 and a dialog box 24 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the position measurement means . on the squid magnetometers 20 , the movement direction 19 of the test object is displayed so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . on the dialog box 24 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the position measurement means , a movement distance 21 of the test object in the x - axis direction and a movement distance 22 of the test object in the y - axis direction are displayed so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . moreover , an icon 23 that indicates data update is displayed in accordance with the change of the positional relationship between the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 and the test object 9 . as shown in fig4 , the bed is moved in the x - axis direction 14 and in the y - axis direction 13 in accordance with the indication of the monitor 3 so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . in this case , the indication of the positional adjustment may be supported by a buzzer , or voice transmission means of voice guidance . also , in fig4 , the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 may be tilted arbitrarily with respect to the floor surface in accordance with the indication of the monitor 3 so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . in this case , the test object 9 is disposed in an almost parallel manner with respect to the bottom face of the cryogenic container 1 . as shown in fig5 , the display specification of the positional adjustment of the test object is displayed on the monitor , including the squid magnetometers 20 and a dialog box 25 for the confirmation of the end of the positional adjustment in the z - axis direction . on the squid magnetometers 20 , the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength is displayed . also , on the dialog box 25 for the confirmation of the end of the positional adjustment in the z - axis direction , a display 26 for indicating the positional adjustment and a display 27 for the confirmation of the end of the positional adjustment are displayed . as shown in fig6 , the display specification of the positional adjustment of the test object is displayed on the monitor on the basis of the magnetic field measurement result of the permanent magnet , including the squid magnetometers 20 and a dialog box 29 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the distance measurement means . on the squid magnetometers 20 , the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength is displayed . also , on the dialog box 29 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the distance measurement means , the distance between the test object and the bottom face of the cryogenic container is displayed . as shown in fig7 , the display specification of the positional adjustment of the test object is displayed on the monitor on the basis of the magnetic field measurement result of the permanent magnet , including the cryogenic container 1 , the body surface 16 of the test object , the squid magnetometers 20 and a dialog box 24 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the position measurement means . on the squid magnetometers 20 , the movement direction 19 of the test object is displayed so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . the permanent magnet is displayed on the body surface 16 of the test object . on the dialog box 24 that indicates the measurement result obtained with the position measurement means , the movement distance 21 of the test object in the x - axis direction and the movement distance 22 of the test object in the y - axis direction are displayed so that the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 can correspond to the marker 18 that indicates the target point of the positional adjustment . moreover , the icon 23 for calculating movement distance is displayed in accordance with the movement of the bed . as shown fig8 , the display specification of the positional adjustment of the test object is displayed on the monitor on the basis of the magnetic field measurement result of the permanent magnet , including the cryogenic container 1 , the body surface 16 of the test object , the squid magnetometers 20 and the dialog box 25 that instructs the positional adjustment in the z - axis direction . on the squid magnetometers 20 , the marker 17 of the squid magnetometer that indicates the maximum magnetic field strength among the plurality of squid magnetometers 20 is displayed . the permanent magnet is displayed on the body surface 16 of the test object . on the dialog box 25 that instructs the positional adjustment in the z - axis direction , the measurement result obtained with the position measurement means and the instruction of positional adjustment in the z - axis direction are displayed . the marker including the permanent magnet is attached to the xiphoid process portion of the subject and a form image including the pectoral region is obtained via a three - dimensional x - ray ct apparatus . the marker is shown in an x - ray ct cross - sectional image on a ct image . then , the subject is measured via the biomagnetic measurement apparatus according to embodiment 1 regarding the change of the magnetic field strength , and a functional image is obtained ( showing an isofield contour map , a current - arrow map , an isofield - integral map , and functional information on cardiac activity in an estimated position of an activated region ( current source ), for example ). since the position of the heart of the subject is not clear with the functional image obtained by the biomagnetic measurement apparatus , the form image including the pectoral region obtained by the x - ray ct apparatus and the functional image obtained by the biomagnetic measurement apparatus are superposed , thereby obtaining a synthesized image . processes for obtaining the synthesized image include a process for making the pixel size of the functional image obtained by the biomagnetic measurement apparatus correspond to the pixel size of the cross - sectional image obtained by the three - dimensional x - ray ct apparatus , and a process for making the center position ( equivalent to the position of a measurement surface that the z - axis of the coordinate system ( x , y , z ) of the biomagnetic measurement apparatus goes through ) of the reference point in the functional image obtained by the biomagnetic measurement apparatus correspond to the reference point ( the center point of the image of a marker including a permanent magnet ) photographed in the cross - sectional image .	Is 'Human Necessities' the correct technical category for the patent?	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'General tagging of new or cross-sectional technology'?	0.25	7c8cc8787d22d312e7c39e0f7515ab383ce8473b37bd4ee089de1ede705ff7ec	0.003708	0.119141	0.000458	0.388672	0.001701	0.150391
null	referring to fig1 there is schematically shown therein a precision grinder of a known construction capable of carrying out grinding operations in a precision manner in a horizontal plane so that precise surface grinding operations can be carried out with such a machine . this machine has a base 2 fixed with a mounting means 1 in the form of any suitable robust structural unit fixed to and projecting from the base 2 in the manner apparent from fig1 . this mounting unit 1 may , for example , be fixedly bolted to the base 2 and serves to mount at the grinding machine a positioning means 3 as well as a transfer means 4 . the positioning means 3 takes the form of a horizontal circular plate , as is apparent from fig1 . in addition to this horizontal circular plate the positioning means includes an upright hollow sleeve 6 which receives in its interior a cylindrical column 5 fixed centrally to the bottom of the plate 3 and adjustable within the sleeve 6 which is fixed to the unit 1 . a set screw 7 extends through the wall of the sleeve 6 into engagement with the column 5 so as to angularly fix the position of the circular plate which forms the positioning means 3 . the above structure enables the positioning means 3 to be situated in a plane parallel to a working plane formed by a component 8 of the machine , this component 8 being in the form of a circular support having means for holding the workpieces in position in a predetermined working plane by a force of suction which acts on the workpieces when they are in the working plane determined by the component 8 of the machine . thus , it is possible by positioning the column 5 within the sleeve 6 to adjust a positioning plane formed by the positioning means 3 in such a way that the elevation of the positioning plane can be determined and also in such a way that the angular position of the plate 3 in the positioning plane can be determined , this positioning plane being parallel to the working plane and , if desired , at the same elevation as the working plane . the positioning means includes in addition to the circular plate 3 which is illustrated in fig1 a plurality of hardened steel pins 9 which are fixed to and project upwardly from the plate 3 , so that these pins 9 serve to determine the locations of a relatively large number of semiconductor substrates or wafers 29 of circular configuration , as is shown most clearly in fig2 . the locations of the several workpieces in the positioning plane , as fragmentarily illustrated in fig2 corresponds to the locations of porous ceramic inserts 10 carried by the plate 8 of the machine . thus , the several porous ceramic inserts 10 have with respect to each other the same locations as the locations of the workpieces 29 as determined by the pins 9 . these porous ceramic inserts 10 of the machine communicate through a hollow space in the support plate 8 with a source of vacuum so that when the workpieces are in the working plane they are held in this plane by suction which acts through the ceramic inserts 10 . as is shown most clearly in fig3 the plate 3 carries a plurality of relatively soft elastic bodies 11 which form supports for the several workpieces 29 , respectively , so that these semiconductor substrates 29 which are to be subsequently ground will be protected by the soft , yieldable elastic supports 11 which may be made of a material such as a suitable rubber or the like . in this way the supports 11 protect the substrates 29 against damage when they are taken over by the transfer means 4 in a manner described below . the transfer means 4 includes a column 13 movable vertically along and angularly about its upright axis while extending into a hydraulic cylinder 12 so that by way of hydraulic fluid under pressure it is possible to control the elevation of the column 13 which at the same time can be angularly turned as shown by the arrow in fig1 . this upright 13 is guided for vertical movement in a vertical tube 14 situated within a vertical sleeve 15 , and adjusting screws 16 are provided to assure that the axis along which the column 13 can move and about which it can turn is precisely perpendicular to the parallel planes of the positioning means 3 and the work station 8 . at its upper end the column 13 carries a horizontal guide means in the form of a horizontal sleeve which has an axis perpendicular to the upright axis of the column 13 , and an elongated horizontal arm 17 is slidable in the horizontal sleeve which forms a t - shaped unit with the column 13 , the horizontal arm 17 thus being movable longitudinally along the horizontal axis which is perpendicular to the upright axis of the column 13 . this horizontal arm 17 is surrounded by a pair of air bearings 18 at opposite ends of the guide sleeve , and air under pressure is supplied through the air bearings 18 to the exterior surface of the arm 17 only during actual horizontal movement of the arm 17 . an elongated bar 19 is fixed to and extends along the top of the guide sleeve parallel to the horizontal axis of the latter , and upright handles are fixed to the arm 17 and engage opposed surfaces of the bar 19 so that in this way the arm 17 is prevented from turning about its axis . if desired there may be only two handles 20 , as illustrated , these handles being formed with suitable openings which receive the bar 19 so that in this way the slidable movement of the handles 20 with respect to the bar 19 prevent the arm 17 from turning . in addition it will be noted that two separate rings form stops for limiting the extent of horizontal movement of the arm 17 . the transfer means furthermore includes at the front end region of the horizontal support arm 17 a vertically adjustable plate means 21 made up of a number of aluminum tubes of square cross section which are joined together in a common horizontal plane in any suitable way , one of these tubes of the plate means 21 being visible in fig3 in section . through a flexible hose and the vertically adjustable hollow housing which is visible in fig1 the interiors of the tubes which form the plate means 21 communicate with a source of suction as well as with a source of air at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure . the plate means 21 carries a plurality of nozzles 22 the interiors of which communicate with the interior spaces of the square tubes , so that the interiors of the nozzles are in this way placed in communication with the source of suction and the source of air under pressure . the nozzles 22 , one of which is visible in fig3 have with respect to each other the same locations as the locations of the workpieces 29 shown in part in fig2 and thus also of the locations of the several inserts 10 . these nozzles 22 have lower free ends which are situated in a common plane and at the regions of their lower free ends the nozzles 22 are made of a soft tubular elastic material . the cross section of the tubular space surrounded by each nozzle 22 at the region where it engages a semiconductor substrate 29 has an area which is smaller than the area of the substrate 29 which is to be ground by approximately a factor of 100 . in other words the cross section of the area through which suction is applied to the surface of a substrate 29 to hold it in engagement with the nozzle 22 is approximately 100th the area of the substrate 29 . thus , the several nozzles 22 are capable of holding and carrying the substrates 29 by way of a suction force without mechanically damaging the substrates 29 and without any danger of breaking the substrates as a result of the vacuum prevailing in the interior space of the nozzles 22 . the plate means 21 furthermore carries a plurality of stops 23 which project downwardly from the plate means at the peripheral region thereof and which serve to engage the top surface of the plate which forms the positioning means 3 so as to situate in this way the lower ends of the nozzles 22 at a proper distance from the plate of the positioning means 3 to assure engagement of the soft elastic bottom free ends of the nozzles 22 with the workpieces 29 without unduly pressing the latter against the elastic supports 11 so that a reliable engagement of the workpieces without danger of breaking the same is achieved in this way . these stops 23 serve the same purpose in connection with deposition of the workpieces 29 on the inserts 10 at the end of the transfer operation , the stops 23 cooperating with the plate 8 at this time . moreover , the circular plate which forms the positioning means 3 fixedly carries at its center an indexing and centering pin 24 received in the interior of a corresponding sleeve 25 situated at the center of the plate means 21 of the transfer means 4 . thus , the pin 24 may be of a non - circular cross section received in a bore of the sleeve 25 which is of a mating non - circular cross section so that in this way not only is centering of the plate means 21 with respect to the plate 3 assured but also proper angular positioning of the plate means 21 with respect to the plate 3 is assured . furthermore , it is to be noted that the plate means 21 is of a non - circular cross section having a polygonal periphery mounted on a hollow housing which is capable of being received with its upper end in a prism of a stop 26 , so that by situating the upper end of this hollow housing in the prism of the stop 26 the plate means 21 is properly positioned over the circular support 8 of the grinding machine . the stop 26 is mounted on the wheel guard 27 which has in its interior the horizontal grinding disc . thus , by way of the element 26 proper positioning of the several workpieces 29 directly over the inserts 10 at the predetermined locations in the working plane is assured , and of course by way of the components 24 and 25 the proper positioning of the nozzles 22 with respect to the locations of the workpieces 29 in the positioning plane of the positioning means 3 is also assured . the positioning means 4 is of course capable of being angularly turned for example through an angle φ of approximately 300 °, and a suitable stop means 28 may be provided for adjustably limiting the angle of turning of the column 13 and the remainder of the transfer means so that through such an adjustable stop means 28 it is possible to provide for the transfer means angular end positions at one of which the plate 21 is situated directly over the positioning means 3 and at the other of which the plate 21 is situated outside of the machine for unloading and initial position . suitable control switches are centrally situated at the mounting means 1 . these switches include a switch 30 which controls the opening and closing of a splashguard 31 which protects against water spray during the grinding operation , while a switch 32 is available for controlling the hydraulic raising and lowering of the column 13 with the remainder of the transfer means 4 . a switch 33 is available for controlling the flow of fluid such as air both at less than and more than atmospheric pressure so as to control the engagement and disengagement of the workpieces from the nozzles 22 , and there is also a control lamp 34 . the semiconductor wafers or substrates of circular configuration in the form of relatively thin delicate plates are placed by hand on positioning means 3 in the positioning plane at predetermined locations therein as illustrated fragmentarily in fig2 . in this way each wafer or substrate is supported on an elastic support 11 while having its location determined by the steel pins 9 . the arrangement of the locations of the workpieces 29 as illustrated in fig2 is such that these locations have with respect to each other precisely the same relationship as the locations of the inserts 10 in the working plane . now the column 13 is raised hydraulically from its initial position so that the transfer means 4 is raised in this way , and the column 13 together with the remainder of the transfer means 4 is turned angularly about the upright axis of the column 13 until one end position is determined by the stop structure 28 , and in this end position the plate means 21 is situated directly over the positioning means 3 . with the transfer means in this position , the transfer means is hydraulically lowered and the index pin 24 is received in the sleeve 25 while the stops 23 engage the periphery of the plate 3 so that the position of the plate means 21 with respect to the plate 3 is precisely determined both in elevation and angularly . as a result the nozzles 22 are precisely positioned over the centers of the several semiconductors substrates 29 , respectively . now the vacuum is turned on by way of a hydraulically controlled valve so that less than atmospheric pressure prevails throughout the hollow interior spaces of the plate means 21 , and the substrates 29 are thus drawn by suction against the soft elastic lower free end portions of the nozzles 22 to be firmly held thereby . now , with the suction remaining in the nozzles 22 , the transfer means 4 is again hydraulically raised , after which the transfer means 4 is swung around the upright axis of the column 13 until the hollow housing of the plate means 21 is determined by the stop structure 28 , and at this time the periphery of the hollow housing of the plate means 21 is received in the v - notch of the stop 26 carried by the protective cover 27 as described above . with the transfer means thus positioning the plate means 21 precisely over the plate 8 at the working station , the transfer means is again hydraulically lowered , so that now the stops 23 cooperate with the plate 8 for positioning the plate 21 at precisely the right elevation with respect to the plate 8 , and now the several substrates 29 will be precisely positioned over the several porous ceramic inserts 10 . the porous ceramic inserts 10 are now placed in communication with the source of suction while the communication of the nozzles 22 with the source of suction is terminated , with the result that the substrates 29 are now held by the suction against the ceramic inserts 10 to be firmly held thereby at the predetermined locations in the working plane . in order to facilitate the release of the substrates 29 from the nozzles 22 when the substrates 29 have thus been situated at the working plane , when the suction of the nozzles 22 is terminated these nozzles 22 are immediately placed in communication with a source of air under pressure so that now through the nozzles 22 the substrates are urged toward the inserts 10 which simultaneously communicate with a source of suction . thus a reliable release of the substrates 29 from the nozzles 22 is assured , and now the transfer means 4 is again hydraulically raised , angularly turned toward its initial angular position and then lowered to its initial position . now the splashguard 31 is closed and the automatic operating cycle of the grinding machine is started . when the program of operation of the grinding machine has been completed , the machine returns to its initial position where the table of the machine remains at a predetermined location and the operation at the vacuum - holding plate 8 is terminated . the transfer means 4 is again hydraulically raised from its rest position , and the plate means 21 is again placed in engagement with the positioning stop 26 at the wheel guard 27 after which the transfer means is lowered . now the nozzles 22 are again placed in communication with the source of vacuum while at the same time water and air at greater than atmospheric pressure are provided in the suction conduits of the vacuum - holding plate 8 , so that in this way the movement of the semiconductor wafers against the suction nozzles 22 is reinforced by the fluid under pressure at the inserts 10 . thus , the substrates 29 on which the operations have been performed are now held by suction against the nozzles 22 and the transfer means 4 is now raised and turned to a location which will situate the substrates over a washing and cleaning station . the vacuum is now turned off and a reversal of the suction stream results in a blowing action which discharges the substrates 29 from the suction nozzles 22 into the cleaning container . after the vacuum - holding plate 8 is cleaned the above cycle of operations can be repeated . during the grinding operations which are going forward at the machine it is possible for substrates 29 for the next cycle of operations to be placed on the positioning means 3 , so that as soon as one cycle of operations is completed by the machine , the next group of substrates is in readiness at the positioning plane to be transferred by the transfer means of the invention to the working station . of course it is to be noted that the apparatus of the invention need not be used only in combination with a grinding machine . further possibilities of use of the method and apparatus of the invention are , for example , supply and discharge of delicate workpieces at measuring stations , cleaning stations , coating stations , and treatment of workpieces such as semiconductor substrates in connection with masking and exposure to vapor deposition , for example , so that in general any transport problems in connection with workpieces of this type is suitable for the present invention . it is to be noted that the support of the several workpieces on the soft yieldable elastic supports 11 serve not only to protect the workpieces but also to compensate for any variations in the thickness of the workpieces . the same is of course true of the soft yieldable elastic free ends of the nozzles 22 . moreover , the provision of cross - sectional areas for the nozzles which are on the order of 100th the area of the surface of the semiconductor workpiece is of great significance since with such a ratio of the area of the nozzle to the area of the workpiece there is on the one hand an assurance of a reliable holding of the workpiece at the nozzle by suction while on the other hand there is no danger of injuring the workpiece as a result of the force of the suction . this danger of breaking a semiconductor wafer by the action of vacuum is present when the diameter of the suction nozzle is too great , since in this case in the free suction space of the nozzle the semiconductor wafer can be bent by the force of suction and can even become fractured in this way .	Should this patent be classified under 'Electricity'?	Is 'Human Necessities' the correct technical category for the patent?	0.25	e7b41e190d2de40afe4da977cdd718acac2d78e03362a198d6bbd163272b3fd8	0.004608	0.002625	0.000278	0.000203	0.000179	0.001068
null	referring to fig1 there is schematically shown therein a precision grinder of a known construction capable of carrying out grinding operations in a precision manner in a horizontal plane so that precise surface grinding operations can be carried out with such a machine . this machine has a base 2 fixed with a mounting means 1 in the form of any suitable robust structural unit fixed to and projecting from the base 2 in the manner apparent from fig1 . this mounting unit 1 may , for example , be fixedly bolted to the base 2 and serves to mount at the grinding machine a positioning means 3 as well as a transfer means 4 . the positioning means 3 takes the form of a horizontal circular plate , as is apparent from fig1 . in addition to this horizontal circular plate the positioning means includes an upright hollow sleeve 6 which receives in its interior a cylindrical column 5 fixed centrally to the bottom of the plate 3 and adjustable within the sleeve 6 which is fixed to the unit 1 . a set screw 7 extends through the wall of the sleeve 6 into engagement with the column 5 so as to angularly fix the position of the circular plate which forms the positioning means 3 . the above structure enables the positioning means 3 to be situated in a plane parallel to a working plane formed by a component 8 of the machine , this component 8 being in the form of a circular support having means for holding the workpieces in position in a predetermined working plane by a force of suction which acts on the workpieces when they are in the working plane determined by the component 8 of the machine . thus , it is possible by positioning the column 5 within the sleeve 6 to adjust a positioning plane formed by the positioning means 3 in such a way that the elevation of the positioning plane can be determined and also in such a way that the angular position of the plate 3 in the positioning plane can be determined , this positioning plane being parallel to the working plane and , if desired , at the same elevation as the working plane . the positioning means includes in addition to the circular plate 3 which is illustrated in fig1 a plurality of hardened steel pins 9 which are fixed to and project upwardly from the plate 3 , so that these pins 9 serve to determine the locations of a relatively large number of semiconductor substrates or wafers 29 of circular configuration , as is shown most clearly in fig2 . the locations of the several workpieces in the positioning plane , as fragmentarily illustrated in fig2 corresponds to the locations of porous ceramic inserts 10 carried by the plate 8 of the machine . thus , the several porous ceramic inserts 10 have with respect to each other the same locations as the locations of the workpieces 29 as determined by the pins 9 . these porous ceramic inserts 10 of the machine communicate through a hollow space in the support plate 8 with a source of vacuum so that when the workpieces are in the working plane they are held in this plane by suction which acts through the ceramic inserts 10 . as is shown most clearly in fig3 the plate 3 carries a plurality of relatively soft elastic bodies 11 which form supports for the several workpieces 29 , respectively , so that these semiconductor substrates 29 which are to be subsequently ground will be protected by the soft , yieldable elastic supports 11 which may be made of a material such as a suitable rubber or the like . in this way the supports 11 protect the substrates 29 against damage when they are taken over by the transfer means 4 in a manner described below . the transfer means 4 includes a column 13 movable vertically along and angularly about its upright axis while extending into a hydraulic cylinder 12 so that by way of hydraulic fluid under pressure it is possible to control the elevation of the column 13 which at the same time can be angularly turned as shown by the arrow in fig1 . this upright 13 is guided for vertical movement in a vertical tube 14 situated within a vertical sleeve 15 , and adjusting screws 16 are provided to assure that the axis along which the column 13 can move and about which it can turn is precisely perpendicular to the parallel planes of the positioning means 3 and the work station 8 . at its upper end the column 13 carries a horizontal guide means in the form of a horizontal sleeve which has an axis perpendicular to the upright axis of the column 13 , and an elongated horizontal arm 17 is slidable in the horizontal sleeve which forms a t - shaped unit with the column 13 , the horizontal arm 17 thus being movable longitudinally along the horizontal axis which is perpendicular to the upright axis of the column 13 . this horizontal arm 17 is surrounded by a pair of air bearings 18 at opposite ends of the guide sleeve , and air under pressure is supplied through the air bearings 18 to the exterior surface of the arm 17 only during actual horizontal movement of the arm 17 . an elongated bar 19 is fixed to and extends along the top of the guide sleeve parallel to the horizontal axis of the latter , and upright handles are fixed to the arm 17 and engage opposed surfaces of the bar 19 so that in this way the arm 17 is prevented from turning about its axis . if desired there may be only two handles 20 , as illustrated , these handles being formed with suitable openings which receive the bar 19 so that in this way the slidable movement of the handles 20 with respect to the bar 19 prevent the arm 17 from turning . in addition it will be noted that two separate rings form stops for limiting the extent of horizontal movement of the arm 17 . the transfer means furthermore includes at the front end region of the horizontal support arm 17 a vertically adjustable plate means 21 made up of a number of aluminum tubes of square cross section which are joined together in a common horizontal plane in any suitable way , one of these tubes of the plate means 21 being visible in fig3 in section . through a flexible hose and the vertically adjustable hollow housing which is visible in fig1 the interiors of the tubes which form the plate means 21 communicate with a source of suction as well as with a source of air at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure . the plate means 21 carries a plurality of nozzles 22 the interiors of which communicate with the interior spaces of the square tubes , so that the interiors of the nozzles are in this way placed in communication with the source of suction and the source of air under pressure . the nozzles 22 , one of which is visible in fig3 have with respect to each other the same locations as the locations of the workpieces 29 shown in part in fig2 and thus also of the locations of the several inserts 10 . these nozzles 22 have lower free ends which are situated in a common plane and at the regions of their lower free ends the nozzles 22 are made of a soft tubular elastic material . the cross section of the tubular space surrounded by each nozzle 22 at the region where it engages a semiconductor substrate 29 has an area which is smaller than the area of the substrate 29 which is to be ground by approximately a factor of 100 . in other words the cross section of the area through which suction is applied to the surface of a substrate 29 to hold it in engagement with the nozzle 22 is approximately 100th the area of the substrate 29 . thus , the several nozzles 22 are capable of holding and carrying the substrates 29 by way of a suction force without mechanically damaging the substrates 29 and without any danger of breaking the substrates as a result of the vacuum prevailing in the interior space of the nozzles 22 . the plate means 21 furthermore carries a plurality of stops 23 which project downwardly from the plate means at the peripheral region thereof and which serve to engage the top surface of the plate which forms the positioning means 3 so as to situate in this way the lower ends of the nozzles 22 at a proper distance from the plate of the positioning means 3 to assure engagement of the soft elastic bottom free ends of the nozzles 22 with the workpieces 29 without unduly pressing the latter against the elastic supports 11 so that a reliable engagement of the workpieces without danger of breaking the same is achieved in this way . these stops 23 serve the same purpose in connection with deposition of the workpieces 29 on the inserts 10 at the end of the transfer operation , the stops 23 cooperating with the plate 8 at this time . moreover , the circular plate which forms the positioning means 3 fixedly carries at its center an indexing and centering pin 24 received in the interior of a corresponding sleeve 25 situated at the center of the plate means 21 of the transfer means 4 . thus , the pin 24 may be of a non - circular cross section received in a bore of the sleeve 25 which is of a mating non - circular cross section so that in this way not only is centering of the plate means 21 with respect to the plate 3 assured but also proper angular positioning of the plate means 21 with respect to the plate 3 is assured . furthermore , it is to be noted that the plate means 21 is of a non - circular cross section having a polygonal periphery mounted on a hollow housing which is capable of being received with its upper end in a prism of a stop 26 , so that by situating the upper end of this hollow housing in the prism of the stop 26 the plate means 21 is properly positioned over the circular support 8 of the grinding machine . the stop 26 is mounted on the wheel guard 27 which has in its interior the horizontal grinding disc . thus , by way of the element 26 proper positioning of the several workpieces 29 directly over the inserts 10 at the predetermined locations in the working plane is assured , and of course by way of the components 24 and 25 the proper positioning of the nozzles 22 with respect to the locations of the workpieces 29 in the positioning plane of the positioning means 3 is also assured . the positioning means 4 is of course capable of being angularly turned for example through an angle φ of approximately 300 °, and a suitable stop means 28 may be provided for adjustably limiting the angle of turning of the column 13 and the remainder of the transfer means so that through such an adjustable stop means 28 it is possible to provide for the transfer means angular end positions at one of which the plate 21 is situated directly over the positioning means 3 and at the other of which the plate 21 is situated outside of the machine for unloading and initial position . suitable control switches are centrally situated at the mounting means 1 . these switches include a switch 30 which controls the opening and closing of a splashguard 31 which protects against water spray during the grinding operation , while a switch 32 is available for controlling the hydraulic raising and lowering of the column 13 with the remainder of the transfer means 4 . a switch 33 is available for controlling the flow of fluid such as air both at less than and more than atmospheric pressure so as to control the engagement and disengagement of the workpieces from the nozzles 22 , and there is also a control lamp 34 . the semiconductor wafers or substrates of circular configuration in the form of relatively thin delicate plates are placed by hand on positioning means 3 in the positioning plane at predetermined locations therein as illustrated fragmentarily in fig2 . in this way each wafer or substrate is supported on an elastic support 11 while having its location determined by the steel pins 9 . the arrangement of the locations of the workpieces 29 as illustrated in fig2 is such that these locations have with respect to each other precisely the same relationship as the locations of the inserts 10 in the working plane . now the column 13 is raised hydraulically from its initial position so that the transfer means 4 is raised in this way , and the column 13 together with the remainder of the transfer means 4 is turned angularly about the upright axis of the column 13 until one end position is determined by the stop structure 28 , and in this end position the plate means 21 is situated directly over the positioning means 3 . with the transfer means in this position , the transfer means is hydraulically lowered and the index pin 24 is received in the sleeve 25 while the stops 23 engage the periphery of the plate 3 so that the position of the plate means 21 with respect to the plate 3 is precisely determined both in elevation and angularly . as a result the nozzles 22 are precisely positioned over the centers of the several semiconductors substrates 29 , respectively . now the vacuum is turned on by way of a hydraulically controlled valve so that less than atmospheric pressure prevails throughout the hollow interior spaces of the plate means 21 , and the substrates 29 are thus drawn by suction against the soft elastic lower free end portions of the nozzles 22 to be firmly held thereby . now , with the suction remaining in the nozzles 22 , the transfer means 4 is again hydraulically raised , after which the transfer means 4 is swung around the upright axis of the column 13 until the hollow housing of the plate means 21 is determined by the stop structure 28 , and at this time the periphery of the hollow housing of the plate means 21 is received in the v - notch of the stop 26 carried by the protective cover 27 as described above . with the transfer means thus positioning the plate means 21 precisely over the plate 8 at the working station , the transfer means is again hydraulically lowered , so that now the stops 23 cooperate with the plate 8 for positioning the plate 21 at precisely the right elevation with respect to the plate 8 , and now the several substrates 29 will be precisely positioned over the several porous ceramic inserts 10 . the porous ceramic inserts 10 are now placed in communication with the source of suction while the communication of the nozzles 22 with the source of suction is terminated , with the result that the substrates 29 are now held by the suction against the ceramic inserts 10 to be firmly held thereby at the predetermined locations in the working plane . in order to facilitate the release of the substrates 29 from the nozzles 22 when the substrates 29 have thus been situated at the working plane , when the suction of the nozzles 22 is terminated these nozzles 22 are immediately placed in communication with a source of air under pressure so that now through the nozzles 22 the substrates are urged toward the inserts 10 which simultaneously communicate with a source of suction . thus a reliable release of the substrates 29 from the nozzles 22 is assured , and now the transfer means 4 is again hydraulically raised , angularly turned toward its initial angular position and then lowered to its initial position . now the splashguard 31 is closed and the automatic operating cycle of the grinding machine is started . when the program of operation of the grinding machine has been completed , the machine returns to its initial position where the table of the machine remains at a predetermined location and the operation at the vacuum - holding plate 8 is terminated . the transfer means 4 is again hydraulically raised from its rest position , and the plate means 21 is again placed in engagement with the positioning stop 26 at the wheel guard 27 after which the transfer means is lowered . now the nozzles 22 are again placed in communication with the source of vacuum while at the same time water and air at greater than atmospheric pressure are provided in the suction conduits of the vacuum - holding plate 8 , so that in this way the movement of the semiconductor wafers against the suction nozzles 22 is reinforced by the fluid under pressure at the inserts 10 . thus , the substrates 29 on which the operations have been performed are now held by suction against the nozzles 22 and the transfer means 4 is now raised and turned to a location which will situate the substrates over a washing and cleaning station . the vacuum is now turned off and a reversal of the suction stream results in a blowing action which discharges the substrates 29 from the suction nozzles 22 into the cleaning container . after the vacuum - holding plate 8 is cleaned the above cycle of operations can be repeated . during the grinding operations which are going forward at the machine it is possible for substrates 29 for the next cycle of operations to be placed on the positioning means 3 , so that as soon as one cycle of operations is completed by the machine , the next group of substrates is in readiness at the positioning plane to be transferred by the transfer means of the invention to the working station . of course it is to be noted that the apparatus of the invention need not be used only in combination with a grinding machine . further possibilities of use of the method and apparatus of the invention are , for example , supply and discharge of delicate workpieces at measuring stations , cleaning stations , coating stations , and treatment of workpieces such as semiconductor substrates in connection with masking and exposure to vapor deposition , for example , so that in general any transport problems in connection with workpieces of this type is suitable for the present invention . it is to be noted that the support of the several workpieces on the soft yieldable elastic supports 11 serve not only to protect the workpieces but also to compensate for any variations in the thickness of the workpieces . the same is of course true of the soft yieldable elastic free ends of the nozzles 22 . moreover , the provision of cross - sectional areas for the nozzles which are on the order of 100th the area of the surface of the semiconductor workpiece is of great significance since with such a ratio of the area of the nozzle to the area of the workpiece there is on the one hand an assurance of a reliable holding of the workpiece at the nozzle by suction while on the other hand there is no danger of injuring the workpiece as a result of the force of the suction . this danger of breaking a semiconductor wafer by the action of vacuum is present when the diameter of the suction nozzle is too great , since in this case in the free suction space of the nozzle the semiconductor wafer can be bent by the force of suction and can even become fractured in this way .	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'Electricity'?	Should this patent be classified under 'Performing Operations; Transporting'?	0.25	e7b41e190d2de40afe4da977cdd718acac2d78e03362a198d6bbd163272b3fd8	0.006683	0.030273	0.000431	0.02478	0.000191	0.043457
null	referring to fig1 there is schematically shown therein a precision grinder of a known construction capable of carrying out grinding operations in a precision manner in a horizontal plane so that precise surface grinding operations can be carried out with such a machine . this machine has a base 2 fixed with a mounting means 1 in the form of any suitable robust structural unit fixed to and projecting from the base 2 in the manner apparent from fig1 . this mounting unit 1 may , for example , be fixedly bolted to the base 2 and serves to mount at the grinding machine a positioning means 3 as well as a transfer means 4 . the positioning means 3 takes the form of a horizontal circular plate , as is apparent from fig1 . in addition to this horizontal circular plate the positioning means includes an upright hollow sleeve 6 which receives in its interior a cylindrical column 5 fixed centrally to the bottom of the plate 3 and adjustable within the sleeve 6 which is fixed to the unit 1 . a set screw 7 extends through the wall of the sleeve 6 into engagement with the column 5 so as to angularly fix the position of the circular plate which forms the positioning means 3 . the above structure enables the positioning means 3 to be situated in a plane parallel to a working plane formed by a component 8 of the machine , this component 8 being in the form of a circular support having means for holding the workpieces in position in a predetermined working plane by a force of suction which acts on the workpieces when they are in the working plane determined by the component 8 of the machine . thus , it is possible by positioning the column 5 within the sleeve 6 to adjust a positioning plane formed by the positioning means 3 in such a way that the elevation of the positioning plane can be determined and also in such a way that the angular position of the plate 3 in the positioning plane can be determined , this positioning plane being parallel to the working plane and , if desired , at the same elevation as the working plane . the positioning means includes in addition to the circular plate 3 which is illustrated in fig1 a plurality of hardened steel pins 9 which are fixed to and project upwardly from the plate 3 , so that these pins 9 serve to determine the locations of a relatively large number of semiconductor substrates or wafers 29 of circular configuration , as is shown most clearly in fig2 . the locations of the several workpieces in the positioning plane , as fragmentarily illustrated in fig2 corresponds to the locations of porous ceramic inserts 10 carried by the plate 8 of the machine . thus , the several porous ceramic inserts 10 have with respect to each other the same locations as the locations of the workpieces 29 as determined by the pins 9 . these porous ceramic inserts 10 of the machine communicate through a hollow space in the support plate 8 with a source of vacuum so that when the workpieces are in the working plane they are held in this plane by suction which acts through the ceramic inserts 10 . as is shown most clearly in fig3 the plate 3 carries a plurality of relatively soft elastic bodies 11 which form supports for the several workpieces 29 , respectively , so that these semiconductor substrates 29 which are to be subsequently ground will be protected by the soft , yieldable elastic supports 11 which may be made of a material such as a suitable rubber or the like . in this way the supports 11 protect the substrates 29 against damage when they are taken over by the transfer means 4 in a manner described below . the transfer means 4 includes a column 13 movable vertically along and angularly about its upright axis while extending into a hydraulic cylinder 12 so that by way of hydraulic fluid under pressure it is possible to control the elevation of the column 13 which at the same time can be angularly turned as shown by the arrow in fig1 . this upright 13 is guided for vertical movement in a vertical tube 14 situated within a vertical sleeve 15 , and adjusting screws 16 are provided to assure that the axis along which the column 13 can move and about which it can turn is precisely perpendicular to the parallel planes of the positioning means 3 and the work station 8 . at its upper end the column 13 carries a horizontal guide means in the form of a horizontal sleeve which has an axis perpendicular to the upright axis of the column 13 , and an elongated horizontal arm 17 is slidable in the horizontal sleeve which forms a t - shaped unit with the column 13 , the horizontal arm 17 thus being movable longitudinally along the horizontal axis which is perpendicular to the upright axis of the column 13 . this horizontal arm 17 is surrounded by a pair of air bearings 18 at opposite ends of the guide sleeve , and air under pressure is supplied through the air bearings 18 to the exterior surface of the arm 17 only during actual horizontal movement of the arm 17 . an elongated bar 19 is fixed to and extends along the top of the guide sleeve parallel to the horizontal axis of the latter , and upright handles are fixed to the arm 17 and engage opposed surfaces of the bar 19 so that in this way the arm 17 is prevented from turning about its axis . if desired there may be only two handles 20 , as illustrated , these handles being formed with suitable openings which receive the bar 19 so that in this way the slidable movement of the handles 20 with respect to the bar 19 prevent the arm 17 from turning . in addition it will be noted that two separate rings form stops for limiting the extent of horizontal movement of the arm 17 . the transfer means furthermore includes at the front end region of the horizontal support arm 17 a vertically adjustable plate means 21 made up of a number of aluminum tubes of square cross section which are joined together in a common horizontal plane in any suitable way , one of these tubes of the plate means 21 being visible in fig3 in section . through a flexible hose and the vertically adjustable hollow housing which is visible in fig1 the interiors of the tubes which form the plate means 21 communicate with a source of suction as well as with a source of air at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure . the plate means 21 carries a plurality of nozzles 22 the interiors of which communicate with the interior spaces of the square tubes , so that the interiors of the nozzles are in this way placed in communication with the source of suction and the source of air under pressure . the nozzles 22 , one of which is visible in fig3 have with respect to each other the same locations as the locations of the workpieces 29 shown in part in fig2 and thus also of the locations of the several inserts 10 . these nozzles 22 have lower free ends which are situated in a common plane and at the regions of their lower free ends the nozzles 22 are made of a soft tubular elastic material . the cross section of the tubular space surrounded by each nozzle 22 at the region where it engages a semiconductor substrate 29 has an area which is smaller than the area of the substrate 29 which is to be ground by approximately a factor of 100 . in other words the cross section of the area through which suction is applied to the surface of a substrate 29 to hold it in engagement with the nozzle 22 is approximately 100th the area of the substrate 29 . thus , the several nozzles 22 are capable of holding and carrying the substrates 29 by way of a suction force without mechanically damaging the substrates 29 and without any danger of breaking the substrates as a result of the vacuum prevailing in the interior space of the nozzles 22 . the plate means 21 furthermore carries a plurality of stops 23 which project downwardly from the plate means at the peripheral region thereof and which serve to engage the top surface of the plate which forms the positioning means 3 so as to situate in this way the lower ends of the nozzles 22 at a proper distance from the plate of the positioning means 3 to assure engagement of the soft elastic bottom free ends of the nozzles 22 with the workpieces 29 without unduly pressing the latter against the elastic supports 11 so that a reliable engagement of the workpieces without danger of breaking the same is achieved in this way . these stops 23 serve the same purpose in connection with deposition of the workpieces 29 on the inserts 10 at the end of the transfer operation , the stops 23 cooperating with the plate 8 at this time . moreover , the circular plate which forms the positioning means 3 fixedly carries at its center an indexing and centering pin 24 received in the interior of a corresponding sleeve 25 situated at the center of the plate means 21 of the transfer means 4 . thus , the pin 24 may be of a non - circular cross section received in a bore of the sleeve 25 which is of a mating non - circular cross section so that in this way not only is centering of the plate means 21 with respect to the plate 3 assured but also proper angular positioning of the plate means 21 with respect to the plate 3 is assured . furthermore , it is to be noted that the plate means 21 is of a non - circular cross section having a polygonal periphery mounted on a hollow housing which is capable of being received with its upper end in a prism of a stop 26 , so that by situating the upper end of this hollow housing in the prism of the stop 26 the plate means 21 is properly positioned over the circular support 8 of the grinding machine . the stop 26 is mounted on the wheel guard 27 which has in its interior the horizontal grinding disc . thus , by way of the element 26 proper positioning of the several workpieces 29 directly over the inserts 10 at the predetermined locations in the working plane is assured , and of course by way of the components 24 and 25 the proper positioning of the nozzles 22 with respect to the locations of the workpieces 29 in the positioning plane of the positioning means 3 is also assured . the positioning means 4 is of course capable of being angularly turned for example through an angle φ of approximately 300 °, and a suitable stop means 28 may be provided for adjustably limiting the angle of turning of the column 13 and the remainder of the transfer means so that through such an adjustable stop means 28 it is possible to provide for the transfer means angular end positions at one of which the plate 21 is situated directly over the positioning means 3 and at the other of which the plate 21 is situated outside of the machine for unloading and initial position . suitable control switches are centrally situated at the mounting means 1 . these switches include a switch 30 which controls the opening and closing of a splashguard 31 which protects against water spray during the grinding operation , while a switch 32 is available for controlling the hydraulic raising and lowering of the column 13 with the remainder of the transfer means 4 . a switch 33 is available for controlling the flow of fluid such as air both at less than and more than atmospheric pressure so as to control the engagement and disengagement of the workpieces from the nozzles 22 , and there is also a control lamp 34 . the semiconductor wafers or substrates of circular configuration in the form of relatively thin delicate plates are placed by hand on positioning means 3 in the positioning plane at predetermined locations therein as illustrated fragmentarily in fig2 . in this way each wafer or substrate is supported on an elastic support 11 while having its location determined by the steel pins 9 . the arrangement of the locations of the workpieces 29 as illustrated in fig2 is such that these locations have with respect to each other precisely the same relationship as the locations of the inserts 10 in the working plane . now the column 13 is raised hydraulically from its initial position so that the transfer means 4 is raised in this way , and the column 13 together with the remainder of the transfer means 4 is turned angularly about the upright axis of the column 13 until one end position is determined by the stop structure 28 , and in this end position the plate means 21 is situated directly over the positioning means 3 . with the transfer means in this position , the transfer means is hydraulically lowered and the index pin 24 is received in the sleeve 25 while the stops 23 engage the periphery of the plate 3 so that the position of the plate means 21 with respect to the plate 3 is precisely determined both in elevation and angularly . as a result the nozzles 22 are precisely positioned over the centers of the several semiconductors substrates 29 , respectively . now the vacuum is turned on by way of a hydraulically controlled valve so that less than atmospheric pressure prevails throughout the hollow interior spaces of the plate means 21 , and the substrates 29 are thus drawn by suction against the soft elastic lower free end portions of the nozzles 22 to be firmly held thereby . now , with the suction remaining in the nozzles 22 , the transfer means 4 is again hydraulically raised , after which the transfer means 4 is swung around the upright axis of the column 13 until the hollow housing of the plate means 21 is determined by the stop structure 28 , and at this time the periphery of the hollow housing of the plate means 21 is received in the v - notch of the stop 26 carried by the protective cover 27 as described above . with the transfer means thus positioning the plate means 21 precisely over the plate 8 at the working station , the transfer means is again hydraulically lowered , so that now the stops 23 cooperate with the plate 8 for positioning the plate 21 at precisely the right elevation with respect to the plate 8 , and now the several substrates 29 will be precisely positioned over the several porous ceramic inserts 10 . the porous ceramic inserts 10 are now placed in communication with the source of suction while the communication of the nozzles 22 with the source of suction is terminated , with the result that the substrates 29 are now held by the suction against the ceramic inserts 10 to be firmly held thereby at the predetermined locations in the working plane . in order to facilitate the release of the substrates 29 from the nozzles 22 when the substrates 29 have thus been situated at the working plane , when the suction of the nozzles 22 is terminated these nozzles 22 are immediately placed in communication with a source of air under pressure so that now through the nozzles 22 the substrates are urged toward the inserts 10 which simultaneously communicate with a source of suction . thus a reliable release of the substrates 29 from the nozzles 22 is assured , and now the transfer means 4 is again hydraulically raised , angularly turned toward its initial angular position and then lowered to its initial position . now the splashguard 31 is closed and the automatic operating cycle of the grinding machine is started . when the program of operation of the grinding machine has been completed , the machine returns to its initial position where the table of the machine remains at a predetermined location and the operation at the vacuum - holding plate 8 is terminated . the transfer means 4 is again hydraulically raised from its rest position , and the plate means 21 is again placed in engagement with the positioning stop 26 at the wheel guard 27 after which the transfer means is lowered . now the nozzles 22 are again placed in communication with the source of vacuum while at the same time water and air at greater than atmospheric pressure are provided in the suction conduits of the vacuum - holding plate 8 , so that in this way the movement of the semiconductor wafers against the suction nozzles 22 is reinforced by the fluid under pressure at the inserts 10 . thus , the substrates 29 on which the operations have been performed are now held by suction against the nozzles 22 and the transfer means 4 is now raised and turned to a location which will situate the substrates over a washing and cleaning station . the vacuum is now turned off and a reversal of the suction stream results in a blowing action which discharges the substrates 29 from the suction nozzles 22 into the cleaning container . after the vacuum - holding plate 8 is cleaned the above cycle of operations can be repeated . during the grinding operations which are going forward at the machine it is possible for substrates 29 for the next cycle of operations to be placed on the positioning means 3 , so that as soon as one cycle of operations is completed by the machine , the next group of substrates is in readiness at the positioning plane to be transferred by the transfer means of the invention to the working station . of course it is to be noted that the apparatus of the invention need not be used only in combination with a grinding machine . further possibilities of use of the method and apparatus of the invention are , for example , supply and discharge of delicate workpieces at measuring stations , cleaning stations , coating stations , and treatment of workpieces such as semiconductor substrates in connection with masking and exposure to vapor deposition , for example , so that in general any transport problems in connection with workpieces of this type is suitable for the present invention . it is to be noted that the support of the several workpieces on the soft yieldable elastic supports 11 serve not only to protect the workpieces but also to compensate for any variations in the thickness of the workpieces . the same is of course true of the soft yieldable elastic free ends of the nozzles 22 . moreover , the provision of cross - sectional areas for the nozzles which are on the order of 100th the area of the surface of the semiconductor workpiece is of great significance since with such a ratio of the area of the nozzle to the area of the workpiece there is on the one hand an assurance of a reliable holding of the workpiece at the nozzle by suction while on the other hand there is no danger of injuring the workpiece as a result of the force of the suction . this danger of breaking a semiconductor wafer by the action of vacuum is present when the diameter of the suction nozzle is too great , since in this case in the free suction space of the nozzle the semiconductor wafer can be bent by the force of suction and can even become fractured in this way .	Should this patent be classified under 'Electricity'?	Should this patent be classified under 'Chemistry; Metallurgy'?	0.25	e7b41e190d2de40afe4da977cdd718acac2d78e03362a198d6bbd163272b3fd8	0.004608	0.005554	0.000278	0.000336	0.000179	0.003708
null	referring to fig1 there is schematically shown therein a precision grinder of a known construction capable of carrying out grinding operations in a precision manner in a horizontal plane so that precise surface grinding operations can be carried out with such a machine . this machine has a base 2 fixed with a mounting means 1 in the form of any suitable robust structural unit fixed to and projecting from the base 2 in the manner apparent from fig1 . this mounting unit 1 may , for example , be fixedly bolted to the base 2 and serves to mount at the grinding machine a positioning means 3 as well as a transfer means 4 . the positioning means 3 takes the form of a horizontal circular plate , as is apparent from fig1 . in addition to this horizontal circular plate the positioning means includes an upright hollow sleeve 6 which receives in its interior a cylindrical column 5 fixed centrally to the bottom of the plate 3 and adjustable within the sleeve 6 which is fixed to the unit 1 . a set screw 7 extends through the wall of the sleeve 6 into engagement with the column 5 so as to angularly fix the position of the circular plate which forms the positioning means 3 . the above structure enables the positioning means 3 to be situated in a plane parallel to a working plane formed by a component 8 of the machine , this component 8 being in the form of a circular support having means for holding the workpieces in position in a predetermined working plane by a force of suction which acts on the workpieces when they are in the working plane determined by the component 8 of the machine . thus , it is possible by positioning the column 5 within the sleeve 6 to adjust a positioning plane formed by the positioning means 3 in such a way that the elevation of the positioning plane can be determined and also in such a way that the angular position of the plate 3 in the positioning plane can be determined , this positioning plane being parallel to the working plane and , if desired , at the same elevation as the working plane . the positioning means includes in addition to the circular plate 3 which is illustrated in fig1 a plurality of hardened steel pins 9 which are fixed to and project upwardly from the plate 3 , so that these pins 9 serve to determine the locations of a relatively large number of semiconductor substrates or wafers 29 of circular configuration , as is shown most clearly in fig2 . the locations of the several workpieces in the positioning plane , as fragmentarily illustrated in fig2 corresponds to the locations of porous ceramic inserts 10 carried by the plate 8 of the machine . thus , the several porous ceramic inserts 10 have with respect to each other the same locations as the locations of the workpieces 29 as determined by the pins 9 . these porous ceramic inserts 10 of the machine communicate through a hollow space in the support plate 8 with a source of vacuum so that when the workpieces are in the working plane they are held in this plane by suction which acts through the ceramic inserts 10 . as is shown most clearly in fig3 the plate 3 carries a plurality of relatively soft elastic bodies 11 which form supports for the several workpieces 29 , respectively , so that these semiconductor substrates 29 which are to be subsequently ground will be protected by the soft , yieldable elastic supports 11 which may be made of a material such as a suitable rubber or the like . in this way the supports 11 protect the substrates 29 against damage when they are taken over by the transfer means 4 in a manner described below . the transfer means 4 includes a column 13 movable vertically along and angularly about its upright axis while extending into a hydraulic cylinder 12 so that by way of hydraulic fluid under pressure it is possible to control the elevation of the column 13 which at the same time can be angularly turned as shown by the arrow in fig1 . this upright 13 is guided for vertical movement in a vertical tube 14 situated within a vertical sleeve 15 , and adjusting screws 16 are provided to assure that the axis along which the column 13 can move and about which it can turn is precisely perpendicular to the parallel planes of the positioning means 3 and the work station 8 . at its upper end the column 13 carries a horizontal guide means in the form of a horizontal sleeve which has an axis perpendicular to the upright axis of the column 13 , and an elongated horizontal arm 17 is slidable in the horizontal sleeve which forms a t - shaped unit with the column 13 , the horizontal arm 17 thus being movable longitudinally along the horizontal axis which is perpendicular to the upright axis of the column 13 . this horizontal arm 17 is surrounded by a pair of air bearings 18 at opposite ends of the guide sleeve , and air under pressure is supplied through the air bearings 18 to the exterior surface of the arm 17 only during actual horizontal movement of the arm 17 . an elongated bar 19 is fixed to and extends along the top of the guide sleeve parallel to the horizontal axis of the latter , and upright handles are fixed to the arm 17 and engage opposed surfaces of the bar 19 so that in this way the arm 17 is prevented from turning about its axis . if desired there may be only two handles 20 , as illustrated , these handles being formed with suitable openings which receive the bar 19 so that in this way the slidable movement of the handles 20 with respect to the bar 19 prevent the arm 17 from turning . in addition it will be noted that two separate rings form stops for limiting the extent of horizontal movement of the arm 17 . the transfer means furthermore includes at the front end region of the horizontal support arm 17 a vertically adjustable plate means 21 made up of a number of aluminum tubes of square cross section which are joined together in a common horizontal plane in any suitable way , one of these tubes of the plate means 21 being visible in fig3 in section . through a flexible hose and the vertically adjustable hollow housing which is visible in fig1 the interiors of the tubes which form the plate means 21 communicate with a source of suction as well as with a source of air at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure . the plate means 21 carries a plurality of nozzles 22 the interiors of which communicate with the interior spaces of the square tubes , so that the interiors of the nozzles are in this way placed in communication with the source of suction and the source of air under pressure . the nozzles 22 , one of which is visible in fig3 have with respect to each other the same locations as the locations of the workpieces 29 shown in part in fig2 and thus also of the locations of the several inserts 10 . these nozzles 22 have lower free ends which are situated in a common plane and at the regions of their lower free ends the nozzles 22 are made of a soft tubular elastic material . the cross section of the tubular space surrounded by each nozzle 22 at the region where it engages a semiconductor substrate 29 has an area which is smaller than the area of the substrate 29 which is to be ground by approximately a factor of 100 . in other words the cross section of the area through which suction is applied to the surface of a substrate 29 to hold it in engagement with the nozzle 22 is approximately 100th the area of the substrate 29 . thus , the several nozzles 22 are capable of holding and carrying the substrates 29 by way of a suction force without mechanically damaging the substrates 29 and without any danger of breaking the substrates as a result of the vacuum prevailing in the interior space of the nozzles 22 . the plate means 21 furthermore carries a plurality of stops 23 which project downwardly from the plate means at the peripheral region thereof and which serve to engage the top surface of the plate which forms the positioning means 3 so as to situate in this way the lower ends of the nozzles 22 at a proper distance from the plate of the positioning means 3 to assure engagement of the soft elastic bottom free ends of the nozzles 22 with the workpieces 29 without unduly pressing the latter against the elastic supports 11 so that a reliable engagement of the workpieces without danger of breaking the same is achieved in this way . these stops 23 serve the same purpose in connection with deposition of the workpieces 29 on the inserts 10 at the end of the transfer operation , the stops 23 cooperating with the plate 8 at this time . moreover , the circular plate which forms the positioning means 3 fixedly carries at its center an indexing and centering pin 24 received in the interior of a corresponding sleeve 25 situated at the center of the plate means 21 of the transfer means 4 . thus , the pin 24 may be of a non - circular cross section received in a bore of the sleeve 25 which is of a mating non - circular cross section so that in this way not only is centering of the plate means 21 with respect to the plate 3 assured but also proper angular positioning of the plate means 21 with respect to the plate 3 is assured . furthermore , it is to be noted that the plate means 21 is of a non - circular cross section having a polygonal periphery mounted on a hollow housing which is capable of being received with its upper end in a prism of a stop 26 , so that by situating the upper end of this hollow housing in the prism of the stop 26 the plate means 21 is properly positioned over the circular support 8 of the grinding machine . the stop 26 is mounted on the wheel guard 27 which has in its interior the horizontal grinding disc . thus , by way of the element 26 proper positioning of the several workpieces 29 directly over the inserts 10 at the predetermined locations in the working plane is assured , and of course by way of the components 24 and 25 the proper positioning of the nozzles 22 with respect to the locations of the workpieces 29 in the positioning plane of the positioning means 3 is also assured . the positioning means 4 is of course capable of being angularly turned for example through an angle φ of approximately 300 °, and a suitable stop means 28 may be provided for adjustably limiting the angle of turning of the column 13 and the remainder of the transfer means so that through such an adjustable stop means 28 it is possible to provide for the transfer means angular end positions at one of which the plate 21 is situated directly over the positioning means 3 and at the other of which the plate 21 is situated outside of the machine for unloading and initial position . suitable control switches are centrally situated at the mounting means 1 . these switches include a switch 30 which controls the opening and closing of a splashguard 31 which protects against water spray during the grinding operation , while a switch 32 is available for controlling the hydraulic raising and lowering of the column 13 with the remainder of the transfer means 4 . a switch 33 is available for controlling the flow of fluid such as air both at less than and more than atmospheric pressure so as to control the engagement and disengagement of the workpieces from the nozzles 22 , and there is also a control lamp 34 . the semiconductor wafers or substrates of circular configuration in the form of relatively thin delicate plates are placed by hand on positioning means 3 in the positioning plane at predetermined locations therein as illustrated fragmentarily in fig2 . in this way each wafer or substrate is supported on an elastic support 11 while having its location determined by the steel pins 9 . the arrangement of the locations of the workpieces 29 as illustrated in fig2 is such that these locations have with respect to each other precisely the same relationship as the locations of the inserts 10 in the working plane . now the column 13 is raised hydraulically from its initial position so that the transfer means 4 is raised in this way , and the column 13 together with the remainder of the transfer means 4 is turned angularly about the upright axis of the column 13 until one end position is determined by the stop structure 28 , and in this end position the plate means 21 is situated directly over the positioning means 3 . with the transfer means in this position , the transfer means is hydraulically lowered and the index pin 24 is received in the sleeve 25 while the stops 23 engage the periphery of the plate 3 so that the position of the plate means 21 with respect to the plate 3 is precisely determined both in elevation and angularly . as a result the nozzles 22 are precisely positioned over the centers of the several semiconductors substrates 29 , respectively . now the vacuum is turned on by way of a hydraulically controlled valve so that less than atmospheric pressure prevails throughout the hollow interior spaces of the plate means 21 , and the substrates 29 are thus drawn by suction against the soft elastic lower free end portions of the nozzles 22 to be firmly held thereby . now , with the suction remaining in the nozzles 22 , the transfer means 4 is again hydraulically raised , after which the transfer means 4 is swung around the upright axis of the column 13 until the hollow housing of the plate means 21 is determined by the stop structure 28 , and at this time the periphery of the hollow housing of the plate means 21 is received in the v - notch of the stop 26 carried by the protective cover 27 as described above . with the transfer means thus positioning the plate means 21 precisely over the plate 8 at the working station , the transfer means is again hydraulically lowered , so that now the stops 23 cooperate with the plate 8 for positioning the plate 21 at precisely the right elevation with respect to the plate 8 , and now the several substrates 29 will be precisely positioned over the several porous ceramic inserts 10 . the porous ceramic inserts 10 are now placed in communication with the source of suction while the communication of the nozzles 22 with the source of suction is terminated , with the result that the substrates 29 are now held by the suction against the ceramic inserts 10 to be firmly held thereby at the predetermined locations in the working plane . in order to facilitate the release of the substrates 29 from the nozzles 22 when the substrates 29 have thus been situated at the working plane , when the suction of the nozzles 22 is terminated these nozzles 22 are immediately placed in communication with a source of air under pressure so that now through the nozzles 22 the substrates are urged toward the inserts 10 which simultaneously communicate with a source of suction . thus a reliable release of the substrates 29 from the nozzles 22 is assured , and now the transfer means 4 is again hydraulically raised , angularly turned toward its initial angular position and then lowered to its initial position . now the splashguard 31 is closed and the automatic operating cycle of the grinding machine is started . when the program of operation of the grinding machine has been completed , the machine returns to its initial position where the table of the machine remains at a predetermined location and the operation at the vacuum - holding plate 8 is terminated . the transfer means 4 is again hydraulically raised from its rest position , and the plate means 21 is again placed in engagement with the positioning stop 26 at the wheel guard 27 after which the transfer means is lowered . now the nozzles 22 are again placed in communication with the source of vacuum while at the same time water and air at greater than atmospheric pressure are provided in the suction conduits of the vacuum - holding plate 8 , so that in this way the movement of the semiconductor wafers against the suction nozzles 22 is reinforced by the fluid under pressure at the inserts 10 . thus , the substrates 29 on which the operations have been performed are now held by suction against the nozzles 22 and the transfer means 4 is now raised and turned to a location which will situate the substrates over a washing and cleaning station . the vacuum is now turned off and a reversal of the suction stream results in a blowing action which discharges the substrates 29 from the suction nozzles 22 into the cleaning container . after the vacuum - holding plate 8 is cleaned the above cycle of operations can be repeated . during the grinding operations which are going forward at the machine it is possible for substrates 29 for the next cycle of operations to be placed on the positioning means 3 , so that as soon as one cycle of operations is completed by the machine , the next group of substrates is in readiness at the positioning plane to be transferred by the transfer means of the invention to the working station . of course it is to be noted that the apparatus of the invention need not be used only in combination with a grinding machine . further possibilities of use of the method and apparatus of the invention are , for example , supply and discharge of delicate workpieces at measuring stations , cleaning stations , coating stations , and treatment of workpieces such as semiconductor substrates in connection with masking and exposure to vapor deposition , for example , so that in general any transport problems in connection with workpieces of this type is suitable for the present invention . it is to be noted that the support of the several workpieces on the soft yieldable elastic supports 11 serve not only to protect the workpieces but also to compensate for any variations in the thickness of the workpieces . the same is of course true of the soft yieldable elastic free ends of the nozzles 22 . moreover , the provision of cross - sectional areas for the nozzles which are on the order of 100th the area of the surface of the semiconductor workpiece is of great significance since with such a ratio of the area of the nozzle to the area of the workpiece there is on the one hand an assurance of a reliable holding of the workpiece at the nozzle by suction while on the other hand there is no danger of injuring the workpiece as a result of the force of the suction . this danger of breaking a semiconductor wafer by the action of vacuum is present when the diameter of the suction nozzle is too great , since in this case in the free suction space of the nozzle the semiconductor wafer can be bent by the force of suction and can even become fractured in this way .	Should this patent be classified under 'Electricity'?	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'Textiles; Paper'?	0.25	e7b41e190d2de40afe4da977cdd718acac2d78e03362a198d6bbd163272b3fd8	0.004456	0.000805	0.000278	0.000019	0.000179	0.001282
null	referring to fig1 there is schematically shown therein a precision grinder of a known construction capable of carrying out grinding operations in a precision manner in a horizontal plane so that precise surface grinding operations can be carried out with such a machine . this machine has a base 2 fixed with a mounting means 1 in the form of any suitable robust structural unit fixed to and projecting from the base 2 in the manner apparent from fig1 . this mounting unit 1 may , for example , be fixedly bolted to the base 2 and serves to mount at the grinding machine a positioning means 3 as well as a transfer means 4 . the positioning means 3 takes the form of a horizontal circular plate , as is apparent from fig1 . in addition to this horizontal circular plate the positioning means includes an upright hollow sleeve 6 which receives in its interior a cylindrical column 5 fixed centrally to the bottom of the plate 3 and adjustable within the sleeve 6 which is fixed to the unit 1 . a set screw 7 extends through the wall of the sleeve 6 into engagement with the column 5 so as to angularly fix the position of the circular plate which forms the positioning means 3 . the above structure enables the positioning means 3 to be situated in a plane parallel to a working plane formed by a component 8 of the machine , this component 8 being in the form of a circular support having means for holding the workpieces in position in a predetermined working plane by a force of suction which acts on the workpieces when they are in the working plane determined by the component 8 of the machine . thus , it is possible by positioning the column 5 within the sleeve 6 to adjust a positioning plane formed by the positioning means 3 in such a way that the elevation of the positioning plane can be determined and also in such a way that the angular position of the plate 3 in the positioning plane can be determined , this positioning plane being parallel to the working plane and , if desired , at the same elevation as the working plane . the positioning means includes in addition to the circular plate 3 which is illustrated in fig1 a plurality of hardened steel pins 9 which are fixed to and project upwardly from the plate 3 , so that these pins 9 serve to determine the locations of a relatively large number of semiconductor substrates or wafers 29 of circular configuration , as is shown most clearly in fig2 . the locations of the several workpieces in the positioning plane , as fragmentarily illustrated in fig2 corresponds to the locations of porous ceramic inserts 10 carried by the plate 8 of the machine . thus , the several porous ceramic inserts 10 have with respect to each other the same locations as the locations of the workpieces 29 as determined by the pins 9 . these porous ceramic inserts 10 of the machine communicate through a hollow space in the support plate 8 with a source of vacuum so that when the workpieces are in the working plane they are held in this plane by suction which acts through the ceramic inserts 10 . as is shown most clearly in fig3 the plate 3 carries a plurality of relatively soft elastic bodies 11 which form supports for the several workpieces 29 , respectively , so that these semiconductor substrates 29 which are to be subsequently ground will be protected by the soft , yieldable elastic supports 11 which may be made of a material such as a suitable rubber or the like . in this way the supports 11 protect the substrates 29 against damage when they are taken over by the transfer means 4 in a manner described below . the transfer means 4 includes a column 13 movable vertically along and angularly about its upright axis while extending into a hydraulic cylinder 12 so that by way of hydraulic fluid under pressure it is possible to control the elevation of the column 13 which at the same time can be angularly turned as shown by the arrow in fig1 . this upright 13 is guided for vertical movement in a vertical tube 14 situated within a vertical sleeve 15 , and adjusting screws 16 are provided to assure that the axis along which the column 13 can move and about which it can turn is precisely perpendicular to the parallel planes of the positioning means 3 and the work station 8 . at its upper end the column 13 carries a horizontal guide means in the form of a horizontal sleeve which has an axis perpendicular to the upright axis of the column 13 , and an elongated horizontal arm 17 is slidable in the horizontal sleeve which forms a t - shaped unit with the column 13 , the horizontal arm 17 thus being movable longitudinally along the horizontal axis which is perpendicular to the upright axis of the column 13 . this horizontal arm 17 is surrounded by a pair of air bearings 18 at opposite ends of the guide sleeve , and air under pressure is supplied through the air bearings 18 to the exterior surface of the arm 17 only during actual horizontal movement of the arm 17 . an elongated bar 19 is fixed to and extends along the top of the guide sleeve parallel to the horizontal axis of the latter , and upright handles are fixed to the arm 17 and engage opposed surfaces of the bar 19 so that in this way the arm 17 is prevented from turning about its axis . if desired there may be only two handles 20 , as illustrated , these handles being formed with suitable openings which receive the bar 19 so that in this way the slidable movement of the handles 20 with respect to the bar 19 prevent the arm 17 from turning . in addition it will be noted that two separate rings form stops for limiting the extent of horizontal movement of the arm 17 . the transfer means furthermore includes at the front end region of the horizontal support arm 17 a vertically adjustable plate means 21 made up of a number of aluminum tubes of square cross section which are joined together in a common horizontal plane in any suitable way , one of these tubes of the plate means 21 being visible in fig3 in section . through a flexible hose and the vertically adjustable hollow housing which is visible in fig1 the interiors of the tubes which form the plate means 21 communicate with a source of suction as well as with a source of air at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure . the plate means 21 carries a plurality of nozzles 22 the interiors of which communicate with the interior spaces of the square tubes , so that the interiors of the nozzles are in this way placed in communication with the source of suction and the source of air under pressure . the nozzles 22 , one of which is visible in fig3 have with respect to each other the same locations as the locations of the workpieces 29 shown in part in fig2 and thus also of the locations of the several inserts 10 . these nozzles 22 have lower free ends which are situated in a common plane and at the regions of their lower free ends the nozzles 22 are made of a soft tubular elastic material . the cross section of the tubular space surrounded by each nozzle 22 at the region where it engages a semiconductor substrate 29 has an area which is smaller than the area of the substrate 29 which is to be ground by approximately a factor of 100 . in other words the cross section of the area through which suction is applied to the surface of a substrate 29 to hold it in engagement with the nozzle 22 is approximately 100th the area of the substrate 29 . thus , the several nozzles 22 are capable of holding and carrying the substrates 29 by way of a suction force without mechanically damaging the substrates 29 and without any danger of breaking the substrates as a result of the vacuum prevailing in the interior space of the nozzles 22 . the plate means 21 furthermore carries a plurality of stops 23 which project downwardly from the plate means at the peripheral region thereof and which serve to engage the top surface of the plate which forms the positioning means 3 so as to situate in this way the lower ends of the nozzles 22 at a proper distance from the plate of the positioning means 3 to assure engagement of the soft elastic bottom free ends of the nozzles 22 with the workpieces 29 without unduly pressing the latter against the elastic supports 11 so that a reliable engagement of the workpieces without danger of breaking the same is achieved in this way . these stops 23 serve the same purpose in connection with deposition of the workpieces 29 on the inserts 10 at the end of the transfer operation , the stops 23 cooperating with the plate 8 at this time . moreover , the circular plate which forms the positioning means 3 fixedly carries at its center an indexing and centering pin 24 received in the interior of a corresponding sleeve 25 situated at the center of the plate means 21 of the transfer means 4 . thus , the pin 24 may be of a non - circular cross section received in a bore of the sleeve 25 which is of a mating non - circular cross section so that in this way not only is centering of the plate means 21 with respect to the plate 3 assured but also proper angular positioning of the plate means 21 with respect to the plate 3 is assured . furthermore , it is to be noted that the plate means 21 is of a non - circular cross section having a polygonal periphery mounted on a hollow housing which is capable of being received with its upper end in a prism of a stop 26 , so that by situating the upper end of this hollow housing in the prism of the stop 26 the plate means 21 is properly positioned over the circular support 8 of the grinding machine . the stop 26 is mounted on the wheel guard 27 which has in its interior the horizontal grinding disc . thus , by way of the element 26 proper positioning of the several workpieces 29 directly over the inserts 10 at the predetermined locations in the working plane is assured , and of course by way of the components 24 and 25 the proper positioning of the nozzles 22 with respect to the locations of the workpieces 29 in the positioning plane of the positioning means 3 is also assured . the positioning means 4 is of course capable of being angularly turned for example through an angle φ of approximately 300 °, and a suitable stop means 28 may be provided for adjustably limiting the angle of turning of the column 13 and the remainder of the transfer means so that through such an adjustable stop means 28 it is possible to provide for the transfer means angular end positions at one of which the plate 21 is situated directly over the positioning means 3 and at the other of which the plate 21 is situated outside of the machine for unloading and initial position . suitable control switches are centrally situated at the mounting means 1 . these switches include a switch 30 which controls the opening and closing of a splashguard 31 which protects against water spray during the grinding operation , while a switch 32 is available for controlling the hydraulic raising and lowering of the column 13 with the remainder of the transfer means 4 . a switch 33 is available for controlling the flow of fluid such as air both at less than and more than atmospheric pressure so as to control the engagement and disengagement of the workpieces from the nozzles 22 , and there is also a control lamp 34 . the semiconductor wafers or substrates of circular configuration in the form of relatively thin delicate plates are placed by hand on positioning means 3 in the positioning plane at predetermined locations therein as illustrated fragmentarily in fig2 . in this way each wafer or substrate is supported on an elastic support 11 while having its location determined by the steel pins 9 . the arrangement of the locations of the workpieces 29 as illustrated in fig2 is such that these locations have with respect to each other precisely the same relationship as the locations of the inserts 10 in the working plane . now the column 13 is raised hydraulically from its initial position so that the transfer means 4 is raised in this way , and the column 13 together with the remainder of the transfer means 4 is turned angularly about the upright axis of the column 13 until one end position is determined by the stop structure 28 , and in this end position the plate means 21 is situated directly over the positioning means 3 . with the transfer means in this position , the transfer means is hydraulically lowered and the index pin 24 is received in the sleeve 25 while the stops 23 engage the periphery of the plate 3 so that the position of the plate means 21 with respect to the plate 3 is precisely determined both in elevation and angularly . as a result the nozzles 22 are precisely positioned over the centers of the several semiconductors substrates 29 , respectively . now the vacuum is turned on by way of a hydraulically controlled valve so that less than atmospheric pressure prevails throughout the hollow interior spaces of the plate means 21 , and the substrates 29 are thus drawn by suction against the soft elastic lower free end portions of the nozzles 22 to be firmly held thereby . now , with the suction remaining in the nozzles 22 , the transfer means 4 is again hydraulically raised , after which the transfer means 4 is swung around the upright axis of the column 13 until the hollow housing of the plate means 21 is determined by the stop structure 28 , and at this time the periphery of the hollow housing of the plate means 21 is received in the v - notch of the stop 26 carried by the protective cover 27 as described above . with the transfer means thus positioning the plate means 21 precisely over the plate 8 at the working station , the transfer means is again hydraulically lowered , so that now the stops 23 cooperate with the plate 8 for positioning the plate 21 at precisely the right elevation with respect to the plate 8 , and now the several substrates 29 will be precisely positioned over the several porous ceramic inserts 10 . the porous ceramic inserts 10 are now placed in communication with the source of suction while the communication of the nozzles 22 with the source of suction is terminated , with the result that the substrates 29 are now held by the suction against the ceramic inserts 10 to be firmly held thereby at the predetermined locations in the working plane . in order to facilitate the release of the substrates 29 from the nozzles 22 when the substrates 29 have thus been situated at the working plane , when the suction of the nozzles 22 is terminated these nozzles 22 are immediately placed in communication with a source of air under pressure so that now through the nozzles 22 the substrates are urged toward the inserts 10 which simultaneously communicate with a source of suction . thus a reliable release of the substrates 29 from the nozzles 22 is assured , and now the transfer means 4 is again hydraulically raised , angularly turned toward its initial angular position and then lowered to its initial position . now the splashguard 31 is closed and the automatic operating cycle of the grinding machine is started . when the program of operation of the grinding machine has been completed , the machine returns to its initial position where the table of the machine remains at a predetermined location and the operation at the vacuum - holding plate 8 is terminated . the transfer means 4 is again hydraulically raised from its rest position , and the plate means 21 is again placed in engagement with the positioning stop 26 at the wheel guard 27 after which the transfer means is lowered . now the nozzles 22 are again placed in communication with the source of vacuum while at the same time water and air at greater than atmospheric pressure are provided in the suction conduits of the vacuum - holding plate 8 , so that in this way the movement of the semiconductor wafers against the suction nozzles 22 is reinforced by the fluid under pressure at the inserts 10 . thus , the substrates 29 on which the operations have been performed are now held by suction against the nozzles 22 and the transfer means 4 is now raised and turned to a location which will situate the substrates over a washing and cleaning station . the vacuum is now turned off and a reversal of the suction stream results in a blowing action which discharges the substrates 29 from the suction nozzles 22 into the cleaning container . after the vacuum - holding plate 8 is cleaned the above cycle of operations can be repeated . during the grinding operations which are going forward at the machine it is possible for substrates 29 for the next cycle of operations to be placed on the positioning means 3 , so that as soon as one cycle of operations is completed by the machine , the next group of substrates is in readiness at the positioning plane to be transferred by the transfer means of the invention to the working station . of course it is to be noted that the apparatus of the invention need not be used only in combination with a grinding machine . further possibilities of use of the method and apparatus of the invention are , for example , supply and discharge of delicate workpieces at measuring stations , cleaning stations , coating stations , and treatment of workpieces such as semiconductor substrates in connection with masking and exposure to vapor deposition , for example , so that in general any transport problems in connection with workpieces of this type is suitable for the present invention . it is to be noted that the support of the several workpieces on the soft yieldable elastic supports 11 serve not only to protect the workpieces but also to compensate for any variations in the thickness of the workpieces . the same is of course true of the soft yieldable elastic free ends of the nozzles 22 . moreover , the provision of cross - sectional areas for the nozzles which are on the order of 100th the area of the surface of the semiconductor workpiece is of great significance since with such a ratio of the area of the nozzle to the area of the workpiece there is on the one hand an assurance of a reliable holding of the workpiece at the nozzle by suction while on the other hand there is no danger of injuring the workpiece as a result of the force of the suction . this danger of breaking a semiconductor wafer by the action of vacuum is present when the diameter of the suction nozzle is too great , since in this case in the free suction space of the nozzle the semiconductor wafer can be bent by the force of suction and can even become fractured in this way .	Should this patent be classified under 'Electricity'?	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'Fixed Constructions'?	0.25	e7b41e190d2de40afe4da977cdd718acac2d78e03362a198d6bbd163272b3fd8	0.004608	0.135742	0.000278	0.326172	0.000179	0.421875
null	referring to fig1 there is schematically shown therein a precision grinder of a known construction capable of carrying out grinding operations in a precision manner in a horizontal plane so that precise surface grinding operations can be carried out with such a machine . this machine has a base 2 fixed with a mounting means 1 in the form of any suitable robust structural unit fixed to and projecting from the base 2 in the manner apparent from fig1 . this mounting unit 1 may , for example , be fixedly bolted to the base 2 and serves to mount at the grinding machine a positioning means 3 as well as a transfer means 4 . the positioning means 3 takes the form of a horizontal circular plate , as is apparent from fig1 . in addition to this horizontal circular plate the positioning means includes an upright hollow sleeve 6 which receives in its interior a cylindrical column 5 fixed centrally to the bottom of the plate 3 and adjustable within the sleeve 6 which is fixed to the unit 1 . a set screw 7 extends through the wall of the sleeve 6 into engagement with the column 5 so as to angularly fix the position of the circular plate which forms the positioning means 3 . the above structure enables the positioning means 3 to be situated in a plane parallel to a working plane formed by a component 8 of the machine , this component 8 being in the form of a circular support having means for holding the workpieces in position in a predetermined working plane by a force of suction which acts on the workpieces when they are in the working plane determined by the component 8 of the machine . thus , it is possible by positioning the column 5 within the sleeve 6 to adjust a positioning plane formed by the positioning means 3 in such a way that the elevation of the positioning plane can be determined and also in such a way that the angular position of the plate 3 in the positioning plane can be determined , this positioning plane being parallel to the working plane and , if desired , at the same elevation as the working plane . the positioning means includes in addition to the circular plate 3 which is illustrated in fig1 a plurality of hardened steel pins 9 which are fixed to and project upwardly from the plate 3 , so that these pins 9 serve to determine the locations of a relatively large number of semiconductor substrates or wafers 29 of circular configuration , as is shown most clearly in fig2 . the locations of the several workpieces in the positioning plane , as fragmentarily illustrated in fig2 corresponds to the locations of porous ceramic inserts 10 carried by the plate 8 of the machine . thus , the several porous ceramic inserts 10 have with respect to each other the same locations as the locations of the workpieces 29 as determined by the pins 9 . these porous ceramic inserts 10 of the machine communicate through a hollow space in the support plate 8 with a source of vacuum so that when the workpieces are in the working plane they are held in this plane by suction which acts through the ceramic inserts 10 . as is shown most clearly in fig3 the plate 3 carries a plurality of relatively soft elastic bodies 11 which form supports for the several workpieces 29 , respectively , so that these semiconductor substrates 29 which are to be subsequently ground will be protected by the soft , yieldable elastic supports 11 which may be made of a material such as a suitable rubber or the like . in this way the supports 11 protect the substrates 29 against damage when they are taken over by the transfer means 4 in a manner described below . the transfer means 4 includes a column 13 movable vertically along and angularly about its upright axis while extending into a hydraulic cylinder 12 so that by way of hydraulic fluid under pressure it is possible to control the elevation of the column 13 which at the same time can be angularly turned as shown by the arrow in fig1 . this upright 13 is guided for vertical movement in a vertical tube 14 situated within a vertical sleeve 15 , and adjusting screws 16 are provided to assure that the axis along which the column 13 can move and about which it can turn is precisely perpendicular to the parallel planes of the positioning means 3 and the work station 8 . at its upper end the column 13 carries a horizontal guide means in the form of a horizontal sleeve which has an axis perpendicular to the upright axis of the column 13 , and an elongated horizontal arm 17 is slidable in the horizontal sleeve which forms a t - shaped unit with the column 13 , the horizontal arm 17 thus being movable longitudinally along the horizontal axis which is perpendicular to the upright axis of the column 13 . this horizontal arm 17 is surrounded by a pair of air bearings 18 at opposite ends of the guide sleeve , and air under pressure is supplied through the air bearings 18 to the exterior surface of the arm 17 only during actual horizontal movement of the arm 17 . an elongated bar 19 is fixed to and extends along the top of the guide sleeve parallel to the horizontal axis of the latter , and upright handles are fixed to the arm 17 and engage opposed surfaces of the bar 19 so that in this way the arm 17 is prevented from turning about its axis . if desired there may be only two handles 20 , as illustrated , these handles being formed with suitable openings which receive the bar 19 so that in this way the slidable movement of the handles 20 with respect to the bar 19 prevent the arm 17 from turning . in addition it will be noted that two separate rings form stops for limiting the extent of horizontal movement of the arm 17 . the transfer means furthermore includes at the front end region of the horizontal support arm 17 a vertically adjustable plate means 21 made up of a number of aluminum tubes of square cross section which are joined together in a common horizontal plane in any suitable way , one of these tubes of the plate means 21 being visible in fig3 in section . through a flexible hose and the vertically adjustable hollow housing which is visible in fig1 the interiors of the tubes which form the plate means 21 communicate with a source of suction as well as with a source of air at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure . the plate means 21 carries a plurality of nozzles 22 the interiors of which communicate with the interior spaces of the square tubes , so that the interiors of the nozzles are in this way placed in communication with the source of suction and the source of air under pressure . the nozzles 22 , one of which is visible in fig3 have with respect to each other the same locations as the locations of the workpieces 29 shown in part in fig2 and thus also of the locations of the several inserts 10 . these nozzles 22 have lower free ends which are situated in a common plane and at the regions of their lower free ends the nozzles 22 are made of a soft tubular elastic material . the cross section of the tubular space surrounded by each nozzle 22 at the region where it engages a semiconductor substrate 29 has an area which is smaller than the area of the substrate 29 which is to be ground by approximately a factor of 100 . in other words the cross section of the area through which suction is applied to the surface of a substrate 29 to hold it in engagement with the nozzle 22 is approximately 100th the area of the substrate 29 . thus , the several nozzles 22 are capable of holding and carrying the substrates 29 by way of a suction force without mechanically damaging the substrates 29 and without any danger of breaking the substrates as a result of the vacuum prevailing in the interior space of the nozzles 22 . the plate means 21 furthermore carries a plurality of stops 23 which project downwardly from the plate means at the peripheral region thereof and which serve to engage the top surface of the plate which forms the positioning means 3 so as to situate in this way the lower ends of the nozzles 22 at a proper distance from the plate of the positioning means 3 to assure engagement of the soft elastic bottom free ends of the nozzles 22 with the workpieces 29 without unduly pressing the latter against the elastic supports 11 so that a reliable engagement of the workpieces without danger of breaking the same is achieved in this way . these stops 23 serve the same purpose in connection with deposition of the workpieces 29 on the inserts 10 at the end of the transfer operation , the stops 23 cooperating with the plate 8 at this time . moreover , the circular plate which forms the positioning means 3 fixedly carries at its center an indexing and centering pin 24 received in the interior of a corresponding sleeve 25 situated at the center of the plate means 21 of the transfer means 4 . thus , the pin 24 may be of a non - circular cross section received in a bore of the sleeve 25 which is of a mating non - circular cross section so that in this way not only is centering of the plate means 21 with respect to the plate 3 assured but also proper angular positioning of the plate means 21 with respect to the plate 3 is assured . furthermore , it is to be noted that the plate means 21 is of a non - circular cross section having a polygonal periphery mounted on a hollow housing which is capable of being received with its upper end in a prism of a stop 26 , so that by situating the upper end of this hollow housing in the prism of the stop 26 the plate means 21 is properly positioned over the circular support 8 of the grinding machine . the stop 26 is mounted on the wheel guard 27 which has in its interior the horizontal grinding disc . thus , by way of the element 26 proper positioning of the several workpieces 29 directly over the inserts 10 at the predetermined locations in the working plane is assured , and of course by way of the components 24 and 25 the proper positioning of the nozzles 22 with respect to the locations of the workpieces 29 in the positioning plane of the positioning means 3 is also assured . the positioning means 4 is of course capable of being angularly turned for example through an angle φ of approximately 300 °, and a suitable stop means 28 may be provided for adjustably limiting the angle of turning of the column 13 and the remainder of the transfer means so that through such an adjustable stop means 28 it is possible to provide for the transfer means angular end positions at one of which the plate 21 is situated directly over the positioning means 3 and at the other of which the plate 21 is situated outside of the machine for unloading and initial position . suitable control switches are centrally situated at the mounting means 1 . these switches include a switch 30 which controls the opening and closing of a splashguard 31 which protects against water spray during the grinding operation , while a switch 32 is available for controlling the hydraulic raising and lowering of the column 13 with the remainder of the transfer means 4 . a switch 33 is available for controlling the flow of fluid such as air both at less than and more than atmospheric pressure so as to control the engagement and disengagement of the workpieces from the nozzles 22 , and there is also a control lamp 34 . the semiconductor wafers or substrates of circular configuration in the form of relatively thin delicate plates are placed by hand on positioning means 3 in the positioning plane at predetermined locations therein as illustrated fragmentarily in fig2 . in this way each wafer or substrate is supported on an elastic support 11 while having its location determined by the steel pins 9 . the arrangement of the locations of the workpieces 29 as illustrated in fig2 is such that these locations have with respect to each other precisely the same relationship as the locations of the inserts 10 in the working plane . now the column 13 is raised hydraulically from its initial position so that the transfer means 4 is raised in this way , and the column 13 together with the remainder of the transfer means 4 is turned angularly about the upright axis of the column 13 until one end position is determined by the stop structure 28 , and in this end position the plate means 21 is situated directly over the positioning means 3 . with the transfer means in this position , the transfer means is hydraulically lowered and the index pin 24 is received in the sleeve 25 while the stops 23 engage the periphery of the plate 3 so that the position of the plate means 21 with respect to the plate 3 is precisely determined both in elevation and angularly . as a result the nozzles 22 are precisely positioned over the centers of the several semiconductors substrates 29 , respectively . now the vacuum is turned on by way of a hydraulically controlled valve so that less than atmospheric pressure prevails throughout the hollow interior spaces of the plate means 21 , and the substrates 29 are thus drawn by suction against the soft elastic lower free end portions of the nozzles 22 to be firmly held thereby . now , with the suction remaining in the nozzles 22 , the transfer means 4 is again hydraulically raised , after which the transfer means 4 is swung around the upright axis of the column 13 until the hollow housing of the plate means 21 is determined by the stop structure 28 , and at this time the periphery of the hollow housing of the plate means 21 is received in the v - notch of the stop 26 carried by the protective cover 27 as described above . with the transfer means thus positioning the plate means 21 precisely over the plate 8 at the working station , the transfer means is again hydraulically lowered , so that now the stops 23 cooperate with the plate 8 for positioning the plate 21 at precisely the right elevation with respect to the plate 8 , and now the several substrates 29 will be precisely positioned over the several porous ceramic inserts 10 . the porous ceramic inserts 10 are now placed in communication with the source of suction while the communication of the nozzles 22 with the source of suction is terminated , with the result that the substrates 29 are now held by the suction against the ceramic inserts 10 to be firmly held thereby at the predetermined locations in the working plane . in order to facilitate the release of the substrates 29 from the nozzles 22 when the substrates 29 have thus been situated at the working plane , when the suction of the nozzles 22 is terminated these nozzles 22 are immediately placed in communication with a source of air under pressure so that now through the nozzles 22 the substrates are urged toward the inserts 10 which simultaneously communicate with a source of suction . thus a reliable release of the substrates 29 from the nozzles 22 is assured , and now the transfer means 4 is again hydraulically raised , angularly turned toward its initial angular position and then lowered to its initial position . now the splashguard 31 is closed and the automatic operating cycle of the grinding machine is started . when the program of operation of the grinding machine has been completed , the machine returns to its initial position where the table of the machine remains at a predetermined location and the operation at the vacuum - holding plate 8 is terminated . the transfer means 4 is again hydraulically raised from its rest position , and the plate means 21 is again placed in engagement with the positioning stop 26 at the wheel guard 27 after which the transfer means is lowered . now the nozzles 22 are again placed in communication with the source of vacuum while at the same time water and air at greater than atmospheric pressure are provided in the suction conduits of the vacuum - holding plate 8 , so that in this way the movement of the semiconductor wafers against the suction nozzles 22 is reinforced by the fluid under pressure at the inserts 10 . thus , the substrates 29 on which the operations have been performed are now held by suction against the nozzles 22 and the transfer means 4 is now raised and turned to a location which will situate the substrates over a washing and cleaning station . the vacuum is now turned off and a reversal of the suction stream results in a blowing action which discharges the substrates 29 from the suction nozzles 22 into the cleaning container . after the vacuum - holding plate 8 is cleaned the above cycle of operations can be repeated . during the grinding operations which are going forward at the machine it is possible for substrates 29 for the next cycle of operations to be placed on the positioning means 3 , so that as soon as one cycle of operations is completed by the machine , the next group of substrates is in readiness at the positioning plane to be transferred by the transfer means of the invention to the working station . of course it is to be noted that the apparatus of the invention need not be used only in combination with a grinding machine . further possibilities of use of the method and apparatus of the invention are , for example , supply and discharge of delicate workpieces at measuring stations , cleaning stations , coating stations , and treatment of workpieces such as semiconductor substrates in connection with masking and exposure to vapor deposition , for example , so that in general any transport problems in connection with workpieces of this type is suitable for the present invention . it is to be noted that the support of the several workpieces on the soft yieldable elastic supports 11 serve not only to protect the workpieces but also to compensate for any variations in the thickness of the workpieces . the same is of course true of the soft yieldable elastic free ends of the nozzles 22 . moreover , the provision of cross - sectional areas for the nozzles which are on the order of 100th the area of the surface of the semiconductor workpiece is of great significance since with such a ratio of the area of the nozzle to the area of the workpiece there is on the one hand an assurance of a reliable holding of the workpiece at the nozzle by suction while on the other hand there is no danger of injuring the workpiece as a result of the force of the suction . this danger of breaking a semiconductor wafer by the action of vacuum is present when the diameter of the suction nozzle is too great , since in this case in the free suction space of the nozzle the semiconductor wafer can be bent by the force of suction and can even become fractured in this way .	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Electricity'?	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Mechanical Engineering; Lightning; Heating; Weapons; Blasting'?	0.25	e7b41e190d2de40afe4da977cdd718acac2d78e03362a198d6bbd163272b3fd8	0.027222	0.004456	0.001411	0.000778	0.000626	0.014526
null	referring to fig1 there is schematically shown therein a precision grinder of a known construction capable of carrying out grinding operations in a precision manner in a horizontal plane so that precise surface grinding operations can be carried out with such a machine . this machine has a base 2 fixed with a mounting means 1 in the form of any suitable robust structural unit fixed to and projecting from the base 2 in the manner apparent from fig1 . this mounting unit 1 may , for example , be fixedly bolted to the base 2 and serves to mount at the grinding machine a positioning means 3 as well as a transfer means 4 . the positioning means 3 takes the form of a horizontal circular plate , as is apparent from fig1 . in addition to this horizontal circular plate the positioning means includes an upright hollow sleeve 6 which receives in its interior a cylindrical column 5 fixed centrally to the bottom of the plate 3 and adjustable within the sleeve 6 which is fixed to the unit 1 . a set screw 7 extends through the wall of the sleeve 6 into engagement with the column 5 so as to angularly fix the position of the circular plate which forms the positioning means 3 . the above structure enables the positioning means 3 to be situated in a plane parallel to a working plane formed by a component 8 of the machine , this component 8 being in the form of a circular support having means for holding the workpieces in position in a predetermined working plane by a force of suction which acts on the workpieces when they are in the working plane determined by the component 8 of the machine . thus , it is possible by positioning the column 5 within the sleeve 6 to adjust a positioning plane formed by the positioning means 3 in such a way that the elevation of the positioning plane can be determined and also in such a way that the angular position of the plate 3 in the positioning plane can be determined , this positioning plane being parallel to the working plane and , if desired , at the same elevation as the working plane . the positioning means includes in addition to the circular plate 3 which is illustrated in fig1 a plurality of hardened steel pins 9 which are fixed to and project upwardly from the plate 3 , so that these pins 9 serve to determine the locations of a relatively large number of semiconductor substrates or wafers 29 of circular configuration , as is shown most clearly in fig2 . the locations of the several workpieces in the positioning plane , as fragmentarily illustrated in fig2 corresponds to the locations of porous ceramic inserts 10 carried by the plate 8 of the machine . thus , the several porous ceramic inserts 10 have with respect to each other the same locations as the locations of the workpieces 29 as determined by the pins 9 . these porous ceramic inserts 10 of the machine communicate through a hollow space in the support plate 8 with a source of vacuum so that when the workpieces are in the working plane they are held in this plane by suction which acts through the ceramic inserts 10 . as is shown most clearly in fig3 the plate 3 carries a plurality of relatively soft elastic bodies 11 which form supports for the several workpieces 29 , respectively , so that these semiconductor substrates 29 which are to be subsequently ground will be protected by the soft , yieldable elastic supports 11 which may be made of a material such as a suitable rubber or the like . in this way the supports 11 protect the substrates 29 against damage when they are taken over by the transfer means 4 in a manner described below . the transfer means 4 includes a column 13 movable vertically along and angularly about its upright axis while extending into a hydraulic cylinder 12 so that by way of hydraulic fluid under pressure it is possible to control the elevation of the column 13 which at the same time can be angularly turned as shown by the arrow in fig1 . this upright 13 is guided for vertical movement in a vertical tube 14 situated within a vertical sleeve 15 , and adjusting screws 16 are provided to assure that the axis along which the column 13 can move and about which it can turn is precisely perpendicular to the parallel planes of the positioning means 3 and the work station 8 . at its upper end the column 13 carries a horizontal guide means in the form of a horizontal sleeve which has an axis perpendicular to the upright axis of the column 13 , and an elongated horizontal arm 17 is slidable in the horizontal sleeve which forms a t - shaped unit with the column 13 , the horizontal arm 17 thus being movable longitudinally along the horizontal axis which is perpendicular to the upright axis of the column 13 . this horizontal arm 17 is surrounded by a pair of air bearings 18 at opposite ends of the guide sleeve , and air under pressure is supplied through the air bearings 18 to the exterior surface of the arm 17 only during actual horizontal movement of the arm 17 . an elongated bar 19 is fixed to and extends along the top of the guide sleeve parallel to the horizontal axis of the latter , and upright handles are fixed to the arm 17 and engage opposed surfaces of the bar 19 so that in this way the arm 17 is prevented from turning about its axis . if desired there may be only two handles 20 , as illustrated , these handles being formed with suitable openings which receive the bar 19 so that in this way the slidable movement of the handles 20 with respect to the bar 19 prevent the arm 17 from turning . in addition it will be noted that two separate rings form stops for limiting the extent of horizontal movement of the arm 17 . the transfer means furthermore includes at the front end region of the horizontal support arm 17 a vertically adjustable plate means 21 made up of a number of aluminum tubes of square cross section which are joined together in a common horizontal plane in any suitable way , one of these tubes of the plate means 21 being visible in fig3 in section . through a flexible hose and the vertically adjustable hollow housing which is visible in fig1 the interiors of the tubes which form the plate means 21 communicate with a source of suction as well as with a source of air at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure . the plate means 21 carries a plurality of nozzles 22 the interiors of which communicate with the interior spaces of the square tubes , so that the interiors of the nozzles are in this way placed in communication with the source of suction and the source of air under pressure . the nozzles 22 , one of which is visible in fig3 have with respect to each other the same locations as the locations of the workpieces 29 shown in part in fig2 and thus also of the locations of the several inserts 10 . these nozzles 22 have lower free ends which are situated in a common plane and at the regions of their lower free ends the nozzles 22 are made of a soft tubular elastic material . the cross section of the tubular space surrounded by each nozzle 22 at the region where it engages a semiconductor substrate 29 has an area which is smaller than the area of the substrate 29 which is to be ground by approximately a factor of 100 . in other words the cross section of the area through which suction is applied to the surface of a substrate 29 to hold it in engagement with the nozzle 22 is approximately 100th the area of the substrate 29 . thus , the several nozzles 22 are capable of holding and carrying the substrates 29 by way of a suction force without mechanically damaging the substrates 29 and without any danger of breaking the substrates as a result of the vacuum prevailing in the interior space of the nozzles 22 . the plate means 21 furthermore carries a plurality of stops 23 which project downwardly from the plate means at the peripheral region thereof and which serve to engage the top surface of the plate which forms the positioning means 3 so as to situate in this way the lower ends of the nozzles 22 at a proper distance from the plate of the positioning means 3 to assure engagement of the soft elastic bottom free ends of the nozzles 22 with the workpieces 29 without unduly pressing the latter against the elastic supports 11 so that a reliable engagement of the workpieces without danger of breaking the same is achieved in this way . these stops 23 serve the same purpose in connection with deposition of the workpieces 29 on the inserts 10 at the end of the transfer operation , the stops 23 cooperating with the plate 8 at this time . moreover , the circular plate which forms the positioning means 3 fixedly carries at its center an indexing and centering pin 24 received in the interior of a corresponding sleeve 25 situated at the center of the plate means 21 of the transfer means 4 . thus , the pin 24 may be of a non - circular cross section received in a bore of the sleeve 25 which is of a mating non - circular cross section so that in this way not only is centering of the plate means 21 with respect to the plate 3 assured but also proper angular positioning of the plate means 21 with respect to the plate 3 is assured . furthermore , it is to be noted that the plate means 21 is of a non - circular cross section having a polygonal periphery mounted on a hollow housing which is capable of being received with its upper end in a prism of a stop 26 , so that by situating the upper end of this hollow housing in the prism of the stop 26 the plate means 21 is properly positioned over the circular support 8 of the grinding machine . the stop 26 is mounted on the wheel guard 27 which has in its interior the horizontal grinding disc . thus , by way of the element 26 proper positioning of the several workpieces 29 directly over the inserts 10 at the predetermined locations in the working plane is assured , and of course by way of the components 24 and 25 the proper positioning of the nozzles 22 with respect to the locations of the workpieces 29 in the positioning plane of the positioning means 3 is also assured . the positioning means 4 is of course capable of being angularly turned for example through an angle φ of approximately 300 °, and a suitable stop means 28 may be provided for adjustably limiting the angle of turning of the column 13 and the remainder of the transfer means so that through such an adjustable stop means 28 it is possible to provide for the transfer means angular end positions at one of which the plate 21 is situated directly over the positioning means 3 and at the other of which the plate 21 is situated outside of the machine for unloading and initial position . suitable control switches are centrally situated at the mounting means 1 . these switches include a switch 30 which controls the opening and closing of a splashguard 31 which protects against water spray during the grinding operation , while a switch 32 is available for controlling the hydraulic raising and lowering of the column 13 with the remainder of the transfer means 4 . a switch 33 is available for controlling the flow of fluid such as air both at less than and more than atmospheric pressure so as to control the engagement and disengagement of the workpieces from the nozzles 22 , and there is also a control lamp 34 . the semiconductor wafers or substrates of circular configuration in the form of relatively thin delicate plates are placed by hand on positioning means 3 in the positioning plane at predetermined locations therein as illustrated fragmentarily in fig2 . in this way each wafer or substrate is supported on an elastic support 11 while having its location determined by the steel pins 9 . the arrangement of the locations of the workpieces 29 as illustrated in fig2 is such that these locations have with respect to each other precisely the same relationship as the locations of the inserts 10 in the working plane . now the column 13 is raised hydraulically from its initial position so that the transfer means 4 is raised in this way , and the column 13 together with the remainder of the transfer means 4 is turned angularly about the upright axis of the column 13 until one end position is determined by the stop structure 28 , and in this end position the plate means 21 is situated directly over the positioning means 3 . with the transfer means in this position , the transfer means is hydraulically lowered and the index pin 24 is received in the sleeve 25 while the stops 23 engage the periphery of the plate 3 so that the position of the plate means 21 with respect to the plate 3 is precisely determined both in elevation and angularly . as a result the nozzles 22 are precisely positioned over the centers of the several semiconductors substrates 29 , respectively . now the vacuum is turned on by way of a hydraulically controlled valve so that less than atmospheric pressure prevails throughout the hollow interior spaces of the plate means 21 , and the substrates 29 are thus drawn by suction against the soft elastic lower free end portions of the nozzles 22 to be firmly held thereby . now , with the suction remaining in the nozzles 22 , the transfer means 4 is again hydraulically raised , after which the transfer means 4 is swung around the upright axis of the column 13 until the hollow housing of the plate means 21 is determined by the stop structure 28 , and at this time the periphery of the hollow housing of the plate means 21 is received in the v - notch of the stop 26 carried by the protective cover 27 as described above . with the transfer means thus positioning the plate means 21 precisely over the plate 8 at the working station , the transfer means is again hydraulically lowered , so that now the stops 23 cooperate with the plate 8 for positioning the plate 21 at precisely the right elevation with respect to the plate 8 , and now the several substrates 29 will be precisely positioned over the several porous ceramic inserts 10 . the porous ceramic inserts 10 are now placed in communication with the source of suction while the communication of the nozzles 22 with the source of suction is terminated , with the result that the substrates 29 are now held by the suction against the ceramic inserts 10 to be firmly held thereby at the predetermined locations in the working plane . in order to facilitate the release of the substrates 29 from the nozzles 22 when the substrates 29 have thus been situated at the working plane , when the suction of the nozzles 22 is terminated these nozzles 22 are immediately placed in communication with a source of air under pressure so that now through the nozzles 22 the substrates are urged toward the inserts 10 which simultaneously communicate with a source of suction . thus a reliable release of the substrates 29 from the nozzles 22 is assured , and now the transfer means 4 is again hydraulically raised , angularly turned toward its initial angular position and then lowered to its initial position . now the splashguard 31 is closed and the automatic operating cycle of the grinding machine is started . when the program of operation of the grinding machine has been completed , the machine returns to its initial position where the table of the machine remains at a predetermined location and the operation at the vacuum - holding plate 8 is terminated . the transfer means 4 is again hydraulically raised from its rest position , and the plate means 21 is again placed in engagement with the positioning stop 26 at the wheel guard 27 after which the transfer means is lowered . now the nozzles 22 are again placed in communication with the source of vacuum while at the same time water and air at greater than atmospheric pressure are provided in the suction conduits of the vacuum - holding plate 8 , so that in this way the movement of the semiconductor wafers against the suction nozzles 22 is reinforced by the fluid under pressure at the inserts 10 . thus , the substrates 29 on which the operations have been performed are now held by suction against the nozzles 22 and the transfer means 4 is now raised and turned to a location which will situate the substrates over a washing and cleaning station . the vacuum is now turned off and a reversal of the suction stream results in a blowing action which discharges the substrates 29 from the suction nozzles 22 into the cleaning container . after the vacuum - holding plate 8 is cleaned the above cycle of operations can be repeated . during the grinding operations which are going forward at the machine it is possible for substrates 29 for the next cycle of operations to be placed on the positioning means 3 , so that as soon as one cycle of operations is completed by the machine , the next group of substrates is in readiness at the positioning plane to be transferred by the transfer means of the invention to the working station . of course it is to be noted that the apparatus of the invention need not be used only in combination with a grinding machine . further possibilities of use of the method and apparatus of the invention are , for example , supply and discharge of delicate workpieces at measuring stations , cleaning stations , coating stations , and treatment of workpieces such as semiconductor substrates in connection with masking and exposure to vapor deposition , for example , so that in general any transport problems in connection with workpieces of this type is suitable for the present invention . it is to be noted that the support of the several workpieces on the soft yieldable elastic supports 11 serve not only to protect the workpieces but also to compensate for any variations in the thickness of the workpieces . the same is of course true of the soft yieldable elastic free ends of the nozzles 22 . moreover , the provision of cross - sectional areas for the nozzles which are on the order of 100th the area of the surface of the semiconductor workpiece is of great significance since with such a ratio of the area of the nozzle to the area of the workpiece there is on the one hand an assurance of a reliable holding of the workpiece at the nozzle by suction while on the other hand there is no danger of injuring the workpiece as a result of the force of the suction . this danger of breaking a semiconductor wafer by the action of vacuum is present when the diameter of the suction nozzle is too great , since in this case in the free suction space of the nozzle the semiconductor wafer can be bent by the force of suction and can even become fractured in this way .	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Electricity'?	Is 'Physics' the correct technical category for the patent?	0.25	e7b41e190d2de40afe4da977cdd718acac2d78e03362a198d6bbd163272b3fd8	0.027222	0.046631	0.001411	0.02002	0.000626	0.02124
null	referring to fig1 there is schematically shown therein a precision grinder of a known construction capable of carrying out grinding operations in a precision manner in a horizontal plane so that precise surface grinding operations can be carried out with such a machine . this machine has a base 2 fixed with a mounting means 1 in the form of any suitable robust structural unit fixed to and projecting from the base 2 in the manner apparent from fig1 . this mounting unit 1 may , for example , be fixedly bolted to the base 2 and serves to mount at the grinding machine a positioning means 3 as well as a transfer means 4 . the positioning means 3 takes the form of a horizontal circular plate , as is apparent from fig1 . in addition to this horizontal circular plate the positioning means includes an upright hollow sleeve 6 which receives in its interior a cylindrical column 5 fixed centrally to the bottom of the plate 3 and adjustable within the sleeve 6 which is fixed to the unit 1 . a set screw 7 extends through the wall of the sleeve 6 into engagement with the column 5 so as to angularly fix the position of the circular plate which forms the positioning means 3 . the above structure enables the positioning means 3 to be situated in a plane parallel to a working plane formed by a component 8 of the machine , this component 8 being in the form of a circular support having means for holding the workpieces in position in a predetermined working plane by a force of suction which acts on the workpieces when they are in the working plane determined by the component 8 of the machine . thus , it is possible by positioning the column 5 within the sleeve 6 to adjust a positioning plane formed by the positioning means 3 in such a way that the elevation of the positioning plane can be determined and also in such a way that the angular position of the plate 3 in the positioning plane can be determined , this positioning plane being parallel to the working plane and , if desired , at the same elevation as the working plane . the positioning means includes in addition to the circular plate 3 which is illustrated in fig1 a plurality of hardened steel pins 9 which are fixed to and project upwardly from the plate 3 , so that these pins 9 serve to determine the locations of a relatively large number of semiconductor substrates or wafers 29 of circular configuration , as is shown most clearly in fig2 . the locations of the several workpieces in the positioning plane , as fragmentarily illustrated in fig2 corresponds to the locations of porous ceramic inserts 10 carried by the plate 8 of the machine . thus , the several porous ceramic inserts 10 have with respect to each other the same locations as the locations of the workpieces 29 as determined by the pins 9 . these porous ceramic inserts 10 of the machine communicate through a hollow space in the support plate 8 with a source of vacuum so that when the workpieces are in the working plane they are held in this plane by suction which acts through the ceramic inserts 10 . as is shown most clearly in fig3 the plate 3 carries a plurality of relatively soft elastic bodies 11 which form supports for the several workpieces 29 , respectively , so that these semiconductor substrates 29 which are to be subsequently ground will be protected by the soft , yieldable elastic supports 11 which may be made of a material such as a suitable rubber or the like . in this way the supports 11 protect the substrates 29 against damage when they are taken over by the transfer means 4 in a manner described below . the transfer means 4 includes a column 13 movable vertically along and angularly about its upright axis while extending into a hydraulic cylinder 12 so that by way of hydraulic fluid under pressure it is possible to control the elevation of the column 13 which at the same time can be angularly turned as shown by the arrow in fig1 . this upright 13 is guided for vertical movement in a vertical tube 14 situated within a vertical sleeve 15 , and adjusting screws 16 are provided to assure that the axis along which the column 13 can move and about which it can turn is precisely perpendicular to the parallel planes of the positioning means 3 and the work station 8 . at its upper end the column 13 carries a horizontal guide means in the form of a horizontal sleeve which has an axis perpendicular to the upright axis of the column 13 , and an elongated horizontal arm 17 is slidable in the horizontal sleeve which forms a t - shaped unit with the column 13 , the horizontal arm 17 thus being movable longitudinally along the horizontal axis which is perpendicular to the upright axis of the column 13 . this horizontal arm 17 is surrounded by a pair of air bearings 18 at opposite ends of the guide sleeve , and air under pressure is supplied through the air bearings 18 to the exterior surface of the arm 17 only during actual horizontal movement of the arm 17 . an elongated bar 19 is fixed to and extends along the top of the guide sleeve parallel to the horizontal axis of the latter , and upright handles are fixed to the arm 17 and engage opposed surfaces of the bar 19 so that in this way the arm 17 is prevented from turning about its axis . if desired there may be only two handles 20 , as illustrated , these handles being formed with suitable openings which receive the bar 19 so that in this way the slidable movement of the handles 20 with respect to the bar 19 prevent the arm 17 from turning . in addition it will be noted that two separate rings form stops for limiting the extent of horizontal movement of the arm 17 . the transfer means furthermore includes at the front end region of the horizontal support arm 17 a vertically adjustable plate means 21 made up of a number of aluminum tubes of square cross section which are joined together in a common horizontal plane in any suitable way , one of these tubes of the plate means 21 being visible in fig3 in section . through a flexible hose and the vertically adjustable hollow housing which is visible in fig1 the interiors of the tubes which form the plate means 21 communicate with a source of suction as well as with a source of air at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure . the plate means 21 carries a plurality of nozzles 22 the interiors of which communicate with the interior spaces of the square tubes , so that the interiors of the nozzles are in this way placed in communication with the source of suction and the source of air under pressure . the nozzles 22 , one of which is visible in fig3 have with respect to each other the same locations as the locations of the workpieces 29 shown in part in fig2 and thus also of the locations of the several inserts 10 . these nozzles 22 have lower free ends which are situated in a common plane and at the regions of their lower free ends the nozzles 22 are made of a soft tubular elastic material . the cross section of the tubular space surrounded by each nozzle 22 at the region where it engages a semiconductor substrate 29 has an area which is smaller than the area of the substrate 29 which is to be ground by approximately a factor of 100 . in other words the cross section of the area through which suction is applied to the surface of a substrate 29 to hold it in engagement with the nozzle 22 is approximately 100th the area of the substrate 29 . thus , the several nozzles 22 are capable of holding and carrying the substrates 29 by way of a suction force without mechanically damaging the substrates 29 and without any danger of breaking the substrates as a result of the vacuum prevailing in the interior space of the nozzles 22 . the plate means 21 furthermore carries a plurality of stops 23 which project downwardly from the plate means at the peripheral region thereof and which serve to engage the top surface of the plate which forms the positioning means 3 so as to situate in this way the lower ends of the nozzles 22 at a proper distance from the plate of the positioning means 3 to assure engagement of the soft elastic bottom free ends of the nozzles 22 with the workpieces 29 without unduly pressing the latter against the elastic supports 11 so that a reliable engagement of the workpieces without danger of breaking the same is achieved in this way . these stops 23 serve the same purpose in connection with deposition of the workpieces 29 on the inserts 10 at the end of the transfer operation , the stops 23 cooperating with the plate 8 at this time . moreover , the circular plate which forms the positioning means 3 fixedly carries at its center an indexing and centering pin 24 received in the interior of a corresponding sleeve 25 situated at the center of the plate means 21 of the transfer means 4 . thus , the pin 24 may be of a non - circular cross section received in a bore of the sleeve 25 which is of a mating non - circular cross section so that in this way not only is centering of the plate means 21 with respect to the plate 3 assured but also proper angular positioning of the plate means 21 with respect to the plate 3 is assured . furthermore , it is to be noted that the plate means 21 is of a non - circular cross section having a polygonal periphery mounted on a hollow housing which is capable of being received with its upper end in a prism of a stop 26 , so that by situating the upper end of this hollow housing in the prism of the stop 26 the plate means 21 is properly positioned over the circular support 8 of the grinding machine . the stop 26 is mounted on the wheel guard 27 which has in its interior the horizontal grinding disc . thus , by way of the element 26 proper positioning of the several workpieces 29 directly over the inserts 10 at the predetermined locations in the working plane is assured , and of course by way of the components 24 and 25 the proper positioning of the nozzles 22 with respect to the locations of the workpieces 29 in the positioning plane of the positioning means 3 is also assured . the positioning means 4 is of course capable of being angularly turned for example through an angle φ of approximately 300 °, and a suitable stop means 28 may be provided for adjustably limiting the angle of turning of the column 13 and the remainder of the transfer means so that through such an adjustable stop means 28 it is possible to provide for the transfer means angular end positions at one of which the plate 21 is situated directly over the positioning means 3 and at the other of which the plate 21 is situated outside of the machine for unloading and initial position . suitable control switches are centrally situated at the mounting means 1 . these switches include a switch 30 which controls the opening and closing of a splashguard 31 which protects against water spray during the grinding operation , while a switch 32 is available for controlling the hydraulic raising and lowering of the column 13 with the remainder of the transfer means 4 . a switch 33 is available for controlling the flow of fluid such as air both at less than and more than atmospheric pressure so as to control the engagement and disengagement of the workpieces from the nozzles 22 , and there is also a control lamp 34 . the semiconductor wafers or substrates of circular configuration in the form of relatively thin delicate plates are placed by hand on positioning means 3 in the positioning plane at predetermined locations therein as illustrated fragmentarily in fig2 . in this way each wafer or substrate is supported on an elastic support 11 while having its location determined by the steel pins 9 . the arrangement of the locations of the workpieces 29 as illustrated in fig2 is such that these locations have with respect to each other precisely the same relationship as the locations of the inserts 10 in the working plane . now the column 13 is raised hydraulically from its initial position so that the transfer means 4 is raised in this way , and the column 13 together with the remainder of the transfer means 4 is turned angularly about the upright axis of the column 13 until one end position is determined by the stop structure 28 , and in this end position the plate means 21 is situated directly over the positioning means 3 . with the transfer means in this position , the transfer means is hydraulically lowered and the index pin 24 is received in the sleeve 25 while the stops 23 engage the periphery of the plate 3 so that the position of the plate means 21 with respect to the plate 3 is precisely determined both in elevation and angularly . as a result the nozzles 22 are precisely positioned over the centers of the several semiconductors substrates 29 , respectively . now the vacuum is turned on by way of a hydraulically controlled valve so that less than atmospheric pressure prevails throughout the hollow interior spaces of the plate means 21 , and the substrates 29 are thus drawn by suction against the soft elastic lower free end portions of the nozzles 22 to be firmly held thereby . now , with the suction remaining in the nozzles 22 , the transfer means 4 is again hydraulically raised , after which the transfer means 4 is swung around the upright axis of the column 13 until the hollow housing of the plate means 21 is determined by the stop structure 28 , and at this time the periphery of the hollow housing of the plate means 21 is received in the v - notch of the stop 26 carried by the protective cover 27 as described above . with the transfer means thus positioning the plate means 21 precisely over the plate 8 at the working station , the transfer means is again hydraulically lowered , so that now the stops 23 cooperate with the plate 8 for positioning the plate 21 at precisely the right elevation with respect to the plate 8 , and now the several substrates 29 will be precisely positioned over the several porous ceramic inserts 10 . the porous ceramic inserts 10 are now placed in communication with the source of suction while the communication of the nozzles 22 with the source of suction is terminated , with the result that the substrates 29 are now held by the suction against the ceramic inserts 10 to be firmly held thereby at the predetermined locations in the working plane . in order to facilitate the release of the substrates 29 from the nozzles 22 when the substrates 29 have thus been situated at the working plane , when the suction of the nozzles 22 is terminated these nozzles 22 are immediately placed in communication with a source of air under pressure so that now through the nozzles 22 the substrates are urged toward the inserts 10 which simultaneously communicate with a source of suction . thus a reliable release of the substrates 29 from the nozzles 22 is assured , and now the transfer means 4 is again hydraulically raised , angularly turned toward its initial angular position and then lowered to its initial position . now the splashguard 31 is closed and the automatic operating cycle of the grinding machine is started . when the program of operation of the grinding machine has been completed , the machine returns to its initial position where the table of the machine remains at a predetermined location and the operation at the vacuum - holding plate 8 is terminated . the transfer means 4 is again hydraulically raised from its rest position , and the plate means 21 is again placed in engagement with the positioning stop 26 at the wheel guard 27 after which the transfer means is lowered . now the nozzles 22 are again placed in communication with the source of vacuum while at the same time water and air at greater than atmospheric pressure are provided in the suction conduits of the vacuum - holding plate 8 , so that in this way the movement of the semiconductor wafers against the suction nozzles 22 is reinforced by the fluid under pressure at the inserts 10 . thus , the substrates 29 on which the operations have been performed are now held by suction against the nozzles 22 and the transfer means 4 is now raised and turned to a location which will situate the substrates over a washing and cleaning station . the vacuum is now turned off and a reversal of the suction stream results in a blowing action which discharges the substrates 29 from the suction nozzles 22 into the cleaning container . after the vacuum - holding plate 8 is cleaned the above cycle of operations can be repeated . during the grinding operations which are going forward at the machine it is possible for substrates 29 for the next cycle of operations to be placed on the positioning means 3 , so that as soon as one cycle of operations is completed by the machine , the next group of substrates is in readiness at the positioning plane to be transferred by the transfer means of the invention to the working station . of course it is to be noted that the apparatus of the invention need not be used only in combination with a grinding machine . further possibilities of use of the method and apparatus of the invention are , for example , supply and discharge of delicate workpieces at measuring stations , cleaning stations , coating stations , and treatment of workpieces such as semiconductor substrates in connection with masking and exposure to vapor deposition , for example , so that in general any transport problems in connection with workpieces of this type is suitable for the present invention . it is to be noted that the support of the several workpieces on the soft yieldable elastic supports 11 serve not only to protect the workpieces but also to compensate for any variations in the thickness of the workpieces . the same is of course true of the soft yieldable elastic free ends of the nozzles 22 . moreover , the provision of cross - sectional areas for the nozzles which are on the order of 100th the area of the surface of the semiconductor workpiece is of great significance since with such a ratio of the area of the nozzle to the area of the workpiece there is on the one hand an assurance of a reliable holding of the workpiece at the nozzle by suction while on the other hand there is no danger of injuring the workpiece as a result of the force of the suction . this danger of breaking a semiconductor wafer by the action of vacuum is present when the diameter of the suction nozzle is too great , since in this case in the free suction space of the nozzle the semiconductor wafer can be bent by the force of suction and can even become fractured in this way .	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'Electricity'?	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'General tagging of new or cross-sectional technology'?	0.25	e7b41e190d2de40afe4da977cdd718acac2d78e03362a198d6bbd163272b3fd8	0.006683	0.210938	0.000431	0.193359	0.000191	0.114258
null	radio frequency identification ( rfid ) labels can be intelligent or just respond with a simple identification ( id ) to radio frequency ( rf ) interrogations . the rfid label can contain memory . this memory can be loaded with data either via an interrogator , or directly by some integrated data gathering element of the rfid label , for example , an environmental sensor . this data is retrieved some time later . as shown in fig1 , an exemplary active rfid label 10 includes an antenna 12 , a transceiver 14 , a microcontroller 16 , a temperature sensor 20 and a battery 22 . microcontroller 16 includes several elements including a memory 18 . memory 18 can include a power conservation process 100 , fully described below . temperature sensor 20 senses and transmits temperature data to memory 18 at intervals of time . when triggered by rf interrogation via transceiver 14 , microcontroller 16 fetches the data ( i . e ., time stamp and temperature ) and sends it out to an interrogator as multiplexed data packets from transceiver 14 . in this manner , a historical temperature log stored in memory 18 in the active rfid label 10 can be retrieved . temperature logging is limited by the size of memory 18 and / or life of battery 22 . in some examples , rfid label 10 stores a voltage of its battery 22 along with a time and a temperature at each time interval . as shown in fig2 , an exemplary rfid interrogator 50 includes an antenna 52 , transceiver 54 , memory 56 , central processing unit ( cpu ) 58 and optional user interface ( ui ) 60 . the rfid interrogator 50 performs time division multiplexing ( tdm ) with the transceiver 54 and antenna 52 . data ( e . g ., time , temperature and / or battery voltage ) downloaded from the rfid label 10 can be stored in memory 56 . the rfid interrogator 50 can be used to program the active rfid label 10 to record or log a temperature and / or battery voltage in memory 18 with a time interval starting at an initial time . at each time interval , e . g ., every hour , the active rfid label 10 records a time , temperature and / or battery voltage in memory 18 . the rfid interrogator 50 can download the time , temperature and / or battery voltage data from memory 18 to memory 56 . over a period of service , i . e ., the recording and storing of time / temperature / voltage , the life of the rfid label battery 22 in the active rfid label 10 can diminish and eventually fail . in one example , if the active rfid label 10 detects reduced voltage in the battery 22 , the active rfid label 10 can increase the time interval for temperature and / or voltage readings , thus conserving the remaining life of the battery 22 . for example , if the initial time interval in the active rfid label 10 is sixty minutes , the active rfid label 10 will log a time , temperature and / or voltage every sixty minutes . if the active rfid label 10 detects a voltage in the battery is less than 80 % capacity , for example , the active rfid label 10 will increase the time interval for readings to , for example , one hundred twenty minutes . at subsequent readings , the active rfid label 10 will increase the time interval for readings as the battery 22 continues to deteriorate , i . e ., as a voltage in the battery 22 decreases with each reading , and the active rfid label 10 can continue to increase the time interval for temperature and / or voltage readings , thus extending the remaining life of the battery 22 . in another example , stored data received from the rfid label 10 can be analyzed by the rfid interrogator 50 . more specifically , from stored voltage data , the rfid interrogator 50 can determine whether the most recent voltage of the battery 22 is too low , or has dropped below a selected value , or that the voltage of the battery 22 is decreasing at too rapid a rate . in any event , the rfid interrogator 50 can instruct the rfid label 10 to increase its time interval of temperature and / or voltage readings or the rfid interrogator 50 can adjust its frequency of interrogations of rfid label 10 . in another example , the rfid label 10 does not store any time , temperature and / or voltage data . instead , during each interrogation of rfid label 10 , the rfid interrogator 50 requests the rfid label 10 for a current battery voltage and / or temperature . the rfid interrogator 50 can store temperatures and / or voltages over time . in addition , the rfid interrogator 50 can determine to increase its time interval between interrogators based on the currently polled battery voltage . as shown in fig3 , the power conservation process 100 includes receiving ( 102 ) an initial time interval . process 100 determines ( 104 ) whether the time interval is reached . if the time interval is reached , process 100 detects ( 106 ) a time from its internal clock , a temperature from its temperature sensor and voltage of its power supply , e . g ., battery . process 100 determines ( 108 ) whether the detected voltage has reached a selected reduced level . if the detected voltage has not reached a selected reduced level , process 100 stores ( 110 ) the detected time and temperature . if the detected voltage reached the selected reduced level ( or less ), process 100 increases ( 112 ) the time interval and stores ( 110 ) the detected time and temperature . process 100 then determines ( 104 ) whether the increased time interval is reached . process 100 can be incorporated into the memories of other types of rfid labels . for example , process 100 can be used with beacon tags . in general , a beacon tag is an active rf tag that can be factory set to transmit a periodic rf signal used for location , process and presence detection and tracking . typically , these devices are placed into non - metallic enclosures and transmit an rf signal to an rfid reader located at a distance of 3 - 10 meters . as the power decreases , process 100 can increase the time at which the period rf signal is transmitted . in another embodiment , memory 56 contains a time interval process 200 . as shown on fig4 , the time interval process 200 includes sending ( 202 ) an interrogation signal to a rfid label . process 200 receives ( 204 ) a response signal from the rfid label containing the label &# 39 ; s log of times , temperatures and voltages . process 200 determines ( 206 ) whether the most recent measured voltage of the label battery is below a minimum voltage . if the most recent voltage of the label is below a minimum , process 200 sends ( 208 ) a signal to the rfid label lengthening its time interval . process 200 determines ( 210 ) whether the rate of voltage decrease of the label battery exceeds a specified rate . the rate of decrease in battery voltage is determined by the rfid interrogator from the received store of battery voltages received from the rfid label during the interrogation . if the rate of decrease of battery voltage exceeds the specified rate , process 200 sends ( 208 ) a signal to the rfid label lengthening its time interval . in another embodiment , memory 56 contains a polling interval process 300 . as shown in fig5 , the polling interval process 300 includes sending ( 302 ) an interrogation signal to a rfid label . process 300 receives ( 304 ) a response signal from the rfid label containing the current battery voltage in the rfid label . process 300 determines ( 306 ) whether the current battery voltage in the rfid label is below a specified minimum . if the current battery voltage is below the specified minimum , process 300 lengthens ( 308 ) a time to sending its next interrogation signal . embodiments of the invention can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry , or in computer hardware , firmware , software , or in combinations of them . embodiments of the invention can be implemented as a computer program product , i . e ., a computer program tangibly embodied in an information carrier , e . g ., in a machine readable storage device or in a propagated signal , for execution by , or to control the operation of , data processing apparatus , e . g ., a programmable processor , a computer , or multiple computers . a computer program can be written in any form of programming language , including compiled or interpreted languages , and it can be deployed in any form , including as a stand alone program or as a module , component , subroutine , or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment . a computer program can be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiple computers at one site or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communication network . method steps of embodiments of the invention can be performed by one or more programmable processors executing a computer program to perform functions of the invention by operating on input data and generating output . method steps can also be performed by , and apparatus of the invention can be implemented as , special purpose logic circuitry , e . g ., an fpga ( field programmable gate array ) or an asic ( application specific integrated circuit ). processors suitable for the execution of a computer program include , by way of example , both general and special purpose microprocessors , and any one or more processors of any kind of digital computer . generally , a processor will receive instructions and data from a read only memory or a random access memory or both . the essential elements of a computer are a processor for executing instructions and one or more memory devices for storing instructions and data . generally , a computer will also include , or be operatively coupled to receive data from or transfer data to , or both , one or more mass storage devices for storing data , e . g ., magnetic , magneto optical disks , or optical disks . information carriers suitable for embodying computer program instructions and data include all forms of non volatile memory , including by way of example semiconductor memory devices , e . g ., eprom , eeprom , and flash memory devices ; magnetic disks , e . g ., internal hard disks or removable disks ; magneto optical disks ; and cd rom and dvd - rom disks . the processor and the memory can be supplemented by , or incorporated in special purpose logic circuitry . it is to be understood that the foregoing description is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention , which is defined by the scope of the appended claims . other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims .	Should this patent be classified under 'Physics'?	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Human Necessities'?	0.25	33433a88f91b092b86d92ceccd684cdfb25a5a8cc97beac99a36db0cb1675970	0.048096	0.016357	0.002319	0.000055	0.022583	0.012451
null	radio frequency identification ( rfid ) labels can be intelligent or just respond with a simple identification ( id ) to radio frequency ( rf ) interrogations . the rfid label can contain memory . this memory can be loaded with data either via an interrogator , or directly by some integrated data gathering element of the rfid label , for example , an environmental sensor . this data is retrieved some time later . as shown in fig1 , an exemplary active rfid label 10 includes an antenna 12 , a transceiver 14 , a microcontroller 16 , a temperature sensor 20 and a battery 22 . microcontroller 16 includes several elements including a memory 18 . memory 18 can include a power conservation process 100 , fully described below . temperature sensor 20 senses and transmits temperature data to memory 18 at intervals of time . when triggered by rf interrogation via transceiver 14 , microcontroller 16 fetches the data ( i . e ., time stamp and temperature ) and sends it out to an interrogator as multiplexed data packets from transceiver 14 . in this manner , a historical temperature log stored in memory 18 in the active rfid label 10 can be retrieved . temperature logging is limited by the size of memory 18 and / or life of battery 22 . in some examples , rfid label 10 stores a voltage of its battery 22 along with a time and a temperature at each time interval . as shown in fig2 , an exemplary rfid interrogator 50 includes an antenna 52 , transceiver 54 , memory 56 , central processing unit ( cpu ) 58 and optional user interface ( ui ) 60 . the rfid interrogator 50 performs time division multiplexing ( tdm ) with the transceiver 54 and antenna 52 . data ( e . g ., time , temperature and / or battery voltage ) downloaded from the rfid label 10 can be stored in memory 56 . the rfid interrogator 50 can be used to program the active rfid label 10 to record or log a temperature and / or battery voltage in memory 18 with a time interval starting at an initial time . at each time interval , e . g ., every hour , the active rfid label 10 records a time , temperature and / or battery voltage in memory 18 . the rfid interrogator 50 can download the time , temperature and / or battery voltage data from memory 18 to memory 56 . over a period of service , i . e ., the recording and storing of time / temperature / voltage , the life of the rfid label battery 22 in the active rfid label 10 can diminish and eventually fail . in one example , if the active rfid label 10 detects reduced voltage in the battery 22 , the active rfid label 10 can increase the time interval for temperature and / or voltage readings , thus conserving the remaining life of the battery 22 . for example , if the initial time interval in the active rfid label 10 is sixty minutes , the active rfid label 10 will log a time , temperature and / or voltage every sixty minutes . if the active rfid label 10 detects a voltage in the battery is less than 80 % capacity , for example , the active rfid label 10 will increase the time interval for readings to , for example , one hundred twenty minutes . at subsequent readings , the active rfid label 10 will increase the time interval for readings as the battery 22 continues to deteriorate , i . e ., as a voltage in the battery 22 decreases with each reading , and the active rfid label 10 can continue to increase the time interval for temperature and / or voltage readings , thus extending the remaining life of the battery 22 . in another example , stored data received from the rfid label 10 can be analyzed by the rfid interrogator 50 . more specifically , from stored voltage data , the rfid interrogator 50 can determine whether the most recent voltage of the battery 22 is too low , or has dropped below a selected value , or that the voltage of the battery 22 is decreasing at too rapid a rate . in any event , the rfid interrogator 50 can instruct the rfid label 10 to increase its time interval of temperature and / or voltage readings or the rfid interrogator 50 can adjust its frequency of interrogations of rfid label 10 . in another example , the rfid label 10 does not store any time , temperature and / or voltage data . instead , during each interrogation of rfid label 10 , the rfid interrogator 50 requests the rfid label 10 for a current battery voltage and / or temperature . the rfid interrogator 50 can store temperatures and / or voltages over time . in addition , the rfid interrogator 50 can determine to increase its time interval between interrogators based on the currently polled battery voltage . as shown in fig3 , the power conservation process 100 includes receiving ( 102 ) an initial time interval . process 100 determines ( 104 ) whether the time interval is reached . if the time interval is reached , process 100 detects ( 106 ) a time from its internal clock , a temperature from its temperature sensor and voltage of its power supply , e . g ., battery . process 100 determines ( 108 ) whether the detected voltage has reached a selected reduced level . if the detected voltage has not reached a selected reduced level , process 100 stores ( 110 ) the detected time and temperature . if the detected voltage reached the selected reduced level ( or less ), process 100 increases ( 112 ) the time interval and stores ( 110 ) the detected time and temperature . process 100 then determines ( 104 ) whether the increased time interval is reached . process 100 can be incorporated into the memories of other types of rfid labels . for example , process 100 can be used with beacon tags . in general , a beacon tag is an active rf tag that can be factory set to transmit a periodic rf signal used for location , process and presence detection and tracking . typically , these devices are placed into non - metallic enclosures and transmit an rf signal to an rfid reader located at a distance of 3 - 10 meters . as the power decreases , process 100 can increase the time at which the period rf signal is transmitted . in another embodiment , memory 56 contains a time interval process 200 . as shown on fig4 , the time interval process 200 includes sending ( 202 ) an interrogation signal to a rfid label . process 200 receives ( 204 ) a response signal from the rfid label containing the label &# 39 ; s log of times , temperatures and voltages . process 200 determines ( 206 ) whether the most recent measured voltage of the label battery is below a minimum voltage . if the most recent voltage of the label is below a minimum , process 200 sends ( 208 ) a signal to the rfid label lengthening its time interval . process 200 determines ( 210 ) whether the rate of voltage decrease of the label battery exceeds a specified rate . the rate of decrease in battery voltage is determined by the rfid interrogator from the received store of battery voltages received from the rfid label during the interrogation . if the rate of decrease of battery voltage exceeds the specified rate , process 200 sends ( 208 ) a signal to the rfid label lengthening its time interval . in another embodiment , memory 56 contains a polling interval process 300 . as shown in fig5 , the polling interval process 300 includes sending ( 302 ) an interrogation signal to a rfid label . process 300 receives ( 304 ) a response signal from the rfid label containing the current battery voltage in the rfid label . process 300 determines ( 306 ) whether the current battery voltage in the rfid label is below a specified minimum . if the current battery voltage is below the specified minimum , process 300 lengthens ( 308 ) a time to sending its next interrogation signal . embodiments of the invention can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry , or in computer hardware , firmware , software , or in combinations of them . embodiments of the invention can be implemented as a computer program product , i . e ., a computer program tangibly embodied in an information carrier , e . g ., in a machine readable storage device or in a propagated signal , for execution by , or to control the operation of , data processing apparatus , e . g ., a programmable processor , a computer , or multiple computers . a computer program can be written in any form of programming language , including compiled or interpreted languages , and it can be deployed in any form , including as a stand alone program or as a module , component , subroutine , or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment . a computer program can be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiple computers at one site or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communication network . method steps of embodiments of the invention can be performed by one or more programmable processors executing a computer program to perform functions of the invention by operating on input data and generating output . method steps can also be performed by , and apparatus of the invention can be implemented as , special purpose logic circuitry , e . g ., an fpga ( field programmable gate array ) or an asic ( application specific integrated circuit ). processors suitable for the execution of a computer program include , by way of example , both general and special purpose microprocessors , and any one or more processors of any kind of digital computer . generally , a processor will receive instructions and data from a read only memory or a random access memory or both . the essential elements of a computer are a processor for executing instructions and one or more memory devices for storing instructions and data . generally , a computer will also include , or be operatively coupled to receive data from or transfer data to , or both , one or more mass storage devices for storing data , e . g ., magnetic , magneto optical disks , or optical disks . information carriers suitable for embodying computer program instructions and data include all forms of non volatile memory , including by way of example semiconductor memory devices , e . g ., eprom , eeprom , and flash memory devices ; magnetic disks , e . g ., internal hard disks or removable disks ; magneto optical disks ; and cd rom and dvd - rom disks . the processor and the memory can be supplemented by , or incorporated in special purpose logic circuitry . it is to be understood that the foregoing description is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention , which is defined by the scope of the appended claims . other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims .	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Physics'?	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'Performing Operations; Transporting'?	0.25	33433a88f91b092b86d92ceccd684cdfb25a5a8cc97beac99a36db0cb1675970	0.094238	0.011658	0.001167	0.003082	0.088867	0.039551
null	radio frequency identification ( rfid ) labels can be intelligent or just respond with a simple identification ( id ) to radio frequency ( rf ) interrogations . the rfid label can contain memory . this memory can be loaded with data either via an interrogator , or directly by some integrated data gathering element of the rfid label , for example , an environmental sensor . this data is retrieved some time later . as shown in fig1 , an exemplary active rfid label 10 includes an antenna 12 , a transceiver 14 , a microcontroller 16 , a temperature sensor 20 and a battery 22 . microcontroller 16 includes several elements including a memory 18 . memory 18 can include a power conservation process 100 , fully described below . temperature sensor 20 senses and transmits temperature data to memory 18 at intervals of time . when triggered by rf interrogation via transceiver 14 , microcontroller 16 fetches the data ( i . e ., time stamp and temperature ) and sends it out to an interrogator as multiplexed data packets from transceiver 14 . in this manner , a historical temperature log stored in memory 18 in the active rfid label 10 can be retrieved . temperature logging is limited by the size of memory 18 and / or life of battery 22 . in some examples , rfid label 10 stores a voltage of its battery 22 along with a time and a temperature at each time interval . as shown in fig2 , an exemplary rfid interrogator 50 includes an antenna 52 , transceiver 54 , memory 56 , central processing unit ( cpu ) 58 and optional user interface ( ui ) 60 . the rfid interrogator 50 performs time division multiplexing ( tdm ) with the transceiver 54 and antenna 52 . data ( e . g ., time , temperature and / or battery voltage ) downloaded from the rfid label 10 can be stored in memory 56 . the rfid interrogator 50 can be used to program the active rfid label 10 to record or log a temperature and / or battery voltage in memory 18 with a time interval starting at an initial time . at each time interval , e . g ., every hour , the active rfid label 10 records a time , temperature and / or battery voltage in memory 18 . the rfid interrogator 50 can download the time , temperature and / or battery voltage data from memory 18 to memory 56 . over a period of service , i . e ., the recording and storing of time / temperature / voltage , the life of the rfid label battery 22 in the active rfid label 10 can diminish and eventually fail . in one example , if the active rfid label 10 detects reduced voltage in the battery 22 , the active rfid label 10 can increase the time interval for temperature and / or voltage readings , thus conserving the remaining life of the battery 22 . for example , if the initial time interval in the active rfid label 10 is sixty minutes , the active rfid label 10 will log a time , temperature and / or voltage every sixty minutes . if the active rfid label 10 detects a voltage in the battery is less than 80 % capacity , for example , the active rfid label 10 will increase the time interval for readings to , for example , one hundred twenty minutes . at subsequent readings , the active rfid label 10 will increase the time interval for readings as the battery 22 continues to deteriorate , i . e ., as a voltage in the battery 22 decreases with each reading , and the active rfid label 10 can continue to increase the time interval for temperature and / or voltage readings , thus extending the remaining life of the battery 22 . in another example , stored data received from the rfid label 10 can be analyzed by the rfid interrogator 50 . more specifically , from stored voltage data , the rfid interrogator 50 can determine whether the most recent voltage of the battery 22 is too low , or has dropped below a selected value , or that the voltage of the battery 22 is decreasing at too rapid a rate . in any event , the rfid interrogator 50 can instruct the rfid label 10 to increase its time interval of temperature and / or voltage readings or the rfid interrogator 50 can adjust its frequency of interrogations of rfid label 10 . in another example , the rfid label 10 does not store any time , temperature and / or voltage data . instead , during each interrogation of rfid label 10 , the rfid interrogator 50 requests the rfid label 10 for a current battery voltage and / or temperature . the rfid interrogator 50 can store temperatures and / or voltages over time . in addition , the rfid interrogator 50 can determine to increase its time interval between interrogators based on the currently polled battery voltage . as shown in fig3 , the power conservation process 100 includes receiving ( 102 ) an initial time interval . process 100 determines ( 104 ) whether the time interval is reached . if the time interval is reached , process 100 detects ( 106 ) a time from its internal clock , a temperature from its temperature sensor and voltage of its power supply , e . g ., battery . process 100 determines ( 108 ) whether the detected voltage has reached a selected reduced level . if the detected voltage has not reached a selected reduced level , process 100 stores ( 110 ) the detected time and temperature . if the detected voltage reached the selected reduced level ( or less ), process 100 increases ( 112 ) the time interval and stores ( 110 ) the detected time and temperature . process 100 then determines ( 104 ) whether the increased time interval is reached . process 100 can be incorporated into the memories of other types of rfid labels . for example , process 100 can be used with beacon tags . in general , a beacon tag is an active rf tag that can be factory set to transmit a periodic rf signal used for location , process and presence detection and tracking . typically , these devices are placed into non - metallic enclosures and transmit an rf signal to an rfid reader located at a distance of 3 - 10 meters . as the power decreases , process 100 can increase the time at which the period rf signal is transmitted . in another embodiment , memory 56 contains a time interval process 200 . as shown on fig4 , the time interval process 200 includes sending ( 202 ) an interrogation signal to a rfid label . process 200 receives ( 204 ) a response signal from the rfid label containing the label &# 39 ; s log of times , temperatures and voltages . process 200 determines ( 206 ) whether the most recent measured voltage of the label battery is below a minimum voltage . if the most recent voltage of the label is below a minimum , process 200 sends ( 208 ) a signal to the rfid label lengthening its time interval . process 200 determines ( 210 ) whether the rate of voltage decrease of the label battery exceeds a specified rate . the rate of decrease in battery voltage is determined by the rfid interrogator from the received store of battery voltages received from the rfid label during the interrogation . if the rate of decrease of battery voltage exceeds the specified rate , process 200 sends ( 208 ) a signal to the rfid label lengthening its time interval . in another embodiment , memory 56 contains a polling interval process 300 . as shown in fig5 , the polling interval process 300 includes sending ( 302 ) an interrogation signal to a rfid label . process 300 receives ( 304 ) a response signal from the rfid label containing the current battery voltage in the rfid label . process 300 determines ( 306 ) whether the current battery voltage in the rfid label is below a specified minimum . if the current battery voltage is below the specified minimum , process 300 lengthens ( 308 ) a time to sending its next interrogation signal . embodiments of the invention can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry , or in computer hardware , firmware , software , or in combinations of them . embodiments of the invention can be implemented as a computer program product , i . e ., a computer program tangibly embodied in an information carrier , e . g ., in a machine readable storage device or in a propagated signal , for execution by , or to control the operation of , data processing apparatus , e . g ., a programmable processor , a computer , or multiple computers . a computer program can be written in any form of programming language , including compiled or interpreted languages , and it can be deployed in any form , including as a stand alone program or as a module , component , subroutine , or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment . a computer program can be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiple computers at one site or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communication network . method steps of embodiments of the invention can be performed by one or more programmable processors executing a computer program to perform functions of the invention by operating on input data and generating output . method steps can also be performed by , and apparatus of the invention can be implemented as , special purpose logic circuitry , e . g ., an fpga ( field programmable gate array ) or an asic ( application specific integrated circuit ). processors suitable for the execution of a computer program include , by way of example , both general and special purpose microprocessors , and any one or more processors of any kind of digital computer . generally , a processor will receive instructions and data from a read only memory or a random access memory or both . the essential elements of a computer are a processor for executing instructions and one or more memory devices for storing instructions and data . generally , a computer will also include , or be operatively coupled to receive data from or transfer data to , or both , one or more mass storage devices for storing data , e . g ., magnetic , magneto optical disks , or optical disks . information carriers suitable for embodying computer program instructions and data include all forms of non volatile memory , including by way of example semiconductor memory devices , e . g ., eprom , eeprom , and flash memory devices ; magnetic disks , e . g ., internal hard disks or removable disks ; magneto optical disks ; and cd rom and dvd - rom disks . the processor and the memory can be supplemented by , or incorporated in special purpose logic circuitry . it is to be understood that the foregoing description is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention , which is defined by the scope of the appended claims . other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims .	Is 'Physics' the correct technical category for the patent?	Should this patent be classified under 'Chemistry; Metallurgy'?	0.25	33433a88f91b092b86d92ceccd684cdfb25a5a8cc97beac99a36db0cb1675970	0.042725	0.000048	0.003082	0.000003	0.037354	0.000158
null	radio frequency identification ( rfid ) labels can be intelligent or just respond with a simple identification ( id ) to radio frequency ( rf ) interrogations . the rfid label can contain memory . this memory can be loaded with data either via an interrogator , or directly by some integrated data gathering element of the rfid label , for example , an environmental sensor . this data is retrieved some time later . as shown in fig1 , an exemplary active rfid label 10 includes an antenna 12 , a transceiver 14 , a microcontroller 16 , a temperature sensor 20 and a battery 22 . microcontroller 16 includes several elements including a memory 18 . memory 18 can include a power conservation process 100 , fully described below . temperature sensor 20 senses and transmits temperature data to memory 18 at intervals of time . when triggered by rf interrogation via transceiver 14 , microcontroller 16 fetches the data ( i . e ., time stamp and temperature ) and sends it out to an interrogator as multiplexed data packets from transceiver 14 . in this manner , a historical temperature log stored in memory 18 in the active rfid label 10 can be retrieved . temperature logging is limited by the size of memory 18 and / or life of battery 22 . in some examples , rfid label 10 stores a voltage of its battery 22 along with a time and a temperature at each time interval . as shown in fig2 , an exemplary rfid interrogator 50 includes an antenna 52 , transceiver 54 , memory 56 , central processing unit ( cpu ) 58 and optional user interface ( ui ) 60 . the rfid interrogator 50 performs time division multiplexing ( tdm ) with the transceiver 54 and antenna 52 . data ( e . g ., time , temperature and / or battery voltage ) downloaded from the rfid label 10 can be stored in memory 56 . the rfid interrogator 50 can be used to program the active rfid label 10 to record or log a temperature and / or battery voltage in memory 18 with a time interval starting at an initial time . at each time interval , e . g ., every hour , the active rfid label 10 records a time , temperature and / or battery voltage in memory 18 . the rfid interrogator 50 can download the time , temperature and / or battery voltage data from memory 18 to memory 56 . over a period of service , i . e ., the recording and storing of time / temperature / voltage , the life of the rfid label battery 22 in the active rfid label 10 can diminish and eventually fail . in one example , if the active rfid label 10 detects reduced voltage in the battery 22 , the active rfid label 10 can increase the time interval for temperature and / or voltage readings , thus conserving the remaining life of the battery 22 . for example , if the initial time interval in the active rfid label 10 is sixty minutes , the active rfid label 10 will log a time , temperature and / or voltage every sixty minutes . if the active rfid label 10 detects a voltage in the battery is less than 80 % capacity , for example , the active rfid label 10 will increase the time interval for readings to , for example , one hundred twenty minutes . at subsequent readings , the active rfid label 10 will increase the time interval for readings as the battery 22 continues to deteriorate , i . e ., as a voltage in the battery 22 decreases with each reading , and the active rfid label 10 can continue to increase the time interval for temperature and / or voltage readings , thus extending the remaining life of the battery 22 . in another example , stored data received from the rfid label 10 can be analyzed by the rfid interrogator 50 . more specifically , from stored voltage data , the rfid interrogator 50 can determine whether the most recent voltage of the battery 22 is too low , or has dropped below a selected value , or that the voltage of the battery 22 is decreasing at too rapid a rate . in any event , the rfid interrogator 50 can instruct the rfid label 10 to increase its time interval of temperature and / or voltage readings or the rfid interrogator 50 can adjust its frequency of interrogations of rfid label 10 . in another example , the rfid label 10 does not store any time , temperature and / or voltage data . instead , during each interrogation of rfid label 10 , the rfid interrogator 50 requests the rfid label 10 for a current battery voltage and / or temperature . the rfid interrogator 50 can store temperatures and / or voltages over time . in addition , the rfid interrogator 50 can determine to increase its time interval between interrogators based on the currently polled battery voltage . as shown in fig3 , the power conservation process 100 includes receiving ( 102 ) an initial time interval . process 100 determines ( 104 ) whether the time interval is reached . if the time interval is reached , process 100 detects ( 106 ) a time from its internal clock , a temperature from its temperature sensor and voltage of its power supply , e . g ., battery . process 100 determines ( 108 ) whether the detected voltage has reached a selected reduced level . if the detected voltage has not reached a selected reduced level , process 100 stores ( 110 ) the detected time and temperature . if the detected voltage reached the selected reduced level ( or less ), process 100 increases ( 112 ) the time interval and stores ( 110 ) the detected time and temperature . process 100 then determines ( 104 ) whether the increased time interval is reached . process 100 can be incorporated into the memories of other types of rfid labels . for example , process 100 can be used with beacon tags . in general , a beacon tag is an active rf tag that can be factory set to transmit a periodic rf signal used for location , process and presence detection and tracking . typically , these devices are placed into non - metallic enclosures and transmit an rf signal to an rfid reader located at a distance of 3 - 10 meters . as the power decreases , process 100 can increase the time at which the period rf signal is transmitted . in another embodiment , memory 56 contains a time interval process 200 . as shown on fig4 , the time interval process 200 includes sending ( 202 ) an interrogation signal to a rfid label . process 200 receives ( 204 ) a response signal from the rfid label containing the label &# 39 ; s log of times , temperatures and voltages . process 200 determines ( 206 ) whether the most recent measured voltage of the label battery is below a minimum voltage . if the most recent voltage of the label is below a minimum , process 200 sends ( 208 ) a signal to the rfid label lengthening its time interval . process 200 determines ( 210 ) whether the rate of voltage decrease of the label battery exceeds a specified rate . the rate of decrease in battery voltage is determined by the rfid interrogator from the received store of battery voltages received from the rfid label during the interrogation . if the rate of decrease of battery voltage exceeds the specified rate , process 200 sends ( 208 ) a signal to the rfid label lengthening its time interval . in another embodiment , memory 56 contains a polling interval process 300 . as shown in fig5 , the polling interval process 300 includes sending ( 302 ) an interrogation signal to a rfid label . process 300 receives ( 304 ) a response signal from the rfid label containing the current battery voltage in the rfid label . process 300 determines ( 306 ) whether the current battery voltage in the rfid label is below a specified minimum . if the current battery voltage is below the specified minimum , process 300 lengthens ( 308 ) a time to sending its next interrogation signal . embodiments of the invention can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry , or in computer hardware , firmware , software , or in combinations of them . embodiments of the invention can be implemented as a computer program product , i . e ., a computer program tangibly embodied in an information carrier , e . g ., in a machine readable storage device or in a propagated signal , for execution by , or to control the operation of , data processing apparatus , e . g ., a programmable processor , a computer , or multiple computers . a computer program can be written in any form of programming language , including compiled or interpreted languages , and it can be deployed in any form , including as a stand alone program or as a module , component , subroutine , or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment . a computer program can be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiple computers at one site or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communication network . method steps of embodiments of the invention can be performed by one or more programmable processors executing a computer program to perform functions of the invention by operating on input data and generating output . method steps can also be performed by , and apparatus of the invention can be implemented as , special purpose logic circuitry , e . g ., an fpga ( field programmable gate array ) or an asic ( application specific integrated circuit ). processors suitable for the execution of a computer program include , by way of example , both general and special purpose microprocessors , and any one or more processors of any kind of digital computer . generally , a processor will receive instructions and data from a read only memory or a random access memory or both . the essential elements of a computer are a processor for executing instructions and one or more memory devices for storing instructions and data . generally , a computer will also include , or be operatively coupled to receive data from or transfer data to , or both , one or more mass storage devices for storing data , e . g ., magnetic , magneto optical disks , or optical disks . information carriers suitable for embodying computer program instructions and data include all forms of non volatile memory , including by way of example semiconductor memory devices , e . g ., eprom , eeprom , and flash memory devices ; magnetic disks , e . g ., internal hard disks or removable disks ; magneto optical disks ; and cd rom and dvd - rom disks . the processor and the memory can be supplemented by , or incorporated in special purpose logic circuitry . it is to be understood that the foregoing description is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention , which is defined by the scope of the appended claims . other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims .	Should this patent be classified under 'Physics'?	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Textiles; Paper'?	0.25	33433a88f91b092b86d92ceccd684cdfb25a5a8cc97beac99a36db0cb1675970	0.048096	0.000315	0.002319	0.000002	0.022583	0.003082
null	radio frequency identification ( rfid ) labels can be intelligent or just respond with a simple identification ( id ) to radio frequency ( rf ) interrogations . the rfid label can contain memory . this memory can be loaded with data either via an interrogator , or directly by some integrated data gathering element of the rfid label , for example , an environmental sensor . this data is retrieved some time later . as shown in fig1 , an exemplary active rfid label 10 includes an antenna 12 , a transceiver 14 , a microcontroller 16 , a temperature sensor 20 and a battery 22 . microcontroller 16 includes several elements including a memory 18 . memory 18 can include a power conservation process 100 , fully described below . temperature sensor 20 senses and transmits temperature data to memory 18 at intervals of time . when triggered by rf interrogation via transceiver 14 , microcontroller 16 fetches the data ( i . e ., time stamp and temperature ) and sends it out to an interrogator as multiplexed data packets from transceiver 14 . in this manner , a historical temperature log stored in memory 18 in the active rfid label 10 can be retrieved . temperature logging is limited by the size of memory 18 and / or life of battery 22 . in some examples , rfid label 10 stores a voltage of its battery 22 along with a time and a temperature at each time interval . as shown in fig2 , an exemplary rfid interrogator 50 includes an antenna 52 , transceiver 54 , memory 56 , central processing unit ( cpu ) 58 and optional user interface ( ui ) 60 . the rfid interrogator 50 performs time division multiplexing ( tdm ) with the transceiver 54 and antenna 52 . data ( e . g ., time , temperature and / or battery voltage ) downloaded from the rfid label 10 can be stored in memory 56 . the rfid interrogator 50 can be used to program the active rfid label 10 to record or log a temperature and / or battery voltage in memory 18 with a time interval starting at an initial time . at each time interval , e . g ., every hour , the active rfid label 10 records a time , temperature and / or battery voltage in memory 18 . the rfid interrogator 50 can download the time , temperature and / or battery voltage data from memory 18 to memory 56 . over a period of service , i . e ., the recording and storing of time / temperature / voltage , the life of the rfid label battery 22 in the active rfid label 10 can diminish and eventually fail . in one example , if the active rfid label 10 detects reduced voltage in the battery 22 , the active rfid label 10 can increase the time interval for temperature and / or voltage readings , thus conserving the remaining life of the battery 22 . for example , if the initial time interval in the active rfid label 10 is sixty minutes , the active rfid label 10 will log a time , temperature and / or voltage every sixty minutes . if the active rfid label 10 detects a voltage in the battery is less than 80 % capacity , for example , the active rfid label 10 will increase the time interval for readings to , for example , one hundred twenty minutes . at subsequent readings , the active rfid label 10 will increase the time interval for readings as the battery 22 continues to deteriorate , i . e ., as a voltage in the battery 22 decreases with each reading , and the active rfid label 10 can continue to increase the time interval for temperature and / or voltage readings , thus extending the remaining life of the battery 22 . in another example , stored data received from the rfid label 10 can be analyzed by the rfid interrogator 50 . more specifically , from stored voltage data , the rfid interrogator 50 can determine whether the most recent voltage of the battery 22 is too low , or has dropped below a selected value , or that the voltage of the battery 22 is decreasing at too rapid a rate . in any event , the rfid interrogator 50 can instruct the rfid label 10 to increase its time interval of temperature and / or voltage readings or the rfid interrogator 50 can adjust its frequency of interrogations of rfid label 10 . in another example , the rfid label 10 does not store any time , temperature and / or voltage data . instead , during each interrogation of rfid label 10 , the rfid interrogator 50 requests the rfid label 10 for a current battery voltage and / or temperature . the rfid interrogator 50 can store temperatures and / or voltages over time . in addition , the rfid interrogator 50 can determine to increase its time interval between interrogators based on the currently polled battery voltage . as shown in fig3 , the power conservation process 100 includes receiving ( 102 ) an initial time interval . process 100 determines ( 104 ) whether the time interval is reached . if the time interval is reached , process 100 detects ( 106 ) a time from its internal clock , a temperature from its temperature sensor and voltage of its power supply , e . g ., battery . process 100 determines ( 108 ) whether the detected voltage has reached a selected reduced level . if the detected voltage has not reached a selected reduced level , process 100 stores ( 110 ) the detected time and temperature . if the detected voltage reached the selected reduced level ( or less ), process 100 increases ( 112 ) the time interval and stores ( 110 ) the detected time and temperature . process 100 then determines ( 104 ) whether the increased time interval is reached . process 100 can be incorporated into the memories of other types of rfid labels . for example , process 100 can be used with beacon tags . in general , a beacon tag is an active rf tag that can be factory set to transmit a periodic rf signal used for location , process and presence detection and tracking . typically , these devices are placed into non - metallic enclosures and transmit an rf signal to an rfid reader located at a distance of 3 - 10 meters . as the power decreases , process 100 can increase the time at which the period rf signal is transmitted . in another embodiment , memory 56 contains a time interval process 200 . as shown on fig4 , the time interval process 200 includes sending ( 202 ) an interrogation signal to a rfid label . process 200 receives ( 204 ) a response signal from the rfid label containing the label &# 39 ; s log of times , temperatures and voltages . process 200 determines ( 206 ) whether the most recent measured voltage of the label battery is below a minimum voltage . if the most recent voltage of the label is below a minimum , process 200 sends ( 208 ) a signal to the rfid label lengthening its time interval . process 200 determines ( 210 ) whether the rate of voltage decrease of the label battery exceeds a specified rate . the rate of decrease in battery voltage is determined by the rfid interrogator from the received store of battery voltages received from the rfid label during the interrogation . if the rate of decrease of battery voltage exceeds the specified rate , process 200 sends ( 208 ) a signal to the rfid label lengthening its time interval . in another embodiment , memory 56 contains a polling interval process 300 . as shown in fig5 , the polling interval process 300 includes sending ( 302 ) an interrogation signal to a rfid label . process 300 receives ( 304 ) a response signal from the rfid label containing the current battery voltage in the rfid label . process 300 determines ( 306 ) whether the current battery voltage in the rfid label is below a specified minimum . if the current battery voltage is below the specified minimum , process 300 lengthens ( 308 ) a time to sending its next interrogation signal . embodiments of the invention can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry , or in computer hardware , firmware , software , or in combinations of them . embodiments of the invention can be implemented as a computer program product , i . e ., a computer program tangibly embodied in an information carrier , e . g ., in a machine readable storage device or in a propagated signal , for execution by , or to control the operation of , data processing apparatus , e . g ., a programmable processor , a computer , or multiple computers . a computer program can be written in any form of programming language , including compiled or interpreted languages , and it can be deployed in any form , including as a stand alone program or as a module , component , subroutine , or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment . a computer program can be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiple computers at one site or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communication network . method steps of embodiments of the invention can be performed by one or more programmable processors executing a computer program to perform functions of the invention by operating on input data and generating output . method steps can also be performed by , and apparatus of the invention can be implemented as , special purpose logic circuitry , e . g ., an fpga ( field programmable gate array ) or an asic ( application specific integrated circuit ). processors suitable for the execution of a computer program include , by way of example , both general and special purpose microprocessors , and any one or more processors of any kind of digital computer . generally , a processor will receive instructions and data from a read only memory or a random access memory or both . the essential elements of a computer are a processor for executing instructions and one or more memory devices for storing instructions and data . generally , a computer will also include , or be operatively coupled to receive data from or transfer data to , or both , one or more mass storage devices for storing data , e . g ., magnetic , magneto optical disks , or optical disks . information carriers suitable for embodying computer program instructions and data include all forms of non volatile memory , including by way of example semiconductor memory devices , e . g ., eprom , eeprom , and flash memory devices ; magnetic disks , e . g ., internal hard disks or removable disks ; magneto optical disks ; and cd rom and dvd - rom disks . the processor and the memory can be supplemented by , or incorporated in special purpose logic circuitry . it is to be understood that the foregoing description is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention , which is defined by the scope of the appended claims . other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims .	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'Physics'?	Is 'Fixed Constructions' the correct technical category for the patent?	0.25	33433a88f91b092b86d92ceccd684cdfb25a5a8cc97beac99a36db0cb1675970	0.102539	0.004211	0.008606	0.00103	0.063477	0.020996
null	radio frequency identification ( rfid ) labels can be intelligent or just respond with a simple identification ( id ) to radio frequency ( rf ) interrogations . the rfid label can contain memory . this memory can be loaded with data either via an interrogator , or directly by some integrated data gathering element of the rfid label , for example , an environmental sensor . this data is retrieved some time later . as shown in fig1 , an exemplary active rfid label 10 includes an antenna 12 , a transceiver 14 , a microcontroller 16 , a temperature sensor 20 and a battery 22 . microcontroller 16 includes several elements including a memory 18 . memory 18 can include a power conservation process 100 , fully described below . temperature sensor 20 senses and transmits temperature data to memory 18 at intervals of time . when triggered by rf interrogation via transceiver 14 , microcontroller 16 fetches the data ( i . e ., time stamp and temperature ) and sends it out to an interrogator as multiplexed data packets from transceiver 14 . in this manner , a historical temperature log stored in memory 18 in the active rfid label 10 can be retrieved . temperature logging is limited by the size of memory 18 and / or life of battery 22 . in some examples , rfid label 10 stores a voltage of its battery 22 along with a time and a temperature at each time interval . as shown in fig2 , an exemplary rfid interrogator 50 includes an antenna 52 , transceiver 54 , memory 56 , central processing unit ( cpu ) 58 and optional user interface ( ui ) 60 . the rfid interrogator 50 performs time division multiplexing ( tdm ) with the transceiver 54 and antenna 52 . data ( e . g ., time , temperature and / or battery voltage ) downloaded from the rfid label 10 can be stored in memory 56 . the rfid interrogator 50 can be used to program the active rfid label 10 to record or log a temperature and / or battery voltage in memory 18 with a time interval starting at an initial time . at each time interval , e . g ., every hour , the active rfid label 10 records a time , temperature and / or battery voltage in memory 18 . the rfid interrogator 50 can download the time , temperature and / or battery voltage data from memory 18 to memory 56 . over a period of service , i . e ., the recording and storing of time / temperature / voltage , the life of the rfid label battery 22 in the active rfid label 10 can diminish and eventually fail . in one example , if the active rfid label 10 detects reduced voltage in the battery 22 , the active rfid label 10 can increase the time interval for temperature and / or voltage readings , thus conserving the remaining life of the battery 22 . for example , if the initial time interval in the active rfid label 10 is sixty minutes , the active rfid label 10 will log a time , temperature and / or voltage every sixty minutes . if the active rfid label 10 detects a voltage in the battery is less than 80 % capacity , for example , the active rfid label 10 will increase the time interval for readings to , for example , one hundred twenty minutes . at subsequent readings , the active rfid label 10 will increase the time interval for readings as the battery 22 continues to deteriorate , i . e ., as a voltage in the battery 22 decreases with each reading , and the active rfid label 10 can continue to increase the time interval for temperature and / or voltage readings , thus extending the remaining life of the battery 22 . in another example , stored data received from the rfid label 10 can be analyzed by the rfid interrogator 50 . more specifically , from stored voltage data , the rfid interrogator 50 can determine whether the most recent voltage of the battery 22 is too low , or has dropped below a selected value , or that the voltage of the battery 22 is decreasing at too rapid a rate . in any event , the rfid interrogator 50 can instruct the rfid label 10 to increase its time interval of temperature and / or voltage readings or the rfid interrogator 50 can adjust its frequency of interrogations of rfid label 10 . in another example , the rfid label 10 does not store any time , temperature and / or voltage data . instead , during each interrogation of rfid label 10 , the rfid interrogator 50 requests the rfid label 10 for a current battery voltage and / or temperature . the rfid interrogator 50 can store temperatures and / or voltages over time . in addition , the rfid interrogator 50 can determine to increase its time interval between interrogators based on the currently polled battery voltage . as shown in fig3 , the power conservation process 100 includes receiving ( 102 ) an initial time interval . process 100 determines ( 104 ) whether the time interval is reached . if the time interval is reached , process 100 detects ( 106 ) a time from its internal clock , a temperature from its temperature sensor and voltage of its power supply , e . g ., battery . process 100 determines ( 108 ) whether the detected voltage has reached a selected reduced level . if the detected voltage has not reached a selected reduced level , process 100 stores ( 110 ) the detected time and temperature . if the detected voltage reached the selected reduced level ( or less ), process 100 increases ( 112 ) the time interval and stores ( 110 ) the detected time and temperature . process 100 then determines ( 104 ) whether the increased time interval is reached . process 100 can be incorporated into the memories of other types of rfid labels . for example , process 100 can be used with beacon tags . in general , a beacon tag is an active rf tag that can be factory set to transmit a periodic rf signal used for location , process and presence detection and tracking . typically , these devices are placed into non - metallic enclosures and transmit an rf signal to an rfid reader located at a distance of 3 - 10 meters . as the power decreases , process 100 can increase the time at which the period rf signal is transmitted . in another embodiment , memory 56 contains a time interval process 200 . as shown on fig4 , the time interval process 200 includes sending ( 202 ) an interrogation signal to a rfid label . process 200 receives ( 204 ) a response signal from the rfid label containing the label &# 39 ; s log of times , temperatures and voltages . process 200 determines ( 206 ) whether the most recent measured voltage of the label battery is below a minimum voltage . if the most recent voltage of the label is below a minimum , process 200 sends ( 208 ) a signal to the rfid label lengthening its time interval . process 200 determines ( 210 ) whether the rate of voltage decrease of the label battery exceeds a specified rate . the rate of decrease in battery voltage is determined by the rfid interrogator from the received store of battery voltages received from the rfid label during the interrogation . if the rate of decrease of battery voltage exceeds the specified rate , process 200 sends ( 208 ) a signal to the rfid label lengthening its time interval . in another embodiment , memory 56 contains a polling interval process 300 . as shown in fig5 , the polling interval process 300 includes sending ( 302 ) an interrogation signal to a rfid label . process 300 receives ( 304 ) a response signal from the rfid label containing the current battery voltage in the rfid label . process 300 determines ( 306 ) whether the current battery voltage in the rfid label is below a specified minimum . if the current battery voltage is below the specified minimum , process 300 lengthens ( 308 ) a time to sending its next interrogation signal . embodiments of the invention can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry , or in computer hardware , firmware , software , or in combinations of them . embodiments of the invention can be implemented as a computer program product , i . e ., a computer program tangibly embodied in an information carrier , e . g ., in a machine readable storage device or in a propagated signal , for execution by , or to control the operation of , data processing apparatus , e . g ., a programmable processor , a computer , or multiple computers . a computer program can be written in any form of programming language , including compiled or interpreted languages , and it can be deployed in any form , including as a stand alone program or as a module , component , subroutine , or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment . a computer program can be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiple computers at one site or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communication network . method steps of embodiments of the invention can be performed by one or more programmable processors executing a computer program to perform functions of the invention by operating on input data and generating output . method steps can also be performed by , and apparatus of the invention can be implemented as , special purpose logic circuitry , e . g ., an fpga ( field programmable gate array ) or an asic ( application specific integrated circuit ). processors suitable for the execution of a computer program include , by way of example , both general and special purpose microprocessors , and any one or more processors of any kind of digital computer . generally , a processor will receive instructions and data from a read only memory or a random access memory or both . the essential elements of a computer are a processor for executing instructions and one or more memory devices for storing instructions and data . generally , a computer will also include , or be operatively coupled to receive data from or transfer data to , or both , one or more mass storage devices for storing data , e . g ., magnetic , magneto optical disks , or optical disks . information carriers suitable for embodying computer program instructions and data include all forms of non volatile memory , including by way of example semiconductor memory devices , e . g ., eprom , eeprom , and flash memory devices ; magnetic disks , e . g ., internal hard disks or removable disks ; magneto optical disks ; and cd rom and dvd - rom disks . the processor and the memory can be supplemented by , or incorporated in special purpose logic circuitry . it is to be understood that the foregoing description is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention , which is defined by the scope of the appended claims . other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims .	Is 'Physics' the correct technical category for the patent?	Is 'Mechanical Engineering; Lightning; Heating; Weapons; Blasting' the correct technical category for the patent?	0.25	33433a88f91b092b86d92ceccd684cdfb25a5a8cc97beac99a36db0cb1675970	0.040771	0.000828	0.003082	0.000066	0.037354	0.008301
null	radio frequency identification ( rfid ) labels can be intelligent or just respond with a simple identification ( id ) to radio frequency ( rf ) interrogations . the rfid label can contain memory . this memory can be loaded with data either via an interrogator , or directly by some integrated data gathering element of the rfid label , for example , an environmental sensor . this data is retrieved some time later . as shown in fig1 , an exemplary active rfid label 10 includes an antenna 12 , a transceiver 14 , a microcontroller 16 , a temperature sensor 20 and a battery 22 . microcontroller 16 includes several elements including a memory 18 . memory 18 can include a power conservation process 100 , fully described below . temperature sensor 20 senses and transmits temperature data to memory 18 at intervals of time . when triggered by rf interrogation via transceiver 14 , microcontroller 16 fetches the data ( i . e ., time stamp and temperature ) and sends it out to an interrogator as multiplexed data packets from transceiver 14 . in this manner , a historical temperature log stored in memory 18 in the active rfid label 10 can be retrieved . temperature logging is limited by the size of memory 18 and / or life of battery 22 . in some examples , rfid label 10 stores a voltage of its battery 22 along with a time and a temperature at each time interval . as shown in fig2 , an exemplary rfid interrogator 50 includes an antenna 52 , transceiver 54 , memory 56 , central processing unit ( cpu ) 58 and optional user interface ( ui ) 60 . the rfid interrogator 50 performs time division multiplexing ( tdm ) with the transceiver 54 and antenna 52 . data ( e . g ., time , temperature and / or battery voltage ) downloaded from the rfid label 10 can be stored in memory 56 . the rfid interrogator 50 can be used to program the active rfid label 10 to record or log a temperature and / or battery voltage in memory 18 with a time interval starting at an initial time . at each time interval , e . g ., every hour , the active rfid label 10 records a time , temperature and / or battery voltage in memory 18 . the rfid interrogator 50 can download the time , temperature and / or battery voltage data from memory 18 to memory 56 . over a period of service , i . e ., the recording and storing of time / temperature / voltage , the life of the rfid label battery 22 in the active rfid label 10 can diminish and eventually fail . in one example , if the active rfid label 10 detects reduced voltage in the battery 22 , the active rfid label 10 can increase the time interval for temperature and / or voltage readings , thus conserving the remaining life of the battery 22 . for example , if the initial time interval in the active rfid label 10 is sixty minutes , the active rfid label 10 will log a time , temperature and / or voltage every sixty minutes . if the active rfid label 10 detects a voltage in the battery is less than 80 % capacity , for example , the active rfid label 10 will increase the time interval for readings to , for example , one hundred twenty minutes . at subsequent readings , the active rfid label 10 will increase the time interval for readings as the battery 22 continues to deteriorate , i . e ., as a voltage in the battery 22 decreases with each reading , and the active rfid label 10 can continue to increase the time interval for temperature and / or voltage readings , thus extending the remaining life of the battery 22 . in another example , stored data received from the rfid label 10 can be analyzed by the rfid interrogator 50 . more specifically , from stored voltage data , the rfid interrogator 50 can determine whether the most recent voltage of the battery 22 is too low , or has dropped below a selected value , or that the voltage of the battery 22 is decreasing at too rapid a rate . in any event , the rfid interrogator 50 can instruct the rfid label 10 to increase its time interval of temperature and / or voltage readings or the rfid interrogator 50 can adjust its frequency of interrogations of rfid label 10 . in another example , the rfid label 10 does not store any time , temperature and / or voltage data . instead , during each interrogation of rfid label 10 , the rfid interrogator 50 requests the rfid label 10 for a current battery voltage and / or temperature . the rfid interrogator 50 can store temperatures and / or voltages over time . in addition , the rfid interrogator 50 can determine to increase its time interval between interrogators based on the currently polled battery voltage . as shown in fig3 , the power conservation process 100 includes receiving ( 102 ) an initial time interval . process 100 determines ( 104 ) whether the time interval is reached . if the time interval is reached , process 100 detects ( 106 ) a time from its internal clock , a temperature from its temperature sensor and voltage of its power supply , e . g ., battery . process 100 determines ( 108 ) whether the detected voltage has reached a selected reduced level . if the detected voltage has not reached a selected reduced level , process 100 stores ( 110 ) the detected time and temperature . if the detected voltage reached the selected reduced level ( or less ), process 100 increases ( 112 ) the time interval and stores ( 110 ) the detected time and temperature . process 100 then determines ( 104 ) whether the increased time interval is reached . process 100 can be incorporated into the memories of other types of rfid labels . for example , process 100 can be used with beacon tags . in general , a beacon tag is an active rf tag that can be factory set to transmit a periodic rf signal used for location , process and presence detection and tracking . typically , these devices are placed into non - metallic enclosures and transmit an rf signal to an rfid reader located at a distance of 3 - 10 meters . as the power decreases , process 100 can increase the time at which the period rf signal is transmitted . in another embodiment , memory 56 contains a time interval process 200 . as shown on fig4 , the time interval process 200 includes sending ( 202 ) an interrogation signal to a rfid label . process 200 receives ( 204 ) a response signal from the rfid label containing the label &# 39 ; s log of times , temperatures and voltages . process 200 determines ( 206 ) whether the most recent measured voltage of the label battery is below a minimum voltage . if the most recent voltage of the label is below a minimum , process 200 sends ( 208 ) a signal to the rfid label lengthening its time interval . process 200 determines ( 210 ) whether the rate of voltage decrease of the label battery exceeds a specified rate . the rate of decrease in battery voltage is determined by the rfid interrogator from the received store of battery voltages received from the rfid label during the interrogation . if the rate of decrease of battery voltage exceeds the specified rate , process 200 sends ( 208 ) a signal to the rfid label lengthening its time interval . in another embodiment , memory 56 contains a polling interval process 300 . as shown in fig5 , the polling interval process 300 includes sending ( 302 ) an interrogation signal to a rfid label . process 300 receives ( 304 ) a response signal from the rfid label containing the current battery voltage in the rfid label . process 300 determines ( 306 ) whether the current battery voltage in the rfid label is below a specified minimum . if the current battery voltage is below the specified minimum , process 300 lengthens ( 308 ) a time to sending its next interrogation signal . embodiments of the invention can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry , or in computer hardware , firmware , software , or in combinations of them . embodiments of the invention can be implemented as a computer program product , i . e ., a computer program tangibly embodied in an information carrier , e . g ., in a machine readable storage device or in a propagated signal , for execution by , or to control the operation of , data processing apparatus , e . g ., a programmable processor , a computer , or multiple computers . a computer program can be written in any form of programming language , including compiled or interpreted languages , and it can be deployed in any form , including as a stand alone program or as a module , component , subroutine , or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment . a computer program can be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiple computers at one site or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communication network . method steps of embodiments of the invention can be performed by one or more programmable processors executing a computer program to perform functions of the invention by operating on input data and generating output . method steps can also be performed by , and apparatus of the invention can be implemented as , special purpose logic circuitry , e . g ., an fpga ( field programmable gate array ) or an asic ( application specific integrated circuit ). processors suitable for the execution of a computer program include , by way of example , both general and special purpose microprocessors , and any one or more processors of any kind of digital computer . generally , a processor will receive instructions and data from a read only memory or a random access memory or both . the essential elements of a computer are a processor for executing instructions and one or more memory devices for storing instructions and data . generally , a computer will also include , or be operatively coupled to receive data from or transfer data to , or both , one or more mass storage devices for storing data , e . g ., magnetic , magneto optical disks , or optical disks . information carriers suitable for embodying computer program instructions and data include all forms of non volatile memory , including by way of example semiconductor memory devices , e . g ., eprom , eeprom , and flash memory devices ; magnetic disks , e . g ., internal hard disks or removable disks ; magneto optical disks ; and cd rom and dvd - rom disks . the processor and the memory can be supplemented by , or incorporated in special purpose logic circuitry . it is to be understood that the foregoing description is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention , which is defined by the scope of the appended claims . other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims .	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'Physics'?	Is 'Electricity' the correct technical category for the patent?	0.25	33433a88f91b092b86d92ceccd684cdfb25a5a8cc97beac99a36db0cb1675970	0.102539	0.018799	0.008606	0.002808	0.063477	0.022583
null	radio frequency identification ( rfid ) labels can be intelligent or just respond with a simple identification ( id ) to radio frequency ( rf ) interrogations . the rfid label can contain memory . this memory can be loaded with data either via an interrogator , or directly by some integrated data gathering element of the rfid label , for example , an environmental sensor . this data is retrieved some time later . as shown in fig1 , an exemplary active rfid label 10 includes an antenna 12 , a transceiver 14 , a microcontroller 16 , a temperature sensor 20 and a battery 22 . microcontroller 16 includes several elements including a memory 18 . memory 18 can include a power conservation process 100 , fully described below . temperature sensor 20 senses and transmits temperature data to memory 18 at intervals of time . when triggered by rf interrogation via transceiver 14 , microcontroller 16 fetches the data ( i . e ., time stamp and temperature ) and sends it out to an interrogator as multiplexed data packets from transceiver 14 . in this manner , a historical temperature log stored in memory 18 in the active rfid label 10 can be retrieved . temperature logging is limited by the size of memory 18 and / or life of battery 22 . in some examples , rfid label 10 stores a voltage of its battery 22 along with a time and a temperature at each time interval . as shown in fig2 , an exemplary rfid interrogator 50 includes an antenna 52 , transceiver 54 , memory 56 , central processing unit ( cpu ) 58 and optional user interface ( ui ) 60 . the rfid interrogator 50 performs time division multiplexing ( tdm ) with the transceiver 54 and antenna 52 . data ( e . g ., time , temperature and / or battery voltage ) downloaded from the rfid label 10 can be stored in memory 56 . the rfid interrogator 50 can be used to program the active rfid label 10 to record or log a temperature and / or battery voltage in memory 18 with a time interval starting at an initial time . at each time interval , e . g ., every hour , the active rfid label 10 records a time , temperature and / or battery voltage in memory 18 . the rfid interrogator 50 can download the time , temperature and / or battery voltage data from memory 18 to memory 56 . over a period of service , i . e ., the recording and storing of time / temperature / voltage , the life of the rfid label battery 22 in the active rfid label 10 can diminish and eventually fail . in one example , if the active rfid label 10 detects reduced voltage in the battery 22 , the active rfid label 10 can increase the time interval for temperature and / or voltage readings , thus conserving the remaining life of the battery 22 . for example , if the initial time interval in the active rfid label 10 is sixty minutes , the active rfid label 10 will log a time , temperature and / or voltage every sixty minutes . if the active rfid label 10 detects a voltage in the battery is less than 80 % capacity , for example , the active rfid label 10 will increase the time interval for readings to , for example , one hundred twenty minutes . at subsequent readings , the active rfid label 10 will increase the time interval for readings as the battery 22 continues to deteriorate , i . e ., as a voltage in the battery 22 decreases with each reading , and the active rfid label 10 can continue to increase the time interval for temperature and / or voltage readings , thus extending the remaining life of the battery 22 . in another example , stored data received from the rfid label 10 can be analyzed by the rfid interrogator 50 . more specifically , from stored voltage data , the rfid interrogator 50 can determine whether the most recent voltage of the battery 22 is too low , or has dropped below a selected value , or that the voltage of the battery 22 is decreasing at too rapid a rate . in any event , the rfid interrogator 50 can instruct the rfid label 10 to increase its time interval of temperature and / or voltage readings or the rfid interrogator 50 can adjust its frequency of interrogations of rfid label 10 . in another example , the rfid label 10 does not store any time , temperature and / or voltage data . instead , during each interrogation of rfid label 10 , the rfid interrogator 50 requests the rfid label 10 for a current battery voltage and / or temperature . the rfid interrogator 50 can store temperatures and / or voltages over time . in addition , the rfid interrogator 50 can determine to increase its time interval between interrogators based on the currently polled battery voltage . as shown in fig3 , the power conservation process 100 includes receiving ( 102 ) an initial time interval . process 100 determines ( 104 ) whether the time interval is reached . if the time interval is reached , process 100 detects ( 106 ) a time from its internal clock , a temperature from its temperature sensor and voltage of its power supply , e . g ., battery . process 100 determines ( 108 ) whether the detected voltage has reached a selected reduced level . if the detected voltage has not reached a selected reduced level , process 100 stores ( 110 ) the detected time and temperature . if the detected voltage reached the selected reduced level ( or less ), process 100 increases ( 112 ) the time interval and stores ( 110 ) the detected time and temperature . process 100 then determines ( 104 ) whether the increased time interval is reached . process 100 can be incorporated into the memories of other types of rfid labels . for example , process 100 can be used with beacon tags . in general , a beacon tag is an active rf tag that can be factory set to transmit a periodic rf signal used for location , process and presence detection and tracking . typically , these devices are placed into non - metallic enclosures and transmit an rf signal to an rfid reader located at a distance of 3 - 10 meters . as the power decreases , process 100 can increase the time at which the period rf signal is transmitted . in another embodiment , memory 56 contains a time interval process 200 . as shown on fig4 , the time interval process 200 includes sending ( 202 ) an interrogation signal to a rfid label . process 200 receives ( 204 ) a response signal from the rfid label containing the label &# 39 ; s log of times , temperatures and voltages . process 200 determines ( 206 ) whether the most recent measured voltage of the label battery is below a minimum voltage . if the most recent voltage of the label is below a minimum , process 200 sends ( 208 ) a signal to the rfid label lengthening its time interval . process 200 determines ( 210 ) whether the rate of voltage decrease of the label battery exceeds a specified rate . the rate of decrease in battery voltage is determined by the rfid interrogator from the received store of battery voltages received from the rfid label during the interrogation . if the rate of decrease of battery voltage exceeds the specified rate , process 200 sends ( 208 ) a signal to the rfid label lengthening its time interval . in another embodiment , memory 56 contains a polling interval process 300 . as shown in fig5 , the polling interval process 300 includes sending ( 302 ) an interrogation signal to a rfid label . process 300 receives ( 304 ) a response signal from the rfid label containing the current battery voltage in the rfid label . process 300 determines ( 306 ) whether the current battery voltage in the rfid label is below a specified minimum . if the current battery voltage is below the specified minimum , process 300 lengthens ( 308 ) a time to sending its next interrogation signal . embodiments of the invention can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry , or in computer hardware , firmware , software , or in combinations of them . embodiments of the invention can be implemented as a computer program product , i . e ., a computer program tangibly embodied in an information carrier , e . g ., in a machine readable storage device or in a propagated signal , for execution by , or to control the operation of , data processing apparatus , e . g ., a programmable processor , a computer , or multiple computers . a computer program can be written in any form of programming language , including compiled or interpreted languages , and it can be deployed in any form , including as a stand alone program or as a module , component , subroutine , or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment . a computer program can be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiple computers at one site or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communication network . method steps of embodiments of the invention can be performed by one or more programmable processors executing a computer program to perform functions of the invention by operating on input data and generating output . method steps can also be performed by , and apparatus of the invention can be implemented as , special purpose logic circuitry , e . g ., an fpga ( field programmable gate array ) or an asic ( application specific integrated circuit ). processors suitable for the execution of a computer program include , by way of example , both general and special purpose microprocessors , and any one or more processors of any kind of digital computer . generally , a processor will receive instructions and data from a read only memory or a random access memory or both . the essential elements of a computer are a processor for executing instructions and one or more memory devices for storing instructions and data . generally , a computer will also include , or be operatively coupled to receive data from or transfer data to , or both , one or more mass storage devices for storing data , e . g ., magnetic , magneto optical disks , or optical disks . information carriers suitable for embodying computer program instructions and data include all forms of non volatile memory , including by way of example semiconductor memory devices , e . g ., eprom , eeprom , and flash memory devices ; magnetic disks , e . g ., internal hard disks or removable disks ; magneto optical disks ; and cd rom and dvd - rom disks . the processor and the memory can be supplemented by , or incorporated in special purpose logic circuitry . it is to be understood that the foregoing description is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention , which is defined by the scope of the appended claims . other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims .	Should this patent be classified under 'Physics'?	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'General tagging of new or cross-sectional technology'?	0.25	33433a88f91b092b86d92ceccd684cdfb25a5a8cc97beac99a36db0cb1675970	0.048096	0.114258	0.002319	0.032471	0.022583	0.161133
null	referring to fig1 showing an automatic chopper blade operating timing regulator in a preferred embodiment according to the present invention in combination with a portion of a chopper - type folding device pertinent to the present invention , a driven gear 51 interlocked with a chopper blade 41 is in engagement with one of the helical gears 52a and 52b , i . e ., the helical gear 52a in fig1 of a double helical gear 52 supported for rotation and axial movement . a driving gear 53 is in engagement with the other helical gear 52b of the double helical gear 52 . the chopper blade 41 is operated by the driving gear 53 through the double helical gear 52 and the driven gear 51 . the double helical gear 52 is moved axially to change the phase of the driven gear 51 relative to the driving gear 53 to change the timing of operation of the chopper blade 41 . a threaded portion 54 formed in the shaft of the double helical gear 52 is in engagement with an internally threaded member 55 journaled on a frame 56 so that the internally threaded member 55 is unable to move axially . a gear 55a is formed integrally with the internally threaded member 55 . the gear 55a is in engagement with a pinion 58 mounted on the output shaft of a stepping motor 57 . the stepping motor 57 rotates the internally threaded member 55 through the pinion 58 and the gear 55a to move the double helical gear 52 axially by the screw jack action of the internally threaded member 55 and the threaded portion 54 of the shaft of the double helical gear 52 . a slit disk 57a is mounted on the output shaft of the stepping motor 57 , and a pulse generator 59 is associated with the slit disk 57a to detect the phase of the slit disk 57a . a timing regulating mechanism comprises , as principal components , the driven gear 51 , the double helical gear 52 having the threaded portion 54 , the internally threaded member 55 integrally provided with the gear 55a , the pinion 58 and the stepping motor 57 . a piezoelectric acceleration sensor 60 , i . e ., impulsive force detecting means , is provided on a locating plate 34 to detect an impulsive force applied by a signature to the locating plate 34 . detection signals provided by the acceleration sensor 60 are applied to a charge amplifier 61 , the charge amplifier 61 provides an acceleration signal stream . a signal processing unit 62 receives the acceleration signal stream , averages the acceleration signal stream to obtain an average acceleration signal and gives the average acceleration signal to a comparator 63 . a desired acceleration setting unit 64 , i . e ., desired impulsive force setting means , for setting an optimum acceleration according to the condition of the signature gives a signal to the comparator 63 . the desired acceleration setting unit 64 is provided with a set acceleration calculating circuit 67 which sets a desired acceleration on the basis of data given thereto from an impulsive force setting device 65 and a signature mass calculating circuit 66 for calculating the mass of a signature , and gives a signal representing the desired acceleration to the comparator 63 . the impulsive force setting device 65 gives a signal representing an optimum impulsive force f to the set acceleration calculating circuit 67 . a sheet width w ( mm ), a basis weight s ( g / mm 2 ) and a web number n , i . e ., the number of webs to be used , are given to the signature mass calculating circuit 66 respectively from a sheet width setting device 68 , a signature mass setting device 68 and a web number setting device 70 . then , the sheet weight calculating circuit 66 calculates the mass m of the signature by operating those data given thereto by using : the set acceleration calculating circuit 67 receives the mass m of the signature and the desired impulsive force f , and gives a desired acceleration a ( a = f / m ) to the comparator 63 . the comparator 63 compares the acceleration signal received from the signal processing unit 62 and the desired acceleration a received from the set acceleration calculating circuit 67 , and gives a signal representing the deviation of the acceleration signal from the desired acceleration a through an amplifier 71 to a control unit 72 . then , the control unit 72 gives a driving signal through a pulse oscillator 73 and a driver 74 to the stepping motor 57 . the pulse oscillator 73 provides a clockwise driving pulse signal cw for driving the stepping motor 57 for rotation in a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise driving pulse signal ccw for driving the stepping motor 57 for rotation in a counterclockwise direction . when the deviation determined by the comparator 63 is a positive value , namely , when the actual acceleration of the signature is lower than a reference acceleration , the stepping motor 57 is driven so as to delay the timing of operation of the chopper blade 41 . when the deviation is a negative value , namely , when the actual acceleration of the signature is higher than the reference acceleration , the stepping motor 57 is driven so as to advance the timing of operation of the chopper blade 41 . the location of the double helical gear 52 at a zero - position is detected by a zero - position switch 75 , an upper limit switch 76 gives a signal to the control unit 72 at the upper limit of travel of the double helical gear 52 , and a lower limit switch 77 gives a signal to the control unit 72 at the lower limit of travel of the double helical gear 52 . the signal generated by the pulse generator 59 is applied also to the control unit 72 . a chopper blade operating timing regulating method to be carried out by the automatic chopper blade operating timing regulator will be described hereinafter . the chopper blade 41 is driven through the double helical gear 52 and the driven gear 51 by the driving gear 53 . the acceleration sensor 60 detects an impulsive force ( acceleration ) applied by a signature to the locating plate 34 . an acceleration signal representing the impulsive force , provided by the acceleration sensor 60 is transferred through the charge amplifier 61 and the signal processing unit 62 to the comparator 63 . the desired acceleration setting device 64 sets the desired acceleration a on the basis of data provided by the impulsive force setting device 65 and the signature mass calculating circuit 66 . the comparator 63 compares the acceleration signal and the desired acceleration a , and then the comparator 63 gives a deviation signal representing the deviation of the acceleration signal from the desired acceleration a through the amplifier 71 to the control unit 72 . the control unit 72 gives a drive command signal corresponding to the deviation to the driver 74 , and then driver 74 applies a drive signal to the stepping motor 57 to drive the stepping motor 57 . then , the stepping motor 57 rotates the internally threaded member 55 through the driving gear 58 and the gear 55a to shift the double helical gear 52 axially according to the drive command signal so that the phase of the driven gear 51 relative to the driving gear 53 is changed accordingly to change the operating timing of the chopper blade 41 is changed accordingly . if the deviation determined by the comparator 63 is a positive value , namely , when the actual acceleration of the signature is lower than the reference acceleration , the operating timing of the chopper blade 41 must be delayed to reduce the deviation to zero . therefore , a drive command signal to delay the operating timing of the chopper blade 41 is given to the driver 74 so that the stepping motor 57 rotates the driven gear 51 in a direction for delaying the operating timing of the chopper blade 41 . if the deviation determined by the comparator 63 is a negative value , namely , when the actual acceleration of the signature is higher than the reference acceleration , the operating timing of the chopper blade 41 must be advanced to reduce the deviation to zero . therefore , a drive command signal to advance the operating timing of the chopper blade 41 is give to the driver 74 so that the stepping motor 57 rotates the driven gear 51 in a direction for advancing the operating timing of the chopper blade 41 . thus , the operating timing of the chopper blade 41 is regulated automatically so that the acceleration of the signature at the impact of the same on the locating plate 34 is constant regardless of the signature conveying speed corresponding to the printing speed . the automatic chopper blade operating timing regulator is capable of automatically regulating the chopper blade operating timing so that the impact of the signature on the locating plate 34 is constant regardless of the printing speed and , consequently , the signature can satisfactorily be folded by the chopper blade 41 in an accurate quarto sheet in an accurate squareness . since the operator is required only to enter data of the signature , the quality of the folded sheet is not dependent on the degree of skill of the operator . although the invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity , obviously many changes and variations are possible therein . it is therefore to be understood that the present invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein without departing from the scope and spirit thereof .	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Performing Operations; Transporting'?	Is 'Human Necessities' the correct technical category for the patent?	0.25	5942255a4ae20591dcb746ed50dc76b2df6279822d74f6b82074d65babf9a3b2	0.011658	0.000296	0.002045	0.00009	0.028931	0.000393
null	referring to fig1 showing an automatic chopper blade operating timing regulator in a preferred embodiment according to the present invention in combination with a portion of a chopper - type folding device pertinent to the present invention , a driven gear 51 interlocked with a chopper blade 41 is in engagement with one of the helical gears 52a and 52b , i . e ., the helical gear 52a in fig1 of a double helical gear 52 supported for rotation and axial movement . a driving gear 53 is in engagement with the other helical gear 52b of the double helical gear 52 . the chopper blade 41 is operated by the driving gear 53 through the double helical gear 52 and the driven gear 51 . the double helical gear 52 is moved axially to change the phase of the driven gear 51 relative to the driving gear 53 to change the timing of operation of the chopper blade 41 . a threaded portion 54 formed in the shaft of the double helical gear 52 is in engagement with an internally threaded member 55 journaled on a frame 56 so that the internally threaded member 55 is unable to move axially . a gear 55a is formed integrally with the internally threaded member 55 . the gear 55a is in engagement with a pinion 58 mounted on the output shaft of a stepping motor 57 . the stepping motor 57 rotates the internally threaded member 55 through the pinion 58 and the gear 55a to move the double helical gear 52 axially by the screw jack action of the internally threaded member 55 and the threaded portion 54 of the shaft of the double helical gear 52 . a slit disk 57a is mounted on the output shaft of the stepping motor 57 , and a pulse generator 59 is associated with the slit disk 57a to detect the phase of the slit disk 57a . a timing regulating mechanism comprises , as principal components , the driven gear 51 , the double helical gear 52 having the threaded portion 54 , the internally threaded member 55 integrally provided with the gear 55a , the pinion 58 and the stepping motor 57 . a piezoelectric acceleration sensor 60 , i . e ., impulsive force detecting means , is provided on a locating plate 34 to detect an impulsive force applied by a signature to the locating plate 34 . detection signals provided by the acceleration sensor 60 are applied to a charge amplifier 61 , the charge amplifier 61 provides an acceleration signal stream . a signal processing unit 62 receives the acceleration signal stream , averages the acceleration signal stream to obtain an average acceleration signal and gives the average acceleration signal to a comparator 63 . a desired acceleration setting unit 64 , i . e ., desired impulsive force setting means , for setting an optimum acceleration according to the condition of the signature gives a signal to the comparator 63 . the desired acceleration setting unit 64 is provided with a set acceleration calculating circuit 67 which sets a desired acceleration on the basis of data given thereto from an impulsive force setting device 65 and a signature mass calculating circuit 66 for calculating the mass of a signature , and gives a signal representing the desired acceleration to the comparator 63 . the impulsive force setting device 65 gives a signal representing an optimum impulsive force f to the set acceleration calculating circuit 67 . a sheet width w ( mm ), a basis weight s ( g / mm 2 ) and a web number n , i . e ., the number of webs to be used , are given to the signature mass calculating circuit 66 respectively from a sheet width setting device 68 , a signature mass setting device 68 and a web number setting device 70 . then , the sheet weight calculating circuit 66 calculates the mass m of the signature by operating those data given thereto by using : the set acceleration calculating circuit 67 receives the mass m of the signature and the desired impulsive force f , and gives a desired acceleration a ( a = f / m ) to the comparator 63 . the comparator 63 compares the acceleration signal received from the signal processing unit 62 and the desired acceleration a received from the set acceleration calculating circuit 67 , and gives a signal representing the deviation of the acceleration signal from the desired acceleration a through an amplifier 71 to a control unit 72 . then , the control unit 72 gives a driving signal through a pulse oscillator 73 and a driver 74 to the stepping motor 57 . the pulse oscillator 73 provides a clockwise driving pulse signal cw for driving the stepping motor 57 for rotation in a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise driving pulse signal ccw for driving the stepping motor 57 for rotation in a counterclockwise direction . when the deviation determined by the comparator 63 is a positive value , namely , when the actual acceleration of the signature is lower than a reference acceleration , the stepping motor 57 is driven so as to delay the timing of operation of the chopper blade 41 . when the deviation is a negative value , namely , when the actual acceleration of the signature is higher than the reference acceleration , the stepping motor 57 is driven so as to advance the timing of operation of the chopper blade 41 . the location of the double helical gear 52 at a zero - position is detected by a zero - position switch 75 , an upper limit switch 76 gives a signal to the control unit 72 at the upper limit of travel of the double helical gear 52 , and a lower limit switch 77 gives a signal to the control unit 72 at the lower limit of travel of the double helical gear 52 . the signal generated by the pulse generator 59 is applied also to the control unit 72 . a chopper blade operating timing regulating method to be carried out by the automatic chopper blade operating timing regulator will be described hereinafter . the chopper blade 41 is driven through the double helical gear 52 and the driven gear 51 by the driving gear 53 . the acceleration sensor 60 detects an impulsive force ( acceleration ) applied by a signature to the locating plate 34 . an acceleration signal representing the impulsive force , provided by the acceleration sensor 60 is transferred through the charge amplifier 61 and the signal processing unit 62 to the comparator 63 . the desired acceleration setting device 64 sets the desired acceleration a on the basis of data provided by the impulsive force setting device 65 and the signature mass calculating circuit 66 . the comparator 63 compares the acceleration signal and the desired acceleration a , and then the comparator 63 gives a deviation signal representing the deviation of the acceleration signal from the desired acceleration a through the amplifier 71 to the control unit 72 . the control unit 72 gives a drive command signal corresponding to the deviation to the driver 74 , and then driver 74 applies a drive signal to the stepping motor 57 to drive the stepping motor 57 . then , the stepping motor 57 rotates the internally threaded member 55 through the driving gear 58 and the gear 55a to shift the double helical gear 52 axially according to the drive command signal so that the phase of the driven gear 51 relative to the driving gear 53 is changed accordingly to change the operating timing of the chopper blade 41 is changed accordingly . if the deviation determined by the comparator 63 is a positive value , namely , when the actual acceleration of the signature is lower than the reference acceleration , the operating timing of the chopper blade 41 must be delayed to reduce the deviation to zero . therefore , a drive command signal to delay the operating timing of the chopper blade 41 is given to the driver 74 so that the stepping motor 57 rotates the driven gear 51 in a direction for delaying the operating timing of the chopper blade 41 . if the deviation determined by the comparator 63 is a negative value , namely , when the actual acceleration of the signature is higher than the reference acceleration , the operating timing of the chopper blade 41 must be advanced to reduce the deviation to zero . therefore , a drive command signal to advance the operating timing of the chopper blade 41 is give to the driver 74 so that the stepping motor 57 rotates the driven gear 51 in a direction for advancing the operating timing of the chopper blade 41 . thus , the operating timing of the chopper blade 41 is regulated automatically so that the acceleration of the signature at the impact of the same on the locating plate 34 is constant regardless of the signature conveying speed corresponding to the printing speed . the automatic chopper blade operating timing regulator is capable of automatically regulating the chopper blade operating timing so that the impact of the signature on the locating plate 34 is constant regardless of the printing speed and , consequently , the signature can satisfactorily be folded by the chopper blade 41 in an accurate quarto sheet in an accurate squareness . since the operator is required only to enter data of the signature , the quality of the folded sheet is not dependent on the degree of skill of the operator . although the invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity , obviously many changes and variations are possible therein . it is therefore to be understood that the present invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein without departing from the scope and spirit thereof .	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'Performing Operations; Transporting'?	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'Chemistry; Metallurgy'?	0.25	5942255a4ae20591dcb746ed50dc76b2df6279822d74f6b82074d65babf9a3b2	0.008301	0.002121	0.002716	0.001205	0.016357	0.005219
null	referring to fig1 showing an automatic chopper blade operating timing regulator in a preferred embodiment according to the present invention in combination with a portion of a chopper - type folding device pertinent to the present invention , a driven gear 51 interlocked with a chopper blade 41 is in engagement with one of the helical gears 52a and 52b , i . e ., the helical gear 52a in fig1 of a double helical gear 52 supported for rotation and axial movement . a driving gear 53 is in engagement with the other helical gear 52b of the double helical gear 52 . the chopper blade 41 is operated by the driving gear 53 through the double helical gear 52 and the driven gear 51 . the double helical gear 52 is moved axially to change the phase of the driven gear 51 relative to the driving gear 53 to change the timing of operation of the chopper blade 41 . a threaded portion 54 formed in the shaft of the double helical gear 52 is in engagement with an internally threaded member 55 journaled on a frame 56 so that the internally threaded member 55 is unable to move axially . a gear 55a is formed integrally with the internally threaded member 55 . the gear 55a is in engagement with a pinion 58 mounted on the output shaft of a stepping motor 57 . the stepping motor 57 rotates the internally threaded member 55 through the pinion 58 and the gear 55a to move the double helical gear 52 axially by the screw jack action of the internally threaded member 55 and the threaded portion 54 of the shaft of the double helical gear 52 . a slit disk 57a is mounted on the output shaft of the stepping motor 57 , and a pulse generator 59 is associated with the slit disk 57a to detect the phase of the slit disk 57a . a timing regulating mechanism comprises , as principal components , the driven gear 51 , the double helical gear 52 having the threaded portion 54 , the internally threaded member 55 integrally provided with the gear 55a , the pinion 58 and the stepping motor 57 . a piezoelectric acceleration sensor 60 , i . e ., impulsive force detecting means , is provided on a locating plate 34 to detect an impulsive force applied by a signature to the locating plate 34 . detection signals provided by the acceleration sensor 60 are applied to a charge amplifier 61 , the charge amplifier 61 provides an acceleration signal stream . a signal processing unit 62 receives the acceleration signal stream , averages the acceleration signal stream to obtain an average acceleration signal and gives the average acceleration signal to a comparator 63 . a desired acceleration setting unit 64 , i . e ., desired impulsive force setting means , for setting an optimum acceleration according to the condition of the signature gives a signal to the comparator 63 . the desired acceleration setting unit 64 is provided with a set acceleration calculating circuit 67 which sets a desired acceleration on the basis of data given thereto from an impulsive force setting device 65 and a signature mass calculating circuit 66 for calculating the mass of a signature , and gives a signal representing the desired acceleration to the comparator 63 . the impulsive force setting device 65 gives a signal representing an optimum impulsive force f to the set acceleration calculating circuit 67 . a sheet width w ( mm ), a basis weight s ( g / mm 2 ) and a web number n , i . e ., the number of webs to be used , are given to the signature mass calculating circuit 66 respectively from a sheet width setting device 68 , a signature mass setting device 68 and a web number setting device 70 . then , the sheet weight calculating circuit 66 calculates the mass m of the signature by operating those data given thereto by using : the set acceleration calculating circuit 67 receives the mass m of the signature and the desired impulsive force f , and gives a desired acceleration a ( a = f / m ) to the comparator 63 . the comparator 63 compares the acceleration signal received from the signal processing unit 62 and the desired acceleration a received from the set acceleration calculating circuit 67 , and gives a signal representing the deviation of the acceleration signal from the desired acceleration a through an amplifier 71 to a control unit 72 . then , the control unit 72 gives a driving signal through a pulse oscillator 73 and a driver 74 to the stepping motor 57 . the pulse oscillator 73 provides a clockwise driving pulse signal cw for driving the stepping motor 57 for rotation in a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise driving pulse signal ccw for driving the stepping motor 57 for rotation in a counterclockwise direction . when the deviation determined by the comparator 63 is a positive value , namely , when the actual acceleration of the signature is lower than a reference acceleration , the stepping motor 57 is driven so as to delay the timing of operation of the chopper blade 41 . when the deviation is a negative value , namely , when the actual acceleration of the signature is higher than the reference acceleration , the stepping motor 57 is driven so as to advance the timing of operation of the chopper blade 41 . the location of the double helical gear 52 at a zero - position is detected by a zero - position switch 75 , an upper limit switch 76 gives a signal to the control unit 72 at the upper limit of travel of the double helical gear 52 , and a lower limit switch 77 gives a signal to the control unit 72 at the lower limit of travel of the double helical gear 52 . the signal generated by the pulse generator 59 is applied also to the control unit 72 . a chopper blade operating timing regulating method to be carried out by the automatic chopper blade operating timing regulator will be described hereinafter . the chopper blade 41 is driven through the double helical gear 52 and the driven gear 51 by the driving gear 53 . the acceleration sensor 60 detects an impulsive force ( acceleration ) applied by a signature to the locating plate 34 . an acceleration signal representing the impulsive force , provided by the acceleration sensor 60 is transferred through the charge amplifier 61 and the signal processing unit 62 to the comparator 63 . the desired acceleration setting device 64 sets the desired acceleration a on the basis of data provided by the impulsive force setting device 65 and the signature mass calculating circuit 66 . the comparator 63 compares the acceleration signal and the desired acceleration a , and then the comparator 63 gives a deviation signal representing the deviation of the acceleration signal from the desired acceleration a through the amplifier 71 to the control unit 72 . the control unit 72 gives a drive command signal corresponding to the deviation to the driver 74 , and then driver 74 applies a drive signal to the stepping motor 57 to drive the stepping motor 57 . then , the stepping motor 57 rotates the internally threaded member 55 through the driving gear 58 and the gear 55a to shift the double helical gear 52 axially according to the drive command signal so that the phase of the driven gear 51 relative to the driving gear 53 is changed accordingly to change the operating timing of the chopper blade 41 is changed accordingly . if the deviation determined by the comparator 63 is a positive value , namely , when the actual acceleration of the signature is lower than the reference acceleration , the operating timing of the chopper blade 41 must be delayed to reduce the deviation to zero . therefore , a drive command signal to delay the operating timing of the chopper blade 41 is given to the driver 74 so that the stepping motor 57 rotates the driven gear 51 in a direction for delaying the operating timing of the chopper blade 41 . if the deviation determined by the comparator 63 is a negative value , namely , when the actual acceleration of the signature is higher than the reference acceleration , the operating timing of the chopper blade 41 must be advanced to reduce the deviation to zero . therefore , a drive command signal to advance the operating timing of the chopper blade 41 is give to the driver 74 so that the stepping motor 57 rotates the driven gear 51 in a direction for advancing the operating timing of the chopper blade 41 . thus , the operating timing of the chopper blade 41 is regulated automatically so that the acceleration of the signature at the impact of the same on the locating plate 34 is constant regardless of the signature conveying speed corresponding to the printing speed . the automatic chopper blade operating timing regulator is capable of automatically regulating the chopper blade operating timing so that the impact of the signature on the locating plate 34 is constant regardless of the printing speed and , consequently , the signature can satisfactorily be folded by the chopper blade 41 in an accurate quarto sheet in an accurate squareness . since the operator is required only to enter data of the signature , the quality of the folded sheet is not dependent on the degree of skill of the operator . although the invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity , obviously many changes and variations are possible therein . it is therefore to be understood that the present invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein without departing from the scope and spirit thereof .	Is 'Performing Operations; Transporting' the correct technical category for the patent?	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'Textiles; Paper'?	0.25	5942255a4ae20591dcb746ed50dc76b2df6279822d74f6b82074d65babf9a3b2	0.010986	0.001068	0.007111	0.000123	0.025513	0.009155
null	referring to fig1 showing an automatic chopper blade operating timing regulator in a preferred embodiment according to the present invention in combination with a portion of a chopper - type folding device pertinent to the present invention , a driven gear 51 interlocked with a chopper blade 41 is in engagement with one of the helical gears 52a and 52b , i . e ., the helical gear 52a in fig1 of a double helical gear 52 supported for rotation and axial movement . a driving gear 53 is in engagement with the other helical gear 52b of the double helical gear 52 . the chopper blade 41 is operated by the driving gear 53 through the double helical gear 52 and the driven gear 51 . the double helical gear 52 is moved axially to change the phase of the driven gear 51 relative to the driving gear 53 to change the timing of operation of the chopper blade 41 . a threaded portion 54 formed in the shaft of the double helical gear 52 is in engagement with an internally threaded member 55 journaled on a frame 56 so that the internally threaded member 55 is unable to move axially . a gear 55a is formed integrally with the internally threaded member 55 . the gear 55a is in engagement with a pinion 58 mounted on the output shaft of a stepping motor 57 . the stepping motor 57 rotates the internally threaded member 55 through the pinion 58 and the gear 55a to move the double helical gear 52 axially by the screw jack action of the internally threaded member 55 and the threaded portion 54 of the shaft of the double helical gear 52 . a slit disk 57a is mounted on the output shaft of the stepping motor 57 , and a pulse generator 59 is associated with the slit disk 57a to detect the phase of the slit disk 57a . a timing regulating mechanism comprises , as principal components , the driven gear 51 , the double helical gear 52 having the threaded portion 54 , the internally threaded member 55 integrally provided with the gear 55a , the pinion 58 and the stepping motor 57 . a piezoelectric acceleration sensor 60 , i . e ., impulsive force detecting means , is provided on a locating plate 34 to detect an impulsive force applied by a signature to the locating plate 34 . detection signals provided by the acceleration sensor 60 are applied to a charge amplifier 61 , the charge amplifier 61 provides an acceleration signal stream . a signal processing unit 62 receives the acceleration signal stream , averages the acceleration signal stream to obtain an average acceleration signal and gives the average acceleration signal to a comparator 63 . a desired acceleration setting unit 64 , i . e ., desired impulsive force setting means , for setting an optimum acceleration according to the condition of the signature gives a signal to the comparator 63 . the desired acceleration setting unit 64 is provided with a set acceleration calculating circuit 67 which sets a desired acceleration on the basis of data given thereto from an impulsive force setting device 65 and a signature mass calculating circuit 66 for calculating the mass of a signature , and gives a signal representing the desired acceleration to the comparator 63 . the impulsive force setting device 65 gives a signal representing an optimum impulsive force f to the set acceleration calculating circuit 67 . a sheet width w ( mm ), a basis weight s ( g / mm 2 ) and a web number n , i . e ., the number of webs to be used , are given to the signature mass calculating circuit 66 respectively from a sheet width setting device 68 , a signature mass setting device 68 and a web number setting device 70 . then , the sheet weight calculating circuit 66 calculates the mass m of the signature by operating those data given thereto by using : the set acceleration calculating circuit 67 receives the mass m of the signature and the desired impulsive force f , and gives a desired acceleration a ( a = f / m ) to the comparator 63 . the comparator 63 compares the acceleration signal received from the signal processing unit 62 and the desired acceleration a received from the set acceleration calculating circuit 67 , and gives a signal representing the deviation of the acceleration signal from the desired acceleration a through an amplifier 71 to a control unit 72 . then , the control unit 72 gives a driving signal through a pulse oscillator 73 and a driver 74 to the stepping motor 57 . the pulse oscillator 73 provides a clockwise driving pulse signal cw for driving the stepping motor 57 for rotation in a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise driving pulse signal ccw for driving the stepping motor 57 for rotation in a counterclockwise direction . when the deviation determined by the comparator 63 is a positive value , namely , when the actual acceleration of the signature is lower than a reference acceleration , the stepping motor 57 is driven so as to delay the timing of operation of the chopper blade 41 . when the deviation is a negative value , namely , when the actual acceleration of the signature is higher than the reference acceleration , the stepping motor 57 is driven so as to advance the timing of operation of the chopper blade 41 . the location of the double helical gear 52 at a zero - position is detected by a zero - position switch 75 , an upper limit switch 76 gives a signal to the control unit 72 at the upper limit of travel of the double helical gear 52 , and a lower limit switch 77 gives a signal to the control unit 72 at the lower limit of travel of the double helical gear 52 . the signal generated by the pulse generator 59 is applied also to the control unit 72 . a chopper blade operating timing regulating method to be carried out by the automatic chopper blade operating timing regulator will be described hereinafter . the chopper blade 41 is driven through the double helical gear 52 and the driven gear 51 by the driving gear 53 . the acceleration sensor 60 detects an impulsive force ( acceleration ) applied by a signature to the locating plate 34 . an acceleration signal representing the impulsive force , provided by the acceleration sensor 60 is transferred through the charge amplifier 61 and the signal processing unit 62 to the comparator 63 . the desired acceleration setting device 64 sets the desired acceleration a on the basis of data provided by the impulsive force setting device 65 and the signature mass calculating circuit 66 . the comparator 63 compares the acceleration signal and the desired acceleration a , and then the comparator 63 gives a deviation signal representing the deviation of the acceleration signal from the desired acceleration a through the amplifier 71 to the control unit 72 . the control unit 72 gives a drive command signal corresponding to the deviation to the driver 74 , and then driver 74 applies a drive signal to the stepping motor 57 to drive the stepping motor 57 . then , the stepping motor 57 rotates the internally threaded member 55 through the driving gear 58 and the gear 55a to shift the double helical gear 52 axially according to the drive command signal so that the phase of the driven gear 51 relative to the driving gear 53 is changed accordingly to change the operating timing of the chopper blade 41 is changed accordingly . if the deviation determined by the comparator 63 is a positive value , namely , when the actual acceleration of the signature is lower than the reference acceleration , the operating timing of the chopper blade 41 must be delayed to reduce the deviation to zero . therefore , a drive command signal to delay the operating timing of the chopper blade 41 is given to the driver 74 so that the stepping motor 57 rotates the driven gear 51 in a direction for delaying the operating timing of the chopper blade 41 . if the deviation determined by the comparator 63 is a negative value , namely , when the actual acceleration of the signature is higher than the reference acceleration , the operating timing of the chopper blade 41 must be advanced to reduce the deviation to zero . therefore , a drive command signal to advance the operating timing of the chopper blade 41 is give to the driver 74 so that the stepping motor 57 rotates the driven gear 51 in a direction for advancing the operating timing of the chopper blade 41 . thus , the operating timing of the chopper blade 41 is regulated automatically so that the acceleration of the signature at the impact of the same on the locating plate 34 is constant regardless of the signature conveying speed corresponding to the printing speed . the automatic chopper blade operating timing regulator is capable of automatically regulating the chopper blade operating timing so that the impact of the signature on the locating plate 34 is constant regardless of the printing speed and , consequently , the signature can satisfactorily be folded by the chopper blade 41 in an accurate quarto sheet in an accurate squareness . since the operator is required only to enter data of the signature , the quality of the folded sheet is not dependent on the degree of skill of the operator . although the invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity , obviously many changes and variations are possible therein . it is therefore to be understood that the present invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein without departing from the scope and spirit thereof .	Does the content of this patent fall under the category of 'Performing Operations; Transporting'?	Is this patent appropriately categorized as 'Fixed Constructions'?	0.25	5942255a4ae20591dcb746ed50dc76b2df6279822d74f6b82074d65babf9a3b2	0.011658	0.006897	0.002045	0.017456	0.028442	0.031982

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