An oil-based ink composition for a ball-point pen that enables suppression of a blobbing phenomenon by controlling the internal cohesion force of an ink is provided; An oil-based ink composition for a ball-point pen at least comprising a colorant, a resin, and from 0.01 to 1.5 % by weight of a high polymerization degree polybutyl vinylal with a polymerization degree of 900 (theoretical molecular weight of 60,000) or more and comprising, as a main solvent, a solvent selected from alcohols, polyhydric alcohols, and glycol ethers with a vapor pressure at 25° C. of 0.001 mmHg or higher by 50% or more for the entire solvent. Further, an oil-based ink composition for use in a ball-point pen having a smooth feel in writing, and excellent in the improvement for the fastness and the dispersion stability of the coloring pigment is provided; an oil-based ink composition for use in a ball-point pen containing, as a main solvent, a solvent of the chemical structural formula (1)

Heretofore, in oil-based ball-point pens, for suppressing a so-called sagging phenomenon in which an ink leaks from the top end of a tip, point seepage at the tip or blobbing phenomenon of contaminating the paper surface due to a simple structure thereof, problems were solved by the approach of controlling the viscosity of the ink to about 10,000 mPa·s, restricting the ink discharge mechanism in view of the structural design such as the inner diameter of a ink containing tube, clearance at the pen tip, etc., adding inorganic filler particles to the ink thereby providing thixotropy, or adding a certain polymer to give an effect on the ink discharge. However, as mixed solvents comprising components such as less volatiling aromatic type glycol ether and aromatic type alcohol are usually used for the ink solvent, no remarkable progress has been made other than the procedures described above.
In view of the above, an object in the first aspect of the invention is to provide an ink composition for a ball-point pen that enables suppression of the blobbing phenomenon by controlling the volatility of the ink solvent to prevent excessive drying on the ball surface and suppressing the blobbing phenomenon by controlling the internal cohesion force of the ink.
Further, in the commercially available oil-based ball-point pens described above, the solvent comprises a mixture of 2-phenoxy ethanol and benzyl alcohol, and an oil-based ball-point pen using, as the main solvent, a solvent represented by the chemical structural formula (1):
where R1, R2, and R3 each represents independently H or CH3 has not yet been commercially available.
While seeking a smooth writing feel, rapid ink penetration to the writing surface, a good drying property at the pen tip, etc., the present inventor has studied ink compositions using, as a main solvent, a solvent of chemical structural formula (1) (refer to Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 12-232004 which was not laid-open at the time of filing Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-275807 as the basis for claiming the priority of the present application).
Further, in the conventional oil-based ball-point pens, as it is difficult to use a pigment in the oil-based ball-point pen, light fastness was usually ensured by using, for example, a metal-containing dye in order to enhance the light fastness. However, a pigment is excellent in view of the fastness.
Further, in the conventional oil-based ball-point pens, as a high viscosity ink is used, it has not been adopted, to provide back-flowing structure, an ink follower for preventing back flow, or providing a back-flow-preventive mechanism at a joint portion connecting a tip and an ink containing tube in order to prevent back flow.
The present inventor had reached that idea that, in the oil-based ball-point pen using the ink composition using the solvent of the chemical structural formula (1) as a main solvent, the flowability of the solvent is high and air tends to intrude from the pen tip and cause disadvantages it is necessary to mount a back-flow-preventive mechanism. Further, with the intention of using a pigment for light fastness, the inventor has made a study to provide an oil-based ink composition favorable in the fastness, coloring property and dispersion stability of the pigment, in an oil-based ball-point pen that holds an ink composition using the solvent of the chemical structural formula (1) as a main solvent, and a back-flow-preventive mechanism.
In the second aspect, the invention is intended to provide an oil-based ink composition for use in a ball-point pen having smooth feel of writing, and excellent in the improvement of the fastness, the coloring property and the dispersion stability of the pigment and having a back-flow-preventive mechanism therein, different from the conventional method, and an oil-based ball-point pen having a back-flow-preventive mechanism and using the oil-based ink composition described above.

Oil-based ink composition for ballpoint pen and ball-point pen using oil-based ink

Abstract: where R1, R2, and R3 each represents independently H or CH3.


A liquid crystal composition, a liquid crystal film and a display device are provided. The liquid crystal composition can be uniformly aligned with no problems such as dewetting in an operation of aligning horizontally alignable liquid crystals. Also, a state of the aligned liquid crystal compound can be stably maintained.

1. Field of the Invention
The present application relates to a liquid crystal composition, a liquid crystal film and a display device.
2. Discussion of Related Art
There is a consistent demand to manufacture a thinner, lighter and larger-area liquid crystal display (LCD) device or plasma display panel (PDP). Also, research is being conducted to improve display uniformity, a contrast ratio and a viewing angle to realize a higher-quality image.
An optical film including a brightness enhancement film, a retardation film or a viewing angle compensation film may be used to reduce a change in color of a display device, ensure a viewing angle and improve brightness.
An elongation film prepared by elongating a polymer film to give optical anisotropy is known as such an optical film, and a method of using the optical anisotropy of a liquid crystal film manufactured by curing a polymerizable liquid crystal compound is also known in the art. Horizontally alignable liquid crystals are often used in the method of using the optical anisotropy of the liquid crystal film.
In an operation of forming a liquid crystal layer from the horizontally alignable liquid crystals, however, it is important to achieve the efficient alignment of liquid crystals and secure the alignment stability. In the case of the horizontally alignable liquid crystals, it is generally difficult to maintain uniform alignment of the liquid crystals due to weak bonding force between liquid crystals and substrate layers or liquid crystals and alignment layers, even though there is a high attraction force between liquid crystals. Also, the problems such as dewetting may be caused in part in the liquid crystal layer when the horizontally alignable liquid crystals are aligned.
When a drying time required to form a liquid crystal layer is increased, an increase in temperature is caused in an operation of forming a liquid crystal layer, or the liquid crystal layer is formed on an uneven surface, the problems regarding the alignment may be caused.


Automatically pressure testing a frac iron configuration in a wellbore environment including performing a plurality of pressure testing cycles using increasing higher levels of fluid pressure to detect the presence of any leaks in the frac iron at one or more of the pressurization levels.

Well stimulation is utilized by the oil and gas industry to increase the transfer of hydrocarbon resources from a reservoir formation to a wellbore. Such stimulation typically relies on the introduction of a pressurized fracturing fluid into a wellbore. The pressurized fracturing fluid generates fractures downhole in the reservoir formation. As part of the process, a flow network, sometimes referred to as "frac iron," is constructed between a plurality of pumps and a wellhead of a borehole to provide a path to deliver the pressurized fracturing fluid to the borehole used to generate fractures downhole and to stabilize the fractures.
The drawings are provided for the purpose of illustrating example embodiments. The scope of the claims and of the disclosure are not necessarily limited to the systems, apparatus, methods, or techniques, or any arrangements thereof, as illustrated in these figures. In the drawings and description that follow, like parts are typically marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same or coordinated reference numerals. The drawing figures are not necessarily to scale. Certain features of the invention may be shown exaggerated in scale or in somewhat schematic form, and some details of conventional elements may not be shown in the interest of clarity and conciseness.

Automatic pressure testing for leaks in frac iron


An image lens, in order from an object side to an image side thereof, includes a first lens including a first surface and a second surface, a second lens including a third surface and a fourth surface, a third lens including a fifth surface and a sixth surface, a fourth lens including a seventh surface and a eighth surface, and an image plane. The image lens satisfies the following formulas: D/TTL>1.11; D/L>1.13; Z/Y>0.076; wherein D is the maximum image diameter of the image plane; TTL is a total length of the image lens; L is a distance from an outermost edge of the eighth surface to an optical axis of the image lens; Z is a distance from a central point of the sixth surface to an outermost edge of the sixth surface; and Y is a distance from the outermost edge of the sixth surface to the optical axis.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to lenses and, particularly, to an image lens with high resolution and compact size.
2. Description of Related Art
Image sensors are used to capture an image. A size of an image sensor, such as a complementary metal oxide semiconductor device (CMOS), decreases with development of technology. For proper matching with the image sensor, an image lens, which is essentially comprised of a number of lenses, should be able to meet requirements such as high resolution and small lens depth. However, the existing image lenses cannot meet these requirements, resulting in poor imaging.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide an image lens which can overcome the limitations described above.

Image lens with high resolution and small distance


An apparatus and process are provided for induction heat treatment of electrically conductive workpieces. The inductor assembly is formed from a single piece inductor that utilizes an electrically non-conductive top, side and bottom frames to hold flux concentrators in place over the sides of the inductor. Flux concentrators can be changed by unfastening the frame members, removing the existing flux concentrators, inserting new flux concentrators, and fastening the frame members. One or more of the frame members may serve as a receiving chamber for supply of a quench medium to an induction heated workpiece positioned in an opening in the inductor.

The present invention relates to an inductor assembly, and in particular, to an inductor assembly that is formed from a small number of components and is easily adapted to various applications for induction heat treatment of metals or other electrically conductive materials.
Metal components of an article can be heat treated and metallurgically hardened by magnetic induction. One such article is a camshaft that has multiple lobes and bearing areas disposed along the length of a cylindrical shaft. The lobes are of an eccentric shape and are oriented in varying angular directions relative to the axial length of the shaft. The bearings are cylindrically shaped. The lobes can be heat treated and metallurgically hardened by magnetic induction. The eccentric shape of the lobes complicates the design of an inductor for use in the heat treatment process. One method is to use a top and bottom clam shell type of hinged inductor that has an opening conforming to the shape of the lobe to be heat treated. The lobe is positioned in the bottom half of the clam shell inductor and the top half of the clam shell inductor is closed around it. The clam shell inductor is connected to a suitable ac power source so that ac current flowing through the inductor will create a magnetic field that penetrates the lobe and induce eddy current in the lobe. The eddy current heats the lobe and a quench is used to metallurgically harden the lobe. Further induction hardening of the lobe may require a uniform heating pattern or a contoured heating pattern that must be accomplished in differently shaped inductors. These types of coils arc used to heat the lobes only.
An object of the present invention is an inductor assembly for induction heat treatment of electrically conductive workpieces, such as the lobes of a camshaft, that is simple in design, including an inductor formed from a single piece of bar stock; no brazing of parts; no water cooling of the inductor; and minimal machining requirements. A further object of the invention is to produce an inexpensive inductor assembly that can be used in universal induction heat treatment applications.
In one aspect, the present invention is an apparatus for, and method of, inductively heat treating workpieces with an inductor assembly. In one example of the invention, the inductor assembly comprises an inductor; a pair of flux concentrators; top, bottom and side frames; and fasteners to hold the frames in place around the inductor and flux concentrators. The inductor is formed from a single piece of stock material. AC current from a suitable power supply to the inductor creates a magnetic field that inductively heats a workpiece placed in an opening in the inductor. Quench passages can be provided in one or more of the frames and the inductor to provide a path for a quench medium to the workpiece in the opening. Induction heating patterns produced by the inductor assembly can be modified by changing the flux concentrators used in the inductor assembly. These and other aspects of the invention are set forth in this specification.


The present invention relates to a method for the modification of cereal bran, a method for the production of a modified cereal bran product as well as the use of such products in the production of food products.

Sugar beat pulp, upgraded to a commercial product, e.g. "Fibrex", can be used as water binder in several food products, e.g. including all types of bread from French bread to darker wholemeal products, cookies and biscuits, crisprolls and rusks, soft bread, flat bread and pizzas.
However, the utilization of side-streams from processing of cereal bran from milling or Distillers dried spent grain with solubles (DDGS) has received little attention beyond use in animal feeds.
EP0338787 relates to the production of enzyme-treated low-moisture content comestible products such as, for example, cookies, crackers, biscuits, snacks, cocoa, flour, plant protein extracts, hot cereals, and ready-to-eat cereals. This Invention also relates to hemicellulose hydrolyzate products.
WO02/067698 relates to a process for the extraction of soluble proteins, non-starch carbohydrates, and optionally oils from commercially available cereal bran.
There is a need in the art for better utilisation of the cereal, wherein less of the cereals will go to low price applications like cattle feed. Furthermore, it is a long felt need for being able to increase the water-binding properties of cereal bran for easier utilisation of the bran side-stream fractions in the food industry, and to make it possible to increase the health and nutritional effect of already existing products.


Techniques for compiling a data stream processing application are provided. The techniques include receiving, by a compiler executing on a computer system, source code for a data stream processing application, wherein the source code comprises source code for a plurality of operators, each of which performs a data processing function, determining, by the compiler, one or more characteristics of operators within the data stream processing application, grouping, by the compiler, the operators into one or more execution containers based on the one or more characteristics, and compiling, by the compiler, the source code for the data stream processing application into executable code, wherein the executable code comprises a plurality of execution units, wherein each execution unit contains one or more of the operators, wherein each operator is assigned to an execution unit based on the grouping, and wherein each execution unit is to be executed in a partition.

In an increasingly information-centric world, people and organizations rely on time-critical tasks that require accessing data from highly dynamic information sources and generating responses derived from on-line processing of data in near real-time. In many application domains, these information sources can take the form of data streams that are time-ordered series of events or sensor readings.
Due to the large and growing number of users, jobs, and information sources, as well as the high aggregate rate of data streams distributed across remote sources, performance and scalability are key challenges in stream processing systems (SPSs). In some programming models, stream processing applications may be made up of a group of operators, which may be small pieces of code that carries out functions such as generic data transformations, filtering, annotation, classification, de-multiplexing, splitting or other domain-specific operations. Operators may interact through streams, which can carry a potentially infinite sequence of tuples. A challenge in building distributed stream processing applications is to find an effective and flexible way of mapping the logical graph of operators into a physical one that can be deployed on a set of distributed nodes. This involves finding how best to assign operators to computing nodes that execute the operators. That is, a challenge in building high-performance distributed stream processing applications is to find the right level of granularity in mapping operators to processes to be deployed on a set of distributed compute nodes. The challenge of creating flow graphs for deployment, out of user-specified operator-level flow graphs, has flexibility and performance aspects.

International Business Machines Corporation


A system and method for providing commodity firmware packages for updating firmware in a network of servers is disclosed. A deployment server executes an update framework to provide firmware to target servers. A target server includes different hardware components and a baseboard management controller. Each of the hardware components have an associated firmware image. A management network connects the deployment server and the target server. A data network connects the deployment server and the target server. The deployment server sends a bootable disk image via virtual media redirection through the management network. The deployment server sends an upgrade framework to upload at least one firmware image associated with one of the hardware components through the data network to the remote server.

Servers are employed in large numbers for high demand applications, such as network based systems or data centers. The emergence of the cloud for computing applications has increased the demand for data centers. Data centers have numerous servers that store data and run applications accessed by remotely connected, computer device users. A typical data center has physical chassis rack structures with attendant power and communication connections. Each rack may hold multiple computing servers and storage servers that are networked together.
The servers in a data center facilitate many services for businesses, including executing applications, providing virtualization services, and facilitating Internet commerce. Servers typically have a baseboard management controller (BMC) that manages internal operations and handles network communications with a central management station in a data center. Different networks may be used for exchanging data between servers and exchanging operational data on the operational status of the server through a management network.
As companies place more dependence on services from data center servers, uptime becomes more critical and valuable. When a server or servers are not available, productivity slows down or stops entirely, costing businesses profitability. Although a data center manager may take every precaution to prevent service from being interrupted from faults in the servers, the problem of server downtime is difficult to fully eliminate. One of the primary causes of server downtime is making upgrades to hardware or software/firmware. Server hardware components such as storage devices, network interface cards (NICs), disk controllers, and the like, perform functions according to firmware. Thus, firmware may be updated to improve the operation of such hardware components without having to replace them, but this requires some down time to update the firmware.
For data center administrators, one challenge is updating firmware for all server hardware components such as processors, NICs, storage cards, and controllers for a large number of servers. The component firmware for all hardware components in a server must be kept up to date for purposes such as bug fixes or applying new features.
Traditionally, the dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) and pre-boot execution environment (PXE) network environment is used by a deployment server for deploying a live operating system image to networked target servers via a data network. However, the problem with this approach is that only one DHCP service exists for the local area network (LAN) for such servers. Thus, if the single DHCP service is used for updates, another DHCP service cannot be established without interfering with existing DHCP service. An alternative approach is mounting the update images to the BMC of the server through virtual media redirection. The disadvantage of this approach is that the redirection process is time-consuming since the image size can be up to hundreds of megabytes, and the deployment server cannot trace the update status. Currently, there is no efficient method to deploy a firmware image to target servers without affecting the existing network environment.
The other challenge for data center administrators is the provision of the appropriate firmware update package for servers. There are many kinds of hardware components in a server, and each of them has its own, often distinct, firmware update mechanism. In general, operators need to prepare a firmware file and use a corresponding tool for updating the existing firmware with the firmware file. Vendors will often provide an update package. An update package typically contains an update tool and a firmware file to support various hardware components. The update tools, such as the Intel NVM Update Utility and the Intel SSD Data Center Tool, can find all supported hardware components and update their firmware. The type of the update tool is also diverse, such as a tool with one or more scripts, a single executable file, and an installer. However, this process is often performed manually for most hardware components, requiring tracking updates from vendors of each of the different hardware components.
Thus, there is a need for a system that facilitates firmware updates for a variety of hardware components in a remote server. Thus, there is a need for an image firmware loading process for a remote server without using an existing DHCP service of a data network. There is also a need for a unified structure for firmware update for all types of common hardware components over multiple remote servers.

Method and system for server firmware update framework


The present disclosure relates to acquiring and releasing a shared resource via a lock semaphore and, more particularly, to acquiring and releasing a shared resource via a lock semaphore utilizing a state machine.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to acquiring and releasing a shared resource via a lock semaphore and, more particularly, to acquiring and releasing a shared resource via a lock semaphore utilizing a state machine.
2. Background Information
Typically, processing or computer systems allow multiple programs to execute substantially simultaneously. Multiple programs may execute substantially simultaneously utilizing techniques such as, for example, time slicing, parallel execution or multiple processing engines. Furthermore, it is possible for multiple parts of a program, or threads, to execute substantially simultaneously in much the same manner. Techniques that allow for this substantially simultaneous execution are often referred to as being multi-tasking, multi-threading or hyper-threading. An example of a multi-tasking technique may allow for a music player and a word processor to be run substantially simultaneously, so a user could listen to music while they write a document. An example of a multi-threading technique may be a word processor that allowed editing of a document while simultaneously printing the same document.
These threads, processes, or programs, hereafter, collectively referred to as "threads," often access shared resources. These shared resources may include physical hardware or other sections of executable instructions, such as, for example, a common library. These shared resources may not be capable of being substantially simultaneously utilized by multiple threads. For example, it is not common for a printer to print two or more documents simultaneously; however, in a multi-threaded environment two or more threads may attempt to simultaneously print to the printer. Of course, this is merely one example of a shared resource that may be incapable of being substantially simultaneously utilized by multiple threads.
To prevent errors or other undesirable effects that may occur when multiple threads attempt to simultaneously use a shared resource a variety of techniques are known. In one technique, thread access to a shared resource may be governed by a semaphore lock, hereafter, "lock." In this context, a lock is a signal or a flag variable used to govern access to shared system resources. A lock often indicates to other potential users or threads that a file or other resource is in use and prevents access by more than one user or thread.
In the printer example above, a first thread may acquire a lock on the printer, print the document, and release the lock on the printer. The second thread may attempt to acquire the printer's lock. Upon finding the printer is already locked by the first thread, the second thread often waits to acquire the lock. When the first thread releases the printer lock, the second thread may then acquire the printer lock, print the second document, and release the lock on the printer. In this example, contention for access to the printer is governed.
Often it is possible for a single thread to hold multiple locks at a given time. Using traditional techniques, when a thread holds multiple locks at the same time, the associated dynamic memory allocation and deallocation is often proportional to the sum of the number of locks, the number of threads, and the number of lock acquisitions. In modem systems, this resulting number is often quite large. In addition, frequent memory allocations and dealloctions may consume a large amount of processing time and other system resources. A need, therefore, exists for an improved system or technique for implementing the acquiring and releasing of a shared resource via a lock semaphore.


In general, in one aspect, the invention features a method that includes monitoring a position of a stage along a first measurement axis and a second measurement axis of a multi-axis interferometry system and determining a position of the stage with respect to another degree of freedom based on the monitored positions along the first and second axes and predetermined information about how the measurement axes deviate from being parallel to one another.

This invention relates to interferometers, e.g., linear and angular displacement measuring and dispersion interferometers, that measure linear and angular displacements of a measurement object such as a mask stage or a wafer stage in a lithography scanner or stepper system, and also interferometers that monitor wavelength and determine intrinsic properties of gases.
Displacement measuring interferometers monitor changes in the position of a measurement object relative to a reference object based on an optical interference signal. The interferometer generates the optical interference signal by overlapping and interfering a measurement beam reflected from the measurement object with a reference beam reflected from a reference object.
In many applications, the measurement and reference beams have orthogonal polarizations and different frequencies. The different frequencies can be produced, for example, by laser Zeeman splitting, by acousto-optical modulation, or internal to the laser using birefringent elements or the like. The orthogonal polarizations allow a polarizing beam-splitter to direct the measurement and reference beams to the measurement and reference objects, respectively, and combine the reflected measurement and reference beams to form overlapping exit measurement and reference beams. The overlapping exit beams form an output beam that subsequently passes through a polarizer. The polarizer mixes polarizations of the exit measurement and reference beams to form a mixed beam. Components of the exit measurement and reference beams in the mixed beam interfere with one another so that the intensity of the mixed beam varies with the relative phase of the exit measurement and reference beams.
A detector measures the time-dependent intensity of the mixed beam and generates an electrical interference signal proportional to that intensity. Because the measurement and reference beams have different frequencies, the electrical interference signal includes a "heterodyne" signal having a beat frequency equal to the difference between the frequencies of the exit measurement and reference beams. If the lengths of the measurement and reference paths are changing relative to one another, e.g., by translating a stage that includes the measurement object, the measured beat frequency includes a Doppler shift equal to 2 vnp/λ, where v is the relative speed of the measurement and reference objects, λ is the wavelength of the measurement and reference beams, n is the refractive index of the medium through which the light beams travel, e.g., air or vacuum, and p is the number of passes to the reference and measurement objects. Changes in the phase of the measured interference signal correspond to changes in the relative position of the measurement object, e.g., a change in phase of 2π corresponds substantially to a distance change L of λ/(2 np). Distance 2L is a round-trip distance change or the change in distance to and from a stage that includes the measurement object. In other words, the phase Φ, ideally, is directly proportional to L, and can be expressed asΦ=2 pkL cos2 θ  (1)for a plane mirror interferometer, e.g., a high stability plane mirror interferometer, where
  k  =            2            π                                      n        λ  and θ is the orientation of the measurement object with respect to a nominal axis of the interferometer. This axis can be determined from the orientation of the measurement object where Φ is maximized. Where θ is small, Equation (1) can be approximated byΦ=2 pkL(1−θ2)  (2)
Unfortunately, the observable interference phase, {tilde over (Φ)}, is not always identically equal to phase Φ. Many interferometers include, for example, non-linearities such as those known as "cyclic errors." The cyclic errors can be expressed as contributions to the observable phase and/or the intensity of the measured interference signal and have a sinusoidal dependence on the change in for example optical path length 2 pnL. A first order cyclic error in phase has, for example, a sinusoidal dependence on (4πpnL)/λ and a second order cyclic error in phase has, for example, a sinusoidal dependence on 2(4πpnL)/λ. Higher order cyclic errors can also be present as well as sub-harmonic cyclic errors and cyclic errors that have a sinusoidal dependence of other phase parameters of an interferometer system comprising detectors and signal processing electronics.
There are in addition to the cyclic errors, non-cyclic non-linearities or non-cyclic errors. An example of a source of a non-cyclic error is the diffraction of optical beams in the measurement paths of an interferometer. Non-cyclic error due to diffraction has been determined for example by analysis of the behavior of a system such as found in the work of J.-P. Monchalin, M. J. Kelly, J. E. Thomas, N. A. Kurnit, A. Szöke, F. Zernike, P. H. Lee, and A. Javan, "Accurate Laser Wavelength Measurement With A Precision Two-Beam Scanning Michelson Interferometer," Applied Optics, 20(5), 736-757, 1981. A second source of non-cyclic errors is the effect of "beam shearing" of optical beams across interferometer elements and the lateral shearing of reference and measurement beams one with respect to the other. Beam shearing can be caused, for example, by a change in direction of propagation of the input beam to an interferometer or a change in orientation of the object mirror in a double pass plane mirror interferometer such as a differential plane mirror interferometer (DPMI) or a high stability plane mirror interferometer (HSPMI).
Accordingly, due to errors such as the aforementioned cyclic and non-cyclic errors, the observable interference phase typically includes contributions in addition to Φ. Thus, the observable phase is more accurately expressed as{tilde over (Φ)}=Φ+ψ+ζ  (3)where ψ and ζ are the contributions due to the cyclic and non-cyclic errors, respectively.
The effect of contributions to the observable phase due to cyclic and non-cyclic errors can be reduced by quantifying these errors in each interferometer and correcting subsequent measurements with this data. Different techniques for quantifying cyclic errors are described in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,252,668, U.S. Pat. No. 6,246,481, U.S. Pat. No. 6,137,574, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/287,898 entitled "INTERFEROMETRIC CYCLIC ERROR COMPENSATION" filed Nov. 5, 2002 by Henry A. Hill, the entire contents each of which are incorporated herein by reference. In order to compensate for these contributions, cyclic error compensating systems and methods can be used to determine a cyclic error function characterizing the cyclic error contribution to the observed phase. Examples of apparatus and details of methods that can be used to characterize non-cyclic errors in interferometers and interferometer components are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/366,587 entitled "CHARACTERIZATION AND COMPENSATION OF NON-CYCLIC ERRORS IN INTERFEROMETRY SYSTEMS," to Henry A. Hill, filed on Feb. 12, 2003, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Assuming any contributions due to cyclic and/or non-cyclic errors are small or otherwise compensated, according to Equation (2) the observable phase measured by a displacement measuring interferometer should be equal to 2 pkL (1−θ2). This relationship assumes that the optical path difference between the measurement and reference beam is equal to 2 pkL (1−θ2) and allows one to readily determine L, a displacement of the measurement object from the interferometer, from the measured phase, provided the orientation of the measurement object is known.
In the case of an interferometric metrology system including two or more linear displacement plane mirror interferometers used, in part, to measure a change in angular orientation of a measurement object, the observable phases measured by the two or more interferometers should each be of the form 2 pkL (1−θ2). The resulting differences of phases obtained either optically or electronically can be used to compute a change in angular orientation of a measurement object common to the two or more plane mirror interferometers, provided that the measurement axes of the two or more interferometers are parallel.
The interferometers described above are often crucial components of scanner systems and stepper systems used in lithography to produce integrated circuits on semiconductor wafers. Such lithography systems typically include a translatable stage to support and fix the wafer, focusing optics used to direct a radiation beam onto the wafer, a scanner or stepper system for translating the stage relative to the exposure beam, and one or more interferometers. Each interferometer directs a measurement beam to, and receives a reflected measurement beam from, a plane mirror attached to the stage. Each interferometer interferes its reflected measurement beams with a corresponding reference beam, and collectively the interferometers accurately measure changes in the position of the stage relative to the radiation beam. The interferometers enable the lithography system to precisely control which regions of the wafer are exposed to the radiation beam.
In practice, the interferometry systems are used to measure the position of the wafer stage along multiple measurement axes. For example, defining a Cartesian coordinate system in which the wafer stage lies in the x-y plane, measurements are typically made of the x and y positions of the stage as well as the angular orientation of the stage with respect to the z axis, as the wafer stage is translated along the x-y plane. Furthermore, it may be desirable to also monitor tilts of the wafer stage out of the x-y plane. For example, accurate characterization of such tilts may be necessary to calculate Abbe offset errors in the x and y positions. Thus, depending on the desired application, there may be up to five degrees of freedom to be measured. Moreover, in some applications, it is desirable to also monitor the position of the stage with respect to the z-axis, resulting in a sixth degree of freedom.
To measure each degree of freedom, an interferometer is used to monitor distance changes along a corresponding metrology axis. For example, in systems that measure the x and y positions of the stage as well as the angular orientation of the stage with respect to the x, y, and z axes, at least three spatially separated measurement beams reflect from one side of the wafer stage and at least two spatially separated measurement beams reflect from another side of the wafer stage. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,801,832 entitled "METHOD OF AND DEVICE FOR REPETITIVELY IMAGING A MASK PATTERN ON A SUBSTRATE USING FIVE MEASURING AXES," the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Each measurement beam is recombined with a reference beam to monitor optical path length changes along the corresponding metrology axes. Because the different measurement beams contact the wafer stage at different locations, the angular orientation of the wafer stage can then be derived from appropriate combinations of the optical path length measurements. Accordingly, for each degree of freedom to be monitored, the system includes at least one measurement beam that contacts the wafer stage. Furthermore, as described above, each measurement beam may double-pass the wafer stage to prevent changes in the angular orientation of the wafer stage from corrupting the interferometric signal. The measurement beams may be generated from physically separate interferometers or from multi-axes interferometers that generate multiple measurement beams.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Characterization and compensation of errors in multi-axis interferometry systems


Apparatus and methods reduce common-mode error. An integrated circuit includes a plurality of signal channels, a first proxy channel, and a subtraction block. The signal channels are configured to receive a plurality of input signals and to generate a plurality of output signals, and each of the signal channels has a substantially similar circuit topology. The first proxy channel has a substantially similar circuit topology as the plurality of signal channels, and includes an output that can vary in relation to a common-mode error of the signal channels. The subtraction block is configured to generate a plurality of modified output signals by using the output of the first proxy channel to reduce the common-mode error of the plurality of output signal channels.

1. Field
Embodiments of the invention relate to electronic devices, and more particularly, to electronic systems including signal channels.
2. Description of the Related Technology
Certain electronic systems can include signal channels for processing signals. For example, an imaging system can include an integrated circuit (IC) having signal channels for processing signals received from image sensors. The signal channels can have a common-mode error that can arise from a variety of sources, such as common-mode noise and/or systematic offsets associated with the signal channels.
Common-mode error can degrade the integrity of data processed using the signal channels. For example, in an imaging system implementation, common-mode error of the signal channels can lead to line-to-line pattern errors that can cause visible artifacts in images generated using the imaging system. In certain applications, reducing common-mode error by using differential signaling and/or by increasing circuit area or power consumption may not be a reasonable solution.
There is a need for improved signal processing in electronic systems including signal channels. Furthermore, there is a need for reducing common-mode error in ICs used for signal processing.

Apparatus and methods for reducing common-mode noise in an imaging system


This invention relates to a method for the encapsulation of cells in biologic compatible three dimensional scaffolds and the use of such cells encapsulated in a scaffold. The cells are embedded in a charged polymer that is complex coacervating with an oppositely charged polymer within biologic compatible scaffolds. The polymer complex embedding the cells is forming an ultra thin membrane on the surface of the three dimensional scaffold.

Scaffolds have been used extensively in the area of tissue engineering either to construct a neo-tissue that can be implanted to repair a defect site in the body or as a cell container in bioartificial devices. Scaffolds form a three dimensional matrix that serves as a template for cell proliferation and ultimately tissue formation.
Culturing cells in a scaffold typically involves seeding cells throughout the scaffold and allowing the cells to proliferate in the scaffold for a pre-determined amount of time. A lot of research efforts have been directed at the design, fabrication and choice of materials in developing a scaffold for tissue engineering applications. However, the eventual success of a scaffold will be determined by whether the scaffold is able to support cell viability and by its ability to integrate with the host tissues for implantable scaffolds. Hence, the optimization of cell seeding and culture technologies are equally important determinants in the success of a scaffold system.
A first important aspect with regard to cell seeding methods include the efficiency of the seeding method as to maximize the utilization of donor cells. Autologous cell sources are usually limited in number due to donor site morbidity hence, the ideal seeding method need to enable seeding of scaffolds with relatively low cell number at high seeding efficiency. A second important aspect is the uniform distribution of cells in the scaffold. A spatially uniform cell distribution has implications on the formation of a homogeneous tissue. Both factors influence the mass transfer within scaffolds that has been cited as one of the major limitations of culturing cells in a scaffold (Botchwey, E. A., et al., J. Biomed. Mat. Res., 2003, Vol. 67A(1), P. 357-367).
For seeding cells in scaffolds various methods have been described. So far, static seeding is the most prevalent method of seeding cells into scaffolds. For static seeding a cell suspension is seeded on a scaffold and afterwards incubated for a certain time in the absence of agitation before being exposed to dynamic culture conditions, for example into a spinner flask that is slowly agitated. However, conventional static seeding is not very efficient in delivery cells into scaffolds and often results in a very low initial cell number with low uniformity within the scaffold (Li et al., Biotechnol. Prog., 2001, Vol. 17, P. 935-944). Dynamic seeding has been investigated as a more effective alternative to static seeding. For dynamic seeding the scaffold and the cell suspension are placed together in, e.g., a tube and the tube is then incubated with gentle agitation for a certain time allowing the cells to attach to the surface of the scaffold. However, the seeding efficiency for dynamic seeding was low (from 4%-56%) and variable depending on the agitation method (Byung-Soo Kim et al., Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 1998, Vol. 57 (1), P. 46-54). Various other seeding configurations which all use some kind of active force to seed the cells into a scaffold have been developed to circumvent the limitations of static and dynamic seeding. These include filtration seeding (Li et al., 2001, supra), oscillating perfusion seeding (Wendt et al., Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 2003, Vol. 84, P. 205-214), centrifuge seeding (Yang, T. H. et al., J. Biomed. Mater. Res., 2001, Vol. 55, P. 379-386) and perfusion cartridge seeding (Sittinger et al., Int. J. Artif. Organs, 1997, Vol. 20, P. 57). However, the application of these methods are limited to scaffolds of a specific range of dimensions and pore sizes since most of the studies were performed on a single type of scaffold.
Despite the shortcomings of static seeding, this method can be employed with virtually all cell types due to its relative simplicity. Therefore, considerable efforts have been made to improve the efficiency of static seeding by using biological hydrogels such as fibrin glue (Schantz et al., Tissue Eng., 2003, Vol. 9, Suppl.1, P. 113-126) and collagen (Ushida et al., Cell Transplant., 2002, Vol. 11(5), P. 489-494). However, the extent of gelation (complexation) of such hydrogels cannot be controlled very well owing to the inherent variability in biological materials and there is no precise control over the physiochemical parameters that triggers the gelation of these biological hydrogels. This may have implications on the diffusion limits of nutrients inside the scaffolds. Sufficient gelation can effectively trap the cells inside the scaffolds but often limit the diffusion. On the other hand, insufficient gelation will be good for mass transfer but not improving the cell seeding efficiency.
Thus, there remains a need for an effective seeding of cells in scaffolds.

Encapsulation of cells in biologic compatible scaffolds by coacervation of charged polymers

Agency for Science, Technology and Research


The present invention is a dual epi active pixel sensor cell having a p- region of dual thickness and a method of making the same. The dual epi active pixel sensor cell produces a sensor with improved noise and latch-up reduction and improved red absorption. The thin p- epi region is positioned in the logic region for improved latch-up immunity. The thick p- epi is position in the pixel region for improved red absorption.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to active pixel sensors and in particular to an active pixel sensor which provides improved red absorption while providing improved latch-up and noise reduction.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional Active Pixel Sensor (APS) cell consists of an np diode in the p-type substrate, an NFET transfer device, a source-follower amplifying transistor, a pre-charge transistor, and a bit switch transistor. Electron-hole pairs are produced in the diode by impinging photons. The electrons are collected in the pre-charged n region of the diode, and eventually transferred to the source-follower gate for amplification. A p-type pinning layer is often included at the surface of the diode.
FIG. 1a illustrates a schematic cross-section of the photodiode and the transfer gate. FIG. 1b illustrates the schematic of the circuit embodied in each Active Pixel Sensor device 10. The number of electrons collected determines the level of gate drive on the source-follower transistor 12. The source potential is transferred down the column through the bit switch 14, where it can be processed appropriately for video imaging.
Photons are absorbed by the silicon in the pre-charged n region of the diode at various depths, depending on the photon energy. Long wavelength photons have an absorption depth of 5 or more micrometers. Electron-hole pairs are created when the photons are absorbed, and provided that this creation occurs within a diffusion length of the photodiode depletion region, they will be collected by the photodiode and contribute to the optical signal.
Heavily-doped silicon has a short diffusion length, so a deep region of lightly-doped material is preferable to enable the collection of the electron-hole pairs generated by long wavelength red photons. However, high performance CMOS technologies of the type preferred for the logic areas outside of the photodiode use a shallow lightly-doped region for latch-up immunity and to provide a quiet substrate. This causes difficulties when integrating the manufacturing steps needed for the APS device with the manufacturing steps needed for the high performance CMOS logic areas.
Bearing in mind the problems and deficiencies of the prior art, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an active pixel cell device which optimizes red response and latch-up simultaneously.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an active pixel sensor which allows easy integration with existing embedded microprocessor and analog designs necessary for the high level of integration required by products using APS technology.
Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification.

Dual EPI active pixel cell design and method of making the same

International Business Machines Corporation


A glass fiber-reinforced thermoplastic resin comprising:. (i) 100 parts by weight of a blend of a polyamide and a styrene copolymer which in turn is a blend of a high impact polymer such as ABS and a carboxylated styrene copolymer and, optionally, a styrene copolymer with acrylonitrile or MMA; PA0 (ii) 5 to 100 parts by weight of glass fiber reinforcement, which glass fiber has a coat on it of a binder which comprises a polymeric binder composition and a silane binder, both being specified.

1. Field of the art
This invention relates to reinforcement of a thermoplastic resin composition with glass fibers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a glass fiber reinforced thermoplastic resin composition capable of giving a molded article endowed with both excellent rigidity and impact resistance, which composition is obtained by formulating a glass fiber obtained by use of a mixture of a specific polymer and a specific silane compound as a binder or a sizing agent in a resin mixture comprising a polyamide resin and an aromatic vinyl copolymer resin, and also to said glass fiber.
2. Related art
Polyamide resins have excellent properties in such as abrasion resistance, electrical characteristics, mechanical strength and chemical resistance, and their formed or molded products have been employed in the art as engineering plastics for various kinds of mechanical parts. These polyamide resins also have the drawbacks of great water absorption, and small impact resistance, particularly small notched impact strength. On the other hand, as compared with styrene polymers which are resins for general purpose, they have also the drawbacks of inferior heat resistance under high load and moldability. Since polyamide resins have such drawbacks, their uses as engineering plastics have been limited, and it has in some cases been found that the excellent characteristics inherent in polyamide resins are not fully enjoyed.
As the method for improving these drawbacks of polyamide resins, for example, it has been known to process them into blends with acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymers (ABS resin) (see, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 23476/1963). However, the blended composition of a polyamide resin and an ABS resin is inferior in compatibility of the both component resins, and when formed or molded into an article, there may appear such drawbacks that layered peeling phenomenon due to poor mixing occurs, or that the mechanical strength such as tensile strength is markedly lowered. For this reason, as the method for improving compatibility of a polyamide resin with a styrene resin such as ABS resin, it has been proposed to formulate a styrene polymer containing an .alpha., .beta.-unsaturated dicarboxylic acid anhydride as the third component into the blend of the both resins (see, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 47304/1985). By formulation of such third component, a resin composition with a polyamide resin and a styrene polymer physically finely dispersed in each other can be surely obtained. However, it appears that the impact resistance of the resin composition comprising the three components is not substantially improved.
Also, for enhancing the rigidity of these resins, there has been also a proposal about a resin composition in which glass fibers can be formulated (see, for example, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 165451/1988). However, it appears that only a resin composition with extremely low impact resistance has been obtained by mere formulation of the glass fibers as such.
As described above, in resin compositions of polyamide resins and styrene polymers, there may have been obtained no resin materials having excellent properties of the two resins, and also endowed with excellent rigidity and impact resistance under the present situation.
Glass fibers are known in the art as, for instance, reinforcing agents for plastics. Glass fibers are produced with the use of a binder or a sizing agent for preventing balooning of the as-spinned glass fibers or for affording the fibers desired characteristics.

Glass fiber reinforced thermoplastic resin composition


Disclosed is a method and apparatus for transforming data in vector form. Each vector is composed of a set of attributes that are either boolean or have been mapped to boolean form. The vectors may or may not fall into categories assigned by a subject matter expert (SME). If categories exist, the categorical labels divide the vectors into subsets. The first transformation calculates a prior probability for each attribute based on the links between attributes in each subset of the vectors. The second transformation computes a new numeric value for each attribute based on the links between attributes in each subset of the vectors. The third transformation operates on vectors that have not been categorized. Based on the automatic selection of categories from the attributes, this transformation computes a new numeric value for each attribute based on the links between attributes in each subset of the vectors.

A well known problem in real-world applications of machine learning is that expert labeling of large amounts of data for training a classifier (a function that maps sets of input features or attributes to classes) is prohibitively expensive. Often in practice, only a small amount of data is available and as a result the amount of labeled data is far from adequate. In this case, making an adequate estimation of the model parameters of a classifier is challenging.
Further, the underlying assumption in traditional machine learning algorithms is that instances are independent and identically distributed ("I.I.D."). This assumption simplifies the underlying mathematics of statistical models, but in fact does not hold for many real world applications. Such models constructed under the I.I.D. assumption only leverage relationships between attributes (meaning a specification that defines a property) within instances (e.g., co-occurrence relationships), and do not model connections between the attributes in different instances. A well-known example is market basket analysis, which forms sets of items that are purchased together. In supervised learning, classification of a single instance of previously unseen data is thus possible because no additional context is needed to infer class membership. However, such a context-free approach does not exploit valuable information about relationships between instances in the dataset.

Systems and methods for data transformation using higher order learning

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey


A method for producing a chip is disclosed. A first step of the method may involve first fabricating the chip only up to and including a first metal layer such that a core region of the chip has an array of cells, each of the cells having a plurality of transistors. A second step of the method may be to design a plurality of upper metal layers above the first metal layer in response to a custom design created after the first fabricating has started, the upper metal layers interconnecting a plurality of the cells to form an electrostatic discharge clamp at a power domain crossing. A third step may include second fabricating the chip to add the upper metal layers.

In platform application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), defining a section of circuitry in a power domain (i.e., low noise) is commonly problematic where the circuitry interfaces with a noisy power domain. Electrostatic discharge (ESD) issues, and in particular charge device model (CDM) ESD issues, often exist at an interface between the two power domains. A receiving circuit in the power domain can receive power spikes from a transmitting circuit in the noisy power domain. If the power spikes are sufficiently large, transistors in the receiving circuit can be permanently damaged.
A conventional approach to the CDM ESD issue is to include a dedicated clamp circuit at the power domain crossings to protect the receiver circuit. However, positioning of the dedicated clamps cannot be determined until the full chip design is nearly complete and the power domains are reasonably defined. As such, fabrication of silicon is stalled until the final design is close to completion.


The present invention provides a potassium-doped mixed metal oxide cathode material formed by advantageously alloying MnO2 with potassium and lithium to provide a new mixed metal oxide cathode material as the positive electrode in rechargeable lithium and lithium ion electrochemical cells. By alloying MnO2 with potassium and lithium in a LixKyMn2O4 compound, the cathode materials of the present invention afford overcharge protection that allows the cathode to be fully reversible. Manganese dioxide doped with potassium was initially examined as a cathode material for rechargeable lithium and lithium-ion batteries in order to provide a new mixed metal oxide cathode material as the positive electrode in rechargeable lithium and lithium ion electrochemical cells. The LixKyMn2O4 material is incorporated into an electrochemical cell with either a lithium metal or lithium ion anode and an organic electrolyte. In one embodiment, the cathode of the present invention comprises a compound with the general formula LixKyMn2O4, where y less than 0.5, x+y less than 1.0 and the reversible region for x is between 0.0 less than x less than 1.0xe2x88x92y to provide the required overcharge protection and a high voltage cutoff on charge. In the preferred embodiment, a cathode comprising Li0.8K0.1Mn2O4 is provided. The cathode materials, cathodes, lithium electrochemical device and methods of this invention answer the long-felt need for a reversible cathode for rechargeable lithium batteries without suffering from the shortcomings, limitations and disadvantages of, rigid stoichiometry electronic control and loss of reversibility.

The present invention relates generally to the field of electrochemical power sources, and more particularly to rechargeable lithium and lithium-ion batteries using manganese oxide as the positive electrode.
Portable batteries with increased energy and power densities are required as the use of portable electronic equipment rapidly continues to increase. Batteries are typically the limiting factor in the performance of most commercial and military portable electronic equipment due to the restrictions on the size, weight and configuration placed by the equipment on the power source. In some cases, safety and environmental factors are also significant considerations for deploying a particular power source. Lithium batteries provide high energy density, conformal packaging and improved safety, which make them one of the most promising electrochemical systems under development today.
Lithium batteries use high valence metal oxide materials, which are reduced during the electrochemical reaction. This reaction in rechargeable lithium and rechargeable lithium ion batteries must be filly reversible in order to have a viable cell. Common reversible metal oxide materials used in lithium batteries include: LixMn2O4, LixCoO2 and LixNiO2. These materials remain reversible whenever xe2x80x9cxxe2x80x9d is maintained between 0.10 and 0.85 for LixMn2O4 and 0.4 and 0.95 for LixCoO2 and LixNiO2. However, if the stoichiometry exceeds these limitations, the material undergoes a phase change and is no longer reversible. The primary consequence of the phase change of the material and subsequent irreversibility is the cell will no longer accept a charge rendering the cell inoperable. In order to maintain this stoichiometry rigid electronic control is employed. Thus there has been a long-felt need to solve the problems associated with loss of reversibility in lithium batteries without suffering from the disadvantages, limitations and shortcomings associated with rigid stoichiometry electronic control and loss of reversibility. A mixed metal oxide that introduces potassium into the cathode structure yields a material that provides a high voltage cut off, which prevents over charge and thus retains reversibility.
In order to resolve the reversibility problem, electrochemical measurements were performed on rechargeable lithium batteries using potassium doped manganese dioxide as the positive electrode. These measurements identified two distinct reversible regions for the Li/LixKyMn2O4 electrochemical couple. Changes in cell behavior as a function of potassium stoichiometry in MnO2, as well as cell discharge and charge properties with respect to the potassium and lithium stoichiometry, were also measured. Preliminary results indicated that Li/LixKyMn2O4 electrochemical cells would produce the required reversibility and still meet other significant lithium battery operational objectives, without suffering from the setbacks, limitations and disadvantages of rigid stoichiometry electronic control and loss of reversibility associated with other lithium battery configurations.
The present invention provides a potassium-doped mixed metal oxide cathode material comprising alloying MnO2 with potassium and lithium in a LixKyMn2O4 compound affording overcharge protection that allows the cathode to be fully reversible. The LixKyMn2O24 material is incorporated into an electrochemical cell with either a lithium metal or lithium ion anode and an organic electrolyte. In one embodiment, the cathode of the present invention comprises a compound with the general formula LixKyMn2O4, where y less than 0.5, x+y less than 1.0 and the reversible region for x is between 0.0 less than x less than 1.0xe2x88x92y to provide the required overcharge protection and a high voltage cutoff on charge. In the preferred embodiment, a cathode comprising Li0.8K0.1Mn2O24 is provided. The cathodes of this invention answer the long-felt need for a reversible cathode for rechargeable lithium batteries without suffering from the shortcomings, limitations and disadvantages of, rigid stoichiometry electronic control and loss of reversibility. The present invention also includes a single step and two step method for making cathode material for lithium electrochemical devices.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a potassium-doped mixed metal oxide cathode material for use as the positive electrode in rechargeable lithium and lithium ion electrochemical cells.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a potassium-doped mixed metal oxide cathode material for use as the positive electrode in rechargeable lithium and lithium ion electrochemical cells having the general formula LixKyMn2O24.
It is still another object of the present invention is to provide a potassium-doped mixed metal oxide cathode material for use as the positive electrode in rechargeable lithium and lithium ion electrochemical cells having the general formula LixKyMn2O4, where y less than 0.5, x+y less than 1.0 and the reversible region for x is between 0.0 less than x less than 1.0xe2x88x92y, so that overcharge protection is attained by exploiting a voltage increase on charge after a stable charge region as x approaches 0.0.
These and other objects and can now be advantageously attained by alloying MnO2 with potassium and lithium for the lithium battery cathode of the present invention. Manganese dioxide doped with potassium was initially examined as a cathode material for rechargeable lithium and lithium-ion batteries in order to provide a new mixed metal oxide cathode material as the positive electrode in rechargeable lithium and lithium ion electrochemical cells. A stable mixed metal oxide was fabricated by doping manganese dioxide with potassium. This material was then used as an intermediate for further processing and lithiation for use in rechargeable lithium batteries. The devices and methods of the present invention provided much improved initial specific capacity of about 130 mAhrs/g, a coulombic efficiency greater than 95 percent, the discharge capacity of the system was maintained at two-thirds of the initial discharge through 90 cycles and the material also exhibited an inherent overcharge protection.

Potassium stabilized manganese dioxide for lithium rechargeable batteries

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army


An ozonated water supply method includes: feeding dissolving water contained in a circulation tank to an ozonation device at a given feed rate while feeding ultrapure water to the circulation tank, and returning ozonated water that has not been used at a use point to the circulation tank, dissolving ozone in the dissolving water using the ozonation device to obtain ozonated water, and feeding the ozonated water to the use point; feeding oxygen gas having a nitrogen gas content of 0.01 vol % or less to a discharge-type ozone gas-producer, and feeding the resulting ozone-containing gas to the ozonation device; adjusting the feed rate of the ultrapure water to the circulation tank; and adjusting the dissolved ozone concentration in the ozonated water. The method can reduce or suppress the accumulation of nitric acid in the recirculation system when a discharge-type ozone gas-producer is used as the ozone gas-producer.

A semiconductor device (including a liquid crystal display device) production process includes repeatedly performing a cleaning step on a substrate in order to remove an organic substance, particles, and the like that adhere to the surface of the substrate. An organic solvent, an acid solution, and the like are widely used as a cleaning liquid used for the cleaning step. In recent years, ozonated water that rarely causes environmental issues has been used as the cleaning liquid.
Ozonated water used for the semiconductor device production process is required to have a high ozone concentration from the viewpoint of reactivity, and is also required to have a high degree of cleanliness and be free of impurities from the viewpoint of preventing contamination of semiconductor devices.
In order to meet these demands, ozonated water is normally produced by dissolving ozone gas produced by electrolysis of water, or produced through a silent discharge, in ultrapure water produced by treating raw water (e.g., industrial water, municipal water, and well water) using an ultrapure water production device. Note that high-purity water that is commonly referred to as "purified water" or "ultrapure water" (that is not necessarily clearly defined) is referred to herein as "ultrapure water". Note that ultrapure water is used when producing ozone gas through electrolysis. High-purity oxygen gas is used when producing ozone gas through a silent discharge. In this case, oxygen gas including a small amount of nitrogen gas is used in order to produce ozone gas in a stable manner.
Ozone is an unstable substance, and easily undergoes autodecomposition in water. Therefore, a TOC component or carbon dioxide may be added to ultrapure water (in which ozone gas is to be dissolved) in order to reduce or suppress the autodecomposition of ozone in the resulting ozonated water, or ozone gas may be dissolved in ultrapure water after mixing carbon dioxide with the ozone gas (see Patent Literature 1).
When using a cleaning method that utilizes ozonated water (that is widely used as described above), ozonated water is fed to the use point in the same amount as that required during cleaning even when cleaning is not performed, taking account of ozone concentration stability. Therefore, it has been desired to reduce the feed rate of ozonated water when cleaning is not performed in order to reduce the amount of water used.
For example, Patent Literature 2 discloses a method that provides a buffer tank to a pipe that feeds ozonated water to the use point, feeds ozonated water stored in the buffer tank to a plurality of cleaning devices at a given feed rate using a feed pump, and returns excess ozonated water to the buffer tank, Patent Literature 3 and 4 disclose a method that feeds ozonated water (that is produced by dissolving ozone gas in water using an ozone gas-dissolving section) to a single cleaning device, and feeds the ozonated water to a circulation tank when the cleaning device is not used so that the ozonated water is used to produce ozonated water together with ultrapure water that is additionally supplied, and Patent Literature 5 discloses a method that provides a tank that receives raw water and water returned from the use point, dissolves ozone gas in water contained in the tank while returning water that has not been used at the use point to the tank, and feeds the resulting ozonated water to the use point.

Ozone water supply method and ozone water supply device


A method for elaborating an assembly which includes at least one composite structure part, one metal interface part and one metal structure part, said method includes a first step for assembling the part to the part in order to form a sub assembly and a second assembling step for welding the interface part of said sub assembly to part. The composite structure and metal interface parts are pre-equipped with male/female type mating connections and with locking devices locking the connection. The method can include, during the first assembling step, a phase for pre-assembling the parts by interlocking the male/female mating connections and a phase for locking said interlock by deforming by pressing at least one portion of the locking devices pre-equipped in the metal interface.

The present invention relates to a method for elaborating an assembly comprising at least one composite structure part, one metal interface part and one metal structure part, to a sub-assembly and to the assembly obtained by said method.
For making many products, such as in particular motor vehicles, it is necessary to assemble together composite parts and metal parts.
In the case of mass production, the assembling should be accomplished within a short time on a production line along which run the products.
In order to reduce the time for assembling the composite structure part to the metal structure part which runs on the line, the use of a metal interface part between the composite structure and the metal structure part is known, this metal interface part being intended to be spot-welded on the metal structure part, spot-welding being one of the rare assembling methods compatible with production cycle times and throughputs.
Up to now, the assembling between a composite structure part and a metal interface part is performed by adhesive bonding or by overmolding. Every time, the assembling method is long and the strength of the assembly is uncertain over time.
An object of the present invention is therefore to propose a novel method for pre-assembling the composite structure part to the metal interface part within a short time, without being detrimental to the ease of assembling the metal interface part to the metal structure part by welding.
Another object of the present invention is to propose a method for pre-assembling the composite structure part to the metal interface part, the design of which allows assembling while excluding any stress on the composite structure part in order to avoid adversely affecting the mechanical strength and damaging the composite structure part which does not accept stress concentrations.

Method for elaborating an assembly comprising at least three parts, a sub-assembly and assembly obtained by said method


A power management module for managing power supply from a power sourcing equipment item to an associated apparatus, which includes a connexion interface suitable for connecting the power management module to the associated apparatus for estimating a power that the power management module is able to supply via the connexion interface, negotiating, based on the power estimated by the means for estimating power, the start-up of the associated apparatus in a power class, the means for negotiating comprising means for supplying power via the connexion interface, determining an updated power that the power management module is able to supply, when power is supplied to the associated apparatus by said means for supplying power, and re-negotiating the start-up of the associated apparatus based on the determined updated power.

A typical digital video surveillance system comprises at least two types of wire networks, a first type of wire network for data transport, and a second type of wire network for power distribution to digital cameras in the system.
It may be useful, for example for saving costs, to use a same wire infrastructure able to distribute both data and power.
Technologies which allow both data and power to be carried over a same wire are known as "Power over Ethernet" (PoE) technologies. These technologies allow power distribution and Ethernet data to be mixed on one cable.
It is advantageous, in terms of cost among others, to build a new digital camera surveillance infrastructure by using LAN wires which are able to support power distribution.
Moreover, an analogue camera surveillance system may be upgraded in order to build a digital video surveillance system. Some analogue camera surveillance systems use for example coaxial cables to transport data from the analogue cameras to a central point. Some technologies, such as IP over Coax technologies, allow transport of both data and power over existing analogue video distribution cable networks, such as Coaxial or copper pair wire networks.
An analogue camera surveillance system is upgraded or retrofitted in order to build a digital camera surveillance system by replacing analogue cameras by digital network cameras, for example IP cameras, and by inserting an adapter, both at the central point and at each digital camera, the analogue cable infrastructure being reused.
In a retrofit digital video surveillance system, the central point is connected to an Ethernet infrastructure (for example a LAN) and to a plurality of digital cameras through coaxial cables.
The adapter in the central point converts data originating from the Ethernet infrastructure to data adapted to be transported by the coaxial cables ("IP Coax Traffic") and sends it to the digital cameras (such as "IP Coax cameras"), converts data originating from digital cameras to data adapted to be transported by the Ethernet infrastructure ("Ethernet Traffic") and sends it to the LAN, and provides power to the IP cameras over the coaxial cables.
The adapter in the camera ("Coax terminal adapter") is connected to an Ethernet port of the camera. The "Coax terminal adapter" converts IP Coax traffic originating from the Coaxial cable to Ethernet traffic and sends it to the camera, converts Ethernet traffic originating from the camera to IP Coax Traffic and sends it to the Coaxial cable, and receives power from the Coaxial cable and delivers it to the camera through the Ethernet port.
In these technologies, the Coax terminal adapter comprises a power management module configured for managing the power distribution to the camera. In particular, the power management module is configured for delivering power to the camera following standards for power transport over Ethernet known as PoE (IEEE802.3af) or PoE+ (IEEE802.3at).
By implementing these standards a power source device or item of power sourcing equipment (PSE), does not deliver power to a non-compatible power sink device (PD). Furthermore, a power source device only delivers power to a compatible power sink device, if it is able to provide the amount of power needed by the power sink device.
Thus, a Coax terminal adapter (in particular the power management module) determines whether the camera is compatible with PoE standards, and if the response is positive, it determines the maximum power consumption of the camera or camera power class. According to PoE standards, the power management module only delivers power to the camera if the camera is compatible with PoE standards and if the power management module is able to deliver the maximum power consumed by the camera, i.e. that the camera may be started-up in its power class.
For example, document US2010/0031066 describes a system for determining a class of power delivered by an item of power sourcing equipment (PSE) using Power over Ethernet technology, in order to find the maximum power that can be provided by the PSE.
The determination of power supplied by a PSE to an apparatus is a delicate operation since when providing an apparatus with a power lower than the required power, the voltage applied to the apparatus may be too low and the apparatus may be damaged by too high a current.
The present invention is directed to providing an improved power management module for managing power supply to an apparatus, making it possible to enhance the prevention of damaging an apparatus powered up by the power management module.

Power management module and method for managing power supply


A method of making steel undersea pipes designed to convey corrosive fluids including water, the method including acting in a workshop on land to assemble together respective ends of at least two unitary pipe elements with carbon-steel first welds to form pipe strings, the first welds being protected by first linings, and acting at sea from a laying ship to assemble together respective ends of the strings by use of anti-corrosion second welds of stainless steel or of anti-corrosion alloy to form a pipe. Each of the ends of the strings are provided with an anti-corrosion cladding which extends over the inside surface made of carbon steel of each end unitary pipe element over a first length of at least 4 times the thickness of the wall of the pipe.

In general, a floating support has anchor means for remaining in position in spite of the effects of currents, of winds, and of swell. In general, it also has means for drilling, for storing, and for processing petroleum oil, and means for offloading to offload tankers that call at regular intervals to offload the production. Such floating supports are known as "Floating Production, Storage & Offloading" units, referred to below as "FPSO units", or, when the floating supports are also used to perform drilling operations on a well that is deflected in the depth of the water, such supports are known as Floating Drilling & Production Units" or "FDPUs".
A riser of the invention can be a crude-oil or gas "production riser", or a water injection riser, forming a link with an undersea pipe lying on the sea bottom, or indeed a "drilling riser" forming link between the floating support and a wellhead located on the sea bottom.
In FPSO units in which, in general, a multiplicity of lines are installed, the links implemented are either of the hybrid tower bottom-to-surface type, or of the catenary type.
When the bottom-to-surface link pipe is of the catenary type, it forms a direct link between a floating support and a contact point on the sea bottom that is offset relative to the axis of said support, with said pipe taking up a "catenary" configuration under its own weight, thereby forming a curve whose radius of curvature decreases going from the surface to the contact point on the sea bottom, and the axis of said pipe forms an angle α with the vertical of value that varies, in general, from 10-to-20 degrees at the floating support to, ideally, 90 degrees at the sea bottom, corresponding to an ideal position that is substantially tangential to the horizontal, as explained below.
Catenary-type links are generally formed by means of flexible pipes, but they are of extremely high cost due to the complex structure of the pipe.
Therefore, substantially vertical risers have been developed in order to have the flexible link of catenary configuration close to the surface, in the vicinity of the floating support, thereby making it possible to minimize the length of said flexible pipe, and to minimize the forces that are applied to it, thereby also considerably reducing its cost.
In addition, for petroleum oil production, since the crude oil is conveyed over distances that are very long, several kilometers, it is desirable to provide an extreme level of insulation for them, firstly so as to minimize the increase in viscosity that reduces the hourly output of the well, and secondly so as to avoid the flow becoming blocked by paraffin being deposited or by hydrates forming whenever the temperature goes down to a value approximately in the range 30° C. to 40° C. Such phenomena are even more critical when the sea bottom temperature is about 4° C. and the crude oil is of the paraffinic type, as applies, in particular, off West Africa.
Whenever the depth of water reaches and exceeds in the range 800 meters (m) to 1000 m, it becomes possible to form said bottom-to-surface link by means of a rigid pipe having a thick wall because, since the length of the pipe is considerable, its flexibility makes it possible to obtain a catenary configuration that is satisfactory while remaining within acceptable stress limits.
Such rigid risers made of strong materials of large thickness and disposed in catenary configurations are commonly known as "Steel Catenary Risers" and are referred to in the present description as "SCRs", regardless of whether they are made of steel or of some other material such as a composite material.
Such catenary risers or "SCRs" are much simpler to make than flexible pipes, and are thus less expensive.
The geometrical curve formed by a pipe of uniform weight in suspension subjected to gravity, and referred to as a "catenary" is a mathematical function of the hyperbolic cosine type (cos hx=(ex+e−x)/2, relating the abscissa and the ordinate of any point of the curve using the following formulae:y=R0(cos h(x/R0)−1)R=R0(y/R0+1)2
where:
x represents the distance in the horizontal direction between said contact point and a point M of the curve;
y represents the altitude of the point M (x and y are thus the abscissa and the ordinate of a point M of the curve relative to a rectangular frame of reference whose origin is at said contact point);
R0 represents the radius of curvature at said contact point, i.e. at the point of horizontal tangency; and
R represents the radius of curvature at point M (x,y).
Thus, the curvature varies along the catenary from the surface, where its radius has a maximum value Rmax, to the contact point, where its radius has a minimum value Rmin (or R0 in the above formula). Under the effect of waves, of wind, and of current, the surface support moves laterally and vertically, thereby lifting the catenary-shaped pipe off the sea bottom and putting it back down thereon.
Thus, the pipe has a radius of curvature that is at its maximum at the top of the catenary, i.e. at the point where it is suspended from the FPSO unit. Said maximum radius of curvature is, in general, at least 1500 m, and in particular lies in the range 1500 m to 5000 m, and said radius of curvature decreases going from said top down to the point of contact with the bottom. At this location, the radius of curvature is at its minimum in the portion that is in suspension. However, in the adjacent portion lying on the sea bottom, and since said pipe is ideally in a straight line, the radius of curvature is theoretically infinite. In fact, said radius is not infinite, because some residual curvature remains, but it is extremely high.
Thus, as the floating support moves on the surface, the contact point moves forwards and backwards and, in the zone in which the pipe is lifted off or put back down on the bottom, the radius of curvature goes successively from a minimum value Rmin to an extremely high value, or even to infinity for an ideal configuration in which the undersea pipe lies on the sea bottom substantially in a straight line.
This alternating bending gives rise to fatigue phenomena that are concentrated throughout the catenary foot zone and the lifespan of such pipes is greatly reduced and is, in general incompatible with the lifespans desired for bottom-to-surface links, i.e. in the range 20 years to 25 years, or even longer.
In addition, during such alternating movements of the contact point, it is observed that the stiffness of the pipe, associated with the above-mentioned residual curvature, acts, over time, to cause a furrow to be dug over the entire length lifted off and then put back down again, and to cause a transition zone to be formed in which there exists a point of inflection at which the radius of curvature, which is at its minimum at the foot of the centenary, then changes sign in said transition zone, and increases to reach, ultimately, an infinite value in the portion of undersea pipe that is lying in a straight line on the sea bottom.
In poorly-consolidated soil of the type commonly encountered at great depths, such repeated movements over long periods form a furrow that is particularly deep and the effect of this is to change the curvature of the catenary and, if the phenomenon becomes larger, to give rise to risks of the pipes being damaged, either in the undersea pipes lying on the sea bottom, or in the SCRs linking said undersea pipes lying on the sea bottom to the surface.
The most critical portion of the catenary is thus situated in its portion close to the contact point, and, in fact, most of the forces in this low portion of the catenary are generated by the movements of the floating support itself and by the excitations that occur in the high portion of the catenary that is subjected to current and to swell, all of these excitations then propagating mechanically all the way along the pipe to the foot of the catenary.
In this catenary foot zone, pipes are made of steels that are selected to withstand fatigue throughout the life of an installation, but the welds between pipe elements constitute weak spots when said pipe conveys either water, or fluids including water, and more particularly saltwater. In the presence of water, said welds are subjected to corrosion phenomena that, over time, and under variable bending stresses, give rise to incipient cracks that lead to the ruin of said pipe.
In order to mitigate that problem, welds are formed between pipe elements by means of a stainless steel or of a corrosion-resistant alloy. Anti-corrosion alloys are well known to the person skilled in the art. They are mainly alloys based on nickel, in particular of the Inconel type, and preferably of a particular grade, in particular Inconel 625 or 825, which Inconels also offer excellent fatigue strength due to their high elastic limits and thus make it possible to achieve lifespans lying in the range 20 years to 30 years.
However, in order to enable the welding to be performed under good conditions, it is necessary to clad the insides of the two pipe elements that are to be welded together with the same stainless steel or corrosion-resistant alloy over a few centimeters (cm) at the ends of those pipe elements, so that the weld penetration pass that is to constitute the future wall in contact with the fluid is of the same metal as the filler metal of the weld, in particular of Inconel. That cladding of stainless steel or of anti-corrosion alloy, in particular of the Inconel type, is formed by a costly electric arc method known as "cladding" that is generally implemented using a Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding method associated with a filler rod of stainless steel or of corrosion-resistant alloy.
That portion of the inside surface of the pipe that is clad with stainless steel or with anti-corrosion alloy of the Inconel type gives rise to a major problem for the weld inspection that is performed from the outside using scanning acoustic means to obtain very precise mapping of defects in the weld. The TIG method is highly localized and high-energy, and the weld pool of molten parent steel and of molten alloy gives rise to undulations at the interface between the two metals, thereby making any inspection by ultrasound almost impossible. During ultrasound inspection, such undulations at the interface being the two metals generate echoes that make it almost impossible to use the results in practice, and thus to show the locations of the defects, and, as a result, prevent the quality of the weld between the two pipe elements from being determined.
The portion of the inside surface of the pipe that is clad with stainless steel or with anti-corrosion alloy of the Inconel type gives rise to another major problem at the inside wall of the pipe that is in contact with the fluid, and more particularly in the transition zone in which the metal of the wall changes, i.e. where it changes between the conventional carbon steel of the main portion of the pipe element and the stainless steel or anti-corrosion alloy of the Inconel type. In said transition zone, and in the presence of water, a phenomenon occurs whereby the ordinary steel in contact with the water is subjected to electrochemical corrosion, i.e. to galvanic corrosion or "dissimilar-metal corrosion", that locally generates corrosion spots in the steel in contact with the water in the vicinity of the stainless steel or of the anti-corrosion alloy, and that can give rise to cracking under repeated bending stresses, and the resulting cracks are totally unacceptable if the pipe is to offer good fatigue endurance.
That type of anti-corrosion weld is thus not only difficult to achieve, in particular when the pipe is assembled by welding on a laying ship at sea, but it is also unsatisfactory because it cannot be inspected reliably by conventional ultrasound testing, and it gives rise to phenomena of corrosion of the steel of the inside surface of the pipe in the proximity of the weld.
Methods are also known for protecting the steel inside surface of the pipe from corrosion by implementing a continuous lining by means of a flexible cladding or "liner" made of thermoplastic materials. Unfortunately, such linings are also costly and complex to implement because they require, in particular, anchoring at the ends by means of ferrules or sleeves so that the lining stays in place while the pipe is conveying a fluid at high pressure. Those sleeves are also complex and costly to put in place. In addition, the ends of the strings or elements of pipe to be assembled together by welding must not be pre-clad with said lining because such a lining cannot withstand the high temperatures implemented during welding operations. Finally, such continuous internal linings require lining thicknesses lying at least in the range 10 millimeters (mm) to 15 mm, which represents a very substantial decrease in the inside diameter of the pipe, and thus gives rise to additional head loss of the fluid conveyed inside the pipe in operation.

Method of making an undersea pipe including anticorrosion linings and welds