A catalyst for purifying exhaust gases exhibits not only effective purifying characteristics even in a low temperature range such as immediately after an engine starts but also high exhaust gas purifying ability. In the catalyst for purifying exhaust gases of a first aspect of the invention, HC adsorbed at low temperature are released at high temperature and the released HC are purified by a catalyst metal. This catalyst for purifying exhaust gases has an excellent advantage in purifying HC at low temperature as well as excellent exhaust gas purifying ability.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a catalyst for purifying exhaust gases.
2. Description of the Related Art
Exhaust gases from automotive engines and other internal combustion engines contain harmful components such as hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). It exhaust gases containing these harmful components are emitted into the air without any treatment, pollution and environmental degradation will occur. Therefore, exhaust gases containing these harmful components are emitted into the air after purified by such a purifying apparatus as a catalyst for purifying exhaust gases.
The catalyst for purifying exhaust gases converts NO x, HC and CO contained in exhaust gases into innocuous nitrogen, carbon dioxide or water by catalyst metal.
It is known that HC conversion is strongly influenced by temperature and generally carried out at not less than 300xc2x0 C. When catalyst temperature is low, catalytic activity of catalyst metal is too low to convert HC in exhaust gases. The catalyst for purifying exhaust gases is heated by exhaust gases. This fact indicates that the catalyst soon after an engine starts has a low temperature. Besides, exhaust gases immediately after an engine starts contain a large amount of HC and the ratio of HC in the emission is large.
Accordingly, it is a critical problem to suppress HC emission from a catalyst when the catalyst has a low temperature.
This catalyst for purifying exhaust gases which suppresses HC emission can be produced, for example, by forming a catalyst carrier layer composed of alumina, etc. on the surface of a catalyst support and forming a HC conversion part for converting HC and a NOx conversion part for converting NOx and CO separately on the catalyst carrier layer. In this catalyst, there are two kinds of separation of the HC conversion part and the NOx conversion part: separation in an axial direction of the catalyst support and separation in a thickness direction of the catalyst carrier.
Examples of this catalyst are disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos.H11-253758, H11-104462, H7-213910, H6-142519, H11-210451, and H11-221466.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.H6-142519 discloses a hydrocarbon adsorptive catalyst which is provided with a first layer of ZSM-5 zeolite ion-exchanged with at least one metal of Cu and Pd, which are effective for hydrocarbon adsorption, on a monolithic carrier, a second layer of a powder based on activated ceria and/or alumina containing at least one metal of Pt and Pd as a catalytic component on the first layer, and a third layer containing Rh as a catalytic component on the second layer.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.H7-213910 discloses an exhaust gas purifying catalyst comprising an adsorbing catalyst formed of a catalyst carrier and a zeolite layer coated thereon, wherein a catalyst layer composed of a powder based on activated ceria and/or alumina containing at least one element of Pt, Pd and Rh as a catalytic component is provided on the zeolite layer.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.H11-104462 discloses a catalyst-adsorber for purifying exhaust gases, which is prepared by covering and loading an adsorbing layer composed of an adsorbent with hydrocarbon adsorbability on a monolithic carrier and covering and loading a catalyst layer composed of a catalyst material with purifying ability for harmful components in exhaust gases on the adsorbing layer, the catalyst layer having a thickness of 10 to 120 xcexcm.
Japanese unexamined Patent Publication No.H11-210451 discloses an exhaust gas purifying catalyst device formed by providing, in exhaust passages, a HC-adsorbing catalyst comprising a double-layered part constituted by a HC-adsorbent lower layer and a three-way catalyst upper layer, and a single-layered part constituted by a three-way catalyst layer alone and positioned on the downstream side of the exhaust emission flow.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.H11-221466 discloses a catalyst for purifying exhaust gases, wherein a catalyst containing zeolite is arranged in a front stage part to an exhaust gas flow, and a catalyst consisting of three catalyst layers is arranged in a rear stage part to the exhaust gas flow. Of the three catalyst layers, the first catalyst layer contains at least one component of platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd) and rhodium (Rh) and at least one component of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, and rare earth elements, the second catalyst layer contains alumina and/or silica, and the third catalyst layer contains zeolite including a copper component and a cobalt component, and the first, second and third catalyst layers are overlaid in turn.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.H11-253758 discloses a catalyst for purifying exhaust gases comprising: a first catalytic layer containing one or more components of a platinum component, a palladium component and a rhodium component and one or more kinds of components of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals and rare earth elements; a second catalytic layer containing xcex2-zeolite, formed on the first catalytic layer; and a third catalytic layer which is composed mainly of zeolite containing a copper component and/or a cobalt component and formed on the second catalytic layer. In this case, the second catalytic layer structurally contains silica (SiO2).
Moreover, as evidenced by severer automotive emission limits, there is a demand for an improvement in HC purifying ability and exhaust gas purifying ability of a catalyst for purifying exhaust gases.
The present invention has been conceived in view of the aforementioned actual circumstances. It is an object of the present invention to provide a catalyst for purifying exhaust gases which exhibits effective purifying characteristics even in a low-temperature range such as immediately after an engine start, and high exhaust gas purifying ability.
The present inventors have studied on the structure of the catalyst for purifying exhaust gases in order to attain the above objects, and found that the above objects can be attained by loading catalyst metal additionally on a front stage part and/or a rear stage part of a catalyst metal-contained carrier layer to the exhaust gas flow.
A catalyst for purifying exhaust gases according to a first aspect of the present invention characteristically comprises: a catalyst support having tubular passages through which exhaust gases flow in an axial direction; a coating layer formed on a surface of the catalyst support and composed of zeolite, refractory inorganic oxide, and a first catalyst metal loaded on a surface of the refractory inorganic oxide; and a second catalyst metal loaded on a front stage part of the coating layer, which is an upstream end of the exhaust gas flow, and/or a rear stage part of the coating layer, which is a downstream end of the exhaust gas flow.
The catalyst for purifying exhaust gases according to this aspect of the present invention is excellent in HC purifying ability, since the second catalyst metal is loaded on the front stage part and/or the rear stage part.
Moreover, the present inventors have studied about HC conversion and exhaust gas purification of a catalyst for purifying exhaust gases and found that the above objects can be attained by employing xcex2-zeolite, which has a high HC-adsorbing ability, and a Cexe2x80x94Zrxe2x80x94Y composite oxide, which has a high oxygen storage ability, for a catalyst for purifying exhaust gases.
A catalyst for purifying exhaust gases according to a second aspect of the present invention characteristically comprises a heat-resistant catalyst support, and a catalytic coating layer composed of xcex2-zeolite, a Cexe2x80x94Zrxe2x80x94Y composite oxide, refractory inorganic oxide and a catalyst metal and formed on a surface of the catalyst support.
The catalyst for purifying exhaust gases according to this aspect of the present invention is excellent in HC purifying ability, since xcex2-zeolite adsorbs HC from low temperature to high temperature. Besides, the catalyst for purifying exhaust gases attains high oxygen storage ability and excellent exhaust gas purifying ability since the catalyst for purifying exhaust gases includes a composite oxide.
(The First Aspect of the Invention)
The catalyst for purifying exhaust gases according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises a catalyst support, a coating layer, and a second catalyst metal.
The catalyst support is a member having tubular passages through which exhaust gases pass in an axial direction. Since the catalyst support has a structure having tubular passages through which exhaust gases pass, the catalyst can have larger contact area with exhaust gases. As the contact area with exhaust gases is larger, catalyst metal of the catalyst and exhaust gases to be purified are brought in more contact and the exhaust gas purifying ability of the catalyst is improved. This type of catalyst employs, for example, a monolithic honeycomb catalyst support. The catalyst support can be formed of a conventional material such as cordierite and other heat-resistant ceramics and stainless steel and other heat-resistant metals.
The coating layer is formed on a surface of the catalyst support and composed of zeolite, refractory inorganic oxide, and a first catalyst metal loaded on a surface of the refractory inorganic oxide. Since the coating layer contains the first catalyst metal, the coating layer can purify exhaust gases.
Zeolite adsorbs HC at low temperature and releases the adsorbed HC at high temperature. The HC adsorbed by zeolite at low temperature and released from the zeolite at high temperature are contacted with a first or a second catalyst metal and purified. This zeolite is not particularly limited, as long as it can adsorb and release HC. Examples of the zeolite include ZSM-5, USY, xcex2-zeolite, silicalite and metallosilicate. It is more preferable to employ xcex2-zeolite, which has an excellent HC-adsorbing characteristics.
The zeolite content of the coating layer is preferably 20 to 80 wt % based on the entire coating layer. That is to say, when the coating layer contains 20 to 80 wt % of zeolite, HC contained in exhaust gases are sufficiently purified. If the zeolite content is less than 20 wt %, because of the small zeolite amount, the amount of HC adsorbed is decreased and the HC-purifying ability of the catalyst deteriorates. On the other hand, the zeolite content of more than 80 wt % has an adverse affect on catalytic activity and decreases the purifying ability of the catalyst. It is to be noted that the coating layer is composed of zeolite, refractory inorganic oxide and a first catalyst metal, and does not include a second catalyst metal.
The refractory inorganic oxide forms a catalyst carrier for a first catalyst metal. The refractory inorganic oxide is preferably alumina. Owing to high heat resistance and high chemical stability at high temperature, alumina does not react with the first catalyst metal or exhaust gases. This alumina is more preferably activated alumina (xcfx84-alumina).
The first catalyst metal is loaded on the refractory inorganic oxide. Because the first catalyst metal is loaded not on zeolite but on the refractory inorganic oxide, the first catalyst metal can exhibit its catalytic ability effectively. If the first catalyst metal is loaded on zeolite, HC adsorbed by zeolite make the first catalyst metal suffer from HC poisoning and the catalytic ability of the first catalyst metal deteriorates.
The first catalyst metal preferably comprises at least one element selected from a group consisting of Pt, Pd and Rh. Since the first catalyst metal comprises at least one element selected from a group consisting of Pt, Pd and Rh, the first catalyst metal can purify HC, CO and NOx.
The first catalyst metal content of the coating layer is preferably 1 to 10 wt % based on the entire coating layer. That is to say, when the coating layer contains 1 to 10 wt % of the first catalyst metal, exhaust gases can be sufficiently purified. If the first catalyst metal content is less than 1 wt %, the amount of the first catalyst metal is small and purification of exhaust gases is insufficient. On the other hand, with the first catalyst metal content of more than 10 wt %, an improvement in exhaust gas purifying effect is small with respect to an increase in the amount of the catalyst metal loaded. The first catalyst metal content is more preferably 3 to 8 wt %. The coating layer is composed of zeolite, refractory inorganic oxide and the first catalyst metal and does not include the second catalyst metal.
The second catalyst metal is loaded on the front stage part of the coating layer, which is an upstream end of the exhaust gas flow, and/or a rear stage part of the coating layer, which is a downstream end of the exhaust gas flow. Since the second catalyst metal is loaded on the coating layer, the catalyst attains improved HC-purifying ability.
specifically speaking, in the catalyst of the present invention HC contained in exhaust gases at low temperature are adsorbed by zeolite of the coating layer. When the second catalyst metal is loaded on the front stage part, the second catalyst metal speedily rises to catalytic activity temperature and purifies the HC adsorbed by zeolite. On the other hand, when the second catalyst metal is loaded on the rear stage part, the second catalyst metal purifies the HC released from zeolite at a high efficiency. A catalyst having the second catalyst metal both on the front stage part and the rear stage part exhibits both the effects.
The second catalyst metal serves to purify exhaust gases. This second catalyst metal preferably comprises at least one element selected from a group consisting of Pt, Pd and Rh. Since Pt, Pd and Rh exhibit three-way catalytic activity, the second catalyst metal constituted by the at least one element selected from a group consisting of Pt, Pd and Rh can purify HC, CO and NOx.
The first catalyst metal and the second catalyst metal can be either the same catalyst metal or different catalyst metals.
The second catalyst metal content is preferably 1 to 7 wt % based on the entire catalyst for purifying exhaust gases. If the second catalyst metal content is less than 1 wt %, the amount of the second catalyst metal loaded is small and the effect of purifying HC is decreased. On the other hand, if the second catalyst metal content is more than 7 wt %, an improvement in the exhaust gas purification effect is small with respect to an increase in the amount of the second catalyst metal loaded.
It is preferable that the axial length of the front stage part and the rear stage part are respectively one-third to one-tenth of that of the catalyst for purifying exhaust gases. If it is shorter than one-tenth of the axial length of the catalyst, the volume of each stage part used for purification is smaller and the effect of the second catalyst metal loaded cannot be exhibited. On the other hand, if it is longer than one-third of the axial length of the catalyst, the density of the second catalyst metal loaded is smaller and the purification effect cannot be sufficiently obtained.
The coating layer preferably comprises a HC-adsorbing layer composed of zeolite and formed on a surface of the catalyst support, and a catalyst-contained layer composed of refractory inorganic oxide and a first catalyst metal and formed on the HC-adsorbing layer.
Since the coating layer has a layered structure of the HC-adsorbing layer and the catalyst-contained layer, the catalyst for purifying exhaust gases attains improved purifying ability. That is to say, since the catalyst-contained layer is formed on the surface of the HC-adsorbing layer, when HC adsorbed by the HC-adsorbing layer are released from the HC-adsorbing layer, all of the HC are brought in contact with the catalyst-contained layer. At this time, the HC released from the HC-adsorbing layer are purified not only by the second catalyst metal but also by the first catalyst metal contained in the catalyst-contained layer.
The coating layer may include an additive contained in a catalyst carrier layer of a conventional catalyst for purifying exhaust gases. Examples of the additive include BaO and cerium oxide. The amount of the additive can be the same as those of the conventional catalyst for purifying exhaust gases.
The catalyst according to this aspect of the present invention can be produced by forming a coating layer on the surface of a catalyst support and then loading the second catalyst metal. The coating layer can be formed by preparing a slurry containing materials for the coating layer and coating the prepared slurry on the surface of a catalyst support and drying and calcining the slurry.
When the coating layer comprises a HC-adsorbing layer and a catalyst-contained layer, the coating layer can be produced by forming the HC-adsorbing layer on the catalyst support first and forming the catalyst-contained layer second.
Loading of the second catalyst metal can be made by impregnating a predetermined part of the coating layer with a solution of the second catalyst metal and then drying and calcining the part.
since the catalyst for purifying exhaust gases according to this aspect of the present invention has the second catalyst metal on the front stage part and/or the rear stage part, the catalyst has an advantage of exhibiting a high HC purifying ability.
(The Second Aspect of the Invention)
A catalyst for purifying exhaust gases according to the second aspect of the present invention comprises a catalyst support and a catalytic coating layer.
The catalyst support is a member with heat resistance. The catalyst support should have a heat resistance to the temperature of exhaust gases to be purified.
The catalyst support can be constituted by ordinary catalyst supports used for a conventional catalyst for purifying exhaust gases. As an example of the catalyst support, it is possible to employ a monolithic honeycomb support formed of a heat-resistant material such as cordierite and other ceramics and stainless steel and other heat-resistant metals.
The catalytic coating layer is a layer composed of xcex2-zeolite, a Cexe2x80x94Zrxe2x80x94Y composite oxide, refractory inorganic oxide and a catalyst metal and formed on the catalyst support.
xcex2-zeolite has high HC-adsorbing ability and excellent heat resistance. In a catalyst for purifying exhaust gases, xcex2-zeolite, like ordinary zeolite, adsorbs HC in exhaust gases at low temperature and releases the adsorbed HC at high temperature.
xcex2-zeolite has a higher adsorbed-HC releasing temperature than other kinds of zeolite. Owing to the high HC-releasing temperature, when the adsorbed HC are released from xcex2-zeolite, the temperature is high enough for the catalyst metal to exhibit catalytic activity. Therefore, the HC released from xcex2-zeolite can be purified by the catalyst metal efficiently. As a result, the catalyst according to this aspect of the present invention attains improved HC-purifying ability.
The Cexe2x80x94Zrxe2x80x94Y composite oxide is excellent in oxygen storage ability of adsorbing and releasing oxygen. Specifically speaking, in the case of cerium oxide added for a conventional catalyst for purifying exhaust gases, grain growth is observed at high temperature and oxygen storage ability deteriorates. However, in the case of a Cexe2x80x94Zrxe2x80x94Y composite oxide, grain growth is suppressed and accordingly oxygen storage ability is exhibited even at high temperature. As a result, the catalyst according to this aspect of the present invention attains high efficiency of purifying exhaust gases.
The Cexe2x80x94Zrxe2x80x94Y composite oxide can form a solid solution in part.
It is preferable that the Cexe2x80x94Zrxe2x80x94Y composite oxide has a molar ratio of Ce, Zr, and Y in the range of 30 to 70:30 to 70:1 to 10.
The production method of the Cexe2x80x94Zrxe2x80x94Y composite oxide can be, for example, as follows:
First respective solutions of predetermined amounts of cerium salt, zirconium salt and yttrium salt are prepared and mixed together, thereby precipitating a mixture of cerium, zirconium and yttrium. Next, the precipitate is calcined at a temperature of not less than 500xc2x0 C., thereby obtaining a Cexe2x80x94Zrxe2x80x94Y composite oxide.
The catalyst metal serves to purify exhaust gases. This catalyst metal preferably comprises at least one element selected from a group consisting of Pt, Pd and Rh. Since Pt, Pd and Rh have three-way catalytic characteristics, the catalyst metal can purify HC, co and NOx.
The refractory inorganic oxide forms a catalytic coating layer and at the same time holds the catalyst metal in the coating layer. The refractory inorganic oxide is preferably alumina, since alumina has a high heat resistance and high chemical stability at high temperature. The alumina is preferably activated alumina (xcfx84-alumina).
The catalytic coating layer preferably comprises the HC-adsorbing layer composed of xcex2-zeolite and formed on the surface of the catalyst support, and the catalyst-contained layer composed of the Cexe2x80x94Zrxe2x80x94Y composite oxide, the refractory inorganic oxide and the coating layer catalyst metal and formed on the HC-adsorbing layer. In this aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the catalytic coating layer comprises the HC-adsorbing layer and the catalyst-contained layer, but the catalytic coating layer does not exclude a mixture of xcex2-zeolite, the Cexe2x80x94Zrxe2x80x94Y composite oxide, the catalyst metal and the refractory inorganic oxide.
When the catalytic coating layer has a layered structure of the HC-adsorbing layer and the catalyst-contained layer, the catalyst for purifying exhaust gases attains improved purifying ability. In this case, since the catalyst-contained layer is formed on the HC-adsorbing layer, when HC adsorbed by the HC-adsorbing layer are released from the HC-adsorbing layer, all the HC are brought in contact with the catalyst-contained layer. Therefore, the HC are purified by the catalyst metal contained in the catalyst-contained layer.
The catalyst metal is preferably loaded on the surface of the refractory inorganic oxide and/or the Cexe2x80x94Zrxe2x80x94Y composite oxide. By loading the catalyst metal on the surface of the refractory inorganic oxide and/or the Cexe2x80x94Zrxe2x80x94Y composite oxide, the catalytic activity of the catalyst can be suppreused from deteriorating. If the catalyst metal is loaded on xcex2-zeolite, the catalyst metal suffers from HC poisoning due to the HC adsorbed by xcex2-zeolite and the catalytic activity of the catalyst metal deteriorates.
The catalytic coating layer may include an additive which is used for a catalyst carrier layer of a conventional catalyst for purifying exhaust gases. BaO is an example of this additive.
In the catalyst according to this aspect of the present invention, the xcex2-zeolite content of the catalytic coating layer is preferably 20 to 80 wt % based on the entire catalytic coating layer. Owing to the xcex2-zeolite content of 20 to 80 wt %, the catalytic coating layer can adsorb HC and the HC purifying ability of the catalyst improves. If the xcex2-zeolite content is less than 20 wt %, owing to the small xcex2-zeolite amount, the amount of HC adsorbed decreases and the HC purifying ability of the catalyst deteriorates. On the other hand, the xcex2-zeolite content of more than 80 wt % has an adverse affect on catalytic activity. The xcex2-zeolite content is more preferably in the range from 40 to 60 wt %.
The Cexe2x80x94Zrxe2x80x94Y composite oxide content of the catalytic coating layer is preferably 5 to 50 wt % based on the entire catalytic coating layer. By having the composite oxide, oxygen concentration becomes stable at the time of purifying exhaust gases. If the composite oxide content is less than 5 wt %, the effect of the addition is too small to purify CO and NOx in exhaust gases sufficiently. On the other hand, if the composite oxide content is more than 50 wt %, the refractory inorganic oxide content becomes small and conversion efficiency lowers. The composite oxide content is more preferably in the range from 10 to 30 wt %.
The catalyst metal content of the catalytic coating layer is preferably 1 to 10 wt %, based on the entire catalytic coating layer. That is to say, when the catalyst metal content of the catalytic coating layer is 1 to 10 wt %, exhaust gases are sufficiently purified. If the catalyst metal content is less than 1 wt %, owing to the small catalyst metal amount, exhaust gas purification is insufficient. On the other hand, if the catalyst metal content is more than 10 wt %, the effect of improving exhaust gas purifying ability becomes smaller with respect to an increase in the catalyst metal content. The catalyst metal content is more preferably in the range from 3 to 8 wt %.
The catalyst for purifying exhaust gases according to this aspect of the present invention can be produced by forming the catalytic coating layer on the surface of the catalyst support. The catalytic coating layer can be formed by preparing a slurry containing materials for the catalytic coating layer, coating the slurry on the surface of the catalyst support, and drying and calcining the coating.
When the catalytic coating layer comprises the HC-adsorbing layer and the catalyst-contained layer, the catalyst can be produced by forming a HC-adsorbing layer on a catalyst support and then forming a catalyst-contained layer.
The catalyst for purifying exhaust gases according to this aspect of the present invention is excellent in exhaust gas purifying ability, since the catalyst has xcex2-zeolite, which has excellent HC-adsorbing ability, and a Cexe2x80x94Zrxe2x80x94Y composite oxide, which has excellent oxygen storage ability.
Now, advantages of the catalyst according to the first and second aspects of the present invention will be described:
The catalyst for purifying exhaust gases according to the first aspect of the present invention has an advantage of exhibiting high HC purifying ability while maintaining purifying ability as a catalyst for purifying exhaust gases, because of comprising a coating layer composed of zeolite with HC-adsorbing ability and a first catalyst metal, and a second catalyst metal loaded on the front stage part and/or the rear stage part of the coating layer.
Specifically speaking, in a catalyst for purifying exhaust gases in which a second catalyst metal is loaded on a rear stage part, HC adsorbed by zeolite at low temperature are released from zeolite at high temperature and purified by the second catalyst metal. On the other hand, in a catalyst for purifying exhaust gases in which a second catalyst is loaded on a front stage part, early ignition of the second catalyst metal makes the timing of ignition of a first catalyst metal early, and HC adsorbed by zeolite are purified by the first catalyst metal. As a result, the catalyst of the present invention exhibits an advantage of exhibiting high HC-purifying ability.
On the other hand, in the catalyst for purifying exhaust gases according to the second aspect of the present invention, a catalytic layer has xcex2-zeolite, which has excellent HC-adsorbing ability, and a Cexe2x80x94Zrxe2x80x94Y composite oxide, which has excellent oxygen storage ability. Therefore, the catalyst has an advantage of exhibiting high HC-purifying ability while maintaining purifying ability as a catalyst for purifying exhaust gases. Specifically, since xcex2-zeolite has high heat resistance and excellent HC-adsorbing ability, HC adsorption can be carried out until the temperature becomes high. As a result, the catalyst according to the second aspect of the present invention is particularly excellent HC-adsorbing ability.


A headlamp for a power vehicle comprises a reflector mountable in a chassis and turnable for adjusting its inclination, a water level provided on the reflector for controlling its inclination, the water level having adjusting marks and being displaceable relative to the reflector for reflector specific fine adjustment, a support insertable in the reflector and receiving the water level, the water level having an outer side and provided on the outer side with a cover glass forming a part of an outwardly curved spherical surface, the water level being turnable in the support for fine adjustment about a vertical axis.

The present invention relates to a headlamp for a power vehicle.
More particularly, it relates to a headlamp provided with a water level.
Headlamps of the above mentioned general type are known in the art. One of such headlamps is disclosed for example in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,802,067. This headlamp has a reflector provided with a water level which is arranged in a support. The inclination of the reflector is determined by the water level. The support is turnable relative to the reflector by a hinge, so that a compensation of eventual manufacturing tolerances of the reflector is possible, which require a deviating inclination of the reflector to provide a predetermined adjustment of the light bundle produced by the headlamp. The support is transparent and formed as a triangle, so that the water level is arranged along a first leg of the support, while the second leg of the support is formed as a reflective surface. The water level can be read from the side of the third leg and during adjustment must not be directly visible. This construction of the support is too expensive for a series production and therefore costly.


Backup file path determination is described. A request is input from a source device to access a backup file on a storage device. One or more paths to the backup file are output to the source device. A determination whether the backup file is accessible to the source device via a path of the one or more paths is enabled. Access to the backup file is enabled via the path if the backup file is accessible to the source device via the path.

If a software error corrupts a database, or if erroneous data updates the database, a database administrator may restore the database to a previous uncorrupted state that does not include the erroneous data. A backup application executes a backup operation either occasionally or continuously to enable this restoration, storing each desired database state (the values of its data and these values embedding in database's data structures) within dedicated backup files on a storage device. When a database administrator decides to return a database to a previous state, the database administrator specifies the desired previous state by identifying a desired point in time when the database was in this state, and instructs the backup application to execute a restore application to restore the corresponding backup files for that state to the database. A database administrator may reduce the amount of backup data periodically stored to a storage device by configuring the database system to provide an incremental backup, which occurs only when files and directories that are modified after a previous backup are copied from the database's source device to the storage device.

Method and system for determining differing file path hierarchies for backup file paths


A diagnostic system for a vehicle includes a comparison module, a disabling module, and a fault indication module. The comparison module indicates whether a temperature of engine coolant is less than a first predetermined temperature. The disabling module disables the comparison module until the temperature of the engine coolant is greater than a second predetermined temperature. The fault indication module diagnoses a fault in response to the comparison module indicating that the temperature of the engine coolant is less than the first predetermined temperature.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
An internal combustion engine of a vehicle combusts an air/fuel mixture within cylinders to generate torque. Combustion also generates a significant amount of heat. A coolant pump circulates engine coolant through coolant channels within the engine. A radiator is connected to the coolant channels. A thermostat opens or is opened to allow the coolant pump to circulate the engine coolant through the coolant channels and the radiator. The function of the thermostat can also be performed by a variable speed electric pump, an electrically controlled valve, etc.
The engine coolant absorbs heat from the engine. The engine coolant may carry heat to the radiator. The radiator transfers heat from the engine coolant to air passing the radiator. The cooled engine coolant can then be circulated back to the engine to cool the engine.
Little or no air may pass the radiator when the vehicle is stationary or moving slowly. Accordingly, the engine coolant may be unable to release heat when the vehicle is stationary or moving slowly. A cooling fan may be selectively turned ON to draw air past the radiator. By increasing the airflow passing the radiator, the cooling fan may increase heat transfer from the engine coolant within the radiator to the air passing the radiator. Excessive heat may reduce the reliability and/or shorten the lifetime (i.e., period of reliable use) of the engine and/or one or more engine components.

Low coolant temperature fault diagnostic systems and methods


Arrangements for employing a system BIOS (basic input/output system) to handle email during a suspended state (such as an “S3” state as will be better understood herebelow). Preferably, the BIOS is employed to “jump” between two suspended images such that, e.g., two more powerful OS's can be employed to manage the mail function.

Notebook computers (which may also alternatively be referred to as "notebooks", "laptops", "laptop computers" or "mobile computers" in the present discussion) generally are not as flexible and versatile with the handling of electronic mail as might be desired. One of the major impediments to better mail handling has been the fact that notebooks (and other personal computers), because of the power states normally employed (e.g., the system does not run when the lid is closed), cannot download mail when the system is suspended (e.g., when the lid is closed). However, the handling of mail in a suspended state would appear to be a great boon to notebook users as this would help replicate such a function as is known and employed in hand-held mobile devices (such as the "BLACKBERRY" devices manufactured by Research In Motion, Waterloo, Ont., Canada).
Accordingly, in view of the foregoing, a need has been recognized in connection with improving upon the mail handling capabilities of notebooks so as to expand their functionality in scenarios that, for one reason or another, have hitherto been off-limits.


The disclosure relates to a method of forming magnetic materials having tunable magnetic properties and the magnetic materials formed thereby. The magnetic materials contain both single-domain and multidomain particles and have high initial permeability while maintaining coercivity and remanence in the material.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the direct preparation of premicronized low optical density magnetic material from submicron ion exchange resin using hollow fiber ultrafiltration technology.
The present invention further relates to magnetic materials having tunable magnetic properties, and more specifically, the present invention relates to magnetic materials containing both single-domain and multidomain particles. More particularly, the present invention relates to magnetic materials having high initial permeability while maintaining coercivity and remanence in the pigment.
The present invention also relates to a method for making low optical density magnetic fluids containing both single-domain and multidomain particles. More specifically, the invention relates to a method for the preparation of colored magnetic particles and ferrofluids using various colorants, dyes or pigments.
Finally, the invention relates to xerographic magnetic liquid toners, colored xerographic magnetic liquid toners and liquid ink compositions and methods of preparation thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
In standard one and two component xerographic and other magnetic imaging systems, the magnetic pigment used has both a remanence and coercivity that enables the pigment to function in the applied field, Due to the remanence and coercivity properties of the magnetic pigment, prior art materials required high weight or volume loading of the pigment in order to get an initial permeability high enough to make the material useful.
Magnetic pigments having high initial permeability are desirable because they allow for substantially lower pigment loadings which in turn improves the rheological properties of a toner or developer or improves the optical properties of, for example, a single component highlight color or color clean machine subsystem.
Prior Art superparamagnetic (SPM) materials for use as magnetic pigments provide the desired high initial permeability. These materials are not entirely satisfactory as they have no coercivity or remanence which are necessary for certain applications, i.e. any application requiring a memory. Such superparamagnetic materials have no memory in that, they are only magnetic in the presence of a field and have no net magnetism outside the field.
Ferrofluids which contain superparamagnetic materials as described above, are recognized within the prior art for a number of applications, including exclusion seals for computer disc drives, seals for bearings, for pressure and vacuum sealing devices, for heat transfer and damping fluids in audio speaker devices and in inertia damping. Typical prior art superparamagnetic materials such as those described by Wyman in U.S. Pat. No. 4,855,079 are coated particles which are in an organic based carrier material. More specifically, this patent discloses a superparamagnetic material which is formed by the precipitation of the magnetic particles (magnetite). These particles are subsequently coated with an oleic acid surfactant. The coated particles were eventually suspended in an organic dispersing agent. The use of dispersing agents or surfactants is a problem in that the right or enabling surfactant must be found empirically. Furthermore, the surfactant may degrade or cause adverse chemical reactions in the magnetic fluid during its application.
A method of forming dry magnetic particles by precipitation of a magnetic oxide in an ion exchange resin is discussed and exemplified by Ziolo in U.S. Pat. No. 4,474,866, which is incorporated herein by reference. According to the method employed, an ion exchange resin is loaded with a magnetic ion. The resin is then recovered and dried. The loaded resin does not contain single-domain and multidomain crystallites internal and external to the resin bead, respectively. The magnetic polymer resin must then be micronized to form a fine magnetic powder. The micronization step is a time and energy intensive process. The dry magnetic particles formed according to Ziolo, U.S. Pat. No. 4,474,866, like other typical prior art materials, could not be directly suspended in an aqueous medium to form a stable colloid.
None of the heretofor known prior art magnetic materials contain both single-domain and multidomain crystallites. Domain as used herein is described for example in C. P. Bean and J. D. Livingston, J. Appl. Physics 30, 120s (1959) and B. D. Cullity, Introduction to Magnetic Materials, Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., MA, (1972), both of which are incorporated herein by reference. The presence of both single-domain and multidomain crystallites provides the ability to tune the magnetic properties to match the desired use for the material. By varying the amount of single-domain and multidomain crystallites with respect to one another it is possible to provide a material whereby the properties of high initial permeability, remanence and coercivity may be varied relative to one another.

Magnetic materials with single-domain and multidomain crystallites and a method of preparation


An avionic weather radar system tracks aircraft orientation with respect to acquired scan radar data to correct the display of the weather radar data for range distortion and orientation changes of the aircraft between radar acquisition and display, reducing image artifacts.

The present invention relates to aircraft electronics and in particular to aircraft weather radar systems.
Weather radar uses echo returns from transmitted radio signals (typically in the megahertz and gigahertz spectrum) to locate and characterize precipitation and its motion. Precipitation may be characterized by the intensity of the echo return and motion characterized by Doppler principles in which moving particles provide a frequency shift to the echo return.
Aircraft weather radar uses these principles to provide guidance to pilots with respect to storm cells and the like. In such systems, a radar antenna may be fixed to the nose or wing of the aircraft and scanned either mechanically or using phased array techniques. Typically the radar beam is collimated to a focused ray which is scanned in a horizontal plane directed outward along the flight path of the aircraft to provide information about weather in the path of the aircraft, while reducing reflections from the ground (ground clutter). The angle of the radar beam with respect to the horizon may be adjusted, however, so that the pilot may direct the radar to regions of interest not necessarily at the current altitude of the aircraft.
The weather data derived from the echo returns may be displayed in real-time on a display in the cockpit. The image on the display is normally displayed in 2 dimensions and oriented with respect to a small fixed aircraft icon so that weather systems directly in front of the aircraft are positioned directly above the icon while those to the left and right of the aircraft are depicted to the left and right of the icon respectively. This approach provides the pilot a constant indication of weather patterns in front of the aircraft flight path.
While mechanisms for moving radar antenna or adjusting the angle of a phased array can theoretically scan the field of view of the radar at high speed, as a practical matter the need to wait for echo returns and sufficient data sampling, limit the scan rate of the antenna to on the order of seven seconds per scan acquisition.
Unlike a ground-based radar, the antenna used in aircraft weather radar is mounted to a moving object (e.g. the aircraft) which can be subject to constant changes in orientation particularly if there is buffeting in storm regions. It is known that some weather radar systems stabilize the angle of the scanning plane of the radar using a vertical gyroscope on the aircraft.

Aircraft weather radar with reduced heading, attitude and range artifacts


This application provides a negative electrode plate, a secondary battery, a battery module, a battery pack, and an apparatus. The negative electrode plate includes a negative current collector and a plurality of active substance layers formed on the negative current collector, where the plurality of active substance layers include at least a first active substance layer and a second active substance layer; the first active substance layer includes a first negative active substance, and the second active substance layer includes a second negative active substance; a ratio of thickness of the negative active substance of the first active substance layer to average particle size of the first negative active substance is 2.0 to 4.0; and a ratio of thickness of the second active substance layer to average particle size of the second negative active substance is 2.2 to 5.0.

Rechargeable batteries have been widely used in recent years due to their advantages of high energy density, high operating voltage, long service life, and low self-discharge. However, with the increasing popularity of electric vehicles, higher requirements are imposed on the energy density and fast charging performance of the rechargeable batteries.
How to make the batteries achieve a balance between high energy density and fast charging capability is still one of the important issues in the industry. Therefore, constant efforts are needed to address this issue.

Negative electrode plate, secondary battery, battery module, battery pack, and apparatus

CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITED


A pulse width modulation method for controlling the output power of a pulsed gas discharge laser powered by a pulsed RF power supply comprises delivering a train of digital pulses to the RF power supply. Each pulse in the train has an incrementally variable duration. The power supply is arranged to deliver a train of RF pulses corresponding in number and duration to the train of digital pulses received. The average power in the RF-pulse train can be varied by incrementally varying the duration of one or more of the digital pulses in the digital pulse train. The train of RF pulses is used to power a gas discharge laser. The gas discharge laser outputs a pulse train corresponding to the RF pulse train.

A CO2 gas discharge laser is typically powered by a high-voltage RF power supply (RFPS). The power supply applies RF voltage to electrodes of the gas laser, which excite a discharge in a lasing gas mixture including CO2 and inert gases. The discharge takes place within a laser resonator. The discharge energizes the lasing gas such that the energized gas provides optical gain causing laser radiation to circulate in the laser resonator. A fixed, predetermined portion of the circulating radiation is coupled out of the laser resonator as output radiation. The laser is typically operated in a pulsed manner and delivers pulses at a predetermined peak power, for a given pulse duration, and at a predetermined pulse repetition frequency (PRF). Typically the PRF is between about 1 kilohertz (kHz) and 200 kHz. The average power in a laser pulse is related to the average power delivered by the RF power supply during the duration of the pulse. The RF power supply typically operates at a predetermined fixed (RF) frequency between about 10 megahertz (MHz) and 150 MHz with 100 MHz being typical, i.e., much higher than the highest contemplated PRF of the train of pulses.
The power in the laser output pulses is controlled by modulating the width of the individual RF pulse from the RF power supply. This power control method is called pulse width modulation (PWM). The RF power supply is periodically turned (fully) on and (fully) off, thereby generating a train of RF pulses which are provided to the laser discharge. The RF pulses in the train have the same on time, and the same off time between pulses. The pulse train is characterized by a duty cycle which is equal to the pulse duration of one pulse within the pulse train divided by the repetition period of the pulse train. RF power delivered to the laser is controlled by varying the duty cycle, which is effected by varying the duration (modulating the temporal width) of the RF pulses during the repetition period. Whatever the duty cycle, the width of all RF pulses in a train thereof is the same.
The duration of the pulses in a digital pulse width modulator (DPWM) is digitally controlled, so a pulse in a train can only be lengthened or shortened by fixed increments, the length of an increment being determined by the frequency of a system clock delivering clock pulses. Similarly the number of RF pulses in a train is fixed (again digitally) at some value required to provide that the train average power can be considered as equivalent to a steady state value that the train is attempting to simulate. Accordingly the resolution, i.e., the accuracy to which the average RF power can be controlled, and the corresponding power of a laser pulse, is determined by the clock-pulse period relative to the repetition period of the RF pulse train.
By way of example if a DPWM has a clock frequency f=10 MHz, each clock cycle period is 1/f=0.1 microsecond. If the laser PRF=1 kHz (corresponding to the frequency of delivery of RF pulse trains) a complete pulse width modulation period would contain 10 MHz/1 kHz=10,000 clock cycles and the resolution would be 10,000, i.e., 0.01%. If the laser PRF is increased to 100 kHz with the same clock frequency the resolution falls to 10 MHz/100 kHz=100, i.e., 1.0%. In order to obtain the resolution possible in the 1 kHz-PRF case at 100 KHz, the clock frequency would have to be increased to 1 gigahertz (GHz). This higher frequency is not practical in a commercial laser as it requires the uses of correspondingly faster circuit components and wider counters, all of which increases the cost of a laser.
In laser processing application for which CO2 lasers are used, for example in semiconductor device processing applications, there is an increasing trend towards using higher pulse repetition frequencies, for example, up to 200 kHz or greater. Power control accuracy significantly better than 1% is generally desired. There is a need for a PWM method that would allow this control accuracy with reasonable clock frequencies, for example between about 1 MHz and 10 MHz.

Digital pulse-width-modulation control of a radio frequency power supply for pulsed laser


Methods and apparatus are provided for producing an auditory alert that comprises sonic properties to an equipment operator wearing an auditory headset prior to the presentation of the auditory alert to the operator. The method comprises measuring an at-ear ambient noise spectrum, determining frequencies within the at-ear ambient noise spectrum that have relative minimum intensities and enhancing the magnitude of the determined relative minimum intensities. The method then generates the auditory alert incorporating the enhanced relative minimum intensities.

The ability of equipment operators to detect auditory alerts, such as cautions and warnings within a confined space while wearing headsets or other devices used for hearing protection and/or communication, can be compromised by inappropriate alert components coupled with the physical auditory damping characteristics of the device in the presence of ambient noise. Currently, the rudimentary solution is to set the amplifier gain of the alert to a very high level to overwhelm the ambient noise and penetrate the attenuation properties of a device. The result is an obnoxiously and unnecessarily loud alert signal, which can result in a "startle" response that may impact operational safety.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide systems and methods to condition auditory alerts based on the spectral qualities and associated distribution of intensities of the ambient noise and the attenuation/amplification characteristics of an active noise reduction (ANR) or passive headset or other hearing protection device.

Methods and systems to support auditory signal detection


Modeled Types allow a developer to define attributes and/or code when defining a new type. When the Modeled Type is used, specific values may be assigned to the attributes. The consumer of the values of the attributes can be the type itself by executing the logic during application execution, or the consumer may be the runtime framework or the application using the values by querying the meta-data of the Modeled Type. Modeled Type Aliasing defines a Modeled Type based on another Modeled Type allowing both a new unique name but at the same time optionally supplying specific values to one or more of the attributes of the base Modeled Type. Context-aware Modeled Types provide a description of how to determine the value for the attribute.

Data has become an important asset in almost every application, whether the application is a Line-of-Business application that browses products and generates orders or a Personal Information Management application that schedules meetings. Applications are increasingly becoming data centric—that is, applications plan a significant portion of their design- and run-time experience around querying, manipulating, and presenting data. Many of these applications deal with data that is rich in semantics. Many of today's applications expend significant effort (in procedural code) to preserve the data semantics. While relational models (and systems) have been very successful in data management, they have failed to capture the application data models. Most applications (and application frameworks) roll their own data model on top of relational systems to bridge the impedance mis-match between the data and the application programming environment.
Most applications, whether Line-of-Business, Personal Information Management, or Information Worker-based, require data model concepts like rich structure, relationships, behaviors, and extensibility. Applications also deal with different types of data: relational rows, objects, XML documents, and files. The ultimate goal of data models would be to model application data semantics in a purely declarative fashion, however, to date this has not been possible.

Modeled types-attributes, aliases and context-awareness


An object of the present invention is to provide a dust collector including a pulse jet type dust removal mechanism capable of uniformly removing dust over the entire length of a cylindrical filter without increasing the pressure loss of the cylindrical filter; and a dust removal method for such a dust collector. The dust collector of the present invention is a dust collector including a pulse jet type dust removal mechanism for removing dust adhered to cylindrical filters, in which the pulse jet type dust removal mechanism includes: a first discharge section having first discharge nozzles for discharging pulse jets from first end side openings of the cylindrical filters toward inside of the cylindrical filters; and a second discharge section having second nozzles for discharging pulse jets from second end sides of the cylindrical filters toward openings on the first end side of the cylindrical filters, and the second nozzles for discharging are each provided on a tip side of a pipe line extending from the first end side to the second end side of the cylindrical filter.

As a dust collector that removes dust from dust-containing gas containing dust by a filter, a dust collector including a pulse jet type dust removal mechanism for ejecting compressed air from a discharge section in a pulsed state, in order to remove dust adhered to a filter is known.
For example, a dust collector including a dust removal mechanism for increasing the internal pressure of a filter to equal in the internal pressure over the entire length of the filter by providing a tapered tube having a frustoconical shape in the cylindrical filter, or providing a concave bottom plate in a lower end of the filter is known (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

Dust collector and dust removal method for same


A sensor detects force or other indications of an impending rollover of a motorized land vehicle. Upon detection of a threshold force value, the sensor actuates an applicator that delivers traction reducing fluid to the contact patch between at least one of the vehicle tires and the ground. The vehicle is enabled to dissipate the rollover inducing force by sliding laterally in preference to rolling over.

This invention addresses the problem of accidental overturn or rollover of a four wheeled vehicle, such as an automobile or truck. A common cause of such accidents is execution of a steering maneuver involving a sharp turn or swerve, causing the vehicle to tilt. If the lateral force causing the tilt is excessive, the vehicle's body lean can cause the vehicle to roll over, i.e., at least fall onto its side and perhaps continue through further stages of lateral rolling. This type of accident is extreme in its seriousness because the driver has lost all means of controlling the vehicle and has no possible recovery. Accidents of this type can be especially a danger in vehicles with high center of gravity, relative to their wheel track.
The stability of a vehicle is a function of its design, and many experts use the formula T/2H to define a stability ratio, where T=vehicle track and H=vehicle center of gravity height. As is evident from this formula, the stability factor for a vehicle of given track width is highly influenced by height dimension. Trucks tend to be tall relative to wheel track. However, the group of vehicles that presently appears most subject to rollover danger is the sport utility vehicle (SUV), which tends to be a passenger car built on a tall, truck-like chassis, often with four-wheel drive. These vehicles often serve as family cars and are driven by all skill levels of drivers, many of whom lack awareness of this special danger and tend to drive the SUV like an ordinary sedan.
The stability ratio represents the amount of side force, measured in gravity force (g-force) applied at the vehicle's center of gravity, necessary to overturn a rigid body with a given track width and center of gravity height. For example, if a solid car model weighted 3000 pounds and had a track width of 50 inches and a center of gravity height of 24 inches, its stability ratio would be 50/(2.times.24)=1.04. The amount of force needed to overturn the car model can be determined by multiplying vehicle weight by stability ratio. Thus, 3,120 pounds of force applied to the side at the level of the center of gravity will overturn the model on flat ground. Such a result is theoretical only, as it assumes a perfectly rigid vehicle and force applied in only one direction.
Actual cars operating on roads are subject to many other variables, including suspension systems, tire characteristics, and steering inputs. The geometry of a relatively unstable SUV may result in a stability ratio of 1.04, but such a vehicle may roll over on smooth pavement at less than 0.8 lateral g-force. This result is enabled, in part, by flexible tires and suspension systems, which on all vehicles tend to lower the force necessary for rollover below that predicted by T/2H.
The automotive industry has developed measures to improve safety during rollover accidents and in some instances, to assist in preventing them. These measures may employ a computer or processor that anticipates the rollover, based upon data constantly gathered during vehicle operation. For example, the computer may receive information about vehicle attitude, speed, and lateral acceleration, or any other data suited to any specific choice of calculation formula. From gathered data, the processor can predict when rollover danger is high. By automatically adjusting the vehicle suspension system or tire rotation rate, the processor may prevent a rollover that the driver does not anticipate or have skill to correct. Unfortunately, an imminent rollover can be brought about so suddenly, i.e, by an emergency maneuver, that preventative measures of this sort are essentially ineffective. More commonly, the processor improves safety during the rollover by activating safety equipment or seeking to prevent fire. U.S. Pat. No. 5,835,873 to Darby et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,111 to Halasz et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,610,575 to Gioutsos, U.S. Pat. No. 4,531,607 to Browne, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,377,210 to Monte show prior art of this nature. In each, a computer, sensor, or similar system determines the status of the vehicle. In response to a detected condition, the computer or sensor causes a helpful preparatory action, such as shutting off the fuel pump, tightening a seat belt, spraying lubricant on the windshield, or deploying an air bag.
In areas of automotive technology unrelated to rollover prevention, the automotive industry has developed methods and equipment for improving tire traction under slippery conditions. These methods involve spraying traction increasing materials on the tires or roadway. Examples include U.S. Pat. No. 5,582,411 to Frost, U.S. Pat. No. 5,118,142 to Bish, U.S. Pat. No. 1,959,240 to Josky, U.S. Pat. No. 3,554,370 to Wrede and U.S. Pat. No. 3,256,920 to Byers. These patents show that a vehicle may carry its own supply of sand or other traction-increasing material. Such materials may be sprayed before the vehicle by air pressure in order to assist traction, such as for stopping. A computer may control the application system, operating in response to detected wheel slippage. With the development of antilock braking systems (ABS), the ABS braking computer is well-suited to activate a sand spray unit. This technology potentially can be adapted to preventing rollovers, despite the fact that its application thus far has been directed to the art of stopping and offers little or no assistance to the art of preventing rollovers.
There are a few situations in which a liquid is applied to car tires or brakes for a special purpose, although unrelated to preventing rollovers. U.S. Pat. No. 3,779,324 to Kreske, Jr. shows a manually activated, pressurized, on-board system for spraying detergent onto tires of a drag race car as part of a washing system, to assist the driver in spinning the tires against the road surface just before a drag race to clean the tread. U.S. Pat. No. 4,771,822 to Barbosa teaches spraying tires and brakes in order to cool them. U.S. Pat. No. 3,336,064 to Dzaack teaches spraying tires with a solution of anti-freeze for softening ice to increase tire traction on the ice.
The trend in automotive traction technology as illustrated, above, clearly has been to prevent loss of traction. This approach to designing safety systems seeks to give the driver positive control at all times. Even those systems that oppose rollover do so by attempting to maintain the vehicle in controlled condition. At such time as the physics of rollover dictates that control inevitably will be lost, because the tires leave the ground, the existing systems surrender preventative measures and fall back to accommodating the rollover by activating injury protection devices.
In almost every conceivable situation, it would be desirable to prevent rollover in preference to accepting and accommodating rollover. The potential for extensive property damage, serious injury, and even death in a rollover appears to be so great that extreme prevention measures cannot be ignored. Thus, it would be desirable to prevent rollover by inducing a slide.
To achieve the foregoing and other objects and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the method of preventing rollover of this invention may comprise the following.

Method and apparatus for reducing vehicle rollover


A flow measurement sensing device includes a first venturi having a first shield portion, an elongated portion connected to an outer surface of the first venturi, and a second venturi housed within the first venturi. The second venturi has a second shield portion and at least one air inlet. The flow measurement sensing device further includes a first integral passageway extending from the air inlet through the elongated portion. The first integral passageway has a first segment with a first cross-sectional shape and a segment with a second cross-sectional shape.

Mass flow measurement sensors are commonly used in aircraft environmental control systems (ECS). One type of sensor, a boost venturi sensor, includes concentric venturi structures, and may further include one or more electronic pressure sensors that provide fluid flow information to a control unit. Current venturi-type sensors are formed from various cast, forged, and machined components that undergo manufacturing processes such as dip brazing or welding to join the multiple components. The venturi sensor is then drilled to create fluid sense lines within the sensor body. The accuracy of conventionally-manufactured boost venturi sensors can be negatively impacted by the multiple braze joints and plugged cross-drill points. Further, the cross-section of conventional venturis is limited to what can be achieved by current tooling methods or access to cross-drilling and plugging. Thus, the need exists for boost venturi sensors having a more seamless design and optimized for placement in a variety of fluid streams.

Additively manufactured flow measurement sensor


A diode is described with a III-N material structure, an electrically conductive channel in the III-N material structure, two terminals, wherein a first terminal is an anode adjacent to the III-N material structure and a second terminal is a cathode in ohmic contact with the electrically conductive channel, and a dielectric layer over at least a portion of the anode. The anode comprises a first metal layer adjacent to the III-N material structure, a second metal layer, and an intermediary electrically conductive structure between the first metal layer and the second metal layer. The intermediary electrically conductive structure reduces a shift in an on-voltage or reduces a shift in reverse bias current of the diode resulting from the inclusion of the dielectric layer. The diode can be a high voltage device and can have low reverse bias currents.

Diodes are used in a wide range of electronic circuits. Diodes used in circuits for high voltage switching applications ideally require the following characteristics. When biased in the reverse direction (i.e., the cathode is at a higher voltage than the anode), the diode should be able to support a large voltage while allowing as little current as possible to pass through. The amount of voltage that must be supported depends on the application; for example, many high power switching applications require diodes that can support a reverse bias of at least 600V or at least 1200V without passing a substantial amount of current. When current flows through the diode in the forward direction (from anode to cathode), the forward voltage drop across the diode Von should be as small as possible to minimize conduction losses, or in other words the diode's on-resistance Ron should be as small as possible. Finally, the amount of charge stored in the diode when it is reverse biased should be as small as possible to reduce transient currents in the circuit when the voltage across the diode changes, since reduced transient currents result in reduced switching losses.
In diodes, there is typically a trade-off between the various characteristics described above. For example, silicon Schottky diodes can typically exhibit excellent switching speed and on-state performance, but suffer from large reverse leakage currents, making them unsuitable for high voltage applications. Conversely, high voltage Si PIN diodes can support large reverse bias voltages with low leakage, but typically exhibit high conduction and switching losses. Further, reverse recovery currents in PIN diodes add to these losses when the PIN diodes are incorporated into circuits.
FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a prior art III-N semiconductor heterostructure diode. As used herein, the terms III-N or III-Nitride materials, layers, devices, etc., refer to a material or device comprised of a compound semiconductor material according to the stoichiometric formula AlxInyGazN, where x+y+z is about 1. The diode structure includes a substrate 20, a first III-N semiconductor layer 22 on top of the substrate, and a second III-N semiconductor layer 24 on top of the first III-N layer. III-N layers 22 and 24 have different compositions from one another, the compositions selected such that a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) 26 (illustrated by a dashed line) is induced in the first III-N layer 22 near the interface between the first and second III-N layers 22 and 24. An anode contact 27 (or a plurality of anode contacts, not shown) are formed on top of surface 25 of the second III-N layer 24, and a single cathode contact 28 is formed which contacts the 2DEG 26. The anode contact 27 is a Schottky contact, and the single cathode contact 28 is an ohmic contact.
Anode and cathode contacts 27 and 28, respectively, may be any arbitrary shape, although the shape can be optimized to minimize the on-resistance Ron of the device. Further, the choice of metals for the contacts, especially that of the anode contact 27, can affect the forward operating voltage Von (also known as the on-voltage) of the device. It is desirable to provide diodes for which high blocking voltages and low reverse leakage currents can be achieved while at the same time maintaining lower on-resistance and control of the forward operating voltage. Diode structures which can easily be integrated with other circuit components, such as transistors, are desirable for process integration and cost reduction.

Semiconductor diodes with low reverse bias currents


A connection clamp for electrically connecting at least two electrical conductors includes at least one power carrying element, at least one substantially W-shaped spring and at least one spring receiver. The power carrying element includes at least two side walls, each respectively including at least one electrical contact surface at their insides oriented towards one another. The spring is arranged between the side walls. The arms of the spring are respectively arranged at a slant angle relative to the respectively adjacent side wall. The spring ends are configured as pull safety edges. An electrical conductor is insertable between a spring end and a side wall and the conductor is pressed against the contact surface through the spring force.

Electrical spring clamps in which an electrical conductor is clamped through a spring are known in the art.
For example U.S. Pat. No. 2,988,726 illustrates a spring that is enveloped by a can and supported by an adjustable bolt. The electrical conductors that are to be contacted are inserted between a bent section of the spring and the outer wall of the can and clamped through the spring pressure thus reinforced.


Improved metallized films are produced by transferring a protective layer onto a metal layer from the side of the film remote from the metal layer. The transfer preferably takes place in the metallizer shortly after metallization and before the metal layer is exposed to the atmosphere which reduces the tendency of the metal to oxidize leading to a purer metal layer with enhanced barrier properties.

It is well known to package materials in laminar or sheet-like plastic films or multi-layer plastic film laminates. Where the materials are sensitive to oxygen and/or water vapour (e.g., materials such as certain foodstuffs, beverages, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, seeds, electrical components, etc.), a plastic packaging material is chosen which will provide a barrier against ingress of oxygen and/or water vapour, or other gases. It is also well known to package certain foodstuffs in an atmosphere of gas contained within a plastic material chosen for its low permeability to that gas (controlled atmosphere packaging or modified atmosphere packaging sometimes known as MAP).
It is also known to apply a gas-barrier layer, for instance a thin layer of a metal such as aluminum, in order to improve the barrier of the film to oxygen, and other gases and/or to water vapour. Metallized films can be further laminated to a heat sealable film such as a polyolefin film (e.g., polyethylene or polypropylene) or they can be laminated to a polyester film, to produce a material suitable for packaging oxygen—or moisture-sensitive products. However, the gas and moisture barrier properties are not significantly improved by this lamination. It is also known to apply gas barrier layers, such as layers of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymers or layers of polyvinylidene chloride.
For some applications it is desirable to decorate the package with, for example, print, and for reasons of security and integrity the printed material is frequently sandwiched between layers of the laminate. This can be achieved by printing the film, and metallizing over the print before further conversion. These activities are typically performed by film converters who process films for supply to the ultimate users. This procedure has the undesirable effect that the printed film becomes more permeable to oxygen and water vapour than the unprinted metallized film.
Metallized films are known to have low permeability to moisture but they have an undesirably high permeability to oxygen. Examples of such films include metallized polyolefin films, such as metallized mono-oriented or bi-axially oriented polypropylene film (hereafter OPP), metallized polyethylene film (hereafter PE), or metallized oriented polyester film (hereafter PET). Single webs of these films typically provide a moisture barrier of about 1 g/m2/24 hours (at 38° C., 90% Relative Humidity). Laminates of such metallized polyolefin films to unmetallized films, suitable for packaging of moisture-sensitive materials, are described in GB patent 1,566,925. However, gas and moisture barriers are not significantly improved by this lamination when compared with those of the single web metallized film. The clear web itself or the adhesive used for the lamination can, however, be chosen to impart good barrier properties.
In some applications it is desirable to decorate the package made from laminates of metallized and unmetallized films with, for example, print, and the print is often sandwiched between the layers of the laminate. This is normally achieved by printing the clear web and laminating it to the metallized polyolefin web. Gas and moisture barrier properties are not significantly improved over that of the single web metallized film unless the clear web itself or the ink or the adhesive has good barrier properties. The decorated package could also be produced by printing the clear polyolefin web and metallizing over the print, and then laminating to another clear polyolefin web, but this is not used commercially, the former process described above being preferred. By laminating a metallized polyolefin film to a further web of a metallized polyolefin film, further reductions in permeability can be achieved and a material with both good moisture barrier and good oxygen barrier is produced. European patent 154 428 A describes such laminates. The terms "coating" and "precoating" as used herein include the presence of laminar sheet elements in the film structure as well as coatings applied as liquids, melts or solid granular additives. For example, an intermediate or external layer may be considered as a coating or precoating depending upon its use. Similarly the terms "coating" and "precoating" may also include tie layers or skin layers depending upon their intended use.
Polypropylene films with a coating on one or both sides and metallized on one of the coated surfaces are also known from, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,013,353, these films are commercially available. When the coating is of a thermoplastic polymer resin that has no particular barrier properties, such as an acrylic resin, oxygen permeability of the unmetallized coated film is undesirably high (typically 500-1000 cc/m2/24 hours at 23° C. and 0% Relative Humidity) and oxygen permeability after metallization is also correspondingly high (greater than 10 cc/m2/24 hours at 23° C. and 0% Relative Humidity). When the coating is of a thermoplastic polymer resin with good barrier properties, such as a polyvinylidene chloride resin, oxygen permeability of the coated film is significantly reduced (typically 25 cc/m2/24 hours at 23° C. and 0% Relative Humidity) and oxygen permeability after metallization is correspondingly low (typically less than 5 cc/m2/24 hours at 23° C. and 0% Relative Humidity). Such films are widely used for packaging either in single web form or laminated to another unmetallized web. For applications where it is desirable to decorate the package with, for example, print, and to sandwich said print within a laminate, the unmetallized web is normally printed and then laminated to the metallized coated polypropylene web.
Current metallized films suffer from the disadvantages that scratches and folds in the metal, typically aluminum, layer can significantly decrease the water vapour barrier and gas barrier properties of the metallized films. Furthermore, the aluminum layer is difficult to print, and needs to be primed before printing, and, in addition, the aluminum layer is not sealable. A further disadvantage is that the unprotected aluminum layer is very sensitive to scratching and oxidation which is detrimental to the optical quality and barrier properties of the film and for most applications the aluminum layer has to be protected by the converters with a varnish. U.S. Pat. No. 6,013,353 describes a process in which a coating is applied on top of the metal layer of a metallized film. The films of U.S. Pat. No. 6,013,353 are however described as having only moderate oxygen barrier properties.
It is known that thin aluminum layers such as those present in metallized films oxidize to some degree upon exposure to the atmosphere to produce aluminum oxide. It is also known that the presence of aluminum oxide in the aluminum layer is undesirable in that it is hygroscopic and reduces the barrier properties of the layer, thereby reducing barrier properties to both oxygen and water vapour. Accordingly in a process such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,013,353 there can be significant oxidation of the aluminum layer.

Process for the production of improved metallized films


A mulitchannel optical waveguide page scanner has a diode laser and a primary optical channel waveguide. Light is coupled from the diode into the primary channel waveguide. Multiple secondary side channels each have a thin-film electro-optic waveguide modulator. A series of T-branch connectors distribute light from the primary channel to the secondary side channels. Each of the electro-optic waveguide modulators is addressable individually.

Laser polygon scanners, hologon scanners, light valve arrays, and LED arrays are well known devices for selectively exposing or "writing on" photosensitive materials or "photoreceptors". These devices, usually referred to as page scanners, are incorporated in electronic printing systems and are used to record information on the moving photoreceptor by converting serial electronic data into a parallel array of picture elements, or "pixels", line-by-line, on the photoreceptor. Eventually, a full page of information is written as the photoreceptor completes its cycle of motion.
Recently, electro-optic page scanners have been proposed. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,367,925 and 4,386,827 disclose a page scanner device in which a collimated sheet of light is total-internal-reflected off of the base of an inorganic electro-optic crystal. Selected pairs of parallel electrodes formed on or near the base of the crystal are energized by the application of an external voltage between these electrodes. The fringing electric fields extending into the electro-optic crystal in the region where the light is total-internal-reflected cause a phase change in that portion of the phase front of the collimated beam passing through the affected area. Schlieren optics are used to convert the phase-front modulated beam into a corresponding intensity-modulated pixel pattern representing an entire line of image information. Disadvantages of this device include difficulty in achieving uniformly high coupling efficiency between applied electric fields and optical fields for electro-optic modulation of the incident beam phase front, and expense of the relatively large electro-optic crystals of standard inorganic materials required for such scanners. U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,771 describes the use of thin-film waveguides composed of organic nonlinear optic materials to form an integrated optic waveguide scanner. The device described therein avoids many of the disadvantages associated with prior art electro-optic scanners.
One of the primary disadvantages of these electro-optic page scanner systems is that they require large, expensive lenses or lens arrays. Large lenses or lens arrays must be used because the physical dimensions of the lens or lens array which relays the image of the pixel pattern to the photoreceptor surface must be at least as large as the width of the page to be written. Typically, the page is on the order of 8 to 10 inches wide. This disadvantage can be partially offset by the use of Selfoc lens arrays; however, Selfoc lens arrays suffer from other problems such as severe chromatic aberration and non-uniformity of illumination. A second disadvantage, especially for those page scanner systems which employ incoherent illumination, is low light collection efficiency. In such systems light collection efficiency is limited by the numerical aperture of the lens system. In this respect the Selfoc lens array is no better than a conventional lens systems. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that it would be highly desirable to have a page scanner system with high coupling efficiency and relatively low expense which does not require large or bulky lenses.
The idea of using integrated optics to form compact lens-free devices for generating illumination arrays is not new. Kubota and Takeda in Array Illuminator Using Grating Couplers, Opt. Lett., Vol. 14, Jun. 15, 1989, pp. 651-652 reported a two dimensional illuminator formed by a thick multimode planar waveguide (thickness about 2.5 mm) with a two dimensional array of spaced grating couplers. The grating couplers were designed so that a guided collimated beam from a He-Ne laser source incident upon each grating in the array from inside the glass generated a beamlet that propagates in a direction normal to the waveguide surface. The disadvantage of such a device is that it is passive; no means are provided for individually modulating each beamlet. Furthermore, the total number of beamlets is limited by the relatively large losses associated with each grating.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,776,661 discloses an integrated optic device for performing optical data processing. The device is comprised of a planar waveguide on a substrate and a channel optical waveguide coupled to the planar optical waveguide. A grating coupler along a portion of the channel optical waveguide serves as a means of optically coupling the channel and planar optical waveguides. This device is shown schematically in FIG. 1. Laser diode source 8 endfire couples light into channel guide 6. Grating couplers 10a, 10b formed on channel waveguide 6 are designed to couple a portion of incident beam 12 into beamlets 14a, 14b which are guided in planar guide 4. As can be seen, this device serves to convert light from a single source into a linear array of collimated beamlets. No provision is made for modulating the individual beamlets or for coupling the light from the individual beamlets out of the channel waveguides in such a manner that the light remains collimated in the meridian normal to the plane of the waveguide.
Yet another prior art waveguide illuminator is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,703. This device is an electro-optic beam deflector for deflecting a light beam within a predetermined range of angle. It includes an array of channel waveguides and plural pairs of surface electrodes formed on the surface of a planar substrate of an electro-optic material such as single crystal LiNbO.sub.3. The channel waveguide array is comprised of a main channel and a plurality of branch channels diverging from the main channel on either side of the main channel at respective branching portions. Light from a laser diode is endfire coupled into the main channel at one end of the device. The branch channels are angled with respect to the main channel so as to cover the predetermined range of angle. Each pair of deflector surface electrodes is disposed at a corresponding one of the branching portions of the channel waveguide array to produce an electric field locally at the corresponding branching portions of the channel waveguide, and thereby deflect the guided light beam from the main channel into the corresponding one of the plurality of the branch channels due to the electro-optical effect upon selective application of a voltage between the deflector electrodes. A cylinder lens condenses the light emanating from one of the plurality of branch channels in the meridian normal to the plane of the substrate at the output end of the device.
A principle disadvantage of the device of U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,703 is that the pixels must be addressed in series rather than in parallel. This limits the speed at which the device can operate. A further disadvantage is that light which is to be directed to pixels via corresponding branch channels farther away from the laser diode source must propagate through more electrode branching portions than light which is directed to pixels which are associated with branch channels that are closer to the laser diode source. This will result in non-uniformity of illumination if any light is absorbed or lost at each branching portion. Still another disadvantage of this device is that it is based on the electro-optic effect in bulk single crystal materials such as LiNbO.sub.3. First of all, such bulk single crystals are usually expensive. Secondly, relatively large voltages are usually required to cause electro-optic deflection at each branching portion since the interaction with the electro-optic single crystal is via relatively weak electric fringing fields generated by electrodes on the crystal surface. This means that an array of expensive high voltage drivers would be required to provide the electrical signals for the device. Finally, the device has the disadvantages that all of the deflector electrodes and branching portions are located in series along the main channel. Since a finite length is required for each branching portion, the overall length of the device will be impractically large if the number of required pixels becomes large, for example, in the thousands.
Recently, strides have been made in the area of nonlinear optical organic materials. Penner et al. in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 735,550, filed Jul. 25, 1991 now abandoned, entitled Improved Conversion Efficiency Second Harmonic Generator, disclose means of forming poled noncentro-symmetric organic molecules by means of the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique. Williams has proposed the use of electrically poled noncentro-symmetric organic molecules in guest-host polymer structures. See Nonlinear Optical Properties of Guest-Host Polymer Structures, Quantum Electronics: Principles and Applications, Vol. 1 (1987), edited by Chemla and Zyss. Another means of obtaining nonlinear optical properties is by electrically poling nonlinear molecular species which are co-polymerized with linear organic materials as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,900,127. Disclosure of specific nonlinear organic molecules with large second order hyperpolarizabilities was made by Ulman et al., New Sulfonyl-Containing Materials for Nonlinear Optics: Semiempirical Calculations, Synthesis and Properties, J. Am. Chem. Soc., Vol. 112, No. 20, Sep. 26, 1990, and also by Williams, Organic Polymer and Non-Polymeric Materials with Large Optical Nonlinearities, Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. Engl. Vol. 23 (1984), pp. 690-703. Other references to organic nonlinear optical media in the form of transparent thin films are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,694,066; 4,536,450; 4,605,869; 4,607,095; 4,615,962; and 4,624,872.
Use of an electro-optic polymer to form a channel waveguide with switchable optical taps is taught by T. E. Van Eck et al. in Complimentary Optical Tap Fabricated in an Electro-Optic Polymer Waveguide, Appl. Phys. Lett., Vol. 58, No. 15, April 1991, pp. 1588-1590. This article describes an "optical railtap" system formed by a main channel waveguide with complimentary directional coupler taps which are disposed at intervals along the main channel rail and which are connected to secondary side channels. The channel waveguides are formed of an electro-optic polymer with electrodes appropriately positioned so that, after poling, the complimentary directional coupler taps can be selectively addressed to couple a portion of the optical energy out of the main rail channel into preselected secondary side channels. Each complimentary directional coupler includes a pair of identical taps, one of which is connected to a dummy secondary side channel. The complimentary directional coupler is designed so that the same portion of optical power is drawn off of the main rail regardless of the voltage applied to the tap; optical power is either directed toward the pre-selected side channel or discarded in the dummy side channel.
Although the Van Eck et al. device is well-suited for use as a means of distribution of laser signals in a network in which there are relatively few, widely-spaced optical taps, it suffers several fundamental drawbacks with respect to applications such as a page scanner which has numerous closely spaced pixels. First of all, since each directional coupler tap is on the order of a millimeter in length, the placement of such taps in series along the rail limits the number and packing density of output channels per unit length of the main rail channel. Secondly, the fabrication tolerance of the two taps in each directional coupler is very tight. These taps must be made very nearly identical in order to avoid altering the optical power drawn off of the main rail channel as the state of the directional coupler is changed. Finally, the use of the organic polymer material to form those portions of the main rail and secondary side channels which do not require the electro-optic effect adds unnecessary optical loss to the system. Currently, channel waveguides formed of ion-exchanged glass can be made with far lower optical propagation losses than channel waveguides made of organic polymers. Thus for devices such as the page scanner, which require long propagation lengths, it is desirable to restrict the use of the higher propagation loss organic material to the modulator areas where the electro-optic effect is required.

Multichannel optical waveguide page scanner with individually addressable electro-optic modulators


A cabin mounting structure is applied to construction machinery in which a cabin for riding a driver is mounted on a vehicle body, the cabin mounting structure including: an up and down directional vibration damping unit for damping up and down directional vibration of the cabin, the up and down directional vibration damping unit being mounted between the cabin and the vehicle body; and a front and rear directional vibration damping unit for damping front and rear directional vibration of the cabin, the front and rear directional vibration damping unit 3 being mounted between the cabin and the vehicle body, wherein the cabin is connected to the vehicle body to be relatively movable in a front and rear direction.

A cabin, a driving compartment, is mounted on a vehicle body of construction machinery, such as an excavator or a wheel loader. In this respect, vibration continuously transferred to a driver through the vehicle body during driving the construction machinery increases driver's fatigue so as to decrease work efficiency and cause safety accidents. It has been reported that vibration of the cabin is harmful to physical health of the driver so that vibration of the cabin has been more strictly regulated.
Especially, as concern about the fact that front and rear directional vibration of the vehicle is greatly affected on health and fatigue of the driver has recently issued, an apparatus for damping front and rear directional vibration is more essentially required.
As schematically illustrated in FIG. 1, the conventional construction machinery is constructed in such a manner that a vibration damping apparatus 2 of a cabin mount and a vibration damping apparatus 3 of a seat share vibration transferred from the vehicle to the driver, respectively, in order to damp vibration of the cabin 1. Both of the vibration damping apparatuses are in charge of damping vertical directional vibration.
Further, for currently issued problem of damping front and rear directional vibration, the conventional construction machinery includes a front and rear directional vibration isolator 6 installed between a seat cushion 4 and a seat body 5.
However, the front and rear directional vibration isolator 6 is effective in damping front and rear directional vibration. However, during the process of damping front and rear directional vibration by the vibration isolator 6, only the seat of the driver is moved in a front and rear direction without moving various operational apparatuses fixed on the cabin body, so that a body of the driver sitting on the seat moves in a front and rear direction with respect to the operational apparatuses, thereby deteriorating safety of operating the vehicle.
The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Cabin mounting structure for construction machinery