An information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and an information providing medium that allow a user to check the still pictures of a moving picture to be searched at desired points of time and desired time intervals and in a desired quantity. The user operates a mouse or a keyboard to enter a time and a time interval at which a picture is displayed. On the basis of these time and time interval, the CPU generates picture thumbnails of the moving picture. Then, the CPU simultaneously displays the generated picture thumbnails as arranged in a time sequential manner.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and an information providing medium and, more particularly, to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and an information providing medium that search moving pictures and process the obtained moving pictures.
2. Description of Related Art
With a video tape recorder for example, popularly known methods for searching scenes to be viewed or edited from a moving picture that takes long for reproduction include still, slow, queue, review, and other variable-speed reproduction techniques. Movie advertisements for example frequently use a technique of cutting out very short portions of a moving picture and connecting the cutouts to summarize the content of the original moving picture.
For another searching method, video-on-demand uses a method of using a plurality of channels, which are switched between for reproducing and displaying a moving picture from a desired position at constant intervals. Further, for a method of searching a moving picture stored in a computer, a technique is known in which a plurality of still pictures included in a moving picture are simultaneously displayed on a monitor screen at predetermined constant time intervals.
When the variable-speed display is used, only a moving picture at one time point can be displayed at a time in a picture search operation, thereby requiring a certain time for picture search. A moving picture in which the content of a long moving picture requires a certain time for checking the content of the summary picture. In addition, a picture desired by a user is not always included in that summary picture.
If the method of reproducing and displaying a moving picture from a given position at certain intervals is used, checking the content of the reproduced picture takes time and a desired picture is not always included in a selected channel. The method of displaying a still picture included in a moving picture at certain time intervals requires to display many pictures; in this case, a desired picture is not always included in that still picture.
Thus, the known methods do not allow a user to check, at desired time intervals and in a desired quantity, the still pictures at given point of time, included in a moving picture to be searched, thereby makes it significantly difficult for the user to quickly search and use the content of moving pictures.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and an information providing medium that allow a user to check, at desired time intervals and in a desired quantity, still pictures at desired points of time, included in a moving picture to be searched.

Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and information providing medium


A battery includes an electrode that exhibits a crystal structure change when lithiated beyond a threshold potential and a battery management system. The battery management system includes a controller configured to, while the battery is online, determine the threshold potential, determine battery operating parameters based on the determined threshold potential, and operate the battery based on the determined battery operating parameters.

A number of new battery chemistries are entering the market to provide capabilities required in specialized applications. At one time, the lithium-ion battery market was driven by the use of such batteries in portable electronics which require high energy but only limited life and power. More recently, other industries have focused on the use of batteries. By way of example, batteries are commonly incorporated into power tools and certain types of hybrid-electric vehicles. Each new industry requires different performance characteristics. Certain applications, such as automotive applications, require battery stability both in terms of battery safety for large packs and for long life, e.g. at least 10 to 15 years.
Lithium-ion batteries have become the industry standard in both electric mobility and portable electronics applications. Lithium-ion batteries operate based on the movement of lithium ions between the negative electrode, also known as the "anode," and the positive electrode, also known as the "cathode." Current negative electrodes are based on graphite, a material that intercalates lithium and has gravimetric capacity of 372 mAh/ggraphite. Silicon has been identified as a potential negative electrode material due to its ability to alloy with lithium and achieve gravimetric density of 3579 mAh/gSi. However, at present, using pure silicon as a negative electrode has proven to be challenging because of the high volume expansion rates occurring during the lithiation process of pure silicon. Nonetheless, some current batteries incorporate of a small amount of pure silicon or materials containing silicon, such as silicon oxide (SiO) or silicon alloys (SiB3, Si2Fe, TiSi2 and others), into graphite-based negative electrodes to increase the gravimetric capacity of the negative electrode above the level of pure graphite.
Lithium-ion batteries are often coupled to battery management systems (BMS) during the operation of the battery. The BMS generally includes a controller that executes program instructions stored in memory to operate the battery to control the speed at which the battery charges and discharges based on a known model of the operating parameters of the battery.
What is needed therefore is an improved way to design BMS strategies based on measurable features in order to improve cycle life of a lithium-ion battery and reduce drawbacks that may occur due to volume expansion during the lithiation process.

System and method for operating batteries based on electrode crystal structure change


A yarn monitoring system for textile machine uses sensors to indicate yarn over tensioning and breakage. The sensors are contained within, or adjacent to, eyelets and monitor, sending signals to the controller, the speed of the yarn. The eyelets, each with a sensor, are within a body that also contains a circuit board which is in constant communication with the eyelets and software contained within a controller. The controller, in turn, is in constant communication with the textile machine. The software is preprogrammed by a user with an acceptable signal range for passage of the yarn past the sensors and a predetermined time period for the signal to remain outside the acceptable signal range. To prevent unnecessary shut down of the textile machine, the software averages the signal and, when the averaged signal remains out of the acceptable signal range for the preprogrammed time initiates communication to the textile machine.

A number of textile improvements have sought to monitor tension and breakage in textile machines, however for the most part these monitoring devices have been mechanical. There has been some use of optical sensors, frequently in combination with mechanical members, to indicate breakage. Tension, however, is more difficult to monitor optically and has been primarily indicated through mechanical members or a mechanical/sensor combination.


An okra polygalacturonic acid having a uric acid-lowering effect, a method for preparing the same, and use of the same are disclosed. The method includes: smashing an okra, lixiviating the okra in ethanol, and filtering to obtain a filtrate and a residue; removing the filtrate, and lixiviating the residue in heated water to obtain an extraction solution; adding the ethanol into the extraction solution to precipitate okra crude polysaccharides; purifying the okra crude polysaccharides over an anion exchange column by eluting with water or a NaCl solution, a Tris-HCl solution or a NaCl-containing Tris-HCl solution, or a phosphate solution or a NaCl-containing phosphate solution, and collecting a fraction eluted by the NaCl solution, the NaCl-containing Tris-HCl solution, or the NaCl-containing phosphate solution; and concentrating, dialyzing and drying the fraction to obtain the okra polygalacturonic acid.

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) is an annual herb widely grown in tropical and subtropical regions. Okra is rich in nutrients and bioactive components such as minerals, vitamins, and dietary fiber, and exhibits remarkable benefits such as anti-fatigue effect, reducing blood sugar, relieving constipation, and boosting energy. Okra is also rich in polysaccharides with health functions, the content of which is about 25%; these polysaccharides play a key role in the health effects of okra. Current reports on the uric acid-lowering effect of okra mostly focus on the aqueous extract from okra, but it is not clear whether the uric acid-lowering effect of this aqueous extract is related to polysaccharides. Thus, it is necessary to isolate and purify the active polysaccharides from okra, characterize their structures, and evaluate their uric acid-lowering effects, which are of great significance to clarify the structures and functions of okra polysaccharides.

Method for preparing okra polygalacturonic acid having uric acid-lowering effect

Institute of Biological and Medical Engineering, Guangdong Academy of Sciences


A USB connector comprises a USB connector body and an optical module including an optical transmitter and an optical receiver engaging with the USB connector body. The USB connector body comprises a metal shell having a first opening adapted for connecting with an external plug; a second opening communicating with the first opening and adapted for accommodating the optical module; and a locking device adapted for locking the optical module within the USB connector body. The present invention can serve as an active optical transceiver, and simplify the structure and reduce manufacturing cost, further reduce the loss of optical signals and, in turn improve the transmission performance.

Conventionally, optical fiber is used for high-speed data transmission at low costs. Optical transceiver is used to convert electrical signal to optical signal and vise versa. Traditionally, coupling of optical signal from optical transceiver to optical fiber requires dedicated high-precision optical connectors. Recently, there is a need to introduce optical data bus to consumer electronic appliances to cope with the ever-increasing bandwidth demands for, e.g., transferring multi-media content from storage to the appliances. The enable this kind of applications, USB connector interfaces, which are commonly found in computers and numerous consumer appliances, were adopted to facilitate optical transmission.
In the traditional implementation of this type of optical interface, optical transceivers are located in transceiver housings outside of the USB connectors and on a printed-circuit board within the appliance enclosure. High-speed electronic signal is fed into the transceiver through the housing and is converted to optical signal. The optical signal is first coupled into a short piece of fiber jumper which is attached to the transceiver optical port during assembly process. The other end of the jumper is terminated with a plug assembly adopted for assembling into the back of USB connector. External fiber cable is terminated with a receptacle assembly which takes the shape of USB plug and can be inserted into the USB connector and aligned with the jumper plug assembly within the USB connector housing. When the plug and receptacle are engaged, optical signal is coupled from the jumper cable into the external cable and vise versa. Thus a duplex optical link is formed.
With the structure of the above-mentioned optical link configuration, the optical transceiver and corresponding housing occupies real estate on the PCB within the appliance. In addition, the use of additional jumper cable to connect optical transceiver and external cable causes optical loss and may affect signal transmission quality. As a result, there is a need to provide an improved USB connector design which can simultaneously serve as an active optical transceiver to overcome the disadvantages mentioned above.


A display apparatus includes a transparent substrate having first and second sides, an array of LED micro-display panels, and an array of collimating reflectors. The LED micro-display panels are disposed within the transparent substrate between the first and second sides and oriented to emit sub-image portions of a display image towards the first side. The collimating reflectors are disposed within the transparent substrate between the first side and the array of LED micro-display panels. The collimating reflectors are aligned with the LED micro-display panels to reflect the sub-image portions back out the second side of the transparent substrate. The LED micro-display panels are offset from the collimating reflectors to expand the sub-image portions prior to reflection by the collimating reflectors.

A head mounted display ("HMD") or head wearable display is a display device worn on or about the head. HMDs usually incorporate some sort of near-to-eye optical system to create a magnified virtual image placed a few meters in front of the user. Single eye displays are referred to as monocular HMDs while dual eye displays are referred to as binocular HMDs. Some HMDs display only a computer generated image ("CGI"), while other types of HMDs are capable of superimposing CGI over a real-world view. This latter type of HMD typically includes some form of see-through eyepiece and can serve as the hardware platform for realizing augmented reality. With augmented reality the viewer's image of the world is augmented with an overlaying CGI, also referred to as a heads-up display ("HUD").
HMDs have numerous practical and leisure applications. Aerospace applications permit a pilot to see vital flight control information without taking their eye off the flight path. Public safety applications include tactical displays of maps and thermal imaging. Other application fields include video games, transportation, and telecommunications. There is certain to be new found practical and leisure applications as the technology evolves; however, many of these applications are limited due to the cost, size, weight, thickness, field of view, and efficiency of conventional optical systems used to implement existing HMDs.

Display with reflected LED micro-display panels


A technique, as well as select implementations thereof, pertaining to a cost-effective device interface for data input and output is described. A device may include a first circuit, a plurality of Universal Serial Bus (USB) Type C connections, and a multiplexer coupled between the first circuit and the USB Type C connections. The first circuit may include a first connection and a second connection. The USB Type C connections may include at least a SBU1 connection and a SBU2 connection. The multiplexer may be configured to switch the SBU1 and SBU2 connections of the USB Type C connections to alternatively connect to either the first connection or the second connection of the first circuit in response to receiving a switch signal.

Unless otherwise indicated herein, approaches described in this section are not prior art to the claims listed below and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
With the growing popularity of portable devices and wearable devices, more and more different types of sensors and auxiliary devices are available for portable and wearable devices on the market. Typically a portable or wearable device is equipped with one or more Universal Serial Bus (USB) connectors through which one or more sensors and/or auxiliary devices can interface and connect to the portable or wearable device. However, to enable the use of a conventional USB connector, an additional integrated-circuit (IC) chip is often required to connect a differential data pair of the conventional USB connector, namely the data plus/data minus (DP/DM) differential lines, to an Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C) bus of the portable or wearable device. The requirement of the additional IC chip adds cost, which is undesirable. Moreover, when debugging through a conventional USB connector, a USB switch is often required to convert the USB DP/DM signals to universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART) transmit (TX) and receive (RX) signals. The requirement of the USB switch adds cost and downgrades signal quality, which is also undesirable. Furthermore, although some portable and wearable devices may have built-in sensor(s), lower-end portable and wearable devices may not be equipped with sensors such as pressure sensor, hygrometer, gas detector or ultraviolet (UV) sensor.

Cost-effective device interface for data input and output


An electrostatic filter utilizes a series of parallel plates which are charged at differing potentials and separated by porous filter material to remove particulate matter from dielectric fluids. The filter includes a fluid tight housing which is constructed to include an easily removable filter cartridge comprised of a shell that conforms to the housing and includes the plate and porous filter elements. The housing further includes a quick disconnect end cap that includes an electrical connection to a power supply. An electrically conductive spring is interposed between the power supply and an adjacent plate. This arrangement allows for a very simple, safe, quick and cost effective procedure to change filter cartridges. The cartridge structure additionally allows for the easy checking of proper continuity between electrodes during the cartridge assembly.

The prior art includes filters for removing particulates from various dielectric fluids, such as oils and hydraulic fluids, by employing mechanical filtration. When mechanical filtration is employed to filter very fine particles of, for example, about 5 to 10 microns, difficulties may be encountered because these relatively small particles require large bulk and volume filters to avoid significant system pressure drops caused by the necessarily small filter openings.
Alternatives to mechanical filters for fine particle filtration of dielectric fluids include electrostatic filters where the fluid is made to pass through a number of electrodes which are alternately charged with relatively high positive and negative voltages. Porous filter material is placed between the electrodes for trapping the particulates. It appears that the particulates, when subjected to the electric fields created by the application of voltage to the electrodes, are filtered in one of two possible ways. The filter material itself may be charged with the particulates being attracted to the filter material itself. More likely, however, the particulates are charged, either positively or negatively, depending on their composition, and the oppositely charged particles will be attracted to each other and eventually form a floc of larger particulate clumps which will be large enough to be trapped in the filter material. Whenever enough clumps form to effectively block the filter or produce an undesirable pressure drop, the filter must be replaced. While these electrostatic filters have evolved over a number of years, these filters still present a number of problems in terms of ease of fabrication and testing, as well as ease of replacement and safety of replacement, with attendant cost savings.


An alkylation process which utilizes a solid alkylation catalyst is disclosed. The catalyst, which has carbonaceous material adsorbed thereto, is regenerated by reacting the adsorbed carbonaceous material. The reaction step is accomplished by heating the catalyst in the presence of ozone to form an ozonated hydrocarbon, wherein the ozonated hydrocarbon includes carbonyl carbons. The ozonated hydrocarbon is removed by desorbing the carbonyl carbons from the solid alkylation catalyst. The carbonaceous material is preferably reacted at a temperature ranging from about 20.degree. C. to 200.degree. C. The ozone is preferably in a gaseous stream at a concentration ranging from about 1 to 50 volume percent. The carbonyl components are preferably desorbed from the heated alkylation catalyst by sweeping the catalyst with a desorption fluid.

Alkylation, as the term is commonly used in the petroleum industry, is the reaction between an olefin and a branched chain paraffin to obtain a highly branched chain paraffin having a higher molecular weight than the isoparaffin employed as the initial reactant. Commercial processes using strong mineral acid catalysts alkylate isobutane with C.sub.3 -C.sub.4 olefins to form high octane liquid products which distill in the gasoline range, 35.degree.-210.degree. C.
Two well known commercial processes are in liquid phase and use strong acids, i.e., hydrofluoric (HF) and sulfuric acid (H.sub.2 SO.sub.4). Although these processes have been successful from both an alkylate yield and a quality standpoint, there are some inherent disadvantages using strong acids in liquid phase. Major disadvantages are threats to operator safety and a high risk of environmental pollution as a result of accidental acid release and from spent acid disposal. This has prompted the exploration of solid catalyst processes for alkylation.
A large variety of solid catalysts, including amorphous and crystalline materials, have been demonstrated to be effective for use as alkylation catalysts. However, a major drawback of using a solid catalyst is a rapid loss in catalyst activity, thus requiring frequent regeneration of the catalyst. A number of regeneration methods including solvent wash, use of ultrasonics, conventional oxygen burn, etc. have been proposed.
Commercial alkylation processes which use solid catalysts generally incorporate an alkylation cycle and a catalyst regeneration cycle. In the alkylation cycle, the catalyst is in contact with the hydrocarbon feed. This cycle is also known as the "on-oil" portion of the operating cycle. During the on-oil portion of the operating cycle, the activity of the catalyst gradually declines due to the build-up of carbonaceous deposits, or coke, on the catalyst. During the catalyst regeneration cycle, the catalyst is taken out of contact with the hydrocarbon feed and the catalyst is regenerated.
In the semi-regenerative process, during the on-oil portion of the operating cycle, the entire unit is operated by gradually and progressively adjusting the temperature and feed rate to maintain yield and selectivity. At a predetermined activity level the entire unit is shut down for regeneration of the catalyst. After regeneration, the unit is put back in the on-oil cycle.
In a cyclic regeneration process, each individual reactor of a plurality of reactors is capable of being individually isolated. In effect, during the regeneration cycle, a reactor is swung out of line by various manifolding arrangements, such as by motor operated valving and the like. The catalyst is regenerated to remove the coke deposits while the other reactors remain on stream. A "swing reactor" temporarily replaces the reactor which is swung out of line, until regeneration of the catalyst is complete.
The net result in either type of regeneration process is, however, the same. The coke must be oxidatively burned from the catalyst at temperatures ranging from about 400.degree. C. to about 800.degree. C., and the higher the required temperature, inter alia, the greater the damage to the catalyst.
Attempts have been made to regenerate zeolite catalysts at low temperature, as disclosed by (1) Copperthwaite, R. G. et al., J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun. 1985, p 644-645; (2) Copperthwaite, R. G. et al., J. Chem. Soc., Faraday Trans. 1, 1986, 82, p 1007-1017; and (3) Hutchings, G. J. et al., Applied Catalysis, 34, 1987, p 153-161. In attempts to regenerate a 1/16 inch zeolite Y type of catalyst extrudate (LZY82.RTM., Union Carbide), as described by Hutchings et al., upon breaking the catalyst particles, they observed a black core of coked catalyst surrounded by a white layer of partially regenerated catalyst. More carbon remained on the catalyst when it was regenerated with ozone than remained on a similar catalyst regenerated with oxygen. In the regeneration of ZSM-5 powder, as described in the two Copperthwaite et al. publications, generally similar results were obtained. It would be very advantageous, and indeed a need exists, for a low temperature process which completely regenerates coked solid alkylation catalysts to perform in a manner that is essentially equivalent to that of fresh catalyst.

Heterogeneous alkylation and regeneration of alkylation catalysts


In correction waveform data generating apparatus for digital convergence or digital focusing in a color television receiver, the adjustment data for all adjustment points including the region of blanking intervals is controlled from the adjustment data for a relatively small number of representative adjustment points on the image screen. Data for the representative points is automatically interpolated to generate uniform correction waveform data for the entire image screen. Basic correction waveform data is stored for each representative adjustment point and is repeatedly added to and/or subtracted from on the basis of adjustment instructions at the respective adjustment points, so that data adjustment and waveform correction are achieved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to apparatus for generating correction waveform data for digital convergence, digital focus, and so on, for an image display unit such as a television receiver.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A previously proposed system for carrying out convergence and focus adjustments in a television receiver (often hereinafter referred to simply as a TV) freely adjusts the corrected waveforms to be applied to a convergence plate (or to a convergence coil) and to a correction waveform in a digital processing method.
FIGS. 1(a), 1(b), and 1(c) are explanatory views of the digital convergence adjustment of the corrected waveform effected by previously proposed digital convergence waveform data generating apparatus.
FIG. 1(a) shows a cross-hatch pattern indicating a plurality of adjustment points which are intersections of horizontal and vertical lines on an image screen of the TV 100.
FIG. 1(b) is an explanatory view of a fine adjustment carried out on one adjustment point, e.g., an origin P.sub.o,o shown in FIG. 1(a).
FIG. 1(c) is an explanatory view of a coarse adjustment carried out on one representative adjustment point, i.e., the origin shown in FIG. 1(b).
For the adjustment of the correction waveform of the convergence, a plurality (e.g., 17 points in the horizontal direction by 17 points in the vertical direction=289 points) of adjustment points P.sub.i, j are allocated in matric form, as shown in FIG. 1(a). During initial stages of development, convergence correction waveform generating apparatus required so-called fine adjustment of each of the respective adjustment points (adjustment to a low tolerance or precise adjustment) as shown in FIG. 1(a) to be carried out; a great deal of time and effort were consumed because of the presence of a such large number of adjustment points. Individual correction waveforms after fine adjustment become discontinuous with each other; consequently, a totally smooth correction waveform cannot be obtained. When viewed externally, as by looking toward a screen on which the corrected image is displayed, the corrected waveforms become prominent. This a principal disadvantage of previously proposed systems.
To eliminate the disadvantage described above, another previously proposed correction waveform data generating apparatus provides several adjustment points that represent all of the adjustment points (so-called representative adjustment points) selected from among the total number of adjustment points. The representative adjustment points are placed at several points of intersection on the image screen.
Then, when adjustment data is supplied as an input to any one of the representative adjustment points, the adjustment data for the other adjustment points in the vicinity of the (selected) representative adjustment point is automatically interpolated, and a calculated processing for the correction waveform data is executed so as to produce a continuous change in the correction waveform. That is to say, the above-described processing for the correction waveform is executed by means of a coarse adjustment correction waveform data generating apparatus.
As FIGS. 1(a) through 1(c) show, the fine adjustment shown in FIG. 1(b) is such as to provide the adjustment data only for the adjustment point of origin, e.g., P.sub.o,o (origin) on the image screen 100a (FIG. 1(a) shows one quadrant). When fine adjustment is carried out on the origin only, adjustment data can become discontinuous.
On the other hand, in the coarse adjustment shown in FIG. 1(c), suppose that the horizontal axis on the image screen 100a is represented by x, the vertical axis is represented by y, and the adjustment data of the correction waveform is represented by an amplitude (depth) in the z direction. In the case of the coarse adjustment data for the image screen 100a shown in FIG. 1(a) where the coarse adjustment is carried out on one representative point, e.g., P.sub.o,o, a series of calculations such as those expressed in the following equation (1) is carried out on all adjustment points (lattice intersections shown in FIG. 1(a)) that are in proximity to the representative adjustment point, i e., origin EQU z=a (k-x).sup.2 (k-y).sup.2 . . . ( 1)
where a is a factor and k is a constant. Therefore, adjustment data providing a smooth curved surface as shown in FIG. 1(c) can be achieved
The adjustment data thus generated by the convergence correction waveform data generating apparatus described above is written into a random access memory (RAM). During operation of the image display unit, the written adjustment data is sequentially read in response to a clock synchronized with the horizontal and vertical scanning of the image display apparatus. In the process of D/A conversion, step-wise correction waveforms in the horizontal scanning interval are smoothed through a lowpass filter (LPF), and thereafter the smoothed waveform is applied to the convergence plate (or correction coil) so that convergence correction for the color television receiver is carried out.
As FIG. 2(a) shows, the corrected waveform of convergence is such that, from a ground state, it ideally assumes its peak value instantly without gradation, after which it gradually returns to the ground state again and then gradually once more returns to its peak value, the gradation from peak to peak describing a parabola that is concave up. After reaching the peak state that completes the parabola it ideally instantly assumes its ground value once again.
However, as the actual output correction waveform of FIG. 2(b) shows, in practice the ideal correction waveform represented by FIG. 2(a) is not attained. One scanning during the horizontal period in the case of image display is divided into a video display interval (active interval) and horizontal blanking interval (H. BLK). The previously proposed adjustment (interpolation) is carried out only during the active interval. During the horizontal blanking interval, the corrected waveform maintains its ground state (GND). However, the corrected waveform thus obtained is such that it is delayed by the influence of devices such as low-pass filters (e.g., at part A shown in FIG. 2(b)), and a rounded peak wave results. This is a hindrance to correction at the right and left edges of the image.
A previously proposed method of remedying problems such as those described above was a linear interpolation method carried out during the horizontal blanking interval as shown in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b). FIG. 3(a) is an ideal correction waveform in the case of the linear interpolation method and FIG. 3(b) is an actual output correction waveform This linear interpolation method is such that, as viewed from the initial data to final data of the active interval, a straight line is in effect drawn between the initial and last data during horizontal blanking.
However, the previously proposed correction waveform data generating apparatus described above presents the following problems:
(1) In the case of coarse adjustment, the adjustment data has been generated by means of calculation processing so as automatically to produce an optimum waveform for convergence correction at points in proximity to the representative adjustment point. However, a large amount of calculation processing time is required along with complex multiplication as shown in equation (1). Therefore, the response on the screen at the time of adjustment becomes delayed, operability becomes worse, and adjustment times also become lengthened. In usual practice, the calculation of the equation (1) is carried out using a central processing unit (CPU). To speed up the calculation processing time, a CPU having high performance and a self-contained calculation processor (a so-called coprocessor) may be used. However, the use of such processors entails high production costs.
(2) In methods using linear interpolation during the horizontal blanking interval, straight lines are used to connect the initial adjustment data and final adjustment data in the active interval when viewing the adjustment data so as to prevent delay and waveform rounding (caused for example by a low-pass filter (LPF)) from degrading the optimum waveform at the left and right edges of the screen. The technique of providing a straight connecting line is valid in cases where the change between the two points connected by the straight line is zero or very small. However, when the change becomes large, as illustrated in FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b), the above-described influences appear at point B of the actual correction waveform shown in FIG. 4(b), so that there is a discrepancy between the actual and ideal waveforms.
The prevention of such influences is not always possible. FIG. 4(a) shows the ideal correction waveform corresponding to deteriorated actual correction waveform shown in FIG. 4(b).

Digital convergence for television receiver


An adjustable length medical device, such as a drainage stent, and delivery device for placing within the body, having an elongate tube and retention members at each end portion for anchoring the device in the body. The proximal portion of the device including the proximal retention member may be segmented in incremental portions so that the length of the device can be adjusted for placement.

Medical devices developed for implantation or insertion into patients are known for various purposes including stenting, drainage, etc. of lumens, tracts, vessels, and cavities within the body. As an example, polymeric ureteral stents are widely used to facilitate drainage in the upper urinary tract (e.g., drainage from the kidney to the bladder), for example, following ureteroscopy, endourerotomies, and endopyelotomy for ureteral strictures, as well as in other instances where ureteral obstruction may occur.
An exemplary stent 10 of this type is illustrated in FIG. 1. The stent 10 has a proximal end 10p and a distal end 10d. It is a tubular polymer extrusion having a shaft 12, a distal renal retention structure (e.g., renal "pigtail" 14), and a proximal retention structure (e.g., bladder "pigtail" 16). These retention structures prevent upward migration of the stent toward the kidney or downward migration of the stent toward the bladder. Once properly deployed in the ureter, the stent 10 provides ureteral rigidity and allows the passage of urine. The stent 10, as exemplified by FIG. 1, may further be provided with any one or more of the following: (a) a tapered tip 11, to aid insertion, (b) multiple side ports 18 (one numbered), which are typically arranged in a spiral pattern down the length of the body to promote drainage, (c) graduation marks 25 (one illustrated), which are normally used for visualization by the physician to know when the appropriate length of stent has been inserted into the ureter, and (d) a suture 22, which aids in positioning and withdrawal of the stent.
During placement, such ureteral stents 10 are typically placed over a urology guide wire, through a cystoscope or flexible ureteroscope, and advanced into position with a pusher. Once the distal end of the stent is advanced into the kidney/renal calyx, the guide wire is removed, allowing the pigtails 14, 16 to form in the kidney 19 and bladder 20, as shown in FIG. 2. The renal pigtail 14 of the stent may be closed or tapered on the end, depending on the method of insertion (e.g., the use of a guide wire or otherwise). As shown in FIG. 2, the stent 10 extends through the ureteral orifice 21a and into the bladder 20. For clarity, the ureter entering bladder 20 through the opposite ureteral orifice 21b is not shown.
These types of implanted medical devices may be associated with patient discomfort or pain after being positioned within the body, for example, in regard to ureteral stents, pain and/or discomfort in the bladder and flank area after insertion. Another issue is that various applications and anatomies require medical devices of different diameters and lengths, e.g., differences in individual ureteral anatomies require different diameters and lengths between the end retention structures of ureteral stents. Consequently, hospitals and other facilities inventory stents of different diameters and for each diameter, stents of different lengths, in some cases as much as six stents of different lengths for each diameter.
Generally, a physician must estimate ureter length before beginning a procedure. If the estimate is near the end of a particular length range, it is possible to select a stent that is slightly too long or too short. However, that fact may not be ascertainable until the stent has been implanted. The procedure for correcting any incorrect selection involves removing that stent and placing a longer or shorter stent in the ureter thereby complicating the procedure and potentially increasing patient trauma.
Examples of variable length stents include offset or planar coils at one or both of the end retention structures that can be unwound to increase or decrease the effective length between the structures. Another ureteral stent example includes a serpentine planar extension at the bladder end of the stent, and individual sections of the serpentine extension can be straightened to extend the effective length of the stent. Further examples disclose multi-turn coils at the bladder end that may be clipped off outside of the body when the length of the stent has been estimated by the physician.
Although these examples may reduce inventory requirements, excess retention structure left in the bladder may occupy a considerable volume which may increases a risk of tissue irritation. Additionally, stents clipped to length outside of the body prior to placement without reference markings may ultimately result in a length that is too short, requiring a new stent to be used, or too long, in which case the excess material and irritation concerns remain. Therefore, there exists a need for an adjustable length medical device, which may be sized accurately and consistently without excess volume leftover that may cause irritation.


In a process for welding a pipe string driven horizontally into the ground to a follower pipe, the pipe string buried in the ground and the follower pipe are rotated. A welder then does not need to make vertical welds but can form the weld seams in a position that is most comfortable for him.

Rammig in steel pipes, for instance protective or supply pipes, by means of a percussion boring device or a rammer of which the conical impact head engages, either directly or via an attachment, in the rear end of a pipe guided on supporting blocks with a cutting shoe that engages over the leading end on both the inside and the outside, has increasingly come to be used in practice. In most cases the full length of the pipe is not driven in in one piece, but short pieces, whose length depends on the size of the excavation available for preparing them for ramming in, are driven in in sucession. Each time this is done the follower pipe has to be connected by welding to the pipe or string of pipe lengths that has already been buried in the ground.
This series of operations is repeated until the complete pipe string length has been built up. Welding the individual pipe joints has however been found to involve problems in that the pipes have to be welded to one another in the starting pit around their entire circumferences in a leak-proof and impact-resistant manner. The welding thus requires qualified pipe line welders, particularly because the pipe joints have also to be welded on their undersides with the same quality. To enable the welding on the underside to be performed at least under improved conditions the starting pit is made deeper in this region. Since it is still not possible to see the welding point directly under the pipe, the welding also requires the use of a welding mirror.

Process for welding a follower pipe to a buried pipe string


An object of the present invention is to facilitate positioning of a metal member for mounting a high-frequency diode and of a dielectric strip, thereby remarkably improving control of oscillation characteristics and workability in production. The invention provides a Gunn diode oscillator comprising, between parallel plate conductors disposed at an interval equal to or less than one half of wavelength xcex of high-frequency signals, a metal member provided with a Gunn diode device which oscillates high-frequency signals, a choke-type bias supply strip which is made by alternately forming wide strips and narrow strips and which supplies a bias voltage to the Gunn diode device, and a strip conductor which linearly connects the choke-type bias supply strip and the Gunn diode device, and further comprising, in the vicinity of the Gunn diode device, a dielectric strip which is disposed in the vicinity of the Gunn diode device and which receives and propagates high-frequency signals, wherein the cycles of the wide strips and narrow strips of the choke-type bias supply strip are set to approximately xcex/4, respectively, and the length of the strip conductor is set to approximately {(xc2xe)+n}xcex (n is an integer of 0 or more).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a high-frequency diode oscillator which is a high-frequency oscillator such as a Gunn diode oscillator built in, for example, a high-frequency circuit such as a millimeter-wave integrated circuit and in which a nonradiative dielectric waveguide is used, and also relates to a millimeter-wave transmitting/receiving apparatus equipped with this high-frequency diode oscillator.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional Gunn diode oscillator is shown in FIG. 31. In FIG. 31, reference numeral 201 denotes a pair of parallel plate conductors. By setting an interval z between the conductors to zxe2x89xa6xcex/2, a so-called nonradiative dielectric waveguide (referred to as an NRD guide, hereafter) is configured, which prevents noise from entering from outside into a dielectric strip 207 and prevents high-frequency signals from radiating outside, thereby transmitting signals. Herein, xcex represents the wavelength of an electromagnetic wave (high-frequency signal) which propagates in the air at a used frequency.
Further, reference numeral 202 denotes a nearly rectangular parallelepiped metal member such as a metal block for mounting a Gunn diode device, reference numeral 203 denotes a Gunn diode device which is a kind of microwave diodes for oscillating microwaves, reference numeral 204 denotes a wiring board which is mounted on one side surface of the metal member 202 and which is provided with a choke-type bias supply strip 204a for supplying a bias voltage to the Gunn diode device 203 and functioning as a low-pass filter for preventing leakage of high-frequency signals, reference numeral 205 denotes a strip conductor such as a metal foil ribbon which connects the choke-type bias supply strip 204a and the upper conductor of the Gunn diode device 203, reference numeral 206 denotes a metal strip resonator which is made by disposing a resonating metal strip line 206a to a dielectric base, and reference numeral 207 denotes a dielectric strip which transmits high-frequency signals resonated by the metal strip resonator 206 to the outside. In FIG. 31, the upper one of the parallel plate conductors 201 is partially cut away in order to show the interior thereof.
In the NRD guide type of Gunn diode oscillator of FIG. 31, the metal member 202 mounted with the Gunn diode device 203 is disposed between the pair of parallel plate conductors 201. High-frequency signals (electromagnetic waves) such as microwaves oscillated from the Gunn diode device 203 are led out to the dielectric strip 207 via the metal strip resonator 206 having the metal strip line 206a.
Then, in the choke-type bias supply strip 204a, a choke in which the spatial cycle (length of one) of wide strips and the spatial cycle (length of one) of narrow strips are repeated by a cycle of approximately xcex/4, respectively, is formed as shown in FIG. 32. Further, the length of the strip conductor 205 is also set to approximately xcex/4, and the strip conductor 205 functions as part of a low-pass filter.
However, the conventional Gunn diode oscillator is configured so that the metal strip resonator 206, the metal member 202 for mounting the Gunn diode device 203, and the dielectric strip 207 are registered individually and interposed between the parallel plate conductors 201, 201. For this reason, the position of the metal strip resonator 206 varies due to vibration and its weight in the case where the processing accuracy of the metal strip resonator 206 is low, and propagation characteristics to the dielectric strip 207 is deteriorated in the case where the resonator is not accurately registered. That is to say, the conventional Gunn diode oscillator has a problem that the processing accuracy and positioning accuracy of the metal strip resonator 206 need to be controlled, workability in production is bad, and therefore the oscillator is not suitable for mass production.
In FIGS. 31 and 32, the strip 204a of the wiring board 204 is diagonally shaded so that the configuration is clearly shown. This in true in other drawings attached to the specification of this application.
FIG. 33 is a partially cutaway view in perspective of another prior art. This prior art of FIG. 33 is similar to the prior art as shown in FIGS. 31 and 32, and like elements will be denoted by like reference numerals. A dielectric strip 207 disposed in the vicinity of a Gunn diode 203 has a function of receiving high-frequency signals and propagating outside. A strip conductor 205 is spanned between a choke-type bias supply strip 204a and the Gunn diode 203, spaced at a predetermined interval from the surface of a metal member 202. A square-pole-like dielectric chip 309 is disposed close to a strip conductor 205 to be electromagnetically connected thereto, whereby it is made possible to control the oscillation frequency of high-frequency signals.
The prior art as shown in FIG. 33 also has the same problem as the prior art as shown in FIGS. 31 and 32.
FIG. 34 is a partially cutaway view in perspective of still another prior art, and FIG. 35 is a perspective view showing the configuration of part of the prior art as shown in FIG. 34. This prior art as shown in FIGS. 34 and 35 is similar to the prior art as shown in FIGS. 31-33, and like elements will be denoted by like reference numerals. In specific, in the prior art of FIGS. 34 and 35, a wiring board 208 provided with a varactor diode 210 which is a frequency modulating diode and a kind of variable capacitance diode is mounted on a mid-portion of a dielectric strip 207. A bias voltage applying direction B of the varactor diode 210 is set to a direction which is perpendicular to a propagation direction D of high-frequency signals in the dielectric strip 207 and parallel to the main surfaces of parallel plate conductors 201. The bias voltage applying direction B coincides with an electric field direction E of LSM01 mode of high-frequency signals which propagate in the dielectric strip 207. With this, by electromagnetically coupling high-frequency signals and the varactor diode 210 and controlling a bias voltage to change the capacitance of the varactor diode 210, it is possible to control the oscillation frequency of high-frequency signals. Further, reference numeral 209 denotes a dielectric plate with high relative dielectric constant for matching the impedance of the varactor diode 210 and that of the dielectric strip 207, In FIG. 34, the upper one of the parallel plate conductors 201 is partially cut away in order to show the interior thereof.
Further, as shown in FIG. 35, a second choke-type bias supply strip 212 is formed on one main surface of the wiring board 208, and a beam lead type of varactor diode 210 is disposed on a mid-portion of the second choke-type bias supply strip 212. At a connecting portion of the second choke-type bias supply strip 212 to the varactor diode 210, an electrode 211 is formed.
Then, high-frequency signals oscillated from a Gunn diode 203 are led out to the dielectric strip 207 through a metal strip resonator 206. Subsequently, the high-frequency signals are partially reflected at the varactor diode 210, and return toward the Gunn diode 203. As the reflection signals change together with the capacitance of the varactor diode 210, the oscillation frequency changes.
In the choke-type bias supply strip 204a, wide strips and narrow strips are alternately formed to construct a choke in which the length of one wide strip and the length of one narrow strip are approximately xcex/4, respectively. Further, the length of a strip conductor 205 is also set to approximately xcex/4, and the strip conductor 205 functions as part of a low-pass filter.
However, this conventional Gunn diode oscillator is configured so that high-frequency signals pass through the wiring board 208 mounted with the varactor diode 210, and therefore has such a problem that the output of high-frequency signals decreases. Further, although it is necessary to change the insertion position of the varactor diode 210 in order to regulate the frequency modulation width of high-frequency signals, it is difficult to control the frequency modulation width by regulating the position. Therefore, the frequency modulation width cannot be controlled with ease.
Therefore, the present invention was completed in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the invention is to provide a high-frequency diode oscillator in which difficulty in processing and positioning of parts can be lowered, namely, processing accuracy and positioning accuracy can be easily controlled, and excellent workability in production and assembly can be achieved.
The invention was completed in view of the above circumstances, and another object of the invention is to provide a downsized high-frequency diode oscillator in which by disposing a frequency regulating member made of a dielectric or metal so that fine adjustment of position is carried out with ease and high reproducibility, fine-regulation of oscillation frequency can be achieved with high reproducibility, and the fine adjustment of position can be achieved by downsizing the frequency regulating member.
The invention was completed in view of the above circumstances, and still another object of the invention is to provide a high-frequency diode oscillator in which high-power high-frequency signals can be obtained and control of frequency modulation width can be carried out with ease.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a millimeter-wave transmitting/receiving apparatus equipped with a high-frequency diode oscillator in the above mentioned objects are achieved.
The invention provides a high-frequency diode oscillator comprising:
a metal member which is disposed between parallel plate conductors disposed at an interval equal to or less than one half of wavelength xcex of a high-frequency signal,
the metal member being provided with a high-frequency diode which oscillates a high-frequency signal,
a choke-type bias supply strip comprising wide strips and narrow strips which are alternately arranged, and
a strip conductor for linearly connecting the choke-type bias supply strip to the high-frequency diode; and
a dielectric strip for receiving and propagating the high-frequency signal, which is disposed in a vicinity of the high-frequency diode between the parallel plate conductors,
length of the strip conductor being set to approximately {(xc2xe)+n}xcex (n represents an integer of 0 or more), and
length of the wide strips and narrow strips of the choke-type bias supply strip being set to approximately xcex/4.
In the high-frequency diode oscillator of the invention it is preferable that a dielectric chip having a main surface opposed to a main surface of the strip conductor is disposed in proximity to the strip conductor to be electromagnetically coupled thereto.
In the high-frequency diode oscillator of the invention it is preferable that length of the strip conductor is within a range of approximately {fraction (3xcex/4)} to approximately {(xc2xe)+3}xcex.
In the high-frequency diode oscillator of the invention it is preferable that length of the strip conductor is within a range of {(xc2xe)+n}xcexxc2x120%.
In the high-frequency diode oscillator of the invention it is preferable that the choke-type bias supply strip and the strip conductor are made of Cu, Al, Au, Ag, W, Ti, Ni, Cr, Pd or Pt.
In the high-frequency diode oscillator of the invention it is preferable that the dielectric strip and the dielectric chip are made of cordierite ceramics or alumina ceramics.
In the high-frequency diode oscillator of the invention it is preferable that an interval between the main surface of the dielectric chip and the main surface of the strip conductor is in a range of 0.1 to 1.0 mm.
According to the invention, with such configurations, the choke-type bias supply strip and the strip conductor function as a resonator which determines the oscillation frequency of the high-frequency diode, so that an extra resonator such as a metal strip resonator is unnecessary. Therefore, the metal member for mounting the high-frequency diode and the dielectric strip is easily positioned, whereby workability in production is largely improved. Further, the invention has such an effect that a loss due to a separate resonator such as a metal strip resonator is avoided and excellent propagation characteristics of high-frequency signals can be obtained.
According to the invention, it is preferable that a dielectric strip having a main surface opposed to a main surface of the strip conductor is disposed in proximity to the strip conductor to be electromagnetically coupled thereto. With this, regulation of oscillation frequency of the high-frequency diode oscillator is further facilitated, and mass-productivity is further increased.
According to the invention, the cycle of the wide strips and narrow strips of the choke-type bias supply strip is set to approximately xcex/4 and the length of the strip conductor is set to approximately {(xc2xe)+n}xcex (n represents an integer of 0 or more). With this, the choke-type bias supply strip and the strip conductor function as a resonator which determines the oscillation frequency of the high-frequency diode, so that an extra resonator such as a metal strip resonator is unnecessary. Therefore, positioning of the metal member for mounting the high-frequency diode and the dielectric strip is remarkably facilitated, whereby oscillation characteristics are controlled and increased with ease, and workability in production is largely increased. Further, the invention has such an effect that a loss due to a separate resonator such as a metal strip resonator is avoided and improved propagation characteristics of high-frequency signals are obtained.
In the high-frequency diode oscillator of the invention it is preferable that the metal member has a hole formed at a position corresponding to the strip conductor, and a column-like frequency regulating member which is inserted into the hole and disposed in proximity to the strip conductor so that an end thereof protrudes from a surface of the metal member.
In the high-frequency diode oscillator of the invention it is preferable that the frequency regulating member is made of cordierite ceramics, alumina ceramics, Cu, Al, Fe or stainless steel.
In the high-frequency diode oscillator of the invention it is preferable that an interval between the frequency regulating member and the strip conductor is in a range of 0.05 to 0.10 mm.
In the high-frequency diode oscillator of the invention it is preferable that an area of an end surface of the frequency regulating member opposed to the strip conductor is in a range of 0.10 to 2.0 mm2.
According to the invention, with such configurations, the choke-type bias supply strip and the strip conductor function as a resonator which determines the oscillation frequency of the high-frequency diode. When the frequency regulating member is disposed in proximity to the strip conductor of the resonator to be electromagnetically coupled thereto, the position of the frequency regulating member can be finely regulated with ease and reproducibility. Therefore, the invention has such an effect that the substantial resonator length of the resonator can be finely regulated and, as a result, the oscillation frequency can be finely regulated with reproducibility. Further, by downsizing the frequency regulating member and enabling fine regulation of the position, the high-frequency diode oscillator is downsized as a whole.
According to the invention, the cycles of the wide strips and narrow strips of the choke-type bias supply strip are set to approximately xcex/4, respectively, the length of the strip conductor is set to approximately {(xc2xe)+n}xcex (n represents an integer of 0 or more), and the metal member has a hole formed at a position corresponding to the strip conductor and a column-like frequency regulating member inserted into the hole and disposed in proximity to the strip conductor so that the end thereof protrudes from the surface of the metal member. With this, the choke-type bias supply strip and the strip conductor function as a resonator which determines the oscillation frequency of the high-frequency diode. When the frequency regulating member is disposed in proximity to the strip conductor of the resonator to be electromagnetically coupled thereto, the position of the frequency regulating member can be finely regulated with ease and reproducibility. Therefore, the substantial resonator length of the resonator can be finely regulated and, as a result, the oscillation frequency can be finely regulated with reproducibility. Further, by downsizing the frequency regulating member and enabling fine regulation of the position, the high-frequency diode oscillator is downsized as a whole.
In the high-frequency diode oscillator of the invention it is preferable that a frequency modulating diode whose bias voltage applying direction is set to a direction parallel to an electric field generated at the strip conductor is disposed in proximity to the strip conductor to be electromagnetically coupled thereto.
According to the invention, with such a configuration, the choke-type bias supply strip and the strip conductor function as a resonator which determines the oscillation frequency of the high-frequency diode. By disposing a modulation circuit board provided with the frequency modulating diode, in proximity to the strip conductor of the resonator to be electromagnetically coupled with the strip conductor, and changing a bias voltage applied to the frequency modulating diode, it is possible to control the oscillation frequency. Further, since there is no need to place a frequency modulating diode in the dielectric strip, it is possible to obtain a high output with low loss and downsize the oscillator as a whole. Furthermore, by regulating the position of the frequency modulating diode, it is possible to change the strength of electromagnetic coupling between the strip conductor which also functions as a resonator and the frequency modulating diode, and thereby regulate the frequency modulation width.
According to the invention, the lengths of the wide strips and narrow strips of the choke-type bias supply strip are set to approximately xcex/4, respectively, the length of the strip conductor is set to approximately {(xc2xe)+n}xcex (n represents an integer of 0 or more), and a frequency modulating diode whose bias voltage applying direction is set to a direction parallel to an electric field generated at the strip conductor is disposed in proximity to the strip conductor to be electromagnetically coupled thereto. With this, the choke-type bias supply strip and the strip conductor function as a resonator which determines the oscillation frequency of the high-frequency diode. By disposing a modulation circuit board provided with the frequency modulating diode, in proximity to the strip conductor of the resonator to be electromagnetically coupled thereto, and changing a bias voltage applied to the frequency modulating diode, it is possible to control the oscillation frequency. Further, since there is no need to dispose a frequency modulating diode in the dielectric strip as in the case of a conventional oscillator, it is possible to obtain a high output with low loss and downsize the oscillator as a whole. Furthermore, by regulating the position of the frequency modulating diode, it is possible to change the strength of electromagnetic coupling between the strip conductor and the frequency modulating diode, and thereby regulate the frequency modulation width.
In the high-frequency diode oscillator of the invention it is preferable that the frequency modulating diode is mounted on a modulation circuit board composed of a wiring board having a main surface perpendicular to the parallel plate conductors on which main surface a second choke-type bias supply strip is formed, and an auxiliary board which stands on a mid-portion of the second choke-type bias supply strip and has a main surface on which a connection conductor connected to the second choke-type bias supply strip is formed, and the frequency modulating diode is connected to a mid-portion of the connection conductor on the auxiliary board.
In the high-frequency diode oscillator of the invention it is preferable that an interval between the frequency modulating diode and the strip conductor is set to the wavelength xcex or less.
In the high-frequency diode oscillator of the invention it is preferable that a position of the frequency modulating diode with respect to the strip conductor is within a range of one quarter the length of the strip conductor toward the high-frequency diode or choke-type bias supply strip from a center of the strip conductor.
According to the invention, preferably the frequency modulating diode is mounted on a modulation circuit board composed of a wiring board having the main surface perpendicular to the parallel plate conductors, on which main surface a second choke-type bias supply strip is formed, and an auxiliary board which stands on the mid-portion of the second choke-type bias supply strip and has the main surface on which a connection conductor connected to the second choke-type bias supply strip is formed, and the frequency modulating diode is connected to the mid-portion of the connection conductor on the auxiliary board. With this, the shape of the modulation circuit board seen from the top becomes a convex, so that displacement, twist or the like is decreased and stability in mounting is remarkably improved. Further, since it is possible to displace the frequency modulating diode in proximity to the strip conductor and regulate the position thereof in a state where a bias voltage applying direction of the frequency modulating diode coincides with an electric field direction of high-frequency signals, it is possible to regulate the frequency modulation width with ease.
With the above configuration, the shape of the modulation circuit board seen from the top becomes a convex, so that displacement, twist or the like is decreased and stability of mount is exceedingly increased. Further, since it is possible to dispose the frequency modulating diode in proximity to the strip conductor and regulate the position thereof in a state where a bias voltage applying direction of the frequency modulating diode coincides with an electric field direction of high-frequency signals, it is possible to regulate the frequency modulation width with ease.
Further, it is preferable that the interval between the frequency modulating diode and the strip conductor is set to the wavelength xcex or less. By regulating the interval within the above range, it is possible to increase the output of high-frequency signals and broaden the frequency modulation width.
In the high-frequency diode oscillator of the invention it is preferable that a through hole is formed in the vicinity of the strip conductor on at least one of the parallel plate conductors, and a column-like frequency regulating member which is protruded from a surface of one of the parallel plate conductors which surface confronts a surface of the other of the parallel plate conductors to be electromagnetically coupled thereto is disposed in the through hole.
In the high-frequency diode oscillator of the invention it is preferable that a distance between the frequency regulating member and the strip conductor is one half of the wavelength xcex or less.
In the high-frequency diode oscillator of the invention it is preferable that a shape of the protrusion of the frequency regulating member is tapered.
In the high-frequency diode oscillator of the invention it is preferable that the frequency regulating member is made of cordierite ceramics, alumina ceramics, Cu, Al, Fe or stainless steel.
In the high-frequency diode oscillator of the invention it is preferable that an area of a surface of the frequency regulating member opposed to the strip conductor is in a range of 0.5 to 3.0 mm2.
According to the invention, with such configurations, the choke-type bias supply strip and the strip conductor function as a resonator which determines the oscillation frequency of the high-frequency diode. When the frequency regulating member is disposed in proximity to the strip conductor of the resonator to be electromagnetically coupled to the conductor, the position of the frequency regulating member can be finely regulated with ease and reproducibility. Therefore, the invention has such an effect that the substantial resonator length of the resonator can be finely regulated and, as a result, the oscillation frequency can be finely regulated with reproducibility. Further, by downsizing the frequency regulating member and enabling fine regulation of the position, the high-frequency diode oscillator is downsized as a whole.
According to the invention, in the NRD guide type of high-frequency diode oscillator, the lengths of the wide strips and narrow strips of the choke-type bias supply strip are set to approximately xcex/4, respectively, the length of the strip conductor is set to approximately {(xc2xe)+n}xcex (n represents an integer of 0 or more), a through hole is formed in the vicinity of the strip conductor on at least one of the parallel plate conductors, and a column-like frequency regulating member which is protruded from a surface of one of the parallel plate conductors which surface confronts a surface of the other of the parallel plate conductors to be electromagnetically coupled thereto is disposed in the through hole. With this, the choke-type bias supply strip and the strip conductor function as a resonator which determines the oscillation frequency of the high-frequency diode. When the frequency regulating member is disposed in proximity to the strip conductor of the resonator to be electromagnetically coupled thereto, the position of the frequency regulating member can be finely regulated with ease and reproducibility. Therefore, the substantial resonator length of the resonator can be finely regulated and, as a result, the oscillation frequency can be finely regulated with reproducibility. Further, by downsizing the frequency regulating member and enabling fine regulation of the position, the high-frequency diode oscillator is downsized as a whole.
According to the invention, it is preferable that the distance between the frequency regulating member and the strip conductor is xcex/2 or less. With this, the frequency regulating member and the strip conductor are electromagnetically coupled to each other in a preferable manner. By finely regulating the degree of electromagnetic coupling in such a state, it is possible to finely regulate the substantial resonator length of the resonator.
As shown in FIGS. 14-18, the invention provides a millimeter-wave transmitting/receiving apparatus comprising the following parts disposed between parallel plate conductors disposed at an interval equal to or less than one half of wavelength of transmission millimeter-wave signals.
(a) A high-frequency diode oscillator for outputting millimeter-wave signals, including:
a metal member on which a high-frequency diode for oscillating high-frequency signals, a choke-type bias supply strip for supplying a bias voltage to the high-frequency diode, the choke-type bias supply strip comprising wide strips and narrow strips which are alternately arranged, and a strip conductor for linearly connecting the choke-type bias supply strip and the high-frequency diode are disposed; and
a dielectric strip disposed in a vicinity of the high-frequency diode, for receiving and propagating the millimeter-wave signals,
lengths of the wide strips and narrow strips of the choke-type bias supply strip being set to approximately xcex/4 (xcex represents a wavelength of a high-frequency signal), respectively, and a length of the strip conductor being set to approximately {(xc2xe)+n}xcex (n represents an integer of 0 or more).
(b) A first dielectric strip having one end where the high-frequency diode is disposed, for propagating a millimeter-wave signal outputted from the high-frequency diode oscillator.
(c) A variable capacitance diode disposed so that a bias voltage applying direction coincides with an electric field direction of the millimeter-wave signal, for periodically controlling a bias voltage and thereby outputting the millimeter-wave signal as a frequency-modulated transmission millimeter-wave signal.
(d) A second dielectric strip having one end which is disposed in proximity to or joined to a portion of the first dielectric strip on a downstream side from the variable capacitance diode in a transmitting direction of the transmission millimeter-wave signal, so as to be electromagnetically coupled with the portion.
(e) A circulator having an input end, an input/output end and an output end,
the other end of the first dielectric strip being coupled with the input end,
a transmission millimeter-wave signal inputted to the input end being outputted to the input/output end,
a reception signal inputted to the input/output end being outputted to the output end.
(f) A third dielectric strip having one end which is coupled to the input/output end of the circulator, and another end where a transmission/reception antenna is disposed.
(g) A fourth dielectric strip having one end which is coupled with the output end of the circulator.
(h) A mixer for mixing signals transmitted to the second and fourth dielectric strips, and generating intermediate-frequency signals by disposing in proximity to each other or joining a mid-portion of the second dielectric strip and a mid-portion of the fourth dielectric strip so as to be electromagnetically coupled to each other.
The invention provides a millimeter-wave transmitting/receiving apparatus comprising the following parts disposed between parallel plate conductors disposed at an interval equal to or less than one half of wavelength of transmission millimeter-wave signals.
(a) A high-frequency diode oscillator for outputting millimeter-wave signals, including:
a metal member on which a high-frequency diode for oscillating high-frequency signals, a choke-type bias supply strip for supplying a bias voltage to the high-frequency diode, the choke-type bias supply strip comprising wide strips and narrow strips which are alternately arranged, and a strip conductor for linearly connecting the choke-type bias supply strip and the high-frequency diode are disposed; and
a dielectric strip disposed in a vicinity of the high-frequency diode, for receiving and propagating the millimeter-wave signals,
lengths of the wide strips and narrow strips of the choke-type bias supply strip being set to approximately xcex/4 (xcex represents a wavelength of a high-frequency signal), respectively, and a length of the strip conductor being set to approximately {(xc2xe)+n}xcex (n represents an integer of 0 or more).
(b) A first dielectric strip having one end where the high-frequency diode is disposed, for propagating a millimeter-wave signal outputted from the high-frequency diode oscillator.
(c) A pulse modulation diode disposed to be interposed in or attached to the first dielectric strip so that a bias voltage applying direction coincides with an electric field direction of the millimeter-wave signal, for outputting a transmission millimeter-wave signal obtained by pulse-modulating the millimeter-wave, by on-off of a bias voltage.
(d) A second dielectric strip having one end which is disposed in proximity to or joined to a portion of the first dielectric strip on an upstream side from the pulse modulation diode in a transmitting direction of the transmission millimeter-wave signal, so as to be electromagnetically coupled with the portion.
(e) A circulator having an input end, an input/output end and an output end,
the other end of the first dielectric strip being coupled with the input end,
a transmission millimeter-wave signal inputted to the input end being outputted to the input/output end,
a reception signal inputted to the input/output end being outputted to the output end.
(f) A third dielectric strip having one end which is coupled to the input/output end of the circulator, and another end where a transmission/reception antenna is disposed.
(g) A fourth dielectric strip having one end which is coupled with the output end of the circulator.
(h) A mixer for mixing signals transmitted to the second and fourth dielectric strips, and generating intermediate-frequency signals by disposing in proximity to each other or joining a mid-portion of the second dielectric strip and a mid-portion of the fourth dielectric strip so as to be electromagnetically coupled to each other.
The invention provides a millimeter-wave transmitting/receiving apparatus comprising the following parts disposed between parallel plate conductors disposed at an interval equal to or less than one half of wavelength of transmission millimeter-wave signals
(a) A high-frequency diode oscillator for outputting millimeter-wave signals, including:
a metal member on which a high-frequency diode for oscillating high-frequency signals, a choke-type bias supply strip for supplying a bias voltage to the high-frequency diode, the choke-type bias supply strip comprising wide strips and narrow strips which are alternately arranged, and a strip conductor for linearly connecting the choke-type bias supply strip and the high-frequency diode are disposed; and
a dielectric strip disposed in a vicinity of the high-frequency diode, for receiving and propagating the millimeter-wave signals,
lengths of the wide strips and narrow strips of the choke-type bias supply strip being set to approximately xcex/4 (xcex represents a wavelength of a high-frequency signal), respectively, and a length of the strip conductor being set to approximately {(xc2xe)+n}xcex (n represents an integer of 0 or more).
(b) A first dielectric strip having one end where the high-frequency diode is disposed, for propagating a millimeter-wave signal outputted from the high-frequency diode oscillator.
(c) A variable capacitance diode disposed so that a bias voltage applying direction coincides with an electric field direction of the millimeter-wave signal, for periodically controlling a bias voltage and thereby outputting the millimeter-wave signal as a frequency-modulated transmission millimeter-wave signal.
(d) A second dielectric strip having one end which is disposed in proximity to or joined to a portion of the first dielectric strip on a downstream side from the variable capacitance diode in a transmitting direction of the transmission millimeter-wave signal, so as to be electromagnetically coupled with the portion.
(e) A circulator having an input end, an input/output end and an output end,
the other end of the first dielectric strip being coupled with the input end,
a transmission millimeter-wave signal inputted to the input end being outputted to the input/output end,
a reception signal inputted to the input/output end being outputted to the output end.
(f) A third dielectric strip having one end which is coupled to the input/output end of the circulator, and another end where a transmission antenna is disposed.
(g) A terminator coupled to the output end of the circulator.
(h) A fourth dielectric strip having one end where a reception antenna is disposed, for guiding a received millimeter-wave signal.
(i) A mixer for mixing signals transmitted to the second and fourth dielectric strips, and generating intermediate-frequency signals by disposing in proximity to each other or joining a mid-portion of the second dielectric strip and a mid-portion of the fourth dielectric strip so as to be electromagnetically coupled to each other.
The invention provides a millimeter-wave transmitting/receiving apparatus comprising the following parts disposed between parallel plate conductors disposed at an interval equal to or less than one half of wavelength of transmission millimeter-wave signals.
(a) A high-frequency diode oscillator for outputting millimeter-wave signals, including:
a metal member on which a high-frequency diode for oscillating high-frequency signals, a choke-type bias supply strip for supplying a bias voltage to the high-frequency diode, the choke-type bias supply strip comprising wide strips and narrow strips which are alternately arranged, and a strip conductor for linearly connecting the choke-type bias supply strip and the high-frequency diode are disposed; and
a dielectric strip disposed in a vicinity of the high-frequency diode, for receiving and propagating the millimeter-wave signals,
lengths of the wide strips and narrow strips of the choke-type bias supply strip being set to approximately xcex/4 (xcex represents a wavelength of a high-frequency signal), respectively, and a length of the strip conductor being set to approximately {(xc2xe)+n}xcex (n represents an integer of 0 or more).
(b) A first dielectric strip having one end where the high-frequency diode is disposed, for propagating a millimeter-wave signal outputted from the high-frequency diode oscillator.
(c) A pulse modulation diode disposed to be interposed in or attached to the first dielectric strip so that a bias voltage applying direction coincides with an electric field direction of the millimeter-wave signal, for outputting a transmission millimeter-wave signal obtained by pulse-modulating the millimeter-wave, by on-off of a bias voltage.
(d) A second dielectric strip having one end which is disposed in proximity to or joined to a portion of the first dielectric strip on an upstream side from the pulse modulation diode in a transmitting direction of the transmission millimeter-wave signal, so as to be electromagnetically coupled with the portion.
(e) A circulator having an input end, an input/output end and an output end,
the other end of the first dielectric strip being coupled with the input end,
a transmission millimeter-wave signal inputted to the input end being outputted to the input/output end,
a reception signal inputted to the input/output end being outputted to the output end.
(f) A third dielectric strip having one end which is coupled to the input/output end of the circulator, and another end where a transmission antenna is disposed.
(g) A terminator coupled to the output end of the circulator.
(h) A fourth dielectric strip having one end where a reception antenna is disposed, for guiding a received millimeter-wave signal.
(i) A mixer for mixing signals transmitted to the second and fourth dielectric strips, and generating intermediate-frequency signals by disposing in proximity to each other or joining a mid-portion of the second dielectric strip and a mid-portion of the fourth dielectric strip so as to be electromagnetically coupled to each other.

High-frequency diode oscillator and millimeter-wave transmitting/receiving apparatus


Each end of the cross bore in the end of the driver or extension is coined to capture the balls in the cross bore. The combined diameters of the balls are equal to the distance between the opposed flat faces of the driver end. One of the faces has a groove in which the lock tab or key is received. The key is part of the control means which includes annular spring seat captured inside the sleeve mounted on the driver. The compressed spring inside the sleeve biases the seat and key to the left so the key overlies the balls. The spring force acts to rock the tab against the ball to project the other ball from the driver end into locking engagement with a recess in the socket. When the projecting ball is pushed into the cross bore as the socket is being mounted the other ball is pushed out of the bore to raise the tab to be engaged by the socket. This causes the tab and seat to be moved to compress the spring. The tab and the seat can move with and with respect to the sleeve. The sleeve is preferably cylindrical with a washer fixed on the shoulder at the rear end of the sleeve by crimping the sleeve. The tapered sleeve construction is more difficult to produce.

My prior U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,589,308; 4,537,100; and 4,770,073 show devices of the type disclosed herein. These devices employed some parts which required machining which raised the cost of manufacture. The user could cause malfunction of the tool while attempting to connect the extension to a socket if his grip would interfere with the movement of the sleeve. The present invention is directed towards reduction of cost of manufacture. The product has been improved to be easier to use and to be manufactured at a lower cost.
While the sleeve can be made various ways, it is a further object of this invention to provide a novel sleeve construction which is not obvious but which results in production economies, superior performance and reliability.

Snap-on quick release extension and drivers


A method is provided for synthesizing a zeolite of the SSZ-26/33 family of zeolites using 1-benzyl-4-aza-1-azoniabicyclo[2.2.2]octane as a structure directing agent.

Zeolites SSZ-26 and SSZ-33 are members of a family of microporous crystalline materials in which the two end members are formed by the stacking of layers in an ABAB. . . sequence or an ABCABC. . . sequence. The framework formed by the ABAB. . . stacking sequence (polymorph A) is of orthorhombic symmetry while the framework formed by the ABCABC. . . stacking sequence (polymorph B) is of monoclinic symmetry. Between these two end member polymorphs, there is a family of materials that can be characterized by a fault probability (p). The fault probabilities of p=0% and p=100% represent the end members polymorph B and polymorph A, respectively. The aluminosilicate zeolite SSZ-26 and the borosilicate zeolite SSZ-33 are members of this family of materials having fault probabilities of about 15% and about 30%, respectively. These zeolites have a three-dimensional pore system containing intersecting 10-and 12-ring pores.
The composition and characterizing X-ray diffraction pattern of zeolite SSZ-26 are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,910,006, which also describes the preparation of the zeolite using a hexamethyl[126.96.36.199]propellane-8,11-diammonium cation as a structure directing agent.
The composition and characterizing X-ray diffraction pattern of zeolite SSZ-33 are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,963,337, which also describes the preparation of the zeolite using a tricyclo[5.2.1.02,6]decane quaternary ammonium cation as a structure directing agent.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,648,694 discloses a method for preparing SSZ-26/33 zeolites using a structure directing agent selected from 1,5-bis(N,N-dimethylcyclohexylammonium)pentane dications, 1,4-bis(N-cyclohexylpiperidinium)butane dications, and 1,4-bis(N-cyclopentylpiperidinium)butane dications.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,837,978 discloses a process for preparing SSZ-26 using a structure directing agent comprising a cis-N,N-diethyldecahydroquinolinium cation or a mixture of a cis-N,N-diethyldecahydroquinolinium cation and a trans-N,N-diethyldecahydroquinolinium cation.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,647,601 discloses the synthesis of SSZ-33 using 1,1′-(pentane-1,5-diyl)bis(3-methylcyclohexyl)piperidinium dications as a structure directing agent.
There is significant interest in finding alternative, less expensive structure directing agents for the synthesis of zeolites of SSZ-26/33 family of zeolites.
According to the present disclosure, it has now been found that the relatively simple cations described herein can be effective as structure directing agents in the synthesis of zeolites of the SSZ-26/33 family of zeolites.


The present invention provides a redox flow type battery which a liquid-circulating battery comprising a battery cell and storage tanks for positive and negative electrolytes, wherein the battery cell is separated by a membrane to provide a positive cell and a negative cell, each cell having a liquid-permeable porous electrode disposed therein, wherein the positive and negative electrolytes are sulfuric acid aqueous solutions with vanadium ion concentrations of 0.5 mol/l to 8 mol/l and the electrolyte which migrates through the membrane over cycles of charge and discharge is returned from the storage tank where the liquid increases to the storage tank where the liquid decreases in order to keep the change in the amounts of the positive and negative electrolytes in a certain range while charge and discharge are carried out.

The present invention relates to a redox flow secondary battery useful for electricity storage and the like, more specifically to a redox flow secondary battery which is capable of long-term continuous operation and stable electricity storage.
Nowadays, atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration is substantially increasing due to massive consumption of fossil fuels and, consequently, global warming has become a serious problem. This problem has provided an impetus to the development of solar batteries as sources of clean energy. However, since solar batteries cannot generate electricity at night and in wet weather, high performance secondary batteries to be used in combination with solar batteries have been strongly needed.
On the other hand, conventional power plants are required to have generating capacities which meet the highest demands, suffering from a big difference in electricity demands between night and day, which decreases the operating rate of the power plants. Therefore, it is necessary to level out the operation load by storing electric power at night in large-sized electricity storage batteries and supplying the electric power in the day time to increase the operating rate of the power plants to enable effective operation. For this purpose, the development of large-sized electricity storage batteries is required. In addition, the development of a secondary battery with a higher energy density suitable as a power source for movable bodies such as electric vehicles is also required.
Redox flow secondary batteries are a promising candidate for a new secondary battery suitable for the above-mentioned applications because they can be charged flexibly matching with the output voltage of a solar battery by tapping (a method of using only necessary units out of many cell units depending on the demand) and have a relatively simple structure permitting upsizing.
A redox flow secondary battery uses liquid battery active materials and the positive and negative active materials are circulated in liquid-permeable electrolytic cells, where an oxidation-reduction reaction occurs which enables charge and discharge. Redox flow secondary batteries have the following advantages over conventional secondary batteries.
(1) It is possible to increase the storage capacity simply by increasing the volume of the storage tanks and the amount of the active materials and the electrolytic cell itself can be used without modification unless the output is increased.
(2) Redox flow secondary batteries have the positive and negative active materials stored completely separately in different containers, so there is a lesser possibility of self discharge than the batteries of other types in which two active materials are in contact with their corresponding electrodes.
(3) The charge and discharge reaction (electrode reaction) of active material ions entails only exchanging electrons on the surface of the liquid-permeable carbon porous electrodes used in the redox flow secondary batteries. Therefore, the active material components are not deposited on the electrodes unlike zinc ions in zinc-bromine batteries, meaning the cell reaction is simple.
Iron-chromium batteries, which are one of the redox flow secondary batteries that have been developed to date, have not yet become commercially practical due to the shortcomings of low energy density, and iron ion and chromium ion mixing through the ion exchange membrane.
Therefore, so-called xe2x80x98all vanadium redox flow secondary batteriesxe2x80x99, which have both the positive and negative electrolytes comprised of vanadium, have been proposed (J. Electrochem. Soc., 133, 1057 (1986), Japanese Patent Application Publication Laid Open No.62-186473). These batteries have several advantages in that they have higher electromotive force and energy density than iron-chromium batteries; they can be easily regenerated by charging even if the positive and negative electrolytes are completely mixed through the membrane because the electrolytes are based on a single element; and the electrolytes can be completely closed without decreasing the battery capacity.
However, during the charge/discharge cycling of the all-vanadium redox flow batteries, as with other kinds of redox flow batteries, there is a preferential volumetric transfer, which is due to the transfer behavior of various ions and water as a solvent in the electrolytes migrating through the membrane, in either of the positive/or negative electrolyte. This leads to a significant decrease in the battery capacity.
In order to solve the problem, extremely tiresome procedures are required in which the electrolytes in the tanks for the positive and negative electrolytes are mixed to adjust the compositions and amounts of the electrolytes to the initial state for every certain cycle of charge and discharge, before charge and discharge are started again. This mixing procedure is extremely tiresome itself and has a shortcoming in that it needs additional electric power in order to prepare the mixed electrolyte, which is a mixture of tetravalent vanadium and trivalent vanadium, for providing tetravalent vanadium for the positive electrode and trivalent vanadium for the negative electrode before charge and discharge are started again, sacrificing a large quantity of electricity. For commercialization, the interval between mixing the electrolytes has to be lengthened and the frequency decreased as low as possible in order to enable long-term continuous operation.
In view of this situation, the inventors have intensively investigated how to prevent the decrease in the electric capacity due to the migration of the liquid accompanied by charge and discharge in vanadium redox flow type secondary batteries and how to decrease the frequency of the conventional mixing procedure as low as possible to enable long-term continuous operation and, as a result, completed the present invention.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a redox flow type secondary battery which is a type of a liquid-circulating battery comprising a battery cell and storage tanks for positive and negative electrolytes, wherein the battery cell is separated by a membrane to provide a positive cell and a negative cell, each cell having a liquid-permeable porous electrode disposed therein, and the positive and negative electrolytes are passed and circulated from the storage tanks for the positive and negative electrolytes to the positive and negative cells, respectively, to conduct an oxidation-reduction reaction to charge and discharge the battery, characterized in that the positive and negative electrolytes are sulfuric acid aqueous solutions with vanadium ion concentrations of 0.5 mol/l to 8 mol/l and the electrolyte which migrates through the membrane over cycles of charge and discharge is returned from the storage tank where the liquid increases to the storage tank where the liquid decreases through a pipe in order to keep the change in the amounts of the positive and negative electrolytes in a certain range while charge and discharge are carried out.
Furthermore, the present invention provides a redox flow type secondary battery, wherein the amount of the liquid in the storage tank where the liquid decreases over cycles of charge and discharge is set greater than that of the liquid in the other storage tank beforehand prior to the operation.
Furthermore, the present invention provides a redox flow type secondary battery, wherein the relationship between the amounts of the liquids in the storage tanks for the positive and negative electrolytes and the type of the membrane satisfies one of the conditions (a) to (c):
(a) The membrane is an anion exchange membrane and the amount of the liquid in the storage tank for the positive electrolyte is set greater than that of the liquid in the storage tank for the negative electrolyte;
(b) The membrane is a cation exchange membrane and the amount of the liquid in the storage tank for the negative electrolyte is set greater than that of the liquid in the storage tank for the positive electrolyte; or
(c) The membrane is a multi-layered membrane obtained by laminating plural anion and cation exchange membrane layers and the amount of the liquid in the storage tank for either of the positive or negative electrolyte where the liquid decreases depending on the properties of the multi-layered membrane is set greater than that of the liquid in the other storage tank.
Furthermore, the present invention provides a redox flow type secondary battery, wherein the liquid level in the storage tank where the liquid increases over cycles of charge and discharge is set higher beforehand than that in the other tank and a liquid-refluxing pass is equipped for refluxing the liquid from the higher storage tank to the other tank with the aid of the gravity difference between the liquid levels.
Furthermore, the present invention provides a redox flow type secondary battery, wherein the relationship between the liquid levels in the storage tanks for the positive and negative electrolytes and the type of the membrane satisfies one of the conditions (1) to (3):
(1) The membrane is an anion exchange membrane and the liquid level in the storage tank for the negative electrolyte is set higher than that in the storage tank for the positive electrolyte;
(2) The membrane is a cation exchange membrane and the liquid level in the storage tank for the positive electrolyte is set higher than that in the storage tank for the negative electrolyte; or
(3) The membrane is a multi-layered membrane obtained by laminating plural anion and cation exchange membrane layers and the liquid level in the storage tank for either of the positive or negative electrolyte where the liquid increases depending on the properties of the multi-layer membrane is set higher than that in the other storage tank.
Furthermore, the present invention provides an overflow type battery in which there is a difference between the liquid levels in the storage tanks for the positive and negative electrolytes and the liquid is refluxed with the aid of the gravity difference between the liquid levels, characterized in that the membrane is a multi-layered membrane obtained by laminating plural anion and cation exchange membrane layers, and the cation exchange membrane layer faces the positive cell, and the liquid level in the storage tank for the positive electrolyte is set higher than that in the storage tank for the negative electrolyte.
Furthermore, the present invention provides a battery wherein the positive and negative electrolytes are sulfuric acid aqueous solutions of vanadium, and the concentrations of sulfate ions in the electrolytes are 0.5 mol/l to 9.0 mol/l.