There is provided information processing apparatuses, information processing methods, programs, and information processing systems capable of reinforcing the reinforcement target behavior without causing the user's consciousness. A quest is presented for urging a user to execute a reinforcement target behavior, and when the user executes the reinforcement target behavior upon the request, an electroencephalogram is measured, emotion is estimated on the basis of the electroencephalogram, and when the number of times that dominant emotion having the highest emotion score among emotion of the emotion estimation results is detected exceeds a predetermined number of times, an avatar is changed corresponding to the emotion that is detected as the dominant emotion. The present disclosure can be applied to long-term feedback technology.

A technique of detecting biometric information of a user and estimating a user's emotion on the basis of the detected result is disclosed.
In one example, a technique of estimating emotions on the basis of Russell's circumplex model in which emotions can be mapped to two axes of pleasant-unpleasant and activation-deactivation is disclosed (see Non-Patent Document 1).
In addition, there is disclosed a technique of detecting emotions and sensibility by setting the "emotion" as being defined in Russell's circumplex model and the "sensibility" as being defined by adding temporal axis information to Russell's circumplex model in a case where exteroceptive sensory information (somatic nervous system) and interoceptive sensory information (autonomic nervous system) are integrated and affect responses that occur by comparing them with past experiences or memories are classified into three layers of affect, emotion, and sensibility from low-order to high-order. In this document, the emotion of pleasant-unpleasant uses a-waves in the two axes of the circumplex model (see Patent Document 1).
Furthermore, a technique of performing frequency analysis using a simple monopolar electroencephalograph and estimating preference information is also disclosed (see Patent Document 2).
In addition, a technique of performing mapping of information including biometric information other than electroencephalograms and estimating individual characteristics by applying Russell's circumplex model is also disclosed (see Patent Document 3).
Furthermore, a technique of using emotions obtained by applying the techniques mentioned above is disclosed.
In one example, a technique of measuring electroencephalograms using an electroencephalograph equipped with a head-mounted display and performing zone guidance to achieve neurofeedback is disclosed (see Patent Document 4).
In addition, a technique of changing the state of a displayed character on the basis of biometric information including electroencephalograms or other various information and expressing a situation such as a person's motion state, health state, and emotions is disclosed (see Patent Document 5).
Furthermore, a technique of changing the display state of a character on the basis of the user's action history is disclosed (see Patent Document 6).
Further, a technique of estimating a type and a degree of intensity of the emotion on the basis of electroencephalograms and recording it in association with a camera-captured image, and so specifying the user's emotion with respect to an imaging target and using it in marketing or the like by is disclosed (see Patent Document 7).
Furthermore, a technique of controlling playback of content such as voice depending on biometric information including electroencephalograms is disclosed (see Patent Document 8).

Information processing apparatus, information processing method, program, and information processing system for reinforcing target behavior


An example system can include a reference biometric template (RBT) reader, an authenticator, and an auxiliary system. In some examples, during an initial enrollment process, the RBT reader obtains a biometric from a user, transforms the biometric into an RBT, and provides different shares of the RBT to the authenticator and the auxiliary system. The authenticator and the auxiliary system create respective shares of helper data. In some examples, the authenticator and the auxiliary system use a non-commutative transformation function to embed a secret key in their respective shares of the helper data. The auxiliary system provides its share of the helper data to the authenticator. The authenticator combines its share of the helper data with the share provided by the auxiliary system to create a full version of the helper data. The helper data can be used in a subsequent authentication process between the RBT reader and the authenticator.

Authentication systems, e.g., Biometrics-based Identification, Authentication and Access control (BIAA) systems, process and analyze biometric information of a user to determine whether to provide the user with secure access and privileges to physical or virtual environments. During a user's initial use of these authentication systems, the authentication systems typically "enroll" (i.e., process and store) the user's biometric information. For example, authentication systems may process and store a template of the user's biometric sample (referred to as a "biometric template" or "Reference Biometric Template" (RBT)) that is a reference of the user's biometric information. The stored RBT is used to compare with a user's subsequent biometric sample to authenticate the user. However, in the case of a security breach, the RBT may be compromised and used to circumvent the authentication systems.
Some conventional authentication systems use cryptographic algorithms to generate so-called 'helper data,' which generally refers to information used to authenticate the user. In these conventional authentication systems, helper data is typically computed from the user's biometric information and is stored in place of RBTs to ensure that no information of the original biometric information is stored in the authentication system. In the event of a security breach or update, these conventional authentication systems need to collect additional or repeat biometric information of users to generate new helper data because the original biometric information is not stored. However, in installations or security domains with a large number of users, the collection of original or new biometrics for the users is a manual process that is cumbersome, or even impractical, process.
Additionally, large scale BIA systems typically store RBTs of thousands (or even millions) of users in clear form. One of the reasons for this is that standard mechanisms for secure password storage (e.g., salted hashing) cannot match the two readings of the same biometric, because two samples of the same biometric are slightly different from each other due to sampling noise. In addition, stable biometrics (e.g. fingerprints and iris) tend not to change over an individual's lifetime. Therefore, leakage of a user's biometric at any point in time can affect the security of all authentication systems using the leaked biometric. Consequently, protecting the confidentiality of RBTs can be of utmost importance.

Biometric authentication with template privacy and non-interactive re-enrollment


A scroll type compressor including a fixed scroll and an orbiting scroll is disclosed. The fixed scroll includes a first circular end plate from which a first spiral wrap extends and the orbiting scroll includes a second circular end plate from which a second spiral wrap extends. The spiral wraps interfit such that an axial gap is maintained between the axial end surface of each wrap and the axial surface of the adjacent end plate, at a central location of the scrolls. The fixed end plate is supported in the compressor housing at a radially intermediate portion of the axial end surface opposite the spiral wrap, and at a radially outer portion by an annular ridge formed on the inner surface of the compressor housing.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a scroll type refrigerant compressor, and more particularly, to the positioning of a fixed scroll within the compressor housing in order to reduce metal fatigue of the housing.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Scroll type refrigerant fluid compressors are known as disclosed in U.S. Pat No. 4,597,724 to Sato et al. The compressor includes an enclosed housing in which a fixed scroll and an orbiting scroll are disposed. The fixed scroll includes a first circular end plate from which a first spiral wrap extends. The orbiting scroll includes a second circular end plate from which a second spiral wrap extends, and is operatively connected to a driving machanism to effect orbital motion thereof. The spiral wraps interfit at an angular offset of 180.degree. and at a predetermined radial offset to create a plurality of line contacts which define at least one pair of sealed-off fluid pockets. As the orbiting scroll orbits with respect to the fixed scroll, refrigerant fluid in the pockets moves towards the center of the spiral wraps and undergoes a reduction in volume. The compressor fluid is discharged into a discharge chamber through a discharge hole disposed through the circular end plate of the fixed scroll and then into an external cooling circuit.
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a portion of the scroll type refrigerant compressor of the '724 patent, in particular, the positioning of the fixed scroll within the compressor housing, is shown Compressor housing 10' includes cup-shaped casing 11' in which fixed scroll 20 and an orbiting scroll (not shown) are disposed. Fixed scroll 20 includes circular end plate 21 and spiral element or wrap 22 axially projecting from one axial end (forward) surface of circular end plate 21. Circular groove 200 is formed in the circumferential surface of circular end plate 21 and O-ring seal element 201 is disposed within circular groove 200. Circular end plate 21 partitions the interior space of housing 10' into front chamber 40 (to the left in FIG. 1) and rear chamber 50. Front chamber 40 is a suction chamber, and rear chamber 50 is a discharge chamber and the two chambers are isolated by O-ring seal element 201.
A plurality of supporting portions 110 project axially from the interior surface of the closed (right) end surface of cup-shaped casing 11'. (The open (left) end of casing 11' is enclosed by a front end plate, not shown). Supporting portions 110 are disposed concentrically with peripheral wall 115' of casing 11', about longitudinal axis X of cup-shaped casing 11'. A plurality of corresponding axial projections 23 extend from the rear axial end surface of circular end plate 21 of fixed scroll 20, that is, the surface opposite spiral element 22. Axial projections 23 are disposed so as to be adjacent supporting portions 110 when fixed scroll 20 is in position within casing 11', and include screw-threaded holes disposed therein. Corresponding holes are disposed through supporting portions 110, and the closed end of cup-shaped casing 11'. A plurality of screw-threaded bolts 111 extend through the closed end and through supporting portions 110, and are screwed into respective axial projections 23 to firmly secure fixed scroll 20 to the closed end surface of cup-shaped casing 11'.
With further reference to FIG. 2, the forces acting on fixed scroll 20 are shown. In general, a reaction force acts on fixed scroll 20 along the entire axial length of spiral wrap 22, form the forward axial surface to circular end plate 21. This force is caused by the compression of refrigerant gas in the fluid pockets as the pocket sizes decrease in volume during operation of the compressor. Although the force acts along the entire length of spiral wrap 22, it may be represented by vector F which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X, and is shown as acting at a single point along the length. Although vector F is shown as acting vertically and within the plane of the page, the actual acting direction of force vector F in fact depends upon the relative position of the wrap of the orbiting scroll with respect to the wrap of the fixed scroll during orbital motion of the orbiting scroll. Thus although representative force vector F is always essentially normal to longitudinal axis X, the tip of the force vector F, that is, the representative acting point of the force, rotates along a circular path about longitudinal axis X in accordance with the orbital motion of the orbiting scroll.
When the direction of force vector F is as shown in FIG. 2, an upward force acts on fixed scroll 20 tending to cause it to rotate in a clockwise direction as shown in the Figure, that is, about an axis perpendicular to the page. However, when orbiting scroll 20 is in an opposite orbiting positioning, force vector F acts in a downward direction and tends to cause fixed scroll 20 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction. Accordingly fixed scroll 20 would tend to nutate with respect to longitudinal axis X. However, nutational motion of fixed scroll 20 is prevented due to the contact between axial projections 23 and supporting portions 110 resulting in reaction force W'. Reaction force W' acts in a direction generally parallel to longitundinal axis X, at the contact surfaces of axial projections 23 and supporting portions 110, in turn as the orbiting scroll orbits with respect to fixed scroll 20. Reaction force W' creates a periodic stress which causes metal fatigue of cup-shaped casing 11', particularly at portions 112 located at the closed end and near peripheral walls 115' of cup-shaped casing 11'. Although the stress occurs along the entire axial mating surface between projections 23 and portions 110, force may be represented by stress vector W', perpendicular to the mating surface and acting at a central point. Thus, eventually cup-shaped casing 11' may be damaged due to the periodic application of stress (reaction) force W'.
Point O' is located at the intersection between longitudinal axis X, and a line extended from the mating axial end surfaces of supporting portions 110 and projections 23. Since during operation of the compressor, fixed scroll 20 does not move, the sum of the torques acting on fixed scroll 20 must equal zero. This moment about point O' can be represented as follows: EQU W'.times.l.sub.2' =F.times.l.sub.1' ( 1).
In equation (1), l.sub.1' is the distance from point O' to the representative acting point of force F along longitudinal axis X, and l.sub.2' is the distance from point O' to the representative acting point of stress W' along the extending line. Since the representative force vectors F and W' act at a point either along axis X, or along a line perpendicular to axis X and including origin point O', equation (1) can be simplified as follows: EQU W'=l.sub.1' F/l.sub.2' ( 2).
Additionally, during operation of the scroll type refrigerant compressor described above, as liquified refrigerant fluid is taken into the outer fluid pockets formed between the spiral elements of the fixed and orbiting scrolls and is then compressed, a force is created which tends to bend the radially outer portion of circular end plate 21 of fixed scroll 20 towards the closed end of cup-shaped casing 11', that is, towards the right in FIGS. 1 and 2. The bending of circular end plates 21 creates unacceptable gaps between the axial end surfaces of the radially outer portions of the spiral element of the orbiting scroll, and the opposing forward axial end surfaces of circular end plate 21 of fixed scroll 20 at the corresponding radially outer locations. Therefore an incomplete seal is created between the fixed and orbiting scrolls at the location of the outer fluid pockets and the efficiency of compressor operation is reduced.
Furthermore, the temperature at the central portion of the scroll greatly increases during compressor operation in comparison with the temperature increase at the radially outer portions of the scroll, due to the high compression of the refrigerant fluid in the central fluid pocket. The increased temperature at the central portion results in a large thermal expansion of the central portion of the scroll. Accordingly, even though during assembly of the compressor adequate clearance is left between the axial end surface of the spiral element of one scroll and the axial surface of the circular end plate of the other scroll, the thermal expansion of the central portions results in excessive frictional contact between the spiral elements and the central portions of the circular end plates, for both axial contact surfaces. The excessive friction results in damage to the compressor, for example, excessive wearing of the axial end surfaces of the spiral elements and the circular end plates. Additionally, the generated heat may be enough to cause the opposing surfaces to melt during operation, and to become fixed to each other after cooling.

Scroll type compressor with radially outer support for fixed end plate


Disclosed is a catalyst for production of multi-walled carbon nanotubes, in which the catalyst includes a transition metal catalyst supported on a support mixture including MgO, and thus can increase the production of multi-walled carbon nanotubes and, at the same time, reduce the number of walls of the multi-walled carbon nanotubes to thereby reduce the surface resistance of the multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Also disclosed is a method of producing multi-walled carbon nanotubes using the catalyst. The catalyst for production of multi-walled carbon nanotubes includes: a support mixture of a first support and a second support mixed with the first support; and a transition metal catalyst supported on the support mixture.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a catalyst for production of multi-walled carbon nanotubes, and more particularly, to a catalyst for production of multi-walled carbon nanotubes, in which the catalyst comprises a transition metal catalyst supported on a support mixture including MgO, and thus can increase the production of multi-walled carbon nanotubes and, at the same time, reduce the number of walls of the multi-walled carbon nanotubes to thereby reduce the surface resistance of the multi-walled carbon nanotubes, and to a method of producing multi-walled carbon nanotubes using the catalyst.
2. Related Art
Carbon nanotubes are large molecules in which hexagonal honeycomb-shaped graphite sheets composed of carbon atoms, each bonded to three other carbon atoms, are rolled into nanosized tubes. These carbon nanotubes have unique physical properties depending on the size or shape.
Carbon nanotubes are generally composed of graphite sheets rolled into a cylindrical shape. Carbon nanotubes can be classified into single-walled carbon nanotubes having one cylindrical graphite sheet, double-walled carbon nanotubes having two cylindrical graphite sheets, and multi-walled carbon nanotubes having three or more cylindrical graphite sheets, and have different properties depending on the number of walls. For example, single-walled or double-walled carbon nanotubes have high electrical properties, and for this reason, are frequently used in device applications such as field emission devices, electronic devices, or sensors, and multi-walled carbon nanotubes have electrical properties inferior to those of single-walled or double-walled carbon nanotubes, but can be used for high-strength composite materials or the like due to their high physical properties.
In order to advantageously apply carbon nanotubes in various fields, a method of synthesizing a large amount of high-purity carbon nanotubes in a cost-effective manner is necessarily required.
In the case of multi-walled carbon nanotubes, there is a problem in that, as the number of walls of multi-walled carbon nanotubes increases, the ratio of disordered graphite increases, resulting in a decrease in the quality of the multi-walled carbon nanotubes. For this reason, efforts have been made to reduce the number of walls of multi-walled carbon nanotubes without reducing the catalytic production of multi-walled carbon nanotubes.
Prior art documents related to the present invention include Korean Patent No. 10-1303061 (published on Sep. 3, 2013) which discloses a catalyst composition for production of multi-walled carbon nanotubes.

Catalyst or production of multi-walled carbon nanotubes and method of producing multi-walled carbon nanotubes using the same


The invention provides pharmaceutical compositions containing non-feminizing estrogen and methods of using these compositions to prevent or ameliorate retinal vascular diseases.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of retinal vascular diseases. More specifically, the invention provides a method of treating retinal vascular diseases using compositions comprising at least one non-feminizing estrogens.
2. Description of the Related Art
Retinal or optic nerve head damage, which can result in the loss of vision, is caused by trauma and various pathological events including ischemia, hypoxia, or edema. Retinal or optic nerve head ischemia or hypoxia results when blood supply is significantly reduced to these tissues. Ischemia is a complex pathological episode involving numerous biochemical events. Retinal vascular diseases include retinal arterial obstructive diseases (which includes central retinal artery obstruction, branch retinal artery obstruction, cilioretinal artery obstruction, ophthalmic artery obstruction, combined central retinal artery and vein obstructions, cotton-wool spots), central retinal vein occlusion, and retinal branch vein occlusion.
Currently, numerous therapeutic modalities have been attempted to improve the vision of patients suffering from retinal vascular diseases. For retinal arterial obstructive diseases, anterior chamber paracentesis or intravenous acetazolamide can be employed in order to decrease intraocular pressure and increase retinal perfusion. Inhalation of oxygen-carbon dioxide mixture has been used to induce retinal vasodilation and increase oxygenation to retinal tissues. Sometimes, a direct infusion of a thrombolytic agent into the ophthalmic artery may help the recovery of vision. For retinal vein occlusions, careful evaluation is warranted, and prompt panretinal or sectoral laser photocoagulation may be needed for eyes that develop neovascularization. Unfortunately, all of these treatment modalities are accompanied with significant side effects, ocular and/or systemic. Thus, a satisfactory treatment regimen for improving vision in eyes with these retinal vascular disease is needed.

Use of non-feminizing estrogens as treatment for retinal vascular diseases


A method of operating a packet switching network is disclosed in which a Systems Network Architecture (SNA) computer can control a remote terminal cluster controller and terminals coupled thereto via a switched virtual circuit connection to the terminal cluster controller. The terminals coupled to the terminal cluster controller are able to establish switched virtual circuit connections to other compatible computers, independent of the computer by which the terminal cluster controller is controlled. This is achieved by an access module of the network, to which the terminal cluster controller is connected, presenting different representations of the terminal configuration to the different computers.

Within data communications, two major standards dominate. One is CCITT X.25, the international standard for data communication by way of a public data packet network. The other is Systems Network Architecture (SNA), IBM's protocol, which has become a de facto standard, at least in North America, by virtue of widespread use.
Supporting communications between SNA computers and SNA terminals on a packet switching network has passed through several phases, each of which has compromised either the SNA functions, the packet switching functions or both. Early implementations required each terminal cluster controller, and hence all of the terminals connected thereto, to be connected to a single computer. Thus, the switching capability of the packet network was not used beyond merely establishing the virtual circuit to a predetermined computer. A later implementation allowed terminals to establish communications with any one of a number of computers available from the packet network; however, as these terminals no longer belonged to any one computer important SNA management services were not supported.

Method of operating a packet switching network


The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a shift register and a driving method thereof, a gate driving circuit, and a display device. The shift register includes a compensation selection circuit, a storage circuit, a blanking input circuit, and a shift register circuit. The compensation selection circuit is configured to provide an input signal to a first node. The storage circuit is configured to store and maintain a voltage difference between a blanking control signal terminal and the first node. The blanking input circuit is configured to provide a blanking input signal to a second node. The shift register circuit is configured to provide a compensation driving signal during a blanking period, and provide a scan driving signal during a display period.

The present disclosure relates to display technology, and in particular to a shift register and a driving method thereof, a gate driving circuit, and a display device.
Gate driver on array (GOA) technology can implement a function of scanning pixels row by row by providing a gate driving circuit on an array substrate. The gate driving circuit may include a plurality of cascaded shift registers. The shift register may output a scan signal via an output terminal to drive a row of pixels and also output a cascade signal to drive the shift register at next stage.
In the field of display, an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display device has the characteristics of wide angle of view and fast response speed and thus is widely used. The OLED display device utilizes a current provided by a driving transistor to drive a light-emitting element to emit light. Therefore, in order to meet the requirement of luminance uniformity, it is necessary to improve consistency of electrical characteristics of the driving transistor. Currently there are an internal compensation method and an external compensation method to improve the consistency of the electrical characteristic of the driving transistor.

Shift register and driving method for compensating for linear pattern appearing on display device

HEFEI XINSHENG OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


The device calculates a transient yaw rate of the vehicle on the basis of a standard yaw rate of the vehicle using an estimated value of a time constant coefficient of steering response, and adjusts the estimated value of a time constant coefficient of steering response on the basis of the relationship between a transient yaw rate of the vehicle and an actual yaw rate of the vehicle so that a transient yaw rate of the vehicle approaches an actual yaw rate of the vehicle.

Assume that an actual yaw rate of a vehicle has a relationship of first order delay to a standard yaw rate of the vehicle and a coefficient multiplied to a vehicle speed in a time constant of the first order delay is referred to a time constant coefficient of steering response. A stability factor of the vehicle and a time constant coefficient of steering response t represent a turning characteristic of the vehicle. A stability factor of the vehicle and a a steering-response-time constant coefficient can be estimated by using ARX (auto-regressive exogenous model) to estimate parameters a and b of a discrete-time transfer function from a standard yaw rate of the vehicle to an actual yaw rate of a vehicle.
In, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 2004-26073, a turning characteristic estimating device for a vehicle is described which estimates a standard yaw rate of a vehicle on the basis of running data when the vehicle turns; estimates parameters a and b of a discrete-time transfer function from a standard yaw rate of the vehicle to an actual yaw rate of a vehicle; estimates a time constant coefficient of steering response on the basis of the parameter a; and estimates a stability factor of the vehicle on the basis of the parameters a and b.
In conventional turning characteristic estimating devices for vehicle such as that described in the above-mentioned laid-open publication, a lot of data of standard yaw rates and actual yaw rates are required to estimate the parameters a and b. For this reason, there is a problem that it takes a long time to estimate a stability factor of the vehicle and a time constant coefficient of steering response.

Device for estimating turning characteristic of vehicle


Various examples of systems and methods are provided for Lyapunov control for uncertain systems. In one example, a system includes a process plant and a robust Lyapunov controller configured to control an input of the process plant. The robust Lyapunov controller includes an inner closed loop Lyapunov controller and an outer closed loop error stabilizer. In another example, a method includes monitoring a system output of a process plant; generating an estimated system control input based upon a defined output reference; generating a system control input using the estimated system control input and a compensation term; and adjusting the process plant based upon the system control input to force the system output to track the defined output reference. An inner closed loop Lyapunov controller can generate the estimated system control input and an outer closed loop error stabilizer can generate the system control input.

Nowadays, the decrease in fossil resources along with the increase of their environmental impact is driving the interest of public and private sectors in renewable energy to meet the world demand. Indeed, different forms of renewable energy present promising alternative clean sources, as part of them, solar energy. The operation of any solar driven plant is constrained by the availability of the sunlight, which is characterized by its intermittency and unpredictable changes affecting the energy production. Thereafter, in order to better exploit solar energy, research investigations are gradually consolidated, from both technological and control perspectives, in order to enhance the production efficiency. Solar thermal distributed concentrated technology, known for high efficiency with available thermal storage solution, is one of the main researchers' interests.

Robust Lyapunov controller for uncertain systems

KING ABDULLAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY


The application discloses thiol ester molecules and α-hydroxy thiol ester molecules having a thiol group located on one of the final two carbon atoms in a carbon chain or a terminal or α-hydroxyl groups, respectively. The disclosed thiol ester molecules and or α-hydroxyl thiol ester molecules es may be made from unsaturated ester molecules having one or more terminal alkene groups. The disclosed techniques also provide methods for making unsaturated ester molecules having one or more terminal alkene groups by the metathesis of unsaturated esters having one or more internal carbon-carbon double bonds (e.g. natural source oils). The thiol ester molecules or α-hydroxy thiol ester molecule may be used in reactions with isocyanate monomers, epoxide monomer, or material having multiple alkene groups to make sealants, coatings, adhesives, and other products.

This section is intended to introduce the reader to aspects of art that may be related to aspects of the present techniques, which are described herein. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present techniques. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
As chemical and petrochemical technologies have advanced, the products of these technologies have become increasingly prevalent in society. In particular, as techniques for bonding simple molecular building blocks into longer chains, termed polymers, have advanced, the polymer products, typically in the form of various plastics, have been increasingly incorporated into various everyday items. For example, polyurethane polymers and copolymers, made from the reactions of compounds containing hydroxyl groups with compounds containing isocyanate groups, may be used in retail and pharmaceutical packaging, furniture, household items, automobile components, adhesives, coatings, and various other consumer and industrial products.
The chemical industry strives to make these products with low-cost feedstocks that are in abundant supply. Currently, the main feedstocks for polyurethanes, and other plastics, are petrochemicals isolated from petroleum. However, as fossil fuels deplete over time, alternative sources are being sought as replacements for feedstocks. Further, the chemical industry continuously strives to produce products and use feedstocks that are environmentally friendly.

Methods and systems for making thiol compounds from terminal olefinic compounds


In a non-volatile memory device and methods of forming and operating the same, one memory transistor includes sidewall selection gates covering both sidewalls of a floating gate when the floating gate and a control gate are stacked. The sidewall selection gates are in a spacer form. Since the sidewall selection gates are in a spacer form on the sidewall of the floating gate, the degree of integration of cells can be improved. Additionally, since the side wall selection gates are disposed on both sidewalls of the floating gate, a voltage applied from a bit line and a common source line can be controlled and thus conventional writing/erasing errors can be prevented. Therefore, distribution of threshold voltage can be improved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and methods of forming and operating the same, and more particularly, to a non-volatile memory device and methods of forming and operating the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a non-volatile memory device, the structure of an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM) cell includes one memory transistor and one select transistor positioned between a common source line and a bit line. The memory transistor includes a floating gate that stores charge, a control gate formed on the top of the floating gate to control the floating gate, and a tunnel insulation layer that operates as a path through which charge migrates by Fowler-Nordheim (F-N) tunneling during writing and erasing operations. The select transistor serves to deliver a voltage applied from a bit line to the memory transistor during writing and erasing operations. The memory transistor and the select transistor make a pair and are symmetrically disposed with respect to a common source line. That is, two adjacent memory transistors are configured to share the common source line therebetween. During the writing and erasing of a selected transistor, a disturbance can occur, where an unselected memory transistor sharing the common source line can inadvertently become written to or erased. As a result, distribution of a threshold voltage becomes faulty.
To prevent such faulty distribution, a structure can be introduced, in which an additional select transistor is disposed between the memory transistor and the common source line to control a voltage applied from the common source line. However, since three transistors are required for this structure, the degree of device integration deteriorates.

Non-volatile memory device and methods of forming and operating the same


The present invention concerns a fuel cell comprising a cathode in a cathode region of the cell and an anode in an anode region of the cell, the cathode being separated from the anode by an ion selective polymer electrolyte membrane, the cathode region of the cell being supplied in use thereof with an oxidant and a liquid low molecular weight fuel wherein at least some of the liquid low molecular weight fuel in use crosses the polymer electrolyte membrane to supply the anode region of the cell with liquid low molecular weight fuel, the cell being provided with means for generating an electrical circuit between the cathode and the anode.

1. Field
The present invention relates to fuel cells, in particular to fuel cells in operation of which an alcohol or other low molecular weight fuel is supplied as fuel to the anode region of the cell. Such cells have applications in microfuel cells for electronic and portable electronic components, and also in larger fuel cells for portable and stationary power and the automotive industry.
2. Description of the Related Art
A fuel cell is an electrochemical energy conversion device that converts fuel and oxidant into reaction products, producing electricity and heat in the process. In one example of such a cell, methanol is used as fuel, and air or oxygen as oxidant, and the products of the reaction are carbon dioxide and water. The electrochemical reactions in this cell in operation may be summarised as follows:
AnodeCH3OH + H2O⇄CO2 + 6H+ + 6e−Cathode 3/2O2 + 6H+ + 6e−⇄3H2OOverallCH3OH + 3/2O2⇄CO2 + 2H2O
The methanol fuel and oxidant are fed respectively into catalysing, diffusion-type electrodes separated by an electrolytic membrane which allows the passage of protons from the anode chamber to the cathode chamber to balance the cathode reaction. The electrons generated in the anode chamber flow in an external electrical circuit and are returned to the cathode having provided the power output from the cell. Such fuel cells are known as direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs).
Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFCs) are extremely useful as they can transform fuel into electricity at a scale that is difficult for other technologies such as the internal combustion engine. The fuel, methanol, is readily transportable and has a high energy density, making DMFCs attractive for use in portable applications and as replacement batteries in portable electronic devices.
Various types of membrane may be used, such as polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs), comprising for example Nafion™. Fuel cells based on polymer electrolyte membranes (PEM fuel cells) are convenient for portable applications such as portable electronics and automotive technology due to their relatively low temperatures of operation. Further or alternative adaptations to the PEM barrier include the provision of a bimembrane as described in our co-pending application PCT/EP2006/060640.
US-A-2004/0137297 discloses an ion exchange membrane said to be useful for the diaphragm of a direct methanol type fuel cell.
Methanol and other low molecular weight alcohols are convenient fuels for portable fuel cells because their energy density is relatively high, eg, for methanol, six moles of electrons being generated in the electrochemical half cell for every mole of fuel consumed. However, DMFCs typically suffer from crossover effects—methanol is transported across the membrane by diffusion and electro-osmosis. This causes a reduction in the performance of the fuel cell by the effect of methanol being oxidized at the cathode, typically comprising Pt or other noble metal catalyst. Here the methanol is oxidized at the potentials of oxygen reduction. The potential and current are reduced, causing a loss in power density; the open circuit potential is also reduced.
Conventionally, routes to reduce the methanol crossover effect have included:                i) Increasing the membrane thickness—typically 170 μm Nafion is used instead of the more common 50 μm membrane for hydrogen fuel cells. This increases the resistance of the membrane—whilst not completely eliminating the crossover impact.        ii) Introducing layers to restrict methanol crossover within the MEA        iii) Using an alternative membrane to the Nafion-type sulphonated fluoropolymer. Usually these membranes require higher temperatures (>100° C.) to operate effectively, or conduct less well or swell.        iv) Using selective catalysts for the cathode. These are generally poorer catalysts for oxygen reduction than noble metal-containing catalysts such as Pt and Pt-containing catalysts.
The phenomenon of methanol crossover and potential solutions have been reviewed recently:                International activities in DMFC R&D: status of technologies and potential applications, R Dillon, S Sriinivasan, A S Arico, V Antonucci, J Power Sources, 127, 112 (2004).        M P Hogarth, T R Ralph, Platinum Metal Reviews, 46, 146 (2002).        A Heinzel, V M Barragan, J Power Sources, 84,70 (1999).        V Neburchilov, J Martin, H Wang & J Zhang, J Power Sources, 169, 221 (2007)
Routes using selective catalysts include the mixed reactant route. For instance, compact mixed reactant (CMR) fuel cells use selective electrode catalysts, and have porous membranes to pass the reactants through the membrane electrode assembly (MEA). In International Patent Application No. WO01/73881 a mixed reactant system is disclosed which includes porous electrodes and electrolyte (if not formed by the reaction mixture). In this arrangement, it is an essential feature that the mixed reactants are exposed to both electrodes. A further example of a mixed reactant system is disclosed in US2004/058203.
In addition to methanol crossover, a further problem suffered by DMFCs is water crossover, where water crosses the polymer electrolyte membrane from the anode to the cathode with methanol.
The methanol and water cross the membrane because of osmotic drag. As protons flow through the membrane they 'pull' water and methanol molecules with them.
Conventionally, DMFCs operate using a dilute methanol fuel, typically 1M. This solution is used to protect the MEA, to provide water as fuel for the anode reaction and also to limit the amount of methanol so as to reduce methanol crossover.
However, approximately three molecules cross the membrane per is molecule of methanol. As a result, the methanol concentration in the anolyte will become progressively stronger. To prevent this happening, the water which crosses through the membrane must be returned to the anode to maintain the dilution of the methanol. This requires:                i) the collection of the liquid water and pumping to return it,        ii) or a membrane to restrict the movement of liquid water and provide a pressure to return it to the anode, which reduces performance,        iii) or evaporation of the water, followed by condensation and return to the anolyte. To evaporate the water requires heat and limits the efficiency of the cell.
Maintaining the anolyte at a 1M concentration requires a control system including apparatus in which pure methanol is fed (using a first pump) to an anolyte mixer where it is mixed with water to form the 1M anolyte. The 1M anolyte is then recirculated (using a second pump) to the anode. In practice, a gas/liquid separation system will also be required.


An antibiotic susceptibility testing device of gram-negative bacteria, as well as a corresponding method, are discussed. The device has a temperature control unit (including a constant temperature chamber) and a contactless conductivity-based measurement system. Disposable glassy or PVC tubes are used as test vessels for AST. In the performance of AST assay, appropriate kind of liquid medium containing identical amount of target bacterial cells and target antibiotics at different concentrations are loaded into test tubes, following by incubation in the device at a setup temperature. The bacterial growth profile is monitored by collecting the differential values (ΔC) of conductivity of liquid medium, which depend on the proliferation of viable cells. Outcome of ΔC indicates whether the target bacterial cells are completely inhibited by the test antibiotic or not, enabling the user to judge the value of the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) simply.

Escherichia coli, Proteus, Dysentery bacillus, Salmonella, etc., are the most concerned gram-negative pathogenic bacteria, and can cause diarrhea and other infections. Thus they threat the health of human beings and breeding creatures. The employment of antibiotics is of a great milestone for human to battle against pathogenic bacteria. In order to guarantee appropriate prescriptions, AST of the involved bacteria should be conducted at early stage of the infection. Meanwhile, monitoring the drug-resistance of pathogenic bacteria and understanding the law of resistant trends are greatly meaningful for empirical prescriptions, and also is helpful to impede the emergence of drug-resistant strains caused by misuse or overuse of antibiotics.
AST is used to determine the concentration of antibiotics that is required to inhibit proliferation of target microorganism in vitro. Currently, disk diffusion, broth dilution and E test methods are popular in routine AST. Disk diffusion method is based on the principle that antibiotic-impregnated disk, placed on paper or agar previously inoculated with the test bacterium, pick-up moisture and the antibiotic diffuse radially outward through the medium producing an antibiotic concentration gradient. The concentration of the antibiotic at the edge of the disk is high and gradually diminishes as the distance from the disk increases to a point where it is no longer inhibitory for the organism, which then grows freely. When broth dilution and E test methods are employed, data of susceptibility are obtained according to bacterial proliferation or not in the presence of antibiotics at different concentrations. All of these methods are time-consuming. Generally, they will take more than one week. This issue, namely the slow response, challenges their applications in clinical case, where fast response is of great significance in order to conduct timely treatment. Recently, based on modern molecular techniques (e.g. polymerase chain reaction, gene chip, whole-genome sequencing) some fast approaches have been reported frequently. Though the assay time reduces apparently, these emerging methods are still laborious and cost. In addition, they cannot directly report the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). By contrast, another alternative approach, which is based on on-line monitoring bacterial growth with automated optical measurement system (e.g. BACTEC-TB460 and BACTEC960), is superior to that employing molecular techniques in simplicity and efficiency. However, these automated systems, as well as involved auxiliary materials and regents, are expensive. These disadvantages challenge its wide-spread application.

Device and method for automated antibiotic susceptibility testing of gram-negative bacteria

Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences


According to one embodiment a broad-angle multilayer (ML) mirror system is disclosed. The ML mirror includes a multiple layer structure configured to provide uniform reflectivity over a wide range of angles with small phase shifts.

Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) lithography is a lithography technique that targets very small feature sizes (e.g., 32 nm node and below). EUV light may be produced using a small, hot plasma that will efficiently radiate at a desired wavelength (e.g., in a range of approximately 11 nm to 15 nm). Due to such short wavelengths, the use of refractive optics in the system is ineffective. Thus, reflective mirrors are to be implemented for the optics. To promote the reflectivity at EUV wavelengths, multilayer (ML) coatings, featuring alternating layers of molybdenum and silicon (Mo/Si) or molybdenum and beryllium (Mo/Be), are used.
ML mirrors typically used in current EUV optical systems have a constant thickness Mo/Si (e.g., similar to a Bragg's reflector). The ML includes 40-80 bi-layers of the Mo/Si pair to enhance EUV reflections. Further, the bi-layer has a constant period of 6.9 nm with approximately 2.8 nm of Mo and approximately 4.1 nm of Si. However, a problem exists for this type of ML mirror in that it has approximately 12° of the maximum acceptance angle. At this maximum angle, an approximate 16% reflectivity loss occurs with approximately 20° of phase shifts.
Such a small acceptance angle often imposes a significant limitation in designing high numerical aperture (NA) EUV optical systems. This limitation requires optical designers to use multiple mirrors with high asphericity. For a typical six-mirror system (with a NA higher than 0.25), it is possible to have pupil apodizations with large phase shifts (adding out-of-plane distortion (OPD) in the system) due to the acceptance angle limitations of the current ML mirrors. Thus, for high NA optics, more number of mirrors have to be used. Also, graded ML mirrors are sometimes employed for azimuthally symmetric optical element in the system.


An aircraft floor portion includes crossmembers. Each crossmember comprises a top partial crossmember and a bottom crossmember, with at least one gap being left between the top partial crossmember and the bottom partial crossmember of each crossmember.

It is known to make an airplane floor using horizontal crossmembers that extend perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the fuselage. Longitudinal rails are fastened on the crossmembers, and in turn they are covered by a floor panel. The rails support the passenger seats.
Numerous systems or members generally need to be fastened to the floor. For example, these may be hydraulic or pneumatic members (compressed air or air conditioning ducts, water ducts, refrigeration ducts, oxygen ducts), electric cables, fire extinguisher circuit elements, or indeed cables of on-board communications networks. These various members are generally located under the crossmembers of the floor. A covering panel masks and protects these members relative to a cargo zone.
The drawback of that arrangement is that it occupies a considerable amount of height, thereby penalizing the height available in the cabin space above the floor or the height available in the cargo space below the floor.

Aircraft floor of optimized compactness and housing utility members


A magnetic tape cartridge including a reel-rotation restraining member which restricts rotation of a reel when not used and allows the rotation of the reel when used. The reel-rotation restraining member has a restraining member, an urging member, and an unlocking member. The restraining member has a restraining gear which meshes with a locking tooth portion, and the restraining member is supported by a support portion of the cartridge case.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic tape cartridge and more particularly relates, in a magnetic tape cartridge where a single reel with magnetic tape wound thereon is rotatably housed within a cartridge case, to the structure of reel-rotation restraining means which causes the reel to be in a rotation-restrained state when not being used.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the magnetic tape cartridges, which are used as storage medium to be employed in external storage units for computers, etc., there is known a type where a single tape reel with magnetic tape wound thereon is rotatably housed within a cartridge case. This magnetic tape is employed as a data archiving tape for computers, etc., and stores important information. For this reason, the magnetic tape cartridge is provided with reel-rotation restraining means for restricting rotation of the reel so that problems, such as tape jamming, etc., do not occur and that the magnetic tape is not pulled out from the cartridge case unexpectedly when not being used, such as when being archived, etc.
The reel-rotation restraining means, as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 11(1999)-23835, is equipped with a restraining member for restricting rotation of the reel, an urging member for urging the restraining member in a restraining direction, and an unlocking member for moving the restraining member in an unlocking direction in accordance with the chucking operation of the rotation means of the drive mechanism of a drive unit such as a recording-reproducing unit.
A locking tooth portion is formed on the reel side, while a restraining gear meshable with the locking tooth portion is provided on the side of the restraining member provided so that it cannot rotate with respect to the cartridge case. In the non-operative state, the restraining gear of the restraining member engages the locking tooth portion of the reel to restrict unexpected rotation of the reel, whereby the magnetic tape wound on the reel can be locked. On the other hand, if the magnetic tape cartridge is loaded into the drive unit, the unlocking member moves the restraining member to disengage the restraining gear of the restraining member from the locking tooth portion of the reel. In the disengaged or unlocked state, the reel is rotatable and therefore the magnetic tape can be loaded into or unloaded from the drive unit.
The above-mentioned unlocking member is equipped with a main body which abuts the above-mentioned restraining member, and leg portions which abut the rotation means of the drive mechanism of the drive unit. When the chucking operation of the rotation means is performed, the rotation means moves the unlocking member upward to disengage the retraining gear of the restraining member from the locking tooth portion of the reel.
In the case where a magnetic tape cartridge is equipped with the reel-rotation restraining means mentioned above, incidentally, the restraining member in the unlocked state is unstable because the central portion of the restraining member is supported only by the central portion of the unlocking member. On the other hand, because the reel is rotated or stopped according to loading or unloading of the magnetic tape, the force exerted on the reel is transmitted to the restraining member through the unlocking member. For this reason, the restraining member tends to tilt. If the restraining member tilts, the restraining gear thereof will contact the locking tooth portion of the reel. This produces an undesirable sound, disturbs rotation of the reel, and interferes with the operation of loading or unloading magnetic tape.
In addition, in the case where the magnetic tape slackens because of the shock produced by the magnetic tape cartridge falling when not being used, the magnetic tape cartridge cannot absorb the slack of the magnetic tape because it has only a single reel within the cartridge case. As a result, there is a fear that the magnetic tape will be damaged. Hence, in order to prevent the magnetic tape from slackening because of shock caused by the cartridge falling, the locking tooth portion of the reel and the restraining gear are constructed so that the tooth face of the locking tooth portion, which faces in the reverse winding direction (tape slackening direction), and the tooth face of the restraining gear, which abuts the tooth face of the locking tooth portion, are inclined at an angle near to 90 degrees.
However, in the case where the reel in the non-operative state is unexpectedly locked by the mesh between the restraining gear and the locking tooth portion, there are cases where the reel is freely moved by the complete mesh between the restraining gear and the locking tooth portion, depending on the phase relationship between the two in the unmeshed state. Particularly, if the tooth face of the locking tooth portion, which faces in the reverse winding direction (tape slackening direction), and the tooth face of the restraining gear, which abuts the tooth face of the locking tooth portion, are inclined at an angle near to 90 degrees in order to prevent slackness, as described above, the locking tooth portion and the restraining gear move only in the winding direction when they mesh with each other, and consequently, force is exerted on the magnetic tape in the winding direction.
In addition, in the case of a magnetic tape cartridge with magnetic tape wound on a single reel, a tape leader member is coupled with the leading end of the magnetic tape, and the tape leader member is caught by the catching member of the drive mechanism of a drive unit to pull out the magnetic tape from the cartridge case. In this construction, if the tape leader member is exposed to the case peripheral side, there is a problem that the free end will project from the cartridge case, or dust will enter the cartridge case through a tape leader opening formed in the cartridge case, when the magnetic tape cartridge is subjected to a falling shock, etc. Hence, it is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 11(1999)-232828 that a tape leader pin is retained inside a tape leader opening which is closed or opened by a slide door. The configuration of the tape leader member is determined mainly by specifications for the recording-reproducing unit.
Thus, in the case where the tape leader pin is coupled with the leading end of the magnetic tape, and the tape leader pin is retained within the cartridge case during the non-operative state, if the reel is moved in the winding direction and a pulling force greater than a predetermined quantity is exerted on the magnetic tape, there is a fear that the magnetic tape and the tape leader pin will be easily disengaged from each other, because the strength of the engagement of the tape leader pin with the magnetic tape is relatively low. Even when the two are not disengaged, the magnetic tape will be stretched by the aforementioned pulling force. Because of this, the magnetic recording-reproducing characteristics are degraded, or the tape leader pin is shifted out of a predetermined retaining position or tilted. Thereafter, there is a fear that the magnetic tape cannot be correctly loaded into the drive unit and therefore reliability will be reduced.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points. Accordingly, it is a first important object of the present invention to provide a magnetic tape cartridge which is capable of preventing the contact between a restraining gear and a locking protrusion that is caused by the tilt of the restraining member.
A second important object of the invention is to provide a magnetic tape cartridge that is capable of preventing the disengagement of the magnetic tape from a tape leader pin which is caused by the magnetic tape pulled in the locked state when subjected to a falling shock, while assuring the locked state of a reel obtained in a non-operative by the restraining member of reel-rotation restraining means.
To achieve the first object of the present invention and in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a first magnetic tape cartridge comprising:
a cartridge case where a single reel with magnetic tape wound thereon is rotatably housed; and
reel-rotation restraining means which, when not used, goes to a locked state to restrict rotation of the reel and, when used, goes from the locked state to an unlocked state to allow the rotation; the reel-rotation restraining means having a restraining member for restricting rotation of the reel by moving toward or away from the reel, an urging member for urging the restraining member in a restraining direction, and an unlocking member for moving the restraining member in an unlocking direction, by rotating integrally with the reel and moving according to a chucking operation of rotation means of a drive unit;
wherein the restraining member has a restraining gear which meshes with a locking tooth portion formed in the reel to restrain rotation of the reel, the restraining member being supported by a support portion of the cartridge case so that it is slidable without being rotated; and
the following relationship is met:
bxe2x89xa6(2xc3x97axc3x97c)/d
where xe2x80x9caxe2x80x9d represents the length of engagement between the restraining member in the unlocked state and the support portion, xe2x80x9cbxe2x80x9d represents the clearance between the restraining member and the support portion, xe2x80x9ccxe2x80x9d represents the space between a tooth of the restraining gear and the locking tooth portion, and xe2x80x9cdxe2x80x9d represents the outside diameter of the restraining gear.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a second magnetic tape cartridge comprising:
a cartridge case where a single reel with magnetic tape wound thereon is rotatably housed; and
reel-rotation restraining means which, when not used, goes to a locked state to restrict rotation of the reel and, when used, goes from the locked state to an unlocked state to allow the rotation; the reel-rotation restraining means having a restraining member for restricting rotation of the reel by moving toward or away from the reel, an urging member for urging the restraining member in a restraining direction, and an unlocking member for moving the restraining member in an unlocking direction, by rotating integrally with the reel and moving according to a chucking operation of rotation means of a drive unit;
wherein the reel has a reel gear which meshes with a driving gear of drive means of the drive unit;
the unlocking member has a main body which abuts the restraining member, and leg portions whose lower ends abut part of the drive means of the drive unit through guide holes provided to penetrate the reel gear; and
in the locked state, the lower ends of the leg portions of the unlocking member project from a tooth edge of the reel gear.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a third magnetic tape cartridge comprising:
a cartridge case where a single reel with magnetic tape wound thereon is rotatably housed; and
reel-rotation restraining means which, when not used, goes to a locked state to restrict rotation of the reel and, when used, goes from the locked state to an unlocked state to allow the rotation; the reel-rotation restraining means having a restraining member for restricting rotation of the reel by moving toward or away from the reel, an urging member for urging the restraining member in a restraining direction, and an unlocking member for moving the restraining member in an unlocking direction, by rotating integrally with the reel and moving according to a chucking operation of rotation means of a drive unit;
wherein the restraining member has a restraining gear which meshes with a locking tooth portion formed in the reel to restrain rotation of the reel, the restraining member being supported by a support portion of the cartridge case so that it is slidable without being rotated; and
in the unlocked state, the space between a tooth of the restraining gear and the locking tooth portion is set to a length greater than or equal to a tooth depth of the restraining gear.
In the third magnetic tape cartridge, it is preferable that the aforementioned space be set greater than or equal to 1.2 times the tooth depth of the restraining gear. It is further preferable that the aforementioned space be set greater than or equal to 1.4 times the tooth depth of the restraining gear.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a fourth cartridge case where a single reel with magnetic tape wound thereon is rotatably housed; and
reel-rotation restraining means which, when not used, goes to a locked state to restrict rotation of the reel and, when used, goes from the locked state to an unlocked state to allow the rotation; the reel-rotation restraining means having a restraining member for restricting rotation of the reel by moving toward or away from the reel, an urging member for urging the restraining member in a restraining direction, and an unlocking member for moving the restraining member in an unlocking direction, by rotating integrally with the reel and moving according to a chucking operation of rotation means of a drive unit;
wherein either a slide portion of the restraining member or a slide portion of the unlocking member is formed into a curved surface which has a radius of curvature of 30 mm or less.
In the fourth magnetic tape cartridge, it is preferable that the radius of curvature of the curved surface be 20 mm or less. It is further preferable that the radius of curvature of the curved surface be 15 mm or less.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a fifth magnetic tape cartridge comprising:
a cartridge case where a single reel with magnetic tape wound thereon is rotatably housed; and
reel-rotation restraining means which, when not used, goes to a locked state to restrict rotation of the reel and, when used, goes from the locked state to an unlocked state to allow the rotation; the reel-rotation restraining means having a restraining member for restricting rotation of the reel by moving toward or away from the reel, an urging member for urging the restraining member in a restraining direction, and an unlocking member for moving the restraining member in an unlocking direction, by rotating integrally with the reel and moving according to a chucking operation of rotation means of a drive unit;
wherein the restraining member has a restraining gear which meshes with a locking tooth portion formed in the reel to restrain rotation of the reel;
the urging member is supported by a spring receiver formed in the cartridge case; and
the following relationship is met:
exe2x89xa6(2xc3x97fxc3x97c)/d
where xe2x80x9ccxe2x80x9d represents the space between a tooth of the restraining gear in the unlocked state and the locking tooth portion, xe2x80x9cdxe2x80x9d represents the outside diameter of the restraining gear, xe2x80x9cexe2x80x9d represents the clearance between an outer periphery of the urging member and an inner periphery of the spring receiver, and xe2x80x9cfxe2x80x9d represents the length of engagement between the urging member and the spring receiver.
To achieve the aforementioned second object of the present invention and in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a sixth magnetic tape cartridge comprising:
a cartridge case where a single reel with magnetic tape wound thereon is rotatably housed; and
reel-rotation restraining means which, when not used, goes to a locked state to restrict rotation of the reel and, when used, goes from the locked state to an unlocked state to allow the rotation; the reel-rotation restraining means having a restraining member for restricting rotation of the reel by moving toward or away from the reel, an urging member for urging the restraining member in a restraining direction, and an unlocking member for moving the restraining member in an unlocking direction, by rotating integrally with the reel and moving according to a chucking operation of rotation means of a drive unit;
wherein the restraining member has a restraining gear which meshes with a locking tooth portion formed in the reel to restrain rotation of the reel; and
a tooth of the restraining gear has two inclined faces which have an apex angle and interior angles, the apex angle being between an apex angle of the locking tooth portion of the reel and 90 degrees, and the interior angles being 30 degrees or greater with respect to a vertical line and also being approximately the same.
Note that the aforementioned vertical line refers to a line vertical to the direction of rotation of the reel. Also, in the sixth magnetic tape cartridge, it is preferable that the locking tooth portion and the tooth of the restraining gear be formed from synthetic resin material.
The present invention has the following advantages:
(1) In the reel-rotation restraining means, which has a restraining member for restricting rotation of the reel by moving toward or away from the reel, an urging member for urging the restraining member in a restraining direction, and an unlocking member for moving the restraining member in an unlocking direction, by rotating integrally with the reel and moving according to a chucking operation of rotation means of a drive unit,
the following relationship is met:
xe2x80x83bxe2x89xa6(2xc3x97axc3x97c)/d
where xe2x80x9caxe2x80x9d represents the length of engagement between the restraining member in the unlocked state and the support portion, xe2x80x9cbxe2x80x9d represents the clearance between the restraining member and the support portion, xe2x80x9ccxe2x80x9d represents the space between a tooth of the restraining gear and the locking tooth portion, and xe2x80x9cdxe2x80x9d represents the outside diameter of the restraining gear; or the following relationship is met:
exe2x89xa6(2xc3x97fxc3x97c)/d
where xe2x80x9ccxe2x80x9d represents the space between a tooth of the restraining gear in the unlocked state and the locking tooth portion, xe2x80x9cdxe2x80x9d represents the outside diameter of the restraining gear, xe2x80x9cexe2x80x9d represents the clearance between an outer periphery of the urging member and an inner periphery of the spring receiver, and xe2x80x9cfxe2x80x9d represents the length of engagement between the urging member and the spring receiver. With this arrangement, tilting of the restraining member is suppressed in the unlocked state. Therefore, the contact between the restraining gear and the locking tooth portion can be prevented and the major causes of an undesirable sound and a hindrance to the rotation of the reel can be eliminated.
(2) In the locked state, the lower ends of the leg portions of the unlocking member project from the tooth edge of the reel gear. Also, in the unlocked state, the space between the tooth of the restraining gear and the locking tooth portion is set to a length greater than or equal to the tooth depth of the restraining gear. With this arrangement, the extent of movement of the restraining member in the unlocked state increases. Therefore, even if the restraining member tilts slightly, the contact between the restraining gear and the locking tooth portion can be prevented and the major causes of an undesirable sound and a hindrance to the rotation of the reel can be eliminated.
(3) Either a slide portion of the restraining member or a slide portion of the unlocking member is formed into a curved surface which has a radius of curvature of 30 mm or less. With this, when the restraining member tilts, restoring force to a flat state that equalizes the urging force produced by the urging member in the circumferential direction is enhanced and tilting of the restraining member is suppressed. Therefore, the contact between the restraining gear and the locking protrusion can be prevented and the major causes of an undesirable sound and a hindrance to the rotation of the reel can be eliminated.
(4) The tooth of the restraining gear has two inclined faces which have an apex angle and interior angles, the apex angle being between an apex angle of the locking tooth portion of the reel and 90 degrees, and the interior angles being 30 degrees or greater with respect to a vertical line and also being approximately the same. That is, the interior angles are within 45 degrees. With this, in the meshed state between the restraining gear and the locking tooth portion, the reel can be reliably locked. Even if the two are shifted in phase when locked and therefore the reel is moved in the reverse winding direction, the extent of movement will be slight and therefore the slack of the magnetic tape will also be slight. Also, even if the reel is moved in the winding direction because of the mesh between the two, the extent of movement will be slight and therefore a pulling force that is exerted on the magnetic tape by the movement of the reel 2 will be small. Therefore, the disengagement of the magnetic tape from the tape leader pin due to forced locking can be prevented.
(5) When the reel is rotated in the winding direction by falling shock, etc., and an excessive pulling force is exerted on the magnetic tape, the restraining member is moved in the unlocking direction by the inclined face of the locking tooth portion which faces in the reverse winding direction. As a result, the meshed state between the restraining member and the locking tooth portion becomes shallow and the rotation of the reel in the reverse winding direction is allowed. Therefore, an excessive pulling force can be alleviated and the disengagement of the magnetic tape from the tape leader pin can be prevented.
(6) The apex angle of the tooth of the restraining gear of the restraining member is set to an angle greater than the apex angle of the locking tooth portion of the reel. That is, the tooth edge of the locking tooth portion of the reel is made thinner by setting the apex angle of the locking tooth portion to an angle less than the apex angle of the tooth of the restraining gear of the restraining member. As a result, the locking tooth portion becomes easy to deform, and slight play can be provided between the teeth. Therefore, a force to pull the magnetic tape can be alleviated without reducing the forced locking function. Particularly, in the case where the restraining gear and the locking tooth portion are formed from synthetic resin material, the function of alleviating the pulling force to be exerted on the magnetic force is enhanced because they are easily deformable.
(7) Thus, according to the present invention, reliable locking of the reel in the non-operative state, and alleviation of a magnetic-tape pulling force that is produced in the locked state by falling shock, etc., are compatible with each other. This can enhance reliability, while preventing stretching and disengagement of the magnetic tape and assuring magnetic recording-reproducing characteristics and a correct operation of loading the magnetic tape.


An assembly which includes a rod having an outer peripheral surface. There is also a nut having an axial aperture with an inner peripheral surface moveably engageable with the peripheral surface on the outer peripheral surface of the rod and having a peripheral gear surface. There is also a circular drive gear, which engages the peripheral gear surface of the nut. The circular drive gear is rotatable about its central axis so that the nut is moved along the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical rod.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to lock-threaded fasteners and more particularly to devices for moving a nut along a threaded rod.
(2) Brief Description of the Prior Art
Current techniques used are that of hand-operated tools and motions. Frequently a wrench is used to loosen a locknut or stopnut and then the loose nut is turned by hand to some position along a threaded rod. The purpose of the locknut is to prevent movement of some mechanical device against vibration or other movement. For example, the locknut may be used for alignment or adjustment purposes, such as in varying the height of some components off a platform or base. Once the locknut has been loosened, it must be turned by hand to some other position along the rod. This movement can be over a short or a very long distance depending upon the application. In some instances when adjustments must be made quickly, depending upon the fit of the threads and the cleanliness of the components, it can be a slow and tedious operation.
The prior art discloses a number of devices and methods for moving a nut on a threaded rod and for related functions.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,645,570 to Anderson, for example, discloses a wrench including a mitre gear, a frame and a sleeve provided with a mitre gear. A nut is received in the socket in the sleeve.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,832,663 to Small discloses a wrench including a bevel gear at the end of a shaft and a fork member. A socket member is provided with a bevel gear matching the bevel gear.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,685,848 to Langer discloses a rotatable fastener, which has a head portion with an axially facing ring gear engageable with a complementary gear of a drive tool. The ring gear is a rearwardly facing beveled gear for use with a beveled drive gear and the head portion defines a forwardly directed thrust surface engageable by a bearing surface of the drive tool to urge the drive gear against the ring gear.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,907,242 to Chakroff discloses an arrangement comprising a nut with a bevel gear and a power driver including matching bevel pinion and a supporting yoke.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,339 to Rosser discloses two teethed nuts which are meshed together in an arrangement that causes both the nuts to move at the same rate of speed and in the same direction up or down the threaded rod arms of a U-bolt clamp whenever one of the nuts is turned. The meshed nuts apply similar and simultaneous pressure upon the crosspiece of a U-bolt clamp which crosspiece moves relative to the threaded rod arms which transverse it through apertures in the crosspiece. A clamping force is achieved between the crosspiece and the curved portion of the U-bolt as the two members are forced together by movement of the meshing nuts turning upon the threaded rod arms and pressing against the crosspiece.
A need, however, still exists for a quicker and easier means for moving a nut along a threaded rod.

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


The present invention relates to a purified or isolated obligate domain-swapped dimer of CVN and a composition comprising the same.

CVN, a protein isolated from cyanobacteria, is known to have anti-viral activity. By interfering with the interaction of the viral envelope glycoprotein gp120 of human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) with the surface of a cell, CVN can block the entry of HIV into the cell at nanomolar concentrations (Boyd et al., Animicrob. Agents Chemother. 41: 1521-1530(1997); Dey et al., J. Virol. 74: 4562-4569 (2000)). CVN:gp120 interactions are governed by high affinity binding of CVN to the D1 and D3 arms of oligomannose-8 and oligomannose-9, two oligosaccharides that are abundant on the surface of HIV (Bewley et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 123: 3892-3902 (2001)). This unprecedented specificity arises from the presence of two extensive carbohydrate binding pockets that are specific for the disaccharide oligomannose-α (1-2) oligomannose-α, i.e., the termini of the more accessible D1 and D3 arms of oligomannose-8 and oligomannose-9 (Bewley, Structure 9: 931-940 (2001)).
It is an object of the present invention to enhance the anti-viral activity of CVN. This and other objects and advantages of the present invention, as well as additional inventive features, will become apparent from the detailed description provided herein.

Obligate domain-swapped dimer of cyanovirin with enhanced anti-viral activity

United States of America, repesented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services


An operator telerobotically controls instruments to perform a procedure on an object at a work site while viewing real-time images of the work site on a display screen. An assistant controls movement of another instrument towards or away from the work site to relieve the operator from such task. Control of the instrument is automatically switched from the assistant to the operator upon the working end of the instrument entering the view on the display screen.

In a robotic system, a plurality of instruments may be telerobotically controlled by an operator to perform a procedure on an object at a work site. A camera is provided at the work site to capture images of end effectors of the instruments as they interact with the object to perform the procedure, so that the operator may view their movements on a display screen while controlling them through associated input devices.
While performing the procedure, it may be necessary to introduce a new instrument to the work site to perform a needed function; replace an instrument already there with a new instrument; replace an end effector on an instrument already there with a new end effector; introduce some accessory item to the work site for performing the procedure by attaching it to an instrument and inserting the instrument to the work site; or remove an item from the work site by attaching it to an instrument, retracting the instrument and removing the item from the instrument, and reinserting the instrument back to the work site so that it may once again be available for use there.
In each of these applications, it may be advantageous to have an assistant control all or a part of these actions while the primary operator continues to perform the procedure using the remaining instruments. Once the new or the retracted and reinserted instrument becomes available at the work site, its control may be transferred to the primary operator so that the instrument is available for use by the primary operator at the work site.
To insert the new or the retracted and reinserted instrument to the work site, however, may be a time consuming and difficult task for the assistant. Also, it may be difficult for the assistant to bring the new or reinserted instrument into the field of view of the on-site camera so that it may be viewed by the primary operator on the display screen before switching control of the instrument to the primary operator. It is also possible for the assistant to misjudge the depth of insertion of the new or reinserted instrument and place its distal end too deep into the work site, which may cause unintended contact between the instrument and objects at the work site. To avoid such unintended and possibly harmful contact, the assistant is likely to move the new or reinserted instrument very slowly into the work site.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,645,196, which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a guided tool exchange procedure employable in a medical robotic system to guide a new tool quickly and precisely, after a tool exchange operation, into close proximity to the operating position of the original tool prior to its removal from a work site.
During the performance of a procedure, however, the camera pose may change so that the camera may get a better view of the working ends of instruments as the instruments move while performing a procedure on an object at the work site. In such a situation, inserting a replacement or reinserting the old instrument to its former position may be undesirable since it may not be a good location for the new instrument and further because it may be outside the current field of view of the camera. In addition, it may be desirable to allow the primary operator to assume control of the new instrument as soon as practical so as not to unduly delay the continued performance of the procedure using the new instrument.

Switching control of an instrument to an input device upon the instrument entering a display area viewable by an operator of the input device


A metal core substrate comprises a core layer (10) consisting of first and second metal plates (11, 12) layered with a third insulating layer (13) interposed therebetween; first and second insulating layers (20, 21) formed on the first and metal plates, respectively; first and second wiring patterns (45, 46) formed on the first and second insulating layers, respectively. A conductive layer (40) formed in a through-hole (22) penetrates the first insulating layer, the first metal plate, the third insulating layer, the second metal plate and the second insulating layer for electrically connecting the first wiring pattern with the second wiring pattern. The first metal plate (11) is electrically connected with the first wiring pattern (45) and the second wiring pattern (46), respectively, by means of a via (44) and by means a via (43). The second metal plate (12) is electrically connected with the second wiring pattern (46) and the first wiring pattern (45), respectively, by means of a via (42) and by means a via (41), respectively.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a metal core substrate and a manufacturing process thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
A metal core substrate is known and is used as a package on which a semiconductor chip is mounted.
Concerning the metal core substrate, there have been provided various types of structure. According to the official gazette of Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2000-244130, there is disclosed a metal core substrate which has a coaxial structure, of a so-called xe2x80x9cVia in Viaxe2x80x9d type, which reduces inductance and also has a capacitor structure inside.
As shown in FIG. 18, this metal core substrate 1 is composed as follows. On the metal plate 2, through-holes 3 are formed, and the upper and lower wiring patterns 5 are electrically connected with each other by the through-hole plating films 4 in a structure called xe2x80x9cVia in Viaxe2x80x9d. On both sides of the metal plate 2, the copper foil layers 7, 7 are provided via the dielectric layers 6. These copper foil layers 7, 7 are electrically connected to the through-hole plating films 4. On the other hand, the other through-hole plating film 8 and the metal plate 2 are electrically connected with each other, so that capacitor structures are formed between the metal plate 2 and the copper foil layers 7, 7, respectively.
The above metal core substrate 1 provides an effect that the inductance can be reduced. Further, the above metal core substrate 1 provides an effect of effectively removing noise because the capacitor structure is formed at a position right below the semiconductor chip which is to be mounted.
However, as shown in FIG. 18, both the through-hole for signal use and the through-hole used for connection of the metal plate 2 exist on the above metal core substrate 1. Therefore, the density of the wiring pattern for signal use must be restricted, that is, it does not allow an increase in the density.
The present invention has been accomplished to solve the above problems.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a metal core substrate, and a manufacturing method thereof, characterized in that the electric performance can be enhanced and high density wiring can be provided.
According to the present invention, there is provided a metal core substrate comprising: a core layer comprising first and second metal plates layered by means of a third insulating layer interposed therebetween; first and second insulating layers formed on the first and second metal plates, respectively; first and second wiring patterns formed on the first and second insulating layers, respectively; a conductive means formed in a through-hole penetrating the first insulating layer, the first metal plate, the third insulating layer, the second metal plate and the second insulating layer to be exposed to insulating portions with respect to the first and second metal plates, respectively, for electrically connecting the first wiring pattern with the second wiring pattern; first connecting means for electrically connecting the first metal plate with the first wiring pattern and the second wiring pattern, respectively, by means of a via penetrating the first insulating layer and by means a via formed in a via-hole penetrating the second insulating layer, the second metal plate and the third insulating layer so as to be exposed to an insulating portion with respect to the second metal plate; and second connecting means for electrically connecting the second metal plate with the second wiring pattern and the first wiring pattern, respectively, by means of a via penetrating the second insulating layer and by means a via formed in a via-hole penetrating the first insulating layer, the first metal plate and the third insulating layer so as to be exposed to an insulating portion with respect to the first metal plate.
The first metal plate is a ground plane and the second metal plate is a power plane.
The first and second wiring patterns are multi-layered patterns formed in and on the first and second insulating layers, respectively.
The third insulating layer may preferably be a dielectric layer.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a metal core substrate comprising a core layer comprising first and second metal plates layered with a third insulating layer interposed therebetween, the first and second metal plates having first through-holes at positions overlapping to each other in a core thickness direction, the first and second metal plates also having third and fourth through-holes, respectively, at positions not overlapping to each other in the core thickness direction; first and second insulating layers formed on the first and second metal plates, respectively, so that the first, third and fourth through-holes are embedded therewith; the first, second and third insulating layers having a second through-hole penetrating therethrough and penetrating the first through-holes so as not to be exposed to the first and second metal plates, respectively; the first and third insulating layers having a first via-hole penetrating therethrough and penetrating the third through-hole to be exposed to the second metal plate, but not to be exposed to the first metal plate; the second insulating layer having a second via-hole penetrating therethrough to be exposed to the second metal plate; the second and third insulating layers having a third via-hole penetrating therethrough and penetrating the fourth through-hole to be exposed to the first metal plate, but not to be exposed to the second metal plate; the first insulating layer having a fourth via-hole penetrating therethrough to be exposed to the first metal plate; first and second wiring patterns formed on the first and second insulating layers, respectively; a conductive means formed in the second through-hole for electrically connecting the first wiring pattern with the second wiring pattern; a first via formed in the first via-hole for electrically connecting the second metal plate with the first wiring pattern; a second via formed in the second via-hole for electrically connecting the second metal plate with the second wiring pattern; a third via formed in the third via-hole for electrically connecting the first metal plate with the second wiring pattern; and a fourth via formed in the fourth via-hole for electrically connecting the first metal plate with the first wiring pattern.
The second through-hole has a diameter smaller than that of the first through-holes, the first via-hole has a diameter smaller than that of the third through-hole, and the third via-hole has a diameter smaller than that of the fourth through-hole.
The first through-hole of the first metal layer and the third through-hole of the first metal layer are coaxially formed as a single through-hole which has a diameter (A) larger than that (B) of the first through-hole of the second metal layer; the second through-hole and the first via-hole are coaxially formed in such a manner that a diameter (C) of the first via-hole is smaller than that (A) of the third through-hole and larger than that (B) of first through-hole, and a diameter (D) of the second through-hole is smaller than that (B) of the first through-hole; and the first via and conductive means are coaxial in such a manner that an insulating portion is interposed therebetween.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process for manufacturing a metal core substrate comprising the following steps of: preparing a core layer comprising first and second metal plates layered with a third insulating layer interposed therebetween; forming the first and second metal plates with first through-holes, respectively, at positions overlapping to each other in a core thickness direction and with third and fourth through-holes, respectively, at positions not overlapping each other in the core thickness direction; laminating first and second insulating layers on the first and metal plates, respectively, so that the first, third and fourth through-holes are embedded therewith; forming the first, second and third insulating layers with a second through-hole penetrating therethrough and penetrating the first through-holes so as not to be exposed to the first and second metal plates, respectively; the first and third insulating layers with a first via-hole penetrating therethrough and penetrating the third through-hole to be exposed to the second metal plate, but not to be exposed to the first metal plate; the second insulating layer with a second via-hole penetrating therethrough to be exposed to the second metal plate; the second and third insulating layers with a third via-hole penetrating therethrough and penetrating the fourth through-hole to be exposed to the first metal plate, but not to be exposed to the first metal plate; and the first insulating layer with a fourth via-hole penetrating therethrough to be exposed to the first metal plate; forming a conductive means in the second through-hole, a first via in the first via-hole, a second via in the second via-hole, a third via formed in the third via-hole, and a fourth via formed in the fourth via-hole; forming first and second wiring patterns formed on the first and second insulating layers, respectively, so as to be electrically connected to the conductive means, the first via, the second via, the third via, and the fourth via.

Metal core substrate and process for manufacturing same


A method of regenerating a finely-divided particulate catalyst involves the use of an external regeneration system comprising first and second regeneration stations. The method is particularly adapted to regenerating supported catalysts used in Fischer-Tropsch slurry reactors. A slurry-containing partially spent catalyst is flowed from the reactor and alternately regenerated in one of the first and second regeneration stations. The alternate use of the stations for catalyst regeneration permits one station to receive partially deactivated slurry from the reactor while the other station returns regenerated slurry to the reactor. The operation of the reactor thus may be continuous.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the regeneration of a partially spent catalyst used in the synthesis of hydrocarbons from a synthesis gas. In one aspect, the invention relates to regenerating Fischer-Tropsch catalysts used in slurry reactor processes. In still another aspect, the invention relates to the regeneration of a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst in external regenerating vessels.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
The production of hydrocarbons from synthesis gas (H.sub.2 and CO) is well-known and is described at length in the patent and technical literature. Although fixed bed, fluidized bed, entrained bed, and ebullating bed reactors have been used with a variety of catalysts, the slurry reactor process has received considerable attention in recent years.
In the slurry reactor process, finely divided catalyst is suspended in a heavy oil (e.g., paraffinic hydrocarbon) by bubbling synthesis gas through the reactor. The hydrocarbon reaction products are recovered in the overhead stream and from a slurry discharged from the reactor.
One of the problems associated with the slurry reactor process is that the activity of the catalyst deteriorates with use. The reason for the deterioration is not fully understood but is believed to be due in part to contaminants and reaction products which reversibly deactivate the catalyst.
In order to maintain an effective operation, the spent catalyst must be regenerated or replaced from time to time. (The terms "regenerate", "reactivate", and "rejuvenate" are used herein to mean the same thing: to increase the activity of the reversibly deactivated catalyst.)
Processes for regenerating Fischer-Tropsch catalysts used in slurry reactor processes are described in the following patents:
(a) U.S. Pat. No. 5,260,239 discloses a process wherein an external rejuvenation vessel is used to continuously receive partially spent catalyst slurry from a synthesis reactor vessel with the catalyst being rejuvenated by the passage of hydrogen therethrough in the rejuvenation vessel. The catalyst flow between the vessels is solely by gravity. PA1 (b) U.S. Pat. No. 5,288,673 discloses a catalyst rejuvenation system comprising vertical draft tubes immersed in the slurry within the reactor. Hydrogen is passed upwardly through the draft tubes carrying catalyst slurry with it. Rejuvenated catalyst is ejected at the top of each tube into the top of the slurry reactor. Other draft tube rejuvenations are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,268,344. PA1 (c) U.S. Pat. No. 5,283,216 discloses a method of rejuvenating a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst by passing hydrogen through the catalyst suspended in a liquid hydrocarbon. PA1 (d) U.S. Pat. No. 5,811,363 discloses a catalyst regenerator for slurry reactors wherein the regenerator includes means for separating regenerated off gas from the regenerated catalyst. PA1 (e) U.S. Pat. No. 5,811,468 discloses a catalyst regenerator for a slurry reactor wherein the catalyst slurry is passed through a gas disengaging zone and then into a catalyst regenerating tube. PA1 (f) U.S. Pat. No. 5,817,701 discloses a process for regeneration of catalysts used in Fischer-Tropsch reactors of H.sub.2 and CO, wherein CO is purged from the reactor prior to introduction of H.sub.2 regeneration gas. PA1 (g) U.S. Pat. No. 5,821,270 discloses a slurry reactor catalyst regeneration process wherein the slurry is passed successively through at least two regeneration stages.
The above U.S. Patents are representative of recent patents relating to slurry regeneration by hydrogen, either in the reactor or in a separate regeneration vessel or tube, and are hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference.
The regeneration of Fischer-Tropsch catalyst by hydrogen, however, has long been known for other types of reactors. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,414,276 discloses the use of hydrogen to regenerate a particulate catalyst suspended in a gas. The regeneration is continuous and carried out in a vessel external of the reactor. Another early U.S. Pat. No. 2,670,364, relating to Fischer-Tropsch fluidized bed reactors, discloses an external hydrogenation vessel for regenerating catalyst withdrawn from the reactor. These patents are also incorporated in their entirety by reference.

Process and apparatus for regenerating a particulate catalyst