The invention relates to a suspension for a rail brake on a bogie of a rail vehicle. A passive lifting device is provided which acts upon the rail brake according to the activation state thereof in such a way that said brake can be displaced between a lowered braking position and a lifted release position. In the release position, damping elements act between stoppers of the rail brake and the carriers of the bogie in such a way that transverse forces are reliably damped by virture of vibration or impact loads for instance. In the braking position, the lateral play required in said position is provided. The spring characteristics of the damping elements are configured in such a way that the two requirements can be met.

The invention relates to a suspension for a rail brake on a bogie of a rail vehicle, as well as to a bogie for a rail vehicle.
Rail brake systems for rail vehicles are conventionally held on the bogie frames on both sides of a bogie. The rail brake has brake anchor plates which are provided on both sides of the wheel sets of the rail vehicle below the bogie frames. In this case, the rail brake is conventionally constructed as an electromagnetic rail brake or as an eddy current brake. Thus, the brake anchor plates may carry brake magnets on their underside, which brake magnets can be displaced by lifting devices between a lowered braking position and a lifted release position. In the lowered operative position, the brake magnets should rest on the surface of the rail or be present at a distance from the surface of the rail which is slight and as constant as possible.
In this case, the rail brakes are suspended in a pendulum fashion and designed such that they permit a lateral play of, for example, 2 to 12 mm, in the case of electromagnetic rail brakes in the low-suspension state, in order to permit a maximal overlapping between the rail brake and the rail corresponding to the axle base and the turning radius. The rail brake also has the tendency to utilize this lateral play also in the release position because accelerations occur in the bogie which, as a result of the inertia of the rail brake, are converted to pendulum movements. This may result in damage to the body.
From German Patent Document DE 197 25 174 A1, a suspension for a rail brake is known, in the case of which the lifting devices are constructed as lifting bellows which are operated pneumatically. For avoiding the pendulum movements of the rail brake in the release position and particularly in order to achieve an uncoupling of the brake with respect to the bogie and thus a positive influence on the running characteristics of the rail vehicle, a rubber layer spring is provided in this construction which centers the rail brake in the release position transversely elastically on the bogie frame. This construction was successful when active lifting devices were used.
If, in contrast, passive systems, such as pressure spring arrangements, are used for the suspension of the rail brake, problems occur in practice when a rubber layer spring is used. As a rule, such pressure spring arrangements are used for electromagnetic rail brakes in a low suspension and are configured such that, with respect to their spring force, the action of current on the electromagnets and, thus, the generating of a magnetic field is sufficient for attracting the rail brake against the force of the pressure spring to the surface of the rail. Here, the magnetic force causes an automatic centering on the rail, and the braking force is transmitted from the brake magnets by way of carriers or pull or push bows to the vehicle. When the rail brake is deactivated, it is displaced, because of the prestressing force of the pressure spring arrangement, back from the braking position into the lifted release position.
While the known centering device with the rubber layer spring in the release position is constantly prestressed by the lifting bellows against the bogie, in the case of a pressure spring arrangement, it may, however, be possible, particularly in the case of impact loads, that the centered and damped position cannot be maintained. This problem is the result of the fact that the spring force of the pressure spring arrangement is a constructively defined value, which in this case is configured such that it can be overcome by the activation of the rail brake. Thus, in the case of a pressure spring arrangement, the rail brake is not as reliably held in the release position as in the case of a spring bellows arrangement actively acted upon by compressed air. On the other hand, pressure spring arrangements are distinguished by their simple construction and ruggedness.
Furthermore, the problem of impact loads increases with the expanded usage range of these braking systems. Thus, pressure spring suspensions have so far mainly been used on streetcars, etc. which move at relatively low speeds. Now, systems of this type are to be used also in the standard gauge railway range, where speed of over 100 km/h are traveled on a regular basis. As a result, the dynamic loads on the rail brake increase significantly. While a rail brake suspended in this manner, when used in a streetcar, could still be sufficiently held also in the release position by providing carriers, so that no damage occurred to the rest of the body, this can no longer be excluded in the case of the intended increased loads.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to further develop a suspension of the above-mentioned type for a rail brake in such a manner that, also when passive lifting devices are used, the movements of the rail brake in the release position can be limited with respect to the bogie and hard impacts can be avoided and the required lateral play is nevertheless permitted in the braking position.
This object is achieved by means of a suspension for a rail brake, according to the present invention, by providing damping elements between the carriers of the bogie frame and the stoppers of the rail brake in the release position of the rail brake to damp forces transverse to the traveling direction of the rail vehicle.
Thus, it was recognized according to the invention that, as a result of astonishingly low constructional expenditures, a significantly improved suspension can be implemented for a rail brake of this type. By means of the further development according to the invention, particularly the expenditures are reduced for the constructive design of the damping elements, mainly with respect to a suitable characteristic curve of the damping characteristics. The suspension according to the invention is therefore distinguished not only by its cost-effective producibility but also by a very high reliability. The susceptibility to damage is therefore low and, by selecting a suitable material, very long service lives can be achieved. This construction is particularly suitable also for a large range of loads, so that use is also possible at very high speeds. Impacts and vibration loads can thereby be reliably absorbed without any damage to surrounding parts of the body.
While in the prior art, even a slight sagging of the rail brake under loads of this type could result in a loss of centering, this can be avoided by the suspension according to the invention because, instead of the rubber layer spring, which has a differentiated springing behavior in each layer, a compact damping element is used. As a result, a high reliability of the system can be achieved.
Because of the simple construction, it is also possible according to the invention to further develop the damping elements without any high constructive expenditures with respect to their material characteristics and dimensioning that they develop a sufficient damping effect in the release position and, in the braking position, nevertheless continue to permit the required lateral play, so that the required braking effect can fully develop, for example, when taking curves.
Advantageous further developments of the invention are as follows.
When the damping elements are arranged on the stoppers of the rail brake, existing arrangements can be retrofitted in a simple manner without requiring any changes on the bogie.
It is also advantageous, in the release position, for the stoppers to be received with a play transversely to the traveling direction in the carriers. As a result, friction forces during the movement of the rail brake from the braking position into the lifted release position can be effectively reduced or completely prevented. An exact method of operation of the rail brake can thereby be achieved in an even better fashion. Furthermore, the wear of the arrangement is reduced, which increases its durability.
As an alternative, it is also possible that, in the release position, the rail brake is centered by the damping elements in the carriers. This construction has the advantage that free movements of the rail brake are essentially completely avoided, whereby the dynamic stressing of the arrangement is further reduced.
The further development with or without play in this case depends essentially on the respective application and the given parameters, such as the desired maximal speed of the rail vehicle, etc.
When the carriers reach in a U-shape around the stoppers, in which case the damping elements are arranged on both sides on the stoppers, a reliable fixation is achieved on each carrier. The stability of the arrangement in the release position is further increased thereby.
As an alternative thereto, it is also possible to construct the carriers in an L-shape and to arrange them such that they receive the rail brake in a horizontal plane. In this case, the rail brake has at least two brake magnets which are arranged parallel to one another under the bogie frames and which are connected by way of only one anchor arm. This construction has the advantage that the carriers can have a simpler design. The degree of freedom in the case of the L-shaped embodiment, which exists in contrast to the U-shaped further development of the carriers, is in this case eliminated by the anchor arm. This prevents a tilting of the brake magnets. This arrangement is also more accessible to servicing and maintenance work.
If the damping elements in this embodiment are in each case arranged only on the side of the stoppers which are oriented to the pertaining carriers, the construction is further simplified. Furthermore, the number of parts subjected to wear can be reduced, whereby the durability of the arrangement is improved.
Because of the fact that a longitudinal damping element is arranged on the stoppers which, interacting with the carriers, damps movements in the traveling direction, an even greater reliability of the arrangement is achieved because loads, etc. in the longitudinal direction can also be reliably absorbed.
According to another aspect of the invention, a bogie for a rail vehicle is provided which contains the suspension according to the invention. By means of this bogie, improved traveling characteristics are achieved and the susceptibility to damage is simultaneously reduced. This also permits a use of such a bogie at speeds above 100 km/h.
In the following, the invention will be explained in detail in embodiments by means of the figures in the drawing.

Knorr-Bremse Systeme fur Schienenfahrzeuge GmbH


A method and device for controlling self-loopback of network data are provided. The method includes that: whether a master forwarding link and standby forwarding link of a master node in a network structure both fail or not is determined; and when the master forwarding link and the standby forwarding link of the master node both fail, a forwarding attribute of a standby egress port in a data packet forwarding table of the master node is modified into forwarding through the master forwarding link of the master node.

In a PTN, protection on a user side and that on a network side are interlinked, and an Operation Administration and Maintenance-Mapping (OAM-Mapping) function is deployed on a user Attachment Circuit (AC) side to implement switching on the network side together in case of a failure on the user side. In order to isolate a user side failure from a network side failure, that is, when a user AC side fails, protection switching is only performed on the user side, and protection switching is not performed on the network side, so that influence on a service of the network side is further avoided. A manner adopted in a conventional art is implemented by a three-point bridge scenario deployed with a network side protection Multi-Chassis Pseudo Wire (MC-PW) and a user side Multi-Chassis Link Aggregation Group (MC-LAG) Dual Node Interconnection (DNI) Pseudo Wire (PW), that is, when a master service PW link fails, data on the network side is sent to an egress port of a master AC through a standby node, the DNI PW and a master node for continuous forwarding; and when the master AC fails, the data on the network side is sent to an egress port of a standby AC through the master node, the DNI PW and the standby node for continuous forwarding, so that the failure on the user side and the failure on the network side are separately protected without mutual interference.
However, when the master and standby ACs fail, the data on the network side which is forwarded by a head node Provider Edge (PE) is sent back to the head node PE through the master node, the DNI PW and the standby node, and when a double-receiving mode is configured for the head node, the self receiving and self sending of a data packet under a network structure occur, which may waste data traffic under the network structure.

Control method and device for self-loopback of network data


A cutting device includes a support base, a first slide module, a second slide module slidably connected to the first slide module, and a cutting module. The support base includes a support surface and a slide portion on the support surface. The first slide module is slidably positioned on the slide portion. The sliding direction of the second slide module is perpendicular to the sliding direction of the first slide module. The cutting module includes a fixed frame fixed on the second slide module, a driving device fixed on the fixed frame, and a cutter connected to the driving device. The driving device drives the cutter to rotate around a central axis of the cutter and move up and down along the central axis. The central axis is perpendicular to the support surface. The cutter includes a hollow cylindrical blade. An end surface of the blade faces the support surface.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a device for cutting a lens.
2. Description of Related Art
A number of round glass lenses are usually shaped by a grinding wheel. When shaping the round glasses, a number of square glasses are firstly bonded together to be a whole body by a UV curing adhesive. Then, the whole body is arranged on a centering fixture. Finally, the square glasses are ground into round glass lenses by the grinding wheel. After grinding, the adhesive should be removed from the round glass lenses to establish and guarantee the quality of the round glass lenses.
However, it is difficult to completely remove the UV curing adhesive from the round glass lenses. Some residual adhesive is usually left on the round glass lenses, and establishing the quality of the round glass becomes problematic.
Therefore, what is needed is a cutting device that can overcome the described limitations.


Techniques described herein enhance information security in contexts that utilize key management systems and cryptographic keys. A cryptographic structure is utilized to maintain cryptographic keys with associated expiration times such that after an expiration time associated with a cryptographic key has passed, the cryptographic key is no longer accessible.

In various contexts, managing the security of computing resources is of utmost importance in many organizations. Organizations, for example, often must secure various computing resources for specific periods of time, such that after a specific period of time, the secured various computing resources become unavailable. As the size and complexities of such organizations grow, ensuring proper authentication and secure access to these computing resources can be increasingly difficult.
Many organizations rely on controlling access to various computing resources. An organization can desire to provide various computing resources for specific periods of time to various entities to maximize efficiency and achieve various other advantages. Additionally, an organization can desire to enhance the security of their own resources, such that unauthorized access can be controlled and prevented. Maintaining the expiration of secured computing resources within an organization is generally complicated, complex, and requires significant amounts of resources.


A system and method for controlling alignment of laser center wavelengths and filter passband center wavelengths in optical amplifiers for purposes of providing automatic gain control and eliminating unwanted noise. The system and method exploits a wavelength-locked loop servo-control circuit and methodology that enables real time mutual alignment of a laser pump signal having a peaked spectrum function including a center wavelength and a wavelength selective device such as an optical filter implementing a peaked passband function including a center wavelength in an optical amplifier.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to optical devices such as lasers, and fiber optic data transmission systems employing the same, and particularly to a novel wavelength-locked loop servo-control circuit for optimizing performance of optical amplifiers.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) and Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) are light-wave application technologies that enable multiple wavelengths (colors of light) to be paralleled into the same optical fiber with each wavelength potentially assigned its own data diagnostics. Currently, WDM and DWDM products combine many different data links over a single pair of optical fibers by re-modulating the data onto a set of lasers, which are tuned to a very specific wavelength (within 0.8 nm tolerance, following industry standards). On current products, up to 32 wavelengths of light can be combined over a single fiber link with more wavelengths contemplated for future applications. The wavelengths are combined by passing light through a series of thin film interference filters, which consist of multi-layer coatings on a glass substrate, pigtailed with optical fibers. The filters combine multiple wavelengths into a single fiber path, and also separate them again at the far end of the multiplexed link. Filters may also be used at intermediate points to add or drop wavelength channels from the optical network.
Optical amplifiers are used to extend the distance of transmitted signals in fiber optic networks. This enables optical signals to be amplified without incurring the additional latency (and computer performance impact) of an optical-to-optical conversion. Optical amplifiers additionally offer lower timing jitter in some cases, and improved performance on long links.
In Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) applications, optical amplifiers must be implemented to amplify many wavelengths spaced closely together at the same time. The basic function of the optical amplifier is to accept an input optical signal and amplify it without converting the signal to electrical form. An Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifier (hereinafter xe2x80x9cEDFAxe2x80x9d) is one type of optical amplifier that relies on stimulated emission of light at the proper signal wavelength. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the basic EDFA 99 receives an input optical signal 120, which may consist of multiple wavelengths near the 1550 nm passband. This input signal 120 is passed through a circulator or optical isolator 130 to remove unwanted noise, and then enters via coupler 150, a section of optical fiber 170 several meters in length that is doped with Erbium ions. The principles of operation for the EDFA itself are well known: the Erbium is excited to an elevated energy state by a laser diode pump (LD pump) 110, similar to an optically pumped laser system. The LD pump 110 particularly generates a pump laser signal that is coupled to the erbium doped optical fiber 170 through coupler 150. The 1550 nm signal passing through this fiber produces stimulated emission of light at the same wavelengths as the 1550 nm signals, increasing their amplitude by up to 20 dB or more before the signals 190 exit the optical amplifier. By altering the doping of the erbium fiber 170, amplification can be obtained for industry standard C-band and L-band wavelengths. The amplifier gain is proportional to the intensity of the pump laser diode.
It is the case however, that EDFAs also produce background noise in the form of light which is not at the desired wavelength; this results from amplification of random photons outside the signal bandwidth, or spontaneous emission of photons within the EDFA which are subsequently amplified. This phenomena is known as Amplified Spontaneous Emission (ASE) noise. Most optical amplifiers have a strong ASE peak around a wavelength of 1533 nm, with weaker effects at other wavelengths. For this reason, commercial EDFAs are designed with a filter to remove ASE at this wavelength. However, as it is not possible to make an ideal bandpass filter at a specific wavelength, this approach does not remove all the ASE from an amplifier. Consequently, ASE builds up in a network with many stages of amplification, and is a limiting factor in the design of long links. As ASE is proportional to the amplifier gain, it would be highly desirable to provide a system and method for controlling and limiting ASE so that the gain of optical amplifiers may be increased resulting in increased link distances in optical networks.
As noted above, an EDFA operates on the same principle as an optically pumped laser; it consists of a relatively short (about 10 meters) section of fiber doped with a controlled amount of erbium ions. When this fiber is pumped at high power (10 to 300 mW) with light at the proper wavelength (e.g., 980 nm or 1480 nm wavelengths) the erbium ions absorb the light and are excited to a higher energy state. Another incident photon around 1550 nm wavelength will cause stimulated emission of light at the same wavelength, phase, and direction of travel as the incident signal. EDFAs are often characterized by their gain coefficient, defined as the small signal gain divided by the pump power. As the input power is increased, the total gain of the EDFA will slowly decrease; at some point, the EDFA enters gain saturation, and further increases to the input power cease to result in any increase in output power. Since the EDFA does not distort the signal, unlike electronic amplifiers, they are often used in gain saturation. The gain curve of a typical EDFA is not uniform over different wavelengths; for example, the gain at 1560 nm is about twice as large as the gain at 1540 nm. This can be a problem when operating wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) systems; some channels will be strongly amplified and dominate over other channels that are lost in the noise. Furthermore, a significant complication with EDFAs is that their gain profile changes with input signal power levels. Thus, for example, in a WDM system the amplifier response may become nonuniform (different channels have different effective gain) when channels are added or dropped from the fiber. As optical amplifiers do not amplify all wavelengths equally, some form of equalization is required in order to achieve a flat gain across all channels.
Current methods for providing gain equalization include adding an extra WDM channel locally at the EDFA to absorb excess power (gain clamping), and manipulating either the fiber doping or core structure. The most commonly used method today in commercial EDFAs is to manually adjust the gain whenever channels are added or dropped from the network, using variable optical attenuators. However, this type of manual intervention is not desirable in large, complicated networks.
It would thus be highly desirable to provide a system and method of automatic gain control (AGC) for optical amplifiers which automatically provides for the adjustment of the optical gain when there is a change in the power of the input signal.
Furthermore, it would be highly desirable to provide a system and method of automatic gain control (AGC) for optical amplifiers that enables dynamic adjustment of the optical output power of the pump laser diode in response to changing conditions on the input fiber link.
Moreover, it would be desirable to provide the capability of manually adjusting EDFA optical amplifier gain from a remote location.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for automatically varying the pump laser power to the optical amplifier, and perform gain equalization for an optical amplifier using a feedback control loop.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a servo/feedback loop for an EDFA optical amplifier implemented in a WDM system, that enables dynamic adjustment of the pump laser power for performing gain equalization across one or more wavelengths in response to changing conditions on the input fiber link.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a servo/feedback loop for an optical amplifier that enables locking of the pump laser center wavelength to the peak of the passband of an optical filter to reduce generation of unwanted ASE noise in optical amplifier systems.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a control mechanism for controlling gain of an EFDA optical amplifier from a remote location without having to make adjustments on the front panel of the optical amplifier product.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a servo/feedback loop, referred to as a xe2x80x9cwavelength-locked loop,xe2x80x9d that enables dynamic gain control adjustment of an optical amplifier implemented in multi-gigabit laser/optical systems, thereby enabling significantly larger link power budgets and longer supported distances.
It is yet still another object of the present invention to provide a servo/feedback loop, referred to as a xe2x80x9cwavelength-locked loop,xe2x80x9d that enables dynamic gain control adjustment of an optical amplifier implemented in multi-gigabit laser/optical systems such that lower cost lasers and filters may be used providing a significant cost reduction in the equipment utilized.
Thus, according to one aspect of the invention, there is provided an optically pumped amplifier for amplifying optical signals comprising: an optical isolator device for receiving an input optical signal; a laser pump device for generating a laser pump signal having a peaked spectrum function including a center wavelength; an optical filter having a peaked passband function including a center wavelength implemented for receiving the laser pump signal and passing the laser pump signal at a pre-determined wavelength advantageous for amplifying the input signal; a doped fiber element for receiving the input signal and the laser pump signal and amplifying the input light signal in response to receipt of a laser pump signal at the pre-determined wavelength; and, a wavelength-locked loop servo-control circuit that enables real time mutual alignment of the laser pump signal center wavelength with the optical filter having the peaked passband function at the pre-determined wavelength, wherein the laser pump signal is maximally transferred to the erbium doped fiber thereby resulting in reduced noise characteristics of said amplifier.
According to another aspect of the invention, in an optically pumped amplifier including: an optical isolator device for receiving an input optical signal, a laser pump device for generating a laser pump signal having a peaked spectrum function including a center wavelength, an optical filter having a peaked passband function including a center wavelength implemented for receiving the laser pump signal and passing the laser pump signal at a pre-determined wavelength for amplifying the input optical signal; and, a doped fiber element for receiving the input signal and the laser pump signal and amplifying the input light signal in response to receipt of a laser pump signal at the pre-determined wavelength, there is provided an automatic gain control circuit comprising: a bias voltage device for generating a bias signal for input to the laser pump diode, a center frequency of the laser pump signal being determined by a magnitude of the bias signal; a device for tapping off a portion of the input signal to the optically pumped amplifier; a control circuit for receiving the tapped off input signal portion and generating a control signal for regulating an amount of bias signal applied to the pump laser diode; and, wavelength-locked loop circuit for regulating the amount of optical power delivered to the doped fiber element by enabling real time adjustment of the laser pump signal center wavelength with respect to the optical filter peaked passband center wavelength in accordance with the control signal, wherein automatic gain control is provided according to changing conditions of the input signal.
When implemented to provide automatic gain control or, reduce ASE noise, the wavelength-locked loop servo-control circuit comprises: a mechanism for applying a dither modulation signal at a dither modulation frequency to the laser pump signal, and inputting the dither modulated laser pump signal to the optical filter; a mechanism for converting a portion of the dither modulated laser pump signal to an electric feedback signal; a mechanism for continuously comparing the feedback signal with the dither modulation signal and generating an error signal representing a difference between a frequency characteristic of the feedback signal and a dither modulation frequency; and a mechanism for automatically adjusting the center wavelength of the peaked spectrum function of the laser pump signal according to the error signal, wherein the center wavelength of the laser pump signal and the peaked passband function of the optical filter become aligned when the frequency characteristic of the feedback signal is two times the dither modulation frequency. At this point, maximum amplifier gain level is achieved when providing automatic gain control.
Advantageously, the system and method of the present invention may be employed in optical networks such as WDM and DWDM systems.

Automatic gain control and dynamic equalization of erbium doped optical amplifiers in wavelength multiplexing networks

International Business Machines Corporation


A humidity sensor element, a humidity sensor device and a method for manufacturing thereof are provided. The humidity sensor element includes a substrate having a nanocomposite film as sensing material, wherein said nanocomposite film consists of carbon nanotube/perfluorinated polymer with acid functional groups in weight ratio of 0.01-20; and at least a pair of electrodes, which contact with the sensing material at one or both side(s). The nanocomposite film increases the sensitivity of humidity sensor element such that even an infinitesimal amount of moisture can be detected with minimum detection limit of 15.76 ppmv.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention discloses a humidity sensor element, device and a method for manufacturing thereof. The humidity sensor element comprises a substrate having a nanocomposite film as sensing material, wherein said nanocomposite film contains carbon nanotube/perfluorinated polymer with acid functional groups; and at least a pair of electrodes, which contact with the sensing material at one or both side(s). The nanocomposite film is highly sensitive in detecting infinitesimal amount of moisture.
2. Description of Related Art
A sensor detects a physical or chemical variation in the outside environment, such as temperature, pressure or humidity through its sensing element, and converts the variation through a transduction element into electrical signals that may be transmitted and measured. It works by changing the resistance, capacitance, or oscillation frequency in piezoelectric effect. In the application of humidity sensor, the sensor element typically contains a moisture sensitive film. Such film may be (1) moisture-lyable film containing a conductive material (e.g. carbon particles); (2) moisture-absorbing film containing electrolytes; or (3) polymer electrolyte film.
However the first type of films exhibits the disadvantages of having narrow humidity measuring range that its resistance change is remarkable in high humidity environments, but relatively unapparent in low humidity environments. Besides having the problem of narrow humidity measuring range, the second type of films is not suitable for long-term use at high humidity environments, because the electrolytes contained therein can be diluted and lost due to excessive moisture adsorption. The third type of films has the problem that the film may be damaged because of rising temperature, as such the humidity detection may be influenced.
The applications of humidity sensor are conventionally restricted by their non-linearity at high (>90% RH) and low (<30% RH) humidity environments. TW Patent No. 494235 disclosed a humidity sensing film, which was a mixture of polyethylene oxide and lithium perchlorate, having measuring range of 10-95% RH and linear accuracy of 30-90% RH. TW Patent No. 507073 disclosed a humidity sensing film, which comprised cross-linked product of conductive polymer having unsaturated alkyene groups and had measuring range less than 90% RH and good linear accuracy. U.S. Pat. No. 5,741,540 related to a pyrochlore-type crystalline tungsten trioxide film having measuring range of 15-95% RH and linear accuracy of 20-90% RH.
In published literature, Neshkova et al. used chemically modified coatings of nitrated polystyrene as the sensing material having measuring range of 10-98% RH and linear accuracy of 10-70% RH. Okada et al. employed Nafion (Ag) film with detection range of 1000-15000 ppmv, but the linear accuracy of the sensor is not satisfactory.
Along with the rapid progress of technology, the importance of low humidity detection rises as demands increase. For instance, many high-tech processes, such as semiconductor process, OLED packaging, and gas filling are carried in the very low-pressure or vacuum environment. The presence of moisture, a kind of residual gas in the process, would cause distinct and adverse changes to the properties of metals and semiconductor films, for example, blocking the optical components or corroding the mechanical components. Therefore, engineers have increasing needs for low-humidity detection and analysis technologies. But few of the currently available humidity sensors can accurately detect low-level moisture as constrained by the property of the material used. Thus the current focus of efforts to improve humidity instruments is to develop materials that offer measuring accuracy at low humidity.
The term "nanocomposite" first appeared in 1982-1983 as proposed by Roy & Komarneni and their colleagues. It is used to describe nanoheterogeneous material prepared by sol-gel technique, in which at least the size of one phase constituent is in the range of nanometer. A composite carries the characteristics and properties of individual hybrid materials. The phase morphology and interfacial properties of the composite thus formed influence significantly on its overall performance. As the particle size of dispersed phase decreases, the mixture effect is better and the interfacial force is stronger. Polymer nanocomposites possess many characteristics not observed in conventional composite materials, and the nanometer grade particle size helps boost the polymer property.
Piezoelectric quartz crystal, a quartz crystal sandwiched between a pair of gold electrodes, is used as a signal transduction element of piezoelectric sensor. It can convert the detection signal measured by sensing molecules into electronic signals and amplify so that the detection signal can be transmitted. The action of gold electrodes is primarily to introduce an oscillating electric field perpendicular to the chip surface to produce mechanical oscillation inside the crystal due to inverse piezoelectric effect. If quartz crystal has constant thickness, such mechanical oscillation will be generated at constant resonance frequency, which can be measured by a proper electron oscillator circuit. For AT-cut quartz crystal, variation of the mass of its electrode surface (Δm) has a linear relationship with variation of the oscillation frequency of the crystal (ΔF), that is, ΔF ∝Δm according to the Sauerbrey equation. Therefore if we intend to selectively measure a particular analyte, we only need to deposit a layer of highly-specific sensing film on the electrode surface of quartz crystal and then place this sensor chip in the testing environment that contains the analyte to let said analyte adhere on the sensing electrode by affinity, and measure the amount of analyte adhered based on the change of the crystal oscillation. Because of its sensitivity to mass change, piezoelectric quartz crystal has been applied extensively in the manufacturing of sensors, particularly in sensors with high sensitivity, such as trace-gas sensor, trace-humidity sensor and biosensor.
This invention attempts to employ polymer nanocomposite material as humidity sensing film, which can improve the inaccuracy linearity of traditional humidity sensors at low humidity level, and combine the mass sensitivity feature of piezoelectric quartz crystal to provide a humidity sensor with sensitive detection of low humidity.

Humidity sensor element, device and method for manufacturing thereof

Industrial Technology Research Institute


A method for making mineral insulated metal sheathed (MIMS) cable is disclosed. A tube of relatively large diameter is filled with at least one electrically conducting rod and an insulator. The resultant tubular assembly is sealed, hot rolled, reduced on a pilger (tube reducer) mill and drawn into relatively thin wire cable. The method is especially suitable for thermocouple cable production. Other applications include heating cable and control cable manufacture.

Thermocouples, devices that convert heat energy into electrical energy, are well known. They are most commonly used for measuring temperatures where conventional thermometers or other temperature measuring instruments cannot be used.
A thermocouple utilizes the thermoelectric effect. Essentially, a thermocouple is comprised of two dissimilar metals, usually in wire form, joined together at a location called the hot junction. The other ends (leads) of the metals are usually ultimately connected to a voltage sensing device, i.e. a volt meter or potentiometer; these leads are at a known reference temperature called the cold junction The temperature differential between the hot junction and the cold junction creates a small but measurable electrical potential between the dissimilar metals. By measuring this potential, the temperature sensed by the hot junction may be ascertained.
The conductors running from the hot junction of the thermocouple are often encased in a metal sheath. The sheath includes electrical insulation generally comprised of an electrically resistive metal oxide.
Mineral insulated metal sheathed (MIMS) thermocouple elements are normally made from separately produced, initially small diameter tubing of typically 25.4 mm (1 inch) outside diameter and cold drawn element wires of about 4.0 mm (0.16 inch) diameter. A number of involved procedural steps are first required to manufacture the narrow tubing and wires to these sizes. The tube may be made from INCONEL.RTM. alloys, NICROBELL.RTM. alloys, austenitic stainless steels, etc., and the negative and positive wire elements may be made from CHROMEL.RTM. alloys, ALUMEL.RTM. alloys, NISIL.RTM. alloys, nicrosil alloys, CONSTANTAN.RTM. alloys, etc. MIMS thermocouple cables are available, for example, as "K", "N", "T", "J" and "E" types.
The wire elements are then inserted into the tube. An insulator, usually magnesium oxide in the form of prefused crushable beads, is introduced into the tube in part to space the wire elements, to prevent them from contacting the tube, and provide some mechanical integrity to the thermocouple cable. The beads include holes to accommodate the wire elements The entire assembly is then swaged, rolled or cold drawn to the required final small diameter--usually on the order of about 3.0 mm to 6.0 mm (0.12-0.24 inches).
The aforementioned method is intrinsically expensive; it requires numerous preparatory steps; and is time consuming.
Representative prior art techniques, predominantly employing swaging, may be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,703,335; 3,065,286; 3,121,038; 3,353,260; 3,463,674; and 4,778,537.

Method for making mineral insulated metal sheathed cables


A composition includes specific amounts of a poly(arylene ether), an unfunctionalized hydrogenated triblock copolymer, an unfunctionalized polyolefin, and magnesium dihydroxide. The composition is useful for forming insulation and sheath layers of wire and cable.

A commonly used insulating material for insulated electrical and optical conductors is the halogenated resin, poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC). It is relatively inexpensive, widely available, flexible, and has inherent flame resistant properties. However, there is an increasing desire to reduce or eliminate the use of halogenated resins in insulating layers due to their negative impact on the environment. Many jurisdictions now mandate or are planning to mandate a decrease in the use of halogenated materials such as PVC. Therefore there is a continuing need to develop new halogen-free insulation materials.
One stringent standard for performance of insulated electrical cables is set forth in Harmonization Document HD21.14 S1, "Cables of rated voltage up to and including 450/750 V and having thermoplastic insulation. Part 14: Flexible cables (cords), insulated and sheathed with halogen-free thermoplastic compounds", May 2003. A composition comprising polyethylene and at least 60 weight percent magnesium dihydroxide meets the technical requirements of HD21.14 S1, but users have complained that insulation made from this composition is too rigid and exhibits a scratch-sensitive surface appearance, while the composition itself exhibits a relatively high density (about 1.5 gram per centimeter3) and a high melt viscosity that makes it difficult to use for insulation fabrication.
Recent research has demonstrated that certain halogen-free poly(arylene ether) compositions can possess the physical and flame retardant properties needed for use as insulation in some wire and cable applications. See, for example, U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. US 2006/0106139 A1, US 2006/0182967 A1, and US 2007/0261878 A1 of Kosaka et al., and US 2006/0131059 A1 of Xu et al. However, existing poly(arylene ether) compositions that meet the physical requirements of HD21.14 S have been challenged to meet the low-smoke requirements of that standard.
There remains a need for thermoplastic compositions satisfy the requirements of the HD21.14 S standard while exhibiting one or more improvements such as greater flexibility, reduced scratch sensitivity, reduced density, and reduced melt viscosity.

Poly(arylene ether)—polyolefin composition and its use in wire and cable insulation and sheathing


A substrate processing device includes a transfer chamber configured to transfer a substrate under an atmospheric atmosphere and a plurality of processing units each including at least one processing chamber for processing the substrate under a vacuum atmosphere and at least one load-lock chamber connected to the processing chamber to switch an inner atmosphere thereof between the atmospheric atmosphere and the vacuum atmosphere. The transfer chamber includes a connection unit configured to connect the transfer chamber and the load-lock chamber such that each of the processing units is detachably attached. The connection unit includes an opening that allows the transfer chamber to communicate with the load-lock chamber, and an opening/closing mechanism configured to open and close the opening portion.

In a substrate processing device for performing vacuum processing such as film formation, etching, or the like on a semiconductor wafer (hereinafter, referred to as "wafer"), an atmosphere transfer device includes a plurality of processing chambers to perform the vacuum processing while ensuring a high throughput. Further, in the substrate processing device provided with the processing chambers, the processing chambers are separated from the atmospheric transfer device at the time of maintenance.
For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a multi-chamber system including a plurality of processing modules, each having a load-lock chamber and a processing chamber. In the structure shown in FIG. 9 of Patent Document 1, the processing modules are arranged side by side at opposite sides of a wafer transfer device. Further, in the structure shown in FIG. 5 of Patent Document 1, the processing modules are arranged in two stages in a vertical direction of the wafer transfer device.


A method includes receiving, by a video client, interactive television content that permits a customer to select from two or more television shows competing for a timeslot, displaying, by the video client, the interactive television content on a display, receiving, by the video client, a selection of one of the two or more television shows to watch, and determining, by the video client, based on the interactive television content, whether the one of the two or more television shows selected is to be re-mapped to a channel number that is different than a channel number in which the interactive television content is displayed. The method further includes displaying, by the video client, the one of the two or more television shows on the display.

Content providers struggle with selecting time slots for airing television shows, particularly new primetime television shows, since the time when a television show airs can greatly impact the success or failure of the show. Given the number of television shows and available timeslots, content providers may also find it difficult when two or more shows are competing for the same timeslot.


A wireless IC device includes a flexible sheet provided with a wireless IC chip and radiation plates. The wireless IC chip is connected by an Au bump to a feeder circuit which is located on the sheet and which has a predetermined resonant frequency and a predetermined impedance. The feeder circuit includes electrode patterns, and the feeder circuit and the radiation plates are capacitively coupled with each other through the flexible sheet.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to wireless IC devices, and, in particular, to a wireless IC device used in an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) system.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, RFID systems have been developed as an article management system in which communication is established in a non-contact manner between a reader/writer that generates an induction field and an IC tag (hereinafter referred to as a wireless IC device) which is affixed to an article and which stores predetermined information, whereby information is exchanged. An example of a wireless IC device used in an RFID system is described in "Musen IC Tagu Katsuyo-no Subete" ("All About Wireless IC Tags"), Nikkei BP Mukku-sha, pp. 112-126.
A wireless IC device of the above-described type includes a wireless IC chip mounted on a strap substrate, and the strap substrate is connected to an antenna substrate. The wireless IC chip and the strap substrate are directly electrically connected to each other by an Au bump, and the strap substrate and the antenna substrate are directly, electrically connected to each other.
However, since, in the wireless IC device, a center frequency and impedance are set on an antenna side, in order for the device to be matched to a plurality of frequencies and impedances, it is necessary to provide separate antennas for the individual frequencies and impedances. Accordingly, the wireless IC device is not suitable for limited production of diversified products.
Also, since the strap substrate and the antenna substrate are directly electrically connected to each other, a heating step is required. Thus, materials which can be used for the antenna substrate are limited to heat resistant materials. In addition, when a junction location between the strap substrate and the antenna substrate shifts, the center frequency and impedance are changed. In particular, in frequency bands greater than the UHF band, even a minute change causes changes to the center frequency and the impedance. Thus, extremely high precision is required when manufacturing the wireless IC device.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


The present invention is an anvil assembly for a slitting machine of the type including an arbor having a plurality of laterally spaced cutting disks mounted thereon. The anvil assembly is mounted to the slitting machine adjacent to the cutting discs. The anvil assembly includes a generally cylindrical core and a plurality of anvil rings which are concentrically disposed about the core under normal unloaded conditions. The anvil rings include an outer cutting surface which is in rolling contact with at least one of the cutting discs on the slitting machine. The anvil rings are resiliently supported in spaced relationship to the core so that when a load is applied to the anvil ring, the anvil ring will move radially with respect to the core independently of the other anvil rings. The resilient support means includes a plurality of support pins extending radially from the core member, and means for biasing the support pins into engagement with the inner bearing surface of the anvil rings.

Slitting machines for cutting sheet material such as plastic, paper or fabric are well known in the art. Typically, a slitting machine employs an arbor having a plurality of circular cutting discs laterally spaced thereon. The edge of the cutting discs rotate against an anvil which is mounted on a arbor adjacent to the cutting discs. As sheet material is feed between the cutting discs and anvils, it is cut strips of material.
One of the problems associated with slitting machines is that proper operation depends on maintaining engagement of the cutting knives with the anvils. The engagement of the cutting knives with the respective anvils can be affected by many factors including variations in the diameter of the cutting knives or anvils, eccentricity of the cutting knives or anvils, flexing of the arbors, and wear of the cutting knives and anvils.
In order to compensate for the above mentioned problems, attempts have been made to resiliently mount the anvils. One approach has been to employ a core around which a plurality of anvil rings are resiliently mounted. This approach is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,677,122. The above mentioned patent discloses a slitting machine having first and second arbors. A cutting disk is mounted to the first arbor. The anvil assembly comprises a first annular ring mounted to the second arbor. A second annular ring is concentrically disposed about the first annular ring. An elastomer means is disposed between the first and second annular rings for resiliently holding the annular rings into pre-loaded engagement with at least one cutting disc on the first arbor.
While the device described in the '122 patent has a number of drawbacks. First, since the elastomer means is disposed between the first and second and the annular rings, it limits radial displacement of the outermost annular ring. Further, because the elastomer means is bonded to both the core and the annular rings, relative movement between the first and second annular is not possible. Another drawback of the anvil described in the '122 patent is that no means is provided for varying the resistance of on the annular rings to radial displacement. Finally, since the elastomer means generally has a relatively low melting point, the anvil means of the '122 patent has limited utility in applications where heating is required.


A method of simulating a color image. Firstly, images are displayed and printed, respectively, by means of display device and hard copy unit on the basis of the same image data. Secondly, the image data are subjected to a color conversion process by the use of color conversion parameters having different values from one another, and a plurality of processed images are displayed by the display device. Moreover, from among the processed images being currently displayed there is selected a processed image having substantially the same colors as the image recorded by the hard copy unit, to thereby set the value of the color conversion parameter. Subsequently, a color conversion parameter representing an inverse conversion to the color conversion by way of color conversion parameter which has been set is set into the hard copy unit to thereby print the image based on said image data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of simulating color images which is to be executed on a screen of a display device such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) to obtain a desirably colored image when printing the image by means of a hard copy unit.
2. Description of the Related Arts
Recent hard copy units such as a printer, a copying machine or the like are equipped with a variety of color conversion functions. In some of the hard copy units provided with the color conversion functions, the degree of a color conversion processing is adjusted through tile provision of color conversion parameters. FIG. 4 illustrates a construction of a color printer in which the degree of the color conversion processing is adjustable by virtue of the color conversion parameters and which is typically disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2-270575.
The color printer shown in this drawing comprises a console panel 2, a color control section 3, a print control section 6 and output section 7. The color control section 3 acts to determine a coloration at the time of printing based on color conversion parameters which are down loaded from a host computer 1 as well as color conversion parameters which are manually input through a switch 2A constituting the console panel 2. The print control section 6 controls the output section 7 so that an image can be printed in compliance with the determined coloration. The output section 7 prints under the control of tile print control section 6 the image represented by image data to be supplied from a circuit not shown.
The color control section 3 includes a data analyzing section 4 and a data editing section 5. Through the action of the data analyzing section 4 and the data editing section 5, different coloration can be selected in response to the state of the switch 2A.
Firstly, in case the color conversion parameters which have been down loaded from the host computer 1 are coincident with the color conversion parameters which have been manually input through the switch 2A, the data analyzing section 4 determines the coloration depending on the color conversion parameters down loaded from the host computer 1. In other words, the color conversion parameters down loaded from the host computer 1 are supplied into the print control section 6.
Secondly, also in the case where no color conversion parameters are manually input by way of the switch 2A, the data analyzing section 4 determines a coloration on the basis of the color conversion parameters down loaded from the host computer 1.
Moreover, providing that the color conversion parameters down loaded from the host computer 1 are not coincident with the color conversion parameters manually input through the switch 2A, the data analyzing section 4 transfers both the color conversion parameters into the data editing section 5.
The data editing section 5 determines the coloration with a priority conferred upon the color conversion parameters manually input by means of the switch 2A, and supplies the color conversion parameters associated with the obtained coloration into the print control section 6.
In this manner, the user of the conventional apparatus can attain a record image of a necessary color. In other words, the color conversion functions are capable of being adjusted by down loading the color conversion parameter into the color control section 3 from the host computer 1 or by operating the console panel 2.
However, it is unclear what color of printed or hard copied image can be obtained until the image is printed on trial. It is commonly difficult to obtain a desirably colored record image through only one printing, and it is necessary to repeatedly output the print images or to carry out a cut and try. This is a waste of ink and recording paper.
Alternatively, it is also conceivable to perform a recording after the confirmation of the image color by way of the display device such as the CRT. Unfortunately, the image color appearing on the display device such as the CRT is different from the image color obtained by the hard copy unit such as the printer, since the former is represented in additive primaries consisting of R (red), G (green), and B (blue), whereas the latter is represented in subtractive primaries consisting of Y (yellow), M (magenta), and C (cyan). Namely, the display device differs from the hard copy unit in the manner of representing colors and hence in the range of the color representation. As a result, there still remains a necessity for the cut and try irrespective of the confirmation by means of the display device such as the CRT.


A heterogeneous, cellulose battery separator made of a mixture of cellulose and a polymer with hydrogen permeability for use in zinc-based batteries exhibiting increased hydrogen transport through the membrane while maintaining low electrical impedance and exhibiting resistance to zinc ion transport preventing zinc dendrite formation.

This invention relates to a separator for an alkaline battery and, more particularly, this invention relates to a cellulosic separator for a secondary zinc ion battery such as a silver-zinc battery.
Separators play a crucial role in alkaline batteries. They keep the positive and negative sides of the battery separate while letting certain ions go through and blocking others. The separator is a passive element that has to perform the same task unchanged for the life of the battery. Meanwhile, it must be able to withstand a strongly alkaline environment both at ambient and elevated temperatures. In addition, it must be capable of resisting oxidative attacks.
In an alkaline battery, a separator should conduct hydroxyl ions at a sufficiently rapid rate to meet the increasingly high current demands of modern electronics. Films of cellulose in the form of regenerated cellulose have been used since World War II as the separator of choice for this purpose because of its superior ability to conduct hydroxyl ions in strongly alkaline media. Its low electrical resistance of 10 milliohm-in2 has also led to its favor for use in zinc-based batteries, such as silver-zinc, zinc-nickel, and zinc manganese dioxide batteries. Additionally, it acts as a physical barrier to migration of other ions in the battery, such as that of zincate ions and silver ions in a silver-zinc battery.
Despite its advantages as a battery separator, regenerated cellulose has some intrinsic limitations. During overcharge, an alkaline battery tends to break down water and evolve hydrogen in sufficient quantities as to materially affect the internal impedance of the battery. Unless this hydrogen is removed efficiently, a parasitic feedback results in which the battery continues to be overcharged with resultant pressure buildup and venting of hydrogen or catastrophic rupture of the battery case. Regenerated cellulose, however, exhibits one of the lowest hydrogen permeability coefficients of known polymers, reported in the Polymer Handbook as 2.044xc3x9710xe2x88x9215 cm3cmxe2x88x921sxe2x88x921Paxe2x88x921.
Prior batteries incorporate in recombinant separators comprising porous melt-blown polymer fibers that incorporate surfactants or lubricants that facilitate gas transport within a battery. U.S. Pat. No. 6,054,084 describes separators for lead-acid batteries made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) fibril matrix incorporating particulate silica filler and non-evaporative lubricant as gas transport agents. Zucker in U.S. Pat. No. 5,962,161 describes a recombinant separator for lead-acid batteries that comprises melt-blown polypropylene made wettable by a surfactant agent thus enabling transport of oxygen.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,919,865 Nelson teaches a method for making a composite membrane made from a mixture of polymethyl methacrylate and a cellulosic derivative, such as cellulose acetate. A gas stream containing hydrogen is selectively cleaned of the hydrogen by the presence of the methyl methacrylate. Polymethyl methacrylate is, however, unsuitable as a battery separator capable of handling high currents because of its high electrical resistance.
The separator provided by the present invention consists of a membrane having both high hydroxyl conductivity and high hydrogen transport. When the separator is placed in a silver-zinc battery, hydrogen buildup in the battery is diminished. The present invention relates to a recombinant separator that is able to transport hydrogen while conducting hydroxyl ions. The separator of the invention help maintain low electrical impedance and exhibit resistance against formation of zinc dendrites. A preferred battery separator according to the inventor contains a solution of cellulose having of a degree of polymerization between 200 and 1200 that is mixed with particles of a polymer having a hydrogen permeability greater than 1xc3x9710xe2x88x9213 cm3cmxe2x88x921sxe2x88x921Paxe2x88x921. The resulting mixture is then coagulated under controlled environmental conditions to produce a heterogeneous gel that when dehydrated yields a membrane useful as a recombinant battery separator.
These and many other features and attendant advantages of the invention will become apparent as the invention becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


An X-ray inspecting apparatus capable of high-speed inspection of a prescribed inspection area of an object of inspection is provided. The X-ray inspecting apparatus includes: a scanning X-ray source for outputting X-ray; an X-ray detector driving unit on which a plurality of X-ray detectors are mounted, and capable of driving the plurality of X-ray detectors independently; and an image acquisition control mechanism controlling acquisition of image data by X-ray detector driving unit and X-ray detectors. A scanning X-ray source emits X-ray while moving the X-ray focal point of the X-ray source to each of X-ray emission originating positions set for each X-ray detector such that the X-ray passes through a prescribed inspection area of an object of inspection and enters each X-ray detector. Image pick-up by some of the X-ray detectors and movement of other X-ray detectors to an image pick-up position are executed in parallel and alternately. An image acquisition control unit acquires the image data picked-up by X-ray detectors, and a computing unit reconstructs an image in the inspection area based on the image data.

Recently, thanks to micro-fabrication technique of sub-microns, LSI (Large-Scale Integration) of higher degree of integration has been developed and, as a result, it becomes possible to pack functions that have been conventionally implemented in a plurality of separate packages in one LSI. Conventional QFP (Quad Flat Package) and PGA (Pin Grid Array) can no longer accommodate the increased number of pins resulting from incorporating necessary functions in one package and, therefore, LSIs of BGA (Ball Grid Array) or CSP (Chip Size Package) in particular come to be used these days. Further, for applications requiring micro-miniaturization such as portable telephones, BGA package is used even if the number of pins is not so large.
Though BGA and CSP packages of LSI much contribute to micro-miniaturization, after assembly, soldered portions and the like are not visible from the appearance. Therefore, when printed boards and the like mounting BGA and CSP packages are to be inspected, the object of inspection is irradiated with X-ray, and the acquired fluoroscopic image is analyzed, for determining whether the quality is acceptable or not.
By way of example, Patent Document 1 discloses an X-ray tomographic surface inspection apparatus that can acquire a sharp X-ray image by using an X-ray plane sensor.
Patent Document 2 discloses a method for reconstructing an image in inclined-three-dimensional X-ray CT (Computed Tomography) by arbitrarily selecting an angle of X-ray irradiation.
Patent Document 3 discloses an X-ray inspection device in which two-dimensional inspection is performed based on X-ray images acquired by a parallel X-ray detection device, and three-dimensional inspection is performed based on X-ray images acquired by inclined X-ray detecting means, so that both inspections can be done at high speed. A technique of reconstructing a three-dimensional image of an object of inspection based on a plurality of X-ray images is also mentioned in this reference. As a method for reconstruction, "filtered back-projection method" is suggested.
Further, Patent Document 4 discloses a mechanism that can be driven by a single motor to move an X-ray source on linear orbit, circular orbit and spiral orbit for taking laminography in an X-ray tomographic apparatus. Here, the X-ray source is moved, and since the X-ray source is heavy and only one motor is used for driving, high-speed movement is difficult. Further, in order to realize three different moving modes of rotational, linear and spiral movements by one imaging system, the mechanism is complicated. Since various improvements of the mechanism are required to increase the speed of movement, it is difficult to increase the operation speed of the mechanism.
In a general industrial X-ray fluoroscope, if the object of inspection is of minute size, it is desirable to acquire an X-ray fluoroscopic image enlarged as much as possible. For this purpose, the size of focal point as the area of X-ray generation must be extremely small. Thus, a micro-focus X-ray source, which is a transmission type X-ray source having the focal point dimension of a few μm, is used. If an electron beam current (X-ray source current) for generating the X-ray is increased in such a micro-focus X-ray source in order to improve image quality of the fluoroscope, heat builds up at a portion of the target where the electrons impinge (focal point) and the target melts locally. Therefore, it is a common practice to set an allowable limit value (permissible load). Patent Document 5 discloses a micro-focus X-ray source including an anode (target) consisting of a rotating disk, enabling increase of the permissible load.
Patent Document 6 discloses a pulse X-ray source capable of generating pulsed X-rays by intermittently defocusing the electron beam using a deflecting electromagnetic coil, to make longer the life of X-ray source.
[Method for Image Reconstruction of X-Ray CT]
As described above, in X-ray CT, based on the measured values of X-ray after transmission through the object and detected by the X-ray detector, at least a cross-sectional image of the object is reconstructed. Since three-dimensional distribution of X-ray absorption factor of the object or at least a part of the object can be obtained, it is eventually possible to reconstruct an arbitrary cross-sectional image of the object or a part of the object, that is, an image of a plane that crosses the light receiving surface of the X-ray detector. As the method for reconstruction, "analytical method" and "iterative method" have been known. In the following, these methods for image reconstruction will be briefly discussed.
(Description of X-Ray Projection Data)
FIG. 57 is an illustration related to the methods for image reconstruction. The X-ray image reconstruction refers to a method for calculating distribution of X-ray absorption coefficient in an object of inspection, by measuring, from a plurality of different angles, how much X-ray irradiating the object from outside is absorbed (attenuated) by the object of inspection.
In the following, description will be given assuming that measurement is done using a so-called scanning X-ray source.
Referring to FIG. 57, X-ray emitted from an X-ray focal point Fa corresponding to an X-ray detector Da passes through an object of inspection (not shown) and reaches a pixel Pa of X-ray detector Da. As the X-ray is transmitted through the object of inspection, the amount of X-ray (X-ray intensity) attenuates by the amount corresponding to X-ray absorption coefficient of each of the components and the like forming the object of inspection. The amount of attenuation in X-ray intensity is recorded as a pixel value of detector pixel Pa.
When we represent the X-ray intensity emitted from X-ray focal point Fa by I, the path of X-ray from X-ray focal point Fa to detector pixel Pa by t and the distribution of X-ray absorption coefficients of the object of inspection by f(x, y, z), the intensity Ia of X-ray that reached the detector pixel Pa is given by the following equation (1).Ia=I×exp{−∫f(x,y,z)dt}  (1)
Taking the logarithm of both sides of the equation above, distribution of X-ray absorption coefficients along the path t is given as a linear integral value of Equation (2) below. A value obtained by measuring the X-ray absorption coefficients distribution by the X-ray detector is referred to as projection data. Specifically, the X-ray detector detects a distribution of X-ray attenuation (or X-ray intensity distribution).∫f(x,y,z)dt=ln(I/Ia)  (2)
(Description of Analytical Method (for Example, FBP Method: Filtered Back-Projection Approach))
As shown in FIG. 57, when the analytical method is used, for one object of inspection (or one part of the object of inspection), projection data of X-ray intensity Ib of the X-ray emitted from a focal point Fb and reached an X-ray detector Db, which is arranged at a position different from the arrangement of X-ray detector Da, is detected. In actual practice, the projection data as such is detected for a plurality of arrangements with respect to one object of inspection (or one part of the object of inspection), and a cross-sectional image of the object of inspection is reconstructed from the projection data.
FIG. 58 shows the arrangements of a field of view FOV and a reconstruction pixel V as the object of reconstruction operation in the field of view FOV of the object of inspection, X-ray focal points Fa and Fb, and X-ray detectors Da and Db shown in FIG. 57, viewed from above. When the X-ray that has been transmitted through a portion of reconstruction pixel V forms images on X-ray detectors Da and Db, the images are enlarged in proportion to the ratio of (distance from focal point to reconstruction pixel V) to (distance from focal point to X-ray detector).
Feldkamp et al. propose a reconstruction algorithm for three-dimensional image reconstruction based on Equation (2). The algorithm (a so-called Feldkamp method) is well known as disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1 and, therefore, detailed description will not be given here. In the following, Filtered Back-Projection method as a general method will be briefly described.
An operation of obtaining the distribution f(x, y, z) of X-ray absorption coefficients from the projection data, by adding projection data along the path t followed by the X-ray is referred to as back-projection. If the projection data are simply added, blurring occurs because of peaked point spread function of imaging system and, therefore, the projection data are filtered. Here, a high-frequency emphasizing filter, such as Shepp-Logan filter, is used for the filtering. The desirable direction of filtering is considered to be vertical to the direction of X-ray transmission path. In Feldkamp method, filtering is done approximating that projection data transmission paths are all in the same direction, and an image allowing inspection can be reconstructed.
In the following, steps of image reconstruction in accordance with the present embodiment will be described. First, a value pa′ obtained by filtering the projection data pa of detector pixel. Pa at X-ray detector Da is added to a pixel value v of reconstruction pixel V. Further, a value pb′ obtained by filtering the projection data pb of detector pixel Pb at X-ray detector Db is added to the pixel value v of reconstruction pixel V. Then, we obtain v=pa′+pb′. When such a back-projection operation is conducted on all or some of the X-ray detectors, the pixel value v of eventually resulting reconstruction pixel V will be represented by Equation (3) below:ν=Σ(pa′+pb′+ . . . )  (3)
By performing this operation for all the reconstruction pixels V in the reconstruction area (field of view) FOV, the distribution of X-ray absorption coefficients of the object of inspection is obtained, and hence, a reconstructed image data is obtained.
FIG. 59 is a flowchart representing the process steps of the Filtered Back-Projection method.
Referring to FIG. 59, when the process in the analytical method starts (S5002), first, projection data to be the object of processing are selected from projection data of a plurality of picked-up images (S5004). Next, the selected projection data are filtered (S5006).
Further, not-yet processed reconstruction pixel V in reconstruction field of view FOV is selected (S5008), and a detector pixel for the reconstruction pixel V is found (S5010).
Thereafter, the filtered pixel value is added to reconstruction pixel V (S5012), and whether or not addition has been done on all reconstruction pixels is determined (S5014). If the process is not yet done on all reconstruction pixels, the process returns to step S5008, and if the process has been completed, the process proceeds to step S5016.
At step S5016, whether or not the process has been done on all projection data is determined. If the process is not yet done on all projection data, the process returns to step S5004. If the process has been done on all projection data, generation of a reconstructed image ends (S5018).
(Description of Iterative Method (SART))
In the iterative method, the distribution f(x, y, z) of X-ray absorption coefficients and the projection data In (I/Ia) of the object of inspection are regarded as equations for reconstruction.
FIG. 60 is a schematic illustration showing the concept of the process in accordance with the iterative method, when a scanning X-ray source is used. FIG. 61 corresponds to the illustration of FIG. 60, viewed from above.
Referring to FIGS. 60 and 61, the steps of reconstruction in accordance with the iterative method will be described. A vector ν (with an overhead arrow→representing a vector; in the text of specification, represented by "ν") obtained by arranging a series of pixel values of the reconstructed image and a vector p (with an overhead arrow→representing a vector; in the text of specification, represented by "p") obtained by arranging a series of projection data are represented by Equations (4) and (5) below.
In the following, a pixel of an image calculated to be formed on X-ray detector Da by the X-ray emitted from X-ray focal point Fa assuming that the reconstruction pixel V has a certain value is referred to as an intermediate projection pixel Qa, while the pixel actually observed on X-ray detector Da is referred to as detector pixel Pa. Similarly, corresponding pixels of X-ray detector Db will be referred to as intermediate projection pixel Qb and detector pixel Pb.
In the iterative method, for the assumed reconstruction pixel vector ν and the corresponding intermediate projection data vector q, iterative operation of updating the assumed vector ν is continued until the intermediate projection data vector q can be regarded as matching the projection data of actually measured detector pixel value Pa or Pb, and thereby, the solution ν is obtained.{right arrow over (ν)}=(ν1,ν2, . . . , νJ)T  (4){right arrow over (p)}=(p1,p2, . . . , pI)T  (5)
Here, J represents the number of pixels in the reconstruction area (field of view), and I represents the number of pixels of the projection data. Further, T represents transposition. A projection operation establishing a relation between ν and p is given by the I×J coefficient matrix of (6).W={wij}  (6)
Here, the image reconstruction in accordance with the iterative method can be formulated as a problem of solving the linear equation (7) below to find the solution ν.W{right arrow over (ν)}={right arrow over (p)}  (7)
Specifically, the contribution of vj to pj is wij. It is noted that W represents how much the pixel value ν of the reconstructed image contributes to the pixel value p of projection data. It can be calculated from geometric positions of the X-ray focal point and the X-ray detector, and this value is sometimes referred to as a detection probability or weight.
As the iterative method, a method for algebraically solving the equation or a method considering statistical noise have been proposed. In the following, a commonly used algebraic method for SART (Simultaneous Algebraic Reconstruction Technique) will be described. Details are described in Non-Patent Document 2.
In SART, first, an initial reconstructed image ν0 (with an overhead arrow→representing a vector; in the text of specification, represented by "ν0") given by the following expression is assumed.{right arrow over (ν)}0  (8)
The initial reconstructed image ν0 may be data of all 0, or it may assume data obtained from CAD (Computer Aided Design) data.
Next, an intermediate projection data q0 (with an overhead arrow→representing a vector; in the text of specification, represented by "q0") given by the following equation (9) is generated, using projection operation W.{right arrow over (q)}0=W{right arrow over (ν)}0  (9)
The intermediate projection data q0 may be generated for one projection data, or it may be generated for a plurality of projection data. In the following, description will be given assuming that the generation is performed for one projection data.
The generated intermediate projection data q0 is compared with projection data p obtained from the X-ray detector. As the method for comparison, a method for calculating difference and a method for performing a division are known. In SART, the difference (p−q0) is calculated.
The initial reconstructed image ν0 is updated. The equation used for updating (iteration equation) is as represented by (10) below.
                              v          j          1                =                              v            j            0                    +                                                    ∑                                  i                  =                  1                                I                                                                                p                      i                                        -                                          q                      i                                                                                ∑                                              j                        =                        1                                            J                                                                                w                      ij                                                                                w                  ij                                                                                ∑                                  i                  =                  1                                I                                                                                w                ij                                                                        (        10        )
Further, the time required for updating calculation can be made shorter by calculating in advance the elements (11) and (12) appearing in Equation (10).
                              ∑                      i            =            1                    I                                                                    w          ij                                    (        11        )                                          ∑                      j            =            1                    J                                                                    w          ij                                    (        12        )
The reconstructed image generated by the calculation above is input as the initial image, and the same process is repeated for a number of times, whereby the data of the reconstructed image can be obtained.
FIG. 62 is a flowchart representing the process in accordance with the iterative method.
Referring to FIG. 62, when the process in accordance with the iterative method starts (S5102), the initial reconstructed image is set (S5104). As described above, all values may be 0, in the initial reconstructed image. Next, among a plurality of projection data corresponding to positions of a plurality of X-ray detectors, projection data to be the object of processing is selected (S5106).
Intermediate projection data is generated. The method for generating the intermediate projection data is as described above.
Then, not-yet-processed reconstruction pixel V in reconstruction field of view FOV is selected (S5110).
A detector pixel corresponding to the reconstruction pixel is found (S5112).
Based on the iteration equation, the value of reconstruction pixel V is updated (S5114).
Next, whether or not updating of all reconstruction pixels has been done is determined (S5116). If the process is not finished on all reconstruction pixels, the process returns to S5110. On the other hand, if the process has been finished, the flow proceeds to step S5118.
At S5118, it is determined whether or not the process has been done on all projection data. If the process is not yet finished for all projection data, the process returns to step S5106. If the process has been done on all projection data, the process proceeds to step S5120.
At S5120, it is determined whether the process has been repeated for a defined number of iterations. If not yet repeated, the process returns to step S5104 and the process is repeated using the present reconstruction pixel value as the initial reconstructed image, and if the process has been repeated for the defined number of iterations, the generation of reconstructed image ends (S5022).
As described above, a three-dimensional image of the object of inspection can be reconstructed from the projection data acquired by the X-ray detector.
In the analytical method, however, it is desired to maintain a constant relation of relative arrangement between the X-ray focal point and the X-ray detector even if the relative positions of the X-ray detector, the focal point and the object are changed to get each of the plurality of projection data, considering ease of computation when filtering is applied to each pixel of the X-ray detector. In other words, when the X-ray detector is viewed from the focal point, it is desirable that the positional relation between the focal point and the X-ray detector is kept constant, even if the angle of a portion included in the field of view of the object within the visible solid angle and/or position in the object may vary. Further, when the back-projection method is applied, it is desired that the plurality of projection data of portions included in the field of view of the object are acquired at every equal angle, in order to reduce artifact and the like.
In contrast, the iterative method does not involve any such limitation regarding the relative arrangement between the X-ray focal point and the X-ray detector.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2000-46760
Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-344316
Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2006-162335
Patent Document 4: Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-86218
Patent Document 5: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2001-273860
Patent Document 6: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-347174
Non-Patent Document 1: L. A. Feldkamp, L. C. Davis and J. W. Kress, "Practical cone-beam algorithm," Journal of the Optical Society of America. A, 612-619 (1984)
Non-Patent Document 2: A. H. Anderson and A. C. Kak, "SIMULTANEOUS ALGEBRAIC RECONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUE (SART): A SUPERIOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ART ALGORITHM," ULTRASONIC IMAGING 6, 81-94 (1984)

X-ray inspecting apparatus and X-ray inspecting method


Configurations of the invention simulate an exchange of calls emanating from a SAN management application to a plurality of manageable entities. The simulated call load provides simultaneous simulated calls for observing and analyzing responses to various loading scenarios characterized by multiple pending calls to the SAN. Configurations discussed herein identify a processing work burden and corresponding completion time associated with each of the simulated calls. A simulation agent aggregates the work burden of concurrent requests and computes a latency factor associated with each call based on the load presented by all pending calls. By adjusting the latency time of each pending call, and adjusting the latency to represent the additional processing imposed by successive pending calls, the simulated responses provide an accurate set of responses, rather than merely returning an unencumbered rapid response of expected content which may elusively represent the actual timeliness of responses in a loaded system.

Conventional managed information environments typically include a plurality of interconnected manageable entities, or nodes. In such an environment having a storage area network (SAN), the manageable entities may include storage arrays, connectivity devices and host entities, collectively operable to provide information storage and retrieval services to users. In a large storage area network, the number of nodes may be substantial.
In such a storage area network, software entities known as agents are responsive to a management application for managing the nodes in the SAN. The agents typically execute on a host computer and are in communication with manageable entities in the SAN responsive to the agent for providing configuration and status information, and for receiving instructions from the management application. In a typical conventional SAN, the agents manage and monitor a variety of manageable entities having different functions, and often emanating from different vendors. Further, connectivity, equipment changes and maintenance may affect the presence and status of the various manageable entities. Therefore, the configuration of the SAN may be complex and dynamic.
Accordingly, the SAN may adapt agents to a particular configuration in the SAN. The agents may be responsible for general tasks of a large number of nodes or manageable entities, or may have a more specialized role in handling a smaller number of specialized or vendor specific manageable entities. Nonetheless, the agent is communicative with the manageable entities for which it is responsible. Therefore, conventional SAN agents typically employ an application programming interface (API) conversant with a particular manageable entity and operable to manage and monitor the manageable entity.
Often, it is desirable to simulate the SAN for testing and development purposes. Simulation may avoid the need to duplicate a possibly large configuration of physical nodes. Simulation agents may be developed or modified to emulate the behavior of a storage array to the invoking SAN server. The conventional simulation agents may be configured with information similar to that which is available via the actual API employed for accessing the actual counterpart storage array. Therefore, a conventional server may be communicative with a set of simulation agents, each operable to receive requests and send responses emulative of an agent serving an actual storage array.

System and methods for network call load simulation


The invention relates to an electrolysis cell comprising an anode compartment which comprises an aqueous solution of at least one alkali metal salt, a cathode compartment and a solid electrolyte which separates the anode compartment and the cathode compartment from one another, wherein that part of the surface of the solid electrolyte which is in contact with the anode compartment and/or that part of the surface of the solid electrolyte which is in contact with the cathode compartment has/have at least one further ion-conducting layer.

The present invention relates to an electrochemical process for obtaining alkali metals from aqueous solution by an electrochemical process, and also to an electrolysis cell for carrying out this process. The invention further relates to an electrochemical process for recycling alkali metals from aqueous solution.
For the purposes of the present invention, alkali metals are lithium, sodium and potassium.
Lithium is important as a basis for inorganic chemistry and is used in a variety of applications, such as lithium batteries, organolithium compound preparation, and addition to aluminum or to magnesium to give alloys. Lithium is prepared industrially by melt electrolysis of a eutectic mixture of lithium chloride and potassium chloride at from 400 to 460xc2x0 C. (Ullmann""s Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, Sixth Edition, 1998 Electronic Release). This process has high energy consumption (28-32 kWh/kg of Li). The process also has the serious disadvantage that only anhydrous lithium chloride can be used. The lithium chloride, which is mainly available as aqueous solution, therefore has to be treated by a high-energy process to give the anhydrous solid. Since lithium chloride is hygroscopic, its drying and handling are particularly expensive.
Organic reactions with lithium frequently produce aqueous lithium salt solutions. The increasing use of lithium batteries also produces lithium-containing waste, and this, too, can be converted into aqueous lithium solutions. Since lithium is very expensive, even in the form of its salts, recycling of lithium is of interest.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,156,635 and J. F. Cooper et al., Proc. Electrochem. So. 1995, pp. 95-11, 280-290, describe a process for the electrochemical preparation of lithium from an aqueous lithium salt solution by using a lithium amalgam electrode. For this, a lithium solution, in particular a lithium hydroxide solution, is electrolyzed using an amalgam cathode. This forms lithium amalgam, which becomes the anode in a second electrolysis cell. Lithium cathode and amalgam anode here are separated with the aid of boron nitride seals. The electrolyte in this second electrolysis cell is a 2 cm salt melt of two alkali metal iodides (preferably LiI and CsI or, respectively, LiI and KI), while lithium metal is deposited at the cathode. The current density here is from 1 to 4 kA/m2 without mass transfer limitation. In the recovery of lithium from the amalgam in this process the current yield achieved is only from 81 to 87%. A particularly serious problem is that the lithium obtained has mercury contamination, since the mercury can diffuse through the electrolyte.
Sodium is important as a basis for inorganic chemistry and is used for preparing sodium amide, sodium alcoholates and sodium borohydride, for example. It is obtained industrially by the Downs process, by electrolyzing molten sodium chloride. This process has high energy consumption of xe2x89xa710 kWh/kg of sodium (Bxc3xcchner et al., Industrielle Anorganische Chemie, 2nd edition, Verlag Chemie, pp. 228 et seq.). The process also has the serious disadvantage that the electrolysis cells are damaged by solidification of the salt melt on shutdown. The sodium metal obtained by the Downs process also has the disadvantage of calcium contamination caused by the process, and although subsequent purification reduces the residual content of calcium it never removes it entirely.
Potassium is also important as a basis for inorganic chemistry and is used for preparing potassium alcoholates, potassium amides and potassium alloys, for example. Nowadays it is primarily obtained industrially by reacting potassium chloride with sodium. This first gives NaK, which is then fractionated by distillation. A good yield is obtained by constantly drawing off potassium vapor from the reaction zone, thus shifting the reaction equilibrium toward the potassium side (Ullmann""s Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, 6th edition 1998, Electronic Release). A disadvantage is that the process operates at high temperatures (870xc2x0 C.). In addition, the resultant potassium comprises about 1% of sodium contaminant and therefore still requires purification by a further rectification. The greatest disadvantage is that the sodium used is expensive. The reason for this is that sodium is obtained industrially by the Downs process, by electrolyzing molten sodium chloride, and the energy usage necessary here is at least 10 kWh/kg of sodium, corresponding to about 5.3 kWh/kg of potassium (for 100% yield).
GB 1,155,927 describes a process which uses a solid sodium ion conductor, e.g. xcex2-Al2O3, with amalgam as anode and sodium as cathode, to obtain sodium metal electrochemically from sodium amalgam. However, the process described in GB 1,155,927 does not give the results described there with regard to sodium conversion, product purity and current density. The system described there, furthermore, develops instability over the course of a few days when the claimed temperature range is adhered to. Electrolysis cells which are used to prepare alkali metal by an electrochemical process and which have a solid ion conductor are frequently unsuitable for permanent operation over a long period. One reason for this is that after a certain period of operation the solid ion conductor becomes mechanically unstable.
It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to develop a process which does not have the disadvantages described above (high energy consumption, calcium content in the sodium, high temperature, etc.). A further object is to provide an electrolysis cell suitable for carrying out this process. A further object is to find a process which enables recycling of alkali metals from aqueous alkali metal waste, in particular lithium from aqueous lithium waste.
We have found that this object is achieved by means of a process which comprises carrying out an electrolysis in a novel electrolysis cell with a solid ion conductor. The ion conductor here separates the electrolysis cell into two parts. In one part is the liquid alkali metal which serves as cathode. In the other part, and in contact with an anode, is an aqueous solution of a salt of this same alkali metal. Any desired commercially available anode materials can be used as anode.
Alkali metal ion conductors of this type are frequently not resistant to water and/or to alkali metals, and the experiment therefore leads to damage of the alkali metal ion conductors after only a short period. This damage can comprise either mechanical failure of the ion conductor or loss of its conductivity. A further aim of the invention is therefore to keep the ion conductors stable over a prolonged working life. The working life of the ion conductors can be increased markedly by applying an ion-conducting protective layer to the appropriate side of the ion conductor.
The present invention therefore also provides an electrolysis cell comprising an anode compartment which comprises an aqueous solution of at least one alkali metal salt, a cathode compartment and a solid electrolyte which separates the anode compartment and the cathode compartment from one another, wherein that part of the surface of the solid electrolyte which is in contact with the anode compartment and/or that part of the surface of the solid electrolyte which is in contact with the cathode compartment has/have at least one further ion-conducting layer.
The present invention also provides a process for preparing an alkali metal from an aqueous solution comprising at least one salt of this alkali metal, using this electrolysis cell.
There are generally no restrictions in relation to the aqueous alkali metal salt solution in the anode compartment, and any suitable alkali metal salt solution may be used. Besides pure aqueous solutions, it is also possible to use mixtures with water-miscible organic solvents, as long as the organic solvents are stable under the reaction conditions. Examples of solvents of this type are alcohols, e.g. methanol and ethanol, and also carbonates, e.g. propylene or ethylene carbonate.
There are likewise no restrictions in relation to the shape and design of the anode compartment, as long as it is certain that the walls of the anode space are resistant to the anode solution and that that part of the surface of the solid electrolyte which is in contact with the anode compartment is sufficient for the process to be carried out to prepare the alkali metal.

Method for electrochemically producing an alkali metal from an aqueous solution