A method for determining a strain hardening property of a pipe enabling reduction of costs while ensuring pipeline integrity is provided. Moreover, a method for manufacturing a pipe based on the method for determining the strain hardening property of the pipe, a pipe manufactured by means of the method for manufacturing the pipe, and a pipeline are proposed. The method for determining the strain hardening property of the pipe according to the present invention includes a step of defining pipe dimensions where a diameter D, a thickness t, and a required critical local buckling strain εreq of the pipe are set as conditions to be satisfied; a step of acquiring a strain hardening property for acquiring the strain hardening property in the vicinity of a buckling point of the pipe satisfying the conditions set in the step of defining the pipe dimensions; and a step of setting the strain hardening property as a condition to be satisfied by the stress-strain curve of the pipe.

Gas pipelines and oil pipelines have been built as the basis of energy supply. Recently, many gas fields have been developed in places remote from consuming regions with increasing demand, particularly for natural gas, as the backdrop. Accordingly, pipelines have shown a tendency to be longer, and have developed an obvious tendency to have larger diameters and to be highly pressurized for mass transport.
FIG. 13 shows a flow chart of the process of pipeline construction focusing on the design of such pipelines. The conventional process of pipeline design is broadly classified into steps of (1) design of a pipeline system and (2) structural design of a pipeline. In designing the pipeline system, the type, diameter, thickness, and operating pressure of a pipe are temporally assumed such that an operating cost and a construction cost of a pipeline are minimized with consideration of transport volume and conveying distance that represent the scale of the project as prerequisites. In structural design of the pipeline, structural analysis is carried out with consideration of ground displacements and the like generated during earthquakes on the basis of a pipeline route, which is a pipeline shape to be constructed that is presumed from the strength and the dimensions of the pipe temporally set in the designing of the pipeline system and geographic features and the like of the places of construction; and then the maximum stress, the maximum strain, and local buckling are checked.
When the characteristics of the pipe temporally set in the designing of the pipeline system do not satisfy these check conditions, the process returns to the step of designing the pipeline system and the characteristics of the pipe are reset. When the characteristics of the pipe satisfy the above-described check conditions, the characteristics temporally set in the designing of the pipeline system are set as the specification of the pipe. The pipeline company then places an order with a steel company for the pipe, and the steel company manufactures the line pipe according to the specification given by the pipeline company.
In the local buckling check, it is checked whether the pipe with the conditions that have been temporally set in the designing of the pipeline system has sufficient local buckling performance to endure the maximum compressive strain and the maximum bending strain presumed under the conditions where the pipeline is constructed. Specifically, the critical local buckling strain of the pipe is obtained, and it is determined whether the critical local buckling strain is larger than the maximum strain generated in the pipeline or not.
Equation
The critical local buckling strain of the designed pipe is obtained as follows. In general, the critical local buckling strain of a pipe is represented by (critical local buckling strain)=coefficient·{(pipe thickness)/(pipe diameter)}exponent. The coefficient and the exponent in the relation are obtained by plotting experimental data of local buckling with pipes as shown in FIG. 14, by drawing curves such that the lower bound of the experimental data are enveloped, and by fitting to these lower-bound envelope curves.
Table 1 shows proposed design equations of the critical local buckling strain acquired on the basis of the above-described local buckling experiments with real pipes.
TABLE 1ReferenceExpressionS-S curveShermanεcr = 16(t/D)2(1976)Murphy andεcr = 0.5(t/D)Continuous-Langnerhardening model(1985)εcr = 0.33(t/D)Yield-plateau modelGresnigtεcr = 0.5(t/D) −(1986)0.0025 + 3000(pD/2Et)2Stephensεcr = 2.42(t/D)1.59Et al.(1991)
The proposed design equations of the critical local buckling strain shown in Table 1 prescribed by the current design standard are based on experimental data of pipes of grade X65 (grade of strength according to the API (American Petroleum Institute) standard in the United States) or lower. Therefore, the applicable scope in FIG. 13 is limited to line pipes of grade X65 or lower.
Besides those shown in Table 1, the following design equation of the critical local buckling strain is presented in "Guidelines for Anti-Seismic Design of High-Pressure Gas Pipelines (revised edition)" (issued by the Japan Gas Association, March 2000, page 39).ε=35(t/D) (%)
Since the design equations of the critical local buckling strain are acquired on the basis of the buckling experiments of pipes as described above, the critical local buckling strain is obtained on the basis of these estimate equations and it is determined whether the critical local buckling strain is larger than the maximum strain or not in the local buckling check. When the critical local buckling strain is smaller than the maximum strain, the process returns to the step of designing the pipeline system and the conditions are reset. In the resetting process at this time, the critical local buckling strain of the pipe is increased by increasing the pipe thicknesses on the basis of the relationship of (critical local buckling strain)=coefficient·{(pipe thickness)/(pipe diameter)}exponent.
The above is a case for the line pipes of grade X65 or lower for which design equations of the critical local buckling strain have been acquired. When pipes of grade X70 or higher for which estimate equations of the critical local buckling strain have not yet been acquired are adopted for a pipeline, a sample pipe is produced by way of trials and errors, and the local buckling experiment is carried out such that the critical local buckling strain of the pipe is acquired as shown in FIG. 15. Then, it is determined whether the acquired critical local buckling strain of the pipe is larger than the maximum strain. When the critical local buckling strain is also smaller in this case, a sample pipe with a larger thickness is produced again and checked as in the case of a pipe of grade X65 or lower.

Method for determining strain hardening property of line pipe


The isolation and characterization of cDNAs encoding poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG) enzymes and the amino acid sequences of PARGs from several species are described. PARG is involved in the cellular response to DNA damage and its proper function is associated with the body's response to neoplastic disorder inducing agents and oxidative stress. Expression vectors containing the cDNAs and cells transformed with the vectors are described. Probes and primers that hybridize with the cDNAs are described. Expression of the cDNA in E. coli results in an enzymatically active protein of about 111 kDa and an active fragment of about 59 kDa. Methods for inhibiting PARG expression or overexpressing PARG in a subject for therapeutic benefit are described. Exemplary of PARG inhibitors are anti-sense oligonucleotides. The invention has implications for treatment of neoplastic disorder, heart attack, stroke, and neurodegenerative diseases. Methods for detecting a mutant PARG allele are also described. Antibodies immunoreactive with PARGs and fragments thereof are described.

Genomic damage, if left unrepaired, can lead to malignant transformation, or cell death by senescence (aging), necrosis or apoptosis. Among the variables that can affect the ultimate biological consequence of DNA damage to a particular cell are (i) the amount, type, and location of the DNA damage and (ii) the efficiency and bioavailability of the cellular DNA repair mechanism.
The activation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) by DNA strand breaks is often one of the first cellular responses to DNA damage. PARP catalyzes the conversion of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) to multi-branched polymers containing up to 200 ADP-ribose residues. Increases in polymer levels of more than 100-fold may occur within minutes of DNA damage. Once synthesized, polymers are rapidly turned over, being converted to free ADP-ribose by the action of poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG) (1). An ADP-ribosyl protein lyase has been proposed to catalyze removal of protein-proximal ADP-ribose monomers (2). FIG. 1 illustrates these processes schematically.
The process of activating PARP upon DNA damage can rapidly lead to energy depletion because each ADP-ribose unit transferred by PARP consumes one molecule of NAD, which in turn, requires six molecules of ATP to regenerate NAD. Additionally, NAD is a key carrier of electrons needed to generate ATP via electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation or by glycolysis. The overactivation of PARP due to substantial DNA damage can significantly deplete the cellular pools of NAD and ATP (3). ADP-ribose polymer metabolism, and thus PARP and PARG have been linked to the enhancement of DNA repair (4), limitation of malignant transformation (5), enhancement of necrotic cell death (6), and involvement in programmed cell death (7). To date, studies of the structure and function of the enzymes of ADP-ribose polymer metabolism have been mainly limited to PARP (8). Little is known about the function and regulation of PARG.

Genes encoding several poly (ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG) enzymes, the proteins and fragments thereof, and antibodies immunoreactive therewith


A piping structure for transporting a fuel arranged between an engine and a fuel tank, is constructed by use of a resin tube that is formed in a straight tubular shape. The resin tube is flexed and bent at one or more points along a longitudinal direction of the resin tube to define one or more bent portions and thereby is provided with a predetermined bent shape. The resin tube is fixed in a motor vehicle body so as to retain the bent portions and thereby assembled in the motor vehicle body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a piping structure for transporting a fuel, a resin tube for transporting a fuel adapted in the piping structure, and a method for producing the resin tube.
2. Description of the Related Art
Previously, a resin tube is used for transporting a fuel, for example, transporting a fuel in a fuel tank to an engine side.
The resin tube is connected to a mating pipe on a motor vehicle body side to constitute a piping system for transporting a fuel.
Previously, for connecting the resin tube with the mating pipe, a connector (quick connector) that permits simple and quick connection with the mating pipe has been used.
The connector of such type is disclosed, for example, in Patent Document 1 below. FIGS. 12 and 13 show an example of specific construction of the connector.
In FIGS. 12 and 13, reference numeral 200 indicates a resin tube, reference numeral 202 indicates a mating pipe to be connected with the resin tube 200.
The mating pipe 202 is formed with an engaging projection (pipe-side engaging portion) 204 projecting annularly on an outer peripheral surface thereof.
Reference numeral 206 indicates a connector that has a connector body (here, entirely made of resin) 208, a retainer 210, a bush 214 and O-rings 212 as sealing member.
The connector body 208 includes a retainer holding portion 216 on one end of the connector body 208 along an axial direction (a proximal end or an axially outer end of the connector body 208), and a press-fit portion (nipple portion) 218 on the other end thereof along the axial direction (a distal end or an axially inner end thereof) as connecting portion to the resin tube 200.
The press-fit portion 218 is a portion to be press-fitted or force-fitted within the resin tube 200 in an axial direction. The press-fit portion 218 is formed with annular ribs 220 at a plurality of axially spaced positions on an outer peripheral surface thereof. The annular rib 220 has a saw-edged cross-section and is provided with an acute angled peak.
The press-fit portion 218 is force-fitted within the resin tube 200 and thereby the connector body 208 is connected to such resin tube 200.
At that time, the annular ribs 220 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the press-fit portion 218 bite in an inner surface of an end portion of the resin tube 200 that is diametrically expanded and deformed by force-fitting of the press-fit portion 218, and thereby the resin tube 200 is retained and stopped for preventing withdrawal.
Meanwhile, the press-fit portion 218 is formed with an annular groove wherein an O-ring 222 is retained. The O-ring 222 provides an air-tight seal between the press-fit portion 218 and the resin tube 200.
The above retainer holding portion 216 is a portion for holding the retainer 210 while receiving the retainer 210 therein. The connector body 208 is connected to the mating pipe 202 via the retainer 210.
The retainer holding portion 216 is provided with a stop portion (body-side stop portion) 224 on a trailing end (proximal end or axially outer end) thereof for latching onto the retainer 210.
On the other hand, the retainer 210 is a resin member that is as a whole generally annular, and resiliently or flexibly deformable in a radial direction.
The retainer 210 is formed with an engaging recessed portion or engaging slit portion (retainer-side engaging portion) 225 and a latching recess (retainer-side latching portion) 226. The engaging projection 204 of the mating pipe 202 engages with the engaging recessed portion 225 from radially inward or inside the retainer 210. The latching recess 226 similarly fits to the stop portion 224 of the connector body 208 from radially inward or inside the retainer holding portion 216 to stop the retainer 210 in an axial direction.
The retainer 210 is held by the retainer holding portion 216 in an axially fixed state by latching the latching recess 226 onto the stop portion 224 of the retainer holding portion 216.
The retainer 210 further includes an inner peripheral surface thereof that defines a tapered inner peripheral cam surface 228, and an outer peripheral surface that defines a tapered outer peripheral cam surface 230.
When the mating pipe 202 is inserted inside the retainer 210 in an axial direction, the inner peripheral cam surface 228 abuts and guides the engaging projection 204 for further axial movement. Then the inner peripheral cam surface 228 resiliently diametrically expands the retainer 210 as a whole by the cam action as the engaging projection 204 moves and thereby allows passage of the engaging projection 204.
Then, as soon as the engaging projection 204 reaches a position of the engaging recessed portion 225, the retainer 210 as a whole returns to its original shape, the engaging projection 204 simultaneously is fitted or slipped in the engaging recessed portion 225 in fixed relation with one another in an axial direction.
On the other hand, when the retainer 210 is inserted in the retainer holding portion 216 of the connector body 208 in the axial direction, the outer peripheral cam surface 230 abuts the stop portion 224, thereby resiliently diametrically contracts the retainer 210 as a whole, and latches the latching recess 226 onto the stop portion 224 with diametrically contracting action of the retainer 210.
Meanwhile, the retainer 210 is provided with operation tabs 231 on trailing end portions (proximal end portions or axially outer ends, left end portions in the figure) thereof. The retainer 210 also may be diametrically contracted by exerting a radially inward force to the operation tabs 231.
In the connector 206, the retainer 210 is first held in the retainer holding portion 216 of the connector body 208. Then, in this state, the mating pipe 202 is inserted inside the retainer 210 in the axial direction.
During that time, the retainer 210 is resiliently expanded in a diametrically expanding direction by the engaging projection 204 of the mating pipe 202. As soon as the engaging projection 204 reaches the engaging recessed portion 225, the retainer 210 diametrically contracts and the engaging projection 204 engages in the engaging recessed portion 225.
On the other hand, the retainer 210 may be first attached to the mating pipe 202. Then, in this state, the mating pipe 202 with the retainer 210 thereon may be inserted in the connector body 208.
During that time, the retainer 210 diametrically contracts once, then, as soon as the latching recess 226 reaches a position of the stop portion 224, the retainer 210 diametrically enlarges to latch the latching recess 226 onto the stop portion 224.
The bush 214 and the O-rings 212 as sealing member are placed and retained in a distal end of the connector body 208 relative to the retainer holding portion 216. When the mating pipe 202 is inserted within the connector body 208, the O-rings 212 or the O-rings 212 and the bush 214 contact air-tightly with an inserting end portion 232 of the mating pipe 202, namely an outer peripheral surface of a leading end (axially inner end) of the inserting end portion 232 relative to the engaging projection 204 (an outer peripheral surface of a leading end portion of the inserting end portion 232 extending from the engaging projection 204), and provide an air-tight seal between the mating pipe 202 and the connector body 208.
As shown in FIG. 12 (A), two O-rings 212 are used in the connector 206. However, as shown in FIG. 12 (B), as the case may be, single O-ring 212 may be used in the connector 206 for compact sizing of the connector 206.
As understood from the above, the resin tube 200 may be easily connected with the mating pipe 202 by use of such connector 206 with a simple action.
By the way, such connector as described in Patent Document 2 may be used to be attached to an end portion of the resin tube 200. This connector 300 is, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, configured such that a relatively thin-walled retainer 302 is mounted on a retainer holding portion 304 in a direction perpendicular to an axis.
The connector 300 has a connector body (here, entirely made of resin) 306 in the form of a tubular shape as a whole, a retainer 302, O-rings 308 as sealing member and a bush 310 (refer to FIG. 14 (A)).
The connector body 306 includes a short cylindrical retainer holding portion 304 on one end of the connector body 306 along an axial direction and a connecting portion 312 on the other end thereof along the axial direction, for example, as connecting portion to the resin tube 200.
The retainer 302 in the form of a looped shape is configured by connecting a pair of engaging portions (retainer-side engaging portions, retainer-side latching portions) 314 integrally to V-shaped bodies 316 at one and the other ends of the engaging portions 314, respectively (refer to FIG. 14 (B). The retainer 302 is inserted in the retainer holding portion 304 via an opening 318 of the retainer holding portion 304 by narrowing a width of the retainer 302, and then the retainer 302 is returned to its original width (namely its original shape) in the retainer holding portion 304. The retainer 302 is located therein with its original shape.
When a mating pipe 202 (in the form of slightly different shape from the mating pipe 202 shown in FIG. 12) is inserted in the retainer 302, the engaging projection 204 of the mating pipe 202 abuts slant guide surfaces or slant guide cam surfaces 320 of the engaging portions 314. Then the engaging projection 204 pushes the slant guide cam surfaces 320 radially outwardly, and advances while widening the retainer 302. As soon as the engaging projection 204 passes through the engaging portions 314, the retainer 302 is slightly narrowed so that the engaging portions 314 engages with the engaging projection 204 in an axial direction (refer to FIG. 15). Here, the engaging portions 314 enter cutout portions (body-side stop portions) 322 of the retainer holding portions 304 and engage with the retainer holding portion 304 in the axial direction. In this manner, the mating pipe 202 and the retainer 302 or the connector body 306 are securely fixed in the axial direction. And, the mating pipe 202 may be pulled out of the connector 300 by pressing press portions 324 of the retainer 302 radially inwardly, and thereby widening a distance between the engaging portions 314. As shown in FIG. 16, in some case, enclosing portions 326 are formed in the opening 318 so as to rise radially outwardly in order not to allow the press portions 324 to protrude outwardly.
Or, a connector as shown in Patent Document 3 may be also used. This connector 400 is, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, configured such that a retainer 402 of a horse-shoe shape is mounted on a retainer holding portion 404 in a direction perpendicular to an axis. The connector 400 is provided further with a checker member 406 for verifying connection to the mating pipe 202.
The connector 400 has a connector body (here, entirely made of resin) 408 in the form of a cylindrical shape as a whole, a retainer 402, O-rings 410 as sealing member, a bush 412 and the checker member 406 (refer to FIGS. 17 and 18(B)).
The connector body 408 includes a short tubular retainer holding portion 404 on one end of the connector body 408 along an axial direction and a connecting portion 414 on the other end thereof along the axial direction, for example, as connecting portion to the resin tube 200.
The checker member 406 is shaped a box and includes a pair of resilient arms 416 and stop recesses 418 on end portions of the resilient arms 416. The checker member 406 is installed on an outer periphery of the retainer holding portion 404 in a direction perpendicular to an axis and is located in the retainer holding portion 404 so as to engage the stop recesses 418 with bottom surface portions 420, respectively.
The retainer 402 includes a pair of detecting lugs 422 and detecting detents 424 on end portions (free end portions) of the detecting lugs 422, and the detecting detents 424 protrude radially inwardly. The retainer 402 is mounted on an outer periphery of the retainer holding portion 404 in the direction perpendicular to the axis and is located in the retainer holding portion 404 so as to protrude the detecting detents 424 inside a passage of the engaging projection 204 of the mating pipe 202 (refer to FIG. 18 (A)).
When the mating pipe 202 is inserted in the connector body 408, the engaging projection 204 advances with pushing away slant guide surfaces or slant guide cam surface 425 and abuts the bush 412 (namely, the mating pipe 202 is correctly connected to the connector body 408), the detecting detents 424 of the retainer 402 are pushed and moved radially outwardly by the engaging projection 204, engagement of the detecting detents 424 and dents 430 of receiving slots 428 is cancelled, and thereby the retainer 402 is allowed to be further pushed in the direction perpendicular to the axis. When the retainer 402 is further pushed in the direction perpendicular to the axis, engaging portions (retainer-side engaging portions) 431 of the retainer 402 engage with the engaging projection 204 of the mating pipe 202, and simultaneously, the resilient arms 416 of the checker member 406 are moved by guide lugs 432 of the retainer 402, the stop recesses 418 of the resilient arms 416 are pushed radially outwardly, and thereby engagement of the stop recesses 418 and the bottom surface portions 420 is cancelled. In this manner, the mating pipe 202 and the connector body 408 are securely fixed together in the axial direction. In this securely fixed relation, the checker member 406 is allowed to separate from the connector body 408. That is, only when the mating pipe 202 is connected to the connector 400 correctly, the checker member 406 can be removed from the connector body 408. Meanwhile, the retainer 402 engages with restraining flanges 434, 436, 438 (body-side stop portions) of the connector body 404 at a rear end surface, middle recessed portions and a front end surface (retainer-side stop portions) of the retainer 402 in an axial direction.
The conventional resin tube 200 here is, for example, about 6 mm in an inner diameter and about 8 mm in an outer diameter, and adapted in a piping system as shown in FIG. 19.
In this piping system, a fuel in a fuel tank 234 is transported (supplied) by a fuel pump 236 through a supply channel 238 under a certain pressure, and injected from an injector 240 to a cylinder 242 of an engine. And, a surplus fuel is returned through a return channel 244 to the fuel tank 234. Preferably the piping and the resin tube as above is light-weight and has a small diameter in view of designing the piping system and cost-reduction.
Meanwhile, a resin tube for transporting a fuel, for example, the resin tube equipped with a connector is usually assembled in a motor vehicle body according to a predetermined piping layout. Conventionally, the resin tube is formed or molded as a whole initially in a required bent or curved shape (initially bent or curved resin tube) according to the predetermined piping layout in a formation or molding step of the resin tube. Then the initially bent or curved resin tube is delivered to an assembling site and assembled in the motor vehicle body on the assembling site.
However, the bent or curved resin tube that is formed or molded initially in the bent or curved shape is obtained, for example, in the following steps. A straight tubular resin tube is fitted in a constraining mold to retain the resin tube in a bent or curved shape, and the resin tube as a whole or the constraining mold is put into an oven to be heated, for example, at a temperature of 150° C. to 160° C. for 20 to 30 minutes to be formed into a bent or curved shape, then the constraining mold is taken out from the oven, cooled, and the resin tube is removed out of the mold (for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 4 below). However, many production steps are required or exist in this production method, resulting in increase of the production cost. And, here, the resin tube corresponding to the type of a motor vehicle, strictly speaking, corresponding to the type of the piping layout is required, and varied types of the resin tubes should be produced accordingly. This is also a factor of the cost increase.
In the conventional structure for assembling a resin tube for transporting a fuel, the resin tube is initially formed or molded in a required bent or curved shape, and, for example, connected with the mating pipes on both ends of the resin tube by means of connectors. However, this causes the following problem besides the above problems.
When vibration is transmitted from a motor vehicle body through the mating pipe to the resin tube that is connected with the mating pipe via the connector, the resin tube relatively rotates relative to the mating pipe, together with the connector, and thereby the sealing member such as O-ring that is retained within the connector is worn and collapsed. As a result, such problem is caused that a sealing property is lowered.
Means for solving this problem are proposed in Patent Document 5 below. However, in this case, there still exists a problem that a particular, special connector and fixing clamp are required.
The problem as above notably occurs specifically in a vehicle wherein an engine is connected to a rear wheel so as to fluctuate along with the rear wheel, namely the vehicle wherein when the rear wheel oscillates or vibrates and fluctuate relative to a motor vehicle body or the frame, the engine also fluctuates relative to the motor vehicle body or the frame, following the rear wheel.
In a two-wheeled motor vehicle wherein an engine and a fuel tank are arranged and fixed on the same frame, a resin tube equipped with a connector for transporting a fuel to the engine does not oscillate largely, and therefore, the above problem is not so notable. However, particularly in a two-wheeled motor vehicle where an engine fluctuates along with a rear wheel (for example, disclosed in Patent Documents 6 and 7 below), the above problem tends to be caused as a resin tube equipped with a connector is subject to increased oscillation and the resin tube oscillates largely.    [Patent Document 1] JP-A, 11-201355    [Patent Document 2] JP-B, 2641683    [Patent Document 3] JP-A, 2004-251319    [Patent Document 4] JP-A, 6-190913    [Patent Document 5] JP-A, 9-269088    [Patent Document 6] JP-Y, 7-55192    [Patent Document 7] JP-Y, 7-46617

Piping structure for transporting a fuel


Fumed silica treated with octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane or hexamethyldisilazane are disclosed for the absorption of hydrocarbon spills, particularly on a body of water without the absorption of water.

The present invention relates to a method using fumed silica as a hydrophobic sorbent material, particularly for the sorbing of hydrocarbons from the surface of water.
A serious problem which long has plagued industrial and environmental concerns is the removal of hydrocarbons, particularly oil, from unwanted areas into or onto which it has been discharged. Of particular concern is the removal of discharged oil from water or shore areas which occurs as a result, for example, of oil tanker accidents at sea or mishaps in the loading or unloading of oil from these tankers in port. Other occasions where hydrocarbon removal is of concern range from problems such as the discharge of oil at areas around oil wells and oil storage facilities or the cleaning of surfaces in which oil was stored (e.g. on-shore storage tanks, holds of tankers, etc.) to problems such as the discharge or leaking of oil from vehicles onto roads or driveway surfaces. Further, oil-water emulsions which are used, for example, as cutting fluids require separation of oil from the water prior to disposal.
Numerous solutions have been proposed for dealing with the problem of removing hydrocarbons from unwanted areas. One of these solutions involves the use of bacteria to degrade the hydrocarbons. However, such methods are expensive, raise important environmental concerns, and are often ineffective in cold weather environments.
Another solution to the problem lies in the use of absorbents which are intended to remove the hydrocarbons from unwanted areas by the use of physical forces rather than chemical break down of the hydrocarbons, i.e. where it is drawn into the absorbent material in much the same way water is drawn into a sponge.
Numerous examples of absorbents of this type are found in the literature. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,630,891 there is disclosed an oil absorbent prepared from wood fibers which have been treated with sizing material to render the fibers water repellant.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,770,575 discloses wet wood pulp treated with sizing and subjected to flash drying.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,382,170 discloses the use of perlite, a mineral containing silica, to absorb oil.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,591,524 discloses an oil absorbent comprised of cellulosic base impregnated with a complex oil-in-water, ammonium or amine-containing emulsion.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,756,948 discloses the use of polystyrene foam crumbs.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,131,543 discloses the use of insoluble silicate aggregates to absorb oil as well as other industrial solvents and acids.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,172,039 discloses the use of porous coconut husk material, such as coir dust, treated with an oleophilic-hydrophobic substance. The patent also discuss a method of absorption comprising the use of containers filled with the sorbent and which float on the surface of the water thereby absorbing the oil.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,343,680 discloses enhancing the oleophilic-hydrophobic properties of wood pulp by heating and fluffing.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,670,156 discloses the use of fibrous cellulosic material, e.g. sulphite reject, which is subjected to forced heating to enhance hydrophobic and oleophilic properties.
Some of the limitations of the examples mentioned above include prohibitive cost; ineffectiveness in extreme environmental conditions; tackiness of the material after it is saturated with oil; retention of oil in the absorbent until the absorbent is removed from the water; and ineffective or temporary hydrophobic characteristics.
In order to effectively remove hydrocarbons from water it is necessary that the absorbent absorb only the hydrocarbon and not the water. That is, the material should be both oleophilic and hydrophobic. Fine particulate silica has been known to exhibit both of these properties. See for example U.S. Pat. No. 4,054,689 which discloses silica treated with HF in order to make the silica hydrophobic without disturbing its oleophilic properties. The resultant material readily absorbs oil from the surface of water. However, upon standing in water for a number of hours, the silica loses its hydrophobicity, becomes hydrophilic, and enters the water, leaving the oil floating on top.
The aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,382,170 discloses that the mineral "Perlite", which contains 65%-75% by weight SiO.sub.2, exhibits hydrophobic properties upon treatment with an emulsion of polydimethylsiloxane in water at 200.degree. C. to 500.degree. C.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,526,780 discloses the use of fumed silica as a suspending agent in a deodorant composition which aids in the absorption of silicone oils. However, it is also taught that fumed silicone alone will not yield a stable product because the oil separates out.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,708,997 discloses the treatment of hydrophilic silicon dioxide with polydimethyldichlorosilane in order to render the material hydrophobic. This material is then used as one part of a suspending agent in the water-in-oil suspension polymerization of water soluble monomers.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,191,677 discloses the use of "TULLANOX" fumed silica to prevent water absorption in a two-part epoxy adhesive system.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,536,399 discloses the use of fumed silica to absorb oil from skin.
Although no documentation has been found for support, it is understood that Cabot Corporation has experimented with hexamethyldisilazane (HMDZ) treated fumed silica for absorption of crude oil on sea water.
The problem with using amorphous silica, and in particular fumed silica, is that it is normally hydrophilic and oleophilic. A treatment process is needed in order to render the material hydrophobic, and these treatment process are not always permanent. That is, after a period of time after exposure to water the silica often reverts back to its original hydrophilic property.
Another problem is that after treated silica is exposed to and has absorbed the hydrocarbons, the material does not agglomerate. Thus, is is difficult, if not impossible, to recover the saturated material without the use of very fine mesh screens.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a method for absorbing hydrocarbons from water while not absorbing the water.
It is further an object of this invention to provide a method for recovering hydrocarbons from the surface of water by the use of an absorbent material that can remain in water indefinitely without losing its hydrophobicity.
It is further an object of this invention to provide a method for recovering hydrocarbons from the surface of water by the use of an absorbent material that can be easily recovered after becoming saturated with the hydrocarbons.
It is further an object of this invention to provide a method for recovering hydrocarbons from the surface of water by the use of an absorbent material that is both hydrophobic and oleophilic.
Other objects will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following.


To protect an encapsulated fuse (9) within a wholly enclosed sealed safety barrier having a first voltage limiting circuit (10) and a current limiting circuit (15), an externally accessible high current interrupter (5), such as a fuse, positive temperature coefficient resistor (26) or circuit breaker (27) is connected in series with an input terminal, and further serially connected with a second voltage limiting circuit (6) connected downstream of the interrupter and across the safety barrier circuit, the second voltage limiting circuit having a voltage limiting response characteristic which is, preferably, the same as the first voltage limiting circuit within the barrier, and the interrupter having a response threshold which is at least as high, but may be higher than the fuse (9) encapsulated within the circuit. The combination of the second voltage limiting circuit (6) with the fuse (5) acts as a clamping circuit, in case of over-voltage or other malfunction, with respect to the encapsulated fuse (9) so that the externally accessible interrupting element can be replaced or reset, or will reset automatically to avoid replacement of the entire safety barrier.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,831,484, by co-inventor Bruch hereof, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, shows a safety barrier circuit which has a voltage limiting circuit using voltage limiting Zener diodes, combined with a fuse which disconnects the output circuit if the voltage at the input to the safety barrier, which would be reflected at the output terminals of the safety barrier, exceeds a threshold limit determined by the Zener diode or Zener diodes.
It has been found that, if the input voltage exceeds the Zener threshold voltage only slightly, a substantial current rise may occur. The increase in current level may be substantially above the current which can be applied at the output terminals with maximum permissible input voltage. The fuse then burns through, disconnecting the output voltage. The maximum permissible output current, even under short circuit conditions, considering the customary dimensioning of the safety barrier, is below the burn-through or, rather, the melt-through current of the fuse. Normally, therefore, the fuse will burn or, rather, melt through only in case of excessive voltage at the input to the safety barrier.
Safety barriers are so constructed that the fuse, together with the remaining structural elements, is encapsulated in a housing, and inhibiting access to the components thereof. This is required for safety reasons, and to prevent tampering with the safety barrier. If the fuse burns through or melts through, the entire safety barrier becomes unusable. To protect the rather expensive safety barrier element, it has been proposed to place an additional fuse in series with the input of the safety barrier. That additional fuse was dimensioned to have a fusing current rating smaller than the threshold current resulting in melt-through of the fuse which is encapsulated in the safety barrier. This additional fuse was intended to protect the encapsulated fuse in case of over-voltages, so that one could merely exchange the external fuse and then place the barrier again in operation, without interfering with protective regulations which determine the structure and installation of safety barriers.
It has been found that an external protective circuit including a fuse, connected to the safety barrier, did not provide the desired protection for the fuse encapsulated within the safety barrier. Over-voltages or surges may occur due to inductances in the circuit of which the safety barrier is a part and, for example, in the connecting lines to the safety barrier; then both fuses will burn through although the external fuse and the internal encapsulated fuse may have substantially different current ratings. When the internal, encapsulated fuse burns out, the entire barrier becomes useless and must be exchanged. Since barriers are expensive elements, and fuses are cheap, exchange of the entire barrier merely because the encapsulated fuse burns out is economically undesirable.
The Invention. It is an object to provide a protective circuit for a safety barrier so that, under external over-voltage or surge on pulse voltage conditions, the internal fuse forming the final protection for a load in a potentially hazardous location is protected, thereby avoiding replacement of an entire expensive circuit structure when only an inexpensive, normally replaceable element thereof burns through.
Briefly, an externally accessible current interrupting element, such as a circuit breaker, fuse or the like, is connected in series with the safety barrier, and, additionally a second voltage limiting circuit is connected between the input of the voltage limiting circuit inherent in the safety barrier and the internal fuse of the safety barrier; the external current interrupting element, such as a fuse or circuit breaker, is connected in advance of the second voltage limiting circuit and the current interrupting element is set to have a current interruption threshold which is at least as high, and may be higher than the current interruption threshold of the fuse encapsulated in the safety barrier.
The external current interrupter in combination with a second voltage limiting circuit connected electrically in advance of the internal encapsulated fuse of the safety barrier permits a construction in which the external current interrupter such as a fuse, is accessible, and hence replaceable. The encapsulated fuse within the safety barrier protects the output terminal and, to comply with safety requirements, is arranged so that it is inaccessible. Thus, it is possible to reset the circuit through the safety at low cost barrier without interfering with safety regulations since the second, externally accessible interrupting element will respond to disconnect excess voltages from the output terminal. It is not specifically necessary, even, to prevent insertion of an externally accessible fuse with a current level which is higher than the recommended fusing level; the worst that could happen is that the internal, encapsulated fuse will burn through. Even if the fuse or interrupter terminals which are externally accessible are short-circuited, the encapsulated internal fuse will respond since it of course finally sets the limiting value of the safety barrier.
In accordance with a preferred feature of the invention, the externally accessible fuse has the same or only slightly higher current response level as the internal, encapsulated fuse. Even if the second, externally accessible fuse has the same current response level as the encapsulated fuse, a larger current will flow through the externally accessible fuse than through the encapsulated fuse, if the voltage limiting circuit associated with the externally accessible fuse as well as the internal voltage limiting circuit of the safety barrier have the same voltage threshold level. The second, externally accessible fuse will thus reliably respond before the internal encapsulated fuse, thus protecting the safety barrier without, however, interfering with its safety functions.
The series circuit which includes the second, accessible fuse and the voltage limiting circuit associated therewith operates as a clamping circuit for the subsequent voltage limiting circuit of the barrier unit. Thus, the response characteristic of the accessible fuse is not critical and can be selected within wide limits; for example, the second accessible current interrupting element can be a fuse, a circuit breaker, or a positive temperature coefficient resistor of higher current rating or slower response time than the encapsulated interior fuse of the safety barrier.
The safety barrier can be designed for d-c operation of predetermined polarity, or for connection to a network of varying polarities, for example an a-c network. In accordance with a preferred feature of the invention, the voltage threshold values of the internal voltage limiting circuit of the barrier as well as of the voltage limiting circuit associated with the accessible current interrupting device are of equal nominal dimension; different dimensioning, however, may also be possible, for example the threshold level of the voltage limiting circuit associated with the accessible current interrupting device can be designed for a lower voltage level than the voltage limiting circuit of the barrier itself.

Fused electrical safety barrier for protection of an electrical load placed in a potentially hazardous location


A transceiver may include a reception (Rx) radio frequency (RF) part configured to process a received signal, a transmission (Tx) RF part configured to process a transmitted signal, and a phase lock loop (PLL) configured to provide a reception frequency to the reception RF part and provide a transmission frequency to the transmission RF part. The PLL may be controlled according to whether the reception RF part or the transmission RF part is on. In addition, a transceiver may include quenching waveform generator (QWGs) to control quenching waveforms of the RF parts corresponding to a plurality of antennas. The quenching waveforms may be generated respectively by VCOs operating at a same frequency. The QWGs may control the VCOs such that the quenching waveforms do not overlap.

1. Field
The following description relates to a transceiver applying switching of a phase locked loop (PLL) and a phase noise improvement technique.
2. Description of Related Art
Generally, a radio frequency (RF) transceiver consumes the most power in an ultra low power (ULP) system. In particular, RF blocks of an RF analog device consume the most power in the RF transceiver. In the ULP system, an amplifier consumes less power due to a short signal arrival distance, whereas a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) and a PLL consume more power. Furthermore, because power is applied to the PLL and the VCO almost all the time in most RF transceivers, they consume a large amount of the power used by the overall system.
Moreover, interference may be generated through various routes when a plurality of VCOs are not sufficiently isolated from one another. When the amplitudes of the interference signals are greater than the amplitudes of the received signals, the received signals may fail to be recognized by the transceiver.

Transceiver using technique for improvement of phase noise and switching of phase lock loop (PLL)

Sungkyunkwan University Foundation for Corporate Collaboration


The present invention relates to maize starches with an apparent amylose content between 35 wt. % and 90 wt. % and improved processing properties relative to conventional high-amylose maize starches. Furthermore, the present invention relates to maize meals and foodstuffs containing these maize starches or maize meals. In addition, the present invention relates to methods of production of said maize starches/maize meals and maize plants which synthesize these maize starches. Moreover, the present invention relates to wheat starches with an apparent amylose content between 35 wt. % and 90 wt. % and improved processing properties, and wheat meals and foodstuffs containing said wheat starches or wheat meals. Moreover, the present invention relates to methods of production of said wheat starches/wheat meals and wheat plants which synthesize these wheat starches.

(i) Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates to maize starches with an apparent amylose content between 35 wt. % and 90 wt. % and with improved processing properties relative to conventional high-amylose maize starches. Furthermore, the present invention relates to maize meals and foodstuffs containing these maize starches or maize meals. In addition the present invention relates to methods of production of said maize starches/maize meals and maize plants which synthesize these maize starches. Moreover, the present invention relates to wheat starches with an apparent amylose content between 35 wt. % and 90 wt. % and improved processing properties, and wheat meals and foodstuffs containing these wheat starches or wheat meals. In addition, the present invention relates to methods of production of said wheat starches/wheat meals and wheat plants that synthesize these wheat starches.
(ii) Description of the Related Art:
Apart from oils, fats and proteins, polysaccharides are the main renewable raw materials from plants. Along with cellulose, starch occupies a key position among the polysaccharides, and is one of the most important storage substances in higher plants.
Furthermore, from the standpoint of nutritional physiology, starch is an important constituent of the human and animal diet. The structural characteristics of the starch present in foodstuffs can influence the functional (e.g. water binding capacity, swelling power), nutritional-physiological (e.g. digestibility, influence of the foodstuff on the glycemic index) or structure-forming (e.g. resistance to cutting, texture, stickiness, processability) properties of the most varied foodstuffs. Foodstuff compositions therefore often contain a starch with specified structural characteristics, which determine the desired properties of the foodstuff in question. The properties of foodstuffs containing starch-storing plant tissues (e.g. cereals, fruits, meals), can also be influenced by the starch contained in the plant tissues.
The polysaccharide starch is a polymer of chemically uniform basic building blocks, the glucose molecules. However, it is a very complex mixture of various molecular forms, which vary with respect to their degree of polymerization, the presence of branchings of the glucose chains and their chain lengths, and furthermore, may be modified, e.g. phosphorylated. Therefore starch is not a uniform raw material. In particular we distinguish amylose, an essentially unbranched polymer of alpha-1,4-glycosidically linked glucose molecules, from amylopectin, which is a complex mixture of variously branched glucose chains. The branchings arise because of the presence of additional alpha-1,6-glycosidic linkages. In typical plants used for industrial starch production or as foodstuffs, such as maize, rice, wheat or potato, the starch that is synthesized consists of approx. 20%-25% amylose and approx. 70%-75% amylopectin.
Various methods are available for determining amylose content, and they can lead to different numerical values of the amylose content for one and the same starch. Many of these methods are based on the iodine-binding capacity of amylose, which can be determined potentiometrically (Banks & Greenwood, in W. Banks & C. T. Greenwood, Starch and its components (pp. 51-66), Edinburgh, Edinburgh University Press), amperometrically (Larson et al., Analytical Chemistry 25(5), (1953), 802-804) or spectrophotometrically (Morrison & Laignelet, J. Cereal Sc. 1, (1983), 9-20). The amylose content can also be determined calorimetrically by DSC (differential scanning calorimetry) measurements (Kugimiya & Donovan, Journal of Food Science 46, (1981), 765-770; Sievert & Holm, Starch/Starke 45 (4), (1993), 136-139). It is also possible to determine the amylose content using SEC (size exclusion chromatography) chromatography of native or debranched starch. This method was recommended in particular for determining the amylose content of genetically engineered starches (Gérard et al., Carbohydrate Polymers 44, (2001), 19-27).
The functional, nutritional-physiological or structure-forming properties of starch, such as solubility, retrogradation behavior, water-binding capacity, film-forming properties, viscosity, gelatinization properties, freezing/thawing stability, acid resistance, gel strength, swelling power, digestibility, starch granule size of starches are influenced by, among other things, the structural characteristics of the starch, such as the amylose/amylopectin ratio, the molecular weight of the glucose polymers, the pattern of side chain distribution, the phosphate content, the lipid content or the protein content.
Using classical breeding methods, precise alteration of the structural/functional properties of the starch synthesized in plants is very difficult and is only possible for selected structural characteristics. An alternative to breeding methods is the precise modification of starch-producing plants by the methods of genetic engineering. However, a precondition for this is the identification and characterization of the enzymes involved in starch synthesis and/or starch modification and their subsequent functional analysis in transgenic plants.
Maize mutants with an increased amylose content relative to wild-type maize plants are known and are designated as "amylose extenders" or "ae" for short. Amylose extender (ae) maize mutants were described for example in Vineyard and Bear (Maize Genet Coop Newsletter 26: 5 (1952), who describe the reference allele ae1-Ref, and in Moore and Creech (Genetics 70, (1972), 611-619), Garwood et al. (Cereal Chemistry 53(3), (1976), 355-364) and Hedman and Boyer (Biochemical Genetics 21 (11/12), (1983), 1217-1222).
Maize plants (cells) that have an "amylose extender mutation" show a mutation of the gene of the starch branching enzyme IIb from maize (abbreviation "BE IIb" or "SBE IIb"), which is also designated as amylose extender gene. This mutation leads to a decrease in SBE IIb enzyme activity in the endosperm of these maize plants compared to the BE IIb activity in the endosperm of wild-type maize plants. Preferably this mutation of BE IIb in maize plants (cells) has the effect that SBE IIb activity is no longer detectable (e.g. Fisher et al., Plant Physiol. 110, (1996), 611-619, in particular FIG. 4; Hedman and Boyer, Biochemical Genetics 21 (11/12), (1983), 1217-1222, in particular Table 1).
The "amylose extender mutation" is as a rule a recessive mutation of the amylose extender 1 locus.
Amylose extender mutants synthesize a high-amylose maize starch, which has an increased apparent amylose content compared with wild-type maize plants (plant cells), which as a rule is between 45 and 75 wt. %, depending on the genetic background, cultivation conditions and method of amylose determination.
Maize starches with the product designation Amylogel®, Hylon® V and Hylon® VII are available commercially and as a rule have an apparent amylose content of approx. 50% or 70% (Shi et al., Journal of Cereal Science 27, (1998), 289-299).
In contrast to wild-type maize starches, these high-amylose maize starches have a greatly reduced swelling power (Senti and Russell, Tappi Vol. 43 No. 4, (1960), 343-349; Shi et al., Journal of Cereal Science 27, (1998), 289-299).
Aqueous suspensions of the high-amylose maize starches show no development of viscosity in viscosity analysis (e.g. RVA analysis) (Senti and Russell, Tappi Vol. 43 No. 4, (1960), 343-349). Native high-amylose maize starches so far only undergo gelatinization in a very energy-intensive and therefore cost-intensive method in an autoclave at elevated temperature and pressure, or they require subsequent chemical modification.
Based on the aforementioned properties, the high-amylose maize starches are very difficult to process, so that the range of applications in which the advantageous properties of the native high-amylose maize starches (e.g. very good film-forming properties, good gel-forming properties, use as resistant starch with prebiotic action) can be utilized is still very limited. Therefore there is a great demand for high-amylose maize starches with improved processing properties, such as increased solubility in hot water, increased swelling power and capacity for viscosity development in aqueous suspensions under normal conditions. High-amylose wheat starches with good processing properties are also not available.

Starches with high amylose content and improved processing properties


A clutch assembly for a centrifuge rotor includes at least one pair of complementary clutch elements each operatively associated with the rotor. Each element in the pair is preloaded into contact with the drive shaft. A torque applied to the shaft in either a first or second direction about an axis of rotation is transmitted from the drive shaft to the rotor through one of the clutch elements.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a centrifuge rotor, and in particular, to a centrifuge rotor having a drive clutch assembly thereon.
2. Description Of the Prior Art
A centrifuge rotor is an apparatus in which a liquid sample may be subjected to a centrifugal force field. The rotor has a central axial mounting recess provided therein. The recess receives a coupling member, commonly termed a "spud", provided at the top of a drive shaft, thereby to connect the rotor to a source of motive energy.
Coupling a centrifuge rotor to its drive shaft presents unique problems, since it may be required to remove or replace a rotor as frequently as once per run. The drive coupling functions both to center accurately the rotor on the drive shaft and to transmit drive torque to the rotor. The centering function may be accomplished by providing a tapered shaft seat on the top of the drive shaft and by correspondingly tapering the recess in the rotor. For a small angle taper, termed a "locking taper", this arrangement also serves to transmit drive torque to the rotor. Unfortunately, such a locking taper makes removal of the rotor difficult. In situations where frequent rotor removal is required a tapered drive coupling must exhibit a relatively steep angle. Torque transmittal is then dependent upon the downward force exerted on the taper derived from either the weight of the rotor or from another hold-down mechanism.
Since, in the usual case, the rotor is fabricated from materials such as aluminum or titanium, the mass of the rotor is usually sufficient to couple frictionally the rotor to the drive shaft so that torque from the source may be transmitted to the rotor.
Technology is evolving toward the use of non-traditional materials, such as composites, to fabricate centrifuge rotors. A rotor fabricated from such non-traditional materials is lighter in weight and, accordingly, may not have a mass sufficient to couple frictionally such a rotor to the coupling member to effect torque transmission. A rotor fabricated from composite materials is disclosed in copending application Ser. No. 07/664,174, filed Mar. 1, 1991, assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The International counterparts of this application have been published on Feb. 21, 1991 as publication WO 91/02302 and on Sep. 17, 1992 as publication WO 92/15930.
In view of the foregoing it is believed advantageous to provide a rotor with a coupling assembly that permits easy removal or insertion of a rotor without having the transmission of torque limited by the weight of the rotor.


A mask material composition that is used for diffusion barrier of an impurity diffusing component into a semiconductor substrate includes a siloxane resin (A1) containing a constituent unit represented by the following formula (a1):

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mask material composition, a method of forming an impurity diffusion layer, and a solar battery.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the manufacture of solar batteries, formation of, for example, an N-type or P-type impurity diffusion layer into a semiconductor substrate has conventionally been performed as follows: patterning of a diffusing agent containing an N-type or P-type impurity diffusing component is performed on the surface of a semiconductor substrate; and the N-type or P-type impurity diffusing component is diffused from the patterned diffusing agent to form an N-type or P-type impurity diffusion layer. Specifically, a thermally-oxidized film is first formed on the surface of a semiconductor substrate, and then a resist with a predetermined pattern is laminated on the thermally-oxidized film by a photolithography method. By using the resist as a mask, part of the thermally-oxidized film, which is not masked with the resist, is etched with an acid or alkali and then the resist is peeled off to form a mask of the thermally-oxidized film. Subsequently, a diffusing agent containing an N-type or P-type impurity diffusing component is coated thereon to form a diffusion film on the part where the mask is open. Thereafter, an N-type or P-type impurity diffusion layer is formed by diffusing the impurity diffusing component in the diffusion film at high temperature.
With respect to such manufacture of solar batteries, Japanese Patent Application Publication 2007-49079 has disclosed a masking paste to be used as a diffusion control mask. By using such a masking paste, fine patterning in an impurity diffusion region can be easily formed without using a complicated photolithographic technique, etc., thereby, allowing for solar batteries to be manufactured at low cost.
Mostly, mirror-like finishing is not performed on the surface of a semiconductor substrate to be used in a solar battery. Also, a texture portion having a fine concave-convex structure is mostly formed on the surface of a semiconductor substrate to be used in a solar battery to prevent reflection of light on the surface thereof. Accordingly, when a mask is formed on the surface of such a semiconductor substrate, a mask material sometimes accumulates in the concave portions, thereby causing the film thickness of the mask to be large in the concave portions. In the conventional mask materials, there has been the fear that cracking may occur in the portions where the film thickness of the mask is large, and hence the diffusion barrier performance of the mask material may be deteriorated. Also, in the conventional mask materials, the molecular weight of the resin of which a mask material consists may increase due to a change over time. When the molecular weight of the resin increases, the properties of the mask material, such as viscosity, change, and accordingly the coating stability thereof is sometimes deteriorated.

Mask material composition, method of forming impurity diffusion layer, and solar battery

Abstract: wherein R1 is a single bond or C1-C5 alkylene group; and R2 is a C6-C20 aryl group.


Embodiments of the present invention may include a vehicle seat having a back frame, a frame member, a sheet member, a cushion pad and a regulation structure. The back frame has a generally rectangular shape. The frame member has a shape corresponding to a part of the back frame. The sheet member is attached to the frame member in a tensioned state. The cushion pad is mounted on a front surface of the frame member. The regulation structure is provided on the frame member and the cushion pad. The regulation structure is configured to prevent the cushion pad from shifting along the front surface of the frame member.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate to vehicle seats, and more specifically, to vehicle seats with a seat back that includes a back frame, a cloth frame body and a pair of pads.
2. Description of the Related Art
A seat called a net seat has been proposed in the related art. The net seat includes a back frame, a cloth frame body and a pair of cushion pads. The back frame is formed in a generally rectangular shape. The cloth frame body includes a frame member and a sheet member. The frame member includes left and right frames and upper and lower frames capable of being assembled to correspond to the generally rectangular shape of the back frame. The sheet member is provided on the inner side of the frame member in a tensioned state. The cushion pads are respectively assembled on respective front faces of the left and right frames of the frame member.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 11-266959 discloses a vehicle seat having left and right coverings sewn on each sides of the sheet member. Each of the coverings covers respective cushion pads on respective front faces of the left and right frames. When a large force such as the weight of a person sitting on the seat is applied on the pair of cushion pads, the cushion pads may be moved with respect to the other members of the seat.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a vehicle seat of a net type capable of suppressing shifting of a cushion pad should a large force be applied to the cushion pad.


A usage history for a mobile device is determined. The usage history is based upon historical analytics for a user. A battery reserve in the mobile device is monitored. Whether a threshold battery reserve for a battery in the mobile device, based upon the monitored battery reserve, is determined. In response to determining that a threshold battery reserve for the battery in the mobile device has been met, a power save mode is implemented for the mobile device to reduce battery consumption by the mobile device based on the determined usage history. The power save mode includes utilizing at least one of a battery partition and a second battery.

The present invention relates generally to the field of mobile communication devices, and more particularly to ensuring battery reserve for a mobile communication device.
It is estimated that nearly two-thirds of Americans own a smartphone. And for an increasing number of smartphone owners, their smartphone is their only means of accessing the Internet at home. First and foremost, a smartphone is used for communication, and for some owners of smartphones, the only method of telecommunication since many no longer have a traditional land line. Methods of communication include cellular phone calls, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone calls, and texting. Beyond communication, a smartphone may be used for banking, Social Media, games, maps and directions, shopping, etc. All of these smartphone activities consume battery power.

Ensuring battery reserve for mobile communication

International Business Machines Corporation


The present invention relates generally to an umbrella having a built-in waterproof case, in which a folded umbrella main body is accommodated in an umbrella handle, and more particularly to an umbrella having a built-in waterproof case, which, in order to carry or store a wet folding umbrella used, allows an umbrella handle and an umbrella top to be transformed into an umbrella storage case without using a separate plastic bag and then allows the umbrella to be easily opened or re-stored while allowing a folded umbrella body to be accommodated in the umbrella handle.

Umbrellas used in rainy weather can be classified into foldable umbrellas designed to be folded two to four times for easy portability and long umbrellas, and can be classified into umbrellas having an automatic unfolding function and umbrellas designed to be unfolded manually.
Among the above umbrellas, a folding umbrella is generally configured such that an umbrella cloth is wound in one direction in a folded state and is fixed by winding a fixing band that is fastened to the umbrella cloth.
However, in the case of a wet umbrella that has just been used, when it is carried in this state, a person carrying it becomes wet with water. Accordingly, it may be put into a separate plastic bag. Alternatively, when a storage bag acquired upon purchase and made of an umbrella cloth in which the umbrella is accommodated is used, the storage bag is tied to the ring of the umbrella handle, carried, and then untied from the ring to store the umbrella. However, there is still a lot of concern that water leaks out when it is stored in a bag.
In particular, when the storage bag is used, disadvantages arise in that there is a lot of risk of loss of the storage bag and the process of tying or releasing it to or from the ring of the umbrella handle is cumbersome.
Accordingly, in various conventional technologies, structures capable of storing an umbrella in an umbrella handle can be found. However, most of them are not actually used because the process of storing and withdrawing umbrellas is complicated.

Umbrella having built-in waterproof case


An RF electronic identification system (10) is disclosed and claimed. The system includes at least one transponder encoder (14.1) for writing data into a memory arrangement (52) of a selected transponder (1.1) of a plurality of transponders (1.1 to 1.n) adapted to receive data from the at least one encoder. The system further includes at least one verifier (16) for interrogating a selected transponder (1.1) and to read data stored in the transponder. The encoder includes a controller (42) for providing an identification code characteristic of the encoder to form part of the data to be written into the transponder. The verifier includes computing means (56) for extracting the identification code from the data read thereby and for comparing the code to authorized codes. An indicator (18) provides an indication whether the identification code corresponds to any of the authorized codes or not. A method of verifying the authenticity of a transponder is also disclosed and claimed.

THIS invention relates to electronic identification systems and more particularly to such systems including radio frequency (RF) transponders and associated readers, interrogators and verifiers therefor.
A system of the aforementioned kind is typically used to mark and identify products or goods, and would further include a plurality of encoder units for writing data into respective memory arrangements of the transponders. In use, a transponder is attached to a product item and the data written into the transponder may relate to the kind of product, the date of manufacture and/or any other data relating to the product. Normally the data is written into the memory arrangement at the source of the product, but in some applications additional data may be written into the memory arrangement at various points along a distribution chain. Of course the data written into the memory arrangement can at any stage be read with a verifier, interrogator or reader.
In some applications, security arrangements are required which would prevent unauthorized parties from attaching non-genuine transponders (purporting to store data encoded by an authorised encoder) to grey or infringing goods, thereby facilitating passing the grey goods off as genuine goods.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method with which the applicant believes transponders originating from an authorized source could be distinguished from non-genuine transponders.
According to the invention there is provided an electronic identification system, the system including:
at least one transponder encoder for writing data into a memory arrangement of a transponder;
a plurality of transponders adapted to receive data from the at least one encoder;
at least one verifier for interrogating a selected transponder and to read data stored in the transponder;
said encoder including means for providing an identification code characteristic of an entity externally of the transponder, to form part of the data to be written into the transponder;
the verifier including computing means for extracting the identification code from the data read thereby and for comparing the code to an authorized code; and indicator means for giving an indication whether the identification code corresponds to the authorized code.
The identity code is preferably characteristic of the encoder.
The encoder may include a memory arrangement wherein a plurality of identification codes for the encoder are stored and the means for providing an identification code may include a controller for randomly selecting one of the authorized codes.
The system may further include a central computer for generating the plurality of identification codes and for downloading the identification codes into the at least one encoder and into the at least one verifier, to constitute corresponding authorized codes.
The controller of the encoder may further include encryption means utilizing a first encryption algorithm and the identification code in a first encryption process, to provide encrypted data relating to the identification code, to form part of the data to be written into the transponder.
In a preferred embodiment the controller of the encoder is programmed randomly to select the first encryption algorithm from a first set of encryption algorithms pre-stored in the memory arrangement of the encoder.
Each encryption algorithm may be associated with a unique algorithm address in the memory arrangement of the encoder.
The algorithms may be downloaded from the central computer into the encoder upon start-up of the encoder. The algorithms are preferably also downloaded into memory locations of the verifier having corresponding addresses.
Each algorithm may include a function of at least one physical characteristic of the transponder, for example a clock frequency of circuitry of the transponder. The algorithm may be of a general form wherein the selected identification code is equal to at least one function of a suitable physical characteristic of the transponder plus a first remainder.
The data relating to the identification code and which forms part of the data to be written into the transponder may include the aforementioned first remainder. Preferably it consists of the first remainder only.
Data relating to the algorithm address of the selected algorithm may also be included in the data to be written into the memory arrangement of the transponder. The controller of the encoder may utilize a second algorithm and the data relating to the address in a second encryption process, to yield encrypted data relating to the algorithm address. The second algorithm may be of a general form wherein the algorithm address is equal to at least one function of an independent variable plus a second remainder.
The encrypted data relating to the algorithm address and which forms part of the data to be written into the transponder may include the aforementioned second remainder. Preferably it consists of the second remainder only.
The verifier may include computing means adapted to use the second algorithm to decrypt the encrypted data relating to the address for the first algorithm.
The computing means may further be programmed to retrieve the first algorithm, to input data relating to the physical characteristics of the transponder and to use said data and the first algorithm to decrypt the data relating to the identification code, to yield an output code.
The computing means of the verifier may further include a comparator for comparing the output code to the authorized codes which are stored in the memory arrangement of the verifier.
The indicating means of the verifier may include a display.
The verifier may form part of a reader for the transponders. Alternatively, it may be a separate unit.
Also included within the scope of the present invention is a method of verifying the authenticity of a transponder, the method including the steps of:
writing data into the transponder by an authorized transponder encoder;
including in the data, data relating to an identification code of an entity externally of the transponder;
reading the data written into the transponder with a verifier;
extracting from the data read, the data relating to the identification code;
comparing the extracted data to data relating to an authorized identification code for the entity; and
providing an indication whether the extracted data matches the data relating to authorized identification code.
The identification code may be characteristic of the encoder.
The encoder may have a plurality of identification codes associated therewith and the method may include the step of randomly selecting one of these codes for inclusion in the data to be written into the transponder.
Further according to the method of the invention a first encryption algorithm and the selected identification code may be used in a first encryption process to yield encrypted data relating to the identification code. Preferably the first algorithm is selectable from a first set of encryption algorithms. The algorithms may include a function of at least one physical characteristic of the transponder into which the data is to be written.
Each of the first set of encryption algorithms may be accessible by the encoder from a memory arrangement thereof utilizing a respective algorithm address. The method may include the further step of including data relating to the algorithm address of the selected algorithm in the data to be written into the transponder. A second algorithm and data relating to the address of the selected algorithm may be utilized in a second encryption process to yield encrypted data relating to the algorithm address for inclusion in the data to be written into the transponder.
The method may further include the step of utilizing at the verifier the data relating to the algorithm address to retrieve from a memory arrangement of the verifier the algorithm utilized during the first encryption process.
The method may further include the steps of: providing computing means in the verifier with data relating to the physical characteristics of the transponder; and utilizing said data and the retrieved algorithm to decrypt the encrypted data relating to the identification code.
The method may still further include the step of comparing the decrypted data relating to the identification code to the data relating to authorized identification codes stored in a memory arrangement of the verifier.
Also included within the scope of the invention is a method of programming data into a transponder, the method including the steps of:
electronically measuring a physical characteristic of the transponder and producing data relating thereto;
utilizing the produced data in an encryption algorithm to encrypt data to be written into the transponder; and
writing the encrypted data into a memory arrangement of the transponder.
The physical characteristic may be the frequency of a clock of the transponder and may be measured by receiving a response signal from the transponder and utilizing the received signal to measure the clock frequency. The encrypted data may be written into the transponder by transmitting it to the transponder.

Electronic identification system and method with source authenticity verification


A semiconductor substrate support for supporting a semiconductor substrate in a plasma processing chamber includes a heater array comprising thermal control elements operable to tune a spatial temperature profile on the semiconductor substrate, the thermal control elements defining heater zones each of which is powered by two or more power supply lines and two or more power return lines wherein each power supply line is connected to at least two of the heater zones and each power return line is connected to at least two of the heater zones. A power distribution circuit is mated to a baseplate of the substrate support, the power distribution circuit being connected to each power supply line and power return line of the heater array. A switching device is connected to the power distribution circuit to independently provide time-averaged power to each of the heater zones by time divisional multiplexing of a plurality of switches.

Critical dimension (CD) control is a challenge during semiconductor substrate manufacturing steps such as plasma etching. The uniformity of CD across the substrate can also affect the yield of chips from the substrate. In known semiconductor manufacturing nodes, a CD uniformity of <1 nm can be specified.
Controlling temperature is not an easy task for several reasons. First, many factors can affect heat transfer, such as the locations of heat sources and heat sinks, and the movement, materials and shapes of the media. Second, heat transfer is a dynamic process. Unless the system in question is in heat equilibrium, heat transfer can occur and the temperature profile and heat transfer will change with time. Third, non-equilibrium phenomena, such as plasma, which of course is always present in plasma processing, make the theoretical prediction of heat transfer behavior of any practical plasma processing apparatus very difficult if not impossible.
The substrate temperature profile in a plasma processing apparatus is affected by many factors, such as the plasma density profile, the radio frequency (RF) power profile and the detailed structure of the various heating and cooling elements in the electrostatic chuck assembly, hence the substrate temperature profile is often not uniform and difficult to control with a small number of heating or cooling elements. This deficiency translates to non-uniformity in the processing rate across the whole substrate and non-uniformity in the critical dimension of the device dies on the substrate.
In known plasma processing systems, control electronics for the electrostatic chuck system having one or more thermal control elements such as heaters or peltier devices, can be sensitive to RF noise. As a result, the control electronics are isolated from the active RF of the plasma processing by being located outside of the processing chamber. That is, in known systems the control electronics for the substrate support assembly are located on a high voltage side of an RF filter at a position that is outside the plasma processing chamber. The electrostatic chuck control electronics, on the other hand, are on the low RF voltage side of the RF filter. This arrangement is known to reduce the RF voltage on the ESC heater power lines to levels that do not interfere with the control electronics. When the number of power lines is small (e.g., less than 8-10 power lines), such as for a substrate support assembly having a single temperature control element, the RF filter can be of relatively small size and expense. However, for an electrostatic chuck system having multiple thermal control elements, the number of power lines between the switching control electronics and the electrostatic chuck assembly can be much greater than 8-10 lines (e.g., 16 or 28 pairs of wires), and the RF filter can become prohibitively bulky and expensive. The size, cost, and complexity in RF filtering for electrostatic chuck systems present limitations and problems in the design of electrostatic chuck systems and plasma processing chambers with very tight control on process uniformity (e.g. <1 nm variation in CD).

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Power switching system for ESC with array of thermal control elements


Apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed that operate to adjust power received by a clock distribution network at least partially based on operating conditions of an integrated circuit. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

An integrated circuit can include a large number of sequential elements that perform various logic functions such as mathematical operations. A clock signal may be used as a timing reference to synchronize data or logic operations performed by the sequential elements positioned at different locations in the integrated circuit.
A clock distribution network (CDN) distributes a clock signal to the sequential elements through different interconnect segments across the integrated circuit. The CDN must distribute the clock signal with accuracy, particularly when the frequency of the clock signal is high. Inaccuracy in the clock signal can result in one clock edge not arriving at a location in the integrated circuit relative to another clock edge. Two types of clock inaccuracy are referred to as clock "skew" and clock "jitter." Clock "skew" is a difference in the time that the clock signal reaches different locations in the integrated circuit. Electromagnetic propagation delays, buffer delays in a distribution network, resistive-capacitive (RC) delays associated with various distribution lines in the distribution network, and variations in the manufacturing process, temperature gradients, power supply, and load capacitance all may cause clock "skew." Clock "jitter" is a distortion in a cycle and phase difference of a clock signal accumulated over time, and clock "jitter" can be exacerbated by noise.

Clock distribution apparatus, systems, and methods


To provide a horizontal axis wind turbine capable of reducing flutter, and by extension, reducing the load on the wind turbine, without controlling the yaw, regardless of the direction of the wind relative to the nacelle. When the wind speed is above a specific value, the yaw angle of the nacelle is held constant, the blade pitch angle is controlled according to the yaw angle Y of the wind direction relative to the nacelle, and the rotor is allowed to rotate freely. Even when the yaw angle of the nacelle is held constant, allowing the rotor to rotate freely makes it possible to reduce the load by avoiding flutter.

As is well known, horizontal axis wind turbines are used extensively in industry. Typical horizontal axis wind turbines comprise a rotor wherein at least two blades are attached extending radially from a hub, a nacelle which supports the rotor on a main axle, which extends in essentially the horizontal direction, and which is connected to the hub, and a turbine holding member such as a tower that is disposed in essentially the vertical direction, and that supports the nacelle so as to be rotatable in the yaw direction. Additionally, horizontal axis wind turbines conventionally have also been provided with yaw driving means that can be controlled to drive the rotation of the nacelle in the yaw direction, and braking means such as yaw brakes for slowing/stopping the yaw rotation and main brakes for slowing/stopping the rotation of the rotor. Horizontal axis wind turbines equipped with means for controlling the blade pitch angle are also used.
Normally the design strength of the turbine is influenced greatly by the load that it will receive when in the standby state during a windstorm. The turbine load during a windstorm must also be set envisioning a concomitant power outage. Additionally, usually the power generation is stopped during a windstorm, so the horizontal shaft wind turbine is idle. In a conventional upwind pitch control device, after feathering has been secured for all blades, the nacelle orientation angle is reversed by approximately 180° by the yaw control and held by a weak yaw brake, to be in standby at the time of the windstorm. (See, for example, non-patent reference 1.) Doing so makes it possible to face the rotor downwind during the windstorm, to thereby reduce the load on the turbine.
Non-patent reference 1: SHIBATA, Masaaki and HAYASHI, Yoshiyuki: "New Concepts for Reducing Design Load," 25th Wind Power Energy Use Symposium, 20 Nov. 2003, Pages 225 to 227
The typical wind turbine of today, including the conventional technology described above, is a pitch-control wind turbine wherein the pitch angle is controlled. This type of wind turbine typically feathers the pitch angle and allows the rotor to rotate freely to go into windstorm standby. When it comes to yaw control, there are those wind turbines wherein yaw is controlled actively, those wherein it is controlled passively, and those wherein it is not controlled at all (held by a yaw brake/yaw worm gear). In any wind turbine wherein yaw control is possible, if the power required for yaw control is interrupted, or when there is a failure in one of the mechanisms relating to the yaw control, there is the possibility that the storm wind can be received from any direction. As a result, it is necessary for the design to envision a windstorm from all directions. Large wind turbines have a greater propensity towards stall flutter. When one envisions the windstorm coming from all directions, there will be large stalling flutters in specific wind directions relative to the nacelle, producing large loads.
The present invention is the result of contemplation of the problem areas with the conventional technology, described above, and the object thereof is to provide a horizontal axis wind turbine capable of reducing flutter, and by extension, reducing the load on the wind turbine, without controlling the yaw, regardless of the direction of the wind relative to the nacelle.


The disclosure is directed at an apparatus for an active converter dolly for use in a tractor-trailer configuration. In one aspect, the apparatus includes a system to connect a first trailer towed behind a towing vehicle to a second trailer. The apparatus further includes a kinetic energy recovery device for translating the mechanical motions or actions of the dolly into electricity or electrical energy so that this energy can be used to charge a battery or to power other functionality for either the dolly or the tractor-trailer. The active dolly may also operate to assist in shunting the tractor-trailer. The active dolly is operable in a number of modes to increase vehicle performance and efficiency.

Transportation of goods across road networks is typically accomplished by way of a transport truck to which a transport trailer is attached. The truck provides the engine and the trailer provides the cargo space to transport goods within. A recent trend in the transportation of goods by road is the expansion of the size of transport trucks. This expansion is accomplished by both larger trucks and larger trailers. Fewer trips with larger loads can be more efficient in certain circumstances. One way to achieve larger loads is to add a pup trailer, also called a second trailer, behind the main trailer (also called a first trailer). A transport trailer with the pup trailer may be called a transport trailer train.
The typical equipment used to attach a pup trailer to a transport trailer is called a converter dolly. Current convertor dollies are passive and limited in their use and application. They provide a set of wheels to support the front end of the pup (secondary) trailer and a connector assembly for connecting to the rear end of the main (primary) trailer.

Methods and apparatus for an active convertor dolly


A digital watermark embedding apparatus for embedding information, as digital watermark, into an input signal having dimensions equal to or greater than N (N is an integer equal to or greater than 2) and a digital watermark detection apparatus for detecting the digital watermark are disclosed. The digital watermark embedding apparatus generates an embedding sequence based on embedding information, generates a N−1-dimensional pattern based on the embedding sequence, generates N-dimensional embedding pattern by modulating a periodic signal according to a value on the N−1-dimensional pattern, and superimposing the embedding pattern in the input signal and outputs it. The digital watermark detection apparatus measures a component of a predetermined periodic signal in a direction of a dimension of the input signal to obtain a N−1-dimensional pattern, obtains a detection sequence from values of the N−1 dimensional pattern, and detects embedded digital watermark based on a size of correlation value between the detection sequence and an embedding sequence.

As a conventional technique, there is a technique for protecting copyright of digital content by embedding digital watermark into the digital content. In addition, there is a technique to refer to meta data such as copyright information on digital content. Further, there is a technique for taking a photograph of digital content, using a digital camera, via analog medium such as a printed matter as an advertisement so as to obtain information related to the advertisement by reading digital watermark.
As a method for embedding digital watermark into a still image, a digital watermarking scheme of spectrum spreading type is disclosed, the scheme being for embedding an embedding sequence that is generated using a pseudo-random number into a real part and an imaginary part of an orthogonal transformation region (Fourier transform region, for example) of the image, and performing detection using correlation between the embedding sequence and a detection sequence (refer to patent document 1, for example).
Also as to a video signal, generally, since the video signal is recorded as a sequence of frame images each being a still image, embedding of digital watermark becomes available by applying the digital watermark scheme for the still image. For example, digital watermark for the video signal can be realized by embedding digital watermark common to each frame image of the video signal by using the digital watermark method described in the patent document 1.
When the still image in which digital watermark is embedded is illegally used, it can be considered that a part of an image is cropped and it is used. In the case of the part of the image that is cropped, it cannot be ascertained which part of the original image corresponds to the cropped part in digital watermark detection that does not use the original image. This means that the embedded digital watermark pattern appears to be translated by an arbitrary amount. That is, this means a state in which the digital watermark pattern is desynchronized in a space direction. This is called "spatial synchronization of digital watermark", and it is necessary to maintain spatial synchronization using a method for clarifying the translation amount and the like for detecting the digital watermark (generally, although spatial synchronization of digital watermark may include correction of geometrical deformation such as affine transformation, the present invention is targeted for correction of translation).
Generally, the video signal is treated as a set of a plurality of still images (frames) continuing in a time direction. In a digital watermark scheme for moving images, it is desired to be able to detect digital watermark from a set of a part of continuing frames in the set of the frames. For example, even when only one scene is cut away from distributed video content and it is used invalidly, by being able to detect digital watermark only from the invalidly used scene, effect of invalid use suppression can be expected. In addition, for example, in the case when detecting digital watermark from a re-taken video that is obtained by taking video content being projected in a movie theater using a video camera, a start point of the video when embedding digital watermark and a start point of the re-taken video are shifted inevitably. It is desired to be able to detect digital watermark also in such a case. In addition, for example, an application can be considered for detecting digital watermark from a video that is obtained by taking a scene currently being displayed in video content using a camera of a portable terminal and the like so as to obtain related information. In these examples, since it cannot be ascertained beforehand which part in the video in which digital watermark is embedded is cut away, it is necessary, when performing digital watermark detection, to know a subject part for detection corresponds to which position in the signal embedded as digital watermark. This is called temporal synchronization of digital watermark.
The spatial synchronization and the temporal synchronization in the conventional digital watermark scheme are broadly classified as follows.
(1) Exhaustive search: exhaustively trying detection of digital watermark successively for each of all amounts of desynchronization that can be considered;
(2) Embedding a signal for synchronization: embedding a signal for synchronization separately from digital watermark and detecting it for synchronization.
For example, in the digital watermarking method described in the patent document 1, a signal for detecting a spatial translation amount of digital watermark is embedded together with embedding information, and exhaustive search for amounts of desynchronization of the signal is efficiently performed using discrete Fourier transform so as to perform spatial synchronization.    [Patent document 1] Japanese Laid Open Patent Application 2003-219148

Electronic watermark embedding method, device, and program, and electronic watermark detecting method, device, and program

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation