An antireflection film-forming composition having excellent coatability, capable of significantly inhibiting production of fine microbubbles and capable of forming an antireflection film with a sufficiently decreased standing-wave effect, and having excellent solubility in water and alkaline developers is provided. The composition comprises a polymer having at least one polymerization unit with a hydroxyl group-containing organic group on the side chain, preferably a copolymer having at least one recurring unit of the following formula (2) and/or at least one recurring unit of the following formula (3) and at least one recurring unit of the following formula (4), and/or a salt thereof:

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a composition for forming an antireflection film (an antireflection film-forming composition) suitable for microfabrication using a lithography process, in which a resist responding to various radiations such as a chemically amplified resist is used, a laminate with an antireflection film formed from the antireflection film-forming composition on a resist film, and a method for forming a resist pattern using the antireflection film-forming composition.
2. Description of Background Art
In the field of microfabrication represented by fabrication of integrated circuit devices, the processing size has become more and more minute in order to achieve higher integration in a lithographic process. In recent years, development of a lithographic process enabling stable microfabrication with a line width of 0.5 μm or less has been actively proceeding.
However, it is difficult to form such a fine pattern with high accuracy using a conventional method which utilizes visible rays (wavelength: 800-400 nm) or near ultraviolet rays (wavelength: 400-300 nm). To deal with this problem, a lithographic process using radiation with a shorter wavelength (wavelength: 300 nm or less) which can achieve a wider depth of focus and is effective for ensuring design rules with minimum dimensions has been proposed.
As a lithographic process using radiation with such a short wavelength, processes using deep ultraviolet rays such as a KrF excimer laser (wavelength: 248 nm) or an ArF excimer laser (wavelength: 193 nm), X-rays such as synchrotron radiation, and charged particle rays such as electron beams have been proposed. A chemically-amplified resist has attracted attention as a resist exhibiting high resolution for such short wavelength radiation. At present, development and improvement of the chemically amplified resist are important technical issues of the lithographic process.
The chemically-amplified resist contains a compound (a photoacid generator) which generates an acid upon irradiation (hereinafter called "exposure"). Chemical changes in the resist film (changes in polarity, breakage of a chemical bond, cross-linking reaction, etc.) caused by the catalytic action of an acid change solubility of the exposed area in a developer. A pattern is formed utilizing this phenomenon.
A number of compositions for chemically-amplified resists, for example, a combination of a resin containing an alkali-soluble resin, in which the groups exhibiting affinity with an alkali are protected by a t-butyl ester group or t-butoxy carbonyl group, with an acid generator (for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 59-45439), a combination of a resin containing an alkali-soluble resin, in which the groups exhibiting affinity with an alkali are protected by a silyl group, with an acid generator (for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 60-52845), a combination of an acetal group-containing resin with an acid generator (for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-25850), a combination of an alkali-soluble resin, a dissolution controller, and an acid generator, a combination of a novolac resin, a crosslinking agent, and an acid generator; and the like have been proposed.
These chemically-amplified resists, however, have a problem with storage stability, because the compositions are easily affected by moisture, oxygen, basic substances, and the like which are present in the atmosphere of the lithographic process. SPIE, Vol. 1466, "Advance in Resist Technology and Processing", p. 2 (1991), for example, reports that a very small amount of dimethylaniline in the atmosphere deactivates acids existing near the surface of a resist film among the acids produced in the resist film by exposure, and forms a scarcely soluble layer on the surface of the film, which layer remains in the form of an eave-like projection on the surface of a resist pattern after development. Not only such a scarcely soluble layer decreases sensitivity and resolution of the resist, but also the eave-like projections formed in the resist pattern adversely affect the etching accuracy. The size of the eave-like projections tends to increase along with an increase of the time for which the resist is allowed to stand between each of the steps of exposure, post exposure baking, and development. This phenomenon is known as post exposure time delay (hereinafter referred to as "PED"), which unduly decreases the allowance of time in the lithographic process.
As a method for solving the problem of PED, a method of laminating an overcoat on the chemically-amplified resist film to block the film surface from the atmosphere has been proposed. For example, WO 92/05474 describes a method of laminating an overcoat of polyacrylic acid, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl alcohol, polystyrene sulfonic acid, or the like on the chemically-amplified resist film to inhibit invasion of basic materials into the resist film, thereby preventing a decrease of sensitivity and resolution of the resist. However, among such overcoats, polyacrylic acid, polyvinyl butyral, and polyvinyl alcohol cannot necessarily effectively prevent formation of the aforementioned scarcely-soluble layer, although they have a barrier effect. Polystyrene sulfonate, which has too strong acidity, has a drawback of initiating a chemical reaction due to the catalytic action of the acid in the chemically-amplified resist irrespective of exposure to light. Another problem of the overcoat, which is commonly applied to a resist film as an aqueous solution, is uneven coating due to insufficient wetting properties of the aqueous solution with the resist film.
On the other hand, since radiation commonly used in the lithographic process is light with a single wavelength, incidence radiation interferes with light reflected by the boundary surfaces on the top and bottom of the resist film. As a result, a phenomenon called "a standing-wave effect" or "a multiplex interference effect", which is a phenomenon in which an effectual dose of radiation to which a resist film is exposed fluctuates due to mutual interference of radiations in the film according to fluctuation of the resist film thickness, irrespective of a constant actual dose of radiation, occurs and adversely affects formation of resist patterns. If the coating thickness varies due to slight difference of a resist composition, viscosity, resist film conditions, and the like, or the coating thickness fluctuates due to steps in the substrates (recessed parts are thicker than projected parts), such a film thickness difference changes the effectual dose of radiation to which a resist film is exposed, resulting in fluctuation of pattern dimensions and a decrease in accuracy of the resist pattern dimensions.
To overcome this problem caused by the standing-wave effect, a method of forming an antireflection film on the resist film to inhibit reflection on the coating surface and reduce multiplex interference in the film has been proposed. For example, a method of reducing the standing-wave effect by laminating layers of polysiloxane, poly(ethyl vinyl ether), polyvinyl alcohol, or the like as an antireflection film on a resist film is described in J. Electrochem. Soc., Vol. 137, No. 12, p. 3,900 (1990). In this instance, the reflex inhibition effect on the surface of the resist film mainly depends on the refractive index and film thickness of the antireflection film. The refractive index of an ideal antireflection film is the square root of n (n is the refractive index of the resist), and the thickness of an ideal antireflection film is an anisoploid of λ/4 m (wherein λ is the wavelength of radiation and m is the refractive index of the antireflection film).
However, the antireflection film made from polysiloxane, poly(ethyl vinyl ether), or polyvinyl alcohol has a basic problem of being incapable of sufficiently inhibiting the standing-wave effect due to the small difference of the refractive index with that of a resist film. In addition, the antireflection film made from polysiloxane which is insoluble in water or a developer must have a separate step of removing the antireflection film before development using an antireflection film removing agent. The solubility in water or a developer of poly(ethyl vinyl ether) or polyvinyl alcohol is not necessarily sufficient. The antireflection film made from these polymers may leave residues on the resist film which impair resist performance such as resolution, developability, pattern profile, and the like. An additional problem of the overcoat which is applied to a resist film as an aqueous solution such as poly(ethyl vinyl ether) or polyvinyl alcohol is uneven coating due to insufficient wetting properties of the aqueous solution with the resist film.
In order to solve the problems in conventional antireflection films mentioned above, the inventor of the present invention has proposed (a) a copolymer of an acrylamide compound such as 2-acrylamide-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid in which the amide group has a sulfonic acid group bonded to the nitrogen atom via an organic group, and a fluoroalkyl acrylate compound such as 2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropyl acrylate and (b) a basic material blocking antireflection film containing a fluoroalkylsulfonic acid having an fluoroalkyl group with 5-15 carbon atoms and/or a fluoroalkylcarboxylic acid having an fluoroalkyl group with 5-15 carbon atoms, and a resist pattern forming method using the antireflection film (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 7-234514). This antireflection film can reduce the effect of a basic substance in the atmosphere and the standing-wave effect. However, the composition used for forming the antireflection film has a problem in coatability onto a resist film, which results in production of micro-bubbles in the order of micrometers in the formed coating.
An object of the present invention is to provide an antireflection film-forming composition having excellent coatability, capable of significantly inhibiting production of fine micro-bubbles and capable of forming an antireflection film with a sufficiently decreased standing-wave effect, and having excellent solubility in water and alkaline developers, a laminate with an antireflection film formed from the antireflection film-forming composition on a resist film, and a method for forming a resist pattern using the composition for forming a basic material blocking antireflection film.

Composition for forming antireflection film, laminate, and method for forming resist pattern

Abstract: wherein R1 and R2 represent a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, or a monovalent organic group, m is an integer of 1-20, and A represents a divalent coupling means.


An image processing apparatus capable of efficiently using a removable medium when the removable medium is used instead of a memory provided in the image processing apparatus. The apparatus includes a RAM for storing image data, a removable medium I/F to which the removable medium is coupled, and a CPU. The CPU confirms the remaining capacity of the RAM and determines based on the remaining capacity confirmed during execution of a job and a job operation mode whether the job can be continued by using only the RAM. When it is determined that the job cannot be continued, image data to be saved is selected according to a predetermined priority order, and the selected image data is saved from the RAM onto the removable medium.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method capable of using a removable medium for storage of image data, and a storage medium storing a computer program for execution of the image processing method.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional image processing apparatus such as a multi-function peripheral, image data read by a scanner or received by a FAX machine or the like is stored into a memory such as a RAM and a hard disk of the image processing apparatus. To increase the image data storage capacity, an additional RAM or hard disk must be added to the apparatus, which requires technical knowledge.
To obviate this, an image forming apparatus capable of using a removable medium for storage of image data has been proposed (Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2007-67476). Removable media have recently been gained widespread use, and special technical knowledge to utilize them has become less needed.
Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 8-265527 proposes a technique for saving image data into an external storage unit, if there is no sufficient free space in the RAM or hard disk for storage of image data as a result of image being unable to be output due to a printer abnormality or the like. When the printer is restored to its normal state, the saved image data is retrieved from the external storage unit and image output is continued.
However, the removable medium has a nature that it is lower in access speed and much restricted in the number of writable (erasable) times as compared to the RAM and hard disk.
When the removable medium is used for storage of image data, therefore, image data saving and retrieval must be made efficiently, and image data to be saved and retrieved must be selected in consideration of the nature of removable medium to maintain the performance of image processing apparatus.

Selection of job image data for storage on external memory and memory management techniques


A method of assembling a multi-die package is achieved. A heat spreader is disposed on a printed circuit substrate. At least one integrated circuit die is disposed on a top side of the heat spreader and at least one other integrated circuit die is disposed on a bottom side of the heat spreader wherein the dies are connected to the substrate by wire bonds. Thermal solder balls are electrically connected to solderable pads of the heat spreader through the open holes of the substrate, so as to couple the heat spreader to function as a ground plane. Some of the ground pads of the dies can be bonded onto the heat spreader and the others bonded onto the substrate. Alternatively, all of the dies could only be connected to the substrate by wire bonding, and not connected to the heat spreader.

(1) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to processes for packaging multiple integrated circuit dies, and more particularly, to a method of packaging multiple integrated circuit dies on both sides of an interposer.
(2) Description of the Related Art
Integrated circuit (IC) chips have been increasing in size and function to meet the demand for the manufacture of electronic products with smaller size, lighter weight, thinner profile and low cost along with high thermal and electrical performance. To accommodate these chips in IC packaging for miniaturization, the trend of package development is moving toward stack-up dies in 3 dimensions.
U.S. Patent Application 2005/0280139 (Zhao et al) discloses a die-up array where a die is attached to one side of a stiffener and a heat slug is attached to the other side of the stiffener. U.S. Pat. No. 6,798,057 (Bolkin et al) shows a ball grid array (BGA) package having dies coupled to both sides of an interposer. Sets of two dies coupled on either side of an interposer can be stacked and interconnected using interface balls. U.S. Pat. No. 7,038,312 (Khan et al) shows a die-up package on a heat spreader or stiffener. U.S. Pat. No. 6,483,187 (Chao et al) discloses a grounded heat spreader with a substrate thereover and a die within the cavity. No stack-up dies are disclosed or suggested.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,447,321 (Perino et al) shows an IC epoxied to a base that acts as a heat spreader and is a ground plane. An IC can be within a cavity in the base. U.S. Pat. No. 5,866,943 (Mertol) describes an IC within a cavity formed by a heat spreader and a stiffener. The IC is attached to a substrate via solder balls. U.S. Patent Application 2005/0280141 (Zhang) shows a die-down package where an IC is in a cavity of a heat spreader. The IC is wire bonded to a substrate attached to the heat spreader and is further attached to an interposer via solder balls.

Multiple integrated circuit die package with thermal performance


A power conversion device includes: a first low voltage side circuit and a first high voltage side circuit which are connected via a first transformer; and a second low voltage side circuit and a second high voltage side circuit which are connected via a second transformer, wherein switching timings of the first high voltage side circuit and the second high voltage side circuit are controlled such that a current difference of an input current to the first low voltage side circuit and an input current to the second low voltage side circuit during a step-up operation becomes smaller than a predetermined value. A driver circuit to output a drive signal of a switching element may be included in at least one of the first low voltage side circuit and the second low voltage side circuit.

Recently, due to depletion of fossil fuels and deterioration of global environmental problems, there is growing interest in vehicles using electric energy such as hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles and practical use progresses. A vehicle using such electric energy often includes a power conversion device that steps down a voltage from a high voltage battery to supply power to a motor to drive wheels and supplies necessary power to a low voltage electric device. A switching power supply device is generally used in the power conversion device that supplies power to an electric device such as an air conditioner, a stereo system, and a controller of the vehicle. In addition, a bidirectional switching power supply capable of performing not only a step-down operation but also a step-up operation is required in the switching power supply device. This may be used to supply power from a low voltage battery to cause the high voltage battery to be operable, when the high voltage battery performs discharging.
Here, when the power conversion device converts the power, losses such as copper loss and fixed loss occur. The copper loss occurring in the switching power supply device is proportional to the square of a flowing current. For this reason, to improve conversion efficiency of the power conversion device, two or more switching power supply devices may be provided in parallel. Because an output current of each switching power supply can be halved by configuring the power conversion devices connected in parallel, the copper loss is reduced. As a result, the conversion efficiency of the power conversion device can be greatly improved.
Generally, in the switching power supply devices connected in parallel, an imbalance of a current occurs between the switching power supplies due to an element variation or a difference of wiring line lengths, in elements mounted on the switching power supplies. If the current imbalance occurs, the current concentrates on one side of the switching power supplies connected in parallel. If the current concentrates, the losses in the switching power supply devices become larger than losses in a normal state and a design with a margin is required for a current or heat dissipation design. Generally, because the individual switching power supplies connected in parallel are designed with the same design value, a design value with a margin is required for the switching power supply on which the current does not concentrate. Therefore, if the current imbalance occurs, a design value with a margin is required for a current or heat dissipation condition in the individual switching power supplies, which results in hindering reduction of sizes and costs of the switching power supplies connected in parallel.
Therefore, there is a method of independently controlling switching elements of each of the plurality of switching power supply devices connected in parallel, when the current imbalance occurs. When the current imbalance occurs, a current imbalance amount is detected and each switching power supply device is controlled independently, so that control to suppress a current imbalance difference is performed. By this control method, the current imbalance amount is controlled to be smaller, when the current imbalance occurs. Therefore, the current imbalance of the switching power supply devices connected in parallel is improved. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-124671 (PTL 1) is known as a power conversion device in which such control is performed during step-up in particular.

Power conversion device and power supply system using same


The present disclosure provides a new and innovative system for sport design, tracking, and sharing. The system includes a set of wireless components in communication with a computing system. The computing system may include a graphical user interface, and at least in some instances, communicates over a network with an external system such as a social media platform. Through the graphical interface, a user may program rules to a sport into the wireless components. The user or users may perform the sport with the programmed wireless components, which analyze the actions performed according to the programmed rules. The analysis and other data collected by the wireless components may be reviewed by the users after playing the sport. Furthermore, the data collected and the rules programmed into the wireless components may be shared online to the external system for rating and ranking by an online community.

Worldwide there is a growing number of individuals suffering from depression, obesity and diabetes partly from a lack of physical activities and direct social interaction with their peers. Such habits can be particularly harmful to children and teenagers because they may be developing lifelong habits and they may be affecting their growth by having such habits. There is also a growing lack of interest in STEM studies among students, which affects the development of knowledge-based economies.
One way to encourage individuals, particularly children and teenagers, to participate in physical activity is video game systems that utilize sensors and motion-tracking technology to promote movement, such as the Nintendo Wii®. Such video game systems, however, require a screen as a reference point and thus limit users' movement. Additionally, such systems limit users to playing the games developed and released by professional game developers.
One way to help encourage individuals to take an interest in STEM studies are various systems, programs, and classes that enable individuals to build and/or create various projects. Typically, however, such systems, programs, and classes are sedentary and do not promote physical activity.
Accordingly, a need exists for a system that encourages individuals, particularly children and teenagers, to both engage in physical activity and take an interest in STEM studies.

Sport design, tracking, and community system

QATAR FOUNDATION FOR EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT


According to an aspect there is provided a method comprising receiving a definition for determining a key performance indicator of a cellular communication network based on raw metrics data, receiving a request for executing an action of determining the key performance indicator according to the definition received, as a response to receiving the request, obtaining the raw metric data and determining the key performance indicator according to the definition and transmitting the key performance indicator using an interface.

Various methods may be utilized to obtain information regarding a device. For example, global navigation satellite system may be utilized by having an apparatus dedicated for the satellite-based positioning. In a cellular communication system that is capable of transmitting data and/or voice location positioning data may also be determined based on transmitted signals. There may also be regulations that require a cellular communication network to be able to position a device connected to the cellular communication network.
US20170135003A1 discloses a communication system comprising a first base station operating a first cell and a second base station operating a second cell. The first base station determines that load should be offloaded from the first cell towards the second cell based on a comparison of respective measurement result of a first type obtained for the first and second cells. The first base station controls load balancing based on a second comparison of respective measurement result of a second type for each of the first and second cells, wherein a second condition, when met, indicates that the base station operating the second cell will not offload load to the first cell based on the respective measurement result of the second type for the first and second cells. WO2019170391 discloses that certain wireless communication systems may benefit from a method and application programming interface between a radio access network and a controller to optimize inter-frequency load balancing (IFLB). A method can include receiving policy inputs regarding how the IFLB should be operated. The method can also include negotiating a functional split of IFLB-related functions for the purposes of executing inter-frequency load-balancing.


An integrated semiconductor device is disclosed which has a highly-integrated circuit formed on a substrate. A constant voltage generator is connected to the integrated circuit, for receiving an externally-supplied d.c. power supply voltage to produce a regulated d.c. voltage, the potential level of which is lower than the external power supply voltage and remains substantially constant irrespective of the external power supply voltage. A mode-change controller is connected in parallel with the voltage generator, for supplying the output d.c. voltage of the voltage generator to the integrated circuit as an internal power supply voltage in a normal operation mode. When the device is subjected to an accelerated test using an increased power supply voltage, a switching transistor is rendered conductive under the control of a control circuit, thereby allowing the external power supply voltage to be directly applied to the integrated circuit.

The present invention relates to semiconductor devices and, more particularly, to a semiconductor integrated circuit device to a high packing density having a power supply voltage converting circuit for generating a bias voltage suitably supplied to microfabricated transistors fabricated on the submicron order.
In the field of semiconductor integrated circuit devices integrating transistors such as MOSFETs, the packing density has been increasing year by year. For example, in semiconductor memories, the development of a 4- or 16-Mbit dynamic random access memory (referred to as a "dRAM" hereinafter) is in progress. In such memory s having a very high packing density, the minimum fabrication size of transistors used in memory cells, dummy cells, peripheral drivers (including a sense amplifier), etc. is reduced to less than one micron (i.e., the submicron order). In this case, a large number of transistors (generally several millions of transistors) are formed according to the most advanced micro-patterning techniques.
In a micro-fabricated dRAM, channel lengths of MOSFETs constituting its internal circuits are decreased. In this case, when a d.c. power supply voltage of normal level (e.g., 5 volts) is applied to the dRAM, basic characteristics such as operational reliability of each MOSFET and the dielectric strength of the source-drain path thereof are undesirably degraded. This is because an electric field in each micro-fabricated FET on the submicron order is too strong. More specifically, when the channel length of the transistors is decreased, the internal electric field generated in the transistor is increased upon application of a voltage to the source-drain path. As a result, when a normal MOS structure is simply micronized, the dielectric breakdown strength in the source-drain path is abruptly decreased, thereby degrading the operational relability of the semiconductor memory.
In a conventional memory, in order to solve the above problem, a voltage converting circuit is arranged in a highly-integrated IC device to supply a low and constant power supply voltage to transistors microfabricated on the submicron order and constituting its internal circuits. The voltage converting circuit includes a constant voltage circuit for receiving external power supply voltage Vcc (e.g., 5 volts) of the existing standards (the external power supply voltage is set according to the conventional manner so as to establish versatility) and for generating a d.c. voltage Va (e.g., 3 to 4 volts) reduced as an internal power supply voltage. In the conventional voltage converting circuit, when an externally-supplied d.c. voltage is increased and the power supply voltage for internal circuits (i.e., internal power supply voltage) reaches predetermined potential Va, an output voltage of the voltage converting circuit is fixed. Even if the reference d.c. voltage is further increased, the output voltage of the voltage converting circuit is constantly maintained at voltage level Va. Therefore, a proper, low power supply voltage can be stably supplied to the IC internal circuits.
According to ICs incorporating such power supply voltage converting circuits, however, an accelerated test for testing operational reliability of ICs cannot be effectively performed due to the following reason. In such a test, a power supply voltage higher than the normal voltage level must be forcibly applied to the internal circuits. In other words, in order to confirm long-term operational reliability of ICs in a short period of time, a d.c. voltage higher than the normal power supply voltage Vcc by a few volts must be applied to the ICs, and normal operation under such severe conditions must be confirmed. In this case, since the circuit for generating the constant voltage is incorporated in each IC, a prescribed low d.c. voltage is automatically supplied to the internal circuits by the behavior of the power supply voltage converting circuit even if the high voltage for the accelerated test is applied thereto. As a result, such a high voltage cannot be directly applied to the internal circuits, and the accelerated test cannot be performed.
In order to overcome this problem, the characteristics of the constant voltage generator may be modified as follows. Second reference level Vb higher than the reference level by a few volts is set. When the external d.c. power supply voltage applied to the ICs exceeds the second reference voltage, the generator generates a voltage proportional to the external voltage. In other words, constant voltage generation action is limited within the range between first and second reference voltages Va and Vb (Va<Vb). When the external d.c. power supply voltage applied to the ICs is lower than the first reference voltage or higher than the second reference voltage, the voltage changing in proportion to the magnitude of the external power supply voltage is supplied to the internal IC. Therefore, if the accelerated-test voltage is set to be high enough to exceed the second reference level, the accelerated test can be performed. In the normal operation, if the voltage applied to the internal IC is set within the range between voltages Va and Vb, constant voltage generation action in the normal operation mode can be assured. With this arrangement, however, the margin for stably supplying the power supply voltage to the internal IC is undesirably narrowed, which entails another decisive drawback.

Semiconductor device with power supply mode-change controller for reliability testing


A multichannel capillary column having an interior wall defining a single internal bore, wherein the interior wall defines a plurality of n channels and n ridges, wherein adjacent channels are partially separated by a respectively interposed ridge, and wherein a central, coaxial portion of the internal bore allows cross-channel fluid communication between all of the n channels.

Analytical instruments which detect one or more characteristics of a fluid are commonly employed in a wide variety of applications, such as sample purification, chemical analysis, clinical assay, and industrial processing. Gas and liquid chromatographs are particular examples of analytical instruments wherein certain characteristics related to a particular fluid are detected, e.g., the presence or absence of a fluid component, such as an analyte or contaminant.
Capillary chromatographic separation methods are preferably performed in synthetic fused silica tubing with internal diameters ranging from 5 to 530 micrometers. Such tubing consists of a silica (SiO.sub.2) glass drawn at high temperature from a quartz preform provided with a protective outside layer such as polyamide or aluminum. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,293,415, issued to Dandeneau et al., which disclosed the use of a fused silica capillary having wall coatings on the inside surface to stimulate specific interactions when employed in open tubular capillary gas or liquid chromatography, for open tubular supercritical fluid chromatography. Fused silica capillary columns are also known for use in capillary electrophoresis and capillary electro-chromatography.
The resolution of a capillary column, and the time required for carrying out a separation, are functions of several interrelated column and operational parameters. The major factors that influence a separation are: column internal diameter, column length, the type of stationary phase and its film thickness, the type of carrier gas, the carrier gas velocity, and the column temperature. Among these factors, a reduction in the column length is understood to decrease the analysis time, but at the expense of resolution. For fast capillary gas chromatography without a significant loss in resolution, the column internal diameter is typically reduced to 0.1 mm or less. Hence, there are advantages and limitations in the use of narrow-bore well coated open tubular column (WCOT) for high-speed capillary gas chromatography. In a typical example for use in current instrumentation, a 100 micrometer internal diameter column of 5 to 10 meters in length may be used.
However, the most serious limitation of the reduced diameter column is its associated decrease in sample capacity. Capacity is known as the ability of a column to tolerate high concentrations of solutes. Degradation of chromatographic performance is observed when the column capacity is exceeded. This condition is commonly referred to as "overload" and is indicated by peak broadening and asymmetry. Sample capacity is also related to the film thickness and phase ratio. Thus, a chromatographer will expect a limit in the sample capacity that is set according to the internal diameter for a given phase ratio or film thickness. Small diameter (<0.2 mm internal diameter) columns will offer the advantages of high-efficiency and high-resolution, but at the expense of sample capacity. Low resolution, wide-bore fused silica columns have a much higher sample capacity and are typically employed for performing simple, packed-column separations. Accordingly, the elements of efficiency, speed, capacity, and resolution are factors which must be balanced when optimizing a chromatographic separation.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to employ a capillary column suited for use in the aforementioned modes of chromatography that has the practical advantages of a relatively large internal diameter column (and in particular, its capacity) but also exhibits the high resolution and the rapid analysis obtained by a relatively small internal diameter column.
One approach has been to assemble a plurality of parallel, narrow-bore capillary columns, in which each of the columns presumably have identical properties, in an attempt to eliminate the disadvantage residing in the limited capacity of the narrow-bore capillary column. By using a larger number of such capillary columns coupled in parallel, one would expect to separate large quantities of samples while maintaining the aggregate abilities of each of the capillary columns. However, this proposed "multi-capillary" column device has not been found to be practically useful, due largely in part to the difficulty in providing a column composed of several capillaries coupled in parallel, wherein the individual capillaries exhibit identical behavior. Some examples of the causes of differences that may arise in the performance of individual capillaries are: deformation of the capillaries in different amounts depending on their position in the composite column assembly; temperature gradients over the cross-section of the column (wherein it is difficult to change the temperature of the column without causing radial temperature gradients which subsequently result in different separation rates of the different capillaries); differing stationary phase thicknesses; disparity in column aging, etc. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,424,127 and 4,818,264.


An ocean freight method and arrangement handles goods in a number of transport modes, such as containers, with the same transport in a cargo hold of an ocean vessel with cranes. The transport has a platform with a width corresponding to two regular containers to be loaded and unloaded by two parallel cranes enabling transportation of heavy and over wide units.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,043,285, U.S. Pat. No. 4,294,185, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,183,305 describe cargo vessels suitable for sea transport functions, which vessels have upper level cargo handling equipment and support structures for the loading and unloading of cargo containers. Such vessels, known as "Twinstar", maximize the load transport capacity, minimize idle time in ports and provide an extremely cost-effective system for the loading and unloading of cargo. The integrated container cranes on the vessels make it possible to achieve optimal efficiency in ports. By effecting saving manpower and time, they specifically decrease or even obviate the need for manual labor for loading and unloading vessels. In addition, a large amount of the transported cargo can be stored in a safe way with a minimum of time spent and with as little labor as possible. Also, loading and unloading operations can be safely carried out even in bad and windy weather conditions.
Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 6,230,640 describes a refrigeration arrangement suitable for the purposes mentioned above, which, first of all, includes heat insulation in the surrounding structures of a cargo vessel's hold, and, second, refrigeration units placed in the refrigeration areas that connect to the cargo holds. Thus, it is possible to stack a large volume of containerized cargo in the holds, while keeping it apart from the refrigeration units. The cargo containers supporting the cargo are equipped with numerous ventilation openings in order to direct the refrigeration air both around the cargo and through the containers' internal and external surfaces, and then back again to the refrigeration units.
Although cargo ships of the type described above are extremely efficient in handling regular containers, it has been found that they can also be further used more extensively than before for the transportation of heavy and/or over-width cargo, i.e., for units wider than regular containers. Specially designed heavy-cargo vessels have traditionally been used, where such ships are typically loaded using cranes on the dock, which then load the cargo from the side or from the stern by floating it.
Thus, the traditional heavy-cargo vessels have been designed specifically for transporting heavy units, which means that the areas in the cargo holds are built accordingly. For this reason, the transportation of regular containers on those vessel types is not possible without special arrangements. Therefore, container transportation is usually handled using regular container vessels, which use, for the loading and unloading of cargo, container guides in the holds specially designed for that purpose.

Method and arrangement for ocean freight transportation


A method of operating an RF communicator adapted for an automatic meter reading (AMR) system includes maintaining the communicator in a low-power standby mode and automatically responding to bubble-up events that are spaced apart by time durations. The step of responding includes initiating the RF communicator to exit the standby mode and enter into an active operating mode, and thereafter return to the standby mode. A time duration between successive bubble-up events is automatically adjusted. One method of automatically adjusting a bubble up rate includes automatically setting the bubble-up rate to a relatively higher rate during a time of relatively high expectation of an occurrence of a communication attempt, and automatically setting the bubble-up rate to a relatively lower rate during a time of relatively low expectation of an occurrence of a communication attempt.

Current automatic meter reading (AMR) systems include, as one of the major components of the system, a large number of endpoints, each endpoint being comprised of an ERT® (encoder, receiver, transmitter) that is interfaced to a utility meter. In a typical system, the ERT® obtains a consumption reading from the utility meter, such as consumption of water, gas, or electricity. A conventional endpoint which includes a communicator, such as a radio transceiver, transmits the consumption information to an intermediate receiver device according to the AMR system paradigm. In some endpoint applications, battery power is preferred. For example, gas or water meters that are battery-powered do not need to be connected to, and reliant upon, line power. Even electricity consumption meters, which are by their nature connected to the line power, can benefit from an independent power source. An independently-powered endpoint can inform the central utility about any occurrence of power outage or unauthorized tampering.
Battery-powered endpoints have been designed to limit the power consumed in day-to-day operation. One well-known design feature is a bubble-up mode of operation, in which an endpoint "bubbles-up," or activates its transceiver to communicate or attempt to communicate with the AMR data collection system, according to a preset schedule. The time duration or period between bubble-up events may typically span seconds or minutes.
Some AMR systems have a fixed, or installed, meter reading infrastructure that listens for transmissions from utility meter endpoints occurring on a bubble-up basis. In other systems, a typical endpoint bubbles up at a pre-set time to activate its receiver circuitry, which becomes receptive to a signal from an intermediate receiver or the like that prompts the endpoint to send the consumption reading to the reader or receiver. Some AMR systems utilize portable or vehicle-mounted reading devices that are transported along a meter reading route by utility personnel. A meter reading route is generally planned to pass within communications proximity to the utility meters to be read. Some AMR systems use a combination of fixed and mobile meter reading devices where, for example, the fixed devices communicate with endpoints at regular scheduled intervals, and the mobile devices communicate with selected endpoints on an as-needed basis.
Utility meters are generally read on periodic intervals, such as hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, etc. The meter reads may occur at regularly spaced, pre-determined times in each period such as, for example, on the first day of each month. A challenge for systems designers is accommodating a common practice among utilities to vary the meter reading frequency of each occurrence. Variations may be due to factors such as scheduling changes, migration to different AMR systems, work backlogs, downtime, and the like. For example, a utility may ordinarily request information from a given meter on a semi-monthly basis during one portion of the year, and on a weekly basis during another portion of the year. It is also common practice among utilities to take readings from utility meters, and return to a particular area shortly thereafter to request additional data or repeated data from certain utility meters. Therefore, actual communication between meter and reader does not necessarily take place on a consistent schedule.
A short bubble up cycle (a high bubble-up frequency) can improve system performance by creating a greater likelihood of achieving communications between a utility meter endpoint and a receiver (or reader). In a situation in which a mobile reader follows a route that passes near a given meter, there exists a narrow window of opportunity for the meter endpoint to successfully interface with the reading device during the time that the reader is within communications proximity to the meter. Therefore, one challenge associated with bubble-up operation is pre-setting a frequency for bubble-up events. System designers must trade off system communications reliability, which is improved with more frequent bubble-ups, against battery-powered endpoint energy consumption, which is improved with less frequent bubble-ups.


A communications system may include a plurality of electronic devices having respective different device types and each configured to wirelessly communicate via a plurality of different wireless communications formats. The system may also include a mobile wireless communications device including a plurality of application modules associated with respective electronic device types and configured to communicate via a first one of the wireless communications formats. The mobile wireless communications device may further include a control module configured to establish an initial wireless communications link with a given electronic device using a second one of the wireless communications formats, determine a respective device type for the given electronic device based upon the established initial wireless communications link, and cause a respective application module to establish a subsequent wireless communications link with the given electronic device using the second wireless communications format based upon the determined respective device type.

Mobile communication systems continue to grow in popularity and have become an integral part of both personal and business communications. Various mobile devices now incorporate Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) features such as calendars, address books, task lists, calculators, memo and writing programs, media players, games, etc. These multi-function devices usually allow electronic mail (email) messages to be sent and received wirelessly, as well as access the Internet via a cellular network and/or a wireless local area network (WLAN), for example.
Some mobile devices incorporate contactless card technology and/or near-field communication (NFC) chips. NFC technology is used for contactless short-range communications based on radio frequency identification (RFID) standards, using magnetic field induction to enable communication between electronic devices, including mobile wireless communications devices. These short-range communications include payment and ticketing, electronic keys, identification, device set-up service and similar information sharing. This short-range high frequency wireless communications technology exchanges data between devices over a short distance, such as only a few centimeters.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Communications system providing mobile wireless communications device application module associations for respective wireless communications formats and related methods


Apparatus, and an accompanying method for use therein, that utilizes working and stopping servo-controlled hydraulic pistons wherein the stopping piston acts as a controlled mechanical stop for the working piston. Both pistons are spaced apart along and coaxially arranged around a common shaft, with each piston moving in a separate cylinder. The working piston is securely attached to the shaft, while the shaft moves through a central, longitudinal bore of the stopping piston. The stopping piston effectively xe2x80x9cfloatsxe2x80x9d in its cylinder and produces a greater force than the working piston. A radially extending stop element, situated on the shaft, has a surface configured to abuttingly engage with a complementary surface on the stopping piston such that the stopping piston, once appropriately positioned, controllably stops continued movement of the working piston in a very short time and over a very short distance with little strain induced in the apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to apparatus, and an accompanying method for use therein, that utilizes first (working) and second (stopping) servo-controlled hydraulic pistons wherein the second piston acts as a controlled mechanical stop for the first piston. Advantageously, the apparatus can controllably stop the first piston, traveling at relatively high speeds, in a very short time and over a very short distance while advantageously inducing very little, if any, elastic strain into the apparatus.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Metallic materials play an indispensable role as an essential component of an enormous number of different products. Such materials are produced
typically in large ingots or other shapes and are controllably deformed by, e.g., rolling, forging or extruding into readily useable and conventional sheet, plate, coil or wire form for subsequent machining or forming. These deformations typically occur on a repeated incremental basis, such as through a multi-stand rolling mill where the material is repeatedly passed through successive pairs of rolls. Each pass incrementally compresses, i.e., deforms, the material into thinner stock. Typically, each pair of rolls is spaced equal distance from the next pair but has a smaller inter-roll spacing (xe2x80x9croll bitexe2x80x9d) than the next pair. Hence, as the material becomes thinner it travels at a faster rate through successive roll pairs and this decreases the time occurring between each compression. Extrusion, forging and braking operations also typically involve incremental deformations until the material is properly sized.
In production environments, small incremental deformations are typically produced at high rates. However, correctly configuring a mill, forge or brake to properly deform production stock and impart a desired amount of strain to the material along with other physical/metallurgical characteristics can be a tedious, time-consuming and expensive processxe2x80x94particularly since such a machine needs to be taken out of productive use for an extended time to properly adjust its operational parameters. Consequently, to avoid the need for costly downtime, thermodynamic material testing systems are employed to simulate rolling, extruding, braking and forging processes on relatively small metallic specimens. Resulting simulation data is then used to properly set various operating parameters of production equipment and, by doing so, minimize its non-productive downtime. Illustrative simulators of this type include the xe2x80x9cGleeblexe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cHydrawedgexe2x80x9d systems manufactured by Dynamic Systems Inc. (DSI) of Poestenkill, N.Y., which is the present assignee hereof (with xe2x80x9cGleeblexe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cHydrawedgexe2x80x9d being registered trademarks owned by DSI).
Systems which deform metallic materials, particularly including material testing systems, often utilize linear motion of a piston/anvil combination produced by servo-controlled hydraulic systems, and particularly those which accelerate and stop pistons at very high speeds. Such movement is necessary to impart a desired amount of deformation to the material, situated, e.g., between a pair of anvils, at a desired strain rate and over as much of a resulting deformation as possible. In these environments, linear piston systems moving with velocities up to 10 meters per second are frequently used, with velocities of 1 to 2 meters per second being quite common.
In particular, in such testing systems, a fundamental problem arises in that a piston, while traveling at such a high relative velocity, must often be stopped in a manner, essentially immediately, through which its velocity does not decrease even over a small distance, else the strain rate imparted to the specimen will decrease over a stopping distance of the piston. Further, those systems typically utilize mechanical mechanisms of one sort or another to stop the piston which, while the piston is being stopped, disadvantageously introduce some strain into various structural components of the system itself. This added strain, by effectively compressing a frame of the system, tends to slightly elongate the stopping distance and thus adversely impact the resulting deformation of the specimen.
Another area in which high-speed deformation is becoming increasingly important is sheet metal processing. Here, a need to reduce production costs requires that press brakes used to deform metallic material, i.e., bend metal sheets, operate at increasingly high speeds. Conventional bending machines have a set of shaped dies in which the material is held and then formed or bent. The dies are mounted in rather large, heavy beam structures. Usually, one beam is mounted rigidly, while another is mounted on linear sliding ways. Traditional brakes rely on producing linear motion for the ways through a large flywheel and suitable connecting/pivoting arms mounted between one beam and the flywheel. Relatively modern brakes control the motion of the die/beam using hydraulic servo-controlled piston/cylinder systems. A precision with which the material can be bent depends upon how quickly the die can be stopped at a bottom of its stroke (travel). As the speed of the die increases, its stopping distance becomes increasingly arbitrary. Given this, the stroke often has to be disadvantageously run at a decreased speed to consistently stop the die at a precise location. Additionally, the metal being deformed often provides a variable load to the die. This variable load causes the control system to compensate while the dies are being stopped at a desired position, but again generally necessitates that reduced speeds are used to obtain precise bends in pieces then being processed. Such decreased speeds disadvantageously reduce material throughput. Hence, to consistently deform material at relatively high speeds and increase throughput, the stroke has to be accurately controlled both in terms of its velocity, throughout the stroke length, as well as its stopping distance.
In situations, be it in material testing systems or in production equipment, where material is being deformed at high-speeds, mechanical stops are often used to stop a high-speed anvil, ram or die at a precise position. Unfortunately, a position of such a mechanical stop has to be changed each time the desired amount of travel is changed.
Therefore, apparatus is needed to stop motion of, e.g., an anvil, a ram or die in an exact position even at very high speeds in order to provide consistent results. Such a stop should impart very little, if any, strain in the apparatus so that the stopping position remains the same regardless of the changes in a load then being deformed. This entails that an end of a high-speed stroke must be precisely controlled as well as being easily and rapidly changeable.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,179 (issued to H. S. Ferguson on Mar. 3, 1992) describes one such thermodynamic material testing system. As shown in FIG. 5 thereof, a stroke of piston 509 and shafts 540 and 545 are stopped by stop disc 543. A position of specimen material 570, being deformed, is advanced by hydraulic cylinder 590, piston 592, wedge combination 585/582, shaft 575, load cell 574, plate 568, anvil base 565 and anvil 560xe2x80x2. Each time specimen 570 is advanced by the wedge combination toward the left, anvil 560 is retracted and then rapidly advanced to the right, thus deforming specimen 570 until stop plate 543 hits cross-stop 550. A drawback inherent in this system is that, during each hit, an amount of strain occurs elastically in an entire wedge assembly that supports a load on the right side of the specimen (load cell side). This elastic strain allows anvil 560 to move in the direction of deformation, thus decreasing the amount of deformation in the specimen and slightly compromising a final thickness of the specimen after each deformation. Once the system has been used to deform a particular specimen at a certain temperature, a computer-controlled deformation schedule (deformation program) that controls the system can be modified to accommodate for expected loss (increased material thickness) in deformation that would result from the elastic strain. However, doing so is a passive correction and never exact. For multiple deformations involving 3 or more hits to the specimen, appropriate modifications to the program become time-consuming and tedious to determine. Further, each hit becomes less precise as the number of hits increases. Therefore, a stopping mechanism is readily desired, for use in a thermodynamic material testing system, that imparts very little, if any, strain back into any structural component of the system itself during each hit.
Thus, the need still exists in the art for a stopping mechanism for use with a servo-controlled hydraulic system, such as that used in a material testing system, in which a piston can be stopped from a very high speed at an exact location without over-travel and without substantial reduction in its speed right up to the moment of its stopping. The system should be capable of repetitive hits with each final stop at a predetermined position regardless of the speed of the piston. The stopping system should produce very little, if any, strain.
Further evidence for the need for such a stopping mechanism can be seen from the following. A modern high-speed servo valve can be closed, from 80 percent of its maximum opening, typically in 0.003 seconds. If a piston controlled by that valve is moving at 1 meter per secondxe2x80x94which often occurs in production equipment and material testing systems, then the piston will travel approximately 1.5 mm during stopping. This distance is clearly unacceptable where, in testing systems and high-speed press brakes, distances controlled to less than 0.05 mm are desired. Linkages, shafts and wedges of existing stopping mechanisms can have strains, under expected operating loads, of 0.3 or 0.4 mm. While these reduced strains are considerably better than that which results from use of no stopping mechanism at all, a stopping mechanism that produces far less strain in the mechanism itself is still needed.
The present invention advantageously overcomes the deficiencies associated with high-speed use of servo-controlled hydraulic systems known in the art where very rapid stopping is required with essentially little, if any, strain occurring in the stopping mechanism. Through the invention, a first high-speed (working) piston is stopped by an adjustable mechanical stop, formed of a second (stopping) piston coaxially situated to the working piston.
Advantageously, the present invention permits the stopping position of the working piston to be rapidly changed. Furthermore, the invention, by virtue of its stopping characteristics and inducing minimal resulting strain in the stopping mechanism, permits the servo system to repetitively and rapidly actuate the working piston, many times, with nearly ideal stopping positions each time regardless of the speed of that piston. High-speed stopping occurs over extremely short stopping distances and is essentially immediate.
In accordance with the teachings of the invention, the working and stopping pistons are controlled by separate servo-control hydraulic systems and are both coaxially located on a common piston shaft for the working piston, with these pistons being longitudinally spaced apart on the shaft. Both pistons controllably move within separate corresponding piston cylinders. The stopping piston slides on the piston shaft with the shaft extending through a central longitudinally-oriented bore on the stopping piston. To stop further movement of the working piston, the stopping piston abuttingly engages, via complementary surfaces, with a radially extending circular stopping element on the shaft, e.g., a shoulder extending outward from and concentric with the shaft. Preferably and to provide positive stopping action, the stopping piston is sized and operated with sufficient hydraulic pressure to provide higher forces than the working piston. Illustratively, the working piston may provide a maximum force of 40 tons and the stopping piston a maximum force of 80 tons or more.
In operation, the stopping piston is programmably moved, through appropriate computer-control of its servo-control hydraulic system, to a desired stopping position for the working piston. The working piston is retracted (before, coincident with or after the stopping piston is moved) and, once the stopping piston is properly position, then extended at a high speed. The working piston stops its extension whenever a surface of the stopping element on the piston shaft abuttingly engages a complementary surface situated on an upper side of the stopping piston. To change the stopping position, the stopping piston is simply moved, again through appropriate control over the servo-controlled hydraulic system, and the process is repeated, and so forth for multiple hits.
The stopping mechanism is comprised of only the stopping piston and hydraulic oil used to position that piston. There are no stopping linkages, wedges, shafts or other mechanical parts which would change dimension under a changing load. Accordingly, the amount of strain that occurs in the stopping mechanism is significantly reduced.
In accordance with a feature of the invention, two stopping elements (i.e., upper and lower stopping elements) can be positioned on the piston shaft, with a corresponding stopping element situated on either side of the stopping piston. In this manner, and with complementary surfaces being formed on the upper and lower surfaces of that piston, the stopping piston can stop movement of the working piston in both its upward and downward (retraction and extension) directions, rather than just in a downward direction.

Servo-controlled integral stop for use with a servo-controlled hydraulic piston


An arrangement in a motor vehicle includes a subframe. An energy source is arranged in a region of the subframe and components are assigned to the energy source. The energy source and the components are positioned in front of the subframe in a crash direction. The subframe has a window which exceeds the external dimensions of at least one of the energy source or the components and is configured to allow the at least one of the energy source or the components to dip into the window.

Energy sources for electric or hybrid drives in motor vehicles, for example high voltage batteries or fuel cells, and the components which are necessarily assigned to them have a very high inert mass due to the design. This can result in problems with the absorption or dissipation of the kinetic energy which occurs in the case of a crash: in the case of a crash, uncontrolled movements of energy sources of this type can trigger heavy damage to vehicle components which lie in the crash direction and also to the energy source itself and the components which are assigned to it. Possibly, damage to parts of the interior and possibly even injuries to the passengers can arise as a result of penetration of said energy source and/or components, for example, into the passenger compartment.
The prior art has disclosed a number of proposals which are intended firstly to protect the energy source and secondly to avoid damage of this type. For instance, DE 10 2008 027 894 A1 discloses and describes an arrangement which absorbs crash energy in a motor vehicle, in which arrangement the energy source is positioned close to a subframe, and in which arrangement a deformation element for absorbing crash energy is arranged between the energy source and the subframe. Said additional deformation element can be fastened to the subframe.
It is known from EP 2 353 971 B1 to provide the energy source with a frame-shaped structure which is to be capable of guiding crash energy past the energy source in order to protect the latter.
Furthermore, it is known from DE 10 2013 106 433 A1 to provide a special load-bearing frame for an electrically driven motor vehicle, in which load-bearing frame the energy source is accommodated such that it is protected against damage by way of special collision panels.

DR. ING. H.C. F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT


An oxidative coupling catalyst composition for converting methane to a higher hydrocarbon comprising a mixed oxide of: a) a Group IIIB metal selected from the group consisting of yttrium, scandium and lanthanum; b) a Group IIA metal selected from the group consisting of barium, calcium and strontium; and c) a Group IVA metal selected from the group consisting of tin, lead and germanium and wherein the cationic species are present in the approximate ratio of 1:0.5-3:2-4, respectively, and an improved process employing same.

This invention relates to oxidative coupling agents or catalysts for the conversion of methane to ethane, ethene and higher hydrocarbons having a greater molecular weight than methane.
In the search for petroleum, large amounts of natural gas are discovered in remote areas where there is no local market for it. The dominant technology now employed for utilizing remote natural gas involves its conversion to syngas, a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. While syngas processes fulfill the need for an easily transportable liquid that can be converted to several useful products, synthesis gas is an expensive intermediate. Oxygen is added to the rather inert methane molecule which is advantageous when products such as methanol or acetic acid are desired. In the case of hydrocarbons such as gasoline or diesel fuel, however, syngas processing requires the addition of oxygen, followed by its removal which increases final product cost.
Methane, the predominant component of natural gas, although difficult to activate can be reacted with oxygen or oxygen-containing compounds such as water or carbon dioxide to produce syngas. This mixture can be converted to syncrude such as with Fischer-Tropsch technology and then upgraded to transportation fuels using usual refining methods. Alternatively, syngas can be converted to liquid oxygenates which in turn can be converted to more conventional transportation fuels by catalysts such as certain zeolites.
Because syngas processing requires high capital investment, with the syngas being produced in energy wasteful ways as by steam reforming where fuel is burned to supply heat of reforming, and represents an indirect route to the production of hydrocarbons, other means of converting methane directly to higher hydrocarbons are needed.
Oxidative coupling has been recognized as a promising approach to the problem of methane conversion although the mechanism of action is not completely understood. In such processes, methane is contacted with solid materials referred to by various terms including catalysts, promoters, activators or contact materials. Methane mixed with oxygen and catalyst is directly converted to ethane, ethylene, higher hydroarbons and water. Carbon dioxide formation, which is highly favored thermodynamically, is undesirable as both oxygen and carbon are consumed without production of the desired higher value C.sub.2+ hydrocarbons. In addition, in order to avoid complete combustion many methods for oxidative conversion have been carried out in the absence of an oxygencontaining gas, relying on the oxygen theoretically being supplied by the catalyst.
Catalytic mixtures of yttrium-barium-copper oxides are highly active and 100% selective for producing CO.sub.2, that is, they are combustion catalysts. In order to obtain the required selectivity to hydrocarbon formation, Group IA metals, particularly lithium and sodium, have been used in such catalytic mixtures. Under the conditions used for oxidative coupling, however, migration and loss of the alkali metal normally occurs. Thus, the need for highly active, C.sub.2+ hydrocarbon selective and stable oxidative coupling catalysts and improved processes employing same continues.
Many patents describe processes for converting methane to heavier hydrocarbons in the presence of reducible metal oxide catalysts. Most of these patents require or imply the need for a separate stage to re-oxidize the catalyst. These include U.S. Pat. No. 4,444,984 which teaches a reducible oxide of tin as a catalyst; U.S. Pat. No. 4,495,374 disclosing the use of any reducible oxide promoted by an alkaline earth metal; 4,523,049 showing a reducible oxide catalyst promoted by an alkali or alkaline earth, and requiring the presence of oxygen during the oxidative coupling reaction. U.S. Pat. No. 4,656,155 specifies yttrium in a mixture requiring zirconium and alkali metal. U.S. Pat. No. 4,450,310 claims coupling promoted by alkaline earth oxides in the total absence of molecular oxygen. U.S. Pat. No. 4,482,644 teaches a barium-containing oxygen-deficient catalyst with a perovskite structure. European Patent Application 198,251 covers a process conducted in the presence of free oxygen using a three component contact material of: (a) an oxide of calcium, strontium or barium, and optionally a material selected from the group consisting of chloride ions, compounds containing chloride ions, tin and compounds containing tin; (b) a sodium or potassium-containing material, and a Group IIA metal or a compound containing one, and optionally a material selected from the group consisting of chloride ions, compounds containing chloride ions, tin and compounds containing tin; (c) a Group IA metal compound, and optionally a material selected from the group consisting of chloride ions, compounds containing chloride ions, tin and compounds containing tin.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,885,020, although disclosing contact materials of the oxidative coupling type, is directed to a method of converting hydrocarbons to CO.sub.2 and water for pollution control. The combustion catalysts used consist of four components: (1) zirconium, tin or thorium; (2) an alkaline earth material; (3) a rare earth-type element such as scandium, lanthanum or cesium; and (4) a metal of the first transition series.
Baerns U.S. Pat. No. 4,608,449 relates to a methane conversion process using a suitable metal oxide catalyst, including tin oxide, on an oxide catalyst carrier carried out under temperatures of from 500.degree. C. to 900.degree. C. in the presence of oxygen at specified pressure.
Hicks U.S. Pat. No. 4,780,449 discloses a catalyst for the conversion of methane to hydrogen, and higher hydrocarbons comprising a non-reducible metal oxide of Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Sc, Y, La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd. Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu which may be used alone or with up to 50% by weight of one or more promoter oxides of Li, Na, K, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Sn, Pb, Sb, Bi, Cu, Ag and Au. Methane conversion is carried out at temperatures of from 500.degree. to 1000.degree. C.

Catalysts for the oxidative conversion of methane to higher hydrocarbons


A gas discharge lamp with at least one capacitive coupling structure (2, 3) is described, which lamp has the particular characteristic that the coupling structure (2, 3) comprises a ceramic material which comprises pure BaTiO3. In particular an additional doping of at least part of the BaTiO3 with barium leads to a material whose Curie temperature and saturation polarization are substantially higher and whose coercitive field strength is substantially smaller, so that a gas discharge lamp with a coupling structure manufactured from this material can be operated at substantially higher temperatures and at a lower operating voltage. Various dopings of the BaTiO3 with titanium, manganese, and lead are furthermore described.

The invention relates to a gas discharge lamp with at least one capacitive coupling structure.
Gas discharge lamps of this kind are usually formed by a discharge vessel with two ceramic electrodes which are fused into the vessel. A discharge gas is present inside the vessel. Various operational modes are known for exciting a gas discharge through the emission of electrons.
In addition to the generation of the electrons at so-called hot electrodes by means of glow emission, the gas discharge may alternatively be generated through the emission of electrons in a strong electric field, or directly through ion bombardment (ion-induced secondary emission). In a capacitive operational mode, capacitive coupling structures are used as the electrodes. These electrodes are formed from a dielectric material which is in contact with the discharge gas at one side and which is connected to an external current circuit with electrical conduction at the other side. An AC electric field is generated in the discharge vessel by means of an AC voltage applied to the electrodes, in which field the electrons move and excite a gas discharge in a known manner.
A gas discharge lamp operating by this principle is known from DE 199 15 616.6, in which the coupling structures are formed by a ferroelectric ceramic material. The ceramic material is formed by Ba(Ti1-xZrx)O3 with dopants of donor/acceptor combinations, a preferred value being chosen to be x=0.09. A high value of the dielectric constant and of the remanent polarization can be achieved with such a ceramic material.
It is an object of the invention to provide a gas discharge lamp of the kind mentioned in the opening paragraph whose operational properties are further improved, in particular as regards the luminous efficacy.
Furthermore, a gas discharge lamp is to be provided which can operate at higher operational temperatures as compared with the cited prior art.
This object is achieved with a gas discharge lamp having at least one capacitive coupling structure in that the coupling structure comprises a ceramic material which comprises pure BaTiO3. The word xe2x80x9cpurexe2x80x9d in this connection should be understood to relate to BaTiO3 which is not doped and comprises no zirconium.
A particular advantage of this solution lies in the fact that the operating temperature of gas discharge lamps with this ceramic material may be higher than 100xc2x0 C., whereas it is limited to approximately 80xc2x0 C. in the prior art cited above.
The dependent claims relate to advantageous further embodiments of the invention.
The Curie temperature of the ceramic material can be raised to above 130xc2x0 C. with the embodiments as claimed in claims 2 and 7.
A coercitive field strength of less than 80 V/mm and a saturation polarization of at least 17 xcexcC/cm2 can be achieved in particular with the embodiments as claimed in claims 3 to 5.
The embodiment of claim 6 is offered for reasons of the simple manufacture of its material.


A cassette of tympanic thermometer probe covers includes a frame and probe covers releasably attached to the frame. The probe covers can be individually attached over a probe of a tympanic thermometer to protect the probe from contamination. The probe covers are constructed to releasably secure themselves to the probe. The force required to secure the probe covers to the frame is less that the force which is required to detach the probe covers from the frame so that the probe cover is held by the frame while being attached to the thermometer probe. The probe cover is connected to the frame by frangible connections that are arranged to inhibit pivoting of the probe cover when being attached to the thermometer probe. A method of securing a probe cover to a probe of a tympanic thermometer is also disclosed.

Medical thermometers are typically used to facilitate the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, body ailments, etc. for humans and other animals. Doctors, nurses, parents, and other care providers use thermometers to measure a subject's body temperature. An accurate reading of a subject's core body temperature is needed for effective use and should be taken from the internal or core temperature of a subject's body. Several thermometer devices are known for measuring a subject's body temperature, such as, for example, glass, electronic, and ear (tympanic).
Tympanic thermometers are generally considered by the medical community to be superior for taking a subject's temperature. Tympanic thermometers provide rapid and accurate readings of core temperature, overcoming the disadvantages associated with other types of thermometers. Tympanic thermometers measure temperature by sensing infrared emissions from the tympanic membrane (eardrum) in the external ear canal. The temperature of the tympanic membrane accurately represents the body's core temperature. Further, it only takes a few seconds to measure a subject's temperature in this manner.
Known tympanic thermometers typically include a probe containing a heat sensor such as a thermopile, a pyroelectric heat sensor, etc. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,179,785, 6,186,959, and 5,820,264. These types of heat sensors are particularly sensitive to the eardrum's radiant heat energy. The accuracy with which the sensing probe senses the infrared radiation emitted by the eardrum directly corresponds with the overall accuracy, repeatability and usability of the tympanic thermometer. The sensing probe must be sensitive to the low level of infrared energy emitted by an eardrum while providing a high degree of accuracy, repeatability and thermal noise immunity.
In operation, a tympanic thermometer is prepared for use and a probe cover is mounted onto a sensing probe extending from a distal portion of the thermometer. The probe cover provides a sanitary barrier between the subject and the thermometer. A practitioner or other care provider inserts a portion of the probe having the probe cover mounted thereon into a subject's outer ear canal to sense the infrared emissions from the tympanic membrane. The infrared light emitted from the tympanic membrane passes through a window of the probe cover to the sensing probe. The window is substantially transparent to infrared radiation, thereby allowing infrared radiation from the tympanic membrane to pass through the probe cover to the heat sensing probe of the thermometer. Although an open window would be suitable for taking a temperature measurement, a film (e.g., a plastic film) having a thickness on the order of the wavelength of radiation in the far infrared range typically spans the window to provide a sanitary barrier between the subject and the probe.
The practitioner presses a button to cause the thermometer to take a temperature measurement. The microelectronics process electrical signals from the heat sensor to determine eardrum temperature and render a temperature measurement in a few seconds or less. The probe is removed from the ear canal and the probe cover discarded. A new probe cover is used each time the thermometer is used with a new subject to reduce the risk of cross-contamination (e.g., spreading of pathogens) between subjects.
The thermometer may be used many different times. In a hospital or other health care facility, for example, a thermometer may be used to measure the temperature of up to a few dozen subjects each day. Thus, the care provider needs a supply of probe covers to replace the used probe covers. A plurality of nested probe covers can be supplied to replace used probe covers, for example as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,834. The probe covers in a nested stack are held together by gravity and/or friction between adjacent probe covers. Nesting probe covers together in this way is efficient use of space, but it has disadvantages. For example, it may be necessary to manually handle the probe covers to separate them for attaching one of the probe covers to a thermometer probe. This is undesirable because it is possible that pathogens or other contaminants could be transferred to the probe covers during the handling. Further, the probe covers (particularly the film portions thereof) are thin and can easily be damaged when handled manually. If the damage results in rips or tears in the film, there is no sanitary barrier between the subject and the thermometer probe. Even if the damaged film is sufficiently intact to provide a barrier, distortions, wrinkling, and/or foreign substances can alter the way infrared radiation is transmitted through the film and can thereby decrease the accuracy of the temperature measurement.
Some of the foregoing problems can be overcome by supplying a plurality of probe covers that are arranged side-by-side. For example, a care provider can carry a cassette comprising a plurality of probe covers releasably attached to a frame. One such cassette is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,662,360, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The probe covers of the cassette (shown in FIGS. 8-10 of the '360 patent) are connected to the frame by two frangible stems. This approach has also been used by the FirstTemp Genius® tympanic thermometer system available from Tyco Healthcare of Mansfield, Mass.
The FirstTemp Genius® system comprises a tympanic thermometer and a holder that releasably holds the thermometer when it is not in use. The holder has a storage compartment for holding a probe cover cassette. The storage compartment has an opening and is configured to hold the cassette so the open ends of the probe covers are accessible through the opening. When the thermometer is received by the holder, the cassette stored in the compartment is underneath the thermometer. Thus, one cassette can be stored in the compartment without interfering with the holder's ability to hold the thermometer. Inside the storage compartment is a base defining a plurality of wells for receiving the releasably attached probe covers. A probe cover can be put on the thermometer probe by inserting the probe into one of the releasably attached probe covers. The force of insertion causes the frangible stems to break, thereby releasing the probe cover from its attachment to the frame before the probe cover is secured to the thermometer probe. The user continues to move the probe in the direction of insertion until a shoulder on the outside of the probe cover contacts the base at the opening to the well. The probe cover is finally attached to the thermometer probe by using the thermometer probe to push the probe cover shoulder against the upward facing part of the base surrounding its well to apply a securement force sufficient to secure the probe cover to the probe. The force required to secure the probe cover to the probe depends on several variables, including friction between the probe and probe cover, the force required (if any) to expand the probe cover to fit on the probe, and the force required (if any) for the probe cover to push one or more probe cover ejectors to retracted positions. As the thermometer probe is inserted into the probe cover, retention bumps on the inside of the probe cover slide past an annular ridge on the thermometer probe. The probe cover is retained on the thermometer probe by engagement of the retention bumps with the annular ridge and by friction between the probe cover and thermometer probe. Once the probe cover is on the probe, the thermometer is ready for use. After a subject's temperature is taken, the probe cover is removed from the thermometer probe and discarded.
In general, it is desirable to make as efficient use of the probe cover storage space in the holder as is practically possible. More efficient use of space could result in a smaller overall size of the thermometer system and/or increase the number of probe covers that can be supplied without re-stocking probe covers. Moreover, it is also desirable to make use of probe covers with tympanic thermometer systems as user friendly as possible. For example, some probe cover cassettes can be difficult to load in a holder because the releasably attached probe covers can swing out of alignment with the wells in the base of the holder. When this happens, the probe covers have to be manually realigned before they can be received in the wells, which is an inconvenience to the user and also makes it more likely that the probe covers will be contaminated. It is also desirable to provide users tactile and other sensory feedback to facilitate use of probe covers in a tympanic thermometer system.
Accordingly, there is a need for systems and methods for handling a supply of probe covers for use with a tympanic thermometer more efficiently and conveniently.

Probe cover cassette with improved probe cover support


A terminal load includes an insulating cylinder internally defining a receiving space having a locating surface, and having a front open end and a rear end provided with a notch; an insulating cap mounted to the front open end of the insulating cylinder; a circuit board mounted on the locating surface to rearwardly project a rear narrowed section from the notch; a connection terminal electrically connected with the circuit board to forward extend through the insulating cap; and a conductive cap having a top hole and fitted around the rear end of the insulating cylinder with the rear narrowed section of the circuit board extended through the top hole and clamped between two contacting arms at two opposite sides of the top hole. The terminal load with the above structure can be driven by punching to safely assemble to an outer housing, and the conductive cap ensures good conducting effect.

Generally, coaxial cables are widely used with cable televisions for signal transmission. Coaxial cables have the advantages of large bandwidth and not easily subjected to noise and signal interference, and are therefore also used by many broadband network providers as a signal transmission medium.
Please refer to FIG. 1. A conventional coaxial terminal load 1 includes a cap 10, a conductive terminal 11, and a circuit board 12. The cap 10 has a first hole 101. The conductive terminal 11 has a front end forward extended through and projected from the first hole 101, and a rear end engaged with a second hole 121 formed on a front end of the circuit board 12 to electrically connect the conductive terminal 11 to the circuit board 12. Two conducting pins 122 are welded to a rear end of the circuit board 12 to locate perpendicular to an extending direction of the circuit board 12. Two free ends of the two conducting pins 122 form a ground surface 123 each.
FIG. 2 shows a general way of assembling the terminal load 1 to an outer housing 20 by pressing against the cap 10. When the terminal load 1 is fitted in the outer housing 20, the two conducting pins 122 are elastically pressed against an inner wall surface of a barrel portion 201 of the outer housing 20 to constitute a ground structure. However, by pressing against the cap 10 to drive the terminal load 1 into the barrel portion 201, the very thin conducting pins 122 are easily subjected to bending or breaking during the assembling, particularly when an improper force is applied to the cap 10. Meanwhile, since the two ground surfaces 123 are so small, the conductive terminal 11 tends to have poor conductivity and results in a defective product. Therefore, the conventional terminal load 1 does not suitable for assembling to the outer housing 20 by way of pressing, and is prevented from being quickly manufactured by mass production.
Further, the conductive terminal 11 is held in place only by the cap 10 that has an outer circumferential surface pressed against a diameter-expanded locking ring portion 202 formed at a front open end of the outer housing 20. The extremely thin conducting pins 122 just fail to provide sufficient supporting strength to stably set the circuit board 12 in the outer housing 20, so that the conductive terminal 11 along with the conducting pins 122 tend to shake when the terminal load 1 is in use, causing poor electrical contact of the conducting pins 122 with the outer housing 20. The conducting pins 122 are even subjected to breaking when the shaking thereof is too serious. This would of course shorten the service life of the terminal load.
It is therefore desirable to overcome the drawbacks in the conventional terminal load by developing an improved terminal load that ensures upgraded conductivity and stability in use, prolonged service life, and increased good yield.


A height sensor for determining the height from a surface to be measured on the basis of an optical path length from a light-emitting element to the surface to be measured includes: a first light-emitting element and a second light-emitting element disposed at positions spaced apart from the surface to be measured; a mirror for reflecting at least one of a beam of light emitted from the first light-emitting element and a beam of light emitted from the second light-emitting element; and a light-receiving element for receiving the beams emitted by the first and second light-emitting elements and reflected by the surface to be measured and for outputting a signal corresponding to a quantity of light received. The mirror is arranged to cause respective optical paths of the beams emitted from the first and second light-emitting elements to be brought into close proximity to each other. Another mirror is provided for producing an optical path difference between the respective optical path lengths from the first and second light-emitting elements to the surface to be measured.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a height sensor and an air spring device and, more particularly, to a height sensor such as a vehicle height sensor, a level sensor, and a distance sensor for optically detecting the height of an automobile, a streetcar and other vehicle. The invention also relates to an air spring device incorporating this height sensor, such as an air spring for a vehicle and an air spring for vibration isolation and damping used in an industrial machine, a building or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a magnetic type sensor, an ultrasonic type sensor, an optical reflection type sensor, and the like have been proposed as a height sensor which can be incorporated in an air spring. However, the magnetic type sensor has a drawback in that the stroke of the air spring is limited depending on the structure of the air spring, while the ultrasonic type sensor has a drawback in that the cost is high. On the other hand, although most of the optical reflection type sensors are less affected by these drawbacks, they have a problem in that if a light reflection plate becomes contaminated with dirt or the like and its light reflectance varies greatly, the measured results also vary, thereby making it impossible to ensure precision.
For this reason, the present inventors have proposed a height sensor which overcomes the above-described drawbacks as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Ser. No. 07/924,467, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,229,829. As shown in FIG. 11, this height sensor comprises a pair of light-emitting elements constituted by a first light-emitting element 10 and a second light-emitting element 12. The first light-emitting element 10 and the second light-emitting element 12 are disposed at positions spaced at different distances from a surface to be measured 14 and are adapted to emit beams of light alternately. If it is assumed that the height of the first light-emitting element 10 from the surface to be measured 14 is x, the difference in height (an amount of offset) between the first light-emitting element 10 and the second light-emitting element 12 is X.sub.o, the luminous intensity of the first light-emitting element 10 is C.sub.1, the luminous intensity of the second light-emitting element 12 is C.sub.2, and the reflectance of the surface to be measured 14 is R, then the output E1 of a light-receiving element 16 at the time when the first light-emitting element 10 emits a beam is expressed by Formula (1) below, while the output E2 of the light-receiving element 16 at the time when the second light-emitting element 12 emits a beam is expressed by Formula (2) below. ##EQU1##
If the ratio of the output E1 to the output E2 is determined, it is expressed by Formula (3) below, and the output ratio El/E2 ceases to be affected by the reflectance R of the surface to be measured 14. ##EQU2##
Accordingly, even in a case where the reflectance R of the surface to be measured 14 varies due to the contamination and the outputs E1 and E2 decrease as shown in FIG. 12, it is possible to prevent the undesirable effects of the contamination of the surface to be measured 14 by using the output ratio El/E2. Accordingly, this height sensor is provided with a signal processor circuit 18 which comprises a logarithmic converter circuit, a filter, and a rectifier circuit. The first light-emitting element 10 and the second light-emitting element 12 are made to emit beams of light alternately, and the light-receiving element 16 receives the beams reflected from the surface to be measured 14 and outputs a signal corresponding to the quantity of light received. The signal outputted from the light-receiving element 16 is subjected to logarithmic conversion by the logarithmic converter circuit. The output of the logarithmic converter circuit has its direct current components removed by the filter, the direct current components being the signal components having a frequency lower than the light emission frequency signal of the light-emitting elements. The peak-to-peak value of the remaining alternating current components corresponds to a value obtained by subtracting the logarithmically converted value of the signal outputted from the light-receiving element 16 when the second light-emitting element 12 emits a beam, from the logarithmically converted value of the signal outputted from the light-receiving element 16 when the first light-emitting element 10 emits a beam, i.e., corresponds to the ratio between the signal outputted from the light-receiving element 16 when the first light-emitting element 10 emits a beam and the signal outputted from the light-receiving element 16 when the second light-emitting element 12 emits a beam. Accordingly, by rectifying this filter output, it is possible to obtain a signal corresponding to the height x of the first light-emitting element 10 from the surface to be measured 14.
However, with the above-described height sensor, since the pair of light-emitting elements are disposed with a horizontal distance L therebetween, that area of the reflection plate which the beams from both light-emitting elements can reach is relatively small. In particular, if the reflection plate, i.e., an area to be measured, approaches the light-emitting elements' side beyond the straight line A shown in FIG. 11, the area of light which can be received by the light-receiving element (the shadowed portion in the drawing) becomes very small, so that the amount of light received by the light-receiving element is reduced sharply. Accordingly, if the distance between the light-emitting elements and the reflection plate becomes smaller, it becomes difficult for the sensor to detect the distance.
In addition, since the pair of light-emitting elements need to be disposed by being spaced apart from each other in the heightwise direction by an amount of offset X.sub.o, there is a problem in that the heightwise dimension of the height sensor becomes long, with the result that the height sensor becomes relatively large in size. To overcome this problem, it suffices if the amount of offset X.sub.o is reduced, but since the effect of the reflectance of the light reflection plate is prevented by the amount of offset X.sub.o, the accuracy becomes deteriorated if the amount of offset X.sub.o is reduced.

Height sensor and air spring device incorporating the same