The present invention is to provide a thermo-valve which can be operated with no unnecessary work to fill fluid easily and without fail into a circuit having the fluid flow therethrough at the time of a high temperature range. The thermo-valve comprises a valve housing 21, and a center guide shaft 27 movable to assume a valve movement limitation position GP1 in which a valve member 31 is retained to a second operation position BP2 to open a specific port, and a valve movement allowance position in which the valve member 31 is allowed to displace, the center guide shaft 27 and the valve housing 21 allowing a bimetal ring 51 to be disposed therebetween, and the bimetal ring being deformed to retain the center guide shaft 27 to the valve movement limitation position GP1 at the initial stage until the temperature of oil in the valve housing 21 firstly reaches the high temperature range, and to release the center guide shaft 27 from the valve movement limitation position GP1 when the temperature of the oil in the valve housing 21 reaches the high temperature range.

In general, the vehicular transmission is assembled in an automatic transmission system which is of a step-variable transmission type or of a continuously variable transmission type. The automatic transmission system comprises an oil cooler having oil pass therethrough to lubricate and cool the transmission. For selectively passing the oil through the oil cooler, a thermo-valve is used to change oil passageways in response to the temperature of the oil.
As one of the thermo-valves of this kind, there has so far been known a thermo-valve of a wax accommodating type to selectively open and close the oil passageways held in communication with first and second heat exchangers. The first heat exchanger functions to exchange the heat of the oil for lubricating and cooling the transmission with the heat of cooling water for cooling an engine after the cooling water has passed through a heater core. The second heat exchanger is an oil cooler of an air-cooling type and disposed between the automatic transmission and the first heat exchanger to exchange the heat of the oil returning to the automatic transmission from the first heat exchanger with the heat of air introduced from the front of an automotive vehicle, so that the second heat exchanger can cool the oil returning to the automatic transmission from the first heat exchanger with by opening the oil passageway to the second heat exchanger with the thermo-valve when the temperature of the oil becomes higher than the preliminarily set temperature.
The thermo-valve of the wax accommodating type comprises a valve for opening and closing a bifurcated oil passageway allowing the oil to be introduced into the second heat exchanger, a valve supporting member in a bottomed cylindrical shape for supporting the valve, and a supporting shaft in a piston shape for movably supporting the valve supporting member. The valve supporting member has wax accommodated therein with the wax being expandable and contractible in response to the temperature of the wax. The thermo-valve further comprises a compression spring for resiliently urging the valve so that the valve can be opened and closed by means of the temperature sensitive wax and the compression spring. There has so far been encountered such a problem that the oil is difficult to be filled into the oil circuit of the second heat exchanger, which can be opened for the oil maintained at a high temperature, in the state in which the oil in the oil circuit is maintained at a low temperature at the stage of manufacturing vehicles. In order to overcome such a problem, there has so far been proposed one of the thermo-valves which comprises an engagement pin in addition to the valve, the supporting member, the supporting shaft, and the compression spring constructed in the previously mentioned thermo-valve. The engagement pin is designed to secure the supporting shaft to a valve housing or case in a forced opened state in which the valve supporting member is moved to have the valve opened against the compression spring. After the oil is filled into the oil circuit of the second heat exchanger, the engagement pin is removed from the supporting shaft and the valve housing before the supporting shaft and the valve supporting member are returned to their respective original positions (see for example Patent Literature 1).


An optical coupling arrangement comprising: an optical laser emitter (4); an optical fiber (8); mounting means (10, 12, 14) for mounting the laser relative to the optical fiber so as to couple into the optical fiber light emitted by the laser; sensing means (11, 18, 24) for sensing the level of a predetermined proportion of light in the optical fiber; and piezoelectric moving means (10, 14) for moving the laser in orthogonal directions responsive to the sensing means so as to the increase coupling into the optical fiber of light emitted by the laser. The sensing means and the piezoelectric moving means thus form a closed, auto-alignment feedback loop which moves the laser relative to the optical fiber so as to compensate for movement between the laser and the optical fiber, thereby ensuring maximum coupling efficiency between the laser and the optical fiber.

This invention relates to an optical coupling arrangement, and particularly, though not exclusively, to an arrangement for Coupling an optical light source to an optical fiber.
High speed data and telecommunications systems designers are always forced to compromise between system bandwidth and data rate. In comparison to pure electrical circuits, the use of optoelectronic devices can increase data rates with relatively little bandwidth trade-off.
High performance semiconductor laser packages that could enhance system performance were developed more than a decade ago. However, one difficulty found in the assembly of such packages is in achieving and maintaining the precise fixturing and alignment necessary between the optical fiber core (typically .about.9 .mu.m in diameter) and the laser emitting facet (typically having a dimension of .about.2-4 .mu.m) in order to ensure good optical coupling.
Typically, optical fibers are locked in place using a fixative such as UV-cured epoxy or solder. Optical fiber to laser alignment techniques available today can ensure alignment tolerances of less than .+-.0.1 .mu.m. However, the ability to lock and hold this alignment over operating temperature extremes has yet to be proven reliable. Movement of the optical fiber relative to the laser is almost always encountered, due to the intrinsic nature of the different linear coefficients of expansion of the materials used. Coupling losses due to such movements may not be immediately apparent, but have been frequently found to materialize subsequently, causing severe performance degradation.


The present invention allows advanced diagnostics to be loaded into a vehicle on demand with results being sent back to the diagnostic center, possibly requiring a more refined selection of diagnostics based on the results of the previous tests. Thus, a new generation of network vehicle communications with diagnostic centers, via cellular telephone, wireless communications and Internet access via wireless communication link, provide a rich networking topology that allows onboard computers or microprocessors to obtain problem diagnosis information and data while on the road.

When a vehicle is experiencing operational problems, or there is a need for information in general about operating conditions within the vehicle, it is a common practice to drive the vehicle (i.e. car, truck, RV, van or construction vehicle) to a "vehicle diagnosis center". These centers are equipped with the necessary advanced computer technology to allow the vehicle's onboard computer sensors to interact with the center's advanced diagnostic programs to access and pin-point the exact problem, thus facilitating the correction of the problem or providing the needed information on the status of the operation of the vehicle.
Currently, network connected vehicle devices only allow simple local upgrading of diagnostic information. The cost constraints of the device do not allow for sophisticated diagnostic programs. The sophisticated programs to do diagnostics must currently be run at a diagnostic center location. This, as noted above, requires the user to drive to a diagnostic center in order to get this form of sophisticated diagnostic program service.
The present invention overcomes these deficiencies and allows advanced diagnostics to be loaded on demand with results being sent back to the diagnostic center; possibly requiring a more refined selection of diagnostics based on the results of the previous tests.

Method and system for vehicle initiated delivery of advanced diagnostics based on the determined need by vehicle

International Business Machines Corporation


A chromium containing catalyst wherein the chromium atom is in one of its higher valence states and is immobilized to a support-agglomerate composed of at least one inorganic oxide component and at least one ion-containing layered component.

The present invention is directed to novel chromium-based catalysts and to an improved process for producing polyolefins, in particular polyethylene, by contacting an olefin monomer with the catalysts of the subject invention in a reaction zone, typically a single reaction zone, to provide a resultant polyolefin that exhibits bimodal molecular weight distribution.
In the field of polyolefin manufacture, much attention has been devoted to finding new and improved catalysts capable of producing polyolefins having unique and/or improved properties or capable of providing such polyolefins in a more economical manner.
The best known industrially used catalyst systems for the polymerization of olefins are those of the xe2x80x9cZiegler-Natta catalystxe2x80x9d type and the xe2x80x9cPhillips catalystxe2x80x9d type. The former comprises the reaction product of a metal alkyl or hydride of elements of the first three main groups of the Periodic Table and a reducible compound of a transition metal element of Groups 4 to 7. The combination used most frequently comprising an aluminum alkyl, such as diethylaluminum chloride, and titanium (IV) chloride. More recently, highly active Ziegler-Natta catalyst systems have been formed in which the titanium compound is fixed chemically to the surface of magnesium compounds, such as, in particular, magnesium chloride.
The Phillips Process for ethylene polymerization developed around Phillips catalyst that is composed of chromium oxide on silica as the support. This catalyst was developed by Hogan and Banks and described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,825,721, as well as A. Clark et al. in Ind. Eng. Chem. 48, 1152 (1956). Commercialization of this process provided the first linear polyalkenes and accounts for a large amount of the high-density polyethylene (HDPE) produced today.
More recent developments have focused on single-site catalyst systems. Such systems are characterized by the fact that their metal centers behave alike during polymerization to make very uniform polymers. Catalysts are judged to behave in a single-site manner when the polymer they make meets some basic criteria (e.g., narrow molecular weight distributions, or uniform comonomer distribution). Thus, the metal can have any ligand set around it and be classified as xe2x80x9csingle-sitexe2x80x9d as long as the polymer that it produces has certain properties. Includable within single-site catalyst systems are metallocene catalysts, and constrained geometry catalysts.
A xe2x80x9cmetallocenexe2x80x9d is conventionally understood to mean a metal (e.g., Zr, Ti, Hf, Sc, Y, Vi or La) complex that is bound to two cyclopentadienyl (Cp) rings, or derivatives thereof, such as indenyl, tetrahydroindenyl, fluorenyl and mixtures. In addition to the two Cp ligands, other groups can be attached to the metal center, most commonly halides and alkyls. The Cp rings can be linked together (so-called xe2x80x9cbridged metallocenexe2x80x9d structure), as in most polypropylene catalysts, or they can be independent and freely rotating, as in most (but not all) metallocene-based polyethylene catalysts. The defining feature is the presence of two Cp ligands or derivatives thereof.
Metallocene catalysts can be employed either as so-called xe2x80x9cneutral metallocenesxe2x80x9d in which case an alumoxane, such as methylalumonxane, is used as an activator or they can be employed as so-called xe2x80x9ccationic metallocenesxe2x80x9d which incorporate a stable and loosely bound non-coordinating anion as a counter ion to a cationic metal metallocene center. Cationic metallocenes are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,064,802; 5,225,500; 5,243,002; 5,321,106; 5,427,991; and 5,643,847; and EP 426 637 and EP 426 638.
xe2x80x9cConstrained geometryxe2x80x9d is a term that refers to a particular class of organometallic complexes in which the metal center is bound by only one modified Cp ring or derivative. The Cp ring is modified by bridging to a heteroatom such as nitrogen, phosphorus, oxygen, or sulfur, and this heteroatom also binds to the metal site. The bridged structure forms a fairly rigid system, thus the term xe2x80x9cconstrained geometry.xe2x80x9d By virtue of its open structure, the constrained geometry catalyst can produce resins (long chain branching) that are not possible with normal metallocene catalysts.
The above-described single site catalyst systems are primarily based on early transition metal d0 complexes useful in coordination polymerization processes. However, these catalysts are known to be oxophilic and, therefore, have low tolerance with respect to even small amounts of oxygenated impurities, such as oxygen, water and oxygenated hydrocarbons. Thus, these materials are difficult to handle and use.
More recently, late transition metal (e.g., Fe, Co, Ni, or Pd) bidentate and tridentate catalyst systems have been developed. Representative disclosures of such late transition metal catalysts are found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,880,241 and its divisional counterparts, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,880,323; 5,866,663; 5,886,224; 5,891,963; 6,184,171; 6,174,976; 6,133,138; and PCT International Application Nos. PCT/US98/00316; PCT/IJS97/23556; PCT/GB99/00714; PCT/GB99/00715; and PCT/GB99/00716.
For polyethylene, and for high density polyethylene (HDPE) in particular, the molecular weight distribution (MWD) is a fundamental property which determines the properties of the polymer, and, thus, its applications. It is generally recognized in the art that the molecular weight distribution of a polyethylene resin can principally determine the physical, and in particular, the mechanical properties of the resin. Further, the provision of different molecular weight polyethylene molecules can significantly affect the Theological properties of the polyethylene as a whole.
Since an increase in the molecular weight normally improves the physical properties of polyethylene resins, there is a strong demand for polyethylene having high molecular weight. However, it is the high molecular weight molecules that render the polymers more difficult to process. On the other hand, a broadening or preferably a bimodal molecular weight distribution tends to improve the flow of the polymer when it is being processed at high rates of shear. Accordingly, in applications requiring a rapid transformation resulting in high expansion of the material through a die, for example in blowing and extrusion techniques, having a bimodal molecular weight distribution permits an improvement in the processing of polyethylene at high molecular weight (this being equivalent to a low melt index, as is known in the art). It is known that when the polyethylene has a high molecular weight and also a bimodal molecular weight distribution, the processing of the polyethylene is made easier as a result of the low molecular weight portion and also the high molecular weight portion contributes to a good impact resistance for the polyethylene film. A polyethylene of this type may be processed utilizing less energy with higher processing yields.
It is known in the art that it is not practical to prepare a polyethylene having a bimodal molecular weight distribution and the required properties simply by mixing polyethylenes having different molecular weights.
As discussed above, high-density polyethylene consists of high and low molecular weight fractions. The high molecular weight fraction provides good mechanical properties to the high density polyethylene and the low molecular weight fraction is required to give good processability to the high density polyethylene, the high molecular weight fraction having relatively high viscosity which can lead to difficulties in processing such a high molecular weight fraction.
On the other hand, a bimodal molecular weight distribution provides a composite of high and low glass transition temperature weight fractions. Such bimodal weight distribution polymer composition provides desired material that exhibits good processability while providing a tough, resilient material which, as an example, exhibits high environmental stress cracking resistance (ESCR). The ESCR of polymers desirably will be greater than 200 hours, such as 500 hours or more and more preferably from about 1000 to 10,000 hours when tested under known procedure ASTM D-1693-70, Condition B.
It is accordingly recognized in the art that it is desirable to provide and utilize polyolefins having bimodal molecular weight distribution. Such distribution is normally shown by a graph of the molecular weight distribution, as determined, for example, by gel permeation chromatography. Generally, the molecular weight distribution is defined by a parameter, known as the dispersion index D, which is the ratio between the weight average molecular weight (Mw) and the number average molecular weight (Mn). The dispersion index constitutes a measure of the breath of the molecular weight distribution. For most applications, the dispersion index varies between 10 and 30.
A truly bimodal distribution curve of a polymer exhibits two peaks which may have substantially equal amplification. In this instance, the polymer composition has substantial amounts of polymer forming a high and a low molecular weight distribution. Alternatively, the resultant molecular weight distribution curve may exhibit a single major peak having a shoulder or smaller second peak on one side of the major peak. Such a curve is provided from polymer compositions having one major polymer distribution with a minor amount of a second polymer distribution. This latter material sometimes designated as being mono-modal.
The manufacture of bimodal polyethylene is known in the art. One method to achieve a bimodal distribution uses two active catalyst species which provide two different catalytic properties and establish two different active sites. Those two sites in turn catalyze two distinct reactions for the production of the two polymers to enable the bimodal distribution to be achieved. In another method, as has been known for many years and exemplified by EP-A-0057420, the commercial production of bimodal high-density polyethylene is carried out by a two step process, using two reactors in series. In the two step process, the process conditions and the catalyst can be optimized in order to provide a high efficiency and yield for each step in the overall process.
In WO-A-95/10548 and WO-A-95/11930, it was proposed to use a Ziegler-Natta catalyst to produce polyethylene having a bimodal molecular weight distribution in a two-stage polymerization process in two liquid full loop reactors in series. In the polymerization process, a comonomer is fed into the first reactor and the high and low molecular weight polymers are produced in the first and second reactors respectively. The introduction of comonomer into the first reactor leads to the incorporation of the comonomer into the polymer chains in turn leading to the relatively high molecular weight fraction being formed in the first reactor. In contrast, no comonomer is deliberately introduced into the second reactor and instead a higher concentration of hydrogen than used in the first reactor is present in the second reactor to enable the low molecular weight fraction to be formed therein.
These prior processes suffer from the technical disadvantages that some unreacted comonomer can pass through from the first reactor to the second reactor, thereby reacting with the ethylene monomer therein leading to an increase in the molecular weight of the fraction produced in the second reactor. This in turn can deteriorate the bimodality of the molecular weight distribution leading to a reduction in the mechanical properties of the resultant polymer product. Further, such two-step processes require maintaining and controlling two separate reactors, which is more labor intensive and can, thereby, increase production costs.
More recently, U.S. Pat. No. 5,714,424 directs one to utilize a catalyst that is a monolithic multi-component composite particle. The composite is formed by physically blending at least two distinct supported catalyst components (each having the capability of producing polymer with distinctly different melt index values under the same polymerization conditions) and forming a combined monolithic particulate catalyst material having each of the supported catalyst components therein. The composite requires initially forming each of the distinct support catalysts to be used and then further processing these catalysts into the final monolithic form. Such composite catalysts may merely cause a broadening of the molecular weight distribution, as exhibited by a molecular weight distribution curve having a single peak and a broad range of differing molecular weight material. Due to differing catalytic activity of each individual catalyst forming a part of the composite particles, any bimodal distribution would be small and would not necessarily provide a polymer having the capacity to exhibit good processability while providing a tough, resilient product.
In addition to realization of the desired product properties, other factors influence the efficiency of a catalyst system, such as the activity of the catalyst system, that is to say the amount of catalyst required for economic conversion of a given amount of olefin, the product conversion per unit time and the product yield.
An additional factor to be considered is the ability to utilize the catalyst in a heterogeneous catalyst system. The advantages of a heterogeneous catalyst system are more fully realized in a slurry polymerization process, of which the Phillips Process is but one example. More specifically, slurry polymerizations are often conducted in a reactor wherein monomer, catalysts, and diluent are continuously fed into the reactor. The solid polymer that is produced is not dissolved in the diluent but is allowed to settle out before being periodically withdrawn from the reactor. In this kind of polymerization, factors other than activity and selectivity, which are always present in solution processes, become of paramount importance.
For example, in the slurry process it is desired to have a supported catalyst that produces relatively high bulk density polymer. If the bulk density is too low, the handling of the solid polymer becomes impractical. It is also an advantage to have the polymer formed as uniform, substantially spherical particles that are relatively free of fines. Although fines can have a sufficiently high bulk density, they also do not settle as well as larger particles and they present additional handling problems with the later processing of such polymer xe2x80x9cfluffxe2x80x9d.
Furthermore, slurry polymerization processes differ in other fundamental ways from typical solution polymerization processes. Solution polymerization is normally conducted at high reaction temperatures ( greater than 130xc2x0 C.) and pressure ( greater than 450 psi) which often results in lower molecular weight polymers. The lower molecular weight is attributed to the rapid chain-termination rates under such reaction conditions. Although lowering the reaction temperature and/or pressure, or changing molecular structure of the catalyst in a solution process may produce higher molecular weight polymers, it becomes impractical to process the resulting high molecular weight polymers in the downstream equipment due to the high solution viscosity.
In contrast, a slurry reaction process overcomes many of the above disadvantages by simply operating at lower temperature ( less than 110xc2x0 C.). As a result, polymer with a uniform particle size and morphology can be routinely obtained. It is also advantageous to carry out slurry reactions with sufficiently high polymerization efficiencies such that residues from the polymerization catalysts do not have to be removed from the resulting polymers.
Examples of materials which are useful as a catalyst support component are described in WO97/48743 directed to spray-dried agglomerates of silica gel of controlled morphology and in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,395,808; 5,569,634; 5,403,799; 5,403,809 and EP 490,226 directed to formation of particles of bound clay by spray drying.
Supported catalyst systems are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,633,419, which describes the use of spray-dried silica gel as a support for Ziegler-Natta catalyst systems; U.S. Pat. No. 5,362,825 directed to supported Ziegler-Natta catalysts formed by contacting a pillared clay material with a Ziegler-Natta catalyst composition; U.S. Pat. No. 5,807,800 directed to a supported metallocene catalyst formed by contacting a particulate support with a formed stereospecific metallocene ligand; U.S. Pat. No. 5,238,892 directed to use of undehydrated silica as support for metallocene and activator; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,308,811 directed to formation of supported metallocene-type transition metal compound by contacting it with a clay and an organoaluminum compound.
WO 0125149 A2 discloses a composition comprising an acid treated cation exchanging layered substrate material dispersed in silica gel as a support for a metallocene polymerization catalyst. Acidification is accomplished using a Bronsted acid such as sulfuric acid or an acidified amine, e.g., ammonium sulfate in a mixture with alkaline metal silicate such that the latter precipitates as silica hydrogel. The resulting slurry is dried, e.g., spray dried, and contacted with a metallocene catalyst. Preferably the layered silicate material is fully acid exchanged.
WO 0149747A1 discloses a supported catalyst composition comprising an organoaluminum compound, an organometal compound and an oxide matrix support wherein the latter is a mixture of an oxide precursor compound such as a silica source and a substantially decomposed (exfoliated) layered mineral such as a clay. Decomposition of the clay is achieved, for example, by solvent digestion in a strong acidic and basic medium at elevated temperatures combined with high energy or high shear mixing to product a colloidal suspension. Decomposition (exfoliation) converts the material to its residual mineral components and is said to be complete when the layered mineral no longer has its original layered structure.
WO 0142320 discloses a clay or expanded clay useful as a polymerization catalyst support. The support comprises the reaction product of the clay or expanded clay with an organometallic, or organometalloid, compound in order to reduce, cap or remove residual hydroxyl or other polar functionality of the clay and replace such groups with the organometallic compound. An organometallic or organometalloid derivative is bound to the support through the support oxygen or other polar functionality. Prior to reaction with the organometallic compound, the clay can be ion exchanged to replace at least a portion of alkali or alkali earth metal cations, e.g. sodium or magnesium, originally present in the clay. The chemically modified clay may be calcined either before or after treatment with the organometallic compound; prior treatment is preferred. The organometallic or organometalloid compound contains Mg, Zn or boron, preferably Zn, and the organic group preferably is a C1-C10 alkyl.
The teachings of intercalated clays as support materials for catalytic compositions include: U.S. Pat. No. 5,753,577 (directed to a polymerization catalyst comprising a metallocene compound, a co-catalyst such as proton acids, ionized compounds, Lewis acids and Lewis acidic compounds, and a clay mineral); U.S. Pat. No. 5,399,636 (directed to a composition comprising a bridged metallocene which is chemically bonded to an inorganic moiety such as clay or silica); EP 849,292 (directed to an olefin polymerization catalyst consisting essentially of a metallocene compound, a modified clay compound, and an organoaluminum compound); U.S. Pat. No. 5,807,938 (directed to an olefin polymerization catalyst obtained by contacting a metallocene compound, an organometallic compound, and a solid component comprising a carrier and an ionized ionic compound capable of forming a stable anion on reaction with the metallocene compound); U.S. Pat. No. 5,830,820 and EP 881,232 (directed to an olefin polymerization catalyst comprising a metallocene compound, and an organoaluminum compound and a clay mineral which has been modified with a compound capable of introducing a cation into the layer interspaces of the clay); EP 849,288 (discloses an olefin polymerization catalyst consisting essentially of metallocene compound, an organoaluminum compound, and a clay compound that has been modified with a proton acid); and U.S. Pat. No. 4,761,391 (directed to delaminated clays whose x-ray diffraction patterns do not contain a distinct first order reflection. These clays are made by reacting swelling clays with a pillaring agent. The ratio of clay to pillaring agents is disclosed to be between about 0.1 and about 10. To obtain the delaminated clay, a suspension of swelling clay, having the proper morphology, e.g., colloidal particle size, is mixed with a solution or a suspension of the pillaring agent at the ratios described above.)
Additional patents that disclose intercalated clays are U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,375,406; 4,629,712; and 4,637,992. Additional patents that disclose pillared clays include U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,995,964 and 5,250,277.
U.S. Ser. No. 4/431,803 filed on Nov. 1, 1999, by Keng-Yu Shih discloses the use of silica agglomerates as a support for transition metal catalyst systems employing specifically controlled (e.g., very low) amounts of non-abstracting aluminum alkyl activators.
U.S. Ser. No. 09/431,771, filed on Nov. 1, 1999, by Keng-Yu Shih et al. discloses a coordination catalyst system comprising a bidentate or tridentate pre-catalyst transition metal compound, at least one support-activator, e.g., spray dried silica/clay agglomerate, and optionally an organometallic compound and methods for their preparation.
U.S. Ser. No. 09/432,008, filed on Nov. 1, 1999, by Keng-Yu Shih et al. discloses a coordination catalyst system comprising a metallocene or constrained geometry pre-catalyst transition metal compound, at least one support-activator, e.g., spray dried silica/clay agglomerate, and optionally an organometallic compound and methods for their preparation.
U.S. provisional application Serial No. 60/287,607, filed on Apr. 30, 2001, discloses a process for forming a catalyst composition comprising substantially simultaneously contacting at least one bidentate ligand compound or at least one tridentate ligand compound or mixtures thereof with a transition metal compound and with a support-activator agglomerate comprising (A) at least one inorganic oxide component, and (B) at least one ion-containing layered component. The reference further is directed to the resultant catalyst composition for which the support-activator agglomerate functions as the activator for the catalyst system.
U.S. provisional application Serial No. 60/287,602, filed on Apr. 30, 2001, discloses a catalyst composition composed of a support-activator agglomerate comprising (A) at least one inorganic oxide component, and (B) at least one ion-containing layered component. The agglomerate provides a support-activator agglomerate for a combination of catalysts comprising at least one metallocene catalyst and at least one coordination catalyst of a bidentate or tridentate pre-catalyst transition metal compound.
U.S. provisional application Serial No. 60/287,617, filed on Apr. 30, 2001, discloses a process for forming a catalyst composition comprising substantially simultaneously contacting at least one bidentate ligand compound or at least one tridentate ligand compound or mixtures thereof with a transition metal compound and with a support-agglomerate comprising (A) at least one inorganic oxide component, and (B) at least one ion-containing layered component and the agglomerate has chromium atoms immobilized thereto. The reference is further directed to the resultant catalyst composition for which the support-agglomerate functions as the activator for the catalyst system.
U.S. provisional application Serial No. 60/287,600, filed on Apr. 30, 2001, discloses a catalyst composition composed of a support-agglomerate comprising (A) at least one inorganic oxide component, and (B) at least one ion-containing layered component and the agglomerate has chromium atoms immobilized thereon. The agglomerate provides a support for at least one coordination pre-catalyst comprising a transition metal bidentate or tridentate ligand containing complex.
In addition, the following U.S. patent applications having Ser. No. 10/120,291; Ser. No. 10/120,317; Ser. No. 10/120,331; Ser. No. 10/120,310; Ser. No. 10/120,314 are concurrently filed with the subject application. The teachings of each of the above provisional and concurrently filed applications are incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
Thus, there has been a continuing search to develop catalyst systems that demonstrate high catalyst activity, are readily formed in an inexpensive and efficient manner, and allows the polymerization process to be conducted as a cost effective one-step polymerization reaction. Further, there has also been a particular need to discover catalysts that can provide polymers, in particular polyolefins (e.g., polyethylene) having bimodal molecular weight distribution in a single step reaction and to polymers resulting therefrom which can be readily processed to form products exhibiting toughness and resiliency.
The present invention is directed to a unique and novel supported chromium catalyst composition.
Further, the present invention is directed to polymerization processes, which utilize the present catalyst to produce polymers, in particular polyolefins, having bimodal molecular weight distribution.
Still further, the present invention is directed to a polymerization process, which utilizes the present catalyst to produce bimodal polymer product in a single polymerization step.
More specifically, the present invention is directed to supported chromium catalysts wherein the chromium atom is immobilized to agglomerates formed from at least two components, namely (A) at least one inorganic oxide component and (B) at least one ion-containing layered component, as fully described herein below.
Moreover, the supported chromium catalyst can be used in combination with other catalyst species, such as metallocene, constrained geometry, bidentate or tridentate ligand containing compounds and mixtures thereof wherein the catalyst specie is present on a support in the form of an agglomerates formed from at least two components, namely (A) at least one inorganic oxide component and (B) at least one ion-containing layered component, which may optionally have chromium atoms bonded thereto.

Heterogeneous chromium catalysts and processes of polymerization of olefins using same


A unit for estimating a rotational speed of a turbocharger is provided. The unit includes a microprocessor comprising input ports configured for receiving measurement signals from an exhaust gas flow control system of an internal combustion engine and an output port for outputting a signal indicative of the rotational speed of the turbocharger. The input ports are adapted to receive a first set of measurement signals and a second set of measurement signals. A microprocessor is configured to calculate an estimated rotational speed of the turbocharger using a turbocharger model, based on the first set of measurement signals and the second set of measurement signals. Rhe second set of measurement signals include signals indicative of a pressure difference across a turbine of the turbocharger.

One technique for reducing unwanted emissions, such as NOx, from internal combustion engines involves introducing chemically inert gases into the fresh airflow used in the subsequent combustion process. The oxygen concentration in the combustion mixture is reduced, the fuel burns slower, peak combustion temperatures are reduced and, consequently, the production of NOx gases is reduced. One way of introducing chemically inert gases is through the use of a so-called Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) system.
EGR operation may be adjusted to engine operation conditions. In this case, an EGR system may include a valve, commonly referred to as an EGR valve, for the controlled introduction of exhaust gas into the intake manifold. The EGR valve operation modifies the turbocharger speed and swallowing capacity, that is the mass flow rate, of the turbocharger indirectly by changing the exhaust flow through the turbine of the turbocharger.
In addition to an EGR valve, air-handling systems for turbocharged internal combustion engines may include one or more supplemental or alternate air handling control mechanisms for directly modifying the swallowing capacity and speed of the turbocharger. For example, the air handling system may include a wastegate disposed between an inlet and outlet of the turbocharger turbine to selectively route exhaust gas around the turbine and thereby control the swallowing capacity and the speed of the turbocharger. Alternatively or additionally, the system may comprise an exhaust throttle disposed in line with the exhaust conduit either upstream or downstream of the turbocharger turbine to control swallowing capacity and the speed of the turbocharger.
Alternatively, or in addition, the turbocharger may comprise a variable geometry turbine, which is used to control the swallowing capacity of the turbocharger by controlling the geometry of the turbine. This type of turbochargers may be useful, e.g., in lean burn gas engines, where combustion is sensitive to gas quality and air temperature variations.
US 2006/0005540 A1 discloses a system for limiting the rotational speed of a turbocharger to avoid overspeed conditions and damage to the turbocharger. US 2006/0005540 A1 also discloses systems, which do not have a turbocharger rotational speed sensor.
In systems in which a turbocharger rotational speed sensor is not present, the rotational speed of the turbocharger is estimated from other types of signals. A suitably programmed microprocessor may be used to estimate the rotational speed of the turbocharger. The microprocessor may be considered as a virtual turbocharger speed sensor.
Further systems and methods that enable the rotational speed of the turbocharger to be more accurately and reliably estimated are provided. In addition, other objects, desirable features and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent summary and detailed description, and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background.

Unit for estimating the rotational speed of a turbocharger and system and method for controlling an internal combustion engine with a turbocharger


A system and method for managing crisis communication are disclosed. A contact database holds information used to deliver broadcast messages to selected contacts. Messages are prepared in advance for delivery via different channels, including voice, fax, pager, and e-mail. Contact groups are defined by selecting specific contacts, or as “criteria groups” defined by search criteria. Notification tasks are created by determining the contact groups to receive the broadcast, then adding others if desired. Messages are selected for broadcast transmission in various channels. Administrators view a table of status codes for each attempted transmission. They filter the table based on each contact's status. Contacts or filtered sets can be added to and removed from a “renotification” list using the interactively filtered table. When contacts fail to confirm or update their contact information for longer than a certain period, the system automatically sends that contact a message reminding them to do so.

The invention relates generally and primarily to systems for disseminating information in the event of a crisis or emergency, such as when severe weather strikes or hazardous materials are released. Existing systems for managing communications during a crisis focus on broad dissemination of a message, but fail to provide adequate tools for easy administration of a system before the crisis arises, and tools for ensuring delivery of the desired message(s) after the crisis arises.
There is thus a need for further contributions and improvements to crisis communication management technology.


A memory includes a plurality of word lines each coupled with at least one memory cell, an address storing unit that may store at least one target address corresponding to at least one of the word lines, and a control unit that may sequentially activate the plurality of word lines in response to a refresh command that is inputted at a set interval, and may activate the word line selected based on the target address whenever the refresh command is inputted a set number of times that is equal to or more than two times.

1. Field
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a memory and a memory system including the same, and more particularly, to a refresh technology for a memory and a memory system.
2. Description of the Related Art
A memory cell of a memory includes a transistor which functions as a switch and a capacitor for storing charges, that is, a data. The logic level of the data stored in a memory cell may be distinguished between the levels of 'high' (logic 1) and 'low' (logic 0) according to whether there is a charge in the capacitor of the memory cell, that is, whether the voltage at the end of the capacitor is high or low.
A data may be stored and retained in a memory cell so long as charges are accumulated in a capacitor, thereby consuming no power in principle. However, the data may be lost because the initial amount of charges that are stored in the capacitor may decrease due to leakage current caused in a PN bonding/junction of a metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor. To prevent the loss of data, the data in the memory cell is read before the data gets lost and the memory cell may be recharged to maintain the initial amount of charges according to the information that is read. This operation is to be repeated periodically to retain the data, and the operation of recharging the memory cell is called a refresh operation.
The refresh operation is performed whenever a refresh command is applied from a memory controller to a memory. The memory controller applies the refresh command to the memory every predetermined time in consideration of the data retention time of the memory. For example, when the data retention time of a memory is 64 ms and all of the memory cells in the memory are refreshed only after the refresh command is applied 8000 times, the memory controller applies the refresh command to the memory 8000 times during the term of 64 ms. When it turns out in a memory test process that the data retention time of some memory cells included in the memory do not exceed a predetermined reference time, the memory is regarded as a defective memory and abandoned.

Memory and memory system including the same


A semiconductor device of an embodiment includes a path monitor circuit provided in a predetermined data path in a circuit that operates with a predetermined source clock, the path monitor circuit being configured to generate an output corresponding to a degree of a timing margin, a power supply voltage control circuit configured to set a power supply voltage that is used in the circuit based on an output of the path monitor circuit, and a clock generating circuit configured to supply to the circuit a clock obtained by dividing a frequency of the source clock, based on a detection result indicating that the power supply voltage obtained based on the output of the path monitor circuit becomes lower than a predetermined threshold.

In response to the demand for reduction in power consumption of semiconductor devices, studies are being made on methods for controlling the power supply voltage. The power supply voltages of semiconductor devices influence the operation speeds of the semiconductor devices, so that the voltages are reduced while the characteristics of the transistors are taken into consideration. However, with miniaturization of the manufacturing process, the causes of variations in transistors increase, and the characteristics of the transistors fluctuate greatly.
Therefore, in consideration of manufacturing variations, temperature fluctuations and the like, a method called AVS (adaptive voltage scaling) is adopted which lowers a power supply voltage within a range where a target circuit operates normally to reduce power consumption. However, the method cannot cope with a case where abrupt reduction in power supply voltage occurs due to droop of a current or the like, and cannot reduce power consumption sufficiently.

Semiconductor device and control method of semiconductor device

TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION


A navigation system and method involving wireless communications technology and speech processing technology is presented. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the navigation system includes a subscriber unit communicating with a service provider. The subscriber unit includes a global positioning system mechanism to determine subscriber position information and a speech processing mechanism to receive destination information spoken by a subscriber. The subscriber unit transmits the subscriber position and destination information to the service provider, which gathers navigation information, including a map and a route from the subscriber position to the specified destination. The service provider transmits the navigation information to the subscriber unit. The subscriber unit conveys the received navigation information to the subscriber via an output mechanism, such as a speech synthesis unit or a graphical display.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to navigation systems. Specifically, this invention relates to a novel system and method that promotes safety in, and enhances the utility of, navigation systems.
2. Description of Related Art and General Background
Navigation systems assist users in finding their way from one location to another. In some systems, a user inputs a starting location and an intended destination, and the system, typically via algorithms acting on map databases, generates a sequence of directions that the user may follow to successfully reach the destination. These directions comprise one or more waypoints, which are points along the prescribed route that may bear significance to the route. For instance, if the directions prescribe that the user should turn right at the intersection of X and Y Streets, then that intersection may be a waypoint. In such systems, a user traversing the route must carefully follow the directions. Indeed, if the user veers off the route, the user easily may become lost; in unfamiliar surroundings, it is often difficult to return to the prescribed route.
More advanced systems employ Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to supply a user in close vicinity of the navigation device with real-time information about the user's geographic location. A GPS-equipped device receives signals transmitted by twenty-four NAVSTAR GPS satellites orbiting the earth, triangulates these signals, and computes the location of the device in terms of coordinates. Because the coordinates are themselves of little significance to most users, GPS systems may provide a visual representation of a user's location, represented by a cursor overlaid on a map of the region in which the user is presently located.
Hybrid systems combine the functionality of the above-described systems. A user inputs a desired destination, a GPS receiver in the navigation device computes the current location of the device, software determines a route for the user, and the device outputs a set of directions for the user to follow. A map of the surroundings encompassing the route may be shown on a video display, as may the current location of the device. The current location may be represented by a cursor overlaid on the map. Additionally, the prescribed route may be superimposed on the map. Both the map and cursor may be dynamically updated as the user traverses the route. Nevertheless, if the user fails to constantly monitor the position of the cursor on the map, the user may not realize that he has deviated from the prescribed route. When this discovery is made, significant travel time may have been lost, and a less advantageous route may be the only alternative.
When users travel across great distances or vacation in obscure locales, navigation devices must display maps associated therewith. Accordingly, large data sets are needed. Most conventional navigation systems have relied on mass-storage means, such as CD-ROMs, to fulfill this need, but many region-specific CD-ROMs must be purchased at great expense. The map information contained within the CD-ROMs may become outdated with the construction of new thoroughfares. In addition, the map information may become unreliable when, for instance, temporary road construction, traffic conditions, or natural disasters render legs of a route inaccessible or otherwise undesirable. Various solutions have been proposed, including acquiring map data from remote locations via radio transmission or similar means. Unfortunately, these proposals fail to sufficiently limit the character, quantity, and frequency of transmissions from the remote location to the user's location and back.
More fundamentally, these proposals are lacking in their failure to sufficiently protect the well-being of the user. In particular, when a user inadvertently deviates from a prescribed route, the user may be inconvenienced by travel delays. Further, at night, the likelihood of having an accident may increase if the user has ventured onto secondary roads in need of repair or roads in which lighting is inadequate.
Moreover, the problem of the misguided traveler exists alongside an even more pervasive one: the problem of the distracted traveler. For example, when the GPS device resides in a car, a driver who is lost may have to physically input new commands, such as a request to generate a new route from the current position to the original destination. By physically operating the device when driving, the driver may become distracted, making such operations potentially dangerous.
Furthermore, it is desirable that those in the public-at-large, including persons with disabilities, are able to fully avail themselves of the functionality of a navigation system.
Therefore, what is needed is a system and method that promotes safety in, and enhances the utility of, navigation systems.

Voice-controlled navigation device utilizing wireless data transmission for obtaining maps and real-time overlay information


A method is provided for the avoidance or at least mitigation of a collision between a first vehicle driving in a first lane and a second vehicle driving in a second lane when the second vehicle changes lane from the second lane o to the first lane. The method includes, but is not limited to the following steps. An impending lane change of the second vehicle from the second lane to the first lane is determined, a first distance of the second vehicle from the first vehicle and a first position of the second vehicle are determined. Furthermore, the determined first distance d1 of the second vehicle from the first vehicle is then compared with a first predetermined threshold value. The first predetermined threshold value is direction-dependent and the determined first distance of the second vehicle from the first vehicle is compared with the first predetermined threshold value in the direction of the determined first position of the second vehicle. Further, a first warning message to the second vehicle is automatically output by means of at least one signal device of the first vehicle if d1≦d0,1.

Transmission of vehicle-relevant data of a vehicle via mobile communication is known from DE 10 2008 061 304 A1. According to one exemplary embodiment, an ignition-key-radio technology is used in addition to WLAN-based communication in a vehicle in order to communicate with other vehicles. In this case, only selected data which have changed significantly are transmitted by means of the ignition-key-radio technology. The remaining data are not transmitted or only saved for the WLAN communication.
It is at least one object to provide a method for the avoidance or mitigation of a collision between a first vehicle driving in a first lane and a second vehicle driving in a second lane when the second vehicle changes lane from the second lane to the first lane, a control apparatus for a driver assistance system, a vehicle having a control apparatus for a driver assistance system, a computer program and a computer-readable medium which can reduce the frequency of accidents in the driving situation.

Method for the avoidance or mitigation of a collision, control apparatus for a driver assistance system and vehicle


A method of manufacturing an ink jet head, which includes a discharge port for discharging an ink droplet, an ink flow path communicated with the discharge port, and an energy generating element for discharging the ink droplet from the discharge port, includes providing a photodegradable resin layer on a substrate having the energy generating element, forming a structure which becomes the ink flow path by exposing and developing the photodegradable resin layer, coating the substrate having the structure which becomes the ink flow path with a negative type photosensitive resin layer, forming the ink discharge port in the negative type photosensitive resin layer, and forming the ink flow path communicated with the discharge port by removing the structure which becomes the ink flow path. The photodegradable resin layer includes a binary acrylic copolymer composition, which contains a unit obtained from (meta)acrylic ester as a main component and further contains a unit obtained from (meta)acrylic acid. The composition contains the (meta)acrylic acid unit at a proportion of 5 to 30 weight %, and a weight average molecular weight of the composition ranges from 50000 to 300000.

The ink jet head is applied to an ink jet recording method (liquid discharge recording method) in which the recording is performed by discharging a recording solution such as ink. The ink jet head generally includes an ink flow path, a liquid discharge energy generating portion provided in a part of the ink flow path, and a fine ink discharge port (also referred to as "orifice") for discharging the ink in the ink flow path by energy of the liquid discharge energy generating portion. With reference to the conventional method of producing the ink jet head, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. HO 6-045242 discloses a method for manufacturing an ink jet head (also referred to as cast molding method) in which a mold of the ink flow path is patterned onto the substrate, in which liquid discharge energy generating elements are formed, by a photosensitive material, a coating resin layer is applied onto the substrate so that the mold pattern is coated, an ink discharge port communicated with the mold of the ink flow path is formed in the coated resin layer, and then the photosensitive material used for the mold is removed. From the viewpoint of easy removal, a positive type resist is used as the photosensitive material in the method for manufacturing an ink jet head. Further, according to the method for manufacturing an ink jet head, because a technique of semiconductor lithography is applied, fine processing can be realized with extremely high accuracy for the formation of the ink flow path, the ink discharge port, and the like.
However, since a negative type resist is applied onto the ink flow path pattern formed by the positive type resist, sometimes there is generated a problem that the ink flow path pattern is dissolved and deformed during the application of the negative type resist.
In order to avoid the problem in the conventional ink flow path patterning, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H08-323985 discloses a method in which the negative type resist is applied after solvent-resistance properties are improved by performing intermolecular crosslinking with an ionizing radiation decomposition type photosensitive resin composition including an intermolecular crosslinkable structural unit. It is the method of performing the intermolecular crosslinking by baking the photosensitive resin containing an 8/2 copolymer (weight average molecular weight is 180000) of methyl methacrylate/methacrylic acid at 180° C. for one hour.
Further, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-042396, the inventors propose that an acrylic copolymer containing methacrylate ester as a main component as the further preferable acrylic resin, containing methacrylic acid as a thermal crosslinking factor at a proportion of 2 to 30 weight %, and whose molecular weight ranges 5000 to 50000, is used by performing thermal crosslinking of acrylic copolymer for the,positive type resist for forming the ink flow path.
According to these methods, although the deformation of the ink flow path pattern can be prevented, the following problems still exist:    (1) Due to the intermolecular crosslinking, a large amount of energy is required for a photodegradation reaction of the positive type resist, and sensitivity tends to decrease. Further, because progress of the photodegradation reaction is insufficient, particularly when the positive type resist is used in a thick film, sometimes a decrease in resolution is generated.    (2) When the positive type resist is used in the thick film, sometimes a crack is generated by curing shrinkage stress associated with the intermolecular crosslinking. Further, sometimes the crack is generated in development or in the application of the negative type resist.    (3) In order to impart the sufficient solvent-resistance properties, heat treatment is required at high temperatures for a long time.
Therefore, a width or a height of the ink flow path is restricted, which results in not only an obstacle of ink flow path design but also a decrease in production.

Ink jet head manufacturing method and ink jet head manufactured by the manufacturing method


A resistive processing unit cell includes a weight storage device to store a weight value of the resistive processing unit cell, and multiple circuit blocks. Each circuit block includes a weight update circuit coupled to dedicated update control lines, and a weight read circuit coupled to dedicated read control lines. The circuit blocks are configured to operate in parallel to (i) perform separate weight read operations in which each read circuit generates a read current based on a stored weight value, and outputs the read current on the dedicated read control lines of the read circuit, and (ii) perform separate weight update operations in which each update circuit receives respective update control signals on the dedicated update control lines, generates update currents based on the respective update control signals, and applies the update current to the weight storage device to adjust the weight value based on the update current.

In recent years, deep neural network (DNN) based models have made significant progress due to the availability of large labeled datasets and continuous improvements in computation resources. DNNs are utilized in various applications including, for example, object/speech recognition, language translation, pattern extraction, and image processing. The quality of the DNN models depends on the processing of a large amount of training data and an increased complexity of the neural network. In this regard, training a complex DNN model is a time consuming and computationally intensive task which can require many days or weeks to perform using parallel and distributed computing frameworks with many computing nodes (e.g., datacenter-scale computational resources) to complete the training of the DNN model. A convolutional neural network is one type of DNN.
To reduce training time, hardware acceleration techniques for processing DNN workloads have been pursued either in conventional CMOS technologies or by using emerging non-volatile memory (NVM) technologies. However, it has been found that RPU accelerator devices have the potential to accelerate DNN training by orders of magnitude, while using less power, as compared to conventional hardware acceleration techniques. DNN training generally relies on a backpropagation algorithm which includes three repeating cycles: forward, backward and weight update. It has been determined that RPU accelerator devices which are based on a two-dimensional (2D) crossbar array of RPU storage cells, can be configured to perform all three cycles of the backpropagation algorithm in parallel, thus potentially providing significant acceleration in DNN training with lower power and reduced computation resources as compared to state-of-the-art implementations using central processing units (CPUs) and graphics processing units (GPUs). An RPU accelerator can store and update weight values locally, thereby minimizing data movement during the training process and fully exploiting the locality and the parallelism of the DNN training process. A stochastically trained DNN comprising arrays of RPU cells can have synaptic weights implemented using various types of tunable resistive devices including, for example, memristive devices, capacitors/read transistors, etc.

Resistive processing unit cell having multiple weight update and read circuits for parallel processing of data using shared weight value

International Business Machines Corporation


A multi-chambered electrolyte storage tank for a redox flow battery system, may include first and second electrolyte chambers, and a bulkhead, wherein the first and second electrolyte chambers are fluidly coupled to first and second sides of a redox flow battery cell, respectively, the first and second electrolyte chambers include first and second liquid electrolyte volumes, respectively, and the first and second liquid electrolyte volumes are separated by the bulkhead positioned therebetween. In this way, manufacturing and operational complexity of a redox flow battery system can be reduced.

Conventional redox flow battery systems may utilize separate, standalone tanks for storing/supplying each of the positive and negative electrolytes, with each tank having its own footprint, and each tank undergoing inert gas purging during operation of the redox flow battery system, as shown in FIG. 7. An additional standalone tank can be employed for hydrogen gas storage/supply. Such redox flow battery systems may include a dedicated gas/liquid separation system 600, including a separator for each of the positive and negative electrolyte tanks; the gas/liquid separation system may be employed to separate hydrogen gas from the positive and negative electrolytes, whereby the hydrogen gas is concentrated with an accumulator, before being stored in a dedicated hydrogen storage tank, as shown in FIG. 6. As a result, conventional redox flow battery systems can include many auxiliary process units, which increases manufacturing costs and operational complexity.
In one embodiment, the above issues may be at least partially addressed by a multi-chambered electrolyte storage tank for a redox flow battery system, including first and second electrolyte chambers, and a bulkhead, wherein the first and second electrolyte chambers are fluidly coupled to first and second sides of a redox flow battery cell, respectively, the first and second electrolyte chambers include first and second liquid electrolyte volumes, respectively, and the first and second liquid electrolyte volumes are separated by the bulkhead positioned therebetween.
In this way, several auxiliary process units such as gas/liquid separators and dedicated gas storage tanks can be precluded, reducing manufacturing and operational complexity. Furthermore, integrating the electrolyte chambers and gas storage within a single multi-chambered electrolyte storage tank can substantially simplify the redox flow battery system layout and reduce the system footprint. Furthermore, storage of hydrogen gas in a head space above the liquid electrolyte chambers in the multi-chambered electrolyte storage tank allows for spontaneous gas-liquid separation, while providing an inert gas blanket for the liquid electrolyte, thereby reducing oxidation of the liquid electrolyte and reducing capacity losses of the redox flow battery system.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.

Integrated hydrogen recycle system using pressurized multichamber tank


This invention provides an image processing method and apparatus capable of easily reprinting the same print data in various output forms at a high speed without any large-capacity storage device, in which when a page image corresponding to print data input from an external device is to be generated, the print data is analyzed to generate the page image, print data of at least one job is held, a page image of at least one page that is generated by analyzing the print data is held, and when reprinting is designated, either of the spooled print data and page image is read out to perform reprinting.

Recently, demands have arisen for speeding up a so-called reprint function (or multiple-copy printing) of holding a print job input once and printing part or all of the print job again in an image processing apparatus such as a page printer which analyzes an externally input print job to generate and output the image.
As a conventional technique for multiple-copy printing or high-speed printing, a generated page image (bitmap image) is spooled together with its page number in an external storage device. This page image is reused in second and subsequent output processes, which increases the reprinting speed without any labor of analyzing print data.
An advanced reprint function is also desired to enable outputting data again in a changed printing environment such that not only the same print result is output at a high speed, but also only part of a print job is printed midway, pages are printed in a reverse output order, pages are output at random, or pages which have been output by double-sided printing are printed by single-sided printing in reprinting.
A conventional page printer or the like is so constituted as to receive print data in a PDL (Page Description Language) format and generate a bitmap image representing a page content in accordance with the PDL analysis result. A general PDL is formed from various picture description commands such as a character print command and line drawing command, drawing commands such as an image drawing command, and various commands such as designation of a drawing logic or clipping area, a print position moving command, and a macro command of grouping a plurality of commands, storing them, and invoking them.
Further, the PDL generally includes commands for setting various printing environments. That is, the PDL includes various printing parameters for designating the line width, line type, line end shape processing method, font type, size, decoration (bold/italic), enlargement/reduction, rotational angle, drawing logic (AND or OR), and clipping area. When the image processing apparatus processes a line drawing command, character print command, or the like, an image is drawn in accordance with the contents of the current printing environment. Various printing environments keep setting contents valid until setting is executed again or a reset command or the like is received once setting is done. Hence, the current printing environment is also called a current graphic state. This arrangement eliminates repetition of the same setting, reduces the print data size, and realizes efficient PDL analysis processing. Some current graphic states automatically return to default values every time a page to be printed is changed. However, general current graphic states are kept valid between pages. It is inconvenient that the printing environment returns to default values every time the page changes in, e.g., a print mode in which text data is received, the print position automatically shifts along with character printing, and line feed and page feed are automatically done to print data.
As described above, a conventional page printer or the like which processes PDL data assumes analysis of PDL data sequentially from the start of a print job.
However, the prior art suffers the following problem.
More specifically, a bitmap image representing the content of one generated page is reused in multiple-copy printing or reprinting, and the conventional image processing apparatus cannot be applied to reprinting of different page contents. For example, when a print job by double-sided printing with a set binding width is reprinted by single-sided printing, the image offset direction changes between the obverse and the reverse. Even if designations for the binding width and binding direction do not change, a bitmap image generated for printing on the reverse cannot be printed on the obverse.
In this way, a generated image cannot be reused in various cases such as a change of the print resolution, change from color printing to monochrome printing, change of the binding width, binding direction, or offset amount, and change from printing of one page to printing of a plurality of pages.
As described above, it is difficult to reprint data by using a bitmap image upon a change in printing environment that may influence the content of a finally generated bitmap image.
To perform multiple-copy printing or reprinting without reusing any bitmap image, a print job (PDL data) is spooled, and a page image to be reanalyzed is generated. Since PDL data is reanalyzed in a new printing environment, this arrangement can cope with reprinting after changing various printing environments, but poses the following problem.
More specifically, in the conventional PDL, various printing environments can be inherited between pages. To determine a current graphic state at the start of analyzing an arbitrary page, contents set before the page must be grasped. Data analysis and environmental setting must be performed sequentially from the start of a print job including a page not subjected to actual printing even when pages are printed from the middle of a print job, or, e.g., only odd-numbered pages are partially printed. This is because the break position between pages (form feed command in a page printer or the like) must be distinguished from a binary code in image data or compressed data in order to identify the break position. It does not suffice to check only whether the break position coincides with the form feed code.
From this, when the printing environment is changed in multiple-copy printing or reprinting in an image processing apparatus having the PDL, it is difficult to increase the printing speed even when reprinting only an arbitrary page and subsequent pages within a print job or reprinting only some pages. Because of the same reason, reprinting in a reverse page order or reprinting in a changed page order cannot be efficiently processed.
For example, it is difficult to reprint data by designating book printing (dual page binding) for a print job assigned multiple-page printing in the first printing operation. The page orders of general 2-page printing and book printing will be explained with reference to FIGS. 20A and 20B. FIG. 20A represents a print job when general 2-page printing is done on two sheet surfaces, and FIG. 20B represents book printing. In FIG. 20A, pages 1 and 2, pages 3 and 4, . . . , and pages 11 and 12 are respectively printed on the same sheet surfaces. In facedown discharge, the sheets are discharged in an order of A, B, and C shown on the right side of FIG. 20A. For this printing, pages in the print job must be arranged in 1, 2, 3, 4, . . . , 11, and 12. For book printing, as shown in FIG. 20B, pages must be printed and discharged in an order of pages 6 and 7, pages 5 and 8, . . . , pages 2 and 11, and pages 1 and 12. Reprinting cannot utilize a generated bitmap image, and PDL data must be reanalyzed by reordering pages.

Image processing method and apparatus for reprinting with a desired binding width having different print settings


A compression and decompression module provided in a display device includes: a comparison unit that, when first image data and second image data in which a gradation value of each of a plurality of pixels is expressed in m bits are input, compares gradation values of corresponding pixels of the input first and second image data; a compression unit that compresses the second image data and that, when values of predetermined n bits (where n≦m) of the gradation values match each other in a comparison result of the comparison unit, generates compressed data including identification data indicating that the values of the n bits match each other; and a control unit that performs control to output data, which indicates the gradation value of the corresponding pixel of the first image data, and the compressed data generated by the compression unit so as to correspond to each other.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a technique for compressing or decompressing image data.
2. Related Art
There is a technique for reducing the amount of data transmission by compressing image data showing a still image or a moving image. JP-A-2012-134847 discloses a technique of performing compression processing using the same compression algorithm for the entire image signal. JP-A-2002-354270 discloses a technique of comparing the data of a plurality of lines after compressing still image data in units of a line and transmitting only the header when the lines of the same data appear to overlap each other.
The invention disclosed in JP-A-2012-134847 is for compressing the entire image signal according to the same compression algorithm. Accordingly, it may be difficult to increase the compression rate efficiently. The invention disclosed in JP-A-2002-354270 is for comparing a plurality of lines after compressing still image data using a run-length compression method or the like and determines which of the still image data after line-unit compression and the header is to be transmitted. Therefore, in the invention disclosed in JP-A-2002-354270, compression processing of the still image data is not performed according to the matching of data of a plurality of lines.

Image data compression device, image data decompression device, display device, image processing system, image data compression method, and image data decompression method


In a preferred embodiment, an animal guard for posts or the like, which guard includes a vertical tube placed over the post. Extending outwardly from the tube are a plurality of longitudinal fins. The fins are spaced apart such that the distal edges of any two adjacent fins are too far apart for the animal to grasp and climb and the proximal edges of any two adjacent fins are too close together for the animal to be able to climb up the surface of the tube. The fins are too thin for the animal to be able to climb by grasping each side of the fin. The guard is especially effective in deterring squirrels from climbing posts.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to animal guards generally and, more particularly, to a novel animal guard which is simple in construction and which is especially useful in preventing squirrels and other small animals from gaining access to post-mounted bird feeders or the like.
2. Background Art
Many small animals are known to disturb post-mounted bird feeders or the like. Access for such animals, once the bird feeder is located away from trees or structures which may offer a elevated path to the bird feeder, is by climbing the post on which the bird feeder is mounted and it is especially difficult to keep squirrels from climbing the posts. A number of attempts have been made in the past to obviate this problem, some of which are complicated and/or expensive, and many of which are not especially effective.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,286,416, issued Dec. 1, 1918, to Rix, describes an animal guard for trees which includes a large number of pointed spikes extending outwardly and downwardly from the trunk of a tree.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,420,243, issued June 20, 1922, to Cohen, is directed to a rat guard which may be placed over hawsers, anchor chains, posts, or the like and which consists of a pipe-like form which is clamped in place. When used with a hawser or anchor chain, a serrated member is formed along the upper side of the form to keep rats from climbing thereon.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,891,508, issued June 23, 1959, to Bower, is for a marauder guard for use on bird feeder posts which includes a rigid annular plate which is flexibly held in place so that the plate tips when an animal tries to gain a foothold on it and the animal, therefore, slips off.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,400,503, issued Sept. 10, 1968, to Schaller, covers means for protecting electrical transmission lines by providing a guard for each structural member of the support towers, which means includes a plurality of rows of sharp, toothlike projections along a section of each structural member.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,031,856, issued June 28, 1977, to Chester, describes a squirrel-proof post which has a counterweighted sleeve around the post. When a squirrel reaches the sleeve, it slides downward, the squirrel jumps off, and the sleeve returns to its upward position.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,523,546, issued June 18, 1985, to Latham, provides squirrel-proofing for a bird feeder of the type which is hung rather than being mounted on a post. Here, a flexible sheet is mounted above the bird feeder. When a squirrel tries to walk across the sheet to the edge thereof, the sheet flexes and the squirrel slides off without being able to grab onto the feeder.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide an animal guard for posts or the like.
It is an additional object of the invention to provide such an animal guard that is particularly effective in keeping squirrels from gaining access to post-mounted bird feeders.
It is another object of the invention to provide such an animal guard that is simply and economically constructed.
Other objects of the present invention, as well as particular features and advantages thereof, will be elucidated in, or be apparent from, the following description and the accompanying drawing figures.


An interactive kiosk includes a display, a microphone, and one or more processors that perform operations including receiving user input provided as a spoken query of a user, receiving user-specific data, querying, by a virtual agent, one or more back-end systems based on the user input, and the user-specific data to provide one or more responses, displaying one or more graphical representations of the one or more responses to the user on the display, the one or more graphical representations depicting at least one product for purchase, facilitating a purchase of the at least one product, and providing instructions to the passenger for physical retrieval of the at least one product within a location.

In commercial enterprise, the experience for customers, workers, partners, and operators is disconnected. A commercial enterprise can include an airport. From a passenger's point-of-view, for example, after check-in, the passenger waits in and/or roams the airport until boarding time without substantive awareness of the airport eco-system that they are immersed in, and/or awareness of resources that may be beneficial to their journey.

System, method, and computer-readable storage medium for interactive kiosks


A two-cycle engine oil composition comprising:. (I) 100 parts by weight of a base oil composed of (A) 20 to 80% by weight of a copolymer of an .alpha.-olefin with an ester of a dicarboxylic acid, said copolymer having a kinematic viscosity of 20 to 50 cSt at 100.degree. C., and (B) 80 to 20% by weight of an ester of pentaerythritol with a fatty acid, said ester having a kinematic viscosity of 4 to 20 cSt at 100.degree. C., and PA0 (II) 0.4 to 6 parts by weight of calcium phenate incorporated as an indispensable ingredient in the base oil.

The present invention relates to a two-cycle engine oil composition, and more particularly to a two-cycle engine oil composition having excellent high-temperature detergency and anti-seizure property which can contribute to an improvement in the output of an engine. 2. Prior Art
In recent years, racing has been extensively conducted under the stimulus of popularity of sports motorbikes. A racing engine is required to have a compact size, light weight and high output as compared with usual engines. Heightening of output has been achieved through improvements in suction and exhaust systems and the shape of the combustion chamber as well as the enhancement of engine speed for maximum output. It would be significant if a lubricating oil to be used in the racing engines could also contribute to an improvement in the output.
At the present time, for a two-cycle engine for racing, a special oil comprising a base oil composed of a synthetic ester oil having excellent thermal stability is used for the purpose of retaining an oil film at a high temperature. The present inventors have found that such an oil brings about a lowering in the output during the operation of the engine. It has been confirmed that like such a two-cycle engine oil comprising a synthetic ester oil as the base oil, two-cycle engine oils comprising a mineral oil and a polybutene as the base oils also bring about the above described phenomenon of the lowering in the output. Therefore, the lubricating oil has been regarded as impossible to contribute to an increase in the output of the two-cycle engine.
Under these circumstances, the present inventors had examined various synthetic oils and have made extensive and intensive studies with a view to developing a lubricating oil suitable for a two-cycle engine and, as a result, have found that an oil incorporating a particular base oil and additive can remarkably improve the output over two-cycle engine oils which have hitherto been put on the market and yet brings about no lowering in the output.


An improved method and arrangement for calculating the fluid phase fractions of gas, oil, and water and oil-water emulsion in a fluid steam flowing from an oil well which includes separating out the majority of gas from the well stream and repeatedly trapping a sample of the primarily resultant liquid well stream in a vertically disposed sampling chamber. The well stream sample is held therein to permit separation of the phase fractions to the extent possible within a reasonable time. A number of measurements of the well stream sample are taken. In addition, a number of measurements are taken of the capacitance at a plurality of discrete vertically spaced locations within the sampling chamber. These capacitance measurements relate directly to the varying permitivity of the phase fractions of gas, oil, and water and the oil-water emulsion of the sample. The measurements are processed by a data processor to provide precise information on such phase fractions and emulsion interfaces.

The present invention relates to an improvement in the field of testing oil well streams and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a novel method and automated system for determining the phase fractions of gas, oil, and water and oil-emulsion of an oil well stream.
It is well known that in the majority of oil wells, the fluid flowing or being pumped from an oil well is not pure oil but is a mixture of gas, oil water, gas, chemicals and at times solids. While the gas, oil, and water do occur in a free state quite often these items often flow in an emulsion condition. It is also well known that it is important to monitor the production or flow of a particular oil well or a plurality of oil wells in a particular field or region. The net oil production from a well must be determined as well as the volume of oil, gas, and water that are present in the well stream.
The oldest and most widely accepted method of testing oil well production fluids was the three phase separator tank arrangement which consisted primarily of a large receiving tank into which a predetermined well stream flowing from an oil well would be deposited and allowed to stand. The effect of gravity on the sample would cause the free water to settle to the bottom of the tank, the oil to rise to the top of the settled water, and the gas to rise above the oil. This arrangement was commonly referred to as a three phase separator. The gas is allowed to escape from the tank and the remaining volummes of water and crude oil are measured. The crude oil was tested to determine its water content or wetness by a capacitance probe. Other factors of the test sample were also measured and a fair estimate of the net oil being produced was made.
The three phase separator was prone to a number of shortcomings. Such an apparatus was large and cumbersome and required the exercise of care by skilled technicians in its operation. The time required for the emulsions, oil, water, and gas of a well stream to separate adequately often required many hours or days. Also, the capacitance probes employed were extremely sensitive to certain external factors and were not dependable. The end result was that the method yielded the net oil of a production on about 75% of wells tested with a margin of error of about 10%.
More recently, U.S. Pat. No. 3,911,256 presented an improved apparatus for testing and analyzing a well stream. This patent provided for diverting a predetermined volummetric portion of the flow of a well stream and then measuring the pressure of the isolated portion. This portion was then subjected to compression of the gas fraction so that the volume of gas could be mathematically determined. Other measurements were made of the test portion so that the volume of gas and proportions of each liquid in the well stream test portion could be determined by mathematical comparative calculations.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,395 discloses a three phase fluid flow measuring system for measuring the volummetric fractions of gas, water and oil which included a centrifugal separator for conducting primary separation of gas from the liquid phase. A sample of the resultant fluid stream was conducted to a test chamber where it was subjected to an increased pressure. The transmissivity of microwave energy through the test sample was then measured as a way of determining the gas phase in the liquid phase and to determine the volummetric fraction of water and oil in the liquid phase.
It is also known in the art to segregate a test sample of a well stream and to record the flow rate, temperature, pressure, and weight of such sample and to also determine the aggregate capacitance of the sample. The net oil, gas, and water content are then determined mathematically, after corrections for temperature.
However, all known prior art systems and methods are subject to a number of shortcomings. Some systems will not provide accurate liquid flow data if the well stream produces over a 5% gas fraction or if the fluids do not separate into oil and water fractions by the force of gravity within a five minute period. Also, inaccurate data is obtained as the degree of emulsion of the fluids increases or varies.
In addition, the prior art systems are temperature dependant. As the test chamber or test probes are fouled by oil build up, test readings begin to vary unacceptably. Great difficulties have been experienced in calibrating capacitance probes which require a cumbersome difficult procedure. Also, recalibration of current systems must be made in the event that the capacitance of the oil or water changes over time, or with the addition of chemicals into the well stream. However, the biggest problem remains with emulsions that remain after the time permitted for separation of the fractions and the inconsistencies in capacitance readings that result in indicating a larger water content than is actually present.
While the prior patents and prior art commercial devices have been successful to a certain extent, it is nonetheless clear that substantial room exists for affecting an advance in the art which overcomes these shortcomings in a practical and efficient manner.
It is a general object of the invention to provide an improved method and system for testing and analyzing oil production fluid to determine the net oil content thereof and which overcomes many of the shortcomings that are found in the methods and apparatus of the known prior art.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved method and automated system for determining the phase fractions of an oil well stream wherein the gas, water, and oil fractions of a test sample of the well stream are not separated nor need to be separated in the process of analyzing and calculating the new oil content.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a method and system which may accurately test and analyze test well samples which have gas fractions from 0 to 100% of the total well production volume.
Another object of the invention is to provide and improved method and system for analyzing a production well stream which will reduce or substantially minimize the effects of any accumulated oil coating on the interior of the test chamber.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a method of analyzing a test sample of a production well stream which will provide additional data beyond the phase fractions of gas, oil and water and which will minimize the dependency on entry of accurate data relating to the densities of oil, gas and water, permitivity of oil, water, gas, etc. thereby providing "live" oil and water density data.
Also, it is an object of the improved method to permit analysis and quantification of the degree of oil-water emulsion of the test sample of the well stream and to indicate the separation rate of the oil and gas fractions.
The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent objects of the invention. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the intended invention. Many other beneficial results can be attained by applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or by modifying the invention within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the summary of the invention and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Method and arrangement for oil well test system


A hearth furnace for producing direct reduced iron is described. The furnace has first and second combustion chambers, each having a rotating hearth within it to receive iron oxide and reducing agent. A set of rabbles disposed over each of the rotating hearths interacts with the iron oxide and pushes the iron oxide towards an inside or an outside edge of each rotating hearth. The first combustion chamber having an outlet connected to an inlet of the second combustion chamber to receive materials pushed by the rabbles of the first combustion chamber to the first combustion chamber outlet. The furnace further comprising one or more gas transfer channels for transferring reduction gasses and heat between the second and first combustion chambers.

Many common metallurgical processes, such as iron and steel making, produce natural by-products and waste materials in the form of dust and sludge. These by-products often contain oxides of iron, zinc, lead and cadmium. In some cases, like the by-products from a blast furnace, this waste material may also contain carbon, oil and grease. Due to its high monetary value, it is often desirable to reclaim the iron in this material for reuse; however, the presence of zinc and lead oxides or, in some instances, the presence of oil and/or grease, in the waste material make attempts to purify the iron difficult and impractical.
One method of reclaiming iron from iron oxide wastes is by reducing iron oxides through the use of high temperatures. Traditionally iron has been extracted from iron oxides, by means of indirect reduction, whereby blast furnaces transform iron ore into iron, in a molten state. Such processes produce iron high in carbon content, often called pig iron.
In another method direct reduced iron (DRI) can be produced by the solid state reduction of charged iron oxides into metallic iron without the formation of liquid iron.
In both processes, a reducing agent, generally solid or gaseous in form, is used to heat the ore to the high temperatures required for the reduction reaction. Examples of reducing agents are coal and natural gas. The reduction of the iron ore takes place through the interaction with hydrogen or carbon monoxide. For example, where the reducing agent is coal, the coal burns in a combustion furnace with carbon dioxide in the air to form carbon monoxide (C+CO2=2CO Boudouard reaction). This carbon monoxide then reacts with the iron ores, in the presence of heat, to produce iron and carbon dioxide (Fe2O3+3CO=2Fe+3CO2).
DRI tends to be advantageous over other types of iron, such as steel making waste and pig iron, because it has a known composition, has fewer impurities and can be continuously charged in steel making furnaces. Also, DRI processes require temperatures of less than 1000 degrees Celsius, as compared to indirectly reduced iron, produced in blast furnaces, which can require liquid iron temperatures of 1450 degrees Celsius.
The reduction process, which requires mixing of the reducing agent and the iron oxide at high temperatures, can be carried out in hearth furnaces. Rotary hearth furnace technology has been described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,741 or 4,701,214.
With most current DRI production, the input material is prepared before it is charged into the rotary hearth furnace. That material preparation consists of mixing, pelletizing or briquetting and mostly drying. During about one revolution of the hearth, the pellets or briquettes react and are discharged from the rotating hearth furnace.
Due to the low thermal conductivity in the material used in these systems, the rotary hearth furnace temperature is considerably higher than the temperature required for the reaction in order to ensure that all the material in the pellet or briquette reaches the temperature required for the metallurgical reactions. In these systems, the temperature in the rotary hearth furnace casing is controlled by burners installed in the roof or the side walls of the rotary hearth furnace and is normally between 1200 and 1400 degrees Celsius.
Multiple hearth processes for DRI production have also been described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,395,057 which describes a cylindrical furnace lined with refractory material with several fixed hearths made of refractory material. It has a rotating shaft in the centre of the multiple hearth furnace and that shaft supports rotating arms with rabbles. These rabbles transport the material across the different hearths, and the material that is charged on the upper hearth drops from one hearth to the next until it exits the multiple hearth furnace from the bottom hearth. However, in this system, because the hearth remains stationary and the rabbles and arms rotate, there is a gap between the hearth and the walls and the rabbles which is required to avoid mechanical interference. This gap tends to fill up with material during the process, forming a dead layer of input material that cannot be processed of moved. Over time that material can also harden to create an interference with the rotating rabbles.
It tends to be desirable to provide apparatus, process, systems and methods to overcome problems existing in the production of DRI. For example, it tends to be desirable to provide apparatus, process, systems and/or methods for treating metal oxide fines to recover elemental iron from iron-bearing materials including, for example, iron-bearing ores, steel mill waste and other metallurgical process waste. Additionally, it may be advantageous to provide apparatus, process, systems and methods which provide improved heat transfer and reduces material preparation, for example, agglomeration of the material feed into pellets and briquettes. Further, it may be advantageous to provide apparatus, process, systems and methods whereby accretions of material feed can be avoided, and where accretions cannot be avoided, the hardened material between system parts can be removed easily. It may additionally be desirable to provide apparatus, systems and methods of producing DRI whereby energy efficiency may be increased by using heat from the chemical energy of process gases and volatile matter, to reach the temperatures required for the reduction process.

Apparatus and methods for producing direct reduced iron